2014 Peregrine issue 5

Back to Back Dual Champs 8-9

Winning Ways After the season ended last year, the girls’ water polo team was state champions, and the guys’ team was runner ups. This year, both of them advanced to regionals as district champions again, but both fell just short of the championship.

Captains, Maryn Horn and Mitchell Almonte, seniors, saw their teams fail to win it all, but saw their teams grow. photo by Marieke Alsguth

Also Inside

THE PEREGRINE Vol. 42 Issue 5, May 2014

Jersey Village High School 7600 Solomon Houston TX 77040

• Saluting Goodbye - 2 • Long Lasting Legacy - 4 • Destination Imagination - 12 • Princeton Bound - 14 • Falcon Press - 16

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The Issue 5 PEREGRINE

Feature

May 2014

Saluting Goodbye Cadet earns full ride scholarship from United States Air Force Going out with a bang A few of the many awards Matthew Bierwagen, senior, received during his last AFJROTC awards banquet included Cadet of the Year.

photos by Kerri Bierwagen

When was the United States Air Force officially establish as a branch of the military?

With which American war was the USAF NOT involved?

What is the lowest enlisted rank in the USAF?

What is the highest enlisted rank in the USAF?

When were women allowed to join the USAF?

amount of 500 dollars senior year.

Extremely grateful, Bierwagen feels joy because he discovered the scholarship his sophomore year, so he had enough time to begin the process of applying for it.

“I have always had an interest for joining the Air Force. Ever since the seventh grade I knew I wanted to join, and go in as an officer,” Bierwagen said.

Since the age of 12, Bierwagen’s attraction to serving the nation after high school. He had a determination to accomplish it, and hold officer rank.

By receiving a scholarship issued by the Air Force, it made this goal a lot more attainable.

“The Air Force is paying me to go to college while I receive my diploma in Aviation Engineering,” Bierwagen said.

Bierwagen has academically excelled all four years of high school. He has been involved in many community service activities, including his involvement in Eagle Scouts. During his high school career, he put all his efforts towards his future by involving himself in many activities. During a single week he managed to attend mandatory JROTC meetings, and do volunteer as a junior firefighter, and volunteer for Eagle Scouts. While doing so, he discovered what he wanted to major in, Aviation Engineering and enter the Air Force with officer rank.

“I am looking forward to college without the burden of debt and already

having a job for when I graduate,” Bierwagen said.

When Bierwagen realized what he wanted to achieve after high school and in college, he developed a love for aviation. He hopes to receive his Aviation Engineering degree and then acquire the opportunity to work with airplanes, maybe even as a pilot, which would make his junior high dreams come true. His parents have always encouraged him to follow these dreams, and will continue to do so while he attends Texas A&M University.

“I am extremely proud of Matthew for accomplishing so much, and hope he does get to achieve his dream to become a pilot,” Jay Bierwagen, father, said.

Jay and Kerri Bierwagen, parents, know how hard their son has worked to achieve all he has done throughout his four years of high school. Feeling certain he will continue with positive track record in college as well.

Especially because they already have an older son attending the Texas A&M. Proud with the work that both children have completed, they will root for their success all the way back from home.

With free tuition, book expenses money, and a monthly stipend in his pocket, Matthew Bierwagen feels thrilled to begin the life that awaits him after high school. Reassured, he knows he will enjoy his time in college learning new material in the aviation field and hopes to continue thriving.

By Marilyn Renderos

Answers to Air Force Trivia: September 18, 1947, Civil War, Airmen Basic, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, 1976.

Air Force Trivia

He looked out at the sea of people that consisted of his fellow cadets, and family members, while they cheered and clapped encouragingly.

Standing next to Major Shawn Owens, in the middle of the stage with the spotlight on him, he shook his hand. He knew he had accomplished a goal that most students hoped to achieve at the end of their high school careers.

Matthew Bierwagen, senior, joined Air Force JROTC his freshman hoping for four years full of adventures. He knew he had a mission to graduate and have a prosperous future ahead of him. He had a desire to make sure he would make his parents proud.

“When I first heard I received the Air Force type seven scholarship, I felt proud to know my parents didn’t have to bother to pay anything for me, that I had accomplished it on my own,” Bierwagen said.

Bierwagen has received a Type seven scholarship from the Air Force which includes payment for entire tuition and fees accumulated cost, six hundred dollars for textbook expenses, and a monthly check for living expenses called a stipend. This stipend depends on what year the student is currently in. It increases every year of his four year college career. The stipend begins freshman year at the amount of 300 dollars, and gradually increases to the

Highly decorated cadet Major Shawn Owens speaks highly of the dedicated cadet Matthew Bierwagen. Technical Sergeant Joseph Campbell and Major Dennis Martinez congratulate for his triumph.

May 2014

The Issue 5 PEREGRINE

Chalking Up Art As he lets all his creative thoughts run from his hands to his canvas for the fine arts festival, Ian Erheart, junior, works on his original piece with his partner. They worked throughout the entire day and then volunteered time after school to finish the piece.

photo by Ashley Hoselton

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Feature

photo by Ashley Hoselton

Street Painting

Creative Minds Together NAHS members pushed themselves to new heights as they worked in the school, at the Haute Wheel Food Truck Painting, and in their own communities, to create pieces of art for all to see. Meetings after school, projects on weekends, and missed classes top the list of actions the members did to make artwork.

photo by Alissa Trevino

Art enthusiasts chalk up events around Houston

photo by Ashley Hoselton

As he crawls across the cold, dry concrete with sweaty hands, he creates a work of art for all to see at the Children’s Museum of Houston. Ian Erheart, junior, has worked on art for a majority of his life, and now he gets to leave a permanent mark on Houston.

Art National Honors Society has traveled to various locations throughout Houston to make street paintings and sidewalk art. They have done works at places such as The Children’s Museum of Houston, the Haute Wheels Food Truck Festival, and at the schools very own Fine Arts festival. After working their entire high school careers to member in National Art Honor Society, they have reaped the reward of leaving their mark on Houston.

“My favorite part of making a piece of artwork is seeing the people’s reactions to my work. It motivates me to work harder and put myself and my artwork out for all to see, “Erheart said.

Art National Honors Society member Erheart crafted works of art for students of Jersey Village to see along with a street painting at The Children’s Museum of Houston. At the Fine Arts Festival he and another member of NAHS created apiece that depicted a comical rendition of mushroom filled grasslands.

Many of the members of NAHS participated in a group effort to bring to life a rainforest sketch made by one of the students. They made this piece of work for the Children’s Museum; it was a very windy day which made for an exhilarating few hours. The chalk stayed in place, much to the pleasure of the artists.

Alissa Trevino, an artist, and Art teacher has

brought this opportunity for the NAHS members. She began drawing at a very young age, copying pictures out of magazines and encyclopedias. She decided to enter the world of street painting in 2005 at the Via Colori Street Painting Festival. She has encouraged members of NAHS to become more active in local art programs and events as she believes it expands the members’ artistic abilities along with fill them with a newfound sense of pride.

“I plan on pursuing art in my life once I graduate high school. It is something I have grown very fond of and I enjoy working on my own pieces of art,” Sandy Nguyen, senior, said.

Partially inspired by Trevino’s ambition, many of the members such as Nguyen, who has many very ambitious plans, plan to pursue art after they have left high school. She wants to become an international art teacher, even fly around in a hot air balloon. Although some of the members have less far out plans, such as Ian Erheart who plans on becoming an engineer after attending the University of Houston.

“I enjoyed working on pieces of art with other members of NAHS because it took the individual pressure off our shoulders and allowed us to work with less stress and made it more enjoyable,” Nguyen said.

Many of the NAHS members have participated in all three street painting activities, the fine arts festival at jersey village, the street painting at the children’s museum, and the Haute Wheels Food truck painting.

“I really enjoy bringing my students out into the community to make art, and hope to continue to do

so. They get a different sense of pride when adults, outside of school, make positive comments about their work,” Trevino said.

Trevino guides the students through the journey of art, a journey even she herself will never truly be done with. Inspiring the students to create original works of art, she pushes the members of NAHS to allow their minds to thrive with creativity, and then move the ideas that their minds have created onto canvas, concrete, paper, whatever medium they need to transfer their ideas from just their heads to a physical, real creation.

NAHS members put this to the test when they participated in the yearly Fine Arts Festival, creating four separate works of art. They worked diligently throughout the entire festival, along with other originations, to show off their abilities to the school.

They created many pieces depicting popular comical characters and even an original piece by Erheart and his partner.

Throughout the year the member’s art has been posted all throughout the school, it has been critiqued and complimented by hundreds. When the day comes down to it, they enjoy making their artwork not only for themselves but also for others.

Trevino hopes that art students who are not currently in NAHS, or have not been a part of the street paintings, decide to drop by the NAHS meetings to learn about street painting. She plans to continue venturing out into the community to make pieces of art with her students, for everyone to see.

By Will Scales

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THE Issue 5 PEREGRINE

Feature

Long Lasting Legacy

May 2014

Teacher retires after 43 years of educating students, faculty, friends Seniors stack upon each other as the cool breeze blows across the class of 2014. The photographer focuses his camera as he leans into the lens. Sudden shouts filled the atmosphere as Marte Parham walked towards the panoramic.

Christian Cordova, senior, raised his arm inviting her to join the seniors on the front bench. After so many years of not being a part of the senior panoramic Parham joined this senior panoramic on the year of her retirement.

English department head, for the past seven years, Parham announced her retirement midAugust of the school year. After dedicating 32 years of her intellect to the school and 43 years of her lifetime, the enthusiastic instructor will graduate alongside the senior class.

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“The last two years have been hard with Parham, but at the same time they have been extremely wonderful. I have learned so much!

And for that I will always thank her.

I will keep all my English memories with Parham forever,” Elizabeth Ortega, senior, said.

Taking pride in her work Parham has a special way of structuring her room. Laying her desks in circles, one within another, helps develop her students’ critical learning skills. This gave each individual the opportunity to experience one another’s ideas and as a group discuss the lessons Parham set forth.

“It was based on a seminar approach. It involved the kids having the discussion. If I did my job well, all I had to do was ask a question. If a student asked a

1992

question all I had to do was ask another question,” Parham said.

With this method Parham observed the changes in her students as the year progressed.

The wallflower blossomed into a social light about the classroom discussion, and the timid scholar in the corner felt comfortable voicing an opinion on the subject.

“She didn’t care about the grades, she cared about making sure we knew the information and we were fully prepared to enter the world after high school. Parham gave us life lessons not just about English related topics, but things we will actually faced in the real world,” Cyndel Campbell, senior, said.

Entering each school year not only as a teacher, but as a student, did not come easy to the educator.

During her high school years, Parham found no motivation to excel in education, being content to barely get by, seemed to be her downfall.

“The reason I’m up in my students’ grill is because I was very lazy, I didn’t study till the last minute. I got by on my good graces, and I was smart enough until a certain point of time. I never learned how to study or how to manage my time. I’m still a procrastinator, but I’m a good one,” Parham said.

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2014 “P

arham has taught me to be more stern with my actions and words, not to take anything from no one, and to do what I believe in ”, Alyssa Culpepper, senior, said.

“M

s. Parham has been one of the most influential teachers I’ve ever had the blessing of being taught by. She endlessly devotes her time to better others around her,“ Mitchell Fly, junior, said.

Flashback Through Decades Four years into her being a part of the Falcon faculty Marte Parham sits in one of her first senior panoramic photos in 1986. Parham again joined in on another senior panoramic in 1992. After giving her retirement speech at the faculty retirement party for the Falcon staff, Parham welcomes the applause from her fellow co workers. “I hate for the underclassmen who will not have her for the years to come. We are really losing something great,” Karen Miller, Calculus teacher, said.

“M

s. Parham has impacted my life by showing me what hard work and dedication really is, and the value of intelligence,“ Kaeli Jones, senior, said.

THE Issue 5 PEREGRINE

May 2014

Parham’s Favorite Novels 1.

Poisonwood Bible

Barbara Kingsolver

...Continued from previous page.

Moving onto college Parham realized the drastic shift she needed to make.

Only taking multiple choice tests in high school resulted in her inability to write properly. Fully aware of her faults Parham planned to major in music.

After some time and a slight change of heart, Parham changed majors to earn her degree in science. Realizing that memorization was yet another one of her flaws she switched from majoring in science to English.

“I majored in English because I loved to read. I do not know why I pursued teaching, if it was because I appreciated some of the teachers I had or I wanted to be like them. I didn’t major in education, but I got certified to teach, and that’s what I have been doing since 1973,” Parham said.

After ten years of teaching middle school, Parham migrated to Jersey Village in 1983. Starting off as a sophomore English teacher, and then joining the senior English team Parham she saw an opportunity, as the dual credit option became available to the older students. Pleased with the idea of offering high school students the option of earning college credit while moving forward in high school, Parham did not hesitate to teach the junior class once it became available to them.

“I want to say this is my third year teaching juniors. I love it. They don’t

“M

2.

A Prayer Must Re ad for Owen s!

3.

Meany Beloved J I ohn rving

Toni Morrison

already know everything like the seniors …verbal irony,” Parham said.

Educating and connecting with the vast variety of individuals has kept Parham sane, being a beacon of hope for the future after each student leaves her classroom. Teaching her students to think critically, and to be independent, remain as Parham’s valuable lessons.

“I know that going into her classroom year after year, the kids that she had in her class were prepared to tackle freshman English in college because she did a great job teaching them,” Daniel Salinas, assistant principal, said.

Pleased with their education, two former Jersey Village graduates came together to dedicate a scholarship to the educator. Two years ago the two graduates came to Parham to help edit the rules and guidelines over breakfast, only to move the educator to tears. The Marte Parham Scholarship, consisting of an essay, tax return review, and a panel interview awarded Monica Garcia,senior, its second award.

“They graduated not in the very top, so they had to work throughout college to go through UT. They both are business people now. Both decided to give a scholarship to a graduate, who is not destitute and who is not in the top five percent,” Parham said.

Earning spotlight teacher in the 1999-2000 school year, Dr. Dan Troxell, former JV principal, recognized Parham’s ability to educate not only

s. Parham has by far been the best teacher I’ve had in my four years of high school. She has pushed me into learning how to be a better writer,” Marco Espinosa, senior, said.

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her students but the individuals around her. Although the former principal and Parham did not see eye to eye, both instructors respected each other’s work ethic. To this day Parham still remains baffled by the award given to her.

“I was certainly honored, but that shocked me. I have never seen me as being the chosen one,” Parham said.

With a scholarship dedicated to her, a spotlight teacher award, and 41 years of teaching experience under her belt, Parham’s adventures have only begun.

Purchasing land in South Carolina she plans on building her own house by the lake within the next few years.

“I plan never to grade a paper again in my life. And if I ever have to edit a paper it will cost someone through the nose,” Parham said.

Connecting back to her roots, Parham plans on rekindling her involvement with her music. As a folksinger she plays guitar and sings. Unfortunately her passion has taken a backseat due to the lack of time. Bird watching, camping, and traveling make up her plans following the end of the school year. In addition, keeping literature in her life will always be a constant.

“I’m going to read books that I can say ‘this will be great to teach but I’m just going to read it’. And I’ll probably write, satire is probably going to be my forte.

God knows I have plenty of material,” Parham said.

By Alexander Cruz

ooking back at all my teachers, Ms. Parham is the most passionate teacher I’ve ever met. She strived to improve my writing without changing my style,“ Tiffany Lu, senior, said.

“P

arham has the remarkable talent of turning English lessons into life lessons that I will remember for the rest of my life,“ Kelsey Hodges, junior, said.

“E

nglish class has been overwhelmingly amazing because of Parham.

She has gotten me to change myself as a student and a person,“ Json Mondesir, senior, said.

“P

arham has taught me to never hide or run away from the truth, no matter how hard it is,“ Jessica Cook, junior, said.

“H

er dedication, ambition, and hard work has helped promote a willingness to learn in her classroom. After two years of THE PARHAM, I am a better person,“ Austin Luchak, senior, said.

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The Issue 5 PEREGRINE

TIME LINE

February 27 Fly to New York City for their contest season trip

March 2 Return to Houston to start Spring Show rehearsals

February 28 Workshop with David Guzman, a Newsies cast member and dancer March 7 Tryouts for ‘Newsies’

March 24 -April 10 Rehearsals April 11-12 Spring Show

Feature

May 2014

STRIKE Gold Dusters ‘Seize the Day’ with Broadway show, Newsies The room echoed with the thunder of feet pounding the wooden floor. The walls shook as “Strike!” screamed from the stereo. Fists flew through the air in time with the music, as the team of dancers followed along with the instructor’s every step.

The days of February 27th - March 2nd, the Gold Dusters traveled to New York City for their contest season trip. As a treat for them, they received the opportunity to learn a small part of a scene from the Tony Award winning Broadway show, ‘Newsies,’ under the instruction from an official cast member.

“It was an amazing class with a great instructor. To take class from a Broadway performer and then see the actual musical on Broadway was an experience of a lifetime,” Courtney Nelson, Gold Duster director, said.

The scene that the Gold Dusters learned was part of ‘Seize the Day,’ the moment in which the Newsies decide to go on strike against Joseph Pulitzer, the CEO of the newspaper they distributed.

“It was so exciting and nerve wrecking! I knew it was an opportunity that not many get. I wanted to do my absolute best,” Ravin Rios, senior, said David Guzman, a Newsies cast member, instructed the Gold Dusters on the steps to ‘Seize the Day.’ He gave the dancers a great impression with his dance ability and dedication to the show.

“He was an amazing dancer who also had a very positive attitude. He was patient with us and explained everything really well, and it didn’t hurt that he was cute too,” Jessi Cook, junior, said.

During a Q&A with Guzman, the dancer revealed that he just graduated high school the previous year, to the surprise and reverence by most of the Gold Dusters.

“He was very interesting to learn from since he was our age and a little on the attractive side,” Vicky Zertuche, Gold Duster Colonel, said.

The overall experience of dancing in a Broadway studio motivated the dancers to showcase their skills and attempt to impress the cast member.

“Dancing in a Broadway studio was a whole new experience; it was different from the dance room. Everything around us seemed professional,” Brooke Wallace, Social Officer

Taking a Stand On stage during ‘You Better Werk!’ Brook Wallace, senior, begins the strike. “I felt accomplished when I learned the scene form ‘Newsies.’

It was an amazing feeling to be able to do what Broadway stars can do,” Wallace said.

President, said.

The girls felt inspired to receive the opportunity to dance in the Broadway studio.

“It was really cool to be able to experience and see where the people who actually made it on Broadway got to practice and learn,” Mariam Ramy, sophomore, said.

The size of the actual studio caught many of the girls off guard, since they were under the assumption it would be larger, considering the amount of people who star on Broadway.

“It was smaller than I expected, but so amazing to be on Broadway,” Marilyn Ownby, Gold Duster assistant director, said.

Following the example of the Newsies, the night of the Gold Duster’s show, ‘You Better Werk!’ some of the girls decided to go on strike themselves by performing the scene they learned in New York. The small event did put a halt to the show by leading the audience into intermission.

“It was a very powerful but short dance” Lieutenant Colonel Zada Gascon, senior, said.

The dance may have been short, but the girls gave it their all.

“I had to do it like I was actually part of the Broadway show; as if that was my only Broadway debut,” Zertuche said.

Knowing that they had a very rare experience, the Gold Dusters wanted show what they really did in New York.

“I felt very fortunate to be able to perform it. I loved showing people that we did more than just shop on our trip to NYC,” Ramy said.

The girls enjoyed their time in New York and looked forward to performing the scene that they learned in their spring show.

“I wish I could have dressed the part, it probably would have made others and myself more comfortable in a new place,” Zertuche said.

For all the girls who went on the trip, the experience of going to New York and learning in a real Broadway studio will not fade from their memories anytime soon.

“It was overall a wonderful experience and I’m so blessed I could get such an opportunity,” Rios said.

By Heather Twardowski

Ready for Attack Victoria Garza, senior, Jessi Cook, junior, Moony Cao, senior, and Vicky Zertuche, senior, show their attitude. photos by Pablo Vazquez

photos by Pablo Vazquez

Step and Prep The Gold Dusters act together to showcase the scene from “Newsies” for their family and friends. “It was an amazing experience to be able to learn a dance from a Broadway show from an actual member of the cast,” Cook said.

photos by Natalie Solano

photos by Natalie Solano

May 2014

The Issue 5 PEREGRINE

From paper to computer screen

Different devices able to access E-Book app Laying across the couch in their living room, a student holds a brand new e-reader in her hands.

The hand held device whirrs to life, lighting up the screen as the student powers the tech on. The user swipes and navigates through the e-reader, completely awestruck to the world of possibility that the device holds, relieved of the release of textbook strain.

E-readers, a work in progress since in the late 1940’s, have revolutionized both the written and digital world. First debuting in the 1990s, the tech has only hit major marketing departments in recent years, and the resources have only become available to the school library within the past few months.

“I have had quite a few people come in to download the app and have help with the initial process; and after that they don’t even need to come and see me anymore. It’s very exciting,” Elizabeth Nebeker, librarian, said.

From the Enlight app for iPhones and Androids, students gain the ability to download books and receive their literacy kick on the go. Free of charge, the app and rental of each E-book eliminates the need to spend money on different titles in stores. Along with the alleviation of lugging books everywhere and paying for the books, the app removes any chance of losing the book and having to pay the missing or damaged book fee.

The library can only offer the books to those who have smartphones, but Nebeker plans to change that in the future. Once the library acquires the funds, Nebeker plans to purchase separate E-readers for students without smartphones to rent from the library.

“At this point, it is only an app that you can download or you can read them on your computer, but I am thinking about getting some devices that you can check out that will have the app and the E-Books on them,” Nebeker said.

Some people will always prefer physical books over the recent technology leads to the fact that the library will never fully depend on equipment, but the idea of having some of the equipment available proves a step forward for the department. Even

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though the notion may not sit near in the future, some students have already built up a positive attitude towards the possible addition.

“I think it’s an excellent idea to add the E-Readers considering the fact that some students enjoy accessing modern devices. It could encourage students to read and access book sources for projects, and it could lead to students being introduced to a variety of different genres and novels,” Vanessa Halastaras, junior, said.

“The E-readers would encourage students to read more books and it would make accessing the books easier, not to mention you would not have to carry the books around with you, anymore,” Nathan Chin said.

For students that read at a constant rate, E-Readers would mean getting their favorite titles a lot faster than having to search through the library and stand in line before checkout, as well as not having to search for the page they had left off on before closing the book, allowing students to appear at the page they left off on in an instant. Excitement floats amongst some students, but others stand more apprehensive to the subject.

“I don’t think the librarian should let students check out the E-Readers, most people don’t read that often,” Shelby Finley, sophomore, said.

Even with some negative comments floating around, Nebeker has a few words to combat the theories placed by students with ill to say to the project.

“Theft is not an issue with the E-Books. A big bonus is when the students check them out, it will come out of their accounts, and if not as many people wanted the E-Readers in the library, I’d feel the need to market and sell them harder. A good thing is that you can keep them after May 5th, which is when the other books need to come back,” Nebeker said.

The librarian has no intention of stopping the project and remains determined to power through the naysaying. As the school slowly progresses to the future, the library department hopes to soon catch up, starting with the distribution the E-Readers and promoting the E-Books as best they can.

by Julianna Perez

photo by Julianna Perez

Students Take Advantage of Simple Access 1. The Follet Enlight app offers access ability to most internetbased devices. The app can be downloaded and used from any computer, smartphone, tablet, or E -Reader that has an internet connection. If a student knows their school computer login information, they will have the ability to enter the program. if a student does not know their login information, or the app still does not grant access, Ms. Nebeker, the librarian, should have the means to help them determine the details or the source of the issue. 2. Dante Resendiz, senior and frequenter of the school library, reads through What All The Best College Kids Do by Ken Bain during his free period and lunch break in anticipation of the end of his senior year. “Personally; I’ve always preferred holding the book in my hand. The feeling of the paper in my hands makes it a bit more real. I feel like if I’m holding onto something electronic it will distract me from the topic at hand,” says Resendiz.

photo by Julianna Perez

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THE Issue 5 PEREGRINE

SportS In-Depth

The Road to State

Girls place fifth in tournament

The team in purple suits spread across the pool, treading water as they fight to stay above the surface. An orange blur soars toward Kayla Allen, senior, team captain, and she dives to recover the ball before her opponent. With all her strength, Allen propels the ball into the other team’s goal. Beating Cy-Springs, the girls’ water polo team emerges as district champions.

The girls’ water polo team progressed on to the regional tournament, and won first in their bracket. The athletes practiced daily to build their endurance and skills and develop as a team.

“It took a lot of patience and desire to get to districts and win,” Allen said.

Last year the girls placed first at state and the guys received second in their division. As a result, a friendly rivalry developed between the two teams. Although both the girls and guys qualified for regionals, the girls’ water polo team achieved first and the boys received second.

“We’re always up for calling out the other gender’s mistakes which helps them fix it, and we always joke that ‘there’s so much tension on the team’ because the girls want to advance farther than the boys and vice versa. The rivalry only makes us stronger and more lighthearted,” Maddyson Walker, junior, said.

The competition between the girls and boys team motivated the athletes to achieve high scores. The veteran players recovered from the loss of their star players last year and adopted new girls like Madeline Munchrath, junior. Recovering from a volleyball injury, Munchrath joined the water polo team to continue playing a team sport with a winning streak.

“Water polo is something completely different than anything I have done before, so it is a change,” Munchrath said.

Playing as a goalie, Munchrath defended her team at the tournaments, contributing to the district championship and regional title. Although her knee injury prevented her from playing volleyball, Munchrath found a new passion in water polo with Walker and her other teammates.

“It’s the best part of my day knowing that I’m a part of such a spectacular team while representing Jersey Village. It’s a huge pick me up and motivator,” Walker said.

Proud of the team’s success, Walker dedicated a lot of time practicing water polo to improve her skills in preparation for state. Representing the school motivated Walker to stay focused on winning.

“Some of the team’s goals this season were definitely to work on shot accuracy. We’ve got the strength and shot three times more than all of our opponents. If we can get even slightly more precise in our shots, we will be virtually unstoppable,” Walker

girls AttACk, Boys DefenD Throughout the season, the teams playfully bickered as to which team was the better team. The girls always attacked saying that they finished better at state the previous year, and the boys defended by saying that they had the tougher route.

said.

Improving their shooting accuracy increased the amount of points the girls’ water polo team scored and ultimately gave them an advantage over the other teams. Striving to perfect their shooting, the girls scheduled longer practices to work on their plays and skills.

“We learn through each other rather than just listening to coach alone. We have gotten to a point where we can recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses and can guide ourselves in the right directions. Our team is one giant relationship, we work our problems out no matter how difficult and all love one another by the end of the day,” Walker said.

The team developed an unbreakable relationship with each other throughout the year and used their closeness to win. Like a family, the girls support each other’s strengths and weaknesses, in and out of the pool. To most of the girls, water polo means more than a sport; it plays a vital role in their life and high school experience.

“This year things were a little different, more players including myself went to play for the junior Olympics, more players were practicing more outside of school, practices were running longer and we’ve began to watch film of our past games on the days we had morning practice off to see what needed to be improved,” Walker said.

The girls adapted to a new schedule centered on getting better than last year to prepare for state. By identifying their mistakes, the team improved and progressed on to the state tournament after winning regionals.

“Winning the district was a huge confidence boost. It’s a huge honor for the school and makes us want to work even harder when training because we know there are teams waiting to play us and give us one heck of a battle,” Walker said.

The girl’s water polo team ended their season 5th in state, with player Kayla Allen making Second Team All-State and Jenny Carry receiving an All-state honorable mention.

By Kelsey HoDges

photo by Marieke Alsguth

May 2014

May 2014

THE Issue 5 PEREGRINE

SportS In-Depth

Boys Take District Title

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Water Polo finishes ninth at state

photo by Marieke Alsguth

eyeing A repeAt performAnCe The girls team had their sights set on a repeat of their previous year, when they won the state championship, but they finished just short of the goal. Elizabeth Hunt, sophomore, and Jordan Hoye, sophomore, helped the team strive towards their goal, but were sad when they finished fifth at state.

The ball flies from hand to hand as drops of water drip off of it in midflight. With one last throw, the ball soars past the swiping hands of the goalie and strikes the back of the net. The team huddles around the scorer and captain, Mitchell Almonte, senior. As the team huddles around him, he thought humble thoughts, praising not himself, but the team for the goal.

Almonte helped lead the team to their second straight district championship in water polo. Last year, they made it all the way to the state championship only to finish second. This year they hope their run takes them all the way to the top.

“In order to win district, the team played as a unit, and really paid attention to each other during the games. It was a great feeling winning the district championship because we lost all our starters from last year,” Almonte said.

With the thought of last year staying in their mind as their motivation, the pressure mounts on the team’s shoulders to transfer last year’s success to this year.

“There is a lot of pressure living up

to last year’s success. Our team lost every single one of oour starters due to graduation. We have big shoes to fill,” Almonte said.

Almonte humbles himself as a captain of the team.

He believes it is just a title and it does not make him feel any different than the rest of his team. He has the responsibilities of leading stretches before games and keeping the team focused at practices.

Changing a whole starting lineup remained the major difference from last year to this year, and they built on it through the season.

“This year has been different from last year because we are a young team, so there were a lot of learning experiences unlike last year,” Shane S p e e s , junior, said.

A s almost a new team dove into t h e water, they

learned through practices and game scenarios what they did not have the chance of learning last year. They learned how to grow together as a unit, not as individuals, and remains atop the district for the second year in a row.

“My favorite memory of the season was beating Cy-Creek to become District Champions again, and it was very exciting because we were a young team with not a lot of experience. It was a great accomplishment,” Spees said.

As the team advanced to the regional tournament, practices got tougher. The team placed second at the regional tournament, and advanced to the state tournament which takes place May 2nd and 3rd.

The team had hopes of winning that tournament instead of placing second, but after an inury to Josh Bolado, sophomore, they lost their first game by one point and finished ninth overall.

Matt By DuBose

photo by Marieke Alsguth

Answering the CAll After the majority of the starting line up left, new players stepped up like Shane Spees, junior, who was an Honorable Mention on the All-State team. Another player who stepped up was goalie, Wes Hertel, sophomore.

photo by Marieke Alsguth

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The Issue 5 PEREGRINE

Feature

The Falconry

LIFE Skills brings school spirit, supplies back to convenient Commons location

Throughout the daily bustle of the lunches A through C, thousands of students pass through the large Commons every day, and have done so since the school opened in 1972. This school year, however, many students make a stop for products other than lunch food; a stop that Falcon students made for decades before the renovations that occurred in the 2007-2008 school year. After a four year hiatus, The Falconry, or the official school store, resumed business at the start of this school year at the request of the principal, Ralph Funk.

“It’s nice to have a place on campus where students can get supplies; to buy spirit accessories at a reasonable price,” Funk said.

The Falconry acquired its name just this past month, but the tradition has been around as long as the oldest faculty members can recall. Today the store serves two purposes: it offers students a place on campus where they can get school supplies at an affordable price, and it offers easy access to school-spirit accessories, such as shirts, cups, and wristbands. Security, which formerly occupied the room where the Falconry now exists, was moved over to Main Street, and LIFE Skills set up shop.

Earlier this year, LIFE Skills, including

The Informed

“It’s about making a fashion statement.

So when people see me outside of school they’ll say “I wish I went to her school!”

Britain Beets, sophomore

instructors Sheila Thomas and Paul Cook, set up shelves, hauled in a cash register, and finally brought in merchandise, receiving help from several students. Pens, papers, binders, and other school supplies were brought in from Office Depot, and custommade spirit items were ordered from specialty stores. Some of the merchandise, such as the t-shirts currently for sale, are actually left-overs from several years ago which are now available at a reduced price.

“LIFE Skills provides their students a real-life experience, that’s also a part of their curriculum. Students keep up with the inventory, stock the shelves, make change for customers, all of this is part of what they learn,” Funk said.

LIFE Skills is a school program that assists students with a range of disabilities, teaching them practical, everyday skills which will help them succeed after they graduate. LIFE Skills undertakes several school projects every year, such as a carnation sale on Valentine’s Day, and the preparation of testing supplies during TAKS/STAAR. This year LIFE Skills students readily took on the task of managing and running the school store. The students involved perform the majority of the tasks that go into maintaining the store while instructors observe and ensure efficiency.

The Uninformed

“I go to the library when I have a project.

It’s convenient to be able to get posterboard there. I didn’t know there was a store in the commons.”

Mary Quach, sophomore

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our students. Running the school store has empowered our students by developing opportunities for them that they wouldn’t otherwise have,” Paul Cook, LIFE Skills teacher, said.

Although the Falconry has been up and running for some time now, there are still a number of issues which the store has yet to overcome, the most pertinent of these being that a large portion of the student body remains unaware that there is such a place as a school store.

Before the Falconry was re-approved the library established itself as the replacement for the old school store, and began stocking a range of school necessities. Because of this many students are in the habit of stopping by the library when they need a box of markers or a sheet of poster-board. As the year progresses more students may visit the Falconry, but the quiet competition between the library and the Falconry will likely continue indefinitely, as the two stores offer much of the same merchandise. The Falconry, however, offers something the library store does not: spirit merchandise, something which students today can’t get enough of.

“Today in English we watched a video of how JV was in the 80’s. Everyone was so much more connected and school spirited.

I wish people had more school spirit today,” Kendall Grant, senior, said.

LIFE Skills has plans to expand the store by including items such as new shirts for each of the school departments, school gym clothes, and backpacks. Ideally, the Falconry will someday be a place where students collectively go to support their school.

By Joel Montfort

MAY 2014 The Falconry Price list 1” Binder.........................$3.00 2” Binder.........................$4.00 Small Binder Clips..........$0.50 Medium Binder Clips......$1.00 Small Paper Clips............$0.50 Large Paper Clips............$1.00 DVDs...............................$2.00 Construction Paper.........$0.10 Folders............................$0.50 Glue Stick........................$0.50 3x5 Index Cards...............$0.75 5x8 Index Cards..............$2.00 Colored Pencils...............$2.00 G2 Pens...........................$2.00 Highlighters....................$2.00 Sharpie............................$1.00 Post It Notes....................$0.50 Crayola Crayons..............$3.00 Pencils.............................$0.10 White Poster Board.........$0.75 Lanyard...........................$5.00 Erasers............................$0.50 Notebook Paper..............$2.00 Hand Sanitizer................$2.00 Hand Sanitizer holder...$1.00 Ear Buds.......................$2.00 8gb flash drive..............$7.00 Spirit T-shirts...............$5.00 Cups.............................$2.00 Fan...............................$2.00 Lunch Bag.....................$5.00 Coozie...........................$3.00 Bracelet.........................$1.00

A Wide Variety The Falconry’s Price list, offers a selection of items.

“Sometimes I walk by it, but I never go in. It just looks like another room.”

“There was a big line outside because only one lady runs it.

I got this shirt there.

Everything was neat and organized.”

Manav Patel, sophomore

Khoa Nguyen, junior

“Great service, sweet lady. I stopped in for a folder and some pencils. They were of the utmost respectable quality.”

Connor Herrod, senior

“I didn’t know we had a school store until last week.

It doesn’t stand out, the sign isn’t noticeable.”

Marquis Henderson, junior

photos by Joel Montfort

Service with a Smile Theila Thomas,

LIFE Skills instructor shows a JV shirt to a student.

May 2014

The Issue 5 PEREGRINE

Feature

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THE Issue 5 PEREGRINE

Feature

May 2014

Destination ImagiNation “The Pajama Crew” competes in state competition

Months of preparation have brought her to this moment as Clare Wineman’s, junior, eyes gaze upon the crowd of onlookers. Her body shakes with feelings of nervousness and anticipation.

Just as the contest depicts, she fills her head with childlike imagination, trying to find the most innovative way to give the judges what they look for in a performance; but she does not stand alone in her goal. Accompanying her are some of her closest friends who share the same creative cravings that she does, and they all direct their effort into their performance for the Destination ImagiNation State Competition.

Wineman prides herself as one part of the Destination ImagiNation team, named “The Pajama Crew,” who won first place in the Laugh Art Loud competition at the Gulf Coast Regional Destination ImagiNation Competition, and also qualified for the Texas Destination ImagiNation State Competition held in Pflugerville on April 11 and 12.

“DI is an international competition based off of creativity and positive teamwork. Students grades 2nd through college can pick from a series of five challenges that can either be technical (building), improv, where the team performs and makes a skit on the spot at a tournament, Project Outreach, where teams can make a skit based off research and volunteer work, or theatrical where teams can make a skit and set based on a certain set of guidelines,” Wineman said.

The team had several months to prepare for the competition and do everything from review the contest rules and formulating a plan, to creating a skit and building a set. They spent many of the months before competitions working together in order to make sure that they would be prepared to perform in front of the judges.

“Each team had seven months to prepare for their regional competition, this gives enough time to build things if necessary and rehearse your main and instant challenges so you can be as best prepared for the tournament as possible. My team and I met once a week for five months and then the two months following the regional tournament we started to meet as often as possible. If you advance to state from your regional tournament you’ll receive an additional month and a half to two months to rehearse/adjust anything you need to before the state competition,” Wineman

said.

This year they were required to create a performance based off a piece of artwork made by a non-American artist. The team chose a painting named “Danse Macabre” by a German artist named Michael Wolgemut, which shows an image of a skeleton standing on top of a mound of money. Teams were also given the task to incorporate an artifact and a Caption Contraption in their performance. The idea the team thought up was to make a skeleton statue as their artifact, which was supposed to represent a traditional Buddha statue, and their Caption Contraption was a foam board with piping that would ooze out red ink to reveal the text “Goodbye Marcus”. Both of the items represented key ideals and symbols that would be vital in their performance.

“We came up with a dark comedy type of story about a family who runs a snowcone company. The son of the family leaves for a mission trip to a foreign country and when he returns his family becomes so overrun by money by money and new technology that they become, defined by our terms as, lifeless. So we had them dress as skeletons to portray their loss of humanity. In the story the son becomes determined to remind his family why they started the company in the first place and does the most he can to try and get his family to come together again, however all of the attempts fail and towards the end of the storyline, the son dies. His death is what really reminds the family what they use to have and ‘brings them back to life,’” Wineman said.

If they do well in the State competition, they would have the chance to participate in the Global competition with teams from all around the world; but even with every bit of determination to succeed in the state competition, and the numerous, tiring hours that went into preparation, they were still unable to advance to the Global competition from State.

“This year the state of Texas took places 1-6th to the Globals tournament and unfortunately we made 7th by two points. I’m happy that we made such a high place especially competing against 28 other teams, but I am a little disappointed that this wasn’t our year, but there is always next year for us, and we’ll be bringing our A-game, no doubt,” Wineman said.

By Trevor Hargis

photos by Clare Wineman

Preparing To Compete Some of “The Pajama Crew” members help unload all the equipment they will need off the truck. Among them are Bill Paluch, parent, Amy Paluch, junior, Kelsey Coats, junior, and Wesley Hertel, junior.

Exchanging Gifts During the period of the Destination ImagiNation contests, teams will give each other pins as gifts to the other contestants.

Danse Macabre This painting (translated to “Dance of Death”) was illustrated by renounced German artist Michael Wolgemut in 1493, who was famous for starting workshops which taught young artists.

painting by Michael Wolgemut

Sponsor - Parent Support “The Pajama Crew’s” sponsor and parent, Joan Coats, helps the team move around and keeps them on time in order to compete.

May 2014

Change

The Issue 5 PEREGRINE

in the

Workforce

Girls bring new look to welding class

“I

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Feature The loud sound of a wood welder hums through the room and saw dust covers the floor as two students finish up a rocking chair for their next project. Behind the almost finished rocking chair, a girl with her hair pulled back and plastic goggles glows with enthusiasm as she finishes her project. A constructive job that involves melting, soldering, brazing, and special precautions typically known as a man’s job now has girls taking the lead in metal fabrication and sculpting.

Arely Monge, sophomore, was convinced by a friend to join welding so they could work together. Despite being in a man’s environment and a few minor injuries, she finds welding very fun.

“I thought welding was very interesting and I decided it is want I want to pursue as a career,” Monge said. “I want to go to Tulsa Welding School and become either a pipe fitter or a welding inspector.”

Welding is not known as a women’s job, but over the years, the role of women in society has changed drastically. Women working in factory businesses and construction became widely known during World War ll when men were sent off to war and women filled in their jobs.

Construction and welding is still not widely known as a job for women today considering six percent of welders are women.

Women in non-traditional jobs usually experience problems with sexism. Though participating in complex, male-based work and projects, Ivonne Ortega, sophomore, feels excepted in welding class.

“I felt like I fit right in once I joined the class,” Ortega said. “Everyone is really nice and helpful.”

Welding teacher, Mr. Pearson, has been a welding teacher for three years. He has seen many impressive projects created by the girls in his classes such as rocking benches and hallway tables.

“Girls make better welders because they have steady hands and more patience,” Pearson says.

“Welding benefits girls just as much as guys because they are able to see their ideas come to life.”

Through welding, he hopes his students will learn patience, problem solving skills, real world math skills and how to work with a team and independently.

Alexis Mendoza, junior, participated in the Texas TSA State Contest and entered her pink bench into the contest and won 2nd place. “I joined welding this year as a joke at first, but then I started to love it,” Alexis Mendoza, junior said. “I am not sure if I want to pursue it as a career, but if I do, I want to attend Tulsa Welding School.”

Welding groups are reaching out to students to share the opportunities of trade work. Not only is it a good job opportunity with good pay, but it also involves making a difference. Welding can reconstruct communities and rebuild automobiles, buildings, bridges, pipelines and oil and gas rigs. Through these opportunities, both boys and girls can become successful through the engineering business.

By Katelyn Houser

Photo by Will Scales

t is good to show a variety and beat the stereotype,” Jesus Lopez, sophomore, said.

Non-Traditional Careers

Myths and Facts Myth: Certain jobs are men’s work and other jobs are women’s work.

Fact: Attitudes about which jobs are appropriate for men or women is the main job requirement.

“G

irls should have the right to join any male-based environment,” Zetti Raines, senior, said.

Myth: Women won’t like trade work.

Fact: Many women enjoy working with their hands and working outdoors.

Myth: Non-traditional jobs are too dirty, noisy and dangerous for women.

Fact: Many women do not mind getting dirty, and they are provided with proper safety instructions.

“I

t’s useful because the majority of boys are in welding and it is nice for girls to be in it, too,” Manav Patel, sophomore, said.

Myth: Women will leave a job to get married and have children.

Fact: The average woman works a total of 30 years in her lifetime regardless of marriage and children.

Photo by Matthew Dubose

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The Issue 5 PEREGRINE

Feature

Destined to Succeed

May 2014

Harvard takes another Falcon into its prestigious halls

After hours of relentlessly spending nights on the computer and filling out numerous college applications, senior Matthew Tesfalul’s dreams of entering into one of the most prestigious schools in the country came true. After years of tireless AP courses, the letter he anticipated since first entering into high school finally arrived. When the letter from Harvard University arrived feelings of relief and pride rushed through his body.

“Harvard is a great school with a variety of courses, majors, and opportunities. The school has a tight network and is very generous when it comes to financial aid. Plus, the fact that a few of my siblings went there made the decision to apply a little easier,” Tesfalul said.

Tesfalul will attend a school where eight presidents graduated from including John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Barack Obama.

Tesfalul will major in economics as well a minor in computer science.

“Harvard’s diverse community, proven history, world class teachers, and alumni network were difficult to turn down,” Tesfalul said.

Yet, Tesfalul had to overcome some challenges while choosing to apply to Harvard.

“Harvard only accepts a small percentage of the hardworking students that apply each year, so I found it challenging throughout the application process to separate myself from the others and reveal my life story in my essays and interviews,” Tesfalul said.

With going into Harvard, he will have to remain focused and continue to study relentlessly. Tesfalul also stays involve with activities after school to help out his community and others as well.

“I enjoyed Science Olympiad and encourage every student to try it out. The competitions have several events so it will be easy to explore different skills and find where you excel.

In addition, I participated in Google Trailblazers, a program focused on computer science outreach around the world. I volunteer alongside teachers and students who were nominated

by Google in order to collaborate and create a positive impact through computer science.

Many of Tesfalul teachers praise his work ethic.

“The thing about Matthew is that he is always trying to figure out what he did incorrectly and tried to get it solved immediately. This will come as a great tool to use in his future, especially entering into college,” Kevin Johnson, Engineering teacher, said.

In class he maintained the ability to consistently strive for excellence. He fought to stay ahead of the class.

“Having Matthew in my class showed that you can genuinely study and get into a good school,” Johnson said.

Although Harvard was not his only choice, with the University of Texas also being another choice of his, Harvard was ultimately his final decision. He will join a family legacies as he enters into Harvard.

By Semon Adams

May 2014

T

The Issue 5 PEREGRINE

Feature

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4 Ivy League schools The send acceptance letters; decision goes Princeton ultimate to dream institution Bound

ears of relief streamed down her face as she reThrough Questbridge, Perales learned that tuition ceived her first acceptance letter. would actually be cheaper for her if she attended a top “I’m going to college, I’m actually going to college! private university versus community college or a public Thank you God, thank you!” Maria Perales, senior, state school. Also, knowing that she would not have the said. chance to apply to such schools in Mexico pushed her Through sobs and tears, Perales’ gratitude flowed to try for Ivy League schools. after receiving an early acceptance letter from Notre “Even if they rejected me, I would rather that than Dame two days after being rejected from two other passing up the opportunity to apply to a school that schools. Not only did Perales get accepted into Notre otherwise I would have only heard of on T.V.,” Perales Dame, but also into her dream institution since being said. eight years old.

A non-profit organization, Questbridge helps highAfter applying to 17 colleges and universities, she achieving high school juniors and seniors from lowreceived acceptance into Harincome families by offering scholarship vard, Notre Dame, Yale, Dartopportunities to the leading universities mouth, Stanford, Pomona and schools in the country. Among the I believe that her College, Carleton College, Unischolarships, the College Prep scholarversity of Texas, and Agriculship, offered to juniors, gives out 2000 internal motivation tural and Management Univerinvitations to attend Questbridge’s Adsity. Despite the obstacles that missions Conferences, to which Perales persuaded her Perales encountered, she feels attended. that due to them she has be“I actually always told my sisters that to apply to these come more determined to imall I needed was for God to allow me to prove her family’s life and hers. attend one of the QB colleges because schools.

One of the most difficult obthose provide good financial aid, so stacles in Perales’ life happened when top schools accepted me in addiJuan Perales, during her freshman year when tion to my dream school, I felt like I was her mother’s breast cancer restealing someone else’s dream and that brother turned in a stage five and passed was never my intention. Now, I’m still away after three months. confused yet happier. I strive to under“I struggled to adapt to my stand the bigger meaning behind this new life and often neglected my crazy situation. Why me? ” Perales said. studies during sophomore year,” Perales said.

Perales received encouragement from her family as Along with the loss of her mother, Perales’ fam- well as friends. Her sister Rosa Perales, brother, Juan ily’s income caused her to obtain two jobs during her Perales, junior, and close friend Elizabeth Ortega, sesophomore year and keep working throughout the rest nior, supported her constantly in many ways. of high school. Due to the exhaustion and rigid sched“I have always provided her with my unconditional ules from working, Perales often lacked enthusiasm at support and love. She knows that she will always have school and struggled with her studies. me by her side whenever she needs me,” Ortega said.

“I feel that all those obstacles truly increased my deHer sister not only helped her by driving her to plactermination to attend college because not only would I es like the Food Bank, the Beacon and Nursing home in have the possibility to improve my family’s life, but also order for Perales to volunteer, but also supported her demonstrate to my mother, myself, and other interna- financially to pay test and club fees. tional students that our hardships were not a waste,” “Throughout high school, I witnessed her sit down Perales said. in the kitchen table for long dreadful hours doing her During her sophomore year, Perales heard about school work. I constantly kept encouraging her with Questbridge through Norma Phelan, College and Ca- words that would motivate her,” Juan Perales said. reer advisor, and she applied to the program and reAfter graduating high school, she plans to attend ceived an invitation to attend a conference at North- Princeton University and major in Civil Engineering western University. Attending the conference helped along with receiving a certificate in Latin American in her decision to apply to Ivy League schools.

Studies.

“They showed, students, who like me came from Planning to follow Princeton’s motto of serving the humble beginnings, and had defied their social-eco- nation, she has decided to become involved with ennomic gap,” Perales said. gineers without borders in order to assist underdevel-

“

“

Mother And Daughter “My mother, Momma, definitely served as my motivation. Despite her battle against cancer, my mother never lost faith, hope or the strength that characterized her. She’s not only my hero, but my guardian angel,“ Maria Perales said. oped communities around the world.

“I will not only fix their problems but teach them how to solve them so that they can become self-sufficient. For sure, I will become involved with social justice,” Perales said.

Serving as the treasurer for National Honor Society, president for Interact Club, and also involved in Student Council, many people have questioned her about her SAT scores and how they have helped her in her admissions.

“I want to stress on the fact that a score is not the biggest factor. My score was not what got me there, I’m sure of that. My advice to freshmen is, please don’t go the next three years of your lives trying to make yourselves ‘perfect’ in the image of a certain college. No, enjoy your time, do well in school, and make memories that will last a lifetime,” Perales said.

by Iveth Garcia

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THE Issue 5 PEREGRINE

Columns

May 2014

Sibling tries to measure up I endure the feeling of defeat while I stare down at my cold wooden desk where my paper lay decorated with red pen marks. A wave of nausea hits me, my palms feel damp, and my eyes blurred because of the tears building in the corners of my eyes.

All around me I heard everyone else celebrating their A’s and B’s. How did I let this happen? How did I manage to be so careless? What am I going to say to my parents? I asked myself all of these questions, hoping for a sensible response. How am I going to explain a seventy on a test to my parents?

Growing up, I watched my older sister succeed during her years in school, beginning with her time in elementary school and ending with her graduation from the University of Houston. My parents have always expressed how proud they felt about all she has accomplished. They commended her for managing to maintain her grades high in her AP level classes, while working, and participating in extracurricular activities.

Along with academically excelling, she also paid for her own expenses, so our parents did not have to. They applauded for her model citizen image, because in their eyes they saw perfection. I too, thanked her for giving me a positive image to look up too, but because of it my parents have always put more pressure on me to do the same.

I have never failed a grade level, nor have I done poorly in school, but it seems like regardless of what I have accomplished, I still have the pressure to do more. I enjoy having parents who care enough and are interactive in my school work, but feeling like I have not done enough always feels like a disappointment.

Students who have parents who will continuously compare their younger children to their older children, whether they succeed or do not after high school, discourages them from creating a future of their own, a future they want to follow after graduating from high school.

Parents should encourage their children to obtain careers that they want and have a passion for. Without their own interest or drive for a career, all students who graduate from either high school or college will not enjoy the jobs they take, and will have a miserable life.

Parents should support their graduates if they have a dream they want to follow.

They should steer them into the right direction if it seems like their plans will have a failing outcome, but they should never discourage them.

By having pressure put upon you while you attend school to do well like an older sibling, you feel excessive and undesirable stress. Which will most likely lead to failure if students do not have the support they require from their parents in order to do better. Students should not have to feel like they have to measure up to their older sibling. They should be able to have a mind of their own, and parents should put a halt to children comparison.

By Marilyn Renderos

Illustration by VanessaMorales

Family makes sacrifices

Illustration by VanessaMorales

Tones of gray filled canvases that lay gracefully on the computer desk, vivid warm shades of oil pastels painted delicately on paper rested upon the dining room table, sketch pads filled with the curious wonders of my stepfather’s mind scattered across the living room floor. Months pass as I look around me, left to wonder where the beautifully crafted gothic pieces of my stepfather’s creativity went, a slight burning warmth fills the back of my eyelids, for my stepfather no longer attends school.

We cannot afford it.

Fully aware that my family did not have the funds to support me completely in college, I knew that student loans, grants, and managing a job forever remained engraved in my future. To have a better understanding of what responsibility meant, and to help my family, I applied for jobs the moment I became of legal age.

Luckily a week before my 16th birthday I was hired as a host at Red Lobster, where I was employed for a year and a half. Balancing a job, with school, and other activities such as yearbook and newspaper, remained a constant struggle. I persevered.

I pushed my studies harder and obtained time management skills. With both my mother and stepfather attending college to earn their degrees, financial debt accumulated dramatically.

Unfortunately my stepfather, with no other option, had to take a leave of absence from his studies due to finances. At the moment we hope to have him return to his studies in late August, only after we are positive I will attend college myself.

My stepfather, who grew up with no encouragement about his future, now realizes the importance of a degree; and willingly puts my needs in front of his, and for that I am grateful. As an accepted student into Texas State liberal arts program my hopes stay alive in pursuing my career as a writer, thanks to my stepfather.

By Alexander Cruz

Vintage music expands horizons

I wake up early in the morning and began getting ready for school. As I am getting dressed, I look through my closet and chose to wear my Guns N’ Roses: Appetite for Destruction tshirt and head to school.

As I walked down the hallway to my class, a teacher passes by, points at my shirt, and says, “That album was famous when I was eight years old!” Walking around the hallway, I notice a lot of students wearing vintage band t-shirts. It is surprising to see that others know these bands, considering most of the bands were from our parents’ generation.

I recently saw a video on YouTube documenting teen’s reaction to the 90’s grunge band, Nirvana. Most of the teens were familiar with the music and the band itself, and they all agreed that music at the time was better than music nowadays. Back then, a variety of music was played on the radio. Nowadays, there’s a gap between mainstream music and rock music. Mainstream music is overexposed and played repeatedly on the radio whereas most rock and metal bands are almost unheard of.

Although some talented musicians thrive, most of mainstream music lacks talent, creativity and emotion. Many of these bands and singers blend with the crowd and anything unique is considered weird. The iconic television network, MTV- once known as music television- only plays racy reality shows. Though it still plays some music videos, it only plays what the public wants to hear.

It’s easy to like mainstream music because it’s everywhere, but it’s best to expand one’s horizons, dig through the parents’ old CD’s and look up new bands. One never know what find be found. By Katelyn Houser

May 2014

The Issue 5 PEREGRINE

Editorial

Off campus lunch lures rule breakers daily

illustration by Joel Montfort

Crowds of students appear in the hallways of the school as everyone makes their way to the cafeteria for lunch. The lines of the cafeteria quickly fill up with students and meanwhile, others discreetly sneak off through the back of the school to make their way to the parking lot.

Students use their lunch time to drive to nearby places and pick up food despite having a closed campus. Not attempting to hide the fact that they have left campus, many walk by with drinks and bags from fast food restaurants.

An open campus system should be implemented and give responsible students the privilege of getting out of school during their lunch periods.

If students, given the opportunity, could leave campus in order to purchase their lunch, more students would have freedom and have the chance to learn to manage their time and come back to class on time. An open campus would also give students more options for lunch, including going home and eat-

ing, and not having to spend money in school.

With limits to leaving campus, such as only juniors and seniors, as well as having good grades and good attendance, an open campus would help responsible students become more independent and learn time management skills. Leaving the campus would serve as a privilege that could be revoked if consistent tardiness was present and if the student’s grades dropped.

Although many would argue that the safety of the students would be at risk, in order to implement an open campus as a privilege to responsible students, parental permission would be required in order to hold the student responsible for their actions instead of the school. Also, students are prone to injuries even in school.

One way to control an open campus system could be only giving the privilege to upperclassmen due to the fact that they are older and that most of them are able to drive. Also, only those students

with only A’s or B’s and not showing up to class tardy more than three times would increase the responsibility that these students would have and would encourage them to get to class early.

This would also teach students to begin to adapt to the adult world since they are already getting prepared to enter college or start working after high school.

Understandably, underclassmen should not be allowed these privileges since they are still adapting their transition from middle school to high school and should also demonstrate that they are capable of being responsible for arriving to class on time and maintaining good grades.

In all, students should be given the opportunity to show their responsibility and the privilege to choose what to eat for lunch, and not be limited to the school cafeteria menu. If students were given this opportunity, they would learn to adapt to the real world as well as learn to manage their time in school.

the student

VOICE

What advantages or disadvantages do you see to an open campus at lunch?

“

I think it will be unfair for the people who don’t have a car ”, Ja’Lynn Manson,sophomore, said.

“

I see an advantage, it makes the students feel free and not confined into one spot,” Shawn Montalbano, senior, said.

“

photos by Marilyn Renderos

I think its an advantage, not everyone can have time to bring or buy lunch due to the long lines,’’ Celeste Cespedes, junior, said.

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PEREGRINE STAFF 2013-2014

co-editors MATT DUBOSE ALEXANDER CRUZ staff writers SEMON ADAMS IVETH GARCIA TREVOR HARGIS KELSEY HODGES KATELYN HOUSER JOEL MONTFORT JULIANNA PEREZ MARILYN RENDEROS WILLIAM SCALES NATALIE SOLANO Contributing Staff MARIEKE ALSGUTH NATASSHA ARREOLA VANESSA MORALES HEATHER TWARDOWSKI PABLO VAZQUEZ CLARE WINEMAN staff adviser MARGIE COMSTOCK principal RALPH FUNK Jersey Village High School Student Publications’ Newspaper Policy The Peregrine is the official student publication of Jersey Village High School and is published by the Advanced Journalism newspaper class at Jersey Village High School, 7600 Solomon, Houston, Texas 77040 (713-8963400). It is distributed free to the student body. Subscriptions can be bought for $15, and copies of the paper will be mailed to your residence.

Unsigned editorials represent a majority agreement of the staff. The Peregrine is read in advance of publication by the JVHS administration.

Advertising is sold by the 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and full page. The staff has the right to reject, edit, or cancel any advertisement at any time. The advertising policy is stated on the advertising contract.

Advertising is not an endorsement from the staff, the adviser, the administration, or the Cypress Fairbanks Board of Trustees.

The Peregrine is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference, Quill and Scroll, and the National Scholastic Press Association.

The Peregrine is printed by Mirror Publishers, Inc in Texas City, TX. The opinion of readers is held in high regard. Please send all feedback or questions to our address or room 1712. Letters to the editor need to be limited to 150 words. We reserve the right to edit for spelling and grammar. Letters must be signed.

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THE Issue 5 PEREGRINE

Photo Essay

Falcon Press Photo by Natassha Arreola

Journalists Sweep Up Awards Monica Garcia and Natalie Solano, both seniors, received prestigious awards.

Solano won a Top in Texas award along with Photo Editor of the Year. Garcia received a Texas Association of Journalism Educators $1,000 scholarship. Garcia has been in yearbook for four years and Solano worked on the yearbook for three years.

May 2014

Publication staffs win at ILPC, take awards

Photo by Natalie Solano

a Photo by Natassha Arreol

Bringing the Staff Together Throughout the field trip to the Interscholastic League Press Conference, the spring state journalism conference, members of the staffs attended journalism workshops and explored the UT campus. Christin Ong, Emily Ngo, seniors, and Joel Montfort, junior, sit in front of one UT’s learning halls.

Photo by Natalie Solano

Veteran Insight The 87th annual Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC), held at the University of Texas April 26-27, was a wonderful experience for both attendees and instructors. Publication staffs from across the state come to attend this event in order to participate in the convention festivities. “If I was not a senior I would go again, I attended ILPC last year as well, but I felt this year was better,” Matt Dubose, senior, said.

ILPC Student Press Awards Individual Achievement Awards

Photos by Natalie Solano

Exploring the Campus After attending session varying from writing to design to photography to careers, publication staff members explored the campus and captured themselves in selfies. Pablo Vazquez, senior, Jackie Solano, sophomore, Ale Garcia, sophomore, Rosa Gonzalez, senior and Natassha Arreola, senior get snapshots of themselves at UT.

Photo by Natassha Arreola

Fun at Main Event Following an entire day of attending sessions yearbook and newspaper members, like Ashley Hoselton, sophomore, regrouped for a four hour stay, at Main Event where they rock climbed, bowled, played video games, putt-putted golf and challenged each other at Laser Tag.

Yearbook •Captions - 3rd •Academic Spread - Nathan Nguyen, Chastity Dao, HM •Student Life Feature Story Rebeca Moscoso, 1st, 2nd •Club / Organization Feature Story, Marieke Alsguth, HM •Club / Organization Photo Marieke Alsguth, HM •Current Yearbook - Sports Spread, Monica Garcia, Matt DuBose, Pablo Vazquez, HM •Current Yearbook - Academic Spread, Matt DuBose, Pablo Vazquez, Anthony Nguyen, HM •Club / Organization Spread, Marieke Alsguth, Damaris DeLeon, Elizabeth Ybarra, HM

Newspaper •Sports Column, Matt DuBose, HM •Feature Photo 1st Natalie Solano •Sports Action Photo HM - Natalie Solano HM - Natassha Arreola Ratings •Yearbook, The Falcon - Award Distinguished Merit •Newspaper, The Peregrine Award of Achievement Photo Editor of the Year Natalie Solano Tops in Texas Awards Natalie Solano, Newspaper Feature Photo TAJE College Scholarship Monica Garcia TAJE Summer Workshop Scholarship Kelsey Hodges