JOURNALISM
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The Peregrine
To me, this is a once in a lifetime trip because I got to see history happen. It’s an international event that most people haven’t been able to see before.” Madeline Murphy, senior
February 2017
The New Normal
Scholars visit nation’s capital, see inauguration » Emmilyne Thomas, Co-Editor
The crowd remained silent. Many still could not believe the outcome as they took in their surroundings. Their eyes stayed trained on the man with his hand on the Bibles. Word by word, he became the leader of a nation. After the completion of the oath, Donald Trump stood to address the United States as the 45th president. Lan Lee, Jersey Village English teacher, organized the trip through EF Explore America, a company designed to bring life into education through travel. Each student that attended was nominated by their 2015-2016 English teacher and attended an informational meeting. After the meeting, each student decided whether or not to attend the trip. Although the students had to pay for the trip, the group received a rather large discount because of the number going. The 42 students, four chaperones, and tour guide stayed in the Radisson Hotel in Rockville, Washington D.C. After the controversial election in November, countless people, including celebrities, vowed to boycott the election. Continued on page 2
Did you spot them? Did you see our Gold Dusters?
During Superbowl 51, the Gold Dusters performed with Lady Gaga at the halftime show. They rehearsed five days beforehand with Lady Gaga, equaling 12 private concerts.
Leaps and Bounds
JV
Jersey Village High School 7600 Solomon Houston, Texas 77040 Volume 45 Issue 3
Cheerleaders take first place, advance to next rounds » Lin Vu, Co-Editor
In their San Antonio competition, the cheerleading team placed first in their division. They also won a full paid bid to nationals in New Orleans. At their second competition at the Berry Center, they placed first and won the high point award. After winning in their division with top scores, Makenzie Cegelski, junior, felt a sense of accomplishment. Cegelski radiated pride, feeling fulfilled in their performance and placement. “Placing first made me as well as the team feel amazing. It makes us feel amazing knowing that we are good enough to come in first for not only one but two competitions,” Cegelski said. Continued on page 2
CHEER CHAMPIONS. After securing first place at the WSA Cheer competition on January 28, the competition cheer team advances to nationals in New Orleans, Louisiana. Members include: front row. A. Nyguen, L. Tushnet, K. Williams, M. Cegelski. back row. C. Raynor, sponsor,, C. Icedore, R. Brown, A. Teague, S. De los Santos, D. Le Blanc, P. Boren, E. Botkin, sponsor.
what’s inside... App for That pg. 3
Mentors pg. 5
Animal Farm pg. 8
Track Stars pg. 10
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News Briefs
The New Normal
Scholars visit nation’s capital, see inauguration
Continued from page 1 People argued that the then President-elect Trump did not represent them and they refused to recognize him as the winner. Others disagreed and some remained indifferent. Regardless of political opinions, 41 students from Jersey Village High School left for Washington D.C. to attend the inauguration. Leslie Serna, junior, refused to let her beliefs prevent her from attending. “To be completely honest, having Donald Trump become president was not something I was looking forward to. That being said, witnessing any inauguration should not be taken for granted and I decided to put my opinion towards him aside and make the most out of educational trip,” Serna said. Lorenzo Martinez, sophomore, also attended the school inauguration trip and took notice of the turnout. Regardless of background, people of all kinds showed up to voice their differing opinions of the inauguration. “Standing in ridiculously lengthy lines on Inauguration Day proved to be very irritating, but brought about a paradigm shift for many people. There were many supporters, and at the same time protesters from whatever race, gender, ethnicity, religion, political party, or social status one can think of. It showed the split down the middle of our nation,” Martinez said. For some, attending the inauguration was a dream come true. Madeline Murphy, senior, appreciated the opportunity she received to watch history in the making. Murphy strongly believes that despite political beliefs, the trip allows for a whole new world of experiences. “I have always wanted to visit our Capital and experience it by being there for the inauguration, because to me, no matter what your political belief is, it’s still worth it to watch history being made. That’s my political party swearing in, but I still believe that even if it wasn’t your party it’s still worth it to be here just to experience this,” Murphy said. For many, the trip opened minds and eyes to the varying points of view on a range of subjects. Troy Willis, sophomore, enjoyed his time and explored different political opinions. “It’s not every day you get to see a president get inaugurated. It was a cool experience. You got to see a lot of ways other people look at things, even if you don’t agree with them,” Willis said. Each student took home a special memory from the trip. Some students will always remember the inauguration itself; others will think of the people they met and the friends they made. With family ties to the military, Adam Thompson, senior, found the monuments and 21 Gun Salute the most moving. “Personally, my two favorite parts were the 21 Gun Salute and seeing all the Vietnam War veteran monuments. I have had many family members enrolled in the military, and my grandfather also fought in Vietnam so it was great to see all of the monuments and be able to show him the different things that I saw,” Thompson said.
Although the students who attended the inauguration put their beliefs aside for the weekend, two young women traveled to walk in the Women’s March in Washington D.C. Olivia Moriarty, senior, marched not only for herself, but also for minorities and people she feels are regularly targeted for something they cannot control. “I marched to raise awareness for women in general, immigrants, Muslims and all of diverse religious faiths, the LGBT community, Native Americans, Black Lives Matter Movement, people with disabilities, and sexual assault victims. In participating, I hope that with the voices of all the women marching together, we can be heard and send an important message to the new government - women’s rights are human rights,” Moriarty said. Ellis Bullington, senior, attended the march, as well. After flying in, Bullington quickly prepared for the protest and march. Her values and political beliefs drove her to speak up for what she believes is right. “I went because, as a liberal woman, I feel the moral obligation to stand up for what I believe is the right thing to do. I hoped to make a statement and quench my desire to stand up and take action. I want to be heard, just like every other citizen in this march. I’m going to fight peacefully against this presidency. I will march hand in hand with the people I love,” Bullington said. While some students went to D.C. for the experience and others went to speak their mind, a select group of students from the Virtuosi Youth Chamber Orchestra went to Washington to play for various events. Eight student from across the district, including Victor Xia, sophomore, attended the trip. “I was selected as one of the Virtuosi members who would have the privilege of performing at a Congressional Candlelight Dinner at the Hay Adams Hotel Dining Room, performing at the Black Tie and Boots Texas Gala, and performing at the an Inauguration Texas Leadership Dinner in the Trump Hotel,” Xia said. After the events, the students had the opportunity to meet the country’s important political figures. “My favorite part of the trip would have to be the experience of being able to play for such important figures of the political society and being able to meet a few of them. There’s no thrill like being able to perform for such a prestigious audience as all of your hard work and hours of rehearsals come into play and guide the performance. I can happily say that I was able to meet and shake the hands of Senators such as Marco Rubio and Governor Greg Abbott,” Xia said. Remi Emmott, senior, also attended the school inauguration trip. Her encounter with other people of the country, and even the school, showed her the importance of such a special trip. “It was an amazing experience to witness a man who has promised to take action and make America great again,” Remi Emmott, senior, said.
the peregrine
february 2017
Boys take 2nd place Points add up for both swim teams » Lin Vu, Co-Editor
The boys’ varsity swim team competed at the District 18-6A Swimming and Diving Championships. With a score of 124, the boys secured the spot of runner up for the 18-6A meet. Michael Lewandowski, senior, led the team with a first place in the 200 Freestyle relay with relay members Aaron Jacobs, Collin Dubros and Jeffery Newman; in addition to two addition first places and a second place in the 400 Freestyle relay, along with Collin Dubros, Peyton Silburn, Somchay Xiong. Payton Silburn, senior, also placed fourth n the 200 Medley relay. Silburn felt mixed emotions after the meet, concluding the competition with a sense of accomplishment. “After we finished competing, it was bittersweet because we worked so hard for so long and it was all over,” Silburn said. The entire boys’ team was felt accomplished with their district placement. “It was honestly a shock when I saw how we placed. We weren’t sure how well we were going to do and the whole team was so overwhelmed when we realized it,” Silburn said. In addition to this, the girls swim team placed third with a score of 69 points at the District 18-6A Swimming and Diving Championships.
Band appears on national news
FOX & FRIENDS. The school marching band was invited to perform on Fox News’ national morning show, Fox & Friends, on Feb. 3. They performed at Discovery Green throughout the 5 to 8 a.m. live broadcast, which was in town for Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium. “This was an incredible opportunity to showcase our amazing students and represent our school and CFISD on the national stage,” Brett Nelson, director of bands, said.
Leaps and Bounds Cheerleaders take first place, advance to next rounds Continued from page 1 The girls’ team steadily practiced since Christmas break in preparation. Cegelski experienced worries before the competition, as she had never competed before. Nevertheless, after completing the performance, relief washed over her. “We started practicing for our competitions a couple weeks before we left for Christmas break and we have been practicing ever since. During the first competition I was nervous because I had never competed before so it was a whole new experience,” Cegelski said. “During the second competition we watched all of the other schools fall in stunts or step off of the floor which made me and the team start to get a little nervous. Right before we walked onto the floor we had a pep talk from our teammate Dallas which really booster our confidence for us to lose our nervousness,” Cegelski added.
Feature
the peregrine february 2017
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Putting the pro in programming Coding wizard reveals his sourcery » Cade Schaudel, Reporter
The crowd stands up, clapping loudly and cheering as CEO of Apple Tim Cook walks onto the stage, marking the beginning of the Apple World Wide Developer’s Conference. Among the thousands attending, hundreds of students from around the world applied for the WWDC Scholarship, however only 350 were accepted. Kevin Turner, senior, stands along with them as one of the lucky few. Known around the school as a prominent app maker, Turner has so far created four apps, his most recent being Tock - The Informant Alarm. However only this app remains on the app store for iPhone users. Turner also created the Jersey Village app, having to take it down due to costly upkeep, but not before using the experience from it to apply for the scholarship, and landed himself a spot for his effort. “I submitted an app that I made for iPhone and Apple Watch to get into the conference where I got to get a picture with the CEO and watch him and other executives announce new products such as iOS 10. The rest of the week consisted of sessions and labs where Apple engineers talked about how to program for the new operating systems, and helped us make our apps better,” Turner said. Set on programming, the determination he now holds stems from a movie he had seen awhile back. This experience sent him to start following his path, full of new experiences, ideas, and people. “I’ve been programming since I was in the seventh grade, starting with websites. When I watched the movie the “Social Network” about how Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in his Harvard dorm room, it just boggled my mind that a single person could make something so profound and immensely world chang-
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It’s pretty easy to find online resources that are relevant to the field of programming you are interested in, whether it’s making apps, games, websites, or other programs.” Kevin Turner, senior
ing. I wanted a part of it,” Turner said. While an application may seem small, the work behind making one says otherwise, and requires a certain motivation to continue. But while Turner’s work already looks impressive, behind the scenes he cultivates his passion and trains his skills even more, his potential only rivaled by his stubbornness to succeed.. “I plan to study Computer Science in college and work at a major technology company such as Google or Apple, and maybe start my own tech company. I also intern at Hewlett Packard Enterprise as a Software engineering intern, where I design and develop software tools for the firmware development team. I’m pretty much set on Computer Programming, I can’t imagine doing much else,” Turner said. The process behind making an app involves not as much making as it does planning and debugging. Setting the layout, functions, and look of the app marks just the beginning of the lengthy journey. “It all starts with an idea. I spend a lot of time brainstorming, coming up with a user interface like how the app looks and feels and how the user will interact with it. I like to sketch out some basic designs to get a feel for how the app will work and look before I sit down and start writing code. After I have a basic version, I run a beta test with a handful of friends and family to get feedback and to find any bugs I failed to catch. A few weeks of polishing, testing, and adding accessories like an icon and website information page with an App Store description, and it’s off to the App Store,” Turner said. While Turner takes the brunt of the work, he does call in for help from a few others in the development stages. Lending a hand in creating the app icon and in app graphics, Daniel Davis, senior, creates the art as Turner asks. Rewriting the code to make the JV app available on Androids, Frank Li, a Jersey Village alumni, helps to spread his app to different platforms, making it more accessible to all. “I’ve been helping him out since I knew him, so since about freshman year. I plan to go into electrical engineering computer science, and while making graphic designs doesn’t tie in directly with that, it comes together in a pretty nice package. Kevin is really committed to doing this, and he is going to go far,” Davis said.
CODE FOR THOUGHT. Sharing some of the code behind “Tock - The Informant Alarm”, Kevin Turner, senior, uses Xcode to create, test, develop, and continually update his current and future apps. Xcode is actually built by Apple, using an openly built programming language called Swift 3, going leaps and bounds to make the process of app making more appealing - even making the whole program free of charge, only requiring an account login to download it. Photo courtesy of Kevin Turner
TIM AND TURNER. While at the Apple World Wide Developer’s Conference, Kevin Turner, senior, gets to snag a chance to take a selfie with none other than Tim Cook, the current CEO of Apple. A rare opportunity, it is a good thing he brought his iPhone for the picture. Photo courtesy of Kevin Turner
Feature
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Thinking outside the cube Solving Rubix earns scholarships, personal record
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It’s terrifying. I get up there
and my heart’s beating super
fast and I’m trying to take slow
breaths, in and
out, and it’s just
the anticipation
of performing.”
Robert Raines, senior
» Pablo Lemus, Reporter
Nerves mount everywhere for this once in lifetime opportunity. This scholarship had nothing to do with academic or athletic talent but for solving a Rubix cube. Robert Raines, senior, achieved this odd and peculiar offer by solving the puzzle in mere seconds. It started a few years back when Raines received a Rubix cube. “Three years ago on Christmas day, I opened my stocking to find a scramble Rubix cube. My mother said the only way you will solve it would be if you solve it yourself,” Raines said. Since then, he has practiced solving it and has improved his time of solving a Rubix cube. “When I first got the cube, it took me four months to solve it. My average now is now is 45.46 seconds,” Raines said. For the past three years Raines has stuck with solving a Rubix cube as a way to calm himself down. “It’s a great stress reliever. My friends were all amazed on how fast I could solve one and they would challenge me to pick up my speed. Here I am, three years later I went from taking months to solve it to less than a minute,” Raines said. From solving a Rubix cube, Raines learned ways to get better at solving with some tips. “Some keys factors are knowing how the cube works, learning specific algorithms, and practicing speed and hand-eye coordination with your fingers,” Raines said. Raines has a specific method in solving the cube. “I usually aim to get one solid color done using a method called F2L (first 2 layer). After that is completed, I do the rest with algorithms that I came up for the cube,” Raines said. Algorithms in Raines’ world are “a series of twists and turns to get a specific piece of the puzzle in the correct place without messing up any of the other pieces,” Raines said. His passion of solving Rubix cube would later lead him to receive a $3,000 scholarship from Cubewhiz. It required him to solve a Rubix cube in 30 seconds or less, which Raines solved in 17.49 seconds. This happens to be his best time. “I found out about the scholarship from fellow peers at a Speedcubing competition.
the peregrine
february 2017
I was very amused, but I also feel very lucky considering during my first attempt I got my best time,” Raines said. His parents had mixed feelings about his hobby. “I didn’t get much support while practicing since it was taking too much time out of my day, but once I got the scholarship, they seemed happy for me,” Raines said. Practice constantly made it easy for him to earn the scholarship. “Practicing for the scholarship wasn’t very nerve wrecking. Actually performing the task was difficult,”Raines said. Raines never thought he would get this far from just solving a Rubix cube. “I never thought that a toy would get me a scholarship. When I first got the cube, it took me four months to solve it, now it takes me seconds.” Raines said. Solving a Rubix cube soon became a hobby of his. “I was always fond of the cube. I wanted to know how it worked, once I figured it out I wanted to test my limits,” Raines said.
Feature
the peregrine february 2017
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More than a Mentor
Relationships develop to help guide those in need » Valeria Perez, Reporter
Two hundred and sixteen students in the high school constantly struggle through different situations. One hundred and twenty three teachers and administrators volunteered to become a mentor to one or more of the students that needed just a little extra help. One of the many mentors, Elizabeth Crocker, drama teach-
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Being a mentor is a wonderful experience, you get to support and learn so many new things from your mentees. It is a surprising experience how life can lead you to meet a specific person.” Elizabeth Crocker, drama teacher and mentor
er, took a student. As she spread the folders across the auditorium stage, she felt drawn to pick up one of the hundreds in front of her. “There were hundreds of files. I just spread them all and kept running my hand through them trying to choose the one, and I just kept coming back to this one file. I had no idea why, but I took it,” Crocker said. Crocker knew a connection had been made, but she did not know how close the connection would become. “When we first met we had a conversation, but we didn’t really talk about anything personal until later on the next day she came into my office and told me she had lost her little brother. That’s when I knew why God had put this file in my hand. I knew this file belonged to me,” Crocker said. Crocker has lost two daughters due to heart problems so she knew the pain her mentee felt. “I know how hard it is to lose someone you love, and know-
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It’s such a blessing being a mentor, knowing I’m helping and keeping my mentee on the right track. It’s painful knowing that sometimes I can’t help my mentees with some of the problems that they are going through at home. ” Mary Gonzalez, mentor
ing I can support and help my mentee through what she is going through at the moment really inspired me and made me feel more than just her mentor. It is such a surprising experience how life can lead you to meet a specific person so you can help and pick them up in their hardest times,”Crocker said. Another mentor, Mary Gonzalez, finance secretary, agreed to mentor two students. “I didn’t want to be a mentor this year. It’s painful knowing that sometimes I can’t help my mentees with some of the problems that they are going through. It’s not just their grades and their behavior at school that we are helping them on, but were also helping them overcome any problems that they are going through at home. You never really know what’s going on
with someone’s life until you sit and talk to them,“ Gonzalez said. Gonzalez has been a mentor for five years. So she recognizes the issues some of her mentees experience outside of school and knowing she cannot help or prevent all that her mentees suffer through hurts her heart. “As a mentor I’ve met so many students that struggle every day to stay on the right track, and it just brings tears to my eyes knowing that some of these students end up giving up and end up in the wrong place just because they didn’t have someone to help them,” Gonzalez said. There is not a moment where Gonzalez regrets the opportunities she has had since becoming a mentor again. “I’ve learned so much from this experience. It’s another situation I can call a blessing,” Gonzalez said. Another mentor, Ralph Funk, principal, took on a mentee. Many students see him as just the principal, or the guy who runs the school, but he was delighted when he took a mentee that was able to open up to him and talk to him. “We sat down and we talked about many different subjects. He even talked to me about skateboarding and the girls he was interested in,” Funk said. It is a really important experience for Funk knowing that
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I really enjoy being a mentor. I enjoy the time I spend with my mentee. It’s definitely something that I will continue doing.” Ralph Funk, principal and mentor
he can interact and give more than just school work advice to a student. “I enjoy the time I spend with my mentee. If he needs any help or advice I’m always there to help him out,” Funk said. The program has helped many students overcome their problems either at school or with a personal problem, because unfortunately not everyone goes home to a hot plate of food waiting for them on their kitchen table, or a bright smile and a “how was your day”. Many people hide their pain and tears behind a bright smile, not wanting to talk or express the way they feel to someone because they are afraid they’ll be judged and considered weak. Due to Stacy Leonard, academic achievement specialist, and the mentors, 216 students have been able to open up and get help to head in the right path.
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I believe coordinating the mentor program at JV is the reason God sent me to this school. The impact this program has had on students, staff, and the school’s culture has been amazing. I feel so fortunate to be a part of it.” Stacy Leonard, mentor
In-Depth
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the peregrine
february 2017
STROKES TO SUCCESS
Artists pave way for future, shape breathtaking works
» Lin Vu, Reporter
Drip, drip, drip. The paint dribbles down from the worn paint brush. Each brush stroke strikes the canvas with a ferocity unlike any other. Evelyn Martinez, senior, has indulged in art all her life. Martinez sought out art as a way to cope under pressure and difficulty. The more she created, the further she could escape into her world of creativity. The time spent upon the project became irrelevant, rather the process of creation was the momentous act. “I’ve always been interested in art since I was able to hold a crayon. I quickly found it was a good release. When I’d have family problems or emotional issues I’d always have art as a therapeutic release. Whether they’d be a five second doodle or two week project it was always reassuring to go into a world where it’s just you and your imagination,” Martinez said. Martinez’s art style can only be described in one word: peculiar. Martinez intends to sear the images of her artwork into the viewers mind, seeking to create a lasting impression. Her artwork delves into multiple themes, often times warping perception and creating confusion. Martinez in fact, finds that her short doodles hold more significance than artworks that she has spent a lengthy amount of time on. “I find more meaning in the dumb nothingness that I doodle. It’s vulgar, odd humor, just very weird and makes you feel like humanity was a mistake. I want people to be about their lives and suddenly remember that one picture they found in the back of an English textbook and immediately regret waking up that day,” Martinez said. Martinez’s art elicits strange, unexpected and bizarre feelings. Whether she spends months or minutes on her artwork, the results remain identical. Martinez’s art style tends to be raw, unfiltered or completely wild. “There are two types of art styles I like to show to people, works I spend weeks on and revise and edit non-stop, and poorly drawn crude doodles I make on a whim. Both receive the same reaction- “what am I looking at?” Martinez said. Martinez derives her inspiration from every corner of her environment. People all around Martinez aid her in creating her vision. Martinez’s ideas are unrestrained and can be constructed from any person, object or entity. “I find a lot of inspiration from other artists. Dead ones, local guys, starving freelance artists, and your six year old cousin--you name it. I also find a lot of it in real life. I could be waiting at the McDonald’s drive thru and see something that would inspire me to make a drawing and I’d have to hastily write a cryptic memo on notes to draw it later. My most recent idea is called ‘haunted bread’,” Martinez said.
Martinez treasure each of her artworks and holds them close to her heart. One of her recent works features an ethereal woman and incorporates her friends as well as striking colors that catch the viewer’s eye. Though the art is not free from flaws, its meaning weighs far more than its outside appearance. “I have a lot of favorite art pieces they’re like my ugly children. One that I always look at for inspiration is this art final I did in junior year of this woman with purple hair holding a “bird” skull surrounded by angels. Those angels were actually modeled after couple of my friends (that’s why one is wearing a beanie). Even though that piece is flawed beyond repair I love looking at it. The colors are vibrant. I use gold paint, there’s a naked lady and I took a lot of inspiration from the movie “the last unicorn” and art by Botticelli,” Martinez said. Martinez holds a fondness for her peers involved in art, honoring them as complex and intricate beings. As Martinez believes, while artists may lack in wealth, their personality and determination outshines any limitations they approach. Artists are imperfect, eccentric and puzzling, but those are the components that make them all the more charming. “I love the artists. Most people think artists are sensitive, complicated people but really we’re just the biggest dorks with the smallest wallets. I think that’s beautiful,” Martinez said. Martinez is remarkable in her artistry, showcasing the unconventional talents of artists. Her spirit and vigor towards the fine arts is one to admire and commend. Martinez’s artwork is enchanting and perplexing, continually driving her peers and Martinez herself to create. “You know those pictures you see kids draw all cute and it’s like put up on the fridge? Yeah not those. I identify with the ones kids draw in Sunday school when they are asked to draw god and it ends up being the most senseless passionate terrifying thing,” Martinez said.
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PSYCHEDELIC PUP. Madison Hopper, senior, creates a dazzling design of a chihuahua encased in flowers. Shelby Coleman, senior, paints a captivating work of art, showcasing the moon captured in a hand on the starry night sky.
You can’t ever ask an artist to pay for you at Denny’s because all that money goes to buy even more art supplies.” Evelyn Martinez, senior
GODDESS IN GRACE. Evelyn Martinez, senior, illustrates a portrait of a woman with lilac flowing hair. In an ornate frame, the woman is surrounded by angels modelled after Martinez’s friends. She holds a bird skull, relaxed in the water.
In-Depth
the peregrine february 2017
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POWERFUL PASSION Aspiring creators showcase abilities » Emmilyne Thomas, Co-Editor
With artistic flare, the brush moves across the canvas. A trail of black follows the brush and leaves a distinct smell. His music blares as his eyes fly across the now-colored cloth. He steps back for a brief moment and then resumes his dramatic movements. Christopher Jenkins, senior, has had a fondness for art since the age of 10. With such an extensive experience in the art world, Jenkins sees the true value of artists. Without artists, he believes, the world would have little color. “A lot of people see us as weird… that’s true. We’re weird. We’re absolutely weird. That’s fantastic. That’s the uniqueness that everybody needs nowadays. I mean, if people weren’t weird, you can imagine how un-weird the world would be. It would be absolutely boring,” Jenkins said. As an artist, Jenkins avoids letting his art control him. Instead, he tries to change the way others think about art and even the world. Jenkins also likes to make people question his thought process and his artistic reasoning. “I don’t get influenced by my art. I influence my art. I like to influence other things, I use my art to influence others; I like to be that person that will make other people think and just use my art to make people question things like whoa that really makes you think or just intrigue people. I like to paint things that are really big compared to something really tiny at the same time,” Jenkins said. With the guidance of his mentor, Jenkins creates astounding pieces. Jason Daniel, the advanced art teacher, never fails to elicit only the best from his students and Jenkins is no exception. Each piece from his students receives Daniel’s careful inspection before deeming it truest finished. Often times, he determines the artist has some extra work to do. “When I’m painting, he’s always behind me giving me some type of support, some type of advice on what to do. If I say I’m done with something, he’ll say, ‘No you’re not. Go back and keep doing this because this doesn’t look right to me. It might look right to you but eventually you’re going to go back and you’re going to fix it,’ and he’s right. He’s always right,” Jenkins said. With the rise of social media, the artist’s au-
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dience has expanded immensely. Evan Davis, junior, has discovered one of his favorite artists on the popular social media app, Instagram. “There’s one artist that I follow on Instagram… his name is James Jean. He does a lot of pen stuff and a lot of watercolors. The way he uses them to create different values it really pops out at you and its really abstract, too. It’s fun to look at and to look at it and understand what he’s thinking when he goes through… its really entertaining,” Davis said. When ideas begin to flow, many artists often grab the first paper product they see to quickly jot down their idea. Davis uses this method, and after his initial quick sketch, he jumps right in. “I start with an idea. I try to get it the best I can on a scratch piece of paper and go in and try to do it. If it doesn’t work, I just restart and do it till you get it right,” Davis said. Each artist has a different process for creating their masterpieces. Natalie Weichkoske, junior, has discovered hers through trial and error. After suggestions from her teacher, Debra Wheeler, she has decided on a routine perfect for her: wing it. “My teacher always wants me to sketch but I can never sketch because I always change things while I work so I just kind of go with it and it just becomes a piece in the end. I can’t plan, it’s awful,” Weichkoske said. Weichkoske ees beauty and inspiration in the most simple places to the most extravagant. Taking inspiration from the heavens, Weichkoske creates a series of ethereal pieces. “I’m currently working on my zodiac collection. It helps me understand each zodiac sign and see their different traits,” Weichkoske said. To Jenkins, art represents more than its physical existence; art represents a piece of the artist and the world around them. “It’s about life, just figuring out what you want to do as you move forward. Right now, my mom, she’s sick. I give her the shots, I take care of her and everything. When it makes your life difficult, it kind of throws itself into your creativity. It manipulates it, in a way. You might end up drawing something other people might see it as sad, but you can also make something that’s beautiful and sad. That’s the world, really: sad, beautiful, stupid, and absolutely frustrating at the same time,” Jenkins said.
We’re weird. We’re absolutely weird. That’s fantastic.” Christopher Jenkins, senior
TAKING A CHANCE. Evan Davis, senior, portrays popular musician Chance, the rapper, in a wide array of colors. The tones ranging from dark to light mingle. POT OF PULCHRITUDE. Jenny Tran, junior, constructs a sculpture with alluring blue and orange hues. It is lined with intricate marks across it’s exterior and holds and interesting interior. RIBBED WITH PASSION. Aleyda Enriquez, junior, sculpts a work of art with blue-toned ribbing. The blue tubes encase the light brown middle, working together to form a stunning model.
Feature
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the peregrine
february 2017
Animal Farm Chickens, dogs, cat, sheep, horse plus family fill life » Pamela Jimenez, Reporter
While the sun slowly dies below the horizon, the fiery rays reflect off the water in the lake, causing the dark and light to clash and bring bright and dark colors together. Moments like this make maintaining a total of 23 animals, belonging to Government teacher Cory Loebsack, which include 14 chickens, three dogs, one cat, two sheep, and one horse worthwhile. “We originally had two horses on our property. Right from the get go, the horse named Crash, did not like me. It would always try to bite me and as it got bigger, it got more aggressive towards me and the kids,” Loebsack said. While continuing his extremely head strong and stubborn personality, Crash’s crummy ways and attitude only worsened as he grew older and time progressed. “One afternoon, I was in my garden and Crash ran at me and cornered me between a tree and a barbed wire fence. He reared me back and tried to stomp me to the ground, my life flashed before my eyes and I was only
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he was going to mess with you. One night, my dog wouldn’t stop barking in the backyard. I went outside with a flashlight and I saw Crash on the other side of the fence with a stick in his mouth that he was poking through the fence teasing the dog with it,” Loebsack said. Crash ended up being sold after different occurrences in which he only brought trouble and violence for the family. More often than not, animals continued to appear in places they should not have been. Dealing with so many animals, plus the additional ones, prolonged the hours of countless chores. “I went back to the greenhouse at night to check on my chickens. We had been having a raccoon problem and I wanted to make sure the chickens were all good. I shined the flashlight through the door and saw one raccoon hanging from the rafter with one arm, swinging like he was on a jungle gym. There were two other raccoons jumping around having a good old time. I think I interrupted their party,” Loebsack said. The raccoons continued to linger and sneak into the
My wife and I originally moved out to the country so that we could keep our horse at home instead of boarding her. Over time we have accumulated more and more animals,” Cory Loebsack, government teacher and animal lover
saved when my neighbor pulled into their drive way and spooked the horse, which gave me the opportunity to get away. From that day forward I would only go onto my property if I had a whip with me,” Loebsack said. Crash’s attitude was not only towards the owners, but also his surroundings. Looking to stir up trouble, whether it was leaving Loebsack’s son with teeth marks, and stomping on Loebsack’s daughters head, his devious plans never came to a halt. “Crash would get that look in his eyes and you knew
greenhouse. With many failed attempts to get rid of the raccoons by trapping them and releasing them into the San Jacinto River, Loebsack then decided to take a different approach. “I would always tell my family that I was going back to feed the animals and kick a chicken. Of course, it was a joke, because I never really kicked my chickens. But, recently I built a new chicken coop because the raccoons kept getting into the greenhouse. So now when I open the door to the new chicken coop, the chickens
ONE OF MANY. Part of the numerous farm animals on government teacher Cory Loebsack’s property Nicky, the horse, takes in the pastoral atmosphere of the property. Photo by Cory Loebsack
are always trying to sneak out. So guess what I have to do now? I have to gently kick the chickens to keep them from getting out. I guess I can predict the future,” Loebsack said. Although these stories sound like something out of a movie, it is Loebsack’s strange real life. His students hear countless stories through the time they have him, and each sound crazier than the one before. “I was honestly shocked because he’s been through so many interesting experiences. But I would always laugh at most of them, since they were always so out of the ordinary,” Sydney Nebeker, senior, said Loebsack’s choice of pets were not the classic animals every family tends to choose to have. As a result, his unusual ordeals and encounters altogether remain uncommon. “The stories he told weren’t your typical pet stories and were usually extremely odd, so they were entertaining,” Edgar Alaniz, senior, said Loebsack’s way of life from the outside looking in may seem peculiar, but as crazy as it may seem, taking care of 23 animals and three acres of beautiful land is the norm for him.
YEARBOOK NEWSPAPER
Join us in Journalism I - Yearbook or Journalism I - Newspaper next year. See your counselor to enroll or come by the journalism room, 1720, for more information.
Sports
the peregrine february 2017
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Boxing Dedication Confidence grows with practice at gym » Korey Haynes, Reporter
Seemingly coming out of the shadows Jesselynn Marin, freshman, emerged onto the boxing arena to present her abilities. Although Marin has not fought in any matches, she feels an upcoming tournament in March will provide her an opportunity to show her talent. Marin turned to the new gym near her house for a hobby on which to focus on. After watching boxing on television, the desire of wanting to box built within her, and she finally went to the gym and enrolled. “I had a lot of problems at home and I felt like things wouldn’t get better anytime soon. I wasn’t the smartest student in my classes and I had a hard time focusing on school,” Marin said. Marin dedicates two hours for three days a week to boxing at her gym. She wants to emulate the dedication she has viewed in other boxers. “Seeing boxers that came from nowhere and make it big is my biggest inspiration. Boxers like Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali have always been some people who have pushed me to do better in the sport,” Marin said. Knowing that a lot of young boxers do not fulfill their dreams in this sport, Marin has an optimistic mind and lets the sport guide her to the future. “It amazed me that someone who came from nothing, a person who was in and out of prison can have a new start at becoming something. He didn’t give up on himself and that’s why Mike Tyson inspires me so much by telling me that I can become
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something from nothing,” Marin said. Marin hopes to rise in the sport of boxing, just like Mike Tyson did. The impact that Tyson had on Marin is incredible because it helps her keep her head up. Also looking forward to the future Marin plans on going forward into the Golden Glove Tournament. “It is a process, and when you are competing in any tournament, your team will be there for you no matter if you win or lose. They will help you get better and will also keep you focused. Boxing is not the safest sport out there, but you can release so much anger instead of taking it out on others,” Marin said. Marin experiences nothing but uplifting spirits when she comes into the gym as she has her teammates around her, encouraging her to do better. “You can have low self-confidence and leave with a little more confidence everyday going into the gym,” Marin said. As Marin goes into the gym more, her confidence grows and will continue to grow. Marin commits to her sport and tries to stay focused on boxing and school.
Jersey Village High School
enior Congratulatory Messages i n C o l o r i n F A L C O N 2 0 17 Seniors: Tell mom, dad, grandma, granddad, auntie or your uncle to honor you in the yearbook with this SPECIAL MESSAGE. Senior Congratulatory Message orders will be taken from today until February 24, 2017. Space will be limited to the number of pages allotted to senior messages in the yearbook. Turn in your contract and material early as when all allotted space has been sold, we will not be able to accept any additional messages. All contracts, photos, messages and payment must be turned in by February 24, 2017. You must turn in all material to guarantee your space. We have had to decline people because they waited too long to contact us. The book is now priced at $85 with options as a name plate for the cover, plastic cover, year magazine. We will be using the web based order company, www.balfour.com to accept orders. They will accept credit cards or checks. Send all info to margot.comstock@cfisd.net
Senior Message 1/8 page = $50 4.167 X 2.583 in. limited to 2 photos 30 word message limit
Senior Message 1/4 page = $100 4.167 X 5.333
limited to 3 photos Senior Message 50 word message limit 1/2 page = $180 8.5 X 5.333 limited to 4 photos limited to 70 word message
Senior Message full page = $350 8.5 X 10.847 limited to 6 photos / 90 word message limit
Why buy a senior message? The senior message is a great way to send a special message that will last forever in the high school yearbook. What can be placed in the senior message? Graduation photos, baby photos, photos of the senior as he/she has grown up, photos with friends all have been placed in the senior message. Poems, congratulation notes, Bible verses and personal notes are all appropriate for senior messages. All material must be school appropriate. Will I get my photos back? We recommend that if the photo is one of a kind, you take it to a photo processor and have them make a print copy or give us the photo as a 300 dpi, CMKY, jpeg file. Advertising Policies Payment should be made through www.balfour.com when you order your yearbook, by February 24, 2017. We will accept quality camera-ready art, pre-designed ads at a resolution of 300 dpi or we will design them for you. We cannot accept word documents or powerpoints. No photo copied paper copies will be accepted. Nor will we accept photos that have been cut into shapes. For additional info call the Journalism Department at 713-896-5079 or email margot.comstock@ cfisd.net with the subject line: 2017 Senior Message.
Sports
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ON THE PROWL. With Baylor lurking in the distance, Morgan Stewart, senior, pushes through to prepare for the next level. Photo by Cade Schaudel NEW TALENT ARISES. Pushing through adversity Cydni Miller, sophomore, sprints to make her time better. Photo by Cade Schaudel
the peregrine
february 2017
LOOKING FOR GOLD. Sprinting past her opponents, Creshaun Cresser, junior, takes a warm up sprint during practice. Photo by Cade Schaudel
EYES ON THE PRIZE. Setting up to run, Darian Landry, senior, eyes down the finish line during an afternoon practice. Photo by Cade Schaudel
Sprinting into new season
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Expectations in place to exceed previous records
Before a race my heart is beating hard, it’s an exciting feeling but once I get going I lose the nervousness and focus on the starting gun.” Darian Landry, senior
» Kyle Higgins, Reporter
The track season has begun, expectations are higher compared to years past, and the teams have grown together and have found motivation to outdo the other competition. Individual talent, as well as team talent will show themselves throughout the season. “Seeing my teammates push through their relay gives me the motivation to do my part and either get the lead, catch up, or win,” LeDarius McGlorie, senior, said. A winning team usually bonds together through an event that happened or a saying. The squad has made up a saying that has turned into a motivational boost. “What doesn’t break a Falcon makes a Falcon. Juwan Morgan inspired me to keep this saying going,” Darian Landry, senior, said. The team looks to build upon last year’s season. New teammates can take a while to get used to but this team has bonded sooner rather than later. The team works together to become
better, as they push each other every day. The girl’s team returns some key athletes. They have high expectations ranging back to last season. “This year we all hope to advance to the state track meet and prove to ourselves we can do what we want to achieve,” Creshaun Cresser, junior, said. Morgan Stewart, senior, (Baylor commit) looks to build upon her achievements from last season. “My goal for this season is to stay healthy and to put in more work at practice and at home so I can perform even better than I did last year,” Stewart said. Stewart’s personal record came in the 400 meter with a time of 54.30 at the TX TTFCA Meet of Champions, but Stewart isn’t settling there. Younger athletes will look to succeed and follow in the footsteps of the ones that came before them.
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I feel nervous before races. Once I get off the blocks I feel all my adrenaline rush and I just run.” Cydni Miller, sophomore
Editorial
the peregrine february 2016
Restrict rude refs rotten rowdiness
11 2017 Peregrine Staff Co-Editors - Emmilyne Thomas; Lin Vu. Staff Writers - Cade Schaudel, Pamela Jimenez, Valeria Perez, Pablo Lemus, Korey Haynes, Kyle Higgins. Contributing Photographers Damaris De Leon, Jessica Sweeten, Adviser Margie Comstock. JVHS Principal - Ralph Funk. Jersey Village High School Student Publications’ Newspaper Policy
» Lin Vu, Illustrator The ball crosses the net, another ball flies through a net, and roars echo through the gymnasium. In the heart of the student section amid that echoing roar, negativity gained a foothold. The Rowdy Refs created unnecessary and rude chants towards the opposing team. Once the Rowdy Refs were well coordinated and followed their actual purpose. Then, what the Rowdy Refs turned in to was unacceptable and the opposite of their purpose. They should remain a barred group from Falcon athletic competitions. School administration cancelled the Rowdy Refs at the beginning of the year, due to the yelling of harsh and nasty comments towards the team the Falcons were up against. Instead of lifting school spirit for sporting competitions, many students were embarrassed to be part of the student section that had been created. Whether it was pulling pranks for their own amusement or purposely putting down the other team, their actions kept going. One specific chant, towards a girl on the other team, was, “Hit the treadmill!” They defended the statement with the fact they were bored and we were losing the game. While chants and insults on the other team’s physical appearance were often the target, there were instances where it was deeper as they belittled opponents. When this occurred, the Refs felt as if they had done their job, watching the girl’s facial expression melt. They did not just disrespect and put down the other team, but
there were occasions where they yelled at and got into the face of a referee, with the Rowdy Ref getting kicked out. Their excuses for the disrespect and commotion created was that it was simply just banter and was not meant to hurt anyone’s feelings. There were different approaches before deciding to shut down the Rowdy Refs. One of the final straws that caused a suspension happened at a Cy Ridge game. The Falcons were losing and to distract and anger the other team, the group chanted profanity towards the team and student section, which then resulted in a rivalry and confrontation after the game. The attempt to suspend the Refs to teach them a lesson was not enough. Once the suspension was over the shenanigans began again. They simply did not follow instructions and took “jokes” to an extreme. High schoolers should not behave like this, most Refs are seniors, 17 and 18. If the Falcons went up against a team whose student section acted like ours did, those who lead the commotion would not think it was okay. While the Refs knew their actions were unacceptable and not okay, it went on. After the Rowdy Refs showed for the final time they did not have the maturity to lift school spirits up, nor the correct attitude, they were finally shut down. School spirit can easily be created without putting the other team down, only positive encouragement is needed. The Rowdy Refs proved that they do not have the maturity to continue, and until people learn how to be respectful they should not be allowed to return to this campus.
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 (713-896-3400). 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 1/8, 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.
Rude or Roaring
How have Rowdy Refs impacted school games? “They make games more exciting and get the students more involved with chants and cheers,” Allana Qualls, senior, said.
» Pablo Lemus, Reporter
“They helped the team with support and distracted the other team that’s a big part of the game,” Victor Abrego, senior, said.
“We bring energy to the games and are obnoxious. We are annoying,” Martin Ray, senior, said.
“When we got behind, they were there cheering and pushing us to keep going,” Stephanie Gabino, senior, said. “If the team we were playing was not mentally tough enough, they made it hard to compete,” Carrie Schneider, volleyball coach, said.
Photo Story
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ANIMALS ON PARADE. At the annual Cypress Fairbanks Livestock Show animals and projects from across the district competed for placing and sale. 1. Dayton Mejias, junior, 5th in Broilers. “Every day I would go out to my broiler project and tend to them. I made sure that their cage was clean.” RIBBON WINNER . 2. Logan Cegelski, junior, 4th in Turkeys. According to Cegelski he would make sure that his animals always had water and enough food. RESTFUL MOMENT. 3. Denae Bronikowski, senior, 7th in Class 4, Swine. “It was hard letting something your love go. I spent day and night caring for him,” Bronikowski. NERVOUS. 4. Makenzie Cegelski, junior, 12th in Turkeys. “Going into the contest I was nervous. As I was getting ready my nerves started to worsen, but as I walked into the show arena, my nerves eased,” Cegelski said.
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the peregrine
february 2017
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District Livestock Show
Annual event highlights year effort » Jessica Sweeten, Damaris De Leon, Contributing Photographers
6 CLOSE BOND. 5. Samantha Castillo, junior, 10th in class 7 goats. “My goat was stubborn all year. He wouldn’t walk with me, and I think I got all his muscle from his stubbornness since I was constantly pulling on him. With FFA I am with my animal every day building a bond,” Castillo said. CHOW TIME. 6. Attending to her goat’s needs Abril De la Mora, senior, continues to remain the responsible care taker. “I will cherish this experience for the rest of my life,” De la Mora said.
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BEING JUDGED. 7. Parker Thomas, junior, 9th place, Class 2, Swine. As part of his swine’s care Thomas had to feed the animal three times a day and wash her three times a week. “In addition to washing her, I had to put lotion on her skin after the washing,” Thomas said. ALWAYS CARING. 8. Abigail Cook, junior, 3rd in Sr. Buck, Breeding Rabbits. “I was very excited and shocked when I placed because this was my first time showing rabbits,” Cook said.