Jersey Village High School 7600 Solomon Houston, Texas 77040
Peregrine The
KICKING OFF
Boys soccer wins district, advances to playoffs
Volume 44 Issue 4 April 2016
Featured Stories
Emmilyne Thomas Editor in Chief
“
T he biggest prep
for playoffs was our mindset going into it because we had the skills and we had the abilities to go as far as we needed to go,” Jordan Henderson, senior, said.
ON THE MOVE. Making the winning shot Jordan Henderson, senior, scores against Aldine MacArthur. In a tough battle Edgar Alaniz, junior, runs with the ball against the Seven Lakes Spartans. Photos by Crystal Hernandez and Christine Le.
UIL contests see two go to state Two Falcons will head to the state UIL Academic contests at the University of Texas on May 24. Isabel Escamilla, senior, will complete in accounting and Amy Zhou, junior, will test her skills in spelling and vocabulary at the state meet. Both will face other 6A UIL regional winners after each one finished in second place at the regional competition. All first, second and third place winners advance to state competition. To advance to regionals they first competed in the district competition, placeing second and thirds in their contests.
He sends the ball to the goal with one final kick. The goalie dives and his fingers narrowly miss the recognizable black and white ball. The ball flies into the goal. The buzzer sounds as the crowd erupts. The team cheers and jumps as the District Champion trophy emerges. The boys’ varsity soccer team has made it to playoffs. The boys’ varsity soccer team played their hearts out this past season. The effort they put into their sport shone through and revealed their drive to succeed. “Looking back on the season I think we put in good effort. We played as a team,” Alex Alaniz, sophomore, said. A common goal throughout the team stayed strong until the very end of the season. The boys planned to make playoffs and give the seniors a year to remember. Edgar Alaniz, junior, shares his motivation behind this past season. “My motivation this season was making sure that the seniors leave on a good note,” Alaniz said. With the District Champion title under their belt, the boys had their eyes set on the state title. Jordan Henderson, senior, did not remain immune to the desire for more than a district title. “I wanted to make a difference in the school by bringing us a state title. Though we didn’t make it that far, we did accomplish a lot this season and playoffs was a great experience to go through,” Henderson said. While the team did not make it to state level, the boys remain proud of their accomplishments. “We did what was possible and we were able to win a district title,” Roger Bonilla, senior, said. Now that the seniors have finished their final year with the team, they look back and have come to realize valuable lessons. Bonilla imparts advice on next year’s team. “Work hard every day in practice. Try to get better every day you step on the soccer field.
JV Designers Show Page 2
Orchestra Spaghetti Pages 4, 5
Steel Magnolias Page 6,7
Softball Coach Page 12
Work harder on your weaknesses and try to perfect them, and most importantly make Jersey Village proud,” Bonilla said. Although the road to playoffs proved to be a nail biter, each team member has a special memory from the season. Edgar Alaniz recalls a fond memory from the district championship game. “My favorite memory would definitely be scoring against Cy Lakes and being the only one that scored that game and coming out with a victory,” Edgar Alaniz said. The team gave their all this past season. Their determination to push beyond expectations brought home the district title and gave the school a sense of pride it has not had in a while. While the team loses its seniors, the boys will always remember the memories and their great triumph. “It’s just about who’s going to show up to play, whose mind is going to be in the game and that was the hardest to get the team to do,” Henderson said.
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Volume 44, Issue 4
THE BEAUTY IN FASHION DESIGN
JV Designers host space inspired runway Lin Vu staff reporter The room became still when the announcement was made. As a student in Advanced Fashion Design, I toppled over in a frenzy of excitement when our supervisor announced that we would hold Jersey Village’s first fashion show in almost three years. Spring in space, the theme proposed for the show, held countless possibilities for the designers to showcase their creative talent. A wave of anxiety burst over me as soon as the deadline emerged. We held no understanding of what the next five months would hold for us, be it altercations, obstacles or triumph. Consecutively, as a whole, we could feel a synonymous energy of anticipation. I worked with Krystian Haynes, junior, and a fellow designer as well as member of Jersey Village Designers. Haynes pursues a career in fashion and utilized her aspiration to fabricate and bring her collection to life. Using her ambition as an incentive to creating, Haynes pushed forward for a total of five months to finalize every garment. “I worked for about 5 months, though it felt like years. My dream is to be a fashion designer so I find motivation in everything with clothing. I feel like my motivation is my dream,” Haynes said. Camila Gamez, junior, designer and member of Jersey Village Designers anticipated the event since she first took the class. The expectations of a young designer reflected her work ethic as Gamez came out with clean-cut and dazzling garments. “Since my freshman year, I’ve always wanted to do fashion design. I took fashion design one and ever since I took fashion design two I’ve been waiting for it for my whole high school year,” Gamez said. Wakeyah Dampeer, senior, designer and member of Jersey Village designers uses fashion design as her inspiration for self-confidence. Dampeer’s alluring designs revealed a vibrant and confident persona, one that can persevere and create stunning outfits. “I feel so proud of my work. I didn’t think… at the beginning it was just a drawing, I really didn’t think it was going to come out as good as it did. I decided to take Fashion Design last year because I was very self-conscious in my first two years of high school but I’ve opened up a little bit and the class helps me,” Dampeer said. Celeste Ochoa, senior and designer, put all of her heart into her work and diligently finished with a perseverance that ensured the show went well.
“I felt a lot of pressure to finish my garments but I’m very proud that I finished it in time for the show. It was very nice to work with other designers and I really liked the theme that we chose. I love being in Fashion Design, we’re all so close and I’ll miss working with them,” Ochoa said. Latia Mitchell, junior, designer and member of the Designers aspired in her dream of fashion since her early years. Mitchell hoped to project her ambitions to the crowd through her garments and collection. Her dedication to the show fully portrays the hardworking students that lie behind the curtains of Fashion Design. “Fashion is something I’ve always wanted to do and I thought a fashion show would be an excellent experience. I’ve been interested in fashion since I was about 6 or 7 years old. I hoped for everyone to appreciate how hard I worked on these garments and for people to admire what I love to do,” Mitchell said. Emmetti Essoh, junior, a model chosen to represent my line, graced the stage wearing sky blue overalls and a white mesh hoodie, donning a transparent umbrella with various planets attached to the edges. Essoh hold great respect for the designers and their plight, and his admiration is truly reflected in his passion onstage. “I felt so honored to be chosen to model for Lin Vu. I really love her fashion in almost any general way and I was just glad to be in her show and to just do something with her. Once you’re up on stage and you see a lot of happy faces and you’re sponsoring someone’s outfit, you see their hard work and determination. It’s truly exhilarating,” Essoh said. Christina Jenkins, junior, modeled for designer Haynes’ collection. Jenkins dressed in an original halter top sewn by Haynes, a clear skirt repurposed from shower curtains and a playful furry bag. From head to toe, Jenkins personified the stylish on-the-go girl with hints of galactic themes. Jenkins’ onstage presence filled the crowd with wild exuberance. “I felt so incredible to be asked by my best friend to model her clothes. I was really interested in being a model during the summer time and I love fashion itself so just being a model really intrigues me. It was really nerve wrecking on stage but it was satisfying. There was a lot of pressure. I just said I’m going to go out there, and I’m going to kill it and that was about it,” Jenkins said. Viewing Haynes’ finished collection on the runway was a pleasure and experience. The satisfaction of completing a long awaited project could bring a smile to any face, and for Haynes, it is an emotion that she values. Continued on page 3, Fashion Design
WELCOME TO THE COSMOS. A dazzling array of colors are presented as models from each designer display their garment. From sparkling skirts to chic tops, the runway bares a creative explosion. Photo by Lesly Ventura, Mikelle Wood, Yesenia Cuellar
Volume 44, Issue 4
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The beauty in fashion design- Continued from Page 2 “I feel like the finishing piece is the most memorable moment for me. The best part is when you see it on your model and you’re like ‘Yes!’ that is the best feeling in the world,” Haynes said. Haynes held any typical fear that any designer would bear, the fear of judgment. Before getting onstage, or even while running the fabric through the machine, that fear has always crept behind each member. Despite this, Haynes was able to put forth a breath-taking line, full of whimsical accessories and eccentric colors. “My biggest fear is how people would react to my clothing. I feel like if other people don’t like it, how am I supposed to continue making it? In the big world, you never know how others are going feel about your work,” Haynes said. Gamez utilized her vast sewing skills learned in Fashion Design I to create multiple garments that even shocked the designer herself. Piece by piece, as her models sauntered down the runway, Gamez felt a sense of accomplishment fill her chest simply viewing her work. After months of preparation and construction, the satisfaction was astonishing. “During rehearsals whenever I saw my models go down and it looked decent, I felt really proud. I was surprised that I made a dress in literally two periods. I thought it was going to take weeks but apparently not,’ Gamez said. Roberto Perez, freshman, attended the show to provide support for a classmate. He admired the uniqueness and individuality of the outfits, its unconventionality appealing to him. “I liked how it wasn’t the same thing as always. It wasn’t something that you see every day. It was different from the average custom. My friend told me that she was going to be in it and she asked me to come because it was her first time being there. I wanted to support her,” Perez said. Ky Trinh, junior, modelled for a garment that I constructed. The outfit consisted of an iridescent sequin top with sheer shoulders, following a velvet pencil skirt layered with a transparent ocean blue maxi skirt over it. Trinh brought a fiery passion to the stage that demanded attention and admiration. Trinh’s experience with the show was remarkable and one-of-a-kind, sure to give her memories that would be unforgettable in her life. “When the models are presenting the garments, it’s breathtaking. You get to see all the hard work that led up to this explosive moment and it’s phenomenal. The photos, the laughs and the whole process of it gave me such a warm feeling. I felt so fabulous and fierce, I hope everyone felt just as confident,” Trinh said.
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Fashionable Quotes straight from the runway.
“
I like watching modeling, i think it is a fun thing to do. There was a lot of pressure, I couldn’t see clearly because I took my glasses off. I practiced my poses a lot and I made sure I knew where i was going, I really enjoyed posing on the runway.” Madison Hopper, junior, said.
“
“I like fashion itself , being a model really intrigues me. It was really nerve wrecking but also satisfying, i really enjoyed being a part of the show and getting to see the beautiful outfits that were made. My motto was “im going to go out there and im going to kill it,” Christina Jenkins, junior, said.
“
I worked on my garments for about five months, it was very difficult seeing if it was the right size for my model, so i reminded myself everyday that i need to finish it as soon as possible. I’ve been interested in fashion since i started high school,” Camila Gamez junior, said.
“ GALACTIC ELEGANCE. Garments of every color and size appear on the stage. The models gather during the finale for one last farewell during the show. Photo by Lesly Ventura,Yesenia Cuellar
In the long run it was hard creating my outfit, but during the process it wasn’t very hard, most of my creations are inspired by Designer Jeremy Scott, I like his vanguard. I have been interested in fashion since I was born, right when I was born I said “Fashion,’” Krystian Haynes, junior, said.
“
I did the show to help up build up more confidence. I felt like I was going to fall at any moment but I didn’t. Once you are up there you see a lot of happy faces and you are also showing someone’s hardwork and determination,” Emmetti Essoh, junior, said.
The Peregrine
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Spaghetti
4
Volume 44, Issue 4
Dinner
Night fills with tasty tunes
STROLLING STRINGS PERFORMANCE. Entertaining one table at a time, Rhyan Ooi, sophomore, returns from last year’s Spaghetti Dinner to play Pachelbel Canon in D for his act in the Strolling Strings. Photo by Cade Schaudel
Cade Schaudel Staff Reporter
Sweet sounds emanate from the group of students slowly and deliberately as their hands move their bows back and forth, drawing the attention of those within earshot, and ceasing any and all conversation. The tempo picks up, the instruments lose their tone of serenity as a stronger, more captivating melody begins to unfold marking the beginning of orchestra’s Spaghetti Dinner. Originally created as a way to keep a tradition alive, Lauren Martin, orchestra director, created the Spaghetti Dinner for her students and their parents. Over the course of a couple years, the event has implemented much more activities into its night, evolving into the fund-raiser known as Spaghetti Dinner. “When I was in high school at HSPVA, we always had a Spaghetti Supper every year, so I used that idea as my inspiration for the JV Orchestra Spaghetti Dinner. I think getting everyone together to perform in a relaxed environment, playing games and performing solos is great. The students get a chance to play their instruments for their friends and families in an informal setting. They gain experience playing in public without the pressure of competition,” Martin said. Many people visit the Spaghetti Dinner in order to listen to their children, friends, or just there to eat with good music playing. Returning for a third time, Phil and Joy Ginsburg, along with their son Henry Ginsberg, junior, attend the concert to support their son Robert Ginsburg, sophomore, who will play that night. “It’s such a wonderful thing to have this
night for the kids, and it’ so great to be able to see how the kids have grown in their abilities from fall to winter and to see have they have improved until now. Getting to see these kinds of things is one of the cool things about being a parent,” Phil Ginsberg said. Over the past two years, Spaghetti Dinner has added different attractions to add on to the playfulness of the night. Along with a silent auction and a jail for students to “arrest” people throughout their time there, new attractions such as a game room hosting video game matches, the “Strolling Strings” where students visit different tables and play for the diners, and a separate area for semi-private performances. “Nathan Sanchez and I played ‘We Found Love’ by Rhianna on our cellos as a part of the Strolling Strings. We split up the song into two parts so we each had an important part to play, and it was really good practice for next year’s Fine Arts Festival and to play in front of people without having a whole bunch of pressure on us,” Brenden Funes, sophomore, said. Despite the informal setting, the Spaghetti Dinner also set up a way for all involved to experience a preview of their abilities for the upcoming UIL. To others, playing difficult pieces of music comes as nothing new due to their past practice before even joining orchestra or band. “I have been playing the cello for six years, the piano for eight, and the guitar for six as well. I practiced for three months on my song, but the piano player wasn’t able to learn it in time so even though I played with the orchestra, I didn’t get to play my solo. I don’t plan to go into the music business, but I will keep it close with my life as I finish high school and go through college,” Chrystal Ko, junior, said. With the Spaghetti Dinner gaining in popularity and attractions, it has become
a major source of the programs financial plans. With the money going towards bettering the student’s equipment, paying for trips, and doing more events for everyone. “Fundraisers are important to all clubs and organizations, and is very important to the music programs in general. The turnout is always about the same. It’s usually a success, and it helps Orchestra pay for clinicians, along with a lot of other things throughout the school year. We can expect between 200-250 people to attend the concert, and the majority of them pay for food tickets to eat,” Martin said.
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W
hat was your favorite part of the evening? “My favorite part was just the fact that pretty much everybody was there and were able to just hang out with family and friends. And eat food, the spaghetti was pretty great,” Christian Colon, freshman, said.
“The music because when you put a lot of effort into something, it comes out beautifully in that manner,” Luis Flores, junior, said.
PAY FOR PRISON. For a small fee, students were able to pay “sheriffs” to handcuff students throughout the night, held behind bars for a set amount of time, or until someone bails them out. Nicholas Nguyen, junior, got caught in such a situation when someone paid to have him put in jail. “I was thinking of the craziest things like I was actually being arrested and was debating drop kicking the guys and just running for it,” Nguyen said. Photo by Cade Schaudel
SETTING UP SOUND. Preparing for the first set of songs of the night, Lauren Martin, orchestra director, directs the students and their instruments to their positions to get set up for the long night ahead. Photo by Cade Schaudel
“Being able to see everybody perform and being able to socialize a lot more with people than in a normal orchestra setting,” Wilma Camarillo, senior, said.
“I think actually serving the food was the best part and it was nice because everyone was getting their food and you were helping the people out,” Anees Joubran, senior, said.
“It would be that I got to see a lot of my friends there and got to hang out and eat good food with all of them,” Megan Hecklinger, sophomore, said.
“I gotta say the food and the desserts, mainly cause I got to sit at the dessert table,” Michael Vo, junior, said.
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“UIL is different because there’s so many more regulations, and just the fact that it’s a competition,we only get 40 minutes to do the entire show , which can cut alot of heart out of the play, some of the jokes we had to take out because we didn’t have time for them,”Abigale DeVries, junior, said.
“Best memory..there are so many, honestly. Just being with everyone is amazing in its self between inside jokes we came up with during rehersal, to spending time together, to spending time together outside of the play it was so much fun,” Ryan Brooks, sophomore, said.
“Its a entertaining story about a group of 6 women they aren’t normal friends, they’re best friends who can talk about anything and the background is in a small town in louisiana, where the characters all meet at truvy’s (one of the characters hair salon),”Alessia Lin, junior, said.
A BITTER, RUDE, OUISER. Constantly judging and making sarcastic comments, and scoffing at everything and anything that is said. She might look like a extremely harsh old lady, but she (suprisingly) has a wonderful heart.... sometimes. Photo by Pamela Jimenez
ANNELLE JOINS THE FAMILY. Annelle, played by Rachel Burris, does not know what she’s in for by simply working in Truvy’s Beauty Salon. Trying to learn and understand the commotion around her, Annelle creates a bond with the women after learning the hassle of their everyday life. Photo by Pamela Jimenez
A DISTINCT, MISMATCHED GROUP OF PEOPLE. Gathering around Shelby, with confused, questioning and suspicious looks on their faces while listening to her speak. Photo by Pamela Jimenez
Volume 44, Issue 4
Volume 44, Issue 4
In Depth
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Steel Magnolias
Rules, standards affect play Pamela Jimenez staff reporter Getting costumes, makeup, and props ready for the UIL contest of “Steel Magnolias” started to move like clockwork before the crew and actors took the stage for their final performance of the play. They had to set up in seven minutes, and after the play’s conclusion take the set completely a apart and off the staff in a set amount of time. If they went over that, automatic disqualification, even if it was by .02 seconds, would take affect. Working to build a stage thatwas easy to set up and take down took a toll on the set builders, the cast and crew, who all help the process. “Putting the play together was really stressful on the set builders. We did not just have to make it nice, but made sure it worked with the way the stage was set up. We had a problem with a mirror and it took many times and different positions and flipping the whole
CHRISTMAS IN APRIL. As a way to show compassion in a play filled with misfortune, Abigale DeVries, junior, who plays M’lynn, the fed up mother of Shelby, sets up a secret Christmas gathering for those she cares the most about. Photo by Pamela Jimenez
entire stage for one simple prop, and it happend a ton,” Collin Rougeau, junior, said. Even the small rules and standards that UIL sets affected the play. “The time limit for the entire play was 18-45 minutes, nothing less, nothing more. The cast had to work around it, and remove big chunks of the play that we enjoyed,” Francisco Rodriguez, junior, said. While the cast members and the crew had a big part in preparing the play, the stage manager had to not just order each person, do the paperwork for it, but also guarantee the arrangement would run smoothly. “A big setback on our play was the amount of props we could take. It definitely affected how we set the stage up,” Rodriguez said. Overlooking the problems and stress, seeing everything nicely put together and walking up on stage, and hearing the magical words, makes it all of the hard work worth it.
A PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING. “The play had various laughable and emotional moments, but I related to the program on another level. The play showed how much people focus on materalistic possetions rather than the essential and significant parts of life,” Jacky Amador, freshman, said. Photo by Pamela Jimenez
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Volume 44, Issue 4
Protecting Our Future
Seniors plan, prepare for future in armed forces
can honestly say I have no
fear for my son’s
intended path for his future. At one point earlier in his senior year, I did feel a litle uneasy and feared that he had little direction but now I feel at ease becuase he has decided to
“
pursue a career in the Navy,
Nancy Zamora,
mother of Juan Torres, said.
Army - June 14, 1775
He stands surrounded by other young men and women, their responses joining together to create a single, monotonous sound. They swear to the President and some even to the Governor. With the closing of the ceremony, they all breathe an audible sigh of relief. They have officially become members of the United States Armed Forces. Joining any branch of the military marks a major change in the lives of the young man or woman. Leslie Gonzalez, senior, plans to enter the Army after high school, a decision that runs in the family. “I’ve always wanted to join. When I was little, my uncle would tell me about his experiences and they sounded really exciting,” Gonzalez said. Deciding to join any military branch also stands as an important decision. It establishes a sense of responsibility of their future many teenagers do not understand at such a young age. “I joined the Navy because I wanted to take control of my life and not only change my life as it is now but set myself up for success in the future,” Juan Torres, senior, said. Living away from home can put stress on many people for various reasons. Leticia Perez, senior, finds difficulty in losing out on food she likes. “While at boot camp what I’ll miss the most is food because I know the food over there is not what I’m used to. Food will be very important,” Perez said. With the road ahead of them difficult and packed with challenges, each student has his own motivation and reason for joining. Ja’lynn Manson, senior, finds her drive in younger children. “Children motivate me because I have a lot that I have grown up with and they see me as an older sister. Some have even said that I am their role model and they want to be like me when they grow up,” Manson said. From a young age, many students find
The Continential Congress created the Army as a defense against the British in the American Revolution. The Army still remains one of the most respected branches.
Navy - October 13, 1775
The Second Continential Congress created the “Old Navy” which disbanded after the American Revolution. It was recreated after the Naval Act of 1794.
their dedication to serve ingrained in them from their upbringing. Christopher Onorato, senior, IS no exception. His home grew an honest and determined young man. “I come from a very patriotic home and I was raised with a deep love for the USA. My family is proud of my decision to join the Army and they support my actions,” Onorato said. Although joining the armed forces carries a great honor, the future presents many challenges and dangers. On some occasions, families of future service men and women have a hard time swallowing the decision. “At first my grandma was worried because my oldest uncle was killed when he was 15, my aunt was in Army JROTC so she had her heart set out on joining the military, and my other uncle also wanted to join the military, as well,” Manson said. Training for any military branch comes with a new set of obstacles most people do not face regularly. While some people dread the upcoming adventures, others, like Gonzales, put their best foot forward and find the light. “I am looking forward to boot camp! I am really anxious to see what it’s like. Also meeting new people, we are all going to be a bunch of strangers learning how to be a soldier. I’m excited to see people grow and to see changes in myself as well,” Gonzales said. Although the life of a member of the armed forces IS by no means glamorous, many spent long periods of time away from home and families. “I feel like sometimes I’ll forget about family but I know family will always be there,” Perez said. Many future soldiers often find honor in giving their lives to their duty. Onorato also finds respect for soldiers, in addition to the honor. “If I came face to face with a fallen soldier, I would salute him and thank him for paying the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms,” Onorato said.
Marine Corps - November 10, 1775
Two battalions arose in Philadelphia as infantry troops that fought on land and sea. Now, the Corps takes part in aerial warfare.
Coast Guard August 4, 1790
At the request of Alexander Hamilton, Congress created the Coast Guard, the oldest continuous seafaring branch in the U.S. and operates as a multimission branch.
“H
e is the oldest
of five boys and he has always
taken his job as a role model to his younger brothers very seriously. It shouldn’t be a surprise that he would want to be an officer in the U.S. Army. He
“
“I
Emmilyne Thomas Editor-in-Chief
has been leading
our troop of boys for his whole life, Joy Onorato, mother of Christopher Onorato, said. Air Force September 18, 1947
The National Security Act of 1947 initially created the Air Force as a member of the National Military Establisment.
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Space City’s Line of Defense
Houston Police Department The Houston Police Department was founded in 1841 to fit the growing infrastructure of the city after its founding in 1836. The department purchased its first police car in 1910, and then installed the city’s first traffic light in 1921 in order to keep up with the growing traffic downtown. The department continued to grow with the rapid development of the city around it, eventually arming their officers, purchasing squad cars for their patrol divisions, creating their homicide division, and the development of the bomb squad. Today, the department has over 40 substations and storefronts, over 4,000 employees, and had split the city into 13 different divisions to patrol in. Since its establishment it has acquired several divisions of operation, including the Forensics Service Command, Field Operations, the Support Command, and the Criminal Investigative Commands.
Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department The Cy-Fair volunteer fire department was established in the 1950’s after the destruction of a home and a 20 minute response time by the first-response unit. After recognizing the need for a closer department, the Cypress Civic Club held a meeting to check in on the Fairbanks Fire department, which later turned into the Cy-Fair volunteer department. The department was operated on the support of the community and their donations until it was designated to receive tax dollars in 1985. Today, the department currently has approximately 350 members and volunteers that span across 12 different stations that respond to over 15,000 emergency responses annually over 155 miles of land in northwest Harris County, marking it as the largest volunteer-combination fire department in the country.
Sons, daughters provide thoughts, feelings on parents’ call to duty Juli Perez Managing Editor Sitting at home, a young girl finds herself watching the evening news with her mother. Feel good pieces on adoptable animals at the local shelter and a little boy receiving the kidney donation he desperately needs airs just in time for a commercial break. Once the program returns, the feel good pieces have rescinded, then replaced by the breaking news of a shooting, and an officer down. The girl looks to the wallmounted portrait of her father in his uniform, a whole new meaning brought to what he does every day. Every day, hundreds of men and women enter the streets at their own risk to protect and serve the lives of everyone around them. Many of those brave law enforcement officers have families at home, children whose lives eventually become influenced in one way or another by their parents' professions. "I hadn't realized until recently the gravity of my parents having been cops. It isn't until you see stories on the news and they tell you more and more stories that you start to understand what they're really doing out there," Russell Miller, junior, said. What officers and firemen see on the streets every day stay with them for a long time, taking those lessons home and applying them to their families and personal lives. Just as they protect the city streets, they work to preserve their home lives as well. "Of course it has affected my life. My parents had given all the rules and consequences for what I would be restricted and watched for long ago. My parents had seen situations that they didn't want my sister or I to end up in and they work to make sure we never get there," Miller said. Once the lessons are brought home, it becomes the responsibility of the family members to take the information into consideration and apply it to the daily
routine. "Even if he had never been a firefighter, he would never have raised us any differently. His profession has only made him more knowledgeable of our safety in our everyday lives, and he has taught us how to be helpful when needed and vigilant in our surroundings," Andreya Herrada, freshman, said. Not everyone feels as though the men and women in uniform are as helpful, essential, and imperative to our society as others do. In recent years public backlash has grown stronger and the negativity has definitely made a large impact on the home life. “Typically people will say things like ‘I don't have anything against them; they try out best for us’ or ‘Wow, that's pretty cool’, but not everyone has such a positive reaction and they will feel the need to degrade my dad for being an HPD officer. I'll get comments like ‘Man, I hate them!’ Or ‘They’re always trying to pull me over like they have nothing better to do’. They get an idea that I've been raised to be narcissistic,” Julissa Jimenez, junior, said. Some can live with the negative visualization of what these officers go out and do on a regular basis, ignoring the critical services that society needs them to perform. However, the mounting support for these positions continues to increase despite the negative allegations. "I had such a negative view on his profession before my step-dad came into my life. I believed what media bias had to say. I had such a narrow-minded way of thinking that I took so many things that officers did for granted. I criticized their jobs and acted like I knew what was better and what should have been done better. Since he's come into my life I have changed and opened my views so much more that I tend to shake my head at how ignorant I used to be. I've come to be grateful and accept that not everyone thinks the same," Jimenez said.
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The Peregrine
Sports April ‘16
Volume 44, Issue 4
New coach for team Tucker takes his place in dug-out for school’s varsity softball Angelo Gonzales Staff Reporter Even though the innings kept extending and the pressure had built to an unimaginable peak after a score, Coach Clay Tucker remained one of the few at that point who truly believed in his girls out on the field. The moment the next batter went up to the plate, Coach Tucker only thought about how sweet the comeback victory would taste against Cy-Creek, and what a bright start to the season meant for the school’s softball team. Great teams come from having great fundamentals in practice, and two contrasting characteristics inspire Tucker’s unique style of practicing: speed and a calm mind. Both require high levels of skill, but only together can players get through the wildly fast paced practices described by Tucker. “It’s really intense in practice, the girls are all organized, and everybody is moving all the time. They’re hitting, fielding, throwing, running all the bases, and there’s maybe only six seconds between each pitch that I throw to them. It forces them to stay relaxed because of the intensity, and it’s much harder than most people think,” Tucker said. Despite the tempo of the practices, Bekah Cordray, senior and captain of the team, feels that Tucker brings a laid back, more natural feel to the team that lightens the workload and allows for smooth performances in games. “He’s always joking with us and wanting us to have a good time. That helps us relax and not tense up while we play, and that’s a tremendous help in performing because of how easy it feels. A lot of coaches freak out if someone makes an error, but he doesn’t. He just tells us things like, ‘You’ll get the next one, don’t think too much about it,’” Cordray said.
Cy-Creek: 9-8 Win Cy-Fair: 10-2 Loss Cy Ridge: 9-2 Win Cy-Lakes: 4-0 Loss Cy-Falls: 4-3 Loss Cy Springs 15-0 Win
LAID BACK COACH Coach Clay Tucker looks on the field keeping himself calm in the intensity of the game. His mind cannot wander astray or allow him to crack under pressure because he must lead the girls on the field through both thick and thin. Tucker unites the team before the game by encouraging them with his own confidence in the team and the skill each player possesses individually. Long practices full of rapid-fire drills have prepared each of the players for the game ahead of them, and Tucker relies on their focus in practice to influence how they perform. Photos by Angelo Gonzales
Amber Syzdek, junior, agreed with her teammate about Tucker’s relaxed mentality when coaching, and added
how she felt it added to the team. “Coach Tucker’s easy going attitude allows for the girls to feel accepted by
HOME PLATE
Cy-Woods: 12-0 Loss Langham Creek: 6-5 Loss Cy-Ranch: 7-0 Loss Cy Creek: 21-10 Loss Cy-Fair: 10-0 Loss Cy-Ridge: 6-5 Loss
him and perform tasks more smoothly. He creates the ideal atmosphere for everyone to be successful and not feel pressure on the field,” Syzdek said. Tucker justifies and explains his style of coaching by looking at the nature of the game. Softball bases itself around the idea of teamwork, stopping the scores and advances of the offense, and the first team to stumble should pay the price of falling behind. Pressure weighs on the player’s shoulders, and Tucker believes that with a calm mind the game will come to the players naturally and they will feel in control of the situation. “In this sport, everything is supposed to put you down, and if you’re one-forthree or one-for-four, you’ve had a successful day. It’s as simple as that. Going into a game, I want my girls to have a clear mind, and not be thinking too much. If they’re thinking at the plate, they’re not gonna be successful whatsoever,” Tucker said. However, Tucker credits his players in allowing him to keep that ease in his coaching and confidence in their abilities. “I really don’t have to incorporate very much because the girls have a lot of knowledge, they’re well coached, and they know what I expect of them, so during the game it’s all them. They really go and do it themselves” Tucker said. In the role of team captain, Cordray expressed gratitude to Tucker for acknowledging her abilities to lead the team early on. “It’s an honor that he recognized me as a leader when he first saw me play because he did not know me as a player or person. He’s new to this school and as a coach in general, but could tell by the work ethic I gave and the type of attitude I have that I was a leader,” Cordray said
Cy-Lakes: 11-0 Loss Cy-Falls: 19-9 Loss Cy-Springs: 8-4 Win Cy-Woods: 10-0 Loss Langham Creek: 4-3 Win District Record: 5-12
Volume 44, Issue 4
feature
The Peregrine
April‘16
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Fireworks Stand Managers Needed! Pay is $1000 for the season! (11 days total) Fireworks stand hours are from: 10am to 9pm during June 24th to July 3rd 9am to 12am on July 4th The season begins June 24th and ends July 4th at 12am. July 5th is for packing/cleaning up Additional help of your friends/family is required for July 4th. You will have to provide at least two other people to help sell and stock during that day. Additional helper’s pay is separate from manager’s pay. They will receive hourly pay of $10 an hour. We are looking for HONEST, RELIABLE people that don't mind a little work. Must have a good attitude. Preferably we are looking for high school and college students who are involved in Band, NHS, Key Club, Team Sports, Photo Club, etc. Anyone with a good network of friends/family is highly desired. * You and additional help must be at least 16 years of age (Teachers and faculty are welcome to apply as well!) * You must be able to pass a background check. Clean background is REQUIRED * You MUST HAVE A VALID TEXAS DRIVERS LICENSE Available locations: - Conoco Gas Station: 5822 FM 1960 77069 – Willowbrook area -Shopping Center: 8227 Windfern Rd 77040 – Fairbanks 290 area -Shell Gas Station: 12104 N. Houston Rosslyn 77086 – N Houston Rosslyn and 249 area Exxon Gas Station: 25950 US-290, Cypress, TX 77429 – Spring Cypress and 290 area Please text: Jag @ 713-498-1686 or Izzy @ 281-216-5555
Class of 2017 CELEBRATE ALL YOU’VE ACHIEVED Take your Yearbook Senior Portrait this summer at
Prestige Portraits
CALL to make appointment Houston Studio 281-897-8300 Katy Studio 281-492-9361 Sugarland Studio 281-277-3900
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The Peregrine
Commentary April ‘16
Making lists creates stressful completion issue
Shuffling about the hallways, she finds herself making a list of the lists she has in her hand. She carries a homework list, a list of papers she needs to turn in, a list of items she needs to pick up, a list of extracurricular activities she has for the week, and a list of Emmilyne Thomas, reminders for her day. She quickly loses track and starts Editor in Chief over as she walks into her next class. I personally have a list problem. It has stemmed from my mother, who makes a list for everything from items needed from the grocery store to a packing list for a day trip. It might seem absolutely insane but these lists keep the household from falling into utter chaos. I use lists to (try to) stay organized in school. One thing that lists have not helped me with, however, is keeping myself from getting too worked up about school. Not all the lists in the world could do that, and, quite frankly, I sometimes believe lists make my stress worse. From my three years in high school, I have come to the conclusion that school causes stress. Many may read that and come back with a witty comment like, “Yeah, and water is wet. Congrats on stating the obvious.” To those people: thank you, I amaze myself sometimes with my talents, too. I have a tendency to lose myself in my schoolwork. I push myself to the point where I burn myself out half way through the school year, and I know I am not the only one. School puts students in an environment that can literally cause a loss of sleep. I always seem to forget that going to that soccer game or going to that girls’ night out that my friends set weeks ago is just as important as doing tonight’s homework. Living and enjoying life as a teenager holds just as much significance as staying an A student. Sure, the basic “colleges do not want just smart kids” speaks for itself, but in 10 years, will teens remember the night spent studying for a quiz all night just as well as the night they danced on the furniture with friends? If students forget how to act like teenagers, students cease to be interesting. They become nothing more than another number that can memorize facts from a book. If I can offer nothing else to the freshmen, the sophomores, the juniors, and even the seniors, I wish for everyone to keep in mind that life has more than just school to offer. The book will wait with its words highlighted and underlined. The math homework will sit there with its problems half done.
Volume 44, Issue 4
Not following trends, fads is okay
Gerardo Garcia, Staff Reporter
Illustration by Lin Vu
Next generation faces dilemma due to today’s convenience One day I was tuned into Vice, a series on that talks about pop culture as well as serious issues that face the world politically and environmentally. The story I was watching was about the feedlots that inhabit the world and the consequences they have on the environment. When the program was over I could not help but think about the dilemma the next generation will face in 20, 30 years, simply out of convenience for the now, instead of stopping to think of the possible consequences. Gustavo Rangel, In my opinion, middle schools should show their Staff Reporter students programs such as Vice, as well as their documentaries discussing the problems facing the world. The reason would be to raise awareness and get students to brain storm on possible solutions, these students will assume the roles of the next wave of potential doctors, lawyers, politicians, and scientists. Aside from raising awareness students will obtain a greater understanding of different cultures and people from around the world, and see that the stereotypes they hear about are completely invalid. Students will also obtain a sense of compassion from witnessing issues that threaten people and their culture. In showing students such programs it will broaden their horizon. They will also grasp more of an understanding of the world than just their country. Now all this information is easily available on the internet. But it is a school’s job to provide knowledge of the past and present so that’s why, exposing teens to such programs will not only open their minds but hopefully inspire teens to strive towards a better future for all.
Distractions keep students spiralling into abyss of incomplete homework, deterioration of grades The clock blinks a bright red, the time is 7:00 p.m.. I glance down at my phone, look up again and suddenly the clock displays the time 8:45 p.m. Every moment that I look away, it seemed that time would fly away by the hour. Lin Vu, The homework that I Staff Reporter scheduled to work on is untouched and ignored as all of my attention
transfers to my phone. At one point, everyone has experienced this moment of peculiarity. Making empty promises of being able to complete work, only to be dragged away by the distraction of other activities. Having the attention span of a goldfish, I am no stranger to having poor time management. Poor time management has been my downfall in multiple situations, causing the deterioration of my grades and causing further procrastination. Not only does it affect me, but it plagues
every student in high-school. Many students do not realize the severity of this stalling, attempting to do their work at the last moment. Students should step back and evaluate their priorities, perhaps that tweet can wait, or that game can be set aside for a moment. Organizing and following a proper work schedule will aid students in improving their grades and curving procrastination. Though reconditioning a poor habit is a long process, the benefits are endless.
Teens are easily persuaded by the new fads and trends because everyone does it, and they don’t want to be different. I say BE DIFFERENT! Every time there is a new trend I do not follow it. It is foolish and possibly fatal. Teens think it is okay to wear shirts and or sweaters with a description of a narcotic or of a graphic image. They did not buy those clothes because they are comfortable, they bought it because they want to fit in. They buy it because it is the new trend. They should remember that they are still in school, and there is a dress code. We think that is smart to put our lips in a glass cup and suck the air until our lips are big and purple. We also think it is smart to light ourselves on fire and see how much of the pain we can withstand. This is not Mario Kart. These are dangerous and dumb challenges.Every time there is a challenge they do it, want to know why? YouTube. The Youtuber’s that the teens watch do the challenges and often fail. We want to do it. Because it happens to them and not to us and we do it to make people think that we are exciting. YouTubers give the kind of influence that is bad and going to literally “slay” their followers. Teens should stop going with the trends, not because it is the right thing to do but if they keep doing it, the only future they have is in a casket six feet under, earlier than expected.
Volume 44, Issue 4
The Peregrine
Editorial April ‘16
Deserved thanks extended
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Open Conversations How would you thank an athletic trainer?
Yetlanezi Rodriguez junior
Illustration by Lin Vu
Helmets crack, bodies collide, and seconds later a pile of players have toppled over the runner. When the pile finally makes contact with the ground, a shrill voice pierces through all other noise surrounding the game. Now, with single rolling body left on the field unable to get up, trainers move quickly to assess the situation and condition of the player. Trainers assist the player to safely get off the field, and the player can feel safe knowing the preparation and dedication the trainers put into their work will lead to his quick recovery. The trainer staff at the school deserve all the credit given to them by their peers, athletes, and instructors, but they still deserve more appreciation from the students. The trainers have an incredibly hard, time-consuming, and frustrating job to do that most of the student population could not dedicate the time or effort to do. The call of being on the student trainer staff ranges from spending more than 20 total hours after school for athletic practices and events, learning basic first-aid, how to treat acute injuries (small injuries that will not need long-term rehabilitation), and earning CPR and AED Certifications. This does not include the responsibility of remaining calm with panicked athletes, the care taken in helping players off the fields, and understanding when to get the head trainers involved. These are crucial parts of the knowledge trainers have, but with a head start to the practice of sports medicine and real world applications, student trainers feel that their efforts are well worth the time. Head trainers commit just as much as the student trainers do, spending a number of days working from 6:45 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. or later. Their job revolves around ensuring the trainers are well
educated in the basics of sports medicine, and going the extra mile for athletes with more serious injuries. The head trainers evaluate these injuries here at the school first to determine if an athlete needs to see a doctor, and then afterwards refers them to the type of doctor they need and possibly a reference. Once the outside sources provide a rehabilitation program for the athlete, the head trainers work with the exercises given and sometimes adds to that program to better benefit the athlete. The head trainers evaluate these injuries through different stress tests and isolation techniques, and if they know that they can treat the injury without costing the athlete the fees of an outside source, they begin a program of their own to assist the athlete. These rehabilitation sessions are conducted by Thomas Piotrowski and Jennifer Murphy, and are suited specifically for the athletes and their injuries. The pain athletes suffer can feel discouraging, but with the help of the head trainers, the athletes can rest assured that they are in good hands. Without the trainer staff, our athletes could go through unimaginable strife and doubt, and that would lead our athletic teams to be unencouraged to sacrifice their health for the sport they play. The trainer staff ensures that there is no sacrifice of health to be made for athletes playing the sport they love. Students take pride the school’s athletic teams, and by extension they should take pride in their trainer staff that keeps the athletes motivated through their injuries and doubts. When students get the chance, they should thank the trainers for taking care of the athletes that they passionately rally behind.
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 (713-896-3400). 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 1/16, 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.
“I seriously have no idea what would happen to us if we didn’t have the trainers. When in wrestling matches they are always on our corner making sure that if we get injured they will be right there for us.”
Alan Moreno, sophomore “The trainer work vigourously to make sure we athletes are healthy and ready to perform at our highest level. I do not know where I would be without them.”
2016 Peregrine Staff Editor - Emmilyne Thomas; Managing Editor - Juli Perez; Staff - Cade Schaudel, Lin Vu, Angelo Gonzales, Eric Williams, Pamela Jimenez, Gustavo Rangel, Gerardo Garcia. Contributing Photographers - Christine Le, Crystal Hernandez, Lesly Ventura, Mikelle Wood, Yesenia Cuellar, Gabby Gladney. Adviser - Margie Comstock. JVHS Principal - Ralph Funk.
Sebastian Cordero sophomore “To have great trainers is a blessing and I am very fortunate to have amazing trainers here. People do not know how important and helpful they are on and off the playing field. I am alway going to be thankful to have them around.”
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Photo Essay
GD old
April ‘16
usters
The Peregrine
Volume 44, Issue 4
Spring Show hits stage after Houston flood delay Gabby Gladney Photographer