Coppell’s
Cowboy Carl is a staple at Coppell events, but most everything about him remains a mystery. Un less the person under the head is a senior, Carl may not reveal their identity for multiple years. Cowboy Carl is CHS’ mascot that can be seen at numerous Coppell events, from football games to Coppell parades. Carl is a reflection of the differ ent types of students at CHS. Angelina Liu
“It really is a reflection of the different types of students we have [at CHS],” Coppell cheerleading coach Alexis Irons said. “Carl is not just one per sonality; Carl is all of us.”
“She brings in that family atmosphere to the high school,” Denton Creek Elementary Principal Chris Gollner said. “She’ll tell you like it is. She’ll pick you up when something happens and make sure to love you and take care of you. She’ll also kick you in the butt to make sure you’re doing what you need to do. Those belly-aching laughs and sarcasm are what I’ll always remember her for. Education is a hard job, especially now, and those are what really get you through the hard times. I thrive off her sarcasm, which may not always be a great thing, but she has an art with it.”
4. Forefront of Coppell
Cowboy Carl, a familiar face at CHS, holds a particular place in Coppell’s heart. With a wide smile plastered on his face, he brings joy to people of all ages and can be seen anywhere from football games to Coppell parades. But who is he really? Here are a few facts about Cowboy Carl:
1. CHS Mascot
3. Mystery
Entertainment Editor, @SaniyaKoppikar
“When she was named high school principal, the East kids all freaked out and we were all so excited,” CHS 2022 graduate Katy Kryzak said. “The [Coppell Middle School West and Coppell Middle School North] kids were like ‘why are you guys so excited?’ We were like ‘just wait. She’s the best person ever, and you just have to experience it.”
“We had our cheerleading camp, and when [parents] were taking pictures some people couldn’t even get their kids to look at the camera because they were too busy looking at Carl,” CHS Principal Laura Springer said.
“She has a big, big heart, she’s crazy funny and has a wonderful sense of humor,” Coppell ISD Superin tendent Dr. Brad Hunt said. “Springer is someone who knows people’s names, which is real important in high school to know who the kids are, but it goes deeper than that. She knows what their needs are, she knows who they are as people, she knows their parents. Her understanding of what it means to give back, be a servant and leader, really hones the relationships she has at CHS.”
Heart of campus beats through Springer Sri Achanta Executive News Editor, @sriachanta_ Sri Achanta Executive News Editor, @sriachanta_
2. Loved By All
Legend behind top Lcowboy egend behind Coppell’s top cowboy Saniya Koppikar
The mascot’s outfit is a classic cowboy look– jeans, chaps and a widebrim hat– but the head, paintofamalgamationannewspaper,andplaster,isespeciallyeye-catching.
Whether she’s laughing with her coworkers, dancing to the weekly Friday music playing through the halls, or hugging her students, Coppell High School Principal Laura Springer never fails to brighten someone’s day. Her unconditional love for her students is reciprocated by many alike. Here are a few things that Coppell has to say about Springer:
5. Reflection
Coppell High School Principal Laura Springer has worked in Coppell ISD for 37 years. For her service, she was awarded the Cliff Long Leadership Award on Jan. 29. Sidekick File Photo Coppell High School alumna and Olympian Chiaka Ogbogu embraces CHS Principal Laura Springer, while thanking her for hosting the city of Coppell’s rally celebrating Ogbogu. Springer is known for loving all her students. Nandini Muresh
Carl represents everything CHS strives to stand for: leadership, integrity, kindness and dedication.
4 Sports Planning to attend 2022-23 athletic events ?
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First game of football season (Coppell vs. Lake Highlands) Sept. 23 Homecoming game (Coppell vs. Plano West) NOv. 4 Senior night (Coppell vs. Plano) 16
Aug.
Aug.
FOOT B VOLLEYALL B CROSS-COUNTRYALL Aug. 20 First XC meet Waxahachie Woodhouse Invitational Sept. 10 Flower Mound Invitational Shadow Ridge middle school Oct. 15 District 6-6ANorthChampionshipLakePark Aug. 23 First district match (Coppell vs. Plano West) Oct. 10-11 Playoffs Bi-district tournament Oct. 26-27 Playoffs State tournamentTENNiS
First game of volleyball season (Coppell vs. McKinney Boyd) Sept. 23 Homecoming game (Coppell vs. Hebron) OCT. 11 Last home game (Coppell vs. Marcus)
WHICH CHS TE ACHE R ARE YOU?? WhatisyourfavoriteTVshowtobingewatch? What is your dream vacation? What is your favorite movie franchise? What would be your superpower? What is one thing you would bring to a deserted island? How would your friends describe you in one word? A.B.FriendsBreakingBadC.StrangerThingsD.Seinfeld A. Greece B. Caribbean C. England and Scotland D. Hawaii A. I don’t have one B. Star Wars C. Harry Potter D. Back to the Future A. To be in multiple places at once B. Flight C. Wolverine hands D. Invisibility A. A genie in a bottle B. MP3 Player C. A book D. Sunscreen A. Thoughtful B. Goofy C. Sophisticated D. Funny What is your all-timefavorite song? Who is artist?favoriteyourmusicWhat is favoriteyouricecreamflavor?A.RockyroadB.CookiesandCreamC.ChocolateD.Tigertail ANSWERS ON PAGE 12 5 A. New Kids On The Block B. Father John MistyC. Michael JacksonD. Huey Lewis & the News A. “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” byToby Keith B. “I Love You, Honeybear” byFather John MistyC. “Thriller” by Michael JacksonD. “Hip to be Square” byHuey Lewis & the News
Everybody only has one time to be a high schooler, so take advantage of your time here and do what you can to make your year be er than the last.
Executive Design/Interactive Editor
I wanted to change my a itude and do things that I would never have done just two years ago: be less reserved in school, visit new restaurants and places, more frequently hang out with friends, join an internship and occasionally do some (ad mi edly) stupid but fun things. Doing this made my junior year more fruitful and memorable than it would have been if I’d just been the same person I was before.
Aliya Zakir
@_fgmx I
Shrayes Gunna
Choosing something you’re passion ate about can help you meet people with similar interests, bond with amazing teachers, and help you learn while having fun doing it!
However, know that you are worth it, and that everyone has their space to shine. Grappling with the never-ending compari son and self-doubt is made far easier when you come to realize that other people’s suc cesses is not your loss, just as your successes isare not theirs.
To succeed in high school, no ma er how the journey may look for you, just remember to be supportive, and find your own support. Then, perhaps the compari son won’t get to you.
f there’s one thing I’ve learned recent ly, it’s to try new things. For the year or so I was quarantined at home, I didn’t do too much other than schoolwork and watch my phone. It was when I came back to school in person for my junior year that I realized it was now possible for the whole world to just come to a halt unexpectedly because of COVID-19.
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Advice from Sidekick staffers on
Bymentality.tackling procrastination upfront, tasks that drag on for hours can usually be completed in an hour. I struggled with this throughout high school, so if you’re cur rently an underclassmen suffering from this issue, deal with it head on and set good study habits. It’ll reward you in all aspects in the long run.
y best words of advice for a student going into Coppell High School are to make sure to take classes that you are genuinely inter ested in. School is a place where you go to learn, but it’s also a place that you use to make memories, make friends and have a great time while you’re still a teenager. When you’re taking classes that you have a genuine interest in, you have more drive and motivation to complete your assignments and it also feels like a break in your day rather than an obligation. School can feel especially hard when you’re stuck in a class you don’t like.
@ShrayesGunnaWriter I
Srihari Yechangunja
How to be a successful student
Angelina Liu Editor-in-Chief@angelinaliiu N
Convergence Editor @aliyafza W ever tell yourself that you’ll do something tomorrow morning. Chances are you’ll undersleep and wake up too late to complete the assignment.Honestly, just take the loss and go to sleep or stay up late to complete the whole thing. One thing you can do to avoid this from occurring is ge ing rid of the “do it later”
promise you it is OK; everyone com pares themselves with other students.
I mean, how could you not when surrounded by bright minds in a building that nurtures creativity?
hether it's the excessive study ing, unfamiliar environments or intimidating courses, balancing all the quirks of high school can be challenging. Though it may be easy to get overwhelmed (and overworked), being open to new experiences is one piece of advice I wish I had been reminded of. Find an outlet to release your anxiety during the school day that you can actually look forward to. Joining a club you are passionate about, expressing your opinions through the school newspaper, directing a short film through a media course and creat ing po ery in a sculpture class are all ways in which you can dedicate time to be focused on one experience you actually enjoy. Know that you are allowed to not always be OK, and that’s OK.
Olivia Short Sports Visual Media Editor @olivia_short1 M
Staff
Hellyer’s background in theater started with dance lessons at age 3. She began performing in The curtain opened on a new era for the Coppell High School theater department on June 10 as Lisa Stucker and Grace Hellyer were named head director and technical director for the 202223 school year. The pair take over the positions from previous head director Karen Ruth and technical director Brittany Young, who have been with the CHS theater department since 2018 and 2021, respectively.Stuckerand Hellyer come to Coppell from Grand Prairie High School, where they have worked together since 2018. With an already established partnership in place and guidance through the transition from the theater department’s previous directors, they are bringing experience and excitement to CHS theater students in the coming school year.“It’s going to be great, having such a big department,” Stucker said. “At Grand Prairie, there weren’t as many kids. As Mrs. Ruth was going over the numbers with me, it got me thinking about what it’s going to be like to work with such a large group of plays in elementary school, then transitioned to technical theater in high school at Brentwood Christian School in Austin. After graduating, she attended West Texas A&M University to major in theater “Ultimately,education.Ihave a deep love for theater because it’s really a combination of every skill and subject,” Hellyer said. “It can reach anyone, it’s the best form of storytelling. I love being able to create art that’s not just something you read or look at, but something you have to experience comprehensively.”
@SaniyaKoppikarEntertainmentKoppikarEditor
Photo courtesy Grace Hellyer
While Stucker’s background in theater began when she was a teenager at Grapevine High School, her passion for the art lies in what she found in it years later.Inher own high school theater department, Stucker struggled with being confident on stage. She continued with theater at Baylor University due to her love of performing, but left the field after graduating. Years later, Stucker was approached about potential teaching positions, and after getting involved, found herself attached to the field once again. This time, for a different reason.“Ihad great teachers when I was a student, but I didn’t have any teachers that realized my lack of confidence and really pushed me,” Stucker said. “I realized when I started teaching that I could be that person for my students. That’s what keeps me in this field. Seeing the difference in a student in their freshman year and as they graduate, that’s where my heart is.”
New theater directors forgiNg opeN miNds A star is bor N
The duo’s main goal is a wellrounded theater education. In addition to building technical skills, Stucker and Hellyer want students to understand what opportunities in the field look like after high school. “There’s so much you can do,” Stucker said. “There’s going to college and pursuing a degree, and there’s also starting to perform or working as a technician. We would like to build a community of students that continue to pursue their love of art, no matter what that pursuit looks like. There’s a lot we can do to make sure we’re graduating kids who appreciate what the art of theater is as a whole.”
Saniya
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Photo courtesy Lisa Stucker
On June 10, the Coppell High School Cowboy Theatre Company announced Lisa Stucker and Grace Hellyer as the new head director and technical director of the 2022-23 school year. Stucker and Hellyer have worked together since 2018 at Grand Prairie High School, and take over previous positions from previous head director and technical directors Karen Ruth and Brittany Young.
passionate and motivated kids. I’m so excited to get to know them all and see where their strengths lie.”
Coppell High School senior Shraavya Pydesetti volunteers at a cafeteria in India in July. Photo courtesy Shraavya Pydesetti Coppell High School senior Sowbarnika Morsa celebrates summer with friends at Wicked Snow in Carrollton. Photo courtesy Sowbarnika Morsa
Summer rewind 9
Coppell High School seniors Angelina Liu, Maya Palavali and Iniya Nathan pose in front of The Dallas Morning News sign. Photo courtesy Angelina Liu Coppell High School senior Olivia Short at a Greta Van Fleet concert in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo courtesy Olivia Short
Coppell High School senior Fatima Zubairsyed poses with senior Avery White during the Scripps Howard Foundation Emerging Journalists Program. Photo courtesy Fatima Syed Coppell High School senior Sruthi Lingam vists the National Zoological Park on July 23 as part of the Joint Science and Technology Institute internship. Photo courtesy Sruthi Lingam
Coppell High School student newspaper The Sidekick held its annual summer bootcamp from July 27-30. Photo courtesy Chase Wofford
Photos from CoPP ell h igh sC hool students
Coppell High School senior Apurva Betgar attends the Technology Student Association National competition on June 29. Photo courtesy Apurva Betgar Coppell High School senior Shawn Eclarinal at the choir Annual Summer Music Camp held at CHS9. Photo courtesy Shawn Eclarinal Coppell High School junior Julia Graham watched the Wizard of Oz performance at the Broadway Palm Dinner and Theatre on July 27. Photo courtesy Julia Graham Coppell High School junior Hannah Greenberg visiting the south of Israel at the end of June. Photo courtesy Hannah Greenberg
Coppell High School seniors Hanvitha Potluri, Priyanka Bhutani and Isabelle Beach recieve their red jackets with sponsors Dr. Bianca Benitez and Courtney Crosby. Photo courtesy Priyanka Bhutani
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If you chose Mr. Bowden, you are always helpful, either as a mentor or a friend. You have a sarcastic sense of humor and are down to earth. You look out for people and are there for them in a way that makes them comfortable.
B
You are Mr. Chanin
MOSTLY
If you chose Mr. Chanin, you are peppy and energetic. You love talking to other people and are willing to put in extra time to help people succeed in their endeavors.
You are Mr. Bowden
MOSTLY
D
If you chose Mr. VanderSchee, you are always working to create a positive and uplifting atmosphere. You have a great sense of humor and are always willing to have spur of the moment conversations with other people to get to know them on a personal level.
If you chose Dr. Benitez, you are a calm and precise individual. You are passionate and methodical in your approach to problems. You are kind through your actions and words that you say to others.
MOSTLY
MOSTLY
You are Mr. VanderSchee
A
You are Dr. Benitez
C
QUIZ ANSWE RS
