Volume 28 Issue 3

c o p p e l l s t u d e n t m e d i a . c o m Volume 28 | Issue 3 | December 2016

INSIDE Christmas lights

Finding happiness

Holiday activities

Coppell families showcase holiday spirit PAGE 2

There is more than one definition of success, says Thomas PAGE 9

Festive ways to spend your time this Christmas season PAGE 17

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THE SIDEKICK

TEACHER OF THE ISSUE

december 2016

Redding retiring after 14 years of strong leadership, taking on new endeavors written by Lili Lomas Student Life Editor On Dec. 16, Coppell High School teacher, club sponsor and department head Shelly Redding will close the door to her small, hidden office in A hall, drive to her country home and take on her newest adventure: retirement.

“I’ve never missed a year [of school], so

when September comes around and I don’t go to school, I think my brain and my body is going to kind of be confused because I’ve done that since I was 5 years old,” Redding said.

Redding began her teaching career by substituting at Nimitz High School in Irving the summer of her college graduation from the University of North Texas. Moving on to teach at CHS in 2002, Redding

photo by Ale Ceniceros Coppell High School teacher Shelly Redding will be retiring at the end of this semester. Redding has been teaching at Coppell High School for 14 years, and is looking forward to go traveling and living in her country home. dvfdvfd

has started school every fall since kindergarten whether it be as a student or a teacher.

Since coming to CHS, Redding has taught a variety of subjects ranging from accounting, to finance to Ready, Set, Teach!, a class that gives students who want to be teachers the opportunity to go to other Coppell schools and work with their teachers and younger students.

Apart from teaching, Redding has served as the head of various departments and clubs in her 14 years at CHS, such as the senior class sponsor, where she was in charge of organizing senior events such as prom, the senior end of year breakfast, head of the Career and Technology Education (CTE) department and Red Jackets coordinator.

“I like being busy,” Redding said. “I like being involved and doing stuff with kids.”

Longtime colleague in the CTE department at CHS, Becky Richards recognizes the drive that has made Redding so involved in many programs of the school.

“She’s an activator,” Richards said. “Her dedication to further the high school and to take large responsibilities and make sure they get done and her leadership role in this school [sets her apart].”

In 2009, Richards, Redding and 53 Ready, Set, Teach! students went on a trip organized by Redding to the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, a school internationally renowned for its academic rigor and creative learning environment. She organized the trip because of her students’ interest in visiting the school.

Addy Buigas-Lopez was a ready, set, teach student of Redding’s in 2012 and is now a teacher in Tallahassee, Fla. She recalls the aspects of Redding’s teaching style and care for her students that made her unique.

“She helped a lot with teaching social values and kindness and how to portray that in the classroom which is something that my students have needed,” Buigas-Lopez said.

Dec. 16 marks the end of Redding’s 30year teaching career, making her eligible for retirement. She will be living where she has always wanted to be after retirement in her country home in Larue, Texas where she has horses and cows. She hopes to travel and be able to do things she was not able to while teaching.

Congratulations to the Teacher of the Issue Mrs. Shelly Redding and best of luck in your retirement.

Anderson awarded Teacher of the Year for innovative class, genuine kindness written by Meara Isenberg Editor-in-Chief @mearaannee On Dec. 5, the upstairs D hall of Coppell High School was packed with assistant principals, family and band members with drums in hand, all brought together to celebrate one woman. AP/IB Environmental Science teacher Holly Anderson was awarded 2016-17 Teacher of the Year for CHS. “I’m overwhelmed,” Anderson said. “I [knew] when [CHS Principal Mike Jasso] walked in, but seeing everybody, that was kind of crazy. I had that tingly feeling.”

Anderson has taught in the district for 17 years, including 11 at CHS. She comes from a family of educators, as both her parents taught for 40 years.

“It’s ingrained, it’s something that she’s experienced, that’s she’s been around,” AP Ryan Lam said. “She’s taken to heart a lot of the serving mindset and being able to reach those kids to continue to grow them throughout their time here, because that is the legacy that she wants to leave.”

One such student that has been impacted by Anderson is senior Anjana Parasha, who enjoys her focus on world issues in the classroom, such as a project they are work-

ing on currently about the Dakota Access Pipeline.

“She makes the class a lot more special because she’s really passionate about what she teaches,” Parasha said. “She makes us learn more about what is happening in the real world, and the practicalities of what could happen. She’s also just a really nice person.”

Jasso, who has known Anderson since he returned as principal six years ago, has seen her grow through the initiative she takes in and outside of the classroom.

“She’s an excellent teacher,” Jasso said.

“One of the things people respect most about Mrs. Anderson is she’s constantly looking to learn and to innovate, and trying to make class better for her students.”

This is Anderson’s first nomination and first win for Teacher of the Year.

“I’m passionate about what I do, and it’s nice to be recognized for that,” Anderson said.

Congratulations to Mrs. Anderson, the 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year.

Coppell High School AP/IB environmental science teacher Holly Anderson was awarded 2016-17 CHS Teacher of the Year during third period on Dec 5. Anderson has taught at CHS for 11 years and has a passion for educating her students.

photo by Amanda

Hair

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THE SIDEKICK

december 2016

The books are back in town

William T. Cozby library grand opening offers tour, fun activities for community written by Fiona Koshy Staff Writer @fiona.koshy10 The William T. Cozby public library, held a day long event welcoming all Coppell residents to come and celebrate.

“We’re proud of this building, and we want people to know that it’s reopened since the library has been closed for over a year,” event coordinator and library director Vicki Chiavetta said. “It is really important for the community to find out all the different things that we have now that the buildings been remodeled and back open again.”

Despite the crisp, chilly morning air, Coppell residents gathered around the front of the library at 9 a.m. on Nov. 19 for a Boy Scout salute, recognition speeches and a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the reopening of the facility.

After the ribbon cutting, residents were invited into the library, kicking off the day of fun with a slice of cake and tour of the new library.

Food trucks were parked near the west wing of the library, offering foods varying from Cajun cuisine to pizza.

Within the library itself, volunteers set up a craft station, giving kids the chance to create their own mini masterpieces from

ordinary materials such as straws and picture frames.

Near the children’s section, an area was set up for children to request balloons of all shapes and sizes and get their faces painted.

The library, which reopened it’s doors on Oct 31., is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

The ribbon is cut at the Grand Opening Celebration of the Cozby Library and Community Commons on Nov. 19. The event featured tours of the new building, as well as demonstrations and performances by the Fortissimo Five, James Wand and Liberation Coffee.

photo by Kelly

Monaghan

Marching to the beat of a new drum

Despite year of transitions, Coppell Band is still able to snag spot in state finals written by Amelia Vanyo Staff Writer @ameliavanyo This year is a transition year for Coppell High School’s marching band, causing lower expectations among many students.

But despite the retirement of former director Scott Mason, who died from cancer in September, and missing the mark at the Bands of America competition, new directors and band students took on the year with passion and perseverance, and early doubts were replaced with self assurance that led the group to the UIL Marching Band State Finals on Wednesday, Nov, 9.

The UIL Marching Band biannual contest began with 239 competing Class 6A bands.

After four rounds of competition, the CHS Marching Band earned a spot as one of 12 bands to compete in state finals, where it placed 11th overall with its show, “Now I See.” On the way to the

photo by Amelia

Vanyo

competition, students jokingly condemned their predicted results of the band’s performance in semifinals, but senior Vili Tuppurainen, vice president of the CHS Marching Band, was confident in its ability, despite the hardships the group endured throughout the year.

“Before this year I was very skeptical because I knew it was going to be a transition year, but throughout the season I got more and more confident,” Vili said The dedication and attention to detail that brought the band to San Antonio continued to be exercised throughout the trip.

On Monday, Nov. 7, performers spent six h o u r s at Comalander Stadium fine tuning their production.

T h e rehearsal, though long, was met with few complaints.

“The community of people in band a r e all so hardwork-

ing,” CHS junior John Coffee said. “We’re all so passionate even if it’s something as little as an eight minute show that we’re only going to play once in this big competition.”

The marching band competed in the preliminary rounds on Nov. 8. Due to inclement weather, the group was separated into small rooms during warm ups. The situation was far from ideal but the band still placed 12th, qualifying it for the final round of the competition.

Students and directors alike were thrilled when Coppell was called among the bands qualifying for finals, but the day to follow was packed leading up to the final hours of the UIL Marching Band Contest.

“Making finals is a huge honor, and as a director, I wanted to make sure w e had our best performance,” Head band director Gerard Miller said.

“Running the show at 8:15 p.m. and then again the next morning at 9:15 a.m. is challenging - while 13 hours may seem long,

when you had sleep, travel time, and reset/ warm-up time in between, it’s a faster turnaround than we would have liked.”

The band stood in the cold rain Wednesday morning before it performed in the Alamodome with clarity and musicality that many thought defined it as its best run.

“We went through so much together this year and it felt like it all culminated with that performance,” junior drum major Ashna Pathan said.

While the trophy symbolizes the group’s outstanding performance, it isn’t the goal the band set out for.

“The most important aspect of performing at this level is about bringing the audience into our ‘world’, so to speak,” Miller said. “It’s about finding a connection - making someone smile, or someone cry - as a performer, when we make an intimate connection with someone who is hundreds of yards away, or who is viewing it through their computer screen, I know we’re doing our job at the very highest levels.”

Coppell High School head drum major Sam Wang directs the Coppell Marching Band on th Coppell HIgh School practice field. The drum majors helped guide the band musically and emotionallyto the UIL State Marching Band finals which took place Wednesday, Nov. 9.

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THE SIDEKICK

december 2016

Foundation for change Campus to get first taste of block schedule days after break written by Sakshi Venkatraman Executive News Editor @oompapa1 As the first semester of the school year closes, the implications of the May 2016 bond plan are beginning to take shape within Coppell ISD. The district’s new freshman center, CHS9, one of the package’s primary features, is expected to open for the 2018-19 school year and administration is already creating the layout for a smooth transition. One aspect of this layout is the release of an official block schedule last month.

The schedule, which operates on an A/B day system, is designed to reduce the burden of a seven class period day on Coppell High School students.

“One of the primary reasons that we’re switching to the block schedule and leaving the seven period day is, in a large sense, to try and bring some stress relief to students,” CHS Principal Mike Jasso said. “The overwhelming thing we hear from [students] is that you go through a daily grind of stress. There’s a tremendous amount of stress on both [CHS and New Tech High@Coppell].”

To alleviate some of the pressure of having to take homework from seven classes a day, CHS students will at-

Check out 58 FAQs about the updates

tend periods two, three and four on A days and periods five, six and seven on B days. Each of these classes will last 85 minutes.

First and eighth period will be “skinny” periods. These daily classes will last 55 minutes and will be held every day of the week. According to CHS associate principal Jon-Eric Ziaer, these periods will often consist of sports and other extracurricular activities needing to meet daily.

Lunches will be split into four 30 minute periods embedded into third and sixth period respectively. Passing periods will double to 12 minutes, creating the framework for the intercampus transportation that will follow after CHS9 opens. During this extended period of time, the school store will be open for student use.

With the updated schedule, the length of the school day will decrease by two minutes. For a student who has a class every period, the day will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:58 p.m. According to Ziaer, arrangements are being made with North Lake Community College and NTH@C in order to align schedules to allow for travel between buildings.

Throughout the development of the block schedule plan, administration has been working to assess opinions from all areas on the spectrum. Students on Jasso’s Principal Advisory Committee (PAC), have met with Jasso periodically over the past few months to learn and share their feelings about the changes to come to CHS. Izzy Hall, a junior member of the PAC, says the outlook of some PAC members began to evolve as more information was released and the purpose of a block schedule was made clearer.

“We’re still in a place where there’s not really definite an-

swers for everything,” Hall said.

“We’re definitely all glad that it’s being talked about. I do think that [CISD] does have a good idea of where we’re going to be going from here on out.”

Jasso and Ziaer emphasize campus and district administration have held similar briefings with parents and staff, taking in input and providing clarification.

After winter break, there will be a trial run of the block schedule at CHS.

CHS to pilot A/B day system On Jan. 4, 5 and 6, Coppell High School students will experience a trial run of the 2017-18 blocked schedule.

Based on the results of this pilot, administrators will make decisions about what the final schedule will look like next year.

Students will follow an A day schedule on Jan. 4, a B day schedule on Jan. 5 and an A day schedule again on Jan. 6. Daily schedules and release times will look different for each student based on grade level and classes. Students will be briefed on the new model of their classes before break with emails from Jasso, KCBY-TV segments and coppellstudentmedia.com.

Students are advised to check their school emails and coppellstudentmedia.com for updates.

graphic by Austin

Banzon

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THE SIDEKICK

december 2016

Menon builds a future with NASA teen scholar program

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written by Kathryn Rudd Entertainment Editor @rudd_kathryn

rom sitting bored in an elementary school classroom, lazily folding paper airplanes, to a tour at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Coppell High School junior Nayana Menon has slowly developed her passion for engineering.

The hands on learning is leading her to more opportunities than she could imagine.

In October, Menon applied for the High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program, an engineering program where over 400 students complete engineering lessons and tasks online in hopes of being selected for the hands on program over the summer based on what the create.

The work Menon puts in outside of school is teaching her the importance of time management and in turn putting more of a focused lense on her passion for engineering.

Even Menon admits she is quiet and shy at first, but the community she has been welcomed to with the engineering design classes has opened her up to what the future might hold.

“I was kind of in the middle between the Health Science endorsement and the STEM option my freshman year,” she said. “On the tour, the STEM program really caught my eye and I moved to engineering.”

Over the course of the assignments, Menon has learned she can even combine her two interests and pursue biomedical science and aerospace engineering.

“It gives you more insight on what you want to do and gives you a real job-like

experience,” Menon said. “I really want to go into aerospace engineering, and the program is teaching me a lot. This is such a great opportunity to learn more about the field because I’m still learning everyday.”

Menon’s father, Vinod, has been a computer engineer since his graduation, but following in his footsteps was not originally her plan. “[My parents] have been really supportive, even though they know it might be difficult because I am a girl. But even my dad knows it’s something you have to work for either way,” Menon said.

Understanding that this is a difficult field, for not only the rigor of work but the stigma that comes with entering a male dominated field, has pushed Menon to overcome the difficulty of the program in order to be an example for other women interested in engineering.

photos by Ale Ceniceros photos by Ale Ceniceros

Coppell Coppell High High School School junior junior Nayana Nayana Menon Menon works works on on aa model model for for the the High High School School Aerospace Aerospace Scholars program.

This is a program where students complete engineering in hope Scholars program, in which students complete engineering lessons in hope lessons to be chosen fortoanbe chosen for an on-sight training program in Houston. on-sight training program in Houston.

“Participating in the NASA’s high school scholars program will definitely help Nayana’s dream to be an aerospace engineer,” her father said. “I believe there will be many opportunities in this area of engineering in coming years.”

CHS Principles of Engineering and Engineer Design teacher Mike Yakubovsky has worked with Menon all three years she has been involved in the program and initially introduced Menon to the HAS Program.

“She is really conscious of her work,” Yakubovsky said. “She keeps working until she gets it right, and she has a lot of strong suits and wants to learn how it stuff works, which are all things you need to make it in this field.”

Also the adviser for the Society Women Engineering club (SWE), his advocacy for women in engineering has also impacted the members of the club, including junior club president Mackenzie Becker. Becker is also a member of the solar car team and has mixed her academic passions into a possible career.

“It can be really hard going into a class with all boys,” Becker said. “You go from such a normal element to being a minority.

It’s cool to show that girls can do it and inspire younger girls. These opportunities we are given have a chance to make an impact” The community and the application this field has for her outside of the classroom makes it clear to her that engineering is what she was built for.

“Engineering teaches you more about life,” Menon said “Everything about our lives have come from engineering. The school building and the computers, our phones. It’s exciting to know what goes into it and what we can create next.”

Pakistan meets America: Q&A with Soha Asif

From Karachi to Texas, a look into the education experience of different nations written by Briana Thomas Staff Writer @brianathom If you listen closely to what at first seems to be an unfamiliar accent, you will uncover beneath mispronunciation and forgotten syllables, centuries of beauty and history that have been carried by tongue overseas, skies and countries to reach here and speak to you now.

For Coppell High School senior Soha Asif, it is the poetic and suave tone of her mother tongue Urdu, that tints her English so beautifully yet so heavily in a way that makes you ask, “Where are you from?” In a series of questions, Asif chronicles the experiences and emotions involved with her big move from Karachi, Pakistan to Texas.

What was the the most enjoyable part of school in Pakistan?

My friendships. I am born and brought up in Karachi, so friends are like a family to me. As a young child, I was never the best at making friends – always angry. But in fifth grade, I met my friend Rameen, we became best friends – and still are today, even though we are countries apart.

What do you miss most about schooling in Pakistan?

I miss the feeling of a book in my hands.

There is so much technology here, many devices I still do not know how to use. But in Pakistan, things are much less modern.

We studied only out of textbooks, and sometimes I prefer that still.

When you walked into CHS on the first day after your arrival, how did you feel?

Intimidated. I was in a totally different environment. There were so many people

from different nations, it was more diversity than I have seen during my time in Pakistan. At first it was intimidating, but now it’s actually comforting.

How is it comforting?

I feel because there are so many different races, that I, in a way, am also accepted. I’ve

noticed such a behavior in [CHS Principal Mike Jasso], too. In Pakistan, our principals put themselves on a much higher level.

They did not communicate with students often – they felt they were superior almost.

But Mr. Jasso, always has a smile – makes me feel we all are same, are all equal.

photo by Ale

Ceniceros

Coppell High School senior Soha Asif moved to Coppell from Karachi, Pakistan. While she misses aspects of her native country, Asif has adjusted to her new environment and finds CHS comforting.

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THE SIDEKICK

december 2016

EDITORIAL

Religious aspect of Christmas brings community together Christmas in Coppell has always been a grand affair. From the lighting of the Christmas tree in the town square to the rows of homes decorated in coordinated Christmas lights, it is not hard to see Coppell takes its holidays seriously.

This could be attributed to the fact that generally, Coppell is a very Christian-populated town. But, is this the only reason?

Christmas should, by all accounts, be a religious holiday. The birth of Christ is integral to the idea of Christmas itself.

Political correctness, the inclusive remedy, seems to not have reached Coppell completely. Yet, we see Christians and non-Christians in Coppell enjoying the holiday just the same. How is this possible?

Perhaps Coppell at Christmastime serves as the ideal example of the opportunity to respect another person’s culture yet still find your own spin to it. Rather than make Christmas an exclusive holiday, Coppell has created a mixture of Christmas and other festivities without erasing the meaning of Christmas.

Without needing political correctness or some form of artificial secularization of Christmas, Coppell has found that equilibrium.

We see this equilibrium in our classrooms. In choir, one or two of the songs performed is a Christian hymn. While not every singer is a Christian, or even someone who is remotely religious, they can still

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Adviser

Chase Wofford Editor-in-Chief

Meara Isenberg Executive Sports Editor

Marcus Krum

Executive News Editor

Sakshi Venkatraman Executive Editorial Page Editor

Emma Cummins

Executive Enterprise Editor

Joseph Krum

EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP Student Life Editor

Lili Lomas Entertainment Editor

Kathryn Rudd General Photography Editor

Kelly Monaghan Sports Photography Editor

Amanda Hair

find their own beauty within the song.

Someone who celebrates Christmas, who is not a religious person, is showing a sign of respect towards the meaning while also finding a great way to partake in the festivities.

It is important to understand that while we may not be firsthand participants in a tradition or culture, there is always something beautiful that each person can find.

This respect speaks to the position Coppell is in right now. While other towns have tried to remove the religious aspect of the Christmas, ergo creating a ‘holiday’, Coppell citizens still enjoy Christmas.

However, what we once called Christmas break, is now called ‘winter break,’. We are slowly seeing signs of change. It is important to remember that Christmas has, and will always be, a religious holiday. We should not stray away from what Coppell has done well in the past while at the same time, use the present day to find a new harmony.

Rather than remove the religious aspect of Christmas, the answer should be to encourage each person or family to find their own aspect that they enjoy and find a connection with. This is the ultimate unifier.

So, when you are enjoying your Christmas presents, hot cocoa and Christmas carols, enjoy the fact that you live in a country where you can live with what you want and how you want.

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Rutuja Joshi PHOTOGRAPHERS Jessica Jun Ale Ceniceros Tara Kamalpour-Ansari Bren Flechtner BUSINESS LEADERSHIP Fiona Koshy Chloe Navarro Communications Manager Farah Merchant Hannah Tucker Aubrie Sisk Akila Muthukumar Megan Winkle Business Manager Christie Nah Chelsea Banks Tanya Raghu DESIGNERS Co-Social Media Manager Grant Spicer Austin Banzon Lina Pyon Briana Thomas Wren Lee Co-Social Media Manager Amelia Vanyo Meha Srivastav Kelly Wei STAFF WRITERS Kathryn Wiener Gracie Blackwell Reid Valentine Sruthi Boppuri Rachel Choi Riley Galloway Visit coppellstudentmedia.com Elena Gillis Sofia Guerrero Saira Haque Staff Cartoonist

Thomas Rousseau

The Sidekick is the student newspaper for Coppell High School and is published six times per school year.

The newspaper is a member of National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Interscholastic League Press Conference.

The editorials and columns presented in this paper reflect the views of their student writers and not Coppell High School or Coppell Independent School District.

Adverstisements are sold as full, 1/2 page, 1/4 page and 1/8 page sizes in black and white or color.

The Sidekick welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters can be emailed to cwofford@coppellisd.com or delivered to the D115 newsroom at Coppell High School. A current email address and first and last name for the writer must be included for the letter to be considered for publication.

Contact The Sidekick: 214-496-6239 cwofford@coppellisd.com 185 W. Parkway Coppell, TX 75019

@CHSCampusNews @sidekicksports @thesidekickcoppell @sidekick_sports @sidekicknews

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THE SIDEKICK

december 2016

TWO ENTS ON SUCCESS Unfortunate definition of happiness in society to limit passions, life pursuits

written by Briana Thomas Staff Writer @brianathom

Y

ou would probably have lots of money, or be the leader of a company, so that you’ll have lots money and stuff,” said Sylvia Jacob, age 7, when asked to define success.

I was charmed by her innocence and by the childishness found in the way she shrugged, smiled and blushed - but her words frightened me. I was uncomfortable with her immediate association of success with money. But most of all, I was pained

by the destructive definition of success that had already been planted inside of her, spilling from her lips.

During childhood, our goals and perspectives are derived and formulated from the popular, most prominent views of society. Just as society has told us who to be, and how to be it, it has also decided what is and what is not considered to be successful.

From a young age, we are spoonfed a singular definition of success as solely the attainment of popularity or profit. We have equated the ideal image of success with the abundance of wealth, fame and power. The effects of this false portrayal of success may not be apparent on a young minds. However, we should not underestimate its influ-

ence.

Adolescence is not merely a period in which a young person develops from a child into an adult. It is a time where an individual begins to form a personality, experiences downfall and success, and ultimately decides what they want to do in the future. It is also a time when this predisposed definition of success from our childhood comes to haunt us.

As high school students began to consider and recognize their interests, it becomes difficult to carry them out or confidently embrace them. When students begin to align themselves with jobs or careers that may not fall under the normal definition of success, yet still cater deeply to their interests - there is conflict. This popular, single-minded definition of success discourages passion, perseverance and the ability of our future generation to be true to themselves.

“Success isn’t only in a financial context,” said Deborah Kang, a student at University of St. Augustine Health Services. “The idea that it is, really hinders the capability of students who are struggling to validate the value of their interests.”

The struggle with such a narrow definition of success carries into adulthood.

However, with broader exposure and interaction with the world, many eventually find what they are good at and learn to take pride in the success that comes with it. As an adult, communication with those from a l l walks of life increase. We are able to appreciate how greatly successes that may be out of the norm, contribute to our society and

make our world the versatile place it is today. But should this awareness and appreciation have to wait until adulthood?

People from different backgrounds, fields of work, and experiences all learn to define their own success in their own way, regardless of the amount the money they are making or the fame that comes with it.

When we look at the hard work of the different types of people in our world today, we see no numerical value or class status that could compare to the success and impact an individual has when they are able to completely and passionately doing what they are called to do. The pride one feels in their job, regardless of paycheck or form shows us that there are not different levels of success - there are different natures.

If we continue to teach our kids that there is only one definition of success, we are throwing away what makes our country great - work, passion and effort of all kinds.

Teaching kids that there is only a singular definition of success is setting them up for failure. Failing to recognize that success comes in many forms, devalues the great things that make this world great and make us who we are.

So, I will not conclude with a definition of success, because my definition is different than yours; but I will say that success is not solely defined as an abundance of dollar bills. What it is, however, is that tingle of excitement about what you do, sticking with what matters through hard times and living a life you can feel proud of in retrospect. Success is who you are and what you make of it.

Never let anyone tell you any different.

graphic by Kelly

Wei

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THE SIDEKICK

december 2016

who attend, those who do not often feel that they have failed.

The CHS culture includes teenagers who refuse to accept less than perfection. This is why so many students see Ivy Leagues as successes and state schools as failures.

This idea of “ending up” at certain uni-

sixth for its business program according to US News, many CHS students feel almost disappointed when they attend. They feel that they are following the masses and have failed to be exceptional.

This is the mindset that needs to change.

Every student deserves to feel that their

versities, such as the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, has increased greatly due to the comparative nature students have.

While UT Austin is nationally ranked

work in high school has paid off. Rationally speaking, how could attending a university that is in the top 10 for multiple academic programs while being affordable be considered a “failure”?

written by Rutuja Joshi Staff Writer @rutuja_joshi The climate of Coppell High School has a reputation for rigorous academics and competitive students, all aspiring to attend the nation’s top universities. While this brings benefits ranging from excellent statistics for CHS and successful alumni, the repercussions are apparent, as well.

High stress levels and low self confidence levels are just the tip of the iceberg of what students face when they are immersed in a community that thrives off of comparing people. This situation is especially alarming during the college application process.

CHS, one of the top 500 high schools in the country, sends students to prestigious universities year after year. In the 2016 graduating class, multiple students enrolled in Ivy Leagues and similar colleges, such as the University of Chicago and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While this is an incredible accomplishment for those

Frankly, nobody deserves to believe that they are “ending up” at a university.

Students need to feel more honored that they are being accepted to such amazing schools and not devaluing them simply based off their false prejudices. After actually spending time at state universities, the same students who felt disappointed in themselves now feel that they have truly found the right place for them.

“The people and the programs changed my perspective on UT,” UT sophomore Vanya Sharma said. “The people have honestly become my family. I am becoming more well-rounded and learning business necessary soft-skills. These programs are unique to UT, and I have great pride in them.”

Sharma is a Business Honors and Plan II sophomore at UT Austin. Though Sharma admitted that UT was once her back-up school, she concludes that it has been a fulfilling experience.

What needs to be articulated is that whether students attend an Ivy League or a state school, they should feel proud of themselves and their hard work. Students enrolled in state universities are not following the masses. They are taking a path that is best suited for them. Regardless of the large CHS populace attending Texas state schools, at any school people are bound to meet a wide range of individuals, experience new things and enrich their individual selves.

written by Emma Cummins Executive Editorial Page Editor @emma_cummins_ Here in Coppell, the standard for what is generally considered to be impressive is perpetually shifting towards the impossible. This can often result in unrealistic and skewed perspectives for many of us seniors who are set to make life-altering decisions in the next few months. So, I have taken the liberty of suggesting three easy tips to follow when choosing your college.

graphics by Austin

Banzon

THE SIDEKICK

december 2016

The grass is always greener

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Advice on embracing spontaneity, seeing beyond generic meanings of speech

written by Akila Muthukumar Staff Writer @akilam29 We plan.

There is a certain sense of comfort gained from knowing you have made the reservations for the night’s dinner or you have triple checked the weather before the family picnic.

The epitome of the good student, likely to succeed in life and the ideal candidate for a promotion, is one who organizes their time and plans for it all.

The endless to do list seems a bit more manageable when every activity has been squeezed into its own time. Daily planners, weekly planners, monthly planners. Big squares, small squares, lined squares, blank squares. At this age, the digital planner.

With the holiday break around the corner, I should feel excited for a restful respite from hectic school days. Yet, I only feel dread thinking about the overwhelming number of appointments and assignments that I must finish.

Even vacations, meant for relaxation, have schedules set for hotel check ins, rental car pick ups, massage times, restaurant times and return flight times.

In the 21st century, we are always working with an insatiable desire for a better phone, a better job, a better life. We plan daily so we can work endlessly and reach the greener grass.

We should embrace spontaneity.

Peel ourselves away from the planner and for one day go out there and let life happen.

Do not make reservations. Take the family out to a fun meal of fast food. Better yet, cook at home. Have your picnic in the rain: maybe the picnic basket cannot be opened, but suddenly, your family opens up.

The most valuable characteristic that a student or professional should have is handling the unexpected, taking things in stride and making the best of every situation.

According to businessman Federico Foli, we should all learn to let go of control.

“We live in so much stress, mostly generated by a mind that is all over the place,”Foli wrote in a Huffington Post article titled Impermanence in Business and Life. “We believe we can plan and really have full control of every aspect of [our personal life]. Remind yourself it is not in your power to have full control of all the unexpected events.”

Although we do not have any scheduled vacations this winter break, perhaps my family will take an unanticipated trip.

If we do, we will be sure to explore the new city without looking down at guidebooks and maps, but into the faces of local residents. After all, they know the best foods, the coolest attractions and most beautiful spots of the city.

Take a break from the check engine lights (at least temporarily), missed appointments or stressful coworkers. Meet life head on: run in a new park, eat at a street vendor and most importantly – do not check the time.

Failing to plan is not always planning to fail. Sometimes, it’s planning to live.

written by Fiona Koshy Staff Writer @fionakoshy10 We all know, and are very familiar with, the words ‘yes’ and ‘no’. In fact, for most of us, these were probably some of the first words we learned how to say.

The literal meaning of ‘yes’ is defined as affirmatory response and ‘no’, as a negative response.

From the surface, these words seem simple enough. But why are we always being told of the power of yes, or the life changing effects of no? How do these so called ‘magical words’ leave such an indelible impact on our lives?

The word ‘yes’ can be used in an infinite number of situations, whether it is agreeing with someone, approving something, or just expressing a positive statement. This word is usually associated with a more optimistic, upbeat individual.

Those who say “yes” are deemed adventurous, unafraid to take risks and open up doors to completely different, unexpected situations. People who say “yes” are purportedly kind and agreeable individuals that you are inclined to befriend.

TV Producer Shonda Rhimes decided to say “yes” to everything for an entire year and came out a new person.

“The very act of doing the thing that scared me undid the fear,” Rhimes said in a TED talk. “Yes changed my life. Yes

changed me.”

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the word ‘no’ is seen as something people say to reject, disagree or produce a negative response.

People who say “no” are seen as cynical, pessimistic individuals. Saying “no” is associated with closing yourself off from others, too afraid to take new risks or go outside of your comfort zone.

“There are so many of those who wield the sword of yes, but so few who wield the shield of no,” entrepreneur Kenny Nguyen said in a TED talk.

Depending on the situation, these words can have a value so shallow as agreeing to pick up your brother from soccer practice, or as drastic as agreeing to a new job across the country. Placing one on a higher pedestal than the other is not only impossible, but quite dangerous. By overestimating the value of one word, we neglect the other, finding ourselves a whole different predicament.

That old adage, ‘too much of anything is bad’ holds true in this situation. Rather than forcing ourselves to agree, disagree, accept or reject, we should focus on what we truly want to do.

The benefits behind the words yes and no combine to create harmony in people’s lives. Yes is seen as leading people to new opportunities, experiences and relationships. But who is to say no cannot?

At the same time, ‘no’ is viewed as a way for people to become self-aware, drawing the line at the appropriate time. Just as before, these benefits are not just limited to saying no.

Finding that balance between yes and no is key, and it means something different for everyone.

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THE SIDEKICK

december 2016

You, Me and Us

Dharas brings special education students together in friendship with new club

Getting an A on a test or hearing a fun story always brings a smile to Coppell High School senior Inaara Dharas’s face.

Now Dharas has a club, You, Me and Us, that brings smiles to the faces of special education students at CHS that goes be-

yond just a school day.

“It means more than a club,” said Dharas, who is president of the You, Me and Us club. “These kids, they are appreciated and they are given the same things that we’re given, but they’re not given the same social interactions in a way. They don’t get what we get sometimes.”

Dharas decided to make the club because she wanted to see the special education students out-

side of school and give them an opportunity to spend time with and build relationships with other students in general education.

Dharas said that while the students get an education, they don’t usually enjoy after school activities during the weekends like many other students can.

Dharas explains the stereotypes of what people think of their peers in special education and their friendships and bonds

that they have made.

“When people think of special ed kids, they think that special ed kids are only friends with special ed kids,” Dharas said. “They don’t think that people who are not in special ed can be friends with special ed kids.”

Special education teacher and club sponsor Eileen Higgins said the club really impacts the special education students and allows

‘‘

graduated, and I was like ‘that’s a great idea’.

“It came out of the goodness out of her heart, of just wanting to be able to see people who she sees every day, but didn’t see outside of school. It’s definitely a good way to interact with them outside of school, and give them, and us, something to do.”

Higgins hopes the club will make students more aware of

We’re all friends, we all go to Coppell High, we are one. We are all are Coppell High School students and we shouldn’t exclude one another. By being able to include kids that go here and already graduated, that’s a great way to see them outside of school and to just allow them to have something to do.

Marisa Mahalik, 12th

them to have something fun to do outside of school while making friends.

“Then, all of a sudden, graduation comes, and they don’t have those friends anymore.” Higgins Coppell High School You, Me and Us club members smile proudly after a successful first meeting on Monday, Nov. said. “It’s so nice when they’re 7, in CHS special education teacher Eileen Higgins’ classroom. The meeting consisted of planning future socials here, and it means so much.” and getting each other’s contact information. Snacks were also provided by senior and club president Inaara Dharas.

Higgins said that when she sponsored Circle of Friends, a club providing special education students with the opportunity to gain confidence through peer interactions, parents asked what would happen after the students left high school. She noticed how some of the students were lonely with no friends, and decided to sponsor the club.

Senior club member Marisa Mahalik also attended the meeting on Monday, Nov. 7 and thinks that the club is beneficial to the students.

“Inaara approached me about it last year, whenever she had her ideas, and she was like ‘you have to join’,” Mahalik said. “Then she explained to me what she wanted to do, and how she wanted to be able to include the kids who’d

‘‘

written by Sofia Guerrero Staff Writer @sofia_i_g

the fact that all students, whether they’re in general education or special education, still need social opportunities to connect with each other.

“I just want the kids to know that they have a friend in us,” Dharas said. “When I became a peer tutor four years ago, my life completely changed, and it’s what I want to do when I graduate.”

Mahalik said that the club will allow more kids to take the step out and realize that it does not matter who they ar or what classes they are in.

“We’re all friends, we all go to Coppell High, we are one,” Mahalik said. “We all are Coppell High School students and we shouldn’t exclude one another. By being able to include kids that go here and have already graduated, that’s a great way to be able to see them outside of school, and to just allow them to have something to do.”

Dharas’s goal is to see students smiling and happy.

The You, Me and Us club meets on Mondays after school in E101.

THE SIDEKICK

december 2016

Childhood roots bring Rasch back to Africa

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A multicultural perspective brought to classroom through missionary experiences

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written by Tanya Raghu Staff Writer @tanya_raghu

avigating the steep slopes, vast fields and lush forests of West Africa in a small truck with 20 other foster children is a highlight of Coppell High School Algebra II teacher Ivan Rasch’s childhood memories.

The son of a mission worker, Rasch was born in Nigeria and lived in a boarding house with a pair of house parents and 35 other children of various ages.

Wanting to keep in touch with his childhood roots, Rasch decided to serve those in need through his dedication to Christ similar to his father in West Africa.

“My kids were too young to know the difference and we were on an adventure that became their life,” Rasch said.

Dedicating his time for the sole purpose of serving others in Africa for 13 years through The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, he had the opportunity to understand the culture of his host people and develop meaningful relationships on this spiritual journey.

“I miss the community and how close everyone was with each other,” wife Jennifer Rasch said. “People would drop by graphic by Thomas

Rousseau

whenever they wanted to see you and it was a very close knit,” Rasch was a full time teacher in Ghana and Nigeria, teaching computer classes, a variety of math and sciences and the network administrator.

Along with his teaching responsibility, Rasch was assigned to be the senior class and student council sponsor.

“His devotion to teaching all his students was genuine, he would be at school early and ready to attend to the needs of any student,” CHS junior Tanmai Singhania said. “I remember him telling us stories of his time in Africa and thinking that he was such an inspiring figure in my life.”

In 2002, the mission took an impulsive decision to evacuate teachers only from their organization due to two detonated car bombs- one three miles and one five miles away from the Rasch’s home.

“The mission felt like the physical risk of being there was too high and did not want to be responsible for us,” Rasch said.

“We didn’t feel like we were targets of those bombs at all, we [were] not who they were looking for but our mission did not accept that.”

Rasch’s mission was the only one which evacuated families while other missions permitted families to stay and make the de

photo courtesy Ivan

Rasch

Coppell High School Algebra II teacher Ivan Rasch, wife Jennfier Rasch and two children Heather and Timmy, lived in West Africa for 12 years before moving back to teach in Coppell in 2002.

Rasch served as a mission worker and taught computer classes as well as math and science. cision for themselves.

When the Raschs suddenly had to leave in 2002, it was difficult for their friends in Nigeria to understand the situation. People

outside of the mission jumped to conclusions that caused a misunderstanding.

“It just kept going round and round and they could not understand it because nobody else made the same decision,” Rasch said.

When Rasch moved to West Africa, his children were 2 and 4 years old. Returning to Texas, they were 13 and 17 years old and attended Denton High School to complete their education. The transition moving back was difficult due to the lack of time they had to evacuate.

“Nigeria was all they had known, they grew up there,” Mrs. Rasch said. “People would see their white faces and expected that they know how to be Americans and the cultural expectations but they didn’t.”

Transitioning from a private school with a small enrollment to public school with a 2,500 students was a culture shock.

Rasch’s brother lives in Denton and suffers from muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease that causes the degeneration of muscle mass. It was also necessary for Rasch to come back and take care of him.

“Coming back it was hard, first of all they only got two days to bring closure to their time there, they did not get the time that they needed to say goodbye to friends,” Rasch said.

Both his children, Heather and Timmy, are interested in returning overseas with a different organization.

Although his mission concluded in 2002 when his family moved back to the United States, he continues to educate and inspire his students in Coppell through his stories of service and adventure.

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THE HANDS BEHIND HEALING Austin Street Shelter provides new beginnings for Dallas most vulnerable homeless written by Sakshi Venkatraman, Executive News Editor and Meara Isenberg, Editor-In-Chief DALLAS- It is a cold December morning. Carolers stand in the commons, singing “Oh Holy Night” to the line of men and women waiting with plates in hand. In a back room, volunteers, led by a short, bustling woman, Candace Emery, fold clothes and unpackage socks.

For hundreds of homeless adults in downtown Dallas, Austin Street Shelter is a chance to find their footing, to get the help they need. For Emery, it is the place that saved her life.

“I actually walked through the doors as a client,” It was two years ago,” she said. “I was on a cot from June to the end of December [2014], so I was on a cot for six months; then I was moved across the street.”

Emery, who fled from a domestic violence situation in her home state of Pennsylvania, took refuge in Dallas’ primary homeless shelter and was eventually moved to Pathway transitional housing, just across Austin Street.

“I was always curious about Texas. I was in Philadelphia for 35 out of my 37 years and I was ready for something different,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong it was scary, kind of like a Thelma and Louise type thing, just hop in the train, just on fate, but it was the best decision I ever made.

“There was just nothing [in Pennsylvania]. The homeless population is more concentrated, it’s harder to get help. I did a little bit of research and this is where I decided to come.”

Austin Street Shelter, located just outside downtown, is a nonprofit emergency shelter for men 45 years and older and women 18 years and older. According to shelter social worker Niki Prince, Emery’s case is not the only of its kind.

“We try to provide safety and emergency shelter to Dallas’ most vulnerable homeless,” Prince said. “Each of our guests is a different story. There are different reasons why they’re here and there are different barriers to getting housed. We have a lot of battered women who need a place to stay; people that are vulnerable because they just lost their jobs and just need to regain their footing.”

Although she says every client has its own individual impact, Prince recalls one guest in particular that reminded her why she loves her job.

“Sometimes she would come in and sometimes she would stay out,” Prince said. “I would feel that she was very vulnerable when she was not in the shelter. I assisted her and encouraged her to come in for services, and when she did come in we

provided her with the help that she needed.”

Through constant support from Prince, the client was able to receive an ID, Social Security card and mental health services.

“I’m a social worker by nature,” Prince said. “Advocating for people, seeing the need, knowing that this is a hard job but somebody has to do it and just wanting to help people is the ultimate motivation for me.”

Austin Street takes in up to 411 individuals a night, a task that heavily demands volunteers providing food, clothing and cots around the clock. Emery is one of 45 volunteers that lives and works in the shelter.

Before becoming a full time resident and volunteer, Emery needed to secure housing, a process complicated because of her stolen ID card. Finally, after months of paperwork, she was moved into her first apartment.

Eleven months later, Emery decided to go back to the place that “saved [her] life”. Beyond the broken state she was in when she walked in the first time, Emery entered the doors of t h e

CANDACE EMERY RESIDENT VOLUNTEER

shelter a new woman, wanting to guide others in the same direction.

She now serves as one of the lead volunteers at the shelter, organizing the influx of help that comes in during the holiday season.

“This time of the year, people are willing to do a lot more reaching out,” Prince said. “We get a lot of overlap of volunteers wanting to feed or bring coats or bring blankets.”

On a given winter morning, Austin Street is filled with volunteers of all ages, serving food, folding and organizing clothes for giveaway and even singing holiday music to lighten the mood for clients that have to spend Christmas in a shelter without family or friends. During cold or rainy nights, the shelter often houses at capacity.

“Unfortunately, sometimes, it can be kind of depressing for the guests to see [volunteers] coming out, but none of their family,” Prince said. “They’re missing family time. But it’s uplifting in another way for them to know that they are not forgotten about.”

From her desk by the entrance to Austin Street, application services representative Deborah White is able to see some of what brings happiness to the faces of clients during this time.

“It can be very, very exciting when they get their housing,” White said. “It can be very, very exciting when they get a job, because a lot of the clients are looking for employment. A lot of them have been here anywhere between three and six months, just trying to qualify for a program for housing, so when they get their apartment and they get their voucher and they get their key or their apartment passes inspection, then we celebrate.”

Emery’s celebration continues. With the help of the shelter that gave her a home and a job, she is now completely self-sufficient.

She stands as a symbol of promise to all who enter Austin Street.

“When you have that person walking through the doors for the very first time and you see him or her and you know they’re scared, I can tell them from personal experience, ‘look, it’s going to be OK, you just gotta stick with it, stay focused and you can do it,” Emery said.

It is a cold December morning. Carolers stand in the commons, singing “Oh Holy Night” to people seated. And now, thanks to people like Emery, they have food on their plates and hope in their hearts.

photos by Meara

Isenberg

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december 2016

written by Farah Merchant Staff Writer @farahmerchant_ Coppell High School senior Jess Goode stared in awe at the giant screen watching the film, Ephemeral, that she and other CHS students helped produce.

In 2015, CHS students Blake Snawder, Emily Edens, Jess Goode and Matthew Mudrick, among others, created a short film called Ephemeral, which was previewed in a KCBY-TV segment. The film gained popularity and the group decided to submit it to the Rising Star Film Festival where it received several awards.

They submitted the revised film to the All American High School Film Festival in New York where they did not win but received the opportunity to screen the film at Kings Theatre, which is a historical theater

in Brooklyn, NY. Goode explained how films were grouped by quality and played in loops.

The later the loop containing the film is played, the better the film.

“What I was truly honored and amazed by was how late in the day we were so they thought that our film, we were the last loop or one of the last loops, was one of the best,” Goode said.

Goode and CHS graduate Nick Castorina travelled to New York, on Oct. 3 to see their film screened in Kings Theatre, Ephemeral was also submitted to the Rising Star Film Festival in Dallas.

The idea of being screened last was desirable to Edens, but she was more excited about the fact that the film was chosen to be screened in general after being evaluated by professionals.

“By having people like that who do this

for a living and who know how to actually do it and for them to see it and think ‘oh, this is something that should be seen,’” Edens said. “It’s really interesting because it’s like we’re doing something right.”

KCBY adviser Irma Kennedy is proud of the accomplishments of her students’ production has recieved.

“I think it was very well done,” Kennedy said. “It had great production value and the kids worked well together. I was really proud of them for pulling it all together. It’s not easy to do something at that level and especially for high school students.”

Kennedy thinks KCBY influenced her students and allowed them to grow.

“By the time you are a senior, which many of these kids were seniors who spearheaded this project, you are able to tackle bigger projects,” said Kennedy. “I saw them take on these roles of leadership and be

able to coordinate everything and make it come together. That’s an inspiration to me and the rest of the staffers. To know ‘wow, if they did it then we can do it also.’”

The ability to have the film screened was a surreal moment for the production crew.

They were happy to see their film screened in the bright and flashy lights of the Big Apple.

“For me it was just sitting there in the theater Saturday afternoon seeing my face on screen and thinking ‘Oh my God,’” Goode said. “Our film is being shown in the busiest movie theater in the country.

“It was a huge mess and then we’re sitting there like we made it almost. It was not necessarily that we did something right. It was just a huge rush of euphoria and feeling like [I] honest-to-God accomplished something in my life that was going on to make a difference.”

Everybody has a story

Hermans develops passion for helping others because of personal beginnings written by Gracie Blackwell Staff Writer @graciebwell From a very young age, Coppell High School senior Mia Hermans’s life was special, from the moment her parents picked her up from China and brought her to Coppell.

Her parents adopted her from the Chi-

nese city of Maoming from an orphanage through a program in their church. Her mother and her father already had her brother, Zak, but they wanted to complete their family by adopting a baby.

Since being adopted, Hermans has resided in Coppell.

“I don’t deserve her, but somehow God gave her to me as a daughter,” father and assistant principal at Coppell Middle School

photo by Kelly

Monaghan Coppell High School senior Mia Hermans holds a stamp set which has her name written in Chinese characters. Hermans was adopted from the city of Maoming, China as a baby and has not visited since but tries to maintain her Asian culture by and taking Mandarin Chinese at CHS.

West Bruce Hermans said. “She helps complete our family because of the joy and opportunity she brings to all of our lives.”

Since she was little, she has been a part of her church, DFW Church of Christ, where volunteering is a norm. The team leadership job that she plans to be involved in mentors teens and focuses on them if they are going through hardships in high school.

“I love the feeling of helping people and family is really important to me and if I could help kids or teens get through some hard times that’s what I want to do,” Hermans said.

Her friendships have formed because of her ability to be caring and willing to help.

“Mia is someone that has grown to be someone that you can depend on because of her family and her beliefs,” friend and junior Sara Beshai said. “Her being adopted makes her unique but it doesn’t define the way she acts.”

Although her daily life is not filled with the Chinese culture, she still tries to be immersed in it, by always choosing China for projects and taking a Mandarin Chinese class her freshman year.

“I take these opportunities so I could learn about the culture and have that in my back pocket if I were to ever travel and so

I’m not a weird tourist from America who looks Asian,” Hermans said.

Hermans cannot imagine what a life in China would look like. “[My adoption] has influenced me in the things that I have done because I felt abandoned even though it wasn’t my choice,” Hermans said. “It kind of shaped me and motivated me to find something or someone who would always be with me no matter what.”

Hermans considers herself Chinese American. Even though she was not raised in the Chinese culture, she still identifies with her Chinese heritage.

Since she was adopted, she has not been back to China. In the future though, she wants to travel back to where her main roots are and wants to fully immerse herself into the Chinese culture while visiting.

She hopes to possibly study abroad there in college or visit sometime in the summer soon.

“I would want to go back to China hopefully sooner rather than later,” Hermans said. “It would be the coolest thing ever to go back to the place I was adopted from.” **Everyone has a story is a section where the writer goes to the school’s student directory, randomly finds a student, and writes a unique story about them.

THE SIDEKICK

december 2016

Expression without words

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Tiuirukanova moves from Russia, brings art talent as form of communication

written by Farah Merchant Staff Writer @farahmerchant_ Through hard work and pencil sketches, a completed storyboard is in front of Coppell High School freshman Julia Tiuirukanova. The dedication she places in depicting the scenes, angles, and emotions is shown from her streaks of pencil lines and bright colors.

The storyboard is a layout for the film she and her group mates are about to create for their Principles of Arts, AV Tech and Communications class.

The film is centered around a main character who never talks. As a result, he expresses his true nature through his writing. The theme embarks on the idea of communicating without a spoken language.

As Tiuirukanova is helping put together the film through directing, filming and drawing, she notices a parallel connection between her and the film subject.

Both she and the main character had a language barrier, which prohibited them from truly expressing themselves.

Tiuirukanova hails from Russia, and so finds a deep connection with this film.

“That’s how the main character of the film expresses himself,” Tiuirukanova said. “He didn’t talk. As I said, it’s all about expressing yourself. I actually really love our short film. I’ve watched it hundreds of times. I showed it to my friends in Russia and they loved it.”

Tiuirukanova said even though she knew some English when she first moved to America, she still had difficulty communicating with people.

“For a long time when I used to live in Russia I studied [English],” Tiuirukanova said. “I’ve also been here a couple of times before, in America. But it is still hard as you can see because sometimes I can’t express the things I want to.

I can’t say the things I want to sometimes.”

As a result, Tiuirukanova turned to art. She uses it as her platform for communication to express her true emotions and nature.

“I just think people need [art],” Tiuirukanova said.

“Every person needs it to express themselves somehow because sometimes even when you try to talk to someoneand you want to talk about how you feel, some people

just don’t care and you don’t have the person next to you to someone you c an talk to. You just feel lonely and y o u want to express yourself to say something to tell the world how you feel. I think that’s a really good way to tell that with art.”

Tiuirukanova’s love for art actually began in Russia when she was surrounded by friends.

“When I lived in Russia, I was surrounded by a lot of artists like basically all of my friends,” Tiuirukanova said.

“All of my friends were somehow connected to art and I wasn’t. When I used to live in Russia, I had other interests.

I did not have a lot of opportunities to express myself in Russia, which is also different here.”

Not only is Tiuirukanova a talented artist, but she is also a hard worker. CHS Art I teacher Cameron Tiede is impressed by the effort that Tiuirukanova placed when completing her work. He feels as though her effort is shown throughout many of her pieces.

“The assignments we just had where the students worked for two and a half weeks on a value study drawing,” Tiede said. “The amount of work and effort s h e put in that particular drawing is exceptional. It’s one of the most beautiful pieces in the class.”

Moreover, he thinks Tiuirukanova’s art speaks on different levels revealing a part of her personality that people cannot explain.

“Art for anybody whether there is a language barrier or not is a great way to express yourself,” Tiede said of Tiuirukanova’s talent. “I see art as another form of language.

It’s certainly another way of communicating that you can’t always put into words. I think any piece of art certainly for the creator is worth even more than that. In Julia’s case, English is a second language, but I have not found any difficulty communicating with her.”

photo by Ale

Ceniceros Coppell High School freshman Julia Tiuirukanova helps create a film through directing, filming and drawing during Cameron Tied’s Art I class. She uses art as her platform for communication to express her true emotions.

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december 2016

i£m=dreaming=of=a=bright=christmas

Elaborate holiday displays light up yards, faces of residents passing by homes written by Meara Isenberg Editor-In-Chief @mearaannee For most of the year, Sandy Sutton’s home on busy Parkway Boulevard in Coppell looks similar to those that surround it.

However, for one month out of the year, the two trees in her yard are strung with hundreds of multicolored lights and a huge inflatable bear greeting passing pedestrians and cars.

For the holiday season, neighborhoods across the city are lit up to celebrate the season, but some houses shine a bit brighter.

The Suttons The giant inflatable bear is the newest addition to Sutton’s illuminated yard display. However, when it arrived, it did not appear to be the colossal decoration she’d envisioned.

“It came in a box literally about 18 inches square,” Sutton said. “That was what was so funny, I was like, ‘really?’”

Setting up so many lights is no easy feat but Sutton got a hand from her son Danny, who visited from Houston to help her set up.

Sutton’s dedication to decorations has grown over the years as she adds more and more to her yard. However, the lights are not just for her to enjoy but the community as well.

“We’re on the [Coppell Christmas] parade route, so we want to make sure we have everything up before the parade,” Sutton said.

The Coppell Christmas parade did not occur this year due to inclement weather, but citizens can still enjoy her holiday decorations.

The Hills Yvonne Hill’s house sits on the corner of a quiet neighborhood but comes to life as soon as the sky gets dark.

“We do it every year,” Hill said. “We’re very festive.”

Hill estimates she has spent around $500 on the Christmas lights that encircle her yard, home and trees.

Although Hill enjoys the decorations, it’s really her husband who takes the most pride in their elaborate display.

“My husband posts it on Facebook, this is kind of his domain,” Hill said. “He’s actually at [Ace Hardware] now getting some screws to put up another piece.”

tains - was a three step process. Two hours of getting decorations out, an entire afternoon putting them together and seven hours of yard setup later, the Brancheaus were ready to light it up.

To create the perfect holiday house, Brancheau and his wife work as a team; she selects the decorations, and he puts them up.

“I let her deal with that, I just hook it all up and make sure it all works,” Brancheau said. “My wife loves to do this so we do it every year… she loves it when people enjoy the lights.”

The Suttons, Hills, and Brancheaus (top to bottom) light up the community with over-thetop displays and decorations. They are getting themselves, as well as the city of Coppell, into the holiday spirit.

The Brancheaus Driving down Denton Tap Road at night, cars occasionally turn into an unfamiliar cul-de-sac, attracted by the house with a huge array of lights.

Complete with Rudolph, Star Wars characters and much more, Tim Brancheau’s yard literally “glows”.

“We had some [cars drive by] Sunday night, we had a few last night,” Brancheau said. “We sit right there and you can see it, ‘oh, look there’s another one, slowing down.’”

Setting up the display - although Brancheau has no idea how many parts it con-

The Sidekick Strip

photos by Meara

Isenberg

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december 2016

tis the season Get in the holiday spirit with events from skating to symphonies in DFW area written by Akila Muthukumar Staff Writer @akilam29

photo by Kelly

Monaghan

Even if Dallas doesn’t experience a white Christmas this year, you can make the holidays a little brighter by attending any of these festive events where you can meet your favorite holiday characters, enjoy annual tree lighting ceremonies or see unique, intricate exhibits and creations.

12 Days of Christmas Take a step back in time by visiting the Dallas Arboretum where Victorian style gazebos will be decorated uniquely for the holidays. The event takes the well known song “12 Days of Christmas” and presents intricate exhibits of different characters from the song. For example the ‘First day of Christmas’ exhibit includes a revolving pear tree with green mirrors leaves, rhinestone studded branches and gold encrusted pears. An adorned partridge sits at the center of the stage. Each day develops a more ornate creation sponsored by a different local organization. Fortunately, the event is open for much longer than 12 days; you can attend any weekend through Jan. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m.

ICE! Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center hosts a Lone Star Christmas with nearly 2,000 pounds of colored, white and crystal ice sculptures and ice slides in a 12-lane tubing hill covered with real snow.

This magnificent creation took complex planning to come to life. Ice sculptors from China came to Grapevine and worked in a 9-degree freezer to carve a dazzling winter scene from the 36 truckloads of ice shipped from an ice making factory. This family fun event will be open until New Years Day. The theme is “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and features different cultures’ holiday celebrations, allowing visitors to experience unique new perspectives.

Panther Island Ice If you have a packed schedule for December and are not able to attend any of the above events, Panther Island Ice will be open seven days a week until Jan. 16, giving you plenty of time to gather some friends and family for a fun ice skating experience. Forth Worth creates a small miracle of an outdoor skating rink in what is predicted to be one of the warmest

winters in Texas with

The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine decorates for the holiday season with giant ornaments in between the streets leading up to the resort. The Gaylord hosts ICE!, an event displaying several ice sculptures; this year’s theme is “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” below-normal precipitation. After you skate for a few hours, you can enjoy some holiday snacks and drinks at a nearby restaurant.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra For music lovers this holiday season will be especially special with the new “pop-up” productions f rom

t h e Dallas Sym-

phony Orchestra. Features will include John Denver’s “A Rocky Mountain Christmas,” “Brassy Christmas,” and “Organ Extravaganza.” Instead of performing in the Meyerson Symphony Center the musicians will be traveling throughout Dallas to locations, such as Reunion Tower in downtown, and bringing the holiday spirit to the people. Selected concerts are free for the public and streamed on Face-

book. These will be taking place until late in December.

A Christmas Carol Until Dec. 28, the AT&T Performing Arts Center will be hosting the production of A Christmas Carol, a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’s timeless tale, by the Dallas Theater Center. If money is tight this holiday season, do not fear: select performances are pay-what-you-can. The story might be especially relevant as it speaks about rebirth and redemption, a message that might give hope to many who felt disappointment after a rough election season. A friend or family member with one too many similarities to the Grinch might just turn a frown upside by attending this event.

Regardless of if you are looking for something fun for the family during winter break, or something festive to do with friends on a Saturday night, make sure to check out these events for the best opportunities in the area. Although these activities are fun, sharing the spirit of the season with others is what makes them truly magical. So, what are you waiting for? Strap s o m e skates on, reserve your tickets, and call up your family.

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december 2016

Prepper makes the silver screen Apocalyptic film displays Patterson’s passion for filmmaking, sends message of unity in troubled times written by Sakshi Venkatraman Executive News Editor @oompapa1 DALLAS - As hundreds of guests flooded into the modest sized Texas Theatre in Dallas Nov. 19, Coppell High School AP Human Geography teacher Andrew Patterson saw two years worth of work come to fruition.

“This has been a long journey,” Patterson said. “I am so excited about this evening. It has been a really tough road, we hit so many roadblocks. But, you know, we just kept going and here we are.”

Since the summer 2015, director Patterson and lead actors Jay Bowdy and Rachel Dee have worked tirelessly on Prepper, which premiered after VIP guests and members of the cast and crew walked a red carpet near the entrance of the theater.

The film center around a couple, James (Bowdy) and Sarah (Dee) McAllister, who begin preparing for society’s collapse after noticing warning signs- mainly the rapid spread of the Ebola virus. According to Patterson, the movie’s message was one of unity in a disconnected time.

“I look around the world and I feel very blessed,” Patterson said. “But I also know it wouldn’t take much for everything to collapse. Think about the election

and how everyone’s kind of divided. This film is about bringing people together.”

Lead actress Dee arrived to the red carpet with her husband, Nathan, just before the film’s premiere.

Though she has worked on a number of short films over the past few years, she says Patterson’s script is special because of its meaningful message.

“It was a really down to earth role, which was something I could really connect with,” Dee said. “I really liked the message behind the story and [Patterson] was so professional. Working with him was amazing because he makes you feel like he really believes in you.”

Unlike his counterpart who has been acting since childhood, lead actor Jay Bowdy had been playing professional basketball until 2014, when a suggestion from a friend jumpstarted his career as a performer. Bowdy’s initial interest was not in playing the lead role; however, “as soon as he walked in the room,” Patterson knew he was the perfect fit.

“This project is special because it has meaning,” Bowdy said. “It’s not a pointless movie. It actually educated me through the whole process and it’s a very true film. Everything about the project is great – I couldn’t wait for people to see it.”

From filming, to acting, to ushering at the premiere, current and former students of Patterson’s stepped up to help him. Emily Edens, a former AP Human Ge-

ography student who helped Patterson with shooting and production, says getting her feet wet in the film industry solidified her passion for the job.

“Working with [Patterson] was amazing,” Edens said. “It’s so great to see how it’s possible to pursue your dreams without being in Hollywood or New York. He does what he wants to do and is still successful.”

Patterson, who interacted with the numerous amount of his students present at the event, says he couldn’t have made Prepper happen without the help and support of CHS students.

“Coppell High School is amazing,” Patterson said.

“No joke. This film would not be happening without Coppell High School. My students were amazing, they were supportive emotionally, they acted in the film, they were on the production team, they were just awesome.”

After Patterson walked the red carpet with his wife Lara, the crowd bought popcorn and drinks and took their seats to see the work come to life on screen.

“It’s exciting to see it all come together. It took us two years to put it together,” Lara said after seeing the film. “To be able to sit in a theater and experience this all together has been absolutely amazing.” graphics by Austin

Actress Rachel Dee and her husband walk the red carpet at the Prepper premiere at Texas Theatre on Nov. 19. The short film was written and directed by Coppell High School Human Geography teacher Andrew Patterson. The film featured several CHS students as extras.

Banzon

photos by Kelly Monaghan Coppell High School Human Geography teacher and director Andrew Patterson stands with his wife, Lara Patterson, at the Prepper Red Carpet Premiere at Texas Theatre on Nov. 19.

Patterson’s short film, set in an apocalyptic world, featured several CHS students.

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december 2016

The essential Songs of the season winter playlist that will give you chills written by Amanda Hair Sports Photography Editor

One of the most popular songs from Explosions In The Sky, this is ideal for cuddling up with a good book or sitting by the fire. The lyricless tune is gentle and soothing, yet still holds your attention. It is the perfect song to listen to while preparing for finals before winter break.

“Silas” Betty Who

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With a divisive and hectic year coming to a close, many are seeking a comforting respite in the frigid cold of winter. As the holiday season goes into full swing, many are in the mood for those classic holiday songs that bring back memories of drinking hot chocolate and playing in the snow. While it is fun to reminisce with these old tunes, we all could use a some new songs that are not accompanied by jingle bells. Here are four songs to escape the typical Christmas noise, yet still simmer in the winter feeling.

“Remember Me As A Time Of Day” Explosions In The Sky

“Silhouette” Mark Diamond

The calming guitar and almost whispered lyrics encompass the mood of winter. Being one of Betty Who’s lesser known songs, it is one of the best. The heartbreaking lyrics are brought to life with the wide range of vocals and and flawless piano music in the background.

graphic by Thomas

Rousseau

Being his most played on Spotify, this song by Matt Diamond dives into the desolate, cold feeling after a breakup. Diamond’s soothing voice is accented by the truth and clarity of the lyrics. The serene introduction mirrors the feeling of driving on a cold, rainy night.

The Japanese House is one of my favorite bands. Its unique sound can be defined as borderline slow electronica with a touch of pop.

This song serves layers of harmonies and swirls of synthesizers and guitars. While the song can be very relaxing, the lyrics and beat keep the listener from falling asleep.

“Still” The Japanese House

Giving back made easier this holiday season through these organizations written by Lili Lomas Student Life Editor

With the annual flooding of school halls with Christmas music and decorations, it is easy to forget the spirit of giving that should come with the holiday season. However, the world’s problems may seem too vast creating uncertainty about how to start solving them. Here is a sample of DFW based charities and organizations where you can give back.

III. Water is Basic

I. Dwell with Dignity

A nonprofit agency which provides homes for families struggling with homelessness and poverty, it helps gives interior design to the homes to inspire clients to maintain a standard of living. By donating money at the agency’s website www.dwellwithdignity.org, you can help provide household items such as bedding or pots and pans for families in need.

II. World Relief Fort Worth According to its website www.worldrelieffortworth.org, this organization partners with several local churches to help refugees “transform economically, socially, and spiritually”. The organization accepts donations of household items, which can be picked up from your home. You can also purchase a “Welcome Kit” including basic household items for newly arrived refugees.

V. Metroport Meals on Wheels

IV. The Family Place

Benefitting victims of family violence The Family Place provides them with housing, counseling and assistance. They have a resale shop where clients can purchase clothes, furniture or other household items. You can donate gently used items to the shop by contacting the shop manager or dropping the items off at the shop at 11722 Marsh Lane, Suite 354 in Dallas.

By drilling wells for reasonable access to safe water, this organization provides clean water to people in South Sudan. You can help fund the projects by donating on the website www. waterisbasic.org or visiting its online shop where you can buy paintings or a T-shirt.

graphic by Austin

Banzon

This organization provides meals to the elderly or others in need through home delivered meals, luncheons or events. It works to relieve hunger and eliminate isolation within communities and have no age or financial requirements for those it serves. Its store Sadie’s Upscale Consignment and Resale gives all proceeds to the organization’s home delivered meals program and accepts donations of furniture in good condition and name brand or better label clothing. To donate, make an appointment by calling (817) 490-0191.

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december 2016

A swing in the right direction

Hard work, dedication pays off as freshman excels at top of varsity golf team The phone rings and her heart pounds against her chest. Her mother picks it up, gives a few nods, and turns to her as a smile rips across her face.

Coppell High School freshman Alyson Immanivong had made the CHS varsity golf team.

“I was really excited when my coach called my mom, and honestly I thought that I would be on the JV freshman team,” Immanivong said. “But being on varsity, I love my team because they’re all so nice and they’ve become my favorite part about being in golf.

I’ve been playing for four years, so it just shows that all the work and hours I put into the sport is

paying off.”

Having also once been a freshman on the varsity golf team, senior golf captain Grace Do is excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for Immanivong and the team.

“Alyson is a big part of our team and although she’s a freshman, she’s been shooting really well so we are really excited for the upcoming year,” Do said.

“She’s always super positive and it’s really hard to have what she has so she’s helped us to keep our spirits up no matter the outcome.”

Along with the rest of the golf team, varsity girls golf coach Jan Bourg enjoys Immanivong’s presence and looks forward to being her head coach over the next few years and more to come.

“Golf takes a lot of practice and

photos by Ale Ceniceros Coppell High School freshman Alyson Immanivong goes through her practice swing, chipping onto the green at Riverchase Golf Course in Coppell. Once she made the varsity team, she worked up to the No. 3 spot in the lineup.

determination and we see that she has that,” Bourg said. “Alyson has moved all the way up to playing

the No. 3 [spot] and her score has definitely helped us in our tournaments. Next year might be tough for the team without Grace, but I hope Alyson will step up to be a leader for some of the younger girls coming in just as some have been a leader for her this year.”

In addition to her team, Immanivong’s friends have taken notice to her dedication to golf.

“Alyson puts a lot of focus on golf and she spends all her time practicing because she knows how important it is to her,” CHS

‘‘

of her and it’s just given her a lot more confidence knowing that it’s all worth it. Being on this team has developed her motivation and given her something to chase after that she’s extremely passionate about.”

While golf takes up much of her time, Alyson enjoys the challenges she faces as she takes part in more tournaments.

“I love the competition because while you have to be mentally prepared at all times, it’s a relaxing sport and really fun to me,”

Being on this team has developed her motivation and given her something to chase after that she’s extremely passionate about.

Liz Immanivong, mother

photo by Ale

Ceniceros

Coppell High School freshman Alyson Immanivong places the tee for her shot on Wednesday at Riverchase Golf Course. Immanivong has been golfing for four years and is the only current freshman on the varsity golf team.

freshman Natalie Hudson said.

“It’s important to find what you enjoy and Alyson’s found that, so I’m excited for her and I hope she learns to be a good team player and motivates others through her passion.”

Being a part of the golf team has allowed Immanivong to grow both as a person and as a golfer.

Her mother, Liz Immanivong, has seen the impact it has had on her character and motivation.

“It’s exciting for her and me that she’s able to be part of the varsity golf team and travel around to play these tournaments,” Ms. Immanivong said. “I feel so proud

‘‘

written by Jessica Jun Staff Writer @jesse_jun16

Alyson said. “Golf takes a lot of time, it really does, but while being gone from school and spending every day at practice might seem overwhelming, I enjoy doing what I love.”

With many years ahead of her, Alyson looks forward to growing both herself and the golf team.

“As a golfer, I want to be the best that I can be and I have my own goals set for myself,” Alyson said. “But I hope that through golf, I cannot only grow and become a bigger part of the golf team, but I also look forward to making the team go more noticed for all the hard work we put into this sport.”

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december 2016

LESSONS FROM

THE GRIDIRON

photo by Ale

Ceniceros

How a nine-year football career became more than just a game

I

column by Joseph Krum Executive Enterprise Editor @joseph_krum

was in complete shock.

It was Saturday, Nov. 26 and I was at Waco ISD Stadium, my hands covering my face in disbelief to hide the tears. Just seconds earlier, my Coppell football team had lost a heartbreaker in the third round of the playoffs, ending the season and my football career.

I hugged senior linebacker Eric Loop. I hugged head coach Mike DeWitt. Then it hit me what had just happened. The sport that I had played for nine years was gone, just like that. After endless workouts and meetings and early morning practices, I would never be able to strap up a helmet and play the game I love so much.

Yet the impact of football on my life is something that has not stopped and never will. The lessons it has given me has molded me into who I am today.

“Football taught me so many things,” senior defensive back Austin Weathers said.

“It taught me how to be tough and how to be responsible, and it gave me life skills that I will keep for the rest of my life. I wouldn’t trade [my playing career] for anything.”

The first of many lessons that I really grasped from football is teamwork. Now it may seem simple and overused, but there is nothing like lining up with 10 other guys on the field with one object in mind: either score a touchdown or prevent the other team from scoring. And especially as an offensive lineman, the teamwork within the offensive line is crucial to have any success.

Throughout each workout and practice, our coaches preached teamwork, and in the end that was what earned us the success we had.

Teamwork has shaped my life as a student and as a member of society. Every day, whether it is a group project, carpooling to school, or even deciding where we should go out to eat as a family with my siblings, I have to work with others to accomplish a goal and football has given me that ability.

Football has shown me how to persevere and dedicate myself to something, especially when it gets tough. Throughout each before school practice that ended before the sun rises, each two-a-day in the blazing heat of August, each sprint drill that took every bit of energy I had left, I learned how to give my absolute best effort no matter what the circumstances were.

“As a coach, I think one of my jobs is to show my kids how to be a competitor and excel and work hard at whatever they are doing,” DeWitt said. “Whether that’s in their job or academically, they will always have that trait to bow their neck when things get tough.”

I had to persevere through several injuries throughout my career, including a broken leg and a concussion in seventh grade, but what built up my character most was persevering through scout team. Scout team, when heard by most football players, is followed with a cringe. It is where, as a freshman or sophomore, the younger players “scout”, or practice against, the varsity players.

My most vivid memory of scout team is my freshman year, when I scouted for

the playoffs. I remember it being freezing temperatures and getting pounded by the seniors on varsity, many of whom ended up playing football at the collegiate level. After enduring two weeks of the pain, while most of my friends did not bother to show up, I remember making a personal decision to go to practice no matter how terrible it was.

There is no reward for doing what I was told, but I started to instill a character trait within myself that set the foundation of who I am today.

Above all, I am appreciative of the relationships that I have made with my teammates. There is nothing quite like joking

around with your teammates in the locker room before a game; those relationships are what I will miss the most.

“The relationships I have grown with my teammates are stronger than any other relationship I’ve had,” senior outside linebacker Rodrigo De La Garza said. “I can trust anyone on the team with my life, and that is not something you can build anywhere else.”

Football is unique in the relationships it can create and the lessons it can teach.

While the memories of playing will fade away as time passes, these aspects will not; they will stay with me for the rest of my life.

photos courtesy Laura

Schertz

From his first season in 2008 (left) to his last season as a football player (right), senior offensive lineman Joseph Krum learned valuable lessons throughout his playing career, including teamwork, perserverence and building relationships. The impact of football on Krum extends well beyond the playing field, into his daily life now and in the future.

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december 2016

A new look to a Basketball coach rejuvenates team changed program with purpose heading into second year written by Reid Valentine Staff Writer @reidv9 When you move a tree from desolate ground to fertile soil, it goes into shock for a period of time as it acclimates to its new environment. Then, after the adjustment period is through, the tree experiences growth it never could have imagined.

In this instance, Coppell girls basketball coach Kristen Davis is the arborist and the basketball program is the tree.

“Broken,” Davis said. “That’s the best way to describe it, not necessarily in a sense of athleticism or even basketball, but the culture seemed battered and just not in a good place.”

The 2015-2016 season was Davis’s first at Coppell, and the team was not used to her different style. Being coached hard to produce expectations and reach goals is different from being degraded, but often times with a new coach players are not able to differentiate the two, especially if they were used to the latter in the past.

Yet this year has been different. The Coppell Cowgirls recently placed second in its second tournament of the season from Dec. 1-3, adding another trophy to Davis’s

resume in her short time here in Coppell, but these pre-district results are not new to her.

“Last year we won quite a few preseason games,” Davis said. “But when we got to district and faced teams like [Southlake Carroll] or Trinity the success that we had worked so hard for fell out from underneath us.”

Sports is as much mental as it is physical, and no matter how it sounds, games cannot be won in practice or on the bus ride there, but they can surely be lost. The mindset of the team is forged during countless hours of work and even outside of practice.

“Coach Davis has made the basketball program a family again,” junior guard Rylie Burleson said. “We have become so much closer and actually enjoy playing the game together which may have not been the case in the past.”

When a team cares for and depends on one another like a family, great things can happen, and the overall effort of the team goes through the roof. A major change Davis has made has nothing to do with basketball-specific aspects, but she values how hard her team plays above everything else and that has only lead to the program continuing to improve.

“We play hard,” Davis said. “It started in Performance Course during the fall and [the team] was here three days a week at 6:30 a.m. with PC coach Stephen Bacca.

He taught that hard work is and should be enjoyable. The girls stopped looking at the what and saw the why: winning.”

Attention to detail is a key component to any team who has any aspirations of competing, and for players to put time into small things there must first be a cohesion amongst the group that puts the team first.

Not everything is flashy in basketball.

The famous story of former NBA MVP Steve Nash simply catching a basketball for an hour a day personifies how even the players at the pinnacle of the sport pay attention to the nuances of the game.

“The fundamentals are so easy to overlook and call ‘kid stuff ’,” Davis said. “Nothing is too small. This and the effort are the two major things that changed the culture and to program.”

Cultures can be changed daily on teams, but for a positive one to stay there has to be a buy in from not just a few players, it has to be unanimous and complete.

“We play as a team,” junior guard Mary Luckett said. “Throughout practice we do drills that require us to work as a team

to reach goals, goals that could not be achieved if you are playing for yourself.”

Playing hard and doing the small things seems to be the mantra for this Cowgirls team. Davis has this program on the rise.

photo by Amanda Hair Coppell High School varsity girls basketball coach Kristen Davis observes the varsity players during the second quarter of the Dec. 6 game against Grapevine. The 2015-2016 season was Davis’ first year coaching at CHS.

THE SIDEKICK

december 2016

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december 2016

HUMANS OF CHS

photo by Amanda Hair “I went to a village in India and it was more of a rural area and it was a lot like the jungle. I went to teach blind kids conversational English and I helped them expand on it and become more confident. The trip was great but after I came back I wasn’t feeling very well at all. It started with a normal fever and my back was hurting a lot. But I just sort of shrugged off the pain and I slept a lot. I began to realize that I was sleeping days on end, like the entire day. And I was still tired after I woke up. That’s when I realized that something was wrong because my fever had persisted through four days. After that I decided I should go visit the doctor and he told me that I had a throat infection. And I didn’t know what else it could have been so we just went along with that. But after that, the symptoms became a lot worse, I couldn’t walk anymore, I began to feel really dizzy, I started throwing up, my arms felt like they were burning. It was a really painful experience overall. We decided to go back to the doctor and I went back to him in a wheelchair and that’s when he said, ‘Well we’ll just wait one more day and then we’ll have you admitted but you should just shrug it off, you’ll be fine, it’s just an infection and keep on taking the antibiotic’ My family and I went to a party that night because the doctor told me to do normal things instead of sleeping, and that’s when I fell over. So they admitted me to the ER and that’s when the doctors found out that I had dengue. There’s no cure for it, so you just have to rely on your immune system and hope that it picks up on its own. My friend’s grandpa passed away because of this so it was quite a frightening experience but I got over it, thank God.

Asha Reddy, senior