Volume 26 issue 1

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Coppell High School 185 Parkway Blvd Coppell TX 75019 VOLUME 26

ISSUE 1

IN ISSUE

Lee saving energy

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Harms of social media

Coppell family gets taste of war

OCTOBER 2014

coppellstudentmedia.com

Change of pace

New leadership arrives at district level Don’t stop, pay fine -Since the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year over 100 Coppell residents have bypassed school busses. Effective Oct. 1., Dallas County Schools begain issuing fines for Coppell drivers passing school buses when the stop arm is extended and the lights are flashing.

NEWS Page 5

Living with illness -Enterprise editor Kara Hallam opens up about her chronic illness she has been facing, speaks up and offers advice about the challenges she has overcome.

OPINIONS Page 9

A rivalry renewed -Similarities and differences between the Coppell Cowboys and Southlake Carroll Dragons. Methods and mindset on and off the field.

STUDENT LIFE Page 15

Burdette hits it big in new movie -CHS senior Christina Burdette has been acting for over 12 years and stars in her new film Never Goin’ Back.

ENTERTAINMENT Page 16

Basketball Preview -Coppell boys basketball team finds confidence in team play and camaraderie, despite inexperience, size in new district.

SPORTS Page 21

The Sidekick // Mallorie New Coppell ISD Superintendent Dr. Mike Waldrip takes part in October’s kick off of Living Well Coppell at Andy Brown Park East, as did CISD Board of Trustees President Anthony Hill (left of Waldrip).

Waldrip comes out on top to be Coppell’s new superintendent ALEX NICOLL Editor-in-Chief @NicollMac

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hey work with the school board to enforce the policies the school board approves, they set the goals of the district, lead every decision, help with long range planning and are the face of the district.

There is a plethora of responsibilities associated with being the superintendent of a school district and even more for being the new superintendent in a district like Coppell. However, after a four month long process, Coppell Independent School District found its new leader in Dr. Mike Waldrip.

Waldrip, who has served as the Deputy Superintendent of Administrative Operations for Frisco Independent School District since 2002, assumed the superintendent position on Aug. 18 and is eager to get to work.

“I was very excited. The culmination of a lot of work, preparation and goals were achieved, so

I’ve never been happier,” Waldrip said.

Coppell is a high visibility district, which means it is recognized for its academic excellence, extracurriculars and athletics. Because of this, it is considered one of the top districts to work for in the state.

“When you go anywhere in the state of Texas and you say you are from Coppell, people are going to want to sit down and have a conversation with you about what you are doing,” Coppell ISD Board of Trustees President Anthony Hill said.

The district’s performance was a key part in Waldrip’s decision as one more important factor.

“The district has a reputation of being a very good district and it has been my goal for quite some time to become a superintendent, so there were several things that were attractive about the job,” Waldrip said. “Plus, my wife encouraged me to take the job.”

His wife, Lisa, was an integral part in coercing Waldrip in pursuing the position.

“She had a big impact on my

decision,” Waldrip said. “This district is a quality district and there were many quality candidates that applied for the job and the thought of that was weighed into my decision, but my wife’s comment was ‘If you don’t apply, you definitely will not get the job’ and to that I said ‘Good point’.”

The application process began soon after former superintendent Dr. Jeff Turner announced his retirement in March.

The job position was open for applicants for several weeks. At the end of this period, 39 candidates had sent in applications. A screening process and two levels of interviews, an initial one with Texas Association of School Boards and a first interview with the board, followed. From here the pool of candidates was cut to only six and then ultimately to three before Waldrip was named the lone finalist in July.

During the screening process, the Board of Trustees went through the executive search firm from TASB, to facilitate the search process. Two individuals with the firm were sent by request of the

board to assist them in its hunt.

Dr. Robert Duron, a former superintendent in San Antonio Independent School District and Dr. Marian Strauss, another former superintendent in Somerville, River Road, Wimberley and Pine Tree ISDs, helped organize the open-forum sessions that were held throughout the interview process.

Mr. William Smith and Mr. Mike Rains also assisted in the search. Smith is a fomer superintendent of Greenville ISD and Rains is division director of TASB Field Services Ranging from the Coppell YMCA to the Chamber of Commerce, 72 organizations located in Coppell and the surrounding area attended Focus Group sessions that were organized by the district. These 45 sessions that lasted 50 minutes each provided a platform for members of the community to voice their opinions of what they wanted in a new superintendent see NEW MAN page 5

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2 The Sidekick // Nicole Messer

Teacher of the Issue MEARA ISENBERG staff writer @mearaannee If you had been flipping through stations on your radio in 1990, trying to find a good song or podcast to listen to, it’s possible that you passed over a Spanish commercial featuring Coppell High School’s Señor Derryl Lee. The Sidekick staff is proud to recognize Spanish teacher Derryl Lee as the September Teacher of the Issue. Lee has been teaching for 25 years, and has taught at both New Tech and Coppell. He teaches Pre-AP Spanish 3, but has previously taught all levels of Spanish including AP. He has also taught theater.

“He’s a very enthusiastic teacher,” sophomore Kate Hohfeler said. “He makes me more excited to learn about the Spanish language. He speaks mostly Spanish... so he is really getting us used to the language and preparing us for the real world where we will need to speak it.”

Thank you for all that you do.

Derryl Lee Construction begins on new Coppell fieldhouse, arena

Student Services transforms into North, South divisions

THOMAS ROUSSEAU Staff Writer

CHRIS SHELDON Staff Writer @chrissheldon911

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onstruction of the new Coppell High School fieldhouse addition and arena is well under way, and with this comes new changes. For the first couple of days, these changes had a noticeable impact on traffic flow and how the school communicated with students.

“It turned out to be a positive, because we sent out so much more communication than we would have had otherwise. It seems like it made the first couple of days a little smoother,” CHS Principal Mike Jasso said.

The added help of Coppell ISD, many from the staff and the Coppell Police Department helped maintain safety in the school as students found their way to where they needed to go. With the safety of students as a top priority, Jasso discussed the measures taken to ensure safety.

“One thing we’re not going to compromise is student safety. The construction personnel cannot park in the same areas as [the students]. All construction personnel have passed criminal background checks through their employer, and they are all identified with badges,” Jasso said.

The construction of the arena is currently still in its early stages, but once the foundation is set in place, the barriers currently surrounding it will have to move to accommodate other specialized equipment.

“Cranes take up space, steel takes up space, construction worker’s parking takes up space, so our current parking set up will change sometime in November when that phase of construction starts,” Jasso said.

With all the potential for confusion, Jasso is glad to see “how flexible and open minded” everyone has been so far this year.

The Sidekick // Amanda Hair The ongoing construction at Coppell High School continues for the addition of the competition arena for the gymnasium on September 3, 2014.

The Sidekick // Malorie Munoz The City of Coppell kicks off Living Well Coppell on Saturday at Andy Brown Park East. Saturday’s walk was the first of many planned events for this month that promote a healthy lifestyle.

October event plans on making Coppell healthier community

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THOMAS ROUSSEAU Staff Writer

iving Well in Coppell is a new volunteer-based organization promoting physical, nutritional and social health throughout the community. Its official kickoff was on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Coppell Mayor Karen Hunt was present and started the day’s events with a presentation outlining the month’s events. Attendees had a choice of either riding bikes through Coppell’s nature paths around Andy Brown Park alongside Mayor Hunt, or walking with the city manager Clay Phillips.

“It has to do with physical wellness, it has to do with nutritional wellness and it has to do with personal and social wellness,” Hunt said.

The citizens of Coppell showed up to the kickoff event to show their support, many of which had a great attitude towards the oncoming month.

“I’m an advocate for change, I’ve been in Coppell for 18 years, and I’ve been very involved in the building of the Coppell Aquatic Center, and the building of Kid Country,” Gary Terrell said. “So I care very much about our community.”

The kickoff event was the start of daily events for the entirety of the month. Anyone interested is encouraged to look at the events calendar on the LWIC website and find one that suits to them. The events will continue after October, but less often.

“We’re also putting in some plans for a pretty big springtime event similar to this fall’s kick off; our plan is to have ongoing things weekly throughout the year, but maybe have multiple big events throughout the year to get the big groups coming out together,” Guignon said. “October is our focused kick off; our plan then is to have ongoing activities on a regular basis after that for years.”

LWIC looked for all age groups of Coppell to come to the kickoff, with students from Coppell High School being especially encouraged to come. Guignon expressed this in the days prior to the event, commenting that the students could make it a group activity for everyone.

“As we kick this event off, we are thrilled, and we hope you will take the time to go to the website to plan a whole month of wellness” Hunt said. “If you make it a habit, it becomes a lifestyle.”

For more information on the upcoming events, as well as content from the ones that have already happened, you can visit livingwellincoppell.com or their facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Living-Well-in-Coppell

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ith a new school year at Coppell High School just getting underway, there have been a few changes to how attendance is handled. No longer will students be heading to the glass window next to Student Services.

Attendance is now split by grade into the North and South Student Service Rooms. Student Services North, the attendance office for eleventh and twelfth graders, is located at the old Freshman Center directly under the freshmen stairs. Student Services South, for ninth and tenth graders, is located within the office at Mrs. Rhode’s desk.

However, if a student has a note to turn in before school they should head to the front desk. In addition to this, proof of an excused absence will be brought to the student during thier third or fifth period. The school has begun revamping its facilities, and now attendance is getting its turn.

The Sidekick // Aubrie Sisk Karen Leonard talks to a student’s parent about their schedule in the North Attendance Office during second period.

The Sidekick // Aubrie Sisk Janet Ritchie, the receptionist for Coppell High School, helps a parent sign out their child at the horseshoe on during second period.

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Sustainable energy takes over

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Richard J. Lee Elementary strives to be first net-zero school

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ALEX DALTON Staff Writer @alex_dalton04

t took three years for the Richard J. Lee elementary program to fully become a devised plan.

Site visits, research, interviews, and collaboration occurred in the years that helped perfect the plan for the new challenge based program taking place at Lee Elementary School This innovative Net-Zero program makes Lee elementary the first elementary school to have it in place in all of Texas. The reasoning for “Net-Zero” is that the area with the program can produce enough energy to match or even go over their energy consumption.

With the net zero plan in place at Lee elementary, they are conserving energy by using solar, wind, and geothermal power, as well as rainwater collection for irrigating their plants.

To save energy, they have solar tubes on the second story that use sunlight to light all the spaces, not just those with windows. By collecting our own power in renewable ways, they reduce the amount of electricity drawn from the power grid.

The goal is that this school will determine how the other Coppell ISD schools will be pioneered.

“Lee Elementary can be a school that others can learn from,” principal Chantel Kastrounis said. “Data from Lee’s data dashboard will inform learners of the impact of their decisions in relation to water consumption, electric conservation, as well as our other energy saving processes we take part in.”

The plans is for students to learn how to take more of a role in

The Sidekick // Stephanie Alexander Guests gather in the new Lee Elementary School libray after the ribbon cutting ceremony for cake and refreshments on Sept 21. this conservation of energy, giving them responsibility and pride in their school. “We are working towards transferring responsibilities more towards the learners,” third grade designer, Elisa Farrell said.

“They will eventually be responsible for giving tours of the building, creating the morning announcements in our broadcast studio, and especially responsible when solving real-world problems.”

The goal Lee elementary hopes to achieve is student learning about real-world issues by experi-

encing the concepts real-world settings. “It will plant the seeds of responsibility, environmentally and academically,” Farrell said. “The community will get to see a different way of learning and how it can benefit the community through service-learning projects.”

A serious goal of this new school is to foster new learning techniques to spread these innovative ideas not just energy saving processes in one area. “Richard J. Lee Elementary uses Challenge Based Learning to empower lead-

ers to create questions and share actionable solutions to real world problems,” principal Chantel Kastrounis said. “Learners share their solutions with the world and solicit feedback so that they can reiterate or improve upon their ideas.”

The school took advantage of the new experience to make an impression on their students long term. “​The physical environment fosters movement and collaboration,” Kastrounis said. “The sustainability feature of the building will help our learners have a better

understanding of their impact on the word and how even one decision they make could change an outcome.”

At Richard J. Lee elementary, their teaching is called designing, students are called learners and their ____ are called varied colored houses. Although the differences between pre-existing Coppell ISD schools and Lee elementary seem vast, the idea is that the only difference is that Lee elementary is built to accommodate the flexible use of spaces and the building as a learning tool.

Having the new technologies right on campus makes a great example for the students to see up and close. “Instead of just talking about how plants use the sun to make energy, we can also talk about the solar panels on our roof that make energy for the school,” Farrell said.

“We also have some great technology in the form of data signage that shows our current electricity savings and usage, which helps demonstrate real-world math and data analysis concepts.”

Students are not the only one with new integrated thought processes. “​My role is to get the educators, called designers at Lee, the tools they need to teach what they need to teach,” Kastrounis said. “This could come in the form of professional learning, being a thought partner, inspiring them, or​ reminding them that we have endless possibilities in this new space.”

Inspiration is sure to come from this school trying new things. Focused on enforcing new habits and ideas, this new school is sure to change the Coppell community for the better.

Seal is broken on new CSM app, brings easier access to The Sidekick

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SHIVANI BURRA Staff Writer @shiviburra

oppell Student Media launched a new app in order to have another platform to share their stories, photos and videos. The app was developed by Coppell High School’s App Club and has been made primarily only for the iPad. Last year’s Sidekick editors made it a goal to develop an app because of the newly distributed iPads to every learner and teacher in the building.

“I was excited to hear about the idea because it made sense since that was the first year of iPads on campus,” The Sidekick adviser Chase Wofford said. “I asked the editors during the year who is moving forward with this?

They made it a goal but nobody acted on it. That is when I saw the app club members borrowing our Macbook cart and I thought to ask them if they would be interested in helping build something for us. They took it and ran.”

Two of Coppell High School’s media publications, The Sidekicks and its online Coppell Student Media along with KCBY’s daily content will be available on this new app.

“I love what these students have done with this app; it looks good, clean and crisp,” KCBY adviser Irma Kennedy said. “It delivers the different forms of

information and it is very user-friendly. And I am proud of what these students did especially because they did it over the summer, on their own free time while they could have [been] doing other fun things.”

The app club began developing the product in early June and finished about a week before school had started. Although it was the first app the club made together, lead developer junior Edward Butler already has five different apps available on the app store.

“Over the summer we met about 10 times and brainstormed outlines,” Butler said. “I was the lead developer but we had different teams such as the graphic team and individuals that worked together to piece everything together. It was a very collaborative process.”

Butler has been working on software developing for about the last four years, and he hopes to continue on that path.

“I have not really decided what I am going to do in the future but I am very passionate about what I am currently doing,” Butler said.

Sophomore Niki Simha has been reading article on Coppell Student Media for over a year and thinks that the app will help bring in new readers.

“This app will give easier access to all the articles that are available,” Simha said. “Not a lot of people read CSM but the app

will give them better access and be able to read some stuff and see what they are missing out on.”

Editor in chief of The Sidekick and Dallas morning news intern Alex Nicoll believes that the app will harbor a better relationship between the two publications.

“It is going to foster a great and better relationship between the two of us since now there is a platform where we both can be featured on,” Nicoll said. “There will be more involvement with each other and more emphasis on multimedia.”

Often there are segments that do not make the KCBY show every week but are still a high quality that can be featured. “it is beneficial to have this new app because it brings in a new group of people that are able to watch good segments and not the whole show,” Convergence director Marin Hulme. “They can see those informative segments by scanning through the title and descriptions. It will be good to promote those who are working hard but their segments do not make the show.”

Wofford and Kennedy both believe that this app will help promote what each staff is doing.

“I was speaking to an assistnt principal last week and she did not even know what Coppell Student Media is,” Kennedy said. “I think the more we can do to promote what we have been doing for a couple of years now

will only help spread the news of what we have been doing, but also allow more people to see it.”

Managing editor Jena Seidemann had the previous app and is excited for the new one to be used.

“I had the app a few years ago but then it went away,” Seidemann said. “But I really liked how I did not have to go to safari and then go to the website. It is now just one click away. Also people like apps better than having to go search for things.”

Wofford hopes the CSM app will not only be a way to help increase the amount of readers and viewers, but also be a tool to the

Coppell community.

“I hope our district uses [the CSM app] to share news about what is happening on our campus, in our district and the community,” Wofford said. “It challenges the staff to do an even better job knowing now that there is another place where people can get the information.

I would like to see other teachers find a good use for it in their classrooms.”

Make sure to download the new CSM app available in the iPad app store to stay updated and informed on the latest Coppell news.

The Sidekick // Nicole Messer KCBY Program Director Michael Butzer and Sidekick editor-in-chief Alex Nicoll proudly display their organizations’ new media app with app development club president and lead designer Edward Butler (center)

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TED talks go viral

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CHS hosts first ever TED conference, spreading awareness SHIVANI BURRA Staff Writer @shiviburra

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n Saturday, students, teachers, administrators and parents gathered at the Coppell High School lecture hall for a Technology, Entertainment and Design Youth Conference.

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to spreading ideas which began in 1984. Now, TED conferences cover a wide range of topics and is a worldwide platform.

Six speakers spoke at the event about subjects they were passionate about. These topics ranged from education to how money affects society to intergalactic travel.

“It is important we explore issues everywhere,” AP World History teacher Chris Caussey said.

“In the school setting, students that feel passionately about certain issues have a voice to express.

I love seeing the passion of the kids, and I love working with the kids.”

A group of CHS students led by senior Sagar Ramesh decided to start a club to put this event together.

“The great thing about TED talks is that it is not just a forum but a genuine space where we can share our ideas that are typically not shared,” senior Srikar Pami-

The Sidekick // Shivani Burra Senior Rutvik Choudhary speaks about intergalactic travel, the barriers and how to overcome those. di said. “Particularly ideas that do not fit in under one branch of subject area.”

TED.com has about 2,000 talks, according to Ramesh, on a wide variety of topics and is an area for anyone to share ideas they have.

“The main idea of this is that so many students had ideas they could not showcase at school and they needed a platform,” Ramesh said. “They would always speak about it with a lot of passion and end their statement with, ‘Oh but nobody cares about it.’”

Planning this event took about

seven months, and there were a lot of steps involved in it being a successful day. In April, auditions were held for speakers, which was then narrowed down to 13 speakers. Eventually, after the club leaders discussed it, they narrowed it down to seven.

“Of course a lot of talks focus their efforts in one or two subject areas but the beauty of a talk like this is not only do we provide a connection to the world at large, and we can join a community of sharing interdisciplinary ideas and foster that type of thinking,” Pamidi said.

Senior Mubin Punjwani spoke about how money affects society and behavioral psychology that makes humans act the way they way they do. Punjwani focused primarily money as an object that runs society and the question of whether society can exist without money.

Pamidi has always been interested in science and literature, along with being an active member of the local science fiction community. He soon became acquainted with the works of philosopher Roland Barthes, whose work he analyzed to reveal literary trends in today’s society along with the conception of the future.

Senior Clint Blackwell was concerned about how simple it is for people to lose sight of what is important, and hoped to bring a different perspective for those who would like to take a close look. CHS IB English teacher Michael Vergien also spoke on a topic involving students emotional health. He talked about how grades in school hinders growth within students and how grades affect education.

Junior Sneha Karkala spoke about her observations in her peers’ backgrounds and how it affected their performance in school and sought to understand the premise behind this behavior.

Karkala particularly spoke about

the need for considering an applicant’s background in the college admissions process.

Senior Rutvik Choudhary has been in interested in math and science since middle school. He believed that physics is one of the most interesting sciences to study, and that its applications can help drive us into the future and accomplish feats we never thought were possible.

The final talk of the event was led by senior Adhitya Ganesh, which was based off his expanding knowledge that debate has provided him. He spoke about importance of fostering education that focuses on the learning aspect more than the curriculum, from the perspective of a student.

“In the end that is what I think TED is; a bunch of people coming together and talking about things they are really passionate about,” Pamidi said.and with this comes new changes. For the first couple of days, these changes had a noticeable impact on traffic flow and how the school communicated with students.

Construction of the new Coppell High School fieldhouse addition and arena is well under way, and with this comes new changes.

For the first couple of days, these changes had a noticeable impact on traffic flow and how the school communicated with students.

Mahesh inspires youth in audition CHS student earns once in a life time opportunity through TED talk

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SHANNON MORGAN Staff Writer

Close your eyes. Think back to who you were obsessed with as a child.”

This is how Coppell High School freshman Riya Mahesh started her video audition called “Three Cups of Heroes” for the Technology, Entertainment and Design talk at Southern Methodist University.

In a minute and 28 seconds, she covers the lack of role models for kids in today’s society. This video is what made her one of three kids chosen to speak at the TEDx Kids event at SMU. Mahesh recently learned she was selected out of six other finalists to give her speech.

“I have always wanted to give a TED talk,” Mahesh said. “I love public speaking and I love to watch TED talks.”

Her TED talk idea comes from a book she read, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson.

The lack of recognition from her peers when Mahesh spoke about the author in a book report, disappointed her. But this would also form the foundation for her TED talk.

“It made me sad that people did not know who my role model at the moment was,” Mahesh said. “All the other kids chose to read [books] by athletes and pop stars.”

Her speech focuses on encouraging kids not to idolize famous people in today’s society, but to find and try new things and heroes. Mahesh emphasizes teens

need to find role models that have made contributions to society in a positive, life-impacting way.

Her Leadership Corp teacher and head soccer coach, Chad Rakestraw, provides support and encouragement.

“Riya, from the first day in class, was very confident and very assured of what she was saying, and in a freshman that is unusual,” Rakestraw said. “To see that in her and to see her articulate what she really wants to say to people is pretty impressive. I was not surprised when she told me about the TED talk.”

Rakestraw first noticed this confidence in her when she gave speeches in his class. He has been one of her main supporters throughout the TED talk audition process.

“She is just a driven kid. It is how she separates herself from the majority of her classmates,” Rakestraw said. “She just has this drive to do something great; to be more than the ordinary.”

Riya’s mother, Geeta Mahesh, is not unaccustomed to her daughter achieving and doing great things. According to Mrs. Mahesh, this is not the first time she has seen her daughter do something exceptional; she has been impressing others since a young age.

“When Riya was in 8th grade she told me she wanted to organize a 5k for charity,” Mrs. Mahesh said. “I told her ‘sure go ahead’, thinking she would realize pretty soon how hard it is to organize one. She proved me wrong and did a fabulous job organizing

one with her friends. As much as I am proud of her, she never ceases to amaze me.”

Her mother also knows that this topic is close to her daughters heart, and that this is how she is able to talk so passionately about it.

I heard all the speeches and each one of the finalists brought in their own individuality to their speeches,” Mrs. Mahesh said.

“They [the finalists] all had great topics; topics that were close to each one of them. Riya picked and talked about a topic that she is really passionate about and that shone through.”

Other encouragement came in

the form of her fellow freshman friend Kaci Reyes. Reyes is also a teammate of Mahesh on the CHS cross country team.

“When she first told me [about the TED talk], I demanded to see the entry video. Then we came up with a plan to have the Red Jackets announce it over the intercom so everyone could vote for her,” Reyes said. “I helped her spread the word to our team and friends so that they could vote. Along with all the other contestants, Riya had an inspiring talk that got us to reevaluate who we looked up to. I know she will do great at the conference.”

This opportunity for Riya al-

lows her to communicate her feelings about real role models across a larger audience. The main crowd will be kids of all different ages, and the nature of her message should relate to the majority of them.

“I will admit there was a time when I wanted to be like Shawn Johnson and Hannah Montana,” Mahesh said. “But honestly, we have to look past what is mainstream and find real heroes to worship.”

The TEDx Kids talk at SMU will take place on Oct. 31. Mahesh’s audition video and more information can be found here: www.tedxsmu.org.

The Sidekick // Nicole Messer Riya Mahesh, a freshman at Coppell High School, was selected to speak at the TEDx Kids Talk at SMU on Oct. 31.

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The new man in town, district

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Waldrip comes out on top to be Coppell’s new superintendent

from page 1 “It’s not stressful but it was a prolonged experience,” Waldrip said.

Before he was officially under contract, Waldrip had to go under a state required 21 day wait period.

During this time, he had minimal interaction with the community except for Hill, as this served as a chance for the school board to work out a contract and provided an opportunity for either to walk away from the deal if need be.

“When you go through the interview process that’s what you want to look for in a candidate, those features that will allow them to be successful based on what the community wants,” Hill said. “We had a lot of candidates that had qualities and characteristics that looked good but then you have to look for those intangibles: personality, ability to understand the community, where it is, how it got here and where it will like to go and the ability to understand the pieces you need to put in place that may be missing when you come on board. We believe that Dr. Waldrip fits those.”

But there was one factor that was as important, if not more, that worked in Waldrip’s favor.

“He’s a Texan,” Hill said.

There are many similarities between Coppell ISD and Frisco ISD. For instance, both have similar demographics and are both Chapter 41 schools. Chapter 41 schools, also referred to as “Robin Hood” , are districts that are property wealthy to share its wealth with districts who are property poor. Both also are experiencing growth, but Fris-

co, being one of the fastest growing cities in the country, has a more rapid growth with approximately 3,000 kids coming into the district each year.

According to Waldrip, Frisco is not as technology dependent as CISD is with its new 1:1 initiative and specialty schools like New Tech High@Coppell and the new Lee Elementary.

“What I want to do is see Coppell move forward like it has, to stay on the leading edge with instructional practice and education for its students, offering the same opportunities to students that have traditionally taken place in [CISD],” Waldrip said. “We do not know what the future holds, we can only look forward but we can continue to move the district forward.”

Even those at the administrative level have professed their confidence in the direction Waldrip is leading the district so far.

“Everything I hear about him is very positive,” Assistant Superintendent for Administration Brad Hunt said. “I feel like the board feels that he has the skill set to help our district continue to move forward.”

That sentiment is reflected at all levels in the school district.

“He’s very in-tune and focused on what’s best for others,” Coppell High School Principal Mike Jasso said.

Students are already making a positive impression on Waldrip.

“I came up to the school one day and adolescents said ‘excuse me’ and ‘thank you’ and ‘you’re welcome’ and that’s nice.,” Waldrip said.

Q&A

Q: What activities do you like to do in your free time?

A: My wife and I get out and walk and we like to hike. My son is trying to turn me into a hunter, but I haven’t really ever hunted before because I’ve never had the opportunity to do those types of things. He’s very much into now, so he has twisted my arm. [My wife and I] try to stay active and work out a lot.

Q: What is your favorite sport?

A: I was a former basketball coach so I tend to lean towards that. I particularly like NCAA basketball, but I do like all sports.

If I did have to pick one it would be basketball. I coached for 16 years in south Texas in a place called Goliad.

Q: What is your favorite food to eat/ go-to-food A: I like Mexican and Italian, but you can just pick almost about any type of food and we aren’t going to have a problem. That’s why I try to stay active and work out all the time. I like to eat for pleasure so I like all food.

Q: Favorite genre of music?

A: Classic rock n’ roll. I like

with Dr. Waldrip

Blues a lot too. I think Blues is kind of the basis of classic rock and thats why I like it.

Q: Which colleges did you attend?

A: I got my Bachelor’s degree at Texas Tech, but I got my Master’s degree at Sul Ross. When I was working in west Texas, I lived in a town called Seminole. [Sul Ross] had a weekend Master’s program where you would go to class at 8 a.m. on Saturday, go all day Saturday and half a day Sunday. This allowed me to work and go to school on the weekends. It was a really good program for me to get my Master’s and that is why I would get up at 4 a.m., drive to Sul Ross, go to class all day, spend the night, go to class the next day, drive back, work all week and then do it again for a couple of years. That’s how I got my Master’s and I got my Doctorate from the University of North Texas.

Q: Favorite TV show/ movie?

A: My favorite movie all-time is To Kill a Mockingbird. It has been for years and nothing really has unseated it yet. I like movies and going to the movies a lot. For TV, I don’t know. There is a lot of stuff out there and I don’t think I

can pick just one.

Q: If you could have dinner with three people, who would it be and why?

A: Interesting, Michael Jordan, John Wooden, and Richard Feynmann. Feynmann is a deceased physicist but he was such an interesting character. He worked on the Manhattan Project, but he’s written a number of books and has a unique perspective on, believe it or not, education that just come out in his writings. He didn’t write anything specifically about education. His love for science and scientific inquiry and some of the things he did, he was kind of a prankster too is what I like. I have always appreciated Wooden’s perspective on how he approached [basketball], life in general and how he dealt his players. He passed away [in 2010] and I think that every player that ever played for him probably attended his funeral if they could. He was a very special person in their lives and had a huge impact when you hear them talk about [Wooden].

When you just read a few of the things he said and how he approached coaching and life, I’ve always been interested. Jordan is because I’m a fan of basketball.

Everybody must stop, obey

CISD implements new surveillance system to catch bus bypassers

S

JENA SEIDEMANN Managing Editor @Jena_seidemann

ince the beginning of the 2014-15 school year, there have been over 100 incidents where Coppell drivers bypass school buses while the stop arm is out and the lights are flashing. To combat this, the City of Coppell, Coppell Independent School District and Dallas County Schools passed the Coppell City Ordinance 2014-1377 as a preventative measure.

Effective Oct. 1., the Dallas County Schools will be issuing fines for Coppell drivers that pass school buses when the stop arm is extended and the lights are flashing.

“The biggest purpose for the

stop arm cameras is safety,” Coppell ISD Board of Trustees President Anthony Hill said. “You do not want violators to injure or even kill people crossing. Really, you are trying to deter people from having a negative behavior which in this case, it is driving past a bus when it is stopped.”

As part of the cost for using the Dallas County School’s buses, the Coppell ISD can use the stop arm cameras on the bus if and only if the plan was approved by CISD, the city of Coppell and Dallas County Transportation. The resolution is set to last five years. 90 days before the contract ends, the three parties can renew the plan.

“We have an agreement with Dallas County for school transportation services,” Hill said. “The buses already came equipped with

Photo courtesy // Alexis Booker The Dallas County Schools will be issuing fines for Coppell drivers that pass school buses when the stop arm is extended and the lights are flashing starting Oct.1.

the safety features. Dallas County purchases the buses and then you have a service agreement with them and get it contracted out.

There is no additional cost to use the cameras on the buses.

The cameras are part of a new program Dallas County has implemented. San Marcus is the only other school district in the state under this plan. However, 17 other school districts are interested in participating.

It will have no profit for the City of Coppell or CISD. Last school year, the resolution was passed on May 14 by the city, and on Sept. 22., the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the plan.

“What we did as a city is passed an ordinance and resolution which allows the Dallas County to send out a civil offense if you pass the bus when the lights and stop arm is out,” City of Coppell Community Information Officer Sharon Logan said. “The city has nothing to do with [the resolution], but [Coppell police] can issue tickets in the city. “ There are two distinct penalties for not abiding the law a civil or criminal offense. However, there can only be one ticket administered per offense.

To pay the fine, people must go to Dallas. Late fees, which range from $50 to $100, will also be assessed depending on the time period.

A civil offense is a $300 ticket from DCSD. 12.5 percent of the ticket will be given to CISD and

another 12.5 percent will be given to the city of Coppell. The remaining 75 percent will be given to Dallas County.

However, the costs for being pulled over by a Coppell police office are even higher than being ticketed through the cameras.

“If a police officer sees you and you are pulled over, it is a criminal offense and you will be ticketed $600 or more in addition to court costs,” Logan said.

The $600 fine issued by police will be put directly back into the general funds for officer pay, paperwork processing and other expenses such as cars for the police department. Since the beginning of the year, there have been zero criminal offenses within Coppell city limits.

“The system is more so for prevention,” Logan said. “If people know they are being videotaped when they are blasting past the bus, my hope is that they will stop.”

There will be eight total cameras in each of the 34 buses CISD uses to transport students. Cameras will be within, on the front,, back, side and on the stop arm of the bus. While some dispute the accuracy of the cameras, Coppell ISD Assistant Superintendent for Business Sid Grant is confident they will deter people from breaking the law adn catch those who do.

“I do not think there will be any kinks,” Grant said. “This is not new technology. It has been

used in other parts of the country and Dallas County has done it in other parts of the state; it is pretty infallible because it is very clear when there is a violation on the stop camera.”

A large part of driver’s education is to be aware of the bus laws.

However, it is not the lack of teaching that is the direct consequence of people bypassing the stopped buses, rather it is distractions.

“There are a lot of distractions such as the radio, car and so on,” Grant said. “Typically, these distractions cause us to miss stop signs and buses.”

With the enforcement of the new law, administrators and school members alike hope this will bring positive changes to the community.

“The cameras already exist,” Hill said. “The laws already exist that you should not drive through a stop arm camera to being with.

Really, there is going to be a heightened level of awareness that you should not do that. Those things already exist. It is just about enforcing and ticketing people.”

According to the Coppell ISD website: A two-lane roadway without a physical median means both ways stop for the bus. A twolane roadway with a turning lane also means both sides must stop.

A four-lane roadway without a physical median means both sides stop for the bus. A four lane or more road with a physical median means the direction in which the bus is going must stop.

opinions

6

editorial

The Sidekick staff welcomes Waldrip to district, Coppell High School

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iterally towering over staff and students at more than six and a half feet tall, the new “big man on campus”, Coppell ISD Superintendent Dr. Mike Waldrip, has been in the position since Aug. 18.

Because Waldrip has only been here for a few weeks he has noted in an interview with The Sidekick that although he hopes to maintain our school’s level of excellence, it is too soon for him to tell what specific changes could be made to Coppell High School.

In response, our staff thought we might offer up a few suggestions.

Waldrip was chosen in late July by the Coppell Independent School District Board of Trustees as the next superintendent. The previous superintendent, Dr. Jeff Turner, had retired, so the board was in need of a replacement.

Waldrip at the time of his selection served as the Deputy Superintendent of Administrative Operations of Frisco ISD. Since the beginning of the school year, Waldrip has visited CHS campus and checked in on some classes in order to get a personal perspective of campus life.

The Sidekick // Malorie Munoz New Coppell ISD superintendent Dr. Mike Waldrip participated in The City of Coppell’s kick off of Living Well in Coppell on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Andy Brown Park East.

Executive Editor

Chase Wofford Adviser Alex Nicoll Editor-In-Chief

Summer Crawford News Editor Allie Arnold Student Life Editor Stephanie Alexander Entertainment Editor

Rachel Buigas-Lopez Design Editor Josh Martin Graphics Editor Nicole Messer Photography Editor

Business/PR Staff

Tuulia Koponen Business/Public Relations Manager

Photographers

Chelsea Banks Amanda Hair Mallorie Munoz

Kelly Monaghan Aubrie Sisk Sarah VanderPol

ued direction and guidance about parking and driving should be recommended during these times in order to prevent any confusion that could become hazardous.

Next, we recommend that the students at CHS maintain its school spirit throughout our community. We hope that CHS’s motto of the year “We Are One” will help us move forward with this goal and further emphasize the school’s connection.

Lastly, we want to be able to get to know our new superintendent and encourage him to continue to step outside his office from time to time and visit our classes. It is nice to get to put a face to a name and Waldrip’s previous visits have been nothing but pleasant.

Againgladly welcome Waldrip to our school and we anticipate his future plans for us.

P.S. to any Red Raiders fans out there, Waldrip is a Texas Tech alumni, having earned his Bachelor’s degree from the school, as did Coppell High School Principal Mike Jasso. In an interview with our very own editor-in-chief, Alex Nicoll, Waldrip mentioned he loves classic rock n’ roll, hiking, hunting and basketball.

2014-2015 Sidekick Staff

Jena Seidemann Managing Editor Kara Hallam Enterprise Editor

Editorial Editor

He has gotten a brief glimpse at our school, which is the home of the Region 10 Teacher of the Year and several state championship sports teams and has consistently ranked as one of Newsweek’s top 500 high schools in the nation.

This year has already been one of greatness with the Coppell High School honor band placing second in state at the Texas Music Educator’s Association Competition and a CHS record of 24 students claiming the National Merit Semi-finalist title.

Our staff takes pride in our school’s achievements but there are some improvements that could be made moving forward.

We hope that CISD is able to solidify the iPad tech initiative.

It is understandable that there have been a few bumps in the road during the first two years the iPads have been issued. We cannot wait for all of these kinks to be worked out so our school can produce a solid transition to a technologically innovative school.

Also, we would like to suggest that the construction going on at the school be constantly monitored to maximize safety. Contin-

Staff Writers

Shivani Burra Pranathi Chitta Emma Cummins Alexandra Dalton Priya Desai Aisha Espinosa Nic Henderson Alex Irizarry Meara Isenberg Joseph Krum Marcus Krum Chloe Moino

Shannon Morgan Shruthika Pochampally Amy Roh Tommy Rousseau Gabby Sahm Sloane Samberson Sai Seshadri Hailey Siegrist Chris Sheldon Chisom Ukoha Sakshi Venkatraman

Graphic Designers Taylor Bond Manu Garikipati

Christianna Haas

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 and Interscholastic League Press Conference.

The editorials and columns presented in this paper reflect the views of their student writers and not Coppell High Schoool 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

opinions

7

Moving on up

Mansion or condo, size of home does not make who you are

EMMA CUMMINS Staff Writer

I

t was a Friday evening and I was excited to hang out with my friend at my dad’s apartment.

As my friend came into my dad’s apartment, I experienced some embarrassment.

When we walked in, my friend’s look of awkwardness and disapproval that came to her face was something I wasn’t sure how to handle.

My friend eventually decided to call one of her own friends who owned a big house and nice pool to pick us up so that we could spend time somewhere else. After that experience, bringing my friends home to hang out was a no-no for me, as well as for them.

Many a times, the things we own determine our value because of the emphasis our culture puts on material things, and this can be degrading to many teenagers.

Coppell is an affluent community with a 3.3 percent population under the poverty rate (2012). Three out of four people residing in Coppell live in a house.

For students who live in an apartment or small house, living in Coppell can be a

challenge.

I was one of those students. My freshman year of high school, I lived in an apartment.

Before going to high school, living in an apartment did not seem like something to be ashamed of. After going to high school and seeing all my friends houses, I felt embarrassed that I did not live in a house.

For the rest of the year, I tried to hide the fact that I did not live in a nice house. As a sophomore, my family and I are now moving into a nice house with five bedrooms, a pool and plenty of space.

Now, my friends are excited to come to my house and spend time in my neighborhood.

Living in an apartment in Coppell can entail many negative opinions about the apartment community. In Coppell, those living in an apartment can be considered lower tier. Many students make snap judgements about where people live because it can be easier to distance oneself from a person in an apartment by making negative conclusions.

My friends have been guilty of basing people’s identity on where they lived. In our relationship, it did not matter how smart I was, what sports I was good at or what my personality was like, if I didn’t live in a big house something was “wrong.”

Many of the students at CHS don’t even consider the fact that a student’s living arrangement is something they have no control over. It is a student’s parents who do or do not make the money. A student’s car, house, and nice things are in reality, their parent’s car, house, and nice things. This is

GUEST COLUMN

Homecoming meaning lost in mix of extravagance

H

NICHOLAS SHELTON Student, Senior

igh Schoolers are notorious for making immature decisions, especially teenage boys like yours truly. We drive too fast, stay out too late and throw pennies at cars in traffic.

With that being said, it is no wonder high school culture is overrated, which leads me to the topic of homecoming. This fall festivity provides a variety of stresses for students for three main reasons.

One, the occasion no longer reflects its initial meaning.

Homecoming is a magical time of fall when alumni come home to visit. We celebrate this joyous occasion by promptly ignoring them and attending a dance the Alumni themselves are not invited to. It is, quite frankly, absurd.

In the past, students came home to enjoy good American high school football as an act of respect to their old home team.

Meanwhile, these modern Homecomings are toned down proms with more quirks and even more ways to show off. Ask a freshman girl why they are excited for homecoming and they will say it is for the mum. I bet very few girls know the real reason behind homecoming.

The name does not have any basis in reality anymore, and why do we need to give teenagers another excuse to party? It does not make sense why we dress up on a random day in October and attend a grindfest.

Then there are those dang mums which brings me to my next point; homecoming is needlessly expensive.

The mythical homecomings of the past were sweet innocent events where dates would bestow upon their lady friends a chrysanthemum, which is a pretty little flower. When a teddy bear on four plastic flowers is covered in lights, spins around and does black flips, I feel we have gone too far.

It is insane that there is an entire industry of mum-making. It is even crazier that a plastic decorated flower might necessitate a teenage girl to wear backpack straps just to support themselves, and each one can have a $200-$1000 price-tag for this once-used, heavy bundle of joy.

And that is only the mum. There is tickets, dresses, hair and makeup styling, dinner and after parties to pay for as well.

Lastly, homecoming is an example of good old fashion patriarchy.

What is homecoming centered around?

Football. Last time I checked I have not met a girl on Coppell’s Football team, and here we are shoveling out hundreds of dollars to celebrate a male sport.

Then there is the matter of homecoming invitations. Boys are expected to ask girls to homecoming in methods more complicated than most marriage proposals and then pay for their date’s meals and tickets.

Boys asking girls is fine, but it is the way that girls are supposed to respond to being asked that I have a problem with. ‘Yes! Of course,’ they are supposed to say.

Girls are shamed as cold hearted for saying no. Tell me if I am wrong, but it seems young girls have an obligation to go with a boy just because he asked, especially if he asked with a huge sign, flowers, cupcakes or balloons, and that is not okay.

But maybe I’m going too far. Am I going to go to homecoming? Probably. But, only because I am just another stupid teenage boy, perpetuating the system.

The Sidekick // Josh Martin something many people don’t consider.

Small house or apartment, I can understand why students feel self conscious about where they live because I have been on both sides. If you do not have the nicest house, there is a sense of isolation in a community like Coppell.

For students, living in a community like Coppell and feeling like their house is something to be ashamed of is an unfortunate part of life for some students at Coppell High School. In our community, it is about who has the biggest and best houses, cars, clothes, things. It is time for students to make decisions based on a person, not where that person lives.

The of importance people stress on things has become a harmful occurrence in teenager’s lives. Just because a child can-

not afford something, they shouldn’t be ashamed nor should they feel like they don’t fit in. A person should never be defined by what things they can afford.

Fortunately, as freshmen eventually become sophomores, sophomores become juniors and juniors become seniors, most teenagers begin to realize that a person’s personality is something completely different from where they live.

Despite maturity lessening the peer pressure, in our culture today, there will always be an emphasis on things being more important than the person themself. In a community such as Coppell, this emphasis is multiplied. It’s time for students and citizens in Coppell to stop the pressure.

Does where you live, make a difference to who you are?

GUEST COLUMN

Fear only as bad as you make it, Schaars says

MACKIE SCHAARS Life Coach

W

hat’s keeping you up at night?

My guess would have to be Fear.

I am not talking about the latest horror movie kind of fear. This is the kind of fear that we all experience practically every day.

So where does this fear come from?

Let’s blame it on the caveman. In our brain, there is a tiny almond shaped region called the amygdala, more commonly referred to as the lizard brain or reptile brain. It’s what protected the caveman, arming him with survival skills. When faced with an attack by a saber tooth tiger, the amygdala set off a chain reaction in the body which led the caveman to fight or flee. In a split second, he would decide whether to attack or run. If in that split second he froze with indecision or fear…. well, let’s just say it was probably lights out for him, amygdala and all.

I watch the news pretty religiously, and to date there continue to be no sightings of saber tooth tigers in our neighborhood, nor are we reminded to forage for roots and berries from dawn to dusk in order to maintain life as we know it. Yet that lizard brain tells us we are in dangerall of the time. We think something terrible is going to happen to us. We think we will never have enough money, or friends, or love, or time, or (insert favorite fear here).

What happens when you’re caught up in these fears? Your imagination becomes

more active. The reptile brain kicks into overdrive, activating your flight or fight senses. You either learn to move through the fear, or you may start (and for lack of a better term, I’m going with my own go-to emotion here) freaking out. For example, let’s say your girlfriend was rather distant before class this morning. How might you react? If you’re freaking out (as I so eloquently stated), your palms might be sweating, your throat tightening. What’s happening? That pesky amygdala is sending you signals that you are under attack. See what’s happening here? You are primed to move into fight or flight mode, which would be exactly what your reptile brain would have you do. However, you have morphed or mutated into a much more advanced being who has much greater control over his emotions than that original caveman. So instead of jumping off the deep end into fight or flight mode, pause for a moment and try this: 1) Notice your body signals – the sweaty palms, the heart rate, the tears, whatever is happening.

2) Take a beat – just stop and breathe.

3) Acknowledge the emotion – name it.

Mad? Sad? Scared? Worried?

4) Flip it – maybe it’s not about you.

Using the example of your girlfriend being a little distant, you noticed your chest tightened up and you felt like you could hardly breathe. You stopped and just took a few deep breaths. That’s all. Breathing.

Stopping to flip the thought, you decided that maybe she was just having a bad day and just let it go. Later in the day, you find time to talk to her and discover her dad’s job requires a transfer across the country and she found out five minutes before leaving for school that morning. It actually had nothing to do with you at all! Wait but that’s still horrifying?

So just for today, try these four steps and see if it helps calm the lizard in you. I’d be interested to hear how it goes!

opinions

8

Show me the money

2013 bond package distribution does not alleviate issues

SHRUTHIKA POCHAMPALLY Staff Writer @shruthreddy

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n May 11, 2013, a bond was passed by Coppell ISD voters after the proposal was created by a 44-member committee led by the Assistant Superintendent for Business and Support Service, Sid Grant, that initiated $79.5 million towards improvements throughout the district.

Tax increases, ranging from a $100 to $300 increase per year, city-wide construction and internal technological developments were approved that day, along with the building of a new school, Lee Elementary.

The increasing population in Coppell has called for most of these changes. The construction at the high school, for example, will provide an indoor facility for large school assemblies, as CHS’s population has spilled over capacity.

If there is not enough space for all of the students in the gym, it is hard to imagine that the classes and lunches at CHS are fit for the population as well. Some classes have a 30:1 student to teacher ratio, and the total student population is over 3,000. A multi-purpose gym seems a trivial solution for accommodation in comparison to hiring more teachers or expanding the size of the cafeteria. (The cafeteria and kitchen are being renovated, but not enlarged in size.)

Several coaches teach core subjects such as advanced math and physics courses and many teachers purchase bean bags and extra couches to seat their larger classes. Technological development is not as crucial when compared to having a sufficient and effective staff strength.

While Lee Elementary, Texas’s first net-zero school, moves CISD ahead in our technological ventures, national recognition for our technology should not be as much of a priority as accommodating all of the high school students. The new elementary school will again filter into one of the two high schools and will not will help the existing dilemma. The

The Sidekick // Manu Garikipati

Information from: www.coppellisd.com elementary schools are crowded as well, but the high school’s extent of overpopulation is far more concerning.

In retrospect, Lee Elementary seems like a temporary plan towards managing population when compared to a freshman center or possibly another high school campus in its place. Nearby schools such as Flower Mound High School have developed a freshman center within the past few years to accommodate their large population, and many would agree that Coppell would benefit by this as well.

Moreover, Coppell already has two indoor gyms along with a state-of-the-art outdoor stadium and fieldhouse; CHS already has a developed and funded athletic department. During the 20132014 school year, football received $268,643 from sales at the

games according to Kelly Penny.

Every football player on the team is asked to raise $400 a year, and the organization receives funds from its booster club and around $373,600 of budget money from the district, $19,500 of which is spent towards supplies such as helmets and shoulder pads.

With football being one of the most successful and populous athletic groups on campus, it is understandable that the organization generates a lot of spending money. CISD Athletics Director John Crawford said programs are given funds based off of the number of students who participate and that it depends on the diligence of the booster club and students to raise extra money.

Nonetheless, lesser known programs, such as debate and journalism fund for most of their budget independently.

The CHS debate team, led by Glenda Ferguson, qualified for the Tournament of Champions debate tournament for the three consecutive school years between 2007 to 2011, amongst other prestigious awards. The team consists of around 120 students and spends roughly $30,000 a year for tournaments, judges, substitutes, etc. The team receives approximately $10,000 a year from the district, so varsity debate students now have to pay entry fees of $300 on top of Pay-to-Play registration, and the booster club provides for a large portion of the funds required to compete.

The journalism department receives $1,777 from the district, and the academies organization, which includes STEM, receives $5,140 to be distributed amongst the three academies.

According to the district bud-

get summary, the athletics department will receive a $100,000 more money than all of the co-curricular organizations at CHS combined.

Not all aspects of the bond are worrisome. One million dollars are allocated towards safety and security improvements throughout the district. With schools nationwide becoming a recurring location for terror attacks, security updates are almost necessary.

The bond has many perks as well as downsides, but those who may oppose it should make more of a proactive effort to participate in district and community decisions in the future.

Though all of the organizations are well-established and successful, the distribution of budget could be better equalized to represent all of the many clubs and programs CHS has.

The Sidekick // Nicole Messer Construction is underway on the expanded fieldhouse at Coppell High School. The facility is a part of the bond package passed by Coppell ISD voters in 2013.

opinions

Living with chronic illness

9

Hallam overcomes struggles to combat ongoing migraines

“

KARA HALLAM Enterprise Editor @KaraHallam

So Kara, when’s the last time you had a migraine?” My physical therapist asks.

As I continued my push-ups, I slowly thought about the answer, unable to come up with what to say. There never was a last time because I always had headaches. I had the chronic migraines for the past six years.

As a kid I was always sick. I was not spared from any cold or virus going around school. I started getting tested for more serious conditions around the age of 10.

My doctor would run all sorts of tests and every year he would say the same exact thing when the results came back.

“If only everyone could be as healthy as you; I wish the world could have your blood,” my doctor would say.

Then the migraines began.

I was in sixth grade when they started. I was hospitalized several times and MRIs helped back the theory that my problems were all hormonal.

However, despite the variety of medications I was put on, none of them seemed to help.

My blood vessels would tighten all around my head, or at least I think they are my blood vessels.

There is a weight all around my head that hurts at varying degrees.

It is a physical impairment that I just know should not be there, but in time I have grown accustomed to them coexisting with me.

My migraines took a toll on me. I am now clumsy, I am incredibly tired all the time and I am reserved, lulled into an odd calm state. One of my biggest challeng-

The Sidekick // Rachel Buigas-Lopez es can be getting out of bed and crises. It made me incredibly intrying not to get into it before 8 secure to think that even when I p.m. It controls my life that much. was completely happy, somehow My problems started to show I gave off an off-putting appearon the outside as well. Teach- ance because of the sickness that ers would ask my parents why weighed me down.

My migraines could isolate I “never smiled” and I was constantly asked by my peers “what’s me into my own little world, one wrong?” I was labeled as “de- where I was unaware my face had pressed” or “quiet”. All the while, been sketched into a frown deI had no idea my diminishing ap- spite what I was feeling. My body pearance was affecting what peo- was used to pushing and fighting through the day so you could see ple thought of me.

I would be sitting in class per- how worn out I was, but no one fectly content, and then suddenly knew why.

“Maybe I actually am deI would be pulled out of class by teachers who wanted to help me pressed?” I began to think at the through non-existent emotional end of my junior year. No medica-

tion worked on me and doctors had yet to find a solution. Maybe this was sign that my problems were not just physical but emotional as well. Why else would a 17-year-old girl want to give up so badly?

I asked my parents to be taken to the doctor to be checked out again, expecting for nothing to be found wrong or prepared to face the possibility of depression.

In July, I was checked by a different doctor who added a new test to the mix, an X-Ray. The results were scary. I found myself staring at a shot of my curved spine; I was diagnosed with scoliosis.

I was prescribed physical therapy- but it did not end there. In less than five minutes of my first appointment, my physical therapist had diagnosed me as a chiropractor’s worst nightmare: my Atlas bone, a bone in my neck, was not aligned properly. It had affected the rest of my body including my spine, my immune system and my migraines. Apparently it was displaced at birth.

I was completely unaware of my upper cervical problems until my physical therapy. I had always slouched and my head tilted to the right a little but I did not realize how bad things really were until I finally started shaping the muscles by the bone at physical therapy. It turned out my body was so out of whack that when I lay down I fall onto the surface crooked, completely unaware my body is anything but straight because of the curve in my spine.

Physical therapy would strengthen the muscles around the bone but I also needed to undergo chiropractic treatment to realign the bone over the course of a year. My physical therapy has started to help and as for my upper cervical treatment, I will have to wait a year to see if this mystery will finally be resolved.

I have hope, though, that my posture could be the root of all my problems. After weeks of physical therapy, I felt four straight days of relief in my migraines just last

week. It was the strangest and most unfamiliar feeling I had felt in ages.

Chronic illness can be an unmanageable struggle but you have to keep fighting to live and to find a solution.

Friends, family or anyone indirectly connected to chronic illness, I ask that you treat your child or friend with understanding of his/her illness. Do not be offended if your friend does not want to go out because they are sick.

Parents, be frank with your child about his or her behavior if they seem a little off but remain neutral and non-intimidating.

Do not get frustrated or overwhelm your child with questions.

If it seems like they are showing signs of a medical issue contact a doctor, who can give you the best answers.

Lastly, teachers, if you do suspect something is wrong with one of your students ask completely neutrally if something wrong with them. Do not sound overly concerned because that can overwhelm them. Let your student know you are worried and that if anything is wrong they can tell you and if they say they are fine leave it at that.

I learned to never root my motivation in being “normal” but to make myself physically better.

You have to keep going for yourself and for your health but let yourself rest when you do find it has gotten to be too much. You can be open about your illness, but it never has to be an excuse for why you cannot meet someone elses’ social standards.

Never stop searching for answers. If something feels wrong despite how many times you might be told otherwise, keep looking. Find new doctors, go to specialists and keep an open mind.

As for me, I will not stop until I am better. One day the pain will be gone, the pressure will lift and I will finally be free, and a world of possibilities will be open to me.

Battle on drugs needs to focus south of the border

THOMAS ROUSSEAU Staff Writer

W

ith the war on drugs having been an almost constant affair since the 1970s under President Nixon, all the focus is on the effects it has within our own borders. However, we often forget what changes might happen abroad.

With the Mexican drug cartels flourishing on their ill gotten gains, they are able to provide more to their recruits than the government is able to afford to spend on their police officers. The cartels have even made specific campaigns to discourage people from joining law enforcement financially. It might not be that we

are losing the drug war, but we are merely fighting on the wrong turf.

Instead of SWAT teams targeting your grandmother’s house, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) should focus their gaze to the known violent threats residing in Central and parts of South America.

Almost half of the world’s cocaine comes from a relatively small and underdeveloped region of South America. All but an extremely minimal amount of it comes from the Mexican border.

As of now, the drug war is not being perpetuated entirely by America’s criminals; rather the heart of it all is in Central America and then it feeds into our country from the south.

Violence from drug trafficking has been responsible for the deaths of dozens of journalists, who report on the movement of the cartel drug traffickers, along with the countless crimes committed.

With the current usage of known dangerous drugs such as cocaine and heroin at a relative

low, we often forget why the usage of these narcotics has shrunk so much since its all time high in the late 1980s. Without the heavy enforcement of these laws, it is almost assured that these numbers will rise, contributing further to drug related deaths.

In 2009, there were around 4.6 million people admitted into various ERs nationwide because of drugs or drug related crimes. Less drug use would contribute to less visits to hospitals and allow more space and time to treat law abiding citizens. Assume a portion of the 4.6 million does not have insurance; more money could be saved from taxpayer funds if crime was reduced.

Many towns and cities a mere miles away from the Texas border have been completely overrun by the violence caused by roving drug traffickers. With border patrols already facing heavy political resistance when it comes to strengthening their officers, these lesser known situations could easily spill over onto U.S. soil.

Without the combating of the

The Sidekick // Manu Garikipati cartels, this will only happen faster. Phoenix has already experienced a handful of conflict as it is the kidnapping capital of Ameri-

ca with 668 kidnappings in 2008; this is due to the violence caused by drug gangs and their rivalries.

student life

10

Trakhtengerts travel to Israel Family comes face to face with the realities of war

C

SUMMER CRAWFORD News Editor @summercrawfordd

itizens roam the streets, gathering throughout the city on a normal day. In the distance one can hear the soaring of deadly rockets being launched and suicide bombers nearing as the sky rumbles with explosions. The year is 2014, and the people in this city are the target.

This is Israel.

The people in Israel and areas surrounding it have lived through major conflict, and, this past summer, one Coppell family ventured into this same area of violence.

Coppell resident Natasha Livshits has been traveling almost every summer since 1999 with her two sons, Coppell High School junior Ran Trakhtengerts and Coppell Middle School North eighth grader David Trakhtengerts, to a place in the center of Israel called Rishon Lezion.

Ran and David flew to Israel this summer to visit their grandparents like they do every summer, but their mother did not accompany them.

“This year we were concerned, less with Ran because he went before all of this started and all the problems started,” Livshits said. “It was David that we were more concerned about because he was going alone.

Usually they go together, but this year we decided to split them and we planned to send David with an escort for minors, but then at the airport we learned that they don’t do it anymore.”

As a mother, Livshits was concerned for her children’s safety.

“It was more dangerous because of the situation that happened this year. I did not hesitate to send them because first of all, it was already planned and second, it would not be fair for my parents because they live their lives in this dangerous situation,” Livshits said.

Part of the experience for Ran and David of living in Israel this summer was hearing the warning sirens. These sirens would alert the city of danger and signal to take shelter.

“It is kind of scary thinking that something might happen, but it has been to a certain extent like this for a while now,” Ran said. “Sirens happen everyday by the hundreds all over the place, and afterwards you would go look on the news to see what happened, but at the same time people got used to it and I got used to it.

“You hear the siren and go to shelter. 10 minutes later you come out. It became part of the day.”

Amidst the chaos of sirens, there were rockets being fired from locations such as Syria into the center of Israel.

Livshits says the rockets this summer were fired from the Gaza Strip, never before being able to reach the center of Israel.

The only thing stopping these rockets is the Iron Dome. “[Iron Dome] is a system which detects and shoots down rockets fired from anywhere, but it is more active now. It usually destroys about 90 percent of them,” Ran said. “So it kind of lessens the impact and fear of everything, but there’s always that 10 percent that will make it through.”

While the Trakhtengerts boys were living in apartments with their grandparents, they had to add in the process of sheltering themselves from rockets to their daily routine. David remembers a situation in which he felt smack dab in the middle of an explosion.

“I remember one time, the explosion sounded like it was right outside the window, but it really wasn’t. The windows were shaking and there was a boom and everything was shaking,” David said. “Everyone was scared. It kind of got to be routine.”

The small glimpse of violence that Ran and David experienced is something that Livshits’ parents live with everyday. Since

1991 they have been in a city where danger is nearby. “[War in Israel] is disturbing their lives and being here and seeing that, the hardest part for me is that they are getting used to it,” Livshits said.

“Being under those sirens and being in the war the whole time and getting used to it is wrong, it should not be the norm,” Livshits said. “[My parents] are not young.

It is not that easy to run in 15 to 40 seconds when you have to find shelter.

“If you are at home it is fine, but what if you are outside? What if you are in the car driving?”

Bomb shelters in Israel have been built in to apartments and houses, but sometimes people have to go into stairwells to be safe because they are surrounded by sturdy walls. Some of the shelters are ordinary storage rooms, but the doors are thick and hard to open and close.

“I knew what was going on but I didn’t feel it. When I got there I was in it. I was around everything,” David said. “Emotionally, I was different, I started thinking differently. At first I thought there was this war and people are shooting rockets and they are getting shot down, but when you are in it, it is a whole different story.”

Even before Ran and David went this summer, they knew the seriousness of what was happening. By going time and time again, they were exposed to a different side of life.

“It didn’t take going there to change the way I think. I do think differently in the way that I understand people don’t always agree. There is always something to make someone else angry or uncomfortable, and if it wasn’t this, there would always be something else,” Ran said.

Having more experience living in Israel for longer periods of time, Livshits has seen the political changes over the years. For as long as she can remember Israel has not been worry free.

“I was very young when I was in Israel, and I was more involved and things were black and white. Now with age, you understand that things are more gray, and it is hard to define who is right and who is wrong,” Livshits said. “Many times you are being told things, and you have to be aware of people that are trying to brainwash you, not only in Israel or the United States, but everywhere. You have to be smart enough to go and research by yourself and not just believe politicians.”

Although this year showed the Trakhtengerts more of the negative side of life, they have learned valuable lessons that will help them as adults.

“First of all it is good to build their opinions and to be educated. Second the world is globalizing and you never know where you will get a job and where you will end up living,” Livshits said. “Another thing is that I think learning different cultures makes you more of a patient person.

“You can accept differences because you understand them better, and by learning that, [Ran and David] are learning to be more patient to others.”

Livshits hopes his experiences can inspire CHS students learn more about the world outside of Coppell.

“I hope they learned that being Jewish is not just having Hanukkah instead of Christmas. It is something else, and they learned their grandparents lived this life, this dangerous life,” Livshits said. “They do know that the world does not end in Texas or in the United States. People are different, people have different cultures and speak different languages and have different values.”

Livshits is determined not to let anything stop her family from traveling to a country that she loves to see the people she loves. Whether Israel is becoming more dangerous or not, she will always find a way to visit.

Photo Courtesy // Natasha Livshits Eighth grader at Coppell Middle School North David Trakhtengerts (left) and junior at Coppell High School Ran Trakhtengerts (right) walk through the streets of the Old City in Jerusalem with Livshits’ mother (middle) in 2009.

The Sidekick // Manu Garikipati

Photo Courtesy // Natasha Livshits Coppell Middle School North eighth grader David Trakhtengerts sits on a friend’s balcony overlooking the city of Ariel in Israel.

student life

11

When winning is not the priority Solar car team practices golden rule to earn prestigious award

F

MEARA ISENBERG Staff Writer @mearaannee

resh off the win of an award and a magazine cover feature, the solar car team at Coppell High School is finishing first in selflessness and spirit.

The team, lead by STEM coordinator Mike Yakubovsky, attended the Solar Car Challenge in July.

This is not the first race for the team, and Yakubovsky has been overseeing the club since the beginning.

Yakubovsky said the program started in 2007 and entered its first race in the summer of 2008.

The team is preparing for its sixth race.

Progress did not come easy.

Yakubovsky said solar car members work after school during the year and weekends all summer long. The team’s dedication totals about 600 hours a year.

Although many academic competitions can be focused on claiming victory, Yakubovsky thinks solar racing is not all about the win.

“We’re in the middle of a race and they take time to go help out someone else,” Yakubovsky said.

“And that’s really something that I try to teach them, engineering is about trying to help people and making the world a better place.

We should be out helping each other. Nobody loses a scholarship if you don’t win. There’s no scholarships on the line, there’s no college admissions on the line, it’s not as cutthroat as some of the UIL athletics.”

Helping out other teams is the main reason the team received the Sandt award, which is presented to the solar car team displaying the true spirit of solar car racing through distinguished service to their fellow teams. Senior solar

The Sidekick // Kelly Monaghan The Coppell High School solar car, which was raced over the summer, stays in STEM coordinator Mike Yakubovsky’s room, while members works on improving it for the team’s next race. car team member and mechanical liaison Stephen Bavousett recalls his experience receiving the award.

“It felt pretty great,” Bavousett said. “We were hoping for one of the higher up, sort of placing awards, but this is more of an award given to us for ‘showing the true spirit of solar racing’ is actually how it’s described, and we got it mainly because we were the team that helped out so many

other teams.”

But the team did much more than tighten a few bolts. One team wouldn’t have been able to complete the race if it weren’t for Coppell’s help.

“The founder of the race, Dr. Marks, often likes to refer to it as a collaboration, not a competition, and you really saw that,” Bavousett said.

Marks is the event coordinator of the Solar Car Challenge.

“We had our parts on the car and nine other cars, six of which at the same time,” Bavousett said.

“One of which was a small team out of Piney Woods East Texas.

Their batteries were old and they basically blew out on the inside during the race, and us being close enough to them, we gave them our old batteries and they were able to race the rest of the race.”

The benefits of the solar car

The Sidekick // Kelly Monaghan Senior Stephen Bavousett works on improving the Coppell High School solar car that was raced over the summer, while it stays in STEM coordinator Mike Yakubovsky’s room until the team’s next race.

team’s sportsmanship was not short lived. The team was featured on the cover of the August edition of Texas School Business magazine. Yakubovsky takes pride in his team’s accomplishment.

“It was really neat, we got a lot of recognition for that because the students had done a really good job working hard,” Yakubovsky said.

Even though the team competed just under under two months ago, it is already focused on improving for the next race.

“Next we are fixing the car up,” Bavousett said. “Because of some of the restrictions and materials that we have, it lowers the speed a lot. Twenty-five would be a great speed for us, and that’s our goal, to get the weight down and the efficiency of the car up so we can run it at that speed.”

Coppell also has its sights set on the next race, although it is two years away.

“This next race is cross country, it’s from New York to Minneapolis in 2016,” Bavousett said. “They have to raise $75,000-$100,000.

The kids are really running a small business, they are learning business principles, marketing, media, not just engineering. That’s where we’re headed next, going to the [Texas Motor Speedway] track and then going to Minneapolis.”

Alongside improving the solar car and raising money, the team is also focused on preparing the Freshman and new members for the years of competition to come.

“Training a whole crew of new freshmen and sophomores that came in, they were rookies and they want to learn and eventually take over because we have six seniors on the team, and so they are going to be leaving,” Bavousett said. “We’ve got to have people replace them when they leave and really keep the team moving forward and advancing.”

Are you following my PT? With more students than ever active on social media, administrators implement new policies SHRUTHIKA POCHAMPALLY Staff Writer @shruthreddy

I

n the past decade there has been a rise in the utilization and impact of social media, both globally as well as locally in Coppell. The inability to closely track a young student’s internet usage has had an adverse effect on the community as a whole.

According to Coppell High School student resource officer Trevor Grisso, students from grades as young as the sixth grade have negatively impacted their peers through technological methods.

At the high school level, the situation is more complex. While the district takes measures to prevent inappropriate activity online, it is difficult to track a student’s activity at home, school and away from watchful adults at all times.

Coppell Fight Club is run by a group of anonymous local boys who have planned and conducted “fights” purely for self-gratification through the use of a private Twitter account. These events have occurred behind the Coppell Aquatic Center, and the Coppell Police got involved at least once, if not more often.

Through a phone number that can be accessed once accepted into the Fight Club Twitter account, meetings can be organized to “fight” with other CHS students.

Once accepted into the Twitter account, users can also get access to fight club photos, videos and Vines showcasing Fight Club’s latest events. With a few simple actions, the individual or group of individuals behind the account can give a Twitter user complete access to their unauthorized activities.

“I cannot do anything if it is happening outside of school because I have no jurisdiction as far as what goes on out there,” CHS assistant principal Sean Bagley

“

I haven’t been talked about nor do I have a private Twitter but I follow my friends’ and I see what they post.

- Maggie Stone, junior

“

[Private Twitters] allow kids to get stuff out of them and say something to all the friends that you trust.

- Robin Kim, sophomore

“

I don’t think it’s my place to say what someone should or shouldn’t do with their personal Twitter whether I agree with it or not.

- Rhea Tibrewal, sophomore

said. “But as a result of that hap- anonymous on the Internet gave cialist who looks for certain pening outside of school, we are more students the confidence to hashtags on social media,” Shepaarguing in school now, and maybe spread rumors and gossip about rd said. “We do not specifically it leads to a fight in some cases. the latest news on high school re- monitor students’ accounts for adNow, I can go back and act on the lationships and fights on this app. missions but we do for individual postings that happened outside Taking the misuse of social me- groups.” of school because [the issue] has dia to a new level is the Apple app, She also implies that although been brought into the school.”

Gaggle, which is well-known for OSU does not specifically monitor Another example of such be- its nature of allowing photographs social media accounts for admishavior is the Coppell Confessions to delete off of a device within sec- sions, other colleges might. and Coppell’s Hottest Twitter ac- onds of being sent by the owner.

While most admissions comcounts.

Yet again, the anonymity feature mittees do not have the capacity to The Twitter accounts, owned of this app played a large a role in monitor every student’s Facebook, by anonymous CHS students have the influx of people who partici- Twitter and Instagram on-campus been utilized to post information pated in such unacceptable behav- organizations and more selective directly messaged to the account ior. colleges do make sure to review a about “confessions” or student’s online activity. gossip about Coppell stu“If a student is applydents. Generally inapproing to be an ambassador priate and often resulting and I saw something in conflict, these accounts [unethical], they would are usually ‘reported’ or not get an interview be‘blocked’ enough to be cause as an ambassador removed from the social they would represent the media sites but they alschool,” Shepard said. ways seem to be popping With the transfer up again with new userfrom one social menames or find alternative dia site to the next, the outlets just when everyamount of people active - Sharron Thurkill, CHS counselor on social media has also one thinks they have died down. increased.

The CHS administration plays Bagley said the distribution of At Coppell High School, many a role in alerting social media sites iPads does potentially increase the teachers have their own twitters, about the inappropriate activity number of opportunities available CHS Principal Mike Jasso has a being conducted on an account, to misuse technology.

Twitter, along with several district along with students who are per“One of our biggest goals at the leaders and school board memsonally victimized by the account. beginning of every school year is bers.

“We will get tips now and then to talk about digital literacy and Technology and social media about [gossip social media ac- digital citizenship which is the has had profound impacts on the counts] and as soon as we do get appropriate use of technology,” way students learn and grow. But tips, we try to follow up and re- Bagley said. “If [we] put some- as in most situations, the situation port [the account] that we feel is thing in your hands, as an admin- does not come with its fair share an inappropriate abuse,” Bagley istration and as a district, we feel of problems. said. it is our responsibility to tell you Disciplinary consequences stuYik Yak is an app on which stu- how to not use [it] inappropri- dents receive for their poor choicdents can anonymously post near- ately. es online can have a variety of inly any gossip or hate, and those The misuse of social media tensity, according to Bagley. who agree or disagree can like or is no longer a petty high school “Punishment can start off as dislike respectively. conflict. Select college admis- something as little as a slap on the Originally created for college sions committees and job recruit- hand all the way to being removed students to share their escapades, ers care about a student’s social from CHS and sent to our alternaYik Yak became popular among media presence, because it says tive program,” Bagley said. “We’ve many high school students last a lot about the person, accord- had a various range of these where year as it served as a mask for ing to Oklahoma State University students could end up going to Inthose wanting to talk negatively College of Education coordinator School-Suspension because of such about their peers.

Meredith Shepard. issues, or go to Compass. If there is The ability to be completely “We have a social media spe- the abuse we will deal with it.”

“

I think if somebody has good charater and good integrity, it doesn’t make any difference where you put them

When asked what may lead students to act viciously on the internet, CHS counselor Sharron Thurkill said that students lose responsibility when they go online.

“It is really about people’s character and their integrity,” Thurkill said. “I think if somebody has good character and good integrity, it doesn’t make any difference where you put them.”

The school has an elaborate technology usage policy it implemented this year and also spent the first five days of school training students on proper usage of technology and its consequences.

The policy emphasizes a “safe and secure digital environment” and warn students of the implications of abusing their freedoms.

The policy also warns students from “attempts to access, alter, interfere with, impersonate, or damage personal accounts, network configuration, security, or passwords without written permission from the CISD Technology Department” or “creating, sending, or participating in posting electronic messages or communications that are abusive, profane, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening, harassing, damaging to self or another’s reputation, or illegal, including cyber-bullying and ‘sexting’”.

Furthermore, for the 2014-15 school year, more apps and sites have been blocked than before.

CISD Technology Support Specialist Martha Best said that mature, inappropriate or unnecessary pages can be blocked through a process called content filtration.

“This was initiated by the Coppell Parent Advisory Group on Technology,” CHS Technology Integration Specialist Shalone Willms said.

Through these restrictions via the district network and subtle monitoring of online situations, Coppell hopes to minimize the harmful effects of abuse and integrate the safe use of technology for its students.

HOW WE USE SOCIAL MEDIA

75%

OF US HAVE A PROFILE ON A SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE

74%

USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO MAKE THEMSELVES SEEM

COOLER

23% 26% 23%

SAY...

ADMIT WE

TWITTER FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM

IS OUR FAVORITE

ARENT AS CAREFUL

50% SOCIAL MEDIA

AS WE SHOULD BE ON

SOCIAL MEDIA SITE

Information from sheknows.com

The Sidekick // Rachel Buigas-Lopez

student life

14

JAKE & JAKE

The Sidekick // Chelsea Banks

Mylar, Mayes families bond over sons’ connection, companionship

J

JENA SEIDEMANN Managing Editor @jena_seidemann

uniors Jake Mayes and Jake Mylar, two unlikely friends, were brought together by fate.

One son was meant to be the peer tutor and the other the peer.

Instead, they became best friends, and their families formed a tight-knit bond that will endure for years.

When Mylar was born with Down syndrome, his family worried if he would ever have a normal life. However, they never anticipated such a great friendship from their circumstance.

Their friendship was almost not possible if Mylar had not moved schools.

“There was no Special Ed program at Coppell Middle School West, so he was moved to East without us knowing,” Mylar’s

mother Pat Mylar said. “At first we were upset, but it turned out to be a Godsend.”

To become Mylar’s peer tutor, Coppell Middle School East Principal Laura Springer interviewed numerous students to find the perfect fit, cue Jake Mayes. “[Springer] said God put it on her heart,” Mayes’ father Gary Mayes said. “We were like ‘huh, we need to pursue this then.’”

She knew the two would be special. From eighth grade on, the two were paired up and it blossomed from there.

“I told Pat ‘lets reach out to [Springer] and let her know what’s going on’ because Laura did not know the two families had become such good friends and spent so much time together,” Jake Mylar’s father Mike Mylar said. “The Jakes and all of us are close. It was a great fit. We want Laura to know what she has started.”

The Sidekick // Chelsea Banks Jake Mylar and Jake Mayes talk, and joke around as they engage in family time. Both the Mayes and the Mylars were celebrating Christina’s 20th birthday at the Maylar’s.

Although many people know about the bond of the two boys, it is their families that have become one. Two years ago, the families met at the charity basketball game for DeLana Attaway, a Coppell Middle School North teacher that was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma brain cancer. As soon as they met each other, they clicked.

“I’ll always remember going to the basketball game for Mrs. Attaway when she had cancer,” Mayes’ sister, 2014 CHS graduate Michelle Mayes, said. “I had never really met [Mylar] nor had I met Mrs. Mylar. [Mylar] came over to us and we were able to talk to him and Mayes, my Jake, came over and put his arm around my mom.

He said ‘Jake this is my mom,’ and [Mylar] went to get his mom and put his arms around Pat and said ‘this is my mom.’

The family dynamic is very casual and relaxed yet the bond is unbreakable. It does not matter if it is not special; any occasion is an occasion to spend time together.

“We loved them right away, just because they were so enthusiastic about our boy,” Mrs. Mylar said.

The whole family loves him; The Jakes are just amazing to watch.”

In the years that their relationship has bloomed, the family has spent countless hours together whether they be cheering on My-

lar at his sporting event or celebrating family get togethers, they are always there for one another.

“Our families have merged,” Pat said. “As a matter of fact, I drove down to Huntsville with Susie Mayes because it was Michelle’s Birthday. Christina drove from [Texas A&M University] to Huntsville so we could all celebrate together.”

As an only child, Mrs. Mayes is glad her children have their own siblings and then some. The trust goes so far that the Mayes and Mylar are emergency contacts for each other. However, one of the most rewarding things for both families is to see the boy’s relationship grow.

“Jake and Jake have a genuine love for each other and it comes totally from God,” Mr. Mayes said.

“There is no way to explain it.”

Mylar has given Mayes a sense of direction in life. He also keeps him grounded.

“Jake keeps him passionate about it,” Mrs. Mayes said. “He reminds him how much everyday he wants to follow his passion and be a middle school coach and a special needs teacher. I can not image Mayes without Mylar.”

For the Mylar family, Jake and the entire Mayes family have been a blessing. “[Mayes] asked if he could Jake

out and hang out over the summer,” Jake’s sister and 2013 New Tech High @ Coppell graduate Christina Mylar said. “We were like ‘Dude of course you can.’

No one really asked that and that made him really sad and that was really sweet to see. He came over all the time and just took him out.

No one has ever done anything like that for [Mylar].”

To Christina, who fiercely loves her younger brother, the intangibles are what impress her most when it comes to Jake.

“There are so many good things about Jake Mayes,” Christina said. “He is sweet and funny and athletic: the whole package ,and the best thing about him is how he treats my brother. No one has ever done that for Jake.”

In order to spend more time with his friend, Mayes gave up football, and whenever an issue is pressing on his heart, he takes Mylar out to spend time with him.

“Mylar gives back to Mayes,” Mike said. “When Mayes is struggling with an important issue, he will actually pick up Jake and hang out, which is really cool. He was debating whether or not to quit football which is a big decision in this town. He actually took Jake when he told the coaches.

Quitting football would give him more time with [Mylar].”

The Sidekick // Chelsea Banks The Mylar and Mayes family join together at the Mylar house hold to celebrate Christina Mylar’s 20th birthday. The two were paired by CMSE principal Laura Springer, and since 8th grade, have been inseperable.

student life

Passion, unity and football

15

Coppell, Southlake revive tradition with the return of a rivalry STEPHANIE ALEXANDER Entertainment Editor @stephanierose2u

T

he tradition that was lost two years ago due to district realignment is back, with the much anticipated Southlake Carroll vs. Coppell football game on Oct. 3.

Senior inside linebacker Bo Anderson has been on both sides of the rivalry. Born and raised in Southlake, he was in its football program until his eighth grade year. Anderson came to Coppell from Lindale, Texas in the middle of his sophomore year and he loves his Cowboy family.

“Coppell is cool because the coaches really care about you as a man,” Anderson said. “Off-season is rough because they do actually punish you and you see a different side of the coaches because they are really hard on you, but at the end of the day they will be patting you on the back telling you good work.”

Although the two cities are geographically near each other, Coppell football is a different atmosphere than that of Southlake.

Southlake Carroll football coach Hal Wasson heavily emphasizes that building relationships and trust are key on and off the field.

“We invest a great deal of time on trust. You either trust your coaches and your teammates or you don’t,” Wasson said. “If you don’t trust them, we don’t think you’re ever going to be the kind of team you want to be. Everyone can get caught up in wins and losses and that’s fine, but what we are trying to instill in our players are relationships because relationships go on for a lifetime.”

Wasson also prides his team on having an attitude of gratitude.

“I’d like to think our strength is being a disciplined football team,” Wasson said. “They play as hard as they can, they are relentless in the way they go about their business, they are accountable…if you focus on your attitude and your energy everything will fall into place.”

Anderson’s two older brothers Luke and Jake are former Dragon football players. Luke being a Southlake Carroll alum and Jake graduating from Lindale.

“You always wish you could grow up with the kids you play high school ball with, but I like the social skills I’ve gained from moving,” Anderson said. “The Southlake kids are really

The Sidekick // Josh Martin

The Sidekick // Stephanie Alexander Senior varsity players and former Coppell Youth Football players Parker Wilson (30), Bryce Vonzurmuehlen (16) and Jacob Murray (15) lead the Cowboys through the sign at the begining of the McKinney Boyd game on Sept. 5. good and they have an old tradition that was real solid when [former Dragons coach Todd Dodge] was around. That is when my brother was playing there and they were winning state championships all the time. It was cool being a kid and watching my brother be part of that dynasty.”

However, as he switched sides, he has endured some heat from his brothers.

“I get a little salty when my brother [Luke] talks about how he used to beat Coppell, but he understands that everything is just high school football; it’s not that big of a deal,” Anderson said.

“Coaches change and people change, but there will always be parents and parents will always be nuts when it comes to their kids playing football.”

Wasson affirms that the Dragon mentality is to take everything play-by-play no matter which team they are running up against.

“Not to deemphasize or over emphasize it, the next game is always the big one,” Wasson said.

“We keep our emphasis on the next game as the biggest game because it is the next game and that is just the way we approach things.”

Even with a rivalry as huge as Coppell, the Cowboys are no exception to this rule.

“I know Coppell has success and they are a talented bunch

but I don’t know their makeup. I would like to think I know a lot about us and we don’t focus on comparing players and opponents, we like to keep our focus on things we can control,” Wasson said. “Everybody we play seems to give us a good run at it so it’s just going to be a very competitive environment.”

On the flip side, most of Anderson’s teammates were born and raised in Coppell. Senior cornerback Bryce VonZurmuehlen has gone through the Coppell football youth system since peewee. He will be the first of four brothers to lead the Cowboy legacy.

“Around here when you think Coppell football, we’re really disciplined players, we are coached amazingly well, not just as players on the field, but as men, too,” VonZurmuehlen said. “They remind us that we will be future husbands, fathers, workers and they do a good job of teaching us how to act right and do right in life.”

Coaching players to be strong men is a sentiment shared by Wasson and his Southlake team.

“I think the ultimate compliment a player can get was that he was a great teammate,” Wasson said. “The hard part is to take constructive criticism as the truth. Being able to do that and knowing deep down we have your best interest.

Foot-

ball is a very hard game, it’s easy and fun to watch but there are a lot of moving parts.”

Football is a bonding agent in the VonZurmuehlen family. With his brother, sophomore Blake VonZurmuehlen, already in the Coppell Cowboys program, Bryce is looking forward to his younger brothers joining and sees them as inspiration to be role models.

“Beau, my little brother, is on the sidelines at all the games and that is just his utopia,” VonZurmuehlen said. “They look up to us so much, and that reminds us that we have to do right. I love having my football family and my actual family being so involved in the football program.”

Having played the game in high school, Bryce’s father, David VonZurmuehlen, has passed down his love of football to his four sons. He has also been the president of the Coppell Youth Football Association for three years and coaches the fourth graders. With his experience, he knows the fundamentals of how to be successful.

“I believe the most important thing is confidence, and of course fun,” Mr. VonZurmuehlen said.

“I want them to understand the game of football, we want these boys to go on to middle school football and those coaches will be impressed and have some boys that know how to block and

tackle. You get into ninth grade and it is not West versus East and North anymore, it’s now us versus the world.”

Mr. VonZurmuehlen admires the way Bryce and his former peewee teammates have grown and bonded since CYFA. “If you look at right now you have Jacob [Murray] at safety and Bryce is at corner, they are like brothers,” Mr. VonZurmuehlen said. “They are kindred spirits and they trust each other; they are almost sharing the same mind on the field. They are always on the same page, and it is a very lethal combination.”

Beyond the field, the unity of Coppell is seen through the student section and family atmosphere. Every Friday night, the community gathers to rally around the boys proudly.

“I definitely think our student section is an advantage; I think we are closer knit,” Bryce said. “Especially as a football team we bonded and we are closer as under and upperclassmen. We’ll bond and fight together. We have a lot of talented people on our squad and we are only going to get better from here and I can’t wait to see where that talent takes us.”

Even though Coppell does not have state championships like Southlake Carroll, Mr. VonZurmuehlen is a believer in “Cowboy fight never dies” and that the Coppell is team with the element of surprise.

“Southlake has the tradition of state championships and we don’t and that kind of wears on us, but we’re scrappy,” Mr. VonZurmuehlen said. “Sometimes that rich tradition can lead to overconfidence and I believe that they might underestimate the Coppell Cowboys. I think it is going to be a fantastic game.”

Although Anderson is dedicated to taking home a win, he maintains respect for his former team.

“I am grateful to have been brought up by Southlake, when we walk in the stadium there will definitely be a respect level,” Anderson said. “No mercy though, Coppell all the way. Hopefully it will be my best game.”

entertainment

16

Burdette breaks through acting career with “Men, Women and Children”

A

SHIVANI BURRA Staff Writer @shiviburra

cting for 12 years has proven to be beneficial to Coppell High School senior Christina Burdette now that she has earned a role in the film Men, Women and Children. She will also star in Never Goin’ Back, which is still filming.

Getting to work with a variety of people, Burdette has gained invaluable life experience through auditioning, working and traveling.

“It is hard to have the best of both worlds,” Burdette said. “But I have so much fun with what I am doing. Acting is my passion, so it is completely worth it for me.

I [get] to do things I would never get to do in a real life.”

In Never Goin’ Back, Burdette had the opportunity to experience stealing, going to jail and enduring tribulations. After the director yells cut, the movie experiences benefit her when she goes home to normal life.

“Acting hasn’t really changed her as a person, other than allowing her to have more poise and confidence,” Sarah Burdette, Christina’s mother, said. “She has become really organized and her communication skills have increased. It has taught her perseverance and to believe in herself to do what she wants to accomplish.”

Beginning her acting career at age 6, Burdette started taking an acting class to help her overcome her shyness and because she was interested in acting. After she started taking classes, her career took off. Since then, she continues to study with Lewisville acting coach Cathryn Sullivan.

“When I met Christina, I knew she was a highly skilled actress but what impressed me was this ‘cool vibe’ that she had - a type of fearlessness,” Baumann said. “She has a strong sense of self. As beautiful and talented as she is, she had no ego about it. I knew these are the qualities that would fair well in the harsh entertainment world.”

Starting at Sullivan’s, Burdette’s family hired an agent at Kim Dawson agency which was followed by her manager Vicki Baumann; they all work to together to get her acting gigs.

“She continues to impress me with her diversity,” Baumann said.

“In my mind, it was a no brainer that she would be successful as a film actress but as she made the casting rounds it was apparent she would be able to do all forms of television too; she will have a very long career.”

Burdette doe not have a life like most teengers; working with big stars, constantly traveling and having to give up a full time education. However she tries to keep her life as normal as possible.

“I remain a normal teen by making time to hang with friends,” Burdette said. “I am constantly in touch with friends from here and L.A. The school part is tough and I’m in and out a lot but I’ll be finishing. I hope to do college in one form or another and have that experience and knowledge as well.”

With very strong acting qualities, Baumann thinks there are some minor changes that would make Burdette a stronger actress.

“What I felt she needed was just a bit more confidence because in this business it is hard to maintain confidence: going in front of a bunch of strangers and perform at your best all the time,” Baumann said. “But I will say that she is a true professional and has far exceeded my expectations in such a short time. She never lets auditions rattle her and casting loves her so we are good to go.”

Filming of Never Goin Back started Sept. 18 and is taking place in the Dallas area. It is a coming of age movie/comedy in which she and her best friend drop out of school at 16 and go through a weekend of mischief.

The connections she has made will last for a lifetime. Her costars, past and present, include working with movie stars Cody Linley, Jennifer Garner and Ansel Elgort. Burdette spent a lot of time last year in Austin because of the filming for Men,

Photo courtesy // Hutch Muselessmime Senior Christina Burdette filming her current movie Never Goin Back in which her and her best friend (Ashley Beckel) drop out of high school at 16 and have weekend of mischief.

Women and Children, a Jason Reitman film which is coming out Oct. 17. Reitman is a film director, screenwriter and producer, best known for directing the films Thank You for Smoking, Juno, Up in the Air, and Young Adult.

“The biggest thrill is seeing the finished product,” Burdette said.

“I’m getting to see the Men, Women and Children premiere soon so that’s going to be extremely rewarding.”

Although Burdette planned to graduate from CHS, she is now disenrolling and continuing her education in Options for Youth, a homeschooling program for actors. During the summer of 2015, she plans to move out to Los Angeles full time and attend California State University at Northridge, what Burdette considers the “secret gem of California.”

Hoping to make a career out of acting and support herself in the future, Burdette has some concerns about seeing that through.

“My biggest fear is that I will not be able to focus on my career,” Burdette said. “Like life will get in the way. There’s a lot of tough stuff that comes with this business and those are some tough lessons to learn but the love for it is still worth it. I believe pursuing something long enough will always result in success.”

Photo courtesy // Hutch Muselessmime Senior Christina Burdette has been acting for over 12 years and has a vast amount of experience under her belt. Filming for Never Goin’ Back began Sept. 18 and is taking place in Dallas in order for Burdette to continue a part time education.

Photo courtesy // HutcH Muselessmime

entertainment

17

Choked jewelry proves successful Vazquez goes nationwide in three months with jewelry store

PRANATHI CHITTA Staff Writer @prannydacheetah Ali Vazquez was looking for a necklace on etsy.com during the summer. She came with $20 but couldn’t find anything in her budget.

Frustrated, Vazquez then had an idea and life has been much different ever since the launch of her own jewelry business.

“I got the idea to begin the store when I saw other online stores which had a very high price range,” Vazquez said. “So I just thought to myself, I can make the same thing so, why shouldn’t I?” Vazquez opened her store up with host, storenvy.com. She began by selling chokers, which is why she named it “Choked.” Soon she began selling other jewelry.

“I have bought bracelets, chokers and many necklaces from Ali’s store already,” senior Ali Lewis said. “Although her store only began in the summer, she has been getting a lot of sales so far.”

Lewis and Vazquez have been friends throughout high school and Lewis would critique some of Vazquez’s creations. Lewis has also helped Vazquez to spread the word of her store.

“When some of my friends

The Sidekick // Alex Irizarry Senior Ali Vazquez has an online jewelry business, Choked, which features her necklaces, bracelets and rings. Vazquez launched Choked in July because she wanted to provide quality jewelry at a cheaper price to high school students.

The Sidekick // Alex Irizarry Senior Ali Vazquez has an online jewelry business, Choked, which features her necklaces, bracelets and rings. Vazquez launched Choked in July.

ask me where I get my stuff from, I tell them from Ali Vazquez, which influences them to check out her store,” Lewis said.

Customer Jasmin Ko is a big fan of Vazquez’s jewelry.

“I absolutely adore [the jewelry], it’s beautifully handmade,” Ko said. “I love how [Vazquez] brought back 90s chokers and that she is coming up with really hot styles.”

Although the materials were difficult to obtain, Vazquez’s determination never allowed her to give up.

“At first I had no idea what I was doing or how to run a business but then I got the hang of it and I began promoting it through social media,” Vazquez said.

Vazquez is hosting online giveaways on social media for followers that promote her company.

“I spend my profit on materials and get more money back through sales,” Vazquez said.

She spends her week days making the jewelry and by the weekend her styles are ready to be shipped to her eager customers. To guide her with this, Vazquez’s mother, Mary Szefyk,

has also been very supportive.

“I was shocked and proud to see that Ali’s creations went national through the power of social media,” Ms. Szefyk said.

“I know she puts love into each creation.”

Ms. Szefyk promotes Vazquez through her own social media, she also believes that the store will transform into something successful.

“Everyday is a learning process for Ali since she is always seeking knowledge,” Ms. Szefyk said. “I have already noticed the growth and customer base coming back to purchase more.”

Vazquez is considering expanding her product line in the future.

“I hope to keep this going,” Vazquez said. “And I hope to meet other people who I can collaborate with in future.”

To find out what Vazquez is creating next, visit her online store at choked.storenvy.com.

“I just want to thank her for making these awesome chokers and bringing the 90s accessories back,” Ko said. “I recommend everyone to go check out her website, you won’t regret it.”

entertainment

18

Turning over a new leaf

Students anticipate sweater weather, Halloween and home-made food

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ALLISON ARNOLD Student Life Editor @_alliearnold

all is the time of year where everything changes. Summer is over, meaning people settle back into a normal routine of school, work and extra curricular activities. However, just because the excitement of summer is gone does not mean better times are not to come with the upcoming season of fall.

Something many people look forward to during fall is the Pumpkin Spice Latte that takes Starbucks’ everywhere by storm.

Being one of their seasonal items on the menu, it is one more delicious reason why everyone seems to be on the edge of their seats for fall.

“The Pumpkin Spice Latte tastes like fall,” senior Jenna Waters said. “For me as well as a lot of other girls, the pumpkin spice flavor is a huge part of what makes fall so great, and it’s awesome that Starbucks took it and did something great with it.”

The Pumpkin Spice Latte isn’t the only thing that “tastes like fall.” Many incorporate other spices and flavors into different foods and drinks that give fall its signature taste.

“My mom makes this incredible chocolate chip pumpkin bread every year because she knows it’s my favorite,” senior Abby Middleton said. “Anything that tastes like pumpkin, cinnamon or apple is the best part about fall and my mom’s baking.”

As the weather gets colder, more layers are required in order to stay warm. Many people keep this in mind and even use it to their advantage when shopping for new clothes for fall.

“My favorite thing about fall is the clothes,” junior Emma Ginnel

said. “I love wearing flannels and layering scarves and other things.

I just feel really comfortable in it.”

For others, it is the holidays of fall that make it the most enjoyable. Halloween is one of the most popular among teens since they can dress up as something or someone completely different than their true selves for a night.

“It’s one of my favorite holidays because I get to be creative with what I wear and what I choose to be,” senior Thanh Phang said.

“We are expected to be a certain person and act a certain way every day but for one day of the year we can be whoever we want, and I think that’s pretty cool.”

Not only is dressing up one of the more fun activities of Halloween, haunted houses are a huge reason why people look forward to the holiday. From Cutting Edge to Spirit, there are a number of different haunted houses to attend.

“I have a love-hate relationship with haunted houses just like a lot of other people do,” senior Charli Swinton said. “It’s a great way to spend time with friends and although I get extremely scared, the suspense of it and anticipating zombies or demons popping out is exciting.”

While Halloween is a holiday spent mostly with friends, many people enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday when they get to spend more time with their immediate family and distant relatives.

“When Thanksgiving comes around, I love it because I basically get two of them,” senior Bobby Manning said. “I get to see my dad’s side of the family and also my mom’s, and it’s great because I get to see all of my cousins who are in the army or the navy when we all gather somewhere to celebrate the holiday.”

The Sidekick // Josh Martin

Coppell Events: Catch Me If You Can

The Sidekick // Josh Martin

Theatre Coppell Oct. 10-26 Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm Sundays at 2:30 pm

A Cappella Performance

First United Methodist Church October 14th 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Thoroughly Modern Millie Coppell High School auditorium October 24th, 25th, and 26th November 1st and 2nd

entertainment

19

Black Walnut Café to become new Coppell hotspot

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CHRISTIANNA HAAS Staff writer @christiannahaas

he Black Walnut Café is one of the best new additions to Coppell. Greeted by friendly staff, you are welcomed into an antique style interior made up of dark mahogany wood, ferns and soft lighting.

The ordering style is unique: There is no waitstaff. Customers choose their own seat, order their food at a single register and pick their food up at a counter when their buzzer rings.

Black Walnut does not have one specific food genre. There are many reasonably priced options ranging from Otis Otis Otis ($12.75), a greek alfredo chicken pasta, to burgers and a magnificent Breakfast Quesadilla ($7.00) I ordered the Pot Roast Grilled Cheese ($8.50), not knowing what to expect. I was not disappointed in the slightest. It tasted better with each bite. It was one of the best roast beef sandwiches I have ever had. I also was given the wonderful opportunity to taste not only the Otis Otis Otis, but also the Anderson’s ‘Bout Time, a wonderful chick-

en sandwich ($9.75), and the Turkey Croissant Club ($11.50). Each dish has its own unique flavor, made up of various sauces, spreads and seasonings.

Out of all the meals I tried, I was unable to pick a favorite. The basil mayonnaise on the Croissant Club was an unexpected yet wonderful touch. The peppers and alfalfa sprouts added just the right flavour to the ‘Bout Time.

The food went far beyond my expectations. I could not wait to order dessert.

Ordered separately, desserts are set up in their own little station by the register. The dessert bar is also home to a variety of coffee beverages. Colorful house-made gelatos line the glass next to tall, ornate cakes. I had a slice of the Hummingbird cake and was blown away. It tasted like a mixture of carrot, raisin and cinnamon cake all held together by a glorious cream cheese icing.

The taste was rich, spicy and sweet.

Offering free Wi-Fi, the restaurant aims to make the coffee bar a comfortable place for high schoolers to study and gather.

Opening at 6:30 a.m. and closing at 10 p.m., this is the perfect place for any occasion. I am positive that The Black Walnut Café is is a restaurant that is here to stay.

The Sidekick // Rachel Buigas-Lopez

American Horror Story debuts new wicked season

T

STEPHANIE ALEXANDER Entertainment Editor @stephanierose2u

he creepy crawlers and ghouls have come out to play early with the new season of American Horror Story.

The notably wicked mini-series aired the new season with a Freak Show theme Oct. 8 on FX. The official AHS twitter account has been dropping short yet hair-raising teasers throughout the summer and the time is finally here to look under the circus top to see what creator Ryan Murphy has had in the works.

Seniors Alex Ianni and Tori Zettle are major AHS fans and are anxious to see what the freak show holds.

“I think this season will be really entertaining to say the least because a freak show is already weird enough as it is and I can’t wait to see the spin they put on it,” Zettle said.

Set in Florida in the 1950s, Jessica Lange plays the ringleader of the freak show, ex-cabaret star Elsa Mars.

The oddities are Sarah Paulson as conjoined twins Bette and Dot, Angela Bassett as the three-breasted woman Desiree Dupree and Kathy Bates as the bearded lady Ethel Darling.

“I cannot wait to see how Sarah Paulson takes on the role of conjoined twins and portrays two different characters at once,” Zettle said.

Also back in the cast is fan favorite Pepper from season two (Asylum).

“I loved how unique of a character Pepper was,” Ianni said. “She made the mood of the show lighter and I am happy she’s back.”

And it would not be a true freak show without a clown named Twisty, which Murphy is actually fearful of fans having cardiac arrests from his presence.

“I am terrified of clowns, I have no clue how I tolerated them when I was younger,” Ianni said. “I definitely am watching it with someone other than myself, even if it’s just my cat Sunshine, that is one more set of eyes with me.

Even with these scary rumors, senior Kimberly Anderson is eager to witness the horror of Twisty the Clown.

“I think the show is brilliant,” Anderson said. “I am very anxious to see what happens not only in the show, but to see the reaction from the fans.”

Heart-throb Evan Peters plays Ethel Darling’s son Jimmy who just happens to have lobster-like hands. Emma Roberts plays the part of crystal ball con-artist Maggie Esmeralda.

“They always make Evan Peters out to be a bad guy in the plot, I wonder what will play out this season,” Ianni said.

Witness the spooky circus Wednesday nights 9 p.m. central on FX. (Parental guidance needed)

The Sidekick // Nicole Messer The pot roast grilled cheese at Black Walnut Café.

The breakfast quesadilla at Black Walnut Café.

The Sidekick // Nicole Messer

sports

20

Three students, one school

Childhood friends pursue athletics, keep relationship intact at Air Force

F

ALEX NICOLL Editor-In-Chief @NicollMac

or Coppell High School seniors Daniel Jones, Drew McAdams and Parker Wilson, college just became a whole lot more fun.

With all three committing to the Air Force Academy, each one is able to reach their goal of playing at the collegiate level.

“I picked Air Force because I’ve always wanted to play football at the next level and the Air Force Academy offers a tremendous education,” Wilson said.

It also provided them with a chance for life experiences.

“The opportunities that the Academy is going to give me when football is over and I’m in the real world,” McAdams said.

“I am going to get one of the best educations in the nation while I’m getting to do what I love so you really can’t get much better than that. It was just an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

For some, Air Force provided an opportunity for some unique activities.

“I mean, I get to jump out of airplanes,” Jones said.

Moreover, the decision to commit to Air Force became easier for the boys after McAdams committed on Aug. 12, the day right before football practice started. McAdams, the starting safety for the Coppell Cowboys football team and Wilson, the starting fullback, will both dress out in the same white and blue uniform next year.

Verbal commitments are nonbinding. Letters of intent can be signed in February.

“They told me that I was the type of kid they were looking for and that the defensive staff really liked me. They told me that they think I would be a great fit for the spur position (safety/outside linebacker),” McAdams said. “Then they didn’t let me forget that I will get paid to go there.”

Jones will make the transition from high school baseball to playing collegiate ball alongside his brother and 2013 CHS graduate, Tyler Jones.

The Sidekick // Josh Martin

The Sidekick // Stephanie Alexander

The Sidekick // Mallorie Munoz

The Sidekick // Mallorie Munoz

The Sidekick // Shannon Wilkinson

Seniors Drew McAdams (17), Parker Wilson (30) and Daniel Jones (bottom right) will continue playing each of their respected sports at the collegiate level at the Air Force Academy located in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“My brother had a very large impact on my decision,” Jones said. “He went through the same process as me: it came down to the three Academies and he ended up choosing Air Force because it was the best fit for him.

My brother and I have a lot of the same interests.”

Jones starting talking with recruiters from Air Force his sophomore year, but also had interest in the Army and Naval Academies.

In the end, however, it came down to Air Force and Navy.

“I was interested in all three Academies because they all provide a great education, opportunities but I thought Air Force was just the best place for me,” Jones

said.

Knowing that his friends were going did not hurt either.

“I had a feeling they were going to [commit],” McAdams said.

“Just knowing that I will be going into this with a few of my really close friends is comforting and definitely makes it more appealing.”

When news spread of each others commitment, it just added to their excitement.

“It was probably comforting for them to know that I was going and that my brother was there and so are the Hrubys,” Jones said.

“I was really excited when I heard they committed.”

The Military Academies have

always had strong ties to the Coppell community, evident by all the recruits that come out of each year’s class, but the Air Force appears to be taking a more aggressive approach with its recruiting. Already it has three recruits before the school year even had started.

“Now that they have gotten some of our kids, they just call down like in my case and ask ‘Hey do you have an outfielder? You know the kind of student-athlete we need and do you have anyone that fits that criteria that would be willing to go into the Air Force or Navy’,” baseball coach Kendall Clark said. “Our kids know how to study and know how to train.”

For athletes, they think they know why the military academies seem to favor Coppell kids.

“I think the military academies are looking for a certain type of person,” McAdams said.

“Someone who is hard working, coachable and a team player. Also someone who has the mental and physical capacity to be different than the average college student.”

More importantly, to coaches, they have to know how to play at the next level.

“Number one if you got to into the academies you have to be academic,” Clark said. “Then they are just going to hunt for if you’re a good enough athlete to play the sport you want us to.”

sports

21

Young athletes bring new skills New faces, new district challenge Coppell basketball team

S

JOSEPH KRUM Staff Writer @joseph_krum

aying that the Coppell Cowboys basketball team will look a whole lot different than last year’s is an understatement. Out of 16 players on the 2013-2014 varsity roster, a staggering 12 of them were seniors.

However, that does not mean the Cowboys will not compete for a district championship.

Coming off of a 22-13 season, the Cowboys will be looking for plenty of young players to step up, filling the void created by graduated dynamic players like Simi Socks and Landon Goesling. Players such as junior Josh Fink and sophomore Sam Marshall could be key this next season.

“I think they both put themselves in good positions,” varsity Coach Kit Pehl said. “I feel like Josh, lettering as a freshman and a sophomore, has a good comfort level for what we try to accomplish and his comfort level for how we defend. [Also] how tough he is; I think it puts him in a position of confidence for success in regards of what he has gone through in the last two years. It’s very similar with Sam, competing at the varsity level as a freshman allowed him to learn what the expectations of varsity basketball are and I really think it is going to propel him into a role that he is going to be a crit-

ical part of what is going to make us successful this season.”

Despite the team losing most of their players last year, they are very confident in their ability.

“I feel like our team is going to prove some people wrong this year; we are going to be the underdog in a lot of our games because of how small a team we are,” sophomore Sam Marshall said.

“We just have to get over that and really play hard and we could pull of some great upsets.”

Pehl also thinks that the team will prove everyone wrong, and feels like the successes of the junior varsity and freshman teams last year could be an insight to how the varsity team will do this upcoming season.

“I would say my expectations are to compete for a district championship.” Pehl said. “I think we have a lot of guys who do not have varsity experience, so we lost a lot of seniors last year, but at the same time our junior varsity and our freshman A team won district last year so we have the talent to compete at the highest level. Year in and year out [it is my] is my goal to win a district championship.”

On any great team, each player fills a specific role that helps the team in a certain way, and that is the same way that this team is.

Each individual player has a certain skillset that helps the betterment of the team.

“I think I add a good amount

The Sidekick // Alex Irizarry Senior Chris Green and Junior Alex Vuchkov move to intercept a rebound during fourth period practice drills.

The Sidekick // Alex Irizarry Sophomore Sam Marshall brings the ball down court while Junior Luke Heaton moves to intercept during fourth period practice in the ______ gym. of scoring off the wing and good hustle and aggression,” junior Luke Heaton said. “I feel like I’m a good team player.”

Although Heaton has a specific role to help the team in scoring, Marshall has even a more unique roll considering he was on the team last year as a freshman, but will still be one of the youngest players.

“Being one of the youngest guys on the team can definitely pose some challenges,” Marshall said. “You really have to prove yourself to the older players to really get their respect but it’s also nice to have some older players to look up to.”

Ever since the final game of the season, a loss to Duncanville 54-44 in the second round of the district playoffs, the team has been preparing for the next season. Whether they are conditioning and lifting weights or playing in summer or spring games, each

player has been trying to get into the best physical and mental shape for the season, but that is not all the team has been doing to prepare for the season.

“We have installed a new offense, trying to utilize the parts that we have, and that’s probably the single biggest thing,” Pehl said.

“Defensively, we are not changing a whole lot. In our fall leagues, we have really tried to clean it all up and be ready to be firing on all cylinders by the time we get to our season.”

Other than the big change within the players on the team, there is also a big change that will affect the season just as much if not more. That would be the change in district, Coppell moving to district 7-6A with the teams Carroll, Trinity, Heritage, Richland, Haltom and Bell.

This new district, deemed one of the toughest in football, is also a loaded district in basketball, with

Trinity last year ranked 48th in state rankings, one behind Coppell. Southlake will also be a tough rival, ranked in the top 160 teams in the state last year.

“There is a lot of uncertainties with our new district,” Pehl said.

“Our district does not have a ton of size, and we do not either, so I think we will be very competitive.

I feel like we would have been competitive anyway, but I guess what I am trying to say is a lot of teams are going to be like us. So I think it is a district that we will have an opportunity to be very competitive in.”

Even with a practically whole new team with a new offense and a new district, there is a lot to look forward to for this upcoming year. “[I’m excited for] the memories I will make,” Heaton said. “I am excited to just to be able to tell stories of varsity times and varsity games down the road.”

The Sidekick // Alex Irizarry Sophomore Robin Kim squares off with teammate, Junior Alex Vuchkov in a drill on Sept. 25 in the _______ gym

sports

22

Coppell Cowgirl Varsity Cowgirl Cheerleaders

The new school year welcomes new Coppell High School cheerleading squads. They are under the direction of varsity coach Tiffany Ganss, JV coach Courtney Orloff and freshman coach Stephanie Fleischauer.

Volleyball

POSITIONS

Varsity

Back Row (L-R) Allie McKee, Elyssa Madden, Mackenzie Sork. Landry Jorski, Ariel Pritchard, Maddison Rutherford, Paola Lozano, Taylor Johnson Front Row (L-R) Allison Cory, Sydney Lambert, Rebekah Moomau, Coach Tiffany Ganss, Rachel Donaldson, Caitlyn Ching, Laikyn Garcia Ground (L-R) Cheer Captains, Tori Zettle and Ashley Burgess

STATISTICS

Junior Varsity Back row (L-R) Hollee Rogers, Riley Hopper, Coach Courtney Orloff, Captain Nicolette Boaz, Meghan McAdams Front row (L-R) Avery Mullins, Murphy Scott, Danielle Hinojosa

Freshmen

Back row (L-R) Coach Stephanie Fleischauer, Ashlyn Judd, Megan Winkle, Delaney Winkler, Mackenzie Dennis Front row (L-R) Tessa Cisco, Taylor Park, Jordan Faulk Ground (L-R) Captain Avery Zaves, Ashley Fidler

CHS October Athletics Schedule Saturday, October 2 Varsity hockey tournament at Caroll High School

Saturday, October 11 Cross Country Meet at Birdville High School: invitational

Sunday, October 19 Varsity Hockey at Highland Park High School

Saturday, October 25 Mansfield High School interscholastic tournament

Friday, October 3 Football Game at Caroll High School Volleyball Game at Caroll High School Cleburne Invitational

Tuesday, October 14 Tennis tournament at Caroll High School Away volley ball game at Heritage High School

Monday, October 20 Tennis aerial playoffs

Sunday, October 26 Varsity Hockey at Arlington/Mid

Friday, Ocober 4 Cleburne Invitational

Wednesday, October 16 Swim meet at Lewisville High School Varsity hockey tournament at Denton County High School

Tuesday, October 21 Home Vollyball game at L.D. Bell High School

Tuesday, October 28 Away Volley Ball game at Caroll High School

Thursday, October 23 Cross Country district meet

Thursday, October 30 Varsity hockey at Richardson/Rockwall

Friday, October 24 Mansfield High School interscholastic tournament Home Football game

Friday, October 31 **Senior Night** **Halloween** Home football game versus Heritage High school.

Tennis regionals

Tuesday, October 7 Tennis Tournament at Haltom High School Thursday, October 9 Varsity hockey Tournament at Haltom High School

Friday, October 17 Individual Golf Tournament at Denton County High School Homecoming Football game

sports

23

Freshmen make impact on varsity Chen, Kalev bring young, fresh talent to Coppell Tennis

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JOSEPH KRUM Staff Writer @joseph_krum

here are not too many things more intimidating than trying to compete against people that are a few years older than you and have the twice the experience, but that is not holding back freshmen tennis players Victor Kalev and Justin Chen from becoming the next big things in Coppell tennis.

Both Kalev and Chen tried out for the high school tennis team, and along with two other freshmen Mugh Pandhi and Nayana Menon, made the varsity team, which is a huge accomplishment. The only difference between Kalev and Chen and the others is that they are both in the top 5 overall players on the varsity team.

Even though they are both ranked high, Coppell tennis coach Rich Foster thinks both their spots were wellearned because of their hard work and dedication to the game.

“We had our tryouts and those were the decisions that make it a little difficult. I do not know if I necessarily put them over people with experience initially. We had our group kids who made the team, and we had a chance to duke it out in the first week of school,” Foster said. “Early on in the season I was rotating different people in on those positions, so I didn’t really give it to them over the others; they got a spot on varsity and then they duked it out with the older guys to earn their spot.”

As big of an accomplishment as making varsity is, the boys do not stop there. Both of them work hard to try

and be the top players on varsity, beating out players who have more experience within the high school realm.

“Justin has potential, eventually, to be a number one player here. He came in as a very very good player, and has lots of room as a freshman for improvement,” Foster said. “It’s not unreasonable to believe that he might not work himself up to [position] two before the year is over with. Because he’s young, he has so much room for growth.”

Chen has the ability to be a top player for the varsity, and he specializes in singles, where you work alone to try and win. Yet Kalev has a different skillset, where the ability to work with someone to accomplish your goal is key.

“Victor is obviously a good player as well, but he’s probably the best doubles player of my freshman as far as double skill sets,” Foster said. “Victor right now understands the game of doubles and plays it like a sophomore or a junior, not like a freshman.”

Jumping from middle school tennis all the way to varsity tennis can be a big jump, especially in the skill of the players, and also with their size and facial hair.

“I went from playing underdeveloped kids to full grown men with beards,” Kalev joked. “But I am thrilled to be playing with older, stronger, and more experienced players because it will help me become a better player myself.”

Yet Chen had a completely different perspective on how it is like playing against players with a lot more age.

“It does not feel that much different,” Chen said. “They’re all players.”

The Sidekick // Shivani Burra Freshman Justin Chen attempts to return serve cross court during his doubles match against LD Bell on Sept. 2 at home.

Making varsity is definitely not the last challenge. Both Kalev and Chen have many more adversities to overcome, and a lot more that they will encounter later on down the road.

“There are a lot of challenges,” Justin said. “High school tennis is a lot different than the tennis class I have played. It takes a while to get adjusted to it.”

Kalev also believes that high school tennis can be a challenge, but differs in his view on how it is one.

“The biggest challenge has been staying organized to keep up with my

homework while practicing every day and playing matches,” Kalev said.

One thing that could have been a problem with freshman on varsity is them not being feeling a sense of unity or like a part of their team. Yet their older teammates, who will be playing against and with them, have stepped in to help both of them become more integrated on the team.

“Everyone on the team was really supportive and I am really grateful for them,” Kalev said. “Especially the seniors - I am going to miss them when they graduate.”

back page

24

Model Status

Kemp, Huo bring past modeling experience to cross country team

The Sidekick // Marcus Krum Courtesy // Don Kemp Courtesy // Don Kemp Don Kemp, now an AP statistics teacher and a coach of the Coppell High School cross country team, worked a few jobs as a model when he was younger.

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MARCUS KRUM Staff Writer @MarcusKrum

n their early lives, cross country coach Don Kemp and sophomore runner Alan Huo took unlikely paths towards landing one of the most unlikely jobs as male models.

When he was eight years old, Huo spent the majority of his summer visiting China. This is where he was introduced to the modeling business.

“When I was in China, my parents saw an ad in a magazine that was asking for young boys to model, so I tried it out,” Huo said.

“It was a children’s magazine, and they just threw me into some children’s clothes and took some pictures of me.”

Kemp, on the other hand, began his modeling career when he was in his college years.

It was at that time when he was brought into the business by his peers. His biggest client was JCPenney.

“I had a girlfriend that was taking a photography class,” Kemp said. “She wanted male subjects, so I did that.”

Even with no prior experience, his photographs were good enough to be chosen out of a group of many seasoned models.

“We took them to the agency, and they had all these people there, and they picked me,” Kemp said.

Although they have gone down similar paths in this job, Kemp and Huo, because of the manner in which they became models

and the country that they were in when they were modeling, have received different reactions from their peers.

“When [my friends] see the pictures, it is honestly all Chinese culture,” Huo said. “It’s pretty crazy. A lot of people think it is weird or strange. I kind of think it is strange looking back on it now.”

For Kemp, on the other hand, because he modeled in America, sometimes alongside his peers, modeling did not come across as “strange” to his friends.

“They mostly thought it was cool,” Kemp said.

Along with his peers from when he was in college, Kemp’s support extends to his current co workers as well.

“If that is something that he did in college to make extra mon-

ey, then I think that is always a good thing,” cross country coach Roxane Farris said. “He is being resourceful.”

However, as both Kemp and Huo grew older, their days as models had to come to an end.

Huo’s short-lived career was forced to a close when he came back from China at the end of that summer.

Kemp was done because he, quite simply, did not have the time. As a collegiate track runner, he did not always have time to do all-day modeling jobs.

“Modeling got in the way a little bit,” Kemp said. “They would send you out on a job for a day. I could not do a whole lot of those.

I could just do little things.”

Even though their modeling careers are done, Kemp took his

Courtesy // Alan Huo The Sidekick // Marcus Krum As a child, sophomore cross country runner Alan Huo modeled for a children’s magazine in China.

experiences as a model to heart.

Some of the attributes he gained while modeling have carried with him to his life today.

“Being in front of people, Coach Kemp is very comfortable with presenting,” Farris said.

“I think that may be one quality that he was able to obtain through modeling.”

While Kemp has taken those qualities mainly to his job as a coach and teacher, Huo believes that the characteristics he obtained from the process could help him in almost any stage of his life.

“I think I learned that if you are going to put yourself in an unnatural situation, you might as well go all out and make the best of it,” Huo said.

The Sidekick // Marcus Krum