February 1, 2019 by The Oracle

ORACLE

the

Stratford High School • Friday, February 1, 2019 • Vol. 46 • Issue 5

stratford is

.04

Take a look at the current Texas Legislature and how it may affect the way Spring Branch ISD runs.

.08-09

Check out the spread to learn about how diversity is affecting us as proud Spartans and Houstonians.

.13

The 1 Oscars are approachin and the Oracle Staff has some predictions on who will win big.

news

The Oracle • February 1, 2019

News in Brief COMPILED BY MCKENNA TANNER

NATIONAL LOCAL STRATFORD

• Feb. 4: Applications to the

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo scholarship are due. • Feb. 5: The University of Houston—Downtown visits Stratford • Feb. 7: School starts at 9:30 a.m. as Stratford has a late start day. • Feb. 9: The Stratford Playhouse’s production of Disney’s Newsies closes. • Feb. 16: Applications to the Hamman Foundation scholarship are due. • Feb. 22: The Paul Mitchell School visits Stratford, and the Stratford ComedySportz team plays its alumni in a home match.

• Dec. 30: Seven-year-old

Jazmine Barnes was killed in a drive-by shooting. Two suspects were charged in early January. • Jan. 20: Biruktayit Degefa and Albert Koir won the women’s and men’s races respectively in the 47th annual Chevron Houston Marathon. • Jan. 21: Congressman John Lewis and Houston Astro George Springer served as grand marshals of the original Houston Martin Luther King Jr. parade.

• Jan. 3: The docuseries

“Surviving R. Kelly” began airing. The new sexual assault allegations brought against the singer in the documentary incited protests against Kelly and encouraged more women to step forward with allegations. • Jan. 19: People gathered on the streets of Washington D.C. and around the country as part of the third Women’s March. • Jan. 20 and Jan. 21: A super blood wolf moon, in which a total lunar eclipse occurred while the moon was at its nearest to Earth, fascinated the country and other parts of the world.

What Makes Up SHS PHOTO BY MADDIE DAWSON

With 2,142 total students and a population that’s 46% minorities and 24% economically disadvantaged, Stratford shows it takes all kinds.

Chinese New Year—What’s That About? e as ed two students for an explanation of this tradition lled holiday WRITTEN BY MCKENNA TANNER PHOTOS BY LEO CHEN GRAPHIC BY BENJAMIN SICILIANO After the streamers and party horns are put away from New Year’s parties around the country, there’s another celebration about to take place—Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival. Just as Americans celebrated 2019 last month, this month is the time to celebrate the Year of the Pig. This year, the festival starts on Feb. 5 and ends Feb. 19, with different activities and customs on each day in China. This holiday isn’t only important in China, though; the Spring Festival is celebrated in Vietnam and both Koreas, too, and celebrations also take place in the U.S. People put up decorations, set off fireworks, watch dancers, and enjoy large meals. We spoke to two Stratford students, freshman Jasmine Zang and freshman Leo Chen, about their take on the holiday.

How would you describe Chinese New Year?

• “It’s a really long festival, and it’s the New Year on the Chinese Lunar calendar, which is different from the American calendar. I think it lasts from January to February, parts of it, and people eat a lot. They have parades, and dragon dancing, lion dancing.”—Zang • “Well, it’s in the name—‘New Year’—but the Chinese calendar is different from ours. It’s a bit different, so they celebrate it later than normal New Year’s.”—Chen

Focusing on specific traditions, are there foods you always eat at this time?

• “For my family, no, we just cook what we have. We just usually have a big meal with our family.”—Zang Lucky Land On Jan. 20, freshman Leo Chen and his family • “Yeah, went to Lucky Land to watch the Lion Dance, and to spend peaches, we eat a lot of time together as a family, celebrating Chinese New Year. those. And there’s some traditions, like, how you don’t want to rush people to get them out Are there rules regarding luck around this time? of bed, so that’s when I can sleep in. And • “No breaking glass. There’s this weird then there’s no cleaning; you usually do one that my parents always have, it’s like cleaning on the day before Chinese New no visiting the wife’s family. I don’t know Year’s to get the bad luck out, but if you what that’s about though.”—Chen clean on New Year’s, that’s like getting the good luck out.”—Chen

• “Not really because we just usually have a big meal, and then we’ll give red envelopes, but every family does that. The red envelopes, usually they’re given to the younger kids, you know, and the adults give it, and it’s red because it’s for luck again, and then the money is—I think it’s just money. Because it’s convenient for the giver and the user.”—Zang • “Well, I guess my mom always wants a video of us like ‘Three, two, one, happy Chinese New Year,’ for like Facebook.”— Chen

What does it aim to do?

• “The purpose is basically like American New Year; it’s to celebrate a new beginning, kind of, and Chinese people also put a lot of signs up on their doors. They usually do that to scare away the monsters for the New Year that they believe in.”—Zang • “Refreshing luck for the new year, that’s pretty much it.”—Chen

Decoration-wise, what does your house end up looking like?

• “Right now, it’s a lot of red signs because red in Chinese is lucky, and Chinese New Year there’s a lot of red and yellow because those are, like, luck for the new year. You also have Chinese character signs; like, there’s a Chinese character, wealth, that people might put upside down that will mean wealth is coming. And there might be firecracker decorations, fake ones, and then, yeah, there’s a lot of posters and signs with words on them.”—Zang Flying Yen The Red pouch containing Yen, the Chinese • “A lot of red and currency is one of the main points in Chinese New Year. lights and a lot of Freshman Leo Chen received one as a gift when entering fire. hen

Lucky Land on Jan. 20.

Are there some traditions your family has that are specifically yours?

What are some of the different activities for each day?

• “For my family, we don’t really do that, but, back in China, it’s usually, they will have separate days, and you might have parades, and on separate days, you might go in the night to watch dragon dancing in the town square, kind of. And then, the whole town will kind of gather there.”— Zang

What is your favorite part of Chinese New Year?

• “I really like the dances and the cultures that they show because they have a lot of celebration, and there’ll be performers, and you can go watch them. I’ve actually done dragon dancing before, and that’s kind of exciting. You have to kind of get used to it at first, or else if you do it for a whole song, your arms get really tired. It’s a little heavy, but there’s other people too, and you kind of have to stay in sync with them, like, if the head person moves, you need to follow along, basically.”—Zang • “Food. All the food.”—Chen

news

The Oracle • February 1, 2019

The Government Shut Down

government remains shut down for one reason and one reason only: because Democrats will not fund border security.”

misleading; on average only about 1700 immigrants are found each day. After Trump’s speech, 59% of Americans, according to CBS News, opposed the wall. The general public wants better

Trumps controversial budget plans for the wall are denied WRITTEN BY ELEANORE WILLIAMS PHOTO COURTESEY OF FOX NEWS On Dec. 22 2018, the United States government shut down. But why? President Donald Trump is requesting $5.7 billion to fund his border wall between the United States and Mexico. The border is 1,954 miles long and spans across Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Currently 654 miles of the border are covered by a fence or small wall. Trump intends to cover the entire border with a steel or concrete barrier. But this wall would be costly, and Trump isn't getting the money. On Jan. 8 2019, the 18th day of the shutdown, Donald Trump addressed border security and “the wall” to over 35 million Americans on national television. The president presented facts and statistics about immigration, many of which are false. Trump claimed that the “federal

Directing the Masses

President Trump resquets $5.7 billion for a border wall between the United States and Mexico. The Democrats responded saying that they would provide funding for border security, but not a wall. Trump also stated that, “Every day, Customs and Border Patrol agents encounter thousands of illegal immigrants trying to enter our country.” This is

border security without spending billions of dollars on a wall. Tech companies are working on cheaper and more effective ways of surveillance. Many organizations are working on alternatives for the wall. One organization, the Mexican American Design and

Engineering Collective (MADE), offers a high tech solution. The goal of the project is to break physical and mental barriers between the United States and Mexico border. MADE plans to unite communities on opposite sides of the border. The community, Otra Nation, would extend for over twelve miles on each side of the border. It would have its own health and education systems, and have an eco-friendly transport network. The nation would require collaboration and compliance in order to grow together. Although there are already National Parks along the border that span between the US and Mexico, MADE does not believe that the proposal will be selected by the Trump administration. However, the organization believes that peace is more important than a wall. The Democrats offer technology as an alternative for the wall. Representative James Clyburn, the House No. 3 Democrat, claimed that the Democrats would fulfill Trump’s request with tools such as X-rays, drones, sensors, and more border patrol agents. However, this technology would not cost the $5.7 that Trump has requested; it would cost only $1.3 billion. Either way, US citizens push for the government to be reopened. The government re-opened on January 25, 2019 and it is scheduled to stay open for three weeks.

news

The Oracle • February 1, 2019

Tx. Education Legislation

The

th Texas e isature is ready to tac le the School

eform debate

WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY ALEXIS GARZA, ISABELLA WALTZ, AND RACHEL DIETERT

The 86th Texas Legislature session opened on Jan. 8. The Texas Constitution mandates that the legislature is to meet every two years for a 140-day session. Thousands of bills are filed and only a few make it to the floor, but the law requires that the biennial budget must be passed. Education funding is an important part of this budget. On Jan. 8, Dennis Bonnen was elected as the new House Speaker. He was unanimously elected by the Texas House and is strongly pushing for school finance reform. On his first, day Bonnen stocked styrofoam cups in the members’ lounge that read “School Finance Reform, The Time is Now”. Bonnen has promised

opportunities for increased teacher benefits, improving early education and mental health and fighting human trafficking. Spring Branch is active in this legislative session. Our board of trustees is traveling to and from Austin to speak with our representatives in the House and Senate. They are focused on education reform, specifically school finance. District Superintendent Dr. Scott Muri is constantly advocating to the community what the district thinks should be a focus of the session. As he prepares for a series of upcoming Public Forums and an approaching Town Hall meeting, his focus is on reforming many aspects of the current school system.

One thing in particular that the district doesn’t like about the current school finance system is the Robin Hood fund. According to the Spring Branch ISD legislative priorities, one of the district’s main goals is to “change the recapture system, which the state uses to reduce its share of public education funding, ensuring that recaptured local school tax dollars are used to meet student needs.” At the very least, the district’s goal is to “freeze recapture at current levels and phase in additional recapture relief over time.” Spring Branch writes a huge check to the state of Texas every year because they are considered a property wealthy district. This year we paid $88 million in recaptured money and next year the payment is projected to be $98 million.

Dr. Muri explains that most of the money “goes to other school districts that are considered property poor districts.” This money was intended to be used for education, but that has not always been the case. If the recaptured money was not sent to the state, each school in Spring Branch would receive an additional five million dollars. One proposed change to the school finance system is to give more money to schools who score better on state tests like STAAR and EOC. Dr. Muri “would not tie funding to student outcomes” because he feels that “there are better ways to tell the story of a school.” The only teachers who would receive financial incentives are those who teach core classes because the state has deemed the other areas of education, like the arts and foreign language, unimportant if you solely look at state testing results in the data. Elective classes do not have end of year exams. Another priority in Austin is fighting for fully funded Pre-K in SBISD and across the state. Pre-K is not currently required by the state but students who went to Pre-K programs perform better than those who did not according to Dr. Muri. Spring Branch currently funds half days for 3-year-olds and full days for 4-yearolds. If Spring Branch were to have Pre-K required for all students, they would need a multiple years notice to build buildings and prepare curriculum. While Pre-K being required for all is not a priority, more funding behind it is certainly something that will be advocated for by the district As the 86th Texas Legislature continues their session through May, there are many things that the community needs to consider in terms of education. Spring Branch ISD has fought their side of the fight, now it’s time for the State to decide.

life

The Oracle • February 1 2019

A Better Place

Junior Raghd Al Zoubi’s incredible journey from war-torn Syria to here WRITTEN BY MCKENNA TANNER

PHOTO BY DAN TATULESCU

for her and her children to oin him in the nited Arab For junior Raghd Alzoubi, it’s better here. Emirates, where she lives now, still holding on to the Before, she was stuck. “I will never be something,” she memory of her lost son. thought. But, here, she can go to school without fear of After a year of war and fear, Raghd’s family finally decided an army waiting to arrest her. Here, she can study and be they had to leave Syria for nearby Jordan. They began to a doctor. Here, she can be in a club to raise awareness pack a month in advance, but left most of their belongings for children whose situation she was once in, those still living in Syria, where a civil war has ravaged the country for behind. “Two months, and we’ll be back,” they thought. Five years later, they realized they weren’t going back. nearly eight years. Raghd, a 10-year-old then, took only two things to wear Raghd remembers waking up to hear people shouting and some toys. Two days before the family left, they said and crying. She remembers when members of the army their goodbyes. Then, they were gone, safe from the shots came to her house, twice, looking for her father. They of Syria, but facing a new problem in Jordan—racism. were going to each house where a man lived and forcing “For the students, we didn’t see them because they didn’t men to join the army or be arrested and killed. When they even want us, so they had their schools, and we had our found he wasn’t there, they began to hit her mother and schools,” Raghd said of the native Jordan students. “They grandmother, callously ignoring Raghd, then barely in her didn’t even talk to us.” tweens, as they struck her family right The prejudice grew so bad she had in front of her. to quit her first school after only a few She’s lost family to the army, too. One months. She then attended a school for day, she was with her sisters when her Syrian girls where she made close, lasting dad came to them, crying. friendships with girls she felt were sisters. “He’s in the hospital,” he said. The Jordanian teachers, however, were Radhd’s cousin, only 18, had joined a no help to a girl who yearned to learn. group of people in protesting at the They had no regard for their student’s government center. Five minutes later, feelings, how much their students might the army began shooting at the crowd. care about learning; they merely showed They shot him in the shoulder first, but, up. when they saw he was still alive, they ach day, when the first class began, shot him in the head, trying to kill him. the teacher sat down, and then came 20 “Who’s in the hospital?” Raghd’s minutes of insults, not instruction, 20 minutes of racism, mother said. Raghd and her sisters already knew the not respect, 20 minutes of scorn, not study that only ended answer, but they also knew their mother would be with the class’s conclusion. Each 20 minute class was like distraught when she learned her sister’s son had just been this, and Raghd had six classes each day. shot. Still, it was better than having to keep her younger “My friend,” Raghd’s father said. His wife didn’t believe siblings inside to shield them from the army, who once shot him. at them in the street. Eventually, though, her father felt “I’m sure there’s someone there I know,” she said. there was a better “Don’t do option the nited anything,” he said. States. “Don’t cry, don’t say First, he consulted anything, but your his children, asking nephew is in the them, “Do you hospital.” want to go there?” Raghd remembers Raghd didn’t, but her mother her father insisted. collapsing, crying. “We have to,” he “She didn’t know said, explaining what to do,” Raghd how the work and said. education would Five days later, he be better. “We died. have to go there.” Her family brought So Raghd agreed. his body home, but A couple of years Raghd was kept away later, they arrived because she was in America, and “too little” to see his although she still wounds. They put misses her friends her in another room, back in Jordan, where all she could Raghd has found hear was crying. happiness here. “I was crying with She was able to them, but I didn’t learn English in know what was happening,” she said. Perseverant Girl Junior Raghd Al Zoubi lived in two other coun- just a few months tries before coming to Stratford. After facing violence in Syria and with the help of His mother was a teacher, and moved to action rather discrimination in ordan she says she s happy to be here where now has a close than tears, deciding, she is free to learn. group of friends. “I’m not going to cry; She’s part of the Making Peace club, where she can share I’m just going to do something.” She began pushing for information about conditions in Syria with others, and she’s freedom as her son had, but, when officials discovered her able to focus on studying, on the education she was so actions, they came to her house and beat her repeatedly. long denied. They would have killed her had her husband not paid It’s better here.

“Don’t do anything. Don’t cry don t say anythin but your nephew is in the hospital.”

Winter Blues

A phenomenon called seasonal affective disorder reaches its highest prevalence in January WRITTEN BY BLAKE TODES GRAPHICS BY BEN SICILIANO New year’s blues? It’s more common than you think. This phenomenon called seasonal affective disorder SAD affects up to five percent of the nited States population in January, making January the most depressing month of the year. Winter SAD is caused by a hormonal imbalance as a result of lack of sunlight, leading to lower levels of serotonin, a key chemical linked to brain pathways improving mood. When these pathways do not function properly, the result is often depression. The prevalence of SAD varies widely across regions of the nited States. The disorder only affects only one percent of the population in Florida, however, nearly ten percent of Alaska during the winter, probably because of the lack

of sunlight during this time of year. Many of the symptoms of SAD are similar to other types of depression and mental disorders. Symptoms of the winter SAD include oversleeping, change in appetite, weight gain, low energy, social withdrawal, and cravings for carbohydrates. Psychological evaluations, physical tests, and lab tests can help professionals make a diagnosis. SAD can also affect people during the summertime; however, summer sad has the nearly the opposite symptoms as winter SAD. Trouble sleeping, anxiety, weight loss, loss of appetite, and aversion to light are symptoms. The heat and light of the summer are major causes of summertime SAD. Treatments are available for this January and wintertime depression. Light therapy can help and is typically the first treatment option. In this therapy, you sit a couple of feet away from a box of light to expose yourself to light for the first hour day the day. Light therapy can mimic natural light and can change brain chemicals related to mood. Light therapy starts working within a few days and typically has no side effects; however, sometimes light therapy does not cure everyone’s SAD. The next step in treatment is medication. Antidepressants are typically prescribed and are typically taken before the onset of SAD each year. Talking with a professional therapists, various meditation techniques, yoga, and exercise can also help with this disorder. If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder, help is here. There is a way to treat and mitigate the symptoms of this disorder.

life

The Oracle • February 1, 2019

Seniors

WRITTEN BY HANNAH TIMMRECK

Congratulations on making it to your senior year of high school. Take a moment to commend yourself on all that you’ve accomplished. This semester, do your best not to succumb to the enticing clutches of senioritis. Finish strong academically and get excited for what comes next! You’ll spend a lot of time thinking about and preparing for college, but also try to be present in Juniors If you have not already taken the moment. Enjoy your friends and the SAT or ACT, sign up and start family while you’re with them. studying now. Start setting test score Happy 2019. goals and don’t hesitate to retest if you don’t

reach your goal the first time. Take this new year as an opportunity to start researching the type of schools that interest you and build your application list. Once you’ve narrowed that list down, plan some visits! Lastly, work extremely hard this semester. Junior year is extremely rigorous, but your grades matter more than ever. Start this semester off strong, you got this.

Freshmen

Congratulations on making it through your first semester of high school! It’s time to ensure that you have set yourself up for success for the rest of your high school career. Introduce yourself to your counselor and let them know what your goals are for the next four years. Try new things: sign up for clubs, organizations, activities, and electives. Talk to upperclassmen about organizations if you’re unsure if they are right for you. Good luck on your second semester of freshman year.

Sophomores

If you aren’t already, get involved at Stratford and stay close with your school counselor. This is the time to begin thinking about what you need to do now to be ready for life after high school. Make sure your course schedule is moving forward at a pace that corresponds with your plans for the future. Keep an eye out for academic areas that you need to work on this semester, be sure you’re asking teachers for help and doing the best you can! Have fun with your last semester of being an underclassmen.

POP into the

NEW YEAR with these school resolutions: grade by grade

How should you nish the school year?

ple

Cid

Hitchhiker’s Guide To Montrose

WRITTEN BY JOHN PAUL GRAHAM PHOTOS BY DAN TATULESCU

Who: The

people of Montrose typically tend to be a special breed. They are among a group of people within Houston who share a common ideology. The idea of expressing oneself uniquely, whether it be through clothing, hair, or tattoos and piercings. People such as senior Jake Makiyama enjoy going because of things like the “welcoming culture” and the “memorable times”. You are guaranteed to see strange but respectable styles with the vast number of clothing stores and small vendors. Everyone seems to enjoy showing off their rare and unique clothing along the corner of Dunlavy and Westheimer. So,who might you see in Montrose? You will see photographers, expressionist, artist, and many more people who enjoy uniqueness within Houston.

What: Asking what to do in Montrose is the wrong

question; instead, it should be what is there not do? Every place you swing by has different things to offer. For example, Common Bond cafe and bakery has some of the best sweets and lattes. It is a great place for relaxing and taking your mind off of the outside world. There are plenty of places to eat, shop, and drink with friends or family.

When: Montrose is a

living and breathing thing, as it flows differently between day and night. If you wish to do more shopping and see much of the cultured architecture, then you should go during the day and experience that side of Montrose. On the other hand, at night Montrose transforms completely. It becomes a decadent scene of lights and people watching with plenty of restaurants and cafes to visit. There is no correct time to go to Montrose because whatever time you go you may get a whole new experience. If you are looking to take photos on the other hand, then sunset is ideal as it makes everything pop.

Where: Montrose is located

towards downtown near the Heights, and is as simple as taking I-10 highway to get to. Highly recommended to just enter Common Bond into your maps, as this place lies in heart of Montrose and a good place to walk from. It is located in a part of Houston that is full of culture and expression.

Why: Montrose is the perfect

location for you, friends, and family to go to to have fun and enjoy different experiences. By this point most of us know the area of 77079 like the back of our hands, so to experience a new area in town can be quite eye opening. There will always be plenty to see and plenty to do in this part of Houston and is the exact reason why it is worth driving to. There are spots for photo shoots, picnics, and much more.

life

The Oracle • February 1, 2018

NEWSIES STOP THE WORLD

The Newsies of Lower May and we started rehearsals Manhattan are now officially over the summer, took a break, on strike. Starting Jan. 31, the and then picked them up again ewsies will be taking over in October, which gives us a total the Playhouse Stage with their of nine months in all. The show is annual school-wide musical. The basically our baby. It takes a lot show features over students, of work and there’s a lot of blood, including many newcomers to sweat, and tears, but in the end, the stage. nder the direction it’s always worth it, unior Sydni of ece Prudhomme, the cast Moon said, who plays a ewsie has been in rehearsals since in the show. “ e wouldn’t give early August, perfecting their up this opportunity for the execution of each number. world. In ew ork ity, 8 , the ot only does the show include ewsies are young newsboys Jack Kelly and the newsies, who work for the paper, The but the cast also features orld, run by Joseph Pulit er various other characters such as They deliver papers to the city for showgirls, cops, nuns, and other pennies a day, but are always full employees of Pulit er. of energy and excitement. After Senior Rachel Harsley plays Pulit er enforces a new policy Medda arkin and has been at the expense of the ewsies, participating in Playhouse since the group bands together to freshman year. strike against the unfair work “I think this show is really conditions. special in the sense that there are The show was inspired by the so many people in the cast who real ewsboy Strike of 8 may have never stepped foot in in ew ork ity. After a film the scene shop, said Harsley. Front Page Story version of “ ewsies was “It’s a diverse cast because it Senior Catherine Richard, who plays Katherine, poses with the band of Newsies ranging from released in , a musical represents so many groups Freshman to Seniors. After making the frontpage, the Newsies celebrate with Katherine in a highadaptation followed not too far from Stratford, it’s never too behind. The musical premiered energy dance number. late to go out of your comfort at Paper Mill Playhouse in one. told me to give it a shot, so I figured I The group of dancing ewsies includes and then moved to Broadway in . ewsies opens Jan. and runs for two would, said Payne. “The process has eleven boys and five girls, seven of whom Many newcomers are making their weekends with various showtimes. ou can been awesome and one heck of a are seniors. eading the pack is debuts on the Playhouse Stage, including buy your tickets at shsplayhouse.org or at ourney with some ama ing people. seniors Hudson Brown and Andrew sophomore Brett Payne. the Box Office during both lunches. Payne plays rutchie and is excited alker. “I’ve always loved singing and my friends to make his debut. “ e auditioned for the show in WRITTEN AND DESIGNED BY MADDIE SUERTH AND ISABELLA WALTZ PHOTOS BY HALLIE HUMPHREY KELLER AND PHOTOJOURNALISM

Unlikely Duo

ShowStopper

Senior Rachel Harsley poses as her character, Medda Larkin, a wealthy theater owner. Throughout the show, she serves as a close friend to Jack, and is often found helping him acheive his dreams. She leads a group of showgirls through her lively show-stopping number, “That’s Rich”.

Seniors Hudson Brown and Andrew Walker lead the ewsies in one of the nal dance numbers of the act Seize the Day. This number takes place as the Newsies take a stand against the unfair wages burdened on them by Pulitzer.

Set

“In Set Crew we build the towering structures that are on and off stage,” said junior Set Crew Head Nathan Spann. “Our job also consists of moving those things on and off stage if it’s needed. One of our biggest goals is to not be seen on stage. We dress in blacks and try to move quickly and swiftly to not be seen.”

“My crew hangs and focuses all the lights for the show, during the show some of my crew members work spotlight and the others operate the light board, said junior Lights Crew Head Izzy Flores. “My job is basically to design the plot for the show, and then after all that is done, I get to sit at the light board and program all the looks for the show. Each time you see a change in the lights, that’s me.”

Lights

Charge!

“Costumes crew in general has to help alter the costumes and do quick changes backstage during the show,” said junior Costumes Crew Head Ellie DiPaolo. “Everytime you see an actor come out in something different, a costume girl was back there changing them rapidly.”

Costumes

Senior Hudson Brown, who plays Jack, and sophomore Brett Payne, who plays Crutchie, have a laugh in character as they prepare to start a long day of work. In the show, the two play loyal friends who always have each other’s backs.

in•depth 9

8 in•depth

The Oracle / February 1, 2019

Black

DIVERSITY STORY AND HOUSTON IS DIVERSE GRAPHIC BY CHARLOTTE BENES CHINATOWN AND GREEK FEST STORIES BY AMANDA YOUNGJOHN PIE CHART GRAPHICS BY BENJAMIN SICILIANO STATISTICS COURTESEY OF HOUSTONTX.GOV, WALLETHUB.COM, SPRING BRANCH ISD PHOTOS COURTESEY OF LEO CHEN AND JULIA PAP

27% White

44.3% Hispanic

25.1%

ack 5 % Bl ian

iversity has long been a topic of public discussion and scrutiny. What exactly constitutes diversity? In what ways and what areas can we benefit from diversity? Why should we go out of our way to protect and preserve diversity in our schools, workplaces, entertainment, and government bodies? Less than a month into their first term, the freshmen class of congress, the most diverse group inagurated in our nation’s history, is already making waves. It’s enough to make one wonder how exactly diversity is impacting our school and community. We seem to forget all too often that Houston is the second most diverse city in America, after all, according to wallethub.com, and comes in second palce due only to a mere .02 point deficit compared with it’s top competitor: Jersey City.

Jan

201 9

22.4%

60%

Hispanic

90+

Lauguages Spoken in Houston

Coming back what I see a slap in the face because what you’re saying to substitute here I’ve seen then is that all of the wonderful contributions my at Stratford after at other schools culture has made you want me to disassociate having taught in a in the sense that you myself with those. That in itself is offensive, so largely economically may see a school like the goal in my opinion should be to embrace disadvantaged school district in Stratford that has diversity in diversity and the differences that we bring to the Wisconsin, math teacher Karl Poetzl terms of the general population table,” L-Q counselor Crystal Arrington said. recalls the first shock to his system was being but that diversity doesn’t exactly translate to Arrington recalls the wisdom one of her referred to as “Sir.” by a student mid-apology. the classrooms in the way you might expect it professors shared with her in college concerning “I distinctly remember this kid wasn’t doing would.” cultural awareness. what he was supposed to do and he was like Diversity can be a complex topic to tackle, “We as Americans pride ourself on being ‘the ‘I’m sorry about that sir’ and in Wisconsin, or at especially since it is so multi-faceted. For melting pot’, but ‘the melting pot’ infers that least in the school I taught at if a kid used the instance, diversity could refer to cultural, ethnic, we’re all going to kind of just melt into one big word ‘sir’ it was derogatory, it was like they were and sociocultural diversity, which are the aspects group of the sameness, as opposed to being coming at you” Poetzl said. we tend to hear the most about in the news, more of a tossed salad where we all have kind of For the most part, the word “sir” it is not in our studies, and even in our exploration of our own different attributes that we bringing to thought of as a fighting word. In fact, addressing higher education options, but it can also refer it, everything that is brought makes it that much a figure of authority better,” Arrington said. as “sir” is often a sign Senior Hannah Keller “A group that is more diverse is more successful, because of respect, whether founded the One World members of that group are better able to understand and less Club to meet what it is directed toward a teacher, parent, she saw as “a growing afraid to tackle things outside of their comfort zone” or acquaintance. In need in the Stratford -One World Club Founder and President Hannah Keller community to create that particular school district, however, the a support system for implications of such a term and its use were not to less tangible or obvious, concrete forms immigrants and refugees at school. so benign. of diversity, such as diversity in terms of life “I think a small scale thing people could try, “I remember thinking: ‘oh you wanna call me experience. and I know it’s easier said than done but like… sir? You wanna go there? You wanna fight?’ Diversity of experiences is at the core of all people sit with the same exact people every And it was like ‘oh wait, this kid called me sir forms of diversity. The more intentional time we day at lunch and walk to class with the same like legitimately…’ and I had to remind myself spend with those whose life experiences differ exact people every day and if you change that, once again that I was in a different environment from our own, however slightly or vastly, the if you see someone sitting alone, especially if it’s and that I needed to respond differently if a kid greater our understanding becomes of other someone who doesn’t look like you or think like called me sir, because yeah, that was utmost cultures and the formative experiences which you or talk like you or act like you, if you reach disrespect up north” Poetzl said. make each individual we encounter unique. out to them it provides a safe space in which you After having settled into Stratford, however, Every culture, age group, religion, etc. has can grow to understand each other better and Poetzl feels he has a better grasp of the role features that make it unique and special, and that is where empathy comes into play, when that diversity plays in our classes. prioritizing diversity allows us to celebrate these you begin to learn and understand and take into “Having diversity in the classrooms is a good differences. account the diverse life experiences of those reminder that there are other life situations “Some might say why do we see color and around you.” besides your own,” Poetzl said. “However, culture and race, but I think that that in itself is

White

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2018-

Lauguages Spoken by students in SBISD

D S I B

reek Fest, possibly the most popular festival in Houston, has been a part of our city for over 50 years. This year Greek Fest will be celebrating its 53rd anniversary. Greek Fest has become a Houstonian tradition regardless of whether or not you’re Greek. “People grew up going to Greek Fest,” senior Alexandra Powell explained. “You would grow up going, then you’d take your kids, and they’d take their kids, and so on.” Greek Fest is a great opportunity to learn about Greek culture. You can try all the different types of food, look at or buy unique art and jewelry, and watch the dancers. What stands out most about Greek Fest, however, is that no matter the weather, people will still go. Powell suggests that this is because of the sense of community surrounding Greek people in Houston. Even though many people attend Greek Fest annually, most of us don’t know much about the prevalent Greek culture existing behind the scenes. The Greek community is very tight.The Greek community is very tightly knit. Many of them share relatives and go to church with owners of local Greek restaurants, such as Niko Niko’s. The Greek culture found in Houston is also very similar to Greek culture in Greece. “At home we will switch between Greek and English and eat food with funny names” Powell said. What is possibly the most prevalent aspect of Greek culture is the sense of community. In reference to the close bound community, Powell jokes that “if you throw a stick, you’ll probably hit a Greek.”

sian

C HINATOWN

Pictured: Seniors Alexandra PowellLorenzatos and Julia Pap

7% A

hen most people think Chinatown, they picture crowded streets lined with crumbling buildings and bright red paper lanterns. However, Houston’s Chinatown is a little bit different. Keeping in step with Houston’s already sprawling layout, our Chinatown is also sprawling. Stretching across Bellaire Boulevard between Fondren Road and Highway 6, Chinatown is decorated by office parks, shopping malls, and lots of restaurants. Another defining aspect of Houston’s Chinatown is that it not only expresses Chinese culture, but many cultures from all across Asia. The street signs on the east side of the sector are written in Mandarin Chinese, but as you go further west they are written in Vietnamese. This shift in languages is accredited to Houston being home to the second largest Asian community in the US. With so many different Asian cultures present, Houston’s Chinatown has morphed into more of an Asiatown than anything else. One of the many ways to experience the immense diversity of the area is through the food. Restaurants serve a multitude of traditional dishes ranging from authentic Malaysian food to Taiwanese dumplings. The Hong Kong City Mall, which ironically is heavily Vietnamese, is home to over 20 restaurants and cafes. It also houses the famous Hong Kong Food Market where you can try foods like jackfruit and shredded dried squid. All in all, Houston’s Chinatown is more of a melting pot for all Asian cultures across Houston. It is also a great place to go if you’re looking to try some interesting new foods.

G REEK F ESTIVAL

The Oracle / Febryary 1, 2019

sports

The Oracle • February 1, 2019

Out of the Box Sports

There are some sports around school you may not hear about but ones that you de nitely should.

WRITTEN BY NATHAN SICILIANO, PHOTOS BY JACKSON BOWEN AND DAN TATULESCU Girls Lacrosse is relatively new. I asked Coach Girls Lacrosse Elmore about the recent growth, and he stated It may come as a surprise, but lacrosse is only “Stratford Girls Lacrosse has grown by leaps a club sport. The sport is popular throughout and bounds since it was started in 2010. The Stratford, Houston, and even Texas. However, first two years the club only had enough players it is not recognized by UIL. I posed the girls for one team, and even then they played only lacrosse coach, Scott Elmore, with this question a J schedule. Since then, we have fielded and he replied “Yes, It would be nice if lacrosse both varsity and JV; we added a middle school could be recognized by UIL and thus possibly become part of athletics, as it would be another program which annually has 20-30 girls. This is my sixth year; the high school program has option for girls to be involved in athletics. But grown from - the first couple of years, to we are still proud to be affiliated with Stratford 34 last year, and now to 45 players this year. It even as a club team, and are very appreciative is great to see the program grow. of the support we do receive. Along with being a club sport, Stratford

One Team, One Family

The Varsity Girls Larosse team smiles for a team picture after winning the Cowboy Cup, earlier this school year. Photo taken by Coach Elmore. great swims and steady progression. Swimming & Diving

Practice, Practice, Practice

Talented junior Keagan Firenza pratices his backstroke at the W.W. Emmons Natatorium. The swim team pratices there early in the morning throughout the week. Photo taken by Jackson Bowen. with a league record of 7-1-0. Losing only 5 Boys Lacrosse Coached by Ban James, Curt Jones, and Stu Graham, the Varsity Boys Lacrosse program is in good hands. Coach James, responsible for all players and coaches in the program, strives to make Stratford Boys Lacrosse better at every oppurtunity. With their season kicking off, the team is excited for the oppurtunites and experiences that await them. The team, which went 10-8-0 in 2018, is a positive and promising program. Last year, they went undefeated at home with wins. They also finished the season ranked as the #25 team in the state, with a win percentage of 0.556%. In 2016, the team was very successful. They had a record of 19-4-0

games total, they scored 253 goals and gave up 153. This culminated an impressive win percentage of 0.826%, and ranked as the 9 team in the state. Coach Curt Jones handles the varisty defense and defensive schemes for the program, while Coach Stu Graham is responsible for face offs, clears, and manages the sideline during the game. The program also has a JV team, which is coached by Brian Winkler, and Matt First. Stratford Boys Lacrosse competes in the Divison II - South District 2 league and adorns Forest-Green and White as their team colors.

In a recent talk with Michael Hoskovec, the Stratford Swimming and Diving coach, I asked him what he was looking forward to the most this upcoming year. Coach Hoskovec replied “For the team, dictricts, regions and state are the culminations of a season’s hard work. I enjoy watching their work come to a successful finish and the look of pride on their face when they accomplish their goals.” While looking forward and being positive about the future, the necessary steps and preparation must be taken. In preseason and building up to districts, Coach Hoskovec said “We have had alot of

This year will be a challenge as we will have some new faces step up.” However, the program has handled the adversity well already. The swimming and diving coach has stated his favorite moment so far this year was “seeing a few kids taking advantage of oppurtunites that have arisen. e have had kids find themselves in relay situations amd have not only responded, but thrived in those roles.” Just like any other program, Stratford Swimming and Diving has faced its toll of adversites. But they have collectiely responded well and look to contine to improve.

Teamwork makes the dreanwork

Meggie Nop, Cate Cerveny and Rachel Harkins start their pratice relay. They push each other to become better daily, whilst wearing the Stratford “S” on their swim caps. Photo taken by Jackson Bowen.

All Out, All the Time

Stratford Lacrosse players swarm an attacker in a effort to get the ball back. Stratford recently played Memorial in a heated showdown as the Memorial versus Stratford rivalry remains strong in all sports. Coaches James and Graham, who used to play for Stratford as teenagers, are sure to push the boys to their best, especially in rivalry games. Photo taken by Dan Tatulescu.

sports ONE ON

ONE

with Quigely, Head Athletic Trainer

WRITTEN BY ANA SOFIA MEYER PHOTOS BY IVY MARTINEZ

Q: What are the best and worst things about Athletic Training?

The best thing about athletic training is probably, getting to help athletes, that’s really fun. Taking them from the moment they get hurt, to when they get released again, and you get to watch them play, I think that’s really cool. The worst part...the long hours. We work lots of nights and weekends.

Head Athletic Trainer, Melissa Quigley

What do you think is Q: Do you have a favorite Q: the worst injury an athlete sport season?

All the sports are fun when I’m watching my athletes play, but if I was just picking a sport where I didn’t know any of the athletes...Football is my favorite.

Q: Why is that one your favorite?

I like it because, I feel like the whole community is involved. That’s a really great and somewhat rare feeling. ou have cheer and dance and band, and everybody comes out to watch the games.

can have, in your opinion?

So, it’s not the grossest or [usually] most serious injury, but I think the worst in ury is that athletes have, are sprained ankles. And I know that sounds silly, but it can nag the whole season, and if you sprain your ankle bad enough, it’s never really the same. ven though you can go back to playing sports, it’s always there, and it comes back. I think that makes it really tough because it’s something that once it happens you have to live with it.

Q: What’s

something that people don’t know about Athletic Training, but you think they should?

Athletic trainers have to have at least a masters The Four Stages of Ice degree. So, we go through a Quigley helps an athlete ice, while really long education process. explainin the bene ts to a student We’re actually more of an allied healthcare profession, trainer. traditionally people think we’re apart of Athletics, but we’re just as much a part of Healthcare as a nurse or a doctor or a physical therapist.

Q: When does your job

become the most difficult?

11 ATHLETEOFTHEWEEK The Oracle • February 1, 2019

It’s definitely when I have to tell an athlete they can’t play, and I know that they really want to.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add to the interview?

A: We’re always looking for student

trainers, people who are interested in sports, but maybe who don’t necessarily want to play sports, but want to be involved in some form of health care and learning about sports injuries. So anyone who’s interested in that, should come and talk to Landon or myself.

Student Council president, Cullen Hannigan commits to Rice University

WRITTEN BY ANA SOFIA MEYER PHOTO CREDIT TO SHSBOOSTERCLUB.COM As the Class of 2019 President of backed up behind Caston Peter, who Student Council, Stratford Baseball now catches for the niversity of Texas Rice-commit Cullen baseball team, Hannigan knows Hannigan has now how to work hard. taken over Peter’s Since starting role of starting T-Ball at the age catcher, a position of four or five and he’s been vying for even throughout since his sophomore playing other year, the same year sports, he’s always he was able to play thought of baseball on the same team as as his favorite. his brother. “For as long as I When asked about can remember, it favorite Stratford has been a goal baseball memories, to play baseball in he said that getting college,” Hannigan to play on the same said. team as his brother “When it became was one of the best possible, especially moments. at a school like Hannigan Rice, it wasn’t emphasized his Caught and Launched too difficult of excitement for the a decision. Rice upcoming season; Senior Cullen Hannigan has been my top “With the group of catches against Cy-Ranch school for as long guys we have this durin the 1 Season as I can remember year and how close and when I finally we all are, I have no received the offer doubt that there will and the chance to play there it was just a be many more memories to be made.” dream come true.” Cullen Hannigan plans to study Hannigan has a three-year varsity engineering at Rice. letter as a catcher, although he usually

sports

The Oracle • February 1 2019

Spartan Hoops The Stratford basketball regular season is nearly over. Here is the boys’ season in photos.

S ccer Preseason Recap

CAPTIONS BY JACKSON ALLRED PHOTOS BY NATHAN SICILIANO AND MARJANI STANFILL

Coach Wallace and the boys’ soccer regular season just kicked off. Here is a recap thus far.

Sophomore Skills

WRITTEN BY JACKSON ALLRED

Sophomore Mark Perkins takes a breather around midcourt against Memorial. Perkins is the only sophomore on the varsity team.

Hudding Up

The boys’ varisty team huddles around Coach Johnson and Coach Kent during the DecemSenior Ballin’ ber Memorial game. Senior Wes Waitkus attempts a free throw shot in the rst quarter of the January Memorial game. Ondreus Patterson a senior uard put up 1 points in this rivalry game. Senior Dylan Uthman nished with 1 points and boards as well as the go-ahead three with e seconds left.

Offensive Work

Junior John Troutman dribbles up the court against the Mustangs on anuary 1 th the classic rivalry game at Don Coleman Colesium Troutman led the team with 15 points off of his e threes beyond the arc.

chocolates love couple

pink hearts romance

valentine owers kisses

Coach Wallace and his boys’ soccer team had an early exit from the postseason last season thanks to the Eisenhower Eagles, however this year is different: new players, new coaches, and new opponents. Entering the season, though, there has been much skepticism towards this team. But there is only Goal! The Varsity Soccer Team one way to find the Spartan win together. legitimacy of these doubts: play. On January 3, 2019, the Spartans began their preseason. Playing some of the hardest opponents in the Houston area such as; Cy Springs, Ridge Point, and Nimitz High School, the boys’ soccer team wrapped up the preseason with a 1-4-1 record. Although this wasn’t the start the team would’ve prefered, there is some positive aspects of this slow start to look forward to.

According to Nathan Siciliano, “We learned a lot about ourselves in the preseason. e noticed flaws in our game that we can correct entering the regular season.” Siciliano, one of only two sophomore players on the team, continued to say, “Coach [Wallace] told us to get our act together and wake up. After he said that, I saw more effort from the team. We’re still not where we celebrates another need to be, but we’re heading in the right direction.” Last season, the team completed the preseason with a 1-4-3, however they still managed to qualify for the playoffs. Meaning, as unsightly as a 1-4-1 record may seem, there is still a good amount of hope and optimism for this team. You can watch the boys’ soccer team play Memorial High School on February 1st at Stratford High School.

cupid

Check your answers online at shsoracle.org

perspectives

The Oracle • February 1, 2018

2019 Oscar Predictions

Predicting the winners of the prestigious Academy Awards from the array of independent and blockbuster movies that have played on screens across the country. WRITTEN BY: AMORA FLORES AND YASMIN TALBI 8 has been the year for true film making. Movies such as A Star Is Born, Roma, and Bohemian Rhapsody have graced the big screens all over the country. ach movie depicting a different facet of the bravery that human beings can have and strive for. Independent films are finally getting the attention they deserve, and not only at annes Film Festival, or Sundance, but now at one of the most prestigious The Oscars. The months spanning from January to the beginning of March is known as Awards Season, where all actors, musicians, filmmakers, and celebrities are engulfed in a world of glamour and glit , basking in the glory of the unity between Old Hollywood and ew Hollywood. The main award shows in the season are the olden lobes, the SA Awards, the ritics hoice Awards, and, evidently, the Oscars. hile it’s not the rule, winners of the Academy Award can be predicted by their popularity in the other award shows. hen A Star Is Born first came out, people were walking out of theaters practically drenched in tears as we saw ady aga take on a completely different role. From the moment she emerged onto the screen to the moment she belted out the highest notes from the song “Shallow, her character depicted a stark contrast to the reality of her own music career. A Star Is Born is also the directorial debut of Bradley ooper and his first role where he wrote and sang all of his own songs. Surprisingly, this movie didn’t receive the acclaim the public was expecting, except for, of course, winning

Best Song at the olden lobes. hile Bohemian Rhapsody received mediocre reviews from critics, the people thought differently, reveling in the memory of Freddy Mercury’s legendary operatic-rock music and scandalous lifestyle. Rami Malek, the man who played the beloved singer, changed his entire appearance, striving to fully capture Freddy’s aura and shameless flamboyance. The picture and the acting carried the movie to it’s spot on the Oscars, but will that be enough for it to win The film seemed like a protective shield over the man that he truly was, not displaying the fullness of Mercury, what he thought and how he felt. The character seemed hollow and mysterious, pained and lonely. Rami does a good ob at this, his eyes giving way not too much, but ust enough for you to continue wondering. As if even in his characters lone moments, he wasn’t truly alone, but watched by many. Another ma or contender if Alfonso uaron’s semiautobiographical independent film, Roma. hile we can’t really see the similarities between Roma and his previous works ravity , Roma is the first movie that uaron has depicted his own childhood. hile at the olden lobes, the film only received

a nod to uaron’s directorial talents as he won the olden lobe for Best Director and Best Foreign anguage Film. However, it has dominated the nominations for this year’s Academy Awards garnering the nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. The film depicts the story of a housemaid, leo, for a middle-class family in Mexico ity. alit a Aparicio’s nomination makes her the first indigenous woman to be nominated for this award. It wouldn’t be surprising to see this emotional and honest depiction of the strength of women garner even more awards at the Oscars. The surprisingly strong candidate, reen Book, emerged onto awards season without so much as a warning. This movie is based on the true story of African-American a pianist, Don Shirley, and an Italian-American bouncer, Tony allelonga, who acts as Shirley’s bodyguard as he drives across America to his performances. The film is actually written by allelonga’s son, who based it off of interviews between the two and letters that allelonga sent to his wife. hile this movie wasn’t incredibly popular in the box office and lacked the blockbuster advertising we would expect, it won Best Picture -

How students feel about Valentines Day

Musical or omedy and Best Supporting Actor Mahershala Ali at the olden lobes. reen Book is definitely one to watch for. Finally, the last ma or contender is The Favourite, and yes, the u is intentional. It’s the story of the fight between two ladies in waiting for ueen Anne of ngland. mma Stone and Rachel eis play two women fighting for the approval of ueen Anne, played by Olivia olman, to be deemed as her favourite. Directed by orgos anthimos, it’s not your typical seventeenth-century nglish story, and instead shocks the audience with its truthful portrayal of nglish artistocracy during the time period. hile we can never truly know who will win at the Oscars, and looking at previous award shows may help a little. At the end of the day the reason movies are made is not to satisfy the desires of other actors and entertainers, but instead to tell stories to the masses. The Oracle staff predictions for the Oscars seem to lean towards Bohemian Rhapsody and Rami Malek as the recipient for Best Actor. ady aga is predicted to win Best Actress while Mahershala Ali is deemed to win Best Supporting Actor. Best Supporting Actress is predicted to be mma Stone while Best Director is thought to go to Spike ee for BlacKkKlansman. Any predictions can be made, yet nobody will really know until Feb. , when the Oscars will air. Tune in and see how accurate the staff predictions, and maybe even your own predictions, were.

COMPILED BY CAROLINE DINA

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perspectives

The Oracle • February 1, 2019

Food Fight!

ou oted on shsoracle on insta ram here are the results.To participate in our upcommin polls follow us on insta ram and chec our story BRACKET COMPILED BY MADDIE SUERTH AND MADDI SANGI PHOTOS COURESY OF thechickenwire.chickfila.com, starbucks.com, sonamamag.com, AND

Raising Canes

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Juice Bar Chick Fil A

Starbucks

Whataburger Sams ur ers Fries and Pies

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A and G, check shsoracle. org

Sisters Before Misters Galentines Day: Fiction to tradition

WRITTEN BY LIBBY GRIZZELL In 2010, the Parks and Recreation episode called Galentine’s Day aired and the increasingly celebrated holiday was created by the shows main character Leslie Knope. The show layed out the pre-Valentine’s day celebration as a day to celebrate your female friendships

First Galentine’s Day

Now juniors, Katherine Whelen and Ava Tran celebrate their rst alentines ay freshmen year. This was the be innin of a tradition. over brunch and other self-love bonding activities. The show might have had the intentions of the made up holiday to be a joke, but over the years more and more girl groups have gotten together and actually had a galentine’s celebration with each other.

Junior Ava Tran is a big fan of the idea of Galentine’s day. She got the idea after she saw her older sister and her friends celebrating it. “I think it is as important to celebrate your female friendships as it is to celebrate your other relationships on actual Valentines day” said Tran. Since freshman year, Tran has celebrated Galentine’s day with her group of close girl friends. “I have had the same group of friends since the 4th grade, and once we got into high school I realized it was more important to celebrate our friendship” said Tran. Tran believes that the friendships you make with your girl friends in high school are important to keep because they could last throughout your whole life. “Your girlfriends are there for you through everything and I think that is an awesome thing that obviously needs to be celebrated” says Tran. “I really advocate the whole sisters before misters thing” says Tran. She believes that girl friends always come before guys. Trans Galentines celebrations normally include either dinner and movies with her friends or a small gift exchange where everyone gets each other a tiny gift just to show appreciation. “On the day of Galentine’s day, I always bring my friends cookies at lunch. My friends always get super excited and really appreciate the small gesture. I always want my friends to know I value their friendships, that’s why this holiday is so important to me” says Tran. “I hope that every girl friend group celebrates Galentine’s day at least once so they can realize how

important their friendships are with each other.” Like Friends giving, Galentines recognizes the importance of your close friendships and what they mean to you. Single or not, anyone can celebrate. Female Friendships are something super valuable and important in a girls life. Your friendships can last forever and celebrating them can bring you and your friend group even closer.

The tradition continues...

Ava Tran and junior Jessica Bucek celebrate their second Galentine’s Day at a restaurant on the e e of alentine s ay.

perspectives

The Power of Stories WRITTEN AND PHOTO BY RACHEL DIETERT

Every book is someone’s story

The library in the Hotel Emma in San Antonio is home to 7 stories.

the power to connect us across cultures and in spite of walls. We can learn about different perspectives through the eyes of another human being. Stories are the best way to understand other because we can connect with the emotions that others have felt. They show us our similarities instead of our differences and allow us to empathize with other people and allow us to see each other as human beings instead of the stereotypes we are told. From the quiet kid to the loudest person in class, everyone has a story to tell. The power comes in telling yours. The world is missing a piece of the puzzle if it doesn’t have your voice, your story. At the Oracle, we believe in the power of stories. That’s why we write them. We just hope that you have the courage to share them.

Black Culture Through Art This lac

istory Month

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ORACLE

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Why we believe in the art of storytelling This issue of the Oracle was focused on diverse people and their stories because we know that their stories matter. Stories make us feel good. When we think about our favorite books, we think back to what they made us feel: joy, mourning, anticipation. Stories allow us to add color to an otherwise gray life because every good story is about the human condition: love and loss, pain and joy. We can see ourselves in the characters, and after we close those books, we feel like we can understand ourselves better. After listening to or reading a story, we feel a bit more: a bit more confident, a bit more brave, a bit more understood. But they also allow us to understand others. Diversity alone means nothing if we don’t connect with one another, but stories have

rt s n Focus

staff

Editors-in-Chief *Charlotte Benes *Maddie Suerth

Associate Editors *Isabella Waltz *Rachel Dietert

Photo Editors *Dan Tatulescu *Maddie Dawson

News Editors Yasmin Talbi McKenna Tanner

Life Editors Blake Todes Amora Flores

Sports Editors na So a Meyer Jackson Allred

Perspectives Editors

The exhibition “Over There Some Place” is opening Feb. 3 at the Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC). It is a collection of work created by emerging Black artists in Houston, and is a homage to their African heritage and an exploration of the struggles of geographical displacement.

Sorry To Bother You is an immensely creative comedy written and directed by Boot Riley. With a predominantly black cast, it tells the story of a young man, Cassius, who scores a ob as a telemarketer after a long and desperate ob-search. ew to the ob, he stumbles upon the secret to telemarketing success using his white voice. Mixing sci-fi, comedy and drama in one hilarious, and sometimes shocking, blend, Sorry To Bother You represents the best of what can come of marginalized content creators being given free reign to tell their stories. During the past few years, more Black art has been celebrated than ever. Black artists are using their newfound place in the mainstream entertainment industry to tell their stories, brighter and bigger than ever before. Consuming their art not only helps support Black content creators, but can help give to insight to the present day Black experience in a way no history class could do.

Ads Editors Samantha Wagner Joy Meyers

Ads Staff Hagen Bach Sara Duvall Isabella Moreno Hannah Timmreck Mary Claire Vatterott

Building Principal

Ashley Calahan Eamonn Fitzpatrick Bowen Jackson Meghan Martinez

Over there some place

Caroline Dina Lauren White

Reporter

Black history month is, above anything, a time for reflection. The African American story is often a hard one, but the very thing Black History Month celebrates might just be that, despite at times horrible odds, Black Americans are still here, still immensely impactful in American society, and still creating. As Black History Month is a time for reflecting on the past, it could ust as well be a time to look towards the present and the future of Black Americans. Storytelling through art remains one of the principal ways of expression for many, so what better way to celebrate Black History Month than to consume some of the art made by Black content creators? Here’s a some art made by Black artists in 2018 and 2019 to help kick Black History Month off.

Heads of the Colored People is a critically acclaimed collection of short stories written by afissa Thompson-Spiers. Funny and thought provoking, her rendition of the American middle class is as sympathetic as it is cutting. Through 12 wildly different stories, Thompson-Spiers attempts to make sense of the experiences of young black men and women in the 21st century, and slowly pieces together a puzzle of where our society stands, and where we might be headed.

Photography Managers

Design Editors

Amaris Smith

Heads of the Colored People

Makowski Alex Nica Ivy Martinez Miles Harper Becca Dawson Nathan Siciliano Jeanie Sidler Eleanore Williams Ally Weidman

Alexis Garza Libby Grizzell

WRITTEN BY AMALIA KNOTTEN PHOTS COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK TIMES , HOUSTON MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE, IMDB

Sorry to Bother You

The Oracle • February 1, 2018

Photographers

The Oracle newspaper is the of cial school sponsored student media of Stratford i h School 14555 Fern ouston Texas 77079, 713-2513454. The Oracle is published monthly by the Journalism Department and is also available online at shsoracle. org. The newspaper is a member of Columbia Scholastic Press ssociation National Scholastic Press ssociation and Interscholastic League Press Conference. The Oracle serves as a public forum of student expression

Benjamin Siciliano

Chad Crowson

Advisor Janice Cummons *Editorial Board

Members

and is open to contributions submitted by the readers. Readers may submit material ia e mail to info shsoracle.org. All letters to the editors must be typed and contain the author s full name grade and signature. Submitted material is subject to editing based on space and/ or content. The opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily re ect the iews of the editors the staff the administration or the school district.

Publication costs are covered through advertisements. For more information, contact thestratfordoracle@gmail.com OR call at 713-251-3454

photos

The Oracle • February 1, 2019

The Many Colors of our School CAPTIONS BY BECCA DAWSON AND DAN TATULESCU

PHOTOS BY DAN TATULESCU AND BOWEN JACKSON

A Stroke of Color

Students in art teacher Ms. Jennifer Clouse’s room take time to work on their pieces. The art department allows students to come together to work in a creative environment.

It’s Time for Lunch

Party On!

On Jan.18, the One World Club gathered at club president Hannah Keller’s house. The club is open to all students, aiming to bring together all parts of the Stratford community. This group tries their best to promote cultural diversity.

HEY SPARTANS! COME AND VISIT US AT OUR TULLY LOCATION!

FREAKY FRESH FREAKY FAST 12161 KATY FRWY. - 281.679.5000 OPEN MON.-SAT. 11AM-5PM - CLOSED SUNDAYS

During lunch time, different people come together to socialize. It doesn’t matter what sport or club you are in, everyone eats together.

If you would like this space Contact: Stratford High School Journalism Department 14555 Fern Houston, TX 77079 Phone: (713) 251-3454 Email: thestratfordoracle@gmail.com OR hand deliver to room 120