The Oracle

ORACLE the

Stratford High School • Monday, December 7, 2020 • Vol. 48 • Issue 3

05

National Merit SemiFinalists Announced

www.shsoracle.org

8-9

Looking back at Stratford through the eyes of alumni who are now teachers

@SHSOracle

15

Election Unity vs.

Division Editorial

@StratfordOracle

2

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

News in Brief COMPLIED BY MONICA DERU

Final Exam Schedule:

NATIONAL LOCAL STRATFORD

Tuesday, Dec 15 7:45 - 9:45 Period 1 Exam 10:00 - 12:00 Period 3 Exam 12:00 - 12:30 A Lunch 12:06 - 1:15 Period 5 12:36 - 1:45 Period 5 1:15 - 1:45 B Lunch

1:51 - 3:00 Period 7 Class Wednesday, Dec 16 7:45 - 9:45 Period 2 Exam 10:00 - 12:00 Period 4 Exam 12:00 - 12:15 Grab&Go Lunch

12:15 Buses Leave 1:00 - 2:00 Period 6 Class 2:05 - 3:00 Period 8 Class Thursday, Dec 17 7:45 - 9:45 Period 5 Exam 10:00 - 12:00 Period 7 Exam 12:00 - 12:15 Grab&Go Lunch

12:15 Buses Leave 1:00 - 2:00 Period 1 Class 2:05 - 3:00 Period 3 Class Friday, Dec 18 7:45 - 9:45 Period 6 Exam 10:00 - 12:00 Period 8 Exam 12:00 - 12:15 Grab&Go Lunch

12:15 Buses Leave

Nov. 18: Houston’s Toys for Tots foundation is doing everything in their power to make 2020 a remarkable Christmas. Toys for Tots have raised over 100,000 toys as of now, so less privileged families can still have a special Christmas.

Nov. 26: Houston cancels Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time ever in 71 years since the COVID-19 cases are spreading rapidly across the city.

Nov. 26: The 94th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade still happened but the parade looked very different with no one able to watch it in person. Workers took extra precautions to make sure everyone stayed safe, and the parade was limited to one block.

Nov. 14: Rockefeller Center has put up it’s annual Christmas tree. The tree looks a little run down and not as full as before. New York did this on purpose as a symbol to represent the apocalypse we are living in 2020. Lights will be put on the tree by Dec. 2.

PHOTO

BY BECCA DAWSON

Zooming into the Holidays Santa has begun preparations by taking note of all the students who have been naughty and nice this year. Covid has changed the way everyone does their job.

news

The Great American Smoke Out As Americans begin to feel the repercussions of smoking, new data suggests more dangers for teenagers as a result of nicotine WRITTEN BY KATE SULLIVAN GRAPHIC BY KATE SULLIVAN because of smoking, at least 30 people seem harmless. Originally, E-cigarettes On the third Thursday in November, suffer from a severe smoking-related were intended to help people quit we participated in The Great illness. smoking, but now they’re just another American Smoke out. It’s a day to raise If you or a loved one needs an way for big businesses to profit off awareness of the damaging effects incentive to quit, there of impressionable of smoking and try to prevent more are many reasons why teens. People back people from starting this addicting it could change your life in the ’60s weren’t habit. Consuming tobacco in any for the better.

Just one aware of the effects way is one of the strongest and most year after quitting, your of smoking, so deadly addictions one can have. It is risk of coronary heart how is vaping any imperative for us as a generation to disease drops to half different? They are stop the smoking epidemic that has that of a person who relatively new, so lasted almost 100 years. still smokes, and your long-term effects Smoking causes one in five deaths risk of a heart attack are not known, but worldwide, and it doesn’t help that also drops drastically. it is known that it’s heavily addictive. Lighting up Within five years, your they contain cancerevery day can cause several diseases chance of getting any causing chemicals including, but not limited to, cancer, type of cancer also and staggeringly heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, drops by half.

If you high levels of Annual Smoking Deaths diabetes, and chronic obstructive This pie chart shows the causes nicotine. E-cigarettes pulmonary disease (COPD). And if that’s quit, you’ll add years back to your life and save of smoking related deaths in and similar devices not scary enough, it takes at least 10 over $71,000. are also gravely America from COPD, Lung years off your life. That can be changed Since traditional cigarette harmful to teens’ Cancer, Heart Disease, and though if you stop smoking before you sales are declining, tobacco developing brains. others. are 40 years old. You can also suffer companies are trying No matter if it’s from diseases caused by second-hand to reach a new market; smoking or vaping, smoking, which is usually caused by teenagers. E-cigarettes are advertised this time it is okay to be a quitter. frequently being around someone who to appeal to teenagers and make them is smoking. For every person who dies

A Confusing End to Election Season Former Vice President Joe Biden becomes the next President-elect after defeating President Trump in the 2020 Presidential Election WRITTEN BY GRACE HARE ILLUSTRATION BY GABBY CARVELLI As he addressed the nation on Nov.9, working-class childhood he grew up in.

President-elect Joe Biden celebrated his He also believed that he was the only and Kamala Harris’ win of the nation’s viable candidate to end the coronavirus electoral vote. saying that This decision his central was reached message after an intense for ending election the spread between was doing, Democrat “whatever candidate it takes.” former Vice He hopes President Joe to work Biden and with local President officials Donald J. to make Trump. mask Across the wearing a nation, millions mandate of voters cast their Land of the Free, Home of the Brave in every ballots, while state. people anxiously President-elect Joe Biden resonate his hopes as he Biden’s spoke to Americans on Nov.7, 2020. awaited the health care results of the policy is to historical 2020 election. With an support the expansion of the Affordable electoral vote of 270, Joe Biden’s vote Care Act, which provides lower health beat President Donald Trump’s electoral care costs for lower-income households. vote of 217.

He does not support the more extreme Throughout the election of 2020, Medicare for All Act, which was President-elect Joe Biden advocated popular for Bernie Sanders. He also himself as a “President for all does not advocate for eliminating Americans.” Born in Scranton, PA, private insurance.

Biden frequently referenced the Born in 1942, Joe Biden is 77 years old,

making him the oldest president ever elected on the date of his inauguration.

He and vice president-elect Kamala Harris have broken many records. Vice president-elect Kamala Harris will be the first African American woman to be elected.

The election of 2020 also marks the most votes ever cast in a U.S. presidential election, with 65 percent of the eligible voting population casting their ballots.

During this election, there has been an extreme divide between political parties and people’s opinions.

As he transitions into the presidency, Biden has begun selecting his picks for Secretary of Treasury, a job tasked with handling the response to the economic crisis because of the coronavirus.

In his presidential address to the nation, Joe Biden promised to help the nation “heal.”

With policies that are described as leaning left, Joe Biden has often been seen as radical by many Republican or right-wing Americans.

In his speech, Biden offers words of Trump supporters, condolences to their candidate’s loss, and words of encouragement as well. “I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify,” President-elect Joe Biden said.

news

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

The Devil All the Time Movie Review

WRITTEN BY WYLIE BURTON

Fast-paced action, suspense, and gore allow a starstudded cast to shine in this Netflix thriller With the release of The Devil All things that make it less appealing to the Time planned two months ago, some viewers. The movie tells the story the film finally came out on Netflix, of many troubled people from small and it did not disappoint. With an towns in West Virginia. Each person is incredible cast starring Tom Holland, influenced by evil and violence and, as Robert Pattinson, Sebastian Stan, and their lives progress, everything begins numerous well-known actors, this to go downhill. The characters are film kept slowly brought its viewers together towards captivated. the end, and Antonio connections are Campos, made. Many of the director the characters of the film, clash until only delivered a one prevails. suspenseful One thing that but this movie did disturbing well with was film. With remaining Stacked Cast, Sinister Plot a running interesting time of 2 throughout the The film stars Tom Holland, known for his hours and 18 starring role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s story, only getting minutes, this Spider-Man, as protagonist Arvin. Holland is more suspenseful movie has a joined by Robert Pattinson and Sebastian Stan and action packed lot to explain. in this sinister flick. Critics have received this as the movie played With multiple film in a mostly positive manner, as reflected by out. stories going its decent Rotten Tomatoes score of 64%.

I was extremely on at once, impressed with it was hard to keep up with at times, this movie, and I’m glad that I decided but loose ends were always tied up. to watch it. I enjoyed the well-told The acting in the film was spectacular. story and performances that were Tom Holland delivered an incredible delivered. I also loved the action, and performance. Playing a troubled the way all characters were connected teenager with a rough past, Holland and brought together at the end of the had the viewers rooting for him from movie however nothing is perfect. I start to finish. With a few other well wasn’t bothered with the movie’s fastknown actors, the film packed a punch paced plot and gore scenes, but others with its performances, and the plot of might be. If this bothers you, then I do the story was laid out perfectly. I felt not recommend this film. Besides this like I was being told a bedtime story I found the movie spectacular and fun that I couldn’t get enough of. to watch. Throughout the film, I was Now even though I enjoyed this very intrigued with what was going to film, many people may not. A very happen next. I would give this movie disturbing film, The Devil All the Time a 7 out of 10. It could have been better may be one that more sensitive people in some fields, but overall I am very may not be a fan of. The movie had its impressed with Netflix’s delivery of fair share of gore and other disturbing this movie.

Drunk Driving Awareness Month

3

WRITTEN BY HARRIS TIMMRECK

In the month of December, awareness is spread about the dangers of drunk driving December is National Drunk Driving Unfortunately there is not a direct Awareness Month. It is a month to solution to this worldwide issue. devote attention to putting a stop to However, there are some simple this deadly problem. In 2016, over ways to prevent these accidents from 10,000 people died from drunk driving occurring. You should designate a in the United driver always for States alone. you and your group Although the of friends. Also, do number of cases not let your friend of drunk driving drive if you know has decreased they have been over time, it is drinking, and if you still a problem are by yourself don’t we should never be afraid to call an underestimate.

Uber. Everyone Math teacher, needs to take these William Hall, simple precautions The Dangerous Reality has had his life to help decrease the heavily impacted Local first responders help the amount of people by drunk driving. Shattered Dreams cast, made up of driving under the Since his life has juniors and seniors, depict the harsh influence and save as reality of drunk driving. been so heavily many lives as possible. affected in the past Of course drunk by drunk driving, Hall speaks at every driving will never be completely Shattered Dreams, a biannual event stopped, but with the amount of drunk that displays a reenactment of a drunk driving cases a year, we could surely driving scene. drop the number. On average, every “It’s not just something that happens 50 minutes, a life is lost to drunk to other people, somewhere else. It driving. Every 50 minutes, someone affected me and changed my entire loses their loved one. Two out of Three life,” he said. While drunk driving people will be involved in a drunk may not seem too significant to you in driving accident. We need to eliminate your life, but is a huge problem in the the absurd number of people who world. Everyday, someone is a victim lose their lives every year because of of drunk driving and a life is lost. someone else’s lack of responsibility.

December Sudoku

Find answers at shsoracle.org

4

news

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

A New Supreme Court Era

WRITTEN BY NATHAN SEELIG

New Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett brings an unfamiliar dynamic to a shifting Supreme Court, one that solidifies the court as a conservative majority With the recent confirmation and lifetime appointment of Associate Justice otherwise,” Russo said.

Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, the ideological makeup of the By referencing Barrett’s originalist views, Russo brings up a legal and nation’s highest court has been forever changed. Barrett, whom President constitutional point of contention about the Constitution. Barrett stated that Donald Trump nominated to the Supreme she believes that “constitutional text means what it did Court following the passing of Associate at the time it was ratified and that this original public Justice Ruth Beder Ginsburg in late September, meaning is authoritative.” has expressed many conservative legal, Furthermore, this explains that because Barrett does constitutional, and personal views. not view constitutional statutes as fluid and changing, As a result, many people believe that she would be inclined to vote more conservative. As a replacing Ginsburg, who was seen as a staunch result, this has led to speculation about how she would ideologically liberal justice, with Barrett will vote in many of the current contentious legal matters make the Supreme Court substantially more the court is examining. conservative. For instance, Barrett, having As Russo noted, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a once clerked for the late Associate Justice provision signed into law in 2010 that gave health Antonin Scalia, whose judicial views were insurance to millions of previously-uninsured regarded as conservative, cites him as a model Americans, faces a serious court challenge where the for her legal views.

Supreme Court may decide on its constitutionality. In Before Ginsburg’s death, people considered 2012, in NFIB v. Sibelius, the Supreme Court narrowly the Supreme Court to have a 5-4 conservative upheld the ACA because Chief Justice John Roberts, leaning composition. However, with Barrett widely seen as conservative, broke ranks to vote with Barrett takes the Oath on the bench, that majority has likely his more liberal colleagues. increased to a margin of 6-3, according to Now, with the newly cemented 6-3 conservative majority, New Supreme Court justice Amy Coney Barrett was Supreme Court biographer Joan Biscupic. at least two conservative-leaning justices would need confirmed by a 52-48 Senate vote to be as the 115th AP Government teacher Sara Russo, agrees to vote favorably to keep the ACA as law. This became Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. that Barrett’s appointment will “solidify” controversial during Barrett’s confirmation hearings. an increased conservative majority on the Supreme Court, elaborates on Additionally, many people believe that previous comments made by Barrett the potential impacts of her confirmation. Barrett “is an originalist, which indicate that she would be likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision means she believes the Constitution should be read as the Founders originally in 1973 that gave women the constitutional right to have abortions. Barrett, intended versus an interpretationist which looks at how the Founders might when asked about the matter during her confirmation hearings, said that she have interpreted the Constitution in modern times. However, by now having a didn’t “have an agenda.”

6-3 conservative majority, rulings on items such as the Affordable Healthcare While the result of these legal matters remains to be seen, it is clear that the Act (California v. Texas) may come to a different decision than they would structure of the Supreme Court has likely been altered for decades to come.

life

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

National Merit Finalists After the announcement of the Class of 2021’s National Merit Finalists, each finalist is taking a different approach to their preparations for the next round of testing WRITTEN BY MONICA DERU With the new year, the National Merit Scholarship Program opens its doors to students and welcomes new recruits. As of now there are 16,000 semifinalists between all 50 states.

According to The Princeton Review, when finalists are chosen there will be 15,000 finalists, about 8,000 receive Merit Scholarship awards.

All finalists are considered for one of the 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships. Being a finalist will help when applying to colleges, but it is not a guarantee that you will get accepted into universities.

Hundreds of universities guarantee additional scholarships as well as the merit scholarships to the finalists. In an effort to attract the best students and boost reputation, universities offer almost completely free tuition to the National Merit Finalists. The leading public universities that take the most amount of merit scholars are UC Berkeley and UT Austin.

At Stratford High School there

are four semifinalists. Seniors Josh Cooper, Christian Deis, Ian Bednar, and Emily Madaras. Emily Madaras graduated early and is now attending Rice University.

“I prepared for the PSAT by taking a review course over the summer.

I don’t think it was very helpful towards the test. Instead, I did a little bit of Khan Academy and that ultimately helped me the most,” said Cooper.

“The review was all I did but it was more helpful to prepare me for school than the PSAT,” said Deis.

“It didn’t really help when applying for colleges. Schools have to pick if they will participate in the program, so in reality it’s not a guaranteed payout.”

The next step in their journey is to apply to be finalists. All four of these seniors have already applied to be finalists and now it is just a game of waiting to see who wins.

Josh Cooper

Ian Bednar

Christian Deis

Emily Madaras

5

6 Teaching in 2020

life

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

During the year of the COVID-19 Pandemic, teachers are having to find new ways to teach their students

BY ALLISON HOWARD PHOTOS BY MIRCEA TATULESCU

Debbie Owens

It’s been a crazy year for school, as teachers have had to balance virtual and in-person teaching at the same time.

World History Teacher Debbie Owens has felt this same dilemma.

“I feel more effective either teaching online or teaching in-person, one or the other, but not both,” she said. “It is difficult to design the lessons to fit the needs of the different types of learning. Many times 23 and Counting it’s difficult to engage the online students.”

Ms. Owens has been a Ms. Owns has done Spartan for 6 of her 23 many things to try years of teaching. She and incorporate the is focusing on teaching virtual students into her World History AP, her classroom, including favorite class. purchasing a 180 degree camera, with her own funds.

“Since they’re in the Zoom and can’t see or hear everyone, they tend not to want to risk participation in class discussions.”

In addition to difficulty with participation, Ms. Owens mentioned how students are able to mute their computers and have many distractions around them. She is very passionate about helping her students learn and giving her kids opportunities through education, her teaching inspiration.

Ashley Wilson

Ashley Wilson is a CTE teacher who is in her first year of teaching, after choosing to move from the corporate world.

“I reevaluated and figured out what I wanted to do and teaching was something that I have always loved since I was in college and taught the mentor class,” she said. “So I decided to move on from the business world and follow my passion that I fell in love with during college. It helps that it aids in my need for service and I have really liked getting to know my students.”

Instead of following the usual track to becoming a teacher, Wilson went through an alternate certification program in order to receive her teacher certification. Although it hasn’t prepared her for the challenge of teaching during a pandemic, she stated it’s been a positive experience.

“I wish they had prepared me a little more for that,” she said. One of the biggest challenges she faces every day is trying to get all of her students’ questions answered.

“Being a new teacher here at Stratford, I have really enjoyed getting to know the students. They are pretty awesome,” she said. “I have also enjoyed getting to know the staff and the CTE department has been super welcoming.”

The Season of Giving

Lakeeta Garfield

Lakeeta Garfield, a health occupations of America teacher, has been teaching for many years, but is in her first years of being a Spartan. “[Being a new teacher here at Stratford] I have enjoyed interacting with the students the most. They are energetic, enthusiastic, and lively,” she said. Garfield has always loved teaching New Teaching Journey others, which has Ms. Garfield starts the new helped fuel her desire year at a new school during a to be a teacher.

“I love sharing information pandemic. with others. I always have, even as a child. All of my healthcare positions have had an education component.”

She taught secondary school for many years before transitioning to high school. Garfield is very used to being able to move around and interact with her students, but things have changed with the pandemic.

As the HOSA teacher, normally she would be able to take her students to the medical center as they shadowed doctors and nurses in their everyday jobs, but that isn’t possible due to COVID-19 “The need to be stationary at my desk is my biggest challenge of teaching an online class and an in-person Welcome to Stratford! class simultaneously,” she said. “I normally circulate through the class to interact with students but now if I After COVID-19 hit, Ms. Wilson had to change her career plans, but do that the students on zoom cannot hear me properly because the sound will fade in and out. Also, the lack of SHS students and staff are more field trips to the medical facilities is a challenge too!” than happy to have her.

WRITTEN BY VERONICA DA SILVA

Wondering what you can do to make the world a better place this holiday season?

Start here with information about some of our local charities During the holiday season, one thing is clear: it’s the time for giving. The time for helping those in need. The winter season can be extra harsh for those who are struggling to make ends meet, whether it’s for themselves or their families. While being thankful for spending time with your loved ones this season, make sure to also help out others. Below is a compiled list of trusted drives and donations to turn to.

You may be able to feed a family, give a child their very first Christmas gift, or even just help someone feel less alone this holiday season.

Houston Food Bank

During this time, donations and volunteer help are more important than ever. HFB has red bins placed in many public places, so people can go ahead and donate practically anywhere, or directly to the HFB building.

Today’s Harbor for Children

donations, checks, and Christmas gifts are welcome, so the children can have their holiday wishes come true.

Easterseals Greater Houston Holiday Drive

People have the option to “adopt a family”, where you can make donations specific to their needs and wishes.

The organization also takes monetary donations and gift cards.

Memorial Assistance Ministries ‘Christmas Share’

MAM provides necessities during the winter season, and are open to donations. Donors can drop those off in their ‘North Pole’ and ‘South Pole’ stores. The organization is also always open to volunteers.

ChildAdvocates ‘Santa’s Wish List’

As they provide a home for people Food Drive Success ages 5-18, donations Last year, Stratford held their annual food donation drive are needed more for the holidays where the students most definitely did than ever during not disappoint with their donations. the holidays. Food

From December 1st-8th, this event is held in order to make Christmas better for those children under CPS custody.

People who want to help can make a monetary donation, sponsor a child, and/or organize a toy drive.

Genesis Women’s ‘Shelter & Support Holiday’

Focusing on women and children trapped in abusive homes, this organization allows donors to “adopt a family”, sponsor an angel tree that gives Christmas gifts to kids, and/or make monetary donations.

Where to Find Them: HFB

535 Portwall St, Houston, TX 77029 Open 7 days a week www.houstonfoodbank.org

Today’s Harbor

514 Bayridge Rd, La Porte, TX 77571 Open Monday-Saturday todaysharborforchildren.org

Easterseals

4888 Loop Central Dr #200, Houston, TX 77081 Open Monday-Friday eastersealshouston.org

MAM

1625 Blalock Rd, Houston, TX 77080 Open Monday-Friday mamhouston.org

Child Advocates

3701 Kirby Dr #400, Houston, TX 77098 Open Monday-Friday www.childadvocates.org

HCC

1600 W Loop S #610, Houston, TX 77027 Open Monday-Friday www.houstonchildrenscharity.org.

life

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

The Dangers We Don’t Always See

7

As cases are back on the rise throughout many parts of the nation, one student reminds their peers of the dangers of the Coronavirus for those who are immunocompromised or battling other illnesses such as cancer WRITTEN BY REESE LEIF PHOTOS BY REESE LEIF In my freshman year of high school, my dad passed away. He had been fighting people living like this right now in order to keep their families safe, and I cancer on and off for six years before Leukemia eventually spread throughout can only imagine how it feels to see your peers out and about every weekend his body, shutting down his organs. without masks, distancing, and any regard for the guidelines put into place to Anyone with a friend or relative who has battled cancer will tell you just keep us safe. how cautious you have to be regarding germs. It’s incredibly easy for a cancer Many people I know have eased up on taking precautions when it comes to patient to get sick, as their immune system is compromised and doesn’t have COVID because we’ve been in the pandemic for so long. However, it’s selfish to the strength to fight infectious diseases. I can remember all the way back to not acknowledge the fact that we’re currently in a second wave--cases are far fourth grade, when I had to wear a mask, gloves, and worse than they were in March. I understand that it’s a gown just to visit my dad in the hospital. We weren’t unrealistic to expect everyone to drop their lives and allowed to visit for weeks if we had a common cold. go back into strict quarantine, so the best thing we can There was no such thing as being “too careful.” do is remain conscientious and think of others when To put it frankly, my family lived our lives in going out into public. However, this surprisingly isn’t my fear. All illnesses were threatening, and not a day biggest concern when it comes to COVID-19. went by without my mom reminding me to bring Every day at school, I see people take off their masks. hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes to my fifth-grade Every period is a constant influx of complains about classroom. Whether it was because he needed inthe discomfort from a small piece of fabric on the face. patient treatment or because his immune system was Maybe I can say this with such little weight because I’ve particularly vulnerable, my dad was in the hospital been wearing masks my whole life to protect my dad, most of the time, accompanied by my mom. Weekly but I really don’t understand what the big deal is--which trips to the hospital with my grandparents were met brings me to my point. with intense questionnaires about any symptoms we Regardless of the discomfort that comes with wearing had and how we had been feeling the past few days. a mask throughout the day, it is worth it. It’s worth it for The slightest suggestion of a cold could send me and the kids who worry about their family members’ health, my brother straight home packing, unable to see our It’s worth it for essential workers who have to go to dad until we were completely healthy again. work everyday because they can’t afford to take time off, Over the course of the years, I became pretty despite their medical status. It’s worth it for people who desensitized to the extra precautions my family had want a shot at a normal second semester but don’t feel to take. Before my dad got really sick, I don’t think comfortable coming back to school quite yet.

I entirely understood the implications of exactly If we can all agree to wear masks for each other’s what could happen if he were to catch a virus. benefit, there will be uplifting results in both the Sure, I complained about having to change out of community and COVID-19 case statistics. Not only will Reese Leif and her father at masks my school clothes when I got home from an exhausting help prevent the spread of this harmful virus, but Rummel Creek’s Go Texan the mutual understanding of wearing PPE to protect others day of learning long division, but I got used to it over time. However, as I grew older and learned more about will create a significant bond among students. If we work Day Leukemia, I realized exactly how dangerous a small cough together to slow the spread, our unity will increase and we could be to someone terminally ill like my dad. can knowingly help safe numerous lives.

That being said, there were still times that my dad got sick--and they were So, why do I wear a mask? I wear a mask to protect the people who are in incredibly frightening. As previously mentioned, I didn’t really understand dangerous medical position, whether or not they share this information. I will what was going on most of the time when I was younger. According to my mom, advocate for the safety of those people by encouraging others to consider those there were numerous times when they predicted that my dad was going to get around them--especially those whose situations they are not familiar with. I increasingly worse--he lived a lot longer than he was expected to. Even with all believe that it’s our duty to protect our peers by making responsible decisions, of the precautions that my family was taking, the risk was incredibly high. and masks are a perfect way to do so.

Now imagine what it’s like having to deal with an immunocompromised Many people I come into contact with tend to think I’m being overdramatic family member during a worldwide pandemic. It sounds morbid to say, but I about the pandemic, and I understand. Everybody is experiencing the pandemic would consider myself very lucky that I don’t have to deal with the numerous differently. However, I can’t help but think about how I would react to this precautions my family and I dealt with during our years of weekly hospital circumstance if my dad were still alive--and that’s enough to inspire me to visits. If my dad were alive, I doubt my family would even be allowed to leave protect friends and peers. the house. No friends, no in-person school, no take-out. Nothing. There are

Ellie Stone, Senior ELLIE I wear a mask because it is a simple way to those around me that I care about their health and well-being.

Masks are proven to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and I believe it is selfish of me to not wear one.

Remember, masks are most effective when worn over the mouth and nose.

Lauren Dietert, Junior LAUREN I wear a mask to protect myself, but I also wear one to protect others. I am in a category with higher risk for complications, and want to be safe as possible.

Anna Rigo, Sophomore ANNA I wear a mask because it’s an easy way to keep those around me safe. It’s a simple thing that I can do, but I know that it’s positively affecting everyone that I come into contact with.

8 in•depth

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

“My favorite memory as was being in the room wh Cummons got the phone c was going to be a mom. Since I h I’ve seen dress up days diminish. of my classmates, across all social looking forward to dress up days We planned our outfits weeks i went all in each time,” Poe

Kristy Schaper

1974

Karl Poetzl CLASS OF ’79

1980s

“I loved going to all of the football playoff games at the Astrodome. Being a Senior Girl, for each football game we made new signs, wrapped the football player’s houses, and gave the football players a shoebox full of candy Friday mornings before the game.

When I was a student, there were not any windows on the second and third floor hallways where the courtyards are located. I remember standing and yelling at students across the courtyard,” Schaper said.

CLASS OF ’92

STRatford Through the Years

1990s

Since its founding in 1974, 46 graduating classes “Beatin have passed through the district champio WRITTEN BY JACK WEATHERLY halls of Stratford, and memory as a stud PHOTOS BY KYLE ZOBOROSKI, during that time Stratford has undergone during my sophom CHRISTIAN VANDENBURG, MIRCEA TATULESCU numerous changes in its student life, has had 7 Westchester, an year there wa principals, and has been renovated. Currently, stadium, just a 16 teachers are former students, and all have and there was vivid memories and unique perspectives on the second floor changes that Stratford has experienced to tell.

s a student hen Mrs. call that she have graduated, I remember all spectrums, (spirit days). in advance and etzl said.

in•depth 9

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

As a student, I truly enjoyed homecoming football games, the afternoon of the last day of school my junior year when we were officially seniors, and watching the movie Rudy any time a teacher had a sub. One of the things that makes SHS so special is that it has changed in all the ways it should, more technology, more course offerings, more programs to support all students, but it has remained the same in all the ways it should, too. Our pride, traditions, and community spirit remain as strong as ever,” Mennes said.

Megan Mennes

CLASS OF ’00

“My favorite high school memory was when we won Best Musical my junior year at the Tommy Tune awards for Barnum. I loved getting to perform on the stage at the Hobby Center with all of my high school best friends. Stratford has had many principals since I graduated from Stratford and each one has brought something new, great, and unique to Stratford. While people come and go, the spirit of Stratford America remains the same,” Baker said.

Cody Schwartz

2000s

2010s Marcie Baker

CLASS OF ’07

ng Memorial and winning a onship my senior year was my favorite dent. Stratford underwent renovations more year, so we had to go to school at nd we returned my junior year. My freshman as no competition gym, no sub-varsity a three-lane track (next to the baseball fields), a ramp, which is gone now, from the r down to the first,” Schwartz said.

2020 CLASS OF ’10

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sports

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

A 2020 Sports Recap

Looking back at the sports year with 20/20 vision PHOTOS BY THE ORACLE STAFF

Net Up, Mask Up

The girls’ volleyball team awaits their introduction at the baseline before they face Fort Bend Clements. The Spartans came out victorious in this competition, defeating the Rangers in straight sets. The volleyball team finished their regular season with a 14 - 7 record.

Holding the Line

The boys’ soccer team’s back line defends a free kick from district rival Spring Woods. The Spartan’s defensive line last season allowed only 14 goals in district play, a tremendous improvement from their 28 goal allowed the year prior.

Servin’ It Up

Senior Yuta Haratsu tosses up a serve in his singles match against Lamar High School.

The tennis team finished their fall season as Bi-District Champions and extended their postseason run to the area round where they fell to the Clements Rangers.

Catch and Go

In the Spartans’ second game of the season, senior wide receiver Ben Moseley catches a pass near midfield and sprints to the endzone to complete a 70 yard touchdown.

Moseley’s seven receptions, 141 receiving yards, and one touchdown were all team-highs.

Swimmers, Take Your Mark!

Freshman Andy Zhuri (right) prepares for his backstroke event against Memorial High School on Oct. 15th. Last February, the swimming team competed for a UIL’s Texas 6A State Championship and placed 17th. The team hopes to return to Austin next year under new head coach Henry Thomas.

Shooting from Downtown

Senior Caroline “Monkey” Parnell attempts a 3-point shot in the team’s first game of the season against Cypress Woods.

The girls’ basketball team came up short in this competition, losing to the Wildcats 54 - 48.

The Spartans now move into district play as they take on Spring Woods tomorrow, Dec. 8th.

Upcoming Events: 12/8 - Girls’ basketball at Spring Woods, 7:00 p.m.

12/8 - Boys’ basketball vs. Klein Collins, 7:00 p.m.

12/11- Boys’ soccer vs.

Tompkins, 7:00 pm 12/11 - Boys’ basketball at Strake Jesuit, 7:00 p.m.

12/11 - Girls’ basketball vs. Cypress Ridge, 7:00 p.m.

sports

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

Like Brother, Like Sister

Back Handed Power

Sophomore Annie Gauderman hits a strong forehand in a September 25th match against Lamar High School. Sister of Jack Gauderman, Annie and Jack are 1 pair of siblings on the team.

Senior Jack Gauderman returns a serve with a backhand in an early season match against Lamar. He has played on the varsity team for the last two years.

Netting the Competition

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PHOTOS BY MIRCEA TATELESCU

Keeping His Cool

Junior Leo Chen spins his racket in the air to clear his mind before a high-stakes point in an eventual victory of his singles match. Chen has been able to adapt to his remote-learning circumstances to be a leader of the team this season.

All For One The nine seniors on this season’s team, (pictured right to left) Edwin Hess, Samuel Gillespie, Ben Siciliano, Monica Guarin, Kara Nagasaki, Grace Goodson, Jack Gauderman, Asher Nederveld, Yuta Haratsu, all played in matches against Northbrook on senior night, October 20.

All contributed to the building of the foundation of the Spartan program that will flourish for years to come.

Football Season in Review A look back through the football teams season WRITTEN BY REED HOWELL PHOTO BY KENDALL KOSTER Last years Stratford football team fell just short of the playoffs, so this year they hope to improve on both sides of the ball to become a better team. This years expectation was to make the playoffs.

According to Coach Rankin this year’s focus for each game was to “win the turnover battle and play more physically than our opponents.”

This year we have a new starting quarterback with A.J. Abbott who looks to improve upon last year’s offense. A major point for the team this year has been returning key players at the skill positions. Last year moving the ball was a big problem, but this year the team averaged over 30 points per game. This year the defense also looks to hold opposing teams to less points and give the offense more opportunities to win the game. This year we have held some of the stronger offenses in our district to less points, which gave our offense a chance by keeping us in the game.

This has led to more wins and only one game where we didn’t have a chance to win towards the end.

Rankin attributes this to being more physical and the players belief in continuing to improve each week.

“The players have bought into that and continue to improve. Even after a couple of our close losses this year, I felt like the players didn’t hang their heads, but put the loss behind them and went back to work”, said Rankin.

The season for the football team started out strong with a 31-6 victory over Alvin High School. Our first game set a strong precedent for the team as we were able to hold their offense under 200 total yards. The next week we faced an 18 point deficit and fought back, scoring 22 points unanswered with seven receptions for 141 yards by Senior Ben Moseley.

After scoring the touchdown to take the lead they responded with a touchdown. In the end we lost by three, but there were many positive takeaways from the second half of the game. In week three we lost 45-0 to Cy-Fair. We were able to turn things

around a week later with a two point victory over Cy-Ridge by preventing a 4th quarter comeback. The homecoming game was next as we blew out Spring Woods 45-6 with 42 first half points and more than 300 yards rushing, as we improved to a 2-1 district record. In week 6 we had the biggest game of the year against Memorial, where defense controlled the game, and we lost another close game 17-10. The Spartans improved to 3-2 in district in a shootout win against Cy-Creek. Everything Racing for the End Zone clicked for the offense with over Senior Ben Moseley runs for the end zone in our 34-32 victory. Mosely 400 passing yards and over 600 all purpose yards. Against Jersey had 5 receptions for 121 yards and a receiving touchdown. Stratford Village we lost in a 42-35 shootout won the game after a stop on a 2 point conversion at the end of the after the run game struggled in a fourth quarter. very high scoring game. This put was able to consistently produce with both the us at 3-3 in district with one district game remainground and the pass game. This allowed us to win ing. Stratford next defeated Northbrook, 59-7, with a heavy rushing game, running for a total of 393 yards. shootouts where we could outscore the other teams throughout the entire game. This year we returned a The season was finished with a 17-14 win with out of lot of last year’s starters so the offense was still simidistrict opponent Clear Brook. lar, although we had a new quarterback leading the We finished 6-4 overall with a 4-3 record in district. offense. Consistency was a major part of our offense This district record put us in 5th within district, this year as we needed to make sure we helped our which caused us to fall just short of playoffs. This defense out by staying on the field and not allowing year we had very even passing and rushing attacks the other team to catch us. Limiting the other teams totaling over 3000 total yards this year. We averaged opportunities through the field position battle was a over one turnover per game which helps our team key factor for us this season. The defense also played get into the situations we needed to win. This year well with forcing turnovers and keeping most teams we fell just short of our expectations in making the to low scores so that the offense didn’t have as much playoffs, although we lost 2 games by one score that work to do. This cooperation between both sides of would’ve pushed us into the playoffs. This year the the ball caused us to come out on top of many close offense played a major part, after we only lost one games. game where both teams scored over 30. Our offense

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sports

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

ONE ON ONE

with Coach Green WRITTEN BY HARRIS TIMMERICK

Q: What is a unique coaching

before a big game?

A: I watch film on the opponent and

technique that you bring to Stratford basketball?

I try to convey a game plan to them through a hand held scouting report. We will watch film of ourselves and some of the other team, and then we will go out to practice and try to simulate some of the things the opponent will do and see how we will counter it.

A: I would not say

I bring a unique technique in, I just want to come in and teach basketball. I want every girl no matter their skill level or how much athleticism or talent they have, I want them to learn basketball.

Q: What are your

Q: Describe the team

expectations of not only the team but yourself this season?

chemistry and the bonding your team has shown so far.

A: This season is unique because of the stood out to me is how Strong Starts pandemic and because much the team has Head Coach Alexis Green is on of COVID-19. My learned since the last her second year of coaching expectations are that year as far as I want them to do on the court, the Spartans. Last season, she we are prepared for led the team to a 9-19 record. change and that we are they have bonded in This season, the team is off prepared for anything. that way. They are to a strong start at 5-3 before We have to be ready learning me, learning for anything that pops what I expect, learning district. up, because this is the my personality, and taking on my year of change. For me and the team, I personality. us to be prepared for anything Q: How do you prepare your players expect on the court and off the court.

A: One thing that has

Kicking

ATHLETEOFTHEWEEK Senior Hector Igbikiowubo leads the basketball team into a new season

WRITTEN BY REED HOWELL This year’s boys basketball team the team has a real shot at going the is looking to starting senior distance. center Hector Igbikiowubo.

Igbikiowubo plans to After a tough last season, continue his basketball the boys fell short and did career through his four not qualify for the playoffs. years in college, although Igbikiowubo was given an he has yet to decide where he All-District team Honorable will attend. He also understands the Mention. gravity of his potential commitment But this year, things are to a four-year university for a different. After the graduation competitive sport such as basketball. of ten seniors and the A lot of hard work and improvement resignation of previous head is required to make it to the college coach Tim Johnson, who held level, which takes a strong and the position for four years, consistent commitment. returning players have been “They have made me realize faced with major adjustments. the meaning of being unselfish With new head coach Brett Nixon and also how to trust in my in their corner, Igbikiowubo teammates,” Igbikiowubo said. plans to lead his team back to Working efficiently with his the playoffs, after a substantial teammates is very important drought. to him and has been a source of “I expect us to be really good motivation over the past four years. and be a contender to win “I’m most excited for getting to District,” Igbikiowubo said. play one last year of basketball as a Although he has yet to Spartan,” Igbikiowubo said. This experience the year he believes they have the competition of potential to go far with the team that Stop and Pull playoffs, with they have and a new system Senior Hector Igbikiowubo his leadership takes a jump shot in practice, under their new coach. he believes working on his game.

ff

As the boys’ soccer team’s season approaches, we look at how the team will try to replicate what they accomplished last season WRITTEN AND PHOTO BY JACKSON ALLRED Following a disappointing 2018-2019 season when the Spartans slipped to last place in the district, the boys’ soccer team hoped to bounce back during their 2020 campaign. Only a few games into their 2020 season it became clear that the team would do just that.

The Spartans kicked off the first two games of the district season by defeating Spring Woods and Cypress Ridge, the top two teams in the district the previous season.

In their first eight district games, the boys’ soccer team managed to record six wins, averaging more than two scores per game during that span. Sweeping the 3rd-placed Jersey Village while splitting the two game series with 2ndplaced Spring Woods proved that last season’s boys’ soccer team was more than special.

The team finished their season with three consecutive wins and did not record a single loss in nearly their final month of competition. By the end of the season, the team was able to double their 19 scored goals from the previous year while achieving 7 more wins.

“I think what made us so special last year was that we were all really close,”

senior captain Nathan Siciliano said.

“We just bonded really well with each other and that led to us having really competitive practices which translated onto the field. Being so close with everyone and caring about each other skyrocketed our ability because we all worked together to get better every day.”

The Spartans’ 9-2-5 record and 29 goals scored in district play secured the team the title of district champions for the first time since 2013. However, despite their qualification for playoffs, the team was ultimately unable to compete in postseason play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In fact, the announcement from the University Interscholastic League (UIL) on April 17 that canceled all spring sports halted the Spartans from continuing their successful season.

Unbeknown to them, the Spartans’ victory over the Jersey Village Falcons on March 9 ended up being their last competition of the season.

“I know we would have liked to finish out the season to see what we could do,” head coach Mark Wallace said.

While motivation from the events of

last spring may play a factor for the will return the majority of our team. returning players We have another heading into the small senior class season, the team that will be big knows that they contributors and cannot merely expect lots of juniors similar results from that will step up last season without this year.” putting in the work.

The Spartans “We definitely have just completed to put our heads their final days down and earn of tryouts last everything we did week and will last year,” Siciliano now enter the said. “We know that final weeks of we have a target on their preseason our backs because of 1st Team All District training. The Patrick Ndaye makes a pass towards how we played last boys’ soccer team center field during the second half of year. We have an will kick off their the Spartans’ match against the Spring incredibly difficult 2020-2021 season season ahead of us and Woods Tigers. Then sophomore Ndaye in early January know how important was selected to the District 17-6A 1st Team with the hopes it is to play with a chip for his season performance. of repeating on our shoulders.” as district According to Wallace, returning champions. production is something that sets this “We will be a very competitive team year’s team at an advantage: “The again, and everyone knows that,” number of returners that contributed Wallace said. “We think we have a good to last year’s team is unique. We only chance of winning district and possibly lost 5 seniors to last year’s team and we making a good playoff run this year.”

perspectives

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

Why We All Must Remember

WRITTEN BY GRACE HARE PHOTOS BY THE JACKSONS

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The tragedy of Pearl Harbor Day and how one event changed millions of lives Family and friends gathered in Mrs. Brenda adjust to a world that was shell shocked by the act of Jackson’s childhood home on Dec. 7, 1941. Her father violence against the United States. Starting that night, led them in song, singing “God Bless America,” and American people boarded their windows and turned holding on to each other after the fear that gripped off all the lights. The fear of their hometowns being them during a life-changing broadcast. bombed had begun.

In 1941, when she was five years old, millions “We thought more cities would be bombed so of people across America windows were covered in heard an unforgettable radio blankets to shut out the light broadcast. “We had just come so Japanese planes could not home from church, and my see where towns and cities babysitter came over to watch were,” said Mrs. Jackson. me while my parents went out “They painted top half of the for lunch,” Mrs. Jackson said. headlights on your car black, “The radio was on, it was so the light didn’t go up in interrupted by a special the sky because any Japanese newscast” she said. The plane that was flying over announcer said, “The Japanese could see where a city was have bombed our U.S. naval and bomb us,” she said. base in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Every plane that crossed the Most of our ships have sky, caused fear that it was been sunk or damaged and the Japanese about to drop a thousands have been killed.” bomb. Schools began having This day, now known as regular air raid drills.

Pearl Harbor Day, celebrated “They thought the Japanese annually on Dec. 7, will always might bomb the town I be remembered for marking the Remembering Pearl Harbor Day lived in, they were scared that beginning of World War II and Shown at age 5, Mr and Mrs Jackson were it would happen to us. They changing the lives of American small children during WWII. Today, the would have air raid drills, the couple travel frequently and foster an civilians. teacher would escort us down appreciation for the importance of history.

“That very day people all to the cellar against a cement across the nation lined up at the wall,” Mrs. Jackson said. military recruitment offices,” said Mr. Fred Jackson.

During World War II, American families also From that point forward, thousands of young received rationing books once a month. It limited American boys would sign up to fight for America. the amount of food and gasoline for each person.

Many of them would never make it home. During Resources were limited, and all excess available went the war, the military would issue gold stars to the to the troops. “No butter, milk, cream, or meat was families whose sons had died in their service. available at the store,” said Mrs. Jackson. “Oleo,” and Born in 1933, Mr. Jackson also remembers his father other imitation butter became available, and little coming into the house and telling him the news of pills could be purchased to put in the Oleo lard and Pearl Harbor Day and that the US would have to give it a more authentic appearance. involve itself overseas.

“Any chocolate went to the soldiers too, no more “Pearl Harbor Day changed the entire outlook on chocolate kisses,” Mr. Jackson said. war and isolation. We thought we were so safe, until Victory Gardens also had an important role in then,” Mr. Jackson said. sustaining the American economy and communities Even as children, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson had to as they learned to save all of their extras. World

To be Jolly or Not to be Jolly

War II was a time of using what was available the best they could. “Everybody had a victory garden, they asked me what I wanted to plant in the victory garden and I said watermelon and they did.

Everybody grew their own fruits and vegetables and shared, and the gardens were huge. It was very much a part of my life,” said Mrs. Jackson.

In his family’s victory garden, Mr. Jackson as a ten-year-old boy learned how to care for the garden.

His job of digging rows, planting tomatoes, and harvesting the fruits and vegetables meant that selecting any tomato to eat from the garden was a rewarding prize.

After the war, millions of people learned lessons about survival, permeability, and of living life to the fullest.

Mr. Jackson remembers the days of turning off lights and blocking out windows in fear of being seen by foreign enemies. Mrs. Jackson reminisces on staring at a steaming plate of squash, unable to leave the table until she ate it. If she didn’t, she would have the squash for breakfast the next day.

“Today, I still go around and turn the lights off in the house. Today we eat the whole plate because we were rationed, we only got so much food. You darn the socks, you put a patch where you wore the elbow.

If you had an older brother you got his clothes,” said Mr. Jackson.

The biggest lessons through life that they have learned- from surviving the Polio outbreak of 1955, World War II, and watching America change into the nation it is today- was to appreciate what they had, and to live life to the fullest no matter what.

“What we learned is that life is precious, and you only get to do it one time. So you all remember, don’t do anything stupid and appreciate what you have.

The material things are really not that important, the family is really the most important thing. Me and my husband have been married 61 years, and time flies when you’re having fun,” Mrs. Jackson said.

Her encouraging words speak volumes today, reminding us to count our blessings. As we reflect on Pearl Harbor Day, and the strife and sacrifices of millions of people during World War II we can celebrate all of the things each of us have.

WRITTEN BY MONICA DERU PICTURE DRAWN BY KELSEY BLACKWOOD

Students and teachers speculate on how Holidays can be done safely It’s the most wonderful time of the year. We hear the sleigh bells jingle and jangle. All is merry and bright. But is all really merry and bright? In December of 2019 nobody thought that a year later around that the world would be in the middle of a global pandemic. We survived the Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and now the world has to try and survive the shopping, singing, cooking, and celebration that this time of year brings. Christmas is a time for giving to the community and seeing family members you rarely get to see or being forced to wear ugly Christmas sweaters to family parties you don’t want to attend. Because of social distancing protocols, only so many people are allowed to gather at once and that isn’t stopping COVID-19 from traveling chimney to chimney. As a second wave of the virus hits different regions like the United Kingdom and many countries in Europe, they go into another lock down. It looks like the normal festivities of these holidays seem less likely to happen.

“Every Christmas Eve we make Christmas cookies and watch movies. On Christmas morning I am always the first person up and then I go and wake

everyone up! When we finally get to opening could lead to the spread of the virus even more. presents we separate them all out in piles for Algebra 2 teacher Amy Dillon shared her thoughts everyone. Later in the day with me about Christmas in 2020. my family comes over and “COVID-19 really puts a damper on we have a giant dinner to it for sure. Traditions can’t continue celebrate. But because of this year and it’s sad. But at the same COVID-19 we can’t have any time this is something we have never family members over this had to deal with before so for one year, ” said our very own year it’s okay. The main thing I am Spartacus, senior Sophia sad about is that I can’t see my loved Robinson said. ones!”

This pandemic sadly has The holidays aren’t going to be caused a lot of separation normal this year. between families. The cost Yet, that doesn’t mean you still can’t of plane tickets is certainly have an amazing holiday. Even if it’s not helping this cause. Plane just you and your family; Christmas tickets have drastically gone and Hanukkah can still be merry and up in price because so many bright this year. airlines have been shut down due to COVID-19 and I’ll have no Blue Christmas! loss of money.

Student Kelsey Blackwood spreads holiday This could mean more cheer with her Christmas tree artwork. people are driving and that

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perspectives

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

Adapting to the Environment

Stratford adjusts school plan to accommodate for the students during the COVID-19 pandemic. WRITTEN BY MICHAEL BENES PHOTO BY PAIGE CLARK

Digital Screening Junior Emma Podvorec scans

the QR code in order to do her health screener for the day.

Students are expected to do the health screener every day.

We live in unprecedented times. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have had to make major adjustments to the way school works. Not only has school changed but so has extracurricular activities such as band and Spartanaires. In our opinion these adjustments are essential in order to keep us in person and mitigate the spread of the virus.

The school is constantly monitoring the health of students with a health screener although many students do not fill it out daily.

“I think it’s good to look at if you want to see if you have symptoms but other than that it’s not very effective,” said junior Jack Harkins. Many students don’t bother answering the one question screener because they feel it’s ineffective.

We find it ineffective because if students don’t want to go back to online learning and they’re symptomatic they would just lie. It’s not completely useless however. If a student returns to online learning due to potential exposure and comes back the school can look at the screener to determine if they should keep monitoring their health.

This process is helpful because there have been students at Stratford who have caught COVID and it’s important to monitor those who have had exposure.

“We identify the students who are deemed to have direct prolonged exposure and those students are required to quarantine for a 72 hour period then they are permitted to take a test and potentially return before the end of the 14 day period,” building principal Raymorris Barnes said. This is an effective system. The fact that we have had under

20 cases speaks for itself. There are also other precautions like tape in the hallways to mark where students should walk and also temperature checks before first period each day.

The administration is also planning on having students who are failing their classes come back to school in order to help them become more successful in their studies.

“I think mask wearing is a problem. Many students are not taking it seriously despite being asked multiple times to pull it up. I also feel that the number of students per class should be lower,” physics teacher April Glover said.

Another concern is that students and teachers are largely kept in the dark. Some feel like this is good because it prevents panic while some would like to know how many students are absent every day. We feel that if the administration decided not to release them the numbers probably aren’t bad.

Virtual students also have to decide for next semester if they would feel safe coming back. “I think I won’t be comfortable going back to school until COVID has reached a point where medical professionals say it’s okay to go back,”virtual student Claire Elliot said.

Students get to decide every nine weeks if they want to go back. This is a smart system because it gives students the chance to opt in or opt out due to changing circumstances. It is very important that students get to have that choice. A school shouldn’t get to make decisions regarding health for an individual without their consent. After all, we are all in this together.

W hy Y our V oice M atters

After a tumultuous election season, many minority voters have found themselves able to take a breath of relief as President Trump was defeated by former Vice President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, who is making history in many ways WRITTEN BY TAILOR WILLIAMS It was Election Day in 2016. We sat in front of our We even watched him say he doesn’t support Americans now realize that their vote does in fact TVs watching Hillary Clinton win the popular vote, Black Lives Matter, an organization against police count, and that we have a voice in this country. In only to see Donald Trump winning the electoral brutality. this election, there were more votes casted than vote. ever before with at least 159.8 million votes “Donald Trump is your elected president,” according to CNBC on Nov. 4. said the CNN news anchor.

The black voter turnout saved the election My jaw completely dropped. I had faith in multiple majority black cities across that America would choose the person the United States, including Philadelphia, who wasn’t homophobic, sexist, racist, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Atlanta. The black and the person who didn’t have literal votes in South Carolina is what gave Joe rape allegations against them. This was Biden the presidency, giving him enough heartbreaking. electoral votes to reach 270. Joe Biden I was angry at every person who said they believes in science, he supports the LGBTQ+ weren’t going to vote because they thought community, supports Black Lives Matter, their vote didn’t count because every single and is simply not Donald Trump. vote that wasn’t cast was a vote for Donald He also chose a Black and Asian female vice Trump. We spent four years watching president, Kamala Harris, which is making the United States turn into the opposite history in this country. of what my grandparents and what their Although we only settled for Biden and grandparents fought for, and we watched Kamala, we showed that every single U.S. the president of the United States completely citizen, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, ignore a virus that has now infected or religious background, has a voice in Waiting In Line 10,438,975 Americans as of Nov. 10, 2020 this country. We will not let our guard In order to vote in line you have to wait in a line with your mask. Social and killed 244,720. down because Joe Biden is in office. We will distancing is encouraged. However you also have the option to vote by We watched the president use the military continue to fight for justice and equality and police force against protesters who were mail. because our country is more divided than protesting peacefully. ever. Let’s use our voices to make some We watched the president struggle to condemn Now it’s over a week after election day, and after a change in the United States because it’s long white supremacy, and then go on a rant about long and hard fight, we’ve gotten Donald Trump out overdue.

ANTIFA, which is anti-fascism, not a group. of office.

perspectives

The Oracle • December 7, 2020

Unity vs. Division: Commentary on the 2020 Presidential Election WRITTEN BY ANA SOFIA MEYER

As the nation moves forward from a tumultuous Presidential Election season, many Americans have found themselves concerned with the country’s state of disunity As the nation progresses away from the 2020 Presidential agree that the lawsuits should be allowed to play-out, Election and onto the next chapter of our history, many “because that’s just following the democratic process,” citizens find themselves at a loss for words or actions. said senior Maddy Reichel. “But I really don’t think that Some are busy fighting the results, some are busy those lawsuits are going to change much.” defending them, and others have nothing left to say-Moving forward, voters on both sides of the aisle have exhausted by the long-held mood of hatred and division begun to look to their leaders for the following steps in the between parties and ideals. process of this transition of power--as well as a hope for This division, to many, has become known as the strides toward unity, rather than the division we’ve seen “cultural divide,” a new term that highlights the large through this election year. gap between those who identify as liberal and those “I unfortunately think that the country is getting more who identify as conservative. Some political scientists and more divided every day and that this is probably believe this “divide” began in the era after World War II, what is going to keep happening for some time now,” during the period senior Edwin Hess said. “On when many New the other hand I think once Deal programs people start realizing that were instituted by Biden is the next President Presidents Franklin then we can start to move Delano Roosevelt on as a country, instead of and Harry Truman. just as political parties.”

Historically, this This concern comes as period is known President Trump has for causing the continued to refuse to “party switch,” concede the election, despite or the time when the results of the election Republicans, who already being certified in had been the Liberal the majority of states. This (or left-leaning) refusal has all but halted party became the the usual process of powerConservative (or transfer Americans have Heated Debate Antics right-leaning) party, been accustomed to for the The first presidential debate took place on Sept. 29 at Case Westernlast 200 years of our nation. and vice-versa with Reserve University. As many Americans turned on their televisions “If there is a transfer of Democrats. Political that night to watch, almost as many found themselves disappointed power from President Trump scientists believe that this was the beginning with the outcome of said debate. Many political journalists found to Joe Biden, I can tell it of the divide because it themselves calling it a “dumpster fire.” definitely won’t be a smooth heavily demarcated a division between those in favor of one,” Reichel said. “That is really toxic for our country government regulation of social and economic programs, because so many things hinge on the presidency, more and those who were against it. Later, this division started specifically concerning the economy and our role in to split citizens based on more factors including wealth, foreign relations. If President Trump chooses not to leave education, ethnicity, and gender, a phenomenon we see the office of the Presidency peacefully, that’s going to prevalently today. cause big issues for Americans later.”

Eighty Four years later, we are able to use this historical Despite disagreeing on most political topics, senior context to gain a better understanding of today’s political Edwin Hess agrees: “I see our country going downhill situation, and we notice the signs of culmination to this and I think the only way to change that course is through year’s Presidential Election: a historic decision boiled that unity. Instead of arguing about our differences, we need to down to two older white men, a demographic which only capitalize on our similarities.” makes up about .62% of the nation’s population, based A sentiment more recently expressed by more voters on on data from the U.S. Census Bureau (2019 Population both sides of the aisle, the concept of division in American Estimates from July 1). politics is one that has been far too prevalent.

Concerning this year’s recurring theme--the COVID-19 “It’s very important that people understand that no Pandemic--many voters had been expressing concerns matter who you voted for in this election, we are still about the safety of voting, the process of using a mail-in people. We are still Americans,” Reichel said. ballot, and anything that would have jeopardized the Although division in American politics is not something validity of the election. that is unheard-of in the history of the country, its “My concerns don’t stem from one person, rather the occurrence is usually a symbol of major historical events way the election was handled overall and how radically on the rise. different it was compared to previous elections,” Senior Now that the nation has gotten past the 2020 Presidential Asher Nederveld said. “I know people will talk about election, we must now come together and face our the changes in voting occurring because of COVID-19 differences and then begin to work to get past them. It and I’ll agree with that statement. However, even if the will take a lot of work, but there is plenty for us to do in precautions were done with good intentions, it created order to strive towards the goal of closing the chasm of very easy opportunities for fraud.” estrangement between the two primary parties.

Despite these widespread concerns, little to no evidence The leading solution to our problem will be instituting of fraud has actually been substantiated, although many bipartisan policies and focusing on compromises figures in President Trump’s campaign team have claimed rather than partisanship. President-elect Joe Biden to have evidence of such. The Trump Campaign has filed used healing division as a fairly large portion of his lawsuits in many states, most of which were this year’s platform, but citizens concerned with division should “battlegrounds,” where polls leading up to the election call their representatives and senators, and urge them to were predicting very small margins of victory, both for the participate in more bipartisan legislation.

President and his challenger, Joe Biden. Still, most voters

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ORACLE

the

staff

Editor-in-Chief *Ana Sofia Meyer

Associate Editors *Jackson Allred *Becca Dawson *Nathan Siciliano *Jack Weatherly

Photo Editors *Paige Clark *Kendall Koster

News Editors Laura Koerner Sophie Lasater

Life Editors Veronica Da Silva Nathan Seeling

Copy Editor Monica Deru

Sports Editors Reed Howell

Perspectives Editor Michael Benes Grace Hare

Reporters Harris Timmreck Lucas Bertram Mary Bulnes Maya Carlson Cameron Bailey Campbell Hayden Sydney Hayden

The Oracle newspaper is the official, schoolsponsored student media of Stratford High School, 14555 Fern, Houston, Texas 77079, 713-251-3454.

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 Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and Interscholastic League Press Conference.

The Oracle serves as a public forum of student expression

Allison Howard Hannah Morris Selby Funk Kolbye Sangi Nathan Keyworth Winston Kibler

Photographers Kyle Zoboroski Ainsley Lewis Kate Sullivan Caroline Bustillo Kristina Hernandez Catherine McClees Andrew Cannon Mircea Tatulescu

Ads Editors Kate Delgado Maggie Vierra Jackson Cossey

Building Principal Raymorris Barnes

Advisor Janice Cummons

Social Media Dana Akkad Sara Zonana

Online Editors Tailor Williams Carsen Blevins

*Editorial Board Members

and is open to contributions submitted by the readers. Readers may submit material via 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 reflect the views 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

16 The People Behind the Game The Oracle • December 7, 2020

photos

A deeper look into the people who help create Friday night lights

BY KENDALL KOSTER

Pep Rally Pride Lieutenant Colonel Kate Delgado forming a Spartan head symbol with her hand at outdoor pep-rally. At this pep-rally it was only the senior spartanaires that preformed. They danced to a hip hop remix getting everyone pumped for the following game that night against MHS. Delgado describes how “one of the best parts about being a spartanaire is having a font row seat at each game, and getting to support right from the sidelines.” Memorial being the enemy school of Stratford, makes the tensions and excitement even more profound. Delgado adds how “preforming at this pep rally was so fun with everyone more excited than normal because of the strong competition we have with our rival school memorial.”

King and Queen Homecoming King Ben Moseley and Queen Marjani Stanfill walking off the field after just being crowned.

Moseley is a is apart of Stratford’s high school varsity team, and Stanfill apart of the varsity volleyball team.

Both the king and queen are a big part of the Stratford community. Each sets a good example supporting the students of Stratford and keeping the spartan spirit alive.

Masked Up and Focused Junior Spartanaire and Vice President of the drill team Mallory Gallerano focusing intently on the game before her. As one of the leaders on the team, she presents a good example of wearing her mask properly. Gallerano has been apart of Stratford’s dance program for the past two years giving a huge amount of support over the duration of that time. She tells how she loves “doing the stand routines and cheering a whole bunch at every game”. The Spartanaires travel with the football team to all the home and away games. Gallerano also explains how the whole drill team “wears their game day shirts every game day to promote the games!”

Tri Theta Supports Senior Lindsey Guel, a member of Tri Theta, sporting a colorful, homemade cowboy hat that matches her mask. As a member of Tri Theta, she supports the football team by painting signs for the player’s houses, the school cafeteria, and the run through signs at games. Guel tells how “it’s fun to make signs for the football players.

Getting to spend time outside of school painting with friends making this weird year feel a bit more normal.”

Keeping Spirits High Junior Briana Beals plays the clarinet for the band. She makes sure to keep her mask up while still having a good time. The band is a big part of keeping the Spartan spirit alive at games with the upbeat music.

Cheer Always There The cheerleaders go to every game, home or away, always hyping up the team and crowd. Riley Mackenzie cheering on the team at homecoming game. The cheerleaders wore past football jerseys for the special occasion.

Touchdown Team Senior Luke Centanni and Junior Cameron Majewski are the two students seen running the flags after each touch down by Stratford. Majewski tells how the pair “not only just run the flags ,but also help to blow up the run through tunnel and talk to the team encouraging them.”