TSTRATFORD HE
RACLE O
Friday, February 27, 2015
@stratfordoracle
Volume 42, Issue 7
shsoracle.com
Need More Sleep? pg. 6
Which Queso is King? pg. 10
New Districts, New Placements, New Opportunities pg. 13
@spartanoracle
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Getting out of the classroom There aren’t enough field trip opportunities for students
AN OPINION OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD GRAPHIC BY MOLLY RICHTER Education is not, nor has it ever been, merely confined to a classroom, yet as a student moves up in the school system, the opportunities to seek knowledge outside of the classroom dwindle enormously. Gone are the days when the entire class would dress in matching t-shirts and pile into a school bus to visit exotic locations such as the zoo, the museum, or the symphony. These excursions were highly beneficial to students in elementary and middle school, and remain so for high school students. Field trips are beneficial to students in two major ways: first, field trips allow students to take what they have learned and see it applied in the real world, and second, field trips are a welcome break from the monotony of nearly eight-hours of school five days a week. When a class takes a field trip, whether it is a subject specific field trip or one purely for cultural enrichment, it teaches students what life is like in the real world. A trip to the zoo might inspire a third-grade student to pursue a career in large-cat veterinary medicine after having an up-close encounter with a lion. M i d d l e school classes across the school district take at least one field trip to appreciate the culture of downtown Houston, and these all-grade trips are a valuable part of the learning experience. Students learn about dedication from watch- ing the ballet, they gain an appreciation for other cultures by seeing the opera in Italian, and they are able to enjoy a classic piece of literature performed when they see “A Christmas Carol” at the Alley Theater. These are all invaluable opportunities that could not exist in a classroom. The emphasis on field trips that is placed at the elementary and middle school level fosters creativity and shows students that what they learn in school can actually be applied to the real world. In addition, field trips are a welcome break for students and teachers alike. Daily education, while a necessity, can be somewhat of a bore, and the chance to “escape” the classroom for a day of fun and learning is much needed. A day free of lesson plans, grading, and worksheets can be beneficial to teachers in order to rejuvenate them for the rest of the year. Students also benefit from field trips as they provide the chance for a well deserved “brain break” at every level. For those in elementary school, sitting in a classroom for hours and hours every day is nearly impossible. When students take field trips, they get a chance to stretch their legs and release energy that has been bottled up all
week. Students in a middle school and high school setting also benefit from the “break” of a field trip. The focus and hard work required to achieve five days a week every week is immense, and students could benefit from a day of exploring a museum or watching ballet. This being said, the number of field trips taken per year dramatically decreases as students move through the educational system. The mystical days of joy and exploration of the outside world in a safe school-provided setting have become extremely rare in the world of high school students. Field trips can be an important and helpful aspect of education, yet they seem to be all but missing from high school curriculum. Students do take field trips, but not enough. Most of the field trips that are taken are classspecific, like a Spanish field trip to a Prado exhibit at the art museum, an Aquatic Science trip to
Galveston to study marine life, or a Academy of Sciand Engineering a lecture by a noted
ence trip to attend scientist. These trips are great, and enrich the learning experience deeply, yet many students choose not to participate in these optional field trips. For some, the problem of make-up work that comes with missing class for a field trip is too insurmountable. It is not just that students should have more field trips. That will not solve the problem entirely, as students will still not choose to attend these trips as they are not mandatory. All-grade field trips, although challenging logistically, would be a welcome addition to the school year. It would give the teachers a chance to relax, as well as giving the students an opportunity to learn something out of the classroom. Additionally, if every student in the grade were to miss a school day, the curriculum would be shifted, thus meaning that the “make-up” work would be minimal. While it seems impossible to schedule more field trips, students should at least be encouraged to attend as many as possible without feeling like it isn’t worth it. Some students will spend the rest of their lives cooped up in an office or monotonous job. Why not give them opportunities to learn something exciting now? It will make for a more engaged student body and a more relaxed staff, which seems like the perfect combination.
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STRATFORD ORACLE STAFF 2014-15 Editors-in-Chief Justin Todes Scott Kennedy
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Associate Editor Ashley Karolys
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Opinions Editors Emily Fishman David Humphrey
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News Editors Cameron Henkel Maxine Tran Culture Editors Ashleigh Garrett Olivia Siciliano Sports Editors Jacqui Comparin Reporters Taylor Morris Tina Kang Noelle Flores Caroline Harger
Photo Editors Maggie Vickers Rebecca Williamson
Taylor Brittain Photographers Arturo Benitez Abigail Boessling Riley Timmreck Devin Mitchell Christi Gregory Suzy Frazelle Gabby Broussard Hannah Davis Tea Sharp Kailie Henckel Ads Editors Abbey Duke Emily Copeland Sarah Sturgis Ads Staff Rebecca Tarver Kendall Marbach Phoebe Lamay Harper Jones
The Oracle newspaper is the official, school-sponsored 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.com. 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, and is open to contributions submitted by the readers. Readers may submit material via e-mail to info@shsoracle.com. All letters to the editor must be typed and contain the author’s full
Lindsey Jenkins Natalie Raley Grace Heckmann Emily Brown Lauren Carr Kara Ferguson Matthew Chavira Design Editor Victoria Shin Staff Artists Erica Jeon Molly Richter Rachel Torres Allison Rice Claire Pena Interim Building Principal Danny Gex Advisor Janice Cummons
*Editorial Board Members
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. The staff is responsible for the content of the publication, and strives maintain professional standards of accuracy, objectivity and fairness. The editors reserve the right to determine whether submissions will be published. The Oracle staff strives to produce a newspaper that covers the entire Stratford community, and welcomes freelance submissions.
Cover Photo Taken by Abigail Boessling
Words of wisdom from your favorite Opinions Editors SAGE ADVICE FROM DAVID HUMPHREY AND EMILY FISHMAN
We are sure most of our readers are familiar with the concept of roadways, those places where cars and trucks drive to get places faster. However, unbeknownst to many, there is a strange device that has been around for many years that is used to cross these roadways. An assortment of painted solid white lines on the pavement form this phenomenal technology known as a “crosswalk.” These crosswalks are, as their name suggests, used by pedestrians to walk across a street. What is more surprising than this ingenious invention itself, however, is that so many people fail to utilize it. Yes, many people are dangerously ignorant to the device and choose to cross busy streets at whatever position they see fit. This ignorance provides problems for both pedestrians and drivers. On a typical morning, myriads of drivers could be distracted by passersby on Dairy Ashford who choose to run across oncoming traffic rather than cross at the crosswalk. At even more risk are the pedestrians, who put their trust in the drivers (often unexperienced students) and expect to not get hit by a multi-ton beast of metal. This is obviously a dangerous practice, and we are taking the first step of many to discourage such lawlessness. Jaywalking is a crime. You know who you are.
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Stages of procrastination
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THE END IS NEAR
GRAPHIC BY ERICA JEON
an opinion of
SCOTT KENNEDY
The Advanced Placement Problem
Is there too much emphasis placed on one single test?
AN OPINION OF TINA KANG As students move to upper level grades, they start to see more and more AP classes on their course selection sheets. AP stands for Advanced Placement, and it means what the name implies. Hard, Time-consuming, WorkDemanding, college-level classes, and it shows. For students enrolled in AP classes, second semester means increased stress. They learn an enormous amount of information as they prep for the vast amount of material on the exam in May. As the AP exam approaches, teachers recommend buying an AP prep-book, review the essay rubric, and give out multiple choice practice to set the students to the ‘College Board’ standard. Although a score of three is considered passing, many elite universities do not accept it. They guarantee some credits for a score of five, and nothing below that score, no matter how much effort the student has put in all year maintaining a good grade in the class. AP exams are all or nothing. As such, the current AP system fails to determine if the students are qualified to receive college credit. One test should not determine the acquisition of college credit for qualified students. We as students feel the fear of getting a horrible score on an AP exam, and some of us have felt the moment of disappointment when we logged in to College Board’s website and saw the disappointing score of a one or a two. When a student has read the entire textbook and written numerous practice essays, taken multiple practice exams and maintained a high
average in an AP course, it is highly unfair for them to not get anything but tears of disappointment and frustration. We earn credit by sitting in a class for the whole year. That is how it works in middle school, high school, and college. But if one test can prove our depth of knowledge, then why would we go to school? There are many reasons for getting a poor score on the AP exam. Sudden nerves can drive away all the information engraved in students for months and months. Some students forget to watch the clock and simply run out of time. Some students just perform poorly when faced with new material, and not for lack of effort and preparation. Students might do poorly on the essay because they run out of ink in their pen. They might leave the essay blank because they misunderstood the prompt. Others might do horrible in the multiple choice section because the specific material was not covered in class. They might panic because the questions are complete different than what they expected in terms of difficulties and format. It would be wonderful to have a test that could exactly measure our knowledge. Unfortunately no one will ever be perfect due to the combination of bad luck on the test day for some or good luck with guessing for others. On the AP test, it could go either way. Another issue with the AP test is the sliding scale of the scoring. One might say, “it is just getting 88 instead of 86.” However, since the AP score range is one to five, it is easy to move up
and down the scale. In other words, the score of five means “perfect,” but students have to master a minimum of about 70-percent of the material to obtain a score in the five range. The slight difference of raw score can decide whether students get college credit or not. That stresses how pointless and unreliable it is to depend on AP exam to assess what students know about the subjects. Students who are less deserving of the credit can have a stroke of luck and guess their way to a five, while those who studied for countless hours could just barely miss the mark. This is not to say that the AP exam is unnecessary. It is beneficial for AP graders to look at students’ college-level essays and answer critical thinking questions about the subject. Moreover, grades in college will also often be determined by just one test. However, the grade in the class is just as important as the test result. Sitting in a class and doing work counts. A good grade in AP class signals that a student put in 100-percent effort throughout the year, no matter what score they get on the exam. A student’s choice to challenge themselves in an upper level course should not be taken lightly, and the current system does not reward them for their hard work all year, only their hard work on one day out of many. Blowing the AP exam doesn’t mean that students didn’t achieve or learn anything about the subject. It is just one test, out of hundreds they have taken and will continue to take. Placing so much emphasis on one test is not indicative of a student’s performance all year.
I had my first last a few weeks ago. Speed weights. It’s not something I expected to miss at all, probably because it’s one of the hardest things we do all year in football. And yet, just knowing I would never get to do it again, made the experience bittersweet, because it made me realize something: The end of high school is near, and getting closer everyday. I’m a junior, but, pardon the cliche, it honestly feels like I just started at Stratford; time flies that fast. I think there will be a lot of things that I miss when I graduate, things that I take for granted a lot, but the biggest thing I’ll miss, and the thing that I think we all appreciate less than we should, is the people. Yes, school can be a pain, but a huge part of it is spending time with your best friends everyday all in one place. After high school, most of us will go in different directions. Hanging out with your close friends will never be as easy as it is now. But at least with close friends you’ll probably see them a fair amount for the rest of your life. But what about the other people? The guy in your math class that you always make jokes with. The girl in your English class who you always work on projects with. Your teammates. We all interact with a huge group of people everyday that we’ve become friends with, but that we don’t ever take the time to get to know better or that we don’t really appreciate. Many of these people we may never see again after high school, and yet too often we spend time on our phones or sitting by ourselves, and we miss out on the unique opportunities high school provides. Talk to people. Laugh with people. Get to know the people that school puts you in contact with for four years, because soon you’ll wish you could go back to right now and do just that. No matter what grade you’re in, the end of high school is getting closer every day. Don’t let it come to a close without getting the most of every relationship, every moment, every opportunity, and even every workout.
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When “just kidding” starts to lose its meaning Sarcastic comments to friends start to hurt for real
AN OPINION OF ASHLEY KAROLYS Are you the type of per- around the school. In the son who jokes around with cafeteria, the auditorium, the your friends by saying some- courtyards, even teachers in thing along the lines of, “Wow classrooms tend to make sarCheryl. No one wants you castic comments to students. here.” And then follows up Although sarcasm from with, “JK. Love you.” teachers is usually even more The phrase, “It’s all fun hysterical than coming from and games until someone a friend, there is always golooses an eye,” has meaning. ing to be at least one student Or at least its alternative, “It’s who thinks what that teacher all jokes and laughter until says isn’t funny at all and is someone gets their feelings humiliated. hurt,” does. Today’s society has come Some may think that silly to be nothing but these sarcomments can never affect castic comments. Not only is their friends or loved ones, this being found in schools, but that’s not exactly the case. but also has now trickled into How can they be offended? businesses. Now bosses and They’re your friend. They business colleagues are jokknow that you’re just joking ing around not knowing the around. effect that could be left beBut sometimes the com- hind. ments and “jokes” start to Sure, these comments can become real to the people be absolutely hilarious, but that are on the receiving end every now and then, a person of those jokes. Most of the can feel put down and could time the jokes are hilarious take the sarcasm as a form of and just taken lightly, but is bullying. it every now and then that When talking to a close those “jokes” no longer come friend this probably won’t across as just “jokes.” happen as much, but to a Sassy and sarcastic com- person who you have one ments can be heard all class with and talk to once or
twice a month, there is more of a chance of a misunderstanding and someone ends up feeling like they are being made fun of. Social media is notorious for having misunderstandings occur between peers or even family members. What one person is saying could possibly be completely misinterpreted by the person reading the comment. It has become less of a problem with the help of emoji, but even with the help, not every emotion can have it’s own emoticon. Especially when being said on social media, sarcasm cannot be detected by some people and they may actually take what is being said literally. But this can even be a problem when talking to a person face to face. So the next time you decide to make a sassy comment to someone, think before you say the words that are about to come out of your mouth. They might have a bigger impact on a person than you expected.
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More dual credit classes should be offered Dual credit is more beneficial than AP classes AN OPINION OF SARAH STURGIS AP classes are very popu- relatively new program and lar to take to get credit for awareness of it is low. AP college courses. In those classes seem to a lot of kids classes you study all year to be the only option to get to learn the material, write college credit hours. In my countless essays, and take opinion, if all core classes ofvery hard tests. At the end fered dual credit I would take of the course you take the them instead of AP. AP test and if you do well Dual credit courses enough and if your college achieve twice the amount takes your score, you will get of hours that an AP course three credit hours. and the credit is guaranteed. On the other hand, dual You earn the credit and get credit courses are not as experience in what a colrigourous and there is no test lege course is like without to determine whether or not having to attend a univeryou get credit. Dual credit is sity. The course work is also a great way to earn college easier and, at least in Enghours. You work your way lish, you don’t have to take as through the courses they many tests. In English Dual actually teach in college, Credit we write a lot of esbut you get to take it with a says, which we edit and then Stratford teacher and get to turn in, and don’t take a lot of take it here at school. There tests. should be more opportunity I think that awareness and for students to choose taking accessibility to dual credit dual credit classes and get a courses should be higher. We chance to earn more credit have only had one opportuhours. nity to sign up for the one Most students who wish to course offered here at Stratachieve college credit hours ford. Math, Science, and Histake AP classes because that tory classes should also be is all we have known about available for students to take in the past. Dual credit is a dual credit. At the moment
only English is offered in dual credit. Students should be able to earn high school and college credits that are guaranteed at the same time. From a students perspective, I like taking dual credit better. As a junior I took AP English and we studied all year for one test and only some of us got credit for all the work we did. In my dual credit class we all work to earn our credit, and we will all gain the credit. Although there is no current GPA boost for dual credit classes, the guaranteed hours are worth it. Dual credit courses are in competition with AP students in enrollment numbers. AP is also a very well known and established program to earn college hours from. Therefore, there is more availability and awareness of that path. Overall, dual credit is a great choice to earn credit hours for higher education and it is easier than taking AP. Dual Credit should be offered more in every subject.
The true meaning of GT Is the gifted and talented classification necessary? AN OPINION OF DAVID HUMPHREY
GRAPHIC BY ABBY BOESSLING
I was six years old. My brother came up to me in the backyard holding a basketball. “Hey David, what shape is this?” Not knowing any better, I answered “A circle?” “No, dummy. It’s a sphere!” Two years later, I took a strange test, and one of the questions asked students to circle the object that was a sphere. There was a box, a baseball, a ring, and a pen. Remembering my traumatic experience, I was immediately able to answer the question correctly. This test is how I qualified to be in the Gifted and Talented program. When a student is in the GT program, some will automatically assume that means they are smarter. This is not always the case. According to the Texas Education Agency, students in the GT program are those who “exhibit high performance in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area, possess an unusual capacity for leadership, or excel in a specific academic field.” By this definition, the Gifted and
Talented Program may include some students that are intelligent, but that does not automatically make G T distinction the deciding factor in the intelligence of a student. It does not even mean that GT students are those who make higher grades. GT students, simply put, are somehow defined as thinking differently. Not necessarily smarter. It can often be ambiguous as to how these students are classified as GT. Many of the students in the program, myself included, are tested in early elementary school for the program. These tests evaluate the excellence in growth of a student at a young age, but once a student is in the program, the students can stay in the program as long as they wish, without necessary grade requirements to stay in the advanced program.
If the GT program were based on academic excellence, as some conceive it to be, there would be certain academic grading levels that students would have to meet in order to stay in the program. As no such requirements are in place, the Gifted and Talented Program is not classified as a program based simply on academic excellence. What, then, is the purpose of the GT program? Some may argue that it has no purpose. In the past few years, the number of GT classes in our school has diminished due to the difficulty in planning schedules and the little difference between GT curriculum and normal advanced curriculum. Any program with a different form of educational curriculum will raise the question of equality. Should some students be given the opportunity for
“advanced” educational opportunities while others do not? The Gifted and Talented Program is very helpful for elementary-age students as a sort of preparation for higher levels of education. It instills a sense of accomplishment in younger students while also honing their work ethic and ability to become a high-level student, as well as providing students an opportunity to interact with others who have similar personalities. By the time students get to high school, students have matured and educational excellence has largely evened out. High School students no longer need guided curriculum in order to succeed academically, as they are old enough and responsible enough to discipline themselves for challenges of higher education. A Gifted and Talented program is not needed, as students have to be able to prove themselves as gifted or talented. The Gifted and Talented program may have served its purpose by the time students get to high school, yet some still cling to the GT distinction. It’s time to understand that there is no difference.
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QMatt &A with Famous Author Matt de la Peña de la Peña talks life as an a award-winning writer INTERVIEW BY ELLIE HERRMANN PHOTO BY ABBY BOESSLING
“...I made a goal of writing a novel. I would never not do it.” Matt de la Peña’s journey from basketball jock to renowned author is a story full of humor and determination. Reporter Ellie Herrmann sat down with him to get a closer look:
Q: You went to the University of the Pacific on a basketball scholarship. How did you go from playing basketball to earning your Bachelor of Arts?
A: I think basketball took me to college, and then once I got there I knew I wasn’t good enough to play beyond college, so I committed more to academics. The thing that I loved the most was writing poetry, and slowly but surely my poems became too long to be poems, and they became short stories. Then I started becoming a reader; I always tell people you can never be even a good writer unless you’re first a great reader, so I think once I became a really, really invested reader, that was when my writing got better.
Q: When did you know that you
wanted to write your first book?
A: I think that when I was writing short stories I knew that one day I’d write a novel. So before graduate school, I made a goal of writing a novel. I would never not do it.
Q: The first book you wrote was Ball Don’t Lie in 2005. How long did that process take, to get to the point of publication, and what was involved in it?
A: It took about a year and a half to write, and it took about another year and a half to revise, so I revised it hundreds of times. Well not really hundreds, but a hundred. And then I got an agent, and then the agent sold it; it took him about four months. Then it takes two years after it’s sold for it to come out even though the book is done.
Q: Your first children’s book was released in 2010, A Nation’s Hope. Why did you make the switch from young adult to children’s books?
A: You know what, in a weird way, you know how I said I started with poetry? It’s like going back
to the poetry, writing picture books. You’re going to verse. It’s the rhythm of just a few words. It was great, and now I have a little daughter, she’s only 9 months old, and it’s so cool I have a second picture book. I want to keep doing these, I love it.
Q: You have your first series that starts with The Living. What’s it like [plotting] a series?
A: It’s hard as hell. I’ll never do it again. Have you ever heard of the Twilight books? I used to make fun of those books and now I’m like, that chick is a genius. How did she do all the connecting? That’s amazing! I can’t believe. It was so hard to do, and my series is only two books.
Q: You live in Brooklyn now. When did you know you wanted to teach creative writing there?
A: That’s the kind of thing that you just fall into because you’re starving when you first write a book. You have one book out, and you’re literally starving. You’re like, I could
either rob a bank, or I could teach a class. And if I teach a class, I definitely won’t go to jail. So that’s when you decide to teach a class.
Q: Where do you draw your daily inspiration for your books and your speeches?
A: Other books. I read a lot of other books. I am always inspired by other authors. And then my memories, you go back into your memories. Sometimes I do school visits, and I’m here, and I meet somebody who looks sad and is not really engaging, and I’ll imagine where they’re coming from.
Q: What is your absolute favorite part about being an author?
A: It’s when you’re writing a book that you think isn’t good, and you don’t think it’s good for six straight months. And then suddenly, you figure something out, and you go, ‘Oh my gosh, now I understand what this book is about.’ And it’s this euphoric epiphany, and from that point on you actually understand your book.
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BPA Cleans Up at Regionals
Need More Sleep?
WRITTEN BY SCOTT KENNEDY PHOTO BY JOSH WRIGHT Around 30 medals and 15 plaques dominate the Klein Collins cafeteria table. Business Professionals of America sponsors Mary Jackson, Pamela Schaper, and Scott Elmore crowd around trying to get the perfect picture of their massive haul. They practically have to stand on the table just to get it all in the frame. * * * BPA has been around at Stratford for well over 25 years, and every year the students bring home awards in a myriad of different business-related competitions. This year, the group of about 25 students won almost double that many awards, a ratio of awards-tostudent that easily surpassed that of any other school at the competition. “We had an average of about two medals per student,” Schaper said. “Our percentage of wins was really fantastic.” BPA as an organization began in 1966. It came to Stratford decades later, when
WRITTEN BY OLIVIA SICILIANO GRAPHIC BY VICTORIA SHIN
Twenty-eight students earn nearly 50 awards at competition Jackson and other teachers decided to get Stratford into the competition. “We used to do a group called FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), and BPA came around, and it was more student friendly, so we decided to do it,” Jackson said. Even though the school has been competing for decades, Jackson and Schaper noticed something unique about this year. “I think we’ve done well for years because our students are able to think outside the box, put themselves out there, and reach for unique ideas,” Schaper said. “But in the past, the teachers have encouraged students to participate. The students this year have come to us.” One of those students was junior Thomas Birdsong, who had never participated in BPA before, but who ended up placing first in his individual event, and doing well in a few “open” events, as well. “I heard about BPA and wanted to join,” Birdsong
said. Senior Josh Wright saw the competition as a way to prepare himself for the future. “BPA sounded like the perfect leg-up I needed to get above the competition for college and to learn more about the business world,” Wright said. Many of the students who participated are members of the Academy of Finance and hope to pursue a career in business. “BPA is helpful to students because it exposes them to business concepts early and gives them experience for the real world,” senior Kyle Mosby said. Junior Abigail Hirst agrees. “It’s a great way to get students out of their comfort zones and encourage them to grow in new ways.” Around 20 students will be attending the State Convention in Dallas on March 4. “I’m excited to be able to represent Stratford at state,” junior Jackson Holland said. “I hope that we clean up.”
“Man I got way too much sleep last night…” -said no one ever
The prevalent issue of not getting enough sleep seems to be a problem that everyone has nowadays. According to the Sleep in America 2014 Poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, over half of 15-17 year olds sleep less than 7 hours per night, and only 10% sleep 9 hours or more. The typical amount of sleep needed: 8 to 10 hours. Not only that, the poll has found that children’s sleep needs are diminishing with age, and sleep duration significantly declines, especially on school nights. Over 28% of children experienced not getting a good night’s sleep due to homework and busy schedules. Teenagers lead incredibly busy lifestyles filled with schoolwork and extracurricular activities that shorten their sleep time at night. As a result, over 33% of 15-17 year olds in America ever fall asleep in school. The NSF also collected data on electronics’ influence on sleep. With 75% of children having at least one electronic device in their bedrooms, leaving electronics on past bedtime results in duration and quality of their sleep suffering. Electronics disturb sleep through light and noise, and provide a distraction leading to further delayed bedtimes. However, lack of sleep doesn’t just affect people in a workspace or at school. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA) has conducted studies to find that falling asleep while driving is responsible for 100,000 crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 deaths each year in the United States. Not only that, young people in teens and twenties, who are particularly susceptible to effects of chronic sleep loss, are involved in more than half of fall-asleep crashes on the nation’s highways each year.
Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep:
Surprising Sleep Benefits:
1. Avoid heavy meals before sleep, and choose
1. Improve memory.
2. Keep a regular sleep or wake schedule
(body clock). Develop a regular bedtime and go to bed the same time each night.
3. Minimize noise, light, and excessive hot
The full list of winners from the Regional Competition online at shsoracle.com.
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Here’s what sleep really does for you and how to get more of it
sleep superfoods instead! Meals with combinations of protein and tryptophan are great because tryptophan is an amino acid that converts to sleep-promoting serotonin in the body.
Cleaning Up. The Business Professionals of America group takes a picture with their awards.
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and cold temperatures where you sleep. Try not to do anything that raises your body temperature too close to bedtime. This may hinder you from falling asleep since your body needs to be cool in order to reach slumber.
You can strengthen memories and practice skills while you were awake. (Process called consolidation.)
2. Improve your athletic performance.
A Stanford University study on college football players found that their average sprint time improved, had less daytime fatigue, and more stamina with more sleep.
3. Less stress!
Sleep can definitely reduce levels of stress, and with that people can have better control of their blood pressure. Sleep affects cholesterol levels, which plays a significant role in heart disease.
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Trouble in paradise
WRITTEN BY CAMERON HENKEL “Our navigation system has just failed.� Halfway into a three hour flight over the Caribbean this was a very troubling announcement. For the 31 Spartan journalists on board the plane, it meant a six-hour delay in their trip to Puerto Rico. When things were going according to plan the tour visited a sprawling cave system, vast rain forest, and a historic military fort by the beach, but more often than not chaos followed.
Pestering Pigeons Old San Juan, known as Puerto Rico before the island and city switched names, was completely different from the modern metropolis that hosted the photography students. A 50-foottall wall wrapped around the decaying colonial town and nestled a maze of side streets and public squares. Within one of these plazas laid a dormant terror... killer pigeons. At the first sight of food they leapt into the sky and attacked the group, only leaving after a drawn out battle with an umbrella.
Snowpocalypse Strikes Spartans On a quiet Monday afternoon planes leaving San Juan International enjoyed pleasant blue skies and warm
Sparties love contest season
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Ç? Ç? Ç? Ç?Ç?Ä•Ç?Ç? Ç? Ç? Ç? rising air. A thousand miles away, Charlotte N.C. was in the hands of the massive snow storm sweeping the northeast forcing all arrivals to be cancelled. The photo tour would be stuck in the Puerto Rico for two extra days. Junior principal Carl Blaze, and one of the trip chaperones, sprang into action and corralled the students into one of the roped off ticket lines while the other teachers worked with the tour company to figure out a plan. Forty-eight hours later they would make it back through Philadelphia on two separate planes.
A possessed lift On the very last night of the trip the group filed into an industrial sized elevator to head up to dinner. As the cool metal doors slid shut someone realized none of the buttons were lighting up. The limited air within the compartment quickly went stale as two dozen anxious photographers realized they weren’t moving. After a few minutes the tour director found the emergency alarm and a couple seconds later the doors creaked open. A rush of fresh air poured in just before the group’s bad luck went out. Visit shsoracle.com to see exclusive photos and videos from the trip.
The Spartanaires competed in their final contest on Feb. 14, and they represented the school very well. The team obtained a super sweepstakes (receiving a 95 or above on each routine), best in class team novelty, best in class team military, and second runner up grand champion. They also earned awards in smaller groups, such as officers. The dance officers also got super sweepstakes, showcase elite, best in class officer jazz, lyri- Trophy Haul The Spartanaires display cal, novelty and choreography their collection of awards from the awards in those categories as successful contest. well as outstanding technique
in lyrical. They were the first runner up grand champion and earned top scores in their division. The JV team also competed in the contest and received a division one award (a score of 90 or above) and a best in class first runner up JV pom. The social officers also had successful contest as they were the grand champions for social officer novelty. Congratulations to the Spartanaires for their achievements and an award-winning contest season.
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BREAKING IN: AS SIMPLE AS OPENING A CAR DOOR STORY BY JUSTIN TODES
PHOTO BY REBECCA WILLIAMSON
BY THE NUMBERS
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GRAPHICS BY VICTORIA SHIN AND ERICA JEON
Oracle staff opens student cars, discovers shocking trend Your cars have been checked, and the findings are shocking: one in every twelve students does not lock their vehicle. On Feb. 2, Oracle staff pulled on the driverside door handle of every car in the south and east parking lots. Out of the 436 cars checked, 34 were not locked, and many of these unlocked cars contained items such as purses, electronics cables, jewelry, loose cash, and even wallets. These items were left out in plain sight, readily available to anyone capable of opening a car door. The fact that students are leaving their cars unlocked is a safety concern, and a costly habit that needs to be broken. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for students to choose not to lock their car at school, and I think the habit will carry over to places outside of school,� campus security officer Matt Krajnovich said. Students who do lock their vehicles aren’t innocent either. Oracle staff also peered through the windows of numerous vehicles, finding another shocking trend. Even in locked cars, valuables such as MacBooks and iPhones were left out in the open, backpacks were in obvious view, and wallets were left in back seats. When valuables such as these are left in visible sight, the car quickly becomes a target for thieves, who can bust a window in about 10 seconds, burglarize the vehicle, and be gone.
Keeping Your Car Safe from Break-Ins
“A person breaks into a vehicle, most of the time, when they know there is a valuable in there. If they can see a laptop or something like that, you’re going to be a target,� Krajnovich said. “You want to secure your belongings, and hide them the best you can so they’re not visible.� Oracle staff was never questioned about why they were opening car doors and peering into vehicles. At least ten witnesses passed by staff, either not paying attention to their surroundings or not caring to interfere with the suspicious-looking activity. With no witnesses taking action, who is watching? “We video tape everything 24/7,� Krajnovich said. “Sometimes they are viewed live, but it’s more of when there’s an incident.� However, while there are cameras in the parking lots, there is no guarantee that stolen items are recoverable. Even with recorded footage, stolen item incidents tend to be difficult to resolve. Nevertheless, if an item is stolen, students should still file a report with Officer Krajnovich, who will review the camera footage and attempt to track down a thief. Even with advanced camera technology, however, there is still a very slim chance of stolen items being returned, so it is imperative that valuables are hidden out of sight, and most importantly, that car doors are locked.
It seems like common sense, but some students (and teachers) still need a refresher course on how they can protect their vehicles from theft. Hide, Lock, Take is an auto theft prevention campaign, and provides the following three steps to keeping people and their property safe:
HIDE YOUR THINGS
Have any valuables? Always keep valuables out of plain sight, and secure them in your trunk if possible. Items left out in the open make your car an easy target for criminals. It is recommended that you place valuables in your trunk at home, before you park, so a criminal is not able to you observe your actions.
LOCK YOUR CAR
Always lock your vehicle once you have parked. If a thief attempts to break in, the alarm will activate and deter theft. Locking your car is one of the easiest ways to prevent theft. An unlocked car is very simple to break into, and is an attractive target for criminals because there are no deterrents present. Never leave your car running and exit your vehicle. Your car will become very easy to steal, and most insurance policies will not cover auto theft due to a driver leaving the keys in the ignition.
TAKE YOUR KEYS
Always take your keys with you when you leave your vehicle. Leaving your keys inside of your vehicle significantly increases the chances of your car being stolen. You also should not hide any spare keys inside of your vehicle.
HIDE, LOCK, TAKE Don’t let your vehicle be a target for theft
An Easy Target. This is just one of the cars left unlocked in the south parking lot. A total of 34 cars were left unlocked when checked by Oracle staff.
1 of 12
cars found unlocked
34%
of cars had valuables visible in trunk
16%
of cars had cargocovers in trunks
38%
of cars had visible bags, wallets, and loose cash
14
cars with electronics in plain sight
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FXOWXUH
Rodeo Roundup
Which Queso is King?
STORY AND PHOTOS BY RILEY TIMMRECK
STORY AND PHOTOS BY NOELLE FLORES
Upcoming Rodeo events and talented Stratford Rodeo art
Reviewing the best kinds of queso around town Many arguments have been made for which queso trumps all the rest in H-town. With so many high-quality Tex-Mex joints around, it’s hard to decide which ones stand out from the others, especially when each place puts their own twist on the popular cheese sauce. A few choice restaurants were reviewed in the search for the “king queso”, and the places below were the ones that offered some truly delicious cheese sauce.
Starting March 3rd, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is back. With a Bar-B-Q cook-off, carnival rides, and an award winning line up of singers, there is something for everyone. A few talented students will have their artwork displayed at the rodeo including Emily Gex and Lilian Velez.
March Rodeo Schedule
Escalante’s White Queso
-Tuesday, March 3 — Eric Church -Wednesday, March 4 – Hunter Hayes -Thursday, March 5 — Miranda Lambert -Friday, March 6 — John Legend -Saturday, March 7 — Alan Jackson -Sunday, March 8 — Fall Out Boy -Monday March 9 — Justin Moore
ƌɄ It’s rich flavor is sublime, and its thickness and the green pepper and ground beef that you can add to it creates a unique taste that makes this Chihuahua cheese sauce supreme.
Chuy’s Queso ƌɄ It’s no secret that Chuy’s is one of the favorites in the world of Houston’s Tex-Mex. Their queso is definitely a crowd pleaser - it’s cheesiness is perfectly blended with the right amount of spices to give that delicious Tex-Mex flavor that people love so much.
Goode Company Taqueria Queso
Esca’s Creamy Goodness
Served alongside a yummy strawberry drink, this is sure to satisfy your queso cravings.
Second Place
Displaying a detailed drawing of the anatomy of the horse, this piece sports a red ribbon by junior Lillian Velez.
Schedule Continued
-Tuesday, March 10 — Tim McGraw -Wednesday, March 11 — Brantley Gilbert -Thursday, March 12 — Zac Brown Band -Friday, March 13 — Pitbull -Saturday, March 14 — Billy CurFirst Place This colorful abstract piece sports a blue rib- rington bon, made by junior Emily Gex.
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ƌɄ This restaurant sells one of the best quesos to be found in Houston. It offers that spicy TexMex kick in the flavor and the perfect texture to easily make it a crowd favorite.
Cassidy’s Styles
All clothing and jewelry can be found at Anthropologie.
Spring forward in style this season STORY BY CASSIDY MENARD AND GABBY BROUSSARD PHOTOS BY NATALIE BROUSSARD
Cute and Casual
This comfy outfit is nothing short of fabulous, no matter where you are going. A loose solid color tee shirt and flowy, printed pants are ideal for this casual look. Add a long, simple necklace to finish off the outfit. The shirt cost $40 and the pants cost $60.
Spiffed up for Springtime
Have a fancy event to go to or just feel like looking spiffy? A midi dress in a gorgeous spring color like cream is perfect for any occasion. Pair it with bright heel or eye-catching necklace to really make the dress pop. The dress costs $228.
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FXOWXUH
Wacky Holidays Coming Soon to a Date Near You
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Weird holidays that are approaching and what they mean
Ç? Ç? Ç? Ç?Ç?Ç?Ä•Ç?Ç? Ç? Ç? Ç? Ç?Ç?Ç?Ä•Ç?Ç? Ç? Ç? Ç?
Pi Day- A day dedicated to the constant symbol 3.14159... Math teachers go crazy over this day because it is directed towards their department, so on this day if you have math you could have a pie party. “Pi day usually falls during Spring Break, but when it doesn’t the math teacher will usually bring moon pies and some other teacher will even bring real pies,� said math teacher William Hall. This is a day you will want to remember. Who doesn’t like a good pie? Earth Day - A interesting day where it’s all
about this big blue mass we live on, that revolves around a burning star, and is our home. “On this day I will most likely do a project on why the Earth is important to the students,� said earth and space science teacher Coach Mesler. Even, those student who are not in earth and space science class can still celebrate this day simply by planting a tree.
National Tortilla Chip Day- The purpose of this holiday is to celebrate the growth in popularity of the tortilla chip, that was brought to the United States from Mexico. “I would let students bring chips if it fits the schedule,� said Spanish teacher Mrs. Sorsby. Although,this date has passed, remember it for next year and you could possibly have some chips in a Spanish class. Students might even be able to crack open the salsa. Paranormal Day- In psychology this is called
Extrasensory Perception or ESP. However, this parapsychology is not proven a science. “I would not do anything for this holiday, because it is not a proven science,� said psychology teacher Mrs. Henry. There are theories out there and there have also been test conducted for telepathy, and precognition(perceiving future events), but none of the tests can prove with hard evidence that these phenomenons occur.
Ms. Hyche From August to the end of the year, Ms. Hyche appreciates the holidays other people tend to undermine. Though they may be wacky, they are still days to celebrate none the less or to at least know about.
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ONE ON ONE with...
Seniors Ashley Fritcher (left) and Phoebe Lamay (right) cheer for their fellow Spartans as they sign with their future teams.
Coach Matthews
Q: What is your background in Basketball? A: I grew up in west Texas where basketball is huge for girls. I played little dribblers in 1st grade then transitioned to middle school and high school sports. I was an athletic trainer in college and just love being around sports. Q: What brought you to Stratford to coach basketball? A: I was placed at Stratford to do my student teaching when I was at Texas A&M, and I fell in love with the school and Spring Branch. A new job position was opening up for the following year as the girls’ basketball assistant coach, JV coach, so I applied. I was the JV coach from 2002 to 2012, and was hired as the head coach for the 2012-2013 season. Q: What valuable lessons do you want your players to learn from this sport? A: I want all of the players to leave my program as strong and determined young ladies. I want them to face challenges without hesitation and know that life is always full of choices. Q: How do you motivate your players? A: I am very lucky that my players are very competitive, so they are self-motivated most of the time. They have a strong sense of team and work hard because they do not want to let their teammates down. Q: What has been your favorite moment as a coach during your time at Stratford? A: My favorite moment as a coach had nothing to do with basketball. The girls soccer team was in the regional semi-final game of the playoffs in 2013 and hundreds of Stratford students rode fan buses to fill the stadium. It was such an amazing display of school spirit and support for girls athletics!
Signing Day
Cue the Applause
Signing Off Baseball player, senior Montana Ellstrom prepares to sign with Blinn College in Bryan, Texas.
The End of the Journey
Seniors (L-R) Ashley Fritcher, Phoebe Lamay, Josh Hollaway, Jamison Duck, and Montana Ellstrom conclude their careers at Stratford as they sign with college teams.
VSRUWV
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STORY BY JACQUI COMPARIN PHOTOS BY TAYLOR BRITTAIN, ABBY BOESSLING AND REBECCA BIESTEK Every year, athletes from all over the United States participate in National Signing Day. Signing Day is when the student athletes choose the university that they have decided to play for and attend. Recruiters from different colleges seek out students who have excelled in their sports. This year, five students have been signed to play in college: Ashley Fritcher (Volleyball, Baylor University) , Jamison Duck (Volleyball, Southwestern University), Montana Ellstrom (Baseball, Blinn Junior College), Josh Hollaway (Tennis, St. Mary’s), and Phoebe Lamay (Diving, University of California-Berkley). While leaving old teammates, these students will create new ones. “I am very excited to play on a new team and feel a sense of camaraderie with the other players,” senior Josh Hollaway said. Even though you’re leaving the friendships and memories made with your teammates and coaches will always stick with you no matter where you go. “I am going to miss the girls I have played with throughput the years and also coach Palermo, and all the game day traditions we have,” senior Ashley Fritcher said. High School is a once and a lifetime experience that is unforgettable and made better by friends, family, and coaches.
Baseball Hit-A-Thon
Go Pirates
College Bound
Seniors Josh Hollaway (left) Jamison Duck (right) sign with their colleges.
Senior Jamison Duck will play volleyball at Southwestern University this upcoming fall.
Baseball players hosted a Baseball Hit-A-Thon event to raise money for their program. Andrew Wood (left) plays hard to support his older brother. The team (right) celebrates after a successful day.
THE
SCHEDULE Position:
Baseball: 2/27 SHS vs. Mayde Creek HS @Mayde Creek 2/28 SHS vs. Katy @ Katy HS
Softball: 2/27 SHS vs. Katy Taylor @Katy Taylor 3/3 SHS vs. Magnolia @SHS
Point Guard
Favorite Song to Workout to: “Flick of dat Wrist” by Chedda Ft-T wayne
Inspiration/Idol:
Boys Soccer:
Coach Matthews
2/27 SHS vs. Brenham @Brenham 3/3 SHS vs. SWHS @SHS
Favorite Season:
Girls Soccer: 2/27 SHS vs. Brenham @SHS 3/3 SHS vs. SWHS @SWHS
Senior Year
College: Stephen F Austin
Tiera Hutton
Adrian Sanchez
Position:
Mid fielder/ Defender
Favorite Season: Every Season Ever
Best Moment: Scoring a goal against Memorial this year
Inspiration/Idol: Lionel Messi and Jack Brasher
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VSRUWV
New Districts, New Placements, New Opportunities Varsity girls soccer makes the switch to the same district as the rest of the school WRITTEN BY EMMA HOLLAND PHOTOS BY ARTURO BENITEZ AND HALEY WILSON
KSA All The Way!
The girls varsity soccer team prepares for an important match with a pump up huddle.
The girls soccer program has made the switch by advancing to the same 5A district as the rest of the school. It seems like a step in the right direction, but even promotions come with consequences. Last year, the entire athletics program moved from 4A to 5A, based on UIL redistricting. This means that Stratford will now battle against teams that have a similar-sized student body, and it makes sure that there is a fair match. Within these different categories, there are individual districts. Before the recent switch, girls’ soccer had been in a different district within 4A than the rest of the sports. This year, however, when
the switch was made from 4A to 5A, girls soccer joined the same district. “It makes it easier on an administrative level because the sports can share information about how to drive to each location, what their overall population of sports programs looks like, and who to contact for paperwork issues,” Varsity girls soccer coach Gena McGee said. The new placements for girls soccer also bring a lot of new challenges to the team. The competition has become more intense. “The team that will probably be the most difficult is Tomball-Memorial,” Varsity defender Jessica Sheldon said. “They are expected to place first.” How does soccer feel about the
change? Many would agree that this is a good change. Even the negative effects will help the team in the long run, as tougher competition will motivate improvement. “I would rather be 5A, even though in 4A it was a lot easier and Stratford won most games,” JV defender Ellie Gex said. “5A gives you a challenge.” According to McGee, 7 of the 8 teams that are competing this season made it to playoffs last year. “Since only 4 can go to playoffs, 3 good teams will be out of luck, and it may come down to a single goal scored.” The team will be learning new skills as the season progresses. According to McGee, the team has been working on creating goal-scoring opportunities, and have already begun to see progress. Coaches and players see many exciting opportunities ahead. “This particular group also has an overall, very positive personality,” McGee said. “The majority work extremely hard to build each other up. They take responsibility for wins and losses as a group, and they don’t blame anyone or anything. They are outstanding young women and students.”
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Freshman Girls Take Varsity
Sarah Nicholas
Sydney Lawrence
outside midfield
Experience: 8 years
Position: Forward and Experience: 10-11 years Team Outside Stratford: Albion Hurricanes
Favorite Thing About Varsity Soccer:
Position: Forward
Teams Outside Stratford: Albion Hurricanes
Favorite Thing About Varsity Soccer:
The people involved- they are It’s fun meeting older people super nice and supportive. and making new friends. Hardest Thing About The experience is really cool Varsity Soccer: and it pushes you. The competition— it’s a Hardest Thing About tough challenge, but it’s also Varsity Soccer: really fun Playing against seniors that Practice Outside Stratford: are really big A lot, especially with Albion
Practice Outside Stratford:
2-3 times a week, and usually I have a game every weekend.
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Swimming Success at State
Boys and Girls Both Place at the UIL Texas State Meet
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GRAPHICS BY SCOTT KENNEDY CONTENT BY PERRY SHEPARD
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHAEL HOSKOVEC
Relay Success Swimmers Clayton Bobo, Nick Airola,
Chance Parker, and Taylor Nicholas place first in the 200 Free Relay, just one one-hundredth off of the state record.
Feet: The distance between home plate and first base on a baseball diamond
Victory Hug Boys swim coach, Michael
Hoskovec, congratulates some of the swimmers after a successful finish on their relay.
On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! (Above, right) Junior Erika
Stephenson prepares for the 200 Free, where she earned valuable points for the girls’ team.
Girls and Boys Place
First Place Senior Phoebe Lamay wins gold in the one-meter diving contest. Lamay will continue diving next year in college at the University of California-Berkley.
The girls’ team placed second place at state this year, while the boys placed third. This is the highest the girls have ever placed at the state level.
84
90
Miles Per Hour: The average speed for a pitch in high school baseball
Batting Average: The average Stratford varsity baseball player gets a hit about 30% of the time
.300
9STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL
Ounces: A baseball weighs nine ounces and is made out of cork and rubber.
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DGV
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Golden Oolong
1041  Blalock  Road,  Houston  TX  77055 (713)  932-Â6988 Facebook.com/goldenoolongtea    Â
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