February 3, 2017 by The Oracle

ORACLE Friday, February 3, 2017 // Vol 43 // Issue 5

Stratford High School 14555 Fern, Houston, Texas // shsoracle.com

Dunking on Memorial

@SpartanOracle @StratfordOracle

Opinions The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

Confronting Our Nation’s Greatest Tension

Discussing racism in our community, and how we can overcome it WRITTEN BY: OLIVIA SICILIANO

CONTRIBUTING WRITER: JAMAURI BAGBY

Returning from winter break on Wednesday, Jan. 4, Memorial High School students were greeted with racist graffiti messages and symbols that had been littered throughout the hallways. Racist slurs, like the n-word, and symbols ranging from swastikas to pentagrams had been spray-painted on the walls by an unknown student. These racially charged actions in schools have been springing up around the nation after the highly contested Election of 2016, and now these hate-fueled messages have spread to our own community here in Spring Branch ISD. Despite this reality we face, it’s so important to confront the ugly monster that racism has always been, and to try and figure out a way to stand by one another to overcome it. In Stratford’s environment, senior Hayle Carlyn has “never really experienced any direct racism. Maybe I’ve heard a few jokes or whatever, but it hasn’t necessarily affected me, because I choose not to let them affect me, or worry about those kinds of things, especially if they’re not directed towards me. As long as someone isn’t being racist towards me, if they choose to be ignorant then that’s them,” Carlyn said. AP Economics and Government teacher, Sara Russo, has also felt comfortable within Stratford’s walls in that she herself hasn’t experienced any racism in school. However, outside Stratford’s borders, she has “heard comments, I’ve heard little things, [and] people don’t realize sometimes when they’re saying something that can be taken offensively. I think a lot of times people stay quiet when they hear things, because they don’t want to make a big deal about it,” Russo said. Physics teacher April Glover also agrees that, often times, bringing up the topic of racism around people these days can trigger nasty conversations and arguments that end worse than they began. “I think a lot of it has to do with challenging people’s personal opinions, things that have been passed down from generation to generation about how they feel. So whenever you try to have a conversation about it, people feel personally attacked. Even though they’re not attacking you, they’re attacking the issue, and they just want to challenge you to think: ‘why?’ People get so defensive over that statement that it just upsets everyone emotionally, personally, mentally, the whole bit,” Glover said. “There are just more tensions between the sides. People just take things so offen-

PHOTO BY: CLAIRE SANCHEZ

sively these days, even though someone may say something that may not be considered racist, someone’s going to turn it around and try to say that it was racist. The culture we live in today is that everything has to be so politically correct, or someone’s going to end up being called a racist,” Glover said. Even though the line of offending someone can sometimes be quite fine when talking about racism, Glover believes that we still “need to make the issue more talked about. I think we to find a place where kids can talk about it, adults can talk about it in a place where they can feel safe to voice their opinions without getting yelled at or being called any sort of names. I just think it needs to be talked about, be-

ing to tell your parents this, or try to tell someone this. People aren’t always going to have the same views as you,” Carlyn said. As racism has become more visible in the last year, our generation is presented with the task of handling it, and being responsible for doing a better job of trying to change the mindset of those who believe in racist ideas. Russo thinks that “you guys [our generation] are having to face it a lot more than we are. Even when I was growing up, yes America is a great melting pot, but you lived in your little neighborhood. You might travel, but you didn’t really know the things that we know today. And again, with the internet and media, you just have a lot more awareness of what’s going on. I hear a lot of people say, ‘Oh these generations, they’re going to ruin everything, they’re horrible,’ and I would actually argue the opposite. You guys find a cause to fight for, you find the resources, and you go out and do it. You are also exposed to a lot more things than we ever have been. I think there is so much more exposure to different cultures, you can’t help but open yourself up a little bit,” said Russo. So, with that being said, what can we do personally to help combat racism, even just beginning with our own community? One of the greats, Martin Luther King Jr., said it best: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Don’t be afraid to have conversations about racism, or feel you can’t make a difference in someone’s attitude simply because you are too young. Everyone, no matter their age, has the ability to make a difference starting within themselves: to promote an attitude of love over one of hate, and to speak words of encouragement instead of ones that tear down and discriminate. One of the greatest things that we can do for one another, in my personal opinion, is to allow someone to trust that they are valued and loved. If we start there, then maybe together we can prevent racism from continuing to gain a foothold in our community, our state, and our country.

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

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“I would say that if we made a point of understanding why people believe the things they do, and try to find the positives, I think that will go a very long way.” -Sara Russo

cause people aren’t talking about it and we need to do it in a healthy manner,” she said. Carlyn believes that “it has something to do with exposure, because I feel like most people who are racist have never been exposed to those races, and are so caught up in the stereotypes. I feel like someone who has never been around black people could easily say this, this, and this about them. Or someone who’s never been around white people could say this and this. I think it has everything to do with exposure and lack of knowledge,” she said. “It starts with us. I feel like you can’t change your parents or other people, you have to make that change in yourself and be more open minded. I think that can affect others in a positive way, rather than try-

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.

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ORACLE

FRONT PAGE PHOTO BY: RILEY TIMMRECK

Varsity Men’s Basketball Defeats Memoria(L)

Senior Justin Moore soars through the air as he dunks against a Memorial player at their game on Jan. 10. Varsity’s next basketball is on Feb. 3 against Memorial (again) at DCC.

Editors-in-Chief Cameron Henkel Olivia Siciliano

Culture Editors Charlotte Benes Rachel Dietert

Associate Editor

Sports Editors Jacqui Comparin Haley Grace Francis Nicole Whiteford Assistant Sports Editor Louis Nucette

*Nazlee Khadjeheian *Emma Holland *Ellie Herrmann *Maddie McKenzie

Photo Editors

*Riley Timmreck *Presley Graves *Perry Shepard

Opinions Editors Lauren Byram Sebastian Droz News Editors Taylor Morris Elizabeth Cole

Reporters Andrew Park Alex Parizot Photographers Arturo Benitez Jordyn Richards Kate McCord Grayson Hart

Cassie Wilson Mariana Rincon Tea Sharp Donovan Rixie Carol Gebhart Sam Wagner Claire Sanchez Zaina Ateyea Madison Harbison Allison Delgado Kaitlyn White Savanna Underwood Jamauri Bagby Ads Editors Katie Boatwright Lindell Lewis Alice Morse Ads Staff Maddie Rustam

Jackson Fass Erin Walsh Natalie Gaiser Lauren Perry Gigi Meredith Design Editor William Thiele Staff Artist Caroline Bucek Copy Editors Benjamin Burnham Maddie Suerth Building Principal Danny Gex Advisor Janice Cummons *Editorial Board Members

Opinions The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

Defining a “Thing”

Valentine’s Day, More than a Holiday

What is the phase between friends and dating? OPINION OF: SEBASTIAN DROZ GRAPHICS BY :SEBASTIAN DROZ There’s a big trouble with commitment in today’s society, and the pattern can be traced back to even teenagers or young adults. Many don’t know, or simply don’t understand, the phase in between being friends and dating, so in return they call it a “thing.” Some might consider this the new phenomenon in today’s youth as a way to show affection to someone without having the stress of commitment. Others disregard it completely, either conforming with just dating or by simply thinking it’s stupid. There might be many reasons why this is seen so much in high schools, but the most obvious is the fact that it’s only temporary. “Dating in

high school is not fun because deep down you both know that it won’t last,” junior Blake Flynn said. Not only is keeping a good relationship with someone

extremely hard due to all the extracurricular activities and academics, but if the couple makes it to senior year, there’s a high chance they will split up. Of course there’s always the fairy tale romance where kids fall in love

freshmen year and end up getting married, but it’s almost unheard of. There is a negative side effect to this anomaly however, that others who actually want a relationship may be labeled as “clingy” or “over-attached” because they want something more serious. Whether dating is simplistic enough to some, or not, is besides the point. What does matter is the effects of the new terminology as this generation proceeds forward. The effects of this term must be studied in order to see if the relaxed culture of the term affects marriages or partnerships in a positive or negative way in the future.

Valentine’s Day revisited as a holiday for friendships OPINION OF: SEBASTIAN DROZ On the 14th day of February, every year, people buy chocolates, flowers and cards for their partners. This day is known as Valentine’s Day, and many think it is only a day to celebrate love to sweethearts, but until recently it is not. The holiday is so widened now, that it is considered a day to celebrate teachers, parents, friends, and even pets.

• In most countries children celebrate the day with great enthusiasm. Most schools hold Valentine’s Day programs where they make cards, exchange candy, perform dances, skits, plays etc. • In Finland they celebrate Ystävän Päivä, which literally translates to “Friend’s Day”. On this day, people gift their friends instead of their sweethearts. • In Britain, children sing love songs and are awarded candy, fruit, or money in return. • In Korea and Japan, contrary to the traditions of the United States, women buy chocolates and flowers to give to the men. • In the United States, teachers receive the most Valentine’s Day cards, followed by children, women, pets, and last but not least, men.

Groundhog Guesses Calculating what groundhog guesses were accurate OPINION OF BEN BURNHAM As kids, we are told that if a groundhog sees its shadow on Feb. 2, winter will last longer, and if it doesn’t, an early spring is coming. Every year, people gather to see Punxsutawney Phil’s (and other groundhogs across the nation) prediction. However, many of the guesses this furry little seer makes are not accurate. If the groundhog cannot make an accurate prediction, then why listen to it all? Since 2000, there have been 15 short winters and 2 long winters. Punxsutawney Phil, the most famous groundhog across America, has, over that period of time, predicted

GRAPHICS BY SEBASTIAN DROZ 13 long winters and 4 short winters. Comparing seasonal temperature departures by year, provided by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) and his predictions, this puts Phil around 24 percent accuracy in the past 17 years. He is placed at around 39 percent accuracy since he began placing predictions in 1887. Considering the statistics, the Punxsutawney Phil groundhog is not exactly prophetic. There are other groundhogs with varying degrees of accuracy, like General Beauregard Lee from Atlanta, Georgia, and

Chuck from the Staten Island Zoo, but do groundhogs even have prediction powers? Meteorologists say that they do not. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) meteorologist Tom Ross, who helped create the aforementioned report by the NCDC debunking Phil states that Phil has “no predictive skill during the most recent years of this analysis.” Groundhog fans should not be upset over the wavering credibility of the furry holiday figure. After all, the groundhog myth is just that, myth brought across the seas over a hundred years ago. So when you’re checking to see what the groundhog said this year, remember that his foresight is as fuzzy as his head.

Length of Winters Since 2001

Evaluating groundhog predictions since 2001

Opinions The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

The Unfortunate Woes of School Wi-Fi Is the school internet too restricted for use? WRITTEN BY: NAZLEE KHADJEHEIAN GRAPHICS BY: CAROLINE BUCEK Think about all of the websites and apps ‘school inappropriate’ sites. you visit in one day: all of the music streamOf course, we can always use our data, or ing, social media, news sources, and video the actual You Tube app if we really want to apps- the list goes on and on. Now, imagine watch a certain video or look something up. your school day without connection to the Now, there are some websites that the internet. At a time when millennials become reasons for blocking are a given. However, uncomfortable after a few minutes without the line between appropriate for educational their phones in their hands, it’s unconceivpurposes and unacceptable use can easable, right? ily become a blurred line, and practically The application that makes all of these any website (with some exceptions) can be apps acargued as approcessible is priate for certain Wi-Fi. The classroom use. school disI understand trict carries that schools want their own internet usage to Wi-Fi for usbe a supplemental age, but with aid for their studies. this perk Let’s face it, Snap comes the chat isn’t really restricting educational. But if of certain you have an argusites that ment that it does in students fact contribute to predomiclassroom purnantly use. poses, I implore you There was to take it up with You Shall Not Pass An all too recognizable message for a time when it the school board and was possible school computer users that try to visit a site that is get it unblocked for to make your way around the internet blocks the social well-being of all SBISD students. and still access Netflix if you turned off the However, the fact still stands that it’s just too school Wi-Fi, opened the app and started easy to get distracted when ‘so-and-so’ snap the show, and then enabled the Wi-Fi again. chatted you and you’re dying to know what That trick doesn’t cut it anymore. SBISD they had to say about what you did on the has left no stone unturned in ensuring that weekend, when in reality you’re supposed to anyone under their internet cannot access be doing a Physics web quest due at the end

Getting the Credit

Electives 101: Choosing the right course WRITTEN BY: MADDIE MCKENZIE Signing up for next year’s classes can be intimidating. Choosing an endorsement in 8th grade makes it feel so permanent. Electives help personalize the pathway. Some of the electives include Fine Arts Photography, Photojournalism, Journalism, Speech/Debate, and many others which are included in the program of studies booklet available on the Stratford home page. Photography plays a large role in senior Lauren Pfeifer’s time, “it’s taken over a lot of my life, and I don’t regret starting it at all. I enjoy capturing spaces and moments that are important to me,” Pfeifer said. Last year in 2016, Pfeifer submitted her print entitled “Reflections”

to Scholastic, an art and photography contest, and won first place over all. The real beauty of these courses is that it allows a student a chance to compete and see their work published. In speech and debate, students travel to other schools to compete in public debates. In journalism, newspaper, and yearbook, students have the ability to be published and to attend a state-wide contest called UIL. These electives and many more open the door to selfinterest and success, especially when paired with an endorsement of choice. So when selecting your 2017/2018 classes, keep an open mind and try something new.

of the period. The same goes with Netflix. We hate to admit it, but unless there’s some sort of historical fiction or documentary that goes with a class lecture, which has actually been the case a few times, it should be blocked. We’re definitely guilty of getting the urge to finish the episode we started before school, and given the opportunity to access it, we can’t say with full conviction that we would willingly restrict ourselves from clicking the play button. While we have admitted there are a couple of sites that are rightly restricted, we still believe that the restrictions are too tight in regards to classroom use. Many times, the stringent constrictions actually deter students from effectively completing class assignments to the best of their capabilities. Take the class I’m sitting in as a I write this, for example. I’m a newspaper editor, and we’re constantly searching the web looking for ideas, inspiration, and interesting stories. As trivial as the content of sites like Facebook and You Tube can be, they can be equally appealing and beneficial to staffers when creating new pieces. Often, these sites lead us to content from other sites that we can’t access because they’re blocked by the school board. The content that we are trying to access isn’t inappropriate, but because the website could potentially lead us to inappropriate material, it is blocked. You Tube videos can be utilized as useful learning tools, and many educational videos can be found on there. It’s just frustrating

when a video that could aid you won’t come up because it’s restricted, but you could just as easily look something up that was genuinely bad. We think part of the issue lies in schools trying to overprotect students. Sure, there have to be some boundaries, however, should we completely block access to Google just because it can lead us to material we shouldn’t be looking at in school? We think that the school district needs to refine their list. Instead of blocking the sites that could potentially lead us to other sites with bad content, simply just block the actual offensive content. The current restrictions are so tight that they are restricting studies, and many other students feel this way as well. The restrictions are also inconsistent. If Twitter and Instagram aren’t blocked, why aren’t other social media sites blocked as well? Just as much ‘inappropriate content’ can be found on both of the previously mentioned sites. If anything, all of these sites should be blocked from usage instead of a selective few. This inconsistency can be incredibly frustrating. So while we wish that some of these sites weren’t on the school’s computers, the reasoning behind some of them being blocked is definitely understandable. Unfortunately, students can’t always be trusted to be on task and undistracted. Despite this, we still believe that the district should take a second look at the list.

Passion for Fashion

Photographer Juan Arias and his photo of junior Gigi Meredith. Arias has been hand picked by VSCO to be featured on their “explore” page. He also shoots promotions Picture Perfect Junior Perry Shepard’s photo of senior Carfor brands such as son Allred has been featured at the Contemporary Arts Vague. Museum Houston.

Reflections A

coffee shop in New York City photographed by senior Lauren Pfeifer. See the list of winners on Scholastic Arts on page 6.

News

The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

International Students Living the American Dream BY: VALERIA ROBAYO

GRAPHIC BY: CHARLOTTE BENES

PHOTOS BY: CAROL SALVA

Students make the transition between different cultures Uri Hernandez Granados Junior Uri Hernandez Granados was born in Mexico, and moved to the United States in August of 2016. The main reason he and his family immigrated, was to obtain better educational opportunities. “I wanted to move to the United States, because in my country, I can’t study to be a lawyer. That is my dream,” Hernandez said. Besides education, Hernandez and his family moved to the United States for a greater sense of safety and well-being. “What I like most about the United States is the heightened sense of security and the fact that I feel that I have more opportunities. I have a sense that I can do anything if I work hard and put my mind to it, Often times, English is the most important subject to master in school for international students such as Hernandez. Learning it quickly and thoroughly is key to success at school, and daily life. Because of this, Hernandez developed a unique and creative form of studying the language, which allows him to go about his daily tasks and interact with others, while being able to practice it at the same time. “I talk with my friends in English, listen to music, and search the lyrics to the song I am listening to so I can sing along. I also try to text in English as much as possible,” Hernandez said. Like many other international students, Uri Hernandez came to the United States to work hard for a better life, and for a better future. Despite the difficulties he has encountered, he has set his mind to learn English, and most likely will accomplish great things.

A common topic of deliberation during the 2016 United States presidential elections and current political discussions, is immigration. There are thousands of families around the world, leaving their lives and societies behind to come to the United States. What many people don’t take into account in these discussions is the richness of culture these families share, the diversity they provide, and the different perspectives that they bring. Here at Stratford, we have approximately 40 international students who are new to the country this year, and who have moved here for many different reasons.

Ghzala Haj Khahil is a very dedicated student. When Haj Khalil arrived here four months ago, she did not speak English at all. Now, with the help of her teachers and the 2 additional English classes she takes, she is capable of having a full conversation with her fellow peers, without the help of a translator. Other than English; Haj Khahil’s biggest obstacle, school in the United States is actually easier for her compared to school in Jordan. “Subjects like physics, biology, chemistry, and math were all really hard in Jordan. For me and my siblings, the only hard part is understanding our instructors,” said Haj Kahil. “What I miss the most is my family, and my friends, both in Jordan and Syria. I try to keep in touch through Snapchat, Messenger, and Facebook,” Haj Khahil said. Some of the things Haj Khahil encountered in the United States were really new to her- abstract ideas she had only heard of, but never actually experienced. The most notable- the language, the clothing, and the fact that people eat pork were ones she expected. Others, like the way the week is organized were a complete surprise. “In Jordan, we had weekends on Fridays and Sundays, because Friday is our day of rest in Muslim religion,” Haj Khahil said. “After I finish my studies here, I will go to Jordan, or Syria for a while, but then come back here. In the United States, life is good, and my future looks bright,” said Haj Khalil.

Bukuru Pascasie

Sophomore Bukuru Pasacasie was born in Congo, and lived in the country of Burundi before moving to America in the summer of 2015. She and her family, like many others, moved to the United States in order to have better educational opportunities. “We decided to immigrate because we knew we could have a better life here, and be able to go to much better schools,” she said. Pascasie’s lifestyle in Burundi was very different than the way it is today. “In Burundi, we started the day cooking breakfast. We would then go to school at around noon, and return home at around six p.m.. After cooking dinner, we would go play outside with friends, and then go to sleep,” she said. The hardest thing to leave

Uri Hernandez Granados

Ghzala Haj Khalil

behind when immigrating to a country is family, and she really misses her grandmother. Pasacasie did not know any English before she came to school in the United States. One of the most shocking things she experienced when she first started interacting with people, was the amount of concentration it took to understand them when they spoke English. Now of course, she is nearly fluent, and can understand quite a bit, being able to hold a conversation with her peers. “I am motivated to learn English because I like to read. I want to be able to read anything in English,” she said.

Featuring the International Students

Grade: Junior Home Country: Mexico

Dream Career: Lawyer “I have a sense that I can do anything if I work hard and put my mind to it.”

Ghazala Haj Khalil

Bukuru Pasacasie Grade: Junior Home Country: Syria

Grade: Sophomore Home Country: Congo

Dream Career: Cardiovascular Surgeon “School here is really enjoyable. Everyone helps me learn, and the teachers are really nice.”

“I am motivated to learn English because I like to read. I want to be able to read anything in English.”

News

The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

Business Professionals of America State Qualifiers

Scholastic Art & Writing Award Winners Gold Key Winners Sarah Hambly (11) - Photography Madeline Harms (11) - Painting Alyssa Stanford (12) - Photography Alyssa Stanford (12) - Photography Juwon Yoo (12) - Drawing & Illustration Juwon Yoo (12) - Drawing & Illustration

Silver Key Winners Alyssa Stanford (12) - Photography Colin Whitby (12) - Photography Juwon Yoo (12) - Drawing & Illustration Juwon Yoo (12) - Drawing & Il-

PHOTOS BY ELLIE PENA

Katherine Mesa (11) - Photoglustration Samantha Hanslip (12) - Photog- raphy Lauren Graham (11) - Drawraphy ing & Illustration Ellie Gex (11) - Painting Joyce Park (11) - Drawing & Il- Maia Fageria (11) - Photography lustra Robin Graves (11) - Drawing & tion Madeline Harms (11) - Drawing Illustration Abby Gex (9) - Photography & Illustration Kate Bortner (10) - Photography

All State Band & Orchestra

Honorable Mentions

Isabella Benegochea (12)- Orchestra

Juwon Yoo (12) - Drawing & Il- Catherine Wu (9)- Orchestra Zachary Barnett (12)- Band lustration Lauren Pfeifer (12) - Photogra- Sydney Simmons (11)- Band phy Zach Harkins (12) - Photography Audrey Hudson (11) - Photography

Ellie Pena (11) Allison Kay (11) Sydney Lawrence (11) Taylor Moise (12) Mark Duna (12) Jaycee Campbell (11) Bolin Mahafffey (12) Thomas Howell (11) Ariana Chalajour (11) Mike Dedes (12) Maria Rojas (12) Shawyan Mozaffar (12) Walker Lavercombe (11) Griffin Green (11) Perry Shepard (11) Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Camden Beck (11) Zamar Salas, Joyce Park, Allison Kay, and Luke Weitzel (11) Ariana Chalajour pose for a group photo Colton Miller (11) Nazlee Khadjeheian(12) before their competition at Aldine. Joyce Park (11) Connor Seo (11) Grant Haney (11) Christian Bates (11) Andrew Nash (11) Xavier Valero (11) Drew McConn (11) Wyatt Branch (11) A Clean Sweep Abby Klasing (12) Xariz Salas (12) Drew McConn, Mason Lamberton, Xavier Mason Lamberton (11) Valero, and Wyatt Branch work hard to Sophie Bui (12) prepare for their upcoming event. The team Sol Herrera (12)

brought home 32 medals.

Feature The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

Last Chance to Catch Me and My Girl

WRITTEN BY: MADDIE SUERTH, PHOTOS BY: ALLISON DELGADO How much time actually went into the makthe show flows smoothly. 1.) ing of Me and My Girl? After working since “I’ve always loved being on crew. You get summer and rehearsing for months, the cast to see behind the scenes, get to know the and crew present the exciting tale of Bill, a crew and cast off and on stage and see lower class man who has had his life turned how hard everyone works,” sophomore upside down. He is joined by Sally, his girlAllison Delgado said. friend, who soon finds that this new life may The cast and crew have worked so hard not be worth their love. Between a difficult on this show. They have put countless royal family and an upset girlfriend, Bill has hours of their time into rehearsal and his work cut out for him. extra practices to make the show perfect. “My favorite part about being in the show is After working since summer they have getting to be with my friends and learning a lot delivered incredible performances. from my choreographer,” sophomore Lauren You have one more weekend to see this Dodds said. amazing performance. Me and My Girl Making a musical requires lots of hard work shows today at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at on everyone’s part. Not only does the cast have 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. to memorize all of their lines, but they also 3.) have to learn songs and dances to perform perfectly. It takes lots of practice, time, and effort to get the fantastic show that they put on. Many rehearsals go into making sure everyone is where they need to be and knows their parts. 4.) “Rehearsal is a lot of work. We put in about 28 hours a week, not including dance. It is worth it in the end though,” junior Alex Parizot said. Another aspect of the show is the crew. They work behind the scenes and are in charge of the set and props. They make the scene changes and place the props to make sure that

2.)

Playhouse Performers Hard at Work

1.) Ben Howell, Maddie Winter, and Kenneth Cuadra perform “Hold My Hand”. 2.) Marie Lauderdale, Catherine Richard, and Hannah Keller sing a sweet harmony. 3.) The Hareford family surrounds Bill as he performs a trick. 4.) Actors hold up their invitations to go to the Hareford house.

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8 In Depth The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

in the Bubbling

School’s

SPREAD BY: ELIZABETH COLE PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: ARTURO BENETIZ GRAPHICS BY: CAROLINE BUCEK “Imagine if your school was given a letter grade. What would you give it? And for what reasons?” Spring Branch ISD superintendent Dr. Scott Muri asked a group of SBISD students. The following answers were mostly “A’s”, with reasons ranging from teachers and academics to extracurricular and sports. However, on Jan. 6 state legislature issued letter grades to every public school in Texas dependent on five factors:

Texas High School Grading Scale

1. EOC passing rates 2. EOC growth. How many

students grew in their scores in comparison to last year?

3. How well the school “close the gap” between different ethnic, wealth, gifted, special needs, etc. disparities in students (based on EOC scores). 4. “Other stuff”: Attendance, discipline, graduation rate, and other academics 5. Student happiness. Determined by survey.

Schools received a subscore in each category which was then computed to a letter grade. Grades were put in tiers, with the top 10 percent of schools receiving an A, the next 20 percent a B, then 45 percent a C, and the remaining 10 and five percent receiving a D and a F, respectively. This program, called the “State Accountability Program” was formed to achieve two goals. First, to, as the title suggests, account for every public school in Texas and push for districts to be more competitive for the “A” status. Secondly, to meet the federal mandate that every state identify the bottom five percent of schools

and take action to improve them. However, while this may be a step in the right direction, the emphasis on the EOC and STAAR tests is a major concern. Three out of the five factors that determine a school’s score are dependent on the EOC scores. Of course, academics should be important when determining a school’s grade. However EOC’s are not necessarily the correct way to measure a school’s overall sufficiency in academics. How can one test accurately portray an entire year of teaching? Putting emphasis on EOCs will encourage teachers to “teach to the test”. There is no definite way to ensure that. If you were to ask a student to make a list of what makes their school so great, EOC scores will most likely be at the very bottom of the list. So why is the State putting the EOC on the top of things that decides a school’s greatness? Another issue with this system is that it is a “forced ranking” of schools. By saying that only a set number of schools may achieve each grade, it forces school to have to fight for a ranking rather than an overall grade. Even a half point difference could bump a school down a whole letter grade. Some schools may be deserving of a grade that they do not receive because of the way the State forces the rankings. The State Accountability Program is in a draft phase this year, but in August of 2018 it will become very real. Schools who continue to under perform in the D and F range can go under state sanctions. In extreme cases, the state education commissioner may take over the school or even close schools in the bottom five percent. This system does not fix anything since more often than not, when the state takes over a school, it ends up hurting the schools more than it helps. The bottom 5 percent will always exist no matter how much a school tries to improve. “We do not believe the state’s A-F rating system is the highest and best way to keep SBISD accountable, and we do not believe a single letter grade provides a true reflection of who we are,” Dr. Muri writes in a later letter, “Rather, SBISD believes in multiple measures to assess how our students, school, and districts are faring.” The Texas Education Agency (TEA) may tell us that we are a B+, but they cannot and do not measure the A+ Spartan spirit.

Texas Education Agency

In Depth 9 The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

How do other schools compare?

Here is how other schools rank up in and around SBISD

Performance

Report Card SCHOOL RANK GRADE Memorial

108

Spring Woods

837

Northbrook

969

Stratford

311

Westchester

Westside

315

AD DB+ A+ B+

Stratford, Student Graded

Students share their opinion on the grades The state may have given the school a B+, but there are many students who would beg to differ. Through a survey, we were able to see the real reasons why students love their school.

“I love the ways the school gets involed with their students like Food Truck Friday and Spirit Nights” -Julie Nguyen, Sophomore

Students named reasons like teachers, academics. and the special events that make the school special.

Top Factors: 1. Community 2. Teachers 3. Academics 4. Diversity 5. Sports 6. Block Schedule/ Exemptions

“The classes are advanced and make you feel like you are working toward a future.” -Gerik Grabow-ski, Sophomore

These are the factors that the state should measure, not STAAR tests. This is D&F: what truly determines a successful learning 0.7% environment

.5%

C: 8

“Stratford is a welcoming and friendly environment for everyone” -Murtaza Ifran, Senior

A: 52.4% B: 38.5 %

Features The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

WRITTEN BY: RACHEL DIETERT GRAPHICS: RACHEL DIETERT, CHARLOTTE BENES PHOTOS: RACHEL DIETERT, KAITLYN WHITE, GEORGIA LETCHFORD, Twitter: @amandaxhtx

As people who live outside of the 610 loop, we rarely venture out of our bubble and into the city. We go to the same restaurants, parks, and places over and over again. The problem with this is it doesn’t allow us to explore all that our city has to offer. With so many things to do in the area we live in, we don’t even realize the cool places that are in our very own city. Houston is the fourth largest city in the country, yet we are limiting ourselves to only a small part of it. So next time you have some extra time on your hands, I invite you to visit some of the places below and explore our amazing city.

#1 Jus’ Mac This restaurant is just what it sounds like: a restaurant the only serves Mac and Cheese. I promise that you aren’t dreaming, but this cheesy goodness is the food that dreams are made of. With dishes ranging from four cheese mac and cheese to barbecue mac and cheese, you are sure to find a dish that suits you.

#3 Hank’s Ice Cream Parlor Hank’s Ice Cream Parlor is Beyonce’s favorite ice cream shop, so it has to be good. It may look a bit worn down from the outside, but their handmade, small batch ice cream is to die for. This old fashioned parlor does not accept credit cards so bring some cash. Make sure you try the banana pudding ice cream (it’s what Beyonce gets).

#5 Agora Agora is a great local coffee shop and was voted best coffee house by the Houston Press. This twostory coffee house is cozy with wooden chairs and couches spread out here and there. They even have a jukebox to top off the perfect atmosphere.

#2 Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern This cistern is located directly under Buffalo Bayou. With beautiful columns interrupting the still water, the cistern itself is a work of art. They currently have an art installation called Rain where of falling rain is projected in the cistern, and the sounds of rain echoes throughout.

#4 Burke Baker Planetarium Located inside of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Burke Baker Planetarium will immerse you in outer space. With the most advanced planetary projector in the world, it is sure to be a great place to stop.

#6 Miller Outdoor Theater Located inside Hermann Park, Miller Outdoor Theater is a great place to hang out with friends and watch performances. They have anything from music to plays. The best part about it, it’s free! Check their online calendar for more information.

Features The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

Presley’s Pickup Lines

WRITTEN BY PRESLEY GRAVES GRAPHICS BY CHARLOTTE BENES AND GRAYSON HART

This article is pertaining to fellow members of society who, once again, find themselves alone on Valentine’s Day. Living the single life is an area in which I might be considered somewhat of a professional. The eloquence in all of my pick up lines not only lead to a definite success, but also have gotten me my trillions of baes. So, as a favor from me to you, I will give you my TOP 10 best pick up lines that, without a doubt will get you the boy/girl of your dreams. 1. (I advise to only use this one on VERY special occasions.) : Are you religious? Because you’re the answer to all my prayers. 2. (For me, this one tends to get me in trouble. Taking into consideration, of course, that I’m lying to the person in order to pick them up.) : I’m not a photographer, but I can picture me and you together. 3.(Wait for them to walk out to their car. Lay on their hood and just wait. It might take hours, but it will most definitely be worth it. When they see you on their hood and seemed to be confused say this…) : If you were a transformer, you’d be a HOT-obot, and your name would be Optimus Fine. 4. (This one might actually work, if you spin it correctly. Deliver their favorite Starbucks drink along with this next line.) : Do you like Starbucks? Because I like you a latte. 5. (Stare at them from across the room for 5 continuous minutes and then slowly make your way over to them; while maintaining consistent eye contact. Then deliver this masterpiece of a pick up lines.) : If you were a booger, I’d pick you first. 6. (This one just makes me hungry.) : Are you a campfire? Because you are hot and I want s’more. 7. (The boldness of this next one might just work.) : Kiss me if I’m wrong, but dinosaurs still exist, right? 8. (This one goes out to all you HORRIBLE flirters.) : Do you live in a corn field, cause I’m stalking you. (ALWAYS deliver that line with a smile and a basket of corn husks. Works like a charm.) 9. (Use when someone sneezes) : I’d say God bless you, but it looks like He already did. 10. (Use on a Spirit Night when it’s at MOD Pizza.) : This might be cheesy, but I wouldn’t mind a pizza you.

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Sports The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

ONE ON ONE With...

Coach Wallace PHOTO BY: CLAIRE SANCHEZ

Q: What sport are you coaching this year? A: Varsity Boys Soccer Q: Why did you want to become a coach? A: It was a way to stay involved in game. I grew up playing a game that I love, and I wanted to pass on my knowledge of the game. Q: What experience do you have with the sports you’re coaching? Did you play them? A: I played club all through high school, high school soccer, D-1 college soccer at Bradley University, and in the summer I played semi-pro in Austin. Q: What are you looking forward to about coaching soccer? A: I love the cold weather. Just kidding. I like seeing the players develop and understand the game as the season progresses. Q: If you could say anything to your athletes, what would it be? A: Stop thinking about what you can achieve and start thinking about what you can contribute. Q: How has athletics changed you? A: It has taught me about time management and discipline within myself.

Hostess With the Mostess: Houston

Houston Preparations for Super Bowl

WRITTEN BY: LIBBY GRIZZELL AND ALEXIS GARZA

Houston is flooded with 1 million visitors, all here to see 1 football game. Superbowl week is in full force. It takes a village to prepare for something as big as the Superbowl. Houston First is a local corporation that promotes Houston to other countries and cities all around the world. Jorge Franz, Senior Vice President of Tourism at Houston First is working with the Super Bowl host committee to welcome all the visitors to Houston. The host committee is in charge of everything outside the stadium for consumers who don’t go to the game. They want to maximize the number of people downtown so the visitors can see how great Houston is. The city has seen huge changes in preparation for the Super Bowl. In total, Houston has invested $2 billion in infrastructure and entertainment, especially downtown. Five new restaurants have been opened in the George R. Brown Convention Center where the NFL Experience will take place. In the Convention Center there will be an interactive theme park, and fans can get autographs from players and participate in football clinics. Huge changes have also been implemented to Houston’s transportation systems. The Light Rail is now 23 miles long and easier to use than ever before. A major complaint even among Houstonians is that this city isn’t walkable. These changes have been made to make the city more navigable and walkable so people can get to the game without a car. Airports have also undergone renovations so people have a good first impression when they step off the plane in Houston. Super Bowl LIVE is one of the main attractions being put on during Super Bowl week. It will be held at Discovery Green and the 4 or 5 surrounding blocks. Super Bowl LIVE will be a 9 day “Houston Pride” festival leading up to the big game. There will be two stages featuring Houston Area performers, NASA’s Future Flight, and Houston area food trucks. The expected economic impact of the Super Bowl is $350 million from hotels, restaurants, transportation, and more. There will be 10,000 volunteers working to make sure Super Bowl week runs smoothly. Houston has worked very hard to put their best foot forward for the rest of the country to see during the Super Bowl.

PHOTOS BY: PRESLEY GRAVES

Favorite Restaurant: Saltgrass Toughest Competition: Memorial Favorite PreGame Meal: Zoe’s Hummus Trio Most Embarrassing Song on iPod: Careless Whisperer By: George Michaels Favorite Quote: “ People that hate cats will come back as mice in their next life” - Faith Resnick

Jim Nantz

#59

Favorite Restaurant: Chuy’s Toughest Competition: Michael Phelps Favorite PreMeet Meal: Breakfast tacos Favorite Quote: “I mean, nobody wants to admit they ate nine cans of ravioli.” Ricky Wells Most Embarrassing Song on Phone: Black Beatles by Rae Sremmurd

Deanna Zavala

Highlights: Boys:

Varsity Basketball SHS vs. Klein Forest SHS vs. Memorial Score: 62-48

vs. Klein Collins Girls: SHSScore: 50-33

SHS vs. Northbrook

Score: 84-103

Score: 44-86

SHS vs. Memorial

SHS vs. Northbrook

Score: 26-61

Score: 32-23

The Final Destination, Super Bowl

Two NFL teams come to Houston to determine the season’s best team WRITTEN BY: MADDIE DAWSON AND KIRBY KOSTER PHOTOS BY: MADDIE DAWSON Millions of people tune excited for her to have this amazing experience. in to watch the Super Bowl “I’m going to look for Mrs. Danielle on TV!” said each year, and many more Garza’s student Caroline Bruce. The whole halfdream about the chance to time performance will be aired on TV on many of be part of it. Danielle Garza the major networks. is a dance teacher at the At this year’s Super Bowl halftime performance, studio of Houston AcadLady Gaga will be the highlight of the show. “I want emy of Dance and part of us to have a Gaga spin on the Super Bowl,” chorea company called Noble ographer Richy Jackson said. Some of the dancers Motion. On Dec. 10, 2016 are made up of performers Gaga has worked with she tried out at the studio before. Garza is working with some of Gaga’s dancA Performance of a Lifetime Practice Makes Perfect called SoReal for a spot ers to prepare for the show. Danielle Garza is ready for her upcoming perto perform in the Super “Any dance opportunity or audition that comes Danielle Garza has formance with Lady Gaga after gaining a spot Bowl. up, I try to go for the experience and of course to worked hard to perover several hundred people.. book the job. I thought it would be fun to be inform in the Super Bowl “Five to six hundred people auditioned over a “Mrs. Danielle is hardworking and determined volved in the Super Bowl since it is in Houston this halftime show. two day span and about at what she does,” said Garza’s student Caroline year!” Garza said. On Sunday, Feb. 5, Garza will be thirty people made it,” Garza said. “I’m so happy I LaVern. Garza is a choreographer for the dance ready to take on the performance of a lifetime. made it and I’m super excited to perform.” competition team HADco. All of her students are

14 Mak ing Th e S witc h

Sports

The rewarding but often difficult transition between different sports WRITTEN BY: EMMA HOLLAND

Sports are one of the most popular organizations on campus. It’s not a surprise why, as teammates train hard together and often become close friends, and schools have the opportunity to compete against each other to see “who’s the best.” However, most sports are in season for

one semester, which gives athletic students the opportunity to explore different sports. The transition is rarely an easy one, as it often means a change in schedule, different training methods, new

GRAPHICS BY: CAROLINE BUCEK techniques, and the development of new muscles. It takes a naturally athletic student to be successful in a variety of different sports. Senior Hasib Hamdi finished football at the end of last semester and has since made the transition to soccer. Since freshman year, he has played basketball in the spring, but he was getting bored and wanted to try something different. “Football has always been my favorite sport,” said Hamdi, “but I have also always loved soccer, so I thought I would give it a shot. Football is 5th and 6th period, unlike soccer that is 1st and 2nd period. Unlike football where his training started in the middle of the day, Hamdi’s day now starts off at 6:45 A.M.. “I like waking up early, so it’s not too difficult to adjust,” Hamdi said. Similar to Hamdi, Junior Mark Murdock is playing basketball for the first time in high school. Since freshman year, he has played football as quar-

DESIGNED BY: MADDIE MCKENZIE PHOTO BY: CARSON ALLRED terback and is now a forward in basketball. “The transition between the two sports was pretty easy,” Murdock said. “Football and basketball are the same class periods, so my schedule hasn’t changed.” Sophomore Taylor Krosbe also plays two different sports - volleyball and soccer. Krosbe, a defensive specialist in volleyball and midfield in soccer, has played both sports since freshman year. Although the class periods for soccer and volleyball are the same, the sports are very different. “The most difficult part of the transition is the difference in the physical activities,” Krosbe said. We do lots of conditioning in both volleyball and soccer, but it’s hard to be prepared for the amount of running in soccer after volleyball season. Hamdi and Murdock both agree the running is one the biggest struggles between their sports transition. A difference in training often means body and muscle changes as well, which makes it hard for athletes to adjust. “After switching to soccer,

Men’s Basketball in Action

Down the Court

Players get their heads in the game PHOTOS BY: RILEY TIMMRECK The basketball team played our rivals, the Memorial Mustangs, on Jan. 10 and won 62-48. If you missed the last game, then come out tonight to see the Spartans against the Mustangs again at 7 at the Don Coleman Coliseum.

Strong Two Points

Junior George McGuire makes a great jump shot in the paint surrounded by Memorial Mustangs.

Sportsmanship

Jump High

Senior Toni Pavlovic goes up for the hard fought rebound against the mustangs.

I have constant shin splints now and my calves are more toned,” Hamdi said. “In football, I didn’t move as much. Soccer, on the other hand, is continuous running.” Murdock has also has felt the difference between the running amounts in basketball and football. “The first couple weeks of basketball I was super out of shape,” Murdock said. “I would be tired after running up and down the court twice. Before the Game Basketball is pretty much all Senior Hasib Hamdi before defeating Tomball lower body.” Memorial 6-0. Stratford is full of many different organizations and ways for students to get involved, especially regarding sports. From UIL sports such as volleyball and basketball to club sports such as lacrosse, students have their options regarding athletics. Though the transition can have its challenges, it is always rewarding to explore different organizations and try new things. There are so many experiences to be gained from getting involved, new friends to be made, and new opportunities, so students should take advantage of the numerous options of organizations on campus, no matter what they may be.

Varsity guys help cheer on their teammates from the sideline for the hard fought win against Memorial.

Junior Mark Murdock starts the offense for Stratford by dribbling the ball down the court.

Sports The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017

by Horns Coach e boys a th gives ing the lk dur game a t p e p S s. NH SHS v 4. 2 on Jan

Senior Wil lM keeps the b anke all in play at the SHS vs. Tomball m emorial on Jan 17th .

J V S c h e d u le

Boys Soccer 2/17 vs. Memoria l 5:45 @SHS 3/7 vs. Spring Woo ds 5:00 @ SHS Boys Basketb l 2/10 vs. Klein al Forest @SHS 5:30 2/14 vs. Klein @K lein 5:30 Girls Soccer 2/7 JVA vs. Klein Forest @SHS 5:00 2/17 JVB vs. Nim itz @SHS 4:30 Girls Basketball 2/7 vs. Klein Oak Sophomore Peyton @Klein Nicholas rushes the Oak 5:30 ball down the field

Junior Geo rge McGuire lo oks for the ball at SHS vs. MHS gam e on Jan 10th with a score 62-48.

in hope for goal at the SHS vs. MHS game on Jan 24th

PHOTOS BY: JORDYN RICHARDS, PRESLEY GRAVES,RILEY TIMMRICK, TEA SHARP

Courage to Start, Strength to Endure, Resolve to Finish Run with Spartan pride WRITTEN BY: JACQUI COMPARIN

Furry Friends Make Great Distractions

Teacher Lauren Johnson and her dad are greeted by a furry friend during the marathon on Jan. 15th. The Chevron Houston Marathon and Houston Aramco Half Marathon has been a huge part of the Houston culture for the past 44 years. The marathon is filled with elite long distance runners and the average person who just loves to run. The non-profit organization

has raised over 24 million dollars for the selected charities involved with the Houston Marathon. This year 17,000 runners laced up their running shoes and headed for downtown Houston on Sunday January 15th. Some of our fellow Spartans chose to wake up at zero dark thirty and participate in the event. Science teacher, Lauren Johnson was one of several faculty members who participated in the marathon, along with art teacher and girls cross country coach, Jennifer Clouse and Math teacher, Karl Poetzl. Johnson has ran the Chevron Houston Marathon 4 times, but has also ran 6 other marathons. “I run year round, but I started slowly increasing the length of my runs around November so that I can do a 20 mile run three weeks before the race.” Johnson said Training your body for a 26.2 mile run takes dedication and good time management, but you never know what the weather is going to be like on race day. Johnson says “the warm, humid

weather made it a little tougher, but this was my 10th marathon, so I felt pretty prepared.” After months of preparation, Johnson was happy with how well she did despite not training as much as she had for past races. Johnson says her favorite part was “Running with my dad and brother and seeing lots of fun, entertaining spectators along the course-they make great distractions when you’re Families That Run Together, Stay Together starting to hurt.” Teacher Lauren Johnson poses for a photo with her dad and Many other Sparbrother after finishing the 26.2 mile race. tans participated in the marathon, including junior Haley Grace Francis, junior Camille Settegast, sophomore Savannah Baerg, senior Raul Mejia, and more.

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The Oracle / Feb. 3, 2017