TSTRATFORD HE
RACLE O
Friday, October 31, 2014
Volume 42, Issue 3
shsoracle.com
What is your fear factor? pgs. 8-9
@stratfordoracle
Laying the Foundation pg. 6
Chicago in Review
pg. 10
More Than a Headache pg. 14
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Too old to trick-or-treat When is enough, enough?
STRATFORD ORACLE STAFF 2014-15 Editors-in-Chief Justin Todes Scott Kennedy
OPINION OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD
There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting free candy. Trick-or-treating on Halloween provides a perfect way to stockpile candy supplies for the whole year. But are highschoolers too old to partake in this tradition? Plain and simple, by the time you reach your freshman year of high school, you’re too old to dress up and take candy from strangers. In case you still need convincing, here’s a few reasons why you should leave the fangs and fake blood at home this year. 1. The people giving out candy are younger than you are. Everyone went through that phase in middle school when it wasn’t “cool” to trick-or-treat. Instead, you stayed home, pretending you were too busy to dress up and go out with your friends. These are the
people that give you the judgmental eyes and the Snickers bar when you ring the doorbell on Halloween. They know you’re too old to be there. You know you’re too old to be there. Why are you still there? 2. It is nearly impossible to find costumes that aren’t child-sized. If you’re one of those rare people who constructs their own costumes then more power to you, but the rest of us lazy high-schoolers in need of a costume tend to go the more traditional route. Problem is, costume stores don’t really carry Elsa dresses in adult sizes. They do have some interesting adult costumes, but that’s a discussion for another time. 3. There isn’t enough time. What with homework, extracurricular activi-
ties, senior college applications, and all the other pressures put on high school students, it’s amazing that anyone can delude themselves into thinking that there is enough time to wander the streets of Houston dressed in costume. The little kid who just got the last Kit Kat at the neighbor’s house doesn’t have to study for an AP English test. You do. 4. High school students just don’t try hard enough. How many teenagers that trick-or-treat actually make an effort to dress up in fun costumes? Not enough. Most of the high-school students you see roaming the streets on Oct. 31 are dressed in a simple tshirt and jeans, paling in comparison to the thirdgrader dressed as a pirate. You look ridiculous carrying your plastic bag instead of a pumpkin to
5. There are better things to do with your time. Go to a party. Watch a scary movie with your friends. Go see varsity football play at Magnolia West at 7 p.m. In the grand scheme of things, there are so many ways you could better spend your time than dressing up in a ridiculous costume prancing around with nine year-olds. 6. It’s not for you. Trick-or-treating is almost exclusively geared toward small children. The candy is in small servings, the costumes are tiny, the decorations aren’t that scary, and the average height of participants is about four feet. The window for trick-ortreating has closed. You had your turn. It’s time to move on.
The Real-life Walking Dead
OPINION OF DAVID HUMPHREY
for others, I’m sure) to get to class in the timely manner I expect and deserve. I treat the Stratford hallways like an interstate highway: everyone is in their own lane, there are many exit lanes into other hallways and classrooms, and the surroundings and wall fliers are the billboards which, while informative, are not glamorous enough to distract drivers. The only component lacking from our highway is a common speed limit. If everyone were to share this mind-set, students would be able to make it to class quickly and even socialize with friends once they get to class. But this is not the case. There is an undetermined group in our school who treat the hallway as if it is a quaint
farm-to-market road, open for drivers to go whatever speed they want, pause to take in the surroundings, and even stop off on the side to talk to friends and enjoy locally-grown roadside peaches. (Side note: Texting and walking is just as dangerous as texting and driving. If you bump into me and drop your phone because you weren’t paying attention, I don’t really feel sorry for you.) There is a reason why our administrators embrace the “walk and talk” policy. Those who choose to stand around and talk to their friends in the six-minute passing period provide for large traffic jams in our hallways and stairwells, which actually threatens the ability of students to make it to class in the al-
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hold all the candy, and your parents’ friends are definitely taking note.
Facing the dangers in the halls In my four years of high school, I feel like there has been one travesty that has troubled me more than anything else. It is an injustice that has constantly brought me down and has no reasonable justification as far as I can see. This is an issue that affects the entire student body, and I believe it is time for it to be put to an end. That’s right: I’m talking about people who walk too slow in the hallway. Before I offend anyone, let me point out that I am not complaining about the people who are physically or otherwise unable to walk at a reasonable pace. I’m talking about the people who choose to walk slowly and make it very difficult for me (and
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lotted time. You may be thinking, “Yeah, but that’s just with large groups. I’m okay if I’m just talking to one friend, right?” Wrong. Even two people standing in the hallway can take up the necessary space for an entire lane of students to get to their location by their desired time. Make new friends in your classes that you can talk to once you arrive to the room. Check your phone once you get to class before the bell sounds so you don’t put yourself and others at risk in the dangerous hallway. If we all embraced these guidelines, the hallways of Stratford High School would be efficient, safe, and enjoyable. Otherwise, just stay out of my way.
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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 Devin Mitchell
Photo Editors Maggie Vickers Rebecca Williamson
Taylor Brittain Photographers Arturo Benitez Abigail Boessling Riley Timmreck Devin Mitchell Matthew Makowski Christi Gregory Suzy Frazelle Gabby Broussard Hannah Davis Tea Sharp Kailie Henkel Ads Editors Abbey Duke Emily Copeland Sarah Sturgis Ads Staff Rebecca Tarver Kendall Marbach Phoebe Lamay
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 Journalism Association, National Scholastic Journalism Educators 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 email to info@shsoracle.com. All letters to the editor must be typed and contain the author’s full
Harper Jones 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 Building Principal Christopher Juntti 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 Graphic: “The Principals Go Trick-or-Treating” by Paul Brastrom and Rebecca Williamson
Thank you
eGraphics for printing our poster each month ! !
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Stop Your Snacking and Focus on Learning Students should leave munching and gulping at the dining table
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The Disney Dream
OPINION OF TINA KANG
Ding! It’s class time, and students take out their potato chips, aluminum foil-wrapped sandwiches, and cookies with colorful sprinkles. They open their notebooks and binders and start writing, simultaneously opening a granola bar. They scribble down what the teacher says, while reaching for a handful of grapes. The noise in the classroom is similar to noise in the cafeteria. Unwrapping, chewing, munching, and endless eating. And much like the state of our cafeteria after lunch, it is inevitable that students will leave some traces of food such as juice spills, cookie crumbs, and wrappers. Some rooms have signs on the door that say “no food or drink” in red, bold font. There is a rational reason for not allowing the students to eat: teachers worry that swarms of insects will start crawling for crumbs and eventually invade the whole room. They also worry that the food students eat to keep their brains
“on” during class will be a distraction. If one student starts unzipping a bag, it grabs the attention of other students. The sweet odor of brownies overwhelms their noses. The noise of munching and cracking tickles their ears. They wonder what it is that their classmates are munching and crunching on, and turn their eyes away from their lengthy notes to look at the food. With their focus on the food, the math problem on the board quickly moves to the back of their mind. For busy students who like to get their tasks done as quickly as possible, snacks can be an obstacle. They get in students’ way and slow the progress of their assignments. An assignment that would take about ten minutes could take an extra five minutes or more if there is an open snack lying on the desk. Time can be wasted when spent unwrapping, taking huge bites, wiping crumbs, and throwing away empty bags — all while
trying to write. Carefully balancing a drink bottle on the desk can be a hazard and a distraction. Snacks and drinks also threaten cleanliness. It is likely that pencils will get slippery from oily chips, and notebooks will have huge orange-juice smear on the corner, making the writing blurry. And nothing is more upsetting than having to print an essay again because of an ugly coffee-stain. After enjoying hot Cheetos, many students wipe their sticky hands on their pants and move on for the next page of the notebook. It is distracting to get some napkins just to take the spices off their fingers and gather crumbs off the desk. The expected contradiction is, yes, that students eat a lot. They need snacks for their activities such as sports and other extracurricular activities. But are they eating regular full meals along with those snacks, or are they skipping meals in order to binge with snacks? The typical human is told to
eat three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These three separate meals should be most of what we consume daily. If we miss one meal, then we fill up on food at the next meal to satisfy our intense hunger. We are also more likely to eat three bags of chips at 9 a.m. if we don’t eat regular meals. Speaking of meals, some students seem to forget the real purpose of lunch. It is a time for students to refill their stomachs and provide them a break between classes. What use is lunch if students have already emptied their lunch-bags? If we ate three nutritious meals, then there should be no reason to dig our hands into the snack bag. Still craving a snack during class? Then make sure that wrappers and bottle caps are in the trash can, and that the environment of the class stays within the academics. But if you can’t do that, then let’s just keep it simple, put down the snack, and shoot for three full meals.
How Harmful is TV, Really? Increased violence in the media could have negative implications on our generation OPINION OF SARAH STURGIS
We see violence daily. We see it on TV, we read it in books, we see it on Twitter. Violence is impossible to ignore, and our generation in particular has become hardened to horrible acts that should shock and terrify us. TV shows are especially guilty of this, and the shows that show explicit material are the most popular. The ratings of violent shows alone show the interests of our television-watching generation. As the future leaders of the world, we need to think before we click on footage that will expose us to graphic violence. TV shows that display this violence have become easy to access, especially with the introduction of Netflix, Hulu, and old fashioned television. Anyone can access hours upon hours of violent images and videos with little hassle at all. Should these scenes be so accessible to young people? As frequent viewer and fan I feel that I have become addicted to the adrenaline rush I get when watching Dexter trap his next target, or the FBI BAU profile serial killers. In reflection, the interest I take in this violence is a bit concerning,
but for some reason I continue to watch it. Because of this, I find my awareness of violence heightened with the story plots of these shows. Thoughts about being abducted and the profiles of killers are always in the back of my head. I even find myself watching my back in public places.
So as a generation gains the ability to access violent material, more real-world violence could result in our society, but we aren’t necessarily becoming more violent. We may simply be getting
a better grasp on violence. The ever-growing access to violence, watching the terror of ISIS on the news, or watching your favorite TV show in the comfort of your bedroom makes us more and more exposed to the terror that exists in our world, and, like it or not, it
catches our interest. On social media like Twitter or Vine, witnessing violence is becoming so common that people have begun to find it humorous. They see someone with a shovel being thrown at their head in a fight and react with laughter. Laughter.
Why is that we react to something hurtful with giddy laughter? We have started turning to humor when witnessing violence. Are we as a society not mature enough to process the violence, or are we too hardened to the violence being committed that we are unaffected by it? Young kids see these scenes and idolize the perpertrators of the violence. We identify with the humanity of the characters we have grown to know and love. How do we process seeing them commit murder or other acts of violence so easily? We know they are not real and it’s just acting, but what will this result in throughout our society in the future? How will we raise our children when we have been exposed to this in our childhood? Will we change for the better as we mature, or will we self-destruct with de-sensitivity to violence? We don’t know how the world will end up when the children of today become the parents of tomorrow, nor do we know how much violence our children could be exposed to. But the prospects don’t seem too hopeful.
an opinion of
Ashley Karolys
When you’re a senior, you’re usually thinking about what you want to do for the rest of your life. This decision can be VERY hard for some people, but for me, it was a piece of cake. If you know me, you know I want to be on Broadway more than anything in the world. But what some people might not know, is that before I move to New York, I want to work at Disney World. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Disney World? Like, the best place to find screaming five-yearolds, feuding families, and random people in big furry costumes? Yes. That Disney World. Ever since I was little, Disney World was my “happy place” and I have always said that if I could live there, I would probably the happiest person ever. I mean, it IS the happiest place on Earth. Duh. I don’t think people understand how satisfied I am with the thought of listening to “It’s a small world” all day every day and going to the parks for free whenever I want. And not only would I just want to work at Disney. I would want to work as a Disney Princess. So if you ever visit Disney World in the next five years, who knows, you might see me as Belle, Ariel, or any other princess where I fit the height requirement. Yup. Disney has height requirements to be a face character. (Thank you genes for making me short). So yeah, that’s the dream. And it’s not like I’m going to be goofing off in Disney World. Believe it or not, the work experiences you gain at Disney will actually benefit you in the real world, or at least in musical theatre it will. I’ve talked to a couple people in show business who ended up working at Disney at some point in their lifetime, and they have said that it was possibly one of the best decisions they had every made because they got to earn more credibility on their resume and grow as a person as well. I would suggest working at Disney World to anyone. Obviously if you don’t want to be surrounded by small children, then don’t, but if you love Disney just as much as I do, I would highly consider working there at some point in your life.
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To Vote or Not to Vote - That is the Question
Politics affect us, but are we informed enough? Staffers share their views GRAPHIC BY ERICA JEON
Voting is the only way to make sure your voice is heard OPINION OF EMILY FISHMAN Voting is a fundamental right of a democratic society. Voting is the only way to express to legislators your opinions. Voting puts the incredible power of choosing representatives in the hands of the people. The choice is simple. Why wouldn’t you vote? For some seniors, this upcoming midterm election is the first time they will be eligible to vote. Yet, in the 2012 presidential election, only 45-percent of adults aged 18-29 voted. Those numbers are depressing, and must be changed. As young adults, our voices need to be represented in government more than ever. Think college tuition is too high? Legislators will never pass laws that put price caps on tuition if high school students do not make their voices heard. They need to be made aware of our generations’ needs. If you don’t vote, they’ll never know. One of the main reasons why high school students do not vote is because they think they are uninformed. For some, this is sadly true. Most voting-age students simply parrot the views of their parents, voting the same way because they do not know any better. This doesn’t need to happen. It is very simple to educate yourself on the current issues that will be relevant during the election. Current events websites like CNN, the New York Times, or even BuzzFeed run stories about everything from marriage equality to the war on terror. It’s easy to get a sense of what is going on as the election draws close. Once you’ve educated yourself on the current issues, all you have to do is form an opinion. As a generation, we have no problem expressing our opinions on the Internet or to our friends, so why is it so hard for us to express our opinion in the voting booth? It shouldn’t be. Armed with your newly formed and researched opinion, it is very easy to figure out who is running for the
various offices and for what they stand. Most candidates have websites that state their core tenants for all potential voters to see. Take this midterm election for example. The two major gubernatorial candidates, State Senator Wendy Davis and State Attorney General Greg Abbott, both have easy-to-navigate websites with a conveniently labeled “issues” tab with their platforms nicely listed out. Once you are aware of what the different candidates believe, simply pick the one that agrees most closely with the opinions that you formulated earlier. It is that easy. Of course, no one is required to do any of this research to vote, it is just an easy way for first-time high school student voters to inform themselves of the current issues and how the candidates plan to address them. Deciding which way you are going to vote is probably the hardest part of the whole process. From there, it just gets easier. Many people are confused about voting, or why they should vote, or even how to register to vote. In an effort to demonstrate how easy it is and therefore encourage students to vote, we registered Opinions Editor David Humphrey to vote. In all, the entire process took about 20 minutes. The Harris county tax office’s website was easy to navigate, and all you needed was your driver’s license. Any senior who thinks they cannot vote because it’s too complicated to register is mistaken. On the actual day of the vote, Nov. 4, first-time voters will report to a voting center to cast their ballots. The centers are open from seven in the morning to seven at night, and the nearest voting location can be found either in the newspaper or online. All you have to bring is the voter registration card you received in the mail following your easy online registration and a valid photo identification (such as a driver’s license
or passport). There is really no reason why any high-school student couldn’t drop by Meadow Wood Elementary, often a voting center, before or after school and cast their ballot. It would be simple and the whole process would take less than an hour. Many high school students will claim they do not care about politics, or that the issues debated in this midterm election do not affect them. This is completely false, and it reflects a depressing fact that our generation has adopted a totally apathetic attitude concerning the world around them. Voting is just another thing that requires too much effort. It’s not worth my time. My vote doesn’t matter. These are just some of the defeatist arguments that first-time voters use to justify their lack of participation. Your vote does matter Harris County has statistically lower participation rates in elections than other comparable counties, with voter turnout about 25 percent below the norm. We can be the generation that changes that. Harris County is often solidly torn between Democratic and Republican leanings, so if you feel at all strongly about either of these parties, it is up to you to express your passions on Election Day. Many historical elections have been decided by just a few votes, such as the presidential election of 2000 where Republican George Bush beat Democrat Al Gore by just five Electoral votes. Those could have been votes from students here at Stratford. Your vote matters, and officials will listen to what you have to say, but only if you make your voice heard. Please take the opportunity to express your fundamental right as a citizen.
High school students lack the knowledge to vote
OPINION OF ARTURO BENITEZ AND MATTHEW MARTINEZ Over the course of human history, democracy has been viewed as the epitome of political systems for it grants
minie-moe is used to determine what Halloween candy to eat first, not to determine who your vote will support. Politics affect everyone whether you’re Black, White, Hispanic, Persian, Asian, Pink, Blue, or Polka-dots. It’s people like the aforementioned that corrupt diplomacy through t h e i r negli-
power to the people. The very base of democracy, however, is corrupted by one simple fact… most of you are idiots. Yes friends, it’s true, the bane of America, diplomacy and, by effect, freedom, is essentially misinformed voters. Let’s be honest, how many times have you heard someone say “I don’t care who wins, politics don’t affect me” or “I don’t really care who wins, I’ll just go into the booth and use the ol’ eenie-meanie-miniemoe tactic” or God forbid when someone asks “Hey, who are you voting for, I’ll vote for them too?” If you answered “yes” to even one of those, it’s too many! Eenie-meanie-
gence. Far too often, when attempting to discuss politics with other people, we are met by sheer ignorance to what is actually happening. Many do not care for foreign politics nor do they have any clue as to international affairs. Last February, the Oracle conducted a study where the government students were given a short e x a m . This short e x a m featured simple quest i o n s about the current political state of our country. Simple questions like who controls each house of Congress, or who holds prominent political positions in the government. Incredibly, the average senior answered less than half of these questions correctly; usually scoring about a 41%. These are exactly the people asking themselves whether or not they should vote. Also, as government students, they are the people that should be most informed on political matters. It is a bit frightening, but
revealing, that the new generation of voters is so uninformed. With the quantum leaps that technology has taken in the last few years, we would expect for this generation to be much more informed on a variety of topics, including politics. Many high school students do not realize this, but they are vastly affected by the issues that are represented in the ballots. Whether it is textbook content, property tax, speed limits, or school budgets, the issues matter greatly to students, yet they are too ignorant to take notice. It only takes a few minutes per day to read, watch, or even listen to the news and stay informed. If you have the resources to become politically informed, please try your best to do so; but if you don’t know what the word politics means, stay away from the polls, just because you’re 18 doesn’t mean you known everything. High school students do not have the time to vote. It’s a hassle that has no room in our busy schedules. Besides, most high school students will vote the same way as their parents, making their vote irrelevant. At this stage in a voter’s life, it’s really not worth a trip to the polls. Now, this is not to say that our generation should never vote, but rather that voting should not be a priority for of-age students. Later in life, when they are more mature and informed, they can vote on the issues that matter. For now, the fact simply remains that 18 year-old high school students wouldn’t know what they are voting for. It’s not worth the time it takes to cast a ballot.
Do you plan to vote in the upcoming election? Let us know at shsoracle.com, on Twitter @stratfordoracle or on Instagram @ spartanoracle
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And the Award Goes to... Yale University honors Darrell Pickard for his significant role in counseling
PHOTO BY ARTURO BENITEZ STORY BY OLIVIA SICILIANO “If someone were to ask level counselor, Darrell think of me in that incredibly me who has influenced my Pickard, by nominating him busy time in his life, that just life the most, and I could not for the 2014 Yale Educator shows you the kind of person respond with the name of a Award. he is.” family member, then I would The Yale Educator RecogPickard has been a classwithout hesitation respond nition Program recognizes room teacher and instructor with ‘Mr. Darrell Pickard,’” outstanding educators from for over 20 years in United writes Nathaniel Barbour, a around the world who sup- States Air Force and in Spring Stratford graduate of 2013. port and inspire their stu- Branch Schools. He became Now attending Y a l e dents to perform at high lev- a master instructor in the U n i v e r s i t y, els and achieve excellence. Air Force while teaching stuBarbour exStratford’s very own, Dar- dents as an air weapons dipressed his rell Pickard, has done just rector. gratitude tothat. “I’ve always felt that we ward his forBarbour mentions in his are so lucky to be able to mer Stratford nomination of Pickard that live in this country where we grade he is “forever grateful for his have the freedom and the passionate efforts.” ability to chose what we do... Out of the So, I felt like I wanted to give 306 educators nomi- back,” Pickard said. nated, representing 39 In the Air Force, he was states and 20 countries, able to counsel and work 30 counselors were with a lot of people, and “it selected to receive just kind of went up from the award. there,” he said. This honor was After interning at Stratford bestowed upon in 1994 as a student teacher, Pickard, to which Pickard then began his high he responded, “For school teaching career as a (Barbour) to stop and 9th grade English teacher at
Herbet’s
Northbrook High School. “As a student teacher,” Pickard said, “I had to student teach in English and Psychology. The people that I met, the teachers that were here at Stratford, it was like a family.” Both teachers he worked with during his internship profoundly impacted him. “What I sensed was, is that the people here (at Stratford) not only teach and work hard, they love where they are, and they really care about their students and the school... I knew that during my student teaching that I wanted to be at Stratford.” After teaching at Northbrook for two academic years, he transferred back to Stratford to teach English and Psychology. In the fall of 2008, he transitioned into becoming a grade level school counselor. “In any profession that I’ve had, whether it’s Air
Force, teaching, whatever it is, I like the service careers and helping others. Teaching was very rewarding to me,” Pickard said. “One thing I noticed is that a lot of times when students came up to me as a teacher I would be talking to them about the stress they had in their life or how they’re not being able to do as well in the class... Overtime, I realized I wanted to concentrate in that area, instead of just teaching content,” he said. As the counselor for the new class of 2018 this year, Pickard is already setting goals for himself and for students to focus on in their coming years of high school. “If you’re willing to work hard, then I will do everything I can to help you get where you want to go. That’s my job, whether its academics, personal things that come up, anything, is that I’m here for you and I’m a
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resource that will help guide you to where you want to be,” he said. Personally in his career, Pickard has a passion for what he does, and aims to consistently serve others. “Every student has different needs, different goals, different dreams, desires, and my job is not to try to tell them what they should do but to help them discover themselves and what they want,” Pickard said. “Basically, if I looked in the mirror and said, ‘I have achieved what...’, is just the peace of mind that I can look in the mirror and know that I’m doing something to help other people,” Pickard said. Pickard says he wants to be there to help others, and that in doing so he is achieving his goals. “It’s not about me, it’s about reaching out and helping out your fellow human beings,” he said.
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LAYING THE FOUNDATION The ins and outs of how the state’s new graduation plan works, and what it means for all incoming students
New Graduation Plan Prepares Freshmen STORY BY SOFIA JARRARD
GRAPHIC BY VICTORIA SHIN PHOTOS BY ELLIE HERMANN & NICK LATIOLAIS
Mention the newly implemented “endorsement plan” to any student, and nine out of ten will reply with a blank stare of bewilderment. If by some chance they are in the know, they’re most likely not happy about it. So, what is this mysterious “endorsement plan? “Last summer, the last legislative session that we had, they passed what they call House Bill 5,” freshman counselor Darrell Picka r d said. “House Bill 5 created a n e w graduation plan for the classes starting with the freshmen this year. To graduate you need to earn 26 credits, you need to take all of the
newfound opportunities. took to support their core classes.” “Last year, I had all of these people on the Fortunately, Pickard provides us with minimum plan. For some reason, they some hope. not couldn’t be on recommended, because “There’s a pressure on everyone; everyin your enthey were failing math. However, all one’s thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to decide dorsement.’ That’s not how of these students had enough credits my major now,’” he said. they work.” to be bumped up to the Foundation This is far from the truth. Do colleges and universities care about Plan. They are now able to apply to “Endorsements are nothing more than endorsements? whatever school they want.” a tool to help people focus. It’s an organiza“No,” Pickard said, “This is just a high And these are only the tional way to help students think about the school thing.” House Bill 5 pros that are in action things they want to do. If they’re not sure, So, if endorsements are not something today. Legislators are hard at work they can just be multidisciplinary,” Pickard that lock you into a major, what is their purcreating new courses for students. said. pose? The district must have some kind of “Every endorsemotive in implementing the new plan. ment requires students to take an extra math and sciFocusing Students ence. But we don’t want arts “What was happening was, we had and humanities students to too many students going through STORY BY CAMERON HENKEL have to take calculus. They’re high school, and they had obviously not math people. electives all over the As freshmen are now picking endorsements, board,” Pickmany students in higher grades are wondering how ard said. “But they would be affected by the new plan from House if you had Bill 5. In short, the new graduation plan offers no asked them, ‘A r e downsides to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. you undecided?,’ many of When House Bill 5, the bill that created the endorsethem would say, ‘No! I wanna ment plan, was being drawn up in 2013, there was be a ‘this’.’ But they were some skepticism that the new law would disrupt the leaving out a lot of electives at graduation plans of current high school students. STEM. The Science hallway of the school where Stratford that would’ve helped Fortunately the bill was worded so that sophomores you can find multiple classes offered to earn them.” and up could make use of the new foundation a STEM endorsement (Science, Technology, So, this is the endorseplan. Engineering and Math) ment’s purpose: to help Essentially, the foundation plan is in between the decided students focus minimum and recommended graduation plans for their energy on courses that classes 2015-17. The trouble for students under the required courses, plus you have to declare an will help them in college. PickArts and Humanities . A piece by Rachel minimum plan is that by law, the minimum plan is endorsement.” ard gives us an excellent scenot sufficient to go straight onto a four year college. Peterson, art electives are perfect To put it simply, all freshmen and future nario. Graduates under the minimum plan previously had for students interested in a Arts and incoming classes are required to choose a “If you really want to be to go to a two year college first before going onto career-area-specific endorsement. an engineer, and you apply Humanities Endorsement. higher education. With the implementation of the In the state’s attempt to focus students, to any school, they’re going foundation plan students can now graduate and go the plan has left parents and their children in to pull up Stratford’s profile and Hopefully by the end of this year, straight onto a four year college as long as they meet a whirlwind of stress. see what electives we offer. If there will be alternate math classthe requirements. “I have no idea what I want to do with you’re serious about being an es for non-math majors,” Pickard Luckily the foundation plan is fairly simple and my life,” freshman Emma Holland said. “I’m engineer and you don’t have engi- said. actually only requires 22 credits to graduate, the worried if I do the business plan and end up neering courses in your schedsame as the minimum plan. The main difference wanting to be a doctor, colleges will see that I ule, they’re going to think, Too Early? between the foundation and minimum plan is that Everything sounds great, right? did the business endorsement on my resume ‘OK, this person says they the foundation sacrifices required electives to fill New courses, more options for stuand not let me in.” wanna be an engineer, but out more core credits and includes a foreign lanIf all this is true, should students and they didn’t take the engineering dents, and opportunities for the guage requirement that most students already fill. less ambitious. However, for many teachers be worried? We had Pickard clear electives offered at their school. What’s up Additionally, as already stated, the foundation students, the pressure to decide up some of the rumors. with that?’ They think, ‘Maybe they’re not as plan allows graduates to go straight into a four year what they want to do is overbearserious about it as they should be.’” college unlike the minimum plan. Obviously stuing. Non-Restrictive Plan dents should strive to graduate on the recommend“Colleges, especially really “Let’s say you are a business and industry Far-Reaching Benefits ed plan with 26 credits, but the new foundation plan endorsement, but you also like to be in theAside from helping students focus, House competitive universities, are getallows students who fall behind another chance at atre, can you still take theatre electives? Yes. It Bill 5 has created some perks for non-ninth- ting much more selective in who higher education. does not restrict you. There’s never going to graders. Along with endorsements, there is a they let into their college,” Pickard After the class of 2017, all new students will fall be a student who walks in and I’m going to say new graduation plan, the Foundation Plan, said. “A lot of it, whether students under the endorsement plan and the minimum one to, ‘well you can’t take that elective because it’s that is already giving struggling students get in or not, is the electives they will be retired.
10th-12th Foundation
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“Preparing for Ebola” How can you protect yourself from this virus?
STORY BY LAUREN BYRAM Everybody has heard about the Ebola virus. It’s all over social media, it makes it way into almost all conversations, but what would Stratford do if it came here? “I think I would probably convince my parents not to make me go to school. What if that person came in contact with someone that came in contact with me?” freshman Julia Gelber said. “If someone were diagnosed right now I think that the appropriate authorities should be notified and that the CDC guidelines should
be enforced,” social studies teacher Warren Murphy said. Although it is a possibility that Ebola will make its way to Stratford, not many see it as likely. “I don’t think it’s very likely,” nurse Kim Lusk said. “I think people should be more concerned about the flu, which kills thousands of more people in the U.S. and is much more easily transmitted,” Lusk said. Although there have only been a handful of recorded cases in the U.S., scientists at Texas A&M University are working restlessly to
come up with a cure. They developed a drug called Zmapp, which they are waiting to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for mass production. Until the virus is under control, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says you can protect yourself by doing things as simple as washing your hands and keeping out of contact with blood and other bodily fluids. It is imperative that you seek medical care immediately if you develop any symptoms.
Fine Arts Results Pour In STORY BY EMILY FISHMAN PHOTO BY TAYLOR BRITTAIN
news in brief: food drives, sisters, tamales, and leaders WRITTEN BY KATHERINE AUGENSTEIN
Students Fight End Hunger
Author Greet
To
Scaring hunger away was the theme of the annual canned food drive. This canned food drive kicked off Oct. 27 and ends today. Canned food drop-offs were at all entrances around the school. “The student council fills backpacks with the cans so that a student that’s been hungry, as notified by Counselor D’Ann Franklin, can have that one,“ student council advisor Mary Jackson said. All cans that are left over at the end of the drive will be donated to the Houston Food Bank. Students who donated two cans are allowed to wear costumes today.
Deanna Harrington, a representative for Teen Leadership Summit, was interviewed by SHTV, on October 9th. She talked about the upcoming West Houston Teen Leadership Summit for high school sophomores and juniors, that is being hosted by State Representative Jim Murphy. The summit’s goal is to connect students with executives, politicians, and leaders. If you are interested, email Eiman.Siddiqui@house.state.tx.us. Space is limited! PHOTO BY ARTURO BENITEZ
Sister School This year, Stratford decided to adopt Northbrook High as its sister school. The volleyball team raised money recently to pay for Northbrook’s team to have meals provided before games.
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The Darkest Minds are a collection of books based in a dystopian society much like The Hunger Games or Divergent. The author of this thrilling series, Alexandra Bracken will be in the library from 3:15 to 4:15. All faculty members and students are welcome to attend on Nov. 3.
7th Annual Tamales for the Holidays Support the band and color guard by ordering delicious tamales. Orders will be taken starting today until Nov. 25 and the tamales will be available for pick up on Saturday, Dec. 6. Go to stratfordband.com to order online using PayPal or a credit card through PayPal.
The Up Side to Down Syndrome STORY BY SKYLER DOCKUM One in every 691 babies born in the United States is born with Down syndrome, but finding out that your soon-tobe sibling or child will have Down syndrome is still shocking. “At first I was sad but after he was born and I saw him, I was excited for a new brother,“ freshman Jacob Berg said.
Drumming in concentration. The Marching band drum line focus on
playing in concentration at half-time during the Homecoming football game. The band recently competed in the UIL competition, and both the choir and the orchestra participated in TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) Region competitions, all with favorable results. For orchestra, Isabella Bengochea, Grace Elphingstone, Max Heitman, Justin Lee, Yuna Kim, David Mogilevsky, Jamie Song, Kaitlyn Kwon, Brian Lee, and
Annabelle Daniel all made it to Region. Wilson Hui earned first chair for violin and Kevin Han earned second chair for cello. The band represented the school very well at the UIL competition, receiving first place overall. They were the only Spring Branch band to receive this honor. Finally, choir participated in the Region
competition on Oct. 18, performing very well overall. Eliza Masewicz earned the first chair spot for soprano one, Molly Richter achieved the fifth chair for soprano two, Phillip Bevers got fourteenth for tenor one, Amy Deaton got eleventh soprano two, Matt Elliott, second for bass two, and senior Alyssa Hauser for alto one.
Atticus (4) and Quinn (22 months). When she was 22 weeks pregnant, she discovered that Quinn would be born with Down syndrome. After this shocking discovery Mennes sought professional help. “Coach Hoskovec’s wife [who] was our genetic counselor and shared the news with us answered all our ques-
gle balancing their job and spending enough time with their family, so how can Mennes do both? “I love my job too much to leave the classroom,” Mennes said. “And with the support of Stratford’s incredible administration, faculty, and students, I have a great deal of support to juggle my many respon-
to allow that beautiful picture of my son to be tainted by such ignorance,” Mennes said. Instead of taking it to heart and allowing the negativity to bring her down Mennes looked at it differently. “When someone takes the time to seek out pictures of children with the intent to insult, I can’t help but feel
“Down syndrome doesn’t define Quinn, but it is a significant part of who he is.” -Megan Mennes To Berg, Down syndrome means “a thing that makes little people happy.“ Down syndrome or Trisomy 21, is a genetic mutation where the body makes a full or partial third copy of the 21st chromosome. Berg isn’t the only one who has a family member with Down syndrome, English teacher Megan Mennes has a son, Quinn, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Mennes is mother to
tions in a positive and supportive manner,” Mennes said. Finding out your child will be born with a disorder can obviously be overwhelming and shocking to expecting parents. “We were initially sad and scared, naturally.” Mennes said. “We didn’t know what being special needs parents would entail, and we were harboring old stereotypes about what Down syndrome meant.“ Most parents strug-
sibilities. I couldn’t do this without all of the faculty’s help.” Last year Mennes’s blog went viral after writing a response to defend Quinn after a man called him ‘ugly‘. If any parent were to read this cruel comment, their natural reaction would be to fire back in a defensive response. The manner in which Mennes kept her cool was truly admiring. “I was angry at first, but the educator in me saw it as a teachable moment. I didn’t want
sadness and pity for the individual slinging insults,” Mennes said in response to the hateful comment. Mennes said, “Down syndrome doesn’t define Quinn, but it is a significant part of who he is.” Students who are interested in supporting children like Carter and Quinn can participate in the Annual Buddy Walk at Minute Maid Park on Nov. 8. To register visit houstonbuddyrun.org.
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Something’s Lurking in the Shadows WRITTEN BY SCOTT KENNEDY In a world where walking around streets at night while dressed in a disguise can get you arrested, Halloween is seen by many as a sweet release. Costumes and candy dominate, but what about the darker side of the popular tradition? The origins of Halloween prove the day has deeper roots than mere trick-or-treating (see “The History of Halloween� on pg. 9), and there’s much more to the day even now. While eight-year-olds prance around in fairy princess costumes, something lurks in the dark of the night and the subconscious. Fear.
ALL GRAPHICS BY VICTORIA SHIN On an average day, suppressing one’s fears is a fairly simple task, but on Halloween, virtually every possible terror is brought the surface. No matter how irrational these fears may be, on a night where ghosts an ghouls fill the streets and stores, everyone is on edge. Typical Halloween characters like vampires and zombies aren’t what really scare students, however. In a survey given to ten percent of the student population, the fear of failure was most commonly marked as students’ biggest fear. “I’m afraid to fail because failure is a sign of weakness, and I want to be strong,� junior
Evie Morris said. Some of the other most common fears include fears of snakes, heights, clowns, and spiders and insects, which was actually the most common fear among those surveyed. “I was bit by a spider in Cub Scouts, and the troop leader freaked me out because she told me it might be a brown recluse,� senior Josh Wright said. “I thought I was going to die. I still think a brown recluse is going to bite me in my sleep.� While these are just some of the most common fears among Spartans, most students are
afraid of a variety of things, with the average student indicating that they feared four of the 17 options on the survey. While it’s unsurprising that many students feared things like snakes, injections, and public speaking, some students have some truly unique fears. Worms, port-a-potties, girls, elevators, marshmallows, and Oprah all made the list of unique fears of certain students. And while most would consider these fears highly irrational, they aren’t completely without reason. “I am afraid of Oprah because I know that one day, if the world is not careful, she will
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near me or on me for a long time.� There are some students who are supposedly without fear, though, like junior Andre Fredrick, who claims to be afraid of nothing at all. “There isn’t anything I’ve experienced yet that’s given me any reason to fear,� Frederick said. “There’s nothing for me to fear in life but fear itself.� Even though fears dominate on the night of Oct. 31, some students go out of their way to make sure they are scared. “I like going to haunted houses on Halloween because things pop out and scare you,� junior Keller Deal said. “It’s
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l i k e you’re in a horror movie, but you’re not. It’s a good experience.� Others spend the night going to costume parties, which allows for the fun and creativity of dressing up while also getting to hang out with friends. Whether students plan to trick or treat, hand out candy, go to haunted houses, or hang out with friends at a party, two things will be a part of their night: fear and candy. To find out more about Spartans’ fears, candy preferences, and Halloween in general, check out the rest of the in depth.
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overthrow the government,� junior John McGowan said. “She has too much power.� Freshman Elizabeth Cole has what she calls a “long, traumatizing story� behind her unique fear of blow dryers. “I was burned by a blow dryer when I was a little kid,� Cole said. “I don’t know what exactly happened, but I somehow wound up burning myself on my arm. My childish self probably over-dramatized it, but it was one of the first instances of real pain I could remember. I still feel claustrophobic if one is going on
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—Brought to America by Irish and Scottish immigrants in the 19th century —Ancient Celtics believed that on Oct. 31 the world of the living and the world of
—Trick-or-treating —Carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns
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All About That Jazz Playhouse welcomes first timers to Chicago STORY BY NOELLE FLORES
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PHOTO BY NATALIE BROUSSARD
This fall, the Stratford Playhouse “razzle dazzled” the community with the acclaimed Broadway musical Chicago. Auditions were held and the show was cast all within the first week of school, and since then, the actors worked very hard to give the best performance they could to the public. The show’s cast included freshman Marie Lauderdale and senior Erin Higgins, both of whom made their Playhouse debut in Chicago. Like many others, Lauderdale was already planning to participate in theatre before she started high school this fall. She attended the Playhouse’s shows last year (Legally Blonde, West Side Story, and Almost, Maine) and was further inspired by them to pursue fine arts. “It’s intimidating because everyone has experience with everything and I’m brand new, but it’s a lot less scary than I thought,” Lauderdale said. “I really liked working on this show - it’s been a great experience, and it’s a lot more student-run than I thought it would be,” she said Higgins danced with the Spartanaires until her junior year of high school; this year, she decided to try something new and auditioned for the school musicals, starting with Bye Bye Birdie last May. She was cast in an ensemble role. “I’ve always loved theatre and Broadway,” she said, “my mom and
I have been going to musicals and community. Higgins believes operas since I could walk. Stratford it was a hit because “Chicago is shows are so infectious when you a fun show - very 20’s, scandalwatch them, and I just knew I had ous, exciting - what more could a to audition.” teenager be looking for on a SatOne of her favorite things about urday night?” being in Chicago was getting to Higgins says that her favorite experience a whole new style of memory from the show will be dance. all of the friendships she made. “Fosse is very unique and styl- “With any show, but especially ized - unlike anything I’ve done one with such a small cast and before, but it’s been a blast,” she short amount of time to put the said. “One thing that I’ve always show together, everyone in the loved about Playhouse shows is the cast and the crew is so crucial to energy on stage between the sing- each other’s success. Everyone ing, dancing, and acting. You’re on has been so amazing, both on stage thinking about twelve differ- stage and off. The atmosphere is ent things at once. I have so much definitely memorable for me.” respect for everyone who’s been making it look good for three years already.” Higgins will continue her Playhouse experience in the winter musical, Bye Bye Birdie. The two ladies are confident that Chicago was a huge success, due in part to the show’s vast popularity, and feel lucky to have Practice, Practice, Practice. Marie Lauderdale joins the enbeen given the op- semble in dancing with Tucker May, who plays Billy portunity to share Flynn, in the show-stopping number, All I Care About the story with the is Love.
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Cassidy’s Styles Ideas to spice up your fall wardrobe this season
Clothing proudly provided by Modern Ego Buy all things at ModernEgo.com
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H
ince Texas takes ages to actually feel like fall, it is easy to reuse clothes from summer, like this neon komono and teal tank. (Neon Komono $28, Teal Tank $24, Silver Necklace $16, Fringe Purse $45, Skinny Jeans $35)
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ave a fancy event? Or you want to play dress up? This semi-body-con dress will show off your fabulous figure. (Statement Necklace $25, Striped Dress $ 4 2 , Snakeskin Purse $25)
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ixing patterns and prints is a huge trend for a n y season of the year, like this red scarf and purse pop against the black and white top. (Red Scarf $28, Striped Top $18, Red Purse $40)
fun night is a waste without a fabulous outfit. From the simple necklace to the riding boots, this outfit is sure to be unforgettable. (Pendant Necklace $16, Navy and Peach Dress $34, Boot Cuffs $12, Riding Boots $48, Bow Purse $64)
Top Tweets of October Tucker May @tuckermaymay
PSA: there’s a new radio station called B92 (92.1 fm) that only plays Beyoncé #yourwelcome 6:27 PM - 8 Oct 2014
Kirby Morris @kirbymorris222
“I wish I had glasses” “Really” “Yeah so I can like...wear them” 9:27 AM - 10 Oct 2014
Maddie Markey @maddie_farley
“I hate Columbus Day, other than the fact that we have school off, because we’re basically glorifying a man that got lost” - @GentryBarton1 9:25 AM - 13 Oct 2014
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Im gonna be Ebola for Halloween. 7:02 PM - 3 Oct 2014
9LPSS` 3H^YLUJL @reilllyellis
Does anyone else look up actors and see how old they are to calculate if they could potentially marry you? No? K. 8:04 PM - 13 Oct 2014
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his sweater is a great way to look cute and be warm at the same time. Not to mention, it is quite the head turner. (Neon Sweater $42) PHOTOS BY GABBY BROUSSARD WRITTEN BY CASSIDY MENARD
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Have a safe and happy Halloween!
The Stratford Oracle
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ONE ON ONE with...Coach Fain
All Out,All Game,All Season
Cross Country Wins District Meet
PHOTOS BY JACQUI COMPARIN, TAYLOR BRITTAIN, JORDYN RICHARDS
Touchdown. Junior Rakeem Boyd runs in for a touchdown against Spring Woods. The Spartans blew past the tigers ending the game with a score of 59-7 on Oct. 17th at Tully Stadium.
PHOTO BY JACQUI COMPARIN
Q. Why did you decide to be a tennis coach, and did anyone inspire you? A. I love working with high school students and tennis, so it was a natural choice for me. My personal coach in high school really believed in me and took my game to a whole new level. I still talk to her, and she made me want to be that person for the next generation of tennis players. Q. What is it like being a new coach at SHS? A. It is awesome! I love our players and am so blessed to have such an awesome support system. Coach Courson has been incredibly encouraging, and our parents are so supportive. Q. What goals do you have set for the team this year? A. Our big goal for the fall is to make it to State. We have had multiple players make it to State individually, but never as a team. I want to bring some fun games and my passion for conditioning to help our team improve. Q. How do you motivate your players? A. My strategy to motivate players is to be encouraging but real at the same time. I am a “to the point” kind of coach who doesn’t beat around the bush. I hope my players appreciate that! Q. What is your favorite part of coaching tennis? A. The team’s camaraderie during competition! Q. What valuable lessons do you want your players to learn from this sport? A. Mental toughness is half the battle in tennis. You are the only one that makes yourself win or lose. I hope to show my players that this applies to everything in life. You control your future. Don’t let anyone get in the way!
STORY BY TAYLOR BRITTAIN PHOTO COURTESY GLENN CHRISWELL On Tuesday, Oct. 21 the varsity cross country team ran in the district meet at Spring Creek Park. Running against the other schools in the district 19-5A, the Spartans came in 1st place with a total of 21 points, putting Magnolia West in 2nd and Spring Woods in 3rd place. For the varsity boys, seniors Austin and Hayden Richard came in 1st and 2nd place with only a 31 second time difference. Junior varsity received a perfect score with all Spartans taking 1st through 5th place. The freshman team had Evan Demerson in 1st, Seth Demerson in 2nd, and Colby Harper in 3rd. Dedication has been very important for the boys who have been practicing for months to prepare for their season. “They met up as a team from about 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday first day of summer and we trained six months out from district meet,” head boys cross country coach Tony Brillon said.
Cross Country Success. Boys Varsity, JV, and
Serves Up. Senior
Freshmen Cross Country secure first place in the district meet at Spring Creek Park.
Grace Whitmire and freshman, Grace Shea-han play Magnolia West on Oct. 17th, winning 3 out of 4 games. This was Shea-han’s first varsity match of the volleyball season.
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SCHEDULE Football:
10/31 v. Magnolia West 7 p.m. @ Magnolia West 11/7 v. Waller 7 p.m. @ Tully
Cross Country:
11/8 State Meet Championships @ Old Settlers Park Round Rock 11/15 Nike Cross National South Regional Championship @ the Woodlands
Swimming:
11/6 Cinco/Atascostia/Clements @ Cinco Ranch 11/7 SBISD Diving @ SBISD Natatorium 11/8 SBISD Diving @SBISD Natatorium
Favorite Food: Fajitas Favorite Restaurant: Lupe Tortilla
Best Cross Country Time: 16:23 for a 5K
Hero: Batman Current Dream Job: Civil engineer/ Missionary
Favorite Place to Run:
Camp Eagle through mountains
Favorite Quote: “He
is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” -Jim Elliot
Douglas Baker
Kathryn Arcy Position: Guard Number: 24 Favorite Song: “Give It All We Got”- George Strait
Hero/Inspiration: Jacob Bradshaw
Favorite Class: Math Toughest Game: Brenham
Dream Vacation: New Zealand
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MORE THAN A HEADACHE Concussions pose a risk to athletes, trainers crucial in prevention and recovery of brain injuries
STORY BY JESSICA SHELDON
PHOTOS BY TEA SHARP
Road to Recovery. Sophomore Ben Wharton does physical
therapy on his ankle while sophomore Jake Robinson (back) works the elliptical as part of his concussion recovery. Sophomore Salvador Pardo (right) is takes a break from therapy. Whether your favorite sport is ending its season or just starting up, the sports hype is growing. But slowly growing in the background is a different hype: concussion injuries. A concussion is defined as a violent shock to the head. While concussions are becoming more common in the professional realm, they are also taking a toll on SHS athletes. It seems that in recent years, the number of
concussions has risen. “The amount of concussions, especially in high schools, seems to have risen because the focus on them has increased. This means we see higher numbers because more people know the symptoms,” athletic trainer Cathlene GodwinWebb said. “Also, the intensity of high school sports and the duration of their seasons has increased so there is a greater chance for athletes to get a concussion.” Concussions are a serious injury, which, if not properly reported can result in the victim enduring a series of consequences including issues with athletic ability, academic capability, and change in personality. “Symptoms of a concussion can be prolonged light-headedness, memory, and balance. If you think you may have a concussion, report it to athletic staff immediately,” GodwinWebb said. Many athletes avoid telling staff they have a concussion, which can worsen the injury. “I wanted to play! I didn’t want to sit out the season,” junior Carsen Durham said. Durham received a concussion in Jan. 2014 as goalie for girls soccer. While athletes avoid telling their coach so they can keep playing, they actually worsen the injury which increases recovery time. Durham was cleared a month later after completing the concussion recovery program. “I had to pass ImPACT tests that were really difficult hearing tests, and sight tests,” she said. Durham was one of several girls soccer players to get a
concussion last season. “Football has the highest number of concussions,” Athletic Director and head football coach Eliot Allen said. “However, while football had the highest number of concussions last year, there are fewer players in girls soccer and the percentage of concussions in girls soccer is one of the highest at SHS.” Girls soccer is gaining popularity. With that comes raised intensity of the game, leading to higher injury rates. “There have been at least eight concussions in my three years here at SHS,” girls soccer coach Gena McGee said. “But I’m optimistic for several reasons. The number of reported cases of concussion is going up, while the number of deaths reported due to concussions is going down. Plus, studies have determined why female athletes are more susceptible to head injuries, which allows coaches to look at exercises that reduce the whiplash effect of hits or falls.” As the number of concussions rises, so does the awareness of the injury. Professional leagues such as NFL and MLS are increasing awareness of the seriousness of the injury. Thanks to their new training, coaches have become more aware of the issue and take better precautionary measures when students receive a blow to the head. “We communicate with our players about symptoms, how they should be reported, and explain the proper return-toplay protocol that is put into place by our district’s concussion oversight team. Our trainers are instrumental in that they monitor students as they are slowly working their way back onto the field,” McGee said.
Their Own Stories
Three football players (one former and two current) share their experiences with concussions WRITTEN BY JUSTIN TODES
PHOTOS BY REBECCA WILLLIAMSON
CHRIS HACHTMAN, Junior
He didn’t know where he was. He didn’t know what day it was. He couldn’t even remember his mom’s name. Homecoming week 2013: It was just another day of practice for football. But for Chris Hachtman, it would be the end of his football career. The team was doing 7-on-7 passing drills, and Hachtman went out to block a pass. Soon, he was in the hospital. Hachtman had been diagnosed with a moderate concussion, grade 2 out of 3 on the severity scale. He spent the next three days cooped up in a dark room, doing absolutely nothing. Having failed three ImPACT tests, Hachtman missed a week and a half of school. When he could finally return, he suffered from light and noise sensitivity, leaving class early to avoid loud hallways and eating lunch in the clinic during his first week back. Hachtman did recover from his concussion, but not without consequences. He suffers from migraines and can no longer play football (or any contact sport). This year, Hachtman plays golf and lacrosse.
C.J. FURY, Junior
It was the first play of the Elsik game, kickoff. C.J. Fury ran down the field, later hitting an Elsik player in the chest... with his head. Fury fell down, then got back up and ran off the field. He couldn’t remember what had happened, but later watched the hit on film. His head hurt after the hit, but trainers allowed Fury to go back out and play. After three more plays, Fury came back and sat out for the rest of the game. He was diagnosed the next day with a minor concussion, the least severe type. After missing one and a half weeks of school, he was able to return, but for the first three weeks he couldn’t do homework or anything requiring significant brain activity. Luckily, Fury had no setbacks and is still playing football. To get back on the field, he had to go through five physical stages, with stage five being the game. Fury said that his concussion was not a helmet issue, and could have been prevented by using the right technique.
JAMES SKELLY, Senior
James Skelly has been through not one, but two concussions. His first concussion took place during freshman year. Skelly had been beating up on a player for the entire game, and at the end of the game, the player came back and knocked Skelly in the back of head. The next day, Skelly woke up with a headache, and remembers sitting in his pool and eating Popeye’s, not really knowing what was going on. His second concussion occurred in practice. Skelly was doing a pass rush and got hit, but finished practice without sitting out. He later came home from school and slept. “I don’t take many naps,” Skelly said. He went to the neurologist and took an ImPACT test, which involves the memorization of sequences. After two weeks, Skelly was still failing the test, but was able to return to school with permission to wear sunglasses indoors and passes to nap in the clinic. Four weeks after the hit, Skelly passed the test and played the rest of the season.
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Lax to the Max
GRAPHICS BY SCOTT KENNEDY CONTENT BY BAILEIGH TURET
STORY BY EMMA HOLLAND AND LINDELL LEWIS
Chicks with Sticks Lacrosse has become one of the fastest growing sports in the country, and the Lady Spartans Lacrosse Club has definitely jumped on the bandwagon. The team practices Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at Spring Forest Middle School. On Mondays and Thursdays, practice is from 5-6:30 p.m. On Wednesdays, the team conditions from 5-6 p.m. The players are always hard at work. “This is my fifth year playing lacrosse,” sophomore Julia Brice said. “Outside of practice, I do wall-ball as much as I can and run around the neighborhood with my stick.” The Lady Spartans are expecting their first tournament in Austin the weekend of Nov. 7-8. More tournaments to
come will be the Cypress Burning Flower Classic in early December, and the Aggieland Classic in College Station Feb. 6-8. Tournaments are always a highlight of the season. The season doesn’t officially start until the spring when the team plays some of their big games against the Woodlands, Cy-Fair Iron Maidens, and Memorial. If interested in finding out more information about lacrosse, visit www.ladyspartanslax.com. Girls lacrosse is still accepting applicants.
Lax Bros are the Pros With the stress and mental trauma of school on your shoulders all the time, everyone needs an outlet. For junior James Lewis, lacrosse is his escape from the hours upon hours of school work. Lacrosse is a sport where the 10 players on the field
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race around in attempts of gaining the ball and getting it into the opposing team’s goal. Plus, you can only use lacrosse sticks to move the ball around and to defend yourself against the other 10 players. “It combines a lot of my favorite aspects of sports, there’s obviously violence with hitting people with sticks, there’s a lot of running involved which I enjoy. You need hand-eye coordination and other skills that make you practice a lot.” Lewis said. If you want to come and take part in this thrilling, action filled sport, register online on the Spartan Lacrosse Club website at www.spartan-lacrosse.com The uniform order deadline is Oct. 31. All students, freshmen through seniors, are welcomed to join in on the fun.
Tennis balls: There are 54 tennis balls in one box
500,000
54
Gallons: 500,000 gallons are in just one swimming pool
Panels: 12 pentagon and 20 hexagon panels are on a soccer ball
12 20
4STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL
Games: Varsity has won 4 out of 4 district games.
Fish Out of Water
PHOTOS BY ELLIE HERMANN
Take Your Mark
Fast and Furious
The swim team gets ready to dive head first at the Gold v. Green Pentathlon. The meet held on October 14th gave the swimmers their first opportunity to see their swim times.
Freshman Peyton Moak is flying as he swims the 50 yard freestyle at the Gold v. Green Pentathlon.
Chomping at the Bit Freshman Elizabeth Cole takes the block to swim the 100 yard breaststroke at the Green v. Gold Pentathlon where she placed 10th.
Flyin’ Fast Junior Marie Nantz swims alongside her fellow Spartans in the girls 50 yard Butterfly at the Green v. Gold Pentathlon where she placed 12th.
On The Blocks
Freshman Clayton Bobo takes his mark at the Green v. Gold Pentathlon on Oct. 14.
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