Jan 30, 2014

Friday January 31, 2014

TSTRATFORD HE

R A C L E O

Running Trail Fears Photo by Katherine Kennedy Pg. 4

Volume 41, Issue 6

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Kali Venable

To Vote or Not to Vote?

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Just Keep Swimming Pg. 10 Photo by Elyse’ Stieber

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Two Sides to the Story

Six athletes make their Playhouse debuts in the musical “West Side Story”

Scott Kennedy

It’s 3 p.m. on a mid-August afternoon. School has yet to start, but for Daniel McGuire, the work is well under way. He drives to school, gets dressed out, and heads to practice. Stretching and warm-ups come first, followed by an intense set of drills. He needs a drink of water, but the captain says to make it quick; they have to get back to rehearsing.

Sloan, who is based in New York and has assisted with the past 14 winter musicals, says, “This is probably the hardest show Stratford has ever attempted.”

The musical follows a modified version of Jerome Robbins’ choreography, and Sloan expects the dancing to be the greatest challenge.

Many felt up to the

telling me thought did rewell.”

Autioncan be a stressful

they I ally diing

maybe.”

Hopes of making the cut certainly weren’t raised by looking at the competition, as Birdsong pointed out.

“There were a lot of really good kids who’d danced for a long time, and I didn’t think I was very good. The whole thing was really nerve-racking, and really fast.”

“I

* * *

From Stadium to Stage

In a student body with such diverse interests, a great amount of crossover can often be found in activities — whether it’s cheerleaders in student government, band members in Academy of Finance, or football players in choir— more and more students are breaking out of their comfort zones to get involved in something new. And this year, a trend has continued— athletes making the leap into theater.

While there are six athletes making their theater debuts in the upcoming musical, “West Side Story”, which opened yesterday, this is by no means an anomaly. “This school definitely always has more athletes in their musicals than most,” choreographer Paula Sloan observed.

Athletic Director Eliot Allen believes this is a positive thing for the school. “I think that students who have a passion and a skill set that allows them to do both sports and theater, should do it.”

But of all the musicals to attract such a large group of newcomers, “West Side Story” might present the greatest challenge.

challenge last spring, however, when auditions began. Among the group of people auditioning was senior football player Louis Birdsong. “I had a lot of great friends like McGregor Dalton, Director CeCe Prudhomme, and Student Director Mary Kate Goss who encouraged me to try out for the play, so I just went for it,” said Birdsong.

Birdsong wasn’t the only athlete making the jump into the theater. He was joined by fellow senior football player Daniel McGuire (pictured right), senior baseball player Bradley Bates, and sophomore football players Blake Grooms, Connor Sands, and Grayson LaGrange.

A lot of these athletes are friends, which helped make the auditioning process a little easier. “It definitely helped psychologically to have friends trying out, too,” Birdsong said. “I didn’t think I’d make it, but they were all

didn’t think I would make it at first,” LaGrange agrees. “When I told my friends I was trying out they thought it was joke. They were really surprised when I actually made it.”

Playing Catch Up

proc e s s , and most athletes didn’t think very highly of their chances of succeeding.

“We just showed up and they taught us a dance,” Sands said. “I wasn’t sure if I’d make it, I thought it was a Photo Illustration by Scott Kennedy and Gil Sanchez

All cast members for the musical had to participate in some preparation for rehearsals over summer break. This consisted of learning multiple dance styles over the course of a few classes; something none of the athletes had done before.

“I was surprised by how hard it was,” LaGrange recalls. “It was super hard, the dancing’s not girly, like you would expect, it’s kind of a tougher, manly dance.”

“West Side Story” is a play about rival gangs in New York city, the Jets and the Sharks, and it includes a number of very athletic scenes. Some actors have to learn to dance while fighting and playing basketball, which accounts for the more intense style of dance the musical is known for.

One of the hardest parts of summer practices for athletes was simply balancing their schedules, as many of

them had “two-a-day” practices for football. “We’d go to morning two-a-days, then we’d go home, then come back for the afternoon two-a-days, then go straight to rehearsals,” Grooms said.

While it’s hard for actors to perform their best after a series of hard workouts, Student Director Mary Kate Goss was impressed b y their dedication.

“Sometimes we would have to make sacrifices for them to keep doing athletics, but they were also really awesome about making sacrifices in order to be at rehearsals.”

But that’s not to say that rehearsals were great right from the start.

“At first, when you look back at all of the videos from the summer, it’s really bad,” Birdsong admits. Having virtually no prior dance experience meant that these newcomers were at somewhat of a disadvantage.

Some of the hardest parts for these first-time performers are the precise movements required.

“The discipline of moving in time is one of the hardest parts for the athletes,” said Sloan. “They have to stay in the perfect spot while dancing, and they have to move at the right time exactly, not just sort of.”

Even things that are as simple to many of the cast members as terminology can present a considerable challenge to beginners.

“I had no clue what a chasé or a plié was, and that was hard to have to learn all of that,” Birdsong said.

@stratfordoracle

Theatrical Teachers Staff play roles in the show Emily Fishman

When most students were younger, they imagined that their teachers lived at school.

For a few members of the staff, the truth is not that far off. For the Playhouse’s upcoming production of “West Side Story”, several teachers and administrators are going from the classroom to the spotlight.

The production has a few adult roles, and directors sought to cast real adults from the Spartan community in order to give the show a realistic feel.

“The students are playing people their own age so we thought it would make much more of an impact to have the adults in the show so that the contrast was evident,” senior Mary Kate Goss, the student director of the show, said.

“West Side Story” is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, in which star-crossed lovers fight to be together amidst feuding families and gangs.

They are aided and hindered by several adults along the way, and director CeCe Prudhomme felt that real adults were necessary to make the conflict believable.

TWO SIDES

TEACHERS

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Friday January 31, 2014

The Oracle

Strapped for Cash

Juniors continue to fund raise for prom and Project Prom Justin Todes

While the Class of 2014 relaxes with senioritis, the Class of 2015 is fund raising for its prom next spring.

Since freshman year, the students have been fund raising, but it will take a lot more money before they can pay for the costly prom and Project Prom.

Most do not know that, on average, the total cost of prom and Project Prom is around $60,000.

The cost of a venue, caterer and DJ generally costs between $20,000 and $40,000. Past venues have included Hotel Zaza and House of Blues. This year’s prom is at the Museum of Natural Science.

Project Prom takes place immediately after prom at Dave & Busters to prevent students from making irrational decisions at 3 a.m.

The cost of Project Prom, just to rent out Dave & Busters, is around $20,000.

After venues for prom and Project Prom are paid for, and caterers and DJ’s are locked

in, all remaining money is spent on giveaway prizes.

For the past two years, the junior class has been selling Spartan stadium seats, which has raised around $5,000.

The upcoming Class of 2015 Garage Sale from Feb. 21-23 is anticipated to raise between $20,000 and $30,000.

In addition to stadium seats and the garage sale, students

Cost of Prom and Project Prom:

do not have to pay for their prom tickets.

“Whatever we have raised, that is what we have,” assistant principal Jeff McCord said. “It is ultimately the responsibility of students, not parents, to fundraise. Students should be volunteering to help with their Garage Sale.”

Whatever money the class doesn’t have will lead to an increase in ticket prices for those who do not fundraise.

Over the next four to six weeks, the junior prom committee will work on narrowing down options for a prom venue.

Fund raising for prom and Project Prom take a lot of work. Historically, the juniors are on track. No class in recent years has had enough money to pay for prom by January of junior year.

But with the garage sale, other fund raisers next year ,and plenty of hard work, the costly events should soon be taken care of.

$40,000 to $60,000 have had mandatory fundraisers each year.

Freshmen year, the fundraiser was cookie dough. Sophomore year, the fundraiser was tumblers. This year, juniors will sell Spartan Croakies, which will prevent the loss of sunglasses.

Juniors will be required to either sell a minimum of 5 Croakies, for $7 each, or they may just bring a check for $25. Students who participate in the fundraisers for all four years of high school

TEACHERS: Faculty take center stage in Playhouse production

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE “It’s a “Romeo and Juliet “ type thing, and the adults just show that better,” Prudhomme said.

The decision to cast adults as Doc, Lieutenant Shrank, Officer Krupke, and Principal Gladhands was made early on and the directors began reaching out to those who might be interested in taking the stage.

“We started thinking of teachers who would be good and interact well with the kids,” Prudhomme said.

Math teacher William Hall, who plays Doc, was approached to play a role in the spring of last year.

“I said as long as I didn’t have to sing or dance, I could do it,” Hall admitted.

Since then, Hall along with fellow math teachers Karl Poetzl and Sam Nguyen, and administrators Greg Fore and Danny Gex have been attending rehearsals along-side the students in the cast.

“It keeps me busy trying to

make the rehearsals and do all the grading and lessonplanning we teachers have to do,” Hall said.

Through the rehearsal process, the teachers have gained a new appreciation for the

talent these students have and how much hard work they put into the show, especially the singers and dancers,” Hall said.

The students aren’t the only talented ones, however.

“They (the staff) have all been working really hard to understand their characters. It’s so awesome,” Goss said.

The faculty involved in the play are getting nervous as this is the first GETTING IN CHARACTER • Junior Caitlin time there have Ehlinger, sophomore Eliza Macsewicz, and ever been teachers in math teacher Karl Poetzl perform a tense the play. scene. Photo by Natalie Broussard “I don’t want to forhard work and commitment get my lines and I don’t want that the students in the the- to say my lines at the wrong ater department put in. time and get the other actors “The staff has been great in confused either,” Hall said. rehearsals. I think it makes For students, it might be a them realize what the stu- little weird seeing their teachdents go through,” Prudhom- ers up on stage performing me said. with peers.

Hall, a relative new-comer “I think a lot of kids should to the performance world, come and see their teachers agrees. outside the classroom,” Prud“I didn’t realize how much homme said.

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NEWS

Friday January 31, 2014

The Oracle

Widespread Service Reaching Outside These Walls

Many clubs and organizations actively create, develop, and carry out service activities all donations were given to A community is not just a students in need within the town. Stratford America is a community.

Stratford Oaks, a popucommunity of students and lar club, further exemplifaculty members that prides fies students’ desire to better itself on looking out for one the community, as this club another. works to beautify the camAt the forefront of Stratpus and the ford’s service c o m m unity endeavors through the is Student planting and Council. watering of This group of trees.

Since students orga2008, the fornizes service mation of the efforts many club, to the of which present time, have been BLOOD DRIVE • Senior Emily Wissel gives blood at the blood president Herextremely drive. Photo By Cassidy Menard. nan Cepeda successful, says that the club is responsimost notably the blood drive, ble for the planting and maincanned food drive, and Spartenance of around 50 trees. tan Share.

Their most successful activity, “All the activities have been according to Cepeda, was to successful, but the canned see a lot of people come tofood drive doubled in the gether to keep the trees alive number of cans collected,” Senior Katherine Kennedy through the heat of the sumsaid. The best part of the mer.

Service involvement is also canned food drive was that

Brian Quinlan

encouraged and required for senior members of the National Honor Society (NHS).

The number of service activities that NHS has participated in since the beginning of the school year exceeds 50 separate activities, a common favorite of the members being the Buddy Walk.

“It felt good to raise awareness for and support research

WALKING FOR A CAUSE• Seniors Elizabeth Jones and Caroline Stone participate in the Buddy Walk as a part of NHS. Photo By Rosa Clay.

for Down syndrome,” senior Ahmed Butt said. What made this event extra special was that the students were

walking in support of English teacher Megan Mennes’ child Quinn.

Currently, NHS is actively giving service by assisting in the staffing of the basketball concession stands, Special Olympics basketball, and the middle school transition event. Participating and sponsoring service activities not only excites students, but also are rapidly becoming traditions. Since 2007, the Playhouse has been sponsoring the Black Bucket project.

These buckets are passed through the audience and donations are collected for a charity that benefits an issue occurring in the community at the time.

Last year’s extremely successful effort produced $6400 for the organization Charlie’s Angels for a little boy named Charlie Dina, senior Alli Klasing said. This year, the buckets will again be passed around after their perfor-

mances of West Side Story for student Maddy Batiz who is fighting cancer.

The Academy of Science and Engineering is another orga-

has a lot of fun helping teach the kids” and really enjoys “finding ways to give back.”

With all of these active service student organizations this year, a Universal Day of Service has been created by the Leadership C o u n cil.

On April 26, students from all PLAYING FOR A CURE • The Varsity soccer team united with Memorial by playing a game to raise d i f f e re nt awareness for fellow team mate Maddy Batiz and her fight clubs and against cancer. Photo By Erin Fuller. groups nization which promotes ser- will come together to serve vice to its members. Students the community in a joint efoften look for educational fort with the Dairy Ashford ways to give service for the Revitalization Team (DART). community, mostly providThese service efforts from ing tutoring to younger kids. all of these organizations are Junior Douglas Baker has what sets us apart from othbeen a tutor and a camp er campuses and makes us a counselor and says that “he true community.

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Friday January 31, 2014

Once a Safe Haven, Now a Place of Danger

The Oracle

Layla's Lines

Armed robberies and sexual assault occur on the bayou, causing the community to be on high alert and take precautions

on the team generally run through Terry Hershey Park, Before most students and but instead of running as a teachers arrive at school, group, many run alone on members of the cross-countheir own time. try teams are out running.

The girls luckily weren’t Their usual route follows Tulrunning the morning of the ly to Winter Oaks, and then incident, but they now have goes into nearby Terry Herto stay with a partner shey Park, where the team or in a group at all runs several miles before times. returning to Stratford.

Police recommend After a series of armed that all runners, jogrobberies and one case of gers, walkers and sexual assault in the park bikers visiting any from December to January, REALITY CHECK • This is the stopping point for many people on their runs besides the cross country teams, but it park go with a group. the teams must now make was a shock to the girls to know that the six mile mark was the destination of a double rape. This was a wake up Users are also adsure to stay alert. vised to avoid park call because the girls usually run in small groups or by themselves. Photo by Katherine Kennedy.

Several joggers were rest rooms. stopped and held up by that there was a robbery on when they run, which police after phoned-in tips provided Park users should also avoid armed robbers in December, the left side of the fork. recommend doing to prevent the police with enough infor- wearing expensive or flashy and had their money and car The next time the team ran, theft. mation to make the arrest. jewelry, and remain alert at keys stolen before the robbers they went to the left of the The boys team will continPolice now have an in- all times. Phones and other took off in stolen getaway ve- fork, and later found out that ue to run their usual route creased presence throughout sources of technology pose as hicles. there was another robbery, through Terry Hershey Park, the regularly used park. hazards. Once safe places to Boy’s cross-country was this time on the right side of making sure to stay together This incident has led to visit and exercise, today even running on two of the days the fork. and remain alert. concern for the girls cross- parks are targeted by crimithat robberies occurred. The Senior Brian Quinlan has Earlier this month, a female country team. The girls nals.

Justin Todes

path that the team runs on has forks leading off to both the left and the right, and the team alternates which side of the fork they take each day.

On the day of the first robbery, the team ran to the right of the fork, and later heard

News In 90 Seconds BPA REGIONAL COMPETITION

On Saturday, students competed at the annual Regional Competition of Business Professionals of America at Klein Collins High School. The competition consisted of individual and team events that related to the business world. Stratford came home from the competition with 42 medals.

Students who placed first: Arya Hagi Taheri, Fundamentals of Web Design; Mustafa Iran, Administrative Support Research; Katherine Kennedy, Global Marketing Team; Scott Kennedy, Business Meeting Concepts, Insurance Concepts, Digital Publishing with InDesign, Global Marketing Team; Clay Lamberton, Interview Skills; Alan Pham, Banking and Finance; Justin Todes, Administrative Support, Computer Programming, Management and Marketing.

Students who placed second: Christi Gregory, Interview Skills, Presentation Management Team; Justin Todes, Advanced Interview Skills; Lexi Villarreal, Presentation Management Team; Grace Whitmire, Presentation Management Team.

Students who placed third: Jonathan Colon, Human Resource Management; Mustafa Iran, Economic Research Team; Clay Lamberton, Broadcast Team; Kendall Marbach, Interview Skills; Evie Morris, Broadcast Team; Kyle Mosby, Payroll Accounting; Nicholas Tale, Economic Research Team; Justin Todes, Business Meeting Concepts, Insurance Concepts.

Students who placed fourth: Samya Irfan, Medical Office Procedures.

Students who placed at Regionals will be eligible to attend the State Competition on March 6-9 in downtown Houston.

been on the cross-country team for four years, and often leads the group.

“We lucked out,” Quinlan said. “We went one way, the criminals went the other.”

He pointed out that the team does stay together as a group

jogger was using the park rest room near Eldridge between Dairy Ashford and Briar Forest when two masked men entered, stole her jewelry, and sexually assaulted her.

Two male suspects were arrested following the assault

FINE ARTS’ ROAD TO STATE

Last semester, the Spartan community watched football travel the Road to State, playing hard and making it all the way to the State Semifinals. This semester, the Spartans continue on the Road to State.

Junior Joon Lee earned TMEA All-State honors for clarinet at the Band All-State auditions in Austin.

The audition was extremely competitive and Joon’s hard work paid off.

Junior Kevin Han earned TMEA All-State honors for cello in Orchestra All-State auditions.

In choir, Sophomore Eliza Masewicz was for the 2014 Texas All-State Choir by placing second chair, 1st soprano. The choir performs in February at TMEA in San Antonio. Photos by Annabelle Daniel.

STUDENT COUNCIL RETREAT

Sixty-five of the 93 Student Council members attended a retreat the weekend of Jan. 11-12 at Forest Glen in Huntsville. The students participated in low and high ROPES, team-building games, leadership activities and group campfire.

Photo by Katherine Kennedy.

TEAM MADDY

On Saturday Jan. 25, the girls soccer team played memorial in a game dedicated to Maddy Batiz. She had recently discovered her battle with Leukemia was not over since this was her second time getting it. The booster club made t-shirts and sold food in order to help out the Batiz family with Maddy’s hospital bills.

The game was originally scheduled to be on Friday, Jan. 24, but due to the unexpected cold weather they played at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Photo by Christopher Juntti.

A not-so-serious column Dear Cafe Express management Layla Shahhosseini I was hungry one winter afternoon and decided to stop at my favorite go to restaurant when I can’t figure out what else to eat. I pull up with my mom and sister in the parking lot a little farther down from you.

As I was walking down the concrete pathway to the doors of heaven, my eyes zeroed in on the terrifying sign ahead of me. CLOSED. Rage quickly filled my soul as I stared at the sign for a good two minutes longer, but was soon replaced by panic. What was I supposed to do? Abandon my home away from home?

I couldn’t even believe my mom suggested we go anywhere else. My stomach so longed for the creamy texture of mac and cheese that indulging in anything else would feel like betrayal.

Where else could I go that would give me quality food this close to my house? Randalls was in short drive distance and had aisles of mac and cheese but I knew my stomach would be able to tell the difference between genuine culinary perfection an processed garbage.

My beloved Cafe Express, there are no other options but to wait for you to reopen. No one understands why you had to remodel: you were perfect just the way you were. There is no reason you should take twenty days out of my eating schedule to abandon your one loyal customer.

I miss you dearly and the second you reopen your doors, I’ll be there.

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ADS

Friday January 31, 2014

The Oracle

Lamay Designs

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Friday January 31, 2014

The Oracle

THE COUNTDOWN

Food For ThoughtThe Bully a classic double cheese

Also other food trucks such as PhoJita Fusion, The Hungry Lumberjack, and the famous ZeaThe food truck craze has pod Cakery. reached Houston. Food All these food trucks Park HTX located at have joined forces to cre800 Highway 6 South, ate an amazing food court is a brand new food of traveling food. You can truck park. During their find Mexican food, burggrand opening many well ers, coffee, even cupcakes known food trucks like on a stick.

Bernie’s Burger Bus were If your ever around the there. area you won’t regret stopThe Burger Bus’ menu KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ • Fork in the Road is a food truck that puts a twist ping by, Food Park HTX can be a bit pricy, but theon American classics. Photo by Kinsey Meek their hours are Mondayquality makes up for the a double cheese burger that has two Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5 p.m. to expense. Their menu includes items grilled cheese sandwiches in place of 9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., like The Principal, which is like a the buns. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. simple all American cheese burger.

Gil Sanchez

burger, and the Detention, which is

Valentine’s Day For All The Single People Ashleigh Garrett

Chocolate. It’s always there with its deep rich understanding that regular people do not possess. Chocolate is always ready to be your valentine.

Why even live in reality when you can indulge yourself in a fantasy, filled with mystery, drama, and action. Why have a boyfriend/girlfriend who whines and complains when there is a world of perfectly content people calling your name?

Let the bubbles take you to a place that in your imagination no one has ever been before and relax. Take as along as you want to unravel and just lay there. Let go of all your stress about school, people, and singledom and take some well deserved R&R.

Graphic by Molly Richter

Why settle for a single companion when you can have several? Go treat yourself to a party with friends to the concert, movies, sleep over, lunch, or dinner. Have a great time, huddled next to the people who matter most... your friends.

Why watch what you eat when you’re single? Take time to treat yourself to some comfort food. Indulge in an entire box of cookies or a whole pizza. Maybe even try something new. Go on. You deserve it.

Graphics by Rachel Torres

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The Best

of

Netflix Friday January 31, 2014

If you find yourself alone this Valentine Day with nothing to do, cook a bag of popcorn, sit back, and check out a few of these staff picks on Netflix.

Ranging from TV Shows to Musicals to Movies to Documentaries—there are an array of tales to fill your night.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Suspensful Action The Hunger Games Olympus Has Fallen The Avengers Captain America Classic Musicals Footloose West Side Story Grease Doctor Horrible’s Singalong Blog Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Romantic Movies Safe Haven Clueless Love Actually Maid in Manhattan

It’s Show Time

Addictive Series • Orange is the New Black • Breaking Bad • Grey’s Anatomy • Gossip Girl • The Walking Dead Traditional Childhood Flicks • High School Musical • Mulan • Hercules • Pocahontas • Hunchback of Notre Dame • Treasure Planet • Veggie Tales • The Emperor’s New Groove • Dexter’s Laboratory • Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends Intriguing Documentaries • The Spirit Molecule • Food Inc. • Katy Perry Part of Me • Room 237 • Blackfish

New TV show seasons are on their way Sarah Blackshear

many girls favorites “Teen “I’m really excited for the new Wolf ”. sophomore Kalyn shows that are starting this Barker said. “My absolute faseason. The great thing about vorite TV show ever is “Teen TV is that after a long stress- Wolf ” because it’s exciting ful school day I can just relax and the guys are really cute.” It and not think,” sophomore is a popular show about a guy Meredith Magnuson said. who is attacked by a wolf and This season there are a va- soon turns into one as well.

Another popular favorite is riety of TV shows premier“Downtown Abbey” which ing such as “American Idol”, is a show where you see “Downtown Abbey”, and the lives of a wealthy family and their servants in their home durAmerican Idol ing the 1920’s FOX 7 p.m. Wed.-Thur. in England.

“American Downtown Abbey Idol” is also PBS 8 p.m. Sun. starting its 13th season.

Teen Wolf ““It is so funMTV 9 p.m. Mon. ny because you get to see The Big Bang Theory these people CBS 8 p.m. Thurs. who think they can sing, Duck Dynasty but they reA&E 9 p.m. Wed. ally can’t. Also

SHOW TIMES

I am a huge Jennifer Lopez fan,” sophomore Melanie Hastings said.

This year for “American Idol” the judges are Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr., If you like to listen to inspirational stories, hear amazing voices, and laugh at others misfortunes then “American Idol” is a perfect fit for you.

“My favorite TV show is “The “Big Bang Theory” because it’s really funny and relatable,” sophomore Griffin Henkle said. “The Big Bang Theory” is a TV show where four nerdy friends go on awkward adventures, and overcome hilarious situations.

“Duck Dynasty” is a great TV show because it depicts a fun American family with good morals and family values,” sophomore Noelle Flores said. “Duck Dynasty” is a reality TV show about a billionaire family while running a company specializing in duck calls.

From Screen to Stage

The Oracle

The new animated movie, “Frozen”, is taking its turn on Broadway

Ashley Karolys

It’s official! The award winning animated film “Frozen” is set to go to Broadway. With it’s record breaking box office sales, heart-warming story, and fantastic cast of characters, it was very predictable that the show was going to be on the Great White Way at some point.

“I’m really excited about this show going to Broadway,” sophomore Noelle Flores said. “The music is wonderful, and the story is so enjoyable and family-friendly, which I think is the kind of show Broadway needs right now.”

The story of “Frozen” is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen”. Taking place in the kingdom of Arendelle, the film tells the story of Queen Elsa and Princess Anna;Two sisters who used to be very close when they were little,

but have grown apart for a reason unknown to Anna.

Later, it is revealed that Elsa has the ability to make ice and freeze things with just the wave of her hand.

A frightened Elsa runs away, accidentally causing the kingdom of Arendelle to fall into a bitter winter, and Anna is determined to go after her sister and bring her home to stop the kingdom from freezing over. This is the beginning of Anna’s journey, where she teams up with a mountain man named Kristoff and his reindeer, Sven. They meet a talking snowman named Olaf, and together set out to find Elsa to stop the eternal winter.

“I’m excited to see what the show will do to bring Olaf, the ice palace and the cute little trolls to the stage,” Flores said.

The cast has many Broadway actors such as Idina Menzel (Elsa), the original

Elphaba in Wicked, Jonathan Groff (Kristoff), who was also seen on Broadway in Spring Awakening. Also in the cast, Santino Fontana as Prince Hans, recently seen on Broadway as Prince Topher in Cinderella.

“I’m really excited to see who they cast as each character. It will be interesting to see it go from animation to real life,” junior Katie Moore said.

Many theatre fanatics are wondering how they are going to bring the animated film to real life. “I’m excited to see how they show Elsa’s powers on stage,” junior Jenny Weber said.

After the successeful musicals like The Lion King, and Mary Poppins, “Frozen” has a shot at having a long run on Broadway.

Although the musical may not be on stage for several years, it is exciting that another Disney musical hitting the Broadway stage.

Sudoku

Created by Ashley Karolys For answers, go to shsoracle.com

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Friday January 31, 2014

vintage in

HOUSTON Kali Venable

i

Retropolis

Macklemore sings about it and Tumblr blogs host hauls daily--thrifting is officially cool. Perhaps your a hipster and you’ve been buying since birth, but chances are that you’re probably like the rest of us and just now jumping aboard this already moving train.

To jump start your shopping we’ve found the best vintage thrift stores in Houston. These four shops are bound to have everything you’re looking for.

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Address: 321 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008 Price Range: $$$$ Inventory: The two story closet like store can be overwhelming, but each cubical area is rented by an individual vendor, so the massive selection is pretty easy to sort through.

Specialties: High wasted shorts, coats, jewelry, 80s attire

i

The Oracle

The Guild Shop

i

i

Griffin Sink @GriffinSink I’m Picasso when it comes to drawing stick people on snapchat man.

Kate Snelling @katesnelling mr. blaze is the male beyoncè

j

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Address: 1657 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77006 Price Range: $$$$ Inventory: Don’t let the square footage deceive you, racks are jam packed with clothing and the shoe wall is always full.

Specialties: Patterned sweaters, vests, skirts, band t-shirts, dresses and cowboy boots

Replay on 19th Street

Shannon Mullins @shamWOW171 Guy talking about his family: “yeah I have 4 teenagers living under my roof ” Mr. Juntti’s response: “yeah well I have about 2000”

Anna Powell @annakpowell People who constantly post pictures of themselves at the gym really bother me. Like, can I not watch Netflix and eat ice cream in peace?

Address: 2009 Dunlavy St, Houston, TX 77006 Price Range: $$$$-$$$$ Inventory: Having been in business for more than 50 years, The Guild Shop is known throughout Houston as a premiere consignment shop for clothing and collectables. Inventory is constantly restocked and everything sells fast.

Specialties: Designer jewelry and purses, fur coats, scarfs and furniture

The Leopard Lounge

Tweets of the Week

Mary Kate Goss @gossis_boss On a scale of 1 to Justin Timberlake, how much swag do you have?

Follow @StratfordOracle for your chance to be featured in the next issue

Tweets compiled by Ashleigh Garrett and graphic by Victoria Shin

Which Gang Member are You? Ashley Karolys Noelle Flores

OR

Jet

j

Address: 373 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008 Prices: $$$$ Inventory: Most of the apparel is located in the front room, while the back hosts a small record and antique selection.

Specialties: Sixties and seventies dresses, jewelry, driving shoes, go-go boots, blazers, and purses/totes

Shark

1. Where would you rather eat? a. Los Tios

b. Hungry’s

2. Which color would you prefer?

a. Red

b. Blue

3. Where would you like to vacation? a. Puerto Rico

b. New York

4. Would you prefer to dance the...

a. Salsa

b. Swing

5. Which hair color do you prefer? a. Black

b. Blonde

6. Whose music do you prefer?

a. Shakira

b. Justin Timberlake

If you mostly answered “a”, you are a Shark. You are fiesty, firey, proud and confident.

If you mostly answered “b”, you are a Jet. You are “cool”, tough, explosive and loyal.

For tickets to West Side Story, scan the QR code to go to stratfordplayhouse.org Photos by Natalie Broussard

9

SPORTS Kicking it Back into High Gear

The Oracle

Friday January 31, 2014

Girl’s soccer aims high after a successful 2013 season

Photo by Kinsey Meek

Coac h Ho r n s b y Q: How long have you been a basketball coach?

A: I have been coaching since 1992, and I have been coaching at Stratford since 2002.

Q: What do you value and expect most from your athletes?

A: I value character, fellowship, and camaraderie. With these traits come responsibility and ability to take accountability for your actions on and off the court. I always expect my players to strive to do the right thing.

Q: How do you prepare for games?

A: As a team, we focus on what we need to do to come out on top. We evaluate teams before hand, and try to find their weakness so we are able to use that in our favor.

Q: If you could describe your team in one word, what would it be?

A: Diverse. All of my players are all so different on and off the court. This makes my team very fun to be a part of.

Q: If you could give the incoming freshmen any advice, what would you say?

A: Don’t fall behind in the classroom the first six weeks of school, there are times to have fun and times to focus. There’s a reason you are called a student athlete, the student comes before the athlete. Focus on academics so you won’t be eligible.

Q: What is your goal for this season?

A: Finish at the top of our district, get into playoffs, and see what happens from there!

Story by Kelly Hewitt

Olivia Siciliano

“Game-wise, our biggest as a cohesive unit in order season a game away from ending their last year at Stratford with a big championship The Varsity and Junior Var- challenge will be Kingwood to reach the next level,” said qualifying for State.

Now, the girls are deter- win. sity girls’ soccer teams have Park. They are considered our Varsity Coach Gena McGee. Last year, after playing their mined as ever, and are workOn the JV team, the players kicked off their season with ‘rival’ in this soccer district, high hopes and a positive and will be very difficult. way to the Regional Cham- ing hard to qualify this year. are also loving the time spent spirit toward games ahead. For the team in general, it’s pionship, the 6th round of Shooting to make the State on the field. Sophomore JV important to work together playoffs, Varsity ended their Final, the players are set on Captain Sydney Mayo said The Varsity team is she is “looking forward stacked with returning to maybe scoring a goal players this year, and as a defender.” the girls are geared to“JV is lots of fun, with ward going further this of course the hard work season and achieving of soccer, but being as much or more succaptain has been cool cess than last year. too! I hope I can help There are sure to be out my teammates by challenges to overcome leading them through as they play their way the season,” JV Freshthrough the season, man Captain Hannah both mentally and Broom said. physically. “Our bigThe JV girls are regest challenge this seaturning District Chamson will be probably pions, and aim to rebe when we play Kingpeat the same success wood Park. They have this season. a lot of good, college The varsity district signed players,” Senior season will continue Varsity Captain Kelly Cuevas said.

HALFTIME • Coach McGee goes over strategies with Varsity Girls’ Soccer to implement in the next half. The 10 min- through March. ute break gives players a chance to rest before they resume their 90 minute running game. Photo by Kelly Hewitt.

THE

SCHEDULE Boys’ Basketball: 1/31-vs. Tomball @ Tomball 7 p.m.

2/4-vs. Ridge Point @ SHS 7 p.m.

2/7-vs. Spring Woods @ DCC 7 p.m.

2/11-vs. Tomball Memorial @ SHS 7 p.m.

Girls’ Basketball: 1/31-vs. Tomball @ SHS 6:30 p.m.

2/4-vs. Ridgepoint @ Ridgepoint 6:30 p.m.

Boys’ Soccer: 1/31-vs. Brazoswood @ SHS 7:15 p.m.

2/7-vs. Summer Creek @ SCHS 7:30 p.m.

2/11-vs. Kingwood Park @ SHS 7 p.m.

Girls’ Soccer: 2/14-vs. Humble @ SHS 5 p.m.

2/18-vs. Northbrook @SHS 5 p.m.

Position: Center Left Defender

Favorite Song: Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls

Future College : UTSA Favorite Memory: When

the whole school came to our playoff game Biggest Rival: Kingwood Park Favorite Quote: “You don’t

know how strong

you are

until strong

is your only option” -Bob Marley

Kelly Cuevas

Story by Elyse’ Stieber

Tyler Frost Position: Center midfield

Favorite Movie: The Blind Side

Lucky Number: 10 Future College: Ole Miss

Goal For Season: To have a winning record and to make it to the playoffs

Favorite Quote:

“Never give up.”

-Anonymous

Photos by Gil Sanchez

Graphic by Scott Kennedy

10

SPORTS

Friday January 31, 2014

Just Keep Swimming

After back-to-back state championships, the swim team has set their eyes on a three-peat Elyse’ Stieber

The announcer booms “TAKE YOUR MARK”, and the swimmers take their

a junior, however, he finally won a state medal, making the win feel even sweeter.

“A state win in my senior

FLYING LIKE THE WIND • Senior Sabrina Yun takes the lead in the 200 M butterfly stroke during an SBISD competition. Photo by Elyse’ Stieber

place on the block. Grabbing tight to the edge, they wait for the buzzer to ring. Finally, the noise is heard, and eight lanes of swimmers dive into the water as fast as they can. With water splashing all around, they swim until their fingertips touch the wall, and await their final time on the board.

For the past two years, the Stratford Men’s Swim Team has won the 4A state title in Austin. Those that have graduated leave behind a legacy that upcoming swimmers hope to fulfill. Former Stratford swimmers like Ford Story, who swims at TCU, Alec Willrodt, who swims at UT, and Michael Miller, who swims at Duke, have all helped these past teams win this prestigious title.

Senior captain Sam Cordova

year would mean so much to me as a swimmer,” Cordova said. “After two years of state titles, leaving Stratford with

TOUCHING THE WIN • Senior Sam Cordova touches the wall to receive first place during practice in the 100 meter. Photo by Elyse’ Stieber

a bang would be great, especially considering the number of high caliber swimmers we lost this year, showing us

DIVING IN• Junior Erin Avery gets a head start in the four by four relay at a tournament. Photo by Elyse’ Stieber

has been on both of the teams that have won state, having been on varsity since sophomore year. This past year, as

ing practices every day and meets on the weekend add to the strenuous training that the swimmers experience on a weekly basis.

However, Coach Hos continues to work day by day training the team for success, without putting too much pressure on a three-peat.

Though the boys have proved their capabilities over the past two years, the girls team is fired up to show off that they can do just as well.

Junior Courtney Jackson, a captain of the girls’ team, spoke out about how she feels about the boys performance, who have inspired the girls to work harder than ever to bring home a win.

“We girls feel like there are

that we really are good.”

Winning a state championship isn’t as easy as it may look though. Early morn-

some pretty big shoes to fill, and it is definitely our time to shine,” said Jackson. “A top five finish is what we are aiming for, so we can bring back a UIL banner, but third place is our goal overall.”

With the state meet in a little less than a month, the swim team is in a time crunch to reach their full potential in the pool. Swimmers are working long and hard practices to makes sure they’re prepared for their races.

The District UIL meet will be held Jan. 1 - Feb. 2 at the SBISD natatorium, followed

by UIL Regional finals on Feb. 8 at the Palo Alto Natatorium in San Antonio and UIL State finals on Feb. 22 at the University of Texas Natatorium in Austin.

The Oracle

11

SPORTS

Friday January 31, 2014

The Oracle

SUPER BOWL XLVIII CRASH COURSE Both number one seeds Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos will face off this Sunday at Metlife Stadium Elaine Parizot

Denver Broncos

Seattle Seahawks

vs.

1st seed in AFC

1st seed in NFC

The Weather

It was announced in 2010 that Super Bowl XLVIII would be played at Metlife Stadium, home field of both the New York Jets and New York Giants. This will be the first time in NFL history that the biggest game of the year won’t be held in a cozy dome or a warm stadium.

Peyton Manning

Manning has been known as one of the best in the game for a long time, and this Sunday will give him a chance to prove it and get a second ring. Denver’s defense will be working to get Seattle’s offense off the field so Peyton can get the job done.

Halftime

Julius Thomas

Graphics by Scott Kennedy and Story by Elaine Parizot

3,461

90

Number of nations participating in the 2014 Winter Olympics

Average distance in miles run by a soccer player over the course of a 90 minute game

38

7

Most points scored in a single basketball game by one player this season, accomplished by Phillip Hewitt

20 STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL

Varsity baseball’s pre-season ranking in the city of Houston

The Broncos defense has undoubtedly been spending a lot of time figuring out how to slow down Seattle’s unstoppable running back. If Lynch is on his game, it’ll be raining Skittles (Lynch’s favorite game time snack) at Metlife.

Richard Sherman

It’ll be hard to beat Beyonce’s halftime performance last year, but this year Bruno Mars will be stepping up to the plate.

Manning will likely be looking to tight end Julius Thomas this Sunday, since his wide receivers will be covered by solid defensive backs. If Manning and Thomas can connect down the field, the duo could be racking up a few more touchdown passes.

Marshawn Lynch

Seattle’s star cornerback, member of the “Legion of Boom,” made controversial comments following the Seahawk’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Sherman did tip an end zone pass to keep San Francisco from winning the game, but calling 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree “mediocre” made Seattle fans cringe nonetheless Graphics by Victoria Shin

Spartan Super Bowl Predictions “Peyton Manning is going to shred the Seahawks’ defense and once again prove the fact that he is the best quarterback in the game.” - Shawn Taylor, 12 “I have nothing against the Seahawks, but I know they won’t win it this year. Peyton Manning will get the job done.” -Matthew Akue, 10 “Russell Wilson is really good, and I think the Seattle defense will be able to stop the Broncos’ offense. Peyton’s good, but I think the Seahawks have it.” - Dana Denney, 10 “I think this game is going to be really close, so I’m really not sure who’s going to win.

I’m rooting for the Broncos, but I think both teams have a good shot.” - Duncan Hilton, 9

SPORTS TWO SIDES: Athletes cross over to theater 12

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

But what some of these beginners lacked in knowledge and skill they made up for in hard work and dedication.

“Their dedication is really impressive,” Sloan said. “They’re working really hard, acting while they’re moving, pointing their feet while they’re jumping. It really is impressive.”

Setting the Stage

The improvement of these showbiz newcomers can be attributed in large part to the guidance of more experienced performers like Sloan, Goss, and fellow cast members. “Everything was really hard at first,” Birdsong said. “Thankfully I have a really good dance partner, Emily Lindsey, and she has really been helping me out.”

Both gangs’ dance captains have also been indispensable in aiding less experienced cast members.

“Our dance captains, Caitlin Ehlinger and Ali Klassing, really help them out a lot. They will spend extra time working with them after rehearsal if they’re not picking up a dance move correctly or something,” Goss said.

The commitment of the whole cast to help out the athletes in the show was surprising for LaGrange, who was blown away by their openness to newcomers. “It’s crazy, I would think that they wouldn’t want us to be in the play because we are athletes, and that they’d just think of us as football players, but instead they want to help us, and they’re really nice whenever we do something wrong, and just help us fix it.”

Although these athletes certainly wouldn’t be at the caliber they are now without the help of the theater community, they have been able to use their athletics backgrounds to their advantage, as well. “This is definitely a more athletic show than usual,” said junior golfer and thespian Jack Goss. “The majority of the show is running ,jumping and climbing, and there’s dancing, but most of the dancing is athletic.

Some of the best athletes actually make the best dancers.

Athletics is all about controlling your body, much like dance, although athletics is often more about brute force than finesse.

However, the basic motions often are the same, which can make learning dance easier. “It was quite a discovery for them to see that some of the movements that you do in sports, well, it’s the same movement in dance, it’s

Friday January 31, 2014

just called a chasé,” Sloan said.

Because the movements can be so similar, athletes can tend to be quick learners when it comes to dance. “I think maybe it’s a little bit easier to pick up on things because I’m an athlete,” LaGrange said. But it isn’t just the shared movements between sports and dance that can benefit athletes, simply being in shape is a huge boom to an actor’s performance.

“Being an athlete has definitely helped me with stamina during the dances,” Birdsong said. “Because we have to run dances 30 to 40 times during every rehears-

Mary Kate Goss says she definitely sees a correlation between the field and the stage. “I think that being an athlete has helped them embody the toughness of the characters, because how they ground themselves and how they center themselves on the football field helps so that when you look at them on stage you see a tough gang member. It just helps them really connect with that competitive nature when they’re fighting with the other gang.”

The story of the musical not only matches up with the sports field, but with everyday life, as

The Oracle incredible improvements have been made. “It’s crazy how much they’ve improved,” Jack Goss said. “I mean, it’s dramatic, it’s hard to even put into words.”

“It’s crazy seeing the videos of yourself dancing, because you finally see, like ‘Wow, I actually look like everyone else on stage,’” Birdsong said of recent rehearsals. “I actually look like one of the dancers, I look like Cameron or Stephen, and all of these really good dancers who I’ve been trying to keep up with.”

For many, their hard work at rehearsals has actually improved their athletic abilities as well as their dancing skills. “It’s helped my agility and flexibility a lot,”

STEPS TO (left) • Sands

SUCCESS

(left) practices his dance steps while rehearsing, and Birdsong (right) practices his linemen blocking steps.

STRETCHING THE LIMITS (below) • Bates (left) stretches before a dance rehearsal, and LaGrange (below) gets stretched out before summer football practice.

All photos by Gil Sanchez

al. And sports have also really helped with flexibility and agility.

There are a lot of moves and agility in this play, you have to slide across the stage, and you have to fight with people, so sports definitely come in there.”

Sports also factor into the equation when considering the overall atmosphere and attitude of both activities. “Our football coaches make practices really hard, and it takes so much dedication and so much work, if you don’t get something right you have to do it over again,” LaGrange said. “It’s a lot like being in the play.”

Teamwork is also a huge part of both sports and theater. “It’s a team sport, so if one person messes up it makes everyone else look bad,” Grooms said.

“You’re working with a whole group of people,” adds Sands.

“You’re all shooting for a common goal.”

Life Imitating Art

One of the most important parts of the learning experience for these athletes has been getting into character. It takes a while to begin to really embody a character, but many of the athletes felt they could quickly relate to their part. “I feel like I am the character,” said LaGrange. “My character is supposed to be big, and he’s not one of the smarter ones, but he’s one of the more tough ones, and I feel like I’m one of those types of people.”

well. “I think it’s an awesome story,” Birdsong said. “It’s super emotional and you can relate to everything in it, especially as a teenager. You can relate to having something in your past that’s made you just really mad, or to having that one person you really like, but for some reason it just doesn’t work. I think the play is weirdly parallel to everything going on in high school right now, because everyone has their own mask, and everyone has their own stuff that no one knows about, and that’s just like every single gang member in West Side Story— that’s their whole story!”

Making Graceful Strides

As these athletes, and the cast members in general, have continued to practice dance after dance, song after song, and line after line as their characters,

McGuire said. Most of the other athletes agreed, and also added that they felt they now had improved endurance and strength, too.

They are also beginning to pick up on the subtleties of performance, as well. “I think that they are really starting to understand performance as well as just doing the moves,” Mary Kate Goss said.

“They’re not just going through the motions, but paying attention to why they are doing a certain move, and the specifics of the hands and feet and all of the nuances that at the beginning were harder for them to pick up.”

“I think we’ve obviously improved physically, from football to dance, or from dance to football, it helps you out both ways,” Birdsong said. But for them, the improvement isn’t just in their performance, it’s in the whole

atmosphere of the school. “It’s a much better environment when you know a lot of kids from football and a lot of kids from theater, because now it’s like you know another whole part of the school.”

In fact, for a lot of the athletes, the most rewarding part of the whole experience has nothing to do with their dancing, singing, or acting skills. “I’d say that my favorite part is just being around all of these fun and outgoing people,” LaGrange said. “Because I like to express myself a lot, and theater’s a very expressive group, so it’s just fun hanging out with them.”

“I love how accepting and how welcoming everyone in the theater program is,” Birdsong added. “If you’re not friends with anyone, you can easily just walk in and have a conversation with anyone in there, and they’re all really interesting and fun people.”

“Overall,” McGuire sums up, “the best part is just getting to join another Stratford family.”

ELAINE EXPLAINED

An opinions column

My Houston Bucket List Elaine Parizot

Next school year, I move to the Windy City, land of Da Bears and negative temperatures. With only seven months left to embrace the humidity and all things Houston, I’ve come to the realization that there are many things I have left to do while I’m still in living in the H:

1. Go into the top of the weird-glass-alien part of Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Ready to Role What the heck is up there.

Since the beginning of rehearsals nine months ago, the production of West Side Story has progressed tremendously, according to everyone involved. Of course that’s not to say that the actors aren’t feeling the pressure, especially the first-timers. “I’m really nervous, but excited,” Grooms said.

“Everyone’s a little nervous,” Birdsong echoed. “Except for some of the main roles, which I don’t see how they do it, I don’t even have any lines and I get butterflies when I think about opening night. It’s gonna be an experience. But I can’t wait.”

In fact, it’s been such an experience so far that the younger newcomers to theater hope to audition again in the future, and the older ones wish they’d done so sooner. “That’s my biggest regret in high school, is not auditioning for plays earlier,” Birdsong said.

“I would encourage it to anyone, it’s awesome.”

So last night, after countless hours of rehearsals and seemingly endless new dance steps to learn, the curtain was drawn back, the spotlight shined, and the Jets and the Sharks took the stage. Performers were on edge, the house was full, and the Story is now in full swing.

Scan the code or visit shsoracle. com to see the rest of the interviews

2. See the Queen B perform in her hometown.

3. Kayak down the Buffalo Bayou (without touching any of the water.)

4. Ride on a Metro bus. Just ‘cause.

5. Ingest as much Whataburger, Canes, Dr. Pepper, kolaches, and other foods mostly found in the south as humanly possible. (The nearest Canes is 371 miles away from my school. Nearest Whata is 671. Yay.) 6. Take a selfie with one of my favorite Houston athletes: Chandler Parsons, JJ Watt, or Jeff Bagwell.

7. Meet Roula and Ryan from 104.1 KRBE. Does anyone even know what they look like?

8. Drive all the way around the Beltway. I almost did it once on accident.

9. Catch a foul ball at an Astros game. A home run would be preferable, but let’s be real.

10. Check out the scene at Drink Houston.

13

OPINIONS

Editors-in-Chief Kali Venable Elaine Parizot Associate Editors Layla Shahhosseini Elyse’ Stieber News Editor Justin Todes Muse Editor Ashley Karolys Ashleigh Garrett Emily Fishman Sports Editors Scott Kennedy Kelly Hewitt Opinions Editors Claire Galbraith Maxine Tran Photo Editors Gil Sanchez Rebecca Williamson Katherine Kennedy

Friday January 31, 2014

Managing Editor Aldo Martinez Photographers Rebecca Meek Cassidy Menard Michael Martin Philip Chen Maggie Vickers Alex Milstead Graphics Editor Victoria Shin Reporters Courtney James Emily Adams Natalie Raley Staff Artists Claire Pena Molly Richter Ads Editors Katherine Mavergeorge

Emily Copeland Allison Rice Sarah Sturgis Ads Staff Harper Jones Emily Brown Lindsey Jenkins Meredith Burch Erin Higginbotham Paige Barber Kendall Marbach Jacob Pennington Phoebe Lamay Copy Editors Amanda Sturm Natasha Eades Philip Chen Building Principal Christopher Juntti Advisor Janice Cummons

The Oracle

PDA In Between Class

The Oracle newspaper is the official, school-sponsored student media of Stratford High School.

The Oracle is published every three weeks by the Journalism Department of Stratford High School, 14555 Fern, Houston, Texas 77079, 713-251-3454. The Oracle is also available online at shsoracle.com. The newspaper is a member of Columbia Scholastic Journalism Association, National Scholastic Journalism Educators, and International 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 by e-mail to info@shsoracle.com, to Room 120, or to Janice Cummons’ mailbox. All letters to the editor must be signed by the author.

The staff is responsible for the content of the publication, and strives to produce media based upon professional standards of accuracy, objectivity, and fairness. The editors reserve the right to determine whether submissions will be published, subject to space availability and content.

All submitted material must be typed and include the author’s full name and grade. The opinions expressed are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, the staff, the administration, or the school district.

The Oracle staff strives to produce a newspaper that covers the entire Stratford community. The staff welcomes freelance submissions and is eager to hear from readers regarding story and photo opportunities.

Graphic by Rachel Torres

Weighted GPA Feels Lighter than Expected

Majority of colleges do not look at weighted GPAs, leaving many students feeling cheated Staff Editorial

Before you’re even close to applying to colleges the hunt has already began. Since freshman year you have been narrowing your choices without even realizing it.

The rigor of the classes you select has been effected the colleges you can attend— taking advanced classes has made upper level institutions plausible options, while taking little to no advanced classes has deemed them unrealistic dreams. Or has it?

When students choose to take an upper level class such as a Pre-Advance Placement (Pre-AP) or Advanced Placement (AP) course, they sign up with the idea that it will look good to colleges.

Over four years these kids

accumulate extra points on their GPA so that when their junior year ends and they receive their first official weighted GPA, the advanced classes will have paid off.

What many students don’t know until the actual college application process begins is that majority of colleges do not ask for weighted GPAs, but instead evaluate all students based on their unweighted GPAs. This means that a student who has made straight As in all academic classes will have the same GPA as a student who has made straight As in mostly advanced classes even though advance classes are much harder to make an A in than academic classes.

While colleges defend their

choice to not use weighted GPAs by stating that they still look at students’ chosen courses, they often fail to mention that applicants are separated into pools according to their GPAs. Evaluating all kids on an equal platform is the best way to ensure that student acceptances and rejections are issued properly.

We believe that in order to eliminate unfair applicant consideration at universities, students’ weighted GPAs should be analyzed in addition to their course selection.

On our campus, weighted GPAs are measured on a 6.5 scale. Students who are in advanced classes receive an extra point for each advance class on their GPA and are

able to receive up to four extra points.

However, the way our campus calculates these numbers isn’t the same as the way other schools do.

Since each high school has their own way to calculate weighted GPAs, their should be a universal formula put into place so that all student grade point averages are measured on the same scale.

Creating a new formula for weighted GPAs wouldn’t be the hard part, but instead enforcing one so that all high schools actually follow it.

Many private schools or nationally ranked public schools argue that their honors courses are more difficult than those of other high schools. But personal opin-

ions shouldn’t interfere with a formulaic calculation.

If a high school is really that much harder than most, college admissions will add extra consideration when they see that an applicant has graduated from there.

After all colleges are familiar with specific high schools; they know which ones carry weight with their name just like employees know which colleges are prestigious and which are not.

While advanced courses should be considered for admission reasons, students shouldn’t enroll in them just so they will appear as strong applicants to universities.

Perhaps the biggest benefit to a student challenging themselves in an honors

course is the preparation that they give students for their academic endeavors beyond high school.

In college, professors don’t teach kids material step by step, but rely more on students to teach themselves.

So taking courses in high school that require extra time and personal instruction will ease the transition from high school to college.

Regardless of the reasons a student chooses to take advance classes instead of academic ones, colleges should look at weighted GPAs when evaluating applicants to ensure each student is evaluated fairly and properly rewarded for the work they did in high school. That just seems like the right thing to do.

14

OPINIONS

Friday January 31, 2014

The Oracle

Projected Senioritis Hits Early

It’s Second Semester and the Class of 2014 has already experienced the consequences of the tragic disease that’s been infecting Seniors earlier and earlier each year Layla Shahhosseini

I used to think that seniors just stopped working and caring senior year.

Surprisingly, most of that is actually true. Seniors pretty much do stop caring, and distracting the teacher long enough to stray away from the lesson plans becomes a goal of students. Nobody wants to do anything anymore.

This behavior has been evident since junior year, perhaps an early-onset case of senioritis. Teachers claim that this has been increasing for many years and they have been forced to accommodate this lazy behavior.

By the end of junior year, everyone was sick and tired of taking standardized tests.

What with the PSAT, the SAT and the ACT, who can blame juniors for being worn out?

By the time senior year rolled around, the lack of effort had become epidemic.

In addition, the college ap-

plication process exhausted students before school even started.

August 1, the Common Application opened a n d seniors were busy s c r a m bling to get their applications in. It didn’t stop there.

Regular applications were followed by scholarship applications and housing applications.

Teachers don’t realize that aside from their classes, first semester was all about applying to dream schools and second semester is going to be all about submitting scholarship applications. The time for focusing on class work is very minimal.

Technology has been another large factor in this decline

of work ethic. The AP Government class doesn’t have textbooks, so students are reduced to taking 25-30 pictures of the textbook to study for quizzes the next class. This d o e s n’ t mot iv ate students to even try to read the tiny words on the screens.

To seniors, t h e r e seems to be a giant gap of what teachers exp e c t from them and what the y actually do. The more they try to push seniors to do work, it seems as if there is less motivation to do it.

Another contributing factor to this is that colleges are responding to student applications earlier in the year.

In previous years, when stu-

The Dish on Parent Pushing

dents would find out about their acceptances to colleges in April and May, they were forced to keep the motivation to try throughout the entire year.

Early admission now means that seniors hear back from colleges in December, which causes them to slack off the rest of the year since, in their minds, they have already been accepted somewhere.

To combat this, colleges are now requesting mid-year reports and final transcripts.

There were even a few cases where they would rescind acceptance letters because grades had dropped significantly. Despite this, the majority of the seniors feel as if they have no more purpose to do work now that they are already in college.

Ever since freshman year, I would always hear the term “second semester senior” and think that they probably had it so easy, but school doesn’t just stop for students.

It seems as if even AP exams aren’t motivating seniors at all, even though this is the year where seniors are taking more AP classes than ever.

And if there weren’t exemption requirements involving attendance at school, there would undoubtedly be a lot fewer cars in the south parking lot.

Now that second semester is actually here, the seniors’ situation has gotten worse.

Lately it seems as though seniors just kill time, and try to survive the week until the weekend gets here again.

Senior year has lived up to the epitome of slacking, but the reality is that it isn’t as easy as expected. There are still tests and quizzes and projects, but the motivation to try has dwindled to inexistence.

Students who show symptoms of “senioritis” during junior year are certain to be comatose by May of their senior year. Graphic by Rachel Torres

Parents push their children to live out their own unfulfilled dreams Maxine Tran It’s perfectly normal for a parent to see themselves in their child, but pushing kids to pursue a mother or father’s failed dreams is one of the worst things a parent can do.

College often shapes the way students’ futures look, so if a student goes to a school just because a parent wants them to, they are essentially pursing a life that they didn’t want.

The more a parent sees themselves in their child, the more they will push their own dreams on them. This is especially true when it comes to athletic sports and extracurricular activities.

Often kids are put in sports or enrolled in music lessons at very young ages. Parents raise them to train or practice multiple times a week and over time many get burned out.

Unfortunately, kids continue to play sports or instruments even though they no longer like them because after dedicating so much time to one

activity they feel like it would be a total waste of time to quit.

Instead of pushing kids into certain activities, parents should encourage their children to try new things and find their passion on their own. Discover something that motivates and satisfies them.

Sure, sometimes students end up falling in love with the activities, colleges or careers that their parents instigate, but majority of the time children are prevented from finding the thing that makes them feel completely fulfilled.

It is common for the cycle to be repeated, meaning that a parent who sees their child as a chance to re-do life often pass the habit on to their own kids.

Take for instance a student who was pushed to play basketball by their father and grows up regretting not pursuing something they love like law or engineering. When they end up having children, they might want to make up for all of the choices that had

been taken from them so they do the only thing they know, they force their kids to attend science engineering camps or devote all of their time to debate.

Ultimately, parents cannot know what it is like to grow up during this time period because what is normal today was foreign yesterday, as will be for generations to come.

Therefore, the best thing a parent can do to prepare their children for the real world is encouraging them to try new things, find their passion and follow it.

No matter how great a parents experience is or a child’s aptitude it is impossible to recreate the experience Although a big part of parenting is believing in your child it is unfair, unlikely, and unhealthy to pressure a child to succeed where you have failed.

The times have changed, we are much more advanced than we were just ten years ago. We have countless things that our parents and grandparents didn’t have growing

up. We can do so much more then thought possible.

Parents expect too much from their children. They expect them to be like them, but better. Teenagers are not only having all the hormones from their changing bodies to worry about, but they have the pressure to do well in school, and to have a job as well. For some teens, it becomes too much, and they resort to suicide as their only way to escape the pressure.

When a student kills themselves because of the pressures from their parents wanting them to do what they would do, not only is it tragic, but it could have been prevented. Parents do not seem to realize what they are doing until it is too late. Whether they notice that their child is wasting away physically or mentally, they don’t really know what they are doing until their child cannot be helped.

Pressure from parents can make or break their child.

Not all stories about pressured teens and children end

badly. Some of these teens and children grow up to have well paying jobs and are genuinely happy.

When teens are pressured by their parents to do well school wise, they tend to get upset when they get a grade lower then what they usually get, and the parents getting angry at the teen does not help the situation, as if the teen isn’t already beating themselves up about the grade. It just goes all downhill from there.

Parents need to understand that although their child resembles them they are completely sperate people and it is entirely unfair to expect them to live up to whatever legacy. Similarly, projecting your failures onto your kids and expecting them to succeed in an area that even you couldn’t is just as unjust if not futile and irrational.

Children should be allowed to have a fresh start beyond the shadows of their parents free to make their own paths and pursue, achieve, and fail at ultimately whatever they decide.

HOW TO DEAL

Looking back...

Kali Venable

It’s second semester of my senior year and things are beginning to feel like they’re actually coming to an end.

I used to think that getting into Syracuse would mean I’d reside in a world where being passive, just letting things happen, was enough. Of course, what I once thought isn’t what I feel now, in the aftermath of my dreams coming true.

As kids we’re constantly told to make good grades and load our plate with extracurricular activities so that we’ll appeal to colleges. But I did it all, and from my experience, all of the pressure I put on myself wasn’t worth it.

I don’t know what it is about today’s society that thinks it is okay to place loads of pressure on teenagers, make every choice seem like a live or die ultimatum, and then scrutinize how lazy our generation is. But I constantly wonder if anyone has ever considered that we aren’t lazy but instead overworked, burned out, exhausted?

Now I’m not saying don’t try, because the effort I put in these past four years is entirely responsible for my future in New York.

I just wish I wouldn’t have spent so much time worrying about grades or the two hours I spent crying when I made my first B, an 89, sophomore year in PreAP Chemistry.

If you still have a decent amount of time left in these halls take my advice do what you love. While you should try in school, don’t ever let school feel like your entire life because that isn’t healthy or necessary.

Constantly remind yourself that you are so much more than a letter grade; I promise you are.

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OPINIONS

Friday January 31, 2014

TO VOTE or NOT TO VOTE

Fulfilling Citizenship

Elyse’ Stieber

As a child, I always looked forward to voting day. My mom would always get me my classic McDonald’s happy meal to munch on as we waited in line. I saw this booth as something spectacular as I continuously watched my mother press buttons, thinking it was some sort of game that grown ups came to play only once or twice a year.

Now, as I have come of the age to vote, I realize how naive I was. A lot of pressure has come on to me that my single vote could determine some pretty big decisions to not only our city or state, but also our country.

This civic duty is something to be cherished. Back in the days of the American Revolution, our own independence from Britain was determined by a single man from each colony, the representative.

How could one single man speak the voices of the overall people?

If times hadn’t changed, we would each feel no importance in the overall community. Why should we bother trying when we have no voice? However, it isn’t at all that way.

We each have an opportunity to pick and choose who we believe is the best fit to represent our own beliefs and thoughts. This shouldn’t be taken lightly, and should have a fairly large impact on us as a whole.

As a woman, I cherish even more the right to vote. From the beginning of America all the way until 1920 before the 19th Amendment was passed, women were seen as less than fit to vote. Male supremacy was all that existed, and then only a select few could vote even then determined by property and class.

Over the years, people have fought so hard to have this almost unalienable right to vote, so it behooves me to see it put to shame. Our ancestors pressed the national government for women suffrage, and they shouldn’t be put to shame.

Even if people see voting as a chore, it really isn’t. This was,

The Oracle

in fact, my first year to vote ment offices from having and I felt liberated walking non-fitting politicians in the out of the office feeling like I big seats, we must vote and did my civic duty. Although I be conscious of our vote. I did spend quite a bit of time am not at all saying that you researching the nominees, must just walk in to the votthe outcome reaped rewards ing office and cross off all by being able to put my own the first candivoice into the percentage of voters standing for a reasonable cause.

Grandparents and parents dates. of this twenty-first century T h a t would be disgraced by our la- is not ziness to not uphold our duty w h a t to vote. Back in the day, every v o t i n g vote was crucial in making is about, decisions over presidents, and this where close races were deter- c o m m o n mined over only a handful of m i s t a k e votes per state. Even if today does lead it seems to a like our v o t e isn’t particularly heard as we watch t h e polls rolling on the television, the d i f f e r e n c e Graphic by Daviana Wylie between formistake in ty-nine and politics.

I fifty-one percent could be mean that you must reonly a couple hundred votes. search all that is necessary Younger generations, how- to be able to make your own ever, seem to have a misinter- correct decision so your pretation of what the right to opinion can be represented vote really means. Most re- by the best fit person on the fuse to vote because of their roster. belief that the government in The right to vote gives us all is “corrupt”, yet they spend authority and power in our their time fighting for rights own way. Walking out of a like gay marriage, abortion, voting office is an internal and religion. If they could fulfillment, giving you the only see that all these fights feeling to puff out your chest would prove unnecessary if and put your head high with voting was a focus in their pride in knowing you are lives as many candidates officially a part of the red, touch on these sticky subjects white, and blue. in their campaigns.

Despite all that voting The government is in place brings with it, whether it be for a purpose. It is meant to examining the candidates, keep our nation from crum- the time taken out of your bling down into corruption. day to ago vote, or even the Though it may sometimes stress of choosing who to seem like it’s pointed in that pick, all these are petty in direction, our right to vote comparison to the feeling of has always been kept steady complete and utter happiand open for our own sugges- ness that your voice is being tions. heard in the smallest of ways In order to keep govern- to impact the nation.

Electing Not to Vote Claire Galbraith

It is important for people to fully understand what it means to have the “right” to vote. Having the right to vote doesn’t mean that one is obligated to do it, but that one has the choice to vote or not. It is the soul decision of every individual citizen to decide whether or not voting is something they want to do.

There are many personal reasons why some do not feel the need to vote.

For example, not liking the candidates who are running, being completely in-

or country and it is important to know about who or what is being voted on. Random selection can put an incompetent man or woman in charge who makes all the wrong decisions for the people. And voting for a policy that one doesn’t fully understand can lead to severe disappointment or anger when realizing what it entails.

Randomly voting for someone or something is a disservice to one’s patriotic duty.

It is consequential for everyone to consider the voters who really care about the issues at hand and shouldn’t be drowned out by careless votes.

Also, it is perfectly accept-

different towards political propositions, or even being driven away by the extremeness of the different parties.

However, in this day and age, the most common reason why some individuals do not vote is because they are not well informed on political matters.

Voting for a candidate that you aren’t familiar with is undeniably worse than not voting at all. Going into a booth to play a game of “Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe” shouldn’t be the basis for making a solid decision.

Then there are those who pick candidates based on how physically appealing they are or what party they are in, not whether they agree with the candidate values. If that is what voters have been reduced to then it would be better if they didn’t vote at all.

The point of voting is to choose a representative or new policy for the city, state,

able for someone to say they didn’t vote because of political and moral differences. No one should feel forced into voting for someone they believe is unfit for a political position. Having an idea of who one thinks is unworthy of a position can be very helpful because it begins to form an idea of who one thinks is worthy. And until a worthy candidate comes along, it is alright for a person to hold off on voting.

When friends, family, or acquaintances become upset with the fact that someone doesn’t vote, it is important to remember that exercising one’s right to vote can also be expressed through not voting. If one feels obligated to vote even though they haven’t formed their own political opinion yet, that could be considered equal with compulsory voting.

Compulsory voting is when a government makes citizens vote, like in Australia. Al-

though citizen participation is in much higher in countries with compulsory voting, the freedom to make one’s own decision can be lost. Plus, compulsory voting doesn’t stop people from randomly selecting a candidate who isn’t suited for that position. It is better for someone to pick a representative on their own accord rather than making them choose somebody they don’t like.

However, not voting just because you can is not a valid reason not to vote. Voting participation has decreased over the years, especially amongst the younger generations. The lack of interest that these novice voters have has created some concern in modern society. This lag in involvement is most likely related to the absence of politically versed young adults.

It is important to be well informed on political matters so that everyone can form their own views on what should be done for their community. People should want to contribute by taking part in deciding who should be the next political leader or what policies should be put into action or taken out.

If someone feels like there opinion could make even the slightest difference, then they should vote. Everyone’s opinion matters and being involved with state or federal government affairs can lead to major changes in one’s society. There is a difference between choosing not to be involved with things like voting because of a lack in understanding or agreement and having absolutely no desire to vote for no reason Being able to freely vote is an unalienable right that this country is lucky to have and should be used responsibly.

There are countless other countries who aren’t as lucky and either have no choice in the matter and have to vote or can’t vote at all. Voting is not something that should be taken lightly,. It needs thought and consideration before making the decision to use not to use this right.

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Friday, April 19, 2013

Friday January 31, 2014

Oracle TheThe Oracle