March 2023-Oracle's 50th Birthday

Editors-in-Chief

theOracle staff table of contents

Ashley Cooper

Nic Rhew

Associate Editors

Anna Rigo

Nathan Seelig

Mircea Tatulescu

Design Editor

Kate Sullivan

Photo Editors

Dana Akkad

Macy Delgadillo

Ava Johnson

Caroline Larrabee

Christian Vandenburg

News Editor

Isabella Villalobos

Sports Editor

Jacob Hare

Student Life Editor

Ella McWilliams

Perspectives Editor

Abby Stallworth

Reporters

Cristina Amado Cobo

Amanda Ashebu

Abdulaziz Aziz

Eszter Badescu

Alexandra Bell

Riana Bhattacharjee

Caleb Boerm

Leslie Garcia

Trey Gardner

William Jones

Emma Manalo

Anna Petruzzi

Ellie Presa

Russell Robinson

Sophie Sagastume

Caroline Walker

Mariam Zaghloul

JP Zambrano

Photographers

Xavier Alexander

Semra Berilgen

Andrew Cannon

Emily Capps

Audrey Connolly

Cesar Garza Pamanes

Giselle Gillett

Montanah Hobbs

Ireh Kang

Benjamin Pearl

Mariana Rodriguez

J’Mari Shorter

Kamari Stanfill

Bruno Tobias

Caroline Walker

Copy Editors

Shelby Blackwood

Catherine McClees

Adviser: Sara Boyle

letter from the editors

Hello Spartans!

This issue marks the 50th anniversary of the Oracle! We are super excited to celebrate this milestone, and we hope that you’re happy to celebrate with us! Our goal with a magazine is to re-engage our audience with recurring columns and interactive sections, so you can be a part of the publication as well.

Our publication is entirely student-produced and student-funded, so please keep in mind that we might make mistakes! While the Oracle is Stratford’s official student media, opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, the staff, the administration, or the school district. Enjoy!

Dear SBISD

Thornwood’s sparing signage highlights disparities between elementary schools

ChatGPT Disrupts Education

AI program threatens the integrity of education

American Heart Month

Stratford takes on Finn’s heart mission

Spring Break Shenanigans

Local activities to pass the time during spring break

Rodeo Roundup

Interview with FFA President about the Houston Rodeo

Stratford Lifts a New Page

Special insight on Stratford’s new powerlifting team

news life

Traditions Over the Years

Overheard

7

- 10

50 years of covering fire, food trucks, and football

Students share the craziest things they’ve heard in the school hallways

Spartans ' Stories

Poetry written by junior David Sequeira

perspectives

Teachers’ Pets

Learn about the pets of Stratford teachers!

New Year, Same You

3 - 6 11

- 15

The Oracle surveys students on their resolution success

Hot Takes

Match the hot take to the student who said it!

Snubs and Surprises

JP shares his perspective on the recent Grammy Awards

Films and Forecasts

Students predict the upcoming Oscar winners

Change

Thoughts on growing up in boring times

Cover photo by Dana Akkad

Note about the cover: Pictured in the background of the cover photo is a headline announcing the assassination of JFK. The newspaper featured is actually the Nov. 1993 issue honoring the 30th anniversary of his death.

Dear SBISD...

Are you really “For Every Child?”

This year, I had the pleasure of taking Spanish VI at Thornwood Elementary School. Every other day as I drive to Thornwood, I witness the chaos at the Tully and Fern intersection by the school. This intersection deeply worries me because Thornwood, Spring Forest, and Stratford students all use this route to walk, bike, bus, or drive to school. Then it dawned on me that in Thornwood’s school zone, there are just a few inconspicuous signs that limit the speed limit. Additonally, there is no flashing sign that warns of the fine for cell phone usage when near a campus, like I’ve seen in nearby elementaries. Frostwood Elementary, for instance, has several of these signs banning cell phone usage in the radius of its campus; yet Thornwood has none.

According to Thornwood principal Sandra Houston, there used to be a cell phone warning sign, but it was removed.

This issue also persists at high school campuses: Northbrook High School has absolutely no visible signs that warn

WRITTENBYISABELLAVILLALOBOS(12)

drivers of there being a school zone speed limit.

I believe that these protective signs should be required in all school zones. It is imperative that all SBISD schools have either a flashing stop or phone ban sign.

In my quest to uncover the truth about school zone signs, I emailed an SBISD representative to ask who determines the placement of these signs. I was informed that the City of Houston is in charge of purchasing them, so I called the city. After being redirected to five different departments, I was told that this is a Harris County matter, not the City of Houston’s. Harris County informed me that these signs are only placed in school zones when the actual school decides to get one. I sent superintendent Dr. Blaine an email asking her about this signage, and she said that “school zone and cell phone signage are the reponsibility of the city for which the street belongs.” In the midst of searching for answers

ChatGPT Disrupts Education

regarding school zone signs, I noticed that, not only is the Tully and Fern intersection dangerous, but all of the intersections around Thornwood are.

I find it unfair how not every school in our school district has been granted the same safety precautions as the others.

I believe that this lack of signage could spark change for all Spring Branch students. Everyone should be guaranteed the same resources, opportunities, and most importantly, safety when going to and from school.

I urge you to contact the City of Houston and SBISD to request better signage at this intersection. I urge you to dig deeper into your surroundings, and ask yourself, “what can I do to ensure that every child has the same opportunities?”

I hope that one day all students in SBISD are able to have access to the same opportunities and benefit from equal safety preventative measures in order to ensure that SBISD really is “For every child.”

School districts are banning the advanced AI platform over cheating concerns

WRITTENBYNATHANSEELIG(12)

ChatGPT, OpenAI’s new, high-powered chatbot, has already become a source of excitement and controversy in the short time since it was released in November.

ChatGPT, which can do a wide array of tasks, from solving advanced physics equations to generating five-page essays in a matter of seconds, has been met with concerns that students may use it to cheat on assignments.

Darren Hicks, assistant professor of philosophy at Furman University, believes that proving AI-generated plagiarism will be especially difficult.

“In more traditional forms of plagiarism – cheating off the internet, copy-pasting stuff – I can go and find additional proof, evidence that I can then bring into a board hearing,” he said.

“In this case, there’s nothing out there that I can point to and say, ‘Here’s the material they took.’”

“It’s really a new form of an old problem where students would pay somebody or get somebody to write their paper for them – say an essay farm or a friend that has taken a course before,” Hicks added.

SBISD and many other school systems, including the entire New York City Public School network, took swift action and banned the bot shortly after it was introduced.

SBISD Associate Superintendent of Technology Christina Masick explained the ban in a brief statement.

“Earlier this school year, campus administrators and the Academics department requested SBISD Technology Services to block ChatGPT. According to ChatGPT’s Terms of Use, users of ChatGPT must be 18 years or older,” Masick said.

“Additional legal security concerns were raised after reviewing ChatGPT’s Privacy Policy. As such, the Technology Services department took immediate action to temporarily block ChatGPT.”

English teacher Charlotte McHale agrees with the ban but is more concerned about how ChatGPT will impact students’ approach to learning than potential cheating.

“I check all my students’ papers through [GPTZero],” said McHale, referencing an app designed by Princeton student Edward Tian that aims

to detect AI-generated material.

“It’s pretty clear when a student has used [ChatGPT],” McHale continued, “but I worry more that kids will rely on it instead of doing hard work.”

“Students will need the skills taught in high school for the rest of their lives, and I worry that they won’t develop them properly with ChatGPT,” McHale added, comparing the use of ChatGPT in high school assignments to giving an elementary school student a calculator before they have mastered their multiplication tables.

American Heart Month

WRITTEN BY NIC RHEW (12)

American Heart Association challenges Stratford to take on Finn’s Heart Mission

This February, Student Council paired up with the American Heart Association (AHA) to help raise awareness for heart health.

In September, Ashley Avalos, an AHA member, reached out to senior Bryce Oliphant, the Student Council Philanthropist, to see if Stratford would be interested in setting up the American Heart Challenge Program within the school.

Oliphant was thrilled with the idea, and the plan was quickly set into motion.

Oliphant presented this opportunity to Student Council members, suggesting that they complete “Finn’s Mission,” an eight-step program dedicated to educating students about handsonly CPR. Oliphant’s hope is that Student Council members take the things they have learned

through this program “[and] lead the way for the rest of the school to get involved.”

program is directed towards teaching high school students the same core AHA values.

However, because the program is still early in its development, the AHA is using Stratford as one of its test-run schools to see the effectiveness and general involvement of the student population.

This American Heart Challenge Program is a relatively new program for high schools.

Avalos explained that, similar to “Jump Rope for Heart,” which students most likely completed in elementary school, this new

In total, Stratford worked together to raise over $4000 for the American Heart Association, surpassing our goal of $2500. Approximately 157 Spartans signed up and completed Finn’s Mission, beating Avalos’ expectations.

Oliphant concludes, “I hope to have more opportunities to work with organizations like the AHA in the future, and I really hope StuCo sticks with this program in the future.”

“Being aware of heart disease and knowing how to take action can save lives.”

- Bryce Oliphant

Spring Break Shenanigans

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Southwest Shutdown

Over winter break, Southwest Airlines underwent a tremendous shutdown, and, while it’s certainly common for airports to be hectic during the holidays, no one could have expected what trouble would eventually ensue for the airline company.

On December 26, 2022, Southwest began canceling flights; by the end of the holiday season, they had cancelled over 15,000 trips.

Many worry that this catastrophe will reoccur during Spring Break travel. With this vacation just around the corner, here are some ideas of things to do if you are planning to stay in Houston and avoid airports altogether!

Museums

Health Musuem: Check out this museum if you are interested in health and medical sciences. The amazing Body Gallery exhibit features large-scale models of different organs, memory games, and other activities.

Ticket prices range from free to $10 and it is located on 1515 Hermann Dr. National Museum of Funeral History: Do you have an interest in the more macabre things in life? If so, this museum, which features archives from famous funerals like those of John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, is for you! Additionally, it has exhibits on post-mortem photography and the histories of cremation and embalming. Exciting!

Ticket prices range from free to $10 and it is located on 415 Barren Springs Dr.

Rodeo Roundup

WRITTENBYELLAMCWILLIAMS(12)

Rodeo season is upon us once again and many people are getting out their favorite boots and western gear in preparation for the festivities. The Rodeo opened on February 28 with Parker McCollum and will close on March 19 with Luke Bryan. With concerts, carnivals, and crispy food, it’s sometimes easy to get distracted from the rodeo itself. There are eight events in the Super Series: bareback riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, bull riding, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, and team roping. Each event has a winner at the end of the 20-day competition who is awarded $50,000 in addition to their winnings from previous rounds.

This huge event wouldn’t be possible without dedicated volunteers from the

community, including some of Stratford’s FFA members. Senior Sarah Ryan is serving her third year on the Junior Rodeo Committee. Ryan first got involved with the Rodeo her freshman year when she caught a calf in the calf scramble. She then showed her steer at the livestock show the following year.

Ryan enjoys working with the 200+ rodeo committees that team up to pull off this event. “My favorite one to work with is Mutton Bustin’ because I love working with all the kids,” Ryan said. If you haven’t watched Mutton Bustin’ before, make sure to stop by at your next visit to the Rodeo.

DM your pictures to @shsoracle on Instagram for a chance to be featured in our Rodeo Recap at the end of the season!

Rodeo

Going to the rodeo is a super fun way to spend Spring Break! Refer to the article below for more information.

Restaurants

Houston’s large size entails many great restaurants. While you’re home for Spring Break, take some time to try out some fun, new places to eat.

Stratford Lifts a New Page

Powerlifting team shows their strength in inaugural season

WRITTENBYMICHAELMOUTON(12)

This year, Stratford began a new sport it hopes to dominate in upcoming years. Following the end of his team’s football season, strength coach Shawn Jezek decided the school’s talent could be used to create a powerlifting team.

Powerlifting requires students to lift weights in relation to their body weight. The heavier you lift with the correct form, the better you perform against others. With a new weight room installed last year, students have found strength training much more efficient and enjoyable.

Jezek saw powerlifting as an opportunity to let these students show off what they’ve trained hours for.

Seniors who have seen their respective sport’s season end have taken a particular liking to powerlifting. They feel they can continue what they enjoy and improve their skills.

Powerlifting also gives future college athletes more preparation for their event. UMHB football commit James Tejeda believes that powerlifting has grown both the physical and mental strength needed in his upcoming years of playing college football.

“I can’t believe I’ve been able to improve this much physically, and I’ve never been more excited to get out on the field in my life,” Tejeda commented.

Senior and Hardin-Simmons commit Jared Botary finds powerlifitng has made him more excited to kick off the season at his new school.

“These new lifts have made my strength grow like crazy,” Botary remarked.

Besides its physical benefits, powerlifting has brought many of the athletes at Stratford together. It has created bonds with the upperclassmen and underclassmen — both guys and girls

— all throughout the school.

Powerlifting truly represents what Stratford Athletics are all about: camaraderie and caliber. Good luck to the team as they finish out their season!

Stratford’s powerlifting team smiles after a successful meet. Photo courtesy of Coach Jezek.

Cheers to 50 years

As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we will reflect on the traditions that have brought Spartans closer together for half a century.

For the students, By the students, About the students

Traditions Over the Years

50 years covering F ire, F ood T rucks, and F ootball

WRITTEN BY ESZTER BADESCU

CALEB BOERM

CAROLINE LARRABEE (11)

What was the bonfire tradition?

Started by the cheerleaders of 1993, the bonfire was held before the Stratford-Memorial game to encourage the football players to beat their rivals.

Favorite memories from the bonfire weekend?

Scott Vastine, an Oracle reporter in 1995, detailed that, aside from the football game, “the most enjoyable aspect of the entire weekend [was] the annual bonfire.”

Why did the bonfires end?

The Texas A&M Bonfire Tragedy in 1999 was a wake-up call, forcing Stratford to re-evaluate its safety measures. The bonfire ended two years later, in 2001.

What was Barn Dance?

Barn Dance was a casual, country-themed Sadie Hawkins dance run by StuCo and was created by the class of 1973. Favorite memories from Barn Dance?

Ms. Baker’s (‘10) favorite traditions were a pre-dance backyard BBQ, wearing matching t-shirts with her friend group, and “[riding] to school on a hayride.”

Why did Barn Dance end?

During Baker’s junior year, the dance changed to “80’s Sadies!” While she hopes the dance returns, she suspects that it became unpopular after the theme change.

What was the courtyard throwing?

With no interior windows, Stratford students of 1974 would throw toilet paper across the courtyard and slip-n-slide through the rainy hallways.

Favorite memories from the courtyard throwing?

Ms. Schaper (‘79) says that “[students] sort of just lobbed [the toilet paper] across the courtyard and saw if [they] could make it to the other side. It was always fun.”

Why did the courtyard throwing end?

Schaper shares that while it was fun, the windows were a necessity.

(11),

(9),

Top left: Students enjoy the fall 1996 bonfire, photo courtesy of the 1997 Mnemosyne. Top right: StuCo executive board at the annual Senior Sunrise, photo by Jenna French. Middle left: Choir director Marcie Baker at the Sadie Hawkins dance, photo courtesy of Marcie Baker. Middle right: Students volunteer for Big Day 2022 at a local fire station, photo courtesy of Eszter Badescu. Bottom left: Mnemosyne cover in 1979. Bottom right: Alumna Monica Deru (‘22) enjoys food from Coffee Q, photo by Caroline Larrabee.

What is Senior Sunrise?

Senior Sunrise is an annual event where the senior class gathers on the football field at 6:45 a.m. to play games, eat snacks, and watch the sun rise.

Who started Senior Sunrise?

StuCo members from the class of 2022 started this tradition after learning about a similar event at the Texas Student Council Convention.

Favorite memory?

Senior Ellie Whyte loved “[catching] up with friends” and “[reflecting] on the past three years.” She shares that the Sunrise was “an artistic way to show the beginning of the new school year.”

What is Big Day?

Big Day is a school-wide volunteering event where organizations have the opportunity to give back to the Houston community. Who started Big Day?

Katherine Kennedy (‘14) and the Dairy Ashford Revitalization Team started this event to help engage students and give back outside of SHS.

Favorite memory?

Sophomore Sophie Sagastume remembers how accomplished she felt when there were “strangers thanking [her group] for what [they] did.”

What is Food Truck Friday?

Students get to enjoy some of Houston’s favorite food trucks three times every semester during an extended lunch period.

Who started Food Truck Friday?

Food Truck Friday was inspired by a Spring Woods tradition. Stratford added “a fundraising portion to [the idea],” taking 10% of food truck profits.

Favorite memory?

Students greatly enjoy the extended lunchtime, allowing them to hang out with friends. Some of StuCo’s favorite trucks are Toasted, the Refuge, and Kona Ice.

VERHEARD

COMPILEDBYABBYSTALLWORTH(12)

“Hamstersalwaysdieindramatic ways”

“Noriistheplacetoname-drop”

“You mistook Jesus for John Lennon?!”

Stories From Spartans

Willpower Burning in My Soul

WRITTENBYDAVIDSEQUEIRA(11)

My willpower is in my soul

Burning warm as a candle

Bright as a torch in the night

My flame will be threatened to be put out

As impossible challenges blind my way

“Myturtleranaway”

“God!Ijustlove Bruno Mars!”

Despair and uncertainty block my path

Like endless caves

Dark as the void

But my flame will light my way

It will burn on forever more

As the flame in my soul

Walking strong in face of hardship

With my soul as my guiding star

Overheard is a recurring section that features various comments students have overheard around school. This column is completely anonymous, so don’t hesitate to let us know what you’ve heard. Before each issue, we will post a link to a survey where you can submit your responses.

This link is available under the “Surveys” highlight on the @shsoracle Instagram page. Here is the QR code to the survey!

Stories From Spartans is a recurring section that will feature a student’s creative writing submission. Submissions can be stories, poems, songs, or other forms of creative writing.

Before the next issue, be sure to look at flyers around the English hallways for more information.

“Wait, isn’t she divorced?”

Compiled by Ashley Cooper

Teachers' Pets

Coach Jezek - Barley is a young Bully mix who loves Lil Smokies and has trained for a half marathon with Mr. Jezek’s wife!

Mr. Marquez - Named after Super Mario Bros, Bowser and Yoshi are Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Yoshi knows how to tip-toe across the house and Bowser can hear the unwrapping of a cheese slice from the other side of the house.

Ms. Corn - Boden has actually had coronavirus before, and he loves frozen yogurt topped with chopped peanuts! You can follow him on Instagram at @GoldenBoden

Ms. Boyle - Claire often sits with her paws crossed like a little lady. While she is the definition of a scaredy cat, Claire will still try to protect Ms. Boyle if she hears a loud noise.

Ms. Carlisle: - Joey is super fluffy and loves Chick-fil-A sauce. One time, he was trying to catch a lizard outside, but the lizard somehow bounced off of Joey’s head into another bush and scared Joey away. Lizard 1 – Joey 0.

Ms. Fuller - Reid has had some recent health scares but turned 3 this year! She loves to eat, follow fingers, and get visitors from her fellow Spartans at her home in the library.

Barley

Bowser & Yoshi

Boden

Claire

Joey Reid

New Year, Same You

WRITTENBYSOPHIESAGASTUME(10)

The new year is synonymous with a few things: champagne flutes, handfuls of confetti, and, for many, a notepad titled “Resolutions.” But as consistent as their presence may be, how consistent is our dedication to them? Do we still look at them every day two months after we saw them for the first time? Through a survey of students and staff members, we aimed to find out!

Among our findings, saving money has the lowest success rate, 30%, while changing diet has the highest, 73%. 1 in 4 Spartans opted out of setting resolutions in the first place.

Hardest? Saving Money

Welcome back to Hot Takes! We asked some Stratford students to share their hottest takes. See if you can guess which student said what!

“Freshmen are the only ones who need Spartan Time lessons.”

“ChatGPT actually writes good stuff.”

“Birds are drones and they charge on power lines.”

“Anyone who says Taylor Swift is overrated is just trying to be different.”

Snubs&Surprises

JPZambrano’s(12)takeonthe2023GrammyAwards

2022 brought a lot of great music with many heavy hitters, including Beyonce’s Renaissance and Harry Styles’ Harry’s House. Beyond these releases, many young artists rose to the scene like Omar Apollo with Ivory

Beyonce: Album of the Year

Omar Apollo: Best New Artist

Summer Walker, Mary J Blige and DJ Khaled: Zero wins

JPZambrano’stakeonthe2023GrammyAwards

There were some surprise winners at this year’s Grammy Awards, including Bonnie Raitt and Lizzo. Beyonce had nine nominations, Kendrick Lamar had eight, and Adele and Brandi Carlile each had seven. As per usual, there was some controversy among the winners of certain awards, most notably with Bonnie Raitt winning song of the year with “Just Like That.” Many believed that Beyonce would win with “Break my Soul” or Taylor Swift with “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (The Short Film).” Other arguable snubs included Omar Apollo for Best New Artist and Adele and Beyonce for Record of the Year.

Harry Styles: Album of the Year

Samara Joy: Best New Artist

Bonnie Raitt: Song of the Year

SURPRISES

With the controversy continuing, more and more artists are pushing against the Grammys — it seems like every year it drifts further into irrelevancy. Can the Recording Academy make a comeback next year, or will this trend continue?

Films&Forecasts

Snubs&Surprises

StudentsandtheOraclestaff’spredictionsforthe2023AcademyAwards

STAFF TAKES

“Elvis could win because of the strong acting performances of Austin Butler and Tom Hanks” -Dana Akkad (12)

“Avatar: The Way of Water was the best movie I saw. I loved the storyline and animation” - Shelby Blackwood (11)

14 perspectives

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

Stratford’s favorite movie this awards season was Top Gun: Maverick. Out of those surveyed, 62.1% of Spartans have seen the movie, and 1/3 of those individuals believe it deserves to win the Best Picture award. Coach Rankin thinks this movie deserves to win because of the “great acting!!!”

SNUBS

Change: Growing Up with Malaise

Recently, I attended my grandmother’s 93rd birthday extravaganza. I can’t even fathom living that long, much less being as full of life and happy as my grandma is. It also gave me a new perspective on the changes that occur in society and, more minutely, our own lives.

I mean, thinking about it; my grandma saw the first widespread use of the car, the golden age of radio, the first nuclear bombing, the advent of computing, the invention of television, the transition from rotary phones to smartphones. She saw the tail end of the Great Depression, FDR, JFK’s assassination, putting a man on the moon. It’s just incredible to imagine that in her single lifetime she has seen and lived through all these things. Maybe it works both ways, but it seems like what we’re living through today isn’t nearly as exciting. In fact, to me, it seems almost depressing.

One thing that makes this feeling of stagnation noticeable is, well, the stagnation itself. The rapid acceleration of technology that our parents and grandparents watched just doesn’t exist for us. When was the last time something came out that wasn’t just a

rehash of what came out the year before?

I think we’ve reached the top of the technological curve and there’s minimal room for growth. If we look at social changes, there has been a substantial shift, but again, it seems like things have become static. There are so many obstacles to jump over. In the U.S., it almost seems as if we’re going backward. One example was last summer, when Roe v. Wade was overturned. There’s so much adversity when it comes to making a change, and I think most people just don’t have the guts to do so — myself included. I mean, there’s a lot of things I’d like to see changed, but it seems the drive just never comes. Maybe it never will.

Perhaps this feeling permeates all of us and it’s what has led to a general melancholy in the population. Stagnation. Even just getting to 17 years old — my current age — I have witnessed so much change.

Friends leaving, interests developing, identities changing, relationships ending, preparing to leave for college. I can’t even imagine the change someone as old as my

grandma has seen in her personal life. Once you get to that age, you’ve practically lived multiple distinct lifetimes.

At some point in life, I assume you just get comfortable with your circumstance and start running down the clock.

The mind starts to realize that nothing much will change, that, maybe, this period of life is actually the most comfortable. A lot of people get scared of change. Maybe the most comforting thing is the idea that nothing will change. I guess that only applies to people who are comfortable with themselves, though.

Sometimes I wonder if my grandparents or parents look back on their lives and feel satisfied with what they’ve done. I wonder what they’d change if they could go back and change one little thing to affect the outcome of their life. I wonder what I’d change if I could. Something about change is pretty interesting. It’s always happening, but I guess you only truly notice it when you look back on things.

I wonder how I’ll feel at 93, granted I live that long; I’m not that healthy.

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