the Oracle
Stratford
School
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR MISSION
Holidays in my family vary from year to year. Sometimes, my mother and I prepare baskets of side dishes to host a reunion at our friends’ house. Other times, she frantically checks if the roasting chicken is burning as I search whether soup spoons go on the left or right of our guests’ plates.
For such a cheerful season, November and December can be pretty stressful. Classes amp up in preparation for final exams, and Thanksgiving hosting tends to take over our homes. Regardless of how you celebrate, though, or even if you don’t, there seems to be a common experience for most: a hectic dinner table
Debates, polarizing jokes, and the latest gossip make up the main conversation. No, marshmallows do not belong on sweet potatoes. I don’t know why the chicken crossed the road. She did WHAT?
As strange as they might feel when they occur, these exchanges form more than a typical meal; they embody the human connection that nourishes our hearts and minds.
Across 16 pages, we celebrate that connection: the customs and traditions that enrich our lives. On page 6, we discuss how classic cultural divisions manifest in shared spaces. On page 10, we delve into junior Audrey Cook’s volleyball success. On page 14, we investigate our custodians’ typical workdays. From unfamiliar spotlights to explorations of music and cuisine, we’ve examined the diverse threads that weave our school together.
Meet “ The Dinner Table Issue.” May it inspire your next round of dinner conversation.
By the students. For the students. About the students.
Happy reading,
The Stratford High School Oracle works to develop student skills while following the standards of professional journalists. Our mission is as follows:
To provide a forum for student writing, photography and art: the Oracle creates a community of students who share a common passion through group learning, mentorship and fostering an atmosphere of creative collaboration.
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To open dialogue and give students a voice: few other outlets allow students to inform and express themselves to a large audience. Whether an article is about Stratford’s newest teacher or nationwide change, student voices will always be heard.
STAFF
Editor-in-Chief*
Sophie Sagastume
Associate Editors*
Mawara Khan
Natalie Patranella
Online Editors*
Elizabeth Meadows
Bella Smith
Ads Editor*
Elizabeth Meadows
Photo Editors*
Bella Smith
Reese Spradling
Story Editors*
Alejandro Aponte
Melina Banan
Reporters
Foster Burton
Ryann Calvert
Jacob Cobb
Olivia Crider
Aleeya Davis
Katie Hamilton
Yahya Hasoon
Jackson Hiler
Ryan McDowell
Sebastian Mendoza
Molly Kate Minyard
Martie Montalbo
Nicholas Neumann
Brynn Pera
Catherine Sandoval
Brooke Sponsel
Caden Stone
Kendall Walters
Hailey Wisdom
Sophia Yarborough
Adviser
Sara Boyle
*Editorial Board
COVER PHOTO BY REESE SPRADLING (11)
04 - 07
CULTURE
News to Know
An overview of the important events closing out this semester
More Than a Recipe
Senior Eliana Geva navigates cultural mosaic through unique dish
House Divided
Polarizing sports and media affect students’ shared spaces
08 - 11
STUDENT LIFE
411 on Number 16
Sophomore Jack Harrison displays musical talents on Spotify
Oracle Outlook
Early holiday celebrations should be about more than companies trying to make a profit
Did You Know: Audrey Cook
Junior Audrey Cook details her volleyball career
12 -
14
FEATURES
Go Big Green!
Cheerleading squad prepares to take on Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
All in a Day
Head custodian shares inside look into her workday, hardships
News to Know
An overview of the most exciting events closing out this semester
BY
NO SCHOOL CONCERTS FINAL EXAMS ILLUSTRATED BY MELINA
NOVEMBER 2529 1720
DECEMBER 05 (ORCHESTRA) DECEMBER 10 (CHOIR) DECEMBER 12 (BAND)
DECEMBER Culture
COMPILED
ALEJANDRO APONTE (12), YAHYA HASOON (11) AND RYAN MCDOWELL (11)
BANAN (11) AND NICHOLAS NEUMANN (11)
t’s your typical Thanksgiving dinner setup: turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and…five different versions of potato salad?
While this may seem over-the-top to some, a mini potato salad competition is how the Geva household stays connected to their Russian background while celebrating a mainly Western holiday.
“It’s really important to us because we get to connect with our Slavic culture while also bonding with family,” said senior Eliana Geva.
On Thanksgiving Day five years ago, Geva’s mother, Natasha, was making olivye, a traditional Russian potato salad consisting of boiled eggs, potatoes, peas, dill, and lots of mayonnaise.
“She just asked me to help one year, so I started adding different ingredients,” Geva recalled. “[Then] she was like, ‘Wait, let’s make this a thing. You make some, your dad can make some and your brothers make some!’”
Since then, the Gevas have hosted a competition to make the best potato salad every year. Natasha makes the base, and everyone adds in their own ingredients.
For Eliana, the key is pickles.
“They just add such a good crunch and salty flavor, it’s so good.”
For Natasha, it’s diced apples.
For Geva’s dad, Andre, it’s dill, sauerkraut and chopped beets.
“He just adds so many beets that it literally turns into a different
type of Russian salad,” Geva said.
After eating, they rate and decide which salad is the best. It’s been a tie between Natasha and Eliana nearly every year, which she attests to the crunchiness of the apples and pickles.
“One year, when we had my grandma over, she won,” Geva said. “I couldn’t even tell you what she put in there, she just has some grandma magic.”
While most Thanksgiving activities are meant to keep the family busy and out of the kitchen, the Gevas’ tradition represents a common theme of families connecting to their culture through food.
“I know it makes my mom happy to make it because it reminds her of celebrating special occasions with her family back in Belarus,” Geva explained.
Many people feel that holidays lose their charm as they grow older. However, this tradition helps each Thanksgiving feel more unique for the Gevas.
“I think it’s special because it reminds me a lot of my childhood,” Geva said. “When I was little, my mom used to make [potato salad] more often, but now she only makes it for big events.”
So, if you don’t know how to spend your Thanksgiving Day this year, consider taking a page out of Geva’s book and engaging in some friendly family competition.
More Than a Recipe
Senior Eliana Geva navigates cultural mosaic through unique dish
House Divided
Polarizing sports and media affect students’ shared spaces
WRITTEN
BY
FOSTER BURTON (11) AND MOLLY KATE MINYARD (11)
Battle of the Beltway
PHOTOS BY MOLLY KATE MINYARD (11) AND CADEN STONE (10)
It’s a divide that can be seen anywhere in Texas: from the merchandise at an Academy Sports & Outdoors to the memorabilia teachers decorate their classrooms with, college rivalries dominate our culture. For junior Diego Oliver and sophomore Wade Hicks, two lifelong best friends, it’s what separates their adjacent yards.
Growing up in a household where members all attended the University of Texas at Austin has left little doubt in Oliver’s mind about attending the well known school. Likewise, Hicks’ family has prepared him to seek out Texas A&M University.
“My dad is a die-hard Aggie Engineer,” Hicks said. “I would choose [Texas A&M] a thousand times over UT.”
After 13 years since their last football meeting, thousands of loyal Longhorn and Aggie fans will gather in the stands at Kyle Field to settle a 130 year rivalry. While Oliver and Hicks are both set on their teams winning, their competitiveness doesn’t undermine their friendship.
“Wade and I are still friends despite the rivalry because we are teammates and root for the same teams in other sports,” Oliver explained. “I would be happy if he went to A&M because I want to see him succeed.”
There’s even some agreement amidst the chaos. Both students find that College Station, the hallmark of A&M spirit and community, is the superior college town.
“Austin is just too crowded,” Oliver said.
Replace burnt orange and maroon with red and green, and you have a high school rivalry that has resulted in vandalized cars, toilet-papered houses and more than 82,569 pounds of canned food donations to the Houston Food Bank from Stratford alone.
A recent timeline of Stratford and Memorial’s autumn rivalry 2017 2021 2022
Stratford and Memorial host first annual canned food drive competition.
Stratford beats Memorial in canned food drive with 111,868 items.
Stratford ties Memorial in canned food drive, winning a fall exemption.
But what happens when these two sides are forced to reside in the same house?
For junior Valerie Warren and her older brother, Sebastian, most days are Stratford vs. Memorial clashes. Warren is a SBAI student at Stratford, while Sebastian, now a freshman at A&M, used to attend Memorial.
“We get slightly competitive,” Warren said. “[It’s] dinner table banter.”
Despite the occasional heated exchange, Warren is happy both she and her brother were able to pursue the schools they felt more comfortable with.
“I went to middle school with only people who would go to Stratford, so I wouldn’t like being at Memorial with a bunch of strangers,” she explained. “My parents see the good and the bad in both schools.”
Just like the Warren, Oliver and Hicks families, it’s important to remain open to friendships that cross rivalries. After all, these competitions are meant to create a fun, spirited environment, not a hateful atmosphere. At the end of the day, Stratford and Memorial are unified as SBISD against other districts.
But, hey, a 42-21 win is worth celebrating.
TOP OF PG. 6: Senior Parker Johnson celebrates after a big hit against Memorial.
BOTTOM OF PG. 6 Staff members show off their college shirts.
LEFT: Junior Michelle Moon embraces a Memorial fan during the schools’ football game.
BELOW: A Stratford Spartanaire and Memorial Markette perform a dance routine together.
2023 2023 2024
Stratford beats Memorial 24-10, earning redemption after a 2022 defeat.
Stratford exceeds canned food drive goal, winning an additional Food Truck Friday.
Stratford beats Memorial 42-21, continuing a winning streak against its rival.
411 on Number 16
Sophomore Jack Harrison displays musical talents on Spotify
WRITTEN BY ALEEYA DAVIS (12), KATIE HAMILTON (11) AND ELIZABETH MEADOWS (11)
ELIZABETH
ICOURTESY
ABOVE (L-R): QR Code to view Harrison’s Spotify; Jack Harrison smiles backstage
n Stratford’s hallways walk many different students: athletes, painters, writers and even verified Spotify artists. Here’s an inside look into how sophomore Jack Harrison found his love for music, his creative process and the future of his music career.
Harrison has long shown interest in the arts, writing poetry and taking piano lessons since childhood.
“I wrote my first song in seventh grade just for fun,” Harrison said. “When I got the idea in eighth grade to form a band, I started writing way more.”
His new outlet inspired him to learn three more instruments: bass, guitar and drums. With no luck forming a band, Harrison began to use his skills to compose his own music under the stage name Number 16.
“In [New Zealand], there was this girl, and her parents decided to name her Number 16 Bus Shelter,” Harrison recounted. “When I first heard that, I thought it would be a fire band name, [but] it already existed, so [I shortened it to] Number 16.”
He has since released 74 songs on Spotify, each self-written and produced.
“There’s a distribution service [on Spotify] that [costs] $40 a year to upload [music],” he said. “I started just doing YouTube because I thought you had to be discovered to get on Spotify.”
Harrison’s approach to songwriting involves taking what he knows and making it his own.
“A lot of people write songs about experiences, but I take a topic and the ideas that I have associated with [it] to come up with [a]
poem,” he said. “Whatever I want to write about, I write about it.”
His favorite example of this technique is the first song he uploaded, “Six.”
“It’s based on the story in Genesis of the six days [in which] God created the world,” Harrison explained.
Harrison looks toward rock icons like The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Phish, his favorite bands, for musical inspiration.
“I take what I hear [to] come up with new ideas for my songs,” he said. “A lot of my [music takes] inspiration from songs I have already heard.”
The recording process is surprisingly simple. Despite having tried a traditional recording setup, Harrison uses a tried and true method:
“Band Lab and my earbuds’ microphone,” Harrison said. “It’s way better [than the traditional setup] because it picks up less background noise.”
Despite his talent, Harrison does not plan on making music his main profession.
“[Music is] not a secure way to make money,” he said. “It would be a fun side hustle.”
He is working on his next album, which will be released in December. The exact date remains a mystery.
“Whenever I release something, I do not tell anyone,” Harrison explained. “I just let people discover [it] on their own.”
If you’re ever in the mood to check out some new alternative rock, consider supporting a fellow Spartan and check out Number 16 on Spotify!
PHOTOS BY
MEADOWS (11) AND
OF JACK HARRISON (10)
Oracle Outlook
Early Christmas celebrations should be about more than companies trying to make a profit.
WRITTEN
BY
JACOB COBB (11) AND SOPHIA YARBOROUGH (10)
Hallmark has been airing Christmas movies since October, Town & Country holiday decor was put up before Halloween and Kroger is already blaring Mariah Carey. Doesn’t it feel a bit too early?
It seems like Santa comes down the chimney earlier eand earlier every year. When did we decide that the winter holidays start in October? Why is Thanksgiving suddenly irrelevant? And when should the festivities actually begin?
Let’s be clear: Christmas is a wonderful season, but seeing ads and decor three months before the actual day can desensitize you to its magic. The overlap of holidays also overshadows Halloween and Thanksgiving. When the Christmas season started on Black Friday, it allowed every holiday to have its moment. Black Friday is when the winter festivities should begin.
Is this “Christmas in October” just a passing trend?
Of course, there have always been Christmas fanatics who start celebrating as early as possible. But, in general, they make up a minority of people, while a majority start the celebration after Thanksgiving.
In a school survey by The Oracle, more than 50% of participants said that Christmas should be celebrated after Thanksgiving, with only 10% saying that they start celebrating before November.
If the majority opinion is that Christmas doesn’t start until late November, why is Christmas popping
ILLUSTRATED BY
MELINA BANAN (11)
up before the turkey gets pardoned?
To put it simply: companies and profit margins. For many businesses, Christmas is the time they earn most of their money. Starting the festivities earlier gives brands more time to profit off of the holiday spirit. This “Christmas Creep” is the reason we see Christmas sales starting months before December. For years, sales have slowly creeped forward, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as people were desperate for holiday magic. There, companies who were struggling to make enough money latched on.
To say that the commercialization of Christmas is a new problem would be naive. As consumers, we have to be aware that Christmas being exclusively about family traditions is no longer completely true, and Christmas festivities are often for profit.
Whether you put up your tree in October or on Dec. 24, there’s no true harm in starting before Thanksgiving. But it’s important to ask, are you decking the halls because you want to spend time with friends and family or because Target dropped a Santa Claus doormat?
If your Christmas passion is genuine, throw your tree out on July 5. Just don’t feel pressured by companies who are only hoping for a check from your checkbook.
Oracle Outlook is a new, recurring section featuring a student opinion that the Editorial Board believes to reflect a majority of the Oracle staff’s opinion. All opinions are our own and do not attempt to express an official school stance. The Oracle values readers’ opinions and welcomes letters to the editor, which may be submitted through our Instagram @shsoracle or in person to Ms. Boyle in room 231.
Did You Know?
Junior Audrey Cook details her volleyball career
WRITTEN
BY RYANN
CALVERT (11), OLIVIA CRIDER (11) AND CADEN STONE (10)
Audrey Cook
What does volleyball mean to you?
COOK: Volleyball means everything to me. All the coaches I’ve had [tell] me “Don’t make it your identity,” but it’s pretty hard not to when I’m doing it every single day after school.
Stats & Honors
* Top 30 player in Texas
* Top 65 player in U.S.
* 324 sets played
* 2237 assists
* 695 digs
* 134 aces
* 91 kills
What do you feel when you step on the court?
COOK: Whenever I step onto the court, I become really relaxed. I just love to be there, and it’s like a release from everything that is going on.
Who has been your biggest inspiration in volleyball?
COOK: Probably my mom. She played in high school, and she helped me through this journey, and I’ve been able to talk to her when things get hard. I feel like I can go to her for anything.
What made you choose Grand Canyon University?
COOK: I chose Grand Canyon because of the coaching staff. When I went there, I didn’t really know what to expect because [I’d] never been to Arizona, but I really bonded with [the coaches, so] I knew it was going to be a good place for me.
How does it feel to have over 2000 assists?
COOK: It feels great. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, who I am setting up for success. Being able to have them as a support system around me has just lead me to that [achievement].
PHOTO BY CADEN STONE (10)
ABOVE: Cook, a setter for Stratford’s volleyball team who is committed to Grand Canyon University for D1 volleyball, poses in the competition gym.
Go Big Green!
Cheerleading squad prepares to take on Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
Features
LEFT: Junior Tynsley Hodge practices a stunt above her teammates.
WRITTEN BY NATALIE PATRANELLA (11)
PHOTOS BY MOLLY KATE MINYARD (11) AND BELLA SMITH (11)
ILLUSTRATED BY MELINA BANAN (11)
ABOVE (L-R): Senior Katelyn Culpepper smiles during a football game; 2024-2025 varsity cheer squad smiles as a group.
It’s Thanksgiving day and you’re cozied up on the couch watching the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This time, however, it’s not just a Santa float traversing the streets of New York, but also our very own Stratford cheerleaders.
This year, Stratford cheerleaders are set to perform in the iconic New York City parade alongside about 700 other high school cheerleaders from across the nation.
“36 cheerleaders said they wanted to go, so we are taking 36 of the 42 [total cheerleaders], which is the most we’ve taken in a long time,” said cheer sponsor Doug Dorsten.
This year is Dorsten’s first year as the head cheer sponsor, so he definitely wanted to treat the girls to an exciting experience.
“In the past year, our program has really grown under our new head coach, Doug Dorsten,” senior cheerleader Kendall Barker said. “He truly cares about us, pushes us to work harder every day and is always trying to improve the cheer program.”
Preparing for this spectacular event takes serious planning, especially since it’s a far cry from your average pep rally or competition.
“[The choreography team] films the choreography, which we send out to [all of the attending cheerleaders],” Dorsten said. “They then learn [the choreography] on their own before they get [to New York City].”
Before they take off for the Big Apple, the team will have one last practice to perfect their routine together. Once in New York, all 700 cheerleaders will join forces for a massive group rehearsal.
“In New York, the first two days we spend a lot of time rehearsing because you have to put all 700 kids into a routine,” Dorsten said. “That’s when we put in ripples, all the effects and stunts, and
we clean up the routine.”
On parade day, the cheerleaders will rise bright and early at 3:30 a.m. and gather at the Museum of Natural History on 81st Street — the same place where “Night at the Museum” was filmed. Here, they’ll remain in “holding” as they await their turn, since the parade begins on 72nd Street.
“We walk the whole parade while doing cheers, chants and sometimes standing back-tucks on the concrete,” Dorsten said. “We walk from 81st [Street] all the way down to 34th [Street], where we get to Harold Square right in front of Macy’s and perform [our routine] one time [with all 700 cheerleaders].”
Each cheerleader will be decked out in a specially crafted Macy’s-themed cheer uniform.
“The way that the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade works is everybody has to be in the same uniform, so a new one is designed every year,” Dorsten said. “I believe [the uniform] is white and gold this year.”
But the fun doesn’t stop there: while in New York City, the cheer team will also explore the Empire State Building, take a Statue of Liberty cruise, watch the Broadway show “Hell’s Kitchen,” enjoy the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, visit the 9/11 Museum and ice skate at Bryant Park during nighttime.
“I am most looking forward to walking around the city with my team and getting to be on TV during the parade,” said junior cheerleader Reese Krosby.
As Thanksgiving draws closer, Stratford Cheer is pumped to bring their spirit to the live TV audience. Be sure to tune in to NBC or Peacock Nov. 28 at 7:30 a.m. to see the cheerleaders perform on Thanksgiving Day!
PHOTO BY CADEN STONE (10)
ILLUSTRATED
BY
MELINA BANAN (11)
TAll in a Day
Head custodian shares inside look into her workday, hardships
he cafeteria buzzes in anticipation as students flood into school. It’s 7:35 a.m., and head custodian Rosa Monge prepares to preserve a neat environment as thousands walk the hallways. Her responsibilities began over an hour ago: at 6:00 a.m., she was the first to enter the building.
“I start turning on lights, opening doors and checking bathrooms and classrooms,” Monge explained. “Sometimes, I go room by room to check that the work is done. If it’s not, it’s my turn to do it.”
Monge has worked at Stratford for seven years. This year has been the worst when it comes to student vandalism.
“School is just getting started, and it’s the year where things have been broken the most, and [the building has] been the dirtiest,” she said.
While most of Monge’s job is keeping the school clean, the workload associated with that task varies daily.
“Sometimes it’s harder, like when a student clogs a bathroom, paints graffiti or breaks the bathroom dispensers,” she said. “Apart from taking inventory, I have to check and clean the cafeteria, walk around the school and constantly tell students not to eat in the hallways.”
While Monge has the support of four other custodians, they can only begin cleaning classrooms once students exit the building. While the school day is ongoing,
they focus on smaller tasks.
“[We] put [toilet] paper in bathrooms, walk and clean the hallways, clean the cafeteria, and pick up all the trash from outside — from the parking lots,” she said. “We spend two hours outside picking up all the trash students leave. They eat in cars and leave their garbage on the floor.”
When asked about the highlight of her job, Monge made it clear that she was the fondest of the school community.
“I think I’m still here because of [the students and teachers] — because I love all of you,” she said. “90% of students are very nice; sharing time with you is the best thing.”
Nonetheless, student disrespect is an earmark of her day.
“[There was a] girl, and I told her to please not eat in the bathroom,” Monge recounted. “Then, she grabbed a yogurt, purposely threw it and crushed it with her foot.”
As students get ready to leave at 3:15 p.m., Monge greets the rest of her team.
“The rest of the custodians start at 3:30 p.m., and they leave at 12:00 a.m.,” she explained. “I always stay after school for about four hours, [so I work] from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.”
For special occasions, like pep rallies or other student assemblies, Monge’s day stretches even further.
“If there is an after-school event, I have to sometimes stay from 6:00 a.m. to 11 p.m. to cover.”
Despite the long hours, Monge believes time is her biggest constraint.
“The team plays with time: depending on [how much is left], they can vacuum and clean tables,” she explained.
If the custodian staff was unable to finish cleaning during the week, Monge shows up to work on Saturday, sometimes for eight hours, sometimes for 10.
“What we can’t do when students are in school, we do when there is no one, like washing floors, changing lights, and cleaning carpets,” she said. “The holidays are when we have the most work.”
School vacations are starkly different for students and custodians. For our weeklong Thanksgiving break, Monge and her team will only enjoy Thursday and Friday off.
Monge wants to leave students with one particular request: looking after bathrooms.
“What we do, we do with great love for students,” she clarified. “What I would like is for them to take care of the bathrooms. With that, we would all be happy.
ABOVE: Monge walks with her cleaning cart in the cafeteria.
