ORACLE
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Stratford High School • Friday, November 2, 2018 • Vol. 46 • Issue 3
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Did you know your social media is being monitored? Read about how Spring Branch is keeping track of your online presence in the name of student security.
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Check out the in-depth feature to learn about the current issues and candidates of this upcoming election on November 6th. Make sure to vote!
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Learn about this issue’s athlete of the week- senior varsity football player and wide receiver D’Marquez “Smoke” Henry.
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news
The Oracle • November 2, 2018
News in Brief Backlash: The Story Of A High
NATIONAL LOCAL STRATFORD
COMPILED BY MCKENNA TANNER
• Oct. 11: The Cross Country
team placed well at the district meet with both varsity teams getting first place. • Oct. 22: The girls varsity Cross Country team placed first at regionals. • Nov. 3: Registration for December ACT closes. • Nov. 5: Lafayette College visits Stratford. • Nov. 8: Hampshire College visits Stratford. • Nov. 14: Hutson-Tillotson University visits Stratford. • Nov. 15: Stonybrook University visits Stratford.
• Nov. 19 to Nov. 25: Students get off for Thanksgiving break
• Oct. 10: The Archdiocese
of Galveston-Houston announced it will release in January the names of priests “credibly accused” of sexual assault since 1950. • Oct. 13 to Oct. 18: The Houston Astros played the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, fighting hard although they lost the series 1-4. • Oct. 16: Texas Senate candidates Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke participated in a televised debate, their second during this election season.
Oct. 9: Nikki Haley said she
would resign from her post as UN ambassador at the end of the year. Oct. 9: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the 15 bands and artists it has nominated for the class of 2019. Oct. 10: Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm Oct. 11: A rocket launched in Kazakhstan carrying an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut made an emergency landing with no casualties when a malfunctioning rocket booster was detected.
Voting Season
PHOTO BY MADDIE DAWSON Seniors Cooper Murphy and Blake Robinson and Assistant principal Carl Blaze pose in front of the school to celebrate the nation as we take this step into voting season.
School Author
Senior Ben Nederveld self-published his first dystopian novel in June of this year WRITTEN BY YASMIN TALBI
PHOTOS BY DAN TATALESCU
Most of us will remember the Disney that country and other to pursue a career in classic “Read It and Weep,” the countries in Eastern writing. story of a girl who gains a ridiculous Asia ensues. The main “I’m actually amount of fame after her secret diary story however follows planning on majoring got accidentally published. We’ve all two veterans who find in mathematics, or developed our own different notions themselves in a group of something involving of what being a writer might be like. terrorists, fighting against that” Nederveld said. Regardless of the regime This novel isn’t the what that Disney that took over, only one that Nederveld movie might have following the has written. Since his made us think, aftermath of freshman year, he has writing a novel the war. It written a few other isn’t accompanied follows their books, however he by the crowds of steps from has not gotten them raging fans. small acts published. When we think of terror to “Honestly, I think of the writers of widescale Backlash is the best today, we think of global one I’ve written. One the J.K. Rowlings, rebellion. Nederveld started writing of my more pressing the Suzanne For a first his only published novel, motivations for getting Collins, and even published it published was that Backlash, in freshman the emotional novel, I could put it on my year. It was based off of a college application so Rupi Kaurs of the “Some of the characters Nederveld world. We never hold game he and his younger that colleges could see come from a game me doesn’t really think of a high back, with the brother used to play. it” Nederveld said. and my brother used novel totaling school student. Lo The idea of a high and behold, Ben school student writing just one book to play when we were 766 pages. Nederveld. As a “Ninth-grade I had really in his high school career is already kids, for the most part poor junior, Nederveld health, somewhere impressive, however writing multiple in elementary and between 70 to 100 absences, self-published his seems almost impossible with the own dystopian and I had been writing all bombardment of homework and middle school. And I novel, Backlash, my life, but I suddenly had a responsibilities that school throws at us. just put an overall story huge block of time where I after writing it in his Although his writing days are over for the to that.” freshman year. could do literally nothing else. time being, don’t expect Backlash to be It begins with So I started writing books” Nederveld’s last mark on the world. a group of islands that appear in the Nederveld said. There is plenty more things this young Pacific, starting twenty years before Despite his clear passion and affinity writer will do and accomplish in the the actual story is set. A war between for writing, Nederveld is not planning mean time.
Veterans’ Day
Honoring those veterans who fought bravely, and the day taht we celebrate them.
WRITTEN BY YASMIN TALBI
Each year, we honor those who fought for us in different ways, whether it’s having a moment of silence for veterans, participating in an event to honor them, or even just saying thank you to a veteran we know ourselves. Within our communities, there are countless veterans. They may not be the ones with the amazing, gritty stories that keep everyone’s attention, but they are just as honorable. However, Veterans Day wasn’t always celebrated the way that it is today. Veterans Day first started as “Armistice Day” in 1919 on the first anniversary of the end of World War One, where 16 millions Americans fought. In 1926, Congress passed a resolution for an annual observance of veterans through the United States. Consequently, in 1938, Nov. 11 was made a national holiday.
The message behind Veterans Day today is different from its original intent. While celebrating and paying tribute to all those who had fought in World War One was important to its message, Nov. 11 was supposed to be a uniting force between nations through their shared mourning when it was still called Armistice Day. Its original intent was to promote world peace when the world seemed so torn apart. President Eisenhower changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day because he did not believe that World War One was the war to end all wars. Consequently, he pushed for a more inclusive day to celebrate our veterans, to celebrate anyone who fought in a war for the United States. Today, at least 16.1 million veterans have served in at least one war. Two
million of these veterans are women. Each veteran has their own story, and their own background. Each one becomes a part of the intricate mosaic that makes up the American identity. Veterans at Stratford: Tony Brillon--Navy--4years--Operations Specialist--EOD Richard Graham--U.S Army--1976-1979-1st Infantry Division--Bandsman E5 Katherine Autry--U.S Air Force--19951999--Traffic Management Specialist William Hall--U.S. Army for seven years-Infantry, Tank Batallions and Brigades Lowyn Hendrickson--Air Force 1998-2002--Loadmaster on C130 Hercules Freddy Retana-U.S. Air Force--5 years-JTAC
The Oracle • November 2, 2018
news
Stratford’s Got Talent
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The Choir holds a talent show with a cash prize
PHOTOS BY ANA SOFIA MEYER
Winner, Winner
Kickin’ It
Seniors Adnan Athla, Ali Alzoubi, and Muhannad Alzaza perform a martial arts routine that took home second place.
Freshman Adam Shugart takes home first place with his act of balancing various objects on his chin. He is balancing a ladder.
5,6,7,8!
Senior Jessica Leung performs a Chinese dance that excites and amazes the captivated audience. Her tricks and turns wow the crowd.
Sing Loud and Sing Proud
Counselor, Crystal Arrington, shows off her voice by singing “Impossible Dream” by Mitch Leigh. Guitar Hero The crowd is Junior Emily Bishop sings excited to hear and plays guitar to the song her talent. “Through Glass” by Stone Sour.
Don’t forget to ote! Election Day is November 6 Voting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Log on to VOTETEXAS.GOV to find your polling place.
Jumpin’ Sensation
Math teacher Crystal Fain, performs a jump rope routine and impresses the crowd as the final act. Her talent is surprising to the kids.
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news
The Oracle • November 2, 2018
All Eyes Are On Us
New security measures are being taken across the board WRITTEN BY JOHN GRAHAM GRAPHICS BY ALEXIS GARZA AND MCKENNA TANNER
T
he next time you post that cute weekend picture, remember that Spring Branch is watching. During this year’s press conference with Spring Branch ISD superintendent Scott Muri, Muri announced new measures to protect students. Muri described the safety software being implemented across the district.
Big Brother
The software is called Security Sentinel. Its main function is to search social media for keywords, locations, or phrases that tie back to the district, and it looks at the possible implications of the message or post. It monitors the social media activity of anyone connected to the district on sites ranging from Twitter to Instagram. The goal of the software is to address issues such as school shootings, bullying and suicide. Concerns about social media’s growing negative influence on students led the district to sign with this software company. Muri said the increasing number of instances of cyberbullying and other incidents online makes taking measures like this important. Spring Branch’s new security program will be using a threestep approach. Its first step is to identify words or phrases in a post with a negative connotation. Second, Spring Branch will send these cases to a 24-hour service called the Fusion Center where employees study the cases that are sent in, identifying if they are real concerns or not. From this point, if the cases pose real danger, they are sent to the other departments of the Fusion Center, notifying police, CIA, FBI, and other such organizations. These forces then address the potentially harmful subject and detain them in a timely and efficient manner. If they determine the message does not
pose a threat, they let it go and move on to other cases.
The Privacy Roadblock
The main drawback of this software is it can only target individuals who post publicly. This is due to the complications in how social media platforms protect users’ identities. Companies such as Facebook, who owns Instagram as well, now keep the private information of their users under lock and key. For softwares such as Security Sentinel, their effectiveness is hindered by this “private user” roadblock. Private profile restrictions prevent authorities from accessing and stopping potential threats. This means the software is limited because many student profiles are private.
Students Rights
Senior Jake Makiyama said he supports the district’s contract with Safety Sentinel. “A software like this has been needed in our district for some time now and will only keep us safer,” Makiyama said.
“New softwares like this have crossed boundaries regarding our private information,” senior Page Warner said. “To feel like I’m being watched all the time makes me very uncomfortable.” In an attempt to help answer student and parent questions about this move, the district sent out a letter to families. After a recent Instagram poll, however, roughly 80% of students had not discussed the recent news with their parents after receiving this letter.
Safety in the Classroom
In order to update safety across the district, campuses will now have
bulletproof front office windows. This is achieved through a protective film coated onto the windows, allowing; the front office to serve as a sort of refuge if officials are worried about potential threats, including those flagged by Security Sentinel. In addition to these new building precautions, the district is implementing new measures of security
amongst staff members. All campuses will have an additional police officer instead of one, doubling the available eyes to spot trouble. A total of about $4 million has been spent on upgrading security cameras across all campuses in hopes of monitoring student activity. Elementary schools have now implemented “push locks”, a system in which visitors are required to be buzzed in through the front office only after being seen by front office staff. “Spring Branch High Schools have always felt a little lackluster when it came to safety precautions in general,”senior Ray Philen said.
[ ] “What I can say is that Stratford and SBISD administrators take student safety very seriously, and we are always looking for the best tools and resources to protect our students.” Building Principal Chad Crowson
Security Doubled
Some campuses in Spring Branch have already received their second officer; schools including Westchester, Memorial, and Spring Woods. “Our second officer will be female and arriving after she finishes training,” Officer Scott Williams said. These funds for security have come from a bond passed last year, and this bond is the driving force behind the improved security.
Where To Go From Here
While this new security system may make it seem as though the district is against social media all together, Principal Chad Crowson is aware of both sides of the issue. “There are so many positive things that can come from social media – it provides us with another way to connect with each other and the world. Sadly, some individuals choose to hide behind the anonymity that social media provides in order to insult and belittle others. That behavior can have innumerable negative consequences,” Crowson said. This new security measure is new to most people, including Crowson. “I’m not familiar with this particular software package, so I can’t comment on its effectiveness. What I can say is that Stratford and SBISD administrators take student safety very seriously, and we are always looking for the best tools and resources to protect our students,” Crowson said. As our district grows, the question of whether or not SBISD has gone too far with watching over us will always be present, but it’s for us to be aware of how it progresses and determine our opinions from there.
S T R AT F O R D B Y T H E N U M B E R S
2141 209 25 Students enrolled at Stratford this school year
Security cameras in use on campus
Entrances and exits to Stratford
life
The Oracle • November 2, 2018
2018 Fall Fashion
What you need to be in style this Fall!
A Star Is Born Review
A review of “A Star Is Born” and the controversy of WRITTEN BY YASMIN TALBI movie re-makes PHOTO COURTESY OF METEATRIC.COM
WRITTEN BY AMORA FLORES PHOTO COURTESY OF URBAN OUTFITTERS, FOREVER 21, AND PACSUN Fashion as a whole changes over time, evolving from what it once was to what it is currently. Trends are always recycled and made into something better and more along with the times. We see this a lot with fashion today. In 2018, we have managed to compile a myriad of past trends together and make some really iconic pieces of clothing and style looks. Going as far back as the twenties and possibly further, our fashion of 2018 has no boundaries and is fun and exciting to see grow. Fall Fashion in particular, is something many people look forward to. The cold weather is brutal, yes, but not enough to limit style options. This is by far one of the most popular times for fashion as people are constantly looking for different and more authentic ways to liven up their wardrobes. Here, are a few articles of clothing that people are wearing that scream fall 2k18.
Sweater Weather
To keep warm and remain stylish, Sweaters are a trademark trend. Knitted sweaters, for a long time were a major staple for fall fashion as they are comfortable and easy to pull off. But in 2018, jumpers and hoodies are quickly springing up into the fashion world. You might see brands like Champion, Adidas, and Reebok making luxury hoodies that aren’t for sport. Faux fur coats and cropped sweaters are also very popular.
Accessories
Layered necklaces have become a very popular trend over the last three years, elongating necks just as chokers do. Chokers are still very popular, evolving into metal chokers, and plastic see through ones as well. Scrunchies for the hair are making a come back but mostly velvet and satin ones as they are better for the hair and cool looking as well. Speaking of hair accessories, butterfly clips are also making a comeback, reminiscent from the 90’s as well as most of our childhood, as our mothers would style their daughters hair with various clips, bands, and bows. Colored lens glasses are also coming back from the 70’s and 90’s, revised and more iconic. Earrings are not only for girls, but boys are enjoying the look as well, styling the one earring look or rocking a stud in one ear and a dangly earring in the other.
Shoe Mania Boots are the automatic go to as a shoe choice for this season, as there are many different styles to choose from. To spice things up, try printed boots, or your typical leather Doc Martens to add some edge. If you want to keep things simple, you could always go for a comfortable UGG boot. Other shoes besides boots can accurately fit the season with ease. Your trusty Chuck Taylor’s or your favorite checkerboard Vans will stylishly suffice fall trends. If you’re into wearing sneakers this, there cool platform sneakers that people are going crazy for. Balenciaga influenced the trend in early 2016, having it take off with a bang this year.
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Lovey Dovey Movie Poster
Lady Gaga (left) and Bradley Cooper (right) shed their celebrity skins and debut in a raw performance of love, fame and music. As the lights begin to dim, a long guitar riff plays out as the credits are displayed against a black backdrop. The anticipation builds until, suddenly, Bradley Cooper’s face appears on the screen, twitching and writhing, trying to get the perfect note on his guitar. This one shot is a perfect representation of how the entire movie was shot: not perfect, but reflecting the reality of being in front of the spotlight. Through most of the movie, the audience is shown concerts and music festivals from the point of the view of the artist. Only then we see how daunting, yet rewarding, it is to sing in front of masses of people, never truly knowing who they are. A Star Is Born stars Bradley Cooper as Jackson Maine, the rough, careless rock
star fed up with the monotony of his life who turns to drugs and alcohol. However, his life is changed when he encounters Ally singing La Vie En Rose in a drag bar. Ally’s honesty through her singing and songwriting ignites a new passion within Jackson. He becomes completely infatuated with her presence and her determination, and soon they begin touring together and singing at countless festivals and concerts. Soon, she receives attention from record labels and her career skyrockets - even including a fun SNL scene with a surprising cameo. While Ally is being swept away into the world of the music industry and what they expect from female artists, Jackson becomes dependent on alcohol, that have disastrous consequences on both their lives. Written, directed, and starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, this movie is the fourth remake of the classic tale. The first came out in 1937, portraying the same struggle but instead with the life of actors and not musicians. Then came the 1954 version with the beloved Judy Garland that received wide acclaim. However, probably the most famous version is the 1976 version starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. Receiving even more acclaim than the other versions, the 1976 version garnered five Golden Globe awards and one Academy Award. To re-make this movie yet again may seem redundant, however, through each version we see how addiction manifests itself differently with every generation. That’s why this re-make is significant. It reflects the reality and consequences of addiction for our generation. So don’t dismiss this film merely because it is just another re-make. Read the rest on shsoracle.org
Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispies When people think of fall, the first thing they have in mind is the traditional Thanksgiving dinner: Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. But, there are lots of other tasty, autumn-themed that are quick to make, and delicious to eat, such as these pumpkin spice Rice Krispy treats. Here’s what you need: • Rice Krispy Cereal RECIPE AND PHOTO COURTESY OF • 4 Cups Marshmallows • ¼ Cup Pumpkin MOMMAKESJOY.COM • 3 Tablespoons Butter WRITTEN BY EAMONN FITZPATRICK • ½ Teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice • ½ Teaspoon Cinnamon Now that you have your ingredients together, your one step closer to enjoying these mouthwatering treats. Here’s what you need to do: 1. Melt your butter in a large pan under medium heat. 2. Pour in your marshmallows and let them melt. 3. Once the marshmallows are melted, add in the pumpkin and spices. 4. Toss in your Rice Krispy and stir well. 5. Pour your treat mix into a greased 9x13 pan, and let cool. Voila! These fun, perfect-for-fall treats are a super easy way to add a delicious new twist to classic Rice Krispy treats.
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life
The Oracle • November 2, 2018
Pumpkin Spice is Back
The fall flavor trend has made its seasonal return WRITTEN AND PHOTOS BY BLAKE TODES GRAPHICS BY BEN SICILIANO Pumpkins in front of grocery stores, cold weather, the smell of cinnamon in the air; we all know what time of year it is. Fall, aka pumpkin spice season, has arrived. From the pumpkin pie Pop Tart to the controversial Starbucks pumpkin spice latte, everyone knows the huge hype of pumpkin flavored products from the months of September to November. Literally every food you can think of has the word “pumpkin” or “pumpkin spice” added in front of the name during these months.
Liquid Gold Trader Joe’s
Pumpkin Butter tastes like fall in a jar. The sweet, smooth pumpkin flavor allows it to be eaten with any food. Trader Joe’s is a popular store for pumpkin spice products. One of the
store’s most popular fall products is their pumpkin butter. Pumpkin butter has a sweet, deep pumpkin taste and is delicious on honestly everything. My favorite combination is in a sandwich with peanut butter. I would rate the pumpkin butter a solid 9 out of 10.
A favorite of the community is the DQ Pumpkin Pie Blizzard. It has a perfect creamy texture with a strong pumpkin and nutmeg taste and pieces of delicious pumpkin spice crust throughout. Buy the blizzard while you still can because it’s a 10 out of 10. Another great pumpkin food from Trader Joe’s is their pumpkin pancake and waffle mix. The mix makes fluffy pancakes with a light pumpkin and cinnamon flavor. The pancakes taste best with pecans and maple syrup on top. This product earns an 8 out of 10. Probably the most famous and
controversial pumpkin spice food is the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte. Truthfully, I expected not to like the PSL; however, it was actually quite tasty. The drink has the right flavor balance of coffee and pumpkin. I would rate the PSL at a 7 out of 10. Another fan favorite Trader Joe’s pumpkin product is their pumpkin spice coffee, but I would not recommend it. The artificial pumpkin taste does not mix well with the bitter coffee flavor, which is quite weak anyways. This product deserves a 2 out of 10.
have me and many others questioning why they exist. These questionable products include pumpkin pasta sauce, salsa, and hummus. For those health nuts out there, pumpkin is actually a super-food. Studies show eating pumpkin can lower blood pressure due to the high potassium levels. The fruit is also an antioxidant that has been shown to prevent degenerative eye damage. During the remaining months of fall, go get yourself some tasty pumpkin products while you can because it’s “healthy.”
40% 60% YES NO Cup of Joe The Trader Joe’s
Pumpkin Spice coffee is a bit of a disappointment. The pumpkin flavor is weak and lacks flavor in general. Some pumpkin spice products may be adored and tasty; however, there are some very strange pumpkin foods that
Pumpkin Spice Hype? An Oracle
Instagram poll shows that a majority of students, 60 percent, dislike pumpkin spice flavoring. The fall flavor trend is clearly not as popular as people think it is.
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The Oracle • November 2, 2018
teachers you need to get to know Spanish teacher, Magdalena Lopez, is not just passionate about teaching, but singing as well. In 2014, at just 24 years old, Lopez auditioned for The Voice, fresh out of college with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish teaching. “I wanted to be a singer, or a teacher. You know how you put your education first and singing is your hobby because not all people are successful in the music industry? I needed to have a base, and then pursue my dream,” Lopez said. After a few successful preliminary auditions, Lopez was selected for The Voice in Mexico. “I had to sign a contract for the television channel, Televisa (the sister channel for Univision). Once I signed the
Registrar Nicole Harris, grew up outside of San Antonio, where she was the mascot her junior and senior year of high school. After a HEB opened in town, Harris got a job there. “While I was working at HEB, they had a contest, and it was a create the mascot contest. I thought to myself, who better to come up with a mascot than someone who’s a mascot? I pulled out some clip art pictures and asked myself what the image of a grocery store was- a paper brown bag,” Harris said. On July 24, 1998, Harris received an email with a gift certificate enclosed. The email congratulated her on her idea of “Herby the grocery bag” and informed her that the nomination committee has decided that her idea was a winner.
WRITTEN BY ISABELLA WALTZ PHOTOS BY DAN TATULESCU AND ALEX NICA PHOTOS ALSO PROVIDED BY MAGDALENA LOPEZ, JULIE BEAN, AND NICOLE HARRIS
contract, I couldn’t say anything about it or post any pictures,” Lopez said. After Lopez was selected, she was told that she would be called in a month to travel to Mexico City to film the final audition, but she was never contacted. “I haven’t tried to peruse my dream again, not because I was disappointed, but I tried once and now I have my STAR ON THE RISE bachelor’s, so why don’t Lopez (left) is pictured with other I use it as a teacher,” contestants who advanced with her Lopez said. during “The Voice”. Lopez hasn’t auditioned for The Voice since then, but she has
Math Robin, and Doc was teacher Julie a Cleveland Indian, Bean shares when they faced off a common in the 1920 World interest with Series. the rest of “They were both Houston—the born in Tennessee, Astros. Bean they both died in came from Tennessee, and a family of they died close to baseball fans, one another. They not because of were close, and her hometown they stayed close team, but throughout the because of her years,” said Bean. family’s history BROTHERLY LOVE Doc debuted in of baseball. Doc (left) and Jimmy (right) standing on the 1909 and Jimmy Bean’s great- field at the 1920 World Series. debuted in 1911, grandfather, both of them having Jimmy Johnston, and his brother, Doc, were successful careers. Bean’s great-grandfather, the first brothers to ever play one another Jimmy, once held the highest ever one in the World Series. Jimmy was a Brooklyn week batting average of a professional
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sung the national anthem for the city of Brownsville, her hometown. She even competed in contests there, including one where she won and received a huge check. One of Lopez’s more recent performances was at the choir’s talent show on Oct. 27. Lopez will always have a passion for singing, but for now, her heart lies at Stratford.
baseball player. He hit 27 of 29 bats in a week, but his lifetime average was slightly lower. “I grew up knowing that they (Doc and Jimmy) had played baseball, but they were both deceased by the time I was 4 or 5 years old,” said Bean. “I didn’t really know either one of them and I don’t have very many memories of them, but I grew up watching baseball as a result of them.” While most of Bean’s family supports the Astros, some of her extended family lives out in California and cheers for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cleveland Indians came out victorious that year, bringing home a win for the team and the family.
Funny enough, there were two submissions of a paper bag, and Harris was one of them. She spent her fifty dollar gift certificate on random assortments of items while she was working. “I always thought that was cool,” Harris said, “and ‘till this day my friends still give me a hard time for doing what I did and only receiving a fifty dollar gift certificate.” “Till this day, the brown paper bag, now named “H-E-Buddy”, still resides as HEB’s beloved mascot. Along with H-EBuddy, HEB also released a line of H-E-Buddy
Brand products available for children across Texas. The line teaches kids about healthy eating habits and PAPER the use of personal TO care items. LIFE Harris is still a Harris huge HEB fan. Her shares brother drives a truck for them, and her she also met her original future husband design of there 20 years ago. “Herby” “Growing up in who San Antonio, HEB’s a we now really big thing know as and they are a great company “H-EBuddy.” that supports the community,” said Harris. Even after moving to Houston, HEB will always hold a special place in Harris’ heart for all the opportunities they have provided her.
8 in•depth
The Oracle / November 2, 2018
DESIGNED AND WRITTEN BY CHARLOTTE BENES
where do YOU stand?
in•depth 9 The Oracle / November 2, 2018
PHOTOS BY CHARLOTTE BENES, IVY MARTINEZ, AND COURTESEY OF WWW.CONGRESS.GOV
THEISSUES
H
igh school can be a weird political age. It can be easy to feel as though political issues and elections don’t affect us, or even as though our age hinders us from affecting change, voicing our opinions with credibility, and participating in the political process. It can also be easy to adopt the political opinions and attitudes of those who surround us such as our peers and families. Many of us are years off from voting in our first election, some seniors are just now preparing to do so. Regardless of your age or degree of interest in politics, it is important to educate yourself on the issues so that you can make informed voting decisions to protect your future. “It’s not like you’re exempt from the laws that are being passed in Washington and Austin and even in the city until you turn 18,” senior Marcel McClinton said. “They don’t suddenly start to affect you when you turn 18, they affect you when you’re born, so I don’t see how people can not want to educate themselves on issues that affect them because at the end of the day your voice, whether or not you voted for say a senator or not, if you’re eligible to, that state rep or that mayor or that president represents you whether you’re 18, 16, or 12, they represent you and they’re fighting for you so that you can have a better future.” McClinton is one of Stratford’s most prominent young political activists. He spent a portion of this past summer in Washington D.C. lobbying on behalf of organizations such as Everytown, March for Our Lives, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, that are dedicated to protecting students from gun violence and promoting candidates who support common sense gun law reform. “I got heavily involved after the Parkland shooting, so my focus is mostly gun violence prevention. So when we work on campaigns, we just target campaigns that are gun violence prevention friendly and support candidates who we think would co-sponsor or sponsor or support legislation that ties in with that,” McClinton said. However, McClinton’s political opinions haven’t always been so clearly defined. His beliefs have undergone some changes as he has matured and
“I’m voting because it’s important for our voices to be heard so that we can truly make a difference.” -Alejandro Bueno
learned from his experiences in in high school. He is a prime example of the influence that research can have on informing ones political opinions. “I definitely I labeled myself as a conservative without doing research at first and now I don’t think that either party is better than the other, I think they’re both like equally as bad,” McClinton said. “When we campaign we don’t tell people to vote democrat or vote republican we say ‘vote orange,’ which is the color of the gun violence prevention movement.” There are so many ways to advocate for your beliefs even before you are able to vote. One of the biggest political misconceptions is that voting is the only way to use your voice and affect change in the world of politics. “In high school there are so many organizations for and groups you can join that align with your beliefs. So you can join, for example, groups like Students Demand Action, March for Our Lives in Houston or any other city, or you can even work on campaigns. They don’t care how old you are they just need people who will show up and want to help out by using their voices,” McClinton said. The most important thing to keep in mind during this political season and the years to come is that the best thing you can do to protect your future and make your voice heard is by showing up. You can’t affect change by staying at home because decisions are made by those who show up, regardless of your age. “When you show up, you can make change. When you don’t show up you run the risk of being uninformed or uneducated. You can’t make positive change when you just sit at home and don’t care. Just show up to these events and make your own voice heard by attending and being there for a cause you believe in. You don’t have to be eighteen or able to vote to affect change, you just have to care enough to show up” McClinton said.
TED CRUZ (R)
Ted Cruz is the first Hispanic American to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. He has served as a junior senator since 2013 and was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President in the 2016 election. He was raised in Houston Texas and has graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law school. Cruz is pro-life, pro-second amendment, favors fewer government regulations, and supports taking measures to stop illegal immigration across the Texas-Mexico border.
BETO O’ROURKE (D)
Beto O’Rourke is a fourth-generation Texan from El Paso. A graduate of Columbia University, O’Rourke has represented his district in the U.S. Congress since 2013, prior to which he served two terms on El Paso’s City Council and started a small tech company. O’Rourke is a pro-choice, gun sense candidate who supports improvements to the immigration system and believes that it is the duty of the government to ensure that the safety and rights of all citizens are protected and preserved.
JOHN CULBERSON (R)
This is not a drive-by democracy. In the weeks leading up to an election and especially during early voting season,
candidates (or more accurately their campaign staff and volunteers) line the streets and sidewalks near polling locations with yard signs to remind voters of their candidacy as they head in to vote. It is important to do research before you vote so that you have an idea of how you will vote and who for before you arrive at your polling location so that you aren’t basing your decisions off of the scattered plethora of yard signs.
THEVOICEOFTHEPEOPLE “I don’t really like either candidate but there is one party that supports my beliefs more than the other.” -Joe Dodson
“I’m going to do a lot of research to figure out which candidate’s beliefs I agree the most with.“
-Kaia Mantor
THECANDIDATES
We all remember the mayhem of the 2016 election, the ups, the downs, the game-changing, jaw-dropping, twists and turns of the election that broke all of the rules. But it’s a whole new world now in 2018, with new candidates and new issues, and for some of us, the newfound responsibility of casting our ballot this Super Tuesday. Whether you’re eighteen and preparing to fulfil one of your most important civic responsibilities or just beginning to understand politics, it’s important to learn both sides of the complex issues affecting society today when forming your political beliefs, and understand what it truly means to be a Democrat or a Republican.
“Voting allows everyone to have a voice on what they believe since everyone has different opinions.
-Leon Pham
“I did research on how voting is distributed and the lowest percentages were between 18 and 24. I voted to play my part.” -Diego Guiterrez
“When I got the form to vote, I felt so grown up. I have a voice and I can finally change what I don’t like.”
-Karla Reyes
John Culberson is a native Houstonian who has served our district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2001. He serves on the House Appropriations committee and as the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science. Culberson is a free market fiscal conservative who is committed to growing Houston’s economy, improving Houston transportation, strengthening NASA, increasing border security, and stabilizing our health care system.
LIZZIE FLETCHER (D)
Lizzie Fletcher is a native Houstonian who has dediated her years as a lawyer to civil service and representing Houston’s citizens from all backgrounds. She co-founded Planned Parenthood Young Leaders and serves as a board member of Writers in Schools and other youth enrichment programs. Fletcher is a pro-choice, common sense gun safety candidate who supports governmental measures to protect citizens from flooding.
10 Dress Up Against Drugs
life
The Oracle • November 2, 2018
Students and staff go all out for dress-up theme days PHOTOS BY MADDIE DAWSON, CAROLINE DINA, BOWEN JACKSON, CAROLINE LAVERN, ABBY SANTOS, AND AMARIS SMITH,
Leave Drugs on Red!
Seniors Carley Overbergen and Alex McConn show their Red Ribbon Week festivity by posing in their Christmas sweaters this Red Ribbon Week to show that they want to leave drugs on read.
Teaming Up Against Drugs
I Woke Up Like This
Juniors Caroline LaVern, Hannah Timmerick, and Katie Wilson pose dressed up in their cutest pajamas with their breakfast in order to show that they want to put drugs to bed.
Sophomore, junior, and senior Spartanaires show support for Red Ribbon Week by wearing their favorite team jersey to show that they want to team up against drugs!
Sock It to Drugs! A few Spartanaires show that they want to sock it to drugs by showing off their most spirited socks during Red Ribbon Week. Kissing Drugs Goodbye!
Putting Drugs to Bed
Math teachers Christan Marques and Sam Nguyen strike a fun pose that represents their fun animal themed onesies on pajama day to show their support for Red Ribbon Week!
Newspaper advisor Janice Cummons gives substitute Linda Aber a kiss on the head wearing red to show that they want to kiss drugs goodbye.
sports
Athlete of the Week D’Marquez “Smoke” Henry WRITTEN BY ANA SOFIA MEYER PHOTO BY NATHAN SICILIANO D’Marquez Henry, known to most as Smoke, is a player the Spartans can always count on in games. You’ll see him speeding down the sideline, jumping for the hard grab, and consistently scoring
touchdowns. “Playing football for Stratford High School means a lot to me,” Henry said, “It’s one of the most important things in my entire life, if I didn’t have the coaches and the teammates I had now I wouldn’t be the player I am now.” As one of the key players on the team, Henry has worked hard to gain his spot and recognition, but also credits his teammates and
The Oracle • November 2, 2018 coaches for helping him get to where he is now. “I appreciate my coaches, but especially my teammates for pushing me and depending on me to make plays and make the program successful,” He said, “I wouldn’t have been able to put up the stats I have without them, so I just appreciate them a lot.” Henry has 374 receiving,167 rushing yards and has scored a total of eight touchdowns, six receiving and two rushing, this season. Although, his most memorable game this year was Bridgeland, scoring three touchdowns for the Spartans and going viral on a juke that made a defender fall down. “Football has impacted my life a whole lot,” he said. “As I got older, I realized I had talent and I could actually do something with it so it made me change into trying to be a better person and make better decisions for myself.” He again credits his teammates for pushing him to be better and work harder to improve himself as an athlete and set good examples for those younger than him. “I’ve improved on my leadership as a player trying to stay positive towards my teammates and remember that we win as a team and lose as a team but we always stay together,” he said. D’Marquez Henry proves again and again that he is not only a leader, but a person Stratford football can count on.
SPLIT between
SPORTS
As students are well to achieve goals he sets for aware, it can be difficult himself, such as shutting to balance school with down a strong opponent extracurriculars, a in soccer or social life, and getting scoring points for some much needed the football team sleep. Juggling all through field goals. of these at once “During practice WRITTEN BY ANA SOFIA MEYER can prove to be a I always just focus PHOTO BY JACKSON ALLRED challenge for some, so what on bettering myself. During about those who play more than soccer games I zone everything one sport? out except my teammates, Senior Alejandro Bueno, kicker coaches, and opponents. I focus for the varsity football team and on helping my teammates and a varsity soccer player knows playing my best. During football exactly how this feels. “The most games my role isn’t as big as it difficult thing about playing more is in soccer so I try to encourage than one sport is having two and rally my team,” Bueno said. practices a day. I practice in the His passion for playing both mornings for soccer and in the sports and working hard at afternoon for football,” he said. them everyday really built “By the end of the day my legs his character not only as an are super dead.” athlete, but as a person. Bueno And It’s Bueno Being a multi-sport athlete emphasized that it has been Senior Alejandro Bueno kicks difficult, but worth the long hours and juggling the two sports the extra point for the Spartans and sore muscles, because he among other things gave Bueno a good mindset when it comes to against Northbrook, final score knows he’s helping his team. overcoming challenges as he has “It has taught me that rewards 43-0 to always be working hard every come to those who work for it. day for both teams he’s a part of. Character wise I’m definitely more punctual and “I knew I wouldn’t have the same mindset as the have a positive attitude most of the time because other football players who have been playing of how much I’m enjoying senior year,” Bueno all through high school, but as we’ve practiced said. together, lifted together, and played together When asked if he would recommend playing I feel like we’ve all gotten closer. We all have a two sports Bueno said, “It depends really. If you common goal, and that’s to win games,” Bueno like studying for long periods of time and getting said. a lot of sleep, that won’t happen. But if you enjoy The boys soccer team went 7-3 (tying 4 games in representing Stratford, and don’t mind an extra the process) with Bueno working as a defensive workout or two per day, then playing multiple force for the Spartans. He has a positive mentality sports is something I would recommend.” on athletics to the point of always working hard
Alejandro Bueno discusses his experience as a multi-sport athlete
Swimming into the Season Preparing for the Memorial meet
PHOTOS BY: BOWEN JACKSON CAPTIONS BY: ANA SOFIA MEYER
Strokin’ On
Part of practice is spent swimming against one another to work on improving Going their overall Backwards times. The Back-stroker, sense of Keagan competition Firenza, junior, pushes the practices his swimmers start, diving as it did backwards into for junior the water and Meggie into his stroke. Nop.
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Ready, Set
Junior Keagan Firenza gets into position to practice his backstroke before the next meet.
Flyin’ Past the Competition
The butterfly stroke takes a strong amount of stamina. Junior Henry Genez aims for the wall for a strong finish.
On Your Mark...
Seniors Kristin Kight, Cate Cerveny and Rachel Harkins dive into the pool, practicing for their last meet against the Memorial Mustangs by working on their freestyle times.
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sports
The Oracle • November 2, 2018
One on One with Coach
Cusimano WRITTEN BY JACKSON ALLRED PHOTO BY NATHAN SICILIANO
Q: Stratford’s defense only allowed
18.5 points per game to its opponents heading into the Memorial game, what do you credit the most for this success?
A: I think we do a really good job of preparation. As a staff we make sure and show the kids all the plays and formations that we’ve seen on film and the kids do a great job at practice with their focus and their energy. If the energy level is high at practice then the kids will be successful.
Q: How do you get your linebackers
prepared the week before a big game?
A:
I try to make sure that my outside linebackers understand what we’re trying to do as a unit. I make sure they know their responsibilities both in the run game and the pass game. I also tell them to make sure and do THEIR job, if everyone does their own job then we will do great things defensively as a unit.
Q:
Hoopin’ Into Basketball Season New look for the boys basketball team WRITTEN BY JACKSON ALLRED
PHOTO BY NATHAN SICILIANO
The boys basketball team has faced to the program. “We spend a lot of time as a team which helps us in fast breaks some challenges in recent months. The in the weight room and doing some and transition during games,” Perkins team ended last year’s season with a conditioning during the spring,” Johnson said. 8 - 17 overall record and a 3 - 9 district said. “We have also put in a conditioning As far as a different feel to the season, record. In addition, 7 of the 16 players element into our daily practice that Coach Johnson believes there most on last year’s roster graduated in May. Coach Kent brought with him from Cycertainly is. However, this year the team “Every year there is a different feel at hopes to bounce back and this time of year,” Johnson stated. “It overcome the adversity. The first is definitely true this year. I had to hire step: offseason. some new assistant coaches. Coach In order to prepare the players Kent has brought a lot of exciting things for the impending season, Coach with him from Cy-Ranch High School. Tim Johnson says he pushes He has brought a lot of enthusiasm that his players to become mentally I think the kids have really enjoyed.” tough. Senior Dylan Uthman on the team “We push them as far as we chemistry said, “We’ve played in three can,” Johnson said. “We put [preseason] tournaments so far and you them in difficult situations and can really see the team start to build see how they respond. We don’t some good chemistry on and off the allow them to get comfortable. court.” We expect them to do things a Coach Johnson thinks the experience certain way. We try to get them from his returning players could also mentally tough,” Coach Johnson Preseason Training propel a little bit more maturity and Coach Tim Johnson and Coach Austin Kent watch expectation. continued saying, “We talk to them about pushing through “Also this year we have 8 and possibly their basketball team scrimmage in offseason. being tired, not wanting to 9 kids coming back from varsity last Coach Kent is a new assistant in the basketball do something. We talk about year. They know what to expect from program. training their minds to take over me and what I expect from them. There when things get tough.” Ranch.” is a lot more maturity with our varsity Coach Johnson and new assistant Sophomore Mark Perkins added that group this year because of that.” Coach Austin Kent both prioritize physical Coach Kent’s physical training is very As the team looks to bounce back from training as well, though. In fact, Coach advantageous. last season, the Spartans impending Kent added a new conditioning element “It improves our stamina and endurance season tips off in early November.
T
ENN S akeaway
CAPTIONS BY JACKSON ALLRED PHOTOS BY DAN TATULESCA AND MEGHAN MARTINEZ
Fall highlights of the tennis team’s successful season after placing third overall in district
What is a unique coaching technique that you bring to the table for Stratford football?
A: I try to do a great job
at building relationships with the kids while also holding them to high standards in their fundamentals on the field. I like to have fun with the guys and joke and laugh, but I also make sure that they are sound in their technique and fundamentals.
Q: Describe the team chemistry and
bonding your players have shown this season.
A: As a new staff, we’ve come
in and brought a lot of energy to the table and the kids have responded really well. We also preach that we are a family, and family stands for “Forget About Me I Love You.” Our team is truly a family and it’s evident on the field.
High-Fiving
Sophomores Monica Guarin and Grace Goodson high-five each other after a point. Stratford played Bellaire in the first round of the playoffs.
Doubles with Deacon
Freshman Deacon Thomas and sophomore Edwin Hess play a doubles match against Clear Lake. Stratford went on to defeat Clear Lake on August 24.
Serves out of this World
Sophomore Edwin Hess prepares for his serve against Clear Lake. Stratford defeated Clear Lake, last year’s 14th ranked team in the state, 11-8.
Senior Rallies
Senior Evan Chan competes in a singles rally. Chan fueled the Spartans 10-4 win over Bellaire on Oct. 16.
Laughing and Winning
Senior Meredith Egger and freshman Haru Kimura defeat their Cy Ridge opponent. This win helped the Spartans come out victorious 17-2 over the Rams.
puzzles
The Oracle • November 2, 2018
13
Head to the shoracle.org for the solutions
Sudoku
Crossword
Across
1. Thanksgiving dinner is a classic American _____. 2. Many Americans love watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day _____. 3. Popular sauce drenching everything on your Thanksgiving plate.
Down
1. The main event of Thanksgiving dinner. 2. Thanksgiving’s most popular berry. 3. A popular Thanksgiving dessert is _____ pie. 4. Thanksgiving is a time to be spent with _____. 5. Mashed _____.
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perspectives
The Oracle • November 2, 2018
Beatlemania Never Dies
Paul McCartney rocks the crowd at Austin City Limits. WRITTEN BY FRANCO GRIMOLDI CALO
PHOTO BY FRANCO GRIMOLDI CALO
At the fresh young age of 76 years old, Paul McCartney is still able to gather the same crowd, if not larger, than he did with the Beatles more than 50 years ago. Seriously though, you couldn’t get past the masses of people awaiting his concert. It was hard enough to
get as close as I did without stepping on somebody’s foot or lawn chair. As soon as the first guitar chord of the first song he played, “A Hard Day’s Night”, was heard, the crowd exploded with cheer, and probably a few tears in the mix. It was incredible to see so many people of different ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds coming together to join the excitement of witnessing Paul McCartney singing right in front of them. His voice may not be the same as it was once upon a time ago, but it still holds up incredibly well to sing the songs we all should know and love. He sang hits such as “All My Loving”, “Live and Let Die”(fireworks included), “Band on The Run”, “Let it Be”, and “Love
Crash Course: Thanksgiving
It is not what you learned in history class WRITTEN BY BLAKE TODES
GRAPHIC BY BEN SICILIANO
Thanksgiving is one of America’s most treasured holidays. Americans take off from school and work to gather with friends and family to have a great dinner and say what they are thankful for, but many Americans do not know the real story behind Thanksgiving. As depicted in most American history classes, the First Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims and Native Americans in the 1600’s with one large feast. However, the First Thanksgiving actually occurred over a period of three days and involved continuous prayer. Additionally and shockingly, the First Thanksgiving wasn’t even the first Thanksgiving. This may sound confusing, but the Puritans frequently celebrated “thanksgivings” after major positive events, such as military victories, where they prayed for periods of hours and days. According to Smithsonian Magazine, the meal at the first Thanksgiving consisted of deer, fowl, and corn, not the turkey and cranberries of today’s modern Thanksgiving dinner. The feast was also not as large as depicted in school or in the media. The story of
Thanksgiving told in history classes gives a false perception of the peace between the Native Americans and the white settlers.
In the decades following the Thanksgiving, the settlers used the Indians for working the lands, and eventually killed them when they became useless, resulting in up to 90 percent of the native population of New England being killed by the settlers in wars, as well as dying by disease brought from Europe known as “Indian fever” by the settlers. The year before the First Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims stole from Native American graves. According to National Geographic, the Pilgrims were starving in the winter they arrived because they did not know how to work the land and were desperately hungry, so they stole ears of corn from Native American graves. One of the most shocking pieces of information about Thanksgiving is that there is no evidence that any Native Americans were actually invited to the feast. According to the New York Times, no historians have discovered how the natives ended up at the table of the First Thanksgiving in 1620. The English settlement of Plymouth was only possible because the Native Americans in that area died from disease brought from the English. When the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, they basically settled on a large-scale graveyard. In general, the history behind the holiday of Thanksgiving is dark and mysterious, with many key components of the event unknown to this day. If America wants to succeed as an intelligent nation, we cannot be afraid to teach our people about the true history of Thanksgiving, not the truth bended story created to brighten a very dark historical event.
Me Do”. I’ve never heard, nor will I ever hear again, that many people singing at the same time as I did when Paul sang “Hey Jude”. When he got to the “Na na na” part, everybody was singing so loudly that it probably damaged my hearing. It was well worth it. One of the most memorable moments of the concert was when he started telling a story about how one day he and the late George Harrison, another member of the Beatles, were hanging out and messing around with George’s Ukulele collection. George, whom Paul called “Georgie”, eventually told him how he was playing the Ukulele one day and began playing one of the songs that Paul wrote, “Something”. And so they both started playing the song with the Ukulele and singing it. After telling that story, Paul pulled out a Ukulele that George gave him and began playing “Something” by himself as pictures of him and George appeared on the screens in the stage. After getting through about half of the song by himself, the full band started playing the song, and the crowd, once again, exploded with cheer. Needless to say, it was a very touching tribute to George Harrison. Paul also sang “Come On To Me” and “Fuh You”(meaning For You, not the other phrase), two songs from his new album “Egypt Station”. It’s impressive that a man with such a successful career is still making new music.
Chips and Dips
A review of Stratford’s favorite Mexican restaurants WRITTEN BY ALEXIS GARZA PHOTOS BY MILES HARPER AND EAMONN FITZPATRICK
Torchy’s
My favorite chips, salsa, and queso came from Torchy’s. The chips were hot, salty, and crunchy. Their green chile queso was loaded with guacamole, cojita cheese, and their diablo sauce. I though the Torchy’s queso was the most flavorful and was more than just melted cheese mixed in with a few peppers. Their salsa was fresh and spicy. Torchy’s impressed as usual.
Escalante’s
Ninfa’s
Escalante’s queso was almost the complete opposite of Torchy’s, but still good. They served white cheese queso which I prefer more to the yellow cheese used by Ninfa’s and Taco Cabana. It had a good pepper-tocheese ratio and was creamy, but not too thick. Their salsa was fresh but was not spicy enough for my liking. Overall, Escalante’s did well.
Ninfa’s served us a green sauce and a red sauce. My favorite green sauce in the world comes from Ninfa’s. It’s so good! It is refreshing and not as heavy as red salsa or queso. However, the queso tasted too much like fake cheese and had too many peppers mixed in. Eating around the peppers really distracts me from the full chips and dip experience. The red salsa was too creamy and tasted more like a tomato sauce than salsa. The green sauce was great, but the red salsa and queso was average.
Taco Cabana
I love Taco Cabana, but their chips and queso just did not measure up to a regular sit-down Mexican restaurant. The chips were kind of bland and not very crunchy. They almost felt stale. However, I liked the spice in both the queso and salsa. The salsa was kind of watery. The queso tasted like fake cheese and the salsa was underwhelming. I would stick to tacos from Taco C.
perspectives
Why Your Vote Matters A Few Reasons Why You Should Vote
WRITTEN BY RACHEL DIETERT GRAPHICS BY BENJAMIN SICILIANO, RACHEL DIETERT With midterm elections happening this upcoming Tuesday, voting has become a common topic of conversation among students. As a staff, we have talked amongst ourselves about how to cover politics with as little bias as possible. However, the one aspect of the upcoming election that we can all agree on is the importance of voting. Although many people wonder who you are voting for, our question for you is: are you voting at all?
According to the Texas Tribune, in Texas, only 27.3% of those ages 18 to 24 vote
27.3% Vote 72.7% Don’t Vote
Proposition#1 ice Your Vote Is Your Vo nment believe that the gover While many students pact im s ive ch, our representat sed doesn’t affect them mu cus dis s ha te na ited States Se ty. our daily lives. The Un uri sec l oo sch d an ety drone saf ed changes pertaining to ver co s ha of Representatives The United States House retain ane relief to how to rric hu m ent topics ranging fro nm ver go ul ctf pa im the most of teachers. But possibly ard Bo re-election is the State to position that is up for ve ha we t the curriculum tha Education which sets follow. on these can make an impact The only way that we to make nt wa for those who we decisions is by voting for our s ice vo r ou us to raise them. Voting allows untry, and l, for our city, for our co families, for our schoo for our world. by going ke your voice heard is But the only way to ma n’t get do als fici Of te. vo g your to the polls and castin , they me ho sit on their couch at elected by those who te. vo o get out and are elected by those wh
Proposition #2 You Can’t ’t Vote Complain If You Don
t is your ur right to vote, tha If you don’t utilize yo the 2016 in te vo ople chose not for prerogative. Many pe to vote, t no ose cho u However, if yo ting is presidential election. vo ce out the outcome. Sin ing lain you can’t complain ab mp co , make our voice heard to t no the way that we can e cid de u yo If ds white noise. . do without voting just ad t se tha , you can’t criticize tho make your voice heard
Proposition#3 ave As Americans, We H The Right To Vote
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The Oracle • November 2, 2018
r right to s, we take pride in ou As United States citizen op Pe le died that it came at a cost. vote because we know resentation, rep volution to fight for during the American Re with their om ed fre r to pay for ou and people continue ve to right to s to insure that we ha lives. Their bravery wa ng we can e through voting. On thi make our voices heard ce is to vote. do to honor their sacrifi
ORACLE
the
Editors-in-Chief *Charlotte Benes *Maddie Suerth
Associate Editors *Isabella Waltz *Rachel Dietert
Photo Editors *Dan Tatulescu *Maddie Dawson
News Editors Yasmin Talbi McKenna Tanner
Life Editors Blake Todes Amora Flores
Sports Editors Ana Sofia Meyer Jackson Allred
Perspectives Editors Alexis Garza Libby Grizzell
Reporter Amaris Smith
Photographers Ashley Calahan Eamonn Fitzpatrick Bowen Jackson Meghan Martinez Makowski Alex Nica The Oracle newspaper is the official, schoolsponsored student media of Stratford High School, 14555 Fern, Houston, Texas 77079, 713-2513454. The Oracle is published monthly by the Journalism Department and is also available online at shsoracle. org. The newspaper is a member of Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and Interscholastic League Press Conference. The Oracle serves as a public forum of student expression
staff
Ivy Martinez Miles Harper Becca Dawson Nathan Siciliano Jeanie Sidler Eleanore Williams Ally Weidman
Photography Managers Caroline Dina Lauren White
Ads Editors Samantha Wagner Joy Meyers
Ads Staff Hagen Bach Sara Duvall Isabella Moreno Hannah Timmreck Hannah Tyler Mary Claire Vatterott Kaitlyn White
Design Editors Andrew Tyler Benjamin Siciliano
Building Principal Chad Crowson
Advisor Janice Cummons *Editorial Board
Members
and is open to contributions submitted by the readers. Readers may submit material via e-mail to info@ shsoracle.org. All letters to the editors must be typed and contain the author’s full name, grade and signature. Submitted material is subject to editing based on space and/ or content. The opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, the staff, the administration or the school district.
Publication costs are covered through advertisements. For more information, contact thestratfordoracle@gmail.com OR call at 713-251-3454
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photos
The Oracle • November 2, 2018
Pink Out Pep Rally
Students show their school spirit and stand up to breast cancer PHOTOS BY AMARIS SMITH
Tennis recognition
Senior tennis captains, Chazz Spiers and Meredith Egger, recap their season after placing third overall in the district.
Senior Men show their spirit
Members of Senior Men danced to a mix of ‘Single Ladies’ by Beyonce and many other fun songs, which was choreographed by cheerleading coach, Coach Emery Dixon. The boys ended up carrying senior Chazz Spiers across the floor. The performers are, seniors Chase Kubala, Nicholas Comeaux, Kyron McClain, Marcel McClinton, and Blake Robinson.
United seniors
Seni0rs Thomas Satterwhite and Kenneth Cuadra unite during Stratford’s alma mater at the end of the pep rally. Students sway back and forth and sing along with the rest of the school.
Spirit in the morning
Senior Isabella Moreno, junior Nyva Abraham, senior Maddie Dunbar, senior Josey Osborn, sophomore Sydney Harrison, and sophomore Shalique Garbutt perform a fun cheer routine at the final fall pep rally of the year. They fly in the air as students watch their tricks.
VOTE VOTE VOTE
Senior Finale
As always, the Spartanaires delivered a fantastic dance. Senior Lt. colonel, Carley Overbergen, helps lead the team in their senior hip-hop performance.
Wave Your Flag
Our very talented color guard team displayed their impressive moves to the band’s music. Sophomore Emma Webber is captured doing a 360 degree twist while holding her flag.
taco
1/8 mas