the Oracle
Stratford High School • October 2024 • Vol. 52 • Issue 1
the style issue
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR MISSION
Deadly explosions. Corruption scandals. Assassination attempts.
Consuming the news is often disheartening. Rather than showcasing historic space missions, education advancements or local football game scores, our news feeds appear to highlight everything worsening in our society.
Even now, in the 10 minutes I’ve been sitting before my laptop, my phone has buzzed the telltale ring of the Washington Post’s breaking stories. Without even opening the news app, I’ve learned about a celebrity in custody and drone strikes abroad.
This affinity for pessimism has, understandably, made me hesitant about most media.
“I have enough negativity in my own bubble,” I tell myself. “Why should I have to see it across the country?”
Working on the Oracle’s first issue of the year, which our staff has excitingly dubbed “ The Style Issue,” has reminded me why consuming the news should remain an integral part of my routine. While witnessing adversity through the news cycle is inevitable, beyond antagonistic headlines and jarring images lie optimistic editorials and fascinating profiles.
The news is not a synonym for tragedy. Across 16 pages, our reporters have explored local businesses, student athletes’ new uniforms and our principal’s “Day in My Life.” We cover distinctive appearances and unique activities because we’re dedicated to sharing uplifting narratives alongside pressing stories.
That’s just our style
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.
To provide training in not only journalism, but in marketing and business: the Oracle is entirely self-funded. Students must sell ads to local businesses to pay for printing. Members of the ads staff practice business techniques by speaking to other companies to secure finances that allow paper production to continue.
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
Kendall Walters
Hailey Wisdom
Sophia Yarborough Adviser
Sara Boyle
*Editorial Board
COVER ILLUSTRATED BY MELINA BANAN (11) AND NICHOLAS NEUMANN (11)
04 - 07
CULTURE
News to Know
An overview of October’s most exciting events Falling for Fall Drinks
Students review popular seasonal treats
Thrifty Hunters
Students review top thrift stores, arrange thrifted outfits
08 - 12
STUDENT LIFE
Beyond the Bell
Principal Barnes shares inside look into his daily routine
Oracle Outlook
To combat overflowing school parking lots, administrators should expand student parking to Don Coleman Coliseum
Closet Revamp
Student athletes take on the field with new, improved uniforms
13 - 14
FEATURES
Changing Courses
New chemistry teacher details her unique journey into education From Brat to Brand
Companies change marketing techniques to appeal to rising youth
PHOTOS BY MOLLY KATE MINYARD (11) AND REESE SPRADLING (11)
News to Know
An overview of October’s most exciting events
COMPILED
BY
NICHOLAS NEUMANN (11)
ILLUSTRATED BY MELINA BANAN (11)
HOMECOMING Oct. 9
Oct. 5
Oct. 11-14
WRITTEN BY
Students review popular seasonal treats
Falling for Fall Drinks
OLIVIA CRIDER (11), RYAN MCDOWELL (11), MARTIE MONTALBO (11) AND BRYNN PERA (11)
ILLUSTRATED BY MELINA BANAN (11)
Tree House 14008 Memorial Drive
Tree House’s top fall drink is the Apple Dulce Cinnamon. It’s a wassail made with apple cider and cinnamon. The apple cider flavor feels warm and cozy, perfect for the fall season. The cinnamon is not overwhelming, making the drink feel a little simple, but simple in a good way. The only real criticism is that it felt a little strong towards the end, which tempted us to put it down. Overall, though, it was very good.
Verbena Coffee 14029 Memorial Drive
Verbena’s homemade syrup flavors are at the crux of their seasonal drinks, one of which is pumpkin spice. Their Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte gets points off due to a slight excess of cinnamon. Nonetheless, it has a comforting flavor and is evidently good quality. This is the perfect drink for getting work done after school or chatting with friends.
Slowpokes 13210 Memorial Drive
Slowpokes’ Caramel Apple Chai is essentially perfect. It tastes exactly like a caramel apple, and, even though it is a little expensive ($7 before tax), it is worth every penny. Sweet, but not too sweet; flavorful, but not overpowering. We would HIGHLY recommend this to any coffee or tea lovers; it is the perfect fall drink and will immediately get you in the mood for the season. It is a nice switch up from the usual Pumpkin Spice Latte, but nothing too exotic.
Dutch Bros Coffee 7974 Long Point Road
Dutch Bros’ seasonal lineup includes the Caramel Pumpkin Brulee Breve, Cookie Butter Latte and Caramel Apple Rebel. The Caramel Pumpkin Brulee Breve stands out as the top choice: abundant with pumpkin spice and caramel, it features cold foam, raw sugar sprinkles, and pumpkin drizzle to top off. While this drink is the perfect sugary treat, Dutch Bros offers a unique “Sweetness Level” customization (quarter sweet, half sweet and extra sweet) for all drinks, including fall specials!
Black Rock Coffee Bar 901 Dairy Ashford Road
Traditional flavors like pumpkin spice tend to flood coffee shops by September. While Black Rock offers those fan favorites, it also has a seasonal Fuel, a coffee-free energy drink. This year, it’s the Witch’s Brew Fuel, a fruity apple drink topped with cold foam. The drink’s presentation is spot on with a bright green hue and mysterious white foam bubbling on top. This is the perfect unconventional fall drink because it’s reminiscent of the season’s most exciting holiday: Halloween.
La La Land Kind Cafe 600 N Shepherd Drive
La La Land’s seasonal menu includes the Classic Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Spice Chai and La La Land Pumpkin Spice Latte, the chain’s twist on the fall classic. It contains the shop’s signature “Pumpkin Cloud” and plenty of nutmeg and cinnamon. The presentation really sets these drinks apart from conventional lattes. They come in cute cups that read “Spread Kindness” in yellow with a heart-shaped straw!
Thrifty Hunters
Thrifty Hunters
Students review top thrift stores, arrange thrifted outfits
WRITTEN BY
FOSTER BURTON (11), ALEEYA DAVIS (12), JACKSON HILER (11) AND HAILEY WISDOM (11)
PHOTOS BY JACKSON HILER (11) ILLUSTRATED BY MELINA
BANAN
(11)
Vntg Sply
Nicknamed “the bins,” Vntg Sply receives mass shipments from top thrift stores and puts them in bins for customers to search through. Although you may have to dig, most items felt hand-picked. Pricing was $10 per pound, which was fair. There is a lot of streetwear, but the sweaters and jean sections were the store’s highlights. This was our top choice!
lo-fi vintage
1629 Westheimer Road Suite A ~25 minutes from Stratford
Lo-Fi Vintage (stylized as lo-fi vintage) selects individual pieces from a variety of sellers and condenses them into one store, making the shop a hand-picked thrift. The store’s atmosphere was very chill, with a noticeable Y2K influence. Items were more expensive than we expected, with individual prices ranging from $25 to $30. While the clothes’ high quality partly made up for this, the selection often felt too hand-picked, and the typical style was a strange combination of Y2K and grandma. For this price tag, you can get a better outcome.
Value Village
1811 Gessner Road ~12 minutes from Stratford
The vibe here was a little dingy, and it was really busy. We mainly saw older, less trendy items, but, after quite some digging, we were able to find unique pieces. The store was very cheap, with average item prices ranging from $3 to $12. The clothes’ quality varied from item to item, but most pieces felt old and worn. The men’s selection was particularly limited; it felt like all the clothes came from the same guy’s closet. Further, sizing was also limited in this section, as most pieces were plus-sized. While we’re confident some can find cool items here, we wouldn’t recommend it to someone new to thrifting, as you have to be very meticulous and patient in your search.
Is it a fit? To measure the thrift stores’ quality, we attempted to create the best outfit from each store’s selection. At every stop, we picked out items for one women’s outfit and one men’s outfit. Each outfit was then rated out of five stars, and we averaged the outfit ratings to finalize our store rating. Have more stores or small businesses you want us to review? Send us your requests via Instagram @shsoracle!
Plato’s Closet
10516 Katy Fwy Suite Q, ~25 minutes from Stratford
This was a reliable place to find cute and trending items. We found lots of lululemon clothing and other well-known brands. However, some of us found the selection underwhelming considering the store’s popularity. It was also relatively pricey, with average prices ranging from $20 to $40. In its defense, most pieces felt brand new or only slightly used.
Beyond the Bell
Principal Barnes shares inside look into his daily routine
What does life look like for the busiest man on campus? Is our favorite principal really all business? Principal Raymorris Barnes, like many of us, has a skincare routine, preferred coffee order and playlist on repeat. The only difference? He’s got all of Stratford behind him.
Barnes, who considers himself a morning person, begins each day bright and early at 5:10 a.m. To get his blood pumping, he goes for a walk or to the MAC, where he is commonly spotted by students.
Most students know Barnes has two kids, but many don’t know that he cooks them breakfast and packs their lunches daily.
“Today, [they had] oatmeal with sausage and cinnamon sugar toast,” Barnes said.
In fact, Barnes is a very talented chef. His favorite food to prepare is BBQ. He also loves to whip up a meal for his son’s sports team dinners, like a shrimp boil.
Barnes considers himself a seafood connoisseur, and his favorite restaurant is Goode Co. Seafood.
“I’m a sucker for seafood,” he said. “Oysters are my favorite.”
“
he enjoys munching on throughout the school day.
Barnes is as meticulous with his hair and skincare as he is with his eats.
You never know what’s going to happen [in a] day. Everyday is different.
RAYMORRIS BARNES “
His go-to Goode Co. order includes a dozen oysters half shelled and a dozen fried. His favorite snack, however, is a Snickers, which
“On Sunday night or early Monday morning, I shave my head,” he explained. “I put [a] skin tight formula to help with the razor bumps, and it makes my head look very shiny, like a Milk Dud.”
He also visits the barber once a week “to edge up [his] beard and mustache,” and he shaves his head again on Thursday.
ABOVE: Barnes smiles in the cafeteria before the school day begins.
KATIE HAMILTON (11), ELIZABETH MEADOWS (11) AND MOLLY KATE MINYARD (11)
PHOTOS BY
MOLLY KATE MINYARD (11) AND REESE SPRADLING (11)
On his hands, Barnes uses Palmer’s Cocoa Oil so, “when people shake [his] hand, it feels nice and soft and welcoming.”
Of course, Barnes needs a morning coffee to get the day started. He loves anything caramel, especially the Blondie from Black Rock Coffee Bar. If he needs to complete additional work before the school day begins, he will get a reminder from his assistant, Susan Boessling. He then checks for his three essentials — his phone, wallet and keys — before leaving for school.
On his way to school, Barnes enjoys listening to country, old school rap, gospel or a bit of jazz.
“I listen to music all the time,” he explained. “My playlist is expansive.”
Some of his playlists are titled “Cool and Smooth,” “Good Stuff,” and “Essentials.” He particularly loves country songs because they tell stories that he can see himself in. He especially likes Cody Johnson, whose concert he hopes to make it to in October.
When he’s in the mood for a throwback, he listens to Snoop Dogg or Tupac; when he wants to “cleanse his soul,” he will listen to gospel. His song of the summer, however, was Eminem’s “Houdini” because he loves its puns and satire.
Barnes always makes sure to show up to school with swag. On a typical day, Barnes can be seen sporting Stratford Booster Club merch, Calvin Klein jeans and True Religion socks. His go-to clothing stores include Macy’s, Banana Republic, Michael Kors, Johnson & Murphy and Luchesse. He is always sure to match his belt to his boots for a cohesive and put-together look.
Barnes doesn’t only care about
ABOVE: Barnes poses with a jade roller (a facial massage tool) and spa headband.
his own outfits; he also wants his staff to show up in style. This year, Barnes made sure that every faculty member, including custodial staff and cafeteria workers, received a Jordan polo as their team shirt this year.
“Of course I want us to be the best dressed staff,” Barnes said. “The booster club got some swag up in here.”
His favorite part of the school day is watching students walk into class. He stands outside of campus every day around 7:20 a.m., observing the campus as students begin to arrive.
“Parents have sent me emails saying, when they see me standing here in the morning, their child feels safe because ‘Mr. Barnes is not gonna let anything happen,’” he said.
Barnes’ workday is full of decision making and constant debriefings.
“I can have 6 different meetings in an hour, and they can be about 6 completely different things,” he said. “You have to look at all [the] different pieces of the campus be-
fore you make a decision.”
He always makes sure to think ahead, sometimes even using October to plan for the following school year. For example, the homecoming date has been picked out since February, and pep rallies were finalized in May.
After a busy day at school, Barnes enjoys watching sunsets, as he is a huge nature lover. At the end of the day, he rides his bike on the bayou, jogs or walks, always snapping a picture of the colored sky. To him, sunsets signal that the day is over and it’s time to decompress.
Despite some periods of relaxation, Barnes is always on duty, whether that means responding to emails or responding to a crisis. He tries to quickly respond to parents upset about a grade, parking spot issues or schedule change requests.
“My phone [can ring] on weekends or 11 o’clock at night,” Barnes said. “I’m on 24/7. That’s what it’s like all the time.”
Oracle Outlook
To combat overflowing school parking lots, administrators should expand student parking to Don Coleman Coliseum
WRITTEN BY ALEJANDRO APONTE (12) AND SOPHIA YARBOROUGH (10)
The freedom of driving to school is a monumental experience and privilege for many Spartans. However, this newfound independence is curbed by a persistent problem: limited parking availability.
As enrollment exceeds expectations and more students obtain their driver’s licenses, the demand for parking spaces has outpaced the supply, creating a significant challenge for the school community.
The traffic around campus in the morning and afternoon is a toiling experience. Parents and students impatiently wait their turn to enter the school, while students who have parked off-campus navigate the congested streets. Pedestrians and bikers are everywhere, adding to the confusion and creating a potentially unsafe environment.
To address these issues, senior principal Mr. Blaze is working on adding student parking spaces in the teacher lot as a short-term solution, however with increasing enrollments every year at Stratford, longterm solutions are needed.
Stratford should consider opening up the parking lot near the Coliseum to students. This solution would not only alleviate the parking shortage but also improve traffic flow and reduce the risk of pedestrian accidents. By expanding the available parking options, we can create a safer and more convenient school environment for all Spartans.
Opening the Coliseum parking lot could have addi-
ILLUSTRATED
BY MELINA BANAN (11)
tional benefits. It could help to reduce the number of cars parked on nearby streets, which can often lead to traffic congestion and safety concerns. Additionally, it could provide a more convenient option for parents who drop off their children at school, reducing the number of vehicles on the road during peak hours.
Speaking with Principal Barnes, he agrees that this could be a potential solution but is aware of the potential challenges that can come with this addition.
First, the Coliseum is not directly Stratford property (it is for all-district use) so opening it up would require negotiations, especially to ensure the safety of students in the district.
While there may be challenges associated with opening the Coliseum parking lot, such as the need for additional security and maintenance, the potential benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
In the meantime, before new spots are added, students should consider carpooling with a friend or neighbor. Carpooling would guarantee less traffic around campus and also help the environment.
By taking a proactive approach to address the parking shortage, Stratford can create a more positive and supportive learning environment for all students.
Let’s work together to find a solution that makes our mornings a little less stressful and do something that benefits our entire school community.
Oracle Outlook is a new, recurring section featuring a student opinion that the Edtiorial 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 room 231.
WRITTEN BY NATALIE PATRANELLA (11)
PHOTOS BY MOLLY KATE MINYARD (11) AND COURTESY OF SPARTACUS
Since 1974, Stratford has undergone significant transformations. Yet, one element that has consistently marked each decade is the evolution of Stratford’s uniforms.
Over the years, Stratford’s uniforms have seen a series of dramatic changes, reflecting the changing styles and trends. Whether it’s the addition of fly-aways to cheerleader’s skirts or sparkling green sequins on Spartanaires’ hats, these uniforms continually evolve, adding a fresh touch to Stratford’s vibrant spirit.
Spartanaires typically update their uniforms every seven to eight years, but they haven’t refreshed their design since 2015. Their brand new uniforms are drastically different from the original designs, which were mainly gold. Since then, the uniforms have shifted to emphasize white and green.
“With the newer uniforms, we like to have a [traditional and modern design],”
Spartanaire director Ashleigh Friday said.
Closet Revamp
Student athletes take on the field with new, improved uniforms
Known for their pep and spirit, the varsity cheerleaders bring hype to the football field in their new uniforms. In the early days, pleated skirts and straight skirts were the more popular tops have seen minthroughout the have seen the most forms are typically four to five years. varsity uniform ite because of the cheer sponsor Doug Dorsten said.
“It really shines during performances.”
With Homecoming right around the corner, students are debuting new hair, nails and even tans. Spartacus, however, got his pre-HOCO glow-up early.
Enter Camilo Chamorro, a junior with a vision. He took on the challenge of updating the Spartacus mascot. Chamorro changed Spartacus’s cuffs, number of fingers, height and gave the suit an AC unit.
“I wanted to change Spartacus because I want to leave a legacy at Stratford,” Chamorro said.
Changing Courses
New chemistry teacher details her unique journey into education
WRITTEN BY SOPHIE SAGASTUME (12) AND KENDALL WALTERS (10)
PHOTOS BY MOLLY KATE MINYARD (11)
ABOVE (L-R): Fleming’s role model wall; road sign above Fleming’s desk; Fleming poses before a forest-themed wall in her classroom
Familiar faces line the “role model wall” in room 348: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton and Jane Goodall, just to name a few. A banner asks the question, “Who will you be?”
Chemistry teacher Jessica Fleming may be asking herself the same question. This is her first year on campus, and her first year with this courseload.
“My team has been super supportive,” Fleming said. “[The other chemistry teachers] have helped me so much to figure [curriculums] out, especially for my AAC kids.”
While Fleming has nine years of experience teaching science, SBISD — and teaching as a whole — wasn’t always part of her career plan.
In college, she majored in psychology and completed a master’s degree in social work.
“I worked at a high school for Communities in Schools (CIS), then at another organization called the Texas Council on Family Violence,” Fleming said. “It was really depressing.”
Determined to find a more uplifting job, Fleming consulted her mother, a longtime science teacher, to see if she could handle a teaching position. She suggested Fleming become a composite science teacher — one certified to teach any science.
“Someone’s more likely to hire you if they can put you where they need you in the science department,” Fleming said.
After studying mainstream sciences for weeks, Fleming passed the composite science content exam on her first try. She soon found her first teaching role at Ojeda Middle School in Austin’s Del Valle ISD.
While her undergraduate and graduate education didn’t directly prepare her to teach the sciences, Fleming believes they have made her well-suited for classroom instruction.
“Social work is all about how to empathize with people, how to support people who are struggling,” Fleming said. “[It] has been really helpful, especially when I’ve worked at schools where a lot of kids come from [challenging] backgrounds.”
After moving from Austin to Houston, Fleming began teaching
at HISD. While her experience there was largely positive, the state takeover in the past year brought unique obstacles.
“Teachers were very micromanaged,” she explained. “I mean, literally, [the district administration] wanted us reading from a script.”
The district implemented strict Multiple Response Strategies procedures, which are meant to ensure all students are actively engaged. In reality, they disrupted a natural classroom flow.
“I would be observed [by a school principal] several times a week, and they would mark points off if [teachers] didn’t [use a strategy] every four minutes,” Fleming said. “I never got clarification on [the MRS procedure for] a lab, [or] if the kids were working on a project. [Was] I supposed to interrupt them every four minutes?”
Fleming ultimately decided to part ways with the district. Now, at Stratford, she’s committed to making her room her own.
“This is not just a stark classroom, but it’s inspiring and fun to look at,” Fleming said. “Everywhere you look, there’s a little something to catch your eye.”
From the art in her room to the circular tables up front, Fleming employs the structures and strategies she believes work best for her students.
“I want kids sitting together in groups because part of the way [students] learn best is by talking about the material,” she said. “I want [spontaneous group work] to be a possibility at all times, not just like ‘Okay, everybody, get in a group and work together.’”
Fleming feels a principal part of building rapport with students includes sharing parts of herself, such as her personal interests.
“My classroom last year was at the end of a hall, but there was [an awkward] solid wall,” she said. “I was like, ‘I want to decorate this and make it cute.’ So, I made it a forest scene.”
Fleming will continue to provide a unique career perspective in her new position for the foreseeable future.
“I’ve had a great experience so far,” Fleming said.
From Brat
to Brand From Brat to Brand
Companies change marketing techniques to appeal to rising youth
WRITTEN BY JACOB COBB (11) AND MAWARA KHAN (12)
PHOTO BY MAWARA KHAN (12) ILLUSTRATED BY MELINA BANAN (11)
Pink bows, the word “demure,” dolphins being a part of a symphony. Why are these things all over the internet, and what does the Duolingo bird have to do with it?
Answer: Gen Z.
Ever since the social media app TikTok rose in popularity, TikTok trends have started to take over the internet. These trends make their way to other social media platforms like Instagram and X, and suddenly, everyone is talking about them.
However, it’s not just everyday people doing these trends, but companies. Perhaps the longest-running example is the Duolingo bird. Ever since 2019, Duolingo, the language learning app, has embraced the memes created about them, parodying them in an April Fools ad. Oddly enough, it works. The more often consumers see a cer tain brand in positive situations (like memes), the more likely they are to interact with those brands. When users of the Duolingo app see its mascot on their For You Page, they are reminded to go practice their language lessons. It’s with this same strategy that other businesses have started to expand their social media presence as a clever marketing technique, from commenting on TikToks to making their own. For example, the official Stanley brand posted a TikTok making the viral cucumber salad in a Stanley tumbler in an attempt to keep themselves relevant after the initial Stanley hype had died down. Target also posted a TikTok of their new fall collection, saying, “Goodbye Brat Summer, Hello Demure Fall,” trying to double dip in two major trends.
Businesses
not always listen to the radio, especially with the wide use of Bluetooth and aux in cars.
Even Vice President Kamala Harris’ PR Team has started to take notes, embracing the “brat” trend based on Charli XCX’s album, changing their X header to say “Kamala hq” with that noticeable chartreuse green and slightly out of focus font after the pop star herself tweeted “Kamala IS brat.” Kamala HQ’s Tiktok account frequently features these popular trends, like the Zara Larsson “Symphony” trend, where serious text is placed over a cartoon background of dolphins. By making themselves more relatable, Kamala’s campaign team is catering to the pool of Gen Z voters in this election.
employing memes
in marketing are 60% more likely to attract purchases.NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development
As consumers, it’s important for us to remember that these brands and social media personalities aren’t just partaking in these trends because they think it’s funny. With media personalities, it’s an attempt to be more relatable to their audience. The Stratford Counselors, for example, posted a video of them making a candy salad. This is to make themselves more approachable to their high school audience. On a larger local level, radio station 104.1 KRBE posted a clip of the “Give Me My Money” prank trend on their Instagram to stay relevant with people who may
With brands, it’s to make a profit. Sonic Drive-In didn’t just post a Chamoy Pickle Sonic Slush to be quirky, (no, it’s not actually on the menu) they appealed to the Chamoy Pickle trend to stay relevant and, in turn, make money. That’s the whole point of advertisements. They want your money, so they’ll be as cringe as possible if they think they’re following a Gen Z trend that’ll garner more business.
So, the next time you go on Tiktok or Instagram and see an edit of Kamala Harris to “365” by Charli XCX or a picture of a Cane’s box combo with bows wrapped around it, ask yourself the question, “What do they really want?”
