ORACLE Friday, September 23, 2016 // Vol 43 // Issue 2
Past & Present Collide
1976
1986
1996
2006
2016 @SpartanOracle
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ARTURO BENITEZ
@StratfordOracle
2 On the Memorial Construction
A staff editorial
Opinions The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
PHOTOS BY: KEITH CHAPMAN
As the more discernible drivers amongst us can probably tell, Memorial Drive is undergoing a pretty significant makeover right now. Except for I-10, the most important road in the community is currently choked up at every corner with torn up tarmac, temporary lanes, and never ending traffic. Construction that started months ago still drudges on and isn’t expected to be finished until 2018. The $39 million project is divided into two phases. Phase one is rebuilding the road from its intersection with Kirkwood to Dairy Ashford and is currently scheduled to complete around graduation. Phase two regards the stretch between Dairy Ashford and Eldridge. As it stands, students commuting to school from the east must choose between waiting through I-10 traffic, Memorial woes, or finding a path through the neighborhoods. Come summer when the project switches from phase one to phase two, these students should see a return to normal commute times, but those coming from the west will then have to face the same dilemma until sometime in 2018. Not only is this construction causing delays for those who try and brave the drive every morning, it is also affecting those who go down alternative routes. A popular path in the mornings for those who live near Westchester Academy has seen a significant increase in traffic every day since the Memorial project began. It is outrageous that such inconveniences are being thrust onto students because of ill-managed road work. One major complaint with the project is the timetable: nearly two years to replace two and a half miles of road is an insane amount of time, especially when one realizes that it could be finished much quicker. As it stands, roadwork is really only being done from dawn until dusk. The entire night Memorial sits quietly, home only to the The Oracle newspaper is the official, school-sponsored student media of Stratford High School, 14555 Fern, Houston, Texas 77079, 713-251-3454. The Oracle is published monthly by the Journalism Department, and is also available online at chrysalises. 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, and is open to contributions submitted by the readers. Readers may submit material via e-mail to info@shsoracle.com. All letters to the editor must be typed and contain the author’s full
equipment left by the work crew. We understand this is done so that those who live along Memorial are not kept up all night by the sounds of jack hammers and Tonka trucks, but wouldn’t it have been nice to see each phase only take a few months instead of bordering on a year? Especially at the beginning of the project, you could never travel far in the Stratford halls without hearing a whine or moan. “Let’s play a game,” Algebra II teacher Ryan Cozad said when the topic came up during class time. “How often do you drive down Memorial and actually see construction workers constructing things?” It’s safe to say the Memorial area is a little on edge with all the unfamiliarity, and not to mention frustrated with the rate of progress. The confusing road detours also pose a safety threat. While some of us more stubborn newbies refuse to admit that our driving abilities are any less than that of a more experienced driver, we’d be wrong. High stress situations, circumstances that call for tricky maneuvers and excess amounts of vehicles on the road all increase the possibility of wrecks. Before and after school rush hour in and of itself is enough to deal with without the added complications of road work. “All of a sudden he slammed on his brakes and his car came to a complete stop within a second. I wasn’t expecting him to stop and so I just tunneled into the back of his truck with no time to brake,” Senior Evie Udsten said of her wreck last year, before construction was largely underway. With all of these added obstacles, being alert is more important than ever. Unfortunately, typical teenage distractions haven’t suddenly disappeared with all the pavement, and there are sure to be some incidents in the future. Here’s your regular reminder to be safe while on the road, and extra cautious if you’re a driver. Road rage never helped anyone, and we all have to suffer through this traffic. Let’s survive it together.
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. The staff is responsible for the content of the publication, and strives maintain professional standards of accuracy, objectivity and fairness. The editors reserve the right to determine whether submissions will be published. The Oracle staff strives to produce a newspaper that covers the entire Stratford community, and welcomes freelance submissions.
ORACLE
Editors-in-Chief Cameron Henkel Olivia Siciliano
Culture Editors Charlotte Benes Rachel Dietert
Associate Editor Nazlee Khadjeheian Emma Holland Ellie Herrmann
Sports Editors Jacqui Comparin Haley Grace Francis Nicole Whiteford Assistant Sports Editor Louis Nucette
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Maddie McKenzie Photo Editors
*Riley Timmreck *Presley Graves *Perry Shepard
Opinions Editors Lauren Byram Sebastian Droz News Editors Taylor Morris Elizabeth Cole
Reporters Andrew Park Alex Parizot Photographers Arturo Benitez Jordyn Richards Kate McCord Grayson Hart Cassie Wilson
Mariana Rincon Tea Sharp Donovan Rixie Carol Gebhart Sam Wagner Claire Sanchez Zaina Ateyea Madison Harbison Allison Delgado Kaitlyn White Savanna Underwood Jamauri Bagby Ads Editors Katie Boatwright Lindell Lewis Alice Morse Ads Staff Maddie Rustam Jackson Fass
Erin Walsh Natalie Gaiser Lauren Perry Gigi Meredith Design Editor William Thiele Staff Artist Caroline Bucek Copy Editors Benjamin Burnham Maddie Suerth Building Principal Danny Gex Advisor Janice Cummons *Editorial Board Members
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Opinions The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
Is Longer Better? Pros and cons of six week and nine week grading periods
Word on the Street Six or Nine Weeks
OPINION OF: LAUREN BYRAM
For as long as we have known, everything revolves around the six-week grading period. After three weeks, progress reports are released, and three weeks later, report cards are official. Lately there has been talk of switching to a nine-week grading period. Progress reports would still come out at the end of the third week, but another one would be released at the end of the sixth week. This nine-week system is used throughout the district in middle and elementary schools. While some middle school students may like the idea of switching from a nine-week to six-week grading period in high school, some students find the idea of nine weeks a little overwhelming. The idea of a nine-week grading period is appealing to some students because of the longer period between progress reports and finalized grades. Instead of only having six weeks before grades are “set-in-stone,” there would now be nine-weeks to make up for that horrible test grade or that time you accidently forgot to do your homework. A nine-week grading period would also give a longer time for students to raise their grades, and they’d get an extra reality check (progress report) during that period. A nine-week grading period would also lead to more tests per grading period. This would be either a good or bad thing for a student, depending on how good of a test taker they are. A student who may not necessarily be a great test taker would have lots of not-so-
great grades, while a good test taker would thrive on more tests. A big issue with switching to longer grading periods would be the idea itself. The longer period before grades are finalized seems overwhelming to students, even though it’s the same amount of work. It’s purely psychological that the six-week grading period seems like less work. Imagine the overwhelming sense of stress you’ll get when your math teacher hands you your calendar for that grading period and you see test after test and quiz after quiz. It just wouldn’t click in a student’s brain that they have more time to get all these things accomplished. A longer grading period could potentially make splitting up units a struggle for teachers. For example, in English, there are a certain amount of books to read, projects to accomplish, and essays to write. These assignments are usually split up equally and with reason per six weeks. Since the teachers would still have to meet the curriculum and do all units, they would end up having to split a unit into multiple grading periods, which could potentially be awkward and confusing. English II teacher Kathy Suerth likes the idea of a nine-week grading period. “I think it would be beneficial to the students since they would get more time to prepare for tests,” Suerth said.
“I think it would be beneficial to the students since they would get more time to prepare for tests” -Kathy Suerth
Suerth doesn’t mind the idea of splitting up units into different grading periods and doesn’t think it would be a problem for the students. Student eligibility rules under the nine-week system will also be affected. Head football coach Eliot Allen explained the challenges. “Probably the biggest challenge is that you have to check grades that first six weeks,” Allen said. This might cause problems with students because in their minds, they have nine weeks to bring their grades up. But according to UIL credibility rules, the six-week mark is the deadline for the “pass or play” rule. Because of this, many students might forget to get their grades up on time. “If you’re not up -to-par at that six-week period, it could hurt you,” Allen said. “It would have to be communicated to teachers, parents, students, and coaches that even though the six-week mark is a progress report, it would literally be a grading period,” Allen said. At this point, students are probably filled with questions about when this change would occur and how it would affect their GPA. If this change was to occur, it would happen next year at the earliest. Two other high schools in the district are currently on the 9 week grading period and SHS is looking into the pros and cons to see which system is best for the A/B block and our student body. As of now, it’s uncertain whether or not this change will even occur, so there’s no need to be concerned. But even if we do switch, it’s not something to fear. As long as students stay on top of their grades, they can avoid surprise ineligibility and other consequences. This “major change” won’t negatively affect students if they make an effort to stay organized and efficient.
“I like six weeks better than nine because it keeps students on track and doesn’t allow them to slack off” -Claire Sanchez (12)
“I prefer six weeks, being a coach and a teacher it lines up with UIL, so the athletes have to pass at one check point rather than two.” -Coach Gossett
The Dress Code Dilemma The unfair sleeveless shirts rule OPINION OF: LAUREN BYRAM
GRAPHICS BY: CAROLINE BUCEK
It seems like you are always hearing about schools being put on blast for their dress codes, usually for being sexist, offensive or something else along those lines. We have a dress code problem of our own here at Stratford America. It’s not only the rule itself, but also the lack of enforcement of the sleeveless shirt rule that needs to change. To point out the obvious, this rule is dumb. There is no problem, and there shouldn’t be a problem with showing your arms and shoulders. A thick strapped tank top is a completely appropriate school outfit; we should all be tired of being told otherwise. If our mothers let us leave for school wearing it, we should be able to keep it on the whole day.
Another thing is that we live in Houston, and it is hot all the time. Yes, that’s a typical argument, but you would not believe the difference that a sleeve versus no sleeve makes when you’re about to overheat. Administration claims that dress codes are put in place to make sure that students can learn how to dress appropriately for the real world. This is total bologna because according to teacher dress code, teachers are allowed to wear sleeveless shirts as long as they follow the “three finger rule.” No one ever looks at their female teacher who’s wearing a perfectly professionally modest tank top and immediately think of them as unprofessional. No one. The biggest issue there is with the dress
code is the selective/lack of enforcement of the rule. It becomes very frustrating when you are told to change out of your tank top, then walk through the hallway to see everyone else wearing one. Not only is it frustrating, it’s completely unfair. Why should someone who put time and effort into their appearance and morning routine have their outfit ruined by a faculty member who decided to enforce the rule that day. That’s right, that day. The enforcement is very inconsistent. You could hypothetically wear a tank top to school everyday of the school year, and only get asked to change maybe 20 times. Almost all of those 20 times would be enforced by either a grade level or
building principal. Is there a solution? Yes, there are two solutions to this problem. We can either throw out this rule entirely and embrace the fact that everyone has shoulders, or we could enforce the existing rule fairly. If the rule is going to be kept, then the entire faculty needs to enforce the rule on all students. If that is not a possibility, then we should get rid of the rule completely. Let this article be a call to action. Let it call the administration to put this rule under serious review, and let it be a call to teachers to equally enforce the rule while it is in place.
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Cameroné’s Comments
AN OPINION BY CAMERON HENKEL Guys, I love romantic comedies. Just gonna put that out there. Some might call my feelings for this genre of film quite sappy, but watching When Harry Met Sally is truly one of life’s greatest experiences and I will not be ashamed for enjoying it. Combining love and laughter, rom coms tell some of the simplest and meaningful stories. For those not familiar here’s the basic plot of a romantic comedy. Boy meets girl, spontaneous lighthearted adventure ensues, kids fall in love, boy hurts girl, girl’s heartbroken, boy regrets losing girl, boy wins back girl, happily ever after; what’s not to love? Every few years a new entry in the genre will come along and flip some part of the formula on its head but throughout all the changes the narrative is always about two people who become friends and defy the odds to make it as a couple. So you’re convinced of the beauty of romantic comedy movies and want to dive into this crazy, stupid, lovely world; where do you start? Where else? Netflix of course! No one wants to Hulu & Cuddle. The Princess Bride, The Holiday, and my personal favorite Love Actually are all readily available on the streaming giant. Once you’ve worked through those though, the selection actually gets a little spotty. Icons in this genre like Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’ Diary, and Say Anything have disappeared from Netflix’s library over the past few months which is a real shame. To find these classics you’ll have to do a little digging around or just ask to borrow my copies. While not technically a movie I also highly recommend Catching Aziz Ansari’s Emmy Awarded show Master of None. This ten part rom com series covers far more than just a romantic subplot and is worth a watch regardless, but keeping with the focus episode six “Nashville” is a wonderful little snapshot of a couple’s first date. If you have a free 30 minutes you’ve got to give it a shot. Romantic comedies are uplifting, joyful, hilarious, and sometimes a bit raunchy which makes them the perfect pick-ya-up movie. Feeling down because that girl turned down your Hoco proposal? Need a little laugh to get you through the soul crushing twenty page packet that’s due tomorrow? Just feel like living vicariously through some fictional love story? Rom coms are the perfect solution.
Opinions The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
Dispute over unsanitary hall passes Everything wrong with the new pass OPINION OF: MARIANA RINCON Schools are always trying to find new ways to improve the safety of their students. Hall passes are a way to ensure that students don’t go roaming around when they should be in class, but there has to be a more effective way of assessing the situation. Stratford used to use student planners as hall passes, now we have changed to new plastic passes. Many students and teachers are concerned for their health because the new passes are covered in germs. The fact is, many people do not wash their hands when leaving the rest room, therefore germs get on, and stay on the hall pass for the next person to use. Even if the person does wash their hands, anything could splash on the pass. It is extremely unsanitary and could cause sickness to spread among students and teachers alike. Surprisingly, the school nurses aren’t concerned, “as far as I’m aware, the hall passes aren’t any worse than hand
GRAPHICS BY: CAROLINE BUCEK PHOTOS BY: EVIE UDSTUEN rails or door knobs, but you don’t see students avoiding those,” school nurse Kim Lusk said. The thing is, the door knobs and hand rails do not get brought in and out of the bathroom everyday. The hall passes get put on the bathroom floor and are constantly touched by unwashed hands. Also the passes do not get cleaned like the doors and hand rails do, this lets the germs on the pass sit, waiting for the next person to use. According to Andrew Tarantola at Gizmodo.com, germs and viruses take six seconds to transfer from their hard surface to your skin. To open a door takes approximately four seconds, this is not enough time for the germs on the surface to get to you. When using a hall pass, students carry it to and from the restroom. This takes at least 2 minutes, this allows germs to transfer to your skin for a long period of time. This is an easy way to get sick and spread germs of all kinds. Students and teachers are all
around disgusted by the plastic hall passes and know that we need to find a more sanitary solution. A way of modifying the pass, but still have it serve the same purpose, could be to change back to the old planner passes and have the teacher, highlight the planner with the color of the floor. For example, if you are on the third floor, your teacher can put a green high lighter mark on their signature when they sign the pass. The other floors will do the same thing but with pink, yellow or any other color that they choose. This way students will not be sharing germs, because it is their personal pass, and will still have the color coordination that the teachers want.
The Passage of Time and Germs
A new plastic pass differs in germ buildup with those passes that have been used for a while.
Teaching Varieties
Students learn to adapt to irregular routines each year and why it can be beneficial OPINION OF: ELIZABETH COLE
By the Board
Coach Mark Wallace goes over a formula in geometry on the whiteboard.
Getting Active
Mr. Karl Poetzl instructs using an interactive projector.
New school year, new teachers, and new methods of teaching. Year to year, students have to adapt to six to eight teachers and their teaching methods, which takes time. The first and second six weeks may not seem difficult to some because of the workload, but mainly because students have to get used to their teachers. Some students may think it would be easier to have every teacher teach in a consistent way, but this is unrealistic and not beneficial to students at all. Every teaching style is different. Some teachers use the white board, some only verbally lecture, some assign in-class projects, while some rely off of book work. While this may be confusing at first, as students attend more classes the brain will adapt to the routine of what is expected. Insisting that teachers teach the exact same way, in every class,
would honestly get very old very fast. Different teaching methods challenge students and can make classes more interesting, instead of monotonous throughout the day. Variety in classes can get students more engaged in the material, and keep them excited about learning. Some students may believe that having every teacher stick to the same teaching plan would make their lives easier, but this is not practical for the range of subjects across this school. For example, an English class will certainly not be taught in the same way as a science class, and math class is certainly not going to be taught in the same manner as a social studies course. This is to ensure that each course is taught with the information getting across to students in the most effective way possible. While it is true the transition from middle school to high
school can be hard for freshmen, it is required and should be expected. Transitioning into a new chapter in life may not always be fun, but the growth we can gain as a result makes it worth it. “Starting at Stratford was a different environment.” said freshman Catherine Hastings, “Teachers [at my middle school] taught differently so I had to get used to this new learning style. I’m starting to get into a routine, so it’s getting a lot easier.” Exposing students to a variety of teaching methods across subjects truly does prepare them for their future. In the real world, there isn’t a set method anywhere, and we are required to cooperate with different personalities. Learning this in high school is, perhaps, the greatest lesson that is not on our report cards. It also helps prepare us for the outside world.
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News
The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
Achieving the American Dream One student’s journey through the immigration mine field WRITTEN BY VALERIA ROBAYO Listening to recent political speeches, one might think immigrants are streaming across the border. It sounds like anybody can come into the United States, but for junior Tanya Sokhina, who uprooted her life in Kazakhstan and moved here this summer, that is not the case. Sokhina came to the U.S. through a lottery program called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program), which is administered through the U.S. Department of State. Many people from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. apply, and from there, only 50,000 people at random get accepted for a green card. Those odds aren’t exactly easy. “We didn’t even think we had a chance,” Sokhina said After being selected, Sokhina’s family had to try to sell everything they could before they moved.“It was hard because the currency is unstable, so we still haven’t sold everything,” Sokhina said. One of the biggest influencing factors as to
why Sokhina’s parents decided to come to the U.S. was her education. “Back in Kazakhstan, there aren’t as many options at universities,” Sokhina said. “When we found out that we had won the lottery, we were so happy, but my dad still worried. All the money that he had saved throughout his entire life was on the line,” Sokhina said. Another of the many difficulties that Sokhina has had to go through is that neither of her parents speak English. “My mom is trying to learn English every day, but it is a slow process,” Sokhina said. Coming in from a different country, one of the hardest thing to find here is jobs. “My mom has applied everywhere and anywhereshe will do anything, but she hasn’t gotten any calls from the applications she has sent in,” Sokhina said. Sokhina’s mother’s ability to find jobs is also limited because of her lack of a driver’s license. “My mom’s driver’s license back in
Kazakhstan was expired, so when she moved here she had to start from scratch,” Sokhina said. “My dad had a driver’s license before, so my dad could drive here with that license for 90 days, but he doesn’t live here, so we are stuck without a car,” Sokhina said. Just a few weeks ago, Sokhina’s father had to move back to Kazakhstan to take care of his 76-year-old mother. “My grandmother is sick, and she cannot perform daily tasks like walking, or going to buy groceries,” Sokhina said. “I was not able to say goodbye before he left at the airport because I was at school, but I miss him very much,” Sokhina said. Sokhina’s sister is also planning to move to the U.S., once she finishes her university in Russia. “My sister is 20 this year, so after this year she will continue studying here for her bachelor’s degree,” Sokhina said. “My sister has been studying English her entire life, and she was an exchange student in Minnesota a few years ago, but she doesn’t
like heat, so she will probably come to live in New York,” Sokhina said. Because of the way the program works, if you are chosen, you and your direct family can choose to move to any city or state in the U.S. “We chose Houston because my family had friends here, and my mom really loves this climate. She loves the people here, and the way they have their own culture that is so different than ours,” Sokhina said. Despite only having arrived a few months ago, Sokhina is increasingly starting to think of Houston as her home. “Even in Kazakhstan, I always felt different, more American than most people. I now feel more like a resident than a tourist,” Sokhina said. “My parents always knew their entire lives that they wanted to leave Kazakhstan. It took a lot of money to move, and to start our new life, but I am thoroughly enjoying every step of the way,” Sokhina said.”
Food Truck Friday
Students enjoy this new tradition and yummy food PHOTOS BY PRESLEY GRAVES Food Truck Friday was held on Sept. 16, in the south lot. Students were able to go outside during both lunches and enjoy some delicious food and beautiful weather, thanks to student council for organizing the event.
Ready to Roll
Riding out on his hover board, Freshman principal Carl Blaze came out to enjoy some great food and sunshine.
#SKA Cane Crazy
Sophomores Sofia Sabal and Gracen Williams show off their Canesadillas while enjoying the fun atmosphere.
Seniors gather around a table and share some laughs over good food. Folding tables were set up under the trees to add to the festival atmosphere.
Open Wide! Good Times Hot, Hot, Hot
Sophomore Jordan Kuhn purchases a drink from a truck during the extended 45 minute lunch period.
Junior Grayson Hart and senior Maddie Winter chat while waiting on fellow classmates that were in line getting food.
Juniors Max Schein and Maddie Wylie enjoy lobster tots from Maine Lobster.
6 Get to Know Your Spartans
News
The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
Students answer quirky questions WRITTEN & PHOTOS BY CLAIRE SANCHEZ
Donya Ghalayini (9) Do you sleep with your closet door open or closed? Closed What do you drink with your dinner? Water or tea Favorite dipping sauce? Honey BBQ sauce Biggest fear? Falling off of a water slide Do you sing in the car? Yes
Reagan Mansfield (10) Do you sleep with your closet door open or closed? Closed What do you drink with your dinner? Arizona Tea Half & Half Favorite dipping sauce? Guacamole Biggest fear? Snakes Do you sing in the car? No
Alexis Joubert (11) Do you sleep with your closet door open or closed? Open with the light on What do you drink with your dinner? Water Favorite dipping sauce? Queso Biggest fear? Darkness Do you sing in the car? Definitely
Colton Rogers (12)
Evan Udstuen (12)
Do you sleep with your closet door open or closed? Closed What do you drink with your dinner? Dr. Pepper Favorite dipping sauce? BBQ sauce Biggest fear? Spiders and needles Do you sing in the car? Oh yeah
Do you sleep with your closet door open or closed? Open What do you drink with your dinner? Water Favorite dipping sauce? Chick-fil-a sauce Biggest fear? Birds Do you sing in the car? Yes
Sneak a Peek of “Avenue Q”
The playhouse rehearses for their fall musical
PHOTOS COURTESY OF @shsplayhouse
All Laughs
Strike a Pose!
Freshman Brayden Yim and junior Marie Lauderdale laugh at a funny line. The cast did dry readings the first week of rehearsals.
The cast of “Avenue Q” strikes a pose as they rehearse a number from the new show. The show premieres Oct. 20.
Music Department Begins Season
10/24 Fall Choir Concert @ SHS 10/25 Orchestra Fall Concert @SHS
Blood Drive
Oct. 4 7:30 AM - 1:30 PM Library Must be at least 122 lbs 16 years - parent consent 17 years or older - without parent consent
Show me how to get to Avenue Q!
Junior Jasmine Choi poses with the script to help promote “Avenue Q.”The production is a parody of the kids show “Sesame Street”.
The (Puppet) Cast
The production is acted out by the partial puppet cast. There are 11 puppets total.
Columbus Day Oct. 10 NO SCHOOL!
5th Quarter
10/15 After SHS vs. MHS game Get food and celebrate SHS pride
Varsity Football
9/30 Northbrook @ Tully 10/8 Spring Woods @ Tully 10/14 Memorial @ Tully 10/21 Klein Collins @ Klein Memorial 10/27 Klein Oak @Tully
Late Start
Oct. 27 Be at school by 8:50!
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News
The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
Homecoming Court Finalized
PHOTOS BY CLAIRE SANCHEZ
The Kings
The Queens
The homecoming king candidates selected by the senior class are Ronnie Johnson, Randall Royal, Jaetovian Toles, Omid Shirazi, Durham Craig, Hasib Hamdi, and Sam Miller. The king will be crowned during the homecoming dance on Saturday night..
The homecoming queen candidates selected by the senior class are Jalan Beck, Kate Frenza, Morgan Thorton, Oriana Molleda, Olivia Siciliano, Shayli Chen-Troester, and Paige Wright. The queen will be crowned during halftime at the football game on Friday, Sept. 23.
Costumes out the wazoo. COSTUMES DÉCOR AND MORE
290 @ Huffmeister (One exit past 1960 )
8 In Depth The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
When Spartacus Was a Baby... Looking back on the history of our school STORY BY: OLIVIA SICILIANO AND CAMERON HENKEL PHOTOS COMPLIED BY: RILEY TIMMRECK, CAMERON HENKEL, AND OLIVIA SICILIANO
Remembering the students of years gone by Tower of Cheerleaders At a pep rally in 1982, cheerleaders work together to wow the crowd with their intricate formation. Tim Heise (middle), said “I was just standing around and all of a sudden, someone was on my shoulders!”
Senior Pr
Former students, now teachers, reflec senior pranks pulled at Stratford (w
Rachel Crain (Class of 20
“I heard about a prank that occurred in 2 know those parking barriers outside of t barriers used to be shaped like fruit. One w and other fruits. Apparently, the orange was hanging out in the alleyway between t one got the idea to steal it, paint it green Memorial High School. It was put far enou dropping off their kids couldn’t get aroun there was traffic behind them. Even the bu school started late for them that day. They [which was] pretty awesome!”
All Smiles in the Cafeteria
1988 Seniors Pam McKeever, Jill Armistead, Shelia Clark, and Ann Huthnance wait for their lunch to end to return back to their classes.
Cody Schwartz (Class of
As a former Spartan, he recalls that one ti lor High School’s mustang statue that wa rally for the Stratford .vs. Memorial game other senior men sprayed chemicals on M “SHS”, and they also dumped fertilizer ar smelled like manure.
Davy Barrett (Class of 1
Lunchtime Shenanigans
Mr. Barrett never pulled any senior prank attending a Memorial versus Stratford School, some Mustangs put hundreds o wards, he took the feet back to Memoria campus.
Waiting for the bell to ring, juniors Ben Pickett, Angela Kell, Sherman Wilcots, and Bart Franklin relax after going out to lunch. Ben remarked, “It’s worth the risk of getting caught to take a break from cafeteria food every now and then.
Danny Gex (Class of 198
We asked Mr. Gex about his memories o was his response: “I will plead the 5th!!!”
Early Pep Rallies Men’s Basketball at Work Looking to get the rebound, 1980 juniors Kemper Davis, Eric West, and sophomores Jim Root and Scott Johnson reach with their arms extended. Their uniforms characteristic of the year, are much different than the uniforms our spartans wear today on the court
1982 graduate, cheerleader Stephanie Peery explains her attire to her classmates at the Halloween pep rally. Differing from the white and green uniforms we have now, hers is accented with a lot more yellow.
SCHOOL TRADIT THEN • Before football games, Stratford used to hold a fund raiser where people could beat up an old car they collected in the parking lot with a sledge hammer for $5. • SHS also used to hold hayrides for students.
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In Depth 9 The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
Creating stratford’s identity
The first journalism teacher ever at SHS reflects back on the school’s opening
ranks!
ct back to some of the funniest when they were still allowed)
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2003, when my brother graduated. You the H.E.B near here? Back then those was an apple, an orange, some grapes, had gotten broken off somehow, and the baseball field and the H.E.B. Somen, and cement it into the driveway of ugh down in the driveway that people nd it, and also couldn’t back up since uses couldn’t get to school on time, so y had to get jackhammer to remove it -
f 2007)
ime some senior men stole Katy Tayas out front, and rode it into the pep e. He remembers hearing that some Memorial’s football field to spell out round the perimeter of the field that
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ks, but he was the victim of one. While d basketball game at Memorial High of dead chicken feet in his car. Afteral and scattered them throughout the
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of senior pranks as a Spartan, and this
REMEMBER WHEN...?
TIONS:
S.
WRITTEN BY: OLIVIA SICILIANO When Stratford first opened in 1974, it began the legacy and stories of the hundreds of Spartan students and faculty that would walk in and out of its doors. One of these former faculty members is Margaret Roberson, the first journalism teacher to work at Stratford. Thinking back to when she was a teacher here for 5 years total, Roberson said being part of the school’s opening was very exciting. “There’s something unique about opening a new school, especially a big high school like this one. The faculty was really close-knit and the students were really excited,” she said. However, the transition into the new building wasn’t as smooth as most people had hoped for. “Since Stratford was late on being finished, we started at Westchester Academy for In- A Blast From the Past ternational Studies. We were housed in the t-shacks behind the Former Journalism Teacher, school, and we had a building principal already, but we were Margaret Roberson, rereads an origitold we had to do everything that the Westchester nal issue of the Oracle principal said,” commented Roberson. “After we were delayed moving, we had one or two pep rallies at Westchester, and just continued it at Stratford. The transition into the school was hard since we were so late in getting here, but it was still well anticipated,” said Roberson. Comparing the physical appearance of the school then to the appearance now, Roberson said that the school has changed a lot. “When we first opened the building, there was no glass on the balconies, and they were all open. The kids would hang out over the balconies and I was worried on the third floor that they were going to fall into the courtyard. We also only had one gym when we first opened, not three.” The location of the journalism room itself has also changed since Roberson was last here. Once located in what is now the aquatic science room, Roberson said that the staff “had probably two electric typewriters, which was the highest technology available at the time. We also had a dark room that was very small. I think we only had one enlarger along with the usual dark room equipment. We didn’t really have any cameras, so the kids all had their own. All we had, basically, was a typewriter and an enlarger.” When starting the publications that Stratford has now, Roberson said the names were chosen by students based off of Greek Mythology. Mnemosyne, the name of the yearbook, is based off of the Greek goddess of memory, and The Oracle, the name of this paper, is based off of the Oracle of Delphi. Remembering the staff she taught, Roberson said “The staff were just very creative, smart, and excited. They finally had their own school, and their own identity, and their own publication. They worked extremely hard. The photography staff we had just amazed me, because they had to manually focus every shot. They had to get the lighting right, so they had to know their settings - which isn’t easy. Then they had to get back to the dark room, successfully load the film, and make prints of the good ones. They just worked really well together and enjoyed what they did.” From the first issues of the paper, to copies of yearbook, and the workshops and trips she attended with her students, Roberson and her staff began the legacy of the publications that still exist today at this school. It was a truly an honor for our staff to meet her, and receive her best advice: which was to “Work hard and meet your deadlines.”
NOW • 5th Quarter • Food Truck Friday
Before the school was renovated, the front of the school had stairs that led up to the second floor where the front office was located. Pictured here are 1997 Business Partners of America students.
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Features The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
Welcome to Stratford America
Foreign exchange students from all over the world dive into a new culture WRITTEN BY: EMMA HOLLAND
Tilda Skoglund
The Hardest Goodbye
Junior Tilda Skoglund with her dad in Sweden It’s the first day of school. Students wake up in the morning, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush their teeth, and leave for school. For many students, it takes as little as ten minutes to pull into the parking lot. For Junior Tilda Skoglund, she left for school days before the first day. Instead of carrying a backpack, she’s carrying a school year’s worth
of clothes and supplies. Instead of hopping into a car, she boards an airplane. Instead of driving ten minutes, she flies half-way across the world. “I was coming from a cold little country in Europe to a state with more citizens than my whole country,” Skoglund said. She said goodbye to her entire family - her mum, dad, brother, grandpa, and grandma - and she knew she wouldn’t see them again for an entire year. She recalls that it was extremely hard to say goodbye to her dad. “I knew I was going to be living with a family I had never met,” Skoglund said. “I knew that I was starting a new high school without knowing anyone.” It’s difficult for many people to understand why someone would pick up in the middle of their high school years and go to a different school in a different country, meet new people, adjust to a new culture, only to know that you were leaving it all and coming back the next year. “I knew that staying at home in Sweden, seeing the same trees, the same train stations, and the same people for one more year would make me bored,” she said. “One more year at home would make me wonder what could have been if I went across the world experiencing a new
culture and meeting new people.” Her best friend in Sweden also made the temporary move to America for the school year. “I knew that a year in Sweden, without my best friend, knowing that we could have been through the same thing, in the same country, would be unbearable,” Skoglund said. Skoglund’s bravery to make the transition to a new country gave her the energy to continue boarding the plane. It gave her the confidence to walk into a brand new school with brand new people and make brand new friends. Tilda has enjoyed her experience in Houston so far. New friends, teachers, and her host family have been welcoming to her. She also enjoys her experience on the soccer team. Staying connected with friends and family from her home country can be tough, but Skoglund finds a way to keep up. Snapchat is her favorite way to communicate with her longdistance friends. Picking up and landing in a new country can be difficult, but for Skoglund, the experience of a new culture makes the entire trip interesting. The many sacrifices she’s making, including giving up her culture and everything that she knows, are miniscule when compared to the exciting adventure she is embarking on as a member of the Stratford community.
German exchange program Another exchange student program has recently launched in the Spring Branch ISD community. This month, a group of 19 students landed in America to be apart of the Stratford for three weeks.
Students Ezra Meyer, Fernanda Luna, Valeria Robayo, Matt Hopper, and Alyssa Berry All the way from Gymnasium Ganderkesee school in Germany, these students, along with their teachers Claudia Qensel and Jürgen Schneider, moved into a new school district, new country, and a new home, as they are staying with a host family.
This program is an exchange between Spring Branch ISD and Germany. Stratford and Westchester German programs spent four weeks in Germany over the summer, and now German students are coming to spend three weeks in America. This program between Germany and America is called the GAPP, or the German American Program. “The goal of the program is to establish friendships and professional relationships between the three schools [Stratford, Westchester, and Gymnasium Ganderskee], and to provide international experiences for the participating students as well as for the Spring Branch ISD community,” Westchester Academy German teacher Jurgen Mueller said. Another goal of this exchange program is to enhance the skills of a new language. Learning a new language is difficult, and traveling to a country that speaks that language is the best way to become fluent. “GAPP is the largest high school exchange program between the United States and Germany,” Mueller said. “Since 1982, when GAPP partnered with PAD (Pädagogischer Austauschdienst / Educational Exchange Service) in Germany, more than 200,000 German and American students have participated in the exchange.”
I was wondering why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.
Have you ever tried to eat a clock? It’s very time consuming.
What did the blanket say when it fell off the bed? Oh sheet!
I used to go fishing with Skrillex, but he kept dropping the bass.
What did one ocean say to the other ocean? Nothing, they just waved.
Why couldn’t the bicycle stand on its own? It was two tired.
What does a nosey pepper do? Get jalapeño business.
Stratford Stduents Abroad
Fernanda Luna, Alyssa Berry, Kati Stubits, Rijana Deharde, Gina Sperling, Nele Schütte, Michael Dyer, Alina Gomolka, Rebecca Miller. Imke Wieting, Fenja Schultze, Maria Tönnies, Hanna Spille, and Valeria Robayo This program, like many others around the globe, is important and effective in allowing students to improve their knowledge of a new culture. The results of exchange programs are not just limited to language skills, but also how to interact with and relate to people of a different culture. It is exciting to see students from around the globe that are eager to participate in a new experience, whether it be a few weeks or in entire school year. It’s a privilege for SBISD to have such a wide variety of cultures, languages and backgrounds represented, as it’s an important aspect of making the most of the learning experience.
Why does Snoop Dogg carry an umbrella? Fo’ drizzle.
Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl go to the restroom? Because the “P” is silent. I wrote a song about a tortilla. Well really, it’s more a wrap. What do you call a detective alligator? An investi-gator. WRITTEN BY: CAROLINE BUCEK
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Features The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
The Trip of a Lifetime Taran Morford follows up with the Oracle about his project in Ghana
WRITTEN BY NAZLEE KHADJEHEIAN In the middle of the school year, most students are juggling school work, sports, and other extracurriculars. They’re worried about keeping their grades up, dreaming of the sweet relief of Spring Break and just about drowning in various assignments. Practically no student would ever consider taking a two week leave to Africa for a service project for fear of falling behind or losing exemptions. Junior Taran Morford didn’t let any of those common fears hold him back from completing his Eagle Award in East Ghana, filling a school’s library in a small village. Morford completed this project during his sophomore year, and returned with a vast expanse of experiences and memories to cherish for a lifetime. The inspiration for Morford’s project started with his grandparents and mother, who visit once a year for a big Kente cloth festival, bright beautiful clothes that attract many people to the region annually. After hearing the stories and seeing the photos, Morford decided to plan a trip for himself, not for plea-
PHOTO BY ZAINA ATEYEA sure, but to make a difference in the lives of the village in Ghana where the festival is located. “My grandfather, through service and help he’s done for the community, has become a chief there. So because of him, I heard about the school’s new library and decided to begin a project,” said Morford. “My mom and grandfather are photographers, and went the year before I did during a Kente cloth festival. So the next year I went with them while they were photographing the event. I went at the same time so I wouldn’t be alone.” Planning the trip took extensive time. It helped that his grandparents and mother had previously visited numerous times, Morford had to communicate with the school in Africa, working out the details of the project. “I had a lot of the information from my grandfather, but I did have to get in contact with the principal of the school and have several conversations with him before my travels to approve everything,” said Morford. While communicating across the world, Morford also had
to communicate within the community to raise awareness about his project and gain support from local schools, Girl Scout
“It was such a humbling experience to be able to make such a difference in their lives. ”
troops, churches, as well as book shops. Planning for this project began late during his freshman year. Morford credits his grandfather especially as a support system during the process. “Everything went really well until it came down to shipping the books. That didn’t go as well as planned” said Morford. “We actually lost the books at one point. Eventually, they all go there and everything turned out awesome. I received consistent support from my troop, friends and family.” The project certainly was all he expected and more. For Morford, it was the experience of a lifetime.
Babysitting Gone Wrong
Students share their unplanned stories while taking care of kids WRITTEN BY MADDIE MCKENZIE Everyone likes getting money and baby-sitting is a quick way to get some cash. All you have to do is show up, play games,makedinner,andput the kids to bed. Easy right? But every so often things go horribly wrong. “It was my first time baby-sitting for thisparticularfam- ily and as soon as I got there, the two boys were acting suspicious,” junior Robin Graves said. As the night progressed, things took a turn for the worst when,“The boys locked me in the bathroom while they dug through my stuff and screamed at me. As I desperately ordered them to open the door I heard a loud thud on the ground. Sure enough they threw my laptop across the room and
“When I arrived it ended up being a much greater culture shock than I expected. It was more than I ever imagined, truly amazing,” said Morford. “The people were really grateful for what I was doing there, and I was able to see that they appreciated what I did. It was such a humbling experience to be able to make such a difference in their lives. ” Morford’s favorite takeaway from the project was the kid’s reactions, and his new knowledge. “I took the books to a school there, so there were hundreds of little kids surprised to see me and really grateful too. It was awesome to see them so happy for what I had done. I gained a lot of leadership through the people I worked with and the people that helped me. Being able to go there and see the different culture, I gained a greater knowledge and leadership experience. Completing the project has changed Morford for the better. He went this past September, and stayed for about two weeks. “I was stressed that it wouldn’t come
together, especially with the issues with shipping,” Morford said. “There was a point that I thought it might not work out. It really came down to me persevering and working harder to achieve my goal. Once I got there, everything came together.” After all of his hard work, Morford will be getting his award later this year in a Boy Scout ceremony. “I am meeting with my scout master soon, then will have a board review, and will have a court of honor hopefully in October,” Morford said. In the future, Morford will be periodically checking in with the school, and perhaps even further collecting books to expand the library. “I hope to be able to visit in the future. My grandpa visits there frequently, so I’ll be able to stay connected through him even if I’m unable to go. It will be great to be able to know how everything is going and how much the kids are enjoying the books,” he said.
Sudoku
COMPILED BY PERRY SHEPARD
GRAPHICS BY CAROLINE BUCEK
I made my exit through the bathroom window,” Graves said. Temper tantrums are just apart of growing up. The crying, the screaming, and the “I Hate Teenagers” letters have all made their appearances. Sometimes the chaos is the babysitter’s fault. “One time I was driving two little boys back home in the rain,” senior Sydney Bucek said. “I was passing the intersection when I hit the break a little and my car ended up skidding causing me to rear end the car in front”. Hard times are sure to come around but at
the end of the day it’s all about the memories made and the money earned. Baby-sitting requires a lot of trust and responsibility, and in any case things usually don’t go as planned but at least they make for a great story.
Check your answers online @shsoracle.com
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Memorial & Dairy Ashford
Sports
The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
ONE ON ONE with...
Coach Stiff
PHOTO BY: JACQUI COMPARIN
Highlights: Varsity Football
SHS vs. Alvin
SHS vs. Elsik
SHS vs. Ridge Point
National Ranking: 1789
National Ranking: 1799
National Ranking: 2026
State Ranking: 203
State Ranking: 208
State Ranking: 221
Score: 15-9
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Score: 0-30
Score: 7-17
THE
SCHEDULE
Q. What sports are you coaching this year? A. Basketball and Football 9/23 Klein Forest @ Tully 7 p.m. Q. Why did you become 9/30 Northbrook @ Tully 7 p.m. Favorite Pump Up Song: a coach? 10/8 Spring Woods @ Tully 6 p.m. Fergalicious A.I love being apart of 10/14 Memorial @Tully 7 p.m. Years Playing a team and I wanted Volleyball: 9 years the chance to positively impact the life of young Favorite 10/1 Nike Invitational adults. Movie: @ The Woodlands, TX Q. What experience do She’s The Man 10/7 Postal Run dual with Cinco Ranch you have playing these Toughest @ Stratford HS Track 7 a.m. sports? Competition: Memorial 10/19 District Meet Championships A. I played both sports in @ Nottingham Park Favorite Restaurant: high school. Lupe Tortilla Q.What are you looking forward to about coachGo-To Dance Move: ing? The Sprinkler 9/23 Spring Woods @ Stratford 4:30 p.m. A.The chance to interact Favorite Quote: 9/27 Memorial @ Memorial HS 5:30 p.m. and lead kids to bettering 9/30 Klein Oak @ Stratford 5:30 p.m. “Sorry have volleyball” themselves on and off 10/4 Klein Forest @ Stratford 5:30 p.m. the field. Q. How do you balance being a teacher and a coach? A.Staying organized as much as possible and staying ahead of my The Spartans set off against Klein work in both fields to PHOTOS BY CLAIRE SANCHEZ avoid getting behind. Q. If you could say anything to your athletes what would it be? A.No matter in a game, practice, school or life in general a good work ethic, and a positive attitude can take you a long way. Q. How has athletics changed you? A. It taught me structure, discipline, and how to cooperate with others to achieve a desired A Strong Setup Number six, Chandler Gorman, sets number twelve, Grace Shea-Han goal and perseverance up for a kill in the game against Klein. through ups and downs.
PHOTO BY: JORDYN RICHARDS
Sam Miller
Football:
Fav. Restaurant: My House
Game Number:
90
Toughest Competition:
Cross Country:
Omid Shirazi
Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Subway
Most Embarrassing Song on iPod: What Yo Name IzKirko Bangz
Volleyball:
Favorite Quote:
“You don’t need a license to drive a sandwich” - Gandhi
Grace Shea-han
Volleyball in Full Swing
Teamwork Is Essential The whole team comes together to help set senior Grace Shea-Han up for a potential point winning kill.
Hit em’ hard
The Varsity team tries to win the point with the kill against Klein.
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Sports
The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
Spartan Experiences Olympic Trials First-Hand One of our own had the chance to be up close with the Olympic athletes this summer. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: DEVIN FAHEY
Ops with Olympiads Senior Devin Fahey poses for a selfie with the two time Olympic medallist Galen Rupp at the Oregon Olympic trials.
Running with Fahey “Eugene, Oregon is like heaven on earth for runners. My
time there running along pre- trials was life changing. I got to meet famous athletes and coaches. It was by far the best summer I’ve ever had.” - Devin Fahey
A Moment with the Star Gold medalist Matthew Centrow-
ittz stops to take a photo with senior Devin Fahey after winning the Olympic trials 1500 meter race with a time of 3:34 seconds on July 10.
Stratford 300 Let’s go Spartans, let’s go! PHOTOS BY: JORDYN RICHARDS
Stratford 300 According to Senior Hasib Hamdi
“I was inspired by the ‘Izzone,’ which was Michigan State’s basketball student section during March Madness. As Spartans, we are working on making it as organized and hyped as the ‘Izzone.’
Ecstatic for the Game Seniors Cassie Wilson, Alexandra Rushing and Belle Benton cheer on their Spartan football players by showing school spirit at the SHS vs. Elsik game.
Say Cheese Seniors John Gahn, Toni Pavlovic, and William Goolsby are all smiles while enjoying the varsity football game.
A little dab will do The Spartan 300 students dab on the Smiles with Sparticus Seniors Evie Udstuen and Ivy Mwaura say football team at the SHS vs. Elsik game on Sept. 1.
cheese with Sparticus at the SHS vs Alvin game.
Spartan Pride The SHS vs. Alvin game had seniors Chandler Capshaw, Reed Hilman and Jacob Sloan smiling with a score of 15 to 9.
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Sports
The Oracle / Sept. 23, 2016
Behind the Team and What’s In Their Bag
PHOTOS BY: PRESLEY GRAVES, GRAYSON HART, JACQUI COMPARIN AND HALEY GRACE FRANCIS
There is so much more to Friday night lights, than what is seen on the field. From the marching band to the football players, each student has a role in what shapes varsity football games. Spartanaire Bag Content
The Spartanaires have pom poms,a monogrammed water bottle their dress, boots, bag, and their comfy bleacher chair.
Friday Night Lights
Many organizations come together on Friday nights to support the football team, and heighten school spirit. Inside linebacker, senior Randall Royall, says that the support does not go unnoticed. “I hope they know that we appreciate them and support them the same way that we have their’s”
Swing at em’ Jalan!
Senior Jalan Beck dresses up as Spartacus and interacts with the Spartan fans. Beck, thought “it would be fun to get the student section hyped up” and to get into the games for free.
All Smiles Junior Spartanaire, Maggie Vinyard, stands in V-Line formation before the game.
Spartan Scramble!
Spartanaires, Cheerleaders, and the Band take part in the SHS Scramble, a tradition where the three groups stand in a SHS formation while the band plays the fight song.
Cheerleader Bag Content The cheerleaders have megaphones and pom poms to interact with the crowd and involve the fans in their chants and cheers.
Band Bag Content
The Marching Band wear their uniforms once the weather cools down. Before the change in weather, they wear a cooler summer uniform.
Bang that Drum! Junior Koby Chiu plays the tenor
drums on the field during the band’s halftime show. The band also helps keep spirit up in the stands.
“We Sing to You Dear Stratford High”
The Spartanaires, cheerleaders, band, and football players all unite on the field following the game, to sing the school’s alma mater.
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DOESADVERTISINGWORK? JUST DID! THISSPACECOULDBEYOURSFORONLY$50 For more information, contact: thestratfordoracle@gmail.com
Do you want to go to Costa Rica next summer? See Mrs. Cummons in room 120 for more information or go online to eftours.com/ and search tour number 1847104xz
Oktoberfest Triathlon 7:10 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
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October 9, 2016