the PEREGRINE

Pay raise sparks discussion among teachers

Upperclassmen take part in district’s largest ECP program

Varsity tennis player advances to Regionals

page2

Volume thirty-eight Issue six Jersey Village High School 7600 Solomon Houston, TX 77040

pages 9-10

page8 page14

The only cure for senioritis is graduation and on June 6th the

class of 2010 will do just that. “What’s next?” is the question

asked to four seniors with very different futures.

2newsth

e PEREGRINE may ‘10

Academic All-District Girls’ Soccer Team Stacy BoydAshley CriswellCaitlin FarmerNicole FunderburkeSarah GuerreroAmrinder LambaMegan MugaveroTalice NietoRebeca PeralesBrittany RobinettJamie TaylorAlejandra ValenciaJoselyn VidesKadie Walaszczyk

Athletic CommitmentsAustin Sarabia Ouachita Baptist University-GolfKatie JennettOklahoma PanHandle State University-VolleyballTori Salazar Mcmurry University-Basketball

Dirstict Academic UILThien Nga VoFourth place, Calculator Applica-tionsKelsey O’BriantFirst place, Editorial WritingFourth place, Headline WritingKim AllenFourth place, Informative SpeakingMikel BaxterSixth place, Literary Criticism Orfa PalaciosThird place, News WritingJesus EsparzaThird place, Poetry InterpretationOlivia ReedFifth place, Prose InterpretationYahya KhanFourth place, Ready WritingChristian DominguezSecond place, Spelling and VocabularyZach AbeytaThird place, Spelling and Vocabulary

UIL Interscholastic League Press Conference-

JVTVAwarded a Gold Star Award & an Award of Distinguished MeritAustin SarabiaFirst place, Sports Play-by-PlayErica Lewandowski & Jorge RodriguezFirst place, Newscast EditingSteven BierwagenHonorable Mention, News Story

YearbookAwarded an Award of Distinguished MeritSkye ComstockFirst place, Ads; Third place, Ads; Honorable mention, Student Life SpreadAnthony EspinosaSecond place, Student Life FeatureJacqui BontkeThird place, Academic Spread; Third place, Academic Feature Story Emily Johnson Third place, Academic Photo

Megan McCannThird place, Current Year Entry - Academic SpreadMeredith SteffenHonorable mention, Feature StoryDeby ThorpHonorable mention, Sports Action PhotoCristian SandovalHonorable mention, Student Life PhotoChelsea Boyer & Evie Sweeten Honorable mention, Current Year Entry – Student Life SpreadCarmen BrownHonorable mention, Current Year Entry – Sports SpreadJustin JonesHonorable mention, Current Year Entry – Club/Organization Spread

NewspaperAwarded a Silver Star Award & an Award of Distinguished MeritLaura Hebert &Jacqui BontkeFirst Place, Feature/Entertainment Page DesignKelsey O’BriantSecond place, Editorial Cartoon;Honorable mention, Double-Truck Design; Honorable mention, General News PhotoJacqui Bontke Second place, Feature Photo;Third place, Editorial Writing;Third place, Computer ArtMikela MelakisThird place, News Feature;Honorable mention, Personal ColumnJacqui Bontke & Nica LlanoHonorable mention, Photo Story

Quill and Scroll Nation-al Gold Key WinnersLaura Hebert Feature for “Jacob’s Journey” Mikela Melakis Feature for “A Crucial Moment”

JVTV-Lone Star College Quack Attack Film FestivalAdam Mendry First place-Public Service An-nouncement, First place-Documentary Erica Lewandoski First place-Newscast PackageShane O’Neal First place-Comedy

Texas Art Education Association-Visual Art Scholastic Education State AwardDavid CantuExcellent, Drawing

Science OlympiadThird place, Write It, Do It

Destination Imagina-tion State Competitors, Renaissance AwardLauren CoatsLaetan GaspardAlly PiotrowskiTrey StokerKrislyn Koehn

bragging rights

KImbERLY ShEERANstaff writer

Through the past year, Jersey Village has seen many cutbacks and budget re-visions, such as the elimination of late buses and extracurricular transporta-tion or the school-wide paper shortage. These cut backs have plagued students and teachers through the entirety of the year, making tutoring unavailable to many students and hand outs in the classroom a nuisance to obtain. With increasing experience and time spent in the classroom, teacher’s salaries increase by several hundred dollars a year, but it is

not enough for many. On April 12th educators were re-warded with a 5.5% pay raise across the district after a long debate.

District board members that voted against the raise were Larry Youngblood, Ethel Wolfe and Bill Morris. Some see contradiction in these board members, particularly in Ethel Wolfe, a teacher in the Houston Independent School District. Wolfe sup-ported the Cy Fair raise before receiving her own 7% raise, upon that point she withdrew her support for the editorial-

izing change. During her campaign for election, Wolfe’s main areas she strived to improve in the district were financing and teacher pay.

Lawrence Youngblood voted against the raise, although while also campaign-ing he declared that CFISD under pro-tected and under paid its employees. His only viable connection to this district can be summed into several of his words; he worked a prom night.

Last, Bill Morris, a man who chose to live in CFISD not because of high qual-ity of education the schools provide, but because of the area’s safety, shopping and lower taxes, which would make his re-tirement more enjoyable. Many teachers feel strongly about these board mem-bers that would decide their wages.

“If a board member cannot see the value of keeping high quality educa-tors with periodic raises in salary, then they need to reevaluate who they are representing. We are talking about the men and women who are caring for and educating their kids. Maybe you have to look beyond the business aspect of it all and see the role teachers play in improv-ing society,” Timothy Nesser, English teacher, said.

The new budget cuts $10 million, re-quiring teachers to work six out of seven

class periods, custodians responsible for more square footage, elimination of the D.A.R.E. program and a change in spe-cial education classes. Speculation exists that if these cuts had not been made to help raise teacher salary, other districts with higher pay may have attracted CFISD teachers.

“When I went to Spring ISD for a year I did get paid more. Cy Fair needs to stay competitive with the other districts in order to keep the quality teachers they already have,” Melissa Daniels, govern-ment and economics teacher, said.

A power point presentation was giv-en by Stuart Snow, associate superinten-dent for business and financial services for the district, on the day of the vote. Snow’s presentation compared CFISD teachers pay to those in other districts. Teachers in Cy-Fair were paid lower than teacher in Klein, Katy, Tomball and Spring ISDs.

“If I were going to go to another dis-trict, I would have gone long before now. Plenty of other reasons besides money exist to cause a teacher to flee to another district. I have lived on a teacher’s salary for 36 years. It’s just a shame and disgrace that the phrase “teacher’s salary” needs no explanation no matter who hears it,” Martha Parham, English teacher, said.

On the Rise Educators of all kindsacross CFISD receive much debated raise

ASSERTIVE OPINIONS Teachers Timothy Nesser, Melissa Daniel and Marte Parham may teach differently but all agree that the recent 5.5% raise is well deserved for all educators, new and old. In recent years, the workload for teachers has increased while their pay has not. “We have deserved raises every year that should represent the workload we carry,” Marte Parham said.

photo by JAmES bARTON

photo by JAmES bARTON

photo by JAmES bARTON

“We are talking about the men and women who are caring for

and educating their kids. Maybe you have to look beyond the

business aspect of it all...”

3news

the PEREGRINEissue six

EmmA mCKENzIEstaff writer

At UIL contest, University Interscholastic League, six bands, choirs and orchestras received superior ratings. The string and full orchestras, Symphonic I and Symphonic II bands and the Varsity Men and Varsity Mixed choirs earned the Sweepstakes rating, or made all ones, in both the on stage performance, and in the sight-reading room.

In the past, these fine arts programs have been successful in rating well at the UIL competition.

“The last time we made sweepstakes at UIL was [in 2009],” Robert Carlin, Symphonic II band director, said.

Making Sweepstakes is not an easy task to accomplish. It takes hours of rehearsal and dedication from the students and directors to achieve the honor.

“It’s the first time in at least four years that Varsity Men’s (Choir) has made sweepstakes,” Benjamin Brown, senior, said. “And it is the first year for our new Varsity men’s direc-tor. I’m proud of him for turning us around.”

The goal every year, is to achieve the Sweepstakes award. For both orchestras, Denis Kidwell, director, feels a sense of growth in the program.

“I know how much stronger the program is now than when I was first named head director,” Kidwell said. “My highest expec-tations are that we have the best performance we can and that it is representing the work the students have done. The string program has greater ‘depth’ than in past years, too. Since I began teaching the orchestra program, it has grown larger and ultimately

stronger.” It is a rare find to have

so many programs in one school achieve the high-est ranking possible. The teachers of each are ecstatic to have their students be so successful.

“I was very proud of our pe r fo rmance . We selected some very challenging pieces and [the] students have set high standards,” Carlin said.

For seniors, making Sweepstakes was a goal of theirs and an award that they strived for.

“It’s a good ending to my high school year. [I am] leaving behind a legacy,” Brown said.

After cutting, coloring, and tracing beautiful butterflies a thread hung them from the ceiling. Some depicted happy and bright moments, while others represented sorrowful and tragic stories.

Houston’s Holocaust Museum asked schools to create butterflies in order to represent a new life for the 1.5 million child that died as a result.

The sophomore English and World History classes paired up in an effort to help the cause, while also learning about the history and analyzing the hardships the Holocaust imple-mented.

In English, students received a poem written by some-one, who was a part of the Holocaust. The poem told of the author’s stories and tragedies the author faced. The assign-ment was to draw pictures on the butterflies that represent the poem.

As students walked into their World History classes, they saw their butterflies on display. Each day, while digging deeper into the Holocaust and learning more, an author of

a poem “died”. When an author “died”, the butterfly equat-ing their poem was removed and taken off of display. This method was to show to students how fast people were killed in concentration camps.

“The butterfly project allowed for me to visually illustrate the atrocity of the Holocaust, helping students to better un-derstand an event that should never occur again,” Paula Mar-tinson, World History teacher, said.

This butterfly project deeply affected Aaron Cohen, soph-omore, because many of his family members were killed in the Holocaust. On his mother’s side his great grandparents died. On his father’s side his great aunts and uncles died. As a result, this project has caused Cohen to become much more religious than ever before.

“I’m glad that we made butterflies because it showed how many children died as a result of the Holocaust. I’m also very proud to be Jewish because it makes me stand out from ev-eryone,” Cohen, said.

Even other students who are not Jewish were impacted by the butterflies.

“The butterflies made me realize how many people lost

their lives for an unfair reason, and it really touched my heart,” Nicole Drake, sophomore, said.

This is the first year in nearly six years that students made butterflies. In the past other issues have interfered. This is also the first year, English and World His-tory classes collaborated.

“The butterfly project should defi-nitely continue. It’s a good way for students to read the poems and participate in class. It is also a good representa-tion of the people who died,” Lynda Nesrtra, Eng-lish teacher, said.

KINSEY bUTTONstaff writer

Sophomores memorialize Holocaust through drawings

all for ones, ones for all

GETTING READY Practicing her Viola, Emily Whittemore, junior, warms up before going on stage to perform at the Winter Concert.

hITTING ThE NOTE During Choir’s Dinner Theater, Travis Jones, se-nior, sings a solo for theaudience to enjoy.

photos by TAYLOR ESPINOSA

photos by JUSTIN JONES

Fine Arts programs earn Sweepstakes award at contest

photos by JAmES bARTON

light on dark pastButterflies shed

Limit

4featureth

e PEREGRINE may ‘10

She walks into the cold hospital without fear. With no hesitation she quickly signs in and awaits her dialysis. Sky Soto, senior, shows her unbreakable strength each passing day while she fights the end stage of renal disease causing her to receive a kidney transplant.

In 2008, Soto grew ill and began having unusual fevers; her parents quickly sought medical attention. After many unanswered questions, one doctor ran a kidney tests, and found that one of Soto’s kidney’s had no function and the other only had 17 percent function, leaving her in the end stage of renal disease. With Sky being an only child, it only magnified the pain of hearing the tragic news. But the fam-ily knew that staying crumbled only worsened the pain.

“At that moment I wished that I could take her place and not have to watch her go through anymore suffering than she had gone through while being hospitalized. To me, it was the deepest pain that I have gone through in my life. My husband and I and Sky cried a lot that day. My advice was, ok let's cry and get all these emotions out, but after this, no more crying, it was going to be all about moving forward,” Veronica Pruneda-Soto, mother, said.

At Memorial Herman Pediatric Dialysis Unit, Soto is under the care of Dr. Rita Swinford. Each Monday, Wednes-day, and Friday, she attends her exhausting, four hour, dialy-sis treatments.

“I'm at a Pediatric dialysis unit and I'm 19 so I understand what is going on but to see these little ones and to know that they don't know what is going on and they don't know how long they're are going to have to be on the machine, I hope [people] donate to save lives,” Soto said.

Soto’s family stepped up to get tested in hopes of being a match for the kidney transplant; they found that her uncle, Frank Pruneda, Jr. was an extremely close match. Pruneda agreed to undergo the kidney removal in hopes that it will save the life of his niece.

“My brother and his wife happened to be first on the list and after several tests, it resulted that he was almost a perfect match. Before testing he had a deep conversation with her, where they both cried, he assured her that she wasn't going to have to be on dialysis for long. He told her, ‘I'm going to be your match, just watch’, and thank God he is,” Soto-Pruneda said.

The process of this surgery has created a lifelong bond between Soto and her uncle.

“His decision to donate his kidney has brought us closer. We were already close, but knowing that he would sacrifice an organ for me has brought us much closer. I admire him for that,” Soto said.

Soto will undergo surgery on June 6th, but wants to re-ceive it earlier so she will not have to continue her dialysis treatment.

“I am not really nervous about it, I'm actually excited. I know that after my transplant I will be able to continue to achieve my goals,” Soto said.

Soto’s perseverance serves as an inspiration to many, in-cluding her own mother who believes that her daughter’s commitment to overcoming this condition has made both of them stronger people.

“Sky has made me a stronger person by watching her go through this. I tell a story that when I go to the doctor or to the dentist and I think about Sky and what she has gone through, I realize there is no comparison and it makes me stronger, my fear disappears. So many people that speak with her tell us that she is an amazing, compassionate person and that they are astonished by the way she carries herself,” Soto-Pruneda said.

Soto is now an avid promoter of people donating organs after death. She has given speeches to inspire oth-ers to donate and reaches out to her community by sharing her story.

“I feel that [donating] is very im-portant. I also feel that until it affects you personally, it’s hard to relate. So I hope that through my experience I will touch as many lives as possible and they will be motivated to donate their organs,” Soto said.

Soto’s family remains positive through this journey and has embraced the realization of what is most important in life.

“These situations that come to you unexpect-edly change your life completely. Your perception on life changes dramatically. You don't take life for granted and the simple things are what matter most,” Soto-Pruneda said.

Because of this life altering condition, the Soto family relies heavily on the power of prayer for support.

“I feel that God has a plan for everyone and that somehow this is what I have to go through to see the final outcome. I trust in him that I will over-come this ordeal and be able to touch a lot of lives and send a positive message,” Soto said.

Soto’s undeniable per-severance is what leads her to each treatment until she can receive surgery. With the support of her friends and family, she faces each day with a positive atti-tude and only looks forward to what is to come.

LAURA hEbERTco-managing editor

OPTImISTIC Even through years of struggle with dialysis, Sky Soto, senior, remains strong .

Hopeful recipient awaits kidneytransplant

Sky’s the

PERSEVERANCE Waiting for her transplant on June 6th, Sky Soto, senior, relies on her family and friends for support and compassion.

photos by JAmES bARTON

Keep good times rolling5feature

the PEREGRINEissue six

photos by ChELSEA bOYER

They walk into the big gym and find their size skates. Senior Laura Hebert and David Aaron Perez are ready to skate and dance. Perez skates around the gym with Hebert beside him every step of the way. They fall and giggle, but never give up on skating, for Perez is a macho man. At the end of the class Coach Kathryn Downing’s students have learned to skate.

Downing’s P.E. students dance on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fri-days and on Tuesdays and Thurs-days do various activities. This day however, was a skating day.

Downing’s student assistants Laura Hebert and Vanessa Rivera, seniors, have helped with the class for the second semester, and both would like to continue to work with students in their future.

The day started by finding skates in their size and lacing them up. As they headed out to the court Hebert stood behind Perez and began to help him skate.

Downing yelled to Hebert, “Do not let him fall!”

Shortly after Perez fell to the gym floor and Hebert looked back at Downing with a half panicked face. However Perez was laughing and all was fine. Hebert and Perez returned to skating except Perez fell three more times before he and Hebert reached the other side of the gym floor. As time went on skating and falling with Hebert became a game to Perez. He kept growl-ing and being macho which would make Hebert laugh and fall once again.

Shortly Neesa Savarese, junior, and Jonathan Stokes, freshman, both regular ed students in a P.E.

class came along to help He-bert keep Perez on his feet.

“I loved seeing the regu-lar P.E. students help Coach Downing’s P.E. students, with-out hesitation. My students are

so sweet and it renewed my faith in the kindness of humanity to see av-erage kids reach out and help others in need,” Hebert said.

Rivera found it difficult to wear skates while helping Andrew Gar-cia-Leyden skate so she kept her tennis shoes on and walked around the gym beside Garcia-Leyden. Be-fore the day was over Stokes and Yareli, another regular ed student, stood on either side of Garcia-Ley-den as he made it around the whole gym without falling.

“The best reward of helping the students learn to skate was their

smiles and excite-ment,” Rivera said.

Next, it was time to dance. All the students came together holding hands in the middle of the gym floor. They slide a few feet on their skates when they noticed a year-book student tak-ing pictures of the event. Shortly the students decided to strike a pose for the camera. After pos-ing for the camera some of the stu-dents danced to “YMCA”, “Hokie Pokie” and “Cha Cha Slide.”

As the period ended Downing asked her stu-dents what they liked most about skating.

“I like skating with my friends!” Tamera Hagan said.

None of the students could skate on their own, but the act of skating with their friends was excitement enough.

“I liked the fact that Coach Downing’s P.E. class and regular P.E. class were mixed. Being in a social situation like that helped all the students learn to interact with one another,” Hebert said.

When Hebert asked how fun today was, Hagan responded, “Five funs!”

As Downings’ kids were in-structed to leave the gym Hagan said goodbye to the new friends she had met today.

“These students are so exciting and kind. In second period I am bombarded with high fives, hugs, and handshakes the minute I walk in. I am so glad to have been given this opportunity. They really have brightened my life,” Hebert said.

Assistants share skating adventures during P.E. class

DOWN LOW Vanessa Rivera and Andrew Garcia- Leyden hold on to each other while trying a new skating method.

COURTNEY CALbAT staff writer

o

hOLDING ON Laura Hebert, senior, and Johnathan Stokes, freshman, try to balance David Aaron Perez.

6featureth

ePEREGRINE may ‘10

This summer, Oscar Gonzalez, sophomore, will be joining 180 other stu-dents, from both the United States and South Africa, on a trip to Johannesburg, South Africa. During his three week long trip, Gonzalez will be focusing on studying the health science aspect of the LEAD, Leadership Education And Development program, as well as various other medical fields.

Gonzalez was told about LEAD through the sponsor, Becky Rodriguez, of the National Hispanic Institute.

“The project administrator of NHI, Miss Becky, urged me to do this pro-gram, [in the U.S.],” Gonzalez said. “Many of the kids in (NHI) have done LEAD about one or two times before. [This is only] the second time [LEAD]has been held in South Africa.”

When applying, Gonzales had to complete an extensive application process which was designed to choose the handful of students allowed into the South Africa program.

“I (had to write) two essays, a questionnaire and two recommendation let-ters,” Gonzalez said. “(The program) also took into consideration my GPA and PSAT test scores.”

Both Gonzalez’s family and teachers were on his side throughout the appli-cation process. They hoped for him to be accepted into the program and experi-ence all that LEAD South Africa has to offer.

“Oscar took it upon himself to send the application [in] to be considered among 48 other students in the U.S.,” Maria Gonzalez, mother, said. “We (be-lieved) that this would be a great opportunity for Oscar to expend his knowl-

edge in this program.”During the program,

Gonzalez will have the chance to learn more about his expected profession.

“Oscar will get the exposure to the health science field, as well as rehabi l i-tation science, occupational therapy and many other medical aspects. (This is) a unique experience for Oscar to explore (the career) as well as the diversity of people in South Africa,” Maria Gonzalez said. “He will also learn about (the locals) roots, origins and daily life and chal-lenges they face.”

Along with Gonzalez, Melissa Larios, junior, also got accepted into the LEAD summer program, though she will be doing her studies at Duke University.

“I applied to LEAD business, and got accepted to Duke University/The Fugua School of Business,” Larias said. “This summer at LEAD I will be studying every aspect of the busi-ness world, and get first-hand exposure to Duke University’s campus.”

Gonzalez and Larios are ready and excited to experience what LEAD has to offer them this summer.

“I am extremely excited. I can’t even describe how excited I am and I can’t wait to go,” Gonzalez said.

EmmA mCKENzIE staff writer

Johannesburg

to South AfricaLEADOrganization holds an academic program in Johannesburg

They sat at their desks determined, concentrated, and ready to work. They went out into the student body to in-terview and take photographs. They connected with people and brought their stories to life, through pho-tographs, layouts, and stories. Now seniors and fifth year journalism stu-dents, it was time for their story to be told.

Kelsey O’Briant, Jacqui Bontke, and Chelsea Boyer have all three been a part of journalism for the past five years.

All three worked together on the yearbook staff in eighth grade at Cook Middle School. As the years pro-gressed, journalism affected each one in different ways. Whether it was the newspaper for O’Briant and Bontke, or yearbook for Boyer, they all took away valuable lessons over the years.

“Within the last four years News-paper has really allowed me to meet dozens of people with great stories. As a freshman I wrote stories about upperclassmen and got comfort-able meeting a person and telling their story. Now when I meet some-one new I find myself asking lots of questions even when I do not have to

write a story about them. I guess it has changed the way I interact with oth-ers,” Bontke said.

O’Briant and Bontke have held many different positions on the school newspaper, The Peregrine, over their high school careers. O’Briant serves as Managing Editor while Bontke cur-rently serves as Editor-in-Chief.

These seniors have been a part of journalism for the Peregrine’s first 24 page paper to winning its first Star Awards at the Interscholastic League Press Conference, the state journalism association..

The past four years Boyer has been on the yearbook staff contribut-ing countless hours, and long days to create books that people cherish for years. Currently she holds the posi-tion of Co-Editor in Chief as she has for the last two years. During her time on staff she has received individual as well as staff awards on the state and national level.

“The award I am most proud of is the Award of Distinguished Merit that last year’s book won, because it has been several years since the book had won that level of award. I was glad I could be a part of that,” Boyer said.

As with every class, journalism comes along with challenges. Through the daily tasks of trying to find stories

in every day high school lives, meet-ing deadlines combined with honors course loads, changing a blank page into a visually enticing layout each journalist found their own reward.

For Bontke and O’Briant, it came in the washing away of black ink off their hands after delivering newspapers to the classroom. For Boyer it came after hauling that 49th yearbook box off the delivery truck and opening the first box and smelling the delightful aroma of a freshly printed yearbook.

During the past two years The Peregrine has received a Bronze and Silver Star awards from ILPC when before their junior year the paper had only been nominated but not awarded. Not only has the paper won awards but so have O’Briant and Bontke.

“I am most proud of a national award I won from The National Fed-eration of Press Women for a double I made last year. This was a huge honor for me. I never expected to be recog-nized on a national level,” O’Briant said.

Journalism has also led these seniors to anticipated career paths. O’Briant is attending the Univer-sity of Missouri, which is one of the best journalism schools in the nation, where she plans on getting a degree and hopefully pursue a

career. Bontke is attending The Uni-versity of Texas at San Antonio, with a major in graphic advertising, which is an aspect of communications and journalism. While Boyer is attending Baylor University, where she plans on majoring in business, but she knows she will use many skills she has learned in her publication classes.

All three would agree any student should join a journalism class. People need to have a passion for the ele-ments of journalism by growing as a person, creating a book that will be part of people’s lives for years to come, and learning knowledge that can form you into the person you are.

As the last issue is published, and the last yearbook spread has been fin-ished, these three journalists will al-ways have the memories, and friend-ships of being on a publication staff.

“The journalism class room has be-come my home and I am going to be as sad to leave it as I will be to leave my real home,” Bontke said.

7issue sixfeature

thePEREGRINE

COURTNEY CALbATdelivery manager

Publication Success

EDITOR DUTIES At a late night layout session Editor Jacqui Bontke, senior, helps Mikela Melakis, junior, on her page assignment. During late nights the staff completes the layout, and shares food and time together.

PLANNING, On June 26, 2009 publication students including Chelsea Boyer, senior, headed to University of Texas for a summer workshop to begin planning the next year’s publications.

PROUD On March 27, 2010 students from across the district met at Cypress Ranch High School for the district UIL Academic meet. Kelsey O’Briant, senior, took first place in editorial writing.

photo by JUSTIN JONES

CELEbRATING At ILPC at the University of Texas, Kelsey O’Briant, Peregrine co-managing editor, Bobby Hawthorne, former ILPC and UIL academic director, Jacqui Bontke, Peregrine editor, and Laura Hebert, Peregrine co-managing editor, celebrate the Silver Star Award, a first for the Peregrine.

Three seniors share experiences that led to editorial leadership positions

Kidding Around

8featureth

ePEREGRINE may ‘10

With the largest Early Childhood Pro-gram in the district ECP mingles student teachers with eager to learn three and four year old preschoolers. Laughter, hugs, high fives and pick me ups fill the classroom.

“I am very excited that the program has grown over the years and that students feel that it is a worthwhile class that requires such a time investment, two hours. It is also the largest program in the state,” Judy Thrall,

ECP teacher, said.Early Childhood Professions gives high

school students a hands-on chance to work with children from the ages of three to four. They have the opportunity to learn whether they want to pursue a career with children or not. In the two hour class the students teach the preschoolers math, science, music, and art.

“My favorite thing about ECP is helping the kids learn in a variety of ways. The thing that made me want to join is just the joy

of working with young children and seeing their smiles and their creativity flow,” Adri-anna Marinez, senior, said.

About 35 out of the 103 students in the program are boys. Getting male students to join the program is a struggle for other Cy-Fair schools.

“I wanted to join the ECP program be-cause I would be able to work and teach chil-dren for two hours, and still be in school. I have always loved being around kids, they brighten up my day,” Austin Meekes, senior,

said.Other than the joy of being surrounded

by children, and helping them heighten their education, students in ECP learn from the children such as; how children behave and how they act towards others.

“When I walked in the pre-school I felt like I was missing out. I learned how kids learn so quickly. I learned that the moments I experienced and cherish with these gifted children will be treasured forever,” Vinnie Lam, senior, said.

LEANDRA LEEstaff writer

Early Childhood Professionsdominates district in student participation

photo by JUSTIN JONES

photo by JUSTIN JONES

photo by JUSTIN JONES

photo by mEREDITh STEFFEN

SWINGING Enjoy-ing his time with his ECP child, Shelby Huff, senior, plays around during Donuts wih Dad.

photo by mEREDITh STEFFEN

photo by JUSTIN JONES

photo by JUSTIN JONES

photo by JUSTIN JONES

photo by mUmTA mITTAL

SIPPIN’ During the bear picnic, Lizbeth Alcantar, senior, eats lunch with her ECP child.

DANCING During her free time, Lindsay Safi, senior, gets her groove on with her ECP student.

PIGGY bACK While playing around at the zoo, Gabe Lacanlale, senior, and his ECP stu-dent climb on a monkey sculpture.

KNUCKS While relax-ing in class, Vinnie Lam, senior, shows his ECP child a handshake.

RIDING At the ECP zoo trip, Vince Phommatheth, junior, gets a push from his student.

9issue sixfeature

thePEREGRINE

Lilys

On one end of the world, in Northern Uganda, her life revolves around survival. She must do whatever possible to protect herself, and must work to receive the most valuable gift, education. On the other end, in the United States, her life revolves around charity. She does whatever possible to protect her world, and give them the most valuable gift, edu-cation. On March 31st, Ajok Lillian, and Lily Nhoisaykham, senior, used both of their skills in an effort to broaden stu-dent’s perspective through the Invisible Children program.

The mission of Invisible Children is to use the power of the media to inform people of the tragedies going on in Uganda, in an effort to end the longest running war in Afri-can history. After watching the Invisible Children film her freshman year, Nhoisaykham’s interest in the program was quickly sparked. Because of Nhoisaykham’s passion for this affiliation, she made it her mission to organize the school wide event, to raise both money and awareness. With the help of her fellow Student Council members, Jeff Roth, as-sistant principal, and Stacie Wicke, associate principal, teach-

co-managing editor LAURA hEbERT

to the RescuePhilanthropist organizes school wide awareness

ers agreed to let their classes attend the seminar.

“Organizing the event was important to me because I wanted to raise aware-ness about the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) activi-ties and the atrocities going on in Northern Uganda. I wanted to open people’s eyes up about things going on all over the world. I also wanted something to unite school and show kids that they shouldn’t take their educa-tion for granted. Most im-portantly though, I wanted kids to connect a face to the problem; by meeting Lillian the problems become more per-sonal and not something you just heard from the news or read about in your textbook,” Nhoisaykham said.

A Stuco president, it is no surprise that she believes in the power of education. After graduation she plans on attending the University of Texas at Austin to double major in busi-ness and engineering. She wants to do Engineering with out Borders for a year and then open her own non-profit organi-zation. Because of her extensive knowledge of charities, she supports programs that help not only raise money, but fully educate the people they involve.

“I really like Invisible Children’s approach to rebuilding Uganda, instead of just handing the citizens money; they are actually trying to educate the citizens so they can build a long-lasting society. Education, in my belief, is the most im-portant tool for success in life and I fully support Invisible Children’s program as well as providing mentors for these kids,” Nhoisaykham said.

Other programs Nhoisaykham has worked for include, Love146, Vitamin Angels, and Charity Water. She tries to

intertwine charity events within her Student Council events, such as her organization of Battle of the Falcons. Giving to these charities has given Nhoisaykham rewarding life les-sons.

“Being involved with charities has helped me become an all around better person. I have become a better leader, orga-nizer, and speaker, as well as become a more compassionate person. Working with various charities is a very humbling experience and really makes me appreciate the little things, like dinner with my family, having a conversation with one of my best friends, or just the fact that I don’t have to worry where I will rest my head at night,” Nhoisaykham said.

With Nhoisaykham’s dedication to exposing various char-ities to students, the Invisible Children seminar was possible. Although they live very different lives, Nhoisaykham and Lillian‘s mission is simple, expose students to what is going on outside of their world. These “Lily’s” are making a differ-ence.

POWER OF hELPING In between presentations, Lilly Nhoisaykham, senior, and Ajok Lillian, Invisible Chil-dren speaker, talk to students including, Jennifer Montano, junior, and provide further information about the pro-gram.

photos by ShELbY CARTER

10 featureth

e PEREGRINE

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, resides in Cambridge just outside of Boston, and exists among the top schools in the na-

tion, drawing scientifically driven minds from all over this country and the world. People often regard MIT as the top technological institute in the nation, rivaling many Ivy Leagues in its prestige. For many, attendance at MIT is a distant dream. For Monica Neugebauer, it is an eminent reality.

Neugebauer will attend MIT in the fall, and even though she has a solidified future now, she did not have that cer-tainty before she applied.

“I was absolutely not expecting an acceptance. [MIT] was my long-shot school,” Neugebauer said.

Neugebauer’s goal of attending MIT has never been less than a conscious and constant effort. She puts in hours of studying for a number of upper level and AP classes every week.

“I’ve been [preparing] since elementary school, and that’s mostly because my parents have drilled that into me,” Neugebauer said. “But after a certain point, it becomes self motivation. If you don’t start out that way, it’s hard to make yourself want it. It’s really stressful, and I’m pretty sure I don’t have as much fun as most people do, but I think in the end it pays off,”

All of the preparation to get into the school will keep Neugebauer afloat in the intense academic environment at MIT.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people, and [the academic envi-ronment] is really strenuous, and they say that to make an A, you have to put in about 15 hours of week per class, so with about four classes, you’re putting in 10 hours of study-ing a day,” Neugebauer said, “I think the challenge will be good, and I know that I’m definitely not going to slack off when I go there. I’m going to use the opportunity that was given to me.”

Neugebauer looks with optimistic eyes into her future in the north, despite the difficulties that lay ahead of her, including her distance from her loved ones. Her new en-vironment among some of the greatest minds in America will make all of her work and distance worth it.

“Initially, part of my reason for applying is that I wanted something really different. After I got accepted, that started to wane when I started to worry about what it would be like

to be far away from people that I’ve known for such a long time,” Neugebauer said. “But after I went up

to see it, any misgivings I had were pretty much swept away. It is going to be different, and it is going to be scary, but I think now is the time that I really need that. It feels really weird, but I

think it will be a good thing.”

Charlie Moore spent the past four years laying low. Even though he possessed skill in swimming, he did not swim on the school team, and even though he

made some of the best grades in the class, he never went out of his way to show it. Now, as he moves onto college, Moore will begin to come into his own academically and athletically, swim-ming at the University of Texas.

“The first time I realized I wanted to go to Texas was when I was 11 and went to a swim camp there. It was so impactful on me. It was at that point too that I realized swimming is what I wanted to do. Being on campus and being in that facility and see-ing the tradition, the winning tradition that Texas brings, I knew that that was what I wanted to do,” Moore said.

Moore thought out his commitment to swimming carefully at an early age with the knowledge that swim-ming could change the rest of his life.

“In the club that I swim for, Cy-Fair Swim Club or Fleet, the swim coach has done an extraordinary job of

sending kids to big division one schools to swim, and that’s so different about swimming. It was never so much the short term of ‘we need to win this game’ it was putting in the hard work now and seeing what it will do for you in the long run,” Moore said.

He feels that his school of choice, University of Texas, will help him achieve his longest-term swimming goals, and will push him as hard as he has pushed himself thus far.

“Texas is a place where you truly have the opportunity to win a national championship on any year. Texas is consistently a top three team,” Moore said. “The guys that are on the team are Olympians who swim on the team that you’re competing with everyday and if you get an opportunity like that, you don’t pass it up because being around those guys really pushes you to reach

your full potential.”Moore’s experience in college will rival his expe-

rience with swimming and academics, now only in fatigue and independence.“[In college, swimming] won’t take up much more

time than it is now, but there’s going to be a lot more going on with the freedom I have, and trying to balance that out. From strictly a swimming standpoint, a lot more exhaustion will settle in because of the increased workload in the same period of time, which will make things more difficult to figure everything out and keep my academic goals straight,” Moore said. “But there’s no reason I shouldn’t do well academically. I have no excuse not to.”

Like most college students, Moore must consider how his college career will relate to the rest of his life. When it comes to swimming, Moore is unsure, yet optimistic.

“It would be great to do something [with swimming] after college, but that is really out of my control, past working really hard and reaching my full potential. If that means that I go on and make an Olympic team, great, but right now, I have to think that I can be done in four and a half years. That could be the end of the line. But if it’s permitted, if there is still more to do and more to achieve, I will definitely keep going,” Moore said.

ThegraduaTe

Lap Star

As four seniors say goodbye to

high school, they venture into their

colorful futures.

book smarts

swimmer achieves athletic ideal

KELSEY O’bRIANTmanaging editor

stories by

photo by KELSEY O’bRIANT

Girl sets sights on MIT

11the

may ‘10PEREGRINE

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, resides in Cambridge just outside of Boston, and exists among the top schools in the na-

tion, drawing scientifically driven minds from all over this country and the world. People often regard MIT as the top technological institute in the nation, rivaling many Ivy Leagues in its prestige. For many, attendance at MIT is a distant dream. For Monica Neugebauer, it is an eminent reality.

Neugebauer will attend MIT in the fall, and even though she has a solidified future now, she did not have that cer-tainty before she applied.

“I was absolutely not expecting an acceptance. [MIT] was my long-shot school,” Neugebauer said.

Neugebauer’s goal of attending MIT has never been less than a conscious and constant effort. She puts in hours of studying for a number of upper level and AP classes every week.

“I’ve been [preparing] since elementary school, and that’s mostly because my parents have drilled that into me,” Neugebauer said. “But after a certain point, it becomes self motivation. If you don’t start out that way, it’s hard to make yourself want it. It’s really stressful, and I’m pretty sure I don’t have as much fun as most people do, but I think in the end it pays off,”

All of the preparation to get into the school will keep Neugebauer afloat in the intense academic environment at MIT.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people, and [the academic envi-ronment] is really strenuous, and they say that to make an A, you have to put in about 15 hours of week per class, so with about four classes, you’re putting in 10 hours of study-ing a day,” Neugebauer said, “I think the challenge will be good, and I know that I’m definitely not going to slack off when I go there. I’m going to use the opportunity that was given to me.”

Neugebauer looks with optimistic eyes into her future in the north, despite the difficulties that lay ahead of her, including her distance from her loved ones. Her new en-vironment among some of the greatest minds in America will make all of her work and distance worth it.

“Initially, part of my reason for applying is that I wanted something really different. After I got accepted, that started to wane when I started to worry about what it would be like

to be far away from people that I’ve known for such a long time,” Neugebauer said. “But after I went up

to see it, any misgivings I had were pretty much swept away. It is going to be different, and it is going to be scary, but I think now is the time that I really need that. It feels really weird, but I

think it will be a good thing.”

It all started with a double layer ganache cake,” Susan Tran, se-nior said.

A couple years ago, Tran made the cake for her cousin’s birthday, and set the future events of her life and educa-tion in motion.

“I found out that being able to cre-ate good food to make others happy made me really happy too,” Tran said.

In the fall, as a result of a fairly new-found devotion to baking, Tran will attend the Texas Culinary Acad-emy in Austin.

In life, Tran searches for more than just academic success. Similarly, she hopes that her future career as a pastry chef can offer her a satisfaction that conventional subjects will not.

“Being a chef calls upon creative skills and hands on work. I've always been capable of doing well on most subjects but I never felt accom-plished or found anything par-ticularly pleasing even if I got a good grade,” Tran said, “I wanted my line of work to be creative and something I can make my own, something that no

one else could get an A on. I wanted to be a chef because I can please others by making good food and also because it allows me to be unique.”

Currently, to gain experience and to feed her passion, Tran works at two bakeries: Bella Cibo and Croissant Brioche.

“[At Bella Cibo] I bake and deco-rate cakeslike those on Ace of Cakes or Cake Boss,” Tran said, “At Croissant Brioche, I’m just a cashier, but on my free time I get to spend time with the pastry chef and also learn more about bakery business from the owner.”

Tran will study business at Uni-versity of Houston after completing a year of baking school so that she can then open up her own shop some-where down the line. Until then, she has a few key recipes to keep her oc-

cupied.“I'm really not that experi-enced to say that I'm really good at anything. But I do

love my banana cream pie. It’s so yum. I also love my Italian chocolate butter

cream frosting,” Tran said.

Pastry chef-to-be whips up future

Jimmie Dubuque, senior, discov-ered his destiny in the middle of the commons. During his junior

year, Dubuque stopped at the Marine recruiting booth and realized what he wanted from his life. Dubuque now has plans to enter the Marines immediately following high school.

“[I’m joining] the United States Ma-rine Corp because I believe that to be the best, you’ve got to learn from the best,” Dubuque said.

In preparation, Dubuque has met with his recruiter for physical training, which includes a vigorous routine of crunches, pull-ups, and running.

Dubuque wants to improve his body and his mind through his ex-perience in the military. He also wants to ensure the best future for

himself that he can.“I believe I will be more respected,

and I’ll be more mentally and physically prepared for any obstacle in my future,” Dubuque said. “I’m using the military to instill discipline and honor, and to per-form my future careers in the best way I can.”

Dubuque hopes to make the mili-tary his career for at least 20 years. In that time, he will train and then move up through the ranks until he reaches Sergeant Major of the Marine Corp.

Dubuque wants to show the world what he can achieve, and an-

ticipates a positive response when he does just that.

“I feel I will be looked up to by kids and respected

by adults,” Dubuque said.

CakeSter

Marine hopeful pursues honor

phot

o by

KEL

SEY

O’b

RIA

NT

photo by KELSEY O

’bRIA

NT

photo courtesy of ChARLIE mOORE

the few, the proud

12featureth

e PEREGRINE may ‘10

Their voices affirmative, their speaking skills well developed, with every single topic memorized for the debate, the two girls enter the Texas Area Model Orga-nization of American States (TMOAS) debate room for the Spanish Club debate competition in San Antonio, Texas. They walked out winners with a trip to the na-tion’s capital.

Allyse Griffin, junior, and Spanish Club President, and Citlalli Alvarez, sophomore, both experienced debaters, received exposure to a debate procedure where students represented a counsel of countries.

“To any non debater, the congregation resembled C-SPAN or a picture of con-gress in session,” Griffin said.

The girls did not expect to win the

debate, especially Alvarez who had never done the TMOAS style of debate until competition day.

“I felt awkward and uncomfortable in the field because I had never done TMOAS before,” Alvarez said. “I had done something like it when I partici-pated in Model United Nations; however this had a different procedure and feel.”

Alvarez entered the counsel with an unsure sense of confidence, yet as always determined to show her best and stron-gest voice for her cause.

“I went in feeling like any other de-bate I’ve done in the past, not expecting anything, but working my hardest to suc-ceed,” Alvarez said.

As the girls walked out of the room winners to a trip to the nations capital, they were shocked with disbelief.

“After I spilled my water all over my

desk during the debate round I wasn’t expecting to go to Washington, let alone win Best Delegate,” Griffin said.

The girls are looking forward to the trip and cannot wait to land in Washing-ton, D.C. on November 5, 2010.

“I’m pretty excited! I’ve wanted to visit D.C. all my life, and having this op-portunity is just amazing,” Alvarez said.

“This by all means is my greatest ac-complishment.” Griffin said. “It’s made me a much more confident and comfort-able public speaker.”

Although Spanish Club participates in many functions and is recognized state wide, this success story could change how the school views the club.

“I like to think that this will bring more appreciation for a club that re-ally does a lot in Jersey Village,” Alvarez said.

ThILYE RINKEstaff writer

OLé Enjoying her time in San Antonio, Citlalli Alvarez, sophomore, tries on a sombrero.

Spanish Club members earn opportunityto debate in Washington, D.C. in November

AwesomeArgumentistas

photo by CRISTIAN SANDOVAL photo courtesy of CITLALLI ALVAREz

PRONOUNCE Standing in front of the Spanish Club, Allyse Griffin, junior, delivers a powerful speech.

National Spanish Examination Achivement: • Citlalli AlvarezGold, Spanish 4 Outside Experience • Catherine Chica Bronze, Spanish 4 Outside Experience• Allison Popovich Bronze, Spanish 4 Regular• Elizabeth Tran Bronze, Spanish 4 Regular • Sara Abdelkhaleq Bronze, Spanish 5 Regular • Maria Alza Bronze, Spanish 5 Bilingual Native• Yessica Castro Bronze, Spanish 5 Bilingual Native• Jennie Do

Premio Excelencia, Spanish 4 Regular• Charles FlyPremio Excelencia, Spanish 4 Regular• Sandy LamPremio Excelencia, Spanish 4 Regular • Reena Kankaria Premio Excelencia, Spanish 5 Regular• Madelyn Mattern Premio Excelencia, Spanish 5 Regular• Adiam TesfalulPremio Excelencia, Spanish 5 Regular• Neha VaidyaPremio Excelencia, Spanish 5 Regular • Rosa Perales Premio Excelencia, Spanish 5 Bilingual Native• Juanita McCullough Bronze, Spanish 5 Outside Experience

The choir department has welcomed former member back, but this time to teach. Greg Moore joined the choir at the beginning of the year and has made a tremendous im-pact. Students are very fond of him, because he makes it clear that he is pushing the students to do the very best that they can do.

“At the beginning of the year, he gave us a speech about how he is passionate about music, and will push us to be the best,” Angelea Caton, sophomore, said.

Moore admitted to being nervous coming to this school. He was scared that he would need to learn traditions before being able to really direct, but before he was a director at the school, the choir had a welcoming party for him and he fit right in. In only one year, the general view of Moore by choir students is positive. Students and teachers agree that his pop-ularity is due to the fact that he gets to know the students on a personal level; he does not see them as merely students.

“I try to get to know the student as a person, and help them with more than just singing. The members of choir are people to me, not just numbers,” Moore said.

Moore spends time with all of his students and makes sure that he can help them reach their full potential. He gets to know his students as friends to help build a trust and respect, and it helps him push the singers to the heights he knows they can reach. He also has the ability to point out mistakes in a kind way, and help fix the problem from the start. He has gained the respect to move the music in the choir on and make it sound worthy of the superior ratings.

Moore has been singing since childhood. He sang for dif-ferent outlets such as church. During his junior year of high school, he joined choir and refined his love of singing.

He continued into his senior year, when

he made the All- State Choir.

From his success in high school, he moved on to Baylor to study music. At Baylor he graduated with a bachelor of mu-sic, and began teaching at Cy Creek.

“Singing is just one of those things I can’t imagine my life without,” Moore said.

His current direction of Freshman Men’s Choir, and the Sophomore Women’s Choir, along with assisting the direc-tion of the A Cappella choir, Chamber Choir, and the 5th and 6th period Women’s Choirs, has been a major success. Choir members agreed that Moore knows how to work mu-sic, and has a vision of most steps of the song. He plans out the song and helps the choir along to make it the superior song that he sees it as. He helped the choirs bring in high ratings, and is a major help in directing male singers.

“He knows how to talk to male singers. He knows how to model what to do and help you improve,.” Ben Brown, senior, said.

Students have seen Moore’s first year here as a major success. He has gained the respect of the students, and helped push the choirs to awards.

“Its always tough to get that first year under your belt and learn traditions. Next year I will know the traditions and expecta-tions, and have a great year,” Moore said.

Students have seen Moore’s first year here as a major success. He has gained the respect of the students, and helped push the choirs to awards.

“Its always tough to get that first year under your belt and learn traditions. Next year I will know the traditions and expectations, and have a great year,” Moore said.

13feature

thePEREGRINE

TANNER STOGSDILLstaff writer

SINGING Carl London, Chase Wall-ing, Nick Cordray, Josh Humada, and Jordan Holocomb are lead by greg, choir director, during a group piece.

SIGNING Students sign the note as Greg Moore, choir director, accom-panies them with the piano during class rehearsal.

music to MOORE’S ears

DIRECTING Greg Moore, choir director guides his boys choir students during a song.

photo by JAmES bARTON

photo by JAmES bARTON

photo by JAmES bARTON

photo by CRISTIAN SANDOVAL

PERFORmING During their Christmas Concert, at Foundry Church, the Men’s choir sings with the direc-tion of Greg Moore, choir director.

New choir director reaches into students’ hearts

14sports th

ePEREGRINE may ‘10

Sweat dripped from the heads of the 65 bowlers at the state competition, with seven representing the high school. Whether the sweat fell from the anticipation of the big tournament, or that no cool air-conditioned air blew threw the facility created debate among the bowlers. Their family and team members screamed as the ball slid down the lanes to kiss the pins and make them fall. The bowlers at the head of the respective lanes gave a sigh of relief as the last pin falls at the end of the 10th frame.

The Girls and Boys bowling teams made it to the state competition. Both teams have been to the state level nu-merous times, and have bowled better than most other levels of the competition. Once there, the teams did not take home a winning trophy, but they bowled better than most of their games this year.

Both the girls team, consisting of Christina Maxfield, Taylor Jones, seniors, Amanda Gomez, Sarah Keppler, ju-

niors, and Caitlin Russett, sophomore, and boys Matthew Nation, junior, and Matthew Mazola, senior, qualified for the state competition. Although the school teams fol-lowed a recent history of being champions, the state title remained a conquest for another year.

“They are good kids, they don’t get in trouble, and they do well in school. Most of the time people tell me how they are impressed by the teams,” John Henthorn, coach, said.

The girls’ team broke records as they were undefeated through regionals. They made first place each step of the way until state. Five of these bowlers managed to make the All District Girls team.

The bowling team must overcome many challenges to reach the prestigious level of state. Women’s bowling is in-creasing in popularity as colleges around the nation form teams. The girls’ team at this school excels as well. The girls’ team was able to break a record, being the only team in the region to advance past the Regional level undefeated. This

put the girls’ team in a lane between the two best teams in the state.

The last time the boys’ team made it to state was in 2008, but the team has seen state every year, with the ex-ception of three years, since John Henthorn became the coach. The boys also had members that made it into the all district team. The team has attracted notable skill and competitive bowlers with a long history of the sport.

“Knowing that you are one of the top 65 in the state is an incredible feeling,” Nation said.

The teams also have a dedicated coach. In 2004, John Henthorn was approached by members of the bowling team, and asked if he would be their sponsor. He decided that since the current team was so persistent, he would gauge their interest with a mock tryout for the team at the end of the year. There was a large turnout, and since then he has been coaching the team.

“It feels good to motivate the kids to be successful, al-ways helping them with a new challenge,” Henthorn said.

a sTriking TeamTANNER STOGSDILL

staff writer

Bowling advances to state tournament with determination

Natalie Chu, junior, moves swiftly around the court eyes fix-ated on the tennis ball. She stud-ies her opponent observing her technique and form. Every shot from her opposition Chu quickly meets with her eager racket. Every move Chu makes she does with complete confidence and without hesitation. Chu lives for this thrill. The tan lines on her feet from her tennis shoes however she could live without.

“I was about nine years old when I first started playing. I didn’t really know anything about tennis initially. I only started play-ing because my dad told me too,” Chu said.

She also did not know that this seemingly meaningless ten-nis match with her father would quickly evolve into her life’s pas-sion. Almost immediately after picking up her first racket she became engulfed in the tennis world.

“When I was younger my role

model was professional tennis player Justine Henin,” Chu said. “She was not your typical six foot tennis player; she was five feet and four inches. She gave me hope that I could play and actually be good since I am also a short person.”

Before Chu began competing competitively she loved being on the court and playing against her friends. She spent almost everyday of her summer vacations on the court practicing from the mid-afternoon till either it was too dark to play or her parents called her home.

“Playing tennis is just like be-ing in a different world for me,” Chu said.

Friends often complained about the amount of time she dedicated to tennis, but a deter-mined Chu remained focus. Even-tually as a freshman Chu tried out and made the varsity tennis team. Now as a junior involved in Stu-dent Council and taking several AP classes Chu finds it harder to balance her schedule and include all the time she used to spend

practicing for tennis.“I can honestly say I still feel

the same way about tennis as I did when I first started playing, except that now that I’m older, I feel more pressure and sometimes it can be stressful,” Chu said.

Chu’s tennis coaches continu-ously push her to reach her full athletic potential, teaching her not only how to refine her racket skills but also improve her mental game that plays a crucial role in a match.

“I get really frustrated on the court and that ultimately affects the way I play and can be the rea-son as to why I will lose a match,” Chu said.

Chu’s busy schedule and oc-casional frustration does not pre-vent her talent from shinning on the court. Her teammates are very supportive and confident in her abilities.

“We figured if anyone was going to qualify for regionals it would be Natalie. She is a straight up beast on the court,” Zach Boelsterli, teammate and junior,

said. C h u

on the other hand was surprised but proud of her accom-plishment in qualifying for the regional tennis competition. The tournament lasted from April 19th to the 21st. Even though Chu did not place at the tournament, she has not let that discourage her from staying focused and opti-mistic about her other upcoming tournaments. In fact she already has plans to begin her intensive training after her advance place-ment tests so that she can be as prepared as possible for the Texas Grand Slam, a week long tennis tournament, which is considered to be the most important tourna-ment of the whole year.

“Even though I didn’t do well at regionals it just makes me all the more determined to win my next match. I know I have what it takes to beat any competitor I might face. It’s just a matter of whether or not I can perform come game day,” Chu said.

mIKELA mELAKISsports editor

Passionate tennis player remains focused;waits for most important tournament

FOCUSED Chu stands ready anticipating her op-ponent’s next shot during a JV hosted tournament.

ALLaroundALL-STAR

photo by CRISTIAN SANDOVAL

15issue sixsports

thePEREGRINE

AUDREY KONCAbA photo brief:

Learning and prac-ticing her swing and technique be-

gan early for Audrey Koncaba, senior.

“My dad got me into play-ing golf when I was eight. I also started playing some golf tournaments during the sum-mer,” Koncaba said.

These continual practices resulted in Koncaba’s fourth consecutive regional golf tour-nament.

“Our district is pretty com-petitive. The top two teams and the top two individuals go to regionals. I have been preparing for district all year. I put a lot of hours of practice to make it to regionals,” Kon-caba said.

She began this year’s com-petition with the knowledge of

her previous tournaments and the scores she had received, but Koncaba’s performance exceeded her expectations.

“The first round of district I played the best I ever have, I posted a 68 (four under par). I was in the lead by ten strokes,” Koncaba said.

A dream of playing on a high school team was not the only thing on Koncaba’s mind. In addition she started high school with thoughts of what would come after graduation.

“It had been my goal for the longest time to go to college on a golf scholarship. I knew that if I worked my hardest I would become successful,” Koncaba said.

This dream came true and Koncaba will be attending school in Lake Charles, Loui-siana at McNeese State Uni-versity on a golf scholarship.

Varsity golfer obtains scholarship, competes in 4th regional competition

staff writermEREDITh STEFFEN

photos by mEREDITh STEFFEN

1“Seeing my by-lines and photo credits is an incredible feeling.”

“My writing is now part of the school’s history.”2

GO see your counselor today and ask about taking Advanced Journalism - Newspaper. You will be glad you did at this time next year.

YOUR NAmE hEREstaff writer

JVHS 2009 JVHS 2010

3“I was able to work with an amazing group of people. Just WOW!”

August May/June September April October March November February December January

Top Reasons to become part of the Advanced Journalism - Newspaper staff

It is not too late, 4“I can still get my

technology credit through the course.”

17issue sixreflections

thePEREGRINE

Peering out of the car window I saw what most Houstonians would consider an all too familiar site, a grungy homeless man beg-ging on the side of the street. His clothes were tattered, his dirty hair loosely tied back in a bandana, and he held a cardboard sign above his head that read ‘My family was abducted by aliens’. My heart ached

for this sad little man. Usually when I see homeless people I wonder where their family is, or if they have always been homeless. Sometimes I even create story lines in my head of how this person came to be where they are. I came to the conclusion that this man probably had dreams of becoming an astronaut, until his dreams and mental psyche were destroyed with a pathetic SAT score.

This assumption might seem over dramatic, but for me it is a very real pos-sibility that undoubtedly stems from my own paranoia about the impact of my SAT score. Over the years my parents, my teachers, and my dream college have all morphed together to create this trifecta of pressure over my SAT results. I find myself imagining that I am that delusional homeless man begging on the side of the road, all because of a mediocre score.

Colleges have created this whole idea that whether I am intelligent, driven enough to do well in college, or have the potential to be success all boils down to what I made on my SAT. SAT prep classes are formed, encyclopedia sized books are created, all in effort to help kids like me prepare, or so they claim. Conve-niently for the people (oh so considerate enough to create the classes and books) the cost is an outrageous sum of money. For those who cannot afford these books and classes, those who do not have the time to devote to preparation or those who did prepare but find that their score is still insufficient, cannot help but feel like opportunity’s door is suddenly being slammed shut in their face, all because they are not up to par.

In fact I am not the only person who has noticed. Small prestigious schools like Middlebury and Bennington have decided to make the SAT optional claiming that the SAT leans in the privileged students’ favor. The original goal of the SAT was to identify intellectual talent with a test that did not discriminate between race, color, creed, or geography, and give that talent a fair opportunity at college. Sadly, the SAT does not achieve this anymore. It is primarily used now to predict incoming freshmen grades in college; however, more and more studies reveal that the SAT is virtually worthless in comparison to high school grade point averages and end of course exam achievement tests.

Psychologist Robert Sternberg breaks down intelligence into three different categories: analytical, practical, and creative. According to Sternberg while one might score extremely high in one area such as analytics, in order to be success-ful one needs to score well in all three areas. The SAT only looks at my analytical ability and how well I have prepared. It does not tell my college that I have a natural ability to mediate conflicts, that I have uncanny people skills, that I can think of a completely original approach to a problem, or that I can easily adapt to unfamiliar environments. The SAT tests me on how well I can take the SAT.

Granted this test is the one of few ways a college can fairly measure a student’s academic abilities, but I refuse to let this test determine my intelligence or predict my success. Often times in life I have witnessed that it does not matter how quali-fied you are or how much you know, but instead it matters who you know, how well you can interact with other people, and your ability to take fresh approach to complicated situations.

mIKELA mELAKIS

spor

ts ed

itor

The Official

SATJunior expresses frustration

over standardized test for college admission

Citizenship is not an expression that can be defined by a dictionary or a simplistic phase; in-stead it is an essence that can only be described

and carried out through experiences and occurrences in one’s lifetime. Through-out my life I have struggled with what the word ‘citizenship’ means to me and how it can be applied to others, but I am certain that the latent meaning of ‘citi-zenship’ can most accurately be depicted by my very own mother. While countless are aware of the “American dream” cliché, none can actually describe the meaning of it unless experienced first hand.

My mother became one of those in-dividuals when she crossed the Ameri-can borders at the age of 21. She arrived with empty pockets and the burden of two younger siblings to support, while across the world the rest of her family was skeptical of her decision to come to this country. That one choice detached her from her three older siblings, yet she knew her judgment would lead to a happy ending. While she worked two jobs and enrolled herself in English classes, she raised my two aunts and found her way to a better lifestyle. Though she started out with nothing, she became an individ-ual that lived the American dream and truly understands the meaning of what it is to be a citizen. She has taught me that this country is full of opportunities

that can open a door to a journey many only dream of even if one is fighting all odds. From her I learn that citizenship is not just patriotism but instead the ability to channel one’s motivation to beat ex-pectations. It is the ability to turn one’s lifestyle into the opposite of what it may have been by utilizing the tools the coun-try can offer them. It is the underlying factor that runs through American blood and finds it way to those that will make a difference.

Everyday I hear about issues that chase the world into unresolved chaos and yet many turn their backs towards taking initiative to make a change. I as an American know that we are all destined to do great things but whether or not we actually affect the world is up to us. I try to express my concern by helping oth-ers and arguing my standpoint on issues such as poverty, energy, and immigration. Just as my mother did, I long to stand against the odds and make the difference we are all capable of.

Many do not realize what paying it forward can do and the impact of small actions, but small actions is actually the hidden opportunity to make a greater impact. Though concern reaches those that are willing and actions reach those that are need, life is long enough to reach everyone in every way, and that is the only way one can truly give back to their community. My mother encouraged me to achieve, my concern showed me how to give, but life will teach me citizenship.

mUmTA mITTAL

layou

t edit

or

CITIzENShIPFellow American contemplates

meaning of nationalism

was first offeredin 1926

was developed by Carl Campbell

is required by 92%

of colleges

affect collegeadmission rates by about

10%

has an 8% chance of predicting a college freshman GPA

The SAT...

In 1995 I turned four and Sheriff Woody worried that Buzz Lightyear replaced him. In 1999 I turned seven and Andy went off to summer camp leaving his toys to have new adventures and make new friends. Now, I am

18 and the story where toys come to life has grown up. When I leave for school in the morning or turn out the

lights at night, I am almost positive that my toys do not come to life. I also doubt my teddy bears, Lite Brite, and Skydancer could pull of the same stunts as the toys from Toy Story. However, watching the Pixar animated movie as a child gave me the imagination to dream. Toy Story was probably one of the first movies I was old enough to call my favorite and the sequel did not disappoint me either. One of the most exciting Christmas gifts I ever received was the Toy Story and Toy Story 2 DVD box set.

My mom and dad like to embrace the last days of my childhood before I leave for college. One evening at dinner, my dad asked me what my favorite movie was.

“I mean, I guess I’d have to say Toy Story,” I answered.I then went on to explain that I am anticipating the re-

lease of the third Toy Story because it will sort of mark the end of my life as a child. It almost seems as if Andy, the child from the films, grew up with me, for he will gradu-

ate from high school in this next movie and deals with the parting of his old toys as he leaves for college. My parents were instantly nostalgic of taking my siblings and me to see Toy Story and thought the timing of the new film was just all too perfect. As we sat, I played the trailer for the film on my laptop and when it was finished I looked over to see my mom’s eyes welling with tears. Not that she does not show her emotions each time I mention leaving for college, but this particular instance created a realization that was both honest and reminiscent.

Since the first two Toy Story mov- ies came out I re-ally have not played with toys. Instead I have been growing up, start-ing high school, learn-ing to drive and getting a job, and like Andy, I will spend the week before leaving for college pack-ing up my old toys, parting with some and cherishing others.

The 3D film,

Toy Story 3 revisits the old toys as they struggle to keep be-ing toys while they are shelved away and donated to new children. No toy gets left behind, as always and I am sure movie watchers will be inspired to ‘reach for the sky’ and go ‘to infinity and beyond’.

On June 6th I will graduate from high school leaving my childhood at home ‘where I’m miles and miles from my nice warm bed’ and on June 18th so will Andy, leaving his toys behind to tell another toy story.

JACQUI bONTKE

edito

r-in-

chief

the perfect time for a

College bound senior compares similarities of leaving home with greatly anticipated sequel

Gettting the GoldFailure. It seems

as though every time I try a new ac-tivity, we are reac-quainted. So I de-cided to embrace it,

and this acquaintance introduced me to a good friend, success.

I walked into the journalism room sophomore year, with wide eyes and a fresh face, knowing close to nothing about writing or how a newspaper staff even worked. One of the first steps to creating a news-paper is coming up with topics to write about, so when prompted to contribute story ideas I, with my lack of knowledge, blurted out what I thought was a great sugges-tion.

“Well, Brittney Spears is mak-ing a comeback,” I will probably never live that one down.

The first story I ever wrote was a half-page double-spaced disaster area. When I got it back from the editor, it was bleeding in red ink, I am pretty sure she had more writ-ing on it than I did. I look back on it now and feel so bad that she even had read such a mess. It was not even until the fourth issue that one of my stories made it into the paper.

That is sort of how it always goes for me though. I really do not have much natural talent. The first time I auditioned for a play, I turned ghost white and cried. Sadly, I was the oldest butterfly in the neigh-borhood production of Beauty and the Beast. The first time I ever had a chair test in Orchestra, I got 13th chair out of a 16 piece orchestra, because I did not understand what notes meant. The first newscast story I ever did for JVTV, was 45 seconds of misery. Even in school, my first few years of elementary, I

was a D-student due to that evil multiplication table.

I am honestly not being hard on myself, it’s the truth. But I am okay with that because I got the failure out of the way. I know how it feels to do really badly, so now I know I can not do any worse than I already have. I can succeed now, and I truly believe I have come very far from the time when Brittney Spears’ comeback inter-ested me.

I am pleased with myself, and my accomplish-ments, because I earned them. I now hold officer positions in the activities that I failed at a first. Failure makes success that much better.

I was never simply mediocre and just got a little better over time, I have come way further than that, I have been the extremes, and I am proud.

LAURA hEbERT

man

aging

edito

r

successful student reflects on past experiences with failure

GOLD STAR At the 2010 Interscholastic League Press Confrence, Laura Hebert, senior, accepted JVTV’s Gold Star Award.

“I have come way further than that, I have been the extremes.”

18 reflections th

ePEREGRINE may 2010

Less than ten years ago classes of students made their legacies not by how loud they sounded at pep rallies or what their senior

shirts looked like, but by hard work. Fundraising was King at Jersey Village and left many students and parents with a little more cash in their pockets after graduation day. The current policy that restricts fundraising, and instead calls for senior fees has been shrinking bill folds since 2007 and proves ineffective when compared to the alternative.

The current plan in place for senior finances asks that all students pay $12.50 each semester which in theory creates revenue of roughly $70,000 for one class coming in as freshman. In 2007 seniors were asked to pay $25, which was collected and added to an already three years of class fundraising. Because fundraising was a student effort, the amount in each class’s account at the end of the 2007 school year varied according to the enthusiasm of the student government. 2008 class officers had great fundraising potential. As sophomores, the starry-eyed students were out in Houston’s heat washing cars on Saturdays with hopes of a free Prom. Their efforts were quickly halted and replaced with a $50 fee by the time they were juniors.

The concept of senior fees does not exactly sell

itself. Constant announcements, giant banners and threats to raises fees haunt all senior classes much more than fundraising ever did. Both the senior classes of 2008 and 2009 fees were raised to $100 for those who had failed to pay, however the fee itself is completely optional.

The now total $100 guarantees students a ticket to Senior Breakfast, Senior Spotlight, and Prom, however dates that do not go to Jersey Village or are not seniors must pay $70 to attend Prom. 2010 was the first class to forgo all additional opportunities, like fundraising to earn money for their class. The role of class officers became very limited this year with the required fee of $100, because their original duties to organize class wide fundraisers were replaced with the task of pleading with fellow classmates to pay their fee.

Fundraising, when allowed, provided students with the experience of a small community of people working together for a common goal. They found their own way of raising money. Sending out Facebook invites to garage sales and car washes, students were anticipating the finances of their senior year with eager and open minds. Though class sponsors may have been overwhelmed by fundraisers in the past, it is their duty as class

sponsors to guide class representatives in direction that promotes success. There is very little failure in the lessons behind fundraising.

Each student at Jersey Village is not entirely capable of writing $100 checks, but they are capable of bring in the community’s money through fundraising. If students are going to refuse to pay a completely optional fee, students who want to fundraise should be allowed to make a donation to their senior class. Even if fundraising only brings in a portion of the cost, it still has the power to decrease senior fees. $25 or $40 comes across a lot less scary than $100 dollars.

In a public school, the extras like Prom and Senior Breakfast are costly, but they also make memories and should not be left out of the picture. If the best in life is free, the education at here at school has delivered. Now it is time to allow one more lesson, the lesson of fundraising, to give classes as communities, back their independence.

positionthePEREGRINE

19YaYs NaYs0

19editorial

the PEREGRINEissue six

Peregrine staff 2009-2010expensive policy proves

ineffective when compared to fundraising alternative

Jersey Village HigH scHool student Publications’ newsPaPer PolicyThe Peregrine is the official student publication of Jersey Village High School and is published by the Advanced Journalism Newspaper class at Jersey Village High School, 7600 Solomon, Houston, Texas 77040 (713-896-3400). It is distributed free to the student body. Subscriptions can be bought for $15, and copies of the paper will be mailed to your residence. Unsigned

editorials represent a majority agreement of the staff. The Peregrine is read in advance of publication by the JVHS administration. Advertising is sold by the 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and full page. The staff has the right to reject, edit, or cancel any advertisement at any time. The advertising policy is stated on the advertising contract. Advertising is not an endorsement from the staff, the adviser, the administration, or the Cypress Fairbanks Board of Trustees. The Peregrine is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference, Quill and Scroll, and the

National Scholastic Press Association. The Peregrine is printed by Mirror Publishers, Inc in Texas City, TX. The opinion of readers is held in high regard. Please send all feedback or questions to our address or room 1712. Letters to the editor need to be limited to 150 words. We reserve the right to edit for spelling and grammar. Letters must be signed.

staff advisermARGIE COmSTOCKprincipalRALPh FUNK

JACQUI bONTKEeditor-in-chief

KELSEY O’bRIANTmanaging editor

LAURA hEbERTmanaging editor

mIKELA mELAKISsports editor

mUmTA mITTALlayout editor

VINCE FLORESadvertising designer

COURTNEY CALbATdelivery manager

ThILYE RINKEstaff writer

KImbERLY ShEERANstaff writer

mEREDITh STEFFENstaff writer

KAThY ROmEROstaff writer

ALINA DEKKERstaff writer

TANNER STOGSDILLstaff writer

KINSEY bUTTONstaff writer

ALISSA GUERRAstaff writer

LEANDRA LEEstaff writer

JESSE UPPALstaff writer

JAmES bARTONphotographer

EmmA mCKENzINEstaff writer

fee free

hIGh KNEES Showing off their old school work-out gear, Chris Grossman and Justin Wallace, seniors,

stop for a between class exercise.

OUT OF ThE bOX For Twin Day Katrina Dang and Kathy Nguyen, seniors, matched by

choosing colors from a crayon box.

POWER PUFF Taking a twist on the theme, Meghan Contreras, Nichole Buchala, Sarah Garcia,

seniors, dress up as a world saving trio.

OLDIES bUT GOODIES Preparing for a photo Deniecia Moore and Letisha Jefferson, seniors, hand a camera to a friend in order to remember their

senior citizen look.mAY ThE FORCE bE WITh YOU During Character Day Oscar Nguyen and Josh Kunkel,

seniors, performed a battle for the students eating lunch in the small commons.

PAINTING hER FUTURE Equipped with an apron, brush and paint, Hannah Luchak, senior,

portrayed her dream career of an artist.

Costume closetGraduating class spends year exploring colorful wardrobe

photo by ERICA mORLEY

photo by ERICA mORLEY

photo by VANESA ADAN

photo by NICA LLANO

photo by ShELbY CARTERphoto by ORFA PALACIOSphoto by CARmEN RESENDIz

photo by VANESA ADAN

GEEK GETS ThE GIRLS During Nerd Day

Paige Carrow , Oscar Guz-man , Gabrielle Bozeman

and Katherine Church ,seniors, strike a pose in

their attire for the day.

FORmAL GREETING Staying in the rice farmer character, Ming-Ming Chen, senior, bows to

greet her peers.

photo by ORFA PALACIOS