Upcoming Academy Events:
- Analyzed English due Thursday February 16th
- Chemistry Project due Thursday, February 16th - Chemistry Presentations on Friday, February 17th - World History packet due Monday, February 20th - English Field Trip on Friday, March 23rd | Bulletin Board:- The fourth Sidekick of the school year is due to come out on the second week of February! Look for them on the newspaper stands around the school!
- Be sure to watch KCBY's seventeenth show! Coming out Friday, February 17th. |
Announcements:
- New Advanced Reporters taking over Today, Monday Jan. 23.
Cookie Crazy
Everyone loves that moment when the tasty and delicious girl scout cookies arrive at their front door steps.
“I sell Girl Scout cookies to make money for my troop so we can go on trips, hold workshops, a bunch of activities to help other girls scouts earn badges and to earn badges ourselves and basically to have money for the troop to stay afloat,” sophomore Haley Cooper said.
There are so many types of cookies that can be purchased such as; thin mints, samoas, tagalongs, do-si-dos, trefoils, savannah smiles, dulce de leche and thank u very much.
Every year around the beginning of the year the girl scout troops across the nation sell these cookies to raise money for their troops. On all of the boxes that are sold there are faces from girls in different troops across the country.
“We aren't required to sell a certain amount, though we can set a personal goal if we want. Usually a troop tries to sell a lot though because more boxes sold means we get more money to do more activities,” Cooper said.
Each box varies in selling price depending on popularity amongst buyers. Popular boxes sell for less than the ones that are less popular. The popular boxes sell for $3.50 and the less popular sell for $4.
“We do workshops where girl scout can earn patches so they can get closer to earning awards like bronze, silver, and gold. We also go on trips like camping trips, or to different places to learn, for team building, or just to have fun (my troop is planning on going to disney land if we can sell enough cookies). We also take part in fundraisers for the community like clean Coppell or animal shelter awareness,” Cooper said.
More than just selling the cookies goes into being a girl scout. Through out years of being a scout, you work on awards and badges. The ultimate goal is the Gold Award at the end of the year, which is equivalent to being a Boy Eagle Scout.
“My mom is currently the leader for my sisters girl scout troop. It really brings the family together while helping out others,” freshman Mio Yamanda said.
Today there are 3.2 million girl scout in the United States. There are 2.8 million girl members and 890,000 adult members working as volunteers.
The headquarters are currently located in New York City but they are 112 charted councils all around the nation.
“Girl scout gives me the opportunity to help people out. It’s also something that I can put on my college resume to get the Gold Award,” sophomore Regan Sullivan said.
Ten of the 17 women in the United States Senate are former girl scout. 60 percent of women in the House of Representative are former girl scout. 53 percent of all business women are former girl scout. 67 percent of Girl Scout alumnae report back that Girl Scouts had any type of positive impact on them.
The Girl Scout Promise is;
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
The current Girl Scout Law is;
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Story by: Emma Eells
“I sell Girl Scout cookies to make money for my troop so we can go on trips, hold workshops, a bunch of activities to help other girls scouts earn badges and to earn badges ourselves and basically to have money for the troop to stay afloat,” sophomore Haley Cooper said.
There are so many types of cookies that can be purchased such as; thin mints, samoas, tagalongs, do-si-dos, trefoils, savannah smiles, dulce de leche and thank u very much.
Every year around the beginning of the year the girl scout troops across the nation sell these cookies to raise money for their troops. On all of the boxes that are sold there are faces from girls in different troops across the country.
“We aren't required to sell a certain amount, though we can set a personal goal if we want. Usually a troop tries to sell a lot though because more boxes sold means we get more money to do more activities,” Cooper said.
Each box varies in selling price depending on popularity amongst buyers. Popular boxes sell for less than the ones that are less popular. The popular boxes sell for $3.50 and the less popular sell for $4.
“We do workshops where girl scout can earn patches so they can get closer to earning awards like bronze, silver, and gold. We also go on trips like camping trips, or to different places to learn, for team building, or just to have fun (my troop is planning on going to disney land if we can sell enough cookies). We also take part in fundraisers for the community like clean Coppell or animal shelter awareness,” Cooper said.
More than just selling the cookies goes into being a girl scout. Through out years of being a scout, you work on awards and badges. The ultimate goal is the Gold Award at the end of the year, which is equivalent to being a Boy Eagle Scout.
“My mom is currently the leader for my sisters girl scout troop. It really brings the family together while helping out others,” freshman Mio Yamanda said.
Today there are 3.2 million girl scout in the United States. There are 2.8 million girl members and 890,000 adult members working as volunteers.
The headquarters are currently located in New York City but they are 112 charted councils all around the nation.
“Girl scout gives me the opportunity to help people out. It’s also something that I can put on my college resume to get the Gold Award,” sophomore Regan Sullivan said.
Ten of the 17 women in the United States Senate are former girl scout. 60 percent of women in the House of Representative are former girl scout. 53 percent of all business women are former girl scout. 67 percent of Girl Scout alumnae report back that Girl Scouts had any type of positive impact on them.
The Girl Scout Promise is;
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
The current Girl Scout Law is;
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Story by: Emma Eells
Yearbook Late Night
Can you imagine being at school for eight hours a day, then staying after for five more?
Students go to class and listen to teachers lecture about the day’s topic, take notes of what they’re talking about, move from class to class. Every day is stressful, as the average students must keep up in various classes and extracurricular commitments.
The students at Coppell High School Round-Up yearbook have to go through that every single day, and much more.
Many of the Round-Up staff members are passionate about photography. They basically go out to events such as games, dances and school events and they take pictures that might end up in the yearbook.
The yearbook is a tough elective to handle because there’s a lot of hard work and time that goes into it, and the students take their precious time to help create a fabulous new yearbook every year do an outstanding job.
Yearbook maybe a very time consuming course to handle but it’s really fun and it creative way to show your talent for photography.
Once every month, the yearbook staff has a late night where they stay after school and they work until deadline.
They mainly work on the computers, place pictures on the pages and then turn in the pictures to the editors to edit for the actual yearbook.
Late night isn’t as hectic as people would think.
“We go in there, and it’s kind of chill, and we get to eat, but we work the whole time to get our pages done,” EMAC sophomore Elizabeth Sims said.
Each of the yearbook staffers has their own job to do. Some would go take pictures that are still needed; others would stay behind and make sure that the pictures are all on the page for the editors.
When they are done with their pictures they give them to adviser Rachel Pellegrino to look over and to edit if it needs to be. On the week of deadline, she would stay until about 6 p.m.
The reason of deadlines and late nights are so that they can have everything in order and in time for the yearbooks to be purchased and received by the students. Anything that doesn’t get done has to be done that day or things will go wrong.
To be in the yearbook round up you have to be mentally and physically ready to be because if you have a lot on your mind, then you won’t be able to focus on what to be done and you’ll end up digging a hole too deep and you won’t be able to climb out.
And you have to be physically ready because you have to be at most event that goes on or off campus, and once you miss that event you can’t go back and redone what’s already has passed or been done.
You have to be on the ball, every single day to get the job done!
Written by: Blessed Seneh
KCBY's chance to shine at STN
The talented students of Coppell High School’s KCBY staff will be making another appearance at this year’s Student Television Network conference, otherwise known as STN. The conference consists of talented kids, passions for television network, and a spirit of competitiveness.
A collection of high schools with media programs across the country come to together to compete in a wide variety of categories, including music video, feature broadcast, short film, public service announcement, public announcement, Sweet 16 and many more.
“We don’t send in anything ahead of time, we find out a theme for the music video, or broadcast that we have to make and we get a timeline, and we just go,” KCBY junior Josh Brunelli said.
STN also offers time for the students to take classes and lessons to help improve their skills. They can choose from a wide availability like audio mixing and producing.
At the conference, new cameras and technology for the classroom are introduced.
As a whole, the KCBY staff this year will be participating in Sweet 16. In overview, this competition means they get sixteen hours to write, produce, film, and edit a three minute short film. The film must follow a general theme based off of a prop. For example, last year the prop was a yoyo and the film had to show what goes up, must come down. With vague themes like this, the team has to use their creative abilities and run with it.
“Sweet 16 is difficult. Last year we missed the deadline by two seconds. Right as we got up there, they moved the basket. There’s no mercy. It’s a great team builder, when the clock is ticking they all have to pull together and make this happen.” Irma Kennedy said, the advisor of KCBY.
Individually, KCBY is all over the map with student participants.
“I’m entered in multiple things, like music video, sweet 16, and I’m in charge of public service announcement.” Eric Park, a KCBY junior said.
Even though everyone is doing Sweet 16, a lot of the students are only in one event of choice each. KCBY junior Adam Borel will be doing the movie trailer segment, and KCBY member Mason Adams will be in the short story segment.
Each year the convention is held in a different city. Last year’s was in Orlando Florida, and this year it is taking place in Dallas.
Funding for the trip is made possible by tamale sales. Each year KCBY sells tamale individually to raise money for the trip, and all the proceeds go towards their trip.
“It’s really affective. Most of us end up paying for our whole trips with the tamale sales anyways, so I don’t have to come up with the money on my own which is really nice.” Said Park.
Whatever amount students raise over their individual quotas, has the option to go into the pot for the rest of them who didn’t quite get there.
“STN is one of those things you just have to experience. It’s a great learning environment, and a great place to show off our skills. We all really enjoy it at the same time though.” KCBY Junior Will Seitz said.
Written by: Mabry Culp
A collection of high schools with media programs across the country come to together to compete in a wide variety of categories, including music video, feature broadcast, short film, public service announcement, public announcement, Sweet 16 and many more.
“We don’t send in anything ahead of time, we find out a theme for the music video, or broadcast that we have to make and we get a timeline, and we just go,” KCBY junior Josh Brunelli said.
STN also offers time for the students to take classes and lessons to help improve their skills. They can choose from a wide availability like audio mixing and producing.
At the conference, new cameras and technology for the classroom are introduced.
As a whole, the KCBY staff this year will be participating in Sweet 16. In overview, this competition means they get sixteen hours to write, produce, film, and edit a three minute short film. The film must follow a general theme based off of a prop. For example, last year the prop was a yoyo and the film had to show what goes up, must come down. With vague themes like this, the team has to use their creative abilities and run with it.
“Sweet 16 is difficult. Last year we missed the deadline by two seconds. Right as we got up there, they moved the basket. There’s no mercy. It’s a great team builder, when the clock is ticking they all have to pull together and make this happen.” Irma Kennedy said, the advisor of KCBY.
Individually, KCBY is all over the map with student participants.
“I’m entered in multiple things, like music video, sweet 16, and I’m in charge of public service announcement.” Eric Park, a KCBY junior said.
Even though everyone is doing Sweet 16, a lot of the students are only in one event of choice each. KCBY junior Adam Borel will be doing the movie trailer segment, and KCBY member Mason Adams will be in the short story segment.
Each year the convention is held in a different city. Last year’s was in Orlando Florida, and this year it is taking place in Dallas.
Funding for the trip is made possible by tamale sales. Each year KCBY sells tamale individually to raise money for the trip, and all the proceeds go towards their trip.
“It’s really affective. Most of us end up paying for our whole trips with the tamale sales anyways, so I don’t have to come up with the money on my own which is really nice.” Said Park.
Whatever amount students raise over their individual quotas, has the option to go into the pot for the rest of them who didn’t quite get there.
“STN is one of those things you just have to experience. It’s a great learning environment, and a great place to show off our skills. We all really enjoy it at the same time though.” KCBY Junior Will Seitz said.
Written by: Mabry Culp
Tim Cowlishaw Visits CHS
“Texas Tim”, otherwise known as Tim Cowlishaw, is the lead sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News. Cowlishaw was born and raised in Richardson, and grew up an avid reader, going through two newspapers a day. Writing for the Richardson Talon in high school, and The Daily Texan in college, Cowlishaw has always been a writer.
Being a natural born writer, Cowlishaw went to the University of Texas at Austin to major in communications. When he graduated, he was a beat writer for the Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars and Dallas Cowboys for several years. But, in 1998 he gave up beat writing to become the lead columnist on The Dallas Morning News, where he still works today. Along with being on The Dallas Morning News, he is a member of ESPN’s “Around the Horn” sports panel full time.
Cowlishaw is a talented writer, and has one several awards for it, including being in the top five Associated Press columnists for major newspapers across the nation.
Besides writing, Cowlishaw has a family as well, with children Rachel (2009 Coppell High School graduate) and Ben (a CHS junior). Ben is a writer for the Coppell High School newspaper, The Sidekick. He seems to be following in his fathers footsteps.
“I’ve learned a lot from my dad, and he’s taught me tons about journalism as a whole. He explained to me the ethics and morals of journalism, and why they’re important,” Ben said. “He made me realize that everything you write is out there for everyone to see, and read, so you have to be careful.”
Written by: Mabry Culp
Being a natural born writer, Cowlishaw went to the University of Texas at Austin to major in communications. When he graduated, he was a beat writer for the Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars and Dallas Cowboys for several years. But, in 1998 he gave up beat writing to become the lead columnist on The Dallas Morning News, where he still works today. Along with being on The Dallas Morning News, he is a member of ESPN’s “Around the Horn” sports panel full time.
Cowlishaw is a talented writer, and has one several awards for it, including being in the top five Associated Press columnists for major newspapers across the nation.
Besides writing, Cowlishaw has a family as well, with children Rachel (2009 Coppell High School graduate) and Ben (a CHS junior). Ben is a writer for the Coppell High School newspaper, The Sidekick. He seems to be following in his fathers footsteps.
“I’ve learned a lot from my dad, and he’s taught me tons about journalism as a whole. He explained to me the ethics and morals of journalism, and why they’re important,” Ben said. “He made me realize that everything you write is out there for everyone to see, and read, so you have to be careful.”
Written by: Mabry Culp
Tim Cowlishaw came to visit Coppell High School on Friday. When he came he gave us a little bit of his background and what his job is. While talking to us I couldn’t help but think about how he thought of all of the story lines and how he kept his emotions out of the way.
He said he always had to brainstorm for new ideas but, something is always happening in the sports world. Emotions also get in the way of writing different things. He told us about this story he had to write about overcoming addictions with players. He said it was the most personal and favorite story that he had ever written.
“My emotions sometimes get in the way of my writing because you like certain players and coaches,” Cowlishaw said.
It’s inspiring how much he puts into each piece that he writes. Before he worked for The Dallas Morning News and ESPN he was a small time writer for The Daily Texan at the University of Texas. After college he worked at the Corpus Christy Column Times. He said it was a small job but, he enjoyed it. He showed me that even if you start small you can still do bigger and better things.
Written By: Emma Eells
He said he always had to brainstorm for new ideas but, something is always happening in the sports world. Emotions also get in the way of writing different things. He told us about this story he had to write about overcoming addictions with players. He said it was the most personal and favorite story that he had ever written.
“My emotions sometimes get in the way of my writing because you like certain players and coaches,” Cowlishaw said.
It’s inspiring how much he puts into each piece that he writes. Before he worked for The Dallas Morning News and ESPN he was a small time writer for The Daily Texan at the University of Texas. After college he worked at the Corpus Christy Column Times. He said it was a small job but, he enjoyed it. He showed me that even if you start small you can still do bigger and better things.
Written By: Emma Eells
“Business is always evolving,” said Tim Cowlishaw, writer for The Dallas Morning News and panelist for “Around the Horn”, “you need to try to adapt to it.”
Cowlishaw proceeded to go on about his career in television and paper to the Emerging Media and Communication Academy. ESPN offered Cowlishaw to be the panelist for “Around the Horn” in 2002, and in the first few weeks he encountered difficulties.
“I hadn’t had a lot of television work, so I had a lot of trouble adjusting to the schedule,” Cowlishaw said.
Cowlishaw was attending the Masters, when he sent an email to the producer, stating that he was quitting. Cowlishaw thought that quitting would help him, and free him from the difficulties. But throughout the week, Cowlishaw noticed himself trying to patch things up with the producer, and he realized that what he’d done was a mistake. Wanting Cowlishaw back on the show, the producer hired him for a second time.
Quitting something doesn’t make you stronger or makes the problem go away, it just reminds you of what you could of done, and could have been, I learned. I took that message to heart, I’ve quit so many things in my life and I didn’t have the courage to go back to them. You need to stick through the rough patches, and not quit when you’re too tired from the fight. I’ve regretted quitting so many things because I was tired of it. You need to push yourself beyond your limits, and you’ll gain so much.
Written By: Megan Menegay
Cowlishaw proceeded to go on about his career in television and paper to the Emerging Media and Communication Academy. ESPN offered Cowlishaw to be the panelist for “Around the Horn” in 2002, and in the first few weeks he encountered difficulties.
“I hadn’t had a lot of television work, so I had a lot of trouble adjusting to the schedule,” Cowlishaw said.
Cowlishaw was attending the Masters, when he sent an email to the producer, stating that he was quitting. Cowlishaw thought that quitting would help him, and free him from the difficulties. But throughout the week, Cowlishaw noticed himself trying to patch things up with the producer, and he realized that what he’d done was a mistake. Wanting Cowlishaw back on the show, the producer hired him for a second time.
Quitting something doesn’t make you stronger or makes the problem go away, it just reminds you of what you could of done, and could have been, I learned. I took that message to heart, I’ve quit so many things in my life and I didn’t have the courage to go back to them. You need to stick through the rough patches, and not quit when you’re too tired from the fight. I’ve regretted quitting so many things because I was tired of it. You need to push yourself beyond your limits, and you’ll gain so much.
Written By: Megan Menegay
Steady progress in MATE
“Come MATE with us!” Seems like a peculiar slogan, and catches the eyes and laughs of many, but MATE actually stands for Marine Advanced Technology Education. A tough competition with a nearing deadline.
The MATE competition is one of the most unique by far. Competition takes place every year in Houston at the Johnson Space Center. Receiving a new theme every year, this year’s centers around sunken World War II ships. With this task in mind, the team has stayed busy at work designing their prototype. The robot must be able to perform tasks like measuring the ship from bow to stern, taking corral samples and moving them about the grid, and take oil samples from the ship to ensure the remnants aren’t hazardous.
To make matters a little more difficult, the team is not allowed to look into the pool, it all must be done from the cameras attached to the robot.
Aside from building a complex robot with attachments, the team must also make multiple presentations to “sell” their product to possible buyers. Writing a full technical report of the robot and the tasks, creating a poster and a poster presentation make up the business side of the project. Being professional is a must, and the students get a hands on simulation of what its really like to have to convince related companies what makes their product the best.
Building a robot that is capable of completing such tasks, and making a presentation will have some costly price tags with it, so sponsorships and fundraisers are an essential part of the process. Currently, MATE is a little bit behind in its funds, but anxiously awaiting grant proposals to come back, and sponsorships to come through. MATE is shying away from basic school fundraisers, because they need money in larger lump sum amounts instead of smaller contributions. Each member owes $125 as a due, but that is the only expense they will have to pay. All in all, its a pricey project, but that is why the team has a public relations division to help recruit sponsorships.
Although it is a lot of hard work, the team members really enjoy it.
“Everyone is really comfortable with each other, and when we have to work we do.” sophomore first-year member Haley Smith said. “We spend a lot of time just getting to know each other. It helps us get familiar and become more of a family than anything. The more we know our team, the easier it is for us to get serious work done.”
MATE sponsor Bill Montana said the group is gaining momentum despite being younger than last year’s group. The leader of the project, sophomore Kenzie Hitz has to keep everyone in line and keep the team on track.
“The team is split right now into smaller groups that they work in, but everyone helps with the building and the prototyping,” Hitz said.
Montana has confidence in the MATE students.
“MATE offers a lot more of a real world experience for the students,” Montana said. “Sure building robots that can play basketball is fun, but students are really getting a lot out of this and coming out of the project, being much more prepared.”
MATE has plenty work to get done, but they are all very confident that they will make it past regionals on April 14 in Houston, and advance to Internationals in Miami again next year.
Written by: Mabry Culp
The MATE competition is one of the most unique by far. Competition takes place every year in Houston at the Johnson Space Center. Receiving a new theme every year, this year’s centers around sunken World War II ships. With this task in mind, the team has stayed busy at work designing their prototype. The robot must be able to perform tasks like measuring the ship from bow to stern, taking corral samples and moving them about the grid, and take oil samples from the ship to ensure the remnants aren’t hazardous.
To make matters a little more difficult, the team is not allowed to look into the pool, it all must be done from the cameras attached to the robot.
Aside from building a complex robot with attachments, the team must also make multiple presentations to “sell” their product to possible buyers. Writing a full technical report of the robot and the tasks, creating a poster and a poster presentation make up the business side of the project. Being professional is a must, and the students get a hands on simulation of what its really like to have to convince related companies what makes their product the best.
Building a robot that is capable of completing such tasks, and making a presentation will have some costly price tags with it, so sponsorships and fundraisers are an essential part of the process. Currently, MATE is a little bit behind in its funds, but anxiously awaiting grant proposals to come back, and sponsorships to come through. MATE is shying away from basic school fundraisers, because they need money in larger lump sum amounts instead of smaller contributions. Each member owes $125 as a due, but that is the only expense they will have to pay. All in all, its a pricey project, but that is why the team has a public relations division to help recruit sponsorships.
Although it is a lot of hard work, the team members really enjoy it.
“Everyone is really comfortable with each other, and when we have to work we do.” sophomore first-year member Haley Smith said. “We spend a lot of time just getting to know each other. It helps us get familiar and become more of a family than anything. The more we know our team, the easier it is for us to get serious work done.”
MATE sponsor Bill Montana said the group is gaining momentum despite being younger than last year’s group. The leader of the project, sophomore Kenzie Hitz has to keep everyone in line and keep the team on track.
“The team is split right now into smaller groups that they work in, but everyone helps with the building and the prototyping,” Hitz said.
Montana has confidence in the MATE students.
“MATE offers a lot more of a real world experience for the students,” Montana said. “Sure building robots that can play basketball is fun, but students are really getting a lot out of this and coming out of the project, being much more prepared.”
MATE has plenty work to get done, but they are all very confident that they will make it past regionals on April 14 in Houston, and advance to Internationals in Miami again next year.
Written by: Mabry Culp
How Heavy is your Backpack?
“My backpack is heavy enough,” sophomore STEM student Clayton Howeth said.
According to online reports, 80 percent of all Americans suffer from some type of back pain in their life time. Common back pains are from muscular and nerve pain. Walking around the school your backpack should only be ten to twenty percent your current body weight. Carrying too heavy of a backpack can cause scoliosis, back pains and low level trauma.
“I currently suffer from back and shoulder pain because of the heaviness of my backpack and all the things that I carry in it,” sophomore PSA student Rachel Boaz said.
In the academies you are using technology every day such as; laptops, digital cameras, video cameras and or chargers. One of the goals of the academies was to reduce the amount of luggage the students would have to drag to class.
“I wish my backpack was a little bit lighter, but I bring a laptop to school everyday so that could also be a little bit of my fault,” Howeth said.
Students require certain supplies when learning in their classroom such as; journals, binders, laptops, textbooks and novels. When teachers require those items it weighs down the backpack and causes pain in specific areas of the back/shoulders.
“Right now I have bursted blood vessels on my shoulders and usually when I get home from school they hurt and turn into bruises and are very painful,” sophomore EMAC student Kristin Schulz said.
The fad of backpacks is slowly fading and over the shoulder backpacks are coming into the fashion world. Over the shoulder causes the pressure and weight to be all distributed to all one spot. Boaz, Howeth and Schulz don’t participate in the new fad, they have stuck to the original backpack style.
“My backpack is probably about 30 pounds and wearing my backpack causes extra pain on my back and shoulders,” Boaz said.
Here are a few tips to help improve your back and shoulder pain at school and at home.
Written By: Emma Eells
According to online reports, 80 percent of all Americans suffer from some type of back pain in their life time. Common back pains are from muscular and nerve pain. Walking around the school your backpack should only be ten to twenty percent your current body weight. Carrying too heavy of a backpack can cause scoliosis, back pains and low level trauma.
“I currently suffer from back and shoulder pain because of the heaviness of my backpack and all the things that I carry in it,” sophomore PSA student Rachel Boaz said.
In the academies you are using technology every day such as; laptops, digital cameras, video cameras and or chargers. One of the goals of the academies was to reduce the amount of luggage the students would have to drag to class.
“I wish my backpack was a little bit lighter, but I bring a laptop to school everyday so that could also be a little bit of my fault,” Howeth said.
Students require certain supplies when learning in their classroom such as; journals, binders, laptops, textbooks and novels. When teachers require those items it weighs down the backpack and causes pain in specific areas of the back/shoulders.
“Right now I have bursted blood vessels on my shoulders and usually when I get home from school they hurt and turn into bruises and are very painful,” sophomore EMAC student Kristin Schulz said.
The fad of backpacks is slowly fading and over the shoulder backpacks are coming into the fashion world. Over the shoulder causes the pressure and weight to be all distributed to all one spot. Boaz, Howeth and Schulz don’t participate in the new fad, they have stuck to the original backpack style.
“My backpack is probably about 30 pounds and wearing my backpack causes extra pain on my back and shoulders,” Boaz said.
Here are a few tips to help improve your back and shoulder pain at school and at home.
- Avoid messenger bags which are backpacks that are over two shoulders.
- Have a backpack with wide shoulder pads with cushion.
- Look into backpacks with wheels so no pressure is inserted on your shoulders or back at all.
- Wear your backpack over two shoulders and not one.
- Use your locker as regularly as possible to avoid more items being in your backpack.
- Measure your body weight and try and carry only 10 to 20 percent of what you currently weigh.
- Ask your teachers ahead of time what you will be needing for the upcoming week so you don’t bring your laptop, book, textbooks and or journals into class and weigh down your backpack.
- Instead of bringing your textbook to class everyday ask if there is a class set you can use or an online textbook you can use.
- Strengthen your back at home by doing quick exercises.
- When you have the opportunity stretch your back and shoulder muscles.
- Watch your posture when sitting down or standing up.
- Watch your weight by eating healthy food and exercising daily.
Written By: Emma Eells
Out of Classroom and Into the Country
The beaches are like paradise, with the sand running through your toes like velvet and the water warming your body with every wave. The sun shines through the leaves of the sky scraping trees and the sloths hang off of the Cecropia trees.
The opportunity to go to Costa Rica is right at your doorstep; all you have to do is answer the door.
Coppell High School Academy students have the chance to go to paradise either in the summer of 2012 or 2013. The trip is a total of nine days, with two days for travel. Students will explore the great features of Costa Rica, including the Spanish culture.
Whether your student is fluent in Spanish or only knows the basics, this trip will help enhance their Spanish speaking abilities. They will get a grasp of the culture by interacting with the locals, trying ethnic food and listening to the native tongue.
“I really encourage all parents to think about sending their kid out of the country,” EMAC Academy parent Molly Menegay said. “I sent my oldest daughter to Paris on a People to People trip, and she came back as a new person. She even did chores.”
This isn’t just an educational tour, it’s a tour filled with fun activities to create special bonds with the students from other schools. Students will get to zip line through the dense jungles and spot exotic creatures on their way to the next platform. Aside from zip lining, there is also white water rafting through the roaring rivers of Costa Rica. Whether your raft stays right side up or upside down, you’re sure to have a great time.
If you prefer the calmer waters, kayaking on the coastline would be ideal for you. Horse back riding through the jungles is available; this gives you the chance to be right next to the unusual vegetation and animals that Costa Rica has to offer.
“I can’t wait to go zip lining, I’ve been before at camp but never dangling above the jungle,” EMAC freshman Christian Meyer said.
An EF tour guild will accompany your students during the whole trip, taking them to only the safest parts of the country. You will only be able to contact your student in case of an emergency; this is because they want your students to come back with a sense of independence and responsibility.
“Out of all the international traveling trips, this by far is one of the safest. And the most adventuress,” co-sponsor and Spanish teacher Creighton Hulse said. “Also, if you try to go independently it’s a lot more expensive than going on this trip.”
Sending your child off to Costa Rica for nine days may not be on your agenda for summer, but it’s a great opportunity for your kids. They will gain so many experiences that they might not of gotten in the classroom.
Being in Costa Rica, learning their customs would look so much better on a college application then sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher lecture about Costa Rica. Plus your students will take home great relationships that they formed during the trip.
“Going to a different country, especially coming from one of the most advanced countries, your students will gain a sense of appreciation for what they have,” Hulse said.
Written By: Megan Menegay
Photo By: Leah Menegay
The opportunity to go to Costa Rica is right at your doorstep; all you have to do is answer the door.
Coppell High School Academy students have the chance to go to paradise either in the summer of 2012 or 2013. The trip is a total of nine days, with two days for travel. Students will explore the great features of Costa Rica, including the Spanish culture.
Whether your student is fluent in Spanish or only knows the basics, this trip will help enhance their Spanish speaking abilities. They will get a grasp of the culture by interacting with the locals, trying ethnic food and listening to the native tongue.
“I really encourage all parents to think about sending their kid out of the country,” EMAC Academy parent Molly Menegay said. “I sent my oldest daughter to Paris on a People to People trip, and she came back as a new person. She even did chores.”
This isn’t just an educational tour, it’s a tour filled with fun activities to create special bonds with the students from other schools. Students will get to zip line through the dense jungles and spot exotic creatures on their way to the next platform. Aside from zip lining, there is also white water rafting through the roaring rivers of Costa Rica. Whether your raft stays right side up or upside down, you’re sure to have a great time.
If you prefer the calmer waters, kayaking on the coastline would be ideal for you. Horse back riding through the jungles is available; this gives you the chance to be right next to the unusual vegetation and animals that Costa Rica has to offer.
“I can’t wait to go zip lining, I’ve been before at camp but never dangling above the jungle,” EMAC freshman Christian Meyer said.
An EF tour guild will accompany your students during the whole trip, taking them to only the safest parts of the country. You will only be able to contact your student in case of an emergency; this is because they want your students to come back with a sense of independence and responsibility.
“Out of all the international traveling trips, this by far is one of the safest. And the most adventuress,” co-sponsor and Spanish teacher Creighton Hulse said. “Also, if you try to go independently it’s a lot more expensive than going on this trip.”
Sending your child off to Costa Rica for nine days may not be on your agenda for summer, but it’s a great opportunity for your kids. They will gain so many experiences that they might not of gotten in the classroom.
Being in Costa Rica, learning their customs would look so much better on a college application then sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher lecture about Costa Rica. Plus your students will take home great relationships that they formed during the trip.
“Going to a different country, especially coming from one of the most advanced countries, your students will gain a sense of appreciation for what they have,” Hulse said.
Written By: Megan Menegay
Photo By: Leah Menegay
The Spotlight's on STEM
Trevor Kidwell
Senior Trevor Kidwell is the Solar Car design lead. With his interest in cars, Kidwell joined Solar Car to gain a better understanding of electrical engineering. This opportunity provides him a better understanding of electrical engineering and looks good on his college applications.
Written By: Megan Menegay
Written By: Megan Menegay
Conner Murrell
Senior Conner Murrell joined Solar Car and plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering. Murrell came to Solar Car looking for a new experience and said the team work and collaboration involved will benefit him in college.
Written By: Megan Menegay
Written By: Megan Menegay
Zach Zhou
Being junior Zach Zhou’s third year in STEM and Solar Car, he is closing in on his goal of a career as a mechanical engineer. Zhou first joined Solar Car because it looked fun and now he is the telemetry officer.
Written By: Megan Menegay
Written By: Megan Menegay
Alex Mudd
STEM sophomore Alex Mudd is an aspiring mechanical/electrical engineer. Mudd joined STEM because he wants a more hands on experience with engineering, and he definitely gets it with Solar Car. Working with Solar Car is the perfect fit for Mudd because for him it offers the different types of engineering, such as mechanical and aerodynamic.
Written By: Mabry Culp
Written By: Mabry Culp
Kaelan Cowan
At Coppell High School, Kaelan is a top dog with her senior status, but in Solar Car she is top dog as well. Cowan is the team captain for Solar Car, and is loving every moment because working in mechanical engineering is Cowan’s passion. After high school, she plans on going to Texas A&M or the University of Texas to pursue a career as a veterinarian or mechanical engineer.
Written By: Mabry Culp
Written By: Mabry Culp
Cinnie Lin
Three-year STEM member, junior Cinnie Lin is a diverse student. Lin joined Solar Car to work on a team and better her collaboration skills. Along with being a lively team member on Solar Car, she is a two year All State band member on the clarinet. In the future, Lin becoming a biomedical engineer is a top priority.
Written By: Mabry Culp
Written By: Mabry Culp
Josh Oliver
Coppell High School’s quirky twin, Josh Oliver is an outgoing leader in STEM. As one of the mechanical leads on Solar Car, mechanical engineering is a passion for Oliver as he wants to attend Texas A&M to pursue it as a future career. Oliver has always been interested in alternative energies, and thats why Solar Car is a perfect match.
Written By: Mabry Culp
Written By: Mabry Culp
Mason Gill
New Tech High@Coppell freshman Mason Gill went out on a limb his first year in high school and joined the Solar Car team. Gill’s father is a sponsor of the team and this sparked his interest in Solar Car. In the future, Gill has big plans and expects to become a petroleum engineer.
Written By: Mabry Culp
Written By: Mabry Culp
Ryan Liston
Ryan Liston is hard to miss at Coppell High school for two reasons: his height, and more importantly his friendly personality. Liston is the mechanical lead on the 2011-2012 Solar Car team. The aspiring mechanical engineer thrives in the Solar Car and STEM academy environment. He thinks looking through the lenses of engineering makes his classes easier and much more enjoyable.
Written By: Mabry Culp
Written By: Mabry Culp
Chris Staber
Chris Staber, the electrical lead on Solar Car, is only a sophomore but is determined to work in automotive engineering. Chris is grateful for the knowledge he is gaining through Solar Car because he will go into the automotive engineering field already understanding automotives and being a step ahead.
Written By: Mabry Culp
Written By: Mabry Culp
Let the Races Begin
The Coppell Solar Racing Team is more than a race team; it is a program and builds into a family. The Coppell high School Solar-Racing Team is an organization that is in the making on creating a new solar car to race this summer.
It’s going to be a one seated car; one driver because it’s not a very big man made vehicle. High school students of Coppell High School will create it.
Students that are participating in the solar race can receive very valuable experiences in business, technology, communications, and leadership for college and for their future jobs. The skills gained will assist each of the team members through the idea of the project and provide the experience of a lifetime.
The students are part of Coppell High School’s Pre-College program called EXCITE; Technology and Engineering. Through EXCITE, students engage in a study that prepares them for the engineering or Technical fields in college. The program is based around projects that teach each student about engineering and how to add math and science to solve problems.
Before the ideas of creating or building solar cars even came to mind, it wasn’t even possible for high school students to create them. Solar cars where mostly made by college students, but Coppell high school were one of the many schools to change that. In 2008 a team of 11th graders was formed.
The new team began working on the car but they were worried for the future of the program as well. They started thinking about their future in college and what they would be leaving behind at CHS after this program ended. They later realized that the work they were putting in and all the lessons they were learning now would have a hard time staying with the school after they all graduated, but that didn’t stop them
As the team worked on Aurora (the solar car), they also began planning on how they would create a more self-sufficient program. Their goal was to create a program where the Knowledge they gained by team members would stay at Coppell High School and with Coppell Solar after the members graduated. In May of 2008, the team brought a group of underclass students to join the Coppell Solar Racing Team. And now they’re known as the JV team of The Solar Car.
As the students grow in the experience they’ve encountered, they are passing the knowledge of what they learned on to the younger students who choose to participated, But Instead of separating themselves and separate the teams, the students are working together to move the entire Coppell Solar Racing Team forward and beyond expectations.
In the end, the final result is a team built of 10th-12th grade students at CHS, with very enough experiences to continue the program even after the upperclassmen graduate. At the same time, new students will be able to join the team and learn from the new Varsity team in the following years.
In the first year, the goal for Aurora was to teach the students about the bottom line of solar car racing. By 2010, the team took all the knowledge the gained and built a completely new Aurora. The new focus for the vehicle was to create a car with better aerodynamics and more mechanical efficiency. At the beginning of 2011 the team again adjusted many mechanical aspects of the car to increase aerodynamics and to decrease the weight of it. The race begins on Saturday, July 16, and the team went through scrutinizing to make sure that this time the car was mechanically and electrically sound enough to race. Let the race begin.
Written By: Blessed Seneh
It’s going to be a one seated car; one driver because it’s not a very big man made vehicle. High school students of Coppell High School will create it.
Students that are participating in the solar race can receive very valuable experiences in business, technology, communications, and leadership for college and for their future jobs. The skills gained will assist each of the team members through the idea of the project and provide the experience of a lifetime.
The students are part of Coppell High School’s Pre-College program called EXCITE; Technology and Engineering. Through EXCITE, students engage in a study that prepares them for the engineering or Technical fields in college. The program is based around projects that teach each student about engineering and how to add math and science to solve problems.
Before the ideas of creating or building solar cars even came to mind, it wasn’t even possible for high school students to create them. Solar cars where mostly made by college students, but Coppell high school were one of the many schools to change that. In 2008 a team of 11th graders was formed.
The new team began working on the car but they were worried for the future of the program as well. They started thinking about their future in college and what they would be leaving behind at CHS after this program ended. They later realized that the work they were putting in and all the lessons they were learning now would have a hard time staying with the school after they all graduated, but that didn’t stop them
As the team worked on Aurora (the solar car), they also began planning on how they would create a more self-sufficient program. Their goal was to create a program where the Knowledge they gained by team members would stay at Coppell High School and with Coppell Solar after the members graduated. In May of 2008, the team brought a group of underclass students to join the Coppell Solar Racing Team. And now they’re known as the JV team of The Solar Car.
As the students grow in the experience they’ve encountered, they are passing the knowledge of what they learned on to the younger students who choose to participated, But Instead of separating themselves and separate the teams, the students are working together to move the entire Coppell Solar Racing Team forward and beyond expectations.
In the end, the final result is a team built of 10th-12th grade students at CHS, with very enough experiences to continue the program even after the upperclassmen graduate. At the same time, new students will be able to join the team and learn from the new Varsity team in the following years.
In the first year, the goal for Aurora was to teach the students about the bottom line of solar car racing. By 2010, the team took all the knowledge the gained and built a completely new Aurora. The new focus for the vehicle was to create a car with better aerodynamics and more mechanical efficiency. At the beginning of 2011 the team again adjusted many mechanical aspects of the car to increase aerodynamics and to decrease the weight of it. The race begins on Saturday, July 16, and the team went through scrutinizing to make sure that this time the car was mechanically and electrically sound enough to race. Let the race begin.
Written By: Blessed Seneh
World Geography to Defense Coordinator
Sophomore Caroline Carter and her classmates will never forget her 15th birthday. Few students are greeted to class on their special day with classmates singing a notable song.
“A favorite memory of mine is when he got most of EMAC come and sing the song ‘Sweet Caroline’ on my birthday,” sophomore Caroline Carter said.
During the last two years of his career at Coppell High School, World Geography and coach Kody Groves has been a instructor in the Emerging Media and Communications (EMAC) Academy.
As an EMAC teacher, he had to teach for students wanting to have a career in the field of media. Not only did he teach academy classes, but also a few non-academy classes.
Sophomore Madeline Saiter was a student in his class last year.
“It's really sad to see him leave because he honestly is an amazing role model,” Saiter said.
He inspired lots of students. He worked with all of his students on a personal level. He took the time to know each student in all of his classes. Everyone wanted to be in his class and learn more about what he was teaching.
Groves worked with the students all year long and continued through the next year until, he received an offer for the position of defense coordinator for Mesquite Poteet High School. Once he received the offer, he made it clear that he needed to think about it, then come back into contact with the school when he had made his decision.
He made his decision when coming back to school from winter break. He decided that he should take the opportunity and see what happens.
“I am so sad that he is leaving our big family. He has been like the father of EMAC. I am glad that he is getting another opportunity with a job that he has always wanted,” EMAC sophomore Regan Sullivan said.
Once all of the sophomore EMAC students found out about his leaving, they chose to throw him a party. Every student contributed to the party. Most of the academy teachers and students showed up to show their appreciation. The party consisted of food, drinks and piñatas.
EMAC sophomore Natalie Hinson created a montage video of each previous student stating how much we are going to miss him and why.
“Irma Kennedy, EMAC head, asked me to be apart of creating this video for Coach Groves going away party. It was hard to think about him leaving all of the EMAC students. We all loved having him as a teacher and mentor,” Hinson said.
The video had everyone feeling sad and in disbelief that he was leaving. After the party all the teachers except for Groves left for the day. Students were feeling down in the dumps about seeing him for the last time. He decided to have all of his students get in a circle and pray with them. He prayed for the well being of the students, his future at a new school and gives thanks to all he has met.
“I hope I made it obvious to everyone that y’all were my favorite,” Groves said.
Written By Emma Eells
“A favorite memory of mine is when he got most of EMAC come and sing the song ‘Sweet Caroline’ on my birthday,” sophomore Caroline Carter said.
During the last two years of his career at Coppell High School, World Geography and coach Kody Groves has been a instructor in the Emerging Media and Communications (EMAC) Academy.
As an EMAC teacher, he had to teach for students wanting to have a career in the field of media. Not only did he teach academy classes, but also a few non-academy classes.
Sophomore Madeline Saiter was a student in his class last year.
“It's really sad to see him leave because he honestly is an amazing role model,” Saiter said.
He inspired lots of students. He worked with all of his students on a personal level. He took the time to know each student in all of his classes. Everyone wanted to be in his class and learn more about what he was teaching.
Groves worked with the students all year long and continued through the next year until, he received an offer for the position of defense coordinator for Mesquite Poteet High School. Once he received the offer, he made it clear that he needed to think about it, then come back into contact with the school when he had made his decision.
He made his decision when coming back to school from winter break. He decided that he should take the opportunity and see what happens.
“I am so sad that he is leaving our big family. He has been like the father of EMAC. I am glad that he is getting another opportunity with a job that he has always wanted,” EMAC sophomore Regan Sullivan said.
Once all of the sophomore EMAC students found out about his leaving, they chose to throw him a party. Every student contributed to the party. Most of the academy teachers and students showed up to show their appreciation. The party consisted of food, drinks and piñatas.
EMAC sophomore Natalie Hinson created a montage video of each previous student stating how much we are going to miss him and why.
“Irma Kennedy, EMAC head, asked me to be apart of creating this video for Coach Groves going away party. It was hard to think about him leaving all of the EMAC students. We all loved having him as a teacher and mentor,” Hinson said.
The video had everyone feeling sad and in disbelief that he was leaving. After the party all the teachers except for Groves left for the day. Students were feeling down in the dumps about seeing him for the last time. He decided to have all of his students get in a circle and pray with them. He prayed for the well being of the students, his future at a new school and gives thanks to all he has met.
“I hope I made it obvious to everyone that y’all were my favorite,” Groves said.
Written By Emma Eells
Media, Our Provider
Media. Have you really thought of how large of a role media plays in our life's today? It’s huge compared to what it was four years ago. Media evolves day in and day out.
The types of media that we have today, would be a mere thought in peoples eyes, in the past. Apple alone has come far in their technology, in the past couple of years. Four years ago people in America and around the world were getting so excited for the 3G service plus so many more applications. Now we have IPhone 4Gs and Ipads, and nice laptops. We have cameras on the front of the phone, a system that you can talk to and it will respond. I do not know about you but four years ago I would have thought that would be cool for someone when I’m in my mid to late 20’s, never would I have thought that I would have one of those phones in just four years.
Phones have also come far from a small screen to show your contacts, and now thousands of people have a full screen phone. A huge product was a touch screen phone. Before that there were not many of any type of touchscreen phones. This sparked a like and interest for people around the world. If we saw a person with a Iphone or any type of touch three or four years ago, we would be amazed. Not many had this series of phone. Now almost everyone has some type of touch phone, weather it is a Iphone, an Android, a Samsung Infuse, a Motorola Photon, HTC Evo or the Blackberry Torch.
Other than the Apple revolution of creating the top of the art phones, laptops and Ipads, the media world of news has evolved. News was and still is in the press. Though due to the improvements of the internet people can find there news else were. According to the Washington Post, a survey, given by the Pew Research Center, says that “Forty-six percent of adults say they go online for news at least three times a week, as opposed to 40 percent who read newspapers that often”. This means that people who regally read newspapers are now reading their news from the internet. The top three newspapers, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, have dropped from their print and are putting everything on the web. The Audit Bureau of Circulations publishes claims that USA Today had a -3.66% change in printed circulation from 2009 to 2010, and an even higher change from 2010 to 2012. As well as The New York Times, they dropped their printing circulation a -5.52% fall from 2009 to 2010.
With the decrease of print going down, less and less companies are paying for their ads to be in the papers, and more in internet ads. Even though the internet is taking over most of the newspapers printing, local news channels still make the top of news for most people.
So how has the media world changed and how might it effect us is clear. People today rely on media. We get our news, our technology devices, and more all fall from that one word, media.
Written by Maggie Crosby
The types of media that we have today, would be a mere thought in peoples eyes, in the past. Apple alone has come far in their technology, in the past couple of years. Four years ago people in America and around the world were getting so excited for the 3G service plus so many more applications. Now we have IPhone 4Gs and Ipads, and nice laptops. We have cameras on the front of the phone, a system that you can talk to and it will respond. I do not know about you but four years ago I would have thought that would be cool for someone when I’m in my mid to late 20’s, never would I have thought that I would have one of those phones in just four years.
Phones have also come far from a small screen to show your contacts, and now thousands of people have a full screen phone. A huge product was a touch screen phone. Before that there were not many of any type of touchscreen phones. This sparked a like and interest for people around the world. If we saw a person with a Iphone or any type of touch three or four years ago, we would be amazed. Not many had this series of phone. Now almost everyone has some type of touch phone, weather it is a Iphone, an Android, a Samsung Infuse, a Motorola Photon, HTC Evo or the Blackberry Torch.
Other than the Apple revolution of creating the top of the art phones, laptops and Ipads, the media world of news has evolved. News was and still is in the press. Though due to the improvements of the internet people can find there news else were. According to the Washington Post, a survey, given by the Pew Research Center, says that “Forty-six percent of adults say they go online for news at least three times a week, as opposed to 40 percent who read newspapers that often”. This means that people who regally read newspapers are now reading their news from the internet. The top three newspapers, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, have dropped from their print and are putting everything on the web. The Audit Bureau of Circulations publishes claims that USA Today had a -3.66% change in printed circulation from 2009 to 2010, and an even higher change from 2010 to 2012. As well as The New York Times, they dropped their printing circulation a -5.52% fall from 2009 to 2010.
With the decrease of print going down, less and less companies are paying for their ads to be in the papers, and more in internet ads. Even though the internet is taking over most of the newspapers printing, local news channels still make the top of news for most people.
So how has the media world changed and how might it effect us is clear. People today rely on media. We get our news, our technology devices, and more all fall from that one word, media.
Written by Maggie Crosby
Media vs. Society
In today’s society, media has made itself a very special place in our world today. When stepping our your front door you see media taking place. Whether it’s ads on billboards, newspapers, photography or commercials (video). Media is all around us taking one small step at a time.
The Internet can also pay a major role in media. Today, an individual will sign into Google, Facebook or Twitter whether it’s for their job or connecting with their friends outside the work place. I myself could say I’m on either Facebook or Twitter everyday.
Media has developed society in ways we could never imagine. The role in media is too let their audience be informed and show reality whether we the people want to see it or not. Media is the most useful and powerful tool of communication in society.
Media has played an important role so that society could focus on the social issues and not just entertainment or what celebrities are doing in their own homes, which I have to say, is a waste of my time. People need to know what’s going around the world not just in their own backyards. An ordinary person wouldn’t fly to China or France just to witness how their justice system is and how their society is different from ours. Media saves lives. Media lets people around the globe check up on each other. Media has a way of figuring certain aspects out that an ordinary person could never find out.
As a student journalist I’m the future of this industry (journalism) and will personally play a big role in its direction; however, I may add in 2050 are people still going to be reading newspapers or caring what media, journalists or I have to say? If I were to become a journalist I would like to take journalism to another level. I would want the readers to be so in tuned in the stories they read that they would be dying to read more and more.
It is important for the journalism industry to grow and continue to play a major role in our democratic society today because who’s going to keep our political candidates in check when they’ve done something we don’t like? Who’s going to keep our justice and criminal system in line if we don’t report the news or teach people how to remain calm when something out of the ordinary happens? Who’s going to write a story about social and criminal issues happening around the world? The journalism industry pays a major role in our society.
Our lives consist of media. If we were to look around media has affected all of us, not in a bad or good way. Media is in our homes, at our job, in our relationships, in our education or entertainment, media is seen and watched everywhere. If we were a world that had no media to keep us sane, I wouldn’t know where we would be. We can’t live without media. We need them and they need us.
Column By: Sydney Williams
The Internet can also pay a major role in media. Today, an individual will sign into Google, Facebook or Twitter whether it’s for their job or connecting with their friends outside the work place. I myself could say I’m on either Facebook or Twitter everyday.
Media has developed society in ways we could never imagine. The role in media is too let their audience be informed and show reality whether we the people want to see it or not. Media is the most useful and powerful tool of communication in society.
Media has played an important role so that society could focus on the social issues and not just entertainment or what celebrities are doing in their own homes, which I have to say, is a waste of my time. People need to know what’s going around the world not just in their own backyards. An ordinary person wouldn’t fly to China or France just to witness how their justice system is and how their society is different from ours. Media saves lives. Media lets people around the globe check up on each other. Media has a way of figuring certain aspects out that an ordinary person could never find out.
As a student journalist I’m the future of this industry (journalism) and will personally play a big role in its direction; however, I may add in 2050 are people still going to be reading newspapers or caring what media, journalists or I have to say? If I were to become a journalist I would like to take journalism to another level. I would want the readers to be so in tuned in the stories they read that they would be dying to read more and more.
It is important for the journalism industry to grow and continue to play a major role in our democratic society today because who’s going to keep our political candidates in check when they’ve done something we don’t like? Who’s going to keep our justice and criminal system in line if we don’t report the news or teach people how to remain calm when something out of the ordinary happens? Who’s going to write a story about social and criminal issues happening around the world? The journalism industry pays a major role in our society.
Our lives consist of media. If we were to look around media has affected all of us, not in a bad or good way. Media is in our homes, at our job, in our relationships, in our education or entertainment, media is seen and watched everywhere. If we were a world that had no media to keep us sane, I wouldn’t know where we would be. We can’t live without media. We need them and they need us.
Column By: Sydney Williams
In today’s society media plays a huge role in the way people obtain their news, share information and advertise.
Media has a profound impact on society because it is the way we find out about global events and develop our personal opinions about the more controversial topics. The news is our ultimate source of information, and without it we would not have knowledge of events until days, weeks or months after they happen. What we see in the media has the power to change our personal opinions about a person, a group, or a cause because we rely so heavily on it and we are so quick to believe what we hear on the subject. Media is so important to us because it is not only how we receive information; it is the way we create our opinions and influence our personal beliefs.
With the need for information skyrocketing at this day and age, it is no surprise that the media world has rapidly evolved to meet these needs. Before the Internet, most people obtained information and news from the radio, television and newspapers. While these media outlets are still prevalent and commonly used, the Internet has become one of the most important media outlets in the world. Not only can you obtain news from the common news sources such as CNN online, you also have access to newspapers like The Dallas Morning News online as well. However it is not just the news revenues that provide news online, most people get their news from Google, Yahoo, or even Facebook. As the media world continues to evolve, the sources of news on a local, national and global basis are becoming readily available to anyone who has access to a computer.
As a journalism student during this time when the media world is constantly changing I see opportunities for me to make an impact in the future. My ultimate dream is to become a writer and do underwater photography on the side. I hope by combining these interests and starting my own magazine I can make an addition to the world of media. This magazine will showcase destinations around the world and capture the beauty of nature where it is still left. My hope in doing this is to use the influence of media to make people realize how important it is to conserve the planet, its resources and protect the plant and wildlife that thrive on it. I believe it is important for this change to be made in the world of media because the influence I could have on people could make them discover what change needs to be made in society, and since we live in a place that is founded on democracy the people have a voice and they can influence what happens in the future. If media continues to change then the people will respond and hopefully take action based on the opinions and beliefs they create for themselves.
Since media has such a profound impact on our lives it is important for it to continue to change to meet the needs of the people. The media can influence our opinions and beliefs, but our need for information will always remain constant and that is the ultimate job of any media outlet.
Column by Elizabeth Sims
Media has a profound impact on society because it is the way we find out about global events and develop our personal opinions about the more controversial topics. The news is our ultimate source of information, and without it we would not have knowledge of events until days, weeks or months after they happen. What we see in the media has the power to change our personal opinions about a person, a group, or a cause because we rely so heavily on it and we are so quick to believe what we hear on the subject. Media is so important to us because it is not only how we receive information; it is the way we create our opinions and influence our personal beliefs.
With the need for information skyrocketing at this day and age, it is no surprise that the media world has rapidly evolved to meet these needs. Before the Internet, most people obtained information and news from the radio, television and newspapers. While these media outlets are still prevalent and commonly used, the Internet has become one of the most important media outlets in the world. Not only can you obtain news from the common news sources such as CNN online, you also have access to newspapers like The Dallas Morning News online as well. However it is not just the news revenues that provide news online, most people get their news from Google, Yahoo, or even Facebook. As the media world continues to evolve, the sources of news on a local, national and global basis are becoming readily available to anyone who has access to a computer.
As a journalism student during this time when the media world is constantly changing I see opportunities for me to make an impact in the future. My ultimate dream is to become a writer and do underwater photography on the side. I hope by combining these interests and starting my own magazine I can make an addition to the world of media. This magazine will showcase destinations around the world and capture the beauty of nature where it is still left. My hope in doing this is to use the influence of media to make people realize how important it is to conserve the planet, its resources and protect the plant and wildlife that thrive on it. I believe it is important for this change to be made in the world of media because the influence I could have on people could make them discover what change needs to be made in society, and since we live in a place that is founded on democracy the people have a voice and they can influence what happens in the future. If media continues to change then the people will respond and hopefully take action based on the opinions and beliefs they create for themselves.
Since media has such a profound impact on our lives it is important for it to continue to change to meet the needs of the people. The media can influence our opinions and beliefs, but our need for information will always remain constant and that is the ultimate job of any media outlet.
Column by Elizabeth Sims
The Importance of Media
Media is the means of mass communication. The sole purpose of Media is to inform audiences around the world with the latest news or perhaps give them something to tune in to when they’re wondering what’s going on in the world.
Media ranges from a variety of things from social networking to television to print ad newspapers and so on. Media is not just about informing us about the world nor is it all about connecting with friends.
If you really think about it media influences the way we perceive today’s world and issues. How about entertainment? Regardless what anyone says we all know we cant live without entertainment. The reason why I say this is because the radio, movies, and Internet are all forms of entertainment.
Now could you imagine what society would be like if you were to take those away? One thing for sure is I know I couldn’t. The point is media is everywhere and is seen everywhere in our lives.
But, media has and still is evolving. For instance, movies and music can easily be seen for free on the Internet. Why though? Media didn’t use to be like this. It used to be where people would have to pay in order to get something like this.
Regardless of what anyone says the truth is media is not only the means of mass communication but it’s also the way we all perceive things and how we react to those types of situations.
Simply put, media comes in many forms such as television, advertising, and commercializing. Earlier I also mentioned that media was also associated with the radio and news. Again, do you truly think society would be like this if we didn’t have media.
Heck, if you really want to get down to the point if it wasn’t for media you would have probably never even read this or know anything that is currently going on in the world.
Now, don’t forget the fact that media has evolved. Yes, a form of media that is known as newspapers which is basically telling people what is going on and other types of information that is entertaining and informing to the ears.
When people wrote/write newspapers the audience of course wants to buy them so they know what is going on in the world. However, nowadays I don’t know how, but newspaper information is getting on the web so instead of people having to pay their money to get newspapers they can just go on the web and see what’s going on without even having to pay.
Obviously without a doubt the Print/Newspaper revenue is decreasing. So my goal as a student journalist is to make the revenue go higher and help make this world a better place. Briefly, the two things we discussed today was the importance of media and how it has evolved.
By: Damien Fralin
Media ranges from a variety of things from social networking to television to print ad newspapers and so on. Media is not just about informing us about the world nor is it all about connecting with friends.
If you really think about it media influences the way we perceive today’s world and issues. How about entertainment? Regardless what anyone says we all know we cant live without entertainment. The reason why I say this is because the radio, movies, and Internet are all forms of entertainment.
Now could you imagine what society would be like if you were to take those away? One thing for sure is I know I couldn’t. The point is media is everywhere and is seen everywhere in our lives.
But, media has and still is evolving. For instance, movies and music can easily be seen for free on the Internet. Why though? Media didn’t use to be like this. It used to be where people would have to pay in order to get something like this.
Regardless of what anyone says the truth is media is not only the means of mass communication but it’s also the way we all perceive things and how we react to those types of situations.
Simply put, media comes in many forms such as television, advertising, and commercializing. Earlier I also mentioned that media was also associated with the radio and news. Again, do you truly think society would be like this if we didn’t have media.
Heck, if you really want to get down to the point if it wasn’t for media you would have probably never even read this or know anything that is currently going on in the world.
Now, don’t forget the fact that media has evolved. Yes, a form of media that is known as newspapers which is basically telling people what is going on and other types of information that is entertaining and informing to the ears.
When people wrote/write newspapers the audience of course wants to buy them so they know what is going on in the world. However, nowadays I don’t know how, but newspaper information is getting on the web so instead of people having to pay their money to get newspapers they can just go on the web and see what’s going on without even having to pay.
Obviously without a doubt the Print/Newspaper revenue is decreasing. So my goal as a student journalist is to make the revenue go higher and help make this world a better place. Briefly, the two things we discussed today was the importance of media and how it has evolved.
By: Damien Fralin
The media's message shapes society
The media has power over the people. People look to the media for guidance on how to act, dress, and look and what to listen to, watch, and read.
Some aspects of the media have a negative effect on society. As a 16 year old girl, I have many friends that strive to be skinny, cake their faces in make-up, and wear revealing clothing just because that’s what the media declares “beautiful”. One in every three magazine articles in popular teen girl magazines have a focus on appearance, and half of the advertisements are for beauty products.
Today, the media calls size six a plus size and puts out the message that every girl should try to be as skinny as possible. Many of my friends truly believe that this is the only way to be beautiful; some of my best friends call themselves “disgusting” and “ugly” because they cannot meet the standards that the media puts out. I have personal experience with friends who starve themselves, obsessively count their calories, and work out every second of the day, attempting to look just like the celebrities and models that the media puts on pedestals. However, Marilyn Monroe used to be a size twelve and is still extraordinarily famous and respected to this day.
I would like to make the models and actors we see plastered onto every face of the media more realistic. Instead of being size double zero, airbrushed, and made up, it would be refreshing to see a healthy, natural-looking model for once.
Since I will hopefully be involved in the media in my future career, I want to reverse this false claim that thin and blonde is the only way to be accepted by society. The media has a major influence on society and by putting out positive messages and not unhealthy and destructive ones, we could really make a difference in the world.
The media has a way of shaping our beliefs, values, and perspective. Of all of the media distribution channels - newspaper, television, radio, internet - television arguably puts out the most inappropriate content. Children watching TV today may run across sex, violence, drugs, and unreachable standards of perfection conveyed by celebrities. In 2005, ABC’s Desperate Housewives, whose storyline includes affairs, crimes, drugs, alcohol, lying, manipulation, and sexual scenes, was rated the most popular broadcast show among 9- to 12- year olds.
From a young age, children are showed that this is the way to live; this is the only way to be accepted by society. I want to change that. I want to put out more Godly, wholesome images.
The citizens of America have a lot of say of what goes on in America, since it is a democracy. The media’s job is to inform the people what is going on in the world, whether locally, nationally, or internationally. As the medium of this information, the media is relied upon to provide true and unbiased information so that the people can make informed decisions about their government and other issues.
“If it were left on me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I would not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter,” Thomas Jefferson said.
Written by Regan Sullivan
Some aspects of the media have a negative effect on society. As a 16 year old girl, I have many friends that strive to be skinny, cake their faces in make-up, and wear revealing clothing just because that’s what the media declares “beautiful”. One in every three magazine articles in popular teen girl magazines have a focus on appearance, and half of the advertisements are for beauty products.
Today, the media calls size six a plus size and puts out the message that every girl should try to be as skinny as possible. Many of my friends truly believe that this is the only way to be beautiful; some of my best friends call themselves “disgusting” and “ugly” because they cannot meet the standards that the media puts out. I have personal experience with friends who starve themselves, obsessively count their calories, and work out every second of the day, attempting to look just like the celebrities and models that the media puts on pedestals. However, Marilyn Monroe used to be a size twelve and is still extraordinarily famous and respected to this day.
I would like to make the models and actors we see plastered onto every face of the media more realistic. Instead of being size double zero, airbrushed, and made up, it would be refreshing to see a healthy, natural-looking model for once.
Since I will hopefully be involved in the media in my future career, I want to reverse this false claim that thin and blonde is the only way to be accepted by society. The media has a major influence on society and by putting out positive messages and not unhealthy and destructive ones, we could really make a difference in the world.
The media has a way of shaping our beliefs, values, and perspective. Of all of the media distribution channels - newspaper, television, radio, internet - television arguably puts out the most inappropriate content. Children watching TV today may run across sex, violence, drugs, and unreachable standards of perfection conveyed by celebrities. In 2005, ABC’s Desperate Housewives, whose storyline includes affairs, crimes, drugs, alcohol, lying, manipulation, and sexual scenes, was rated the most popular broadcast show among 9- to 12- year olds.
From a young age, children are showed that this is the way to live; this is the only way to be accepted by society. I want to change that. I want to put out more Godly, wholesome images.
The citizens of America have a lot of say of what goes on in America, since it is a democracy. The media’s job is to inform the people what is going on in the world, whether locally, nationally, or internationally. As the medium of this information, the media is relied upon to provide true and unbiased information so that the people can make informed decisions about their government and other issues.
“If it were left on me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I would not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter,” Thomas Jefferson said.
Written by Regan Sullivan
Media Overload
With the people of today’s society being very dependent on media. The news tells everyone what is going on and where. They tell us anything from a lost dog to a robbery down the street. Media is everywhere around us.
I believe that living in the twenty-first century, technology and media should play a fairly large role in our everyday lives, but not take over everything we do. Media should be an alternate way to get your news and to possibly connect with old friends or current ones.
Since my generation is the ones who tend to use it the most, we need to be responsible about how we use it. Media is evolving into a large thing around the world. People everywhere are using it to get out information. About 147 million people in the U.S have a Facebook account. In Indonesia, over 30 million people have an account and in Turkey, it’s nearly up to about 25 million users.
With Facebook being the top social networking site, users are able to use it for business measures. Being on Facebook, I can almost always hear about the latest celebrity gossip or things going on around the high school or even in the world of sports. If you didn’t find out online you more than likely heard it from someone who did.
Being part of that media world, I’ve learned that I can get information anywhere that has to do with media such as the radio, the television or even the newspaper. I learn a lot about what is going on in the world from the Internet. Places like Yahoo and MSN share the most recent news from around the globe. Learning these facts from the Internet can sometimes not always be a positive thing, sometimes you can get the wrong information or when you tell the information you might get it wrong. It is kind of like a rumor, people spread it and spread it and the last person to hear it, may have a complete different story from what really happened.
Being a student who is very involved in media, I know from personal experience that it is very easy to get distracted by what is happening online. Now that teachers have ways to block what students are doing online, these distractions don’t always happen in class, but at home it’s a different story.
Walking around the halls of Coppell High School, I hear students all the time say that they were up until two or three in the morning doing homework because they were distracted by Facebook, Twitter and/or Tumblr. Students believe that doing a small bit of homework, then taking a break and going online is how it works, but they are only hurting themselves.
Every morning when I am done getting ready for my day, I go out and get the paper for my family. I read the headlines on the Front page and the sports section. I also make sure to check the weather and then of course, I read the comics. Being somewhat familiar with news has always been something I loved. Being able to share with others is so rewarding.
I don’t mind social networking or media for that matter, I actually want to take up a job in that field someday, but sometimes I get a media overload.
Written by Shannon Wilkinson
I believe that living in the twenty-first century, technology and media should play a fairly large role in our everyday lives, but not take over everything we do. Media should be an alternate way to get your news and to possibly connect with old friends or current ones.
Since my generation is the ones who tend to use it the most, we need to be responsible about how we use it. Media is evolving into a large thing around the world. People everywhere are using it to get out information. About 147 million people in the U.S have a Facebook account. In Indonesia, over 30 million people have an account and in Turkey, it’s nearly up to about 25 million users.
With Facebook being the top social networking site, users are able to use it for business measures. Being on Facebook, I can almost always hear about the latest celebrity gossip or things going on around the high school or even in the world of sports. If you didn’t find out online you more than likely heard it from someone who did.
Being part of that media world, I’ve learned that I can get information anywhere that has to do with media such as the radio, the television or even the newspaper. I learn a lot about what is going on in the world from the Internet. Places like Yahoo and MSN share the most recent news from around the globe. Learning these facts from the Internet can sometimes not always be a positive thing, sometimes you can get the wrong information or when you tell the information you might get it wrong. It is kind of like a rumor, people spread it and spread it and the last person to hear it, may have a complete different story from what really happened.
Being a student who is very involved in media, I know from personal experience that it is very easy to get distracted by what is happening online. Now that teachers have ways to block what students are doing online, these distractions don’t always happen in class, but at home it’s a different story.
Walking around the halls of Coppell High School, I hear students all the time say that they were up until two or three in the morning doing homework because they were distracted by Facebook, Twitter and/or Tumblr. Students believe that doing a small bit of homework, then taking a break and going online is how it works, but they are only hurting themselves.
Every morning when I am done getting ready for my day, I go out and get the paper for my family. I read the headlines on the Front page and the sports section. I also make sure to check the weather and then of course, I read the comics. Being somewhat familiar with news has always been something I loved. Being able to share with others is so rewarding.
I don’t mind social networking or media for that matter, I actually want to take up a job in that field someday, but sometimes I get a media overload.
Written by Shannon Wilkinson
The Hypocrisy and Ignorance we Receive Through Media.
Media, it has changed the way we think since before we could form whole sentences. They say the oval office is the most powerful office in the world, but I disagree. In my opinion, the most powerful office is that of the Executives and Presidents of television and music corporations. Banded together they could get absolutely anything done. What we constantly forget is that the news companies are just that, a company. They are out there to make money and that’s exactly what they do, and in vast quantities. What we hear is a second hand recount that could be bended to make us think the way corporates think. The most valuable thing you can give someone is education, and our information is constantly being botched into some fanaticized or under stressed view of what is going on.
Through out history, media- mass communication has shaped the lives of all of us, our fathers and their fathers, and so on. I believe that it is this large acceptance of the ‘truth by way of media’ that has directly lead to great problems in our society- such as the protests on wall street that at one time had spread to various cities all around the country. The vast ‘fatal flaw’ in the news companies is bias; editorialization is written in and preached all across the board. By the time ‘Occupy Wall Street’ had occurred, almost all of the Banking companies had paid back their stimulus, why haven’t we heard anything about that? You see, when we (the consumers) fear of what to come, we are constantly watching the news, jacking up the ratings and intern- allowing television corporations to raise their prices on advertising.
Recently- comedian, Craig Ferguson addressed the ‘SOPA’ bill he regarded it as being a violation of the first amendment but said he wouldn’t say more on the account that ‘Viacom’ who owns CBS supported the bill, the company that writes his paycheck. It is this exact corporate conceding that is not letting us hear the whole truth.
It is time for change, and I, being 15, do not have all the answers. All I know is that the people who consume this mass of brainwashing need to do their research before they invade others ideas with their ignorance. I do say brain washing though, because it is just that, we look on communist countries like North Korea and call them brainwashed fools, but who is the true fool? He who accepts everything that they are told, or he who is too busy judging and teasing their neighbor to question if what they are told is correct.
In the book ‘Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think And What We Can Do About It’ by Jane Healy, the author describes how we are constantly being fed this information. It discusses how it starts almost as early as when we are able to watch ‘Sesame Street’, the danger of children’s programs and how that are shaping our children to be good consumers of media and not self dependent thinkers.
Media is ever growing, and in that- so is our ignorance. We cannot keep bowing down to those with a bigger paycheck than our, for we cannot be ignorant anymore! Lastly- we, the future of the world, we the teenagers, we the innocent children who will grow up to be the those CEOs, those bias reporters, must follow a code of ethics, we must become a preacher for the good and the educated, we must encourage that people do their own research and take to the people’s media, the people’s weapon (the most powerful weapon) that which is the Internet. We cannot, we will not be ignorant in the face of a troubled world, we cannot sit back and fight Republican vs. Democrat, Conservative vs. Liberal, we must now, for the first time, break the heavy chains and burdens of ignorance. We will not be Ignorant, not today, not ever, not anymore.
The roman empire has fallen once, who’s to say it can’t happen again?
Story by John Robertson
Through out history, media- mass communication has shaped the lives of all of us, our fathers and their fathers, and so on. I believe that it is this large acceptance of the ‘truth by way of media’ that has directly lead to great problems in our society- such as the protests on wall street that at one time had spread to various cities all around the country. The vast ‘fatal flaw’ in the news companies is bias; editorialization is written in and preached all across the board. By the time ‘Occupy Wall Street’ had occurred, almost all of the Banking companies had paid back their stimulus, why haven’t we heard anything about that? You see, when we (the consumers) fear of what to come, we are constantly watching the news, jacking up the ratings and intern- allowing television corporations to raise their prices on advertising.
Recently- comedian, Craig Ferguson addressed the ‘SOPA’ bill he regarded it as being a violation of the first amendment but said he wouldn’t say more on the account that ‘Viacom’ who owns CBS supported the bill, the company that writes his paycheck. It is this exact corporate conceding that is not letting us hear the whole truth.
It is time for change, and I, being 15, do not have all the answers. All I know is that the people who consume this mass of brainwashing need to do their research before they invade others ideas with their ignorance. I do say brain washing though, because it is just that, we look on communist countries like North Korea and call them brainwashed fools, but who is the true fool? He who accepts everything that they are told, or he who is too busy judging and teasing their neighbor to question if what they are told is correct.
In the book ‘Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think And What We Can Do About It’ by Jane Healy, the author describes how we are constantly being fed this information. It discusses how it starts almost as early as when we are able to watch ‘Sesame Street’, the danger of children’s programs and how that are shaping our children to be good consumers of media and not self dependent thinkers.
Media is ever growing, and in that- so is our ignorance. We cannot keep bowing down to those with a bigger paycheck than our, for we cannot be ignorant anymore! Lastly- we, the future of the world, we the teenagers, we the innocent children who will grow up to be the those CEOs, those bias reporters, must follow a code of ethics, we must become a preacher for the good and the educated, we must encourage that people do their own research and take to the people’s media, the people’s weapon (the most powerful weapon) that which is the Internet. We cannot, we will not be ignorant in the face of a troubled world, we cannot sit back and fight Republican vs. Democrat, Conservative vs. Liberal, we must now, for the first time, break the heavy chains and burdens of ignorance. We will not be Ignorant, not today, not ever, not anymore.
The roman empire has fallen once, who’s to say it can’t happen again?
Story by John Robertson
The media's role in society
In the world today, people rely on the news for everything. The news informs people what’s going on, what the weather is like, and much more. People don’t realize what goes on to put out the news. And that’s where media comes through.
I’m only a sophomore in high school, so when it comes to my opinion about the news, the public tends to turn their head. Though I am at a young age, it doesn’t mean I know less about the news and media. From a standpoint as a student in a large high school, I can tell you without the news that the school puts out all of us students would be lost. For example, The Sidekick Newspaper delivers very useful news. Without the newspaper, students wouldn’t hear about unique things going on in their own school. One of the newspaper’s jobs is to publicize the stories that not many people hear about. In the high school newspaper, stories are written about students who have a hidden talent, or somebody who is giving back to their society, things that most students don’t hear about. And not only does this go for just the high school newspaper, but also major newspapers like The Dallas Morning News. This media medium has a big responsibility. Major newspapers have the job of informing large cities, like Dallas. I feel like when people read the newspaper, they don’t think about what work went into the process of writing and printing the stories. This doesn’t mean that people should change, and when they pick up a newspaper think for hours about how much work there was, but the real focus is forgetting how important this type of media coverage is.
Think about the people who have to get up early in the morning for their job. Most adults usually either pull out their newspaper, or for a quicker way, turn on the local news station. The news stations report about everything. They talk about the recent crimes that have happened, good deeds that the public has done, and about what’s going on in our government. The news even showcases what the traffic is like day-by-day, and also the weather. Without this coverage, I really think people would be lost. For example, in the south we tend to have a high number of tornadoes touch down in the spring. Without the news on the television, or the radio we wouldn’t know any of the updates of the dangerous storm.
The news is always happening. It doesn’t stop. For the news to stop basically means the world needs to stop. Journalists everyday are looking for newsworthy stories that they think the public needs to know about. Over the past several years, the role of the media has been slightly declining. This decline could leave some people very stranded. As we move into our future, who knows where the media might stand? But it is so very important that the media follows us. The media is our source of news. It’s our source of being updated with what’s going on in our world today.
If you think about it, the media is a necessity to the public. The world needs the media. Without it, we would have no insight on what might be going on in the place we live in today.
Written by: Kasey Tucker
I’m only a sophomore in high school, so when it comes to my opinion about the news, the public tends to turn their head. Though I am at a young age, it doesn’t mean I know less about the news and media. From a standpoint as a student in a large high school, I can tell you without the news that the school puts out all of us students would be lost. For example, The Sidekick Newspaper delivers very useful news. Without the newspaper, students wouldn’t hear about unique things going on in their own school. One of the newspaper’s jobs is to publicize the stories that not many people hear about. In the high school newspaper, stories are written about students who have a hidden talent, or somebody who is giving back to their society, things that most students don’t hear about. And not only does this go for just the high school newspaper, but also major newspapers like The Dallas Morning News. This media medium has a big responsibility. Major newspapers have the job of informing large cities, like Dallas. I feel like when people read the newspaper, they don’t think about what work went into the process of writing and printing the stories. This doesn’t mean that people should change, and when they pick up a newspaper think for hours about how much work there was, but the real focus is forgetting how important this type of media coverage is.
Think about the people who have to get up early in the morning for their job. Most adults usually either pull out their newspaper, or for a quicker way, turn on the local news station. The news stations report about everything. They talk about the recent crimes that have happened, good deeds that the public has done, and about what’s going on in our government. The news even showcases what the traffic is like day-by-day, and also the weather. Without this coverage, I really think people would be lost. For example, in the south we tend to have a high number of tornadoes touch down in the spring. Without the news on the television, or the radio we wouldn’t know any of the updates of the dangerous storm.
The news is always happening. It doesn’t stop. For the news to stop basically means the world needs to stop. Journalists everyday are looking for newsworthy stories that they think the public needs to know about. Over the past several years, the role of the media has been slightly declining. This decline could leave some people very stranded. As we move into our future, who knows where the media might stand? But it is so very important that the media follows us. The media is our source of news. It’s our source of being updated with what’s going on in our world today.
If you think about it, the media is a necessity to the public. The world needs the media. Without it, we would have no insight on what might be going on in the place we live in today.
Written by: Kasey Tucker
Combining skills to make a news story
What happens when you take a The Sidekick newspaper staff writer and KCBY member and put their two talents to make one newsworthy story?
Convergence is when a member from KCBY is partnered with a member from The Sidekick to come together to create a story and a video about a popular topic or event involving Coppell.
Veterans of The Sidekick and KCBY have already been exposed to convergence during their past years, and know what to expect. Though EMAC students who are new to these publications didn’t quite know what was ahead for them.
“When I first heard about convergence I thought it would be high stress and that it would be hard to get and keep in contact with my partner,” EMAC sophomore Kristin Anderson said.
This is Anderson’s first year to be a part of the KCBY staff, as well as EMAC sophomore Jordan Bickham’s first year to be a member of The Sidekick.
“Convergence sounded confusing at first,” Bickham said. “Since I’m in EMAC I understood the video side of it, but at the same time it was stressful to think that I was going to have to put a big project together with someone I didn’t know very well.”
Today, journalists need to have many different skills, such as knowing how to write, film or edit video. The goal of convergence is to prepare the students in the publications for the future.
Having to think of a popular story that will interest the public, allows students to think more in-depth with their story ideas.
Anderson and Bickham both say the most difficult part throughout the project was coming up with an idea for their stories.
“Filming the story was also difficult because you want a specific answer out of the person who you’re interviewing, but you can’t really control that,” Anderson said.
Convergence allows students to be creative while producing their story because it’s presenting the news in more than one medium.
“Convergence goes in line with the big picture of the EMAC Academy,” Chase Wofford said.
Wofford says that this project gives the students a good opportunity to get a taste of their own skills, and also be able to see what it’s like in the media world today.
“Even though it was difficult because there was a time crunch, it was beneficial because you’re able to work with people who have skills in a different part of media, so I was able to learn from that,” Bickham said.
Although some say convergence is stressful, it gives aspiring journalists a chance to get a taste of what goes on in the real media world today.
Written by: Kasey Tucker
Convergence is when a member from KCBY is partnered with a member from The Sidekick to come together to create a story and a video about a popular topic or event involving Coppell.
Veterans of The Sidekick and KCBY have already been exposed to convergence during their past years, and know what to expect. Though EMAC students who are new to these publications didn’t quite know what was ahead for them.
“When I first heard about convergence I thought it would be high stress and that it would be hard to get and keep in contact with my partner,” EMAC sophomore Kristin Anderson said.
This is Anderson’s first year to be a part of the KCBY staff, as well as EMAC sophomore Jordan Bickham’s first year to be a member of The Sidekick.
“Convergence sounded confusing at first,” Bickham said. “Since I’m in EMAC I understood the video side of it, but at the same time it was stressful to think that I was going to have to put a big project together with someone I didn’t know very well.”
Today, journalists need to have many different skills, such as knowing how to write, film or edit video. The goal of convergence is to prepare the students in the publications for the future.
Having to think of a popular story that will interest the public, allows students to think more in-depth with their story ideas.
Anderson and Bickham both say the most difficult part throughout the project was coming up with an idea for their stories.
“Filming the story was also difficult because you want a specific answer out of the person who you’re interviewing, but you can’t really control that,” Anderson said.
Convergence allows students to be creative while producing their story because it’s presenting the news in more than one medium.
“Convergence goes in line with the big picture of the EMAC Academy,” Chase Wofford said.
Wofford says that this project gives the students a good opportunity to get a taste of their own skills, and also be able to see what it’s like in the media world today.
“Even though it was difficult because there was a time crunch, it was beneficial because you’re able to work with people who have skills in a different part of media, so I was able to learn from that,” Bickham said.
Although some say convergence is stressful, it gives aspiring journalists a chance to get a taste of what goes on in the real media world today.
Written by: Kasey Tucker
Thank you God for the work teachers makes us do
A project that a teacher assigns his or her students helps them develop critical thinking, reasoning to their answers, creativity, visualization and good communication skills for both personal and presentation needs.
Presentations in a student’s curriculum let the students gain an opportunity and a more in-depth understanding of a subject that they’re learning in class.
When a student is given a project from his or her teacher, two things come through the student’s mind when reading the rubric, “are we going to have to present it” and “how am I going to present it?”
Most of the time websites to use for your project are included in the rubric or the guideline. However, in the Academy classes (EMAC, STEM, PSA) the majority of the teachers let you choose your own way of presentation in your final product.
“I like to present my project by Wix (website) or PowerPoint because their easy to put your information on and it looks good” PSA sophomore Hannah Clark said.
When working with PowerPoint or Wix they give you a lot of options when looking for backgrounds or templates. Allowing you too have your own touch and control in the process of your work.
Technology is changing and evolving everyday for 21st century media students outside the Academies and for those students who are. So in order for us, society, to keep up with the new technology coming out we practice with websites, advanced computers and smart phones that we have now too prepare us for the future.
“Technology is changing and you want to get use to using it because when new technology comes you already have a understanding of using it” PSA sophomore Kevin Songco said.
We might not realize it but while we're creating projects technology-based [Websites, PowerPoint, Prezi and more] it's also preparing us for our future. The student has a chance to learn good communication skills while presenting their project.
Having good communication skills are vital for an individual person or student because when presenting your project to the class, your voice has to be clear and loud so the class and teacher are able to hear you. Communication skills also help personally or social wise; being confident enough to speak too whoever.
"You practice to speak loudly to make sure it’s a great presentation. In the future you’re going to have to stand up to bosses or people who are high up; you’re going to have to be prepared for that" EMAC freshman Emily Shultz said.
Projects from our teachers might be too much work for us now but when we're entering the career of our choice in the future, we're going to think back and thank them for the work they made us do when we were in high school.
Written by Sydney Williams
Presentations in a student’s curriculum let the students gain an opportunity and a more in-depth understanding of a subject that they’re learning in class.
When a student is given a project from his or her teacher, two things come through the student’s mind when reading the rubric, “are we going to have to present it” and “how am I going to present it?”
Most of the time websites to use for your project are included in the rubric or the guideline. However, in the Academy classes (EMAC, STEM, PSA) the majority of the teachers let you choose your own way of presentation in your final product.
“I like to present my project by Wix (website) or PowerPoint because their easy to put your information on and it looks good” PSA sophomore Hannah Clark said.
When working with PowerPoint or Wix they give you a lot of options when looking for backgrounds or templates. Allowing you too have your own touch and control in the process of your work.
Technology is changing and evolving everyday for 21st century media students outside the Academies and for those students who are. So in order for us, society, to keep up with the new technology coming out we practice with websites, advanced computers and smart phones that we have now too prepare us for the future.
“Technology is changing and you want to get use to using it because when new technology comes you already have a understanding of using it” PSA sophomore Kevin Songco said.
We might not realize it but while we're creating projects technology-based [Websites, PowerPoint, Prezi and more] it's also preparing us for our future. The student has a chance to learn good communication skills while presenting their project.
Having good communication skills are vital for an individual person or student because when presenting your project to the class, your voice has to be clear and loud so the class and teacher are able to hear you. Communication skills also help personally or social wise; being confident enough to speak too whoever.
"You practice to speak loudly to make sure it’s a great presentation. In the future you’re going to have to stand up to bosses or people who are high up; you’re going to have to be prepared for that" EMAC freshman Emily Shultz said.
Projects from our teachers might be too much work for us now but when we're entering the career of our choice in the future, we're going to think back and thank them for the work they made us do when we were in high school.
Written by Sydney Williams
Career Path for the Future
What do you really want to do or be in life when you’re done with high school? Most people haven’t decided what path they want to take when they’re done with high school.
In other words, they don’t have an idea of what they clearly want to do when they’re older. Some of the Academy students at CHS (Coppell High School) have a brief idea or at least know what they want to do when they’re older.
EMAC sophomore Francis Cruz came into the EMAC Academy to see if it was right for her. After two years into the EMAC Academy, Cruz decided to switch to the PSA academy. The PSA Academy has caught Cruz’s attention and now Cruz is thinking about pursuing a career in the medical career.
“ I want to be in a Academy that is connected with my career,” Cruz said.
PSA sophomore Andrea Rodriguez however decided that this academy after all might be right for her. Rodriguez’s dream since the eighth grade was to be a helper in the medical industry.
So far, Rodriguez likes the PSA Academy because it helps her with her career in the medical field.
“I like it cause its hands on experience and I’ve always wanted to help people and kids,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez especially has a passion for helping babies, she say’s she really wants to become a doctor who aids in helping babies.
STEM freshman Karl Bailey say’s he’s going to stay in the Academy because he likes engineering but not only that he mentioned his father is an engineer and that he motivated him to join the STEM Academy.
“I like the STEM Academy because I like designing and being able to create something useful for society,” Bailey said.
Cruz is hoping that PSA will catch her attention and maybe her career will lie in their instead of the EMAC Academy. However, Bailey and Rodriguez seem to enjoy their Academy as of now and are hoping that one day they can pursue a career in it.
Written by Damien Fralin
In other words, they don’t have an idea of what they clearly want to do when they’re older. Some of the Academy students at CHS (Coppell High School) have a brief idea or at least know what they want to do when they’re older.
EMAC sophomore Francis Cruz came into the EMAC Academy to see if it was right for her. After two years into the EMAC Academy, Cruz decided to switch to the PSA academy. The PSA Academy has caught Cruz’s attention and now Cruz is thinking about pursuing a career in the medical career.
“ I want to be in a Academy that is connected with my career,” Cruz said.
PSA sophomore Andrea Rodriguez however decided that this academy after all might be right for her. Rodriguez’s dream since the eighth grade was to be a helper in the medical industry.
So far, Rodriguez likes the PSA Academy because it helps her with her career in the medical field.
“I like it cause its hands on experience and I’ve always wanted to help people and kids,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez especially has a passion for helping babies, she say’s she really wants to become a doctor who aids in helping babies.
STEM freshman Karl Bailey say’s he’s going to stay in the Academy because he likes engineering but not only that he mentioned his father is an engineer and that he motivated him to join the STEM Academy.
“I like the STEM Academy because I like designing and being able to create something useful for society,” Bailey said.
Cruz is hoping that PSA will catch her attention and maybe her career will lie in their instead of the EMAC Academy. However, Bailey and Rodriguez seem to enjoy their Academy as of now and are hoping that one day they can pursue a career in it.
Written by Damien Fralin
Semester exams stress out students
Even in the shower, PSA sophomore Alexa Ramirez does not stop studying for semester exams.
“I like to study outside when it’s nice, or in the car, or in bed before I go to sleep,” Ramirez said. “I also study in the shower - I tape [the notes] to the glass door.”
With semester exams right around the corner, the stress level is rising for Academy students.
Students are studying as much as three hours a day to preparing for the upcoming midterms.
“I dedicate about three hours a day [to studying] on my phone, using the audio to read the notes out loud,” Ramirez said.
EMAC freshman Taylor Bryson spends less time studying than Ramirez, but does it other unique ways.
“I spend about an hour or an hour and a half [studying] each night,” EMAC freshman Taylor Bryson said. “I also study on my phone during passing periods or go into the teacher’s room before school for tutoring.”
EMAC freshman Mio Yamada takes about two hours out of her evenings to study.
“I just sprawl out on the floor with everything around me and then focus on each subject while listening to music,” Yamada said. “I need to be completely alone.”
EMAC freshman Emily Friis-hansen says she watches television while she studies.
“I like to study on the couch with the TV on even though I don’t watch it; it’s just comforting,” Ramirez agreed.
Statistics show that studying with the television on isn’t beneficial to students. It causes a distraction, making it harder to retain the knowledge gained.
Other tendencies that students have while studying include listening to music; Bryson and Yamada both admit to doing this. Statistics also show that listening to music while studying can mess with the memory.
While watching television and listening to music may not be the best approaches to studying for final exams, rewriting the notes helps to retain the knowledge and strengthen the student’s memory on the subject. Flashcards are also a popular tool; students can make them online at Quizlet.com.
Studying can get stressful and tiresome, so taking breaks is important.
“I take a hot shower after I study,” Ramirez said. “I also read to relax my mind.”
By Regan Sullivan
“I like to study outside when it’s nice, or in the car, or in bed before I go to sleep,” Ramirez said. “I also study in the shower - I tape [the notes] to the glass door.”
With semester exams right around the corner, the stress level is rising for Academy students.
Students are studying as much as three hours a day to preparing for the upcoming midterms.
“I dedicate about three hours a day [to studying] on my phone, using the audio to read the notes out loud,” Ramirez said.
EMAC freshman Taylor Bryson spends less time studying than Ramirez, but does it other unique ways.
“I spend about an hour or an hour and a half [studying] each night,” EMAC freshman Taylor Bryson said. “I also study on my phone during passing periods or go into the teacher’s room before school for tutoring.”
EMAC freshman Mio Yamada takes about two hours out of her evenings to study.
“I just sprawl out on the floor with everything around me and then focus on each subject while listening to music,” Yamada said. “I need to be completely alone.”
EMAC freshman Emily Friis-hansen says she watches television while she studies.
“I like to study on the couch with the TV on even though I don’t watch it; it’s just comforting,” Ramirez agreed.
Statistics show that studying with the television on isn’t beneficial to students. It causes a distraction, making it harder to retain the knowledge gained.
Other tendencies that students have while studying include listening to music; Bryson and Yamada both admit to doing this. Statistics also show that listening to music while studying can mess with the memory.
While watching television and listening to music may not be the best approaches to studying for final exams, rewriting the notes helps to retain the knowledge and strengthen the student’s memory on the subject. Flashcards are also a popular tool; students can make them online at Quizlet.com.
Studying can get stressful and tiresome, so taking breaks is important.
“I take a hot shower after I study,” Ramirez said. “I also read to relax my mind.”
By Regan Sullivan
Studying more; sleeping less
On Monday Night Kaylan Smith is staying up late to finish all of her homework for the night. She also wants to make sure that she has enough sleep to be rested for the next school day.
“I normally go to bed around twelve when I have tests or quizzes and other homework,” PSA sophomore Kaylan Smith said.
With all the social media we have in today’s society, it is easy to get distracted. Other than homework, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr are what keep some students up all night.
“I get distracted really easily by Tumblr and Facebook, so I don’t start my homework until later at night and I’m sometimes really tired the next day,” Smith said. “I have Lariette practice every morning so I should probably be getting more sleep.”
Teenagers on average should be getting anywhere from eight to nine hours of sleep each night. Homework and social networking sites can sometimes make that really difficult to finish in time to get how much sleep a teen prefers or wants.
“I would prefer to have around eight or eight and a half hours of sleep every night, but I normally get five or six,” EMAC freshman Taylor Bryson said.
While procrastination plays a big part in some of student’s schedules, others know to get things done on time. Homework is a regular thing that students have on most school nights. They know to expect it, but aren’t always excited for it.
“I always have homework in either Geometry or Chinese and sometimes both, but it helps me with the upcoming lessons during the week,” Bryson said.
The weekend is a time to catch up on sleep for students. Staying up late and sleeping in is what they prefer. Though others try to go to bed as early as possible, and wake up around nine am, others stay up quite late and wake up later in the day.
Whatever homework is given to them over the weekend or upcoming tests the following week is taken care of over the weekend as well.
“I stay up pretty late on the weekends and sleep in late, but I only get homework in one or two of my classes,” EMAC freshman Michael Butzer said.
These Academy students are hoping to have a little less homework and a little more sleep throughout the year.
Written by Shannon Wilkinson
“I normally go to bed around twelve when I have tests or quizzes and other homework,” PSA sophomore Kaylan Smith said.
With all the social media we have in today’s society, it is easy to get distracted. Other than homework, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr are what keep some students up all night.
“I get distracted really easily by Tumblr and Facebook, so I don’t start my homework until later at night and I’m sometimes really tired the next day,” Smith said. “I have Lariette practice every morning so I should probably be getting more sleep.”
Teenagers on average should be getting anywhere from eight to nine hours of sleep each night. Homework and social networking sites can sometimes make that really difficult to finish in time to get how much sleep a teen prefers or wants.
“I would prefer to have around eight or eight and a half hours of sleep every night, but I normally get five or six,” EMAC freshman Taylor Bryson said.
While procrastination plays a big part in some of student’s schedules, others know to get things done on time. Homework is a regular thing that students have on most school nights. They know to expect it, but aren’t always excited for it.
“I always have homework in either Geometry or Chinese and sometimes both, but it helps me with the upcoming lessons during the week,” Bryson said.
The weekend is a time to catch up on sleep for students. Staying up late and sleeping in is what they prefer. Though others try to go to bed as early as possible, and wake up around nine am, others stay up quite late and wake up later in the day.
Whatever homework is given to them over the weekend or upcoming tests the following week is taken care of over the weekend as well.
“I stay up pretty late on the weekends and sleep in late, but I only get homework in one or two of my classes,” EMAC freshman Michael Butzer said.
These Academy students are hoping to have a little less homework and a little more sleep throughout the year.
Written by Shannon Wilkinson
New Year means new goals for Academy students
_
When the ball dropped in Times Square, marking the beginning
of 2012, people began their New Year’s resolutions. Most of these resolutions
included getting in shape or eating healthier or living life to the fullest.
However, some students of the Academies @ CHS had very creative goals for the New Year.
Though he is enrolled in the Public Service Academy, sophomore Kevin Songco is pursuing a resolution that most would associate with the Emerging Media and Communications Academy.
“My resolution is to create a pretty crazy and awesome video filled with ‘epic-ness,” Songco said. “I’ve always wanted to make a cool video of some sort.”
With this goal in mind, Songco is already taking steps to set himself up for a successful production of this video.
“I have a wonderful camera that shoots HD, but I still need a new editing program. I also need people, a place to shoot, and some gear,” Songco said.
Songco is already looking forward to accomplishing his resolution, and the sense of pride he can feel once he has completed this goal.
“This will really affect me emotionally, if that counts, considering I think it would be a great accomplishment,”Songco said.
Though Songco’s resolution is very specific to his personal goals, a fellow Public Service Academy sophomore, Christina Moreno, has picked a resolution that is much broader. However, her reasons for picking it are very unique to herself in the New Year.
With the Mayan calendar predicting the world will end on December 21, 2012, Moreno has decided to focus her resolution around this fact.
“My New Year’s resolution is to create and finish a bucket list before the world ‘ends’,” Moreno said.
While this New Year’s resolution may seem basic to some, Moreno is very serious about her resolution.
“I am constantly adding to and revising my list. I hope to have it finished by the end of January so I can begin,” Moreno said.
Moreno hopes that this resolution will help her go into her junior year with a sense of accomplishment and pride.
“The whole reason for my resolution is to better myself,” Moreno said. “My hope is that it will help me de-stress and have a great start to junior year.”
With the excitement of the New Year driving them on, and the Academy students are ready to take on their ambitions to have a have great New Year.
Written by Elizabeth Sims.
However, some students of the Academies @ CHS had very creative goals for the New Year.
Though he is enrolled in the Public Service Academy, sophomore Kevin Songco is pursuing a resolution that most would associate with the Emerging Media and Communications Academy.
“My resolution is to create a pretty crazy and awesome video filled with ‘epic-ness,” Songco said. “I’ve always wanted to make a cool video of some sort.”
With this goal in mind, Songco is already taking steps to set himself up for a successful production of this video.
“I have a wonderful camera that shoots HD, but I still need a new editing program. I also need people, a place to shoot, and some gear,” Songco said.
Songco is already looking forward to accomplishing his resolution, and the sense of pride he can feel once he has completed this goal.
“This will really affect me emotionally, if that counts, considering I think it would be a great accomplishment,”Songco said.
Though Songco’s resolution is very specific to his personal goals, a fellow Public Service Academy sophomore, Christina Moreno, has picked a resolution that is much broader. However, her reasons for picking it are very unique to herself in the New Year.
With the Mayan calendar predicting the world will end on December 21, 2012, Moreno has decided to focus her resolution around this fact.
“My New Year’s resolution is to create and finish a bucket list before the world ‘ends’,” Moreno said.
While this New Year’s resolution may seem basic to some, Moreno is very serious about her resolution.
“I am constantly adding to and revising my list. I hope to have it finished by the end of January so I can begin,” Moreno said.
Moreno hopes that this resolution will help her go into her junior year with a sense of accomplishment and pride.
“The whole reason for my resolution is to better myself,” Moreno said. “My hope is that it will help me de-stress and have a great start to junior year.”
With the excitement of the New Year driving them on, and the Academy students are ready to take on their ambitions to have a have great New Year.
Written by Elizabeth Sims.
Different study habits among different students
By midnight, Kristin Anderson has just finished studying for their math test. But they are not turning off the computer and heading to sleep.
Anderson now finds another playlist and opens their geography book and read Chapter 5 for tomorrow’s quiz.
Different study habits are found between students in the Academy. Students find what techniques work best for them, and apply them in order to come out with good grades.
Academy students have just the same pressure than other students at CHS to keep up good grades. For this to happen students tend to see a lot of their time spent studying for tests or quizzes.
Many students study in many different ways. Anderson says she does other things while she studies, like listening to music.
“I listen to music, but I don’t think it’s a good thing,” Anderson said. “I get distracted, but sometimes it helps if the music is quiet.”
EMAC sophomore Francesca Graham says the only thing she has in the background is the TV on low volume at times.
“I get distracted if there is music playing in the background and then I can’t concentrate on my work,” Graham said.
Graham and Anderson both say when they usually study, they try to find people like their parents or friends to quiz them over the material.
“For quizzes and tests I read over my notes and sometimes even use Quizlet to help me study,” Anderson said.
Quizlet is a website providing the opportunity to create and share flashcards for studying.
Another popular study habit is studying with friends. According to Graham, studying with friends can be beneficial, but also distracting.
“Going through flashcards is easy and fun to do with friends, but sometimes we get distracted and end up just talking about things that have nothing to do with what we’re studying,” Graham said.
Not all study habits work for every person. Some people may tend to get distracted more easily; therefore it wouldn’t be the best idea to put themselves into a place where that might happen.
“It depends on the person,” Anderson said. “For me it is beneficial to listen to music at times, but for other people it might be distracting.”
Depending on the student many people will see study habits differ, but only because students know what best works for them.
Written by Kasey Tucker
Anderson now finds another playlist and opens their geography book and read Chapter 5 for tomorrow’s quiz.
Different study habits are found between students in the Academy. Students find what techniques work best for them, and apply them in order to come out with good grades.
Academy students have just the same pressure than other students at CHS to keep up good grades. For this to happen students tend to see a lot of their time spent studying for tests or quizzes.
Many students study in many different ways. Anderson says she does other things while she studies, like listening to music.
“I listen to music, but I don’t think it’s a good thing,” Anderson said. “I get distracted, but sometimes it helps if the music is quiet.”
EMAC sophomore Francesca Graham says the only thing she has in the background is the TV on low volume at times.
“I get distracted if there is music playing in the background and then I can’t concentrate on my work,” Graham said.
Graham and Anderson both say when they usually study, they try to find people like their parents or friends to quiz them over the material.
“For quizzes and tests I read over my notes and sometimes even use Quizlet to help me study,” Anderson said.
Quizlet is a website providing the opportunity to create and share flashcards for studying.
Another popular study habit is studying with friends. According to Graham, studying with friends can be beneficial, but also distracting.
“Going through flashcards is easy and fun to do with friends, but sometimes we get distracted and end up just talking about things that have nothing to do with what we’re studying,” Graham said.
Not all study habits work for every person. Some people may tend to get distracted more easily; therefore it wouldn’t be the best idea to put themselves into a place where that might happen.
“It depends on the person,” Anderson said. “For me it is beneficial to listen to music at times, but for other people it might be distracting.”
Depending on the student many people will see study habits differ, but only because students know what best works for them.
Written by Kasey Tucker
We Don't Relies How Thankful We are for Something, Until It's Gone: Maggie Crosby
At my house, on Thanksgiving and Christmas, my mom always has everyone say at least one thing that we are thankful for. It can awkward at times, because it is not the human nature to want to be uncomfortable. In the past, I was always one that would be like "great", but now that I am older I truly understand the meaning of why my mom has us do this.
The most important thing that I am thankful for is my God. He does everything for us. It is not always the things we want to see or hear, but in the long run it will all be ok. At times of loss of a family member or a friend, we may think “why God, why me” and he cant not verbally say something, but these are the events that make you stronger. They are the ones that show you how lucky you are to have the people that love you and to appreciate them more.
I am so grateful for the people that have been placed in my life. My family, friends, church leaders, teachers, neighbors and community. They are always there for me. They stay in the good times and try to do anything to help in the bad. My family is amazing. I have no words, that could explain how grateful I am for them. I love them so much.
My church youth group means so much to me. Their doors are always open and the leaders are so comforting. They would do anything for us. During a time, where I lost my aunt, the leaders were always there. I could call them at anytime, or to just talk. They are great listeners, and advisers. Thank y'all for all you do for me and the students at Valley Ranch Baptist Church.
I am grateful for the people who are taking care of jobs. I am very fortunate to have them, to keep my family employed. The economy is not great now, and for both of my parents having jobs, there are no words. Thank you.
One of my passions is music. It keeps me all together. Music gives me a way to express myself. I may quite about things, but if you give me a piece of music to learn and translate, you will see how I am really feeling. Music makes me happy. I cannot even think of not having music in my life. It connects me to what I am passionate about, and allows me to speak my mind.
On a day to day basis, people live and go through the day, not releasing how grateful we are. We live in a safe, nice city and that is huge. Every summer I go on a mission trip, and see places that are not as safe and "nice" as Coppell, and it helps me relies how lucky we are to live in this city. The men and women who work so hard to keep this city the best it can be, should be recognized more. So for the citizens of Coppell, Texas, thank you.
To the men and women who go out into the battle fields, thank you. I am so blessed to have people like you go and protect the people of the United States. From the words of Officer Cousin of the United States Army says “Freedom ain’t Free”.This is so true. You and your families sacrifice so much for people you do not even know.
These are just some of the many things that I am thankful for. Life is to short, and the people, places, events, and memories are what we should be care about. Life is to short. Go out and tell someone how thankful you are of them. THANK YOU ALL!
If you would like to post what you are thankful for, go ahead and send us a comment, and your story could be put up on our page. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Written by Maggie Crosby
The most important thing that I am thankful for is my God. He does everything for us. It is not always the things we want to see or hear, but in the long run it will all be ok. At times of loss of a family member or a friend, we may think “why God, why me” and he cant not verbally say something, but these are the events that make you stronger. They are the ones that show you how lucky you are to have the people that love you and to appreciate them more.
I am so grateful for the people that have been placed in my life. My family, friends, church leaders, teachers, neighbors and community. They are always there for me. They stay in the good times and try to do anything to help in the bad. My family is amazing. I have no words, that could explain how grateful I am for them. I love them so much.
My church youth group means so much to me. Their doors are always open and the leaders are so comforting. They would do anything for us. During a time, where I lost my aunt, the leaders were always there. I could call them at anytime, or to just talk. They are great listeners, and advisers. Thank y'all for all you do for me and the students at Valley Ranch Baptist Church.
I am grateful for the people who are taking care of jobs. I am very fortunate to have them, to keep my family employed. The economy is not great now, and for both of my parents having jobs, there are no words. Thank you.
One of my passions is music. It keeps me all together. Music gives me a way to express myself. I may quite about things, but if you give me a piece of music to learn and translate, you will see how I am really feeling. Music makes me happy. I cannot even think of not having music in my life. It connects me to what I am passionate about, and allows me to speak my mind.
On a day to day basis, people live and go through the day, not releasing how grateful we are. We live in a safe, nice city and that is huge. Every summer I go on a mission trip, and see places that are not as safe and "nice" as Coppell, and it helps me relies how lucky we are to live in this city. The men and women who work so hard to keep this city the best it can be, should be recognized more. So for the citizens of Coppell, Texas, thank you.
To the men and women who go out into the battle fields, thank you. I am so blessed to have people like you go and protect the people of the United States. From the words of Officer Cousin of the United States Army says “Freedom ain’t Free”.This is so true. You and your families sacrifice so much for people you do not even know.
These are just some of the many things that I am thankful for. Life is to short, and the people, places, events, and memories are what we should be care about. Life is to short. Go out and tell someone how thankful you are of them. THANK YOU ALL!
If you would like to post what you are thankful for, go ahead and send us a comment, and your story could be put up on our page. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Written by Maggie Crosby