The
JOURNAL Decatur High School 750 E Eagle Summit Dr Decatur, Tx 76234 December 2014 Volume 20 Issue 1 www.decaturjournal.com
Junior raises unique pets page 12
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L O J R N A U Staff 2014-2015 Nancy Torres Editor in Chief
Allan Allsbrooks Web Graphics
Angelica Lopez Business/ Ad Manager Staff Writer Ashley Huggins Photographer Noehlia Ortiz Staff Writer Racha’el Ussery Staff Writer Mercedes Rivera Staff Writer Lexie Chapman Staff Writer Cindy Berry Adviser
To continue reading these stories visit decaturjournal.com Eagle Strong by Noehlia Ortiz This preseason brought injuries to the Eagles. Starting off the beginning of Eagle two-a-days, junior Chris Newberry fractured his kneecap.
Home Away From Home
by Racha’el Ussery When I walk into the Decatur High School band hall, I’m welcomed with open arms... and instruments. A sense of protection radiates here that nowhere else in the school can compete. Letters to the Editor: The Journal welcomes letter to the editor. Letters must be submitted one week prior to publication and must have a word count no greater than 300. Lenth may be subject to editorial judgement, and letters will be edited for obscene language, racial remarks and libelous material. All letters must be signed and writers’ names will not be withheld. The Journal is not obligated to run any letters. Letters can view any matters directly or indirectly related to Decatur High School, staff and students. Views and opinions expressed in letters do not reflect those of staff members of The Journal, Decatur High School or Decatur ISD.
Dear readers, The Journal staff is excited to show you our finished product! The staff worked diligently getting this issue together, so please make sure to check it out! The staffers of The Journal appreciate students, teachers, staff, parents and businesses in the community for the support you all provide, in order to publish our newspaper. The Journal is a student-run newspaper with the help of our adviser, $JOEZ #FSSZ ćJT JT 7PMVNF *TTVF PG ćF +PVSOBM *G ZPV BSF SFBEJOH UIJT XF UIBOL ZPV GPS IPMEJOH PVS QSJ[FE QPTTFTTJPO JO ZPVS IBOET Also, make sure to check us out at decaturjournal.com. We post stories, sports news, videos, polls and much more! If you want to stay updated with what’s going on, follow us on Instagram. With so much technology at your hands, I doubt you’ll miss what’s happening around you! *OTJEF ZPV XJMM ĕOE EJČFSFOU UZQFT PG WBMVBCMF SFBET 1MFBTF UBLF TPNF time to read the hard work we put into our issue and the interesting stoSJFT GSPN UIF TUVEFOU CPEZ PG %FDBUVS )JHI 4DIPPM 8IP LOPXT :0U just might be included! Sincerely,
Nancy Torres
Editor in Chief
Follow us on twitter, facebook, and instagram at decaturjournal. Visit decaturjournal.com or scan the QR reader app. 2 Staff
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Read it here...
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INSIDE
Keller collects unique animals p.12
Teams go to great lengths, earn winning titles p.16
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Senior participates in pageants p.9
Staffer expresses issues over technology p.22
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p.5
Freshman reviews movies
p.13
Students prefer to hear announcements p.6
Get to know this side of...
p.20
p.21
Senior travels to France What I’m thankful for
p.8
Fishing club
SSJ helps others
p.10
Eavesdrop
p.23
Inside 3
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For The Love of The Game Senior travels to France with USA hockey team
Kylie Hughes, Clarissa Baker, Kaylee Logan, Kimbery Hughes, Celeste Chavana, Coach Tom Hughes, Janae Jones, Christina Lewis and Elizabeth Hornet pose for pictures while in France. Photo provided by Celeste Chavana
by Nancy Torres
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enior Celeste Chavana fell in love with hockey at the age of seven. “We have tryouts just like any other sport,” Chavana said. “They pick It wasn’t something she always dreamt of playing; it just happened. the best players.” “I started about 11 years ago,” Chavana said. “I started going to the In total, eight players and two goalies are chosen. skating rink and they introduced hockey to my friends and me.” Chavana, along with the USA hockey team, competed against differWhen she started to play hockey, soon after her family joined in. ent teams from around the world. “My two brothers also play hockey,” she said. “We played England, France, South Africa, India and many others,” Just like any other sport, there are Chavana said. many levels of competition including Out of the fourteen teams, Cha“If you really love the sport, just keep regionals and nationals. vana and the USA hockey team going until you reach your dreams.” “Regionals include local people from placed twelfth. -Celeste Chavana (12) Lubbock, San Angelo and Fort Smith,” She hopes to one day to compete Chavana said. “We also have nationagain on the USA Team and travel al tournaments. That’s anywhere from Washington, Salt Lake City to big, like France. Alaska.” “We can try out for the USA hockey team every two years,” she said. Chavana competed with her team in Nebraska that earned them a She hopes to one day play professionally. ticket to travel big. About a month ago, she fulfilled the dream she pur“If they make it into the Olympics, or they put it back in, I hope to try sued since the start of the sport. out,” Chavana said. “Anybody can try out for it.” “I already lived my goal. I traveled to France to play on the USA Just like her love for the sport ignited the day she entered that skating Team,” Chavana said. “I left for France Oct. 21 and came back Nov. 2.” rink, she will continue to play hockey. In order for her to make it on the team, she first tried out for a spot. “Never give up on what you’re doing,” Chavana said. “If you really love the sport, just keep going until you reach your dreams.”
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Celeste Chavana and Kimberly Hughes (far right) compete against England (white) at the finals in France. Photo provided by Celeste Chavana.
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USA hockey team signs autographs for kids after the tournament. Photo provided by Celeste Chavana Feature 5
Let’s Hear It
Students prefer verbal announcements over videos
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Photo by Ashley Huggins
Staff Editorial
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he opportunity for students and teachers to play the daily video announcements on the ‘smart board’ affects the way we watch the news- or if anyone watches it at all. Many students don’t even know that the school now provides ‘video announcements’. Students only wonder why they never hear the spoken news through the intercom anymore. Since Sept. 23, the school plays our school news via video. At the beginning of the video, music plays and then students stand up and recite the pledge of allegiance. Then the student speaker informs us of events happening throughout the school. However, approximately half of the teachers don’t even play the video announcements. Teachers are either too busy with handing out graded papers, assigning homework or giving out tests, to even think about wasting part of class time to play a two-to-five-minute-long video.
If students wished to watch the video on their own (which the school website provides a link) on YouTube, but would usually find it blocked. Although recently as of Nov. 18, YouTube is now unblocked and students may watch the videos. Before video announcements, senior class officers recited the pledge of allegiance and informed us of school events through the intercom. This way, everybody heard them and no teacher avoided playing them to his or her students. Although the videos provide entertainment for students and teachers, it takes time away from actual learning time, something teachers try to avoid. A solution to this problem is to return to the old-fashioned way of announcing the news by the senior class officers via the intercom. This way, everyone hears the pledge of allegiance, something some students don’t recite now, because most teachers won’t play the video for their fourth period classes.
One Decision Changes Everything Staffer reflects on overall gain of journalism experience
by Angelica Lopez
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s I look back on my journalism years I see it all started in eighth grade when I was on the yearbook staff. I wanted to come into high school and do yearbook. I thought ‘Hey, it’s just going to be bigger than last year. No big deal.’ It was already too late to apply for yearbook, so I chose Journalism 1 as my alternative. While in Journalism 1, I saw that my middle school yearbook and high school yearbook were two completely different things. They didn’t just put pictures on a page with pretty colors; no, they wrote stories, captions, designed pages, which just blew my mind. I was glad I hadn’t pursued the idea of being on staff. Then as the year rolled around, Mrs. Berry was looking for new staffers for newspaper. Convincing my friends Nancy Torres and Noehlia Ortiz to do it with me, we applied for staff. We were accepted and now I have no regrets for taking the risk and applying.
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Newspaper has been one of the best decisions of my life. It not only let me meet new people, but it provided me an outlet to express myself. I write stories and the words just flow on the page. I won’t deny it was always fun and easy but all the late days and stress were worth it when that first issue touched my hands. Seeing all our hard work finally in color and print is the greatest feeling in the world. It made the stories just become real and made me feel so accomplished. This experience provided me with more confidence in my writing abilities and the opening of a new career choice for me, but also the meaning of deadlines, procrastination and teamwork. I never thought of newspaper as long-term, but these last three years opened my eyes to new possibilities. That doesn’t mean I’ll go into journalism (well who knows maybe I will), but it showed me the skills needed for the real world.
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Little Things
I am thankful, not just for big moments
by Lexie Chapman
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am thankful for so many things; the list could literally go on forever. Everyone around the holidays is always saying, “I am thankful for my friends, my money, my job, etc.” All of those things are amazing and important to be thankful for, but I am most thankful for the little things. When I say the little things, I mean details that people, including me, don’t usually notice. For example, one thing is the love that we receive unwillingly. We, as an American whole, don’t know how it feels to go without love. Over the Thanksgiving break I went to a homeless shelter and helped feed the less fortunate. A lot of people think the homeless are ‘different’ from those of us who have homes and a bed to sleep in at night, but the ‘crazy’ thing is that they’re not. They are people, just the same as you and me, just looking for affection and attention. My family is also very important to me.Without family, how could you feel that unconditional love? My family has always stuck up for me. For example, My sister and I may fight, but we still have that unconditional love for eachother. No matter how many disagreements we have, we will still have eachother’s backs. Thats what family is all about, loving eachother, aside our faults. Even though my family is amazing, my mom will always have a special place in my heart. That may sound crazy, me calling my mom a “little thing” but she is around all of the time, so I am
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so used to having her. I never tell her enough! She has put up with me for 15 years already. Being a mother is probably the hardest job to have, plus it’s all year round. I am so thankful that she does her best; she is the only one qualified for this job. I love my mom and I am grateful to have her around. When I’m not thinking, I may take her for granted but in reality one of the most valuable parts of my life. My mom is my hero. Another small thing that we may take for granted that I am grateful for is freedom. We have the choice to practice our own religion, choose where we work, who we marry, where we live, etc. Yet, we look at Pakistan and people are persecuted every day for their religion. These people aren’t just being bullied, they are being denied jobs and often killed because of their faith. The biggest, most important thing I am thankful for would be my savior. No man, or woman, has ever died for me, let alone a king. Jesus Christ and his shed blood is what saved me. I am so grateful for him and his sacrifice. It wasn’t just for me though, his suffering was for everyone. Jesus is the one person I can always rely on. He never changes, never gives up, and his mercy never runs out. I am appreciative of the many blessings God has given me. When I am not paying attention, I forget all of the things I have. But when I slow down and look around at my life versus what it could be, I realize how good I have it. So I am thankful for the small things God provides.
Under the Makeup
Morgan Millican provides behind the scenes look at pageantry by Mercedes Rivera
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he girls line up one by one awaiting the news, each one in a gown like stars that shimmer under the light. Some girls are fixated on the crown and sash, but for senior Morgan Millican, it’s all about creating memories. “I was always that really shy girl and I wasn’t very good at public speaking, so I thought pageants would be a good way for me to break out of my shell,” said Morgan. Morgan has entered in four pageants so far. She started participtaing in pageants her freshman year, took a break sophomore year, and became active again during her junior year “I just try to tell myself that they’re just here to get to know me and to pick the best girl to represent Texas,” Morgan said. In two weeks, she will be competing in the Miss Teen USA pageant, held in Dallas. “It takes about a year to get fully ready for a pageant so I would sign up in January and I slowly start building my paperwork and making sure it’s perfect,” Morgan said. “That’s what the judges will see the most, and then I have to get my headshots and all of my outfits.”
For pageants, contestants need a gown, a swimsuit, and a casual outfit. Whenever she picks out her outfits, she emulates the same styles as her icons. “I love Kate Middleton and Audrey Hepburn’s style,” she said. “It’s classic and elegant and that’s what I want people to think of me whenever I’m on stage.” Because of the shimmer and shine of the pageant world, the true meaning of pageants can often become misinterpreted. “One thing that people misinterpret about pageants is that pageant girls aren’t very smart or intelligent, which is the complete opposite,” said Morgan. “I’ve competed with girls who have 4.0 GPAs. Behind stage you’d think we’d be talking about hair and makeup, but we’re talking about political issues and our education.” With the intelligence that comes with competing in pageantry, it can also help girls earn scholarships to prepare them for college. “I will mostly likely take a break next year because it will be my first year of college, but I do hope to continue in the Miss Division and earn scholarships to further my education,” said Morgan
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“It truly is the girls that I compete with that make me love it so much because we all grow so close like sisters.” -Morgan Millican (12)
Feature 9
Tis the Season to Give
Students go out of their way to help others by Angelica Lopez
Cassie Denton, Mary Gamboa and Cara Denton grab boxes during WARM’s turkey day distribution
Kaylee Higdon, Karen Rodriguez, Cassie Denton, Mary Gamboa, Cara Denton, Zach Reed, Raul Garcia, Sarah Durham, Wyatt Smither, Brett Bean, Virginia Ortiz, Jackeline Madrid, Lindsey Peña, Isabel Gleason, Jasmine Villareal
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“They get so excited and have a true sense of hristmas is the time of giving and Stuownership in bettering the world,” sponsor and dents for Social Justice (SSJ) are embracing the English teacher Sarah Durham said. spirit. They started their Christmas fundraiser It doesn’t stop there; SSJ teaches the students two weeks ago. important life skills. “We did a candy cane gram which is basically “They learn responsibility because it’s totally buy a candy cane and send it with a sweet ‘gram’,” run by them,” Durham said. “Then there’s socisenior and SSJ president Karen Rodriguez said. etal awareness due to all the causes they support “It’s going towards adopting Angels.” and overall just how to be productive in one’s SSJ raised about $100, but couldn’t use the society. ” money as they had originally planned. Yet, the SSJ members are content in just seeing “This money is going towards buying Toys the happy faces of those they helped. for Tots because the school wasn’t doing Angels “Even if we’re all dead tired, we can see how this year,” Rodriguez said. “We also came across much everyone appreciates us for helping them,” a senior citizen who was in need of things for Higdon said. “It’s heart warming to know you’re Christmas, so it’s for him as well.” being a part of something that means so much SSJ takes the meaning of giving to a whole to the person in new need.” measure, Despite the difnot only “It’s heart warming to know ficulty of planning during the you’re being a part of something meeting times due holidays, that means so much to extracurricular but also to the person in need.” activities, jobs and throughdifferent lunches, -Kaylee Higdon (12) out the they manage to whole put together all the year by fundraisers. volunteering at WARM, donating money to Wise “My favorite thing is how everyone will Hope, and other fundraisers. come to brainstorm ideas and work to make “I love SSJ because I get to help people who them happen, ” Rodriguez said, “then using don’t have the ability to help themselves,” sophothe money we earn to help out our causes. more Wyatt Smither said. “It makes me think With the school year half way over, they still of others and how I can help them meet their have many fundraisers to go. needs.” “SSJ not only helps the people but also gives an Currently participating are 28 students, but if example to the community; anyone can help out anyone truly wants to join, speak with Rodriguez and be a part of it, ” junior Mary Gamboa said. or senior and vice president Kaylee Higdon.
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Gaby Mendez helps make boxes of food during WARM’s turkey distribution day.
Brett Bean, Wyatt Smither, Cassie Denton, Susana Huerta, Mary Gamboa, Cyrstal Pacheco, Raul Garcia, Cara Denton, Zach Reed advertising during SSJ’s Field Day.
Lidia Ruiz, Jackeline Madrid, Karen Rodriguez, Virginia Ortiz, Noehlia Ortiz, Susana Huerta, Laura Aguilar, Mary Gamboa, Gaby Mendez, Deici Godoy, Isabel Gleason, Lindsey Peña, Mickey Drewry, Raul Garcia, Sarah Durham, Jasmine Villareal, Cyrstal Pacheco, Cassie Denton, Cara Denton, Kaylee Higdon, Brett Bean, Wyatt Smither, Ethan Sij
Photos by Karen Rodriguez and Deici Godoy
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Kaylee Higdon, Hannah Cartwright and Lindsey Peña, purchase toys for Toys for Tots.
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Spiders and Scorpions and Bees, Oh My! Student raises unique animals as hobby by Racha’el Ussery
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he buzzing sounds of bees and the just thought that would be kind of neat. I’ve slithering of a snake are some of the familiar only had like, one mauling from them so far.” Riley raises bees for their honey and plans sounds that welcome him home. Junior Riley Keller has never had quite a to collect some this spring. He admits to not love for animals, but more of a fascination wearing a full bee suit, although sometimes he wishes he did. with them. Own“One time I ing more than sevhad a suit on, en different types but it was only of critters, there’s a top part suit, nothing this exotic and long story animal keeper is short, a bunch afraid of. of bees chased “I don’t really me and I had love animals; I do to dive into a appreciate them pond to escape though. I kind of them. I counted have a passion for eighteen stings them,” Riley said. “I at least afterguess my fascinawards,” Riley tion really started said. in fifth grade when we did a 9-mile This isn’t the walk and at lunch time the people who worked at the park, first time Riley has had a strange encounter the LBJ Grasslands, brought out a bunch of with his animals. “When I was little I went to my taransnakes to show people. And that was kind of a moment for me. That’s what made me want tulas cage and saw that it looked like it was growing all these different legs and mutatto get my pet snake Ernie.” Not only does Riley have a pet snake, but ing,” Riley said. “I was freaked out but then it turned out it was just his collection conmolting.” sists of two hermit crabs, two dogs, “I’ve only had like, four cats, a taranAlthough he has tula, a Vinegaroon one mauling a great respect for scorpion, an Asian from them so far.” animals, he does not Forest scorpion plan to pursue a caand three bee-Riley Keller reer involving them hives. “I’ve always somewhat liked animals since in the future. “I do appreciate animals but I don’t want I was little. I’m not really entirely sure myself why I have so many, but I kind of like them to have a job that requires me to work with each for some of the cool abilities they have,” them all the time,” Riley said. “But I will Riley said. “Like, the Vinegaroon [scorpion] probably still have them as a hobby and continue keeping bees as a side job. It’s what I can spray his vinegar-like substance on you enjoy doing.” and it smells like vinegar. And the bees…I
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One out of three beehives
Vinegaroon scorpion
Rose Hair tarantula and Asian Forest Scorpion
Two hermit crabs Photos by Racha’el Ussery
An Angel for Protection
Freshman endures through fire accident by Taylor Yates
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n Jan. 6, 2013 at her apartment in Decatur, her whole world turned upside-down. The majority of her stuff was ruined, from her bed to her clothes. The sound of her iPad shattering as it hit the ground was not important at that Photo by Ashley Huggins moment. Her mind was fixated on her custom-made angel statue. After the fire, I was forced to move to Slidell,” said Cassidy. “It is something I love. When I heard about the fire, I immediately Cassidy lived in Slidell for about a year and three months. She didn’t thought about my angel,” said Cassidy. like moving to Slidell at all, so now she is back in Decatur living at the Freshman Cassidy Shenberger was hanging out with her brother same apartment complex. and his girlfriend while playing on her iPad, when her day took a wild To this day, smoke worries her. If her parents are cooking outside on turn. Cassidy lived in an apartment with her family for three-andthe grill, she’s inside, escaping the memory of that day. Even walking a-half years. She began to feel weird, like something was wrong. She outside and smelling smoke in the air brings back a terrible memory. sat outside to play on her iPad, with her brother and his girlfriend. The fear of another fire running Her brother realized what was going through her house destroying all of on, ran next door, rapidly knocked “It is something I love. When I heard her belongings will always haunt her, on the door, and called the police. about the fire, I immediately thought but to this day, Cassidy still holds her Apartment 6 was on fire. about my angel.” angel. Cassidy began to cry. She, being -Cassidy Shenberger (9) “I probably would have gone crazy the only one that lost her belongings, if I lost my angel. It took a while to get became scared. her,” said Cassidy.
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Five Out of Five Stars by Cassidy Shenberger
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Freshman writes movie reviews
on-stop and Gravity caught her attention because of the suspenseful ways in the movies. She just turned eleven and her mother told her she wouldn’t always depend on writing as a career, but she made up her mind to prove her mother wrong. Crystal Luevanosflelix is fourteen and reviews all types of movies. Her favorite movies to review have action and drama. “I was going to the movies anyway for my birthday,” Crystal said. “I was determined to prove my mom wrong, that I could succeed in writing.” Crystal started reviewing movies on her eleventh birthday. She and her mother got into an argument and her mother told her she couldn’t always depend on writing because she’s not that proper in her word choice. “Only my friends in Arizona know that I write movie reviews,” she said. Crystal would ask her friends about a movie and say they want
to see it, but they want to see if it’s worth going to see first. Crystal goes to the movie theater and focuses on the movie that she reviews. She usually watches it twice to capture the graphics and the plot of the movie. “I actually really enjoy reviewing movies because it gives me something to do when I’m bored,” she said. Crystal hopes she can write movie reviews for the school newspaper some day. She thinks that Journalism 1 helps her with how she words the reviews and gives better detail of the movie. “I think journalism will help me with my reviews,” she said. When Crystal finishes with her homework and chores, and has a free weekend, she asks an older cousin to drive her to the theater. Since Crystal moved to Texas recently, she hasn’t made any time for reviews yet, but plans on it in the near future. “I’m really excited to do more movie reviews because it will be five years for me doing movie reviews for my friends and family in December,” Crystal said.
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Photo by Ashley Huggins
Choices
Freshman juggles sports among honors classes in order to stay on top of her class by Faith Myers
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family and friends as well. Her school events and classes consume oise resonated off the bedroom door while she much of her time and she definitely regrets her decisions. With little rushed to complete the mass amount of assignments before Monday. time to spare, she misses Wednesday night and Sunday morning After a long week of cross-country in the mornings, basketball in the afternoons, and helping with volleyball practices later after school, she church on a regular basis. Emily now knows she’s unable to complete everything on her schedule. manages to get only a slight amount of work done during the school “I’ve learned that you have to take in to consideration that it’s going days. to be a lot more than you think it is,” Emily said. “Do what you want to This exhausting schedule is a weekly agenda for Emily Boyd. As a do, but don’t take more than you can handle.” freshman, she takes all honors classes, choir, and basketball athletShe plans to follow through with her commitment to her sports for ics. Emily is also a member of the cross-country team and one of the this year and to succeed in all her classes. Today, Emily understands managers for freshman volleyball. A few how much choices in high school drastiweeks into school and Emily knows that cally change a student’s calendar. “I added more and more to my she definitely was not prepared. “I added more and more to my plate “I didn’t know it would be so time plate and I couldn’t take all of it.” and I couldn’t take all of it,” Emily said. consuming,” Emily said, adding that the -Emily Boyd (9) “My advice to others would be to really work in ninth grade is harder than it was ask yourself how much you can do and in middle school. what your goals are for your future. Let those influence your school She usually stays at school for about twelve hours. According to schedule.” Emily, this makes schoolwork difficult to complete. Every night, EmEmily’s goal is to be in the top 7% of her class, preparing to attend ily takes about two to three hours to finish homework, goes to bed UT. In order to achieve her goal, she plans to take all honors classes late, and wakes up for cross-country at 4:30. Her late nights finishing next year and make wiser decisions with her extra activities and homework cause short sleeping hours. Realizing this, she plans on sports. She wants to focus on undertaking as much as she can handle, making changes for next year. not on how much others are doing. “Next year, I’ll definitely make sure I have more time to do things,” “Don’t chew more than you can swallow,” Emily said. “Realize that she said, explaining that she needs a more flexible schedule and time you can’t do everything; we’re not invincible.” to relax. Her choices not only effected her homework time, but her time with
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Photos by Ashley Huggins, Shelby Drews, Ashley Kyle
Eagle Strong All Year Long by Noehlia Ortiz
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Teams go to great lengths, earn winning titles
ringing the heat, P.A.I.N.S, and Eagle Fight Never Dies are mottos that took these Eagle athletes to great lengths. The volleyball, cross-country, and football teams all advanced past the district point this year. Volleyball The volleyball team definitely brought the heat this season. Bringing home the titles of District, Bi-district, area, regional semi- final, regional quarter-final, regional, state semi-final, and ultimately the state championship title for a second year in a row. “I knew that these girls could get there and each step along the way to that point was such an accomplishment in itself,” Coach Claire Gay said. The Lady Eagles had some obstacles to face this season with better competition, injuries, and pressure. “I was so happy that we were able to accomplish this for two years in a row, but the fact that it was my last game of high school volleyball made it even more sentimental,” senior Ariana Buchanan said. Cross country Also continuing to state, the girls cross country team brought home a second place plaque, along with silver medals. “I absolutely expected to be there again because that’s where our standards were set,” Coach David Park said. “We always expect to be there and have something to say about it.” Junior Jessi Kyle placed second as an individual with a time of 11:49 and was named All State, along with senior Nicole Neighbors who
16 Sports News
was presented the 4A cross-country All Star award by the Texas Girls Coaches Association. “It was a huge honor to get awarded that,” Neighbors said. “It’s not something that everyone gets and I was the only person from the 4A division to get that award.” Boys cross country won the title of district champs and advanced on to regional competition as well. “I expected to go that far but I’m not sure that the boys being so young and new, actually believed it. The boys just got caught in a fast region this year,” Coach David Park said. Football In an exciting game of quadruple overtime, the football team lost in their bi-district game against Stephenville 66-64. “You don’t really think about it while it’s happening; you just try to do what you can to win the game,” Coach Mike Fuller said. The team had to adjust to a new system of playing the game and to a new coaching staff. “It was a good feeling to watch this group of players come together and gain confidence every week,” Fuller said. “They embraced the change and truly improved every game.” Players stepped up to the plate due to several injuries resulting in a 7-4 overall season record. “It was different. I didn’t think it was going to be the last game I ever played. I wish I could have done more to help the team win,” senior Felix Guerrero said.
Home Away From Home Percussionist finds comfort in band hall
Photo by Ashley Huggins
by Racha’el Ussery
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hen I walk into the Decatur High School band hall, I’m welcomed with open arms… and instruments. A sense of protection radiates here that nowhere else in the school can compete with. But within the band hall, there is a certain place I like to hide away and relax. I share this place with my drums. This place is my cubby. Many people have a place they like to get away in order to refresh their minds and think. Maybe a certain tree to climb, a ‘secret’ place in a forest or even a room. A wooden box used for storing tenors suffices for me. The neat thing about my cubby is that it’s hidden behind stacks of chairs used for class; that way no one can spot me in it. On a bad day I can disappear into my cubby without worrying about people finding me and asking the annoying “Are you okay?” question. If I’m in my cubby, there might as well be an “I am in my cubby for a reason
so leave me alone” sign stuck to it. I’ve made memories in that cubby. I’ve plucked my friend Lucy’s eyebrows in there; I’ve used it to take naps, to eat lunch by myself. I’ve even almost been kissed by a boy in there. Don’t worry, that didn’t happen. Since my cubby is so isolated, I use it as a barrier from other students so I don’t get distracted finishing up homework. As a matter of fact, I’m writing this story inside it right now. Even whenever I’m bored I’ll lie inside my cubby and relax. Sometimes I’ll even use the palm of my hand to beat the side of it to create the sound of a bass drum and tap my fingernails on the wall to sound like a snare. The number of things to do inside that wooden box is endless. I only have two years of high school left, but I hope after I graduate and leave my cubby behind, the next person who calls their cubby theirs will find it homey and inviting just as I did.
5 Things You Didn’t Know About...
Kristina Edwards
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“I was a very shy kid growing up.”
“I moved 17 times before graduating college.”
3
Photo by Ashley Huggins
5
“I owned a Kawasaki Ninja 550 motorcycle.” “I love fishing.”
2
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“I liked taking charge on the cross-country course. I was the disciplinary one on the team.” Opinion, 5 Things 17
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Theatre Arts
“Getting To Know You” by Angelica Lopez and Mercedes Rivera
Mallory Bryant-Gawne
What song best describes you? Don’t Stop Believing by Journey If you could be any celebrity, who would it be and why? Idina Menzel, Broadway star! If you could be any Disney character who would it be and why? Lumière the candle because he has a cool French accent What’s your favorite food and why? Fried okra, a southern comfort food!
Jackie Lang
Science
Social Studies
If you could be any celebrity, who would it be and why? Carrie Underwood- she can sing! What’s your favorite color and why? Grey- it goes with everything! If you could be any Disney character who would you be? Olaf- He always finds the positive. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you be? The Maldives.
Shelley Hampe
If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be? If I were not a teacher, I would be a secret shopper. That is my dream job. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you be? If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be somewhere in Texas and I would require all of my family to live within two hours of me. What’s your favorite color? My favorite color is blue, it’s pretty.
Caroline Renfroe
Health/Speech
Language Arts
If you could be any celebrity, who would it be and why? Angelina Jolie- because she is married to Brad Pitt! What’s your favorite food and why? Thai Food: clean, healthy and spicy. If you could be any Disney character, who would it be and why? Goofy- I am! What song best describes you? Sweet Caroline
Tony Roth
What song best describes you? Small Town Kid by Eli Young Band. If you could be any celebrity, who would it be and why? The most Interesting Man in the World (he can do some really cool things). What’s your favorite color and why? Red- I’m a Nebraska Cornhusker fan What’s your favorite food and why? Steak and potatoes- because I’m American.
Chloe Brooke
If you could be any celebrity, who would it be and why? Audrey Hepburn- she improved lives. What song best describes you? I Am Redeemed If you could be any Disney character who would it be and why? The Genie in Aladdin. Photos by Lauryn Luttrull and Ashley Huggins What’s you favorite color and why? 20 Teacher Features Green, it’s lively
Language Arts
Fishing For More New club casts debut By Noehlia Ortiz
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hat started out as just a poll became the real deal this school year. The fishing team was more of a suggestion, but junior Ricky Dunkin helped make it a reality. “I couldn’t play football this year,” Dunkin said. “I got injured freshman year and got re-evaluated and they told me that it was too dangerous to play again so that’s why I started it.” Trevor Rhoades, Garrett Blevins, Blake Hailey, Coy Johnson, Mason The team consists of: seniors Garrett Hudson, Brandon Hailey, AJ Johnson, Mason Baur, Clayton Egle, Blevins, Codi Crane, Clayton Egle, Vanessa Martinez, Codi Crane, Ricky Dunkin. Photo by Joe Duty Vanessa Martinez, Trevor Rhodes and juniors Mason Baur, Ricky Dunkin, Mason Hudson, AJ Johnson and Coy Johnson. “We’d like to grow our team “I fished some of the summer and and be able to have this go during the beginning of the school through the school next year.” year,” senior Vanessa Martinez said. “I -Ricky Dunkin (11) fished a lot and I just loved it.” The team works in pairs and earns
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scores based on their catches. They are then added up to equal an overall team score. Dunkin encourages anyone who likes to fish to join the club. “We want to get anyone who wants to join to join,” Dunkin said. “Wed’ like to grow our team and be able to have this go through the school next year.” The fishing club’s next competition is in March.The sponsors consist of: Slim Jims, 2-K Pawn and Gun Shop, James Woods, Pinks Paint and Body, Stacie’s Style Shop, Craig Johnson Investigation and Colleen Dunkin. Dunkin serves as the supervisor of the fishing club. “Colleen and our sponsors have done a lot for our club,” Martinez said. Colleen and the sponsors provide the team with fishing uniforms and equipment needed for competitions.
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Sports News 21
Welcome to the 21st Century
Technology changes communication between one another
Photo by Ashley Huggins
by Nancy Torres
I
playing on iPads instead of dolls, the way we used to before technolt’s no doubt that the world runs on technology. Everywhere ogy took over. Families at restaurants whip out their cell phones rather I look, a computer, phone or TV screen meets my face. Technology, than talking with one another about their daily lives. We’re all walking including phones, is an essential part of our lives we just can’t live around with our heads bowed into our phones. Technology drastically without. restored our minds by swiftly dancing our thumbs around a phone Cell phones, or smart phones, help us with basically everything. GPS monitors, books, face-to-face communications are being replaced screen every minute, instead of flipping book pages. Sometimes we by smart phones. Remember the last time we wrote letters that weren’t wonder why there’s not much communication going on between each other. business related? Me neither. Cell phones keep us from Cell phones and technology “Smart phones are definitely helping us, but at interacting with people. drastically affects every single the same time, they’re destroying us.” Yeah we interact with one of us. We’ll text each other -Nancy Torres (12) them via social networks, even if we’re in the same room. but what about face-toWhy not look up and directly face interaction? I don’t mean to say we don’t communicate that way talk to one another? It takes less time. It bothers me that we’re so indulged to our phones that we can’t take a moment to put them down anymore, but when we do, we usually don’t offer our attention to the speaker or we’re rude by having our face stuck to a phone screen while and actually listen and give someone our full attention when they’re they talk. It’s the little things that affect us the most. talking to us. It’s respectful and it shows that we care. What kind of exmaple do we want to leave behind? Do we want I’m not saying that I don’t use my phone to text or stay connected to young children to become so intrigued with technology that they forthe media world. All I’m saying is that I wouldn’t mind dealing withget what toys trains, dolls and play houses look like? If in the future my out my phone for a while, or leaving it behind when I leave the house. kids don’t know what toys look like, I’ll know I failed because I didn’t If I accidently forget it, I won’t freak out, the world won’t end- I’ll just deal without it. Smart phones are definitely helping us, but at the same give them all that childhood has to offer. Technology is for the best, but let’s not forget that some of the best time, they’re destroying us. I remember playing with Barbie dolls instead of holding a Mini iPad things in life can’t be replaced with electronic devices. in my hands at the age of five. Everywhere I look, I see five-year-olds
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Principal Jeff Russell
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5 Things You Didn’t Know About...
“I call it a chicken stabber.” -Reagan Williams, Honors Economics
“There’s like a fire pit in the middle of the room.” -Noehlia Ortiz, Newspaper
“Let’s arm wrestle, Stallard.” -Mital Patel, Honors Economics
“It likes your pants just not your face. Really, I have proof.” -Cindy Berry, Yearbook
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Photo by Ashley Huggins
“I am currently working towards my doctorate.”
“I worked at Ranger games during high school selling Cokes.”
3
“My favorite food is nachos.”
“I love baseball. I drove to four baseball parks during the summer.”
5
2 4
“I like all kinds of music: rap, jazz, etc. I have over a thousand songs on my iPod.”
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“I can’t let my witch cackle come out.” -Noehlia Ortiz, Newspaper
“I’m testing your mental focus. You failed.” -Coach Blair, A&P
“Why are you carrying a man bag?” -Tanna Morton, Honors Economics
“I don’t know, I quit.” -Lluvia Ramos, Pre-Calculus
“Y’all are so awkward. I don’t understand.” -Lauryn Luttrull, Yearbook
“This is way better than tooting!” -Tanna Morton, Newspaper
“Have you ever wanted to build a snowman, but it’s been too cold?” -Mital Pital, Honors Economics
“The printer icon is dancing around like it knows how to twerk.” -Racha’el Ussery, Newspaper
5 Things, Eavesdrop 23
Rewind
A look back at DHS, August through December
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9/19/14- DHS crowns seniors Makayla Mayfield and Holt Garner at Homecoming.
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he down t s le b ib dr raham ke Worth girls hy G urp/1410/3 La ng, Benji Walker M Tru e man h You uring t d t r u and Ang o ela Ferr c is act out scenes at game. sityNig Imp ht. varrov