September 2022 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
EHS recognizes students during Honors Chapel
CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Staff Writer
The Episcopal High School community attended Honors Chapel Wednesday, September 7. Honors Chapel is an opportunity to celebrate students for their hard work during the spring semester of last school year in the Academic Pillar. As Principal Dr. Avalos said, “This is a great tradition and a way to show the students that the faculty of EHS notices and acknowledges their hard exemplary work.”
Honors Chapel has been an integratradition at EHS for years to congratulate students who excel academically.
Students, divided by grade, had their names announced and were brought to stage for a group photo. Many parents of honored students attended. College counselors, Ms. Cyndi Boren, and grade level deans were all among the individuals responsible for organizing the event. There were two main categories for the students honored. First, With Honor students are recognized for getting only grades of a B and above in all classes, with no more than a grade of a B- in an honors or AP class in the previous semester. Second, Highest Honor students are commended for getting only grades of an A and above in all classes, with no more than a grade of an A- in an honors or AP class in the previous semester. Additionally, there are also awards for specific academic achievements, such as the Climb Award, the Effort Award and distinctions for AP test preformance. For example, the Climb Award exists for students who have made great progress in succeeding academically despite challenges.
The 2022 Fall Play Puffs premieres
Students performed after months of rehearsals
PAGE 2
Taking a look at EHS culture
Explore EHS’ most beloved traditions
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2 Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
www.ehshouston.org
Students spend a Knight at the Luau at Homecoming
EHS students show school spirit during Homecoming Week
MORGAN HEROD Opinions Editor
“On September 23, students came together in the student section and watched EHS take on Legacy Sports Science on Simmons Field. The next day, students put away their costumes and dressed up for the luau-themed dance, which took place in the USC. It was amazing to see the entire student body show support for their school and get involved in great traditions.”
Learn more about 2022 Homecoming on Page 2
Parents gather at EHS for Back-to-School Knight
SIMONA KARNANI
Staff Writer
Back to School Knight is a chance for parents to enter campus and meet their child’s teachers. Parents get to learn more about what their child does every day at Episcopal and get a taste of it for themselves. The night started in the Hildebrand Athletic Center, where parents picked up their students’ schedule. A brief parent program took place in the Alkek Gym where Mr. Kim Randolph, spoke about the night ahead and what to expect. Faculty and staff welcomed families to the program by starting with a prayer. Episcopal’s fundraising goal for this year was mentioned, and the Melton family explained that fundraisers are crucial to making sure students get the experience they expect from EHS.
Following the conclusion of the program, families were released to their child’s advisory classroom. Advisors greeted parents and gave them name tags for the event. Students wrote Mad Libs style letters in their advisories on August 30, two days before Back to School Knight, for their parents to read that night. Mrs. Robin Owens met her advisory’s parents and was excited to connect with those families.
When asked about the night she said, “We had 100 percent attendance for advisory this year, and they were wide eyed and excited to see what’s coming up in advisory.”
After meeting the advisors, families were tasked with the job of walking
their child’s schedule and spending five minutes in each of their child’s classes. Every teacher prepared a short presentation to give families an introduction about themselves and the class. In the presentation, teachers were told to center their presentations around Episcopal’s Four Pillars and how they prepare students for “meaningful lives in service to others.” The faculty also informed parents about their course’s graduation requirements, grading policies, what to expect from the class this year, and
resources available for students to find academic success. They made sure to provide parents with their contact information and communication methods they use to inform students about deadlines and assignments. The evening concluded with a reception in the Underwood Student Center.
Food and refreshments were served, and parents had the oppurtunity to socialize with other parents, faculty and staff, and grade level deans. It was a great chance for parents to see the daily lives of students.
EHS parents walk through the campus on Back-to-School Knight to meet the faculty and staff. Photo courtesy of Ehshouston Instagram.
On Tuesday, the Episcopal community had the opportunity to wear costumes for the Red Carpet Knights theme. Sophomores Caroline Brynes, Porter Miller, and Leighton Lewis demonstrate their school spirit by dressing up as Theodore, Simon, and Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks Photo by Vivian Turbidy.
Theater starts off school year with Harry Potter-inspired parody play
Puffs follows the story of Wayne, played by Harrison Gotye, and his two friends Oliver and Megan, played by Charlie Karlgaard and Brooke Crabtree, through their seven years in a magical school. Photo by Diana Mumford.
CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Staff
Writter
EHS Onstage starts the school year with the fall play Puffs. A preformance in the
USC at the end of school was presented to all students on Thursday, September 15. The first public performance took place the next day on Friday, September 16, at 7:00 p.m. There were additional perfor-
mances on both Saturday, September 17, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 18 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets for attendance were generously completely free.
Many students, including freshmen, have taken the opportunity to be a part of the production and performance. Following the announcement of this year’s performances, Puffs, Julius Caesar, and Mama Mia, auditions began. Starting in May, students have been practicing and trying out for various roles and behind the scenes roles. Puffs has a cast of over 50 students, featuring Harrison Goytia, Charlie Karlgaard, Brooke Crabtree, Anaya Wilson, Poema Sumrow, Julia Zichy, and many more.
Puffs is a parody of the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling. Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, the play’s official name, was written by the New York-based playwright Matt Cox and premiered December 3, 2015, in the off-off-Broadway of The People’s Improv Theatre. In 2017 the play was nominated for “Best Unique Theatrical Experience” by Off-Broadway. The plot follows members of the Puffs house at a magical school through seven years. It is a look at the stories of the original series from a different angle.
Homecoming follows week of EHS spirit
MORGAN HEROD
Opinions Editor
Homecoming is a special event that students look forward to every year. It is a great opportunity to show school spirit and is a week packed with fun themes, football, and dancing. The memories made at Homecoming are ones that last a lifetime, and it is such an amazing experience to be able to see the whole school grow so close.
The theme for 2022 is A Knight at the Luau. Students were given the chance to wear outfits that matched this theme to the football game as well as the dance.
On September 23, students came together in the student section and watched EHS take on Legacy Sports Science on
Simmons Field. The next day, students put away their costumes and dressed up for the luau-themed dance, which took place in the USC.
The preparation that goes into planning an event like Homecoming is no small feat. The EHS Student Council planned Spirit Week, while the tenth grade class officers conducted meetings with parents who put the event together. These meetings allow for student input and involvement.
Spirit Week is a wonderful opportunity to dress up and support EHS before the Homecoming game. On Monday, students were encouraged to wear their class colors: seniors in gold, juniors in pink, sophomores in green, and freshmen in blue. Faculty were included in the
colorful display and were invited to dress in black. On Tuesday, many dressed up as celebrities or charecters, as the theme was Red Carpet Knights. On Wednesday, the festivities continued with wear your “Favorite Festive Fit,” and Thursday was “Throwback.” Finally, on Friday, students wore their Homecoming shirts as a part of Spirit Day.
This special week is all about showing spirit and support for the EHS community. It is important to cheer on our varsity football team as they take on opponents. Participating in Spirit Week is a great oppurtunity to be creative and meet new people.
Homecoming is a weekend in which students can leave the stress of everyday life behind and focus on being cheerleaders
Virtual Club Fair offers students a plate of choices
IZZIE SONG Staff Writer
EHS held its virtual Club Fair on September 22, an annual event where students get the chance to introduce their club ideas to the greater student body. Short, fifteen-second advertisements and informative PowerPoint slides gave viewers a small introduction to the potential groups.
Evident by the advertisements, this year’s roster offered a wide array of options. Among a well-established lineup including the Math and Chinese Clubs, new opportunities arose such as the Art Club and the Find Your Zen Club.
Each came forward with different ways to expand on well-known passions or opportunities for people to try something new.
Clubs have long been a way for the EHS community to better connect as well as find people with similar interests, and with a minimum of three meetings per semester, they’ll strive to become a more prominent aspect of school life this year.
“I think clubs bond our student body together,” said Lindsey Levan, president of the Asian Pop Culture Club. “I also think they should consider meeting more often to have a truly memorable experience in joining said club. In the Asian Pop Culture Club, we aim to deliver fun activities revolving around the culture.”
Established members, like Levan, are responsible for organizing group activities, sales, and meetings. This includes any entertainment shown during the advisory presentations, which was constructed by the presidents and other officers.
Clubs will hold their first meetings shortly after registration, which became available following the fair. Afterwards, community service, fundraising events, and entertaining activities are only a few of the things clubs are headed toward.
for the Knights. The football game brings together the student body and creates bonds and memories that last a lifetime. When the week ended, students were given the opportunity to commemorate the memories through pictures. The wonderful photographers at EHS took pictures throughout Spirit Week and posted them on the school’s Instagram, ehshouston.
Juniors wearing pink to participate in the Spirit Week color war between grades. Photo by McKenna Foteh.
Day Two of Spirit Week, many students chose to dress up as famous celebrities and characters. Photo by McKenna Foteh.
Gong Squad announces new members for the school year
JULIA SHERMAN Staff Writer
This 2022 football season, the Episcopal Gong Squad is back with more school spirit than ever. The senior boys went through a competitive process of voting, nominating, and interviews. Candidates were asked about school spirit, leadership, and their vision. Elected by many faculty members, the four new boys on this year’s gong squad are Nash Chickering, Lane Robinson, James Carter, and Will Jones. These seniors are prepared and ready to help lead the student section.
The boys are excited to lead the students in school spirit and cheer on our varsity football team. The first varsity football game theme was disco, and the members came dressed out and encouraged students
to join in. The group have many themes planned, and more eventful games to come. At our second home game against Second Baptist School, the Go Gold/ Superhero-themed game, the boys did a great job leading the student section and pumping up the football players.
James Carter said, “I’m super excited for the upcoming seasons and all the games. I remember in the past that everyone dressed up to the theme and showed up to the games, and I look forward to it. Hopefully everyone comes out, supports our teams and dresses up to all our themes. I can’t wait to get the student section pumped up. Go Knights.”
These boys are ready to set an example for our school and especially ready to welcome the freshmen as they navigate their own EHS school spirit.
Episcopal introduces the study support program
JAYLNN WOOLEY Production Editor
This school year, Mrs. Kate Hall introduced the Study Support Program to the EHS community on September 12.
In the program, a few juniors and seniors, nominated by their teachers for their academic excellence, are available to the students of EHS for academic assistance in the areas of english, science, and math. Mrs. Hall would soon like to branch out into subjects of world languages and history as well.
These tutors have been training since the beginning of school and are now available in the library during 5A and 5B lunch as well as after school during tutorials to help students with their homework and provide any sort of assistance they might need. This new project is
aimed mostly at providing students with access to peer tutors, making study help much more accessibe and less intimidating than it can sometimes be with new teachers.
Caroline Nelson, a tutor in the Study Support Program, says she is “especially excited to be a resource for the students and to be a part of the program,” and she cannot wait to see it take off. Lily O’Gorman, another peer tutor, says “student support is a great addition to EHS and will definitely make a positive difference in student life”.
Mrs. Kate Hall notes that “Underwood library is working with Academic Assistance Office to provide study support during lunches and after school. Anyone can come and get support. We are excited about this leadership opportunity for our EHS students.”
Student Spotlight: Fayez Sarofim manages clothing company
JULIA SHERMAN Staff Writer
Have you been interested in investing in vintage wear? If so, junior Fayez Sarofim is the person to go to.
Fayez started his vintage company for all types of buyers and those who are interested. Fye Vintage was started in 2021 and has skyrocketed since. Fye Vintage is based in Houston, Texas, and started as a local company. Fayez’s company is known for its kind customer service and its eco-friendliness to couunter modern companies’ fast fashion. Fayez initially debuted his company through Instagram and has moved over time to additional platforms like eBay and Depop. Selling through these platforms, Fye Vintage has spread throughout the world.
Fayez’s company began out of the pure enjoyment of showing his passion for vintage clothing and accessories. Fayez has always had an interest in vintage pieces. He wanted to show his love for vintage by selling and introducing it to other people. Fye Vintage has a wide selection of dif-
ferent vintage pieces, including basketball jerseys, baseball jerseys, and hats. Fayez’s main sales go through his Instagram and direct messages. He accepts payments through credit card and mainly Venmo. Fayez also makes his sales easy for local customers by selling to his friends and delivering it to them in person, or even easier, at school. Fayez said, “Fye Vintage is based on being a sustainable business that strives to get customers classic hats and shirts for a good price.”
Fayez’s passion has been the key to the company thriving. His clever Instagram marketing, through the handle @fyevintage, provides customers a good experience buying, which has created many repeat customers. Fayez said, “I wanted to start a business based on sustainability and emphasizing the topic of bringing back clothing from the past.”
Fayez has brought many of his close friends into the vintage world and now has them hooked on new vintage wear when it drops. He also has giveaways, like hats. Fayez’s main goal is to provide his favorite vintage wear at an affordable price.
Merritt Lippincott and Gong Squad member James Carter dress up for the superhero-themed game. Photo by Eleanora Mitchell.
Fayez Sarofim enjoys the day and the public response to his vintage wear company.
Photo by Fayez Sarofim.
Chris Karohl tutors a student in the Study Support Program. Photo by Mrs. Hall.
Students dressed up at the football game against
Parish Episcopal, following the theme Neon/Throwback. Photo by Libby Davis.
F shion Sen¢e with Raigan Clay
Where are all the shoes? I feel like I can’t find any cool new shoes. I need to buy some new shoes, but when I was looking, I felt like everything looked the same. Where’s the creativity? Where’s the originality?
Shoes are an important part of selfexpression, and as a consumer, I feel there’s a lack of fresh releases. Shoes can be culture drivers, and right now there isn’t really one shoe that’s dominating the shoe community. Other than your standard Yeezy or Jordan, there isn’t any one shoe that’s outdoing all the others. Although, a trend I’ve been seeing lately is that more teens are starting to buy loafers and dressy shoes to style themselves. It’s definitely an acquired taste and can’t just be thrown on with any fit; there needs to be a working vision.
I’ve been loving Converse lately. The high-top silhouette is chef’s kiss and goes with almost any fit you can think of. They are the epitome of casual, but you can always dress them up or experiment with them. I can’t jump on the platform Converse wave; they’re just not doing it for me. They’re too chunky and to me there’s something really middle school about them, but the classic Chuck Taylor will do it every time.
Other than Yeezy, Jordan, and Converse, I don’t really see any new shoes that are wowing me. But that also leaves room for underground companies to make their debut with the fashion world lacking right now. So, it’s a time for anticipation and perhaps excitement for shoe connoisseurs.
The ever-popular green Converse. Image courtesy of pintrest.com.
A pair of white Yeezys for sale. Image courtesy of sneakerfreaker.com.
Colle e Know¿ede
¿with Mark-Anthony Mey
Hi, my name is Mark-Anthony Mey and welcome to College Knowledge. I started this column in The Knight Times to give students a small insight into prospective colleges in order to help when applying as seniors. While not a heavily-detailed guide, I hope these informative pieces will help those looking for a little more knowledge about college.
The University of Texas
The University of Texas at Austin is large public university of over 50,000 students. Located in Austin, Texas, UT is home to an amazing scene of diverse food and music that the students love to take advantage of. Within the university, over 1,100 student organizations are offered, in addition to the very popular Greek life scene.
Another aspect of UT that is very popular among students is football. As a member of the Big 12, the Saturday games are large attractions that draw crowds from all over the state to tailgate and support the Longhorns.
On the academic side of things, UT has 13 different colleges and over 170 undergraduate majors. The most popular of these include Biology, Informational Science and Liberal Arts and Humanities among others. Additionally, UT has an uncommon smaller student-teacher ratio of 13:1, which is very helpful for students to better connect with their teachers. Regarding admission, being a Texas school UT automatically admits students in the top 6% of their class and is has an overall admit rate of about 32%. Starting for the 2022 admission season, you can now apply on Common App in addition to the Texas school exclusive website, ApplyTexas. Hook ‘Em!
ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Staff Writer
Este es un tema delicado para mí personalmente. Cerca de 7 millones de venezolanos han dejado su hogar desde 2014 debido a una crisis económica. Muchos han huido al resto de América Latina y el Caribe. La migración se desaceleró a medida de la pandemia de Covid. La pandemia redujo las oportunidades económicas y complicó los viajes. En este momento, unos 150,000 venezolanos regresaron a su hogar en el pico del coronavirus, pero la migración vuelve a subir. Columbia informó que cerca de 650,000 venezolanas ingresaron a sus fronteras entre noviembre de 2021 y agosto de 2022. ¡Eso es aproximadamente 370 millas de caminata! 50% de los migrantes se van por falta de empleo y bajos salarios. 40% afirmaron que es difícil conseguir alimentos básicos como la harina y el arroz. Venezuela sigue teniendo inflación alta y pobreza extrema, incluyendo la falta de agua limpia y electricidad, todos los días en todas partes del país.
This topic hits a little closer to homefor me. Around 7 million Venezuelans have left their home since 2014 due to an economic crisis. Many have fled to the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean. The migration slowed down as the Covid pandemic cut economic opportunities and complicated travel. At this time, about 150,000 Venezuelans returned to their home at the peak of the coronavirus, but
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M is a large public university located in College Station, Texas. Founded in 1876, A&M has now amassed over 70,000 students throughout the 5,200-acre campus. The university has a wide array of student activities, including a small Greek life and military program called the Core of Cadets.
Athletically, A&M is home to 20 NCAA Division 1A varsity sports. Included in this is a robust football program, which offers students a fun community-wide experience as part of the SEC.
TAMU offers 133+ undergraduate degree programs between 17 different colleges. The most popular majors are Liberal Arts and Humanities, Biomedical Sciences and Molecular Medicine, and Psychology. A&M also has two branch campuses in Galveston, Texas and Doha, Qatar, which both offer unique research and learning opportunities.
Finally, if you are applying in Texas, you can be granted automatic admission if you are in the top 10% of your class. This does not apply to engineering majors, as those applicants must undergo the same holistic review process as other regular decision applicants. Like UT, you can now apply on Common App in addition to the Texas school only website, ApplyTexas. Gig ‘em!
YourLanguageCorner
the migration is on the rise again. Columbia reported that about 650,000 Venezuelans entered their borders between November of 2021 and August of 2022. That is about 370 miles of walking! In present day, about half of the migrants leave due to lack of employment and low salaries. About 40% stated they had difficulties obtaining even the most basic foods like flour and rice. Venezuela continues to have one of the world’s highest inflation rates and sees extreme poverty, including a lack of clean water and electricity, everyday across every part of the country.
Slice of π
Hello, Everyone! This is Bella, secretary of the Math Club. We hope everyone has had a strong start to the year and are enjoying math. We had our first Math Club meeting on Wednesday October 5, and loved seeing all of the math enthusiasts! If you missed signing up for Math Club at the Club Fair, it is never too late to join and become a member. Just contact me via email or Teams, and I can add you to our CANVAS page. We will also have our Mu Alpha Theta induction ceremony on Monday, October 24, in the Alumni Room. With parents in attendance, we will induct 32 new members and have a total of 51 members this year.
Our next Math Club meeting is Wednesday November 2, after school in Anderson Lecture Hall. Also, mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 30, when we will host our schoolwide Post Fibonacci Day Celebration. This is an event not to be missed! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ehsmathclub. Also, look at the TVs around campus for up-to-date details and updates on of all of our activities. We have guest speakers and lot of competitions in the near future.
Citizens face economic crisis in Venezuela. Photo courtesy of Venezela Anaylsis.
Raigan’s Radio
Stanley Kubrick’s
2001:
A Space Odyssey inspires the world of film
ALEX GONZALES Staff Writer
2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick's magnum opus, has immeasurably influenced the medium of film but also has served as a benchmark for what a film is capable of portraying. 2001: A Space Odyssey breaks the shackles from its epoch and transcends its zeitgeist. The film's trademark is its experiential and avant-garde nature; this is because there is no film like it, and like consuming most avant-garde works, the film is an experience.
The plot centers around the discovery of an alien-like monolith, from primeval to technologically advanced stages of humanity, along with the fascinating dynamic of technology vs. humanity as a subplot.
The opening scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey begins with an ascension over a planet, gazing into the distance at a star, while Also Sprach Zarathustra plays in the background, a grandiose entrance, to be mild. The subsequent scenes depict humanity from its primitive stage to the development of space travel. These beginning scenes are significant because they portray the central theory of the film itself; this is the film's genius, deriving from its ability to convey simplicity into complexity. The scenes mentioned are simple and bare, but they assemble the beginning of the movie in such a way that flawlessly expresses the phases of humankind.
In addition to the unique nature of the film, the special effects in the movie are revolutionary and incomprehensibly precocious; this aids in the mesmerizing nature of the movie and the utter ineffability of this film.
Artists utilize nostalgia through sampling sounds of the past
RAIGAN CLAY Features Editor
Let’s talk about nostalgia. For some reason a lot of young artists prevalent today are obsessed with the sounds of the past. I think they’re trying to recreate a feeling through music.
One of the main ways nostalgia shines through is the use of sampling. For example, Kanye West’s song “Bound 2” from his project Yeezus uses a sample throughout that is the underlining of the song. The sample makes that song and arguably wouldn’t be as popular without it.
The sample originally comes from the song “Bound” by Ponderosa Twins Plus One (which is a great song by the way). Tyler, The Creator uses this same sample but pitches it higher in “A Boy is a Gun” from his project Igor. But it’s funny in a way. Tyler’s cadence and the structure of the song sounds similar to Kanye’s “Bound 2.” The use of that sample is amazing and goes to show how you can mix an old sound and put a new take on it.
A friend once asked me if I liked “Bound 2” or “A Boy is a Gun” better because she knew I liked both Kanye and Tyler, but that’s not the point. My answer was “A Boy is a Gun,” but I said that I felt like there can’t be a “A Boy is a Gun” if there was no “Bound 2” first. It’s one of those things where people say Michael Jordan walked so Lebron could run. [Just an example…] Tyler accurately captured the feeling of the original sample and “Bound 2,” and he made it his own.
Drake also does this with his song “Passionfruit” from his project More Life [my favorite Drake album]. Drake was inspired on this song by Michael Franks’ 1983 album Passionfruit. While Drake didn’t sample anything from “Passionfruit,” you can tell when comparing the album and the song that Drake tries to capture the airy and experimental feel of Michael Franks’ work.
It’s an interesting trend in music; artists are always longing for the past. I feel it shows artists’ love for the art of music and appreciation for what’s come before them.
Psychological thriller The Silent Patient is a hair-raising must-read
ALYSSA WALL Staff Writer
The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides, is a psychological thriller novel that is considered “unforgettable” by Entertainment Weekly.
The antagonist, Alicia Berenson, is accused of murdering her husband, then slits her wrists. Throughout her trial, she remains silent and, as her sanity is called into question, is sentenced to be locked away in an asylum called the Grove, located in North London.
Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, has dreamt of the opportunity to work with Alicia and solve her case. He is finally awarded this opportunity and attempts to motivate her to communicate in some way, such as through her artwork. While institutionalized, she paints a haunt-
ing self portrait. This causes a catalyst of vicious attacks and outbursts, shocking twists and turns, and an ending that will leave you “gasping for breath,” as some reviewers stated.
The Silent Patient explores the psychology behind several disorders, guilt, and betrayal. Throughout the novel, the author references “Alcestis,” a similar story of a Greek goddess sent to death in Hades in her husband’s place despite her innocence, who refuses to speak again due to her husband’s betrayal. This Greek myth helps the reader to understand why Alicia chooses to remain mute, as she too is a victim of immense betrayal and deceit.
As Crimebythebook.com states, The Silent Patient is “immersive and hypnotic” … and “may well be the debut crime novel of the season.” This is a great book to add to your reading list and is guaranteed to keep you up at night.
Breathtaking Broadway musicals Funny Girl and Six take the stage
CLARA CRENSHAW Staff Writer
A new age of modern musicals is quickly taking over Broadway. I saw Funny Girl and Six, and contrary to popular opinion, I’m partial to the classics. Although Six was terrific, it didn’t have the same ambiance as traditional musicals have, and felt more like a concert than a play.
Don’t get me wrong, the singing was incredible, but the script was weak and didn’t give the actors much room for sophisticated acting. The only song that evoked emotion in me was “Heart of Stone,” and most other parts of the musical, although entertaining, weren’t very emotionally compelling. The soundtrack, with a modern pop undertone, sounded more like something I would hear on the radio than a musical. Despite the unorthodox genre of the music, the actors in Six had some of the best voices I’ve
heard on Broadway. The actors were all unique and brought a different energy to the stage, which is crucial when the cast is only six people. Regardless of my longing for a more in-depth script, I thought Six was highly entertaining, and I would definitely see it again.
Funny Girl, contrastingly, is the epidemy of a traditional musical. It had the beautiful costumes, rigorous dance numbers, and emotional scenes that people associate with Broadway shows. Funny Girl was originally on Broadway in 1964 and starred Barbra Streisand. The showstopping number, “Don’t Rain on my Parade,” is thought to be explicitly written for Barbra. Although it’s impossible to recreate the unique talent that Streisand possessed, I thought Julie Benko (playing Fanny Brice) did a fantastic job and brought a unique perspective to the role.
Although it wasn’t recreated perfectly, I loved Funny Girl and appreciate the traditional yet adored features it possessed.
Kanye West at an award show, Drake’s album entitled “More Life”, and Tyler, The Creator’s album “Igor”. Photo courtesy of bbc.com and en.wikipedia.org.
As a commemoration to the seniors and all the hard work they have done over the years, EHS started the tradition of Senior Breakfast and Senior Blessing.
Senior Blessing started for the very first graduating class of Episcopal in 1987. This is one of the oldest traditions at Episcopal still happening to this day. In the early years of the ceremony, rings were blessed and given to the students. More recently they have started letting students bring any object that they want blessed. These items usually hold some significance to the student.
As for Senior Breakfast, it was started in 2005 by Mr. John Colello. It is an EHS tradition which serves as a final welcome back for the seniors. The first breakfast started on the first Friday of school. This tradition is just something special for the seniors who will be leaving.
EHS traditions through the years
Senior Style Show has been a way to celebrate the graduating class since its premiere in 1988. In this event, both male and female seniors walk across the runway with their classmates and model outfits from various department stores around Houston. With professional styling teams, hair, and makeup, each student looks his or her best and has the opportunity to have some fun.
During this event, the graduating class walks a sixty-foot runway in groups, and later, in the grand finale, each student is introduced and admired for his or her high school accomplishments. Although the allure of dressing up and walking down a runway does attract many students, the Style Show additionally allows the community to celebrate the seniors’ last year of high school and all that each student has achieved as a member of the Episcopal community. Because of its exciting, celebratory nature, this tradition has stood the test of time over more than three decades and still serves as an enjoyable event that students look forward to for years.
THE CHALLENGER GAMES
The Challenger games, football and basketball events for people with special needs, have been a beloved tradition in the EHS community since 2009. An active member of Students of Service and lacrosse player Andy Hale ‘09, and his mother, Barbra, proposed the idea of hosting and planning Challenger games to Mr. Mike Donnelly in 2009, and the EHS community happily obliged.
The games have occurred ever since and have grown to be a loved and anticipated in the Episcopal community. Andy’s brother, Brian, and many others have returned yearly to participate in the games.
Coach Donnelly said, “We are thrilled that they want to continue playing and that we get to see them.”
The cheerleaders, basketball players, and football players look forward to getting to know the Challenger players and cheering them on throughout the game. The tradition will continue September 14 at 6 p.m. with the football Challenger game.
Midterms are a stressful time for everyone. It can be hard for students to get their minds off work when there is so much pressure to perform well.
To try to combat the pressure that students are under, the EHS Student Council started the Midterm Destress Week. Their goal for this week is to try to make campus as comfortable as possible and make people feel more at ease.
Some of the events were watching movies during lunch, having music play during break, and sidewalk decorating. All of these events were very well received, but the most popular event among the students was the therapy dogs. These therapy/comfort dogs are there for the students to pet and play with to try to get their minds at ease.
So far, the Episcopal community has enjoyed these events. With this positive feedback, Student Council plans to keep this tradition going for many more years to come.
Many years ago, it was Julia Hall, a former choir director at Episcopal High School, who was the first to make the call to Santa and his elf. Ever since, it has been tradition for Santa and his elf to make appearances around EHS at Christmastime, but their presence is especially recognized at the annual Christmas Sing-Along Chapel. Over many years, Santa’s identity has remained the same at EHS, and only the elf has changed from time to time. Interestingly enough, in more recent years, Santa has borne a striking resemblance to beloved physics teacher Mr. John Flanagan, and his elf to Mr. Eric Avera. Of course, it must all be a great coincidence.
GONG SQUAD
Students at EHS are familiar with the spirited Gong Squad, a group of senior boys that set the example for student body spirit in the student section. Knights may wonder, though, how the squad came to be.
The Gong Squad was started in 1993 by a teacher whose son was a student. It started with this teacher hitting cymbals together during lacrosse games. Mr. John Colello said, “When we would score a goal, she would bang the cymbals the number of goals scored. If it was the eighteenth goal, she would hit them eighteen times.”
Soon after her son graduated, she stopped going to the games to cheer on sports teams. As the celebration gained popularity, students became more involved with the idea of continuing it. A group of seniors went to Colello and asked if they could continue this tradition, but with a gong, at football games.
The election of new squad members used to be senior boys choosing junior boys, but now they are elected by faculty in a Q&A style format. This started the tradition of new Gong Squad members every year, Knights known for the spirit and positive enthusiasm they bring to sporting events.
HOUSE
Coffee House is a biannual school-wide event in November and April that brings together the EHS community in the USC through creativity and performance. Beginning in the late 1990’s, Coffee House has been a long-lived tradition that is much loved by students, faculty, and staff alike. Despite its temporary shut down during the pandemic, the event returned last fall with anticipation.
The fall and spring occurrences of Coffee House last year were big successes and included performances ranging from graduate Jack Rambo’s “Tequila” to a dance by Madame McArthur’s French III class.
This upcoming year, the signature coffee half of the event is looking to return, brought to EHS by A 2nd Cup. This small coffee shop in the Heights, co-owned by Mark and Erica Raggett, not only has amazing brews, but has also worked to bring awareness to human trafficking and helping victims rekindle their lives. During Coffee House of Fall 2019, EHS raised a combined $1,500 from coffee and t-shirts to contribute to this cause.
The EHS community looks forward to bringing back Coffee House in full swing this year and continuing to perform and advocate for many years to come.
Break cookies have been a longstanding and well-beloved tradition at EHS for nearly three decades. Starting in the early nineties, the cookies were originally served to students during lunch alongside break period. This continued until 2014 when the cookies switched over to the morning-only treats students know today.
They have since served as a staple of EHS life and a treat to expect after Chapel. Having long been made from Otis Spunkmeyer chocolate chip cookie dough, this traditional aspect of the goods has stayed strong since their origin. The few months during which Otis Spunkmeyer’s recipe was not used were short lived, as students were quick to push for the old-fashioned through boycotts.
“[The cookies] add another outstanding tradition,” said Executive Chef John Ly, “something the kids look forward to everyday.”
The iconic break snacks have long been served by EHS mothers and continue to add a layer of joy throughout campus life.
Every day, the EHS community joins together in the Chapel to worship. However, when Covid-19 hit in 2020, the idea to try Chapel in advisory was proposed. Two years later, Family Chapel is a coveted, student-led tradition at EHS. The program was designed in hopes of creating a “more intimate, participatory model for Chapel,” said Reverend Art Callaham. Family Chapel gives those who feel “lost” in large-group worship settings the ability to study and pray in a smaller group. Another goal of the program was to provide more leadership positions for the student body. This year, the number of leaders has reached up to 250 people.
Family Chapel allows students to share leadership. In many advisories, the roles rotate among the group every week. It also grows relationships between advisees. It is a true testament of how talking and praying with peers can form such a strong sense of trust
Seniors strut their stuff at the 1999 style show.
Opinions
The War on Drugs continues to polarize the U.S.
ALEX GONZALES Staff Writer
The War on Drugs refers to government programs, laws, and regulations regarding illegal drugs. The War on Drugs was started by the Nixon administration and focused on hampering drug use across America. Not only has its intentions failed, but coupled with it, is a countless list of adverse effects.
According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 46% of prisoners in federal prison are in for drug-related crimes. This statistic of drug-related prison offenses has helped propel the U.S. to having the world’s largest prison population per capita. In addition to a mass incarceration problem, the War on Drugs has also led to unfavorable economic results, specifically the over 1 trillion spent on this futile war.
The main problem with the War on Drugs is its punitive nature and untenable drug regulations. Among these untenable regulations is the classification of Marijuana as a schedule 1 drug. Schedule 1 is the strictest classification of a drug and means that Marijuana, for example, is supposedly more dangerous than cocaine and methamphetamine. The categorization of Marijuana as more unsafe than schedule 2 drugs is demonstrably ridiculous, considering there are no deaths from it, and it is far less addictive. This classification of Marijuana
results in users incurring the regulatory repercussions of Marijuana being a schedule one drug through sentencing.
According to the ACLU, Black people are 3.64 times more likely than white people to be arrested for Marijuana possession, despite comparable usage rates. The effects of the drug war on education and recidivism are a major culprit for the harm done to minority communities in recent years. According to a 2002 study titled “How To Construct An Underclass, Or How The War On Drugs Became A War On Education,” zero-tolerance policies can expel students possessing as small as one pill.
In addition to zero tolerance policies, the denial of higher education due to drug offenses has stifled the furthering of education, specifically for minorities. The rejection of education due to drug use has resulted in deleterious effects among minority communities; it has created a system in which a lack of education results in an inability to find jobs, further leading to the stagnation of economic progress in lower-income communities. If not already barricaded by the school system, the drug war has obstructed prisoners from living everyday lives after sentencing.
The War on Drugs leads to drug users returning to use because rehabilitation functions as less significant than punishment, causing high recidivism rates, poor social integration, and a shoehorn for increasing racial disparity and systemic racism.
In response to the failure, solutions are
ISABEL O’GORMAN Managing/Copy Editor
Is it really possible for our social media presence to be “real?”
Founded in 2020, the newest photosharing platform BeReal is taking the world’s teens by storm. This application promises a different type of social media experience without deceptive filters, likes, or followers. Instead, the experience revolves around a push notification that appears at some point each day; upon receiving this notification, users have two minutes to upload a post featuring a photo of the front and back cameras. Although the application allows users to post after these allotted two minutes, the fun comes from seeing what all your friends are doing, good or not, in that shared moment. BeReal aims to create a space where users connect with friends through everyday moments and feel confident to “BeReal,” no matter when this daily notification appears. But is it really all it set out to be?
To test this, I surveyed my own BeReal feed. I counted how many of my friends uploaded on time, within the two minutes of the notification, and how many posted later. Through my sample of 94 friends, only 30.8% posted on time, with the majority, just shy of 70%, uploading
warranted and desperately needed. Legalizing currently illegal drugs on the federal level is one way to abate the pernicious effects of the War on Drugs. Most recently, marijuana has experienced distinguished attention in the realm of drug legalization; this is a step in the right direction because the legalization of drugs would allow the U.S. government to treat illegal substance use as a public health problem, therein allowing the government to eliminate lethal substitutes and diminish drug cartel ascendancy. Notably, taxes on marijuana in currently legalized states have become a point of recent popularity to raise revenue. While this seems like a reasonably innocuous practice, this allows for drug cartels to regain a foothold by undercutting prices and resurfacing control. Though marijuana taxes may not be a great proposal, the very nature of discussing drug policy is a platform where solutions are more readily discussed rather than the nature of dealing with drugs majorly through jailing.
COVID affects education in U.S.
JALYNN WOOLLEY Production Editor
Over a period of two years, students were confined to their homes and forced into isolation as they began to conquer a whole new series of challenges in education due to the restrictive nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. The structure, or lack thereof, of virtual learning has detrimentally affected elementary and high school students. Soon after students began to re-populate the hallways of schools across the country, studies identified the extent to which the pandemic affected education. Results from standardized testing, such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) revealed that K-12 students were, on average, four months behind on reading and five months behind on mathematics.
their BeReal one minute to 20 hours late. Interestingly, this on-time percentage might even be higher than usual due to the notification’s timing of 1:22 p.m. during school.
Interestingly, I have found that even fewer post their BeReal on time when the daily alarm goes off after school hours. After school, users might be without their friends or caught doing something mundane, like finishing homework or eating family dinner– posting in the way the app was intended. Because of this influx of late posters, BeReal has somehow lost the most fundamental part of its mission. Now, many users opt to ignore the set notification time and instead upload the most exciting or socially active moment of their day.
The bottom line is that most people, including myself, hesitate to be “real” if they deem their “real” is not good enough. In an age where so much of the content on social media is photoshopped, filtered, and curated, it is harder than it might seem to drop this façade of perfection and present authenticity in the virtual sphere. While BeReal’s founding motivations are a step in the right direction in terms of deconstructing the pressure that comes with social media, being entirely “real” on the online stage may just be impossible.
Unfortunately, these numbers had a larger impact on impoverished areas in which disadvantaged students did not have access to online education as their districtsdid not offer any kind of schooling at all throughout the pandemic. Although, it was not only the quality of these students’ education that was at risk but also their mental and emotional health According to the New York Times, test scores demonstrated that while many elementary level students show a “partial understanding of what they are reading, fewer can infer a character’s feelings from what they have read.”
Similarly, 80% of parents have expressed some sort of concern for their child’s social and emotional health because of the social isolation that was required due to the pandemic.All these factors are predicted to have a devastating impact on the future of students across the nation. It is projected that as a result, these students will receive anywhere from $49,000 to $61,000 less over their lifetimes.
Although, these statistics cause people to wonder if the pandemic caused this educational decline or if the pandemic only expose pre-existing gaps in the American educational system altogether.
Regardless of the events that happened in the past, it is essential that teachers and parents continue to emphasize the importance of education to their students, especially in a post-pandemic world. Daily school life may look different than it did previously, but the presence of education in a young child’s life is just as, if not more, vital to their development.
Opinions
The Lily Pad with
Lily O’Gorman
Ongoing conflict in Russia and Ukraine has pushed European countries to reconsider nuclear energy sources. Photo courtesy of Clean Energy Wire.
Just as Europe’s transition to clean energy was beginning to make tangible strides, conflict in Russia halted it in its tracks as emergent energy shortages push for the continued use of nuclear power.
Welcome back to the Lily Pad, your destination for quick doses of environmental news so you can impress everyone with your expansive knowledge of current events at dinner parties (among other reasons).
Today, we tackle the effects of the Russia-Ukraine War on clean energy development in Europe and how global conflicts have forced governments across the world to pivot from and reassess their visions of the future of energy.
A microcosm of this development is currently unfolding in Germany, where the government recently announced that it will be keeping the Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim nuclear power plants available for backup in case energy demands necessitate their activation. This decision comes despite Germany’s ongoing initiative to shift to clean energy, called Energiewende, or “energy turnaround.” According to NBC, while Germany “is not changing its longerterm goal to shut down all nuclear power,” the current energy crisis is clearly putting the initiative on hold to the chagrin of environmentalists and scientists across the country. But the truth is, there doesn’t seem to be many viable alternatives.
The practical reasons for a return to nuclear power are evident: Germany is far too dependent on natural gas imports from Russia to sustain themselves with out turning to other energy sources. Russia’s state-owned energy gi ant, Gazprom, officially stated it would not reopen the primary pipeline through which natural gas is supplied to Europe due to “maintenance work.” Hy droelectric power is also on the decline, as drought has reduced water levels in lakes and rivers, adding to existing factors that already make it an inefficient al ternative.
However, despite these valid arguments, there are also con crete reasons for the opposi tion of nuclear power. First, it is expensive. French President Emmanuel Ma cron’s goals to reinvent nuclear power in France mean footing a bill of approximately $53 bil lion, according to the
New York Times, a price that other European countries are simply not willing to pay. Moreover, nuclear plants are continuing to get more expensive and more inefficient as they require constant maintenance to prevent potentially catastrophic consequences. It is also not practical to assume nuclear power plants can be reactivated with a moment’s notice, as, according to Jonathan Stern of the independent Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, the projects take a minimum of 10 years to complete. He summed this up saying that “nuclear is going to take so long” and “the big problem is getting off Russian gas, and that problem is now – not in a decade, when maybe we’ve built another generation of nuclear reactors.” Relying on the old reactors is, if not inefficient, risky.
This leads to another major point of contention–nuclear power is dangerous. Robert Habeck, the German economics and climate protection minister, notes, “Nuclear power is and will remain a high-risk technology, and the highly radioactive waste will burden tens of generations to come.”
Habeck further remarked, “The major crises – war and climate crises – have a very concrete effect.”
Thus, it is no surprise that wartime struggles continue to permeate European nations and the larger global economy. Germany, like many European nations, has no other choice than to make nuclear power available if, as Habeck says, “worst comes to the worst” in this “special situation.”
Heated debates over student loan forgiveness continue
ALYSSA WALL Staff Writer
On August 24, 2022, President Biden announced a program that he says will relieve thousands of people of up to $20,000 of student loan debt. According to ProCon. org, student loan debt has increased by 102% over the last ten years. This problem must be solved, but how?
In March 2020, at the start of COVID-19, President Trump halted federal student loan payments and the collection of debt as part of the country’s economic response to the pandemic and the shutdown of businesses and the ability to work. President Biden continued this payment moratorium, in several increments, through December 31, 2022. Some criticized the need for the extension since most businesses and schools were open and people were back to work. Now, many of those payments will never have to be made due to the new loan forgiveness program.
The Wall Street Journal describes the
others, for example, Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican from Kentucky, consider it “a slap in the face to every family who [has] sacrificed to pay for college… and every American who chose a certain career path” in order to avoid a cloud of debt.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat from Massachusetts, supports the move, claiming that student loan forgiveness would not only “provide substantial relief to millions…but would also help narrow the racial wealth gap and advance racial equity.”
As to whether President Biden has the authority to make such legal decisions without the authorization of Congress, the response is scattered. According to Forbes magazine and several attorney generals, “the President has the legal authority to enact wide-scale student loan cancellation for every federal student loan borrower under the Higher Education Act of 1964.” However, some believe this is a misinterpretation of the act. Nancy Pelosi, Democrat from California, seems to agree that Presi-
program as one through which “borrowers with federal student loan debt are eligible for up to $10,000 in relief,” provided that they earn less than $125,000 a year. This executive order created a nationwide debate as to whether President Biden has the authority to cancel debt, and if so, if it was truly the right thing to do.
Some detest this program, such as those who have already paid off their loans, and
dent Biden has the authority to “postpone, delay, but not forgive” student loan debt. Article I, Section 7, Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution highlights this claim, stating that the Executive Branch cannot spend money that has not been appropriated by Congress.
It will be interesting to see how the matter plays out in the courts, which is where the debate seems to be headed.
Students take to the street to demand sudent loaan forgiveness. Photo courtesy of NBC.com.
Knight Stats
Cross Country
5K Times
Sam Marino - 17:11.0
Will Pacey - 18:00.8
Evan Ringwald - 18:07.0
Lucy Holden - 19:14.5
Madison Morgan - 19:28.1
Georgia Bass - 20:17.0
Volleyball
Girls
19-3
Boys
5-0
Football
Field
Hockey 4-1 6-3
Stats as of 9/23/22
Boys volleyball coach has high expectations for team
THOMPSON WHITE Staff Writer
The Episcopal High School boys volleyball team has won two games and lost none with an incredibly young team.
The team’s first opponent was Country Day, who EHS battled in four tight sets and ultimately came out with a nail-biting win. In their second game, the team beat Trinity Valley, who Head Coach Kerry Hoffmeister believes has “been the best program in the SPC for the past six years.”
Trinity Valley destroyed Episcopal in the first set; however, Episcopal adapted and started a huge comeback in the second set; then used that momentum to win the third. EHS started the fourth set slow, but they found some strength to bring down Trinity Valley and end the game
with a huge win. These two wins have been huge for the team since the team has only one senior
and one junior in
Field hockey focuses on SPC title
JAKE BERLIN Staff Writer
With a 3-1 record, the EHS girls field hockey team has established a solid foundation for further success throughout the year. The team displayed promising athletic ability by defeating Awty, Duschene, and Trinity Valley - all within the first month of the 2023 fall season.
The girls confidently faced a very difficult opponent while competing against Fort Worth Country Day, resulting in their only loss of the season with a final score of 4-0. Head Coach Emily White is very enthusiastic about this team’s potential to perform well throughout the rest of the year and expressed her pride in the girl’s exceptional work ethic.
When asked about her outlook on this season, Coach White stated, “I think this
Football defeats Livingston
THOMPSON WHITE Staff Writer
The Episcopal Knights varsity football team had an impressive battle against Parish Episcopal, the twelfth-ranked team in Texas via MaxPreps.
Going into the game, the Knights had momentum after dominating Livingston 42-7 in their first regular season game. Despite this momentum, the Knights started the game slow and found themselves down 14-0. However, after a 30-minute lighting delay, the Knights “were able to make adjustments,” said Head Coach Steve Leisz. “[The team] simplified some of the defensive plays.”
After adapting, the Knights defense came out strong and caused multiple turnovers, punts, and no touchdowns for
the next two quarters.
Late in the first half, junior quarterback Karson Gordon connected with senior Lane Linebarger on an 80-yard touchdown pass to get the offense rolling. Coming out of halftime ahead 14-7, Parish added a field goal. The Knights responded with a strong drive, and Gordon threw a quick pass to Linebarger, who finessed his way to the endzone. The game was soon tied following senior defensive back Brayden Crow’s crucial interception, which brought the Knights to Parish’s 10-yard line, and senior Kaden Martinez’s. field goal in the fourth quarter. Parish went on to score a touchdown late and beat the Knights 24-17. This was a phenomenal performance for the Knights against one of the best teams in the state of Texas
team can compete with any team in the SPC. We approach every game with a winning mindset, and we always have an SPC title as our focus. As the year progresses, the team will continue to focus on building a strong team dynamic in order to improve upon each other’s athletic ability.”
Cheer team trains hard for FNL
MORGAN HEROD Opinions Editor
Every afternoon, the cheer team works hard to prepare for Friday Night Lights. Practices are held four days a week, and two of these days are spent running their routine in full with their choreographer. Outside practices are held often to prepare the team for the extreme Houston heat. With a two-minute halftime routine, the preparation that goes into being performance ready takes hard work and diligence from everyone. Though the team always makes their performances look effortless, there are many challenges when trying to choreograph a routine. Figuring out how everyone can connect her skills with one another certainly provides a fair number of struggles. Time is required to create a piece with intricate stunts, dancing, and jumps. “Coordinating smooth transitions between different areas of our routine is definitely the hardest part,” said varsity cheerleader Libby Scholtes. With the help of their amazing choreographer, Bryson Black, the team has perfected a perfect halftime show to support the football team and entertain the crowd.
Girls volleyball ranks third in SPC
JAKE BERLIN Staff Writer
With an exceptional 17-3 record, the EHS varsity girls volleyball team has clearly presented themselves as dedicated athletes throughout the start of the 2023 fall season.
With such a successful start to this year’s season, this group of athletes shows promising potential to perform highly as they progress into the SPC championships. The group of athletes recently demonstrated their high skill level while competing at the 2022 Houston Open Invitational Tournament, where they managed to place second overall.
Head Coach Cydryce McMillian commented that this event was “a testament to the grit and determination we have exhibited as a catalyst for helping us to achieve our goals.”
As they move forward in the season, the team plans to focus on improving upon becoming more efficient in all aspects of their technical and tactical practices. This year’s team has truly displayed an exemplary work ethic and dedication to
improving themselves as athletes. This clearly reflects upon the results of their past games and tournaments.
Freshman Evelyn Smith (17) defends against St. Agnes. Photo by Lila Henningson.
Senior Ava Harrington (20) and junior Allyson Frailey (6) defend against an incoming attack. Photo by Vivian Turbidy.
The defensive unit consisting of senior Hutch Coward (73) and junior Ty Blevins (10) swarms the ball carrier. Photo by Mia Broughton.
The boys volleyball team practices for an upcoming game. Photo by Kennedy Greene.
the varsity starting lineup. With the extremely young team there is a bright future for the team.
Episcopal Athlete Spotlight
THOMPSON WHITE
Staff Writer
This EHS football season, look out for #99, defensive end Jason Otah. Jason went to a small middle school called Living Waters Christian School then came to Episcopal. At EHS, Otah is involved in wrestling and football, his main sport. He says that wrestling helps him “improve [his] conditioning and maneuvers on the line.”
Jason is always motivated to enhance his football skills because he is motivated to do “[his] job the best [he] can do it.” Earning a collegiate scholarship also
motivates Otah since he believes that his hard work and dedication will allow him to earn one. His extra work for the team has not gone unnoticed; he was awarded Most Improved last year after registering nine quarterback sacks and was named Top Defensive Player for EHS by the Texas Private School Football Twitter.
To achieve this, before every game, Jason’s secret to success is to visualize what he aspires to do in the game then goes out and completes it. While on the field, Jason primarily thinks about “winning the next rep” to get himself focused and ready on the next snap.
ALYSSA WALL Staff Writer
Our female athlete spotlight of the week is triple varsity sport athlete Emma Poirot. Emma has expressed natural athletic talent since a very young age, participating in volleyball, basketball, softball, soccer, swimming, lacrosse, field hockey, ballet, gymnastics, and even taekwondo. Throughout her four years of high school, her main sports have been volleyball, basketball, and softball, with softball and volleyball competing for her number one.
She is an outside hitter and defensive specialist in volleyball, a forward in basketball, and a shortstop in softball. She notes that “although it has been difficult to balance school and athletics year-round, [she] wouldn’t have changed it for the world.”
She has formed long-lasting and meaningful bonds with each of her teammates and coaches, and she has found being part of a team to be a suprisingly rewarding experience that brings her great purpose. In her high school career, she has competed for three SPC championships, and this past year she led her team to their fifth consecutive softball SPC championship, resulting in an astounding total of 20 overall program wins.
She is a “competitor at heart,” announcing that there is “nothing better than taking the field or court with [her] team.” She has found the athletic community at EHS to be incredibly supportive and driven, and she is thrilled to finish out high school with the people who have made her into the person she is today: smart, hard-working, dedicated, uplifting, and excited to see what the rest of senior year has to offer.
Carlos Alcaraz triumphs over Casper Ruud in 2022 US Open
SIMONA KARNANI
Staff Writer
In the tennis world, there are four Grand Slam tournaments each year: the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. These tournaments attract a multitude of people from all over the world, but most recently, the US Open took place in Queens, New York.
The US Open takes place in the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center, which houses multiple tennis courts, the most famous being Arthur Ashe Stadium. This stadium was named after the 1968 winner, Arthur Ashe, and is the largest tennis specific stadium in the world. This year was the 142 edition of the US Open, and the fourth Grand Slam event of the year. This year, it took place from August 23 to September 12. Typically, a sporting event would have classic sports game food, but the US Open had around 40 food vendors. Most of them were stalls, but there was also some sitdown restaurants and cafes. Some included Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Oakberry Acai, and Poke Yachty. The vendors served healthy
options, but also had stadium food. This included vegetarian and gluten free food options at every vendor.
At the tennis center, there were many monuments to honor past players who made a big impact on the tennis world. The Avenue of Aces stretched from the East Gate of the tennis center to Arthur Ashe Stadium.
It is divided into 12 “neighborhoods” and has pavers in each one. The proceeds from the sales go to the USTA Foundation’s mission, which fund tennis and educational programs for the under-privileged.
The US Open this year brought many important outcomes. Serena Williams played her last match and is ending her tennis career. Novak Djokovic, previously world number one, was not allowed to play because of his vaccine status. This year also marked 25 years of the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after he beats Jannik Sinner, going on to win the US Open and be-
coming the youngest man to win a major since Rafael Nadal’s first title at the 2005 French Open, Photo courtesy of Bloomberg.
Photo courtesy of VYPE Houston.
Emma Poirot takes a break for a Vype photoshoot. Phot courtesy of Vype Houston.
JASON OTAH - FOOTBALL
EMMA POIROT - VOLLEYBALL
Speaks Out
“What is your favorite EHS tradition?”
Resident Jester
Letters
Cartoon by Lily O’Gorman.
PhotoJ Photo of the Month
ELIZABETH CABES “Pep rallies”
Varsity field hockey celebrates a September 8 win against St. Agnes Academy. Photo by Lila Henningsen.
