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The Cougar Claw Vol. 51, Issue 2

The Student Newspaper of Tomball High School

Cougars are back!

Tomball is poised to earn its first playoff berth in years, and it may all come down to the final game against Tomball Memorial.

INSIDE:

Tales from Harvey

Peek inside Star Academy

Bond vote looms

Visit our website at THSCougarClaw.com

2 OPINION

STAFF Emily Ashlock Editor-in-Chief Daniela Roscero News Editor Carly Sander Features Editor Sabrina Ulloa Opinion Editor Charlie Bose Online Editor Danielle Benson Photo Editor Desarae Rudel Photographer Ericka Molina Senior Writer Staff Writers: Ollie Bream Michael Peluso Laney Farr

Jerry Fordyce Media Advisor About the Cougar Claw: The newspaper is a product of the students at Tomball High School. All stories, pages and photos are student productions. Advertising is available and is vital to the newspaper, as it receives no funding for printing costs from the school or district. For more information, e-mail adviser Jerry Fordyce at jerryfordyce@tomballisd. net or call (281) 357-3220 x2303. Visit us online at THSCougarClaw.com for additional coverage.

District officials say the new TISD Stadium would be comparable in size and cost to Waller ISD’s facility.

Vote yes on bond election

School district needs the community’s support Every school year since 2013, Tomball ISD has grown by about 1,000 students. There is no sign of this growth slowing down, and with a predicted student population of 16,793 for next year and 19,288 for the 2021 school year, facilities need to be better suited to handle the masses. We need new schools, and the bond on tomorrow’s ballot plans on adding another elementary and junior high to help accommodate the growth. Although Tomball High has enough room for the coming years, our sister school Tomball Memorial does not. Currently 2,200 Wildcats are being crammed into a building designed to hold a maximum of 2,500, and this bond will help create additional room for TMHS. In addition, much needed buses - all air conditioned - will be added to the TISD fleet to help combat the overcrowding on buses. Ask any kid who rides the bus, this is a must. The auditorium at Tomball High has slowly degraded these past couple of years, to say the least. An auditorium is suppose to be a high quality area dedicated to the arts, anything less than that is a disgrace to our school. The bond would fund a massive, and much-needed, renovation. FFA needs a working Ag barn. The Tomball High School shouldn’t have to go over to TMHS

Editorial Cartoon

to do anything. The schools need to have parity in facilities, and this - along with a new swimming pool for Memorial - helps achieve this goal. Last, but not least, this bond proposes for a new football stadium. Even though the current stadium works, there are legitimate reasons for building a new one. The Tomball High Schools stadium was built way back in 1971 and is in violation of current Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. Our old stadium will not be demolished; instead the new one will be off campus for varsity games while the old one remains in use by other levels of football and numerous other sports. Although one would think that upgrading the current stadium would be better, when you look into it you’d discover that it would be a mistake to do so. It is in our best interest as students because if an upgrade was put in, a large chunk of parking would be replaced by the stadium. If you are 18 years or older and registered to vote, please vote yes to the bond. As students, we need this. We need buses that aren’t overcrowded, facilities that aren’t falling apart. It’s an investment in us as students and the community as a whole. For more information on the bond election, check out the story on Page 5.

by Suzette Gonzalez

OPINION

A MESSY SITUATION

Trash left scattered around by those sitting in the atrium during lunch could leave everyone locked out of the popular spot. Photo by Emmie Schubert

Students should lose atrium access if unable to clean up their own trash Michael Peluso Staff Writer

People who leave their trash in the atrium should starve. I don’t care what they do for lunch but they should be written up and kicked out of the atrium. They eat their lunch rather loudly then continue to throw it onto the floor - not even figuratively, literally throwing their food and containers down onto the ground. Inside the cafeteria the floors are left mostly untouched. Yes there is still trash, but otherwise it’s a significant improvement. The atrium is at most a sixth of the size of the cafeteria, but it ends up packed with more trash than inside. There is literally no differ-

ence between the two areas, except the atrium is “outdoors” - it has 2 trash cans and a tray holder for YOUR convenience but somehow, your trash ends up grounded. At the end of lunch I see two custodian women come by, slowly picking up after multiple groups of inconsiderate students (mostly male) and it’s really sad to see. Do you think you’re funny? Because your friends, janitors, and the people around you don’t. They smile and laugh to your face but once you leave they’re more than eager to spill their guts (like you do your drinks). “He acts like he’s five,” says one, “why does he think that’s funny?” asks another, and “he’s so immature…” is a common refrain. These are the few students who shouldn’t be allowed to eat lunch in the atrium. I could care

less if they ate at all, but they shouldn’t be allowed to eat with the rest of us who appreciate the privilege of eating in a somewhat private area. On Thursday of last week, Terrance Slaughter, the associate principal, was very vocal when he came out there and saw the mess, and told people to start cleaning. I was so ecstatic to see the school taking action, but the kids who left the main attraction were missing. Slaughter called out asking who had made the atrocity, but sadly they didn’t show themselves. Slaughter then made the announcement “no one’s eating in the atrium tomorrow and for the entire next week, this is ridiculous.” Ridiculous, indeed.

Teachers should be mindful of students’ anxieties Laney Farr Staff Writer Teachers should not randomly call on students duirng class. This is an issue for kids with anxiety, which can cause nervous breakdowns nad anxiety attacks. When a teacher calls on a student randomly that may not be comfortable answering questions in front of the class, it puts the student on the spot and could leave them embarrassed and nervous.

The goal may be to identify areas where a student needs help, but all the anxious student thinks is, “They’re going to call on me and I’m going to get it wrong.” They’re more worried about failing in front of their peers than improving their knowledge of the subject. Teachers should try to take a new approach to having students answer questions in front of the class. Instead of randomlly calling on students, maybe there should be a warning allowing the student time to prepare. There are ways to guage knowledge without causing stress and anxiey

STRESS

IN-DEPTH

Life upstairs

Backstage pass to what it’s like to attend the Star Academy Daniela Roscero News Editor

The Tomball Star Academy opened this school year for about 125 freshmen, and there are lots of differences between the Academy and Tomball High School. The first major difference is the schedule they follow: a block schedule with longer class periods that meet fewer times a week, as well as a school day that starts at 8:15 and ends at 3:25. “It seems to work out well. It gives them more time to concentrate on their class for a longer period of time, and they go to it every other day, and on Friday they go to all of them,” Kimberle McKinney, the Academy’s principal, said. Students also feel the block schedule is beneficial. “I like block schedule because you get way more class time Riley to complete your work and to actually understand the material way better, than just having thirty five minute classes and rushing through all the work you have to do, and you have one more day to do your homework, that’s very nice,” said Aidan Riley, a student at the Academy. Also, their schedule incorporates an hourlong lunch. “I like the ‘power hour’, the one hour of lunch because you get to take a break from Bu school and you can work on homework you don’t want to do at your house, and it’s time to be with other people,” Kaitlyn Bu, another Academy student, said. Students also have smaller class sizes, which they say allows them to have a better relationship with their teachers. “It’s definitely more one-onone,” Riley said. “At first when

Students lounge in a sitting area by the main stairs doing an assignment for a class. Photo by Danielle Benson

Students in the Star Academy are provided Chromebooks to use throughout the day at school. Photo by Danielle Benson

you come here, you’re like ‘college classes, I’m not gonna wanna do this’, but once you actually go through the classes... the teachers want you to succeed, so they’ll work with you individually until you get it right.” Besides the academically rigorous curriculum and individual attention, students have career-oriented classes. “There’s also this class we have called PCC, which is Path to College Career, and it’s really helping us to lead where we wanna go,” Bu said. Although there are many benefits, including being able to grad-

uate with an associate’s degree, there are also some disadvantages. One of the most significant ones is having a limited number of extracurricular activities. “Missing out on high school soccer was a really big thing to sacrifice,” Riley admitted. The choice for him, however, came down to his personal professional aspirations. “I chose to come here because I knew I wasn’t going to be a professional soccer player so I wanted to rather pursue my interests in engineering,” he said. Also, life at the academy is very different from a normal high

school experience, as students don’t participate in some of the social activities typically associated with high school life. “There’s no homecoming, no prom, and only like 100 people here,” Bu said. The students at the academy are very committed to the school, and must show dedication. “If you drop out [of the program] you can’t come in again, you have to finish,” Riley said. The academy also has rules that apply exclusively to their student body, like having to wear badges to school. “If we don’t [wear them], we have to go to the ICU for power hour. ICU is like study hall,” Bu explained. The division between Tomball Star Academy and Tomball High School, however, is not an impenetrable border. In fact, all academy students have been at THS. “We go to the science lab down there for biology ... it looks way bigger,” Riley said. Overall, students are very satisfied with their experience at the academy. “It’s really nice,” Bu said. “This school makes you feel like you can be more than the regular person.”

IN-DEPTH

Voters to decide on $275M bond package Money would finance renovations at THS, new stadium, more Sabrina Ulloa Opinion Editor Voters will decide on a $275 million school bond referendum tomorrow. But what is a bond? A bond is a contract to repay borrowed money with a low-cost interest rate over time, which will provide for new district facilities, renovations at existing campuses, new technology, and additional school buses. It will be an election that affects all of us whether or not it gets approved. As Tomball ISD continues to grow by more than 45,000 students over the next five years, two new campuses and construction of new classrooms are being proposed by the district. To help you make sense of all this, here are “10 Things You Need To Know” about the bond election. This is a Needs Based Bond Projects included in this $275 million bond referendum address the most immediate needs of Tomball ISD and future planning while minimizing the impact on taxpayers. No Projected Tax Impact During the past ten years, Tomball ISD has sold $350 million in bonds and opened eight new schools without increasing the tax rate. In fact, the tax rate has gone down. Tomball ISD maintained a flat tax rate of $1.36 for seven years, and in 2015, the district lowered the tax rate by two cents to $1.34 and it has remained at $1.34. Need for New Schools Bond 2017 includes a new elementary school which would relieve Wildwood Elementary, a new junior high which would relieve Willow Wood Junior High, and an expansion project at Tomball Memorial High School to accommodate new student growth. The expansion project would also add classrooms to accommodate new growth. Tomball Memorial High School was designed to serve 2,500 students. Over 2,200 students are currently enrolled. New Technology Instructional technology such as laptops, Chromebooks, and document cameras will be included as well as upgrades in the district technology infrastructure. New Ag Barn A new agriculture project barn would be built at Tomball High School. “It will allow students in more of the suburban areas like The Woodlands and our subdivisions to raise large animal projects. If it passes we will get an FFA barn here, located some-

IMPACT at THS

• Upgrades in technology, such as new laptops and docking stations for teachers. • New agriculture project barn. • The auditorium would receive renovations including a new sound system, lighting, curtains and paint. • More than 20 air-conditioned buses for new routes to accommodate future growth. • New stadium would leave the old one quiet on Friday nights, but it would still be used for JV and Freshman football games, soccer, track and field, band practice and many other uses. The stadium would NOT be torn down, as some have suggested. • Turf would be added to the baseball and softball fields. • Additional storage and means of transportation would be funded for district fine arts equipment. where near the High School.” said Sommer Thomas, the agricultural science teacher. Thomas the said, “We are looking forward to the barn, [which] is what directly affects us.” Auditorium Renovations The Tomball High School auditorium would receive renovations including a new sound system, lighting, curtains, and paint. “It is necessary, your house has to have updates, your car need to be taken care of and this auditorium has been here for 23 years.” said Clint Cottom, the director of theater. When asked about the improvements and technology growth that is expected at TISD, Cottom said, “Some people are learning more about technology at church and work rather than at school.” Land Buys & Site Development for Utilities This bond referendum would fund future land sites in the southern portion of the district and fund the installation of utilities for property the district already owns. Buses to Address Growth This bond package calls for the purchase over 20 air conditioned buses for new routes to accommodate future growth. Football Stadium Bond 2017 would fund a district stadium that could seat approximately 10,000 spectators and provide 3,000 parking spaces. The current district stadium was built in 1971 and does not meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance requirements. If the district were to renovate the current stadium, it would need to be rebuilt to meet ADA requirements. Building a new stadium at the current location

on Quinn Road would consume a portion of Tomball High School’s student parking lot. If a new stadium is built, the district does not intend to demolish the current district stadium on Quinn Road. “I think the bond is a great allocation and capital for tomball and I’m excited about the new football stadium as a potential place for us to play. It would increase excitement about game day,” said Patrick Fleming, an assistant football coach. Fleming then added, “The overall atmosphere of the stadium and the mutual site between us and Tomball Memorial would be exciting.” Various Additional Renovations The front elevation of Tomball Intermediate School would be redesigned. Turf would also be added to the baseball and softball fields at Tomball High School and Tomball Memorial High School. Additional storage and means of transportation would be funded for district fine arts equipment. One issue, however, could delay some of the projects planned with the bond. Due to Hurricane Harvey the determined dates of when changes or renovations will take place, will most likely be backed up because of higher construction costs. All over Houston, construction crews are taking on rebuilding projects. That means longer waits for crews to be available, and higher prices when they are ready to go. To vote in the election tomorrow, you must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the Tomball Independent School District, and registered to vote at least 30 days prior to election day. Early voting is already underway.

For bond election results, visit THSCougarClaw.com

HARVEY

Tales from Harvey

As the stormwaters rose higher, so did our community Emily Ashlock Editor-in-Chief It was something from a nightmare. The rain, the wind, the water that rose with unrelenting power. A horrible outcome - the Bayou City had been washed away. This was the aftermath of a storm whose name has become synonymous with one word - devastation. Hurricane Harvey landed on Aug. 25. With every passing hour, more and more rain fell, as Harvey slowed to a crawl. Then, for six terrible hours, the storm stalled over Houston, drowning the city with its never-ending rain. When the sun finally broke through the clouds, the wreckage saw its first day. There were 250 roads and highways closed, 338,000 power outages, and thousands trapped in their homes. Cars abandoned, trash decorating the trees, buildings and neighborhoods in shattered remnants. As the sun brought light over Houston, the true damage of Harvey emerged. Maya Gonzalez’s family had fled the floodwaters, and returned to a tragic scene. Their home had been struck by the flood. “We walk in and there are mosquitoes everywhere, dead fish from a pond nearby, the fridge on the floor, the roof caving in, mud everywhere. I wanted to cry,” Gonzalez said. “Everything was lost.” The following days were dedicated to

combing through the wreckage, trying to salvage anything she could. Gonzalez and her neighbors watched as trucks came and went, taking rubble and pieces of their homes away. “Every load was like they were throwing away illusions, dreams, parts of our hearts,” Gonzalez said. “I can’t seem to know where to start picking up pieces.” Gonzalez’s pain was felt by many. Those who were not flooded themselves know someone who was. Nick McGuire’s aunt and uncle were flooded, and he wanted to “do [his] part to help.” “I was devastated walking into their home, but we got to work right away,” McGuire said. “The house began to smell because of the residual water in the floors, so

we had to rip them all out.” The water had risen almost three feet in the house, ruining anything in its path. “We also had to rip out all of the cabinets, all of the drywall from about waist down, and move all of the furniture to the front lawn,” McGuire said. The process of clearing out the house was a long one, but McGuire was eager to help. “This hurricane has hurt so many people,” McGuire said. “They are my family and I don’t want to let them suffer any more, so I want to do my part and help them as much as I can.” The spirit of camaraderie and unity has inspired many to come together and help their neighbors. The act of volunteering has become commonplace among those in the affected areas. Ricardo Zalcman distributed more than 300 meals, cleaned up houses, and opened up his home in Creekside for four families and hosted them for two nights. “It’s not an option for me to stay at home watching TV,” Zalcman said. “I need to be outside helping people when I can.” Valerie Casanova volunteered with her cousins, and helped a couple pick up their belongings from what was left of their brand new house. For Casanova, this experience was “devastating.” “I had to be strong,” Casanova said. “This couple just lost everything. They can’t have Continued, Page 9

HARVEY

Storm leaves hospital staff working to keep patients safe, alive in storm Ollie Bream

darkness after her car flooded on the way to the building. Another had a National guard Staff Writer vehicle take her to the hospital. During all of this Allison had to conduct Hurricane Harvey began for most of us on Saturday the 26th of August when rain began an orchestra of people who didn’t know how to play their instruments. There were adto fall. For Allison Reimers, a registered ministrators in the cafeteria making food for nurse and Emergency Management Oﬃcer patients and staff alike. Nurses could sleep at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston, it for only 4 hours at a time and could only disstarted Friday the 25th. tribute ‘basic care’ for patients (fluids, mediMs. Reimers began her evening shift that night aware of the Hurricane but was told not cines, etic.) All the while many staff members to worry. Later that night, however, the storm didn’t know the status of their own homes made landfall near the Texas Gulf Coast. But and families. Through all of this Ms.Reimers’ the staff at the hospital were not told to close driving force was the thought of ‘What would the floodgates or initiate Code Grey until the we do if something happened to a patient and we didn’t have the resources to help next morning. (Code Grey is the emergency management response to a security emergen- them?’ Allison had been through all of this before during Hurricane Ike, but never as a cy, in this case, Hurricane Harvey.) When Code Grey is called there is a course leader. She was not going to let anyone down, of action which the nurses in a hospital must and was running on adrenaline, caffeine, and take. Nurses currently present at the hospital stress. In the end, after 4.5 days at the hospital, are the Team A, and will stay at the buildAllison was finally able to go home and sleep ing for days until the Team B could access in her own bed. She is a bit dismissive when the hospital safely, and relieve the Team A. Allison recalls her ‘most frustrating moment’ you call her a hero and is quick to say that when she stated ‘hospital administrators were she was only doing her job. She pays the not acknowledging or preparing for the short highest compliments to her staff who unquestionably and admirably executed every staﬃng issues she could see coming’. Some task asked of them in the face of an “unprecnurses took action immediately and decidedented” situation. She says that they are the ed to make it to the building by any means true heroes. I say she is much too modest. possible, one walked 5 miles in the rain and

FEATURES

Leaping

E H

T O T N

Dream

Beacham wins national dance competition

Daniela Roscero News Editor The winners are being announced from last to first. Her name hasn’t been called yet, and the more names are revealed, the more her mind tells her there is no way she placed. Even though she is proud of herself, there is an undeniable feeling of defeat rising up, making its way to her eyes in the form of tears. She gets ready to hold back the tears until she retreats back to the locker room with the rest of her team. And then it happens: the familiar sound of the melody she has danced to for the past year proclaims Zoe Beacham the winner. Her mom is the one crying now-tears of joy, tears of pride. “It was...earth-shattering. It was so great because my whole team was with me on stage and they were cheering for me,” Zoe described the moment in which she won her first national competition this past summer. It has been a long way coming. She started dancing when she was three. “We had no idea that I was going to like it... But I loved it,” Zoe said. Not only that--her love for dance grew with her until she developed a deep, inexplicable fascination with the captivating art form--she had found her one true passion. “Dance isn’t just about winning or losing to me, it’s like...I can relate to things and it’s a way to express myself. It’s how I get my feelings out.” At twelve, it was her dad and her coach, Danielle, who believed in her, and who convinced her to become more serious about dancing. “I never really had faith in myself... when I was twelve I wanted to drop dance and do cheer but my dad was like ‘no because you put so much into it and I think if you start competing and going for it you can actually have a future in it.’” Now, she is an elite dancer--the

highest level a dancer can be at her age. For Zoe, dance went from being a fun extracurricular to being her dream. It’s not only her favorite activity: it’s a part of her identity. She isn’t just Zoe; She is Zoe--the dancer. “It used to be like a hobby, just a side thing for me...but I was like no good. I lost all the time when I was twelve...it’s not just fun anymore...it’s my future, it’s what i want to do for college, it’s what I want to do when I graduate...it’s my life now.” Her goals go further than winning a national competition: she wants to become part of the BYU Cougarettes --one of the best dance teams in the nation. “It’s really competitive to get it. Like 200 girls try out and only 20 make it. I’d be crushed if I didn’t get in...I feel like it’s what I’ve been training for forever,” Zoe said. Dance is inextricably attached to who she is. “If you took

dance away from me I would be a totally different person,” Zoe explained. “Dancing has basically shaped my life for so long, and it’s taught me so much about discipline, [about] who I am.” Dance may be one of the most important aspects of her life, and the part she enjoys the most, but that doesn’t mean it comes free of challenges. “The most diﬃcult part of being a dancer is to stay committed.” For Zoe, staying committed entails prioritizing dance and her team over other parts of her life. At first, expectations were intimidating, but the commitment to get better pushes Zoe to go on. Every day of practice is a renewed pledge to keep making a constant effort. “There’s been times where I didn’t go to a friend’s house

because I was training. If I quit, all this weight will be lifted off, and I’ll have more time to study. I’ll have more time to be with my friends... it’s just hard to stay committed because you can’t halfway do it. You’re in or you’re out,” Zoe said. But time has been only one of the many sacrifices that came with dance. After freshman year, she had to

make the decision of dropping out of the Cougar Charms to continue dancing with her other dance team, Big Texas Spring Dance. “I realized that I had to quit it because I was wearing myself too thin...I would go to practice for Charms from like 6 to 8 in the morning, and then I would have after school practices, and then I would go straight to my after school practice with my company that I go to now, then I would have to stay there for four hours and get home at like 10, not be able to do my homework...and that was like an everyday thing.”

However, she still recognizes the valuable experience being on Charms was, and admits she misses being on the school dance team. “I’m glad I did it for a year. I wish I could still do it...Like if I could have 60 hours in a day I would love that, but I had to give it up. [Giving it up] was really hard for me because I loved being able to perform at pep rallies and on the field, but that was one of those big things I had to give up.” Commitment to Zoe means putting her all into dance--even when it hurts. A few years ago, nearing a competition, she twisted her ankle doing a leap. The doctor told her she had to stop practicing for four weeks. “I couldn’t put pressure on it, and we had a competition that weekend. I [only] stayed off of it for like two days, and I competed, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do because it hurt so bad, and I still will feel pain in it ‘cause I should’ve stayed off of it for four weeks,”she said. For Zoe, it was a necessary sacrifice: her team needed her. “It would’ve be different if it was just me competing, but it was like the whole team. We learn the routines in the summer and we would have had to re-choreograph because it’s a team competition, too. It really was worth it. You have to have sacrifices sometimes, that’s kind of what it was for me” At the end of the day, when she dances, the routine is her main focus, and confidence is her main feeling. It has taken a lot to be there: countless hours of hard work, unflagging dedication, the determination to seek unattainable perfection, and more than one sacrifice...and all of it is present in those few minutes of glory that make it all worth it. “When I dance I know I’m not perfect, but I know that whatever I’m doing I’m like owning it to the best I can. I feel like I’m on top of the world. You can feel... All the things you’ve given up to be able to be where you are.”

FEATURES

Ryleigh Harmon walks with Hurvey, a 16-year-old thoroughbred she uses for equestrian riding competitions. Photo courtesy of Ryleigh Harmon

Riding high, diving deep: Harmon shows versatility Charlie Bose Online Editor At first glance, Ryleigh Harmon seems to be just another high school student. But Ryleigh is anything but ordinary. Ryleigh rides horses with an English saddle, competes in horse shows, and has placed in those competitions on multiple occasions. To top it all off she’s part of the THS swim team, the new diving team, and water polo. At the age of 6, little Ryleigh fell in love with horses. “I just saw them one day at school and thought, ‘Hey I wanna do that,’” ” Ryleigh said looking back those many years ago. By age 9, she was already competing in horse shows. A year ago, Ryleigh and her family purchased Hurvey to compete and practice with. Hurvey is a 16 year-old brown thoroughbred horse. “The best way to describe him is that he’s really dorky.” Ryleigh giggled, “But he’s really athletic. He’ll run to every jump and doesn’t care how hard you run him.” Ryleigh also rides a large thoroughbred named Ivy. He’s much younger than Hurvey, but can be quite the scaredy cat. Luckily Ivy

isn’t afraid to jump. “I ride Hurvey when it’s a more laid back competition with no jumps.” Ryleigh explained. “Because he’s so old. So I usually ride Ivy for the competitions with more jumps.” Currently, Ryleigh is also on the JV swim team. She started swimming competitively in the 7th grade and has continued since. Ryleigh also became an unwilling participant in water polo because it’s required for those on swim. “I thought having to do water polo was stupid.” Ryleigh said with a smile, “But after a couple of practices I began to like it.” On water polo Harmon is a wing, but at times a flat. She is also currently part of the new diving team. With all these commitments, Ryleigh’s daily schedule goes like this: Get up for school, go to school, go to swim practice, go to diving practice, then horse riding. Although definitely skilled in athletics, Ryleigh is no mere jock. She is currently in multiple PAP classes and is doing well in all of them. A renaissance individual, a jack of all trades. Ryleigh is a perfect example of the school’s motto, the Pride of Texas.

Ryleigh Harmon started swimming competitively in the seventh grade, and is now a member of the JV swim team and the water polo team. She also will be diving for THS this year. Photo courtesy of Brooke McGarrah

Tomball community does its part to help with Harvey recovery From, Page 6 you crying in front of them for what they lost.” In the weeks that followed Harvey, the daunting task of cleaning up and helping the displaced hung over Texas like a ghost, but the call for help was met with an overflow of kindness. Shelters began sending the excess donations to other shelters. Help was pouring in from all

over the nation, and the effort continues to this day. Millions of dollars in donations, thousands of volunteers, and countless extraordinary everyday people have all helped Houston have hope again. Here in Tomball, members of the football team, Student Council, ROTC and other student groups pitched in to help with supplies. Countless students and staff helped their

neighbors. The school had only minor damage, but some students and teachers lost nearly everything in the storm. But the waters are gone, and the cleanup continues. Information for this story was submitted by the entire journalism program, and photos were shared by several members of the THS staff.

FEATURES

Band qualifies for state contest Carly Sander Features Editor Thirty-five bands sat at Galena Park ISD stadium on a Saturday afternoon anxiously waiting, pacing, and praying that their name would be called. As the results were being announced the Tomball Cougar Pride band members gathered together to hear the outcome. Then they heard it; they were going to state. “It was a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” said Emmie Schubert, senior. “The entire band was squished on the bleachers desperate to find out if we had made our No. 1 goal of the season.” Many members couldn’t hold in their tears because they had worked so hard to get to that very moment. “Everyone in the band got really emotional some people even started crying and we just all hugged each other,” said Jonathan Preston, freshman. It wasn’t just an emotional moment for the students, but for the directors as well. “We heard our name announced and I got to look at Mr. Sullens and see the pride in his eyes,” Schubert said. All their hard work had finally paid off, and the sometimes long and cumbersome rehearsals had led to this moment. “We started with 12 hour days in the summer, and we go to practice everyday,” said Kiah Green, senior. “It’s usually like 2 hours

Band leaders keep a watchful eye as the band performs at the area competition. Photo courtesy of the Valenzuela family

everyday after school, and an hour in school.” Weekdays for rehearsal are a given, but weekends aren’t necessarily excluded from this schedule. “Occasionally we’d go on Saturdays, like one time we went for 8 hours on a Saturday,” Green said. Working as hard as they do there are bound to be some injuries. Just because you’re hurt

doesn’t always they’re out. Even injured members participated if they were able to. “At the time I had hurt my ankle, so I hobbled down the steps to listen to see if we went to state in pain and everything,” said sophomore Kaylee Baldwin. Despite all the time that is sacrificed and all the pain that’s acquired from being a part of the

band program, members agree that the pros definitely outweigh the cons. Especially now that they’re heading to state. “You learn to make it fun because you’re surrounded by your peers,” Green said. “Even though it’s work everyone around you is doing the same amount of work so I think that’s what brings band people closer to together.”

New hoops coach stepping into big shoes as the upcoming season grows near, he wants the focus to be on continuing the school’s winStaff Writer ning tradition. “First off i want to be successful, I want to A 57-52 loss to the Rouse High School Raid- win games, and keep winning until we bring a ers on Feb. 21 marked not only the end to a state championship home,” he said. “As far as 24-9 season, but the end of an era for Tomball development goes, day in and day out, I want High School basketball. my players to walk off the court a better player That was Coach Brad Ball’s last regular than when they walk off it. Of course I also season game after 14 years at Tomball (Tomwant my players to be represent this school to ball would go on to lose in the first round of the best of their ability on and off the court. the playoffs a week later), and Tomball was on “I know my players are responsible enough the lookout for a new coach after Ball left to to focus on school and basketball without the pursue an opportunity in another state. social distractions that comes with being a Tomball turned the program over to Clarke teenager.” Isenhower, a 36-year-old former University of Coach Isenhower takes over as new boys Houston graduate. basketball head coach for Tomball High Isenhower has had plenty of experience School with large expectations and big shoes coaching, splitting 12 years between Fort Bend to fill, but enters the new season brimming ISD and Spring ISD. with confidence about the future of Cougar When asked about his goals and aspirations basketball.. Bishop VanBuren

Clarke Isenhower takes over as boys basketball coach.

PLAYOFFS

With one game to go, Coogs closing in on elusive goal

The Cougars celebrate after beating College Park 49-14 to open the season. After a 2-8 mark last year, they are close to a spot in the playoffs. Photo by Hanna Bowman

Charlie Bose Online Editor It’s been 5 years. It seems longer. Playing in one of the toughest districts in the state, Tomball hasn’t made it to the playoffs since 2012, under Coach Danny Ramsey. Now, just a year removed from a 2-8 season (0-7 in district), the team is poised to clinch a playoff berth with a couple more wins in district. In fact, it may come down to the final game of the season, the annual Patriotic Show against Tomball Memorial. “We have a good chance,” Ja’Kobi Holland said. “We just need to win this one game.” Beating Memorial won’t be easy, given the Wildcats’ success against Tomball over the years. “The main reason we’re doing better this year,” Brayden Arnold said, “is because there’s way more teamwork than before, a lot less people being selfish.” While confident, the players expect a battle against Memorial. “I feel like we’re going to beat them this year,” George Jarkesy said. “Our defense is strong,

2017 Season Results 9/8 @ College Park W, 49-14 9/15 vs. Austin Reagan W, 42-0 9/22 @ Foster W, 20-10 9/29 vs. Willis W, 21-14 10/6 @ Magnolia L, 56-49 10/13 vs. Waller W, 55-28 10/20 vs. Brenham L, 34-31 (OT) 10/27 @ Huntsville W, 17-3 11/3 vs. Magnolia West (Late Result) 11/10 @ Tomball Memorial 7:30 p.m.

and so is their offense, so it’s going to be a battle.” Now under the leadership of Coach Kevin Flanigan, the Coogs have done better now than they’ve done in years. Now football has a chance at something they couldn’t even dream of last year - playoffs. “One way we’ve improved since the first game,” Arnold said, “is that our defense is doing a lot better.” And if the district title does come down to the final game, it would mean Tomball has to do Kendell Gordon waits for the snap as the Cougars something it hasn’t done in years - beat Tomball take on Magnolia on the road. The Cougars lost in the final minutes 56-49. Photo by Hanna Bowman Memorial.