THS Cougar Claw 12/2013

What makes an

AMERICAN? And why can’t this guy show his face?

The Cougar Claw Tomball High School Dec. 2013 Vol. 57, Issue 2 THSCougarClaw.com

Get the app Stay informed with the new THS Student Media app.

Story, Page 3

MANY HISPANIC STUDENTS AFRAID TO DISCUSS IMMIGRATION Story, Page 8

Ag kids raise expectations

Meet your new Miss Tomball

The program sends a herd of kids to state.

Page 2

Olivia Bliven brings the crown back to THS. Page 16

DEC. 2013

THE COUGAR CLAW: NEWS PAGE 2

Tomball set to change districts Leandra Carty & Julian Gite

School districts are changing again.

Tomball High School will be in a new district starting next school year. And while we’re moving to Class 5A, it’s not because we’re suddenly getting a lot bigger.

The state has added a new Class 6A, essentially bumping everyone up a notch. The big question, though, is what teams will be in the new district.

Two years ago, teachers and coaches were expecting to be aligned with closer schools such as Magnolia and Waller because they are similar in size and fairly close. Instead, the school ended up partnered with schools in Fort Bend and Spring Branch.

“We will travel probably more than these past two years,” said Campus Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Danny Ramsey. “The reality is that many teams travel an average of an hour and a half to district games throughout the state.”

That doesn’t mean the school wouldn’t prefer to have competitors a bit closer.

“I would like to see us compete against Waller and the Magnolia schools,” Principal Greg Quinn said. “They are close and have been rivals in the past. It would be nice to rekindle some of those rivalries.”

Rivalries aside, there’s also the practical matter of having such long drives to district games today.

“I would like to see a new district,” Quinn said.

“The travel to Fort Bend was very difficult because of the traffic and other things we had to deal with.”

As the district is changing, it’s not just the drive that may change. Each school has its own strengths and weaknesses in sports and academic competition, and every program on campus will have to evaluate how the changes will impact that program.

The new district alignments will likely be announced by the end of February.

District 22-4A

Smaller but better? TCP band collecting awards Hazel Smith & Jynn Schubert The Tomball Cougar Pride Band has made a lasting impression this marching season.

Even though this is the smallest the band has been in a while, they still managed to pull themselves together and strut their stuff. The band earned all “straight 1s” in the UIL Contest, advancing them to area. After area, they progressed to Area Finals and finished 6th place out of 10. This placement was the highest finish for the band in years.

“It was a great ending to the season. … We were hoping that there was a chance to make it to state, but you had to be in the top four in finals, and that just wasn’t in the cards this year,” Percussion Director Rob Sullens said.

Not only did the band do well in UIL, they had some success in a couple of other contests.

The new directors’ biggest goal, said Sullens, was “to make finals, and make a little history for the program in that aspect.”

This year, the TCP Band has made a stunning achievement not only for themselves, but for their school. As the band directors see it, it’s a good beginning to start from, and they look forward to building on it down the road.

The band isn’t the only one having a record season. Color Guard has earned some of the highest marks in its history.

But the achievements aren’t all about the band. It’s also about how the directors, new and old, pulled together to make it. In the long run the band directors feel they are officially prepared for anything else they have in mind for the future.

Not only was the band praised for their achievements, so was Color Guard. Under the new direction of Austin Nelson, Color Guard had received best guard, best visual and best

general effects. They placed 6th at the finals competition at area performance, which is the best the school has ever done.

Plans for next semester’s percussion group and color guard include the programs Winter Percussion and Winter Guard, which are competitive winter contests post marching season.

Sullens plans on competing in the percussion ensemble category, to be primarily made of marimbas, xylophones, keyboards, and just concert instruments in general. They will be competing in the TCGC (Texas Color Guard Circuit). This competition is actually a new venture for the band, but they have high hopes that they will be successful.

With Color Guard, Nelson plans on doing an indoor show that they’ve put together on the basketball floor with designs and props.

At this time Color Guard is actually learning choreography and prepping for Winter Guard in general.

Nelson and his co-workers plan on going to the Junior Highs to “start a spin club for 8th graders so they can come learn how to spin and dance, to prepare them for high school if they want to join guard so we can recruit them.”

Student Media?

Now there’s even an app for that Staff Reports The Student Media program at Tomball High School has gone cutting edge, becoming one of the first in the country to feature its own smartphone app.

Available in the Google Play Store and the App Store, the app features news from the Cougar Claw newspaper, the latest from The Cougar yearbook (including a button to allow you to order a book on your phone), and all the video from the KTHSTV broadcasting program.

The app is free to download, and is sponsored by Lone Star College. Search for the term ‘Tomball High’ to find it in the store.

Tomball High was approached by a startup company about developing an app for the Cougar Claw after the developers saw how well the newspaper’s website is done. As time goes on, the program expects the app to be used by a high percentage of the students and faculty, as well as parents and community leaders as a great way to stay up to date on campus events.

Another nice feature is that having an app allows the school to send “push” notifications whenever there is important news to share, such as an event being rained out or a big win by a sports team.

The app also works on the iPad but isn’t formatted for it, so it can look a bit unusual.

Share your stories! Use the “Contact us” feature on our new app to send stories or photos directly to us.

The Ag Issues team finished second at district to advance. The team includes: Jace Jenkins, Natalie Brown, Sam Love, Ryan Frank, Garrett Ware, Bailey DuBose, Nolan Majeski and Brock Knighten.

The Farm Skills Team finished third in district. The team includes: Natalie Ludwig, Hailey Gregorich and Emily Love.

The Public Relations team finished second at district. It includes: Christa Kibadeoux, Chandler Burns, Ally Milby and Taylor Davis.

The Junior Quiz Team includes: Natalie Ludwig, Ashley Hailey, Allison Love and Victoria Putnum.

The Radio Broadcasting Team includes: Brittney Myers, Jace Jenkins and Ally Milby.

The Senior Chapter Conducting team, which finished fourth in district, includes: Taylor Karr, Brittney Myers, Breann Emshoff, Lucas Phillips, Natalie Brown, Ashton Jozwiak and Garrett Ware.

Ag teams raise the bar at competition It’s been a fantastic year for the FFA program, which has seen some of its best ever competition in district and area.

Just like all the other athletic and academic teams on campus, these students worked every day before or after school to get ready for competition.

The highlight of the season was Taylor Davis, who

advanced to state competition in the job interview category. She finished in the Top 20 out of more than 520 students state-wide.

The Senior Chapter Conducting team finished fourth in district, while the Public Relations team took second. The Ag Issues team was also second, and the Farm Skills team third. - Staff Report

DEC. 2013

Staff

Sports Editor: Leandra Carty

Time for district to dump books, switch to electronic devices

News Editor: Jynn Schubert

Move would save time, money and students’ backs

Editor-in-chief: Leanne Haas

THE COUGAR CLAW: OPINION/EDITORIALS

Feature Editor: Micaela Lapeer Online Editor: Adam Bergeron Video Editor: Drew Gilman Staff Writers: Julian Gite, Valentina Munoz, Maria Ramirez, Wendy Salazar Design by Bailey Swanson & Tyler Swanson Editorial Cartoonist: Drew Gilman For more on the Cougar Claw staff, check out our online edition at THSCougarClaw.com Letters to the Editor Policy: The Cougar Claw publishes letters to the editor in both print and online editions. These can come from students, parents,faculty/staff and others with an intrest in school. Letters will be edited for grammar and length, but the author’s intent and point of view will never be compromised. All letters must be signed.

PAGE 4

Questions, comments or concerns, contact adviser Jerry Fordyce at: jerryfordyce@tomballisd.net phone: (281) 357-3220 fax: (281) 357-3248 The Cougar Claw Newspaper Tomball High School 30330 Quinn Rd. Tomball, TX 77375

It’s been a widely discussed topic in the last decade - the idea of replacing textbooks with online materials - but the concept hasn’t been a practical solution until recently.

It might not have been feasible 10 years ago for schools to make the switch from textbooks to computers. Although the computer was by the of the millennium a Our view end household item, they were still too expensive to be able to be supplied to every student.

But today, an iPad or other type of electronic tablet is not far out of reach for most American consumers. It’s less expensive than a computer, and allows access to the internet and documents just as a computer would.

Many students have already begun to bring their tablets and laptops to school for daily use.

Smart phones and tablets are becoming more and more accepted in the classroom as they allow quick access to the internet. It’s easier to search a word’s definition on a phone than in a dictionary, and rarely are the outdated laptops and computer labs available on campus used for anything more than Microsoft Word.

There are many classes in this school right now that have an assigned textbook for that course that sit stagnant in students’ lockers the entire year.

This is a problem for students and teachers alike. There are classes, like Mr. Bronk’s AP Government class, whose textbook is so outdated that students have a minimal chance of passing the AP test. The class already relies much on the internet and outside resources because of this, making learning strenuous for students.

It’s not unrealistic to propose the switch from textbooks written in the ‘90s to tablets with internet when the school already has open wifi.

Though the school would have to dish out money for the technology, it should be kept in mind that many students already have their own tablets and should be encouraged to bring theirs to school.

The funds it takes to make the switch from textbooks to tablets can’t be any worse than the thousands of dollars it takes to replace lost textbooks each year, not to mention the substantial

Cartoon by Drew Gilman

cost of upgrading to newer book editions which will eventually become obsolete once again. Last year, the school spent $6,628 on lost textbooks alone.

It’s certainly cheaper to buy a license for online books. Students would be more enthusiastic about school if there was a convenient way to access information.

The school making the switch from paper to iPads could lead to higher test scores, increased classroom productivity, and less money spent annually in the long run.

Your View:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

student commentary

Dear Editor,

Dear Alyssa,

I have a complaint. I think we need to make a fund raiser. We need money for a bathroom renovation. The bathrooms in the History hall are dangerous to our self-esteem when there are no doors on the stalls. It would be a great investment, and it would benefit us all.

- Olivia Furstenfeld

I am always happy to hear positive feedback!

One of the great things about a high school newspaper is that it is written by students for students.

We always strive to make our stories relatable.

Dear Olivia,

Dear Editor,

I’m 5’10” and never use those bathrooms because my head and shoulders hover over the top of the stalls. It’s great if you’re the kind of person who enjoys face to face conversation, but I’d rather not stare a girl in the eye while I unzip my pants. I am definitely in favor of renovating the bathrooms, as well.

- Leanne Haas, Editor-in-Chief

I love to see the fighting Cougar Spirit that is proudly shown by the students and organizations that actively participate in school. It is an awesome thing when students are eager to represent Cougar Pride in their community. I can honestly say that I am proud to be at Tomball High School and am honored to wear red and white.

- Nic Williams

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to ask you. I decided to ask, “Why do frogs/toads give you warts when you touch them... or do they...?”

- Courtlynn Noack Dear Courtylnn, .... Oh, my.

I mean, you could Google it, but...

You should probably talk to a doctor.

- Leanne Haas, Editor-in-Chief

Dear Editor, I want to tell you how much I enjoy the newsletters that come out. The articles are interesting and pertain to the everyday life of a teenager.

Thank you!

- Alyssa Vigil

Faith Clause

- Leanne Haas, Editor-in-Chief

Dear Nic, Dear Editor,

More support needed for college-bound kids

Even if some students find it cheesy to be enthusiastic about school, the Cougar Pride here is strong and celebrates positivity. I believe this is one of the reasons Tomball is such a great school, because students feel they have a reason to go to school everyday. Knowing that they are celebrated as hard-working students makes them proud to be a part of the tradition, no doubt thanks to our amazing faculty and staff.

- Leanne Haas, Editor-in-Chief Dear Editor, What makes Minecraft such a popular game?

My 11-year-old brother has Minecraft, he plays it every single day. I tried playing it myself and was very confused and bored. To me, all it is is boxes, squares and pixelations. I think that Minecraft is useless.

- Nina Gomez Dear Nina, My 13-year-old sister plays it. I don’t get it either.

- Leanne Haas, Editor-in-Chief

As a prospective university freshman, I personally find the amount of college and career instruction to be severely low in our school system. It seems as if the school is only concerned with a student’s graduation.

The Advanced Placement courses and those who teach them seem to be the few allstars putting in any effort by assisting students with post-graduation plans. To be honest, the majority of adults that helped instruct me with applying for university and drawing up future career plans were in fact my teachers.

I propose that every student be given individual consultation about personal goals, post-graduation plans, and career ideas. If the student does not have an answer, it should be the school’s job to provide him/her with one, rather than scribbling down ‘undecided.’

It’s not that most students are lazy or affluent that they put little effort into college planning. They are just uninformed because their school shows little to no faith in them wanting to attend college or find a career they are passionate about.

Moreover, there have been many times that I have sought instruction and received ‘I don’t know’ or ‘Ask my secretary’ as a response.

I’m sure each and every student would be discouraged by such responses. I know I have.

Your view We encourage readers to share their opinion, either through letters to the editor or submitted guest commentaries.

Please drop off any letters or commentaries in Room 1201, or e-mail them to us at jerryfordyce@tomballisd.net.

The views expressed in this column are not necessarily the views held by the Cougar Claw staff or adviser.

DEC. 2013

More Than A Fantasy College isn’t for all, but you need a plan. Tatiana has a good one.

THE COUGAR CLAW: STUDENT LIFE

Jynn Schubert

The Cheshire Cat gives a new meaning to the phrase “Grinning from ear to ear.”

PAGE 4

An early example of some of Tatiana’s make-up work.

Not going to college? We’ve all heard the argument. “You’ll just end up flipping burgers the rest of your life!”

But what if you have a plan?

Tatiana Hoffart has one. Tatiana, or Ta, is well known on campus for her “two toned hair” and her participation in after school activities her freshman and sophomore year, such as band. Many know her from Chick-fil-A, where she’s worked with her mother and at times other family such as her older sisters, Anastasia and Lexie Hoffart, both alumni of THS. A junior, she already knows what she wants to do, and has known for some time that it won’t involve college. A brief time at the Cinema School of Makeup in Los Angeles (one of the top cosmetology schools in the U.S.) is all she needs before starting her career as a cinematography makeup artist.

While studying for her certification, she plans on getting a part time job at a local restaurant or shop, or possibly interning with an FX artist nearby.

“I already know of one who’s looking for somebody like me.

Hopefully she’ll still be looking after I graduate.” Said Tatiana.

She plans on living within walking distance of campus, to eliminate the need for a car and the cost of gas. She’s already working one job to help pay for schooling, and plans on getting a second soon.

“The original reason I got into makeup was watching my role model, Leda Muir,” After watching her tutorials on YouTube, she quickly learned and expanded, watching more tutorials and even doing some of her own.

Something seems fishy. Instead of scales, Tatiana uses flower petals to acheive this mystic look. She hopes to do such make-up for the big screen someday.

Tatiana Hoffart, makeup-less, shows off the real her.

Ouch! Realistic and scary, fake blood and tookpicks create the perfect horror film feel. No need to buy a Halloween costume.

For some, immigration issue hits home Hundreds of students impacted by ongoing debate Maria Ramirez & Wendy Salazar Immigration reform is something that has been talked about for a long time. Illegal immigrants wake up every day with the hope of a better life, jobs and opportunities, but it just seems like an impossible dream for those who live in the shadows.

It’s easy to forget that the faces of immigration are not always strangers. They’re faces you pass in the hallway every day.

Hispanic students from Tomball High School – roughly 27 percent of the student body – say they don’t see overt racism and prejudice on campus, but they’re also reluctant to talk about an issue that can bring heated debate.

“I live thrjough racism constantly; it might not be physically or emotionally, but socially we all always separate ourselves into groups

which are mostly by race,” said a THS student who asked not to be identified. “I wouldn’t say we are discriminated against, but I think Hispanics are just not really accepted socially.”

All of the students interviewed for this article declined to use their names.

“Honestly, I don’t see race discrimination in our school, but I do know it’s going on,” said one student. “When I was younger, I did experience feeling discriminated against because of my race. But now I don’t really pay attention to comments that could affect me because I’m proud of who I am and where I come from.”

Such pride is tampered by the reality that we live in a town that saw protests over a day labor site, with terms such as “sanctuary city” used as weapons, not praise.

“I would love an immigration reform because I wouldn’t have to worry about losing

my parents at any point,” the THS student added. “With the push for immigration reform and the gain of the Dream Act, it gives illegal students the opportunity to actually be someone in life.”

The Dream Act has had a huge impact on students, giving them the opportunity to earn their way to citizenship regardless of their parent’s legal status. The registrar’s office reports that dozens of current and former students have come in to request paperwork for the Dream Act over the past two years.

Still, it’s just a first step toward true reform.

“I think some people have increased the amount of discrimination against us but it also depends on the environment you’re living in,” one student added. “Some people are glad that we have the ability now to move on in our lives, while most just want us out of their country without giving us a chance to better ourselves.”

Cross-culture students find ‘normal’ to be relative Jynn Schubert A 14-year-old girl sits down in her art class, forlorn. Looking up and around at the faces of her peers, she goes through the familiar process of silent goodbyes. Goodbye…. Goodbye… Goodbye… I’ll miss you….

“I’m moving.” she says, Commentary the girls at her table look up from their papers. “Where?”

They ask, “What town?” “Will you have to change schools?”

Reactions are varied. The empty promises to keep in touch go almost unnoticed; she doesn’t even bother to get their information anymore. This is not a new conversation.

Thousands of kids all over the world have

gone through it, time after time. Get settled.

Pack up. Get settled. Pack up. The cycle goes on and on.

So what makes her different?

She’s a Third Culture Kid; the term given to individuals who grow up international, moving sometimes across oceans and living in a wide variety of different cultures. Though they typically have very open minds, are quick to adapt to change, and accept a lot of different ideas, being a Third Culture Kid (or TCK for short) definitely has its draw backs.

Having all of these different experiences during key developmental years makes it harder as a TCK gets older to ever feel a true sense of “Home”. They often feel the urge to leave after a few years or months in a new town, and typically have a higher chance of

Suicide and Depression in their teen and adult years.

If you ever befriend a TCK, be sure to keep an open mind. They are all very different. Some have had rough experiences in countries that somebody who has never left their hometown cannot understand. Some have had wonderful experiences and wish to share their stories. They are not gloating, it’s just their life.

To them, a trip to Paris when they lived in France is the same as a trip to San Antonio for anyone else.

TCKs go through a lot of stress in their everyday life. They often have difficulties with the “Normal” situations, which nonTCKs would not. But all in all, being a TCK leaves a person with memories they can treasure for the rest of their lives.

Your Future, Your ChoiCe! At Lone Star College-Tomball, you matter. We want to help you advance toward that meaningful career best suited to your talents and abilities. We believe in doing all we can to make your college experience productive, enjoyable and profitable.

What can LSC-tomball do for you?

We can help you: • Earn an associate degree, workforce degree, or certificate • Earn transferrable credits toward a bachelor’s degree • Find the financial resources to attend college

it’s up to

you!

Contact the Recruitment, Outreach and Diversity Initiatives (ROaDI) department today to get more information, schedule a campus tour and start down the road to the future you deserve.

281.357.3782

LoneStar.edu/roadi

open Doors

DEC. 2013

Time away for thanksgiving was a bittersweet tease.

Come back to find high school beating you onto your knees.

By Lexi Milner

Facebook and Twitter prove a hefty temptation, Earning your citizenship in the procrasti-NATION. Increasingly worrisome for that borderline class, Friday nights out made it impossible to pass.

THE COUGAR CLAW: FEATURES

All the moments we said “at least I have time” well the time has come….did you do it? Neither did I. Stressed and starved and really sorry that we skipped our studies to eat Chipotle And sit down to find that you forgot your study guide, Your book, your pencil, and your scantron, oh, my!

Exams handed out, the questions complex Pray that its over like a bad night of texts.

‘Twas the week before finals, and all through the town not a student was partying, not a house made a sound.

The music was off and the Monster was drank, in hopes that your mind won’t suddenly blank.

Winter break so close we can taste it.

Friends, parties, coming home late.

Eyes begin wandering while we’re cramped in our seats.

That one kid is dragged out for trying to cheat.

The guys and the chicks depart from their beds while visions of passing danced around in their heads.

Crammed rooms and library dates, regretting the days you slept in late.

Smelly dude next to me, chill bro you’re fine!

Lord knows your grade will be better than mine.

Hand in the exam, relieved that it’s done.

It’s been a real good1st semester, but further from fun.

The homework you ignored piled up to the ceiling, our butts are saved by Wikipedia searching.

One down 6 to go, and all that relate HAPPY FINALS TO ALL AND TO ALL PASSING GRADES!

Gift Ideas for Mom and Dad Mom:

Candles Perfume Jewelry Spa gift card A Kindle or a set of books

PAGE 10

Dad:

Tools Ties An electric razor A nice watch Merchandise with his favorite sports team logo *If you don’t have money to buy presents, offer to mow the lawn, clean the house, or make dinner. Your parents will appreciate having a day off just as much as any present.

Our Favorite Christmas Movies 10. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 9. A Charlie Brown Christmas 8. The Nightmare Before Christmas 7. The Polar Express 6. The Santa Clause 5. A Christmas Carol 4. It’s a Wonderful Life 3. Elf 2. A Christmas Story 1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The debate begins: Xbox One or PS4?

Jynn Schubert & Adam Bergeron Attention gamers, the next generation of games is here. As more start purchasing their Next Gen consoles, the Cougar Claw is here to help with a comparison of Xbox One and the PlayStation 4.

JS: Xbox or PlayStation?

AB: Xbox JS: Seriously? PS all the way.

AB: What about Nintendo JS: Nintendo stopped being a legit competitor when they came out with the Wii in 2006.

AB: Really? Because I thought they lost touch with the competition when they stopped coming out with new games and only thought of new names to older generation titles like Mario vs Sonic. A next generation console can’t be great without the games to follow.

JS: I agree to a certain extent. I’m more of a quality over quantity kind of person. I don’t need a lot of games as long as the ones I play are worth the time. But then again, I wouldn’t expect a COD gamer to understand.

AB: If by quality you mean unnecessary lens flair and glossy video filters then, yes, PlayStation is way better.

JS: Oh come on. The Xbox is heading down the same path as Atari and Nintendo. It’s becoming less and less about games, and more and more

about an all-in-one. Just because a person owns an Xbox doesn’t mean they game, but everybody with a PlayStation is there to play.

AB: So you are saying that PlayStation hasn’t adopted an “all in one” policy?

JS: Not from a marketing standpoint. That’s been Xbox’s main advertising point on the new Gen. AB: Explain?

JS: Well, the first thing you see on the Meet The Xbox One page of Xbox.com states, “Where your experience is custom tailored to you.

And the entertainment you love is all in one place. Welcome to the all-inone, Xbox One.” Like I said, they’re moving away from gamers specifically and just trying to satisfy a wider range of consumers.

AB: You have a good point but I don’t see how this means that Microsoft is moving away from game quality considering that the publishing and design of a new game is up to the private companies that make them, like Bungie or 343 industries, and not the designer of the console.

JS: If you want to talk individual games we can do that in the next paper, but I was talking about the system. When I lived in Dubai we left our PS3 here, and got an Xbox 360. I couldn’t bring myself to play it with the same enthusiasm as I had with my PS. I didn’t like the way it worked.

Honestly, it’s all up to user preference.

If you like the way the Xbox 360 flows, you’ll probably like the way the Xbox One does. If you’ve been a PlayStation fan since PS1 like I have, you’ll probably like the PS4. To each his own I guess. It really depends on what you’re looking for from your console.

AB: True, it really is more geared towards user preference. I personally favor Xbox in these matters but started on PS1. I was very happy to make the change. Instead of continuing this further how about we go straight to the key points of the console wars.

JS: Sounds good to me.

PS4 • You can game offline • No backwards compatibility, cloud game streaming of PS1, PS2, PS3 games coming in the near future • PSVita remote play option mandatory on all PS4 games that do not require additional peripherals • Buzzword at reveal: Games Xbox One • You can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console.

• No backwards compatibility • Kinect sensor must be plugged in but can be “software” turned off • Used games must be activated before reselling, activation can be done at “participating retailers.”

• Buzzwords at reveal: TV and Sports

Thank you, Tomball!

Students from THS and the junior high worked together this year to bring in substantial donations for the area’s needy this holiday season.

• More than 2,000 pounds of food • More than five truckloads of clothing and blankets • Hundreds of toys for Moms Helping Moms and MD Anderson Cancer Center for Children • Many students donated hair to “Locks of Love” Your support and generosity truly make THS the “Pride of Texas.”

Concert calendar Backstreet Boys Dec. 18, Bayou Music Center Jay Z Dec. 19, Toyota Center Dwight Yoakam Dec. 20, Arena Theater Robert Earl Keen Dec. 28, House of Blues

Mike Eli (Diaz), THS Class of 1999

Eli Young Band Dec. 28, Pharr Events Center Mindless Behavior Dec. 22, Stereo Live Big Time Rush Feb. 8, Bayou Music Center Panic! At the Disco Feb. 11, House of Blues Young the Giant Feb. 16, Bayou Music Center Demi Lovato Feb. 19, Toyota Center Pixies Feb. 27, Bayou Music Center

DEC. 2013

THE COUGAR CLAW: FEATURES

So long, 2013 - it was a blast!

Looking back at the year’s best - and worst - in the world of entertainment Worst Dressed of 2013

Top songs of the year

Miley Cyrus Kim Kardashian Anne Hathaway Z LaLa Justin Bieber Florence Welch Zosia Mamet Julianne Hough Ke$ha Rita Ora

Blurred Lines Robin Thicke, June 22 Thrift Shop Macklemore, Feb. 2 Radioactive Imagine Dragons, July 6 Can’t Hold Us Macklemore, May 18 Wake Me Up Avicii, Oct. 5

Top TV series of 2013 (as chosen by Time.com)

Enlightened (HBO) Breaking Bad (AMC) Orange is the New Black (Netflix) Game of Thrones (HBO) The Good Wife (CBS) Bob’s Burgers (Fox) Rectify (Sundance) The Americans (FX) Mad Men (AMC) Orphan Black (BBC)

Top Scandals of 2013 (as chosen by Time.com)

Manti Te’o’s fake girlfriend Antony Weiner’s sexting (again) Paula Deen’s racist comments Rob Ford’s crack smoking Lance Armstrong’s doping Bob Filner’s sexual harassment Beyonce’s lip-synching national anthem Julianne Hough’s blackface Reese Witherspoon’s arrest Justin Bieber’s brothel visit

Roar Katy Perry, Sept. 14 Holy Grail Jay-Z, Sept. 21 Stay Rihanna, March 2

Top movies of the year Iron Man 3 Gross: $409 million

Gravity Gross: $251 million

Despicable Me 2 Gross: $367 million

Fast & Furious 6 Gross: $238 million

Hunger Games: Catching Fire Gross: $340 million

Oz The Great & Powerful Gross: $234 million

Man of Steel Gross: $291 million

Star Trek Into Darkness Gross: $228 million

Monsters University Gross: $268 million

World War Z Gross: $202 million

I Knew You Were Trouble Taylor Swift, Oct. 27

Top albums of the year The 20/20 Experience Justin Timberlake Based on a True Story Blake Shelton Comedown Machine The Strokes House of Gold & Bones, Part 2 Stone Sour

Recharged Linkin Park

(as chosen by Time.com)

PAGE 12

When I Was Your Man Bruno Mars, April 20

Grinning Streak Barenaked Ladies

Top buzzwords of 2013 binge-watch shutdown selfie twerk catfishing snapchat whistleblower bitcoin emoji Thanksgiukkah

Robin Thicke

Worst movies of 2013

(as chosen by Slate.com)

Surfers Paradise Cody Simpson We Are Tonight Billy Currington

Elysium Matt Damon

Jobs Ashton Kutcher

Monsters in the Closet Mayday Parade

Identity Thief Melissa McCarthy

Oz The Great & Powerful James Franco

Let’s Be Still The Head and the Heart

Leanne Haas

Job hunting?

Tips to landing and keeping your first job

Though you will probably be making minimum wage as a teen, getting a job at this age is beneficial in the long run. And who couldn’t use a little extra spending money? Here are some tips to landing and maintaining that first job, whether it be in retail or fast food.

Smile at your interview Smiling is a simple way to show your future employer that you’re a positive individual.

Interview Questions Sometimes, an employer will ask you a trick question to get you to answer honestly. Ex: If you are asked if you have ever gotten in trouble for talking in class, say yes. It might sound negative, but employers want talkative, energetic people on staff. Just don’t goof off at work!

If you are in a group interview, try to answer every question first. It shows them that you are confident, a fast thinker, and can take control of a situation.

Dress Appropriately While it should be a given not to show up in pajamas to an interview, it’s not necessary to dress up in a suit and tie.

Dress as casual as the store itself. You can’t go wrong with a nice pair of jeans and a button-down.

Have a realistic schedule Whatever you do, don’t work every day.

Time will be needed for homework and projects, as well as downtime for yourself.

It might sound like a good idea at first to get in as many hours as possible, but it can become stressful. Give yourself a break. Also, remember that some employers are better than others at working with students to keep a proper balance between work and school.

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DEC. 2013

Fall Sports Wrap-up

Highs and Lows

Cougar sports teams gave us moments to cheer, moments to cry

PAGE 14

THE COUGAR CLAW: SPORTS

Leandra Carty An eventful semester draws to a close for Tomball athletic programs.

The football season didn’t exactly go as planned but the players did their best to represent their school and to make themselves, their coaches and peers proud.

Westin Shattuck had 32 completions with 499 yards, and also led all rushers with 621 yards. Percy Alford added 454 rushing yards.

The season ended in dramatic fashion with an overtime loss to new rival Tomball Memorial.

Cross country runners posted some impressive individual times, although nobody advanced out of district. They worked hard and ran fast, but now they’re in training for next year’s season to do better.

The volleyball team made its way to the playoffs but was defeated early, and are already back at work to go deeper into the playoffs next year.

The Cougars’ Daniel Rodriguez hugs Memorial’s Abel Edwards after the emotional season ending. Photo by Holly Phillips

Brothers Joshua and Jacob Beacham celebrate after Jacob wins a medal at a Cross Country meet this fall. Photo by Julian Gite

Addie Davis and the Lady Cougars go for the spike in a one of their games this fall. Photo courtesy of The Cougar Yearbook

Girls, boys basketball season now underway Quick start for girls; boys struggle at first Julian Gite Basketball season is just starting up and so far the boys varsity squad is off to a pretty rough start.

The team is just beginning to get into district play, however, so there’s still time to turn things around.

The team plays New Year’s even at district foe Willowridge, and takes on Tomball Memorial for the first time this season here on Jan. 10.

Senior Marquees Grayson said that “There’s a lot of work to do, but everyone is coming along nicely and we can only get better.”

“It was a bad start, but we can improve,” said junior Cailean Campbell, who said the team shows excellent hustle and execution but needs to improve on finishing at the basket.

The girls opened their season with fast start, and have already begun district play.

They also have their first game against Memorial on Jan. 10, playing at TMHS. They wrap up the season against Memorial here on Feb. 4.

Both teams will be spending a part of their holiday break working, either practicing or playing games.

To get the latest results from all the games, be sure to check out THSCougarClaw.com online or follow us on Twitter at #CougarClawNews.

GIRLS SOCCER SCHEDULE 2014 GIRLS SOCCER

DATE

DAY

TEAM/EVENT

PLACE

Varsity

JV

Jan. 3 Jan. 6 Jan. 10-11 Jan. 16-18 Jan. 20 Jan. 23-25 Jan. 28 Jan. 31 Feb. 4 Feb. 7 Feb. 14 Feb. 15 Feb. 18 Feb. 21 Feb. 25 Mar. 4 Mar. 7 Mar. 18 Mar. 21

Fri Mon Fri & Sat Thurs-Sat Mon Thurs-Sat Tues Fri Tues Fri Fri Sat Tues Fri Tues Tues Fri Tues.

Fri

Klein Collins Scrimmage Oak Ridge Scrimmage Brenham Varsity Tournament I-10 Shootout Katy ISD Var. Tournament Montgomery* Bryan HS Varsity Tournament College Park* Brenham*= Kingwood Park* Tomball Memorial# Magnolia West Woodlands JV Tournament Waller Magnolia Tomball Memorial Magnolia West+ Waller Magnolia Playoff Warm Up Game-TBA

THS THS BHS MRHS THS BRYAN THS THS KPHS THS MWHS TWHS THS MHS TMHS THS WHS THS TBA

Noon 6:30 PM TBA TBA 6:30 PM TBA 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM

10:00 AM 4:30 PM

TBA TBA TBA TBA Humble Georgetown

TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA

Mar 24/25 March 28 April 3/4 April 7/8 April 11 & 12 April 17-19

Bi-District Area Sectionals Regional Quarterfinals Regional Tournament State Final Four *Non-District #Teacher Appreciation Night +Senior Night =Game played on FB Stadium Field

4:30 PM 4:30 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 4:30 PM 4:30 PM TBA 4:30 PM 4:30 PM 4:30 PM 4:30 PM 4:30 PM 4:30 PM TBA

6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM TBA

2013 - 2014

Revised as of 9/19/2013 MMF

Date

Opponent

Location

JV

Varsity

Saturday, December 28

Westfield %

Home

12:30

2:00

Alumni %

Home

7:00

5:00

Oak Ridge %

Home

5:00

7:00

January 9-11

Klein Showcase

KLEIN

Friday, January 10

Langham Creek

Home

5:00

Bryan

Home

4:30

Aldine ISD Invitational

ALDINE

Houston Lamar

Home

5:00

Klein Collins

Home

5:00

7:00

Cypress Ranch

Home

5:00

7:00

Willis

WHS

4:30

6:30

Klein Oak

Home

5:00

7:00

College Station

Home

5:00

7:00

Tomball Memorial *

TMHS

4:30

6:30

Magnolia West *

Home

4:30

6:30

Waller *

WHS

4:30

6:30

Magnolia *

Home

4:30

6:30

Tomball Memorial *

Home

4:30

6:30

Magnolia West *

MWHS

4:30

6:30

Waller *#

Home

4:30

6:30

Friday, January 3 Tuesday, January 7

Tuesday, January 14 January 16-18 Friday, January 17 Tuesday, January 21 Friday, January 24 Tuesday, January 28 Friday, January 31 Tuesday, February 4 Friday, February 7 Tuesday, February 11 Friday, February 14 Tuesday, February 18 Friday, February 21 Tuesday, February 25 Friday, February 28 Tuesday, March 4 Friday, March 7 March 11 - 14

TBA

6:30 TBA

BYE

BYE

SPRING BREAK

Girls, boys teams expect to do well Leandra Carty

Tomball Cougars Boys' Soccer Schedule

BOYS SOCCER SCHEDULE

Soccer gears up for new season Soccer tryouts are up and out of the way with new and returning players ready for the start of the season.

With the girl’s first scrimmage on the third of January and boys on the 9th both teams are ready to face the starting challenge to work their way up to playoffs.

“Were expecting to have a great year, and we have improved a lot,” said JV player Maria Ramirez.

“The Varsity years gonna be tough though because they lost three senior players, but coaches are working hard to rebuild the team.”

The beginning of a season is always tough with new and lost players from the year before but the team always seems ready to help out the new players and work hard at rebuilding the team.

“The incoming players have a good chance at being helpful to the team, but still need work,” Ramirez said.

“One of the main things we’re gonna have to do is rebuild communication skills between everyone and figure out what positions they’re good at. It’s going to be a great season”

Olivia Bliven takes Miss Tomball crown Leanne Haas Olivia Bliven edged out 36 fellow contestants to win this year’s Miss Tomball pageant recently.

Earlier in the day, the contestants appeared in the parade in decked-out cars. Though it was cold and rainy, the girls made the best of it.

Donned in big hair and celebrity-style makeup, the girls smiled through the frostbite (the Texas version of it, anyways) and had a great time parading around Main Street.

But Olivia had no idea just what kind of day was ahead of her.

“I was completely shocked,” Bliven said of her win, accrediting her success to her pageant coach.

“She helped me improve my speaking and confidence level,” she said, revealing that her most nervous moment was when she realized she was standing on a stage in front of hundreds of people. “I’ve never done anything like that before.”

Along with the Miss Tomball title, Olivia will receive a $1,000 scholarship and year-round community service opportunities.

Runner-up Hannah Henry, who felt honored to be recognized for coming so far in the competition, said that it really “boosted (her confidence)”.

Two-time second runner-up Haley Moeller “definitely wasn’t expecting to be a finalist again,” she said. “Last year I thought it was just luck.”

Courtlynn Noack described her Miss Congeniality title as a “big honor” for her, Noack’s fellow contestants themselves having voted for her.

“It meant so much to me that the people i spent time with thought of me as the friendliest and a comforter to all girls,” she said.

The competition brought all the Tomball girls closer together. Miss Tomball winner Olivia Bliven believes the best thing, aside from the crown, was the friends she made along the way.

Ally Pace

Savannah Sandoval

Last year’s winner, Rachel Shah, crowns the new Miss Tomball, Olivia Bliven.

Miss Tomball hopefulls wait for the results.

Isabella Mingalone

Ally Pace