The Cougar Claw Newspaper at Tomball High School, August 2021 by THS Student Media

BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION #CougarClawNews

Clubs and Activities Page 2

Balancing school, fun

INSIDE

Page 3

Map of the School Pages 4-5

Bell Schedules & School Calendar Page 6

APs, Counselors Page 7

Football preview and Stadium Seating Page 8

In Print In the red boxes

On Facebook fb.com/TomballHighMedia

On Twitter @CougarClawNews

On Instagram @CougarClawMedia

Welcome back S

chool is back, and in more ways than one. Not only are ALL of us back on campus for the 2021-2022 school year, we are no longer all wearing masks and we will have all of our normal school activities, such as Senior Picnic, Homecoming Dance and more. And a brand new stadium! Here are a few reminders of how the school works. We will continue to work on four lunches during fifth period, with one hour for instruction, a half-hour lunch and a half-hour advisory period. More on that on Page 2. Video announcements will also be shown during advisory, just like last year. If your club or organization want to get something on the new show, have the coach or sponsor email KTHS advisor Jerry Fordyce. The tardy system will be the same as last year. Don’t panic if you can’t find your classes before the bell the first week, tardies will not be counted the first couple of days. After that, three tardies will get you a warning, seven is when you start getting detention or lunch detention and finally after 10 tardies you lose the ability to exempt finals in the spring. Tardies do not reset. If you get more than 10 tardies in the first semester you will have to take all your finals in the spring. Be sure to plan out your time during passing periods. As you begin the year, don’t forget that the Cougar Claw welcomes letters to the editor. It’s a great chance to make your voice heard or get answers to questions. Drop off your letters in Room 1201, near the front of the school. Have a great school year!

Get more out of school by joining a club There are tons of activities on campus you can join, and being active in a club makes school so much more enjoyable. Students who are active are much more likely to graduate and get better attendance. Here are some of the options on campus.

Clubs that are part of a class

Stand-alone clubs

Student Counncil This is a very large and active organization on campus, with many opportunities to gain leadership experience or contribute to the community. From running flags at football games, to organizing homecoming festivities, to the many community programs they do, the Student Council is a great place to get involved. Anyone is welcome to join. Stop in Room 1205 to pick up an application. Best Buddies This wonderful program pairs some of our special needs students with other students from the school to help encourage acceptance and inclusion of all students in the school. It’s a highly rewarding experience, and anyone can join. Watch for information on the first meeting soon. Book Club With sponsors such as Mr. DeCoste, Mr. Nimon and librarian Mr. Jesse, you’ll find this club fun and relaxed. Discussions of books combined with fellowship make this a great club for any readers on campus. See any of the sponsors or come to any meeting. Bowling Yes, bowling, with the funny shoes and everything. They practice at Tomball Bowl and compete against other schools in the area. A fun after-school club, with possibly the best club shirts on campus. Watch for announcements on their first meeting. National Honor Society This club is by invitation only and invites the top academic students in the school. Want to join? Then keep your GPA high, and maybe next spring you’ll get your invitation! People For the Planet Want to make a difference in your community? Then go see Mr. DeCoste in Room 1204 to join this group. From helping food banks to raising awareness about recycling, this is an active and engaging club for those wanting to make a difference. Robotics Club Build robots for competition! How cool is that? This isn’t a theory class, it’s hands-on and you take your robot to competitions. Great for anyone who plans to go into the sciences. Other clubs that don’t require participation in a class: Gaming Club, Dungeons and Dragons, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, PRIDE club, Ping Pong, Senior Guys, Senior Girls. Want to start a new club? Get the form from the principal’s secretary, Mary Rendon.

Student Media This program includes the newspaper, the Cougar Claw, in both print and online, the Cougar yearbook and the KTHS broadcasting program. The classes are taught by Mr. Fordyce in Room 1201. Whatever your interest - writing, photography, page design, video work, podcasting - this program is for you. Stop in 1201 for info.

Theater All the world’s a stage in this program, which puts on multiple shows a year. Whether you’re an aspiring actor, want to make costumes or build sets, there is something for everyone in theater. Other clubs that require you to be in a related class: HOSA, BPA, NJROTC.

Academic UIL Competitions The following are academic competitions students can compete in, either as part of a team or individually. Each event has a sponsor, see the sponsor for information on how to join. Business Accounting Computer Application Drama

FFA Whether you want to raise an animal for auction or learn valuable skills such as welding, FFA is a great hands-on program for students, and one of the larger groups on campus. Watch for information on animal selection the first few days of school.

Charms The Cougar Charms Drill Team, which performs at football games and pep rallies, as well as competitions in the spring, requires an audition and a dedication to practice. Watch for information or stop by the Charms room in Room 1256 to see Mrs. Huebner. Cheerleaders The Cougar Cheerleaders, under the direction of Mr. Weibel, also requires a tryout to join. In addition to cheering for the Cougars at different sporting events, they do competitive cheer in the spring. A great place to make friends, stay in shape and have fun. See Mr. Weibel if you’re interested in joining this award-winning team. NJROTC This course teaches military discipline and training, but is not just for those who plan to enter the military. All are welcome and the program provides a real sense of friendship with your fellow cadets. There are also drill competitions that you can compete in, and the cadets perform during pep rallies and football games.

Theatre/One Act Play Journalism Copy Editing Editorial Writing Feature Writing Headline Writing News Writing Language Arts Literary Criticism Ready Writing Spelling Mathematics Calculator Applications Computer Science Mathematics Number Sense Science Science Speech Extemporaneous-Informative & Persuasive Cross Examination Debate Lincoln-Douglas Debate Prose & Poetry Interpretation Social Studies Current Issues & Events Social Studies In addition, the Academic UIL program last year added a student oversight club, with members drafting rules on letterjackets and officer elections, helping with recruiting, working with sponsors and choosing which invitational meets they wish to attend. Academic UIL also looks great on your college applications! Watch for more club news on the KTHS-TV News show during your advisory period.

New year brings renewed focus on dress code, tardies, IDs With things slowly returning to normal, expect dress code enforcement to also be back to normal. Last year, many male students had quite a bit of facial hair growing under those masks. This year, the expectation is for all males to be clean shaven, and to keep hair length in dress code as well. The school also will be checking to make sure outfits are in dress code, so even if the weather is pretty hot outside, be mindful of how you dress. Another rule that will remain in place is the tardy policy. If you’re late to class, you’ll need to get a tardy slip from your AP or front desk to get into class if you don’t have a pass from a teacher. Tardies can also impact your exam exemptions in the spring, so be mindful of

how many tardies you get. Violations of dress code or too many tardies can land you in ISS for a day. That can also impact exam exemptions. As before, students are not allowed to have food delivered to the school. Delivery drivers will be turned away, and you’ll lose the money you spent on the food. Also, it’s important that students wear their IDs on lanyards each day. These are used on campus to pay for lunches as well. Photos will be taken early in the year for ID cards, so don’t miss your photo! In addition, these photos are used for the yearbook. If you have any questions, ask any assistant principal. You’ll see them in the hallways between periods, and in the cafeteria at lunch.

New program means free lunches for all Beginning this school year, all student lunches will now be free for all students, regardless of their financial status, the district announced recently. This applies to the full, normal menu. There is not a “special” menu for free food. There will be some additional items for purchase, which will continue to be done using your ID card at the register.

This program is being funded by federal grants, so it is not costing the district additional money. There is a survey asking families about household finances, which has been included with their registration forms. This is important for the school district as it helps the district get additional state and federal funding, but is not tied to the new free lunch program.

Back-to -School Edition

Cougar Claw Staff Carly Beleau Editor-in-Chief

Lucas Botello Print Editor

Desi Beireis Online Editor

Charlotte Griffin Staff Writer

Natalia Fernandez Staff Writer

Alexandra Osman Staff Writer

Saige Klein Staff Writer

Lauryn Olivarez Staff Writer

Emma Paradavillegas

THS app keeps students, staff informed 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 KTHS-TV broadcasting program. Perhaps its most important feature is a full

More tips on THS Here are a few more things to know as school starts: • The water fountain machines are still out of use due to covid, but there is a fountain to refill bottles by the cafeteria. Bring your own refillable bottle, and make sure your name is on it! • The school will be crowded this year, so walk on the right side of the hallway, and if you’re going to stop and chat, move to the side so you don’t block traffic. • You likely won’t have time to use your locker between classes.

school calendar, allowing students, families and teachers to see what’s going on around campus, in both athletics and school activities. The app is free to download, and is sponsored by Lone Star College. Search for ‘Tomball High’ to find it in the store. 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.

Staff Writer

Sydney Arnold Staff Writer

Jerry Fordyce Advisor Rm. 1201

We welcome story ideas and questions from our readers. Stop in Room 1201 to ask us about submitting items or joining our staff!

DAEP used for more serious infractions by Wyatt Sandoz The Disciplinary Alternative Education Program is where you get sent when you’re suspended from school. You can get sent to DAEP for many different reasons. Drug or alcohol related instances, fighting, misbehaving in class. Depending on the issue, determines how many days you have to spend there until you’re able to go back to your school. If you’re there because of drug or alcohol related instances then they will give you the option to participate in a program called RISE. Doing this will knock 10 days off of your suspension. This school also follows very strict guidelines such as having to wear a uniform. No talking unless you are called on to speak, and a teacher has to escort you too and from everywhere. You are also not allowed to bring your phone or

anything else into the building with you besides your lunch and a water bottle. When you enter the school you have to take off your belt, shoes, and socks. Then they make you walk through a metal detector much like how they do at the airport. This is to make sure that you’re not bringing in any contraband or weapons. The days feel very long so you have a lot of time to get your work done. Many people feel that it’s easier to get their work done without all the distractions. You also get one-on-one tutoring from your teacher which can help you understand the concepts better. Every Tuesday and Friday they will have what they call “The Circle”. And that is basically where everyone in the school including the teachers will go and have a share circle where they just talk about things. It’s almost therapeutic in a sense.

Bell Schedule First Bell: 7 a.m.

This is the official start to the school day.

First Period 7:20-8:07 Second Period 8:13-9:03

Pledges and voice announcements

Third Period 9:09-9:56 Fourth Period 10:02-10:49 Fifth Period 10:49-12:49 Classes with A lunch: Lunch: 10:49-11:19 Class: 11:24-12:19 Advisory: 12:19-12:49 Classes with B lunch: Advisory: 10:49-11:19 Lunch: 11:19-11:49 Class: 11:54-12:49 Classes with C lunch: Class: 10:49-11:49 Lunch: 11:49-12:19 Advisory: 12:19-12:49 Classes with D lunch: Class: 10:49-11:49 Advisory: 11:49-12:19 Advisory: 12:19-12:49

Sixth Period 12:55-1:42 Seventh Period 1:48-2:35 School Day ends: 3 p.m.

At this time, students should be with a coach or sponsor if still in the building.

Late Buses

Students staying after school for athletic and other activities have the option of riding the late bus home. Let your sponsor or coach know when you arrive that you will need a late bus pass.

Advisory periods to stay for this year The schedule this school year will continue to feature an advisory time, giving each student a 30-minute window to work on homework, attend tutorials or club meetings, or just take a short break during the day. Advisory is more than just a study hall, though, allotting time for video announcements and Character Strong. “Think about upcoming events, current assignments, and your own schedule to know when you are going to have time at home to complete things and when you won’t due to extra-curricular or personal events,” Principal Chris Scott said. Other tips:

• Set one specific goal of something you’d like to accomplish or finish during the advisory period. • Put your phone away to eliminate the main source of distraction when trying to work. • Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do too many things at once. • If you find yourself losing focus, take a break for a few minutes and begin again once you’ve re-focused. • Ask teachers questions you have but didn’t get a chance to ask during class. • Before going to see another teacher to ask questions, make sure they have the same advisory period. Don’t interrupt a class.

District schedule set for 2021-2022 School once again starts early this year, Oct. 11 and Nov. 2. The last day of Fall finals starting Aug. 17, but that means that the year will be Dec. 17. will end in time for Memorial Day Weekend. Spring Break will run March 14-21. The fall semester includes a full week off for As for school events, check out our School Thanksgiving, as well as days off on Sept. 6, Calendar the THS App.

From the Desk of Principal Chris Scott

Welcome back, Cougars! Tomball High School Students,

Administrative Duties

Welcome back to school! To our returning students, I’m excited to see you backreturn for an outstanding school year. For our incoming freshman, I welcome you to the PRIDE of Texas and I look forward to meeting each of you. After 16 months of doing school through virtual learning, mask requirements and hybrid learning, I’m happy to start the year getting back to normal. Yes, bring on the 100 percent% face- to- face learning, pep rallies, dances and club activities! We have missed these things and so much more over the past few months. It’s a new year and an exciting time to be a Cougar. As we start our school year I want to share with you the vision we have at Tomball High School. That vision is to be a premier high school in the Houston area through our student performance, our programs’ successes and through providing you and our community with a premier high school experience. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring your success, and that success begins with the relationships. Those relationships exist within our student body, between students and staff and our school’s connection to our Tomball community. Tomball High School school has been and will always be the flagship school of Tomball I.S.D. We represent ourselves, our families and our school with pride. It’s a place where once you are a Ccougar you are always a Ccougar and a home that to which you will always be welcomed back to. From the rich traditions of success, we embrace the future and prepare ourselves to be leaders in our community. United in values, pride and the love we have for each other and our school, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. Second to none, we are the PRIDE of Texas. Let’s enjoy a great year, Coogs! Success in all things,

Chris Scott

Principal, Tomball High School Class of ‘92

Places important to know on campus There are a few locations that, even if you’ve been on campus a while, you might not have visited. Here are a few places you should know at THS. All can be found on the map in this issue. Library: Jesse Javillonar (Mr. Jesse to everyone) runs a fantastic library. It’s for much more than checking out books. It’s a great place to relax, work on a computer and more. The library is typically open all day, including lunches. If you’re going during a class period, you’ll need a pass. Attendance: A big change this year! Attendance issues are now handled by your assistant principal or the front desk. The attendance office in front of the cafeteria is no longer being used. Registrar: Need a verification of enrollment form? How about a transcript? Are you new to the school and need to register, or planning to move and need to transfer? The folks at the registrar’s office (next to the front desk) are ready to assist.

Back-to -School Edition

Lost & Found: Don’t feel bad if you leave something at lunch or in a class, it happens. If you have lost something and cannot find it, check with the front desk. The receptionists can check to see if someone has turned it in. Or, check the lost and found table by the cafeteria. You’ll see piles of lunch boxes and stuff left behind. ISS: If you break the rules and get a day in ISS, it’s located in the lower lobby, right next to the Assistant Principal’s offices. Hopefully you won’t need this place too often. Foreign Languages: OK, most of you will need this at some point, and it’s tough to find. Look at the map to find the one stairwell that leads to the foreign language classes. Also, be aware that there is not a restroom on that floor, so do your business downstairs before you head up. Also, if you’re having trouble getting around, remember to look up at the corners when hallways meet. You’ll see signs telling you which direction to go to find your class.

Have you ordered your yearbook? We sell out fast so order today @ Balfour.com or Rooom 1201

Principal Chris Scott Mary Rendon, Secretary Associate Principals Mark Vierkant, Operations Sara Rush, Academics D’Lisa Sharp, Secretary APs & Counselors (by student last name) Assistant Principals Sara Cooley A-Ei Debbie Dent, Secretary Room 1237 Daniel Craft El-Li Marie Burzynski, Secretary Room 1405 Lisa Streat Ll-Riv Bridgette Manuel, Secretary Room 1119 Jacob Houghton Ro-Z Sherry Namken, Secretary Room 1102 Counselors Amy Vann A-C Marissa Williams D-He Karen Hill Hi-Moo Angela Howell Mor-San Shamia Coleman Zap-Z Emily Nichols College & Career Cassini Christ Testing Coordinator Nurses Tania Rayborn JoAnn Gardner Campus Police Officers Courtnay White Juliete Pommer Librarian Jesse Javillonar

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Student section Reserved Seats

Volleyball Schedule

TOMBALL ISD

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PRESS BOX

Ticket information for Football, other sports at new stadium VARSITY FOOTBALL Pre-Sale before 3 p.m. on game day: General Admission: $6 Student: $5 Reserved: $7 Game day after 3 p.m.: General Admission: $8

FOR ALL SPORTS Children 4 and under are free Senior Citizens 65 and older are free

8/27/2021 Friday @ Willis HS 7:00 p.m. (season opener)

10/1/2021 Friday Klein Forest HS TISD Stadium, 7:00 p.m. (Homecoming)

9/3/2021 Friday vs. Nimitz HS 7:00 p.m. (first home game at new stadium) Senior Night

10/8/2021 Friday @ Klein Collins, 7:00 p.m.

9/10/2021 Friday Port Neches Groves HS 7:00 p.m., Tomball ISD Stadium 9/17/2021 Friday @ Oak Ridge HS, 7:00 p.m. 9/24/2021 Friday @ Tomball Memorial (THS is visitor) Patriotic Show, 7:00 p.m.

ALL OTHER SPORTS Adult: $4 Student: $2

10/15/2021 Friday Klein Oak HS 7:00 p.m. TISD Stadium (Cheer Kiddie Clinic) 10/22/2021 BYE WEEK No game scheduled 10/29/2021 Friday @ Klein Cain HS 7:00 p.m. 11/5/2021 Friday Klein HS, 7:00 p.m. TISD Stadium (last game of regular season)

Homecoming is back! Parade, dance return by Madelyn Stanaland With things getting back to normal, this means homecoming is back in a big way. Student Council sponsor Tammy Baker says she is still waiting to work out the logistics, but we should be able to have a normal homecoming this fall. If you’re an incoming freshman or sophomore you may not know what that looks like. The homecoming game is Friday, Oct. 1, against Klein Forest High School. But homecoming is about so much more than the game. Here’s the week’s activities: • Dress-up days. Each day of the week will have a theme, which Student Council will announce soon. Of course, Friday is the day

for everyone to wear their mums. • Homecoming parade and pep rally. The team is joined by many of our campus clubs and organizations for a parade up Main Street in Tomball. The parade will start at Tomball Intermediate and end at the historic Train Depot, where there will be a community pep rally. • Homecoming game. The game starts at 7, and will be at the new Tomball ISD Stadium. • Homecoming dance. The week wraps up with a homecoming dance here on campus. The decorations will transform the school, and the dance will feature a DJ and more. Watch for details on all of this on the KTHSTV News show or online at THSCougarClaw. com.

(Times are for Varsity) Tuesday, 8/10 @ College Park, 5:30 8/12-8/14 @ KISD/CFISD Tourney Tuesday, 8/17 vs Magnolia, 5:00 8/19-8/21 @ Willowbrook Showcase Tuesday 8/24, @ Willis, 5:30 8/26-8/28 @ Texas Showdown Tuesday, 8/31 @ Langham Creek, 5:00 Friday, 9/3 @ Stratford, 5:30 Tuesday, 9/7 vs. The Woodlands, 5:00 Friday, 9/10 @ Tomball Memorial, 5:30 Tuesday, 9/14 vs. Klein Forest, 5:30 Friday, 9/17 @ Klein Collins, 5:30 Tuesday, 9/21 vs. Klein Oak, 5:30 Tuesday, 9/28 @ Klein Cain, 5:30 Friday, 10/1 vs. Klein, 5:30 Tuesday, 10/5 vs. Tomball Memorial, 5:30 Friday, 10/8 @ Klein Forest, 5:30 Tuesday, 10/12 vs. Klein Collins, 5:30 Friday, 10/15 @ Klein Oak, 5:30 Friday, 10/22 vs. Klein Cain, 5:30 Tuesday, 10/26 @ Klein, 5:30 Varsity Coach: Jordan Williams

School Song Hail, dear old Tomball, School that we love, We’ll keep your banner Waving from above. We’ll always love you, Keep your honor bright. Standing for service, You’re our guiding light.

Return of Cougar Stadium

New stadium gives school back original Before Tomball ISD grew to have a second school, the stadium on campus was called Cougar Stadium, not TISD Stadium. Now, with the district’s new stadium completed, the campus facility is once again Cougar Stadium, and a whole host of events will be taking place there. In sports, Cougar Stadium will host JV Football games, soccer games, track and field events and more. In other activities, the stadium will host events such as Senior Sunrise. The stadium - and surrounding parking lot - will not see any renovations or changes, other than the name of the stadium. Watch the newspaper’s website at THSCougarClaw.com or the KTHS video news show for information on upcoming events at Cougar Stadium.