May 2024 Hawk

When All Else Fails, Go to the Library Pages 5-7 Austin area provides variety of local libraries

Hendrickson High School 19201 Colorado Sand Drive Pflugerville. Texas 78660 Volume 17, Issue 7 May 17, 2024

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UIL Regionals

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College Decisions

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2 Our Turn Hit or Miss Co-Editors bid farewell to newspaper Parent drop-off practices Opinions Volume 17, Issue 7

Kate Hayes: I was a sophomore when I first stepped foot in the newsroom, fresh out of quarantine and very intimidated by the team I found myself inducted into. Unlike many past Co-Editors, I had always planned to join the newspaper at some point in high school, but I never imagined being able to handle all the responsibilities of a Co-Editor. In the beginning, I stressed constantly over meeting every single deadline (which quickly fell apart) and never felt my work was up to par. But, even after serving as Co-Editor in one of our most challenging years yet, I no longer associate Newspaper with that stress.

All I feel is appreciation for everything this publication has brought me: an unbreakable friend group, a trusted adviser, and work I’m proud of. Being in the newspaper these last three years has truly changed my life for the better, and I want to thank everyone who has helped me in my journey as an editor.

First, I want to thank my counterpart, the other Co-Editor of The Hawk, Lili. I honestly can’t think of anyone I’d rather work with than her, and I know that whenever I’m pulling long hours to finish up an issue, she’ll be right there with me. Also, if you’ve ever looked at a page in the newspaper and thought, ‘That looks good,’ it was probably her.

Next, I want to thank our adviser, Mrs. Riemer. I know The Hawk is nominally student-run, but our issues would look very different without someone as experienced and dedicated as her by our side. Thank you, Riemer, for not only teaching us, but also giving us the tools to teach ourselves. It’s a part of what makes this publication so special.

I also have to thank my best friend Cecilia, a someone who always knows someone and an avid consumer of the newspaper’s pictures. Thank you for providing me with an endless reservoir of ideas, inspiration, and thoughtful quotes.

To our Copy Editor and my close friend Sophia, you’re genuinely one of the funniest people I know. I’m really grateful you joined the newspaper, because even just your presence makes all those awkward interviews worth it.

To the upcoming editors, Gia, Eliana, and Travis, thank you as well. I know the newspaper is in good hands with you all. I just hope you’re looking forward to a challenge.

Finally, I want to thank the students of Hendrickson.

Part of the reason I’m a student journalist is because I’ve always believed in the power of giving students a voice, something that has been instrumental in our country’s histor y— from the promotion of civil

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rights to the end of apartheid in South Africa. Even in the past month, we’ve seen how student protests have exploded across the country to fight for the Palestinian cause. I don’t pretend that our newspaper has participated in any movement as significant and admirable as theirs, but I think in our own way, in our own tiny corner of Texas, we’ve made a change. You, the students, are the foundation of that change, in all of your opinions, activities, and accomplishments. There will always be more articles I wish I could have written, but I’ll be satisfied knowing that in my three years, we’ve managed to capture a small slice of life, of your hopes and dreams and stories, right here in these halls.

Lilianna Moran: My first day of Newspaper was in my living room connected to a Zoom call. There, I saw about nine tiny faces, many of them greeting each other with warm smiles, jokes and familiarity. I was a new, shy freshman to the class but what I saw before me was a family. Four years later, I’m a Co-Editor in Chief of the paper and have ended up with a family of my own.

My first few years helping produce The Hawk were intimidating. I’ve always had a knack for writing, but journalistic writing was an entirely new playing field. I have our previous Co-Editors, Brian, Seth, Lyna, Kaitlyn, Nat, and Yael to thank for tearing apart my stories and showing me the ropes. I want to give a special shout out to Kaitlyn, Nat, Yael, Jasper and Levi, who left last year, for making my sophomore and junior classes as fun, silly and enjoyable as they were. They were a huge part of the family I had found in this class.

I owe much of my success and improvement to our boss, Mrs. Riemer, who gave me so much guidance and support throughout these past years. No matter how controversial or how odd an idea may have been, Riemer always heard us out and encouraged us to dig deeper. She’s the GOAT. Of course, I want to give a big thanks to my fellow Co-Editor Kate, these papers would not have been possible without you and all the extra hours you put in to make sure our work makes it to the printer. I’d also like to thank our Copy Editor and my interview buddy Sophia for her hard work and for keeping the class bright.

For the upcoming CoEditors Gia and Eliana, I’ve seen how much you both have improved throughout the year and I know you guys are going to continue to uphold The Hawk legacy. You both are going to kill it. As for the editors and reporters next year, you are the foundation to the paper. It is your thoughts and ideas that make the paper remarkable and I’m so excited to see what all of you create. Peace out.

inconvenience students

This year’s senior parking spots are located to the front left of the cafeteria to allow those who bought a space to be closer to an entrance. Throughout the school year, rows of parent cars have been dropping off their students at the front of these parking lots rather than at the designated drop-off loop by the cafeteria.

This not only causes a back-up in traffic for those trying to get to school, but it also makes it difficult for seniors to park in their purchased spots since parent cars are blocking them from doing so. This could have the consequence of making students late to class for the sake of parents who want to cut the drop-off line, and defeats the purpose of the parking spots that students pay for. While a minor inconvenience, parents dropping off students in the parking lots rather than the designated areas is definitely a miss.

AP exam alterations cause minimal disturbances As the school year nears its end, many students prepare for their AP exams in hopes of gaining college credit.

To accommodate the students taking these exams, the school has had to make some changes, such as blocking off certain hallways, moving classes to different rooms, and shifting certain lunch schedules around. While these accommodations have changed the rhythm of the school and caused a few problems, the staff have done a good job of keeping the disturbances to a minimum.

There were some problems with the timing of the tests, such as some starting later than they were supposed to or there being little time between tests, causing issues for students who were taking two a day. However, the staff still worked hard to make the tests run as smoothly as possible, making this year's AP Exam testing a hit.

New PE credit requirements promote student wellbeing This semester, classes that count as a PE credit are taking the FitnessGram Pacer Test as a requirement for the state. The FitnessGram Pacer Tests are a good thing to have because students can exercise and demonstrate their mobility. Although students may not be happy to be taking the test, it’s necessary for students’ physical health. To lower the chances of having so many students that don’t want to take the test, the state should make it easier for them to complete it. If they don’t want to put all their effort, then let them. For these reasons, we find the standardization of the FitnessGram Pacer Test a hit.

Retraction In the April issue of The Hawk, we ran a story about the varsity softball team and their goals for their season. It was brought to our attention that the players that were interviewed play on the Junior Varsity Team, not the Varsity team. We sincerely apologize for our error.

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Opinions May 7, 2024

Your Turn

Staff Editorial

Hendrickson High School 19201 Colorado Sand Drive Pflugerville, TX 78660 http://www.pfisd.net/HHS (512) 594-1100 Student Population: 2,134 Staff: 180

Book bans in libraries increase in Texas

“I am against book banning because I truly believe that most In recent years, the state of Texas has books should be read banned hundreds of books across school and should be able libraries. This means government officials or to be accessed by the individuals removed books from libraries or public, mainly because school curriculums due to personal objections some people don’t regarding the content or themes in the stories, have access to the Internet or information consequently impacting the books available in at their house. So if the book were to be the library available for students to check out. banned that contained information that Amongst the most targeted books include was needed to them, they wouldn’t be themes of racial injustice, violence, sex, and able to access that information because LGBTQ characters. the lack of book. If so many books are In 2023, the Texas legislature passed House getting banned, then that’s hindering the Bill 900, requiring book sellers to rate materials education system, especially for people before a school purchases them in order to who don’t have access to the web. It’s just determine the amount of “sexually explicit” very inconvenient for them.” or “sexually relevant” content, making it their - Gabrielle Guyton, 11 final say to decide if a novel was appropriate for a library to carry for students to check out.

Although there are currently no banned books “Some of the books I in PfISD, it is crucial for readers across the think are banned are state and nation to have the opportunity to stupid because there’s learn from all literature. really good meanings The key issue here is the fear of the novels behind them and and beginning to raise questions in adolescents I don’t think it’s right. that parents, political groups, and other But then some of the organizations find that they are not ready to books that are banned discuss yet or “inappropriate.” This is when I do get. But I don’t agree with it all.” the debate of book banning violating First - Kailee Hughes, 9 Amendment rights comes into place, as this rising form of censorship prevents the freedom of speech.

“I think it’s appropriate Not only are books important for literacy and because this is school. academic success, but they expose students This is where we learn. to perspectives they might not otherwise have I don’t think anything been exposed to without picking up the novel. sexual or violent They situate readers in historical events and should be in a school the issues we are facing today as a society. book. So, I think book Books can allow one to find a character similar banning is the right to them and serve as a representation of their thing.” culture, personality, etc. creating a powerful - Nathan Luong, 11 reading experience.

It is believed by some that book banning is beneficial because keeping books with content considered inappropriate protects children’s young minds. Some parents believe that they should have the power to control what their children should read, and whether or not it should be in their child’s school library. It should be known that if parents are unsatisfied with a book in the library or the curriculum of an English class, it is important that they have a conversation with their child regarding their expectations instead of infringing on the rights of others and what they should and should not have available to them to read.

The removal and banning of books from public school libraries also discourage freedom of thought. This lessens the ability for students to think for themselves and further read into an issue or real-world problem they want to learn more about. Students must have books that connect with them, even if they consist of difficult subjects that not everyone might be interested in. For example, a book with an LGBTQ character might appeal to a student who is a part of the community and wants to read a book with a character similar to them. Not only do many of the banned books represent marginalized groups of people, but they inform students of what is happening in the real world and provide a sense of realism.

To conclude, banning books in school libraries limits the books available to students and similarly decreases their engagement in reading books. It is in the best interest of all political groups, individuals, and other organizations to not challenge or ban books in school libraries to allow students to learn more about real-world issues and events in today’s society and have a representation of all people of all backgrounds in literature.

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Adviser: Kari Riemer Principal: Michael Grebb www.facebook.com/HawkNewspaper

The Hawk, the official student newspaper of Hendrickson High School, is an open forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions.

Opinions expressed reflect the beliefs of the student author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire Hawk Staff, the Hawk Adviser, the Hendrickson Faculty and Staff, or the Principal.

Letters to the editor are welcomed, and may be dropped off in E211. Corrections will be printed when brought to the attention of the staff.

The Hawk is printed monthly at Community Impact in Pflugerville, Texas.

1,000 copies are printed each run, and are distributed to the student body for free before school on publication day and on newsstands throughout the building.

Editorial Staff Editors

Co-Editors: Kate Hayes, Lilianna Moran Copy Editor: Sophia Johst Assistant Editors: Eliana Grant, Gia Patel

Reporters Emily Rodriguez Travis Tellez

Artists Diane Salazar Eliana Grant

Associations

“In my opinion, I don’t think that book banning is good because it limits people on what they can and can’t learn about. It limits people from learning new things because not everyone shares the same viewpoints.”

-Gracelyn Swedlund, 11

Interscholastic Press League Texas Association of Journalism Educators Journalism Educators Association National Scholastic Press Association Columbia Scholastic Press League

Honors ILPC Bronze Star 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024 ILPC Silver Star 2021 Columbia Scholastic Press League, Gold Medalist 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 Silver Crown, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Pacemaker Finalist, 2018

When All Else Fails, Go to the Library

“I think that everyone should be able to read and they should know what level of maturity of reading they can handle.”

-Ashlyn Vera, 12

Pages 5-7 Austin area provides variety of local libraries

Hendrickson High School 19201 Colorado Sand Drive Pflugerville. Texas 78660 Volume 17, Issue 7 May 17, 2024

In Inthis this Issue...

Issue...

4

UIL Regionals

8-9 Summer Reads

12

College Decisions

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Illustration by Diane Salazar

Illustration by | Avery Howe

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News Volume 17, Issue 7

UIL team sweeps regional meet in Katy Gia Patel | Asst. Editor The UIL academic team participated in Regionals on April 26 and 27 in Katy, Texas, at Fulshear High School.

Out of all the competing schools, they received 4th Place Regional Academic Sweeps. The Regional Champions included sophomore Hoan Nguyen in Social Studies, junior Waleed Haider in Persuasive Extemp, sophomore Hannah Saad in Literary Criticism, and the Literary Criticism Team - JC Haub, Hannah Saad, Neha Gandra, and Simon Alvarez. Senior Maya Hay placed 3rd in Informative Speaking and senior Lili Moran placed 3rd in News Writing; both will compete at the upcoming State meet.

“I felt proud because we’ve been working on [Literary Criticism] all year and it helped us win as a team,” Saad said. “I was happy about that.”

Students in the Literary Criticism event read books and analyze poetry.

Throughout the year, the team has prepared for meets by taking practice tests and studying their materials.

“I think I did well,” Saad said. “I did better on some parts than I usually do, but overall I improved.”

UIL Social Studies consists of vocabulary and books for a given historical event, reading the book, and then taking a test over the material. “[My performance] was a lot

better than I expected because, at Regionals, I thought the test would get harder, but it was surprisingly not that bad,” Nguyen said. “My placement was kind of unexpected, but I was surprised and shocked, so I didn’t really know what to say or how to feel about it.”

Across all UIL events, students have been endlessly preparing to be ready for the spring meets.

“I’ve mostly reread my book, taking a bunch of notes, and I’ve spent hours on it,” Nguyen said. “So now my book is basically broken because of how much I’ve used it, and I’ve had a notebook with all my notes.”

Qualifying students will be preparing to hopefully succeed at the UIL State meet on May 14 and 15 at the University of Texas. Also advancing are the State alternates sophomore Natalie Mathews, 4th in Informative Speaking, junior Rin Moore, 5th in Informative Speaking, junior Waleed Haider, 5th in Current Events, sophomore JC Haub, 5th in Literary Criticism, senior Cecilia Acosta, 6th in Persuasive Extemp, Addi Villegas, 6th in Prose, 2nd place Social Studies Team - Aidan Cheely, Hoan Nguyen, Rylee Tragout, Heaven Kouakou, and 2nd place Speech Team.

“I hope to win,” Nguyen said. “I don’t know if that’s going to happen, but hopes and prayers.”

Photo provided by | Kirsten Nash

District board hires new superintendent Eliana Grant | Asst. Editor After former PFISD superintendent Dr. Douglas Killian resigned last semester and moved to Cypress Fairbanks ISD, the district board has been searching for a new superintendent. Through careful consideration of qualities by many focus groups composed of people in the district and hiring representatives to help in seeking and hiring, lone finalist Dr. Quintin Shepherd, former superintendent of Victoria ISD, was selected and hired.

“I have been dedicated to education for nearly thirty years,” Shepherd said.

“This journey has included 18 years of serving as superintendent in three states and four districts, where I embraced the complexities of educational leadership and strategic district management.”

Shepherd grew up in rural Illinois on a grain farm and has worked in several states, including Texas, Iowa, and Illinois.

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Before being a superintendent he served as a music teacher, elementary school principal, and high school principal.

“This diverse experience has allowed me to develop a keen understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within varied educational environments,” Shepherd said. “I received my PhD in Education Administration and Foundations which, in addition to my work experience, provides me with the knowledge and skills to drive educational excellence and innovation in Pflugerville ISD.” With an understanding of Shepherd’s past, now he is focused on future plans for the district. Shepherd claimed he is undertaking a 100-day ‘Discovering Pflugerville’ plan in order to take community suggestions and feedback and use it moving forward with the goal of improving the district.

“As superintendent, I aim to ensure that PfISD becomes a beacon of educational excellence and innovation,” Shepherd said. “I aim to strengthen our district’s commitment to high-quality education, ensuring it is equitable and accessible , and fostering environments where every student and staff member feels valued, has a sense of belonging, is challenged, and is supported.”

Shepherd was hired on April 29 and is set to begin his job on May 28. Many people may be curious about Shepherd’s plans for the education of students, however Shepherd is quick to answer on what he deems important to a students learning environment.

“I believe the most crucial aspect of a child’s education is providing a supportive and inclusive environment that cultivates academic skills and social growth,” Shepherd said. “In very

simplistic terms, I see two parts to a great education: 1) Student as Learner and 2) Student as Person. When we embrace both pieces, students should have the tools to succeed. It’s vital that education helps students develop resilience, critical thinking, and the creativity needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world.”

Shepherd claims he is aiming to support and work with the community in order to overcome any challenges faced.

He stresses the importance of feedback and collective efforts in order to raise up the district.

“I am truly excited about the journey ahead and deeply committed to the success of every member of our school community,” Shepherd said. “Let’s embark on this path of continuous improvement and innovation with a spirit of collaboration and a shared vision for the future.”

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News May 17, 2024

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When All Else Fails, Go to the Library

Law restricting books sold to schools blocked, but future remains uncertain Kate Hayes | Co-Editor A Texas law passed in April 2023 that would place barriers on the sale of books to schools has been challenged in court and subsequently blocked. The law, known as House Bill 900 or the READER Act, would have required book sellers to rate the sexual explicitness and relevance of materials sold to schools. After several book sellers in the state sued, citing the cost to businesses, a U.S. district judge halted the implementation of the law in September. In January, the decision to block the law was affirmed by the U.S. 5th Circuit Appeals Court.

“House Bill 900 relates to the regulations of books sold to or included in public school libraries,” school librarian Victoria Friday said.

“If anything was implemented on a government level, of course, we’d have to follow it, but PfISD does not ban books.”

While other school districts across Texas and the nation have restricted books from their public school libraries in recent years, PfISD has not— including some books with “controversial” reputations.

“We do have books that are banned in other places because it kind of depends on the school district,” Friday said. “In fact, some English teachers just taught ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and that is considered a controversial book, but it’s still being taught here.”

While PfISD schools do not typically restrict books from libraries, there is active discussion surrounding the establishment of systems to grant parents more control over what their students are reading.

“For lack of a better word, what we’ve kind of been talking about is a digital permission slip,” Friday said. “The digital permission slip would mean opting in or out of certain contents of books, so basically

‘Are you allowing your student to read this kind of content?’”

Even though these discussions have taken place, there are no planned developments for the idea of a digital permission slip.

“What that is defined as we have not gotten to yet,” Friday said. “We’re kind of waiting to see how this House Bill goes, because that’s gonna affect the whole state and then we’re gonna have to go off of state regulations.”

While the law remains blocked, a new version of it could be proposed in a future House session.

“Every single year when they all meet, you know, they try to push for certain things, so it’s likely to be brought back up again,” Friday said.

“Thankfully, our school district doesn’t have anything pressing.

I’ve collaborated with the high school librarians, middle school librarians, and the elementary school librarians. We are more than qualified to give our professional opinion on what we feel is appropriate and not appropriate.”

Currently, Friday is responsible for actively monitoring the books in the library, ensuring they are up to date and remain appropriate for students to read.

“I do something where I go through the list of books in a process called weeding out, which is basically just taking out books that aren’t relevant anymore,” Friday said.

“For example, I was going through the psychology section, and I noticed that there were some books that were 15 or 20 years old. It’s time to get rid of those, but I want to replace them with more relevant information.”

Additionally, district librarians review books sold to the library

to ensure the content is appropriate for high schoolers.

“We want stuff that’s definitely age appropriate,” Friday said. “A really popular series nowadays is Fourth Wing Iron Flame. Are they good books? Yes, but they aren’t in our library because they do get a little sexually explicit. So, what we’re looking at is sexually explicit versus sexually relevant, meaning anatomically correct things like sex education.”

Friday said she was satisfied with the district’s current system of reviewing books.

“I’m okay with the way PfISD is running it because I don’t have any books that I am concerned with, at least that I know of,” Friday said. “I will say that parents do know their children best so of course, if a parent came to me concerned about a certain book, I would take it into consideration.”

If a parent is concerned about the content of a book, district librarians have an established process for reviewing whether or not the book should remain on the shelves.

“If a person came to me concerned about a book, I would take it off the shelf and not let any student check it out,” Friday said. “I would collaborate with the other high school librarians as they may have either the same or similar books and get their opinions on it. A lot of them have been in the public school system longer than I have, so I do want to take in consideration the fact that I am still newer to this public s ch o ol system.”

The staff member who makes t h e f ina l

call on a book is Kara Johnson, the District Coordinator of Library and Media Services and the school’s former librarian.

“She’s the one who makes the final call, so it would go above my head, but we collaborate as a group,” Friday said. “I don’t believe it’s fair to leave it only in my hands, because everyone has a bias.”

Diane Salazarcastaneda | Artist

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Feature Volume 17, Issue 7

When All Else Fails, Go to the Lib

Austin area provides variety of local libraries Austin Central Library Kate Hayes | Co-Editor The Austin Central Library is the kind of place I heard stories about. However, in my 12 years of living in the Austin area, I’d never managed to actually see it, though I marveled at the pictures online and heard anecdotes from friends about how spectacular it was. When I heard we were doing library reviews for this issue of the paper, I jumped at the opportunity to visit. That same day, I made the journey to the library with my friend Cecilia, who also always wanted to visit but never had a reason. I’m pleased to say the Central Library definitely lives up to the hype.

True to its name, the Central Library’s location close to Downtown makes it a convenient destination no matter where you reside in the Austin area. While the distance in miles is further, the 28-minute drive to the library from my house is not much longer than the 18-minute drive to

the Pflugerville Library. And, considering the fact it offers far more amenities and pleasant scenery, I’d say it’s well worth the extra 10 minutes: the library offers a cafe (although it was closed when I visited), a rooftop garden, reading porches, iMacs, board games, and even a merchandise shop. Couple that with stunning views of Lady Bird Lake, and I’m confident this is the best library in all of Central Texas.

There’s only one problem: Pflugerville residents do not qualify for a free library card. However, you can still make use of all the resources of the library, you just can’t check items out. For those interested in that, however, you can apply for a TexShare card with the Pflugerville Library to gain limited privileges. Regardless, though, if you’re seeking a wealth of resources and an unforgettable experience, I would definitely recommend the Central Library.

Austin Central Library Photo provided by | Kate Hayes

Round Rock Public Library

Round Rock Public Library Photo provided by | Gia Patel

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Gia Patel | Asst. Editor If you need a quiet place to study, the new Round Rock Public Library located in Downtown Round Rock is the perfect place to visit.

The library opened in January of 2023, and ever since my first time there, it has been a place where I go regularly on the weekends to get work done.

Not only does the library offer a selection of books numbering in the thousands, ranging from children’s novels to cookbooks, the library itself is three stories tall with an outdoor balcony wrapping across the third floor overlooking Downtown Round Rock.

The first and second floors hold books

for children, adults, and young adults, while the third floor has shelves of books and is also deemed a “quiet floor” for visitors to get their work done. The floor offers study tables with outlets, comfy seating by the windows, free Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, and study rooms you can book for a group of people.

Personally, the third floor is my favorite place in the entire space since it’s quiet and many other people are also focused, which makes me want to do the same.

Although the Round Rock Library isn’t the closest library to the Pflugerville area, it is welcoming for all and worth the visit, even if you aren’t planning to check out a book or study.

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Feature May 17, 2024

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Library Wells Branch Community Library Lilianna Moran | Co-Editor The Wells Branch Community Library located at 15001 Wells Port Drive provides another option for students looking for a place to study or read. The exterior of the building is pretty inconspicuous and difficult to spot. Upon entering, the interior is similar to that of the nearby Pflugerville Public Library. It has an open floor design with a section designated for computers and a separate children’s place. As expected, the library was very quiet and there were many open seats for individuals to sit and work. However, it is very small and compared to our local library, seems lacking in a wide variety of books. Additionally, the library appears to

be a node for community events, such as storytime for children, meetings, and craft or board game parties.

Overall, the Wells Branch Library seems to be more geared to its local neighborhoods. The interior of the library and the resources it offers is similar to that of most, if not all, public libraries and personally, does not make up for the distance it takes to get there. If I was looking for a place to read and work, I would just opt for our local public library.

However, if I wanted another opportunity to meet new people and find a different community, the Wells Branch Library is an ideal place to explore.

Pflugerville Public Library

Sophia Johst | Copy Editor The local Pflugerville Library offers a wide expanse of books, free events, and convenience due to its close proximity and easy access to locals, as well as a quiet and relaxing place to read, study, or work.

The library is sectioned off into specific areas: one for children, one for teens, and a general area for all.

A large appeal to the Pflugerville Library, aside from its convenient location, is the array of events it holds. Crafting, story time, teen parties, and pet adoption

events are held for the public. In an area with minimal things to do, the Pflugerville Library offers free and fun activities.

My only complaint is the size of the building. It is a one story building sectioned off into three spaces, making the place feel quite cramped. It may be better to visit the Austin Central Library if you’re seeking a more spacious place to study or to find a larger variety of books.

Overall, the Pflugerville Library is a good bet for its convenient location and community involvement.

Beyond the Book Library provides wealth of amenities for student body Eliana Grant | Asst. Editor The school library is located across from the front office towards the main entrance of the school. With the everyday traffic of students and staff, many people are in and out of it all day. Inside of the library is, of course an array of books, however librarian Victoria Friday stresses that the library has something for everyone.

“I also have students who use this space to pray a lot,” Friday said. “Some of them have designated time, some of them don’t, they just come in, they say, ‘Hey, I’m here to pray,’ and I give them a safe space to do it. Another thing right now, this is something sponsored by the 504 coordinator, she has the Locker. [It] has things like feminine products, school supplies, sometimes snacks if they don’t go too quickly.”

Alternatively to necessities such as prayer spaces, desktops, and school supplies, the library also provides entertainment. Working as an area to hang out or spend free time, options are provided for students to clear their heads and get off technology.

“Another thing that I offer is that I have a little brain break table, so for coloring sheets, I put some books out from the library so there’s like an origami book out there right now, how to draw certain things,” Friday said. “That’s kind of me trying to expose what you can do with the books other than just reading, because there’s a lot more to books than just reading.”

With the options students have laid out, Friday stresses the impact she has noticed on the student body.

“I’ve noticed a huge increase in students actually using the library, especially those who aren’t even actually avid readers. I’ve been told several times by students that they hadn’t used the library until some of these things were

introduced. I’ve had a lot of students who’ve had an increase in usage of the library for just kind of having a safe space, which is something that’s really important to me, as emphasizing the safe space that the library is not just for books reading schoolwork, it’s a place that you guys can go on your off periods or different stuff like that.”

The library offers a quiet spot to rest rather than the usual uproar of the school during the mornings or lunch, which is greatly appreciated by sophomore Gavyn Cannistra.

“I usually always go to the library in the early morning and occasionally during lunch,” Cannistra said. “I like being there because it’s a quiet place where I can catch up on work, read, and do some quiet introspection. I’ve been going to the library since the beginning of my freshman year, and I’ve continued since then. I’d recommend hanging out at the library if you want a place to relax before school that isn’t the cafeteria, which to some people like me is very hectic.”

Friday makes it clear that she appreciates the impact the library has had, and that anyone is welcome to spend their time in it.

“The library is for all, and it’s just a general source of information,” Friday said. “I may not have the answers to everything but I do at least know where to direct you, or I can help you in any sort of way. One thing I want to emphasize is that the library is not just for books, it’s a safe space for all.

That’s something that’s s u p e r important to me, so if anybody doesn’t feel like it’s a safe space, I would really hope that they feel comfor table enough to come [tell m e ] .

Support your local library.”

Pflugerville Public Library Photo provided by | Sophia Johst Eliana Grant | Illustrator

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Feature Volume 17, Issue 7

Summer Selections

English teachers give book recommendations for break One of Us Is Lying

“

I’m gonna recommend the One of Us Is Lying series. I feel like mysteries are fun to read and it’s one of my favorite YA series within the past eight or so years. Karen McManus, the author, just came out with

the third book for it. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m super excited.

Emily Hall

Sea of Tranquility

“

‘Sea of Tranquility’ by Emily St. John Mandel. It follows this man and it’s kind of like an interconnected timeline, where it starts off with different people’s stories and then it’s all kind of woven together. It just such a beautiful story and I loved it. I

thought the ending was really gratifying.

Emily St. John Mandel is one of my favorite authors. I think it’s a really good book to introduce you to that world.

Liana Gonzales

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

“

“I recommend ‘Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone’ by Benjamin Stevenson and that’s a really good book if you’re interested in mysteries and thrillers.

It’s also an Australian author, so it takes place in Australia which is kind of fun to escape to. The narrator is a really funny

guy and he has a very witty and unique perspective, so it’s definitely a book to read if you’re looking for a change or something different.

Emily Overton

All Systems Red

“

‘All Systems Red’ by Martha Wells. It’s a science fiction series about a robot who is conditioned to be a security consultant who does a lot of violent things and just

wants to be left alone to watch their TV shows and not have to do their job.

Jordan Smith

As I Lay Dying

“

My version of fun is probably different from a student’s version of fun, but I think ‘As I Lay Dying’ by William Faulkner was a fantastic novel. It’s set in the early 1900s.

People have been reading novels for a while, and it gets to the point where like, how can someone make the novel new again? And William Faulkner did that with

different perspectives telling one narrative.

You get the narrative told from I think 26 different perspectives, which is pretty amazing because that’s kind of how life happens anyway.

—Jeremy Justice

Remarkably Bright Creatures

“

‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ would be a good summer read because it’s about an aquarium. It’s about the sea and it’s really touching and emotional. That’d be a really

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good audiobook to listen to because it has two narrators, one is an octopus.

Sarah Smith

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Feature May 17, 2024

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The Inheritance Games

“

I’d recommend a book that I really like called ‘The Inheritance Games’ by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, it really takes you on a journey about how the main character is trying to claim an inheritance but they

have to go through a lot of things before they’re able to do that.

Livia Hernandez

Daughters of the Moon

“

Daughters of the Moon was a book that I read in high school, so it’s a little dated. It focuses on a group of young women as the main characters that work together to fight

an ultimate evil, and it’s really cool to see the heroine aspects of a piece of fiction.

Elizabeth Westbrook

High Fidelity

“

If you have ever regretted calling up an ex years later or been a hipster music snob, ‘High Fidelity’ is the book for you. The story is told from the perspective of a thirty-something man-child who owns too many vinyl LPs and works at a record store in London. If you

love talking about music and pop culture or hanging out in record stores all day, you will love this book, which later inspired a movie and a TV show.

Nathan Crawford

Stephen King Books

“

I love murder mystery, suspense, thrillers, those kinds of books, they’re just a good page turner type of book. I also definitely love a good narrative story about somebody’s life. I don’t have a series that I

love, but I do love Stephen King, any book of his, I love.

Kathryn Gurganus

Everyone Brave is Forgiven

“

The author took his grandparents’ love letters that they wrote during World War II and he pretty much used them as the premise for the book. His grandmother was in London during the Blitzkrieg and she drove ambulances, and then his grandfather was off fighting, but it’s their

letters that they wrote to each other back and forth during the war. It’s just a really beautiful book, a lot of ups and downs, the tragic things that happened in life, and that love can conquer all of the bad.

Mackenzie Guthrie

The House in the Cerulean Sea

“

I really liked ‘The House in the Cerulean Sea.’ It’s a really touching story about this guy who’s trying to find home, but he doesn’t really realize he is trying to find home. He goes to visit

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this kind of island and finds this really nice found family. So it’s kind of fun and lighthearted.

Sarah Smith

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Sports Volume 17, Issue 7

That’s a Wrap Athletic coaches share highlights of sports seasons Football

Wrestling

Boys Basketball

“We lost game one. We had a lot of penalties and discipline issues, some uncharacteristic mistakes, things that we shouldn’t have done and we came out the next game and faced a lot of adversity and came back and won that game,” football coach Doug Pearce said. “It was the defining moment of who we were and going into the district game we were on a roll and won the first game, all from learning from the first loss we had.

“As a coach and a fan of our kids, there is one moment that really sticks out to me,” wrestling coach Jaymes Castillo said. “Senior Captain Jacob Donnelly tore his ACL at the beginning of football season and attacked his rehab in order to be ready for the wrestling season. He not only was medically cleared to wrestle, but won the District 10 5A District Title.”

“The highlight of the year would be the district game we played at home against Connally,” boys basketball coach Kennon Dvorak said. “They have had our number at home the last few years, and this year, everything seemed to click that night and we beat them by 20.”

Girls Basketball

Cross Country

Volleyball

Tennis

“We went undefeated this season with a record of 14-0 with a team that graduated seven seniors the year before,” girls basketball coach Norma Sierra said. “The team went through adversity but managed to make it to the Regional Tournament for the 7th year in a row. They are an impressive group that will continue to grow and have an even better season next year.”

“The highlight of the ‘23 cross country season was the fact that we took the whole girls team to Regionals,” cross country coach Felipe Castro said. “Also, Cassie Rivera made state history by being the first three-time state qualifier.”

“The way that the girls have definitely fought through adversity with the loss of my daughter,” volleyball coach Latraica Spencers said. “ The girls were able to make a good run into the playoffs.”

“Last year was my first year here, so I was still getting used to things and figuring out where everything goes,” tennis coach Derek Bertsch said. “So, everybody has been getting more accustomed to me as a coach.

We did have a regional qualifier and finished third in district, so that’s been awesome.”

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Powerlifting

Golf

Sports May 17, 2024

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Swimming

“The highlight for powerlifting was the amount of regional qualifiers we had for both boys and girls, the most in school history,” powerlifting coach Peter Noonan said. “The amount of state qualifiers for boys and girls each was also the most in school history. We had a regional champion, Ryan Doggett and she set two regional records. She was also a state champion in the 148 pound class. Holly Mathews took fourth place at state, coming very close to the state deadlift record for her weight class. So, just a lot of great team and individual accomplishments and just a really fun year.”

Girls Soccer

“The highlight of the season was the team coming together and playing as a team to make it all the way as far as they did in the playoffs,” coach Kevin McKinley said.

Boys Track

Softball

“The highlight of the year was district and regionals,” swim coach Ashley Campbell said. “A lot of kids improved their times despite issues with weather and the pool.”

Baseball

Boys Soccer

We had a lot of injuries, but we also had a lot of young guys get varsity experience,” coach Jacob Stern said. “We had freshman Yul Kim get All District Honors and Honorable Mention All-State.

So that’s the biggest positive, young guys getting recognition.”

“The Highlight of the season was watching them compete at the district meet and see some success,” coach Cedrick Welch said. “They’ve worked so hard throughout the year to prepare themselves for that moment, and in order for them to see that success, to see their hard work pay off, that was the most rewarding moment of the entire year.”

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“The highlight was that we got both some of the boys and girls back to the regional tournament and we’ve got our first golfer since I’ve been coach going to play college golf next year, “golf coach Brian Westerfield said. “The season was a success. We got better over the year and then got ourselves in a good spot to go into next year. We’ve got a good group of kiddos coming up next year to keep us going.”

“Hawk Softball had an excellent rebuilding year and finished tied for 4th in District, missing playoffs barely due to the head to head.” softball coach Lindsay Eaton said. “The Hawks finished over .500 thanks to the leadership of five selfless and team-driven seniors, accompanied by a very young and hungry group following their lead.”

Girls Track

“We have had multiple highlights this season,” head baseball coach David Neelly said. “With a young team, we grew up a lot through Tournament season and then starting district with three series sweeps propelled us into the position we are in today – in the playoffs, hoping for a run.”

Unified Track

“The Highlight of my season was that I got two girls out to regionals for the mile and the 3200, Cassie Rivera and Morgan Nelson,” coach Favian Torres said. “Morgan is a freshman so getting to regionals was a good deal for her because she’s still young and has a lot of years.

Cassie is our senior, and she went out and ran a new personal best which is awesome.”

“It was fun, we got good kids who would normally not get a chance to compete at that level, and wear the Hendrickson gear,” coach Joshua Barts said. “That’s what it’s about, inclusivity. That’s what the whole school is about.”

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Entertainment Volume 17, Issue 7

Leaving the Nest

Seniors share post graduation plans; commitments and jobs

“I am going to go to UT for college. I’m planning to major in business management.” Aidan Cheely, 12

“Right now I’m committed to UT, but I’m still waiting to hear from Dartmouth, since I am on their waiting list. At UT I am majoring in Public Health and at Dartmouth I’m doing Sociology.”

Maya Hay, 12

“I’m planning on attending Texas A&M in College Station this fall. I was hoping to participate in the CAP program and then transfer to UT, but after careful consideration and hard and truthful talks with Dr. Ortiz, I’ve landed on A&M. Not only is it the best choice when it comes to the education I’m looking for ,but also those who I want to surround myself with.”

Elian García, 12

“I will be attending UT Austin because it’s not only one of the top schools in Texas, but it’s in a beautiful city with such a diverse student body. Plus, I can be close to home but not too close, and I love the burnt orange.”

Allison Chavarria-Hernandez, 12

“I don’t have a particular college I’m going to, but for now, I’m going to stay in the Navy and then see what school afterwards but I’m probably going to do Austin Community College. It’s an online college so I can stay focused on the Navy but I’m getting it paid for by the Navy.”

Faith Hernandez, 12

“I’m going to college at St. Edward’s University, and I chose it because they had better programs and better facilities. Also, they had a lot of scholarships and scholarship programs, so that was definitely an incentive—the money. I’m planning to major in animation and computer science.”

Mia Mercado Soto, 12

“I’ve committed to Brigham Young University to study engineering, just because it’s a church school that aligns with my faith and I have a lot of family in the area and a lot of family who have attended that university.”

Nathan Ross, 12

“I committed to the University of North Texas in Denton and I chose to commit to that school because my mom “I’m going to ACC because tuition is free and it’s a financially sound graduated from there and that’s the way of going to school and setting myself up for success. I’m gonna be area I was born in. The campus is super studying Mechanical Engineering.” Ayanna Rutagengwa, 12 pretty in the fall and everyone is super nice there.”

“After high school, I plan to go Zoe Ewing, 12 to ACC and work on becoming a licensed Vet Tech. I just passed the certification to be a vet assistant, “I’ve committed to Tarleton so I’m moving up. I’m also going State University for art, cultural to be working at a chiropractor’s communications, and journalism office. Right now, it’s just the because it’s one of the few schools that front desk, but there’s a lot of offers both programs. It will allow me ways I can climb up the ranks. to stay in journalism and hopefully get So, I have two different paths that a position on the yearbook team.”

I’m looking towards going into.”

Larissa Perez, 12 Kelsie Herold, 12

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“At the moment, I have decided on St. John’s College in Maryland. The reason why I decided to go there is because I really enjoy the curriculum that they offer. It is so distinguished from the typical ‘cram, memorize, pass a test, forget.’ It’s all seminar based, so you really get to expand your perspective.

I find that amazing.”

Rylee Traugott, 12

“I’m going to Texas Tech because they have a great physical therapy program which is what I plan to major in and I’m excited to explore another place I haven’t seen.”

Alyssa Villanueva,12 “I’m going to Texas Tech University, and I want to go there because there is a really great IT program.”

Isaac Silva, 12

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