Volume 35 Issue 5

Volume 35 | Issue 5 | April 2024

Shifting gears to new standards

Decreased student driving and increased bus usage marking new era of transportation P. 12-13 News

Opinions

Student Life

Entertainment

Sports

Dusting off the rust

Snitches get stitches

Editor to teacher

Rogers’s love for music

Rookie on the rise

District renovating playgrounds

A bystander of academic dishonesty

Smith flipping pages back to past

How a suburban dad by day is a rockstar by night

Golden lifting to new heights

P. 2

P. 8

P. 14

P. 17

P. 21

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Playground pioneers

District to innovate school playgrounds

Sri Achanta

Executive Editor-in-Chief @sriachanta_

Place a tabla, saxophone, mridangam, piano, guitar, recorder and violin in a room full of musicians and you’ll end up with a septet - a seemingly arbitrary seven-instrument ensemble.

Take out the last “s” in musicians, walk into a different room and you might just end up at my house.

Following the path of a stereotypical Asian American, I started my musical career as a pianist. I became a soprano recorder aficionado by fifth grade, a proud member of my school’s band. In sixth grade, determined to expand my abilities, I picked up guitar and violin lessons. By seventh grade, I got bored and quit both instruments.

In eighth grade, I began feeling intune with my culture and learned how to play the tabla, a pair of Desi hand drums. The standard age to learn a new instrument is between 4 and 7, so when I joined my first tabla class at 13, I was surrounded by a handful of first graders who were particularly keen on showing me up.

I continued to play the tabla throughout tenth grade and that summer, I picked up the saxophone just long enough to learn “A Whole New World.” During junior year, I took a hiatus from playing any instruments, focusing more on the mundane tasks that come with growing up.

It was only a few weeks ago, well into my senior year, that I decided to start playing an instrument again: the mridangam, a South Indian classical drum. The feeling of joy that came from the physical motions of playing an instrument after a year of intermission was unmatched, even though my natural affinity towards playing had started to wane.

Though I am at best, a mediocre musician, each instrument that I have played has brought valuable lessons.

It was the tears I shed over the ivory keys of my grand piano, repeating the same measure over and over again that nurtured a sense of patience within me.

The callouses I developed after wrapping my fingers around the guitar and violin strings were a testament to my mantra: no pain, no gain.

The ego I had to mend after realizing that young children could play the tabla better than me fortified my resolve.

And currently, playing the mridangam simply out of enjoyment reminds me that there’s no life without doing things for fun.

The Sidekick executive editor-in-chief Sri Achanta recounts her experiences playing instruments. Each instrument has taught her valuable lessons.

Photo courtesy Sri Achanta

Valley Ranch Elementary School’s playground equipment is showing its age. Proposition A of the Coppell ISD Bond Package allows for playground renovations for all district elementary schools aside from Canyon Ranch Elementary School. Sri Achanta

Namir Awan

elementary schools.

Every school except Canyon Ranch Elementary School will receive equipment upgrades. The mulch will be switched out for rubber tarmac, and playgrounds will be designed with accessibility in mind for special education students.

This project is taking place because parents and teachers have been surprised by the number of playground related injuries and the state of the playgrounds themselves.

“I always used to see my kid come home with cuts and bruises from the mulch,” Coppell ISD Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt said. “His friends would always complain about the equipment and how most of it doesn’t work.”

CISD parents had been persuading administration to consider upgrades to playgrounds.

“I have three kids that go to school and play on the playgrounds,” Austin Elemen-

tary School Parent Teacher Organization member Rebecca Bailey said. “They always come home with different things Wind blows through your hair as you about the playgrounds and we all wanted swing back and forth. The feeling of rust to see an improvement. Austin Elementascraping your fingers as you clench the ry, being one of the oldest schools in Copmetal poles evokes a sense of nostalgia. pell, was overdue for an upgrade, and I am Walking across the playground you noglad that it is finally in motion.” tice broken slides, rusted equipment and As for the community outlook, there is scraps of your past as mulch finds its way support and appreciation from parents into your shoes. and staff regarding the new plan for the Coppell ISD has chosen to tackle aging playgrounds. campus playgrounds with Proposition A of “As a community everyone really apprethe 2023 $321 million dollar bond. ciates the amount of attention and dedicaProposition A, which accounts for $269 tion that we as a board have put towards million, funds all things related to school the schools,” trustee Jobby Matthew said. infrastructure. Schools are due for an up“I am a parent who is also glad that the grade with a focus on new flooring, roofschools are getting support and improving, painting and especially updated playing as a whole.” ground equipment.

Schools including Lakeside ElementaAccording to CISD Board of Trustees ry School, Austin Elementary School and president David Caviness, $4.5 million the oldest campus, Pinkerton Elementary is set aside for 10 of the 11 district School, are all overdue for upgrades.

“My kids go to Austin Elementary, and they are always asking me when they will get new swings or better equipment,” Bailey said.

“This bond is a great way to increase involvement within the school and allow for more families to be appreciative of Coppell schooling.”

The improvements also include improved and additional swings, as well as more space and accessibility for children with special needs and disabilities.

“We really tried to focus on and improve the playgrounds to match the community feedback,” Caviness said. “The biggest concerns were the slides going bad, the accessibility of the children, and the overall lack of viable equipment.”

With the construction starting this spring, major upgrades will be made during the summer, and minor improvements will be made throughout the school year.

“The community is thrilled and families looking at Coppell will see that we as a district genuinely care about the schools and the future of our children,” Dr. Hunt said.

“We are definitely going to look Valley Ranch Elementary School’s playground steps are rusted and showing wear and tear. Prop- to improve upon our district as a osition A of the Coppell ISD Bond Package allows for playground renovations for all district whole in the future, but for now it elementary schools aside from Canyon Ranch Elementary School. Sri Achanta is a start and an upgrade for sure.”

Staff Writer @namir_awan

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The City of Coppell is launching a residential rehabilitation program, assisting homeowners of homes 30 years or older. This program allows applicants to utilize city funds in paying for part of home exterior improvements. Sameeha Syed

City launches neighborhood rehabilitation program Sri Achanta

Executive Editor-in-Chief @sriachanta_

To maintain its neighborhood integrity, the City of Coppell is launching a trial rehabilitation program to assist owners of older homes with exterior improvements.

According to the director of community development Mindi Hurley, community infrastructure has started to age with approximately 63.3% of homes in Coppell aged at 30 years or older. Through this trial program, homeowners can apply for a grant with up to 50% reimbursement for external renovations costing up to $10,000. To be eligible for this grant, homes must be 30 years or older, projects must total $1,000 or more and all projects must receive building permits and pass inspections.

In its Feb. 13 meeting, Coppell City Council mandated that renovations can only take place in owner-occupied homes during the trial period.

“For me, it was important to prioritize our homeowners just to make sure the people that have lived in the community for a while have an opportunity to take advantage of the grant first,” council member Kevin Nevels said.

The City Council has budgeted $100,000 from the previously unallocated American Rescue Plan Act funds to finance the trial program. One grant can be awarded per property in a 24-month period with a maximum grant value of up to $10,000. This could mean that only 10 homeowners will be able to utilize these funds.

“We hope that all $100,000 is utilized,” Hurley said. “Let’s say I applied for $5000 worth of work to my home, I would only get $2500 back. That allows more people to get [money]. However far we can allocate the funds is what we want to do.”

However, funding is specifically for external renovations. No internal renovations will be covered through the program.

Marketing for this program will tentatively start at the end of March, with applications for the grants opening around three weeks later. An online form will be made available to citizens who can then fill out, print and submit in person. In addition to the form, individuals need to attach documentation including quotes of renovation costs.

“It’s going to be first come, first serve,” Hurley said. “They will bring all the documentation to us partly, because we don’t want things to get lost in the system. It

guarantees that we can date and time stamp [the submissions], so that we can show when we received it and which order we received it in, and know there was fairness in it.”

Currently, an annual amount of $200,000 has been earmarked for the implementation of this program in the five-year forecast for fiscal year 2025-26. However, continuation of this program is dependent on council approval after the trial period ends and the program is evaluated.

“The thing I’m looking for is utilization,” Nevels said. “Is this a program that our community wants? Will we have people [who] take advantage of it? The popularity of the program will help determine if we continue, and if it’s a very popular program, then we have to look at being careful with taxpayer money.”

After the trial period ends, funding for the program will come from Coppell’s general fund. This, however, has sparked concern for council member Jim Walker.

“I just don’t think that we should be taking from one group of taxpayers that are taking care of their home and all of those things that are incidental to home ownership, and using their tax dollars for people that decide they want to apply for a grant,

and have the city fund up to $10,000 of the same types of improvements,” Walker said. “We’ve got to be very prudent with how we spend our taxpayers’ dollars.”

Walker is also apprehensive that the program may work in the opposite manner than intended.

“People would apply for the grant thinking, ‘Gosh, it’s going to cost $15,000 to paint my house. I’ll apply for this grant and see if I can get $10,000,” Walker said.

“But then the grant doesn’t get approved, so then they think, ‘well, I’ll hold off on painting my house and I’ll apply next year,’ and it still doesn’t get approved. So now, they’ve gone three years not painting their home, when, if that program wasn’t there to incentivize them to put it off until they got the money from the city, they probably would have already had it painted.”

Nevels acknowledges concerns about employing taxpayer money for this program but is looking at its holistic effects.

“What I would say to that is, I definitely understand his concerns about [taxpayer money usage], but I think it’s important for us to consider our neighborhood integrity and maintain property values,” Nevels said. “That’s why I’m really interested in the pilot program.”

Duke dreaming big as district’s new HR director

Karen Duke is Coppell ISD’s new executive director of human resources. Duke has led human resource teams at various school districts for the past 17 years, and started working for CISD on Feb. 12, replacing Kelly Mires. Ishana Sharma

Aasritha Yanamala Staff Writer @CHSCampusNews

As they get closer and closer to high school, middle schoolers are often confronted with the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

In response, they might say “I don’t know yet.” However, that was not the case for middle school Karen Duke. Instead, she would proudly say, “A teacher.”

When previous executive director Kelly Mires accepted the chief human resources

officer position at Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, there was a space in the HR department for CISD. Duke, working at Region 10 Education Service Center, applied for the job.

On Jan. 22, Duke was named Coppell ISD executive director of human resources. Her first day on the job was Feb. 12. ”Specifically because of the timing of this open position, we felt like we needed someone who could hit the ground running,” CISD HR specialist Michelle Minnick said. “[We wanted] someone who has

served in this world before or in similar capacity.”

The district’s HR executive director is tasked with managing operations and helping guide district staff.

“We talked to principals, department directors and supervisors,” CISD administrative services assistant supervisor Kristen Eichel said. “They all said they needed someone who was approachable, knew all the components of HR and loved students, teachers and the school environment.”

Duke met these qualifications. Following her childhood dream career, Duke initially started in education as a biology and anatomy/physiology teacher as well as a basketball, cross country and tennis coach at Crandall High School in Crandall ISD. “I knew in eighth grade what I wanted to do,” Duke said. “I wanted to be a teacher and make a difference in students’ lives.”

As time went on, Duke climbed the administrative ladder. After being an assistant principal at Boswell High School in Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, Duke entered the world of human resources where she has remained for the past 17 years, serving in multiple districts and regional headquarters.

“Human resources is kind of like a puzzle,” Duke said. “Each campus has a different need to be met and you have to find those specific needs.”

Duke worked for five years in the Region 10 Education Service Center’s Human Resources department which supports its

region school districts with HR tasks such as the hiring process and training of new staff members. However, her heart was elsewhere.

“She wanted to work with students, teachers and staff,” Eichel said. “Duke just has a love for education and doing what’s right for students.”

After taking on the work of overseeing school districts, Duke missed being a part of one. She wanted to feel a connection that comes with being in a school district.

Thus, she applied for CISD’s executive HR director position which she learned about through a network of colleagues.

Duke made it through an application process that dwindled from a pool of 50 potential candidates to a pool of about half the size, and further narrowed down to five finalists. Then, on Jan. 18, Duke interviewed for a final time with the CISD HR department.

“Because I was a part of the interview committee, I had the benefit of hearing all the applicants that we selected for that interview,” Minnick said. “Because of her background, her skillset, her experience and her passion, she rose to the top of the applicant pool.”

In the month since Duke was admitted into office, she has attended meetings, solved time-sensitive issues and has embodied her role as the executive director of human resources.

“Our district just called out to her,” Minnick said. “This is where she wanted to be.”

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District introduces new iPads, styluses

News Flash is a series in which readers receive updates on local news that has happened between the issues.

Donut City celebrates 20th anniversary

Coppell ISD digital learning coach Julie Bowles distributes an iPad to junior AnneMarie Oilepo on Feb. 28. CISD provided new devices and accessories to students in grades 6-11 as a part of the 2023 bond package. Neha Nathwani

Manasa Borra Staff Writer @CHSCampusNews

As part of the 2023 bond package, Coppell ISD has provided students from grades 6-11 with new iPads and styluses that come with newly implemented parental control features.

Coppell High School sophomores and juniors turned in their old devices to receive new ones on Wednesday and Thursday. The new hardware aims to alleviate technology issues of the past.

“The functioning of the old iPads was a struggle,” CISD digital learning coach Julie Bowles said. “There were often frustration points with the device being slow, not connecting to the internet and apps crashing. We need some replacement to make sure we’re staying on the innovative side.”

Costs from missing or damaged hardware at turn-in will be assessed by the Board of Trustees and could result in fees being discharged. The option to purchase device insurance has been reinstated until March 29 to allow students and parents to pay for possible damages to hardware on the reclaimed iPads. Insurance is $15 and covers damages for the rest of the school year.

The iPads also come with simple styluses to replace Apple Pencils. The decision to switch to these new styluses was motivated primarily by financial concerns.

First-generation Apple pencils cost almost $100, so frequent damage and losses quickly result in large expenses for the district. The new styluses retail for $29.99, making them a significantly cheaper alternative.

“Our goal is to keep kids safe and teach,” associate principal Zane Porter said. “We have to save money where we can so that we can spend it on other things that elevate safety and education.

And if we can get the same functionality for a third of the cost, I think it only makes sense for a district to do that.”

Students are split in their decisions about the new technology. Many covet the better appearance and ease of use but still recognize drawbacks.

“I like the big screen and the camera quality is amazing, but the iPad’s battery health itself isn’t great,” junior Riha Musa said. “You would expect the battery to be a lot better, but I would say it runs out of battery almost as much as our old iPads.”

The new styluses also face mixed student opinion. Some appreciate the styluses for their light weight and their ease of

connectivity. Some miss the quality capabilities of the previous Apple Pencils.

“I like the Apple Pencils and I like these styluses generally,” junior Vidhi Patel said. “But compared to the Apple Pencils, the battery isn’t as good, and you have to constantly charge it. Also, pressure sensitivity is big for artists or just in general, and this stylus just doesn’t have it.”

Additionally, the iPads will come with more parental control options. Guardians will be able to limit screen time for applications or restrict websites on their student’s device. These features come from the Coppell District Improvement Plan and Council who work with parents and community members to improve student education.

“Some parents will want more restrictions on their kids than others,” Porter said. “Not everyone agrees with the policies we put out, and this is just one way of trying to give autonomy back to the parents” The iPad upgrades are coming as a part of a greater technological initiative for CHS. So far the school has upgraded educator Macbooks and replaced outdated security cameras in the schools. There are also plans to upgrade Wi-Fi, markedly in gym areas for digital testing.

District 115 candidates discuss school voucers, funding in education forum

DECA ties district record with 25 state finalists, sends 21 members to ICDC

Business Spectacle

Splash and Dash providing positive pet care Vibha Viswanath Staff Photographer @CHSCampusNews

Community basks in glory of outer space at annual Moon Party

Splash and Dash Groomerie and Boutique is a dog grooming business dedicated to giving dogs haircuts while ensuring them a safe and caring environment. Watch The Sidekick staff photographer Vibha Viswanath’s video as she speaks to store owner Jaime Meyer about Splash and Dash and her motivation for creating the business.

Watch Vibha Viswanath’s video with Splash and Dash.

A Splash and Dash employee gives a dog a grooming treatment. Splash and Dash Dog Groomerie and Boutique opened 16 years ago in Coppell as a place where dogs receive high quality grooming. Vibha Viswanath

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Aerospace Club blasting off in first year Nyah Rama

came up to me and asked if I wanted to join the Aerospace Club with him,” structural and design lead Jayanth Yamunan said. “At first, I didn’t really think that it would be a thing but this year I went to the second meeting and realized ‘oh, we’re actually doing something here.’ It developed over the first semester into a real club.”

Once the team had been put together, the task at hand was simple: raise money.

In order to achieve this, the club hosted a car wash raising enough to get started on their rocket.

“We had seen the band do it a couple times before and the cheerleaders at Coppell High School so we thought ‘why not just do that,” Yamunan

said. “It was put together last-minute, all the advertising was done the night before and the majority of people that came were friends and family, but we ended up getting about $350.”

Nights and days off were spent trying to perfect the rocket. It was through these efforts that club members began to bond as well as develop their interests in aerospace.

“I got more interested as we were going through the developmental and design phase,” Yamunan said. “I remember there were nights where it was just me, vice president Pranav Suryadevara and a few others working on the rocket over winter

break and the process of designing and creating something really got me into it.”

The club is preparing its rocket for the ultimate test: the American Rocketry ChalThe rocket glistens in the sunlight, highlenge (ARC) in April 7-14 in Virginia. Nulighting its aerodynamic figure and jutted merous test launches and redesigns have fins at the bottom. been a part of the club’s efforts to reach 3, 2, 1, blastoff! consistent altitudes and flight times.

All of the sudden, it springs to life pro“Initially we didn’t actually understand pelling itself upwards into the vast blue the competition,” Yamunan said. “Our sky. initial design process was to keep the At the beginning of the 2023-24 school rocket as stable as possible and make it year, club president Aarav Kushan had a go as high as possible. But then we conrevelation: CHS9 needed an Aerospace tacted the ARC successful inventor, Buzz Club.

McDermott, and we found out that the “I had a passion for aerospace and rockactual purpose of the competition was to etry in general and I wanted to share that get to about 820 feet. We had to radically with other people,” Kushan said. “I didn’t change how we were making the rocket.” really see that organization at CHS9 so I To meet this goal, club members hold wanted to create one.” test launches on weekends at Dallas Area With the assistance of friends, Kushan Rocketry Society launch field to see where quickly put together the CHS9 Aerospace they can improve the rocket’s design.

Club, sponsored by a familiar face, com“I feel like we are much more orgaputer science teacher Seneca Hart. nized,” Suryadevara said. “I remember “I actually used to teach at Coppell Midour first launch was heavily disorganized, dle School East and this is my first year at we didn’t know what we were doing. Now CHS9,” Hart said. “There were students we have these checklists and we can get that knew me and they approached me everything done.” and said ‘we would like to compete in this Through these experiences, members American Rocketry Challenge and we want have grown not only in their knowledge of to build a club around it.’ I knew they were rocketry, but also as individuals. good kids and they were hard workers, “It was amazing to see them really so I agreed to be their sponsor.” grow up,” Hart said. “They really were With members taking charge of very passionate about wanting to do this. competitions and rocket designs, they They were so focused on the goal that it still had to learn about what it means really helped them come together as a to run a club. team and realize that no one person was “When they first met, it was a lot going to be able to do it by themselves, of research and learning about what so they were gonna have to work togeththe process of the competition that er. I’m really proud of what they’ve acthey wanted to enter was like,” complished.”

Hart said. “They also spent a lot While the competition will be over in of time learning how we conduct mid-April and the members soon mova meeting and how everybody’s ing on from CHS9, they hope this isn’t ideas can be heard. After that, the end of their journey. as the year progressed, it became “I think that’s the hope,” Yamunan less about informational meetings said. “I have a couple friends in the and it was more about why they were grade below that may be interested. meeting; it was because they were acThe hope has always been that this is tually doing something.”

While the passion students have for CHS9 Aerospace Club has been constructing a rocket since the start of the school year. The club a lasting club and that we can create this club is clear, it did not start this way. is competing in the 2024 American Rocketry Challenge from April 7-14 in Great Meadow, Va. something like this at CHS. We want to keep it going.”

“Last year, I remember Aarav just Sameeha Syed CHS9 Editor @nyah_rama

Hong representing CISD through art Safiya Azam Staff Designer @_saf_azm_

Thin, dark lines outline the creases of bright, colorful wrappers of lollipops propped up in a glass. The paper that the lollipops are placed on is surrounded by shadows of glittering gold chocolate and glistening brown of doughnut glaze, creating a contrasting visual you cannot help but stare at.

Sweet Dreams, a watercolor piece by Coppell freshman Art II Honors student Ava Hong, is one of six pieces in Coppell ISD to be chosen for Youth Art Month, a program within the Texas Art Education Association that strives to celebrate young artists and the role art has within the education system.

Sweet Dreams was for Art II Honors students’ first assignment centered around contour, and Hong made it a point to make it unique with her own flair.

“My piece is about how things aren’t always as they seem,” Hong said. “I put the focal point in really bright colors so you would look at it [lollipops] first.”

Hong’s goal is to emphasize the bright lollipops to catch the viewer’s attention but ultimately surprise the viewer as they explore the piece to see the intricate details that they had originally missed.

Hong’s process involved multiple steps from tracking down candy wrappers and chocolates, to baking doughnuts herself

and photographing the arrangements to only recognized by her peers and Reyn- love for art branches outside of school as make the perfect composition to match olds but by Youth Art Month as well, with well, with it being a hobby she sharpens her vision.

Sweet Dreams advancing from the CISD daily. She is grateful for the art curriculum “I really don’t like watercolor,” Hong level. Although her work did not win at she’s been a part of at Coppell. said. “I had to use a small brush for the the state level, it is still first at the district “I do more landscapes and complitiniest details and when it didn’t work out level and will be showcased at a reception cated art now, instead of just sketches,” I had to go over it with a layer of white in March attended by CISD staff and Hong said. “Compared to art from midcolors to correct the mistakes.” students. dle school, art from high school gives you Despite seeming recluse, Hong’s skill Hong’s more creative freedom,” Hong said. is evident through her use of watercolors and fine detail she achieves through thin brush strokes, meticulousness and dedication.

CHS9 Hong’s Art II Honors teacher Elsa Reynolds picked her piece in addition to two others for submission.

“I like to select students who continuously put in good effort,” Reynolds said.

“Even though [Hong] is just sitting back there quietly with her piece, she has an eye for really observing and recording what she sees. That was the first piece she finished and I realized she’s really good at adding details.”

CHS9 Art II Honors student Mahathi Kumar is one of Hong’s close friends and witnesses the effort Hong puts into her work.

“Once, I walked over when she was still in the planning process,” Kumar said. “When she finished and showed me it was honestly really good. She put a lot of time into it, she would take CHS9 student Ava Hong used charcoal for her piece titled Jealousy, in response to a rock, paper, scissors prompt. Hong is one of three to have her piece selected to represent CHS9 it home a lot and work on it.”

Hong’s attention to detail was not at the District Youth Art Month Exhibit and Awards Ceremony. Rhea Choudhary

ediitori ed toria al pag page

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Staff Editorial 2023-2024 Exercising gym awareness

staff

against extremes among teens

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Chase Wofford, Staff Adviser Sri Achanta, Editor-In-Chief* Avani Munji, Design Editor* Kayla Nguyen, Photography Editor*

EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP Aliza Abidi, Editorial Page Editor* Anushree De, Features Editor Ainsley Dwyer, Entertainment Editor Nyah Rama, CHS9 Editor Sahasra Chakilam, News Editor* Ava Johnson, Sports Assignment Editor

MEDIA TEAM LEADERSHIP Minori Kunte, Staff Cartoonist Rhea Chowdhary, Video Editor Wendy Le, Podcast Producer*

COMMUNICATIONS AND BUSINESS Sameeha Syed, Social Media Manager* Sukirtha Muthiah, Business Manager*

WRITERS Sydney Araujo Isheeta Bajjuri Anvita Bondada Isabella Santos* Rhea Choudhary Caitlyn Concepcion Elizabeth De Santiago EV Kennard Deepika Kumar Hamza Zakir

PHOTOGRAPHERS Namir Awan Marli Field Neeharika Gajula Yepoom Hong Luke Jared Medha Kanamarlapudi Emmalee Jittasupo

Ishita Patra Neha Nathwani Sanghika Pallela Katie Park Riya Prasad Ishana Sharma Yugaditya Talukdar Niharika Tallapaka Sabah Uddin

Greeshma Marathu Emmy Moreno Eirene Park Maddy Park* Sohana Singh Vibha Viswanath Aasritha Yanamala

DESIGNERS Safiya Azam Manasa Borra Jayden Chui Noor Fatima Kavya Lokhande Nrithya Mahesh

Pranavi Ramineni Ahana Roy Brody Sever Sohalia Reddy Sofia Exposito Perez Taylor Pham

*Indicates a Vol. 35 No. 5 page designer

Opening Instagram, dozens of strong, chiseled individuals flex through the screen, representing the desires of many adolescents who have those images on the forefront of their minds.

In high school specifically, many teenagers have made working out a vital part of their schedule,inspired by online influencers, social media, fashion trends and the ever evolving beauty standards. These new standards have installed a new blooming culture of getting ‘jacked’ and hitting the gym.

Around Coppell, this growth manifests across a multitude of gym and workout programs catering to community members of all ages. The community provides amenities so locals can be consistent in working out, going to the gym and gaining mental and physical benefits. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, working out may increase mental well-being, assist in controlling one’s weight, lower the risk of illness along with strengthening bones and muscles.

However, from talks of personal records and protein intake to the potential social status that people correlate with it, the glorification of the gym aesthetic often reaches unhealthy extremes.

To build muscle and lose weight, topics such as calorie deficits and nutrition become essential for people frequenting the gym. Although these subjects are well-researched, many beginners or adolescents do not explore the potential negatives. As people become captivated by online gym culture and mimic it by enforcing supplemental nutrients and consistent lifting, they may not understand the harm it may cause if not carried out with caution. As growing adolescents exploring new body goals and trends, we need to develop a perspective of the potential harm we could inflict on our bodies.

One way gym extremism can harm someone is ego-lifting or lifting a weight that one wants to be able to, rather than what they actually can or control.

Feeding into societal expectation of how much a person should be able to lift puts a person in a position that forces them to take on weights they are not suited

The Sidekick is the official student newspaper for Coppell High School. Its purpose is to inform, entertain and provide an educational resource for its readers. This newspaper is a public forum for student expression with staff members (with assistance from their adviser) making content decisions. The editorials and columns in this paper reflect the view of their writers.

The Sidekick is a member of Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC), National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA).

CONTACT US

The Sidekick welcomes all letters to the editor, but letters must be signed before consideration for publication. Send letters to (214) 496-6239 cwofford@coppellisd.com or bring them by D115.

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for, many times leading to improper form and muscle injuries.

Furthermore, the normalization of pre and post supplements without proper knowledge of the potential long-term side effects can also be harmful. Many within the weightlifting community may put pressure on themselves to use performance-enhancing substances like steroids, especially at higher competitive levels. Given that adolescents’ bodies are still developing, steroids can have harmful health effects including growth retardation, hormone imbalances and organ damage according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

Social media plays a significant role in the promotion of this toxic gym culture. According to the National Institute of Health, many supplements are unreliable in their promises of muscle growth. After scrolling past a magnitude of influencers with the ‘perfect’ body who claimed to have achieved it via a workout or supplements, many people follow them while unaware of the additional factors such as diets, supplements, genetics or even the lighting or angles of the photos that play an essential role in how their physique appears. This leads to blind consumerism, and beginners at the gym not realizing the medical effects of sponsored supplements.

Another negative effect stemming from toxic gym culture is eating disorders. Not understanding the types and amounts of nutrients vital for one’s ideal physique, many gravitate towards not eating at all, starving themselves or entering a calorie surplus, to achieve their gym goal. The normalization of the aggressive ‘bulk and cut’ culture of gyming may feed into the development of eating disorders, but is overlooked because of the generalized promise results.

Going to the gym and dieting can be beneficial for your health. However, due to the prevalence of social media and toxic gym culture, many have unrealistic and unhealthy ideals for their bodies and do not do research before committing to working out and dieting.

To avoid the consequences of ignorance, people should be open to educating themselves. Instead of blindly doing something because someone on social media claimed that it is efficient, make sure to research it and gain an understanding of why or how it helps.

Ultimately, people should prioritize the opinions of professionals such as doctors and nutritionists over influencers or even people who seem knowledgeable online.

Beginners should also prioritize building up muscles and experience for healthy growth rather than ego-lifting. Consistency in the gym will display a healthier more natural growth and reduce the risk of muscle injury.

Going to the gym should always mean that health and body are the top priority. To push yourself is good, but it is equally important to understand why you are doing it and if it is the best way to approach physical wellness.

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An Ode to her : Coming back to a home away from home Women’s History Month is a time of year to celebrate the women who play an important role in our lives.

Pigtails. A newspaper made into a fan. A mango-covered smiling face.

The overwhelmingly bright sun illuminated the table full with a wide arrangement of food. The chatter of my parents, cousins, aunts and uncles clashes with the clatter of plates as my grandmother walks in with yet another pot.

She smiles with sweat beaded on her forehead, and places steaming okra in front of me.

My eyes widen as I drop the sucked out mango from my hands, “Bhindi!”

The earliest memories I have of India, is in Lucknow. It was always the place of most comfort to me, away from the pollution and bustle of Delhi, and very far from the ebbs and flow of the academics in America. The comfort was not because of the wild monkeys or the graveled streets, but because it was the home to my brother, my fathers’ and my childhood.

Making the house harmless and welcoming is my grandmother, Amma, who fed into my childish creativity by telling me stories, concocted aroma-filled tradi-

tional food and taught me, a bit too fice. She taught me that to well, what it means to be nurbe an impactful woman, tured.

I do not have to be in a The highlights place of power, but have of my memories a smile and an openin Lucknow were door that brings sinalways staring at cere influence to the the wall for hours people around me. by her side, listening Through her, I to her weave imagunderstood the inative stories, eyes power behind the wide as I was mesmerstories of my herized by the absurdity itage and culture. of the characters and Every stitched settings. Looking back, I traditional leknow her voice for storyhenga, sparkle telling is what allowed me delicate jewto gain the confidence and elry and oily a imagination to become the sweet I rez i l rA dito r writer I am now. ceive from e e o pag iation f l a i She used her voice to narher, holds r ito rec k Ed er app ool. c rate stories, but also shape a conneci k Bat Side ses h identity. Through her comforttion to The i expres her Fiza r Imam a t ing nature and hearty laugh, I my memories Abid randmo sy Manz g see a woman who supported a formed in my sunny, her o courte t o h P family through change and sacritoothy-laughter filled child-

hood in India.

Not only providing me with a comforting setting to always come back to, her support also transcends geographic boundaries. What used to be monthly meetings now vary between two, sometimes three years, but I have never felt a void of her influence on my character and growth. Even with a simple “InshaAllah it will work out, beta” over a short call, I feel the presence of her dreams and aspiration for my future and use it as an anchor for my own.

Amma, who taught me that memories and growth are based on the people rather than achievement. Amma, who infused my culture and heritage deeper than blood. Amma, whose character is chiseled by her diligence and her hugs enveloped with comfort.

Aliza Abidi

Editorial Page Editor @aliza_abidi

Expressing love, learning grace with dance Placing my tired feet right on the marked blue masking tape on the Granville Arts Center stage in Garland on a sunny Saturday, I fold my hands, with a smile on my face so big that it probably extended from ear to ear. Trying to take in the standing ovation, I bow and listen to the seemingly endless claps from the audience standing below me and it hits me - I finally did it.

Three months earlier.

“Rhea the sequence is very simple. It is just stomp, stomp, jump, cross over, stomp, stomp, jump and hold!”

Hearing my dance teacher, Madhusri Sethuraman’s, frustration for what seemed to be the thousandth time, I sat down on the cold wooden floor in exasperation, prepared to hear her yell at me.

Madhusri Aunty sat in her chair and told me how I had to let her in and how she wouldn’t be able to help me if I didn’t place my trust in her. Hearing those words made tears roll down my cheeks as I thought to myself, I’m never going to get better at this.

There’s no way I can even think about being able to do my Arangetram.

As someone who had previously been forced to participate in a multitude of extracurricular activities, Bharatanatyam was never an area I considered myself to be strong in.

Bharatanatyam is a traditional Instemming from North India rather than dian dance form that originated in South India, where Bharatanatyam is the southern state of Tamil Nadu, originally from. Therefore, dance involving intricate footwork, exclasses used to be a long pressive hand gestures and weekly hour of torgraceful body movements to ture that I was depict ancient Hindu stories. forced to An Arangetram is a signifiattend. cant milestone in the trainAfter moving of a Bharatanatyam ing to the Daldancer, a three-hour las-Fort Worth debut solo perforarea, I took lesmance that marks the sons under the dancer’s mastery Srutilaya School and graduation of of Dance founder the art form after Guru Madhusri Sethuyears of trainraman. Madhusri Aunty ing. began her training at the I was 5 tender age of 4 and comwhen I start- Th pleted her Arangetram at e ed learnthe young age of 8. Madhushar Side k y dan app ick st ing this ri Aunty has previously taught rec a c e tea iate ff writ form of Pho more than 1,000 students and s c to e cou her, M for h r Rhe art and conducted more than 130 Arane rte r a In a C d sy was told getrams since 1992, performing Pra husri dian houdsad Seth clas by many opinglobally in America, India, Europe, Go ura sical ionated teachers in Australia, China, Hong Kong and Sinlko ma nda n.

Austin that I was not going gapore. to improve. My younger self beAfter hearing about this well-expelieved my teachers’ lack of confidence rienced dance teacher my mom chose in me originated from my family’s roots for me, naturally, I assumed she would be

like the previous teachers I had. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Madhusri Aunty became someone I thought of as my friend, therapist, mentor and inspiration, rather than simply someone who is being paid to teach me dance.

Madhusri Aunty never once told me that I wouldn’t be able to successfully do my Arangetram and always encouraged me to push myself harder. When I first met her, I was immediately drawn to how thorough of an effort she made to try to get to know my whole personality, both good and bad.

Madhuri Aunty has taught me more important life lessons than I can count, shaping me into the person I am today. I am constantly reminded that anytime she scolded or wanted more out of me, it was because she believed that I was capable of doing better, however, there’s one phrase she stated at my Arangetram that I will never forget.

“Behind every dancer who believes in herself is a teacher who believed in her first.”

I sit on the couch, wrapped in a throw blanket, my eyes glued to the TV screen. My stomach is in knots as the main character inches towards a large door, moments away from discovering the murderer.

I hold my breath and lean forward, my heart rate increasing as every second passes.

“Sukirtha!” a voice yells into my ear.

I jump up and trip over the blanket, falling down just as the killer’s face is revealed. As I get up and reorient myself, I see my mom standing behind me, struggling to hold in her laughter.

Annoyance and anger quickly take over as I lunge towards her, but she is already running away. I chase after her for a few minutes until we both realize that neither of us know how the movie ended, so we end up back where we started: on the couch wrapped up in throw blankets.

It is moments like this that remind me of how close I am to my mom, Shan-

mugapriya Ramakrishnan. As cliché as it sounds, no matter what happens between us, it doesn’t change the fact that my mom is my best friend.

She is my role model and my number one supporter. She is my critic and my confidant; my late-night homework buddy and my ever-interested audience.

This connection, in part, is because we have such vastly different personalities due to our experiences.

and have our backs.

As she likes to say, “Friends will be there for us, but family comes first.”

Over the years, my mom and I unintentionally designated mystery-thriller movies to be our way of bonding. With every plot twist and jump scare, comes a shared moment of fear. With every confusing storyline comes a collective curiosity. With every cliff-hanger comes an hour-long debrief detailing our predictions for the next movie.

With every second we spend together, come the memories that we will cherish forever.

And I couldn’t ask for anyone better.

Rhea Choudhary Staff Writer @rhea_choud

Growing bonds, bonds, memories through movies Stemming from her childhood in India, my mom has always emphasized the importance of putting in the work to ensure the best possible outcome. Whether it be washing the dishes by hand or preparing weeks in advance for an important task at work, I have always admired my mom’s work ethic and attention to detail.

I also know that nothing matters to my mom more than fama h kirt u ily.

RegardS er nag for the less of her a m ess titude her. opinions or n i s ra ot bu differences, ick s her g her m hiah k e t ith Sid are Mu she is alThe hiah sh pent w nand s t A ways the first s u ’ y e M rtes e sh person to step up tim to cou Pho

Sukirtha Muthiah Business Manager @suki_muthiah

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Paper: My irreplaceable academic companion

You are typing away on your laptop, taking notes for an upcoming test.

You decide that you need a quick break, conveniently switching tabs to a BuzzFeed quiz. After discovering which TV show character is your personality twin, you get back to work, but soon get stuck on a confusing concept.

You want to search it up, but that BuzzFeed quiz tab is still open and only a click away, so why not temporarily distract yourself from the problem and lose yourself in the rabbit hole of BuzzFeed quizzes?

This is why I prefer taking notes on paper rather than on technology. Electronic devices provide plenty of outlets for distractions, such as BuzzFeed quizzes and social media, and I have been a victim of this far too many times.

You may strongly believe that technology provides easier access to education and is a more efficient way to get work done. Yes, physical textbooks might not be the most modern way to study or quickest way to derive information.

However, after experimenting with various note-taking methods, I can safely say that handwritten notes on paper is my favorite way to retain content.

After I began using paper more frequently, I found myself resisting the temptation to pick up my phone to scroll through my Instagram feed because it felt like a great effort to unlock my phone and swipe to the app. I feel significantly more productive this way, getting more work done in less time without constant distractions.

A sheet of paper with a pen in hand can be a powerful pair, acting as a barrier between the person and their phone.

Call me old-fashioned, but writing on paper is an extremely effective way to re-

The expanding reliance on technology in everyday life tends to overshadow the simplicity of traditional paper. The Sidekick staff writer Ishana Sharma discusses the transformation of the addition of digital methods and the widespread effect it has had on people.

Sofía Exposito tain information. Hand writing on paper engages the mind more, as the physical hand movements of the pen moving up and down the paper and unique markers like highlighting and circling key words

creates a more personalized experience.

This experience helps to recall the information more easily as hand writing notes on paper provides memories with more hooks to hang on to, helping a person

more actively learn new information.

Other than note-taking, paper has its own charm in various other forms.

When we have to read a book for my English class, I always make it a point to get a physical copy, even though many of my classmates use an online PDF. The feeling of a tangible book is something a digital copy will never be able to replicate. Feeling the pages as I flip through them fosters a unique connection with the content. As I feel each page, I feel as though I am in a setting with all the characters, feeling exactly how they are feeling at that moment. Embodying the feelings of the characters helps me understand the text at a deeper level, even if it is nonfiction.

Compared to screens and their blue light, paper materials are less straining on the eyes. As I began to utilize paper more often, I could feel my eyes feeling less tired compared to when I used to take notes digitally. This helped me feel more refreshed after each study session, and motivated me to get more work done.

As the decades pass, it is likely that e-books and digital note-taking devices will continue to increase in popularity. Let it not be forgotten that paper has brought us so far in the world today; electronic forms of studying and note-taking would not have existed if it was not for the invention of paper centuries ago.

Ishana Sharma Staff Writer @_Ishana_sharma

Flipping academic dishonesty ‘snitching’ culture

Answer choice: C I bubbled in my answer, my eyes bordered with bags that appeared after my long study session the previous night. As I look up to check the time, I notice two of my classmates whispering to each other and sharing answers.

Suddenly, my previous efforts seem useless.

I recount this experience to my family who advised me to tell my teacher or administration about the academic dishonesty. But that was never a viable option. As I have been reminded countless times, speaking out means being labeled a snitch.

Snitches get stitches.

The adage is ingrained in my mind. Those who find cheating a serious offense are seen as a goody-two-shoes and are criticized for caring too much for something that was “never that serious.”

If I let someone know that my classroom was riddled with cheaters, I might gain some sense of justice and vindication. But justice comes with my classmates knowing I reported them, and suddenly no vindication seems needed enough to justify facing

the animosity of my peers.

The situations that play out in front of me can be awful, but I won’t report them.

I don’t want to lose my social status.

This phenomenon is not restricted to cheating.

Even in cases of poor behavior and bullying of others, I hesitated to speak out.

I chose to suffer in a classroom where my classmates were cursed at rather than become a social pariah after telling higher authorities. Tons of other students at CHS are also plagued by the bystander effect, presence of others preventing witnesses from seeking justice.

In an environment such as this, it is no surprise that academic dishonesty thrives. Cheaters are treated with leniency and have constantly received the benefit of the doubt, while students that have integrity are never provided with a second chance and are ostracized when they do speak out.

My pains are soothed by my support system who swear that cheaters will eventually face justice for their actions, but how will that happen if we do not take it upon ourselves to point it out?

Our social justice system is flipped.

Why are we protecting wrongdoers and penalizing victims for a violation that

isn’t theirs?

Unfortunately, the snitch culture does not contain itself to high school. As students enter the adult world, they carry the belief that speaking up is a sign of “caring too much” and never an option, even if the offense is a crime or serious hurt. We are creating a generation of bystanders, too scared to call people out for their wrongdoings.

We need to break this cycle and change the rhetoric around speaking up.

Those who choose to report wrongdoings are not villains and should be supported for their brave actions. Cheaters should be perceived for what they are: cons who get to high places in life by stepping on their peers.

Many people justify cheating and poor behavior, stating that we never know what struggles the people around us are going through that may lead them to be academically dishonest. To an extent, this is true. It can be good to be more understanding of our classmates’ situations.

However, one person’s struggles do not invalidate the struggles others face due to their actions. The intentions behind cheating do not lessen the effect of it on one’s peers.

At the end of the day, we all contribute to the snitch culture. As hard and daunting as it may seem, we need to report cheating and support others who do so too. All it takes is a few of us becoming more understanding of victims of cheating to put an end to snitch culture.

Nrithya Mahesh Coppell High School is known to many students for its cheating culture, with people who speak up about it often called “snitches.”

The Sidekick staff designer Nrithya Mahesh explores why speaking up can be so scary at CHS, and brings attention to the injustice.

Photo illustration by Aasritha Yanamala

Staff Designer

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Stitching a hobby into an overwhelming life

Beneath the compilation of the assignments lifelessly sprawled on my desk, my eyes focus on the red sketchbook hiding beneath the ocean of papers, crying to be noticed.

Everyday has the same redundant routine.

I go to school, come home, then spend the rest of the night attempting to cram information into my brain, in addition to an endless agenda of assignments. My focus would fixate on my laptop until midnight, my eyes begging for sleep.

I find homework and expectations filling up the space in my life that used to be filled with the activities that I deeply enjoyed.

In elementary school, my carefree life consisted of afternoons spent drawing hearts on the pavement, my fingers smeared with pink chalk dust. I had time to binge the latest cartoon episodes while having time remaining for flipping through picturebooks.

Where did that time go?

Tenth grade was a huge leap from ninth grade, with drastic changes in the volume of assignments. I almost never have the time to let the ink of my markers bleed onto a white page, fabricating an image.

Time does not spare for cutting old fabric, turning them into clumsy bucket hats.

For the majority, breaks from school are the only time I get to release my creativity.

During winter break, I spent the entire two weeks dedicating my time into sewing a dress from scratch. I sketched a design in my sketchbook and got to work. I carefully took measurements and cut out pieces of red fabric, using a hair straightener to iron the folds out. The process was extremely intricate and complex, and having no official experience with sewing, it took many trials and attempts.

Although it took quite some effort, I found it comforting as it allowed me to contrast creativity into my daily academic life.

We use our left brain for critical thinking, reasoning and analysis. Students rely

With homework and assignments consuming most of a high school student’s time, school can be hard to escape from. The Sidekick staff writer Katie Park discusses how hobbies are a great way to decompress from academic expectations and provide an outlet for creative freedom. Katie Park

“

In between studying, allow spare time for little activities such as strumming a guitar to your favorite song”

on this part of their brain for their core classes: English, math, science and history. The right side of our brain is used for creative and imaginative ability. Hobbies or classes such as art or music depict this right-mindedness.

We should find a balance in our life to

use both sides of the brain, and a great way to balance school is through hobbies.

Art and sewing is one of the ways I can utilize my creative thinking. I have to think about what patterns would make a good combination, what colors would highlight the piece and so much more. I see the world from a different perspective, drawing in on the little details that make a whole.

Alas, if only I had so much time for my hobbies. Time management is something I have been trying to navigate, with school work compiling in my schedule.

Something I’ve tried is to set time aside in between studying or doing homework.

After two hours of shoving the details of cardiopulmonary diseases into my brain, I would take a break for a few minutes to watch the latest K-drama episode. After about 30 minutes, the nagging pressure

on my mind forces me to study for the upcoming Algebra II test.

The vicious cycle of study and stress repeats, but the interruption of hobbies can ease the tediousness.

In between studying, allow spare time for little activities such as strumming a guitar to your favorite song or stitching a crochet penguin for your friend.

Hobbies are activities that allow you to free yourself from the overwhelming nature of life and provide a way to express your individual interests.

Katie Park Staff Writer @katiegpark

Implement local change through your vote

“Why are there so many potholes on this road?”

“Why did they start building a new rail line?”

“When is this traffic light going to be fixed?”

These day-to-day issues are noticed by everyone and widely present in conversation, yet most people cease to act on them as people tend to focus on larger scale political issues.

It is not that participating in higher level politics is problematic, but in a nation that is more interconnected than ever through media and technology, it is often easy to get swept up in the grander picture, for-

getting about the people and issues that most directly affect one’s life.

Voter turnout in local elections is extremely low in the United States, which is puzzling given that these elections can possibly change many aspects of one’s local community, including public parks, roads and schools. It also has the potential to either increase or decrease taxes and determines how tax money is used.

These votes determine politicians and therefore enable their views to contribute to policies. This is what led to Texas school districts, such as Keller ISD banning more than 40 books from school libraries around the district, an event that sparked

widespread controversy.

Furthermore, results from local legislation or projects can be seen quickly. For example, the process of rolling out new Coppell ISD iPads began right after the district’s 2023 bond package was approved by district voters. Then, within months, students at Coppell High School started receiving new generation 10 iPads, increasing their efficiency and academic experience.

Similarly, a city approval to build a new road might cause large amounts of traffic, affecting the commute of thousands in an area, many of whom were never aware of this change, or how it came about. By not knowing about this legislation, the people

who may have possibly opposed it have a limited ability to show their view on a change that affects them daily.

A lack of participation in local politics may result in an unintentional suppression of certain perspectives, potentially leading to a legislation that is less representative of the community it serves.

The awareness of the community that comes with knowing politics at a local level can allow one to take action and bring up concerns, pressuring politicians to address these topics and change aspects of people’s lives that they interact with regularly. This crucial civic process enables people to solve community problems and quickly improve their quality of life.

The more people that are informed, the more light is shed on the uses of tax dollars, and there is more assurance that money and people’s time are being used in an efficient manner that helps lend progress to an area and pays the public back through infrastructure, education and recreation.

With the current elections, it is important that every citizen educates themselves and goes to vote in order to make their voice heard and accounted for in their community.

Yug Talukdar Coppell Town Center held the 2024 Dallas County primary elections on March. 4 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Sidekick staff writer Yug Talukdar thinks people should focus more on local politics in order to improve their communities. Sofia Exposito

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Unlocking future educators

Inside CHS’ teaching and coaching practicum classes Rhea Choudhary Staff Writer @rhea_choud

On a Monday morning, the sound of students chattering fills Town Center Elementary School third grade teacher Erin Naughton’s classroom.

As the door creaks open, heads turn and Coppell High School senior Yomna Elkayer is met with smiles from the students who consider her a mentor more than a teacher.

Centered around preparing students for careers in education and related fields, CHS offers a teaching and coaching practicum under Instructional Practices and Practicum of Education and Training. This is a structured pathway for students to explore their interests and gain hands-on experience within real classroom settings and chance to gain insight into their future.

“It’s extremely beneficial for any career to gain knowledge into the background of what a teacher does and what goes into their job,” senior Sunya Ajani said.

“I first thought these classes were going to be boring and that I wouldn’t do anything hands-on, but as a senior, going to Coppell Middle School East to see those kids is what keeps me wanting to go to school.”

The route for these future educators starts with Principles of Education in freshman year. Next, they progress to Human Growth and Development and Instructional Practices and conclude with the Practicum of Education and Training during their senior year. If students decide to pursue this pathway later, Instructional Practices is considered a bridge allowing them to catch up in the world of teaching.

“Within the first three weeks of taking Instructional Practices last year at TCE, I knew this is what I want to do in my fu-

Coppell High School senior Yomna Elkayer assists Town Center Elementary first grader Maxwell Pascoe with his math project in TCE teacher Erin Naughton’s classroom on March 6. CHS’ teaching and coaching practicum offers a structured pathway for students to explore their interests and gain hands-on experience within real classroom settings. Sukirtha Muthiah ture,” Elkayer said. “Each day, I realize how important it is to put myself in the eyes of a student to see how they learn best.”

Instructional Practices and Practicum of Education and Training are the classes that allow students to go to campuses to observe and assist teachers in the classroom.

In both of those classes, the students attend CHS education and training teacher Raneta Ansley’s class during the first six to nine weeks and learn teaching concepts, such as how to write a lesson plan, classroom management and utilize the standards, referred to as TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills).

“There’s a side of teaching that most students only think exists, specifically the

benefits such as getting to have break periods, food-inclusive conferences or any other form of ‘freedom,’” Naughton said.

“But these in-person teacher aide opportunities are good for them to see the behind-the-scenes of all the work.”

Usually beginning in the second nine weeks, the students start visiting a campus, Monday through Thursday for about 75 minutes each day to learn what it is like to teach in a classroom. Ending their weeks back in Ansley’s classroom each Friday, the students compile the new strategies and lessons they learned in their off-campus classroom within a journal entry to reflect on what kind of aspects they enjoyed and disliked.

The off-campus students often help

the teacher with small group administration of assignments - reading to the class, working one-on-one with the students, grading, helping decorate the room/bulletin board and copying material for the teacher - which is a great opportunity for the practicum students to learn what age group they might want to work with and in what subject area.

“Any student who takes the teacher aide classes will benefit because either they come out saying they could never see themselves being an educator or they get a sneak peek into a profession they may love,” Ansley said. “I always tell my students that if the teachers you help and shadow don’t miss you when you’re gone, you’re not doing your job right.”

Gorthi enchants the world of AI Emmalee Jittasupo Staff Writer @CHSCampusNews

Waiting for time to pass, Coppell High School senior Lakshmi Gorthi paces around her room, until finally she receives an envelope from UPS, reading the name, it states the Disney Dreamers Academy.

After being rejected for the last two years, Gorthi refuses to let this be the final outcome, but the journey to getting accepted was a long one.

Gorthi is one of 100 individuals selected across the nation to attend a mentorship program at the Disney Dreamers Academy, between April 3-7 at the Walt Disney Resort in Florida.

Through a series of meetings with celebrities, business leaders and authors, the academy serves to provide support developing career skills. Gorthi will meet with current leaders in the field of computer science and psychology to learn what it means to pioneer her dreams into reality.

The program also offers complimentary airfare, hotel accommodations and theme park tickets. Planning ahead for the program, Gorthi strives to use her passion of computer science and psychology to conduct a project on AI. While scrolling through social media as a sophomore, Gorthi found a post about the Disney Dreamers Academy. After spending months researching the program, Gorthi’s first application was during her sophomore year. However, when the much anticipated decisions arrived, she was faced with her first disappointing rejection.

Not giving up, she applied again her ju-

nior year and was met with the same de- and her love of knowledge is amazing to fields to create AI detection that can be cision. Yet, in applying during her senior watch.” implemented with treating psychologiyear, a new outcome awaited.

Gorthi’s spark of interest for psycholo- cal disorders and diseases for the Disney “I jumped for joy,” Gorthi said. “I was gy began in freshman year. She has always Dreamers Academy. applying for the past two years, I finally been fascinated by the brain, and had the Gorthi hopes combining computer scimade it. It was a very momentous occa- opportunity to showcase this by entering ence with psychology will keep her on her sion to say the least.” in competition for the American Psycholtoes.

In Coppell Middle School West, Gorthi ogy Association where she conducted a “I want to struggled to find a passion, until eighth research paper on schizophrenia. live on the grade when Gorthi took her first coding “I didn’t win, but it was definitely a happiness I get class. meaningful experience,” Gorthi said. when I learn “It taught me that computer science is “It propelled my interest in psychology something more than just coding, it can be connect- even further.” new,” Gorthi ed to anything you want it to be,” Gorthi With her love for computer science, said. said. psychology and knowledge of computaSince, Gorthi’s initial passion in a coding tional linguistics, Gorthi combines both class has involved within the Technology Student Association (TSA) as her position of the service committee chair.

Her love for coding also manifested into founding a nonprofit organization, Accel Learning Foundation, which tutors students in both different foreign and programming languages and donates proceeds to the World Literacy Foundation.

“Seeing her growth from the beginning, and how she is now is inspiring, she is so much more outgoing and lively,” said Michael McCabe, Lakshmi’s former Coppell High School senior Lakshmi Gorthi is one of 100 individuals selected across the nation to computer science teacher. attend the Disney Dreamers Academy. The Disney Dreamers Academy is a four-day mentorship that “She just has this positive allows students to develop individual career-based skills. Photo by Emmalee Jittasupo, Photo Illusattitude that’s infectious tration by Katie Park

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Teacher of the Issue

Egan retains love for languages as nerd for words Anushree De Features Editor @anushree_night

The first thing one notices about Coppell High School room C131 is its teacher.

Hands move enthusiastically to emphasize each point. His feet turn at every shift of syllable. CHS Spanish and French teacher Michael Egan is making an impassioned monologue about the beauty of “Des Chiffres” by Orē, a French song.

The second recognizable facet of the classroom is the features that adorn it. It is a classroom that is a fusion of culture.

Upon one wall is a map of Spain and on another a banner with Chinese characters.

The door is framed with an assortment of posters printed with the words “You + Russian” and “You + French.” It is a classroom as syncretic as the teacher in it.

Even at first glance, Egan’s linguistic passions are apparent. Egan can communicate in seven languages: Russian, German, English, Spanish, French, American Sign Language and Chinese. But learning languages was initially not just a love for Egan; it was a necessity.

Growing up in an orphanage of Russia fused with German culture, Egan picked up Russian and German languages.

After being adopted at age 7, Egan moved to Rogers, Arkansas. The languages he had known for the past seven years were suddenly rendered futile across the sea.

“The change was so sharp,” Egan said. “Overnight if I asked someone [something], they just looked at me. I’ve always remembered how isolating languages can make you feel. I felt lost, confused and tired because I was constantly trying to understand everything around me.”

Despite the sudden change, Egan quickly picked up English to help his mother who was a teacher at the time.

“When I first came to America, I was home taught,” Egan said. “My mom also has experience teaching.

She used to be a special education educator. She would read to me and use flash cards.”

Learning Spanish, initially, was out of a school credit requirement rather than a genuine passion.

“At the time, I didn’t think anything about it,” Egan said. “I was just a smart student, so I started taking my language credit early. In my mind, it was about getting the grades early.”

Egan did not start off as an exceptional Spanish student. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

“My eighth grade teacher was very intense,” Egan said. “One day, I told her that I wanted to be called Jorge because I liked the sound; I would say it over and over. She said ‘You don’t care about this language. You don’t care about this class.’

I wish she could see me today doing what I do and how I do it.”

As Egan continued his journey in language, something clicked in his senior year at Allen High School with his Spanish teacher Shannon Zerby. Zerby now teaches at CHS. “In my senior year, we learned about the phrase ‘hurry up’ in Spanish, five minutes before the bell rang,” Egan said. “It was before lunch and I told my friend, ‘Come on. Date prisa.’ I said it because I just learned it. My teacher looked up and literally thought there was a native in the room. That praise from a teacher’s reaction was pivotal for me.”

Learning language quickly became something Egan wanted to pursue more.

Egan took advantage of the language opportunities offered at his school by taking French his junior year and German his senior year. As such, in going to college at the University of North Texas, Egan knew he wanted to pursue a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish and French.

“I was really attracted to the sound of words,” Egan said. “People sometimes get so bogged down by the mechanics of language: the grammar and the syntax. Sometimes we forget to take a minute to appreciate how a language sounds and looks.”

Within college, Egan served as a Russian teacher assistant. For Egan, however, language is not a lesson taught exclusively in classrooms. It is the ability to see language connect with others that brings Egan his passion.

Shortly after graduating, Egan became the program director for SPI Study Abroad immersion programs which offers high school language immersion, volunteer service and cultural leadership opportunities in Spain and France. Even before becoming a teacher, Egan continued to create opportunities for others to access the global world.

“Language is instant knowledge,” Egan said. “I may not know a word before, but now that I know it, I’ll never forget it. It was always waiting for me to discover and learn it. A lot of people are too hard on themselves. You should want to be corrected and not take it personally.”

Egan’s journey as a lifelong learner shows in all his conversations: he seeks to welcome languages by speaking in the native language of other teachers; he will order in Spanish in Chipotle and McDonald’s; he continues to sponge new words and phrases as frequently as he can. Egan’s curiosity is not a conscious decision; it is a natural facet of him. Most recently, in learning Chinese, Egan has continued to channel his intellectual vigor.

In conversation with CHS Chinese teacher Andrea Voelker, Egan asked Voelker what the meaning of teacher is in Chinese.

“I told him 老师 (lǎoshī) means teacher in Chinese,” Voelker said. “He thought it was

so cool, and he just started calling me that. Soon enough, my other coworkers stopped calling me Andrea and started calling me lǎoshī.”

Egan’s natural desire to make his fellow teachers feel comfortable through fostering connections in communication, eventually manifested itself to learning Chinese from Voelker. The two would initially alternate teaching the other a language. For three hours every Sunday, Egan has been learning Chinese under Voelker.

“He is the student that all teachers want because he asks so many questions,” Voelker said. “Since he knows so many languages, he’s able to navigate the grammar rules.”

“

Language is instant knowledge” - Michael Egan -Spanish and French teacher

Despite the apparent difference between Chinese and the other languages he knows, he automatically connected with it.

“I did the 23andMe DNA test, and it turns out I’m 11% Northern Chinese,” Egan said. “Even though Chinese is radically different from all the other languages, it’s coming to me. When I learn a word, I’m like ‘What, this means this to you guys?’ We think it’s so complex, but when I write it out I realize I can do that.”

By playing sides as both a teacher and student, Egan has realized the importance of courage in speaking languages. But more importantly, Egan seeks to inspire his own students to not only learn but apply their skills. In his eighth period class, Egan teaches both IB French I and II. “Something that really attests to his skills as a teacher is how he manages both sets of students at the same time,” senior Leon Jackson said. “He separates the time, so both classes learn, even though half of the class is on a different level than that other. He also inspired me to delve into my passions. I started learning Korean during junior year because of him.”

Coppell High School IB French ab Initio teacher Michael Egan teaches conjugation to his class on March 20. Egan is a linguist who shares his love for language with high school students. Egan has been selected as The Sidekick’s Volume 35 No. 5 Teacher of the Issue. Sri Achanta

ference from the driving culture prevalent in previous generations.

“When I was growing up, we couldn’t wait to get our driver’s license to get out of the house and as far from the parents as possible,” assistant principal Colleen Lowry said. “But, we could only connect with our friends in person, so that was a motivating factor to get a driver’s license and have some freedom. Because current students can connect to each other online and through social media, there’s not that motivation.”

As fewer students step behind the wheel, many are inhibited in their ability to participate in co-curriculars dependent on community interaction, such as the student broadcast program KCBY-TV, the student newspaper program The Sidekick and the education and training career cluster, all of which consist of students leaving campus to pursue educational assignments.

“When students don’t drive, it limits their ability to experience certain schools,” education and training facilitator Raneta Ansley said. “It can be crippling to the program growing when you have fewer and fewer drivers.”

With fewer people driving to school, education and training students have adapted to alternative transportation methods by biking and walking to schools nearby and even training in CHS special education classes.

Yet, the decrease in car drivers is causing concern in adults for the development and experiences of current teenagers as they leave high school and step out into different communities. Having a car provides invaluable experiences to students.

“It teaches you responsibility and communication skills,” Cusano said. “I am responsible for my car and if I get in a car accident, then I am fully responsible for my actions. And genuinely, I just love my truck so much. It’s the community of having a bunch of people in your car and listening to music with each other; it brings warm, fuzzy feelings.”

Swarming into buses

Photo courtesy Google Maps. Photo illustration by Avani Munji.

The route forward

Transportation taking new turns at Coppell Story by Nrithya Mahesh & Manasa Borra Photos by Kayla Nguyen | Design by Avani Munji

T

he clock strikes 8:40 a.m.

Lines of Coppell High School students stream down the sidewalk as they complete their walk to school. Bikes are fastened to the racks near buses unloading hundreds of students. The parking lot buzzes with teenage drivers and experienced parents alike.

By the time the clock flashes 8:50 a.m., CHS is filled with thousands of students who all found their way to class differently. The school has entered a new era of transportation, marked by less student drivers and

increased usage of alternate transportation.

Disappearance of drivers Senior Jackson Cusano’s eyes landed on a sea of parking stickers when he first visited CHS in 2014. When he parks in the same lot today, despite the school being home to almost 3,000 students, he finds half of the spots empty.

Cars no longer seem to be the favored choice of transportation at CHS.

The current student body, dissuaded by the congestion in the student parking lot and neighboring roads during dismissal times, is increasingly choosing to ditch the car keys and find other substitutes.

“For me, walking to school is faster than driving to school because the traffic is unpredictable,” junior Nishka Vartikar said. “I don’t want to wake up at 7 in the morning to get to school. I took an afternoon release period so I can relax and go home, not to get stuck in the parking lot for 15 minutes.”

The increased indifference to driving of today’s students marks a large dif-

A bell rings at 4:15 p.m., signaling the end of the school day. For the next 45 minutes, Lowry listens attentively to her walkie-talkie, sitting on her red chair in the Small Commons. She inputs the numbers of the latest buses pulling in while overlooking the rambunctious congregation of hundreds of students to her right.

Getting a car was once a rite of passage for every 16-year-old and driving was a necessary part of teenage life.

Today, 26 buses are the preferred choice of 1000 students for transportation according to Lowry, representing one-third of the student body.

“It’s a convenience thing,” Lowry said. “The parents don’t have to come and pick them up or leave work to come get them. You have a ride to school and home, so you do not have to worry about parking, driving and all of that.”

Like a self-fulfilling prophecy, the increased dependence on buses reduces CHS traffic. Despite car congestion persisting due to the sheer numbers at the school, the consolidation of students into buses largely clears parking space and nearby roads.

“If all of the bus drivers were driving cars or if their parents were picking them up, the parking lot would be even more congested than it already is,” Lowry said. “We are grateful to have the buses to be able to take out a third of our learners home every day.”

Yet, the convenience buses provide comes with a price. Relying on unpredictable outside transportation, students must compromise on their in-

school activities.

“I have to miss out on club meetings and such just to catch the bus,” junior Anushka Joshi said. “If I wasn’t as reliant on the bus, I probably would join more extracurriculars because I would have more time.”

The shift in students favoring buses over cars has overwhelmed the current capabilities of the transportation system. It is not uncommon for buses to be continuously late or filled to the brim with high schoolers.

“At the beginning of the year, a lot of us had to sit three to a seat,” Joshi said. “All of us still didn’t fit on the bus, so kids had to sit on the floor. The first day of school I came by car at around 9:50 a.m. because my bus didn’t come until after first period.”

Additionally, the Durham School Services bus system has faced issues with construction occurring on major roads such as Belt Line Road, resulting in irregular detour routes and inconsistent arrival times.

“Students at times are waiting for 20-25 minutes at the bus stop for the bus to come,” Parkside West neighborhood parent Rajiv Singh said. “That’s valuable time that students are losing, just waiting for the bus.”

Durham and Coppell ISD are working to alleviate the many issues bus riders face, focusing on improving routes. The district works with municipalities of Coppell, Irving, Dallas and Cypress Waters to be notified of road closures ahead of time to reroute buses efficiently.

“With information from surrounding municipalities and us having a great partnership with them, we’re able to make some good decisions as we have obstacles or opportunities come up,” CISD chief operations officer Chris Trotter said.

Additionally, Durham plans to attend the upcoming district job fair to hire additional drivers to supplement its current staff. The district also seeks long-term improvement to the bus system, purchasing 14 new buses through the 2023 bond package set to start service in the upcoming school year.

“New buses will be available for the next school year to where if we needed to add more routes, we don’t have the constraints of not having enough buses,” Trotter said. “That provides an opportunity to have better transportation operations each and every day.”

An expansion into Irving Joshi settles into her bus seat as she gets on in the morning, ready for a 30-minute ride to school from Parkside East, an Irving community settled at the edge of Coppell’s zoning district.

As the area’s population has increased, the school district has grown further into Irving to support this growth. These regions quickly garnered settlement as families tried to send their children to CISD schools.

To accommodate recent builds including Lee and Canyon Ranch Elementary Schools, the district expanded its zoning further into Irving and Las Colinas to serve more people, including communities such as Parkside, Bridges, South Haven and Cypress Waters.

Hundreds of families have moved to Irving communities to send their children to CISD schools. However, issues occur as these students advance to the high school level. Every morning, they need transport to the other end of the district to get to class.

The 2019 rezoning of Parkside resi-

dents, all situated past State Highway 114, from Lee to Canyon Ranch has isolated students from their closest elementary school, Lee. Now, these families face even longer commute times to get to their schools.

“It has been difficult, and not only to get to high school, but elementary school as well, especially after the rezoning happened,” Singh said. “It takes about 15 minutes to get to either CHS or Canyon Ranch for any reason.”

As parents are forced to send their kids to distant schools, difficulties arise in transporting students. “ H o n e s t l y, it would be a lot easier for me and my parents if I lived closer,” Joshi said. “I know a lot of people walk home from school, but for me, when my dad picks me up, it takes an hour of his time.”

Students residing miles from CHS face extensively long times for busdrop offs. On days when the buses face delays, driver absences or alternate routing, the commute lasts even longer.

“I’ve seen a lot of times that they merge the routes and the buses are actually in communities which are much closer to the school, which are also at times very off the route,” Singh said.

“So, at times like these, they reach home at 5:355:45 p.m.”

The commute for parents and students from Irving communities is too long to justify the amount of time and gas money spent.

Instead, many families are left relying on the bus system for transportation to school efficiently, even with its setbacks. In the event of after-school activities, some parents choose to carpool with others in their area, although carpooling quickly becomes difficult to coordinate with the separate zoning of neighboring Parkside communities.

“In Parkside itself, it’s a little bit difficult because Parkside East and

West are about 5-10 minutes apart,” Singh said. “It’s still better because you don’t have to drive every time so it saves you a trip, but on the day you drive, it adds about 8-10 minutes. But again, the challenge is that you need to find someone who is in the same club that has signed up for the same time.”

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bike racks available

students 972 parking at CHS

approx. of students

1/3 ride the bus Source: Coppell ISD

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using CHS roots to make lasting impact

Coppell High School English III teacher Sean Smith keeps a collection of old issues of The Sidekick from when he served as The Sidekick entertainment editor from 1994-96. Smith is a 1996 CHS graduate and his love of words and writing brought him back as a teacher. Kayla Nguyen

Nyah Rama CHS9 Editor @nyah_rama

The year is 1992. The place, Coppell High School.

A teenaged Sean Smith takes his first steps through the hallways of what was a much smaller CHS. Little does he know, more than two decades later he would return, but not as a student.

Motivated by a passion for words, Smith returned to CHS in 2014 to teach English III. “I absolutely love the Coppell community mainly because of the diversity,” Smith said. “It’s an ideal place to raise your family and then the fact that I’m a teacher, being able to work in the community I live in is just fantastic. There’s nowhere I’d rather teach.”

Smith’s influence at CHS runs deep, having been the entertainment editor during his time on The Sidekick. As an avid fan of popular miscellaneous bands in the Dallas area, music played a big part in his teenage years.

“I’ve always been passionate about the written word,” Smith said. “I got into journalism my freshman year of high school and then was able to start writing in my sophomore year. I probably would have pursued journalism, but I was just so drawn to the teaching side of life that I never really stuck with journalism after high school.”

In Smith’s time on The Sidekick, Smith spent the majority of his time reviewing bands performing in the Dallas area.

Through the years, Smith has carried the

Coppell High School English III teacher Sean Smith keeps a collection of old issues of The Sidekick from when he served as The Sidekick entertainment editor from 1994-96. Sameeha Syed

lessons he learned while on staff and applies them in every venture he pursues.

“I was here from ‘93 to ‘96, and it was by far my favorite class,” Smith said. “We had a great group, great editors. When you work with a team you learn the hierarchy of authority. You learn how to push yourself, you learn that there’s more inside of you than you thought.”

“

His impact on students is definitely changing a lot of people’s lives.”

- Ella Spiller senior

To this day, Smith’s love for words carries through in his lessons as well as his personal hobby of songwriting.

“I dabble with the guitar and I’m really passionate about music,” Smith said.

“Since middle school, probably about the time I discovered Bob Dylan, music’s been a big passion of mine. I’m just not a talented musician, but I love the idea of creativity. I’m not an artist, but I’ve always loved poetry. All songs are basically poetry put to music.”

Returning to CHS was quite the bizarre experience for Smith. Surrounded by former classmates and teachers in the form of colleagues, Smith’s homecoming felt as if it was just that, coming home.

“At first it was surreal because [Principal Laura] Springer was the girls basketball coach when I was here,” Smith said. “I still call her coach and everybody else calls her Miss. I’m like, ‘who’s Miss Springer?’

Linda Moore and Kim Pierce [Smith’s former teachers] insisted from day one that I call them by their first name and that is the weirdest thing. I’m 10 years in and I’m still not really comfortable calling them by their first name.”

Helping Smith along his journey were his parents, Dan Smith who was a small business owner and Melissa Smith who taught honors and GT English at CHS for 10 years.

“With teaching I saw with my mom her students returning to her and being able

to watch them grow and develop, the rewards are just immense,” Sean Smith said. “It’s like we’re a part of this kindling to the fire that is our students. We don’t completely change the world, but we have these little impacts and they compound and seeing that with my mom and knowing that I had some sort of potential skill there to have an impact on other people’s lives.” When you run into Smith in the hallway, it isn’t his tall stature or laid back manner that jumps out at you, it’s his genuine spirit.

“It’s like having that other safe adult you can have and lean on at school,” senior Ella Spiller said. “His impact on students is definitely changing a lot of people’s lives.

He’s one of those teachers that you know would do anything for you if you need. If he knew stuff was bad at home, he would be one of those teachers to say, ‘how can I get you groceries?’ He’s definitely one of those good teachers that you see in movies.”

His kind spirit isn’t limited to his students. Anyone that interacts with Smith

immediately notices how genuine he is, and it isn’t anything new.

“He’s the same person, he’s amazing,” said AP Biology teacher Dr. Bianca Benitez, who attended CHS with Smith and graduated in 1994. “I don’t get to see much of him but when we pass each other in the hallway, it’s kind of like going back in time, and we catch up. There’s moments where I can kind of see us in the hallways as students, my mind kind of makes that split between that was then and this is now and it’s really special, it’s a full circle moment.”

Smith incorporates his personality and background in his classroom. Ultimately, his goal remains pure and simple: to serve.

“I just like the idea of being a servant,” Smith said. “What I want to do is instill in [my students] that as they live their lives, they should always want to learn and grow. I think the idea behind being a servant and putting the needs of others before your own in order to help them have more fulfilling lives is kind of a philosophical approach.”

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Medicine to statistics

Martin’s career sees changing probabilities Sanghika Pallela Staff Writer @CHSCampusNews

4:47 a.m.

It is the exact time that Coppell High School statistics teacher Kailee Martin wakes up to embrace the early hours.

Gathering her essentials, she heads to The CORE to start her determined regimen of gym, followed by lap swimming. After the intensive workout, she drives to CHS and settles in her sanctuary, B105.

To many, Martin’s morning routine may seem daunting, but for her, it has been a way of life since her job as a first grade teacher at Austin Elementary School.

“When I taught elementary school, I started earlier,” Martin said. “I got used to getting up early and I’ve just never gotten out of the habit.”

Homeschooled throughout her elementary and middle school years, Martin’s shift as a student to Coppell High School proved to be a major transition.

“Coming to the high school after being homeschooled was pretty scary, but I had the best experience,” Martin said. “[CISD superintendent] Dr. [Brad] Hunt, who’s now the superintendent, was the principal when I was here and he was amazing. He made every student feel welcome, just like [CHS Principal] Ms. Springer.”

After completing high school, Martin enrolled in Texas A&M University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Soon after, she started her education in medicine at UT Southwestern.

However, during a short break from medicine, Martin worked at Pierce Academy in Coppell, teaching preschool for two years. She discovered her true passion lay in the field of education.

“I just really loved teaching,” Martin said. “I decided to forget medical school.”

Departing from medicine, Martin obtained a master’s degree in education at University of North Texas and applied to be a first grade teacher at Austin Elementary School.

After a year at Austin, Martin knew she desired to return to her roots at CHS. “I was just ready to get deeper into the content,” Martin said. “I loved the relationships with the students and the families in first grade. But, I really missed the critical thinking. I just missed math and science. I wanted to try

something new.”

After emailing Springer for a position, Martin took the certification exam for both math and science. Following her heart, Martin chose statistics as her desired class to teach.

“I had known going in that if statistics was an option, that is what I would want to teach,” Martin said.

While seeking her calling, Martin found inspiration from anatomy and physiology teacher Jodie Deinhammer and credits her pursuit in education to her influence.

“She’s a big reason why I’m a teacher,” Martin said. “Earlier, I didn’t want to be a teacher. I didn’t want to do PowerPoints all day, but I realized that it’s so much more. It gives me chills to think about.

She’s had a huge influence on my life.”

It was Dein-

Coppell High School statistics teacher Kailee Martin is in her first year at CHS. She has worked in medicine, taught preschool and first grade prior to coming to CHS. Photo illustration by Minori Kunte and Ahana Roy

hammer’s similar story that influenced Martin to become the teacher she is now.

“Whenever I was thinking about leaving medical school, I was so afraid of how it was going to look, and all those things,” Martin said. “She was so successful and happy as a teacher that it gave me the confidence to be like ‘I can walk away from this.’”

AP Statistics teacher Dr. Lowell Johnson notes the joy and excitement that Martin incorporates into her teaching.

“She’s creative, energetic, patient and cares about her kids,” Dr. Johnson said.

“She understands statistics very well and has taken the initiative to design the professional learning community for the on-level statistics course.”

Martin’s influence from first grade is evident in her current teaching style.

Through her warm aura, Martin creates a comfortable atmosphere for her students.

“She’ll use callbacks that she used to use in first graders, and that’s really nice,” senior Aindrila Neogi said. “We’re so used to being treated like adults. It’s just nice to be treated like a kid sometimes.”

While Martin has experienced changes in her teaching environment over the years, she remarks that her time at CHS has been largely positive.

“I feel so supported,” Martin said. “It’s a very happy environment. The admin is so supportive and they always help you grow, and they celebrate you as you grow. The relationships here are so important.”

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Dadsena dives into competitive artistic pursuits Anushree De Features Editor @anu_night

Walls are decorated with tie-dye projects and self portraits. Clay sculptures of animals line the tables. The laughs of students comparing their artwork bounces off the walls. Enthusiasm is abundant in the classroom of Wilson Elementary School art teacher Alejandra Quiñonez.

One student’s enthusiasm takes a different form. His eyes are transfixed on the project ahead: a drawing of a cup with water. The cup, detailed with highlights and shadows, displays its transparency. It contrasts with the smooth serenity of the water within the container.

The artist purses their lips together and furrows their brows, grabbing the graphite pencil to make one final etch. He twists his neck to get a better angle of the piece.

They nod in approval and lean back.

As Quiñonez walks through the lively room, commenting on each student’s art, she takes a pause on this student. With one look, Quiñonez can see that his passion in art is persistent and the talent, apparent.

“As an elementary teacher, the students you teach are smaller,” Quiñonez said.

“So, it’s more obvious when a child has a natural talent. But, Ayan had a special sparkle for art.”

In that classroom, Coppell junior Ayan Dadsena’s calm demeanor and quiet nature diverges from the energy that only a fifth grade class contains. Yet, the emotions that appeared lacking at first glance of Dadsena were expressive in his artwork.

“He was very quiet, timid and would not really ask questions,” Quiñonez said. “He would listen and do. But when he would

make [art], it was big and loud.”

Leaving elementary school, Dadsena was selected as district artist of the year.

But, their journey had only begun.

“I spoke to his parents about getting his parents involved in classes because of his special talent,” Quiñonez said. “I told them not to waste his talent. He’s amazing.”

What started as a hobby at 2 years old - when Dadsena would curl his fingers around a coloring pencil, scribbling away in Ben 10 and monster truck coloring books - became a canvas of creativity and outlet of expression.

“Art was a way to entertain myself,” Dadsena said. “Especially because I am an only child, I would draw whatever I saw whenever I liked. I would draw my parents or what I learned that day in school. I would not think about what I draw. I would just do.”

In middle school, Dadsena’s art had stretched to more than glasses: it became personal.

The piece was simple: two eyes, a nose, the faintest trace of a smile and a hair. By the standards of any other sixth grader, the portrait was good. But Dadsena was not just any sixth grader.

“One of the things I like seeing is my progression of portraiture,” Dadsena said.

“At the time, I did not like it. Based on what I usually make, it was not the best.

It’s important to look back on my progress. Even though it’s not a great piece, it was an important part of my journey.”

It is this natural tendency to become better that Dadsena displays in every venture. A graphite portrait in sixth grade evolved to a self-portrait with color and

details.

Within middle school, Dadsena continued to receive distinction: an award from Youth Art Month for a contour drawing of a shoe displayed at the Bullock Texas State History Museum and receiving a medal from Junior Visual Art Scholastic Event.

As Dadsena transitioned to high school, continuing to pursue art, it became more liberating.

“Before AP art, Ayan’s art style was guided - like everyone else’s art,” junior Eunice Han said. “Art I and Art II are all guided by teachers to create a specific type of art. When AP Art started, I noticed changes. He used creativity to create imaginative artworks.”

Upon a scroll of Dadsena’s art account on Instagram (@ayan._.4y4n), the posts are not mere pieces of art but worlds.

Whether it be in the pastel skies of “Elysium” meant to show the power in a dream of flying or in the backseat of a car in “Getaway Car” demonstrating the lack of control in emotions, Dadsena captures the essence of the human condition.

What is most noticeable about Dadsena’s array of art is that there is no one style of work. Each piece has a distinct aesthetic that encapsulates Dadsena’s goal. This inclination towards navigating the unconventional will only continue to follow Dadsena to next year.

“I get to have Ayan next year because of IB,” AP/IB art teacher Michelle Hauske said. “The AP drawing portfolio limits you because it has to fit within how AP defines drawing. IB is the exact opposite. They have to explore 3D lens-based photography and digital applications.”

Photo by EV Kennard

Little Women marches through sisterhood Elizabeth De Santiago and Pranavi Ramineni Staff Writer and Staff Designer @CHSCampusNews

As the lights dim, showcasing two young girls, familiar words echo: “Tell me a story, Jo.” In the Coppell High School Auditorium, the Cowboy Theatre Company brings the “Little Women” production to life in its public viewing in preparation for UIL. “Little Women” is about a journey the four March sisters face coming into maturity. The story focuses primarily on Jo, a writer who rejects femininity and the typical norms that society attaches to women.

Junior Sanjana Sreemushta, who plays the headstrong character of Jo, draws inspiration solely from the script. She navigates the challenges of portraying a character different from her typical roles.

“Even though I did know of the other two and I have read and watched the movie, I looked at the script independently and crafted my character just through the script, ” Sreemushta said. “The thing I find most challenging is portraying the realism, because I’m very used to exaggerated characters that are less real and more comical.”

Through the characters’ challenges, the audience relates to the growing pains of adolescence. With themes of finding oneself in the world as a woman, “Little Women” is an empowering play that shows that you can write your own story, even if it doesn’t meet societal standards.

“The entire time, Jo is trying to rebel against the idea of the stereotypical woman. She thinks that through her rebellion, she’s going to find herself. What the story really is that she has to define what it means to be a woman,” technical director Grace Hellyer said. “It’s not that she’s rejecting standard traditional feminine roles, she’s also realizing that just because she does not fall into that, that doesn’t mean that she’s less of a woman than anyone else.”

It was important for the cast to maintain the meaning of the play while simultaneously meeting UIL One-Act Play qualifications. Changes were made to make the production fit within the 40-minute time requirement.

“Little Women’ by Kate Hamill is a full two-act play, it’s about two and a half hours long. We’ve taken that entire script and cut little bits and scenes out and we’ve narrowed that down and focused

on really one or two story lines to make it fit within the 40 minutes,” Hellyer said.

“That’s really where the work of it is. It’s figuring out what’s the storyline that we want to focus on and tell and then how do we truly and accurately portray that in a way that is also respectful to the way Kate Hamill wrote this way.”

Due to UIL time constraints, stage managers found creative ways to make the production come together with props and lighting.

They mixed abstract themes to create a cohesive and dynamic production that mirrored Jo’s inner thoughts as she grew throughout the play.

“From my point of view as a stage manager, ‘Little Women,’ for this adaptation specifically, we are trying to play less into realism. What you saw on the set is trunks.

There’s not really a set that is like what an audience would typically imagine, because we had to cut so much of the show and there’s no set changes,” senior stage manager Sarah Myers said, “The lighting and the special effects, like the LEDs, they add mood, and then also in this show specifically, the passage of time. We did that through Jo’s writing. When they’re gold, we’re in Jo’s mind, and she’s writing her story, and that story eventually becomes the story of her life.”

Through the many hours and weeks the cast and crew put into the play, “Little Women” stands as a captivating performance. This show has been important for the cast as they made lasting bonds through bringing this adaptation to life.

“This company has put in a lot of work and even if we don’t get to where we want to go, like state, region or we don’t advance as far as we want, I think they’re all very proud of the work that they’ve done,” Myers said.

Cowboy Theatre Company perform the spring production of “Little Women” on March 18. The musical goes through the lives of the four March sisters as they transition from girlhood to womanhood during the Civil War. Wendy Le

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Movie musicals hitting a low note in Hollywood Ainsley Dwyer Entertainment Editor @ainsleydwyer

Since 2010, around 26.9% of movie musicals have flopped at the box office. So if there is a one in four chance that it is going to lose money, why does Hollywood keep making them?

To understand why movie musicals are still being made, we have to take a look at why they were so successful in the first place.

During the Great Depression and World War II, people were often looking for an escape, which was found through musicals and the fantasy of them.

Hollywood enjoyed the opportunities to show off the talents of many stars. When audiences saw a big name in a film, such as Judy Garland or Gene Kelly, it was almost guaranteed success at the box office because people’s sole means of watching their favorite actors was through the theater.

But what goes up must go down after all. After the warfare started to subside, people weren’t looking for an escape. Furthermore, the rock music industry dominated album sales. People weren’t buying the movie musical soundtracks like they were before.

When Hollywood continuously pushes out movie musicals, people start to get sick of them. Between 1929-1959, 1,278 musical films were released, an average 42.6 per year.

People preferred to watch movies that capture their attention and made them feel like they just became a part of the story. When people immerse themselves into

the film, it removes them from the reality of the movie when people start to sing.

Audiences view acting as a realistic art form but the caricature acting in the early 20th century was not meant to be realistic, it was meant to be an escape from the world. When asking people why they do not enjoy musicals even if the music is good, the typical answer is “because people do not burst out into song in real life.”

That is not to say that there have not been successful movie musicals since 1960. Thirteen of the IMDB Top 250 movies are Musicals have seen a decline in popularity since the 1960s yet Hollywood continues to make them. The musicals, 10 of which were re- Sidekick entertainment editor Ainsley Dwyer thinks movie musiclas are not successful because of the leased after 1960. Eleven have change in the Hollywood norm to realistic acting and why people have steered away from movie musicals. won the Academy Award for Noor Fatima Best Picture, six of which were easy way to make money when they adapt the trailer. released after 1960.

It is obvious that movie musicals are not However, four of the six musicals were Broadway classics or classics.

They know Broadway adaptations will as successful as they once were. But with released in the 1960s and the most recent win was Chicago (2002). This may be due bring in a certain group of people, fans of the way the film industry is responding to to not as many movie musicals are being musical theater and/or those classic films them, it does not look like there is a goldmade. Between 1960 and today, 911 musi- and attract an audience to make money en age anywhere in the future. Hollywood cal films have been made, an average 14.2 at the box office. When Hollywood makes is likely still going to keep making them Broadway adaptations, there is already a and I know that as a fan of musical theater, per year.

Since 1960, it is not uncommon to see plot, a script and music, all they need to I will be front row watching them when they do. a movie musical not do well at the box of- do is put it on the screen.

Unless it is an adaptation or remake of a fice. But there have been exceptions, with original films recently like Pitch Perfect 1-3 famous musical like West Side Story (2021) (2012, 2015, 2017) La La Land (2016) and or Wicked (2024), movie musicals attract The Greatest Showman (2017) doing well audiences who would not typically go and Ainsley Dwyer see musicals by hiding that detail in the at the box office.

Entertainment Editor Hollywood keeps making movie mu- trailers. The most recent example of this @ainsleydwyer sicals even if they aren’t doing very well being Mean Girls (2024) which did not use because they have seen that it can be an any of the songs from the soundtrack in

Rogers rocking the punk Wendy Le

Podcast Producer @CHSCampusNews

Staying at strangers’ homes, living off of junk food and traveling across the country with a beige Ford Econoline van, also known as Mommy, purchased for less than $1,000: This was the early 20s of Coppell resident Bart Rogers as the bassist for local band, Baboon.

Despite always having an interest for music as a little boy, nothing ever really spoke out to him.

That was until the then seventh grade boy overheard the intense and fast-paced rhythms of punk metal rock coming from his next door neighbor’s home.

His time growing up in Irving in the 1970s was filled with enjoying the hundreds of kinds of music blasting from a jukebox with his best friend and watching MTV in the 1980s – these revolutionary platforms of their time amazed Rogers and exposed him to broader ways of consuming music, further igniting his interest in it.

“It was an exciting time to be growing up and enjoying music and experiencing it in different ways with the advent of music videos coming,” Rogers said. “So it wasn’t just the music, it was also the look and, and everything associated with that.”

During his senior year at Irving High School in 1988, Rogers joined his first band as the bassist.

Many more followed until he found the one that stuck: Baboon.

The punk rock metal band was established by its vocalist Andy Huffstetlar and guitarist Mike Rudnicki at the University of North Texas.

Rogers joined as the bassist in the summer of 1991 and followed by drummer Steve Barnett in 1992, who replaced previous members and stuck to what it is today.

Together, they toured across the country in Mommy.

Whether it was performing at a rural provider, while Huffstetler works as the things that kind of come in every era. And town in Texas or big cities like New York multimedia and litigation support spe- sometimes that music will remind you of or Los Angeles, there was always a prom- cialist at a law firm. Rudnicki is a principal some of the positive things. I’m sure it can ise of an element of surprise and utmost technical writer at a security firm and Bar- do some of the bad things as well, but energy at every performance. nett is a therapist. music deeply ties you to the emotions, “One time we were performing at the Despite no longer actively playing in the feelings, sights and smells of a certain Frye Street Fair in Denton to 5,000 peo- band, his passion for music continues to time period that you’ll forget about but ple,” Huffstetler said. “We were all wear- tie itself into his everyday life. remember later on.” ing masks made by Mike and, at one point, Because to Mr. Rogers, music isn’t just He brings music into his household, inI was hitting golf balls into the audience. a collection of melodies and rhythms tied spiring his son, Coppell High School junior People were breaking down the fence and together; it’s a way for him to reminisce Jonas Rogers, to embrace self-expression crawling over stuff. It was a blast.”

“You’re always either looking for- for his personal growth, much like the On stage, Rogers, who is often per- w a r d to something that’s painting that sits in Roger’s office. ceived as reserved and calm, is betrayed h a p pening or you crave “When I was younger, he would disby a loud, chaotic energy. something that sect different kinds of music to me which “It was shocking because if you met happened in the helped establish a foundation for stanhim, you wouldn’t think that it was Bart past,” Mr. Rogers dard music that I can appreciate without on stage,” wife Lisa Mesa-Rogers said. said. “The reality it being my favorite kind of music,” Jo“It wasn’t music, it was performance art, is, no matter what, nas said.

“It has made me more too. I didn’t necessarily get that vibe off of there’s good Bart. He has this conservative Christian upbringing, not the typical rockstar.”

Baboons’ days on the road consists of one person on open-minded the wheels, and the three to different other members resting on forms of art and whatever they could find, being more comfortwhether it’s a loveseat, able with different forms of a bunk they had built self-expressions like dancing, inside the van or the acting or theater.” floor.

In 2010, Mr. Rogers rejoined Baboon After three years of to perform periodically and has been a being in the band, Mr. part of it ever since.

Rogers decided to step And more than three decades of peraway in February 1994 to forming later, nothing has changed. focus more on his family and Their outfits remain white, something a stable career. that’s been the norm for every perforThe band continued to tour withmance since their start. out Mr. Rogers until 2006 to shift foTheir energy remains vibrant and upcus on more stable professions and beat, letting their beats vibrate every venperform periodically each year. ue they play, something you can always The same year, he and his family reexpect when thinking of Baboon. located to Coppell from Lake Highlands Bart Rogers plays bass to “You Kill Me” by Baboon in his Coppell home office. Rogers due to its excellent schools. has been the bass player for Baboon since 2010, previously playing between 1991-1994.

Mr. Rogers now works as the director Wendy Le of cell engineering at a service network

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Embracing the beauty of country music Ainsley Dwyer Entertainment Editor @ainsleydwyer

Over spring break, I visited the country music capital of the world, Nashville, Tenn. I went downtown and danced around the floor in front of the stage at Blake Shelton’s Ole Red. Six months ago, I would have stood in the corner trying to signal to my parents that I want to leave. So it is safe to say that my opinion on country music has changed. It was a genre that I used to love before I turned 11 and I spent the next six years undermining the beauty of the music.

What I spent those six years dubbing as “yee-haw music” and making fun of my family for listening to is now one of my favorite genres.

Prior to sixth grade, country was my favorite music genre. My family and I would spend every Saturday morning watching

the CMT Hot 20 Countdown. I grew up on the greatest hits from some of the biggest country artists.

I have memories dancing with my best friend at a Zac Brown Band concert when I was 10 to dancing around the backyard of my neighbors and family friends while having BBQ, and listening to “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line or “How Do You Like Me Now?!” by Toby Keith.

Country music used to be in my veins, but when I started middle school and met people who introduced me to their music taste, country started to fade out of my life. But I am glad it did because it makes my current appreciation for it much stronger.

My new love for the genre began in October when I went to visit my brother, Aidan Dwyer, at the University of Georgia. He had picked us up at the airport in Atlanta and we drove 2.5 hours to Athens, Ga. On the way, I started to listen to my

own music when I decided to put on Zach Bryan’s self-titled album, released in June. I had heard many people on TikTok say how much they love his songs and I decided to give his music a listen. I fell in love with his songwriting and his ability to put his emotions into metaphors and poetic lyrics. This prompted me to create a playlist on my Spotify called “lowkey good country.”

I began adding songs mostly by artists including Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan. I then started to add the songs I had loved when I was younger: songs by Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Zac Brown Band and Chris Stapleton. The lyrics flowed right back to my memory.

I can hear the emotion when an artist plays with a sole acoustic guitar in the background. Their guitar talents is another factor in why I have to give country artists credit for their talents.

Acoustic guitar is hard to play, let alone while singing. As someone who attempt-

ed to learn how to play an acoustic guitar, I do manage to stare in awe when watching anyone else play. And when that is the loudest instrument in your song, it may understandably get frustrating when you do not place the tip of your finger on the fret correctly. So the talent and hard work put into mastering acoustic is something that deserves recognition.

Country music was once a dominant genre that you could not escape from through the halls of Coppell High School.

Country is still loved by many, however, its impact on the students has lowered and now remains loved by a smaller portion of the school.

Many non-typical country lovers have become fans of what is now called “southern female rage.” On TikTok, people are often lip syncing to those female singers such as Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift to show their appreciation for the genre.

I used to scream the lyrics when “Before He Cheats” or “Cowboy Casanova”

by Carrie Underwood would play. My mom and I would sing “Mama’s Broken Heart” by Miranda Lambert anytime it came on the radio. And I fell in love with Taylor Swift when she was singing country, and I still own her first few CDs from when they came out (including Taylor Swift with original “Picture To Burn” lyrics).

My best friend, Jonas Rogers, and I do not have similar music tastes other than showtunes, but when we want to play something else that we can both sing along to while driving around, my playlist “crazy country girls” is played at full volume and we sing our hearts out.

For those who chose not to listen to it solely because of their preconceived beliefs that it lacks creativity are truly missing out on a beautiful form of music with clever lyrics and a impressive acoustic guitar.

Ainsley Dwyer Country music uses lyricism and instrumental music to create art that can be enjoyed by music lovers across all genres. The Sidekick entertainment editor thinks that country music is an underestimated genre that deserves more appreciation within today’s music lovers. Photo courtesy Ainsley Dwyer

Entertainment Editor @ainsleydwyer

Ramadan recipe: spicy bread pakora Aliza Abidi

Editorial Page Editor @aliza_abidi

s

Ingredient

ur hickpea flo C f o p u c • 1 of Cilantro s m e t s w • A fe r en peppe e r G 3 1 • a p of Paprik s b t 2 / 1 • p of Salt • 1/2 tbs ck pepper pla B f o p s • 1/2 tb t masala (o a a h C f o p • 1/4 tbs tional) ad of any bre s e c li s 3 • • Butter e ella chees r a z z o M • cheese • Cottage

Instructions:

1. Put your se asoning in th e flour.

2. Mix the cil antro and gre e n pepper in th 3. Add a spla e flour. sh of water a nd whisk unti 4. Add a slic l fully mixed. e of bread up into the mixtu both sides. re and marin ate 5. Add butte r on a pan an d put it on m 6. Lay the flo edium heat. ur coated bre ad on the hea 7. Add cotta ted pan. ge cheese an d mozzarella 8. Grill both o n top. sides of the b read until go 9. Wait for it lden brown. to cool down .

10. Add som e tomato ketc hup on the si de and enjoy !

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Kapadia aiming for diverse goals Rhea Choudhary Staff Writer @rhea_choud

Before he could even tie his shoelaces, Coppell High School senior Manav Kapadia stepped onto the soccer field. At the tender age of 3, he kicked his first ball, igniting a passion that would shape his life in ways he could not picture.

As the former captain of the Coppell FC soccer team and Coppell boys soccer team’s left-back defender, Kapadia’s journey on the pitch has had a multitude of experiences.

“Honestly, I can’t say enough great things about Manav, because he’s always doing what he’s supposed to do, always on time and communicates effectively, which are qualities that you can’t ask enough from your players from a coach’s perspective,” Coppell soccer coach Stephen Morris said. “He is very academically driven, but he also brings those critical thinking skills to the soccer field.”

Kapadia manages to allocate 15-20 hours per week to soccer, playing an average of two matches per week. His advice to any aspiring soccer player is simple yet effective, focusing on only controlling what you can and prioritizing gaining fundamental skills.

“Game days for us are obviously important and sometimes it can get hard to fully focus on soccer when I’m at school, but I like listening to music, mostly rap music, because it helps drone out anything else that’s going on or any other stress I may have,” Kapadia said. “I like to also prioritize doing fun things and if I ever need to feel motivated, I just think about the result and the satisfaction I will feel if I succeed in the future.”

Beyond the soccer field, Kapadia’s leadership experience extends to his dedicated role as a CHS Red Jacket, a position he earned with determination. Kapadia has gained a wide variety of prestigious leadership roles, being involved in Coppell clubs and organizations, being the previous captain of the Coppell FC club soccer

team, Spanish National Honor Society vice president, Pratham Club president and the Future Medical Students Club secretary.

“I wanted to be a Red Jacket because I knew some seniors when I was a sophomore and junior who looked up to me, and they encouraged me to be a leader and to set an example for others,” Kapadia said. “I’ve been a part of the Pratham Foundation since I was 5 years old, in which we teach English to kids in India yearly; my sister, Neerali, and I started the CHS Pratham chapter through that foundation.”

With his academic accolades being just as impressive, Kapadia has earned recognition as a National Merit finalist. Kapadia fell in love with wanting to be a doctor after first shadowing his dad, Dr. Lav Kapadia, an ear, nose and throat surgeon, when he was 14. Nonetheless, Kapadia finds medicine very intriguing regardless of his dad’s profession and he can only see himself following through with this field.

With aspirations of pursuing a career in medicine, specifically as an orthopedic surgeon, Kapadia’s academic journey is guided by his passion for global health and medical anthropology.

“It honestly felt really rewarding to earn the National Merit title, because I proved to myself that my hard work paid off,” Kapadia said. “I consider earning that scholarship to be a testament to support what all the seemingly endless studying resulted in.”

With aspirations of wanting to be an orthopedic surgeon, Kapadia’s academic journey is guided by his passion for global health, medical anthropology and rehabilitation, especially after dedicating so much time playing soccer – a sport with a large chance for injuries.

“Manav is the definition of what someone with unspoken confidence is; he leads by example,” AP Biology teacher Dr. Bianca Benitez said. “I am confident that he will continue succeeding in his post-high school accomplishments, especially as a strong-willed leader.”

Coppell senior left-back defender Manav Kapadia hits a header at Buddy Echols Field on Feb. 6. Kapadia is a varsity soccer player, Coppell Red Jacket and a National Merit finalist. Kayla Nguyen

More than a sport

Moen pitching new ideas as head softball coach

Robbie Moen is in his first year as Coppell softball coach. Moen comes to Coppell Coatimundi Middle School in Arizona where he served as athletic director. Eirene Park

Ishana Sharma Staff Writer @ishana_sharma

When considering a Softball Head Coach, the first thought that might strike is that the person may have years of experience and expertise devoted purely on softball.

This is not the case with Softball Head Coach Robbie Moen, who has gained over 20 years of coaching experience not only in softball, but in baseball, volleyball, football and soccer as well.

This is Moen’s first year at Coppell. Before this, Moen had an enriching experience coaching the Russian National base-

ball team in 2017.

“That was the coolest experience I ever had coaching,” Moen said. “I got an opportunity from an old coach from the University of Arizona [who] called me and asked me if I would be interested, and I said, ‘absolutely.’”

It can be a challenge communicating with people whose first language is not English, but Moen was able to work his way around this language barrier.

“I did a lot of demonstrating,” Moen said. “I drew pictures on the ground and had a translator for conversations.

This way, I was able to connect with [the team].”

This experience has taught Moen skills which he incorporates while coaching Coppell’s softball team.

“It was a really good thing for me as a coach because it taught me how to communicate without being able to verbalize a lot of it,” Moen said.

Specifically, learning to communicate with people who speak different languages has helped Moen efficiently coach the team and individually address players’ weaknesses.

“It really makes you realize that you have to be able to reach every player at

different levels because skill levels aren’t the same, [even though] they are close,” Moen said. “I should be able to reach this person’s learning ability and get them to understand, and if they cannot get it the way I am explaining it, I should figure out how to explain it in another way.”

His expertise is reflected in his coaching style, which focuses on helping the team learn from their mistakes and improve. ”He is a very visual person,” senior Mallory Moore said. “He shows us what we are doing wrong. He is not a person who just tells us that we are doing something wrong.”

The experience of working with the Russian national baseball team has also taught Moen the importance of addressing every team member, to ensure that the team as a whole is at its best.

Moen’s passion for softball and teaching this sport led him to the position of head softball coach at coppell.

“The balance that he provided is what excited me about Coach Moen in the interview process,” Coppell athletic director Kit Pehl said. “[He had] that combination of providing a student athlete experience with the opportunity to win and to have a strong program.”

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Golden forging his own path by pumping iron

Coppell junior powerlifter Caden Golden deadlifts in the Coppell High School Field House weight room on March 19. Golden started competing in powerlifting in January and will compete at the USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals in September. Jayden Chui

Yug Talukdar Staff Writer @YugTalukdar

Cold metal plates clang on the floor as the gym rumbles under the impact. Coppell junior powerlifter Caden Golden has just finished deadlifting for the day.

Golden is able to handle much more weight than most teens, recently hitting a personal record of a 315-pound bench press in training, 515-pound squat he hit at a meet at Ranchview High School and a 560-pound deadlift that he also hit at Ranchview.

Despite his impressive lifts, Golden only started strength training this summer, rapidly adding plates to his lifts. He became motivated to stay consistent due to the competitive nature of powerlifting. Golden officially started powerlifting competitively after joining the Coppell boys team in January, and is currently ranked third in the 165-pound weight class regionally.

“I like the competitiveness, the time and effort you have to put into it, and the environment of the gym,” Golden said.

The gym gives Golden an experience where he can de-stress, push himself and have fun.

“Once I’m in the zone, towards the end of the workout, I take my headphones off

and my mind goes blank, and it’s like the world isn’t there anymore,” Golden said.

“It’s a peaceful moment.”

He also enjoys the motivating atmosphere of the gym and the people that are around him, including teammates and training partners junior Samuel Parada and junior Javier Angulo. Together, Golden and his training partners motivate each other to gain strength and push harder.

“He pushes me to be a better person,” Parada said. “And when it comes down to it, like when I fail lifts, he’s always supportive and there for me.”

Golden is also known for his rigid determination that gets him to push himself to the limits and stay disciplined to his practice, allowing him to grow as a powerlifter.

“He is a really hard worker, he is dedicated,” Coppell powerlifting coach Heath Naragon said. “He doesn’t miss many days and he is always here trying to get stronger and better at what he does.”

However, the high bar he sets for himself often makes Golden forget that he has already reached an advanced level relatively quickly, and he sometimes loses sight of his impressive progress.

“When he fails lifts, he thinks it as a complete failure,” Parada said, “But he is getting mad at not being able to lift a

weight that makes 20, 30, or 40-year-olds come up and question how he is lifting that at his age.”

As he has progressed, Golden has learned the importance of persevering through various setbacks and accepting that training isn’t always perfect, learning to embrace the highs and push through the lows.

“You have to be able to push through the adversity, like when you are having a bad lift, because not every day is going to be a good day,” Golden said.

Golden’s mentality that he has developed in the gym has also helped him in other parts of life, motivating him to study more and build better relationships with people close to him.

“His mentality has changed quite a bit, where he now thinks that, ‘That was the old me, and now I am a better person,’” Parada said.

By September, Golden hopes to further hone his skill and participate in the 2024 USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals on Sept.

5-8 in Salt Lake City and become one of the strongest in the nation.

After high school, Golden also hopes to own a gym so that he can foster the same experiences he has had in the gym for other people.

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Making waves at state

Li swimming to future aspirations after serving as captain Namir Awan Staff Writer @namirawan

Three rounds.

More than 200 teams in Class 6A look to send one individual swimmer to the state championship in search of a medal. Three stages stand in between every swimmer and a spot in the championship.

As the white lights shined upon the calm water of the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, anticipation rose. The water softly rippled as the warmup session was about to begin on Friday, February 23.

Amidst the excitement, Coppell High School senior swim captain Sean Li kept to himself. Cheers faded in the background as the cool, calm and collected Li got ready to compete in the semifinals of not one, but two events.

Being one of two members from Coppell to make it that far, the pressure was on for Li. “Pressure is a unique aspect of these events,” Li said. “Personally, when I am under more pressure, I am able to perform better because the pressure allows me to focus on what I need to specifically focus on for an event.”

Going to state in the 100-yard freestyle and breaststroke races, Li was looking to make a statement.

He was disqualified after a false start in the breaststroke race. However, he made it past the semifinals and into the finals where he placed 17th in the state.

Coppell swim and dive coach Jonathan Drori is particularly impressed by Li’s commitment to the sport.

“Sean is a very high level swimmer,” Drori said. “Swimmers like that have to be intrinsically motivated and good at what they do. Sean has both.”

Motivation and confidence are two

Coppell swim senior Sean Li leads Coppell swim as team captain. Li will attend New York University as a business major. Maddy Park words that were used by Drori, and for good reason.

“If he didn’t really want it, then it wouldn’t happen for him,” Drori said.

Promoted to captain by Drori, Li has always been a vocal part of the 41-member swim team.

“I voted to make him captain because he represents the team extremely well,” sophomore state qualifier Gabriel Campos said. “The way he leads me and allows me to improve my skills is well done.”

For the past two years, Li has competed in state two relays, but this year he was

looking to build his strength and make individual competitions – a significant change.

His way of doing this was by dedicating time to the sport and making space in a very busy schedule.

“Sean and I have really formed a bond at practices by staying with each other,” Campos said. “Coming in the mornings at eight to work on technique is something that shows his dedication to the sport.”

School is a big part of Li’s success and also a main reason why Li has developed time management skills.

“I make sure that I am not goofing around in class,” Li said. “If you are able to focus in class and do the required tasks on time, the amount of information you can garner is massive.”

As a committed business major at New York University, the future is bright for Li who wants to pursue swimming for a club on the side.

“I definitely want to continue swimming in college,” Li said. “I want to pursue a career in finance and continue to inspire students and lead in a way that is better for everyone and not just myself.”

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Williams sprinting past decade--long track record Rhea Choudhary Staff Writer @rhea_choud

Anticipating the gunshot, ready to take off in her lane, Coppell sophomore Sophia Williams repeats the Philippians 4:13 verse, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” prepared to give the race her all.

On Feb. 24 at the Hebron Hawk Relays, Williams broke the school record in the 800-meter run set in 2010 by one second at 1:40.

When it comes to competition, Williams’s specialty lies in relay events, specifically the 800-meter run and 1,600-meter relays. Her recent triumphs include earning first place in the 800-meter relay with a time of 1:40 and in the 1,600-meter relay with a time of 4:02 seconds, along with receiving third place in the 200-meter sprint with a time of 25 seconds - merely 30 milliseconds away from surpassing the 2015 record.

Williams’ track journey began in seventh grade at Coppell Middle School East.

However, her love for running traces back to her childhood when she ran with her father and older sister, Coppell senior track runner Emma Williams.

Growing up watching all her older siblings succeed within track, Sophia believed she had the potential to achieve that greatness, if not more.

“I saw Sophia’s interest and passion for track being sparked last year when she

first began high school track,” Emma said.

“Our family already knew that she was a great runner in middle school, but I saw her being on the same team as me for the current school year as a chance to help her be better than I was at her age.”

With Sophia previously playing basketball in her freshman year, she suffered a leg injury in the final game, forcing her to sit out for the 2023 track season. Nonetheless, she returned to running better than ever with the motivation of gaining speed, utilizing her summer in track to grind.

“Sophia is very self-motivated and you’re not going to hear her be the loudest in the room because while she isn’t a verbal leader, she leads by example with her work ethic,” Coppell girls track coach Landon Wren said. “I don’t have to question what she’s doing during practice because I am confident that she’s always doing exactly what she needs to do to reach her highest potential.”

Sophia’s weekly routine revolves around having daily practices with bi-weekly after-school practices and weight room sessions, including warm-ups and specialized workouts based on the upcoming relay that she will be competing in.

“It is hard to balance academics with sports, and even though I’ve had to pull a few all-nighters, what motivates me most is the fact that I may be able to earn an athletic college scholarship,” Sophia said.

“It helps me reflect on how far I’ve come since seventh grade and I remind myself

Coppell sophomore Sophia Williams broke the school’s 800-meter run record set in 2010 on Feb. 24 at the Hebron Hawk Relays, setting a new record of 1:40. Williams has been in track and field since seventh grade at Coppell Middle School North, inspired by her older siblings’ athletic accomplishments. Ava Johnson how proud I’ve made my dad with my improvement.”

In a family with five siblings, Sophia and her three older siblings are all well-experienced in track with each earning a time on the Coppell track and field record board.

“Sophia and I are very competitive with each other but I like being on track with her because her success motivates me to be faster and work harder too,” Emma said. “We do the same events and since we’ve only been able to spend two years as teammates, I think we share the spot-

light well.”

Sophia makes the most of having mentors in her family through their support and help with events they have previously run.

“After seeing how much hard work Sophia put into just focusing on track in the fall of 2023, I knew this would be a good year for her,” Wren said. “Setting a new 800-meter record was just the beginning for Sophia and I think there could potentially be more track records to be broken by her - the sky’s the limit for her.”

Gunnels twins forging stronger bond through lacrosse Sahasra Chakilam News Editor @sahasrachak24

From striking soccer balls to tumbling on the spring floor during gymnastics practice throughout their childhoods, at 8 years old, Coppell High School senior twins Ally Gunnels and Sydney Gunnels found a love for lacrosse, one that would stick with them all the way to high school.

Ever since, they have been part of the Coppell girls lacrosse team, growing together as players and as twins.

What drew you to lacrosse?

Sydney: We got involved the same way, because we were playing soccer with one of our friends and she also played lacrosse. Her dad told our dad about it, and then we started playing in third grade, and we’ve just been playing since.

Ally: I was drawn to lacrosse, because it was a more competitive sport than the sports I previously played. The community of lacrosse was also very welcoming, and that was especially important to us just being that little.

How would you describe your lacrosse journey?

Sydney: It has definitely been a long journey going from where we were in third grade. Positionally, I have switched around from starting off as defense to now playing every position. Even from freshman year, I have changed a lot in how I play and how I approach lacrosse with my mentality and skills.

Ally: There has been a lot of growing throughout the process. Skill wise, from the beginning of high school, I have improved a lot. Character trait wise, I’ve learned how to work hard and to have integrity and other important traits needed to become a leader for the team. Also, my dedication and love for the sport has grown. When I started, I was new and did other sports like gymnastics and soccer, but now, lacrosse is the only sport that we’ve stuck with and now I’m going to college for it.

How has your bond as twins influenced your lacrosse experience?

Sydney: Not necessarily always for the better, but definitely has been impactful the majority of the time. It taught this thing of how to work together under high pressure situations when one of us might be frustrated, and how to remain calm under pressure and not automatically turn to frustration. We have played together all these years and built a chemistry together, and it has helped us to have more trust in each other. There is also this added pressure of being twins where you are expected to have this chemistry.

Ally: Last year, we had our struggles playing together and being twins. Sydney would be an easy source to take my anger out at since it’s easier to get mad at her than to yell or get mad at someone else on the team. It’s also good knowing that she will be there for me and that she is reliable and someone that I can count on.

How have you overcome any obstacles being twins on the same lacrosse team?

Sydney: Our coaches were helpful resources. They helped us talk things through and see that there are positives to being twins on the same team and communicate with them about the struggles we were facing.

Ally: Our coaches helped us grow and be patient with each other. When Sydney and I didn’t want to talk to each other, it was helpful to have coaches that were willing to be the mediators between us. They also taught us how to be open with each other and how to communicate.

What is your favorite part about having a twin on the same lacrosse team?

Sydney: Getting to share experiences together and our victories. It’s great getting to share it with your teammates, but sharing it with your twin sister is also really special.

Ally: We are each other’s best friends and we know what each other has gone through to get to where we are, and the hard work we have put in. It’s good to have someone next to you who knows what that is like and someone to count on.

Coppell High School seniors Sydney and Ally Gunnels discovered their love for lacrosse at age 8 and have continued to play the sport throughout high school. Being on the same lacrosse team allowed them to grow together as players and as sisters. Brody Sever and Sameeha Syed

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April 2024 coppellstudentmedia.com