The August Issue

ORACLE

the

Stratford High School • Friday, August 23, 2019 • Vol. 47 • Issue 1

Looking Into a New Year

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Check out the new teachers this year, excited to welcome the Spartans back.

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Check out the indepth feature to learn about the changes this school year.

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Introducing our coaches this year, as they challenge the players to be the best they can be.

@SHSOracle @StratfordOracle www.shsoracle.org

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news

The Oracle • August 23, 2019

News in Brief COMPILED BY MCKENNA TANNER

• Aug. 29: Stratford plays

STRATFORD

Alvin at 7 p.m. in the first home game of the season • Sept. 2: Students and teachers get a break from school for Labor Day. • Oct. 4: Stratford plays Northbrook in the homecoming game at 7 p.m. The homecoming dance takes place the next night.

• Oct. 10: Stratford (visitor) plays Memorial at 7 p.m. in the annual rivalry match.

• Oct. 11: Students get the day off for a staff development day.

• Oct. 14: Students and teachers get a break from school for Columbus Day

• July 31: A fire broke out

LOCAL

at an ExxonMobil plant in Baytown, causing air quality concerns that led many to shelter-in-place until air monitors determined the air was normal.

• Aug. 21: A judge will oversee a hearing for a bail reform settlement agreed upon by Harris County commissioners, which states people arrested on misdemeanor charges won’t be held in jail if they can’t pay bond. This comes after the county bail system was ruled unconstitutional in 2017.

• July 24: Former Special

NATIONAL

Counsel Robert Mueller spent seven hours testifying before Congress about his investigation of the 2016 election.

• Aug. 3: A man in El Paso, TX, killed 22 and injured dozens when he began shooting in a Walmart and mall parking lot.

• Aug. 4: Hours after the shooting in El Paso, a man opened fire in Dayton, OH, around 1 a.m., killing nine, including his sister, and injuring at least 27.

The shooter was killed by police.

LOOKING INTO A NEW YEAR PHOTO BY NATHAN SICILIANO

Varsity football prepares for the season ahead.

They are looking forward to a year of success.

Say Hello to the Newest Spartans

Here’s an introduction to a few of the new faculty members joining us this year WRITTEN BY MCKENNA TANNER AND ANA SOFIA MEYER PHOTOS BY MADDIE DAWSON AND FRANCO GRIMOLDI CALO As incoming ninth graders learn how to navigate high school, they won’t be alone in making the transition to being Spartans.

A different sort of freshmen will be joining them in the adjustment—the newest members of the Stratford faculty. We sat down with some of these new teachers to ask them about themselves.

participating in shows and fun, creative group projects. Least favorite was definitely the balancing act of schoolwork, rehearsals, and prepping for standardized tests during junior year and before Halloween of senior year.”

Family will, watches, and golf clubs

Teaching:

teaching Algebra II, and I’m also coaching boys and girls cross country and track and field.”

Christopher Weeden

Art 1, Drawing 2, Drawing 2 pre-AP, and Painting 3 and 4

Teaching: Health fitness and coach girls’ basketball

“My favorite part of high school was definitely the relationships I was able to build and maintain even ‘til this day. I had great teachers, coaches, classmates, and teammates who all made my experience enjoyable and unique. My least favorite part of high school was math classes.”

What pop culture universe would you love to live in? Which one would you hate?

“I would love to live during the ‘90s pop culture universe because of the fashion and the music. I would probably hate the ‘50s pop culture... poodle skirts aren’t for me!”

Nicholas Butler

Teaching: Chemistry, aquatic science and coaching tennis

Best and worst pieces of advice you’ve ever received?

“The best advice, I would say, ‘Put in a good effort, and the kinks will work themselves out.’ Worst advice, probably anything my older sister ever told me.”

If you could take a trip in a time machine, to what time would you go?

“The Cretaceous period, to see some dinosaurs.”

Alyssa Davidson

Teaching: Theatre I, Theatre III, and tech theatre

If your house was burning down, what would you save?

“I would save the top drawers of my nightstands. Everything in those drawers are near and dear to my heart!”

Favorite parts of high school? Least favorite?

“[My] favorite parts were definitely

Golf Professional

Shawn Siemers Teaching: “I will be

What’s your favorite recent trend? What’s your favorite trend from when you were in high school?

What do you wish you were famous for?

Alexis Green

Favorite parts of high school? Least favorite?

What would you do if you didn’t teach?

musician!”

“When I was in high school I wanted to be a rock star. I settled for playing in a few cover bands. Would be nice to be a pro

What pop culture universe would you love to live in? Which one would you hate?

“I would totally be Spider-man, so I’ll have to go with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I would hate to be in the DC universe, too dark and depressing.”

Luis Romero

Teaching: I will be teaching Spanish I and coaching football/baseball.

What’s an invention that only exists in movies, but you wish was real?

The invisible glove from Predator

Best and worst pieces of advice you’ve ever received?

Best advice- go to college (mom) Worst advice- join the military. The high school friend that tried to get me to join enlisted and then went AWOL. I’m glad I didn’t listen to him.

David Walters

Teaching: “I’ll teach freshman biology [and coach girls’ soccer].”

If you were going to be a superhero, what would your power and hero name be?

“I know this sounds kind of lame but I’ve always thought it’d be cool to be able to speak every known language so I guess I’d be someone like Captain diplomat or something.”

Favorite recent trend? Favorite trend from when you were in high school?

“I like the crossover of country music these days. It’s funny because when I was in school I hated country music. I liked bad pants and had a mohawk for a brief stint in high school!”

Mark Mathe

Teaching: BIM and Financial Math If your house was burning down, what would you save?

“I guess my favorite recent trend is how I can get all of my news through social media instead of waiting to watch it on TV. Did we have trends when I was in high school? I guess my favorite trend back in the day was when the Rubik’s cube came out. I used to be able to solve it in under 10 seconds.”

What are you superstitious about?

“Before I compete in a race (marathon, half-marathon, 10K, etc.), I always eat the exact same food for breakfast and make sure to put my left shoe on before my right shoe.”

Gyasi Blanton

Teaching: “I will be teaching choir and theatre.”

When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Cardiothoracic Surgeon

If you could take a trip in a time machine, to what time would you go?

“Either the Harlem Renaissance or late ‘70s, early ‘80s during Whitney Houston’s prime of her career.”

Troy Karcher

Teaching: GL Precalculus What’s the best trip/ adventure you’ve been on in your life?

“I went on a mission trip to Honduras with my last school and it was amazing to see how high school student help out the children at the school and the faces of the students from Honduras when they received school supplies.”

What could you give a presentation on without preparation?

“How to teach person how to set a volleyball.”

To see the rest of our new teachers, check out shsoracle.org

life

The Oracle • August 23, 2019

What’s Ahead of Us

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WRITTEN BY MADDIE DAWSON PHOTOS BY DAN TATULESCU AND MADDIE DAWSON

Banding Together

At every football game and pep rally, our band shows off their hard work with amazing performances . The band is also preparing for their own competition season where they often excel. This year, the drum majors are seniors Jenny Hagedorn and Carolyn Koerner.

Make sure to catch them during the half-time performances out on the field.

“The Drowsy Chaperone” This year’s big musical put on by our Playhouse is surely something to look forward to. The show, The Drowsy Chaperone, is led by student director and senior, Janet Hagedorn. Come out this fall to see the production.

Food Truck Friday

Student Council invites food trucks from around the city for our Food Truck Friday.

This is a day where we adjust our schedule to allow for a longer lunch period. This year our first Food Truck Friday, organized by the Student Council executive board, is Sept. 27.

You’ll find Smoosh, Luchi & Joey’s, D-Lisch, and many more in our south parking lot!

Pep Rally Fun To get ready for game days, make sure to attend our pep rallies before every home football game. There are many fun competitive games and performances from band, cheer, and the Spartanaires.

This year the cheer captains are seniors, Kiley Rogers and Audrey Crawford.

Senior Caroline Bruce is the Spartanaire colonel and senior Hannah Timmreck is president.

The first pep rally is Aug. 29.

4 in•depth

Digital Expansion Sometime around

The Oracle • August 23, 2019

The more things change...

October, every student will be given a Google Chromebook in an initiative to expand technology use in the classroom. Throughout the year, teachers and students will be encouraged to complete assignments and homework online.

WRITTEN BY ISABELLA WALTZ, ALEXIS GARZA, AND ANA SOFIA MEYER GRAPHIC COURTESY OF HTTPS://WWW.PNGFIND.COM

As the student body gets back into the groove of going to school, they must adjust to new changes that have been brought in for the new school year. There have been many concerns and some animosity about theses new changes, many of which have been echoed by parents, as well as students. Seniors will adjust to an hour long lunch while taking on what may be the last year of their childhood, juniors prepare for major exams as they find themselves with brand new teachers in many classes, sophomores take on their second year of high school as they adapt to larger and more difficult classes, and freshmen attempt to learn their place in the large community of SHS. Change is in the air at Stratford!

Block Lunch Who is this for?

Why?

Block lunch is for you.

It was designed by the administration in order to make your life easier so you can attend tutorials during the day. If you do not have anything to get done during lunch, it is still a great opportunity to catch up with classmates and friends!

The purpose is to create scheduled time during the school day for students to attend tutorials and make-ups. This extra time during lunch is designed to give student’s extra help without requiring them to come in to school early or stay later.

What about student safety?

With the old lunch schedule, there were only about 8 adults in the cafeteria to watch over approximently 1,000 students.

However, block lunch allows there to be a minimum of 25 staff members for 2,000 students.

Staff members will be placed throughout the cafeteria, gym, hallways, and even at exits to ensure the safety of all students.

How can I use this time?

Where do I eat?

If needed, tutorials are first priority. However, tutorials aren’t your only options during block lunch. You can go to open gym, study in the library, or spend time with your friends. It is also a great time to meet with clubs and organizations. Clubs can hold meetings during this time in order to avoid after school conflicts.

A few changes have been made to seating options. Counselor’s Corner has now been removed and replaced with more tables.

There are benches lining the walls in the cafeteria. Student’s can also eat in classrooms with the teacher’s permission. Students can organize themselves based on their interests.

Clubs can eat together in their designated rooms.

New Librarian

Our new librarian is Ms. Laura Fuller.

She came from Cardiff Junior High in Katy ISD. Her favorite genre is realistic fiction and her favorite authors are April Henery and Sarah J. Maas!

Schedule

Students will still be given a 6 minute passing period, except the ones around lunch will both be 4 minutes. Each class has been shortened by about 10 minutes, making class 87 to 88 minutes End long.

Period

Begin

1/2

7:45

3/4

9:19

10:50

Block Lunch

10:54

11:54

5/6

11:58

1:26

7/8

1:32

3:00

9:13

in•depth 5

The Oracle • August 23, 2019

Late Start

One small change has been added to late start this year.

School will now begin at 9:45 on late start days. This makes the school day 15 minutes shorter at 5 hours and 15 minutes.

Dress Code

A new change to the handbook this year includes a change to the dress code. In the past, male students were not allowed to have facial hair other than mustaches.

With the change, now males can have beards, side burns, or even a goatee.

The more they stay the same...

In 46 years, this school has seen innumerable changes. From renovations, to mergers, to new principals and everything in between. Change is needed in order to keep things from going stale. While it may seem like all this newness is too much, think about all the change that has come before us to make Stratford such a great place. This year, there were 141 returning teachers and staff members. Something about this place keeps them coming back. Stratford America is the same community with the same pride that it has always had.

Spartan Pride shines through in the faculty and students here. Go into this new year with the same energy that makes Stratford the special place that it is.

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sports

The Oracle • August 23, 2019

Earning the Right to Win The Spartans report to preseason camp weeks before the regular season begins PHOTOS BY JACKSON ALLRED AND NATHAN SICILIANO

Head Coachin’

Tip Drill

In his second year as the head football coach and Athletic Director, Todd Rankin hopes to improve his football team from last season.

Prior to coaching at Stratford, Rankin coached at Klein Colllins and North Shore High Schools.

During a route running drill, sophomore receiver Diego Denson bobbles and reels in a catch. Last season, Denson played on the freshman green team.

Route Running

Senior Ballin’ During a 7 v 7 scrimmage, senior receiver Nick Baerenstecher threads the needle between two blockers. Baerenstecher moved to Houston from Bay Village, Ohio as a rising junior.

Junior Ben Moseley participates in a route running drill with the receivers. Playing receiver and running back on the varsity squad last season, Moseley piled up two rushing touchdowns.

Preseason Sportsmanship

Prior to a defensive/offensive line drill, senior Luis Garcia and junior Vincent Cashiola shake hands. Both players received quality minutes on last year’s varsity team and will play essential roles on this year’s squad.

Visit shsoracle.org to view the Spartans’ varsity football schedule.

Finding a new pace with Coach Siemers An in-depth look with Stratford’s newest cross country coach PHOTOS AND STORY BY NATHAN SICILIANO

What made you come to Stratford?

“I have competed against Stratford for the past several years in cross country and track. I’ve always been impressed with the tradition of the school, and the character of the student-athletes.”

What are you looking forward to this upcoming season?

“Our season has already started, so I can tell you what is already happening!

Our senior athletes are developing into powerful leaders and teaching the younger athletes how to run like champions. We are developing a strong team culture, and we had fourteen athletes earn medals in our first meet.”

What are your goals for the team?

“Our goal is to show up and work hard every day of practice, and compete with our best effort in every meet. We have athletes who have the potential to compete in the State meet as a consequence.”

Tell Stratford about yourself!

“I have a beautiful wife, Page Siemers, who is a teacher at Beckendorf Jr. High in Katy. We have four kids, Brooke, Connor, Anna, and Cooper.”

perspectives

The Oracle • August 23, 2019

Time to Try a Change

Patience and a positive attitude will help everyone benefit from the new block lunch WRITTEN BY MCKENNA TANNER This year, as with any new school year, brings plenty of changes, including new teachers, dress code updates and new tools for students.

The most discussed of these changes is probably the switch from two lunch periods to a single, hour-long block lunch for all 2,142 of Stratford’s students. This schedule shake-up is intended to help every student, but it’s raised plenty of concerns in the student body, concerns we should acknowledge so we can work to fix them.

our own lunch shifts so everyone gets a seat. At other schools with this block lunch set-up, like Spring Woods, the system works because their students were willing to adapt to a new routine. We can do the same.

Instead of getting mad if there isn’t space for us when lunch starts, we can be patient and maybe stop by an open tutorial to get some help on an assignment before we eat. Instead of just sitting at a lunch table after we finish eating, we can free up our seats for people who’ve been waiting What to Expect and take The goal of the advantage block lunch is to of the open make academic gym for the support more rest of lunch. available for And instead of everyone without walking into relying on students the cafeteria being available sure that this after school. While system will teachers can assign fail before we tutorials to their even try it, we students, there can start this will also be open year ready to tutorials that anyone try something can take advantage new, knowing of during the hour. it won’t be Rather than working perfect at around after-school first, but practices, rehearsals The Ingredients of a Good Lunch Although the new lunch schedule willing and jobs, everyone is going to cause plenty of changes, with a little patience, we can make sure to work will have built-in time everyone has a positive experience this year. The block lunch starts Aug. 26. around the to ask questions and challenges. clarify assignments.

As we start this new school year, suggests we as students are powerless This is a clear benefit, but navigating we’ll already be making plenty of to affect things, which we know the challenges of twice as many adjustments: new classes, different isn’t true. In the same way that full people eating lunch in one time classmates, new clubs, and other commitment from every player frame is going to take some extra changes. We’ve all been making these makes a good football game, if we effort. adjustments since we started school; all try to make this new situation a It’s important to recognize this block positive one, we’ll have a much better the switch to a block lunch is just one lunch is going to force all of us to more. It’s true that it may cause some experience with it. adjust our routines, at least a little. problems at first, but by recognizing There is only so much space in the those problems, we can act on them What We Can Do snack bar, cafeteria and courtyards, and make this a good experience for When we switch to having a single and only so many seats can fill that everyone. lunch, it’s going to be a little rough at space. With double the people trying to get a spot, it’ll be even harder to find a seat if you’re after a certain section, and the table you and your

F

GRAPHIC BY MCKENNA TANNER friends claimed last year may already be full. Although the school is adding tables in what was once Counselor’s Corner as well as benches along the walls, and, with teacher permission, students can eat in classrooms, if we all try to follow last year’s habits, a lot of us still might not get a seat.

It’s easy to pass these problems on to the school—to say that since administrators made this decision, they have sole responsibility to fix any issues it causes. But this attitude

first as everyone tries to figure out when they can eat and where they can sit. It’ll take time for us to make

Mission Statement “By the students. For the students. About the Students.”

rom its founding in 1974 to this coming 2019-2020 school year, the mission of the Stratford High School Oracle Newspaper has been the same: to develop the skills and follow the standards of professional journalists, and to present stories about and for the students — our primary audience.

To provide a forum for student writing, photography, and art — the Oracle creates a community of students who share a common passion for many of these skills through group learning, mentorship,and fostering an atmosphere of creative collaboration.

To provide training for not only journalism, but in marketing and business — the Oracle is completely self-

funded and must sell ads to promote local businesses in order to compensate for the price of printing. Members of the ads staff practice their business techniques by speaking to other businesses in pursuit of securing finances that allow the production of the paper to continue.

Finally, and most importantly, to open dialogue and give students a voice. In few other outlets do students have the ability to inform and express their opinion to a large audience. Whether an article is about a student giving back to the community or a discussion at the latest board meeting, a student’s voice will be heard.

ORACLE

the

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staff

Editors-in-Chief

Jack Weatherly

*Alexis Garza *Isabella Waltz

Reis Berilgn

Associate

Aniesa Campos Jackson Cossey Hossein Farahami Paige Lintner Kyla Lyles Bailey Maloy Elizabeth Noble Lucia Roma Mircea Tatalescu Eleanore Williams Kyle Zabroski

Editors *Maddie Dawson *Ana Sofia Meyer *McKenna Tanner

Photo Editors *Paige Clark *Becca Dawson

News Editors Michael Benes Hannah Timmreck

Life Editors

Photographers

Head

Franco Grimoldi Calo Grace Hare

Photographer

Sports Editors

Kate Delgado Libby Grizzell Joy Meyers

Jackson Allred Nathan Siciliano

Perspectives Editor Blake Todes

Reporters Carsen Blevins Reed Howell Nathan Keyworth Laura Koerner Tailor Williams Emma Wright Griffin Ross Kaleb Vu

The Oracle newspaper is the official, schoolsponsored student media of Stratford High School, 14555 Fern, Houston, Texas 77079, 713-251-3454.

The Oracle is published monthly by the Journalism Department and is also available online at shsoracle.org.

The newspaper is a member of Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and Interscholastic League Press Conference.

The Oracle serves as a public forum of student expression

Dan Tatulescu

Ads Editors

Ads Staff Selby Funk Isabella Leal Hannah Morris Ellie Noble

Building Principal Chad Crowson

Advisor Janice Cummons

*Editorial Board Members

and is open to contributions submitted by the readers. Readers may submit material via e-mail to info@shsoracle. org.

All letters to the editors must be typed and contain the author’s full name, grade and signature.

Submitted material is subject to editing based on space and/ or content. The opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, the staff, the administration or the school district.

Publication costs are covered through advertisements.

For more information, contact thestratfordoracle@gmail.com OR call at 713-251-3454

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The Oracle • August 23, 2019

It’s the Start of Something New PHOTOS BY DAN TATELESCU & PAIGE CLARK

Link Crew leaders help orient the freshman to high school in a fun and friendly way Stratford Spirit

Carrying on the Stratford tradition, upperclassmen link crew leaders create funny signs and play silly games to help calm the nerves of the new high schoolers. All the leaders and freshman gather in the gym to play games and announce Spartan Time groups. This year, Link Crew leaders all wore shirts with a line from the movie Finding Nemo “Fish are friends, not food” referencing the nickname upperclassmen have given to freshmen as “fish”.

All Things Volleyball

PHOTO BY MADDIE DAWSON

After a successful season last year, the Spartans hope to improve off of that as they approach district play.

U

pcoming Games!

With games coming up, your Spartan Volleyball players need your help packing the gym and showing your support at every game! Here’s when they play: Tues, Aug 27, 5:30 @ Spring Woods Fri, Aug 30, 5:30 @ Cy-Ranch Tues, Sept 3 5:30 @ Cy Ridge Fri, Sept 6 5:30 @ Cy-Creek Tues, Sept 10 5:30 v. Northbrook

Spartan Chemistry

Fri, Sept 13 5:30 @ Memorial

After Katy High School gets off a soft Tues, Sept 17 5:30 v. Cy-Fair return over the net, senior Taylor Yun sets up her teammate for the Fri, Sept 20 5:30 @ Cy-Falls eventual spike. Yun plays the DS/L (defensive specialist/libero) position Tues, Sept 24 5:30 v. Jersey Village for the varsity squad.

photos

Spartan Rowdies

Link Crew leaders, Caroline Ashley and Kirby Koster, get the freshmen excited for the year. Link Crew leaders helped the newcomers get oriented at Stratford days before the school year, by showing them around the school, giving them tips about Stratford from the perspective of a student and playing ice breakers with them and other freshmen.