Book smart | 2
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The pros and cons of physical versus online textbooks
Chilled to the bone | 7
| 4-5
Managing the effects of winter weather on athletes
Robotics teams catapult to top tier in state
Vanguard College Preparatory School, 2517 Mt. Carmel Dr., Waco, Texas 76710
February 2022, Volume 49, Issue 4
The Vanguard Review A VCPS Publication
Beloved books: Banned?
Texas state senator issues questionnaire asking librarians to report on books that “make students feel discomfort” Isaac Saadi ‘22 editor-in-chief
T
he idea of book censorship has trickled its way from the 16th century Roman Catholic Church’s “Index of Forbidden Books” as an effort to prevent the “corruption of morals” to the Nazi Reich Ministry, which tried to eliminate all books that represented ideas opposed to the Nazism. Last fall in Texas, State Senator Matt Krause compiled a list of 850 books that he said could potentially “make students feel discomfort” as a preemptive measure to remove them from public school libraries. “A world where the government controls what books we can and cannot read would look dangerously like the book “1984,” senior Naomi West said. “Everyone would think the same thing regarding certain issues and if you have a different set of beliefs than everyone else, you will be chastised and looked down upon.” Krause’s book list includes topics on issues of race, sexuality and gender with titles such as “The Confessions of Nat Turner” by William Styron and “The Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights” by Devlin Smith. A January 2022 Vanguard Review poll indicat-
ed 58.5 percent of students either strongly disagree or somewhat disagree with banning the teaching of certain books in public schools - for content about slavery, race, religion and gender equality - while an overwhelming 80.4 percent believe the government should not be able to control what books students are able to read. “I don’t think the government should be allowed to ban teaching any books,” said senior Courtney Wiethorn. “It is important to learn about those topics in order to understand our world and respect other people. If the government bans books about our country’s past, we run the risk of repeating it, which would be catastrophic.” The fervor around the idea of book censorship is viewed by many students and teachers as wrong, as it attempts to erase a part of history and denies readers a chance to fully understand the issues that plague our society. AP English and European History teacher Jen Ferretter explained the importance of students engaging and learning history through literature. “Everyone knows that Antonio in “The Merchant of Venice” is horribly anti-Semitic and that Iago in “Othello” is racist,” Ferretter said. “But
Virtual reality
others. Great literature encourages us to be on guard against such behavior, she added. “I think Shakespeare has a very good understanding of anti-Semitism,” junior Avril Maldonado said. “People were still discriminating against Jews and hypocrisy was big.” Reading “Beloved’’ by Perched on her stool discussing Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” English teacher Toni Morrison is deemed a Jen Ferretter expresses the significance of learning from the ghost of slavdefining characteristic of the ery’s past. Photo by Isaac Saadi / VR staff high school English curricubanning either play would be a travesty.” lum. The Virginia governor Knowing how anti-Semitic and racist the Re- race has brought discourse around the “Beloved” naissance was, allows students to better understand Bill (House Bill No. 516) which was introduced in how the Holocaust, slavery and imperialism came Virginia in 2016 to ban the book from the state’s to be,” Ferretter said. public school English curriculum. “Hitler didn’t invent anti-Semitism,” she said. Senior Bella Garzonie said “Beloved” has en“It had been encouraged for centuries. Hundreds to riched her high school experience. thousands of Jews were burned alive in Strasbourg “While Beloved is a tough book to read, I think in 1349 in response to the Black Death.” it has taught me about experiences that I would othShakespeare’s plays, Ferretter said, illustrate erwise have not known about,” she said. how people have always tried to boost their own Dana Williams, president of the Toni Morrison sense of self-worth by belittling and pulling down Society, explains the importance of reading “BeContinued on page 8
National stats show mental health impacts of pandemic on teens
More than 50 percent of VCPS students said that time spent in quarantine and virtual school over the last 18 months affected their mental health. Source: VR student poll, Jan. 2022
Landri Wheeler ‘24 reporter
W
hile COVID-19 has devastated families across the country, killing 861,000 to date, it is also killing something else: the spirit of many teens who have experienced fear, anxiety and isolation during what should be the most fun and carefree time of their lives. Though Vanguard was able to remain in-person the entire 2020-21 school year, many students across the country found themselves continuing to stay home and attend virtual school. During 2020, the proportion of mental health– related emergency department (ED) visits among adolescents aged 12–17 years increased 31 percent compared with that during 2019, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, ED visits for suspected suicide attempts began to increase among adolescents aged 12–17 years, especially girls. During February 21–March 20, 2021, suspected suicide attempt ED visits were 50.6 percent higher among girls aged 12–17 years than during the same period in 2019; among boys aged 12–17 years, suspected suicide attempt ED visits increased 3.7 percent, the CDC data showed. There were more than 47,000 mental health visits to emergency departments at 38 children’s hospitals around the country in the first three quarters of 2021 – nearly 40 percent higher than the same period in 2020, according to data from the Children’s Hospital Association.
Clinical psychologist Cassie Kendrick, Psy.D. of Waco Psychological Associates, said isolation most definitely affects the minds of teenagers. “It is well known that stress and isolation impact mental health,” Kendrick said. “The nature of adolescence creates particular vulnerability to mental health issues simply because of the myriad of physiological, social, and psychological changes happening during this important developmental time,” Kendrick said. “When teenagers face increasing stress and isolation, we naturally see an uptick in symptoms of depression, anxiety and other related issues, such as increased suicide risk.” Sixty-four percent of VCPS students have been quarantined or had to participate in the Viking FLEX program due to COVID or contact tracing, according to a Jan. 2022 VR poll. And just over 50 percent said that being in quarantine and virtual school ‘somewhat’ affected their mental health. Sophomore Juliet Indergard said that quarantine, in a way, affected her mental health. “It affected my mental health because of the inability to have social contact with my friends and it took a small toll on me,” Indergard said. Freshman Caroline Rice said that while in virtual school, it was a more lonely environment being without friends and family. “My experience with virtual [school] wasn’t necessarily bad, but I felt kind of lonely, locked up in my house,” Rice said.
Some of the long term effects from the pandemic can include depression and anxiety, Kendrick said. “Even before the pandemic, concern was growing regarding the seeming increase of social isolation within our culture due to the extraordinary impact that such isolation can have on not only mental, but physical health,” Kendrick said. “The effects of the pandemic have only heightened these concerns. Kendrick cited a 2020 review called “The Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in the Context of COVID-19,” published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, which examined factors such as isolation, loneliness and symptoms commonly associated with mental health issues in persons ranging in age from four to 21. The study found an association between loneliness and susceptibility to mental health symptoms, such as anxiety and depression and that the impact of loneliness upon mental health can persist for years. “That being said, a period of loneliness doesn’t doom anyone to a life fraught with depression and
anxiety,” she said. “What we do know, however, is that it is important for all of us, especially young people, to establish, reestablish and maintain normal social connections to the degree that is possible not just during or post the pandemic, but also for years to come.” Without a routine and a normal school environment, it can be hard to stay focused while at home
There were more than 47,000 mental health visit to emergency departments at 38 children’s hospitals in the first three quarters of 2021 — early 40 percent higher than the same period in 2020. — Children’s Hospital Association where you would usually relax after being at school all day. Almost 65 percent of students said that it is harder to focus and concentrate when they are out on the flex program or quarantined according to the Jan. ‘22 VR student poll. Rice said it was harder to find her motivation while at home. “It was a lot harder to actually find motivation to do my school work,” Rice said. “What was an hour’s worth of homework took me forever because I couldn’t focus at home.”
Continued on page 8
2 opinion
The Vanguard Review February 5, 2022
Texbooks: Worth the weight
B
ooks are heavy. when being online our mind is used to involuntariThey can weigh ly scrolling and overall not being all there. Because you down. But do e-books are accessed on distracting devices, deep online books give you the reading is prevented. This causes readers to analyze same feeling and learning more loosely. Carrying a little bit of extra weight during experience as a book that you can feel and touch? school is worth it. When the Internet is down and Delaney Trepinski ‘23 With the heaviness you can’t access online books, what will you do? of the books comes You will need physical textbooks. When you’re on assistant editor a depth of experience a road trip and there is no service, you can always that cannot be replaced by an electronic device. open a book. When you rent or buy a book online, More than 84 percent of students, according to the you have the potential of losing it, sometimes not Jan. 2022 VR poll, said they prefer physical books on your own accord. Things like simple updates or over e-readers, even in an age where everything is switching phones or laptops can cause problems with downloaded books, but a shelf can’t lose a going virtual. There are many reasons to choose a physical book. And although blue light isn’t as big of an issue book over an online one, but I will highlight a few anymore due to blue light filters, eye strain is still a specific arguments: Physical books provide a bet- problem. The glare and light coming off of a phone ter learning experience. You can’t rely on always having the Internet. Studies show that after reading about 500 You can make a physical book tru- words or more in an online textbook, your comly your own. And paper books are prehension begins to struggle, according to actually more environmentally reeducational psychologist Patricia Alexander. sponsible than using e-readers. Although online books are becoming increas- can make it hard to read on a sunny day. As the awareness of the environment grows, so ingly popular, many studies indicate physical textbooks show better learning and understanding re- does the concern about the use of paper. In contrast sults than ebooks. A 2017 experiment featured in to popular belief, paper books are actually better for the Heichenburg Report follows a study that edu- the environment than an ebook. The New York Times cational physiologist Patricia Alexander did earlier explained this in a 2010 article titled “How Green that year. Her studies show that after reading about is My iPad?” In this article, the writer highlights 500 words or more in an online textbook, your com- the vast differences in material use, reporting that prehension begins to struggle. This was proven in “One e-reader requires the extraction of 33 pounds all grade levels. Many scientists think it is because of minerals and 79 gallons of water.”
Things to
In a stark contrast, “A book made with recycled paper consumes about two-thirds of a pound of minerals and two gallons of water.” The article also highlights that the production of print books produces 100 times fewer greenhouse gasses than ebooks. Books can be expensive. I am very aware of this and my train of thought is that once you buy it you have it forever, so after so many years it becomes a worthy purchase. Even if you don’t want to buy it, you can borrow it from a library. But if you do buy your own, you can highlight and tab your books to make it entirely your own. Those notes and fluorescent words can be looked back upon and remembered over and over. Along with making it your own, online books don’t let you feel your progress, being able to look at the chapters you’ve read, heavy in your hand, is an unparalleled feeling. The notes you take in your textbook can be passed down to new students and possibly help them. When you find a used book and it has margin notes and tabs and highlighted portions, you get to look into someone else’s head and see what they felt while reading it — almost as if you are reading it together. The biggest difference between the two is definitely the overall feeling a new book or a favorite book gives. Physical books can sit on your shelf and you can share them with friends and family. There is a certain vibe that holding a book gives. The best part is watching it age, as it is more loved over the years. It will begin to fit naturally in the reader’s hands and the pages will always have the notes you leave in it. Physical books hold a memorable emotion that an online book just does not have.
Modernizing the world one book at a time
H
ave you ever gotten home, sat down to do your homework and realized you forgot your textbook at school? You suddenly start stressing that you can’t complete your Hope Hamblin ‘25 homework and will make reporter a bad grade. That is one of the many reasons online textbooks are a better option to physical ones. If you forget to bring a textbook home, you can still do your homework if your books are online. Most teachers have a policy which states that any late homework will not be accepted and will be put in the grade book as a zero. A zero in the grade book can affect your grade in more ways than you wish. Having online textbooks means you can access your homework anywhere, at any time. So if you are studying somewhere other than home or somewhere where you cannot access hard-back textbooks, you can still get your homework done without having to worry about waiting to do the work. Some student athletes prefer to do their homework between games or when they have time at an
Quotes we love
event instead of waiting until late at night when they up to a grand. Some families struggle to afford all get home. It would be much easier to use a device of these added expenses on top of their tuition. This for your worksheet instead of pulling out a whole can cause low income families to worry about how huge textbook and having to make a mess with pa- they can cover all of these expenses for just one of pers flying everywhere. It is super inconvenient to their children. have to carry around all these textbooks for all these Physical textbooks are also harmful to the enclasses and can get very heavy very quickly. vironment. Tons of trees filling our beautiful forests When you combine your textbooks, binders, have to be cut down to make all these textbooks. pencil bag, A whopping A whopping 626,000 tons of paper are used to 626,000 tons of any device you use at produce books each year in the U.S. alone, acpaper are used to school, char- cording to a 2020 University of Michigan study produce books gers and any each year in the called “Planet Blue.” extra things U.S. alone, acyou need for school into a single backpack, it can cording to a 2020 University of Michigan study become very heavy, very fast. I have personal- called ‘Planet Blue.’ The average textbook contains ly found myself multiple times in a great amount about 700 pages, and about 30,000,000 trees a year of pain from having to carry my heavy backpack are cut down to produce textbooks. Having to print around. It makes things very uncomfortable and is hundreds to even over a thousand pages for just one not easily portable. book adds up very quickly. The amount of paper On top of all of these things, it is not the most used, in addition to textbooks, is already very high cost-effective option. Each textbook can cost up to due to worksheets, notes, essays and anything else or over $100, and you might need five or six books needing to be on paper. Environmentally conscious depending on the classes you are taking. Books with students do not want to be part of that. other supplies not covered in tuition can easily add
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“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” —Winston Churchill
The VR staff
Our Policies Editorials & Content The editorial board, comprised of newspaper staff members, determines by consensus the content of the paper. The Vanguard Review staff has elected to use this editorial policy to govern the activity of the paper throughout the 2021-2022 school year. We reserve the right to refuse any content. No offensive material will be permitted to print, and submissions may be edited for grammatical purposes.
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Email us at vanguard_review@vanguard.org to talk to us about sharing your opinion in the paper or submitting a letter to the editor! If you’re interested in submitting artwork or other pieces of writing, send us an email - or stop by the newspaper room in Brown 112.
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Distribution and Printing Process
The Vanguard Review prints 300 copies of each issue. The paper is made available to students and faculty at several locations across campus. The paper is sent through the mail to individuals, including parents and alumni, on the official VCPS mailing list. It is also available online.
Consider February 2022 poll results are in! What temperature do you think should determine if we have an “indoor lunch” day? <60 degrees 11.5% <50 degrees 30.8% <40 degrees 57.7% What do you think about book censorship - banning the teaching of certain books in public schools - for content about slavery, race, religion and gender equality? Somewhat support 2.3% I strongly disagree 47.7% I somewhat disagree 13.1% I need more info 36.9% Should the government be able to control what books students are able to read? Yes 2.3% No 81.1% No opinion 16.7% Should the government be able to control what books a teacher can teach? Yes 14.4% No 59.1% I’m not sure 26.5% Are you planning a spring break trip? Yes 56.1% No 43.9% Pick one: Beach or mountains? Beach 47.8% Mountains 52.2% Pick one: Cake or ice cream? Cake 25.6% Ice cream 74.4% Do you prefer physical textbooks or online textbooks? Physical 84.3% Online 15.7% The above results reflect the VCPS student body of 243 students. Polls were distributed electronically through Google Forms. Number of responses: 134
The Vanguard Review Volume 49, Issue 4, February 5, 2022 The Vanguard College Preparatory School Student Newspaper 2517 Mt. Carmel Dr., Waco, Texas 76710 vanguard_review@vanguard.org (254) 772-8111
Staff
Isaac Saadi editor-in-chief Delaney Trepinski assistant editor Brooke Jolliff senior reporter Landri Wheeler reporter & business manager Hope Hamblin reporter & business manager Gretchen Eichenberg adviser
Mission Statement It is our mission to be the voice of the students of Vanguard College Preparatory School. We will endeavor in our roles as journalists to create a paper that students can read to be educated and informed.
Demographics Vanguard College Preparatory School has a total population of 279: 243 students and 36 faculty members.
people
The Vanguard Review February 5, 2022
Student Spotlight:
3
Teacher Spotlight:
Grade 10
Soccer coach
Mr. Tucker
Lydia Wollard
Literally Lydia
Her hobbies include everything but the kitchen sink Brooke Jolliff ‘22
Fresh from the continent of Australia, soccer coach Ruben Tucker said he’s been dreaming of coaching in the U.S. for a long time. Hope Hamblin/ VR staff
Hope Hamblin ‘25 reporter
Lydia Wollard takes a break on the steps outside Bostick. Wollard is a multi-talented student who enjoys music, art and cars. Photo by Isaac Saadi / Vanguard Review staff
senior reporter
From music to art, to playing the ukulele, sophomore Lydia Wollard developed her passion for cars just this past year. It all started one day after hearing about a Mustang that would soon become her newest project and hobby. Wollard said she just became interested in cars and racing over the last year. “My mom’s old friend said he had a Mustang that he could redo for me as long as I helped, and I was obviously not going to turn that opportunity down,” Wollard said. “After a while, I was educating myself rather often about different models of cars and how they work. I’d already thought racing was awesome, but last summer I got to see some racing in Oklahoma at the Ford Shelby show and I was absolutely blown away by it.” It is true, Wollard is working on a car, however, she sadly was unable to finish it. “I was indeed helping my mom’s friend rebuild a ‘97 Mustang GT, but we ended up not being able to finish it,” she said. “Although it’s sad that we couldn’t finish, I still have plenty of fond memories of times in the shop, working on the car late into the evenings last year. Working on it could be frustrating at times like when I’d have to take out all the pieces just to spend hours cleaning them off and then meticulously putting them back in. But at the same time it was almost therapeutic and gave me something to think about other than everything else going on in life.” Along with cars, Wollard also loves different types of racing. “I like Narscar, but I really love watching road
course races,” she said. “Road races have a longer track with more curves and turns than the typical Nascar track. For example, there’s a great road course in Oklahoma called Hallett Motor Racing Circuit and that’s where I watched the races at the Ford Shelby Show.” Not only does Wollard take interest in cars, but also greatly appreciates music and the arts. “Something about seeing an amazing painting or hearing an incredible song just lights a huge passion in me that makes me want to do the same,” she said. “Because I don’t spend a lot of time watching TV, music has always been a great source of entertainment for me. Not only do I enjoy playing it, I also spend hours looking through Youtube and Spotify for music that I’ve never heard before. After a lot of time searching and listening, I’ve developed a huge collection of music from just about every genre.” Wollard even uses music as an inspiration for her artwork. “Music is a great artistic inspiration to have, and can welcome you into worlds you’ve never seen or experienced before,” she said. “As far as art goes, I’ve always been off and on with it, but I never fail to come back to it. Taking inspiration from music and music videos is my favorite thing to do because it’s a great way to tie my passions of art and music together.” She said she has worked in many mediums such as oil pastel, watercolor, and acrylic paint. “I never restrict myself to one medium,” she said. “Art is an incredible outlet for creativity and
emotion, and can put your thoughts into a visual form which is a great ability to have.” Along with these, Wollard has had many changing hobbies throughout the years. “My long history of hobbies is one of the most fun things for me to talk about with others,” she said. Whether it’s choir, marching band, archery, or playing the ukulele, I’ve tried many different ways of passing the time and I’ve gotta say it’s been a fun journey that I don’t plan on ending anytime soon. There’s always something new to try.” Keeping track of all of her hobbies does not leave much room for watching lots of TV like other teens. “I don’t really watch much TV, but my friend Ada just introduced me to a show called Miracle Workers and it’s absolutely hilarious,” she said. “She introduced me to it with a hilarious clip from one of the episodes and I’ve been hooked ever since then.” When life gets tough, Wollard always looks up to her sister Ashley for strength and guidance. “I look up to my older sister Ashley because of her perseverance and strength in the face of adversity,” she said. “Ashley was the first of my siblings to graduate college, while also holding a job, and then she immediately moved to Austin to start her job working with kids my age who have mental health disorders. Ashley’s always been a great role model to me, and she has contributed an immeasurable amount to help me become the person I am today.” When Wollard was looking for a change from continued on page 8
VR: What are the main differences between living in the Netherlands and Australia as opposed to here in the US? RT: The main differences between the Netherlands and the US are the weather and the cars that people drive in. The weather in the Netherlands is a lot colder and there are weeks where we only see the sun for about an hour a day, because it’s so clouded. The cars in the Netherlands are all very small, because roads are a lot more narrow and it’s very hard to find a parking space for a big car. The main difference between Australia and the U.S. that I notice is that almost all schools in Australia have you wear a uniform to school every day. The school I went to was also very strict about us wearing our entire uniform on the way to and on the way back from school, because we had to represent the school in the best way possible. VR: If you could teach/coach anywhere and any age group in the world, which would you choose and why? RT: A big dream of mine for a long time has been to coach in the states actually. Mostly because of the passion that a lot of people here feel for sports, which I think is absolutely amazing. My favorite age group would probably be any age above 13 years old. I have coached a few teams with kids under the age of 12, and there were too many kids that only played because their parents forced them too. VR: What sparked your passion for soccer and how did that influence you to become a coach? RT: Ever since I was a young kid, I loved to play any kind of sport. Almost all the pictures of me from the age of 3-6 are me playing tennis, soccer or Australian football. This was mostly due to my dad being a big tennis and Australian football fan and my mum being a big soccer fan. As soon as we moved to the Netherlands I had access to many public soccer fields in the city I lived in. So after school me and my friends used to go to these fields to play every single day. The more I played, the more I loved the game. continued on page 8
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e
Robotics program catapults to top tier in state
Automated Alliance
Y
ou could say the Viking Robotics teams fly under the radar. Maybe that’s why many people do not even know they rocked a state competition last summer, competing against top-tier private schools from across Texas, including one team that was sponsored by NASA. Out of the 600 schools (public and private) in Texas that compete in FTC, our program was recognized as the best of the best. Tim Reid describes that moment as the best he has ever had. “Last year at the Texas Cup at the Alamodome in San Antonio when we were receiving the winning Alliance trophies and then receiving the Inspire award, which is the best award you can receive in the competition, Hai Nguyen (held) both of those trophies up in the air (and began) screaming.” In just its fourth year of competition, the Viking robotics team established itself as an elite program, racking up awards at the district, regional and state level. In the Robotics department, there are a total of two teams: Team 12597,
Story and photos by Delaney Trepinski
also known as Ragnarok, and team 13053, or Berserk. In the Waco League, Berserk took the 1st place Inspire Award, while Ragnarok earned 3rd place — both teams advancing to the Central Texas Regional competition. At TAPPS, Berserk claimed the state championship and also earned 3rd place in robot design. At regionals, Berserk was named a Finalist Alliance Partner and took a 2nd place Think award, propelling them to the Texas Cup competition. That’s where Berserk earned the 1st Place Inspire Award,(the Inspire Award is the top award a team can receive because the winner embodies the ‘challenge’ of the FTC Program, is an inspiration to other teams, acts with Gracious Professionalism, promotes their program to the community and shows succeed in performing the task of designing and building a robot) and was named the Winning Alliance Partner — otherwise known as state champions. Both Ragnarok and Berserk are now gearing up for another successful year in the arena. The teams began building two new robots in August and have already competed twice.
On Jan 29, the teams competed in the Waco League tournament the BRIC. Ragnarok (12597) took the 1st place Connect Award, 3rd Place Inspire Award and Finalist Alliance. Berserk Robotics (13053) claimed the 1st Place Inspire Award, 2nd Place Connect Award, 2nd Place Control Award and Winning Alliance. As the Inspire Award winner, Berserk will travel to San Antonio in February to compete in the FTC Regionals. “We would really like to get to the state level and compete with top teams, not just in Waco,” sophomore Evan Roos said. “I think that’s a good with it and wanted to continue doing it throughout middle school and high school.” After joining, the members established their favorite qualities of being a member. Reid said watching his team grow is his favorite part. “The best part of being on the team as captain is teaching all the newbies the skills of innovation and STEM and seeing them grow through the season,” he said. Castor likes the creativity that being on the team offers.
RagnarOK Front row: Michael Cobb, Lily Martin, Evan Roos, Cole Clark and AJ Cooper Back row: Leo Jackson, Sebastian Reyna, Jared Ray, Brian Kim and Alex Thompson
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BERSERK
5
Front row: Adam Melveney, Will Morrison and Denton Reese Back row: Natalia Martinez-Gil, Bella Garzonie, Kalena Castor, Tim Reid, Parker Howard, Shakir Shawbaki and Hunter Tindell
“We have a lot of creative liberties to complete the theme in our own way.” - Cole Clark, senior “I like that I am able to understand what different parts are, how they work, and what they do,” said Castor. “I like being able to be creative with different prototypes and see the pros and cons of each.” Clark said he enjoys the freedom he has in robotics. “We have a lot of creative liberties to complete the theme in our own way,” said Clark, “unlike a teacher telling us how to make it.” Many things make up the Robotics teams, one of them is special moments. “When I was on the team two years ago, there was a really funny senior who would always do a workout in class once he finished his part,” Clark said, “and sometimes take off his shirt. Weird, but funny.”
can come together to fix something under pressure.” Castor shared how going to a meet was a turning point in her robotics career. “When I was in sixth grade, I went to an FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge, they sponsor robotics competitions and are the robotics section of TAAPS) competition to support a couple of friends from my old school’s robotics team,” Castor said. “I was so excited to know that I could possibly be a part of that world of robotics so my first FTC competition reminded me of all that.” The captains of each team feel a level of responsibility for their members. “As captain of the team, I feel it is my responsibility and duty to pass my knowledge of robotics onto the next generation teammates before I go off to college,” Reid said. Clark said he feels the weight of responsibility as well. “Making sure everyone has a part, goofing around is kept to a minimum,” said Clark, “and everyone ends up having a fun and memorable experience in robotics.” Many members of the Robotics teams want to continue pursuing Robotics in the future. “I want to earn a degree in engineering,” Castor said. Clark agreed. “I am planning to continue robotics in college,” Clark said, “and I believe it will help my planned major, mechanical engineering, out greatly.” Reid is shooting for the stars. “I am planning on continuing my education and possibly going into being an aerospace engineer,” Reid said.
“Competitions are very unpredictable and something could easily break, but it’s amazing to see how we can come together to fix something under pressure.” - Lily Martin, sophomore Robotics team meets are also important to the members. “Going to the meets are really fun because the work you put in at school is made into a pretty intense competition,” Howard said. “Last season we went to San Antonio for regionals and it was very fun to do that. While we were there we didn’t do bad for a rookie team and improved a lot from the past meets.” Martin said she feels stressed during meets. “I really enjoy competitions because we get to show off all the work we have done, even though it is the most stressful time,” she said. “Competitions are very unpredictable and something could easily break, but it’s amazing to see how we
Clockwise from top: Making adjustments to the coding of their robot, sophomore Shakir Shawbaki and junior Denton Reese prepare for the Waco League competition. Photo by Aidan Latino Hunter Tindell, freshman, tweaks Berserk’s robot during fourth mod robotics class. Photo by Townlin Starr The robotics teams compete in the Waco League tournament on Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC) where Berserk advanced to the FTC Regionals. Archive photo
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6 feature
The Vanguard Review February 5, 2022
There really is LOTS of good news happening in the world
SMALL WINS ARE BIG
Ta Fl kin igh g t
S
ometimes it seems like the world is full of nothing but bad news. But the truth is, there is a whole lot of good happening all around, if we just take the time to look for it. The Vanguard Review went in search of good news this month and we hope these stories encourage our readers to find the positive narratives in an often negative world.
By Isaac Saadi, Landri Wheeler and Brooke Jolliff
THE MONARCH POPULATION SOARED
4,900 percent since last year in the 2021 Western migration, according to researchers and park rangers at the Pismo Beach Butterfly Grove in California. While just 200 Western monarchs were recorded at the grove in 2020, this year a swarm of more than 100,000 traveled down from as far north as Canada to winter on the California coast.
On E N I E F F A C the bright S IE AR Repr C E L esen SP ACU t T side C E P S TEsting testing
EMBRACING mini accomplishments throughout the day can change someone’s entire outlook. The average person has around four small “wins” a day totaling around 1,460 every year according to a study by OnePoll for TGI Fridays. These small victories can range from finding extra change to finishing a project. No matter how big or small these wins may be, they can impact their whole day. Eighty-seven percent of the people surveyed said these wins are huge when it comes to powering through their days.
SEVENTY NEW SPECIES of plants and animals were dis-
covered in 2021, according to the California Academy of Sciences. Some of the new species include an Easter egg weevil, a pink pygmy pipehorse and a fire sea star. 14 beetles, 12 sea slugs, nine ants, seven fish, six scorpions, five sea stars, five flowering plants, four sharks, three spiders, two sea pens, one moss, one pygmy pipehorse, and one caecilian.
it’s easier than ever
to get tested for COVID-19 — and right from your home. So, forget showing up at 7:30 a.m. to get tested at school, thanks to a new federal program allowing each household to receive four free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests. To order yours today, go to COVIDtests.gov and enter your shipping information. Staying up to date on testing when one feels symptoms is a crucial part of keeping the community safe and COVID-free.
whale, here we are
FIN WHALES HAVE BEEN SPOTTED FEEDING NEAR ANTARCTICA for the first time
in over a century, according to scientist Connor Ryan, who witnessed the site from the polar cruiser, the National Geographic Endurance. Fin whales are the second largest species of whales only to the blue whale. They can range from 75 to 85 feet in length, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They are one of the main targets for whaling vessels due to their extreme size. This was one of the causes that originally diminished the fin whale population. The fin whale population is important to our ecosystem and the marine inhabitants. Whales themselves help provide around half of the oxygen that we breathe, according to the WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation). They keep the fish population in control and feed the bacteria that feeds those fish. Without the whales, the balance of the ocean and our world would be disrupted.
diversity in the media has increased tremendously
in just the last decade. People who no longer fit certain Hollywood standards are being represented more and more. UCLA’s “Hollywood Diversity Report” (April 2021) showed that in 2011, more than half of the films fell into the lowest level of cast diversity — less than 11 percent. In 2020, however, 28.8 percent of films had the highest level of cast diversity — 50 percent or higher. Additionally, roles within the media are staying true to their roots and reflect efforts to be more conscious in the casting process. For example, in the 1961 film “West Side Story,” the Sharks, a predominantly Puerto Rican group, were overwhelmingly played by white actors. In the 2021 adaptation, however, the Sharks are played by an entirely Puerto Rican cast.
CaffeinE isn’t all bad, studies show. While it often
gets a bad rap for being overstimulating and unhealthy, a new study shows that it can combat the effects of a diet high in sugar and fat, according to researchers at the University of Illinois. Scientists performed a study on rats using caffeine from a Latin American tea known as maté. The rats tested with the maté gained 16 percent less weight and 22 percent less body fat than the ones that were tested with the decaffeinated alternative. Although maté is an herbal tea and very different from coffee, they still found that the effects from the maté were similar to that of synthetic caffeine and the caffeine found in coffee. Maté contains around 65 to 130 milligrams of caffeine while coffee contains about 30 to 300 milligrams in a single cup. In the experiment the rats were given a diet that consisted of 40 percent fat, 45 percent carbohydrates and 15 percent protein. They were then tested with certain amounts of different forms of caffeine that would be equal to that of a human who consumes four cups of coffee each day. After being tested for a four-week period, the rats who got the caffeine had a significantly smaller amount of body fat than the ones tested with the decaffeinated drinks. Why does this mean for teens? Drinking caffeine may help offset obesity and provide other health benefits associated with the phenolic compounds, vitamins and flavonoids in it. Of course, consult a doctor before starting any sort of health regimen.
htrs ser
sports
The Vanguard Review February 5, 2022
7
Chilled to the bone - or muscle Managing the effects of winter weather on athletes and their performance Hope Hamblin ‘25 reporter
H
ave you ever been playing outdoors in the frigid winter air during lunch and noticed you cannot breathe and your arms start to stiffen up? Well you’re not alone. According to the January 2022 VR poll, 54 percent of students have found the winter weather to impact their performance in sports. “It is really difficult to play at a high level when you can’t feel your hands,” said sophomore tennis player Zach Henry. It is scientifically proven that there are effects on the body from the cold weather that can make playing sports harder. “The cold, just like with ice, can make muscles tighter, and when you have to move as much as soccer players do to cover the field, it can make it difficult if your muscles aren’t warm and ready to go,” athletic trainer Tyler Harmon said. Dr. Matthea Williams, clinical assistant professor in the Master of Athletic Training program at Baylor University, explained that the body is always trying to achieve homeostasis. “Whether the temperatures are very high or very low, there will be a higher demand on the body,” she said. “Specifically in the cold, the body will prioritize your organs for blood flow, which means less blood flow to skeletal muscles. Less blood equates to less oxygen and energy available which typically means you will need to take a longer time to warm up and get your body ready for exercise.” One of the most effective ways to prepare the body for activity during different weather circumstances is stretches. Stretching and warming up might seem pointless and feel like an inconvenience, but actually no matter the weather, warmups are crucial. According to the Mayo Clinic, warming up helps prepare the body for aerobic activity. A warm up gradually revs up the cardiovas-
cular system by raising the body temperature and increasing blood flow to the muscles. Warming up may also help reduce muscle soreness and lessen the risk of injury. Freshman tennis player Aubrey Carrol said she increases her warm-up routine during the winter months. “Instead of running around the court once to warm up, I will run around the court three times,” she said. Part of the reason athletes find it difficult to play in colder weather is because their bodies are adjusted to be used to warmer weather since Texas has a higher average temperature. For people raised in areas with a colder climate, it is not necessarily as difficult. “For me personally, it’s more difficult to play sports in a hot environment over a cold environment,” new teacher Ruben Tucker, who was raised in Australia and the Netherlands, said. “I think this is mostly because I am used to the cold, so my body finds it harder to deal with the extreme heat.” A majority of sports require a pre-game or practice warm-up which often is the same every time. The repetitiveness of it may cause athletes to lose sight of the nature of its importance, however it is vital to prepare the body for performance every time you partake in a physical activity. Taking warm-ups seriously could mean the difference between winning and losing. It also can be the difference in whether an athlete gets to play the rest of the season or not. Steve Edelstein, MD of Northwestern Medicine found that there is an increase in injuries during the winter season. The cold can cause a loss of feeling in certain parts of your body making it harder to do routine activities that you could do with no problem in warmer times, including very simple tasks such as unscrewing the cap of your
STRETCHING THE LIMITS
Don’t consider stretching a warmup. You may hurt yourself if you stretch cold muscles. Before stretching, warm up with light walking, jogging or biking at low intensity for five to 10 minutes. Even better, stretch after your workout when your muscles are warm. Try performing a “dynamic warmup.” A dynamic warmup involves performing movements similar to those in your sport or physical activity at a low level, then gradually increasing the speed and intensity as you warm up. Strive for symmetry. Everyone’s genetics for flexibility are a bit different. Rather than striving for the flexibility of a dancer or gymnast, focus on having equal flexibility side to side (especially if you have a history of a previous injury). Flexibility that is not equal on both sides may be a risk factor for injury. Focus on major muscle groups. Concentrate your stretches on major muscle groups such as your calves, thighs, hips, lower back, neck and shoulders. Make sure that you stretch both sides. Also stretch muscles and joints that you routinely use. Hold your stretch. Breathe normally and hold each stretch for about 30 seconds; in problem areas, you may need to hold for around 60 seconds. Don’t aim for pain. Expect to feel tension while you’re stretching, not pain. If it hurts, you’ve pushed too far. Back off to the point where you don’t feel any pain, then hold the stretch. Make stretches sport specific. Some evidence suggests that it’s helpful to do stretches involving the muscles used most in your sport or activity. If you play soccer, for instance, stretch your hamstrings as you’re more vulnerable to hamstring strains. Keep up with your stretching. Stretching can be time-consuming. But you can achieve the most benefits by stretching regularly, at least two to three times a week. Source: Mayo Clinic water bottle. In cold weather, the body constricts the blood vessels that keep the extremities warm and redirects that blood flow to the core to keep vital organs warm. As a result, hands and feet get cold more easily, and are more susceptible to frostbite, which results in hardening of the skin. “The brain will have less sensory input from your musculoskeletal system while it prioritizes staying warm,” Williams said. “Prior to the body
Athlete Spotlight: Lillian Lowe VR: What has being a part of the team taught you?
I believe my purpose in life is to lead and guide others into greatness.
LL: Being a part of this current team has taught me to be more relaxed and to ignore the other people’s insults. This team has taught me that not everything is going to be perfect and not everyone is going to like what we do, but that’s okay.
VR: What is your favorite part about performing at football games, competition, pep rallies, etc.?
VR: What is your favorite thing about color guard? LL: My favorite thing about color guard is seeing how much I have improved since 7th grade, I’ll look at my old videos and I’ll be all like, I can do better than that. VR: How does being one of the team’s captains affect your work ethic? Sophomore Lillian Lowe prepares to catch her flag as LL: Being one of the team’s captains has it comes down. Photo by Landri Wheeler / Vanguard helped me to my goal of being a leader. Review staff
LL: How free I feel. Most of the time when performing I always have insecurities that bother me, whether in giving a presentation, reading out loud or even playing my instrument.. In color guard, I realize that those insecurities don’t necessarily apply. When doing Color Guard in competitions, I feel beautiful and comfortable in what I’m wearing and with what I am doing. The biggest problem I’m going to have this competition season is getting used to my uniform that I am wearing in our performance. I want to be vulnerable with the school here. I normally feel wonderful in the dresses we dance in but, this year I can’t say the same. Confidence isn’t something we can all just
being warm, there is the potential for more injuries due to less sensory information for the brain to respond to.” Always be sure to take the proper precautions to prevent unwanted injuries and hardships. “A lot of things are important such as staying hydrated, warming up, cooling down and dressing appropriately,” Williams said.
Landri Wheeler ‘24 reporter say we have and it’s there. Confidence in how I’ve looked has always been a struggle for me. In life, as a human, I have insecurities. A lot of them. If we end up performing in these dresses, I’m sure they will increase. I know that. And I know I can’t magically say I have that confidence. But at this moment in my life, I need to realize what’s best for me and the people around me. I won’t look pretty as much as I wish I could. I won’t feel the same. I know there will be people out there, pointing out my insecurities. But as captain of this team, it’s my job to realize that I won’t look like I want to, because I’m already good enough. I don’t need to stress about how I look when I dance, because I am perfect the way I am. I want to tell you this. Don’t worry about how you look and don’t make decisions in your life based on other people. You don’t have to look like a model, or a celebrity. You look like you. If you don’t like you, then fix it because, one day, you will be all that you have. I’m telling you now. You are perfect.
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Beloved books
Mr. Tucker
-loved” to NBC News on October 29, 2021. forever,” she said. “The past cannot be allowed to “The characters in the book who escape the live on unchecked. Rather, we must remember the Sweet Home plantation and reach freedom in Cin- past, confront it, accept it, learn from it and move cinnati, settling at house number “124,” want to forward. If one really reads Beloved, one sees that forget elements it is not a diviof the past — the “The past cannot be allowed to live sive story at all. horrors of enIt is a love story, on unchecked. Rather, we must reslavement espeand a beautiful cially,” she said. member the past, confront it, accept it, one at that. “ But the title Morrison learn from it and move forward.” character, the reargues that we incarnated victim - Jen Ferretter, English teacher must all love of her mother’s ourselves beinfanticide, needs cause only then them to remember. Beloved craves more than re- can we fully love others, but she also does so in membrance, in fact. She demands a confrontation prose that is breathtakingly lyrical, Ferretter said. between the past, the present and the future.” “Morrison deserved her Pulitzer and her NoFerretter said she believes it is imperative not to bel prizes and I would argue that AP English Lit ignore or whitewash the past, as a thorough knowl- students are lucky to have such a rich piece of literedge of it is necessary to more fully understand — ature to learn from and discuss,” Ferretter said. “I and hopefully address and overcome— the prob- know that reading Beloved makes me want to be a lems that continue to plague society today. better person — more grateful, more empathetic, “That said, as Morrison makes clear in her ghost kinder. Isn’t that what great literature does?” story Beloved, we should not let the past haunt us
I realized pretty soon though that I was also a lot more interested in the coaching aspect of soccer. Ever since I was a young kid I wanted to watch every single soccer game, so I could learn from the professionals and tell my teammates what we could improve in our game.
Virtual reality
VR: What made Vanguard stand out to you and what is your favorite thing so far? RT: Vanguard mostly stood out in it’s striving for excellence combined with the graceful atmosphere towards the students. Most of the schools I’ve been to have one of those qualities, but lack in the other area. I feel at Vanguard students get pushed to strive to use their potential to the fullest, but they get pushed in a very supporting way. I have loved my first two weeks at Vanguard. What really stands out to me now is the friendly atmosphere that both the teachers and the students have created. Everyone has been super friendly to me and very helpful, which I appreciate so much.
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“Assignments were harder to get done in virtual Sophomore Juliet Indergard said it was easier to school because you have to be completely self-suf- get in touch with teachers and her grades improved. ficient,” Pole said, “which can be challenging espe“I experienced a grade rise because it was eascially for students our age.” ier to talk to the teachers since it was all over email Other students said that virtual school made it and you didn’t have to schedule a time to meet with easier and more comfortable to do school work. them,” Indergard said. “[I got to] roll out of bed and go straight to class, Kendrick shares some ways that you can do no preparation and no 6 a.m. rushing,” sophomore when you are struggling mentally or emotionally. Karissa Kuhl said. “If a student finds that their struggle with anxSophomore Charlotte Livesay agreed. iety, depressed mood or other mental health symp“I personally liked the break,” said Livesay. “It toms tend to persist, I would encourage them to talk was relaxed and easy.” to their parent or guardian about seeking professional While being at home mental and away from the normal “Assignments were harder to get done health school schedule, just under in virtual school because you have to s e r 50 percent of students said vices they experienced a grade be completely self-sufficient.” in the drop during the school - Samuel Pole, sophomore cmo um -year, according to the VR poll. n i t y, ” “It was quite hard to focus,” sophomore Alyssa Kendrick said. “Students may also be able to seek Jones said. “I found way too many things to distract help from a school counselor. One of my favorite myself with, making it unbearably easy to forget things about this generation of adolescents is that homework, and I often found myself not caring they are such huge advocates for mental health. about or connecting with the material as much.” Just as students would naturally advocate for their Other students said that being at home allowed friends and loved ones, it’s important that they adthem to focus more and get more work done. vocate for themselves when needed [and] I would “I found myself doing more work honestly,” encourage them to do so.” Livesay said.
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Have a story idea or an opinion to share?
VR: If you could have any one place or thing named after you, what would it be and why? RT: That’s an easy one for me. I would love a certain skill in soccer to be named after me. In soccer there are certain skills or ‘tricks’ named after players or coaches who first thought of or executed those skills or ‘tricks’. It seems great to me to think of a certain skill that other soccer players can then also use. VR: If you got to choose any song to play when you entered a room, which would you choose and why? RT: Very good question, it would have to be ‘Use This Gospel’ by Kanye West, because I like the message of the song and I really like the tune too, it really gets people excited.
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public school, she said Vanguard really stood out to other high schools.” her. Wollard also said that telling a story at the end “My experience as a freshman in a public high of the day can be a good way to build creativity. school was less than ideal, and I knew I needed to “I’ve always loved the tradition of telling a stoget out,” she said. “My friend Arabella had started ry at the end of the day,” she said. “Whether it’s to at Vanguard that year and she suggested checking your parents, your little siblings, a friend or a piece it out and giving it a shot. It was hard to convince of paper, telling a story at the end of a long day is my parents, but I finala fun way ly made it here and I “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a high to build couldn’t be happier.” your creShe likes that stu- school with such passionate and enative and dents are constantly thusiastic students. My peers are storytellpushed by teachers and ing skills. always motivating me to do my work C r e a t e peers to do their best. “I don’t think I’ve and be responsible.” a narraever seen a high school tive out - Lydia Wollard, sophomore of thin with such passionate and enthusiastic students,” air with she said. “My peers are always motivating me to do made up plots and bizarre scenarios and just enjoy my work and be responsible, which is a rare sight at where it takes you.”