The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

Dropshipping and You
Dropshipping and You
Mia Morneault, Reporter • March 25, 2024

I immensely dislike the TikTok...

Striding away from the Belvedere building complex, junior Addie Johnson and Senior Cooper Johnson pose for a family picture in Vienna, Austria. The Johnson family lived in Austria for six years and while living there, Cooper said he enjoyed the freedom provided by public transportation. “I liked just the overall city and the public transportation,” Cooper said. “It gave me the ability to go anywhere I wanted whenever I felt like it.”
From Austria to Austin
Kaydence Wilkinson, Reporter • March 24, 2024

After taxiing lazily along the...

Pictured above is Olivia Rodrigo performing “the grudge” at her “GUTS” Tour. I left this concert feeling grateful, nostalgic and just overall so happy that I had gotten to be a part of such an unforgettable experience.
Grateful All the Time
Julia Seiden, Reporter • March 21, 2024

As the wax begins to drip down...

Jonathan's Corner
Jonathan Levinsky, Reporter • March 20, 2024

Jonathan goes over some of the...

DEN, a 35-minute-long free period students are given, is used in many ways for a variety of purposes. Students use this time to work on homework, make up missed tests and sometimes catch up with friends. Lots of students use DEN to run “errands,” as well, whether that means picking up an assignment from a teacher, visiting with a student teacher or asking the librarian about a tech issue. Students can no longer leave their designated classroom during DEN, even to go to the restroom.
DEN-tention for the Win
Kacey Miller, Editor-in-Chief • March 20, 2024

Students are now expected to remain...

To combat the growing price on fast food, my family uses fast food apps. There are five apps we use the most: QuikTrip, Sonic, Chick-fil-A, McDonalds and Whataburger.
Apps for Frugal Foodies
Kassidy Wilkinson, Reporter • March 15, 2024

It’s a classic scene in my family....

All I want for Christmas are exemptions

It’s that time of year again, fellow Timberwolves. Finals week is approaching very quickly, with only a week left until the first day of exams. Along with finals comes exemptions, or for freshmen and sophomores, a lack of exemptions. A confusing new policy introduced last year has limited exemptions for underclassmen, and will be in effect for every incoming class from now on.

Sophomores and freshmen will receive exemptions based on attendance, but may only use them on elective classes. This forces them to take the finals in all core classes. And as if that weren’t enough, these tests will account for one-seventh of the students’ semester grade.

The exemption policy has introduced an unnecessary new policy to a class that has already been bombarded by the new addition of the STAAR test last year. The excuse for the introduction of this new policy is to prepare us for the end of course test that is a requirement for graduation, as if our teachers don’t prepare us enough. I understand the need to prepare us for the style of questions, but how are we to know if the same type will be featured on the STAAR, a test best known for being mysteriously secret.

The exemption policy should at least allow students to exempt a few of their core classes. This way, they get practice with the style of questions, but also won’t be forced to cram for multiple tests jam packed into one never-ending week. Also, teachers often prepare students with the type of questioning expected to be on the STAAR way ahead of time. By the time students take the STAAR test in spring, they have been practicing all year long.

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Taking away the use of exemptions on core classes is a useless injury to the student body. Yes, it will prepare us for the end of course exam, but our teachers do that enough. And this causes added stress to students who already have a lot on their plate.

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About the Contributor
Paige Parks, Writer
Paige “Swaggie” Parks is a junior and second year staffer for The Wolfpack. Born and raised in Cedar Park, she loves the area and its proximity to Austin. Paige is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and plays varsity softball for CPHS. When she is not playing softball, she drowns herself in homework. She enjoys spending time with her dog, Duncan, and buying him cute sweaters that he refuses to wear. Her favorite teacher is none other than Mrs. Hert, whom she admires. Paige is looking forward to another great year for The Wolfpack.

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The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School
All I want for Christmas are exemptions