![On March 20, the theatre program performed their UIL One Act play Frankenstein. “I could barely believe what I heard after [it was] announced that we were advancing,” freshman Zack Williams said. “It was crazy. Being one of the only freshmen in the show and also [being] a lead definitely put pressure on my shoulders. I knew that the only thing I could do was my best, but that was until I started to think what if my best was not enough? I was feeling like I could never amount to being what [everyone else] thought I was. Although, after hearing that announcement, I realized that maybe I have something going for me after all.”
Photo courtesy of Cayden Bartolo](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Capture.png)
![Dressed in the school colors, senior Jack Malouff poses for the camera in the bleachers during a football game. During his senior year, Malouff was able to meet lots of people while he was one of the student section leaders. “[My job] was to get everyone involved in the crowd,” Malouff said. “[I brought] the fun things like the trash cans, bells, costumes, whistles, whatever I could bring. Tissue paper, toilet paper, whatever it was. But it was less of a job and more just having fun with everyone.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Jack-M.png)
![Standing with their hands raised to the sky, show choir finishes their performance of “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen performed in the winter concert. This year, the show choir participated in the Capital City Showcase where they sang and danced to “Crocodile Rock” and “Don’t Stop Me Now.” “My favorite memory in show choir is the showcase,” freshman Eshita Agrawal said. “We were the first to perform, and we got the chance to watch all the other amazing contestants. [We] were amazed. It was an amazing experience, I think we bonded very well.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Show-Choir.png)
![Catching a ball, junior Alivia Robinson plays at the Cedar Park vs Glenn game. Having played since she was 5 years old, she is dedicated to softball and has committed to UTPB for softball. “When I got my offer it took me a very long time to decide where,” Robinson said. “Softball has always been my dream for college, and UTPB is my fit. When [I committed] I knew I was going to be loved and supported.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lilly-Adams-3.13aliviaedit-901.jpg)
![Walking through the tunnel created by the cheerleaders and Celebrities, senior Frances Tran smiles as the soccer team is sent off during DEN for their playoff game against Rouse tonight. Tran said the wins against Smithson Valley and Alamo Heights gave the team a morale boost to take on the Raiders tonight. “I know we were not 100% confident in those games,” Tran said. “But, Rouse is a big opponent for sure. We’re definitely going into tonight with a lot of morale [because of the previous wins].”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/frances-tran.jpg)
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.
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.
