![Musical theatre class runs through “Footloose” during their dress rehearsal. Senior student director Mia Morneault says how much she’s enjoyed working with the cast and crew. “I am very proud of all the cast and crew who worked as hard on it as I have. A lot of people care about [this show],” Morneault said. “I have a lot of friends on the cast and on the crew, but I’ve also grown and gained friendships through the show, even as director where I may be a little more stricter than normal. And I am very grateful for everyone I’ve gotten to work with.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DSC_0657-1200x800.jpg)
![Sitting in a line of artwork, senior art student Kaemon Kato’s painting titled “Right Side of History” is displayed for attendees of the district’s art showcase. Kato’s painting is a political piece inspired by a photo of elementary schoolers in the street protesting against ICE. “I think it's also symbolic because they're surrounded by snow, which can represent ICE, and they are still marching,” Kato said. “[The kids] are not stopping until equality or justice is served, which I think is really important to represent and show.” Photo by John Pinion](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-03-26-114740.png)
![Broadcast, yearbook and newspaper combined for 66 Interscholastic League Press Conference awards this year. Yearbook won 43, newspaper won 14 and broadcast took home nine. “I think [the ILPC awards] are a great way to give the kids some acknowledgement for all of their hard work,” newspaper and yearbook adviser Paige Hert said. “They typically spend the year covering everyone else’s big moments, so it’s really cool for them to be celebrated so many times and in so many different ways.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/edited-ILPC.jpg)
![Holding up the bi-district champions trophy, junior shortstop Hudson Cuevas cheers alongside his team. The varsity baseball team played in the bi-district round of playoffs against the Boerne Greyhounds April 30-May 2, where they won Game 1 6-4, lost Game 2 2-1 and won the last game 5-2, allowing them to advance to area. “Honestly, [my favorite] big moment that wasn't even part of my moment was Dom's grand slam,” Cuevas said. “That was a big game changer in Game 1 of round one that ultimately helped us win that game and even move on. It set the tone for the games after and has really impacted and sparked this whole playoff run.” Photo by Allie Tseng](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/allie-boerne00159-1200x800.jpg)
![After he takes the handoff, senior running back Trae Hill runs down the field in search of a first down. Hill rushed for three touchdowns in the 43-36 loss against Frisco Wakeland last Friday, but the Timberwolves were eliminated from playoff contention. “[I’m] just happy I got to experience the game with my brothers,” Hill said. “I’m going to remember how close and how enjoyable everything was with these guys. They are my brothers for life. Just waking up and grinding together, and proving the naysayers wrong [was my favorite part].”
Photo by Kyra Cox](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/trae-hill-wakeland.jpg)
A wall of sound pierces the air as band students march and play in unison, fighting back against the unforgiving heat. Down on the field level, Assistant Band Director Samantha Dimatteo makes sure the students’ effort is unwavering.
After being introduced to the students at the end of last semester, Dimatteo joined the program at the beginning of the 2025-2026 season and has taken on the role of Assistant Director of Bands and will be leading the symphonic and concert band classes during the winter and spring.
“I’m really excited to be here,” Dimatteo said. “It’s my dream job. I’m also so happy to be a part of something bigger than me.”
During her childhood, Dimatteo played piano, flute and later euphonium. Originally, she wanted to become a lawyer but had a change of heart and instead went on to study euphonium at West Chester University, where she got her degree in Music Education.
“I only really wanted to be a lawyer for the money but band I actually enjoy,” Dimatteo said. “I think that music is really important for people, especially kids from 5 to 18. I think it’s a super developmental part of their lives, and I think it brings a lot not only to them but their community.”
In college, Dimatteo marched with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. The Cadets were a 10-time Drum Corps International World Champion who were active from 1934 to 2024. She said that pushing through the difficult days with pneumonia and blistering weather made her much more resilient.
“You can do anything you want to do,” Dimatteo said. “You just have to set your mind to it. If you’re not accomplishing what it is you think you want to do, that means there is a reason you’re not, and you probably don’t 100% align with it. There’s never an end to a path; there’s just a new path to go on.”
After college, Dimatteo briefly worked as a choir director in Pennsylvania before moving to Texas, where she worked as a band director in the San Antonio area for eight years. This year will mark her ninth year as a band director and her first at Cedar Park.
“I’m really thankful for the staff here because they’re so kind, and they are very supportive,” Dimatteo said. “The students here too are so nice. It’s different for me to come in and have students talk about things. The other day, somebody came up to me and asked what my favorite band was, and I was like ‘woah, that came out of nowhere, but also, it’s cool you’re interested in knowing that stuff.’”
For Dimatteo, the goal of the school year is to make sure the students are prepared with all the materials they need so that they are best prepared for the marching and concert seasons to make sure they are better musicians at the end of the year than where they first started.
“The cool thing about the students here is that they hold themselves up to high standards,” Dimatteo said. “They hold themselves up to a high expectation of where they want to go because they have goals for themselves. I just want to assist them.”
