![The cross country team poses for the camera after finishing the district meet. The varsity boys, JV boys and JV girls all placed third and the varsity girls placed fourth. “Coach put in the right training for us for this season, so I think we will be peaking this week and the next couple of weeks,” varsity runner and junior Nathan Kukla said. “The chances of making it to state are very high, but we don’t settle for the lowest and there is always going to be that chance, so [we] race for the best.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Heidi-831-1200x900.jpg)
![Smiling at the camera, Author Ehigbor Okosun, members of Page Turners, and other students reflect on the author's visit. “I thought the visit was great,” Senior Amia De Leon said. “It was interesting talking to her and [getting to know] her process and her thoughts and books in general. But I think the reason it went well [was that] people got to ask questions. I'm glad that she said so much in response to the questions and it wasn't just one and done. [The author’s responses] felt very articulate.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sebastian-5-1200x800.jpg)
![Standing in front of the field at a freshman football game, cheerleader freshman Jacob Gaudreau along with teammate freshman Bella Gibson pose for a photo during halftime of game. “[Cheer has] definitely given me a much more outgoing personality,” Gaudreau said. “I used to be very introverted, so it's definitely made me more extroverted towards people.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ingrid-204-1200x800.jpg)
![Holding a wooden pizza toy, senior Taylor Peterson plays with small children in Bucaramanga, Colombia. During the summer, Peterson traveled to Colombia to help build an elementary school that only had two classrooms but five or six grades with one teacher. “We add[ed] two more classrooms,” Peterson said. “It’s kind of hard when you have two or three grades in one classroom and you only have one teacher. It’s very hard to actually get some beneficial learning. [The extra classrooms will give the students] a better quality of education because they’ll actually have a place specific for their learning.” Photo by Taylor Peterson](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Taylor-P.png)
![Swinging with his arm extended, senior Nolan Park hits the ball smoothly over the net and to the opponent’s side. Park is one of four varsity tennis captains and helped the team win district championships. “Winning district champs was a pretty awesome feeling,” Park said. “We had lost to Liberty Hill a couple of weeks before, but when we played them [again], we came out and really took care of business. We took them out and it was just a really awesome night.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kassidy-419.jpg)
![Standing proud, varsity senior athletes Rafael Escobar, Griffin Jacobs, Jakob Martin, and juniors Jackson Springer and Jack Morris pose with their newly earned medals. The varsity team finished third out of 14 teams on Sept. 25. “The team's primary goal is to win the district championship,” head coach Cody Price said. "We're confident that with our action plan in place, we can accomplish this mission. [For the next tournament], our preparation involves assessing our strengths and weaknesses, celebrating milestones and creating individual development plans." Photo courtesy of Cody Price](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/golf.jpg)
![Smiling at the camera, the Varsity Tennis team celebrates winning districts. They played against Liberty Hill on Tuesday night and won with a final score of 10- 5. “We improved a lot even from the last game,” senior Blake Hillis said. “We lost against them the last time we played [Liberty Hill], but it was really close. It was just really important for us to win this match since it was the district finals. [When we won I felt] overwhelmingly happy, especially being there with my teammates and it being my senior year. It was just really great. It [felt] like a community.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tennis-Districts-e1728060882260.png)
Meet and Greet: The Arts
September 14, 2016
This year, Cedar Park welcomes two new teachers to the arts department.
Ken Brown
Brown is the new band director at Cedar Park. He joined the band staff after previous jobs at Clear Springs High School and Kempner High School in the Houston area. He graduated with a music education bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University, and has a master’s in instrumental conducting from Western Michigan University.
Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching?
A: Seeing students grow during their four years.
Q: What extra-curriculars were you involved in during high school?
A: Band and orchestra.
Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: Original “Star Wars” trilogy.
Brittany Hernandez
Hernandez teaches culinary arts and is also an assistant volleyball coach. She comes to Cedar Park with experience in coaching and teaching. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Business Management from Troy University, where she played volleyball. Hernandez also has a master’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from The University of Houston.
Q: What do you enjoy about culinary?
A: It’s not an ordinary class. You’re not really sitting a whole lot. It’s a good way to interact and make a difference in a unique way.
Q: If you could be an animal, what would you be?
A: Penguin.
Q: If you were in the zombie apocalypse, what would you do?
A: Hide.
Q: If you had a superpower, what would it be?
A: Move things around with my mind.
Jeff Smith
Q: Why do you like teaching what you teach?
A: I love teaching technical theatre for a variety of reasons. This class is a project based, hands on course that covers a wide range of topics including wood working, electrical engineering, audio design, costumes and makeup. Another reason I enjoy this class is that I don’t have to teach to a standardized test.
Q: What do you like about CPHS so far?
A: The students! I have been amazed at the work ethic and professionalism of the students here on campus.
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A: Free time? For me, it’s video games. I love theatre because of the story telling aspect and I think video games directly relate to that. During my time playing games, I get to dive into another artist’s story and creation and escape this world, if only for a few hours.
Jessica Steedly
Q: Why do you like teaching dance?
A: It’s something that is physically and mentally challenging. It makes people have to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. You have to work your tail off
Q: If you could have a superpower what would it be?
A: I would fly.
Q: What was your favorite class in high school?
A: One of my history classes because my teacher was awesome. She would stand on chairs and teach; she was a joy.
