![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)
![Holding a bucket of materials in one hand and a roll of tape in another, anatomy and biology teacher Tyler Terry prepares for a lab. Terry said his proudest moments are when his students are happy to see him. “When I take my wife to a football game or something and a bunch of students want to say hi to me or they like to smile and wave and it just makes me feel good that the students are really kind and supportive of me,” Terry said. “[I’m also] proud when I see students perform really well in their extracurriculars because I can see how hard they’re working in my classes, [so] when I see that they’re also working so hard in other things. Like they’re winning band competitions or they’re getting awards for their theater productions, or I see them put on their choir shows, that’s like, wow, you guys are incredible.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rags-6.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)
![Holding her dog, Nova, senior Ariana Balakrishnan poses for her senior pictures while Nova wears a bandana with her college decision. Balakrishnan applied to 18 colleges in total, but she decided on Columbia in the end. “Right before I clicked the button to open Columbia’s letter, I literally looked at the camera and go ‘This is just gonna really suck because I wanted it so bad,’ and I clicked it and all of a sudden you hear trumpets,” Balakrishnan said. “There’s a video that plays when you open it and I actually didn’t watch the video, I just watched the screen go black, because every day of December before ED [Early Decision] I would go on YouTube and watch the acceptance video to manifest it, so immediately when the screen went black, I started screaming and jumping up and down. And my parents in the video are like ‘What are you doing, where’s the letter,’ and I was just screaming ‘I got in, I got in.” I just started crying, and it just felt like everything in the world came together.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ariana-2-300x217.jpg)
The roaring winds of winter signal an exciting change. Upon these lofty breezes float the chilly air and gentle snowflakes so synonymous with the season (provided they don’t turn into ice and slush along the way). Happy memories of family gatherings and holidays begin their annual manifestations in the minds of folks everywhere. The heat of summer slowly evaporates as cool, dry air begins to pick up. The chill in the air has indubitably triggered a warming of the heart, as the season of sweater weather rolls in.
Sweater weather, of course, refers to the time of year when the temperatures outside become fantastically frosty. This magical time is unfortunately short in the central Texas area, but its brief appearance only serves to heighten the enjoyment found in the wonderfully cool weeks of winter. Because of the celebrated drop in temperature, summer clothes must be packed away into dark closets until next year; in order to make way for a torrent of wool, twill and heavy cotton. Shorts and flip-flops are abandoned in favor of cozy jackets and matching scarf & glove sets. Closed-toe shoes and warm knit caps are dusted off and dragged from the recesses of wardrobes and storage boxes. A welcome change in fashion is due to occur. Now is the time for the oversized comfort and warmth, found only in the folds of your favorite sweater.
The traditions of cool-climate living should also be observed during sweater weather season. As such, the dark elements must be observed along with the light. Prepare yourself for a deluge of holiday programming and commercials on your TV that will try to capitalize on your happy holidays. Beware of the Ugg boots that will somehow become fashionable again after they faded back to their well-deserved obscurity last season , and try to avert you gaze from the gaudy front-yard displays of holiday revelry (if it’s before Thanksgiving, it’s just to early). However, don’t let these egregious travesties against the spirit of the season get you down, because sweater weather is a time of celebration and fleecy goodness.
I’m definitely going to enjoy this weather while it lasts. I’m finally able to break out my favorite hot chocolate, cuddle up in front of my preferred roaring fireplace, turn on the heater in my house, and make a batch of amazingly aromatic cookies. Now that the temperature has officially dropped out of the red, you’ll know where to find me.
