The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

More than 50 students, all donned in red T shirts, pose for a group picture at the front grounds of the school, holding various signs and symbols. These students all engaged in a silent, peaceful protest regarding the Roe v. Wade and abortion situation as of now. “It felt kind of empowering,” senior Aleksae Watson said. “Because they were all there for the same thing. We all are aware that what’s going on isn’t right. I’d say it’s not appropriate. We all deserve our rights and our freedoms and it’s just being stripped from us.”
A Loud Silence
May 23, 2022
The senior awards and recognition is back during DEN Thursday, May 17 in the main gym.
Feeling ’22
May 18, 2022
Biology and AP Biology teacher Adam Babich sits at his desk, concentrating on his paperwork. Babich is one of the teachers who have been affected by teacher burnout, and feels teachers are not heard enough when it comes to their struggles. “The most stressful part about teaching is not having your voice heard,” Babich said. “At a campus level, I would march off to war for my administration team; Mr Sloan, everybody, they’re great and they’re supportive. The problem comes from the higher ups; a lot of what we deal with, whether it is pay raise, or budget issues, or standards or state testing, we can give our voice, but really, nothing ever comes of it. These are legislative bodies that do a lot of the decision making and we know that, at a government level, things move at a snail’s pace. If an issue shows up, it often takes a very long time to see any results from it. For example, they’re putting together a task force to figure out why teachers are leaving. When we looked at the first task force, there was maybe two teachers on it; everyone else were superintendents, or people who had not been in the classroom for 10 years. So, as teachers, we felt like this was a slap in the face. I’m not saying that all teachers feel this way, I’m saying some of us do, and this is what we’re feeling. It’s like we’re in the trenches, we’re asking for help and we get decisions made for us by people who aren’t in the classrooms.”
The Burnout
May 16, 2022
Smiling while forming hand signs, junior Klarah Sosa dances with her peers. For the lyrics uptown funk you up students make the shape of the y = 1/x and y = -1/x. I really gave it my all in class [for preparation]. It was really fun, Sosa said. I think it was really cool way to get kids hopes up to make sure they have a lot of confidence. It wasnt serious but a good mood booster for the day.
Funky Friday
April 8, 2022
The official 2022 student council election polls are now posted. The officers have been campaigning since March 14th and results will be counted over the weekend. I am excited about what directions this is sending our organization, Babich said. it really is a testimate to what I hope this organization will lead in the future.
Battle of the Ballot
April 1, 2022
From left to right, senior Skyler Ortiz, 2022 alumnus Kaylee York and seniors Tamara Eslava and Eliana Garza pose for a quick picture as they watch a movie screening at last years Austin Film Festival. At the festival, the students listened to screenwriters, watched film screenings and explored the venues scattered across Downtown Austin. “Our group of students got to see exclusive screenings of films in iconic theaters such as the Paramount, for free, all due to the scholarship that accepted us in, Ortiz said.
Flashback on Festival
October 4, 2022
The show choir, a class that mixes theatrical dance with singing, gathers together for a photo. This class, and others, are filled with new faces like freshmen Alexandra Moll and Charlotte Griffin who said they were ready and excited for their first year in a high school choir. “The choir community is so supportive, everyone is incredibly nice and enjoyable to be around, Moll said. I am most excited for the end of the year beach trip. To spend time with my friends during that time sounds like so much fun.”
More Than Just a Voice
October 3, 2022
The new Tech Theater teacher Zeph Kenna smiles in front of his desk during an interview. After teaching science in Coppell and working in community theaters, there’s a lot of excitement towards starting his new job, according to Kenna. “This is the first time that Ive been kind of involved in a large program like this,” Kenna said. “I used to be able to just kind of teach my class and go on my way. In this case, Im involved in something a lot bigger.”
Behind the Scenes of the Behind the Scenes
September 30, 2022
Senior and captain of the swim team Kamryn Kramer swims a lap at the first swim meet on Thursday. Amid the new experiences of leading the team and having a new swim coach with Les Greenwood, Kramer says she most enjoys the social aspect of swim. “Everyone’s best friends, Kramer said. I’m a captain of the swim team, and I love being a leader where everyone’s friends and being goofy and silly with them at the meets too. The [competitive aspect of] meets are really fun, getting up for each other.”
Dive In With Both Feet
September 29, 2022
From left to right, seniors Aidan Johnson, Brady Allen, Cyrus Van Sickle, junior Braeden Fuller and senior Ryan Taylor pose for a picture at the first football game of the season. After posing for the quick picture, they grabbed water for the Celebrities. “I like being able to help the team with everything they need, Taylor said. “I think serving people brings a lot of joy into my life and so being able to do that for many people is awesome and being able to be close up with the team watching them perform is a whole new level of experience.”
Celebrities’ Helping Hands
September 28, 2022
The show choir, a class that mixes theatrical dance with singing, gathers together for a photo. This class, and others, are filled with new faces like freshmen Alexandra Moll and Charlotte Griffin who said they were ready and excited for their first year in a high school choir. “The choir community is so supportive, everyone is incredibly nice and enjoyable to be around, Moll said. I am most excited for the end of the year beach trip. To spend time with my friends during that time sounds like so much fun.”
More Than Just a Voice
October 3, 2022
From left to right, seniors Aidan Johnson, Brady Allen, Cyrus Van Sickle, junior Braeden Fuller and senior Ryan Taylor pose for a picture at the first football game of the season. After posing for the quick picture, they grabbed water for the Celebrities. “I like being able to help the team with everything they need, Taylor said. “I think serving people brings a lot of joy into my life and so being able to do that for many people is awesome and being able to be close up with the team watching them perform is a whole new level of experience.”
Celebrities’ Helping Hands
September 28, 2022
Posing for the camera, seniors celebrate the start of their last year at this years senior sunrise. This year’s annual tradition was held on Aug. 22 in the Milburn park parking lot and came with complications and confusion that led to obstacles the Student Council had to overcome. “Planning events this year, I would say that it was stressful at first just coming in off of summer and not having done anything and then full on sprinting into the first events,” senior Ainsley Harlan said. “But I think we’ve gotten the hang of it. We’ve kind of gotten our feet under us and we have our group chat, it’s gotten a lot easier to communicate. It can be stressful at times, but I think more importantly it’s fun, I know that some of the people I’m planning it with, like Ariana [Balakrishnan], we have a lot of fun doing it and we enjoy what we’re doing. We like giving the student body a voice. Its kind of why we do what we do, is to tell the admins what the student body wants.”
Power of the People
September 15, 2022
The Medical Reserves Corp Partnership team poses as they win fourth place at the state conference in Galveston. Junior Claudia Shen said that even though her team didn’t place, she still benefited from learning about the medical field along the way. “We were confident that we would get top five, so we were excited even though we didn’t place because our hard work paid off,” Shen said.
Born to Care
May 24, 2022
Hitting their pose for their final performance, the celebrities dance team finishes out their season with their spring show, “Up, Up and Away.” The performance was held on May 6 and 7 in the PAC, which the team has been preparing for this show since the end of the end of football season in January. “It’s been difficult to process the fact that my life as a Celeb is finally over,” Kim said. “Now that the red curtain has closed, it’s finally settling in that my time wearing the glitter and the boots has expired. I’ve known that I would have to face the bittersweet ending at some point, but it’s definitely been harder than I thought it would be to let go of this team. In some ways I’m glad I have something that I will miss, because that means that this was worthwhile and valuable to me. More than anything, however, I just feel fortunate to have passed through such a respectable and enriching organization. The lessons and memories I’ve gained from Celebrities is something I will never take for granted.”
As the Curtain Closes
May 23, 2022
From left to right, senior Skyler Ortiz, 2022 alumnus Kaylee York and seniors Tamara Eslava and Eliana Garza pose for a quick picture as they watch a movie screening at last years Austin Film Festival. At the festival, the students listened to screenwriters, watched film screenings and explored the venues scattered across Downtown Austin. “Our group of students got to see exclusive screenings of films in iconic theaters such as the Paramount, for free, all due to the scholarship that accepted us in, Ortiz said.
Flashback on Festival
October 4, 2022
The show choir, a class that mixes theatrical dance with singing, gathers together for a photo. This class, and others, are filled with new faces like freshmen Alexandra Moll and Charlotte Griffin who said they were ready and excited for their first year in a high school choir. “The choir community is so supportive, everyone is incredibly nice and enjoyable to be around, Moll said. I am most excited for the end of the year beach trip. To spend time with my friends during that time sounds like so much fun.”
More Than Just a Voice
October 3, 2022
From left to right, seniors Aidan Johnson, Brady Allen, Cyrus Van Sickle, junior Braeden Fuller and senior Ryan Taylor pose for a picture at the first football game of the season. After posing for the quick picture, they grabbed water for the Celebrities. “I like being able to help the team with everything they need, Taylor said. “I think serving people brings a lot of joy into my life and so being able to do that for many people is awesome and being able to be close up with the team watching them perform is a whole new level of experience.”
Celebrities’ Helping Hands
September 28, 2022
Posing for the camera, seniors celebrate the start of their last year at this years senior sunrise. This year’s annual tradition was held on Aug. 22 in the Milburn park parking lot and came with complications and confusion that led to obstacles the Student Council had to overcome. “Planning events this year, I would say that it was stressful at first just coming in off of summer and not having done anything and then full on sprinting into the first events,” senior Ainsley Harlan said. “But I think we’ve gotten the hang of it. We’ve kind of gotten our feet under us and we have our group chat, it’s gotten a lot easier to communicate. It can be stressful at times, but I think more importantly it’s fun, I know that some of the people I’m planning it with, like Ariana [Balakrishnan], we have a lot of fun doing it and we enjoy what we’re doing. We like giving the student body a voice. Its kind of why we do what we do, is to tell the admins what the student body wants.”
Power of the People
September 15, 2022
On Sept. 8, senior Kate Pape was given was recognized by the mayor of Cedar Park, Jim Penniman-Morin, for being the first female in the Cedar Park and Northshore district to earn the Eagle Scout rank. The mayor gave a speech at the Cedar Park City Hall and signed the award acknowledging the work she put in to achieve this goal in only three years, which is rarely done. “Scouts has made me more confident and comfortable when I’m in groups,” Pape said. “I am also more comfortable in taking the lead in the things that I do. It has also helped me with my independence, meaning I don’t mind doing things myself half the time.”
Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle
September 14, 2022
The new Tech Theater teacher Zeph Kenna smiles in front of his desk during an interview. After teaching science in Coppell and working in community theaters, there’s a lot of excitement towards starting his new job, according to Kenna. “This is the first time that Ive been kind of involved in a large program like this,” Kenna said. “I used to be able to just kind of teach my class and go on my way. In this case, Im involved in something a lot bigger.”
Behind the Scenes of the Behind the Scenes
September 30, 2022
On Sept. 8, senior Kate Pape was given was recognized by the mayor of Cedar Park, Jim Penniman-Morin, for being the first female in the Cedar Park and Northshore district to earn the Eagle Scout rank. The mayor gave a speech at the Cedar Park City Hall and signed the award acknowledging the work she put in to achieve this goal in only three years, which is rarely done. “Scouts has made me more confident and comfortable when I’m in groups,” Pape said. “I am also more comfortable in taking the lead in the things that I do. It has also helped me with my independence, meaning I don’t mind doing things myself half the time.”
Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle
September 14, 2022
Smiling for her senior photos, Ally JohnPress celebrates her final year of high school at the 360 Bridge. This year, JohnPress served as editor-in-chief of the Wolfpack newspaper and worked to become a SNO Distinguished Site, which the staff achieved on Feb. 3. “Honestly, I worked tirelessly to achieve our SNO Distinguished Site award, and I could not have been happier when I got the notification on Twitter saying ‘Congratulations to the CPHS Wolfpack for achieving the SNO Distinguished Site award,’” JohnPress said. “When I knew I was going to be editor-in-chief, this was my absolute number one goal, and it is just so satisfying to be able to say we achieved national recognition. It was difficult and time-consuming work for the staff and I, and I am so proud that we were able to accomplish this.”
Letter From the Editor
May 25, 2022
Showing off his State medal, senior Tristan Hernandez poses with his ILPC Editor of the year award. Hernandez was a part of the yearbook staff for three years and served as editor-in-chief his senior year, as well as lead the UIL Journalism team as captain to win the State Championship on May 6. It was really nice to end my senior year by placing the highest and doing the best I have ever done, Hernandez said. I was also extremely excited to win the journalism team championship. Every member of the UIL Journalism team did so well, whether that be at an invitational or a UIL contest, and I’m so happy we did a full sweep of the District, Region and State Championships.
T-Dawg Takeover
May 25, 2022
Holding up her medals, senior Arina Gart finishes HOSA competition season. HOSA advanced to the state level this year. I’ve wanted to be in the medical field for forever,” Gart said. “But this year, since I was in practicum, I got a lot more experience. We also participated in the Medical Reserve Corps, so we partnered with them and we made first-aid kits for the visually impaired, and that experience made me realize it was something I really wanted to do in the future.
Say Yes to Everything
May 24, 2022
Senior and captain of the swim team Kamryn Kramer swims a lap at the first swim meet on Thursday. Amid the new experiences of leading the team and having a new swim coach with Les Greenwood, Kramer says she most enjoys the social aspect of swim. “Everyone’s best friends, Kramer said. I’m a captain of the swim team, and I love being a leader where everyone’s friends and being goofy and silly with them at the meets too. The [competitive aspect of] meets are really fun, getting up for each other.”
Dive In With Both Feet
September 29, 2022
Watching the eyes of the opposing player, sophomore Avery Nelson carefully waits for her to decide the play. The girl’s water polo team were seated second in their district at the beginning of their season. “[Being a goalie] is very stressful,” Nelson said. “[It] feels like all the pressure is on you because youre the last line of defense, when the offensive opponents are coming at you, you always have to be on your guard. And Its very tough mentally because you always beat yourself up.”
All Worth it
September 27, 2022
With the finish line in sight and a 15-second lead, junior Isabel Conde De Frankenberg pushes her way through the final stretch of the Cedar Park Invitational. Conde De Frankenberg would go on to win the varsity girls 5K race for the second year in a row. “It was a good turnout, it was really fun,” Conde De Frankenberg said. “I love our school course, it was good being able to run on there and represent your own course.”
Racing Into the Season
September 22, 2022
Holding out the ball, varsity quarterback and junior Ayden Arp hands the ball off to senior Tyree Nicholson. The team lost 7-24 to Round Rock on Sept. 9. “I think that once we get into district, it’ll be a whole different story,” Arp said. “We’ll have a lot more toughness when we have our district play.”
When the Going Gets Tough, the Toughness Gets Going
September 20, 2022
Senior Adam Vaughn pitches a fast ball towards the opposing team, hopeful for a strike. The team played a tournament against Cooper High School on March 25 with one win and one loss. “I’ve always been big into the weightroom and that has always come naturally,” Vaughn said. “But I have spent much more time on pitching and my hard work is definitely helping me become a better pitcher. Every player goes into games in practice with an intent of getting better at the game and becoming a better athlete.”
Pitch Perfect
May 12, 2022
“Me Time” starring Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg was released Aug. 26 on Netflix, and was the number one watched movie for several days. The movies is exciting with many funny and ridiculous scenes that left me laughing to myself.
Hart, Wahlberg Entertain in Netflix Original Movie
September 20, 2022
The movie “The Adam Project,” is available to watch on Netflix as a Netflix original film. The movie is filled with popular actors such as Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldaña and Jennifer Garner. The movie is an action filled adventure movie about the existence of time travel.
Future Me
April 25, 2022
South by Southwest is a city wide festival held here in Austin that showcases Music, Film and technology. This year, after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, South By Southwest was held from Mar. 11-20 and had venues spread around the city containing conferences, movie premieres, live music and many appearances from celebrities. “It was pretty cool,” junior Jack Polishook said. “I only did the free stuff because I didn’t have one of the passes but there was a lot of variety. There were cool art shows, there was a lot of cool music, there were a lot of people giving out free stuff, all of these companies giving out free things.”
Back and Better Than Ever
April 11, 2022
Monster High is back with the introduction of the new doll line, Haunt Couture, after a very long hiatus. Their last project was the Skullector line, featuring freak fabulous adaptations of classic horror icons such as Beetlejuice and Pennywise. I am so pleased to see that the franchise from my childhood is back with new modern renditions of the beloved main characters, and I can’t wait to see what the brand will do in the future.
The Ghouls are Back
March 8, 2022
At the end of march, choir presented a magical performance featuring many Disney princesses and their friends. This April, Anna and Elsa are coming back with the theatre department with Frozen jr. Come see this show to remember a well loved movie from our childhoods, Brant said. Its also a great show for kids and a chance for them to see their favorite Disney princesses.
A Freezing Spring
March 8, 2022
I competed in the 2022 Texas State Championships and ended up placing 1st in both the Individual and Pair divisions for 15-17 year olds.
Right Foot Turn, Left Foot Step
May 16, 2022
The film “Everything, Everywhere All at Once,” directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, was released on March 11 at Austin’s very own South by Southwest. The movie follows Evelyn Wang, a mother and wife, struggling with taxes as she continues to run her own laundromat sitting just below her familys small apartment. Through beautiful lighting, costuming and storytelling, I was left speechless and on the edge of my seat for the entirety of this perfectly put together movie.
Bagels and the Multiverse
April 25, 2022
Students annotate and thoroughly dissect poems, trying to find hidden meanings and values that are woven throughout. The Bridge is one of my favorite poems of all time, and Im so sad it didnt make it to the next round.
The Meaning of Words
April 12, 2022
The USWST settled their 6-year long fight about equal payment. This was a monumental and historical win for not only the soccer team, but for women across the globe working in fields filled with gender inequality.
Kicking Out Gender Inequality
March 28, 2022
In February, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton declared that gender-affirming treatment like hormone therapy for transgender individuals would constitute as child abuse and be pursued under the fullest extent of the law. According to Abbott, the ban is meant to protect children from harm, but according to modern medical consensus it will have the opposite effect. Much needs to be done to ensure that trans youth in Texas are supported.
A Ban Against Rights
March 25, 2022
“I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy is a transcendent memoir that is truly unlike any other book ever released. It provided an equal amount of laughs and tears while telling the life story of McCurdy. McCurdy takes her readers through the rocky road that was her childhood, some of the most developmental years of a person’s life. This memoir does a beautiful job of balancing all of the heartbreak and happiness felt by McCurdy throughout the book, ultimately making you agree with her book’s title.
You’re Glad Your Mom Died?
September 23, 2022
“Me Time” starring Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg was released Aug. 26 on Netflix, and was the number one watched movie for several days. The movies is exciting with many funny and ridiculous scenes that left me laughing to myself.
Hart, Wahlberg Entertain in Netflix Original Movie
September 20, 2022
The Paramount Plus exclusive “The Offer had its first episode release on April 28th and was directed by Dexter Fletcher. The 10 part series is a drama with semi-fact and semi-fiction aspects of the creation of the classic movie “The Godfather”. Throughout I watched the entire show at every chance I could get and would say it’s best enjoyed with a coke, ice cream and some extra cheddar flavor blasted goldfish.
The Answer
May 20, 2022
The newest Crumbl location has made it easy to pick up the weekly menu. The lineup for the first week of May is pictured: Pink Velvet Cupcake, Hazelnut Mudslide ft. Nutella, Mom’s Favorite and Mango Frozen Yogurt. My favorite out of them all would have to be the Pink Velvet Cupcake. The perfect cookie to frosting ratio easily placed it in my top five Crumbl cookies. The slight strawberry flavor gives the cookie a nice flavor profile overall, and the buttercream frosting creates the most perfect cookie.
What’s the Lineup?
May 13, 2022
The film “Everything, Everywhere All at Once,” directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, was released on March 11 at Austin’s very own South by Southwest. The movie follows Evelyn Wang, a mother and wife, struggling with taxes as she continues to run her own laundromat sitting just below her familys small apartment. Through beautiful lighting, costuming and storytelling, I was left speechless and on the edge of my seat for the entirety of this perfectly put together movie.
Bagels and the Multiverse
April 25, 2022
Reflecting on the Spotlight
Reflecting on the Spotlight
February 2, 2022
DECA Advances to State
DECA Advances to State
February 1, 2022
Native American Heritage Month
January 24, 2022
The Yerd Life: Back in School
The Yerd Life: Back in School
January 21, 2022
With pompoms in hand, sophomore Phoebe Solberg dances to Underneath the Tree in the Luminaries performance during the Holiday Show. The show was held on Dec. 2 in the PAC after a years hiatus due to COVID-19. My favorite part of the holiday show was getting to spend time with my friends and getting to see everyone else perform as well, Solberg said. I love being on Luminaries because I get to spend a lot of quality time with my friends and grow as a dancer.
2021 Fall Fine Arts Recap Slideshow
January 10, 2022
With pompoms in hand, sophomore Phoebe Solberg dances to Underneath the Tree in the Luminaries performance during the Holiday Show. The show was held on Dec. 2 in the PAC after a years hiatus due to COVID-19. My favorite part of the holiday show was getting to spend time with my friends and getting to see everyone else perform as well, Solberg said. I love being on Luminaries because I get to spend a lot of quality time with my friends and grow as a dancer.
2021 Fall Fine Arts Recap Slideshow
January 10, 2022
Coming off a tough non-district schedule and loss to Round Rock, varsity football won its first district game of the season against Georgetown 49-45. The game came down to the final minute, with the T-Wolves’ play cementing their lead. “Winning our first district game definitely helped us because we had just beat one of our toughest district opponents in a big way,” junior linebacker Isaac Barksdale said. “The mood was almost frustrated because it was that close of a game. But, it was also like ‘Okay, we know what we have to do, so let’s go do it.’
2021 Fall Sports Recap Slideshow
January 9, 2022
Striking a pose at halftime, Celebrities captain and senior Katie Kim performs in front of the crowd at the Homecoming game. Kim, who started on the Emeralds JV Dance Team as a freshman and has been a Celebrities member since her sophomore year, is in her final year of dancing on the high school team. “It was definitely an unforgettable experience,” Kim said. “Im so grateful to have been a part of it all for the past three years.”
2021 Homecoming Slideshow
October 20, 2021
Surrounded by a blanket of snow, Ryan Pribyla plays makes a snow angel while his older sister, sophomore Anna Pribyla takes pictures of him on Feb. 15. Anna said that the best part of the snow days was how pretty it was. “I loved going outside and taking pictures,” Anna said. “The worst part was not being able to drive anywhere. I had gotten my license the day before the snow and I had to wait a week before I could actually go anywhere because of the ice roads.”
Texas- A True Winter Wonderland
March 9, 2021
Looking to the side, senior Sydney Poulsen extends her leg while en pointe at the Celebrities holiday show on Dec. 13. This performance was the first time Poulsen had performed while en pointe in two years. It was fun to be able to perform en pointe again,” Poulsen said. “I also loved getting to wear my old tutu because they are super pretty. It was definitely difficult to perform because I had a tiny piece of marley and I [couldnt] travel as far as I normally would. Overall though, the variation went super well and I felt strong on pointe.
Celebrities Winter Show
February 1, 2021
Winners Train, Losers Complain
Winners Train, Losers Complain
February 28, 2022
Reflecting on the Spotlight
Reflecting on the Spotlight
February 2, 2022
DECA Advances to State
DECA Advances to State
February 1, 2022
The Yerd Life: Back in School
The Yerd Life: Back in School
January 21, 2022
Varsity Mixed Choir Selected for ACDA Competition
Varsity Mixed Choir Selected for ACDA Competition
March 1, 2021
The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

Ruchi Sankolli

Ruchi Sankolli, Assistant Editor

Ruchi Sankolli is a senior, this is her third year on staff, and her first year as the Assistant Editor of the Wolfpack.  She mainly enjoys writing opinion pieces about current events. In addition to the Wolfpack, she is also involved in the 4-H Youth Toastmasters Gavel Club, HOSA and NHS. She enjoys listening to music, watching anime, reading horror novels, writng stories, and playing with her dog. She plans on attending either UT Austin or Texas A&M to major in the healthcare field.

 

All content by Ruchi Sankolli
More than 50 students, all donned in red T shirts, pose for a group picture at the front grounds of the school, holding various signs and symbols. These students all engaged in a silent, peaceful protest regarding the Roe v. Wade and abortion situation as of now. “It felt kind of empowering,” senior Aleksae Watson said. “Because they were all there for the same thing. We all are aware that what’s going on isn’t right. I’d say it’s not appropriate. We all deserve our rights and our freedoms and it’s just being stripped from us.”

A Loud Silence

May 23, 2022
Reporter Aahana Mulchandani’s spam account is displayed, showing a variety of posts, from details of her recreational life to her school life. Such spam accounts fall under the category of fake instagram accounts, or FINSTAS, and affect FOMO by increasing engagement with social media due to the daily amount of posts that users get to their feeds. “Sometimes, I find myself scrolling endlessly through social media purely because I follow a lot of accounts that post funny content,” Mulchandani said. “It definitely increased my addiction to social media and especially with the pressure of upkeeping a spam account.”

It’s a Social World

May 18, 2022
Biology and AP Biology teacher Adam Babich sits at his desk, concentrating on his paperwork. Babich is one of the teachers who have been affected by teacher burnout, and feels teachers are not heard enough when it comes to their struggles. “The most stressful part about teaching is not having your voice heard,” Babich said. “At a campus level, I would march off to war for my administration team; Mr Sloan, everybody, they’re great and they’re supportive. The problem comes from the higher ups; a lot of what we deal with, whether it is pay raise, or budget issues, or standards or state testing, we can give our voice, but really, nothing ever comes of it. These are legislative bodies that do a lot of the decision making and we know that, at a government level, things move at a snail’s pace. If an issue shows up, it often takes a very long time to see any results from it. For example, they’re putting together a task force to figure out why teachers are leaving. When we looked at the first task force, there was maybe two teachers on it; everyone else were superintendents, or people who had not been in the classroom for 10 years. So, as teachers, we felt like this was a slap in the face. I’m not saying that all teachers feel this way, I’m saying some of us do, and this is what we’re feeling. It’s like we’re in the trenches, we’re asking for help and we get decisions made for us by people who aren’t in the classrooms.”

The Burnout

May 16, 2022
With a look of concentration, senior Max Villarreal tests out his tattoo needle with a stencil. Villarreal has had a passion for art for a while, and has decided to pursue tattoo art as a future activity. “I like art in general, [but] I don’t think I would just do [art] as a career,” Villarreal said. “It’s not enough fun for me, and I feel like I need to constantly come up with new ideas and hoping people are paying attention to me. From a young age, I had been exposed to the art of tattooing, and it’s just something that has stuck with me. That’s something my mom wanted too, she wanted me to be a tattoo artist.”

Inked Dreams

May 5, 2022
The winner of the Library March Madness is Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Due to its popularity, the book was able to stay strong throughout the multiple rounds of the competition, according to Assistant Librarian Jennifer Baskin, who applauded the book for its years of success and relevance. “I pretty much knew that was going to be the winner from the get,” Baskin said. “I was kind of hoping that I would be surprised that [‘Hunger Games’] wasn’t the winner, but I understand why. It’s pretty popular, and a lot of people read that book, and it was their introduction to reading. That’s something that got them excited about reading, so it makes sense that they would still be excited about it. I think that book has held up, just sort of like ‘Harry Potter’, or ‘The Lightening Thief’. It holds up even when I read it as an adult, but I was still surprised that it was still going so strong.”

Let the Madness Begin

April 4, 2022
As social medias influence grows, there are certain pros and cons that come along with it. In addition to liking Instagram posts or making music videos on TikTok, online relationships can form, people can educate themselves on important matters and both kids and adults gain exposure to the world around them. “Obviously, constant exposure to social media can be both physically and mentally draining,” senior Tolani Segun said. “However, if you are being conscious in its use, by limiting the time you spend on certain sites and refraining from pages that encourage negativity, then social media can be a very useful tool. Best of all, TikTok and Instagram let you play with funny filters, and TikTok even taught me how to dance.”

Two Shades of Gray

March 30, 2022
Choosing the path of vegetarianism is not easy: it can be a path full of sacrifices and adjustments that need to be made on a daily basis. From dealing with society’s opinions, to frequently asked questions, to limited food options, being a vegetarian is not easy sometimes, and it is something we need to talk about more.

The Dietary Outcast

March 24, 2022
Senior Evy Grenger focuses as she manages to get the “Word of the Day.” Grenger has been playing “Wordle” since January, and said it has improved her critical thinking skills and loves to challenge herself with the new “Word of the Day.” “I feel like it has increased my critical thinking skills because to figure out the word, you really have to think about where the letters go and which are correct, Grenger said. It makes me think about the words I know and how they could possibly fit into the puzzle.”

It’s Just a Word

March 4, 2022
Senior Madelyn Roberts smiles in the snow as she holds her Colorado State memorabilia. Roberts chose to go out of state because of her interest in fashion and her admiration for the university. “I really wanted somewhere that was picturesque, [some place] that fits with my vintage style,” Roberts said. “I wanted somewhere where I could walk down to mainstreet and have a bunch at a cafe. Or go shopping. I’ll be a fashion major, and I have my own fashion Instagram [account] and I could just see myself pursuing these interests in Fort Collins.”

A Common Future

February 18, 2022
There There by Tommy Orange is a mesmerizing story in which multiple people are able to reconnect with each other through one crucial cultural event. Since culture is an important part of a persons life, more people should know about their own stories and other peoples stories. This novel does a wonderful job of explaining the importance of culture and why being attentive to different cultures is important for our own knowledge and growth as human beings.

Culturally Connected

February 11, 2022
Driving is something that all students have come to rely on, especially during their senior year. The question of how interested modern teenagers are in driving is now being brought up in multiple studies, however, high school students still recognize and value the importance of driving as a whole, such as senior Jasmin Gonzales. “I think driving is a super important skill because it allows the person to run personal errands or help out others if they need a ride somewhere,” Gonzales said. “I think that is one of the best parts of high school is being able to start driving yourself to school. There’s something so maturing about it.”

To Take the Wheel or Not

January 26, 2022
The choir students smile for a group photo at Region in November. The choir recently participated in the pre-area auditions, and the top 15 candidates (10 for voice parts and six alternates) advanced to the Area auditions. “I am immensely proud,” Assistant Choir Director Victor Torres said. “I am so proud of them. We’ve been having Sectionals in here just about every day. The kids have been showing up, really working on their music.

In For The Long Run

January 7, 2022
Netflix and Chill suddenly got disappointing with how the new heist movie played out. Red Notice had a lot of potential, which kind of went to waste. While the whole movie was not up to my expectations for it, there were some exciting parts to it, such as the cinematography and the action scenes.

Below Egg-Spectations

December 16, 2021
Showing off his gold medal, senior Riley Pritzlaff poses for a picture alongside fellow UIL competitors and seniors Vyacheslav Adrianov and Aiden Seibel. Pritzlaff placed second in the UIL Congress Meet and will be advancing to the next round at the Texas State Capitol in January. “The first kind of debate that I got into when I first joined the Speech and Debate team was Congress,” Pritzlaff said. “So, making it to state my senior year is kind of a full circle for me, and owning my speech skills, learning this kind of thing, and having the opportunity and experience to debate all of these different ideas [with] these different people has been really cool.”

The ‘States’ Are High

December 9, 2021
As allergy season hits hard, taking care of yourself is of the utmost importance. There are many homemade and natural recipes, such as pepper soup, are just the remedies we need to keep warm and happy this season. In addition to over-the-counter medication, these natural remedies work just as effectively and are recommended for a fast recovery.

Nature’s Got You

November 24, 2021
DC has made some major changes to Superman in their upcoming comic set to release in November. Kent is married to Lois Lane, and together they have a son, Jon Kent, who identifies as bisexual. By doing this, DC is diversifying their stories.

With Great Power Comes a Better Tomorrow

November 1, 2021
While the Devious Lick Challenge is now seen as a threat that encourages theft and vandalism among students, not all of the stunts involved encourage theft and vandalism. A list shown above shows a positive side to the challenge, encouraging giving instead of taking; promoting these kinds of acts are much more professional and have an overall positive impact on students and teachers alike.

Helpful Vs. Harmful

October 7, 2021
Marvel really impressed audiences with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The movie is a perfect blend of every element, from humour to sadness, and also included amazing scenery. This, combined with a compelling storyline, is what truly makes it one of Marvels finest works.

Ten “Rings” Why You Should Watch This

September 14, 2021
Actively engaging in a conversation with her students, AP English IV teacher Michelle Iskra teaches her students about the importance of reading multiple stories to get proper context. Iskra is one of the teachers who implemented an approach designed to prevent academic dishonesty, and said she believes everyone should work together to ensure an honest academic policy for students. “I think everyone [plays] a role in minimizing academic dishonesty,” Iskra said. “I’m very straightforward about it. But, I also give students many opportunities to show me what they can do, to be successful in their own way, and to work with other students collaboratively in terms of thinking and ideas, and then to prepare their own work.”

Are You Cheating on Me?

September 5, 2021
Eyes on his target, senior Rahul Kannam prepares to hit incoming tennis ball at the match against Leander on Oct. 2. Alongside his involvement in tennis, Kannam also wants to get involved in the process of business, particularly the financial aspect of it. “I would like to work in the finance area for business and understand companies’ finances and logistics,” Kannam said. “I would like to start a business, and I have tried to start one about t-shirts with a friend which ultimately fell through. I still had fun planning and designing it with him, though. In the future, maybe starting a business is very possible, but I would like to rather join a startup so I can learn more about the growing process before starting my own business.”

Getting Down To Business

May 20, 2021
Jasmine Cooper sits on the steps of her house, dressed up for the ACDA After Party. Cooper was one of the students who participated in the ACDA and was proud of the effort that the team put in. “For the people who wanted to view our recorded concert in-person, [which had] limited seating, just choir students and their families and friends [were allowed],” Cooper said. “We had an ACDA watch party in the PAC ,because us seniors, who were juniors last year, didn’t have a prom, and we had a great idea to make the event formal. Our recording and video, our concert, was amazing. To see our hard work and our choir directors’ efforts pay off was truly a sight.”

Fa La La Through Life

May 7, 2021
Junior Hemani Goje poses in front of a classroom with a HerDrive donation box. Donation boxes like these are available for students in front of classrooms throughout the school, and the items will be donated to womens shelters to provide hygienic support. “I really hope that we, the community of Cedar Park, donate and impact the betterment of the community, Goje said. “By giving resources to the women in shelters, I want to be able to empathize with them and support the often understocked shelters.”

Her Needs Come First

May 6, 2021
New Theatre Tech teacher Colin Falk faces the camera smiling while wearing his Disney Fantasmic Cast and Crew Jacket. Falk is an alumnus of Cedar Park High School who used to work for Disneys Fantasmic before joining the staff. “I worked with the fireworks team to produce the nighttime spectacular,” Falk said. “It was, really and truly, a magical experience. I tell people all the time that my favorite part of working there was that moment right before the show, when I could look out at the audience and see a crowd of 8,000 cheering people, and it was a new crowd every night, with another group of people waiting to be amazed by what we do.”

Hello From the Happiest Place on Earth

April 19, 2021
Participants of the HOSA Trivia Night, including HOSA members, smile at the camera over Zoom. HOSA hosted this Trivia Night as part of a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and collected close to $170. President Aashna Ravi is grateful for the support and to those to participated. “I would definitely say that the Trivia Night was a success, seeing that this was not only the first time we were doing it, but given that it was held virtually,” Ravi said. “As a team, we feel that this is a great event that we can continue to build upon in years to come, as we transition back into person, and one that will be successful in raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We appreciate all of the students who supported and donated their time to the event and also wanted to thank the organizations that offered hours to make this event a success.”

Giving Back Together

April 1, 2021
As classes get harder and the learning environment shifts online, students are increasingly losing motivation to work. Whether it is a lack of structure or engagement, students are struggling to find ways to get motivated again. Having said that, there are many ways to renew motivation, and that starts with pushing through.

There’s Still Hope

March 23, 2021
Two years ago, the state-bound DECA members stand together, smiling as they show their medals. President Suparna Swaroop , one of the advancing members, has expressed happiness and pride at these members for their work and advancing to state. “I am so proud of all the DECA members’ work and successes this year,” Swaroop said. “Especially with COVID-19 and the new virtual competition, our DECA members have really done an excellent job of working hard and staying motivated. I know that we are all going to do really well at state because our chapter is filled with passionate business students that are determined to compete.”

Fruits of Hard Work

February 18, 2021
Varsity cheerleaders pose in Cowboy Stadium as they cheer for the football team at the state football championships on Jan. 15, just one day after the they competed in the Spirit Championships in Fort Worth, placing fifth. Senior Captain Emma Vorndran expressed pride at the teams work and said she is grateful for her time with them. I would not want to be on any other team,” Vorndran said. “I feel as if this is the best team I have ever been a part of in regards to both talent and friendships. The relationships that have been made on this team are meaningful to each and every individual, and I am so proud of how far this team has come. The best part about being a senior captain is watching the younger classmen grow in skill and their love for cheer.”

With High Spirits

February 16, 2021
COVID-19 cases arent the only things that are increasing. The stigma surrounding the disease is also expanding, leading to discriminatory actions and even violence. This stigma causes division among society, something which is unnecessary at this moment. Therefore, it is important to address this stigma and learn to overcome it.

The Shame of a Disease

February 2, 2021
Junior MJ Kelly and Freshman Aidan Cox launched the On Your Left podcast on Jan. 15. This podcast covers political topics and aims to educate the public on political and social theories, topics, and issues through a leftist perspective and hopes to help people gain a better understanding and use it to their benefit. “I think the most important aspect to me is the social rights aspect,” Kelly said. “Yes, reading foundational literature by [people] like Marx and Engels is important, but I’d rather have people take other things away from this. I hope somebody listens and starts to make a difference in their life when it comes to being a better ally for others.”

An Auditory Education

January 20, 2021
The Crucible is an insightful story that provides an interesting perspective on the Salem Witch Trials. It closely follows a cynical theme and understanding of the Trials in order to highlight the harm that comes from such hysteria.

“The Crucible”: A Deeper Insight of Humanity

December 17, 2020
Racism is a serious issue in our society, and can have seething effects on the victim. Helping and speaking out against racism is what we, both as students and human beings, should do. Having that said, there are many ways for students to help fight racism in their environment.

Students Against Racism

November 26, 2020
Madison Cherry has taken her first step towards the world of business. The junior student has become an influencer for American Eagle and has started her own jewelry business, and has gained a lot of advice from her experience. “Being an influencer teaches me how to run Instagram, and see what my audience likes the most, when they are most active, etc,” Cherry said. “When I do get more serious with my jewelry business, I can see what my audience likes and what they don’t like, so that I can promote my product more and sell what [is] more popular. Definitely, being an influencer has given me a lot of advice, whether that be from business partners or my own experience.” 

An American Influence

November 20, 2020
Key Club Sponsor Amy Durden shows off some avocado pits that have been donated to her as a part of Harvest for Healing. Durden and the clubs goal for Harvest for Healing is to spread positivity throughout the senior community. “[Our goal] is to try and bring joy and hope in watching the seeds grow into seedlings and then plants,” Durden said. “With so much depression, despair, isolation and sickness, [we figured that] its a way to have a small [amount of positivity].”

Botanical Joy

November 13, 2020
Among Us is the most played game this year. This makes it the most popular and trendy game of this year. It is a game of secrets and sabotaging, and makes for a fun and thrilling experience. I have recently started playing this game, and enjoy every bit of it.

A Game of Sabotage and Guessing

November 2, 2020
Giving A Ray of Hope is a newly founded organization that strives to help children in hospitals, and are responsible for, not only participating in service projects, but also educating the community on diseases that infect children. The organization provides many opportunities for members to explore the medical field and contribute to their community. “I would say that this organization really helps you have that role in your community and trying to help others,” junior member Jillian Lach said. “Not only does it help build responsibility, but it [has also] helped me meet new people and research and educate myself on a lot of things that I didn’t know about before.

Seeds of Hope

October 21, 2020
Wrestling Booster Club President Jason Malmquist directs cars to the paper shredder and supervises the event. Malmquist considers the paper shredding fundraiser to be beneficial to both the wrestlers and the team, as personal connections are strengthened. “Other sports tend to do things a lot as a team,” Malmquist said. “In wrestling, we do have a team, such as team scoring. But this gives them a chance to bond, spend some time together, and it’s always fun to do something like this together. We think it’s important that the wrestlers are the ones raising the money. When they are here themselves, they actually have to come out and do something, and we think that [it’s] great that they put in [effort]for their own team.”

Shred for a Buck

October 19, 2020
Social media has become an essential tool for students to express their opinions and spread awareness about certain issues. As of today, it is the main source of current information for a majority of the students. While this is a benefit to the student population, it is also important to be kind on social media and respect the opinions of others, especially at this time.

Spare My Feelings

October 16, 2020
During the course of quarantine and online schooling, there have been reports of increased levels of stress and anxiety for students. This anxiety can develop into depression and other health issues. Addressing these feelings is highly recommended

Self-Health Check

September 22, 2020
Senior Alison Dye smiles for the camera. Dye has been a member of many organizations in school, from playing the role of Mary Poppins in Princess Tea, to being a member of PALS and the Spanish Club, and reflects on her experience in these activities. “All of these activities have helped me come out of the shell,” Dye said. “I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been blessed with, [and the chance] to meet so many awesome people.”

Best of Both Worlds

May 26, 2020
With changes due to COVID-19, students are now expected to complete a series of virtual assignments and attend meetings as needed. Given the status quo, academic learning has been modified to better fit the variety of situations students are in. “For the most part, and for the majority of the students I would say [that they are meeting expectations],” AP Human Geography and AP Seminar teacher Cassandra Gray said. “I teach both AP Human Geography and AP Seminar and AP Exams are still happening, so there is a lot of review and prep work going into the next few weeks. For the most part, [the] majority of the students are completing the assignments as they are intended and are trying their best on them in order to get accurate feedback.

Teaching Blues

May 22, 2020
Junior Celebrities captain Rylee Tonacao (last from left to right), poses and smiles with fellow participants at the Colon Cancer Walk. Tonacao and her teammates wish to continue giving back to the community and helping to resolve community issues. I think this event has definitely inspired myself as well as [the] celebrities organization to keep continuing to serve our community,” Tonacao said. “This event, particularly, has such a special meaning for us as a team as it relates to our late director, Stacy Danielson. The important thing about this event is it taught us, not only to give back, but to raise awareness for different issues, and different things that we need to solve. So, I think, as well as helping out the community, participating in events like this has showed us that we need to raise awareness for certain things, as that is an important factor to solving problems.”

Giving Back One Step At a Time

March 13, 2020
Many high school students suffer from sleep deprivation. Whether it be from stress or the downright lack of desire to sleep, depriving yourself of sleep is dangerous, especially at this age. Learning to adopt better sleeping habits is advised.

You’re Gonna Need Some Extra Zzz…

February 20, 2020
Sophomore Barbara Sylvester smiles at the camera as she designs the drive train of the robot. The robotics team is working on a new robot for this build season. Our goal for this build season is to create a working robot, Sylvester said. As we go through the building process, we create small goals to keep the process moving steady, but the overall goal is to have a working and moving robot that the whole team contributed on by our first competition.

The Robolobos Are Back

February 12, 2020
A few birds nests that Debby Barnes Crochet group had made. Barnes had started a crochet group in order to help the displaced wildlife in Australia. It just breaks my heart to see these poor, little animals [suffering] Barnes said. Some of them are being burned. I saw a video last month on Facebook of this poor, little koala that was just crying because he was being burned.

Crafts For Lives

January 20, 2020
Anatomy and Physiology teacher, Nancy Matthias supervises a kidney dissection. Matthias believes that dissecting real organs and specimens enhances the learning abilities of the students. Live dissection gives [the students] an opportunity to actually feel the tissue, Matthias said. When the live specimen is 3D, they can see it, manipulate it, and [this makes it] a much better way to dissect and learn about the different organs and the body.

Would You Rather Do it or See it?

January 3, 2020
CPHS Librarian, Debby Barnes poses with a copy of Radical Element. Barnes got selected to be a member of the TAYSHAS Reading Program. “I think its great and I think it is an honor to get selected,” Barnes said. “I’m kind of feeling overwhelmed that I have too read over a hundred books in a year, but I am proud of being selected.”

Booked for a Lifetime

December 9, 2019
As high schoolers, our lives are constantly busy and we find little, to no, free time. Our busy schedules often result in the increase of our stress levels. This can result in a lot of health issues, from thyroid diseases to asthma to gastrointestinal disorders. Stress isn’t a good thing for either our body or mind, but how do we prevent it?

How to De-Stress

November 19, 2019
An excerpt of Lighthouse by sophomore Ireland Weaver. Weaver often writes things that tell stories that highlight the pain and emotional experiences in people’s lives.  “For me, talking about great tragedies, like losing people, losing yourself and then getting that back, struggling, finding out who you are, that’s what its about,” Weaver said. “For a lot of people that have read my stuff, this seems kind of sad to them, but for me, its like surviving. Telling the stories of people persevering.” 

Words of Wisdom

November 6, 2019
Junior choir student Zain Jabbar (third from left to right) sings in the fall concert. The varsity mixed choir had prepared extensively for their TMEA performance, dedicating every minute to preparation. Jabbar reflects on this work. “For four months, every Wednesday after school, we practiced for an hour and fifteen minutes on the four songs,” Jabbar says. “And these weren’t easy songs. Ms Holt made sure we chose really hard songs that the professional choirs do. I was really happy that all the hard work was recognized.”

Leaving a Mark on the Nation

October 23, 2019
“Challenger Deep” will take you through a portal and switch you back from normal school life and adventures among the unforgiving sea.

Book Review: Challenger Deep

September 26, 2019
The front office overlooks the streets, displaying its newly added extensions. The construction of these extensions began in May of the previous school year, and was completed in the beginning of this school year. Principal John Sloan explains the intentions behind this change, as well as the way the front office now functions. When people come in, there is a secure vestibule, and they have to check in with the receptionist and make sure they have a good purpose for being here, Sloan said. We have to make sure we are letting people in who are here for a good reason.

A Fresh Start

September 13, 2019
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The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School
Ruchi Sankolli