![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)
Where the Magic Begins
Junior Creates Party Princess Business, Discusses Process
Wearing one of her three character outfits, junior Katie Smith poses in the Snow Queen costume. Smith first came up with the idea for a party princess business in March and quickly began the process of creating the character costumes and the budget. “My favorite thing about going to theme parks is interacting with the characters and having conversations with them,” Smith said. “I realized that that’s something I could bring to the kids right here in Cedar Park so I immediately started planning.”
September 11, 2020
The camera flashes on, revealing the flowing blue ballgown of a princess through the screen. The personalized video begins, and the princess offers to sing any of her beloved songs and answer questions the viewers might have. For junior Katie Smith, these one-on-once princess conversations are a result of her hard work and dedication through quarantine. After spending months planning, Smith publicized her party princess business: Cedar Park Princess.
Smith said that she originally came up with the idea in March and began working on it almost immediately. With two years of choir and four years of theatre, Smith has experience singing and acting. Cedar Park Princesses allows her to combine this experience with her passions.
“My favorite thing about going to theme parks is interacting with the characters and having conversations with them,” Smith said. “I realized that that’s something I could bring to the kids right here in Cedar Park so I immediately started planning.”
Along with songs, Smith hosts Zoom calls for one-on-one princess interactions, records personalized videos, and plans on attending parties. She currently has three characters; Cinderella, the Snow Queen, and a female superhero. In the future, Smith said she plans on adding the Scottish Princess and Rapunzel.
“I got those characters first because Cinderella is the most classic princess story out there and it’s one that everybody knows and appreciates,” Smith said. “[The Snow Queen] is the most popular princess in the eyes of little kids and I thought it was really important to get her as soon as possible.”
For the costumes, Smith said that she keeps a list of about 20 characters she hopes to add to her business one day. To guarantee that her outfits are accurate, she said that she usually spends time googling different characters, then acquires the costumes from Etsy shops such as LovelyLocksShop.
Smith said that although she was the main creator behind the business, she received a lot of encouragement and support from friends and other party princesses.
“My biggest inspiration has to be Cait Baxter,” Smith said. “She is the first party princess that I ever found on social media. I have actually been lucky enough to talk to her a few times. She is the kindest soul and I would not have started this business without her ideas and support and inspiration.”
While the process behind the business has required plenty of work, Smith said that the end result has been rewarding.
“There [are] those moments when you are walking down the street and some kid sees you and their eyes get so wide and they get so excited,” Smith said. “They run up to you and they’re like ‘oh my goodness Cinderella’ and it’s just the cutest thing ever. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
In the future, Smith said that she plans on hiring more people to portray characters as well as make it a full-time job all the way through college. For students also hoping to start their own business, Smith said that it is important to appreciate the entire journey.
“Always make sure that it’s something you enjoy the process of just as much as the outcome because you really want the outcome to be the second thought since you are going to spend so much time on the process,” Smith said.
