The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

To combat the growing price on fast food, my family uses fast food apps. There are five apps we use the most: QuikTrip, Sonic, Chick-fil-A, McDonalds and Whataburger.
Apps for Frugal Foodies
Kassidy Wilkinson, Reporter • March 15, 2024

It’s a classic scene in my family....

From gadgets and gizmos and everything in between, senior president Maci Tu (center) shares her experience in robotics, and what the future holds for her. “Im planning on majoring in either mechanical or electrical engineering,” Tu said. “Im hoping to do a minor in robotics or something of that sort.” Photo courtesy of Arav Neroth
Screws, Glue, and Maci Tu
Cason Johnson, Reporter • March 14, 2024

Keys start clicking rapidly, gracefully...

Hands flying up and down the bass clarinet, Giovani Lang-pale belts out a tune within the confines of his personal practice room. “Its incredible,” Lang-pale said. “The feeling, the feeling that you feel whenever youre like, okay, I did this. Nice. That was good. Now I have to think about this. Okay, Im doing this. Look over there. Look at this. Its really cool to have your brain be able to process so many things simultaneously while youre running. Youre marching. Youre playing. And its really hard to. Which is what makes it fun, you know?”
Gio-Logical Legend
Cason Johnson, Reporter • March 12, 2024

Silence fills the room as order...

Reading together, juniors Ashley Blair and Amia De Leon lean over the Bible to study the chapters they have chosen to discuss as a group. Blair said that the Bible Study Club has benefitted her in many ways, and it can benefit other students as well by giving them a deeper understanding of the Bible. “This club increases the Christian community connection at our school, and provides students a place to ask questions about the Bible, pray for one another, and give each other strong, Christian-centered advice,” Blair said. “It truly makes me joyous to see the impact that this club has on some students, and encourages me to keep Christ at the forefront of my life.” Photo courtesy of Violet Harmon
The Calm in the Crazy
Kaydence Wilkinson, Reporter • March 7, 2024

School, work, exams, college; many...

Hands lightly strumming the strings, senior Frank Song performs at a competition in China with his acoustic guitar in hand. Song has been singing for three years, accompanied by six years of playing guitar. “I value the impact of the music the most,” Song said. “Shawn Mendez is definitely one of the most inspirational musicians I know when I was starting to learn guitar and singing.” Photo courtesy of Frank Song
Heal Them with Music
Cason Johnson, Reporter • March 6, 2024

The crowd falls silent as the hands...

The last one standing on his team, senior Sammy Attaguile catches a ball and gets a teammate back in, causing a commotion in the stands. Also on the team, sophomore Raymund Lin said that they all knew each other well, but Attaguile’s skill surprised everyone. “I was in class one day and one of my robotics teammates came in and asked the teacher if he could snatch me,” Lin said. “He led me to the robotics room and told me to sign a form to play in the tournament. I was basically volun-told to play, but I didn’t mind. I did miss a couple of DENs where I had to do something for one of my classes though. There are some regrets but also some fun memories from the experience.”
Dodge, Dive, Win
Jane Yermakov, Reporter • March 5, 2024

In the echoing small gym, cheers...

Giving back this holiday season

Christmas is always a season of joy, peace, and most of all, presents. Everyone looks forward to what they may find from Santa under the tree Christmas morning, hoping it’s that new iPod or a Coach bag. But to other people, it also means a time to give back, and help some underprivileged families who are in need during the holiday season.

On November 29, several school organizations, including the Student Council and HOSA, participated in the Chuy’s Children Giving to Children Parade. What began as a small parade and toy drive in 1989 has grown into a large procession through downtown Austin, complete with floats, marching bands, and Santa himself. At designated spots on the parade route, the parade would halt and helpers would rove up and down the parade route, collecting toys from any passers-by who wish to donate to the cause. The toys were then sent to the local Blue Santa program, which will deliver the toys to children just in time for the holidays.

Some other community organizations are getting together to give back as well. St. Luke’s on the Lake Episcopal Church often holds several service projects during the holiday season, and this year the Youth Group is spending a Sunday at Brown Santa, a Travis County service program which takes donations of non-perishable foods and young children’s toys, and gives them to families in poverty or with financial problems.

The Youth Group at St. Luke’s has done many service projects in the past, but this one was a specific idea at the recommendation of another church member.

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“One of our staff members took a group she was working with to volunteer there last year.” Merchant Buchanan, Youth Director at St. Luke’s, said. “She was very impressed with the program and the way the people she was volunteering with chose to stay beyond their designated time slot.”

The hope of both Brown Santa and the St. Luke’s team is that they will be able to spread joy and holiday cheer this season by doing simple acts of service such as wrapping gifts, sorting foods and making food boxes.

“There are people around us in need, and it is our duty to find ways to help them.” Buchanan said. “We want to provide them with these basics so that they remember that they are not all alone and they have support.”

This is the first year St. Luke’s will be working with Brown Santa although, it has been around since 1981. Though it started with a few Travis County deputies helping about 25 families, community support has grown this year and the program now hopes to help 1500 families.

Another long-standing program is lending a hand to the needy this season, but on a worldwide scale. Operation: Christmas Child is an operation founded in 1993. They take donations of simple leftover toys and gifts, pack them into shoeboxes, and send them to impoverished countries around the world, in some cases giving the children their very first Christmas present. Anyone can take an old shoebox, fill it with unwanted toys, and take it to a drop-off location. This is ideal for families with little time or money to donate. Operation: Christmas Child is a non-profit organization, only asking for monetary donations to help ship the shoeboxes around the world.

Many students and organizations are out there this season, helping those in need. But what can one do to help? Many programs, like the aforementioned Brown Santa, accept volunteers of any age to help pack goods or load pallets of foodstuffs. These organizations want volunteers to help give back to the community. All one has to do is give them a call and help spread the holiday cheer. 

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The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School
Giving back this holiday season