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

After running 5 kilometers, senior Sanil Desai finishes his cross country race at Vista Ridge. Desai will be attending Brown University in the fall to pursue an education in medicine. “The feeling of finishing a race is so rewarding,” Desai said. “Being involved in a variety of extracurriculars has taught me how to balance my time and be well rounded. These activities have also allowed me to be involved in my interests and the school.
Photo by Mai Cachila
Time to Scrub in
Mai Cachila, Reporter • May 24, 2024

His cursor hovers over the email...

Crossing her fingers tightly, senior Sophie Triche smiles proudly for her senior photo. Triche plans to attend Kilgore college and is hopeful to continue high kicking with the Rangerettes in the fall. “When I first saw the Rangerettes, I was enamored by how professional they were,” Triche said. “It made me absolutely fall in love with them and everything they do. I knew I wanted to dance after high school and the Rangerettes to me, feels like home. I could not be more excited when I made the official decision to try out and let my friends and family know that I was committed to be a hopeful for such a world renowned dance team.” Photo Courtesy of Sophie Triche
Kicking into History
Morgan Nabi, Guest Reporter • May 24, 2024

The hours of training, listening...

Instructing his students, tennis coach Randy Ballenger gives feedback on the dish in front of them. Ballenger has been teaching at Cedar Park for 19 years and just took on the introduction to culinary course this school year. “For the most part its been just a unique amazing work,” Ballenger said. “It’s the community that keeps me here, the people that I work with and just the encompassing school. Its just an amazing place and Im definitely rooted here for a while.”
Photo by Mai Cachila
Much More than a Coach
Mai Cachila, Reporter • May 23, 2024

After having coached tennis, taught...

Standing with his guitar during Garage Band practice, senior Trevor Von Wupperfeld smiles for the camera. Von Wupperfeld was a founding member of the club, along with a long line of other activities at Cedar Park that earned him the title of Most Involved. “All of the music programs at our school are very, very dedicated, Von Wupperfeld said. Its kind of an all or nothing type of deal. And I am not a big fan of the all or nothing. So I kinda found a garage band to house all of the musicians who didnt have a place in the school or people who didnt have a traditional instrument they played. We take guitarists and basses and all kinds of stuff.  Photo Courtesy of Trevor Von Wupperfeld
Rockstar President
Arav Neroth, Guest Reporter • May 23, 2024

From making music with his club...

Holding her debut novel Lorida, senior Lilly Stone poses with her self-published novel for her senior photos. Stone said that she is optimistic about what her future holds in the literary world, and is proud of how far she has come despite the odds. “It doesnt take a special skill set to write a book, and you don’t have to be anyone special to do it,” Stone said. “If you have the drive and motivation, you have to just keep pushing yourself to write even when you don’t feel like it, because, in the end, you will be proud of what you’ve accomplished.” Courtesy of Lilly Stone
Fresh Face in Fiction
Gaby Coutts, Guest Reporter • May 23, 2024

Starting by picking up a journal...

Waterloo swim instructor, Emler swim instructor, and Camp Hope leader are just some of the jobs available for students over the summer. Junior Clara Rabago will be working as a small group leader at Camp Hope for two weeks over the summer where she will be taking care of the children there and participating in activities such as church services, games, art, and science. “I’m excited to have my own kids this year,” Rabago said. “I like seeing how a kid will come in and be super shy, but then they come out all being friends. They’re so happy and energetic and it’s just cool to see how much these kids grow within a week.”
Free At Last... Or Maybe Not
Kaydence Wilkinson, Reporter • May 23, 2024

A blaring wake-up alarm rings out...

Time to Scrub in

Recent Features Stories

Kicking into History

Kicking into History

May 24, 2024

The hours of training, listening and stretching are not quite done as she...

Much More than a Coach

Much More than a Coach

May 23, 2024

After having coached tennis, taught in the leadership department, and took...

Rockstar President

Rockstar President

May 23, 2024

From making music with his club in the science building to goalkeeping...

A Game Most Dangerous

Recent News Stories

A Scary Good Play

A Scary Good Play

May 1, 2024

The crowd erupts into applause as the curtains come to a close at the front of the stage. Heavily breathing...

Walking Through Time

Walking Through Time

April 9, 2024

To celebrate Women’s History Month, librarian Keri Burns teamed up with Rho Kappa, the social studies...

Robolobos Go Loco

Robolobos Go Loco

April 3, 2024

Anticipation fills the room in Belton as they patiently wait for the scores to be revealed on March 21....

Time to Scrub in

Recent Humans of CP Stories

Much More than a Coach

Much More than a Coach

May 23, 2024

After having coached tennis, taught in the leadership department, and took...

Fresh Face in Fiction

Fresh Face in Fiction

May 23, 2024

Starting by picking up a journal and pencil when she was just a kid, senior...

Confining the Chaos

Confining the Chaos

May 21, 2024

Once school gets out, it starts. Students rush to their cars to try to...

No Hitter, No Problem

Recent Sports Stories

A Familiar Foe

A Familiar Foe

May 15, 2024

Cheers of celebration echo from the dugout as the sevent inning comes to...

A Fantastic Falcon Fantasy

A Fantastic Falcon Fantasy

May 7, 2024

A softball straight to the head. The coach's first pitch to her. A laugh...

Swinging For Success

Swinging For Success

April 12, 2024

This season, the softball team has played nine games and has more to come....

Here Comes the Sun

School, organizations prepare for April 8 solar eclipse
Holding+up+a+visual+representation+of+the+solar+system%2C+Baylor+Astronomy+Professor+and+department+head+Dr.+Barbara+Endl%2C+PHD.+gives+a+presentation+on+the+solar+eclipse+during+DEN+on+March+22.+Endl+explained+the+proper+safety+precautions+to+take+on+April+8+when+the+solar+eclipse+passes+through+Williamson+County.+%E2%80%9CMake+sure+you+have+the+proper+protection+for+the+eyes%2C%E2%80%9D+Endl+said.+%E2%80%9CIn+terms+of+other+safety+measures%2C+if+you+are+going+to+go+somewhere%2C+be+prepared.+For+example%2C+pack+water+and+snacks.+The+travel+on+the+way+back+can+be+very+complicated+because+everybody+goes+at+the+same+time%2C+when+the+sun+is+out+of+the+eclipse%2C+everyone+leaves+at+the+same+time%2C+so+there+have+been+lots+of+traffic+jams+in+the+past.%E2%80%9D
Alyssa Fox
Holding up a visual representation of the solar system, Baylor Astronomy Professor and department head Dr. Barbara Endl, PHD. gives a presentation on the solar eclipse during DEN on March 22. Endl explained the proper safety precautions to take on April 8 when the solar eclipse passes through Williamson County. “Make sure you have the proper protection for the eyes,” Endl said. “In terms of other safety measures, if you are going to go somewhere, be prepared. For example, pack water and snacks. The travel on the way back can be very complicated because everybody goes at the same time, when the sun is out of the eclipse, everyone leaves at the same time, so there have been lots of traffic jams in the past.”

During the school day on April 8, the Total Solar Eclipse will pass over the school at approximately 1:30 p.m. In effort to properly educate the student body on the eclipse, AP Physics and Seminar teacher Christopher Voss invited Baylor Professor and Department head of Astronomy Dr. Barbara Endl, PHD to give a presentation about the eclipse during DEN on March 21. 

“Astronomy is arguably one of the most fundamental sciences because we can not set the perimentors when we do an experiment,” Endl said. “You can set things apart in a lab, but we cannot do that with planets; they are just in the universe and we have to try to understand it, which is what makes the eclipse so unique and interesting.”

Endl gave a presentation about the science behind the eclipse and included interactive activities that gave visual representations of how the solar system works. Endl also explained the safety precautions students should follow to remain safe during the solar eclipse. 

“Make sure you have the proper protection for the eyes,” Endl said. “In terms of other safety measures, if you are going to go somewhere, be prepared. For example, pack water and snacks. The travel on the way back can be very complicated because everybody goes at the same time, when the sun is out of the eclipse, everyone leaves at the same time, so there have been lots of traffic jams in the past.”

Story continues below advertisement
Wearing the proper eye gear is imperative when viewing the solar eclipse. Not wearing the proper glasses can cause permanent eye damage. Graphic courtesy of Leander ISD.

Endl stressed the importance of wearing the proper eyewear as the sun’s rays will permanently burn retina’s in the back of the eye. However, during totality you can remove the eclipse glasses and view with the naked eye. 

“I’m intrigued by being able to see other planets,” freshman Gustov Mt. Joy said. “When I heard you might be able to see like Jupiter, and you can look without the glasses during totality, I thought that was crazy.”

Band is taking advantage of this opportunity for their trip to BOA Grand Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana on Nov. 14 by selling solar eclipse glasses to earn money.

“[Selling eclipse glasses] is going to help us pay for a lot of our stuff on our road to Grand National,” assistant band director Kendall Santos said. “It’s a really expensive trip. We take pretty much the whole neighborhood to Indiana and it costs a lot of money to move a lot of people and a lot of equipment, so any money we can raise from the fundraiser will be beneficial for the band.”

An alternate bell schedule will be utilized on Monday to ensure all students and faculty have the opportunity to see the eclipse reach totality during the school day.

The glasses were available in the link on the weekly newsletter sent to families as well sold at Birdie Fest at Spare Birdie last Saturday. The glasses will also be available at the Crossover on April 6 before prom. 

“The glasses are pretty awesome,” Santos said. “It’s got the Timberwolf on it. It’s nothing specific to band. We wanted to keep it generic for the whole high school, so you can get it, it just happens to support the band program.”

The district will be operating on a modified schedule to ensure students and teachers have the opportunity to see the eclipse when it reaches totality. Although one of the few school districts in school the day of the eclipse, Endl said it is an opportunity for students to apply what they learn in the classroom to a real world experience. 

“People say ‘when am I ever going to use the science that I learned at school?” right,” Endl said. “So, this is an opportunity to use the science you learned at school like Biology, Zoology, of course Astronomy, there is lots of Physics behind it as well. Also, it’s an opportunity to teach the students and to learn and connect all the dots that day.” 

Leave a Comment
About the Contributor
Alyssa Fox
Alyssa Fox, Reporter
Alyssa is a junior and a first year reporter. Along with being a staff member for The Wolfpack, she is a Content Editor for the Tracks Yearbook and a member of the UIL Journalism team. She loves writing about her classmates and peers, as well as exciting things happening around the school. When she’s not doing homework, you can usually find her at one of the sporting events happening at school or watching a hockey game. Her favorite band is 5 Seconds of Summer and she loves Raising Canes chicken tenders. She also enjoys binge-watching early 2000s teen drama shows, superhero movies and taking weekly visits to Barnes and Noble. Alyssa hopes to attend a college up north and study journalism, with aspirations of becoming a sports reporter in either the NFL or the NHL.

Comments (0)

Comments on The Wolfpack must be approved before posting.
All The Wolfpack Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *