![Soundwave poses for a picture after performing in the Legislative Prayer Breakfast for Texas politicians. Multiple audience members, such as State Rep. Terry Wilson, approached the students afterwards or requested to take photos with the singers. “[A woman] told us that it reminded her of singing when she was younger,” Ferguson said. “She said she sang the same song, but a different version and that it was one of her Dad’s favorites. She was really proud and really liked the performance.” (Photo Courtesy of Kyra Cox)](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG-4017-900x600.jpg)
![A woodworking vendor shows off his creations at the annual Project Graduation Holiday Bazaar on Dec. 10. “We’ve been doing this since 2012, and so some of the vendors have actually reached out to us,” Project Graduation president Paula Hufford said. “A lot of them have been here year after year, [but] some of them are new. Some of them are [current] students or previous students, so theyre familiar with the event, and now they’ve started their own little businesses.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_0603-900x675.jpg)
![Posing with her USA gold medal, junior Aahana Mulchandani holds the certificate verifying her place on Team USA Taekwondo team. Mulchandani will represent the team this April in the Dominican Republic for the Pan American Taekwondo Championships. “Im really excited to go [to the Dominican Republic because] Ive never been there,” Mulchandani said. “Im a little bit nervous too, [but] I feel very honored to [compete] because I fought so hard [to make the team]. I have a very [good] shot [at winning] if I do my best. My coach would probably kill me if I didn’t.” (Photo Courtesy of Aahana Mulchandani)](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/unnamed-600x900.jpg)
![Whereas classical art depicts a scene and tells a story, often of mythology or religious references, artists of modern times focus more on expressing ideas and feelings. The style of back then has since been replaced by splashes of color, curvy lines and other new art techniques. [Over time] I think art has shifted more to emotion rather than human beauty, sophomore Braeden Murray said. Modern art is significantly more abstract and doesnt have an obvious theme in mind. Very simple shapes, no people to be seen, and more colorful. I think in the older [time period] the art was definitely more human based, with biblical [references] while modern art is more emotion based because its not depicting a particular scene or action thats happening.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-vs-1503.png)
![Raising his hand to ask a question, junior Jack Garrett pays attention to the lecture in his AP Seminar class. AP Seminar is the first course in the AP Capstone program, a two-year program where students learn how to analyze, conduct research and give presentations and write essays over their findings. “Both [classes] are centered around research,” AP Research student and junior Amanda Eklund said. “Seminar [teaches you] how to research, and [you] look at other people’s research and combine th[eir] ideas together [for a grade], while Research is conducting your own [experiment].” To learn more about this program and enroll in it for the 2023-2024 school year, contact AP Research teacher Lauren Brannan at Lauren.Madrid@leanderisd.org.](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/tyler-kukla-new-9-600x900.jpg)
![Standing in front of Buckingham Palace in London, England, freshman Arthur Ce smiles as he holds a mug depicting the late Queen Elizabeth II. Alongside the mug, Ce is also holding onto his familiar chicken satchel. [The chicken bag] mostly makes people laugh, but I also think I look pretty good in it, Ce said. Last year at the high school banquet, my friend Annie had this really cool chicken purse, so as a joke, I asked her to buy me one, but during the summer, she actually did get me one. (Photo Courtesy of Arthur Ce)](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/arthurcefeatureimage-1-900x600.jpg)
![Kevin Bickling, school technologist, sits for an interview with CPHS News. Bicklings main job is to make sure all technology at school is in working order. If a student drops their laptop and the screen cracks or something like that, Ill get a ticket from the librarians for that,” Bickling said. “Or if a teacher needs some software installed on their [computer] or their projector bulb burns out or something. Those are tickets that I can get any day throughout the year.](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/the_bick-900x600.png)
![Leaping into the air, bending towards the water to complete his dive, sophomore Rustin Wilkinson competes in the first dive competition of the season, Mavwood invitational. Wilkinson has been diving for a year and a half and is seeded second for districts. “Diving is hard because it requires you to know where you are in the air,” Rustin said. “You have to know which rotation you are in when you are spinning. [I dive] because I want to get in the top ten at state. Last year [at state] I got second to last, but this year I want to get in the top ten so I can see all my hard work and perseverance pay off.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PicOfRUSTIN-900x600.jpg)
![One of the few stick vehicles in the school parking lot, senior Alex Trebilco’s 1970 Ford Maverick is a restoration project he worked on with his dad. He and his father have worked on cars together for all of Trebilco’s life, and have several finished projects because of it. “[My favorite memory with my car is] honestly just cruising with my dad in his truck and my car,” Trebilco said. “Both of the [cars] are restored. He did the truck and we did the Maverick, so it’s cool to roll down in two cars that we made run together.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Ford-Maverick.png)
Texas sets fire
November 10, 2011
On the afternoon of August 15, 2011, a fire in Leander devastated many families. The 30 acre blaze destroyed 15 homes and 16 cars, but little did we know that this would be the least of our problems.
With Texas in a severe drought and Hurricane Lee causing windy weather, fires are igniting all over Central Texas. In the month of September, over 36,000 acres of land and over 1,700 homes have been burned due to wildfires, making what may seem the worst disaster in Texas history.
During Labor Day weekend on September 4, a fire in Bastrop burned over 34,000 acres of land. The fire, which was likely caused by power line sparks destroyed over 1,600 homes and killed two people. The wildfire is the most destructive fire in Texas History. The fire was completely distinguished on Friday, September 30. The damage estimate for this fire alone is at an estimated cost of $250 million.
A fire that broke out in the Mason Creek North subdivision in Leander started September 5. The blaze destroyed 11 homes and damaged nine. The fire wasn’t fully contained until Wednesday, September 7. During a press conference on Tuesday, September 6, Leander Fire Chief Bill Gardner announced that the fire was determined to have been stated by arson. A device was found that they believe started the fire. Four teenagers were reportedly seen fleeing the scene.
When you hear about a fire in another city or state, people may feel bad, but it doesn’t hit nearly as hard when it happens in their own city. The Middle Brook Apartments on Cypress Creek caught fire Wednesday, September 7. It was contained within an hour. Although the fire started as a structure fire and is still under investigation, it scared an already weary couscous public.
“It’s really scary that the fires are so close,” Abby Ho, sophomore, said. “You can be safe one minute and the next minute there may be a fire in your front yard.”
A few days after the massive Bastrop fire was contained, another fire ignited. The Bastrop fire, or as locals are calling it “The Old Potato Road Fire”, began on October 4. No homes have been affected by the fire but about 50 homes have been evacuated by the Circle D Subdivision. The subdivision was also affected by the earlier massive Bastrop fire.
As fires continue to burn helpless citizen’s homes, make sure to take precautions by following the burn ban currently in effect for Williamson County. The Declaration of Disaster was issued by County Judge Dan A. Gattis on Monday, September 5 that prohibits the “outdoor burning of any combustible material”, which include outdoor cooking of any kind and improperly putting out cigarettes. By not following the declaration, it can result in a fine up to $1,000, and possibly confinement in jail. If you see any smoke, fire or any other suspicious activity, be sure to immediately call 911. With the change in weather and much more rain, let’s hope that this the end of the wildfire season.
![Posing with her USA gold medal, junior Aahana Mulchandani holds the certificate verifying her place on Team USA Taekwondo team. Mulchandani will represent the team this April in the Dominican Republic for the Pan American Taekwondo Championships. “Im really excited to go [to the Dominican Republic because] Ive never been there,” Mulchandani said. “Im a little bit nervous too, [but] I feel very honored to [compete] because I fought so hard [to make the team]. I have a very [good] shot [at winning] if I do my best. My coach would probably kill me if I didn’t.” (Photo Courtesy of Aahana Mulchandani)](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/unnamed-316x475.jpg)
![Whereas classical art depicts a scene and tells a story, often of mythology or religious references, artists of modern times focus more on expressing ideas and feelings. The style of back then has since been replaced by splashes of color, curvy lines and other new art techniques. [Over time] I think art has shifted more to emotion rather than human beauty, sophomore Braeden Murray said. Modern art is significantly more abstract and doesnt have an obvious theme in mind. Very simple shapes, no people to be seen, and more colorful. I think in the older [time period] the art was definitely more human based, with biblical [references] while modern art is more emotion based because its not depicting a particular scene or action thats happening.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-vs-1503-475x317.png)
![Soundwave poses for a picture after performing in the Legislative Prayer Breakfast for Texas politicians. Multiple audience members, such as State Rep. Terry Wilson, approached the students afterwards or requested to take photos with the singers. “[A woman] told us that it reminded her of singing when she was younger,” Ferguson said. “She said she sang the same song, but a different version and that it was one of her Dad’s favorites. She was really proud and really liked the performance.” (Photo Courtesy of Kyra Cox)](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG-4017-475x317.jpg)
