VOLUME 17 ISSUE 1

CINCO RANCH HIGH SCHOOL KATY, TEXAS OCTOBER 2015 crhscountyline.com

Volleyball/09 Homecoming Preview/05 Cougar Challenge /6-7

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Co-Editors-in-Chief:Roba AbousawayMeherina Khan

Photo Editor:Abdalla Khalil

News Editor:Joanne Chavali

Feature Editor:Samuel Teas

Voice Editor:Brynne Herzfeld

Staff Writers:Maria Salomé CadavidMarina LongMadison Ratcliff

Staff Photographer:Reagan Bunch

Adviser:Ed Larsen, CJE

County Line is the official student publication of Cinco Ranch High School, 23440 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy, TX 77494. Editorials are the opinions of the newspaper editorial staff and do not neccesarily represent the opinions of Katy ISD administration.County Line is a member of

the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC), the Journalism Education Assoc. (JEA)and the National Scholastic Press Asssociation (NPSA). County Line provides an

open forum for student expression.Letters may be delivered to

Room 1221 or e-mailed to crhscountyline@gmail.com. Additional advertising/media information can be found at www.crhscountyline.com. The County Line is copyright

reserved 2015-2016 by CRHS publications, all rights reserved. No portion may be reproduced without written consent by CRHS Publications.

Table of ContentsFeaturesPg 3. History of CincoPg 4. Drill InstructorPg 5. Homecoming PreviewPg 6-7. Cougar ChallengePg 8. Angela Lytle

SportsPg 9. Volleyball, Trainers

EntertainmentPg 10. Movie Reviews

VoicePg 11. Staff Editorial, College Stress

Every year, anxious adolescents flood the hallways with chatter of fears and hopes of the year to come. The future takes precedence over the past in a place that fuels its students to look forward and plan their life. Even if someone is not wrapped up in the future, they are usually tripping over the present, too distracted to stop and look back at the beginning of something they are a part of.

Cinco Ranch had its humble beginnings as a school that took in displaced eighth graders from Beck Junior High when it opened in 1999. It was originally funded through two bond issues, but improvements were made later later on to progress the school to the modern time. Even the standing building went through some major changes in 16 years. The ninth grade center and performing arts center were added two years after opening to better the high school experience for students.

In the school’s opening year, 828 students were enrolled in the school. In 16 years, the population grew to a staggering 3000. But even as a smaller school, the first year of opening a high school is one of the hardest because distributing responsibilities is a very tough job.

Originally, the staff was so

small that teachers saw each other as part of a family working to successfully create an environment that included all of its individuals. Ensuring that all the students were somehow included in the grand scheme of things was the hardest goal to achieve.

Only a fraction of the standing staff body are original teachers. Now an AP Literature teacher, Susan Shank gives some insight on the difficulty of opening a new school.

“It was really hard opening a new school because there were so many clubs and activities,” said english teacher Susan Shank. “With around only 50 or 60 teachers, trying to dole out all those responsibilities was pretty hard.”

Even in that first year, the staff had banded together and worked alongside each other to promote the best place for students to learn in. To this day, the main goal of everyone at Cinco Ranch is to create a space for all students to be included and feel that they are truly growing and learning as a person. Students interests are changing and the school progresses to fit those needs. That’s why every year there are new teachers being added to the ever-growing maroon territory.

“Mr. Strike was the principal,” Shank said. “He was very positive,

very friendly. He had not opened a high school before either, so it was cool because we were all in the same boat. It was almost family-oriented because we were so small and everyone was so close and was trying to make everything good for the kids. It was a good system.”

In recent years, retrofits were made to update computers and keep student’s technology skills up to date and ready for the professional world. Some changes may be more minor and less noticeable, but even the new carpet was put in to keep students safer and healthier.

As the future becomes more defined, the past seems to retreat into the background; but sometimes, it can be beneficial to look back and seek out the origin of something that started as a solution to a problem. What once started as an idea or a goal to reach can often exceed what was originally planned.

“Lacenterra wasn’t there when we opened,” Shank said. “This building was it. I see the community growing. I think Katy has surpassed the goals that it has set for itself so far as growth and building high schools and junior highs and elementary schools.”

by Joanne Chavali, News Editor

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They display responsibility, hard work, and maturity.

They dedicate hours upon hours of their busy schedules to their position. They show dependability and respect for their fellow students and are there for anyone who needs help. They are expected to arrive to practices before time and stay long after, but there is no time for them to complain. They are D.I.s (Drill instructors), and if it sounds like a lot work, well, that is because it is.

“The second you walk in your freshman year you are a leader in the band,” junior Trisha Madhavan said. “You are always going to be looked

at and critiqued on how you lead.”

The role of a D.I. is to be the perfect example. The D.I. is supposed to be someone that anyone in the band can look up to and ask for help. They keep students on task, allowing practices to be more efficient. In the Cinco Ranch band, there are around 300 students but only three band directors. A student leadership team of 30 really helps to make sure that every student is getting the attention they need to improve their skills as a marcher and musician.

“We try to pick the right amount of students [drill instructors] so that it is as proportional as it can be,”

assistant band director Megan Rudolph said. “They help us carry out what we need to do. They are a huge part of the rehearsal process, trying to keep everyone on track, trying to make sure we are getting done what we need to get done.”

The training process of a D.I. starts their first year of marching. Students that are interested in being a D.I. spend their years as underclassmen preparing themselves for the responsibilities that D.I’s hold.

“A lot of our training comes from the years before,” Madhavan said, “watching our previous instructors and seeing what they were

successful with and what they were not.”

They may have to uphold the image of an ideal marcher, but the role of a D.I. is something that is very rewarding. When the band wins a competition or gets a one from a judge, they know that they were a part of the transformation that brought the band its success.

“It is really rewarding knowing that any changes you see in the band, for the better, can be accredited to the hard work from the band,” Madhavan said. “But you can also say that you helped get that hard work out of them, that you were the person who pushed them to be better.”

Drill instructors lead band on, off the fieldby Marina Long, staff writter

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The senior men candidates for this year’s king.Left to right: Matt Ward, Ruihan He, Ryan Phelps, and Alasdair Gourlay.

Junior Ryan Ramirez asks Samara Irshad with a twist on Drake’s “Hotline Bling” song. Photo by Lee Manto.

Junior Andres Seijas dresses as a cheerleader to ask Cinco Ranch varsity cheerleader Brooke Nicholson to the dance. “I was really surprised when I initially heard the music and I saw his friends put him into a stunt,” Nicholson said. “His ask was super creative and I loved it.” Photo by Andreina Coronado.

The senior women candidates for this year’s queen.Left to right: Lauren McDaniel, Donna He, Audrey Fogle, Katie Rinderknecht, and Abby Draut.

Sophomore Blake Brewster asks Angie Gonzalez early in the year to guarantee a date. Photo by Melissa Spengler.

During the fall season, you can feel the students’ excitement for homecoming festivities. Here in Texas, we go all out. From extravagant mums and garters to creative proposals, homecoming is a tradition that students have always looked forward to. This year’s homecoming dance falls on October 17th, while our varsity Cougar football team will face the Taylor Mustangs at 7 p.m. the night before. Tickets for the dance can be purchased for $20 during all lunches beginning October 13th.All homecoming court photos are courtesy of LifeTouch.

Homecoming Court

Who’s asking who?Hyped for Homecoming

by Roba Abousaway, Co-Editor in Chief and Maria Cadavid, staff writer

CougarChallenge

Above left to right: Sophomores Nicole Bourgeois and Gage Guidry, juniors Nicholas Machado, Sebastian Cifuentes, andChristopher Pappas and freshman Isabella Machado pose for a photo during lunch at the event.

Students who attended the Cougar Challenge participated in an array of activities promoting team work and trust and were able to make many new friends. “I enjoyed it,” junior Christopher Pappas said. “I thought it was cool because it brought kids together from all parts of the school. It showed you different points of view.”

photos by Reagan Bunch and Brynne Herzfeld

by Meherina Khan, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Five year tradition welcomes students to extend their compassion to others

The man stood up from the head of the furnished wood table. He rose to meet with the students and teachers standing in front him. “We’d like to do something.” Mr.Cross glanced at their bright orange shirts and their determined eyes. He smoothed out his black coat and smiled. “I’d like to do something, too.” All it took was the joint efforts of a few to promote a community of positive thinking and compassion. What started out as an idea to promote kindness has turned into an annual tradition that has come to be known as the Cougar Challenge. “We took that concept of kindness and compassion but made it our own,

something that was Cinco Ranch,” principal James Cross said. “So we named it Cougar Challenge, this idea of being kind to one another, understanding one another.” Over the past five years, Cougar Challenge has become much more than just a way to advocate anti-bullying and kind words; it is a way to convey mutual understanding amongst the students and staff and share hope when times are tough. “We all have a story and we all have hopes, dreams, and fears,” Cross said. “But sometimes, we don’t take time to think about what people go through day in and day out. You know, what is this person dealing with everyday? It’s one thing to say, this is great, I learned a lot today about other people. But what can you do to make a small difference in someone else’s life?”

The Cougar Challenge reaches out to a diverse range of students and encourages activities revolving cooperation and trust. “We’re looking from all walks of life, Cross said. “We have a diverse group of students because I think that’s the way the school is. You walk down the halls, you see everybody. That’s the way it should be. You want to affect the student body as a whole.” Although many new friendships and bonds are formed throughout the program, the challenge is often maintaining the communication. “A lot of times a teacher can become really close to a group of students, but they don’t have any of the students,” Cross said. “ We’re working on something

that will get them back together during 2.5 time so they can catch up. We want to be able to maintain the relationship throughout the year. We will encourage that if you’ve made a connection that Friday, don’t let it die out. Find a way.” Every year, Cougar Challenge aims to cast a positive light and enhance the relationship between students and staff. The program lets students know that they do have people who care, people who will be willing to listen when they need a shoulder to lean on. With each passing year, the tradition becomes stronger and impacts a greater amount of students to create a welcoming environment at Cinco. “We just hope to continue to keep making Cougar Challenge better,” Cross said. “Let’s try to make Cinco the best it can be.”

“It’s one thing to say, this is great, I learned a lot today about other people. But what can you do to make a small difference in someone else’s life?”

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Lytle and her friend, Valentina Gonzalez, pose for the camera after shaving their heads. So far, Lopping our Locks for Lilli recieved over $23,000 in donations.

Friends look on as Gonzales and Lytle feel their newly shaved heads. They both promoted awareness that cancer is the leading cause of death in children.

A haircut for a causeAngela Lytle shaves head to support friend, promote cancer awarenessby Samuel Teas, Feature Editor

Sophomore Angela Lytle steps up to the outdoor barber’s chair, on a patio in front of several dozen people. The barber picks up her razor, and begins to cut off the first lock.Her friends cheer and shout, picture after picture.

“I couldn’t stop smiling,” Lytle said.”I think [it] was a testament to how excited I was. I wasn’t really concerned about how I would look.”

After a few minutes of careful trimming, smiles, and even more pictures, her hair is completely gone. Another person with hair to lose soon takes her place. As she’s greeted by her friends, she thinks of the very reason she’s done this: her friend and Taylor High School sophomore Lilli Curry.

“We actually met in third grade at my friend Jessie’s sleepover,” Lytle said. “We all got really close during that time. We all played together and stayed up the entire night, so after the sleep over, Lilli and I were really close, even though we had only known each other for eight hours.”

But five years ago, Lilli was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare type of childhood cancer that affects the bones. Now, Lytle has shaved her head to promote awareness for childhood cancer through Lopping our Locks for Lilli, a charity event sponsored by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

“When I found out [about the diagnosis], I still didn’t really believe it because I didn’t really understand what it meant,” Lytle said. “I knew that she had pain in her leg, but I didn’t really know what the implications were. Of course I cried, and of course I was really sad about it, but when I better understood it, there was less sadness.”

Lytle wasn’t the only one shaving her head, however, and definitely not the only one fighting for her friend’s recovery. Ever since the diagnosis, Curry and her family have become a part of something greater.

“What makes the event special is that it’s part of a community, and that community includes kids with pediatric cancer, kids who have passed away from pediatric cancer, their parents, and their families.”The community now includes Lilli’s father John Curry, and his friend Tracy Gray.

“This is a really amazing community,” John said. “There’s a guy from Mississippi who’s been waiting for a heart transplant for four years that used to own a barbeque joint. He volunteered to cook the food.”

According to Curry, the event would not have been possible without the support of the nationwide community, each member with the same goal.

“Nobody else gets it except us. It’s a club that no one wants to be in,” Gray said.

So far, Lopping our Locks for Lilli has received $23,000 in donations. Lytle herself has received over twice as much as her goal of 500 dollars. Lytle has no regrets, and looks back on the experience with pride.

“I think losing your hair represents gaining something else,” Lytle said. “I gained the pride to tell people that I know Lilli,

and that I’ve been there for her, and that she’s been there for me, and that she’s really changed my life. Even though she’s sick and she’s in a lot of pain all the time, she’s the most joyful person I know. A lot of people that know her, not just me, will tell you that she’s their hero.”

photos by Shifa Rajwani

9 Setting up for victoryby Madison Ratcliff, staff writer

Blood, sweat, and tears are poured into every match. Hours of practice and dedication have been sacrificed. After over two months of preparation, the volleyball teams have win after win to show for their hard work. As playoffs loom closer, the varsity and junior varsity teams reflect on the their successful and rewarding 2015 season.

“The girls have played awesome this year,” JV coach Jenna Boriack said. “They have been in several close games, and are always able to fight and pull out the win at the end. They work really well together and have been a wonderful group to coach.”

A highlight for the junior varsity team was their victory over Clear Falls during their pre-season match on September 9. After a close match, the girls pulled out a 25-27 win during the third game.

“I think my very favorite moment from this season was a pre-season game against Clear Falls,” Boriack said. “I was so proud of the girls for showing so much fight and heart.”

As for the varsity team, the Clear Creek game proved to be the most rewarding for them.

“The Clear Creek game is memorable because we won in five sets, and they were ranked higher than us in the region,” varsity coach Jenna Wells said.

The girls have been training hard in order to be as good as they are. Whether playing in a match or hanging out after practice, they have close bonds that allows them to work so well together.

“We get along super well off the court; we’re always being weird

and doing silly stuff,” junior Nicole Lennon said. “On the court, we have pretty good chemistry and mesh well together.”

As playoffs rapidly approach, the coaches are preparing the varsity players to do the best they can do.

“I expect us to go further than we did last year,” Wells said. “We have high hopes of going to state.”

Over the course of the season, all the teams have put forth an amazing effort. During playoffs, the school will be cheering the varsity squad on as they attempt to get to state.

“I expect varsity to get far, if not all the way to state, during playoffs,” Boriack said. “As long as the girls keep doing what they’re doing then, I’ll be very satisfied with the season.”

It is game day for Cinco, and the stadium is packed. The opposing team is filled with fear, as the band blasts the fight song loud and proud from the corner of the stadium. Stars and cheerleaders motivate the boys to do the best they can and crush their enemies The fans are on their feet, cheering on their men in maroon.

While all eyes are on the field and the ball, there is another group standing on the sidelines, watching the players but for a very different reason.

Trainers are the students you see working with head trainers, Doc and Amy, to ensure the safety and well-being of the football players. They take preventative care before practices and games by taping the athletes and sometimes they assist injured athletes off the field during a game. Trainers like Faith Rist prove throughout the season that the players are not the only ones putting in their time, commitment and heart during

games throughout the season.“The hardest part of being

a trainer is most likely time management because we put in a lot of time,” Rist said. “I’ve been here til seven before, and games can run really late. Especially for some trainers, who have jobs, you have to be able to manage time and stay organized. You also have to be able to keep your grades up.”

In the time spent with the football the team, the trainers and the team have bonded through weeks and weeks of practice, bus rides and the victories of the football team. There is no doubt that the athletes allot some of their success to the diligence and hard work of the trainers keeping them healthy.

“Honestly you end up growing as a family, and connecting with players,” Rist said. “If I see them hurt, I know I can go out into the field and help them. During football season, I see all of them as one big family.”

Faith in our trainersby Joanne Chavali, News Editor

photo by Reagan Bunch

The team gives all their attention as Coach Jenna Wells moitvates the squad by giving

them a pep talk during their match.

10“Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” enjoyable but underwhelmingby Seth Ritchie, contributing writer

Image courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

The latest “Mission: Impossible” movie hit theaters on July 31 with a star-studded cast. “Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation” follows hero-turned-fugitive Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) as he enlists his former colleagues and a British double-agent, Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), in his quest to find and bring down the criminal organization, Syndicate, while running from the CIA. While the movie successfully balances action scenes with quieter conversation scenes, the plot is flimsy and the characters have flat personalities, with the exception of Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg).

The story begins with the Impossible Mission Force preventing nerve gas from reaching terrorists, providing a quick introduction to the characters: Ethan, Benji, Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and William Brandt (Jeremy Renner). After the successful mission, Ethan sets off to hunt the Syndicate while CIA director Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin) persuades the Senate to disband the IMF, claiming their successes are fueled by luck, not skill. For reasons unknown, this makes Ethan a fugitive, with his former teammates tasked with locating and capturing him.

Viewers never learn what Ethan did to anger the CIA, nor how he manages to evade the government for six months as the movie jumps forward in time. Viewers are dragged into a rabbit hole of confusing and poorly-planned espionage punctuated with fistfights and gunshots. The action keeps viewers excited, but for those who have never seen a previous “Mission: Impossible” movie, there is no clear reason

to root for Ethan and company. The movie’s other major flaw lies in its characters.

Ethan’s role as the action hero leaves little room for a personality, as if his only purpose is to save the day. Ilsa takes the role of the generic, mysterious femme fatale seen countless times on screen. Thankfully, the directors chose to not complicate the plot by fostering a romance between Ethan and Ilsa throughout the movie, preferring to save romantic feelings for the end, a refreshing change in the world of action movies.Vince and William serve as minor characters who barely help further the plot. Benji is the only character with a distinct personality: a goofy, wise-cracking sidekick.

The saving grace of “Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation” is the well-balanced action scenes. Instead of falling into the trap of too many action scenes or too many quiet conversation scenes, exciting moments are sprinkled throughout the movie in just the right proportions. The hero is matched with a fighter of equal skill, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats during the action .

While “Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation” provides exciting action and impressive stunts from Cruise, the story is poorly-written and the characters are standard action heroes with nothing noteworthy about their personalities. If viewers want to lose themselves in explosions and car chases, this movie is the perfect choice, but if they come to the theater expecting a high-quality film similar to James Bond, they would be sadly disappointed.

by Brynne Herzfeld, Voice Editor

Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures

“Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation” well-balanced but nothing special

“Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” is the second installment in the “Maze Runner” franchise and has a band of amnesiac heroes, led by Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) being rescued from the Glade by a mysterious organization. After Thomas finds out that their previous captors, WICKED, are posing as this new organization, Thomas and the group escape into the Scorch, the desert wasteland that the world has become, in hopes of finding a way out.

The first half is quite fun, with brilliant set pieces, fast paced action and a great performance from O’Brien. The stunt work is phenomenal and is pulled off perfectly by the actors, providing tense and heart pounding chase sequences.

The story is mostly one dimensional, with the exception of Thomas’ characterization. The writers of the movie obviously wanted to flesh out Thomas and make him more than the standard “unexpected hero.” O’Brien shows that he can handle both action scenes and the more subtle, emotional scenes. He gives a solid performance as he shows the deeper, and sometimes darker, side of

Thomas. The other group members give acceptable performances.

The movie flips on its head about halfway through, becoming weird and unbalanced. New characters appear suddenly and expect the audience to care about them. A love triangle ensues between Thomas, Teresa and newcomer Brenda (Rosa Salazar) and the action drops. The only saving grace for this half is Jorge (Giancarlo Esposito) if only because he was an amusing character. The action scenes that appear do not have nearly as many tense moments or amazing stunts as before. The relationships between the characters are boring and cliched YA plotlines clog the script; the fun stops. The movie does pick up the pace around 20 minutes before the end, but it was already too late.

Overall, “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” is a fun YA movie with thrilling action, great set pieces and a stellar performance from O’Brien at best, but an odd and uninteresting sequence of events polluted with boring characters hinder its potential. While it is not the most character-driven movie, it provides good action, at least for the first hour.

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Next Stop: Graduationby Reagan Bunch, staff writer

Today is the day. I go to my laptop, and open up the Common App website. I look through every single tab, making sure that everything is in its place. I reread

the words that I’ve been editing since August, and when I finish the last line, I read over them once more. I have been preparing for this very moment for several years, and in one final leap, I press the button. It’s now official: I have applied to college.

Wait – let’s rewind a bit. This isn’t a product of chance. I have been working for this all my life. I’ve done extracurricular activities, years of a foreign language, even standardized testing. Everything I’ve ever done in the last four years suddenly matters, and although I knew it’d all come down to this, it feels like I’m not prepared. I mean, how do you prepare for the rest of your life?

Yet some students already had this

pivotal moment. They’ve already got their applications together, turned them in, and even received an acceptance letter. Just last week, a friend of mine got into UT Dallas. Why couldn’t I be her? She no longer needs to think about getting into her dream-school. All she has to do for the rest of the year is relax and bask in the brightness of her future. But I have no such luck. I’ve still got weeks to go before I can put my future in the hands of admissions officers, and I worry about it every single day.

In my heart, I know all will turn out in my favor, but when it comes down to it, this understanding makes me feel selfish. So many kids cannot afford a formal education, but here I am, distressed about applying to all of the expensive schools I can attend. Whenever I feel like complaining about the anxiety of the future, I must remember that, hey, at least I know that money won’t hold me back. If I can remember this, and be thankful for whatever life throws at me, pressing that

button won’t be so terrifying. Stress may be difficult to face in these upcoming weeks, but with stress comes hope, and hope is what the future is all about.

Created with PiktoChart

SWAG BEAM shines out SWAG BEAM. It’s a simple phrase. However, its goal is one of great implications. Coined by one of our own students, SWAG BEAM aims to reach the entire student body and create a more welcoming environment in which everyone can mutually respect each other, learn, and grow. So, what does it mean? Students Will Achieve Greatness Because Everyone’s Attitude Matters. The only way for a school to be representative of all of its students is if each student takes part in the community and is encouraged to let their presence be known and felt. This is the primary goal of phrases like SWAG BEAM, and it’s aim is completely justified. Apprehension and uncertainty plague far too many students when it comes to finding

their place in the school, their second home. To these students, SWAG BEAM has one simple message: you are valued and your presence matters because without you, our school would not be the same. Too often, students’ voices are lost in the grand scheme of things, but their voice needs to be heard. In order for each individual to voice his/her opinion, there needs to be an established forum for them to do so. Why? Because each student can make a difference. Each student holds within them the power to make real change and offer new insights on a variety of topics. So why hold back? In fact, the only way to be successful in today’s world is to hear the opinions of several people and from that, resolve to find the best solution. At their core, each

student possesses a unique skill that can be used to further the progress of our school and contribute to our overall excellence in different arenas. At Cinco Ranch, we have several different organizations through which you can share your perspective and let your thoughts be known. For example, the Philosophy Club provides the opportunity for students to share their opinions in a welcoming environment. The County Line encourages you to write about your ideas and have them reach out to the entire student body. The GSA allows students of all walks to come together and discuss current societal issues. One should not feel restrained because they believe they are limited - they have options, and they should put them to good use.

District to implement new core essential

Staff Editorial