How are we already almost a month into school? These are the first articles of the year and I hope you appreciate them. We've been working really hard on them, so enjoy!
A New Beginning
Varsity Football Buffs Win First Game of Season
The first varsity football game of the season took place on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. in Lehnhoff Stadium. Clemens defeated Madison High School with a score of 14-10. Tickets were on sale at ‘Ticket Spicket’ for $4 per student and $8 per adult. The week preceding the game included dress-up theme days and peanut butter collection for the ‘Peanut Butter Bowl.’
“It’s an amazing atmosphere. I mean, four thousand people in the stands is something you really can’t shy away from,” Evan Tapp (12) said. “Walking out that weight room or the locker room, people shouting your name is a surreal experience, especially from a guy that’s been playing varsity for three years.”
The ‘Peanut Butter Bowl’ helped raise awareness about food insecurity through the collection of peanut butter jars for local food banks around the San Antonio area. Teachers and faculty set up boxes throughout the school to support the endeavor with labels for extracurricular groups and classes. The T Blackwell Insurance Group and the John’s Kids community donated over 80 jars of peanut butter to the cause.
Jameer Dudley (12) is a varsity wide receiver and safety position player. “I feel like we’re going to go out there and play together as a team. The ‘Peanut Butter Bowl’ we’re playing for the people: the kids that are in need,” Dudley said.
The halftime show included a performance by the band titled “Across the Universe.” The dance team, cheerleaders, color guard, and AFJROTC also participated in the game by providing different aspects of entertainment.
Claressa Castro (11) is a member of the flute section in band.
“We’re including the song called ‘Across the Universe’ from the Beatles and an arrangement by Gustav Holst called ‘The Planets,’ and there are excerpts included from different movements representing planets,” Castro said.
Clemens alumni and spectators watched from the stands. Concessions and merchandise were available for purchase underneath the bleachers.
Don Wetzler, a spectator of Clemens football, has occupied the same seat and the same ticket for 47 straight years.
“I’ve seen the fathers of some of the players here play. Especially the kicker. The kicker's father is a doctor and at one time he kicked a 51 yard field goal. Set a new city record. The following week a guy from Judson kicked a 52 yard field to take the record back.”
The first win of the season provides a refreshing start to the new year, making students more excited for this season.
“Looking at these freshmen now, I was back in their position. I was a freshman too,” Tapp said. “Looking at those seniors that run out the tunnel, man, it’s a great experience to have, but it’s only a once in a lifetime opportunity that you should never take for granted.”
Hailey Gorzell (10), Business Manager
“It’s an amazing atmosphere. I mean, four thousand people in the stands is something you really can’t shy away from,” Evan Tapp (12) said. “Walking out that weight room or the locker room, people shouting your name is a surreal experience, especially from a guy that’s been playing varsity for three years.”
The ‘Peanut Butter Bowl’ helped raise awareness about food insecurity through the collection of peanut butter jars for local food banks around the San Antonio area. Teachers and faculty set up boxes throughout the school to support the endeavor with labels for extracurricular groups and classes. The T Blackwell Insurance Group and the John’s Kids community donated over 80 jars of peanut butter to the cause.
Jameer Dudley (12) is a varsity wide receiver and safety position player. “I feel like we’re going to go out there and play together as a team. The ‘Peanut Butter Bowl’ we’re playing for the people: the kids that are in need,” Dudley said.
The halftime show included a performance by the band titled “Across the Universe.” The dance team, cheerleaders, color guard, and AFJROTC also participated in the game by providing different aspects of entertainment.
Claressa Castro (11) is a member of the flute section in band.
“We’re including the song called ‘Across the Universe’ from the Beatles and an arrangement by Gustav Holst called ‘The Planets,’ and there are excerpts included from different movements representing planets,” Castro said.
Clemens alumni and spectators watched from the stands. Concessions and merchandise were available for purchase underneath the bleachers.
Don Wetzler, a spectator of Clemens football, has occupied the same seat and the same ticket for 47 straight years.
“I’ve seen the fathers of some of the players here play. Especially the kicker. The kicker's father is a doctor and at one time he kicked a 51 yard field goal. Set a new city record. The following week a guy from Judson kicked a 52 yard field to take the record back.”
The first win of the season provides a refreshing start to the new year, making students more excited for this season.
“Looking at these freshmen now, I was back in their position. I was a freshman too,” Tapp said. “Looking at those seniors that run out the tunnel, man, it’s a great experience to have, but it’s only a once in a lifetime opportunity that you should never take for granted.”
Hailey Gorzell (10), Business Manager
Divided We Stand, United We Fall
School Spirit Weeks Cause Disunity Among Clemens Students
As the football season begins, the school is beginning to use spirit weeks to unify our student body, and increase school spirit. Spirit weeks are not as beneficial as hoped to be, they bring chaos and division, as well as bring down school spirit.
The average spirit week consists of five dress-up days, and each day has a theme that is overused for almost every occasion. Such repetition from over ten years of participating in spirit weeks has brought a numbness to a large portion of Clemens, causing low school spirit. Of course, there is the small number of people who do participate in spirit weeks, but not a lot of those people have actually followed the themes provided, and a lot make up their own themes as we’ve seen in previous years. Classes making their own themes and not following the provided ones caused division between grades and sometimes in classes.
The ultimate goal of a dress-up week is to bring the student body together and to encourage school spirit for the football team, band, cheer, and dance. Perhaps celebrating only these programs has further increased numbness to school spirit just like the constant repetition and overuse of dress up weeks has. Instead of only celebrating those who put work into a Friday night football game, why not send the band and cheer to a cross country meet, a soccer game, a swim meet, or almost any other sport. Imagine the school spirit just those three groups could bring to other sports, but also imagine how it would be to represent clubs and organizations.
Pep rallies, CBN, and the newspaper provide the perfect opportunity to represent clubs and organizations that aren't normally shown much except for “Light Up The Night” which happens once a year. Maybe instead of having the football team captain give a speech at every single pep rally, imagine the president of a club talking about what they do, or even showing what they do. Instead of CBN doing “This Or That” for ten minutes straight, they could do a segment on the people in Architecture designing buildings.
There are better ways such as, representing more clubs on CBN, sending a pep team to more sports events, having leaders of organizations and clubs giving speeches at pep rallies, and a lot more that the school can agree on to spread school spirit instead of doing a dress-up week at least four times a semester with the same themes every time. While it is not a bad idea to have an occasional dress-up week because there is a group in our school who does enjoy them, maybe the school should spend more time planning new, exciting themes to bring up the school pride, but most importantly, it’s important to remember that we have so much more pride in places other than a Friday night football game that we can show to bring up the school spirit.
Rocco Monteverdi (10), Staff Writer
The average spirit week consists of five dress-up days, and each day has a theme that is overused for almost every occasion. Such repetition from over ten years of participating in spirit weeks has brought a numbness to a large portion of Clemens, causing low school spirit. Of course, there is the small number of people who do participate in spirit weeks, but not a lot of those people have actually followed the themes provided, and a lot make up their own themes as we’ve seen in previous years. Classes making their own themes and not following the provided ones caused division between grades and sometimes in classes.
The ultimate goal of a dress-up week is to bring the student body together and to encourage school spirit for the football team, band, cheer, and dance. Perhaps celebrating only these programs has further increased numbness to school spirit just like the constant repetition and overuse of dress up weeks has. Instead of only celebrating those who put work into a Friday night football game, why not send the band and cheer to a cross country meet, a soccer game, a swim meet, or almost any other sport. Imagine the school spirit just those three groups could bring to other sports, but also imagine how it would be to represent clubs and organizations.
Pep rallies, CBN, and the newspaper provide the perfect opportunity to represent clubs and organizations that aren't normally shown much except for “Light Up The Night” which happens once a year. Maybe instead of having the football team captain give a speech at every single pep rally, imagine the president of a club talking about what they do, or even showing what they do. Instead of CBN doing “This Or That” for ten minutes straight, they could do a segment on the people in Architecture designing buildings.
There are better ways such as, representing more clubs on CBN, sending a pep team to more sports events, having leaders of organizations and clubs giving speeches at pep rallies, and a lot more that the school can agree on to spread school spirit instead of doing a dress-up week at least four times a semester with the same themes every time. While it is not a bad idea to have an occasional dress-up week because there is a group in our school who does enjoy them, maybe the school should spend more time planning new, exciting themes to bring up the school pride, but most importantly, it’s important to remember that we have so much more pride in places other than a Friday night football game that we can show to bring up the school spirit.
Rocco Monteverdi (10), Staff Writer
Theater's Preparation for Success
Thespians and Technical Crew Intertwine to Jump-start Play Production
The theater class is currently preparing for the High School Musical play, and the amount of work required is astonishing. The technical theater class works on costumes and design. The regular theater class practices for their acting roles. All of the class members are singing the songs, even if they aren't on stage. Everyone has a part to play in making High School Musical.
“This year I am the vice president of our thespian society. I am mainly an actor. This show I play Kelly Nelson, and we are preparing for High School Musical by running over our lines and music," theater vice president Lyla Vasquez (12) said.
Preparing for High School Musical is way more than just singing and dancing, there are costumes to be maintained, backgrounds to be made, set pieces to be organized, and much more. In technical theater, students are sewing up old costumes, setting up backgrounds by designing posters, and decorating set pieces by painting them the High School Musical theme colors: red and white.
"I am currently making PowerPoints and spreadsheets to get started on lights and designs to make sure everything goes smoothly," stage manager Sydney Wiggins (12) said.
The regular theater class is beginning to rehearse for their roles by singing and going over lines for High School Musical which is from Sep. 29 through Oct. 2. Only students from a choir or theater class were allowed to audition, since there is a good amount of singing in the show.
“I plan events and parties, and I help in the community. I am playing Zeke Baylor, and right now it's a lot of singing, rehearsing, and getting my voice into a good spot," theater officer Tanner Infantino (11) said. "Sometimes it might be repetitive and boring, but you don't want to be under-prepared."
Currently, the cast is learning the soundtrack and songs for the show. The technical theater crew is arranging set pieces on stage to prepare for continuous rehearsal.
"In all of my afternoon acting classes, we're just learning songs. So they're just sitting and singing, and everybody's in the crew," theater teacher Mrs. Adkison said. "So even if you're never going to go on stage and you're helping with costuming, you're learning the songs."
Rihanna Perez (09), Staff Writer
“This year I am the vice president of our thespian society. I am mainly an actor. This show I play Kelly Nelson, and we are preparing for High School Musical by running over our lines and music," theater vice president Lyla Vasquez (12) said.
Preparing for High School Musical is way more than just singing and dancing, there are costumes to be maintained, backgrounds to be made, set pieces to be organized, and much more. In technical theater, students are sewing up old costumes, setting up backgrounds by designing posters, and decorating set pieces by painting them the High School Musical theme colors: red and white.
"I am currently making PowerPoints and spreadsheets to get started on lights and designs to make sure everything goes smoothly," stage manager Sydney Wiggins (12) said.
The regular theater class is beginning to rehearse for their roles by singing and going over lines for High School Musical which is from Sep. 29 through Oct. 2. Only students from a choir or theater class were allowed to audition, since there is a good amount of singing in the show.
“I plan events and parties, and I help in the community. I am playing Zeke Baylor, and right now it's a lot of singing, rehearsing, and getting my voice into a good spot," theater officer Tanner Infantino (11) said. "Sometimes it might be repetitive and boring, but you don't want to be under-prepared."
Currently, the cast is learning the soundtrack and songs for the show. The technical theater crew is arranging set pieces on stage to prepare for continuous rehearsal.
"In all of my afternoon acting classes, we're just learning songs. So they're just sitting and singing, and everybody's in the crew," theater teacher Mrs. Adkison said. "So even if you're never going to go on stage and you're helping with costuming, you're learning the songs."
Rihanna Perez (09), Staff Writer
Her Hips are Lying After All
Spain Charges Shakira with Tax Fraud
Colombian singer Shakira is set to go to trial for tax fraud charges and could be sent to prison for eight years. Prosecutors from Barcelona, Spain claim Shakira evaded taxes between 2012-2014, and faces a debt close to $15 million euros. If Shakira is penalized, she will face a fine of $24 million Euros, as well as prison.
“I do see her being in the wrong because it’s her fault for not paying her taxes, and I do think that she does deserve it,” Thalia Cuevas (10) said. “I feel like I don’t even know who she is anymore honestly. I really thought she was just somebody famous who made music, which she still is, but now that she’s doing that it’s just weird.”
The Spanish Tax Agency claims that Shakira spent more than half of each year living in Spain from 2012-2014, and was legally required to pay taxes to the government. At that time, Shakira’s official residence was in the Bahamas, but prosecutors say that she spent most of her time in Spain.
“I love her music and I love everything she does, but the fact that she did say how she didn’t live in that specific area, and also she didn’t pay her taxes and stuff, is kind of odd,” Mia Mata (10) said. “Spain needs to be more direct too, like ‘hey you need to pay,’ but at the same time I think Spain is in the wrong as well because they didn’t need to also rush to do this.”
Shakira’s Spanish relations team stated she recently deposited her debt of $15 million Euros to the Spanish Tax Agency, with an extra $3 million Euros in interest. Spain’s prosecutors strongly insist that she still owes them money. In response to Spain’s accusations, Shakira’s publicists from London have begun to accuse the Spanish Tax Agency of causing her mental issues. In addition to these claimed mental issues, last June, Shakira and Barcelonian soccer player Gerard Pique divorced after a 12 year long marriage due to infidelity accusations.
“I feel like she knew what she was doing during that time and her divorce shouldn’t be used as an excuse for her mental distress, it was entirely her choice,” Sage Carrasco (10) said. “I’m just saying, I’m sure Shakira is wrong. She was conscious and knew what she was doing was wrong.”
Shakira’s representatives recently told Fox News that “Shakira has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer, and faithfully following the counsel of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a prestigious and globally recognized tax firm. Unfortunately, the Spanish Tax Office, which loses one out of every two lawsuits with its taxpayers, continues to violate her rights and pursue yet another baseless case. Shakira is confident that her innocence will be proven by the end of the judicial process." A trial date has yet to be set for Shakira to go to court with the Spanish Tax Agency, but there is no doubt that both sides are in a bad spot.
“She’s really famous, but you know how when you don’t hear from a celebrity or YouTuber in a while you might lose interest,” Mata said. “You might not be as faithful to them. Also, for younger people, they might see her as not as much of a great influence. When I first heard it, I was like ‘that’s not Shakira, that’s a lie, Shakira wouldn’t lie.’”
Tristan Perez (10), Copy Editor
“I do see her being in the wrong because it’s her fault for not paying her taxes, and I do think that she does deserve it,” Thalia Cuevas (10) said. “I feel like I don’t even know who she is anymore honestly. I really thought she was just somebody famous who made music, which she still is, but now that she’s doing that it’s just weird.”
The Spanish Tax Agency claims that Shakira spent more than half of each year living in Spain from 2012-2014, and was legally required to pay taxes to the government. At that time, Shakira’s official residence was in the Bahamas, but prosecutors say that she spent most of her time in Spain.
“I love her music and I love everything she does, but the fact that she did say how she didn’t live in that specific area, and also she didn’t pay her taxes and stuff, is kind of odd,” Mia Mata (10) said. “Spain needs to be more direct too, like ‘hey you need to pay,’ but at the same time I think Spain is in the wrong as well because they didn’t need to also rush to do this.”
Shakira’s Spanish relations team stated she recently deposited her debt of $15 million Euros to the Spanish Tax Agency, with an extra $3 million Euros in interest. Spain’s prosecutors strongly insist that she still owes them money. In response to Spain’s accusations, Shakira’s publicists from London have begun to accuse the Spanish Tax Agency of causing her mental issues. In addition to these claimed mental issues, last June, Shakira and Barcelonian soccer player Gerard Pique divorced after a 12 year long marriage due to infidelity accusations.
“I feel like she knew what she was doing during that time and her divorce shouldn’t be used as an excuse for her mental distress, it was entirely her choice,” Sage Carrasco (10) said. “I’m just saying, I’m sure Shakira is wrong. She was conscious and knew what she was doing was wrong.”
Shakira’s representatives recently told Fox News that “Shakira has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer, and faithfully following the counsel of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a prestigious and globally recognized tax firm. Unfortunately, the Spanish Tax Office, which loses one out of every two lawsuits with its taxpayers, continues to violate her rights and pursue yet another baseless case. Shakira is confident that her innocence will be proven by the end of the judicial process." A trial date has yet to be set for Shakira to go to court with the Spanish Tax Agency, but there is no doubt that both sides are in a bad spot.
“She’s really famous, but you know how when you don’t hear from a celebrity or YouTuber in a while you might lose interest,” Mata said. “You might not be as faithful to them. Also, for younger people, they might see her as not as much of a great influence. When I first heard it, I was like ‘that’s not Shakira, that’s a lie, Shakira wouldn’t lie.’”
Tristan Perez (10), Copy Editor
Resisting Square One
New Procedures Spark Unrest on Campus
The bell rings, and the halls become a torrid sea as hundreds of students flood the hallway, walking or even running to their next class. As students hurry through the crowded passageways trying to find unlocked doors, teachers and administrators stalk through their midst, making sure everyone is wearing an ID tag, awkward school photos and personal ID numbers on display for the whole school to see. As the tardy bell rings, and students file into their classrooms, intercom systems buzz to life, commanding teachers to lock their doors. Late students slowly shuffle to the nearest tardy station to receive their hour of detention: the punishment for being late.
Safety policies have caused a wave of dissent among the student body. Students grudgingly comply with the requests administrators make of them, then complain about the policies when the adults turn their backs.
“I feel terrified,” Eladio Alvarado (9) said. “I’ve had detention already because of the tardy sweeps.”
One of the first things students noticed when they returned to campus was a stricter policy on identification tags. Formerly, IDs could be anywhere, as long as a student could produce the tag when asked for it. Now, ID tags must be worn around the neck at all times, clearly visible. This rule is being strictly enforced by faculty members, with IDs being checked as students walk into the school and as they walk the halls.
“I think they’re being too excessive with the ID rule,” Jacob Pettit (11) said. “As long as it’s visible, you should be able to wear it wherever you want.”
Another policy causing student complaints is the locked door policy. To ensure that no intruders can enter the school, all doors accessible from the outside of the school remain locked at all times throughout the school day. This has caused problems for many students, including those who are moving bulky or heavy equipment.
“It feels like we’re in prison,” Gabriella Koicuba (12) said. “It especially inconveniences the band, because we have to drag out instruments everyday and we can’t prop open the doors anymore.”
With no change to the locked door policy in sight, students will continue to make do with the inconveniences.
The final policy sparking outcry among students is the tardy sweeps that take place daily at random times.
“I think the tardy sweeps are unnecessary,” Alyssa Quandt (10) said. “It disadvantages people who have to walk a long way to get to their classes.”
The administration has a more positive opinion about their new policies, and will continue to enforce them as the year progresses.
“A lot of students think the policies came directly from administration,” assistant principal Mr. Pevoto said. “They actually came from the community, after parents gave us feedback about school safety. Many of the policies aren’t new at all. They are just more enforced.”
More ideological battles between students and faculty members are expected to arise over the next several weeks.
Alison Boening (10), Staff Writer
Safety policies have caused a wave of dissent among the student body. Students grudgingly comply with the requests administrators make of them, then complain about the policies when the adults turn their backs.
“I feel terrified,” Eladio Alvarado (9) said. “I’ve had detention already because of the tardy sweeps.”
One of the first things students noticed when they returned to campus was a stricter policy on identification tags. Formerly, IDs could be anywhere, as long as a student could produce the tag when asked for it. Now, ID tags must be worn around the neck at all times, clearly visible. This rule is being strictly enforced by faculty members, with IDs being checked as students walk into the school and as they walk the halls.
“I think they’re being too excessive with the ID rule,” Jacob Pettit (11) said. “As long as it’s visible, you should be able to wear it wherever you want.”
Another policy causing student complaints is the locked door policy. To ensure that no intruders can enter the school, all doors accessible from the outside of the school remain locked at all times throughout the school day. This has caused problems for many students, including those who are moving bulky or heavy equipment.
“It feels like we’re in prison,” Gabriella Koicuba (12) said. “It especially inconveniences the band, because we have to drag out instruments everyday and we can’t prop open the doors anymore.”
With no change to the locked door policy in sight, students will continue to make do with the inconveniences.
The final policy sparking outcry among students is the tardy sweeps that take place daily at random times.
“I think the tardy sweeps are unnecessary,” Alyssa Quandt (10) said. “It disadvantages people who have to walk a long way to get to their classes.”
The administration has a more positive opinion about their new policies, and will continue to enforce them as the year progresses.
“A lot of students think the policies came directly from administration,” assistant principal Mr. Pevoto said. “They actually came from the community, after parents gave us feedback about school safety. Many of the policies aren’t new at all. They are just more enforced.”
More ideological battles between students and faculty members are expected to arise over the next several weeks.
Alison Boening (10), Staff Writer
New Bell Schedule Applied to Clemens, Steele
SCUC enforces time changes
Over the summer, Clemens and Steele decided to change the bell schedules. Instead of the school day starting at 8:40 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m., the schedule has been shifted 15 minutes ahead, which makes school start at 8:55 a.m. and end at 4:15 p.m. This has created some uneasiness throughout the student body.
“I feel pretty neutral about it, but there are some negatives and positives. For example, people who are in sports will be at the school even longer and it doesn’t give students that much time to go home, especially if they ride a bus. But personally, I think we should start at 9 and end at 4 or even earlier if possible,” Julissa Tootle (10) said.
In addition to the confusion with the bell schedule, it makes things more difficult for students that plan their mornings. For example, students in the band have to stay in practice for longer times and recalibrate their daily schedule, and teachers have to adjust their schedules as well.
“I don't really like getting out at 4:15, I think for a lot of people in the morning it's still really early so you're still really tired and 15 minutes it's not that big of a difference. But 15 minutes in the afternoon just seems longer even though it's the same 7 hours as last year,” Deja Smith (10) said.
The bus driver shortage takes a massive role in the time push due to the fact that last year when school started early kids would come to class late, and miss class lessons which causes students to have to make those lessons up.
“I heard we’re starting later because of buses and sometimes there are complications like traffic and stuff when trying to get here, I think they should hae done it at 9:00 a.m.” Tootle said.
Although most people were happy about the 15 minutes of extra sleep, students having to stay 15 minutes longer was met with mixed feelings. For example if a student wanted after school tutoring they would have to do it after 4:15 p.m., when in reality they could have already be home around 4:15-4:25 p.m.
“I'm an early bird meaning I wake up way too early, and with all the extra time I just do whatever,” Tootle said. “But at the same time it's definitely good for whenever I wake up late.’’
Keyla Ruiz (10), Social Media Manager
“I feel pretty neutral about it, but there are some negatives and positives. For example, people who are in sports will be at the school even longer and it doesn’t give students that much time to go home, especially if they ride a bus. But personally, I think we should start at 9 and end at 4 or even earlier if possible,” Julissa Tootle (10) said.
In addition to the confusion with the bell schedule, it makes things more difficult for students that plan their mornings. For example, students in the band have to stay in practice for longer times and recalibrate their daily schedule, and teachers have to adjust their schedules as well.
“I don't really like getting out at 4:15, I think for a lot of people in the morning it's still really early so you're still really tired and 15 minutes it's not that big of a difference. But 15 minutes in the afternoon just seems longer even though it's the same 7 hours as last year,” Deja Smith (10) said.
The bus driver shortage takes a massive role in the time push due to the fact that last year when school started early kids would come to class late, and miss class lessons which causes students to have to make those lessons up.
“I heard we’re starting later because of buses and sometimes there are complications like traffic and stuff when trying to get here, I think they should hae done it at 9:00 a.m.” Tootle said.
Although most people were happy about the 15 minutes of extra sleep, students having to stay 15 minutes longer was met with mixed feelings. For example if a student wanted after school tutoring they would have to do it after 4:15 p.m., when in reality they could have already be home around 4:15-4:25 p.m.
“I'm an early bird meaning I wake up way too early, and with all the extra time I just do whatever,” Tootle said. “But at the same time it's definitely good for whenever I wake up late.’’
Keyla Ruiz (10), Social Media Manager
The Mighty Buffalo Band
Training Early Mornings to Late Afternoons
The sun hasn’t even broken past the horizon yet, but students are arriving at school. The time is 6:45 a.m., and there are 15 minutes left for them to prepare for practice. In that time, more students arrive and instruments are assembled. At 7 on the nose, they’re on the blacktop, warming up. It’s a Monday morning and everyone is tired, but they also want to be there to support the others. As warm-ups conclude, the directors give orders, and a loud beeping ensues. They practice movements for a while, then shift to another formation. After an hour and a half, they are free to go, but they’ll be back in the afternoon.
While practicing extensively before and after school, the marching band works to improve and perfect their talents for UIL and upcoming events.
“I get up at 5:30. I try to get to school by 6:40 for the rehearsal that starts at 7. That goes to 8:30 every day besides Wednesdays,” Dakotah Bedell (10) said. “Physically, it’s obviously tiring, but mentally not much. It’s kind of like you get on the field, you put all your emotions on the field, and you leave them there.”
Band students get to school about two hours earlier than most students. The only other students there are training for a sport. Despite the lack of other students, it’s a close knit community.
“What I like most about marching band is the large friend group you get from it,” Aidan Federico (11) said. “It’s a general community, but especially within sections is where it goes from a community to a friend group.”
Not only are there students playing in the band, but they also conduct. Anayah Armand (12) is one of the drum majors for this school year.
“Now that I’m in the center podium this year, it’s a lot different than being on the side and like being actually in control of everything,” Armand said. “I’m not in the audience, but everybody’s playing towards me. I’m controlling everything that’s really interesting but listening to the band. I just like the musicality of everything.”
While there may be many challenges, following instructions and adapting are keys to thriving. Maintaining high energy levels are also very important, especially in the morning.
“I’m still tired every day and I’m sleeping in classes, but I’m used to having a lot of activities and being a lot of stuff,” Armand said. “It’s just all going to be worth it and then I just think of the end goal and where I’m trying to go.”
Adriana Strang (12), Editor-in-Chief
While practicing extensively before and after school, the marching band works to improve and perfect their talents for UIL and upcoming events.
“I get up at 5:30. I try to get to school by 6:40 for the rehearsal that starts at 7. That goes to 8:30 every day besides Wednesdays,” Dakotah Bedell (10) said. “Physically, it’s obviously tiring, but mentally not much. It’s kind of like you get on the field, you put all your emotions on the field, and you leave them there.”
Band students get to school about two hours earlier than most students. The only other students there are training for a sport. Despite the lack of other students, it’s a close knit community.
“What I like most about marching band is the large friend group you get from it,” Aidan Federico (11) said. “It’s a general community, but especially within sections is where it goes from a community to a friend group.”
Not only are there students playing in the band, but they also conduct. Anayah Armand (12) is one of the drum majors for this school year.
“Now that I’m in the center podium this year, it’s a lot different than being on the side and like being actually in control of everything,” Armand said. “I’m not in the audience, but everybody’s playing towards me. I’m controlling everything that’s really interesting but listening to the band. I just like the musicality of everything.”
While there may be many challenges, following instructions and adapting are keys to thriving. Maintaining high energy levels are also very important, especially in the morning.
“I’m still tired every day and I’m sleeping in classes, but I’m used to having a lot of activities and being a lot of stuff,” Armand said. “It’s just all going to be worth it and then I just think of the end goal and where I’m trying to go.”
Adriana Strang (12), Editor-in-Chief