March - Pflugerville Independent School District

2
Volume 6, Issue 6 NEWS March 7, 2013
newsbriefs
UIL District for
journalism and
computer
science MAR. 21
End of Grading Period
Powderpuff Football
MAR. 26
MAR. 7
Track Invitational at Pflugerville
Hawk Car Show
UIL District for all other
academic events
MAR. 23
Boys and Girls
Soccer Bi-District
MAR. 28-30
Spring Break
MAR. 11-15
Varsity Girls Golf
District at Star Ranch
MAR. 25-26
Student and Staff Holiday
MAR. 29
Science Olympiad wins regional competition
World Culture Club broadens horizons of members
GABRIELLE LAPORTE sta f reporter
Transitioning into high school can be
scary, and joining a club is one way to
ease the fear. The best club for students
who like to travel or one day dream of
traveling is the World Cultures Club. The
World Cultures Club gives a better understanding
of people around the world.
The main idea of World Culture Club
is to discover new things from different
places around the world.
“We explore other cultures beyond
just the languages we associate them
with,” Spanish teacher Drew Keller said.
Any student is able to join, and is rec-
Photo courtesy of Emily Hannon
news editor
KATE STOnE
ommended for anyone who wants to
travel or learn about different cultures.
The meetings are every Wednesday at
4:15 and they usually run until 5:00.
“I would describe the club as fun, exciting,
and inspiring.” Keller said.
For anyone interested in joining the
club. Going to a meeting and checking it
out will help the decision.
“Its pretty awesome, you will have
fun just learning, the club is like a family
honestly so if you don’t have a place
in school its good to join,” senior Kijana
Carmichael said.
The Science Olympiad team recently competed in the regional
competition in Corpus Christi, winning awards in ten out of the
thirteen events they competed in.
Among those who earned medals were Emily Margaretich
and Mandi Palencia, who received first place in Dynamic Planet.
David Resendez and Regina Mae Palencia also earned first place
for their Elastic Launched Glider. In the Anatomy and Physiology
competition, Albert Felan and Kylie Wessels earned second
place. Forrest Cross and Matt Claridge also earned second place
in the Astronomy competition.
The combined successes of the members earned the team
first place overall, qualifying them automatically for state. The
Science Olympiad team will compete at the State competition
May 3 and 4 in College Station.
Sophomore Ariana Porfidia enjoys foreign food
during a World Cultures Club meeting. Photo by
Ameer Joseph
Hawk-complishments
Junior James Fite
and sophomore
Katherine McCoy
received first place at
the FCCLA Regional
Competition for their
Chapter service project.
Junior Jayna Mc-
Garity competed at
the TAFE State Competition,
earning silver for
the ELF test and gold
for Portfolio.
Juniors Isaiah Maddock
and Eli Benton
both competed at
the German Sprachfest.
Maddock received sixth
place for his vocal solo
and Benton received
second place for his
T-shirt design.
Photo by Hope Tate
Junior Ja’Bria
Walker was the
overall female PT winner
at the first ROTC
squad competition of
the season. The ROTC
squad also won second
place overall for their
female PT team.
Sophomore Javid
Aboii was awarded the
prestigious Leadership
award at the Harvard
Tournament. Aboii also
placed in the top 54
students at the tournament.
Sophomore Ramsey
Shobe won first place
for her solo at the South
Padre dance competition.
The Silver Dancers
won many awards at
the competition, earning
fourth runner up overall.
Corrections
In the Jan. 31, 2013 issue, we mistakenly called senior
Nick Davis, Nick Garza in the Ultimate Frisbee story on
page 23.
Additionally, in the story about new businesses opening
in the area, we listed Wendy’s as a business that would be
opening. That is incorrect.
We apologize for these errors and any harm they may
have caused.
nAThAn WAy assistant copy editor
New belt ranks were awarded to
two students in the KICKSTART
KIDS program, including a red/
black and a black belt. The black
belt, earned by Robert ‘Bob’
Schreyer, was the first earned for
the school in the program’s existence.
“I started when I was in seventh
grade, for the first time in
Pflugerville,” Schreyer said. “My
original instructor was an amazing
guy and someone I really
wanted to emulate.”
Three other students participated
in the trials, in which they
must exhibit their mastery of
The Silver Dancers competed in their
final competition of the season at Vista
Ridge.
The team won first place in team newbie
jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop,
and jazz. The Silver Dancers also won
first place in the jazz company ensemble,
as well as the highest scoring team for
the entire competition.
“We were just so proud that all of their
early mornings and all of their late evenings
and extra practices paid off,” assistant
dance teacher Brooke Soloman said.
“We were just so excited that they got
their seven katas, or forms, that
were taught to them.
“We had to show our ‘one-steps’
and then the floor instructors
called out techniques,” Schreyer
said. “You pretty much get worn
out, then have a sparring section
where you fight the instructors.”
All of the four participants received
their black belts, and Sidney
Banuelos received his red/
black belt, which is a half step
below Schreyer.
“I only went for my red-black,”
Banuelos said. “It’s still pretty intense,
we still have to fight the
instructors.”
Training and other preparations
Volume 6, Issue 6NEWSMarch 7, 2013
Silver Dancers win first at final competition
news editor
KATE STOnE
ROTC competes at first drill competition
KATE STOnE news editor
The ROTC squad competed in their first competition of the
year, winning second place overall for both their male and
female PT teams.
Individual members of the squad also won several awards,
including senior Ja’Bria Walker, who won first place overall
for the flex-arm hang and was the overall PT female winner.
Junior Kaylin Conteras was the second place overall PT female
winner, while senior Hassibh Nader won second place for female
crunches. Freshman Hoang Ngyuen also won second
place for male crunches, and junior Matthew Pierce won third
place for academic presentation.
the outcome that they wanted and that
they’d been working for and it was just
an overwhelming feeling of success.
Sophomore Ramsey Shobe won first
overall for her 9th-10th grade solo. The
Silver Dancers officers also won first
place in multiple awards, including the
Grand Champions officer prize and the
best technique officer award, making the
girls the highest scoring officers in the
entire competition.
The Silver Dancers ended contest season
with a bang, winning in every category
they were entered in.
Belts awarded to Kickstart students after trials
are required to reach the levels
that Schreyer and Banuelos have,
and even more is necessary for
the trials.
“For my test, I completely
changed my diet for about four
months,” Banuelos said. “All I
ate was meat, assorted nuts, and
vegetables. I ran a lot every day,
and I swam.”
The instructors encourage Banuelos
to progress to his next trial
soon, and Schreyer plans to work
for his second and third degrees
of black belt before he concludes
his time with the program.
3