The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

11
VOLUME 9 ISSUE 2 9251 South Fry Rd. . Katy, TX . 77494 . 281-237-2800 THE TORCH Seven Lakes High School H oliday Edition

description

 

Transcript of The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

Page 1: The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

VOLUME 9ISSUE 2

9251 South Fry Rd. . Katy, TX . 77494 . 281-237-2800

THE TORCHTHE TORCHSeven Lak

es High

School

Holiday

Edition

Page 2: The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

FINAL EXAMS & EXEMPTIONS

ANXIETY

SENIORITIS

WORDSEARCH

CULTURAL FOOD

2014 WRAP UP

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

HOROSCOPES

RESOLUTIONS

MOVIES

SPORTS

COMEDY SPORTZ

CALENDAR

SPOT THE SPARTAN

CONTENTS 457 6

1419

138&910 &11

12

18161517

Coach L’sDriving School(281) 857-4458

Dec. 15 - Jan. 5 Mon. - Thur. 3 - 5 p.m. (1st week) Mon. - Sat. 10 a.m. - Noon (2nd & 3rd week)

Jan. 12 - Feb. 2 Mon. - Thur. 3 - 5 p.m. & Sat. 8 a.m.

Jan. 26 - Feb. 16 Mon. - Thur. 5 - 7 p.m. & Sat. 10 a.m.

Feb. 9 - Mar. 2 Mon. - Thur. 3 - 5 p.m. & Sat. 8 a.m.

Feb. 23 - Mar. 16 Mon. - Thur. 5 - 7 p.m. & Sat. 10 a.m.

Mar. 9 - Mar. 30 Mon. - Thur. 3 - 5 p.m. & Sat. 8 a.m.

Mar. 23 - Apr.13 Mon. - Thur. 5 - 7 p.m. & Sat. 10 a.m.

Apr. 6 - Apr. 27 Mon. - Thur. 3 - 5 p.m. & Sat. 8 a.m.

Apr. 20 - May 11 Mon. - Thur. 5 - 7 p.m. & Sat. 10 a.m.

May 4 - May 25 Mon. - Thur. 3 - 5 p.m. & Sat. 8 a.m.

May 18 - June 6 Mon. - Thur. 5 - 7 p.m. & Sat. 10 a.m.

Across from Seven Lakes8945 S Fry Rd, Katy, TX 77494

Coach L’sDriving School(281) 857-4458

Page 3: The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

&

Juniors are allowed two (2) excused days of absence for college visits during their junior year and three (3) excused days of absence for college visits during their

senior year.

If the absence has been properly requested and approved, it does not count against exemption absences during the semester

in which it was taken.

Juniors are allowed two (2) excused days of absence for college visits during their junior year and three (3) excused days

Juniors are allowed two (2) excused days

Excused and non-excus

ed

absences D

O count tow

ards

exemptions, ho

wever, ther

e

are a few exce

ptions. See

appropriate grad

e level

attendance cle

rk for tho

se

few exceptions. Fin

al exams

for dual-credit cou

rses

CANNOT be exempted.

This semester is coming to an end which also means that fi nal exams are just around the corner. Students are going crazy as teachers bury them with reviews. So what can the school do to help with fi nal exams?

Power reviews are offered for every class. Each power review costs $5 and is available after school or on the weekends. Get them early before they sell out! Make sure to do reviews for every exam because they will help with remembering material that was taught months ago.

Turn in all assignments because zeroes will affect averages and fi nal exams may be the only way to pass the class.

Don’t be afraid to ask teachers for help because they are more than willing to help

their students.

exemption rules

The following also affect exemptions:Text book fi nes, library fi nes, athletic fi nes, failure to return signatures on fi rst day of school papers, more than 6 hours of detention/suspension (ISS). You cannot

exempt the class that gives an N in conduct,Cannot exempt classes at all if U in conduct.

With the exception of seniors, students cannot exempt the same class both semesters.9th: 1 exam per semester 10th: 2 exams per semester11th: 3 exams per semester

12th: 3 exams fi rst semester & all exams second semester

corner. Students are going crazy as teachers So what can the school do to help with fi nal

seniors, students cannot

4

The

Torc

h

4 5

KAVYA|GANESH

StaffWriter

NABA|SIDDIQ

CopyEditor

1 3

7 5

246

stress is the basic cause of 60% of all human illness and disease

stress increases the risk of heart disease by 40%

stress-related ailments cost the nation $300 billon every year in medical bills

a survey by the American Psychological Association indicates that teens are more stressed than adults

1 in 5 of Americans experience “extreme stress”

A N X I E T Y

the US doesn’t legally require workers to take time off, but Spain and England require workers to take 30 days off

by reducing grey matter in various regions, stress shrinks the brain which can lead to future psychiatric problems

Source: The American Institute of Stress

confused

stressed

frustratedworried

I’m situated within the walls of your stomach. When your blood turns cold, I know, because I am the reason it did. When you’re lying awake at 2 AM, sweaty and drowning in insomnia, I’m the genius manipulating your mind to spin beyond control. I am why your stomach is turning in circles, the cause of your jitters, and the reason you’re so worried. You can try to escape me by escaping reality, but you can’t escape the reality that I exist.

ANXIETY is a side effect of STRESS.

Though the amount of

apprehension varies from person to person, depending on situations and circumstances, an overabundance of distress has a high chance of taking a toll on one’s mental and physical health. As seniors wait for college acceptances and juniors pull all-nighters – sophomores juggle various classes and freshmen attempt to stay afl oat and swim with the big fi sh. Although we can’t completely eliminate our problems, we can take steps to reduce them and raise awareness of the effects of sleepless nights.

The Torch

final exams3 absences?

You must have an A to exempt that class.

2 absences? You must have at least a B to

exempt that class.1 absence?

You must have at least a C to exempt that class.3 tardies to a class = 1 absence.4 tardies to a class = N in

conduct.

exemption rules3 absences?

You must have an A to

Page 4: The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

7

The Torch

Sigh. It’s currently 2 A.M. and this article was due two hours ago. I’m a cold, tired, hungry, disheveled mess. I think I’ve caught a disease known as Senioritis. I heard it’s been going around the school. Symptoms include laziness, lack of energy, and faltering grades.

“Once you get accepted into a college, you kind of just stop caring about school because you realize, that it’s just not worth it, and you just kind of lay back and start to think about life a little bit slower every day. It’s a good feeling,” senior Peter Lacobie said.

This seems to be a common experience for a lot of seniors.“You don’t think about anything, you’re just super lazy and

done. This is even before you get accepted into college. After junior year, after that horrible year, you’re done. The battle is over and you go to senior year and it’s done.” senior Swetha Ram said.

The only known cure for senioritis is Graduation. Don’t be a victim of this epidemic. Stay alert, keep up your grades up, and make sure to take the last few months of high school seriously. It’s the only way to make it out alive.

The Battle

SENIORITIS Against

GISELLE|MUNOZ

StaffWriter

6

The

Torc

h

6

THE TORCH WORDSEARCH

TIC-TAC-TOE

BOOTSDECEMBERDECORATIONSFROZEN

GINGERBREADHOLIDAYHOTCOCOAICICLE

LIGHTS PEPPERMINTREINDEERSCARF

SNOWFLAKE SNOWMANSTARBUCKSWINTER

T T J Z B L F O C D M G N G T N C Y I S E K Q O O S M N E V M R Q A S H Z B K V A X O G Q R R C N X R R B D M A X C S H I T A Q X M E Y A D I L O H L W U Q J S S E T C F M Z G B G J Y O F M B O S C T H N L P B P N R M M O T Z X R S H N Q H K F O E D F Q U U K Q G G A S Z S T S G P J R I U F R U F O Z K T C K R X D X I A H Y Y T E U W X R K S I C I C L E Q L T Y J T T A B A D E O S N O W F L A K E K P M N W I R B O N C Z R A P D F Z Y Q O S I I M A O O L O D L E P C C E O T Q I W A M H R C H C F H E I N R N G N A P Z V W R E O C B U E U G N Z A D G A A E K C L E C B T A L Y D J D A A Y S N J T Q Y O P U Z A C N Z Q Q E A K Q C Q A P V P R P E T E G O C L A E C N N A E V Y M W G E J I Y L U C J G R K P I R M O R Q F W P M Z A A L G O G T N L M F R F F D A E R B R E G N I G A U E R F X R A C

Sigh. It’s currently 2 A.M. and this article was due two hours ago. I’m a cold, tired, hungry, disheveled mess. I think I’ve caught a disease known as Senioritis. I heard it’s been going around the school. Symptoms include laziness, lack

“Once you get accepted into a college, you kind of just stop caring about school because you realize, that it’s just not worth it, and you just kind of lay back and start to think about life a little bit slower every day. It’s a good feeling,” senior Peter

This seems to be a common experience for a lot of seniors.“You don’t think about anything, you’re just super lazy and

done. This is even before you get accepted into college. After junior year, after that horrible year, you’re done. The battle is

to senior year and it’s done.” senior Swetha Ram

The only known cure for senioritis is Graduation. Don’t be a victim of this epidemic. Stay alert, keep up your grades up, and make sure to take the last few months of high school seriously. It’s the only

The Battle

SENIORITIS

GISELLE|M W G E J I Y L U C J G R K P I R M O R M W G E J I Y L U C J G R K P I R M O R Q F W P M Z A A L G O G T N L M F R F F D A E R B R E G N I G A U E R F X R A C

Page 5: The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

8 9

The

Torc

h

8

The Torch

TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY FOODSAKU GOPINATH

“I love to cook and I end up taking over and cooking during Thanksgiving and Christmas time. I make things I haven’t

tried—maybe a new dish

that I’ve wanted to try for

a long time. But, dessert

wise, I like to make things

my family loves so nothing

goes wrong on one of those

special days.”

“I guess I’d say I like my pies

the most. I would have to say

my special one would be my

Blackberry Cream Pie because

it’s the fi rst one I ever made.

We all really love it!”DAVID AKPEDEYE

“In the mornings we just sit around and open presents together. And then for lunch we eat this traditional Nigerian food called Eba.”

“It is this succulent, yellow starchy food made of dried grated cassava. Then we make soup to eat along with it. We eat with the family together.”

“I am Persian so we do celebrate Christmas, but before Christmas on December 21st, we celebrate the winter solstice.”

SARAH RAZMDIDEH

“There is this really popular snack where you take pomegranate and mix it with mint. It is called Anar in Farsi.”

“We have a party where several families get together and bring their own platter of food. It varies from Lechon, which is a pork dish, to a type of beef stew called Nilaga. We eat together and just enjoy ourselves.”

“We usually make brownies and other desserts together.”

RICARDO ALEJANDRIA

CLAIRE AMEEN

DANNI DEAN

SAVVA BOBIKOVLAURA JOHNASSON

“My family keeps its traditions: Turkey, homemade mashed potatoes, homemade stuffi ng (my mother’s pride and joy), and pumpkin pie.”

“Nana’s recipe of turkey

noodle soup. It’s the

perfect way to begin the

holidays!”

SAYALI|SHELKE

StaffWriter

“I’m Russian so we make a lot of heavy food that contains a lot of meat and fi sh in it. And we also drink a lot. We make this food called Selyodka pod shuboy, a layered salad composed of salted herring layered with grated vegetables, as well as this Russian salad called Olivier.”

“We usually make Pelmeni, which is like dumplings, and we usually make it together as a family.”

“Before Christmas my entire family, or at least the family that is near each other, gets together and we spend all day making Hallacas, a Venezuelan specialty, sending pictures to our family that isn’t there, listening to gaitas. Then at the end of the day we invite friends and we all try the Hallacas and it’s just a really fun family thing that we do every year.”

“We make this thing called Quesillo, a pudding-like creamy dessert with lots of caramel, along with Hallacas and Pan de Jamon, a typical Christmas bread from Venezuela.”

fun family thing that we do every year.”

“We make this thing called

“For the holidays we go to my grandma’s house in Sweden and she has what we call a Julbord, a table where we put all the holiday food, and we eat traditional Swedish meats like Julskinka and Kottbullar. My family is also from the Caribbean so we have a lot of fi sh.”

“[For dessert] I make Pepparkakor, which is like ginger

bread, with my grandmother. We also make Lussekatter

which is kind of like an S-shaped bread and it has saffrandre (saffron) which gives it a really nice yellow

color.”

For many people the holiday season triggers familiar aromas from the kitchen, the chitter chatter of uncles, aunts, and distant cousins in the comfy atmosphere of home, but most importantly — the holidays bring about mouth-watering food. Families have distinctive food traditions that have been passed down the line for generations.

Page 6: The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

TOP 20 THINGS

FLAPPY BIRD

ALL ABOUT THAT BASS BY MEGHAN TRAINOR

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

iPHONE 6 AND 6 PLUS

January

June

SeptemberSeptemberSeptemberSeptemberSeptember

CRESS BY MARISSA MEYER

ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE

FIRST INDIAN MISSION TO MARS

February

JulyJulyFIRST EBOLA CASE

Over 13,000 cases of Ebola have been reported by the CDC and about 5,000 deaths, making it the largest outbreak of Ebola in history. There have been about 13,000 cases in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone and two confi rmed cases in the United States.

The Ice Bucket Challenge raised over $115 million for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). It was popularized as celebrities challenged each other to complete the challenge or donate to the ALS Association.

March

1989 BY TAYLOR SWIFT

FIRST ISIS BEHEADING

ISIS posted its fi rst beheading video, which was titled “A Message to America.” The video showed the beheading of American journalist James Wright Foley, who disappeared in Syria in 2012 while working for GlobalPost.

August

KIARA|REYES

LayoutEditor

in 2014

October November

DIAGON ALLEY OPENS IN ORLANDO

BLOOD OF OLYMPUS BY RICK RIORDAN

November

MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT CRASHES

2014 WORLD CUP

DIVERGENT

ROBIN WILLIAMS

MOCKINGJAY PART 1

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

NIGHT OF THE MUSEUM 3

On March 8, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared on its way from Kuala to Beijing. The fl ight was carrying 227 passengers and crew members and was suspected to have crashed somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

Taylor’s 5th studio album was the fi rst album to go platinum this year, selling over 1.287 million copies in its fi rst week, making it the biggest debut since Eminem’s The Eminem Show in 2002.

April

August

December

The 63-year-old actor and comedian passed away on August 11 after battling severe depression. The iconic actor passed away in his home in Paradise Cay, California.

THAT HAPPENED

Page 7: The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

The

Torc

h

12

TECH THE HALLS

Gifts$50 Or Less

iPod Shu� e 2GB

$46.00

Smartphone Projector

available at Urban Outfi tters

$28.00

Red Camcorder with 4x Digital Zoom and 1.8” LCD Screen

$33.29

Amplitone Headphones

Fashionable and lightweight

$29.95

RCA 7” Tablet 8GB Quad Core

$39.99

Underwater Digital CameraGreen w/ 8x Digital Zoom, 2.4”

LCD, Video Mode

$49.00

iHome Speaker iBT28 Bluetooth Color Change Clock

$49.88

Telephoto CameraLens w/ Tripod

$21.99

LORIE|KIESEWETTER

AdEditor

13

The Torch

HOROSCOPES REBECCA|RIOS

Editor inChief

TAURUS GEMINI CANCERMay 21 - Jun 20 Jun 21 - Jul 22Apr 20 - May 20

Chinese Year of the Wood Sheep

sagittariusSCORPIO CAPRICORNOct 23 - Nov 21 Nov 22 - Dec 21 Dec 22 - Jan 19

You’ll see the effects of several years of personal

changes. You are ready to stop struggling and start really

enjoying your life.

This will be a year of change for people born under this sun sign. You’ve given up trying to

change the world & instead are working on changing yourself.

2015 forecasts that there are big rewards around the corner, but you have to work for them. It is a time to go outside of your

comfort zone and try new things.

AQUARIUS PISCES ARIES Jan 20 - Feb 18 Feb 19 - Mar 20 Mar 21 - Apr 19

This is a year where it’s time to follow your dreams and

abandoning the conventional. You have all been a very go-

with-the-fl ow lover and this year that is not working for you.

Pisces, you will feel a lot of stress from career and family

lives you’re going to feel like you are being pulled in a million directions but everything will work out.

Despite some challenges, 2015 looks to be a year full of new opportunities. This is the time

to take the opportunity to meet new people and see the benefi ts of hard work pay off.

This year may not be the easiest year for Gemini, but 2015 will likely bring some

major changes to your life. It’s all about fi guring out what you want from life

and making commitments.

If you work hard enough you can achieve almost anything and this is the time to work as hard as you can and to make

all your dreams a reality.

This year will be about embracing a new outlook on

the world and learning to take a few risks. Plan all fi nances in

advance. But do learn to enjoy life a bit at times.

LEO VIRGO LIBRAJul 23 - Aug 22 Aug 23 - Sep 22 Sep 23 - Oct 22

This is the time to concentrate on yourself and to fi gure out

what would make you happy in the long-term. Money is also tight for short-term, in the long term there will be big rewards.

It’s going to be a year where compromise is key,

Virgo. 2015 will be all about overcoming challenges.

Changes are ahead but they will only make you stronger.

Doors will be opening for you multiple levels and you will

be presented with all kinds of new opportunities and this is

the time to take advantage of them.

Source: www.sunsigns.org

2015

Page 8: The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

new year’s resolutions

2015 is around the corner and some Spartans plan to take advantage of the new year and set resolutions. Whether trying to lose weight or

study more, students have set goals and are hyped to succeed. Unfortunately, achieving resolutions

has a low success rate. A study conducted by the University of Scranton claims only 8% of

Americans are successful.

My New Year’s resolution is to hug all

the dogs in the world, I will achieve this goal by

happily doing so to every dog I see.

Taylor Metcalfe 11

My New Year’s resolution is to fi nally get to

the competition level that I

want. I think I can achieve it if

I work hard enough.Clara Garcia Faur 9

I want my ACT score to go up at least one more point, so I can

get accepted into my top choice college, University of Oklahoma.

Hailey Justus 12

Pass all my classes and get at

least three A’s. I think I can achieve this by

studying hard.Blake Diehl 9

My New Year’s resolution for this new school year is to make sure I get my studies in

and be more organized. And I think I can achieve it, I’m

doing good so far.

Shella Klevenskaya 10

I’m looking to exercise more and

eat healthier. I probably won’t be able to achieve my

goals, but I’m still going to

try really hard.Mason Eymard 12

LORIE|KIESEWETTER

AdEditor

“ “

”I want to get

better at playing my instrument

[the trombone].Austin Inman 10

“””

15

The Torch

After SHIELD is destroyed and our heroes needing a break from stopping all the worlds threats Tony Stark attempts to make a division of peacekeeping led by an artifi cial intelligence that is self-aware and self-learning by the name of Ultron. Later, Ultron decides that the main threat is the humans themselves and decides the only way to keep the peace is to wipe the planet of all humans. Can The Avengers defeat this new and powerful enemy?

Dom has fi nally gotten what he has always wanted. After helping Agent Hobbs to defeat Owen Shaw, Dom and his family go back to the states. As we fi nd out Owens older brother Ian is looking for blood. After fi nding out about Han’s death Dom and his crew have one last job; fi nd the man that is looking to kill them before he fi nds them fi rst. This will mark the fi nal fi lm appearance of Paul Walker who died on November 30, 2013, while the fi lm was still in production.

Years after the horrifi c events at Jurassic park a new park is opened named Jurassic world. Just like John Hammond would have envisioned it. After a couple years attendance rates pitfall and the park is near bankruptcy. In attempts to bring the park to its former glory a new plan is hatched, but it gravely backfi res and it turns into a horrifi c adventure. The park needs to be evacuated and we follow as a workman at the park tries to escape the onslaught.

May 1, 2015 June 12, 2015 April 3, 2015

““”

””

I’m looking forward to it because the fi rst one was good and because

Chris Hemsworth is in it.

- Emma Johnson 9

I’m excited for Furious 7 because

it’s the fi rst fi lm without Paul

Walker and I want to see how it turns

out.

- Matt Hannah12

I will go watch it because the last couple movies

haven’t been as good as the fi rst and I’m hoping

that they can reedem their franchise.

- Caleb Allen 12

ROBBIE|MONTIEL

CopyEditor

ROBBIE|

My New Years resolution is to do something with my music. Because this year I am

making my own album.Ms. Mishra

My New Year’s resolution is to

learn how to play the piano.

Jacob Hazel 11

Page 9: The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

Basketball Looks to Continue

With a new head coach and a new group of seniors, Seven Lakes is looking to have success in a competitive 19-6A district this season.

The Spartans will look to junior guard Kameron McGusty as an offensive leader this year. He led the team in scoring as a sophomore last season, averaging 14.8 points per game.

“I’m just trying to do everything I can to help lead our team to a state title,” McGusty said.

McGusty proved to be a natural scorer and one of the go to players for the Spartans last year.

The team will also rely on senior shooting guard Eskor Edem to help carry the load offensively. The talented shooter averaged 11.5 points per game last season.

Forward Ben Gautschy is hoping to successfully come back from shoulder surgery in which he underwent in September. The multisport athlete was injured during a

football scrimmage against Friendswood High School in the fall.

“My goal is to come back as strong as possible and carry over all the time and reps I got last year as a junior, into a successful senior season,” Gautschy said.

Players and Coaches hope to have the same successful fan support from the Spartan Crazies this year as they have had in previous.

“Our student section is one of the best in Houston,” Gautschy said. “They give us a huge advantage whenever we are playing against teams at home.”

Although the district may be competitive, the Spartans still have one goal in sight: a deep playoff run, leading to a state title.

“We are trying to keep the Spartan tradition going,” McGusty said. “Dominating the district, making a playoff run, and eventually winning state are the goals for this season.”

District DominancePhoto by: Shelby Coleman

The

Torc

h

16

TRENT|WEBER

SportsEditor

Photo by: Lundahl Photography

Comedy Sportz has been a pivotal group for making Spartans laugh. Whether it’s improvising scenes or just being silly, the whole group knows how to be funny, although it’s not always easy.

“My fi rst match I was trying so hard that I stuttered all my words and it was just horrible. But just go with it and it always turns out good,” senior Chris Freeman said, member of Comedy Sportz for two consecutive years.

Before each game, the referee randomly chooses differents skits and sets for players to compete in.

“Because it’s not easy [to make up a character] you tend to make a decision faster and it’s more silly. So I think that’s the whole reason of Comedy Sportz,” Freeman said.

Each match consists of two teams competing against each other as they play improv games.

“My favorite game is ‘What You Got’ because it’s very interactive with the other team. It’s two teams that go against each other, it’s to a beat so it’s just a lot of

fun,” junior Sophie Stinnett said.Every season, Comedy Sportz

gives a scholarship to the most involved and funny person in memory of Dustin Kruthaupt.

“Hannah Sumers started

[the tribute] last year and we’re planning on making it annual. We call it the Dustin Kruthaupt scholarship, where all the proceeds of the Dustin Kruthaupt Match goes into a scholarship,” Freeman said.

Comedy Sportz is more of a long term play and not so much as a club, although everyone from Freshmen to Seniors can join an audition is mandatory.

The season runs from January to April and ends with a tournament where they get to compete with all the schools in the district. The winning team get their names on a golden tray.

“The coach picks who she thinks would be the best in the match - who’s quick on their feet and who could get us to win. [Last year] it came to the fi nal two teams and we won,” Stinnett said.

Although every skit is different and teams are chosen in the moment, every game is unique and fun.

“I’ve been in many situations that I was like I didn’t really want to be on this team, but we ended up having the funniest scenes because different sides come all together and just have fun,” Freeman said.

As a team and family, Comedy Sportz has joined together through laughs.

“Going to the practices can just make my week better. I guess it’s cliche but I can be myself around them and just be funny,” Stinnett said.

Comedy SPORTZ REBECCA|RIOS

Editor inChief

Team MembersPablo Frias

Alex BarringerMichael Breath

Kelby AdayChris Freeman

Josh BakerCarter VannJillian Grisko

Sophie StinnettAlex Vogt

Lauren BreathMaddy Patten

Morgan HillAllie Stanley

Ben SundwallEdward Henrickson

Sofi a DeLucaGrant Gammon

Alternates: Brittany Roberts &

Sabrina Husseini

”“

I guess it’s cliche but I

can be myself around them and just be

funny.

Studio VII put on their rendition of the world renowned play from Steven Dietz, Dracula. The cast included MacKenzie Winters, Macy Medford, Michael Breath, Pablo Frias as Dracula, and was phenomenally directed by Chocs Landgrebe. It is a story about love, desire, and heartbreak. The “man” Dracula must leave his home in Transylvania because he is running out of his only food source, blood. Once arriving in London, Dracula begins ruining lives. He kills their loved ones, or worse, turns them into a monster. For Harker (Michael Breath), it is a race against time

to save his beloved Mina (MacKenzie Winters) from this monster before it’s too late.

As an audience member, I could hear the actors lose their British accents in different scenes. The accents may have not been the best, but the acting was superb. In one scene, Seward (Alex Barringer) found his beloved Lucy (Macy Medford) dead, or so he thought. When crying out “Lucy” multiple times near her death bed, his voice cracked, and in that moment my heart broke. The audience could hear the pain Barringer’s character was going through, it was

devastatingly believable. The more Renfi eld craved blood, the more the audience craved his presence on stage. Edward Hendrickson executed this role exquisitely.

Aside from the acting, the setup of the stage was fantastic. Not only was the set two stories, it was placed to a slant. This slant gave the set a very artistic angle. But there was one part of tech that was unnecessary, the smoke. The smoke used when Dracula is killed was a big risk, which should not have been taken.

Dracula may have had its dull moments, but overall, this play was for the ages.

SHELBY|COLEMAN

Page 10: The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

Boys Girls

The

Torc

h

18

January

February

Basketball Game

Wrestling

Swim / Dive

Soccer

21 3No School

Girls

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Boys & Girls

No School

No SchoolMLK Day

Boys & Girls

Boys

Boys

Girls Boys

Boys

Boys

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28No School

President’s Day Early Dismissal

Boys & Girls

Valentine’s Day

14Valentine’s Day

Girls Boys

Boys Boys

Girls Boys Girls

Boys Boys

Girls Boys

Boys Boys

Boys Boys & Girls

Spot The Spartan

In the picture above there is a hidden Spartan!Once you locate it, email us at [email protected]

or tweet us at @slhstorch to tell us where you found it!The FIRST student to email or tweet us will win a

$10 Chick-Fil-A card.

WIN A $10 CHICK-FIL-A GIFT CARD!Photo by: Daniela Ornelas

Katy Scholars is a Katy based

learning center offering a wide

range of services from tutoring

and homework assistance to SAT/ACT preparation,

college admissions, counseling,

intelligence and ability testing.

22756 Westheimer PkwyKaty, TX 77494

Located in Villagio Town Center

281-693-4350Business Hours:

M-Th: 2:00 pm - Closing

Fri: By Appointment

Saturday: 8:00 am - Noon

Sun: Closed

Boys Girls

Boys Girls

Girls Girls

Girls

EDITOR IN CHIEF Rebecca Rios

SPORTS EDITORTrent Weber

AD EDITOR Lorie Kiesewetter

LAYOUT EDITORKiara Reyes

COPY EDITORSNaba Siddiq Roberto Montiel

STAFF WRITERSKavya GaneshGiselle MunozSayali Shelke

ADVISERKatie Moreno

PRINTERSoutheast Media

GENERAL INQUIRIESSeven Lakes High School9251 South Fry Rd. Katy, Texas 77494 281-237-2800Twitter: @slhstorch Email: [email protected]

The Torch is an official publication of SLHS. Editorials represent the opinion of the writer, but not necessarily of a KISD administration or faculty. The Torch is a member of the Interscholastic League of Press Conference (ILPC), the Texas Association of Journalism Education (TAJE), and the Journalism Education Association (JAE).

It is the policy of KISD not to discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, religion, color, age, or national origin and its education programs, activities, and employment practices.

This news magazine is student-created in an academic lab setting. We regret that errors can and will occur. However, the school staff, newspaper students, publisher, school administration, adviser and photo studios are not liable for errors, missing information, photos or lost material.

Page 11: The Torch // Volume 9 Issue 2

The Best Classroom

The best classroom for learning to drive is inside one of our modern driver training cars. Truth is, over 95% of learning to drive happens behind the wheel. Conveniently learn the road signs, basics and laws online with the industry’s only totally integrated driver training curriculum, then learn to drive in one of our new classrooms. It’s where Texas’ very best certified driving instructors are teaching well-prepared learners to navigate today’s dangerous roadways.

Learn to drive in a car, not in a room.

• This IS NOT a “Parent Taught” course• Disciplined system cannot be bypassed• Successful with all learning styles• No “learning gaps” between online and in-car• Learn when and where you want to• Drive with a SafeWay Instructor after Day 3• State of Texas Certified• Over 5,000 teen drivers recommend it• Grateful parents recommend it• Created by Texans for Texas drivers

• Proven results for over 5,000 drivers• Saves parents 32 trips to the driving school• Fits into your busy schedule• Total course can be completed in one month• SafeWay Certified Instructors online to help• S.A.F.E. Certified• Recommended by SafeWay Instructors• Proven safe and effective• Provides convenience and quality• You can start today!

safewaydriving.com

844.DRIVE SAFE

YEARS

1973-2013

Safe. Convenient. Effective.