The Big Picture

One of the most abundant and affordable resources for family planning, STD testing and information on reproductive health is also one of the most controversial agencies funded by the Texas government. In this past year, Planned Parenthood has come under serious fire, undergoing several rounds of budget cuts both on the state and private levels, and igniting public opinions across the nation.

There are currently 68 Planned Parenthood facilities in Texas, 10 of which are within 20 miles of Coppell. However, this number may see a drastic decrease with the wave of funding cuts coming over the organization. During the last legislative session, the Texas legislature cut funding for family-planning programs by 66 percent, or $73.4 million. The legislative board estimates this change will cause 300,000 women in the state of Texas to lose access to care.

“These cuts are going to affect the family-planning providers who were providing cancer-screening pap smears, breast exams, pelvic exams and testing and treatment for STDs,” Planned Parenthood Director of Public Affairs Kelly Hart said. “The routine gynecological care – that is what the cut funding had previously been paying for.”

Not only were some of the programs affected by this loss in funding, but five North Texas Planned Parenthood centers had to close their doors for good. However, the budget-cut did not isolate Planned Parenthood; every clinic and center that offered family planning had its budget for the program slashed by the same 66 percent, a major blow to smaller agencies.

“Many other healthcare providers are not sure how long they are going to be able to keep their doors open,” Hart said. “Everybody has had their funding slashed. A loss of 66 percent state-wide is a tremendous blow to all agencies that were providing care for patients who can pay little, if anything for their care.”

The effects of this cut will spread farther than just to the pockets of Planned Parenthood’s employees; the entirety of the North Texas area will feel the aftershock.

“The loss of access for so many women across North Texas means more unattended pregnancies, and more children who are going to be born to women who cannot afford to pay for pre-natal care, so Texas taxpayers will be paying for it,” Hart said.

Another crisis came to the agency on Jan. 31 as the Susan G. Komen Foundation announced that it would cease to provide funds to Planned Parenthood’s preventative services. Immediately after this announcement, they provided a brief explanation for their reasoning. A new policy change, they said, now stated they could no longer be in cooperation with any agency under congressional investigation, which is being undertaken to determine whether the government will continue to fund Planned Parenthood’s non-abortion services.

However, after the public voiced its opposition to Komen’s stance, the foundation decided to re-enter in partnership with Planned Parenthood.

“This loss of funding affects high school students and college students who don’t have health insurance and employed women who don’t have health insurance,” Hart said.

The Solution

While it may not seem to be the case among the crowded halls of Coppell High School, many students are struggling with questions about sexual and reproductive health. With the reduced availability of Planned Parenthood’s services, CHS students are forced to find other alternatives for their healthcare and informational needs.

The most extensive collection of resources can be found by simply taking a visit to the school clinic. Upon request, the registered school nurses can provide students with all the information available about sexual and reproductive health. They can also refer students with further inquiries to one of many trusted facilities in the Dallas area.

“I talk with students who have questions about sexual and reproductive health,” CHS nurse Beth Dorn said. “If students say they are worried about Sexually Transmitted Diseases, I refer them to an STD clinic in downtown Dallas. If they are worried about being pregnant, there is a clinic in Lewisville that offers free pregnancy testing.”

While many of these care facilities offer similar services to Planned Parenthood, few offer the same variety with the same level of availability.

“North Dallas Shared Ministries has a women’s clinic, but it offers breast exams and pap smears and pregnancy tests,” volunteer Margaret Blackmon said. “We don’t offer family planning.”

Although the information provided by the school clinic is abundant and cost-free, students rarely think to utilize the health services offered on campus.

“I do not get asked these types of questions frequently, but on average, throughout the school year, I will get several questions about STDs,” Dorn said. “Only three or four times per year do I get people asking about pregnancy.”

When looking for where to voice their concerns, many CHS students fear a lack of confidentiality. Many believe Planned Parenthood is the only facility available where they can receive treatment without their parents’ knowledge; however, this is a common misconception.

“We cannot guarantee confidential care for minors,” Hart said. “A lot of it depends on the funding source. In the majority of cases, the permission of a parent will most likely be required. We encourage our patients to involve a parent anyway. And if there is a special situation, I would advise a minor to call one of our health centers to talk with one of our staff.”

Community Opinions

While some see Planned Parenthood’s dwindling funding sources as a cause for alarm, others stand by those who are withdrawing their support of the organization.

Due to their provision of abortion services, Planned Parenthood has often come under fire from religious and community organizations. However, the legality of abortion has not been in question since the Supreme Court deemed the practice constitutional during certain stages of the pregnancy in 1973 in the case of Roe v Wade. Despite this precedent, some maintain strong positions of moral opposition.

Jane Stonem*, a 2008 CHS graduate, became pregnant her senior year of high school. Even through her personal struggles, she has not wavered in her opposition to Planned Parenthood’s operation. It was her personal experience that the organization does not offer adequate information on the effects of abortion and contraception.

“Teenagers don’t think past Friday night, and they don’t understand consequences – it’s just how their brains work,” Stonem said. “So why is it OK for them to walk into a clinic and make a life-changing decision on a whim?”

Stonem, who went to a health center in Flower Mound for her pre-natal care, agrees that the availability of alternatives to Planned Parenthood offsets the loss of funding for its programs.

“There are plenty of other places for girls to go for private women’s care,” Stonem said. “The school nurse is the first option; they offer everything Planned Parenthood has to offer except birth control and abortions. For a more in-depth women’s check-up, there are women’s health care clinics everywhere. Family doctors can prescribe birth control as well.”

*name has been changed

On a warm summer day, in Fayetteville, Ark., John Crook started a collection of bottles that he would hang on to for a very long time.

Coppell High School counselor John Crook displays some of his bottles from his collection in his office. Photo by Rowan Khazendar.

Crook, now a Coppell High School counselor, has a large collection of bottles that he collected in Arkansas.

“I was about 18 years old, when my friend, Steve Friend, and I cleaned out an old Coca-Cola bottling warehouse and it was filled with old pop bottles,” Crook said.

Friend was Crook’s best man at his wedding, but they have not talked in about 15 years.

He has four cases of 24 bottles which adds up to a total of 96 bottles that are stored up in his house, all from which he collected at the Coca-Cola bottling. His collection is very impressive, and he even has one of the first Coca-Cola bottles ever made, along with many other sodas, which include Dr Pepper, Nu Grape, Coca-Cola and more.

Crook has stored his collection in the same wooden case since he discovered the bottles in the warehouse.

Nu Grape is a old grape soda similar to a Fanta drink today. However, Nu Grape is no longer being bottled.

“Nu Grape was my favorite drink growing up,” Crook said “It was the best grape taste around, and that is why my Nu Grape bottles are my favorite bottles.”

Crook has never collected or bought any other old bottles since that summer day in Arkansas.

“It was a one-time summer thing, my friend got a job to clean out a warehouse and got me to help him out,” Crook said. “When we would come across a cool pop bottle we would put it to the side and kept them all at the end.”

Crook has moved the bottles to about four to five different houses, and each time the bottles have been either in the basement or below the floorboards because his wife will not allow him to have the bottles inside.

“They have remained in the basements below the house because I don’t think it would go very well with the décor,” John’s wife, Terri Crook, said. “They are kind of dusty and dirty.”

Coppell High School counselor John Crook places some of his bottles from his collection on display in his office. Photo by Rowan Khazendar.

These bottles are not very close to his CHS office; they are still in Little Rock, Ark. Almost every weekend, he and his wife travel to their home in Little Rock.

Crook is saving the bottles soone day he can maybe sell them and get some money off of them. There are currently many bottles of Nu Grape (which Crook has 7) that are being sold on eBay ranging from $8-$25. If he were to sell all seven of those bottles at that price, his profit could range from $56-$175.

Old Dr Pepper bottles are being sold from $5-$15, and old Coca-Cola bottles are being sold from $4-$24, according to eBay.

Even though the bottles are going for a decent amount of money, John’s wife will not help sell or even touch the bottles until they are worth more.

“I won’t touch them until they are worth $1,500, then I will help him sell the bottles,” Terri said.

While the bottles are selling for a good amount of money, they are not selling for enough money for John to accomplish his goal of retiring in a nice house somewhere.

“I am hoping to sell all the bottles to help with my retirement, so I can retire on a Riviera somewhere,” John said.

Sophomore Lauren Cullison helps Cotillion students improve their dancing and etiquette. Photo by Jodie Woodwar

Staff Writer

Every Friday in January and February, middle school students put on their best attire, dancing shoes and white gloves to attend the Jon D. Williams Cotillion in Coppell. Through the program, pre-teens learn the importance of proper manners and the skills needed to be successful as an adult.

Founded in 1949 by Jon and Vivian Williams, the JDW Cotillion would eventually impact over 10,000 young people nationwide. The Williams, both of who were professional ballroom dancers, saw the importance of proper etiquette in youth. Now there are over 47 different divisions of Cotillion across the country that annually holds classes.

Brought to Coppell in 1997 by Kit Whitehill, the Coppell division of the JDW Cotillion regularly serves 365 participants in grades sixth through eighth.

“We moved to Coppell from Dallas in 1993, and my oldest child was going into third grade,” Whitehill said. “We kept in contact with his friends in Dallas, and many of them started doing Jon D. Williams Cotillion in fifth grade. The program sounded great, and our friends spoke very highly of it. I considered driving my children into Dallas to attend, but felt it would be a wonderful program to have in Coppell.”

Whitehill now works at Coppell Middle School East as the In School Suspension Supervisor. After enrolling all three of her sons, who have all graduated from Coppell High School, Whitehill found the program to be extremely beneficial.

“Knowing how to make a positive first impression, having good manners and treating others with respect are necessary skills in order to be a successful adult,” Whitehill said.

One of the lessons taught by the JDW Cotillion is the importance of first impressions and manners in everyday society. With texting and social networking becoming more popular, the importance of manners is as crucial as ever.

“We never have a second chance to make a first impression,” Whitehill said. “Teaching these skills in a safe and fun environment during the pre-teen years gives students the opportunity to become confident and comfortable in social situations.”

The program, which focuses on teaching the participants the importance of proper etiquette as well as basic ballroom dancing, has impacted hundreds of students since it started. The six-week course teaches various styles of ballroom dancing including the tango, foxtrot, salsa and jitterbug. The importance of table etiquette and how to make a good first impression is also enforced.

Some of the cotillion participants choose to take their experience even further. After completing three years of the program, students have the opportunity to become student assistances. Coppell High School sophomore Lauren Cullison is currently serving her second year as an assistant.

“Being an assistant for cotillion is very rewarding,” Cullison said. “It is a great experience because we get great college recommendations and also get to meet a lot of important people.”

Cullison, along with a group of six other student assistants, works during both the sixth grade session as well as the seventh and eighth grade session. The assistants primarily demonstrate the dances and help the students if they have questions regarding footwork.

“It is really interesting to watch the kids and how they react to an unfamiliar setting,” Cullison said. “When the kids are shy, I can just say one little thing like ‘I think your dress is really pretty’ and they then just brighten up and have a boost of confidence. I think that that is one of the biggest things that Cotillion does for the kids; it helps with their self confidence and security around others.

One of the many parents to have sent their children through the Cotillion is Lisa Armstrong. Her son Luke is currently participating in the program as a seventh grader at Coppell Middle School East, and her daughter completed the program several years ago.

“It (Cotillion) has allowed him to meet new people, start conversations and reconnect with people,” Armstrong said. “I am also glad he is learning how to dance. After the end of the six weeks of cotillion, he starts to become comfortable with starting conversations with the opposite sex… I would recommend the program to any parent.”

It is that time of year again: boxes of assorted chocolates, red roses, oversized teddy bears and excessive pink and red cutout hearts. February is upon us, and that means preparation for Valentine’s Day for many students at Coppell High School.

The difference between a boy’s perspective and a girl’s of this vibrant holiday is quite drastic. Take a high school boy for example and compare his excitement for the upcoming festivities, then compare them to the happiness and heartfelt love of a girl. You are bound to see just how significant Valentine’s Day is to the typical girl.

From the idea of the perfect gift to the true meaning of Valentine’s Day, the opinions and views vary for each gender.

I asked two boys and two girls the same list of six questions all relating to specific details of Valentine’s Day. The responses I received were fairly humorous, and right from the start it was clear that girls take Valentine’s Day far more seriously than boys.

What is Valentine’s Day?

“Valentine’s day is a day that is named after St. Valentine. It is an annual day set aside to celebrated and express one’s love for another.”

- Senior Alycia Ovalle

“Valentine’s Day is a holiday where you show your affection and love for all of your friends and family members through cards and giving gifts.”

- Freshman Madison Badura

“Valentine’s is a tragic day in which males who are in a relationship are forced to put forth effort and go above and beyond to show their significant other that they do indeed care about them, as if they already do not show it enough by paying for all their things.”

- Senior Jake Martinez

“It’s a day when guys have to spend a lot of money, be affectionate and show emotion towards girls. Girls use the holiday as an excuse for guys to treat them nicely.”

- Sophomore Bart Schulz

What is the best part of Valentines Day?

“ On this day, you get to spend the whole day with whoever it is you truly care about and all of the fun presents you get to exchange like the chocolates and heart candies.”

- Sophomore Sydney Smith

“The best part is being able to be affectionate towards somebody and the idea of knowing that someone loves you. It is almost like Christmas in the way that you receive gifts, but different with the focus on love and relationships.”

- Junior Rebecca Jamerson

“The best part about Valentine’s Day is those boxes of assorted chocolates that contain every kind of chocolate imaginable. The best part is biting into each one and figuring out which kind each one is.”

- Senior Jake Williams

Is Valentines Day too commercialized?

“I don’t think that Valentine’s Day is just a way to make money because it is another day besides a birthday or Christmas that is designated to showing how much someone means to you.”

- Senior Allison Draper

“I don’t believe this. I think it is a holiday to show your affection towards loved ones. I do think that Hallmark makes a lot of money off of cards and other gifts, but I think the sole purpose is to demonstrate love.”

- Freshman Madison Badura

“It didn’t start out as one, but has transformed into one over time, as people are expected to go out and do extravagant things/spend a lot of money.”

- Senior Jake Martinez

“I would say Valentine’s Day is 100 percent about the ladies. I don’t necessarily believe that its all about the money making process.”

- Sophomore Bryan Waters

While girls see Valentine’s Day as a day to show love and affection, boys see it as one that empties their pockets. But do not worry, boys. All of the pink and red festive decorations that line the halls and classrooms will soon be gone. The more you play along, the happier your female friends will be.

The Coppell High school class of 2011 had one semester of college under their belt, and now they are helping the class of 2012 with their questions about the future.

Q. What is the best way to find a roommate?
It is different for everyone. I ended up rooming with a friend from high school, and I have loved it. It has been nice to have someone I know with me all year. I also know a lot of people who did room-surf, www.roomsurf.com. It’s a website that helps you find a roommate who will be compatible with you based on your personality, interests and habits. From what I know, it turned out really well for a lot of people.
-Hannah Yates, Texas A&M

Q. What is the workload like compared to High School AP and dual credit classes?
The workload in college is a lot more reading-based and doing assignments based on those readings. In AP, it occasionally involves some reading, but there is a lot more in college. I only took a couple of classes through dual credit in high school, but from what I have heard, there was not a lot of work in those classes. The college classes I have taken as a freshmen have had more work.
-Benjamin Osiecki, University of Georgia

Q. What are the benefits of being a part of the Greek programs in college?
Being a part of the Greek system has helped me get really involved on campus and find many people with similar interests through rushing and my sorority. I had people to hang out, study, and create relationships with almost instantly. It has allowed me to meet hundreds of new people, and it has also made the University of Texas campus feel smaller. Going Greek was definitely the best decision I have made in college.
-Katie Perdue, University of Texas

Q. What are benefits of being a part of college athletics?
We build a strong group of friends through the sense of community being on a team provides. We have a solid support group through our teammates, coaches, advisors, and the athletic staff. It keeps us focused on what is important because we have something that holds us accountable. We have tutors and advisors who are always there to help and keep us on track with our studies and to help us reach our potential academically as well as athletically. Being an athlete at a school like Duke is amazing because the entire school supports you; your classmates, friends, professors, and faculty all care about how you are doing. It also puts you in a leadership role on campus so teams can support certain causes, participate in volunteer programs and really make a positive impact.
-Elizabeth Kerpon, Duke

Q. How do you have to manage your time differently than when you were in high school?
In high school, I usually put things off until the last minute. Even though I have done that in college, it hasn’t been nearly as easy. But for the most part I spend about a fourth of the day studying and going to class, and to keep me from going stir-crazy I keep myself busy by running errands, working out, going out to eat and, most importantly, sleeping. Time management is important to make sure you get everything done, because there is no one telling you what you need to do and when to do it.
-Michael Fernandez, St. Edwards University

Q. What is the hardest part of living on your own in college?
The hardest part of living on your own is actually eating good food. Dorm food is gross, and it is hard to leave good home-cooked meals. When I came to college, I did not think eating was going to be my biggest adjustment, but making sure I am eating healthy food and trying to avoid dorm food has been hard.
-Melissa Welty, Texas A&M

Q. What are some of the biggest adjustments you had to make when you went to college?
The biggest adjustment I have had to make is learning how to really manage my time because there are so many things to do in Austin, and with the added responsibility of making your own food and doing laundry, it is difficult to find time to get your homework and studying done. I have also had to become more independent and not rely on others’ help, for example getting up on time for classes. In high school, I always had my parents to wake me, schedule any appointments I need and make sure I got there on time. Now I have to do all that on my own.
-Jake Luttmer, University of Texas

Q. What are some of the biggest misconceptions about going to college?
The biggest misconception about college is that the classwork in college is more difficult. The actual classwork is about the same level of difficulty as high school. The most challenging thing is to prioritize and make sure everything gets done. Also, the professors do not give any review sheets or that many assignments. You are expected to learn the material on your own. You should spend the same time out of class going over the content as you do in class.
-Danielle Herubin, University of Alabama

Q. What is the sorority/fraternity rush process like?
Many people believe that rushing can be scary, but I would not call the process scary – it is more intimidating. I believe if you put your best foot forward and have a positive attitude, it can be a very beneficial and exciting experience for freshmen going into college.
-Ellie Rose, University of Oklahoma

The art of teaching is often underestimated. Teachers hold a responsibility greater than anyone can imagine; they are responsible for educating and preparing the leaders of the future. It is a task that requires passion and devotion.

Coppell Middle School North Principal Leanne Dorhout has taken this task to a whole new level.

A few months ago Dorhout received her doctorate in Educational Leadership, Policies Study and Superintendence Certification from Tarleton State.

Dorhout originally intended to go into the field of Political Science and was even at one point a Theater and Poetry major. After this, she went into the field of English and Secondary Education. Dorhout had always enjoyed teaching and after trying out a few different roads, she opted to take the road she felt would be the most fulfilling and would have the greatest impact not only on her, but on others in her life.

Growing up in a small town in Iowa, Dorhout was a well-rounded high school student. She was a part of the choir and theater programs, and played the violin in the orchestra. She was a part of the volleyball and basketball teams and she was in the student council and participated in leadership groups and church youth groups.

“When I was in high school I either wanted to be the Secretary of Education for the U.S. Department of Education or I wanted to be an actress,” Dorhout said. “Where I got the idea to be the Secretary of Education for the U.S. Department of Education I couldn’t necessarily tell you, but that’s what I wanted to do.”

While she has not yet accomplished that particular goal, Dorhout has managed to accomplish a lot in her 12 years in education. She started her undergraduate at Drake University and she graduated from Central College in Iowa. She furthered her education at the University of North Texas for her Masters before receiving her doctorate from Charleston State. Dorhout has also had a lot of hands-on experiences in the classroom.

Coppell Middle School North Principal Leanne Dorhout received her doctorate in Educational Leadership, Policies Study and Superintendence Certification from Tarleton State. Photo by Brian Hwu.

“I started as a middle school English teacher, then was a high school English teacher in Grapevine-Colleyville,” Dorhout said. “I was the assistant principal in Southlake for four years, and I was also the associate principal at the high school, and now I am here [at North].”

CHS assistant principal Sean Bagley worked with Dorhout while she was at the high school.

“[At the high school] we have six assistant principals and one associate principal,” Bagley said. “The ranking goes principal, associate principal, then assistant principals. Dr. Dorhout was in charge of curriculum and dealing with the teachers’ issues, and she had a part in disciplining students as well. She is a very educated, well spoken lady and she has a great plan for her life that revolves around education.”

CMS North assistant principal Ryan Lam says Dorhout has brought positive changes to the school.

“Dr. Dorhout has really been a pleasure to work with,” Lam said. “She embraces changes and innovation, and with the new FLEX schedule and all the new classes we have here at North, the students have really been enjoying it and she has done a great job bringing it all together.”

Dorhout says she enjoys everything about teaching, even the challenges. She embraces every chance she gets to make an impact in the world of education.

“The most rewarding part of teaching is the opportunity and the people you get to work with,” Dorhout said. “Knowing you have the opportunity to make a positive impact for others to see what they can do, to see the opportunities that they can have in life as well; that is a great thing to be able to show somebody else.”

Dorhout credits her success in the teaching field to more than just going to school and learning lessons.

“You have a very important responsibility when you take [teaching] on,” Dorhout said. “You have a very important role you are taking by agreeing to do something. You have an impact that goes beyond anything you could actually begin to realize when you take into account the number of students you impact in all your years of service.  You need to fully understand how important what you are doing is.”

Dorhout says her inspiration for teaching does not come from one particular teacher, but from all the great teachers she had growing up.

“I had multiple teachers who inspired me,” Dorhout said. “I was very fortunate. I had innovative teachers that saw into the future of things that we are still trying to grasp and implement.”

But success never comes without failure, and this is something Dorhout understands.

“Sometimes if something does not go right you need to congratulate yourself,” Dorhout said. “It means you tried something. When something goes wrong, great. Now figure out how to make it even better, because I bet there are elements of it that worked out really well.”

Dorhout strives to leave an impression on as many students as she can.

“I don’t know if teachers have a list of what you are supposed to do, but I can tell you that everyday you do walk into work with the understanding of excitement and anticipation,” Dorhout said. “Anticipation of what could occur, what may happen and it is that idea that this could be really cool and that awesome stuff could happen.”

Some people dedicate their lives to a sport, to music, to art. Dorhout has dedicated herself to education and teaching, and she has come a great distance, with even more to be accomplished down the road.

All of the students in Coppell High School are working toward one common goal: graduation day. On this day, the chains of high school will be lifted off students’ shoulders, and they will begin the first days of the rest of their lives.

The path that takes them there is a road filled with twists, turns and choices. But before they get there, they have to think ahead to the next few years.

The world has become a very competitive place in regards to the education system, and the job market is getting harder to succeed in without a college degree. It is also getting harder and harder to pay for that college degree. Students tend to commence a search for the most scholarships and alternative opportunities of obtaining a degree.

What most students forget to consider is the convenience of an inexpensive college experience available locally. North Lake College has a chain of local facilities including the North Campus, located in Coppell. While the North campus is known for the location of Dual Credit with Coppell ISD, there are three other campuses including the South Campus, the West Campus and the Central Campus.

North Lake College strives to provide an education conveniently to those in the Dallas area. The multitude of campuses offers a variety of classes for those enrolled. There are many options available to make classes at North Lake the perfect choice for the learner.

Senior's Ashley Liu and Melissa Trevino utilize the North Campus to knock out as many college credits as possible before they leave for college. Photo by Jack Ficklen.

Arthur James serves as the director for both the North and South campuses of North Lake College and is in the midst of his 11th year working at North Lake. As an alum of the Dual Credit program at El Centro College, which helped him graduate from the University of North Texas in a little over three years, he is determined to make students’ experience at North Lake the best it can be.

“The benefit of any community college is access,” James said. ”That is the purpose of which North Lake and CISD built the North campus – so that the students could have access to the quality education that we provide at North Lake College. It’s a big benefit to the community where you’ve got a smaller class than you would generally have for your major universities, but at the same time, those courses that we offer are going to transfer over to those major universities and it is the first step for a lot of students that have aspirations to go onto higher education.”

Statistics from Scholarships.com show the main reasons kids do not go to college are money issues, high school grades and not knowing what they want to do with their life. In future years, the North Campus is hoping to further increase the numbers of students with a college education as well as its numbers of enrollment by enhancing the list of classes offered. James thinks many things are possible with this program in the years to come.

“We have already seen an increase in our Dual Credit enrollment,” James said. “One of the things that we are looking to do is increase more of that by giving the students more options to take when they’re at the North campus. For the next 10 years or so, I would like to see North Lake continue to grow to where we are able to build. We have over 30 acres just on the North campus side alone, so we definitely have room for expansion and improvement. The sky really is the limit.”

Expanding the campus could be one of the first steps to increase the size of North Lake and make it better known. As it continues to grow, it does not cease to be beneficial to students in the Dallas area.

CHS senior Lauren VerDuin is a student in the Dual Credit system with North Lake. She believes the system to be highly beneficial toward her future at college.

“A lot of kids are having trouble these days graduating in four years,” VerDuin said. “Kids are taking time graduating in five years because they don’t have enough time and money to graduate in four years so they have to extend college. The Dual Credit program allows kids to get started early and get those basic credits out of the way so that they can really focus on their major.”

VerDuin speaks highly of the program and recommends it to everyone for not only the benefits of college credit during high school, but also for experience and responsibilities of college classes.

“The Dual Credit program at the North campus just gets kids out there. A lot of kids realize that college is not this big scary thing,” VerDuin said. “Dual Credit has the opportunity to show kids what college really is and get them exposed to that atmosphere. It definitely has the power to influence kids in their decision to go to college”.

World History teacher Brian Rohloff is a CHS graduate and attended the University of North Texas. He knows much about the benefits of a local college experience.

“Being close to family is really important to keep you comfortable and in your setting, it allowing you to focus more on the task at hand,” Rohloff said. “With that comfort, you’ll be able to focus better on your studies. It is wildly beneficial to have a community college in Coppell for those who may not have the money to go straight into a big university and to able to be close to home and friends, and be comfortable in the college setting.”

By John Loop and Kasey Tucker

As exam week creeps ever closer, moans and groans begin resonating from the crowded halls of Coppell High School. Students begin cramming the mathematical formulas and Spanish vocabulary into their brains to make sure they are adequately prepared for the big tests.

In high schools everywhere, teachers are beginning to challenge their students more and more to think critically as well as problem solve. One way that has commonly been used is the creation of a tangible product(s) for the mid-term and end-of year exams. This in turn placates stressing teachers with the grading process, and more opportunity for students to get their creative juices flowing.

Some students still prefer the multiple choice tests distributed by each subject’s department.

“I prefer to take the multiple choice test because it is much easier to study for,” senior Garrett Nickols said.

Even though some prefer the regurgitation of simple facts on paper, there are others who see the value of the different approach to exams.

“Teachers are choosing to do it this way because they want their students to have absorbed the information throughout the semester, so they will know the material without seeing multiple choice answers to refresh their memories,” sophomore Haley Smith acknowledged.

With the projects that some teachers are beginning to use, students are forced out of their comfort zone, causing them to have to think critically and apply the entire semester’s skillset.

Academy Chemistry teacher Sally Urquhart is asking her students to create a “review game” to help them study for the exam.

“Ironically, what better way is there to study than to make the game, have all of the students play it, than look at the game, from a grading perspective, as the exam itself,” Urquhart stated.

Junior Matt Freese is experiencing this new type of exam firsthand in his engineering class.

“We are creating an eco-friendly model of a house on the computer and doing a full write-up on the features and inner workings of it,” Freese said.

Though many faculty members have not conformed to the idea of non-department testing, there is still a possibility of upward trend towards more creative assessments.

“You’re starting to see a trend in an application type of exam,” assistant principal Sean Bagley said, “As things start to change, the tests themselves might begin to move further away from a 100 to 200 question multiple choice exam to creating a product or a project.”

Among the hardest exams to study for are math and science because of students needing to recall every tiny piece of knowledge dating to the beginning of the school year.

“Math and Science are the hardest, in my opinion, because there’s a lot of little stuff you have to know and remember from the beginning of the year as well,” Freese said.

Both students and faculty agree that the hardest subject to excel in is foreign language.

“I think foreign language exams are the hardest, just because all of the grammar and vocabulary you have to practically memorize,” Nickols stated, ”Unless you go to tutoring, then you don’t get the study time with your teacher outside of class trying to figure out all the parts of the language itself that you don’t quite understand.”

The foreign language tests are definitely a force to be reckoned with, especially because of the oral component.

“There is a speaking part associated with all of the languages, so there is something that is not using pen and paper,” Bagley said.

Exams may be the hardest for freshmen, who may have no idea what high school exams bring to the table.

For all of those who need some guidance on preparing and taking the exams, Nickols offers his insight based on his previous midterm experience.

“Once you get your reviews from each of your classes, start studying immediately,” Nickols said, “that way you can get as much of a head start as you can.”

By Caroline Carter & Madison Weaver

Students brought in canned foods to their forth period classes for the Super Bowl of Caring can drive this week. Photo by Trevor Stiff.

Though many people participate in community service just to meet mandatory service hour requirements, some have a deeper reason for giving up hours in their day to serve others. At the North Texas Food Bank, over 500 volunteers come every week to show others how much they care.

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1982. By providing and distributing about 90,000 nutritious meals a day, the NTFB has greatly impacted the seniors, adults and children of 13 North Texas counties. The NTFB raised about $10 million during the holiday season for families in need.

“This whole year is about rethinking hunger; we want to make these people healthier and stronger,” Communications and Public Affairs coordinator Diana Alvarez said. “We are focusing on not only providing more food, but making sure the food that we are providing is as healthy as it can be.”

However, healthier meals are more expensive than the typical canned goods. One of the more expensive programs the NTFB created is Food 4 Kids, a program that aims to provide food for elementary school children who would not have food available on the weekends. Approximately 8,250 children received food every weekend during the last school year.

“We fill these backpacks with food, and they are given to kids every week,” Alvarez said. “The food is meant to get them through the weekend; they are kids that probably would not eat anything during the weekend because they are so dependent on the reduced lunches at school. Every bag costs us about $5, and that is because we just want to try and make the food as healthy as possible.”

With the economic issues that have crossed America, more new faces have been brought to the doors of the NTFB, and all have been accepted. Since 2008, the NTFB has doubled the number of meals they have provided. At the same time, the NTFB has begun to obtain 50 percent more fresh produce as opposed to canned goods.

“Our focus is on healthier foods, but we accept any donation,” Alvarez said. “We received a lot of donations through the holiday season, which is also when we receive most of our volunteers because everyone is in the spirit of giving. However, our need for more volunteers never goes away.”

Due to the extensive amount of food the NTFB distributes, thousands of volunteers are needed to organize and load the food into boxes to be shipped out to agencies across the area. Volunteer Coordinator of the NTFB, Sophia Sindalovsky, works to organize the volunteers to make sure there are enough volunteers to successfully stock boxes to go to the various agencies.

“We need all the assistance we can get,” Sindalovsky said. “Because we have so many agencies that we distribute to, we have to get the food packaged and sent out. Hunger never stops and there is always a constant need for the work we do.”

On Saturday, about 50 volunteers gathered at the warehouse ready to work. Mike Klein of Garland volunteered along with his daughter and son. Klein organized boxes for the Family Food program, which distributes a week’s worth of food to families in need.

“This is our third time to volunteer,” Klein said. “We originally started because my son needed some Boy Scout service hours. He has already fulfilled those but we feel the need to keep coming back. [Volunteering] is very fulfilling as it satisfies a part of the soul that I wasn’t aware was missing.”

This is typically common with many volunteers. Most students will have to gain service hours at some point in their high school education, but even after the hours are completed, the volunteers tend to return, as the experience is very unique.

Shelley Embry of Dallas from the Volunteer Center of North Texas also volunteered on Saturday along with other members who regularly volunteer at the NTFB.

“Nothing is greater than volunteering,” Embry said. “It takes the focus off of yourself and helps you look at others in need. It gives you a since of fulfillment at the end of the day because you made a difference.”

As the NTFB only staffs a small number of full time employees to organize and box the food, it is essential that there be plenty of volunteers at all times. Roy Ellis, one of the full time workers at the warehouse, sees the impact that the volunteers make every week when people come in to receive their meals as well as the experiences the volunteers have.

“It is a real joy to see the people’s faces while they are helping out others,” Ellis said. “It is very exciting to see that they enjoy what they are doing.”