Second annual PSA expo to be held tomorrow

By Christina Burke Staff Writer Tomorrow, the Public Services Academy (PSA) at Coppell High School will be hosting their second annual health and education expo open to the public. In this expo, the freshman and sophomores of PSA will be presenting some of their work and service projects from this school year. Guest speakers include Tracey Yukich, Season 8 winner of the television show The Biggest Loser and Todd Whitthorne from the Cooper Aerobics Center. Speakers will be covering topics for the lecture series: “A New Year, A Better You”. Topics will include tips for healthier eating and college planning. Other activities include free adult health screening provided by Baylor Medical Center of Irving, a petting zoo,…

EMAC, other Academies recruit students for upcoming school year

By Caroline Carter Staff Writer With the first semester of the 2011 school year coming to an end, the Coppell High School Academies began the process of trying to recruit fellow students for the upcoming school year. Though scheduling for the 2011-2012 school year does not begin until the spring, Academy students hope to recruit freshmen, sophomores and juniors. EMAC Academy sophomore Emma Eells was one of the students that visited history classes to promote the learning experience that the Academies have to offer. “We are basically trying to inform students that are already at CHS about the benefits of joining EMAC,” Eells said. “We just spent about five minutes in each class giving out…

Academy website up and running

By Annie Wen Staff Writer With a deadline approaching, sophomore Sydney Williams knows she must get her interviews done and her story posted online. Williams is not a member of The Sidekick or KCBY but a student in EMAC’s Advanced Reporting elective course. The Advanced Reporting class provides EMAC sophomores with hands-on experience as they serve as true reporters of Academy news. “There’s always something to write about,” Williams said. “After I have an idea of what to write I do my interviews and I make a draft. Then the other writers and [teacher Chase Wofford] edit the story and once the story has been edited it gets posted on the website.” Students in the…

PSA awards Springer title of Hometown Hero

By Mary Whitfill Features Editor Everyone knows someone who has made an impact on the world around them. From motivational stories to heart warming work in the community, those who strive to make a difference in Coppell are now being recognized. The Coppell High School Public Service Academy (PSA) is wrapping up the second year of the Hometown Hero project, devoted to giving recognition to residents who have had a positive community effect. This year’s Hero, Coppell Middle School East Principal Laura Springer, was announced at the Coppell game against Justin Northwest on Friday. PSA announced Hometown Hero nominees two weeks ago, and voting was open to students, parents and other communities until Thursday. Springer…

Standing Side by Side

By: Chris Cummins Staff Writer There are two schools of thought regarding the Oscars. If a film that embodies classical values, numbers among its characters a hero set against enormous personal or physical obstacles, and contains a rousing, optimistic finish, it is viewed as a “classic” film. If it wins the Best Picture Award, then the Academy is viewed as picking a classic film, and it generally assumed that the older members deemed it so. If a film is not composed of the above elements, and is sufficiently well directed, edgy, and controversial, then it is viewed as a “young and hip” film. This year, the battle for Best Picture was between The King’s Speech,…

Irving students have a “blast” at Science Night

Addy Buigas-Lopez Staff Writer Ready, Set, Teach! and Public Service Academy students perform “chemical poppers” at Irving Lee Elementary’s Science Night. Photo courtesy of Brenda Brinkman. Think back to when you were in elementary school. Do you remember those special days when a guest would come in to show you something that seemed far more interesting than what your teacher had to say? Do you remember taking the things you made and learned home to impress your parents with? Do you remember those lab days when science class had experiments that could easily make Bill Nye jealous? Not many classes get the same academic experiences as students in Coppell. However, thanks to Ready, Set, Teach!…

CHS welcomes PSA academy

Jane Kim Staff Writer It can be an overwhelming experience to be one of 2,700 students at CHS and to feel like a small speck in a large crowd. But the establishment of the three new academies at CHS—essentially small schools within a school—is designed to further provide opportunities and experiences for the students enrolled in them. The idea first emerged in October 2006 and then grew into a plan of action in the spring of 2007.  Starting in 2010, incoming freshman and select groups of sophomores would serve as the ‘guinea pigs’ to this brand-new education plan. “I think every new program has got its growing pains,” said Public Service Academy (PSA) team lead…

STEM Academy launches at CHS

Zeb White Assistant Business Manager, Staff Writer Engineering, simply put, is using math and science to turn ideas into reality. That’s the foundation for Coppell High School’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Academy, which aims to teach students about engineering with hands-on learning and relevant projects. “I joined STEM because I wanted to see how engineering works,” freshman Clayton Howeth said. “I wanted to get a feel of what real engineering is like and how I could use it in high school and college and in future careers.” Being in an Academy like STEM gives students the opportunity to form relationships with students who have common interests—in this case, engineering. “Since I’m in STEM,…

Early weeks of EMAC budding with talent

Madison Ford Staff Writer To hold a leadership position is an accomplishment many wish to achieve. When the goal is attained, the rewards and responsibilities are universally met with excitement and optimism. The officers of Coppell High School’s EMAC academy have just begun their voyage into all that comprises being a leader of their peers. The academy system is new to Coppell High School, and with its newness comes a whole new way of structuring the students’ learning environment. Many students’ reason for becoming involved was tied to the academy’s determination to approach learning differently and establish a small learning community. EMAC Academy is getting students excited about their education by implementing a council of…

CHS to introduce Career Academies for incoming freshmen

By Daphne Chen Starting with the Class of 2015, CHS will be introducing Career Academies in order to encourage freshmen who already have an interest in a certain career. The three academies are the Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Academy headed by science teacher Mike Yakubovsky, the Public Services Academy headed by science teacher Brenda Brinkman and the Emerging Media and Communications Academy (EMAC) headed by KCBY-TV director Irma Kennedy. This new model is part of the Strategic Planning process that began in October 2006 as part of an effort to create smaller learning communities within CHS. “We realized that you can’t just motivate kids,” CISD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Turner said at a Jan….