Illegal immigration within our borders: Con

Corrina Taylor Staff Writer America was established by immigrants with the intent of making a better life for themselves and their families. America today is one of the most medically and technologically advanced countries in the world. Who would not want to have a chance to prosper in a country as great as ours? However, this opportunity does not give people the right to illegally come to America just because they do not want to have to wait the appropriate amount of time, or cannot meet the qualifications to enter the country. Even in 1921 immigrants were required to provide a passport, visa, and pass a literacy test. Even after the immigrants provided the correct…

CISD Board of Trustees to welcome new members

By Michelle Pitcher Editor-in-Chief The application process for the 2012-13 CISD Board of Trustees has begun. For individuals in the community who are interested in adding their name to the ballot, an informational meeting will be held at the Administration Building  at 6:30 PM on  Jan. 25. Applications for candidacy will be available starting Feb. 4, and the last day to turn in an application is March. If an individual’s application is accepted, his or her name will appear on the ballot in the upcoming election. The winner of the election will join such distinguished persons as President Anthony Hill, Vice President David Apple, Secretary Susie Kemp, Thom Hulme, Bennett Ratliff, Amy Dungan and Cindy Warner.

CISD Middle Schools awarded IBM Grants

By Mary Whitfill Features Editor IBM (International Business Machines) awarded $15,000 in grants to Coppell ISD that will be used to encourage middle school girls’ interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math.) A $10,000 IBM Catalyst Grant will help CISD increase what they call the “girl friendliness” of middle school STEM programs. The grant will be used to purchase equipment to implement a rigorous STEM program that taps into interest of girls and enhance certain math and science classes. The objective of the Catalyst Grant is to provide role models with positive images of females in the fields of science and engineering. In addition, a $5,000 IMB Community Grant will be used to purchase…

Battle against the bell: keeping tardies to a minimum

By Corrina Taylor Staff Writer The music comes to a stop and the students’ hearts quicken as they realize they have only a minute until class starts – now it is a race against time. As they quicken their pace through the halls, they are fast-walking to their class praying they will not be tardy. As the classroom door comes into sight, the late bell rings throughout the halls, signaling the students’ defeat and their tardiness. As part of a large high school, it is likely that most students will become tardy at least once in the course of their four-year stay at CHS. It is to be expected when a student has to journey…

Clubs expose students to new opportunities

By Corrina Taylor Staff Writer If you were to go to the Coppell High school website you would find under student activities a list of all of the student organizations including all the various clubs that are offered Unfortunately it only states the name of the club and the teacher who sponsors it, while not giving the reader a good idea of what the club actually does. It is because of this that I decided that for a week I would attend a different club every day after school, and summarize what they are about. This way it is easier for students to choose what club they want to join, and they have more than…

CISD Schools performing above standard

By Ben Cowlishaw Online Copy Editor CISD Schools are continuously being recognized as excelling past and out performing other public schools in the area. The National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) included five CISD schools, including Coppell High School, on their annual list of Higher Performing Schools. The other schools included were all three middle schools, and Valley Ranch Elementary. The district posted on the CISD website “The presence of schools on the list demonstrates Coppell ISD’s belief that all students are capable of graduating prepared for college and careers as well as their commitment to making it happen.” Schools are selected based on different measures of standardized test scores, including the number of students…

Students weary of school, ready for break

Seth Slover Staff Writer “I am so ready for Thanksgiving break,” Junior Lizzie Bell said. She is by no means the only student who feels this way. As the school year persists, now into the month of November, many students are beginning to “hit a wall” when it comes to school.  Naturally, most students would say that the solution to this problem is the highly anticipated Thanksgiving break.  Thanksgiving break is coming up soon on the Coppell ISD Calendar. “School starts seeming longer and harder the longer we go without a break, so I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving break for that reason, plus I love Thanksgiving as a holiday too,” Junior Courtney Echerd said. With…

District athletic facilities benefit everyone

By Jay Carroll Staff Writer When the school day ends, some students go home, others to tutoring or after school practices, but many go to facilities that schools in Coppell schools keep open after hours. One of these facilities is the Coppell Tennis Center. The Tennis Center is open to the public. There are students and adults playing recreational tennis, and it is home to 25 adult leagues. “Students can come play for free and we have lessons that they have access too as well,” CHS tennis coach Jane Jackson said. The Tennis Center isn’t just for matches as it also provides jobs for students. Students can string and grip sticks or work in the…

ACT scores highlight benefits of alternative exam

By Michelle Pitcher Editor-in-Chief I have been advised, on several occasions, to take the ACT. Many seniors and CHS graduates seem to think that if the SAT is our downfall, the ACT is our saving grace. Based on the recent publication of scores for CISD, they may just be right. Since 2007, the average score for the ACT has risen over six percent in CISD, a dynamic contrast to the static state levels. In addition, 30% more CHS students took the test in 2011 than had in 2010. As word spreads of the widespread success on this exam, more CHS students are looking into this alternative testing option. The main difference between the two tests is…

CISD receives recognition for its FAST finances

By Michelle Pitcher Editor-in-Chief The Texas Comptroller, Susan Combs, has awarded CISD the 2011 Texas Honors Circle Award, an honor given to schools in Texas that provide quality education on a cost-efficient budget. Schools are judged for this award using the Financial Allocation Study for Texas, or FAST. This system was developed two years ago by Texas Legislature and examines the schools that perform well at relatively low costs. CISD is one out of only 4% of school districts in the state to earn a five-star rating. Especially in light of recent layoffs and budget cuts, students and staff have felt the effects of the bleak economic climate. However when we compare our situation (Macs…