A big problem at CHS is attendance issues; excused and unexcused absences and truancy are repeating problems in high schools as large as Coppell. According to an article in the New York Times, 30 percent of students miss a month of school every year.

This problem is mirrored in Coppell. Since there is no single cure for absences, Coppell has taken a different direction. Coppell offers students the opportunity to make up their attendance issues. If a student has an issue with their attendance it is highly recommended that they talk to their Assistant Principal and see if it can be sorted out.

The attendance committee will meet on Jan 4th, and students will have this week to talk to their AP about appealing to the committee. It is better to sort out attendance problems now instead of waiting until you are standing in front of a judge at truancy court.

Ben Cowlishaw and his father Tim enjoy a Cubs game at Wrigley field in Chicago. Tim is a constant role model for Ben's continuing endeavors in journalism.

This is the time in students’ lives when we begin to discover our independence. We explore what inspires and intrigues us as we get closer to leaving our parents’ massive influence. It is an outdated cliché to continue the “family business”, but as most try as hard as they can to exploit the differences between them and their parents, I’ve realized that following in my father’s footsteps might be where I belong.

Instead of dreading the thought of “turning into my parents,” I have found myself running headfirst into my father’s wake. My father, Tim Cowlishaw, a well respected journalist of The Dallas Morning News and nine year panelist on ESPN’s “Around the Horn,” would be an honor to follow in his career and I feel lucky to have grown up immersed in his industry.

My relatively recent jaunt into journalism is truly more of a personal discovery, rather than one pushed on me or greatly emphasized by my father while growing up. I never thought I wanted to do what he did. Hearing him complain about deadlines in the middle of the night and endless travel nightmares turned me away from ever doing what he does, or so I thought.

My sophomore year in journalism class, I discovered during a blogging assignment how effective an outlet writing is for ideas and opinions. Did anybody read my review of the new Explosions In the Sky album? Probably not. But the feeling of not having to hold back what was on my mind about a topic I cared about, letting it be known to anyone who wanted, couldn’t be matched. I was sold on journalism.

To be following my father into journalism is in many ways overwhelming. As a journalist, you have to stand by what you write, what you report and what you believe. In an innumerable number of cases, my dad has had to stand by his writing, as his opinion on issues in DFW and nationwide professional sports are often publically contested and debated. I have to learn to be able to stand by what I say, take responsibility for its ramifications and believe I am right in doing so, and luckily I have an irreplaceable role model.

I have talked with my father a lot about journalism – what it was when he started, where it is now, where it is going – and we have both had to face the fact that journalism is changing rapidly. Newspapers are on the decline, as the 24-hour news cycle has been replaced with virtual instantaneity.

What does that mean for the future in the field for someone like me? It’s hard to say, because nobody knows what journalism will be in years to come. Journalism wouldn’t by any means be a “safe” career path to travel down, but it will always be around in one form or another. He and I have discussed on multiple occasions whether journalism is really a solid option for me to pursue. He’d love nothing more than to see me follow in his footsteps, but when my generation is running the world, the probability of journalism resembling what it is today is slim; while my father has been encouraging in my exploration of the field, he has also kept in mind and verbalized its instability and the potential implications of pursuing journalism on its own.

As I continuously explore several different potential college and career paths, journalism is certainly leaving its mark on me on a daily basis. To one day continue my father’s legacy would be unmatched, but the plausibility of the notion isn’t printed in black and white.

As residents of Coppell, we sometimes grow accustomed to the wonderful locations and resorts that our city includes. Today special Dallas Morning News contributor, Debbie Fetterman listed Andrew Brown Jr. amongst the 8 prime running destinations in the DFW area. Acclaiming it for its segmented sidewalks marked every quarter of a mile, and the sections of  the trail which allow runners with tender joints to jog on the packed dirt area.

Fetterman said in her article,

“The mile loop allows runners to keep a cooler with drinks and snacks by their car, since the path runs right by the parking lot. That way, you’re assured of a water stop at every mile. It’s helpful in excessive heat, and it’s encouraging for those building up mileage. It’s not recommended for anyone tempted to grab the keys and head home early.”

To read Fetterman’s article click here.

While new students tentatively walk the halls of unfamiliar schools and new policies are implemented into the interworking of administration, Pulitzer Prize winning public records website ProPublica released a school search database allowing community members to compare their school to others in the area.

According to ProPublica, Coppell High School soars above local high schools in some areas, and falls below the bar in others.

Graphic courtesy coppellisd.com.

Coppell High School is currently home to around 2,680 students, more than any of the four closest high schools in surrounding areas. The ProPublica search engine allows users to compare things such as the percentage of Inexperienced Teachers, number of AP courses offered, and the percentages of students who take at least one AP course or who are enrolled in Advanced Math.

“I take advanced classes because it’s what is expected of me,” senior Jahnavi Udiakumar said. “My parents expect me to study, colleges expect me to take difficult classes, and my teachers expect me to do well.

When compared to Lewisville High School, Creekview High School, Newman Smith High School and Ranchview High School, the percentage of students who take advanced math reach high above the rest at 18 percent.

“Advanced classes are important because they truly do give kids the rigor they will face in higher education,” CHS AP campus facilitator Kimberly Pearce said. “Students have the opportunities to ‘practice’ and learn valuable skills and concepts in the safe environment of the high school. Every student can benefit from an advanced course.”

This puts the school even with the district average, and eight percentage points above the state average.

“Our district and the teachers at CHS have created a culture that encourages students to take a rigorous course of study knowing that the rewards are better preparation for life beyond high school,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Marilyn Denison said. “I think our students understand that the hard work they invest today will pay significant dividends for their future.”

This places Coppell well above other schools in the area, where only half of them meet the state average.

“Coppell students are driven and they are pushed by not only parents but themselves,” assistant principal Jeremy Varnell said. “They set a standard and the teachers here set a standard, and then they push themselves beyond even that.”

In addition to the number of students taking advanced math, 36 percent of students take at least one AP course. Teachers attribute this large number of students to a drive among students and a general desire to be advanced.

“AP classes are simply more challenging,” AP GT English IV teacher Matthew Bowden said. “My experience is that each issue or topic is studied and dissected on a depth and breadth unlike that of on-level or survey course. This naturally attracts students who are driven and looking to prepare themselves for college course work.”

Another category in which CHS shows considerable advancement among local public schools is the percent of inexperienced teachers present. Only three percent of Coppell High School’s teachers have been teaching for less than three years, while as many as 10 percent of Lewisville High Schools teachers fall within the category of ‘inexperienced.’”

Teacher experience is an important factor in teacher quality, which, according to ProPublica, experts believe has a direct impact on student academic achievement.

“Experience has been invaluable as a teacher,” Bowden said. “The key is experience, both bad and good, and learning from both. You have to learn which battles are worth fighting and which to let go, and to always remember that you are there for kids. Have fun and build relationships.”

In addition, a Dallas Morning News report shows that out of 34 ‘low poverty’ Dallas area schools, Coppell High School ranks third in the number of students that come out of the school ready for college. Texas defines college –ready graduates as those who scored high enough on the SAT or ACT college entrance exams, or on the 11^th grade TAKS tests.

“I think I’m very prepared for college because of the amount of work I’ve don’t in high school,” Udiakumar said. “I’ve passed all my AP tests and I’ve done all the work I can. CHS has been great for that, I’ve never taken an AP test and felt like I was unprepared.”

Falling only behind Highland Park High School and North Hills Preparatory, DMN reports that about 85 percent of CHS students are ‘college ready.’

“CISD does an outstanding job preparing students for college,” Denison said. “We design our curriculum to prepare students for college. Our teachers do an outstanding job providing learning experiences for students to build their academic capacity and stamina, and the results of that intentionality are graduates who are prepared to transition into college and succeed.”

Sidekick members traveled to the Dallas Morning News High School Journalism Day at Southern Methodist University to accept 'Best Website' and 'Best Newspaper' awards. Photo by Chase Wofford.

The Sidekick was named ‘Best Website’ as well as ‘Best Newspaper’ at the 20th annual Dallas Morning News High School Journalism Day 2011. As well as the group awards, six Sidekick staff members were nominated for individual achievement in nine different categories, with Divya Kumar winning in ‘Editorial – Class A.’

This year marked the first time The Sidekick won ‘Best Newspaper,’ and the first time winning ‘Best Website’ since 2009. Making history, The Sidekick is the first paper to win both awards in the same year.

In addition to Kumar, Brian Hwu was nominated in Cartoons/Illustrations, Peter Sblendorio was nominated in Sports Features and Sports News Reporting, Ashleigh Heaton was nominated for Long Feature, Columnist Portfolio and Headline Writing Portfolio, Erin Blatney was nominated in Review and Mary Whitfill was nominated in Page Design Portfolio.

Staff Writer

On Wednesday, I traveled with seven other newspaper students to SMU in Dallas where we all attended Dallas Morning News Day. The event consisted of two sessions where we were able to choose different seminars to attend.

The journalists who spoke at the seminars were extremely inspiring. Coming home, I felt like I now had all of the tools to become a successful journalist, even if I haven’t decided whether or not I will always want to pursue it.

Jean-Jacques Taylor, a sports columnist for the Dallas Morning News, and his colleagues from the sports world gave the room of budding journalists, innumerable journalism tips. I learned three very important lessons from him.

1. Develop relationships with sources, talk to people and deserve respect.

I didn’t realize how much of good reporting is just talking and making connections, something most of us have been doing since our elementary school day. Keeping the source in mind and respecting them when they ask something to be cut from a story is one of the important ways to maintain good relationships and mutual respect.

1. Dabble in multiple areas

To be a journalist, you have to be knowledgeable about a variety of subjects, but specifically whatever beat, or topic, you cover for the paper. In college, they said said, it is important to branch out and learn about a variety of things that interest you so you can sound credible when you write about an issue.

1. Work hard

Taylor said that he once asked a mentor the best way to succeed in reporting. His mentor said, “Work hard.” Taylor said he was already working hard, but the mentor replied, “Work harder.” He credits this advice with his success.

After all of the things I have learned, I hope to be a better, better-rounded journalist, who can deserve respect from sources. Oh, and I’m going to start working a whole lot harder too.

To view Jean-Jacques Taylor’s blogs, visit: http://jacquestaylorblog.dallasnews.com/