Every two years, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) realigns the state’s athletic districts. This morning, Coppell was placed in District 5-5A with some familiar foes.

Distrct 5-5A
Coppell
Denton Ryan
Lewisville
Lewisville Flower Mound
Lewisville Hebron
Lewisville Marcus

Coppell is currently in District 7-5A with Southlake Carroll, Keller, Keller Fossil Ridge, Keller Central, Denton Guyer, Saginaw and Justin Northwest.

The traditional rivalry between Coppell and Southlake Carroll will not occur in district play in the new alignment. However, the school is in Region I along with Coppell and they could go head-to-head in the playoffs or non-district play. Additional realigned districts and regions can be found 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.”

Earlier today, Irma Kennedy, the Coppell High School Teacher of the Year, was honored today with a send off by the students of CHS, as well as a brand new Volkswagon from Lewisville Volkswagon. At around 10:20, students from throughout the high school left their classes and assembled outside the parent loop, and were surprised by the sight of a parked BMW occupying a central spot near the columns surrounding the front of the school, and the sounds of the CHS drum line doing their best to inform as many people possible of the importance of the occasion.

For more information on Irma Kennedy, go to: http://www.coppellisd.com/151720819104013263/site/default.asp

The sudden disappearance of Hwanyeo Park, an elderly Coppell resident, has prompted a countywide search, which spanned the Coppell, Denton, Lewisville and Lake Cities counties. Over 300 people, as well as Lewisville’s dive team, searched for days, specifically near the Trinity River, before two kayakers found the missing body in the Trinity River and contacted the authorities.

Mr. Park’s body was found in the Sandy Lake portion of the Trinity River last Saturday and it appears that his death was the result of an accidental drowning. His grandsons, for whom he left Korea in order to spend more time with, attend Copppell schools.

For more information, click here.

With school being such a big contributing factor of stress among students a nation-wide, six month screening of the film Race to Nowhere has opened America‘s minds and hearts.  Being active participants, Coppell set forth multiple screenings on campuses all over Coppell Independent School District (CISD) which undoubtedly made an impact.

“I went to the screening, and I just started crying,” Marilyn Ambrose said.  “It is a very harsh reality that we have come to face.”

The Race to Nowhere follows the story of burned-out young individuals across the nation who have been pushed to the brink, along with educators who feel that students aren’t developing needed skills and parents whom wish to do the best for their children.

It points out the “silent epidemic” in our schools where students have turned to cheating, become disengaged, been stricken ill with stress related illnesses and resulted with depression and burnout leaving them unprepared and uninspired when they arrive at college.

This film seeks to aware America “one film at a time”. Join the race to make a change–open your eyes and put an end to the silence. If you missed the campus-wide screenings, don’t miss another chance to see it again; take part in one of the following screenings.

Dallas: Munger Place Church–Mar. 25
Lewisville: Studio Movie Grill, Lewisville–Apr. 3
Southlake: Southlake Carroll Senior High School–Mar. 31

If you’ve visted Vista Ridge Mall recently, you might have noticed a wall dedicated to the Vista Ridge Mall’s Cool School contest with stickers of locals schools who are in the running for a money prize.

New Tech High @ Coppell was a name doted on that wall, along with eight other schools, and after months of competing was finally announced as the first place winner on Jan. 29. Second place was taken by McAuliffe Elementary School in Highland Village, winning $1,500, and third place by Lillie J. Jackson Early Childhood Center in Lewisville with a $1,000 prize.

New Tech High @ Coppell earned $2,500 as the top school in Vista Ridge Mall’s Cool School contest, a contest open to Lewisville and Coppell schools.  NTH@C is now has the chance to earn part of the remaining $15,000 at the next round. Points were earned in the competition by participating at mall events, volunteering and turning in receipts for mall purchases since October and “liking” the mall’s Facebook page.

Other Coppell schools that participated were Cottonwood Creek, Mockingbird and Pinkerton Elementary Schools, who still have a chance at winning more points through “extra-credit” opportunities.

If you were to drive down Denton Tap Rd. towards the Walmart in Lewisville right now, you would see some construction being done in front of Market Street. Though it will not be completed for some months, a Whataburger will eventually open in that location.

Despite the recent weather set-backs. Construction on the new fast food restaurant was up and running today. Cranes, a plastic fence and upturned dirt mark out the plot that will soon be another convenient restaurant. The new place is not technically in Coppell, but it will still be extremely convenient for many people in Coppell. For those who tire of the local fast-food places like Wendy’s and Taco Bell, Whataburger will be a nice alternative.

Unfortunately the restaurant is located past the the highway and would not be realistic to walk to. Freshmen and sophomores who walk during Renaissance will not be able to make it to Whataburger easily, but it is a good option for those with cars.

There is no set opening date yet, but the Sidekick will update this story when there is more information.

All weekend there will be baby Tigers at Buffalo Wild Wings in Lewisville. All proceeds go to a foundation that is working towards preserving endangered wildlife. It costs anywhere between $5 and $25 to play with the tigers depending on the time of day and how busy the restaurant is. The busiest time to visit the tigers is, of course, at night, so be sure to get there before the crowd. Due to weather conditions, the tigers may leave earlier than expected, so be sure to call Buffalo Wild Wings before heading over.

For directions and contact information, click here.

Photos by Tyler Morris

By Nathan Reck

The track season is winding down with the District 6-5A Meet meaning that for many athletes the season is nearing its end, but for a select few district is only the first step as they set their sights on the regional and then possibly state meets.

The team has seen five school records broken over the season. Anna Goldblatt set the pole vault record at a height of 11’0” and freshman Cassidy Pickrell tied the high jump record that had been set in 1993 and again in 2003 at 5’4”. Senior Jake Wohlford broke his own record for the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 14.03 seconds. The boys team consisting of seniors Tal Kinser, Jake Wohlford, John Frnka and Colton Reese and girls team of sophomore Kaleigh Ervin, juniors Elizabeth Kerpon and Kim Kirby and senior Shaylee Zaugg both set school records in the distance relays at the Texas Relays.

Wohlford and Kirby both already held school records coming into the season as Wolford held both the 110 and 300 meter hurdles records and Kirby held the girls 800 and 1600 meter records.

As the teams prepare for the district meet on April 14 15 at Coppell High School, they held their unofficial tri-meet along with Wylie and Highland Park.

“The tri-meet is used as a practice for district,” boys coach Don Kemp said. “There are no points or scoring so it is just a way to let everyone get in one more race a week before the district meet.”

Both teams are feeling good as the district races start.

“For the guys Lewisville will win and Southlake [Carroll] will most likely take second,” Kemp said.

The girls team feels it has slightly better chances going into Wednesday’s prelims.

“Our girls team might actually win overall,” Kirby said. “The 4 by 4 relay team can advance, Elizabeth Kerpon should win the open 400 and Anna Goldblatt should advance in the pole vault.”

With the meet on home turf the coaches are feeling confident.

“It is to our advantage to be at home because the runners are comfortable with the track and while more has to be done in terms of preparing for the meet they know where everything is and don’t have to spend time figuring out how things are going to work,” girls coach Roxanne Farris said.

Photo By Tyler Morris

On Tuesday March 9, Coppell boys soccer team played their last home district game against Lewisville. To keep with tradition, the last home game is set to honor the senior players.

“[Senior Night] is not just to celebrate our soccer careers at the high school but also to thank our parents for coming to all of our games no matter where or what the weather is like,” senior captain Colton Reese said.

Before the game began, each player got to cross the field for their last time with both their parents at their sides. The players thanked their mothers with a rose and the fathers a soccer ball. After the sentimental moments with the family, the team got ready to play Lewisville.

“After last weeks win against Marcus, the team was fired up for the game and ready to finish the district on a good note,” senior Brandon Donahue said.

In the first half, the Cowboys played very aggressive and made many attempts on the goal. After several tries, senior Eric Oesch finally scored putting Coppell on the scoreboard with 20 minutes still left in the first half but nothing happened.

“It was definitely a relief to get that first lead on Lewisville but we knew this game wasn’t over,” Oesch said.

About 10 minutes into the second half, senior Jordan Elgin gets his first goal of the night and a couple minutes after that makes another giving Coppell a 3-0 lead. Since Coppell was up by a lot, Coach Shane Bybee substituted some of his started for seniors who did not see much playing time this season.

“I promised all the seniors that once we had a good enough lead that they will all get a chance to play,” Bybee said. “It made it better that it was for most of the second half too.”

Seniors like Guillermo Aguilar, Jeff Johnston, Austin Dugger, Jaxon Williams and Andrew Nesbitt got to play for the rest of the half and got a little piece of the spotlight while other players passed them the ball.

Nesbitt, who has been the team manager for the last two years, finally got to play with the team for the first time. Besides getting the chance to play with his teammates, Nesbitt scored a goal with 12 minutes left in the half. Both players and crowd stormed the field to congratulate Nesbitt.

“It was an awesome night and I won’t ever forget it,” Nesbitt said.

As the team and fans started to calm a little after Nesbitt’s goal, Williams, whose position has been goalie for the past four years, scored with five minutes left. His goal fired up the crowd and ended the game on a high note.

With the 5-0 win against Lewisville, this guaranteed the Cowboys a spot in playoffs. The last district game is Friday March 12 against Flower Mound at Flower Mound.