Academy biology classes take the classroom outside

By Chase Porter Staff Writer Today, February 28th, Ms. Richardson’s classes are taking their learning outside of the classroom. While walking through the halls I couldn’t help but notice a large group of freshmen walking down the halls with nets and buckets. Obviously a strange sight for a school, I asked Ms. Richardson, their teacher, what was going on. “Well since we are learning about microorganisms we are going out to the creek in front of the student parking lot to gather up protists.” Richardson said. “Once they gather the organisms they will have to identify six different protists through a microscope.” Seeing this freshman Academy Biology class going outside to apply what they’ve learned…

Winter weekend brings students closer together

By Chase Porter Staff Writer Video by John Mark Gosser Lifting their hands and singing songs of praise, hundreds of Coppell High School students gathered at VRBC or Valley Ranch Baptist Church for the 11th annual Winter Weekend retreat. The retreat, which was started in 2001, is a chance for not only members of the Valley Ranch Baptist Church but any student to grow in the Christian faith with friends and other students of the same age. Grade levels for the event start as young as sixth graders and the final year to participate are senior year. This year’s retreat took place on the weekend of Jan. 20-22, starting on Friday night and ending on…

Soccer team first in state, second in nation

By Chase Porter Staff Writer Photo by Brian Hwu Coming off a productive last season the Coppell boys soccer team has risen to the top. With a new head coach and a full roster, the team has become No. 1 in the state and second in the nation. Last season, the Cowboys had a very productive season, ending with 18 wins and five losses making it to the playoffs, but losing in the first round. New head coach Chad Rakestraw took over prior to this season from former coach Shane Bybee. He has been around a soccer ball since birth playing on the Texans soccer club and at Denton Ryan High School, and eventually moving…

Season opener for lacrosse friday

By Chase Porter Staff Writer This friday, February 17th, the Coppell varsity lacrosse team has it season opener against Houston Episcopal. The team has been preparing since the end of winter break and now its their opportunity to go fight for another championship. With an all new coaching staff and a loss of vital players on the offense and defense this new team has to prove they can compete with the best again. Friday night they will be playing the 8th best team in the state according to texas heat lacrosse. This Houston team still has many of their past players and should be some stiff competition. Come out and watch the first game at…

8th graders get a little taste of high school

By Chase Porter Staff Writer Tonight, January 31st, the eighth graders from all middle schools are welcome at the high school for the 8th grade expo. The expo will start at 6 p.m. and continue on until 8:30 p.m. All eighth graders are welcome to attend and it is encouraged to bring your parents along so that you will all be informed on the transitions from middle school to high school. In addition to being able to walk throughout the halls of the school visitors will be able to ask questions to senior Red Jacket’s and school administrators. Also, many of the newest class options and academy’s will be presented to parents and students so…

Soccer stud takeover

By Chase Porter Staff Writer A few years ago here at CHS someone decided having cheerleaders just wasn’t enough so they had to go ahead and create a specific fan base for every sports team. This may sound a little outrages, and it is, but with girls soccer season in full swing it seems like every guy at CHS is sporting a Soccer Stud shirt in support of the girls. If you visit the high school on either a Tuesday or Friday during soccer season, you really can’t miss them. They will be wearing a baby blue crew neck sweater with neon green letters. They say ‘Stud’ on the front and the number and last…

Lacrosse team sharpens their skills for upcoming season

By Chase Porter Staff Writer Today, January 10th, was the first day of lacrosse practice and the start of the 2012 season for the three time state championship lacrosse team. Being a member of the team I had the chance to see this years team in action and I was impressed. After losing many highly recruited players from last years team I thought that we would have to rebuild more than usual. Todays practice showed me that was not the case at all. Even though we have an extreme amount of underclassmen this year I have confidence that we will have nothing but a successful season. Today was the first practice with the new coaching…

Most anticipated games of the year

By Chase Porter Staff Writer With 2011 behind us, game developers are already trying to come out with the next best game to compete with games like Battlefield and Modern Warfare 3. Some of the biggest news in the gaming community is the release of Halo 4 expected for sometime this spring or summer. Also Mass Effect 3, the follow up to one of the best games of 2011, will be releasing this year which will end the trilogy. Along with these franchise games Assassins Creed will be releasing another game and of course Call of Duty is sure to have one or more games being released but as of right now there has been…

From the hard wood to the habitat the Cowboys help out those in need

By Chase Porter Staff Writer Photo courtesy of Sharon Mankin Over the past few years the Coppell varsity basketball team has not only been competing for a championship but they have also been participating in service projects all over the Metroplex. On Dec. 3, the boys varsity basketball team sacrificed their usual practice time on Saturday morning to work for a better cause. Teaming up with the Habitat for Humanity program, the boys built and repaired damaged houses and much more. “The team did a lot of manual labor,” coach Brad Chasteen said. “They did some landscaping, spackling, painting, repairing dry walls and a good amount of trash detail around the area.” The Cowboys traveled…

PSAT scores are in for Juniors

by Chase Porter Staff Writer On Oct. 12, the junior class began their first steps toward college and senior year by taking the PSAT or the practice SAT. This test is just a taste of the actual SAT that most of the juniors will be taking later this school year and early this upcoming summer. The PSAT, like the SAT challenges students in the areas of analytical reading, writing and mathematics. The test can not be substituted for the actual SAT but it does determine if the student can be a national merit scholar or a national commended scholar depending on how well they did on the test. According to Mrs. Poe in the Student…