Amidst the celebration by Keller Central, the Coppell Cowboys reflected on a tough loss against the Chargers, and taken out of playoff contention by the score of 28-7.

Sophomore Connor Wilson got his third start in the stadium where the Cowboys have never, and still haven’t, won a game since 2001. Wilson completed 7 passes for 99 yards, and also rushed for 44 yards and one touchdown.

Both the Cowboys and the Chargers traded 3-and-outs on each of their first few offensive possessions.

Wilson and the Cowboy offense would draw first blood, as the sophomore would punch the ball into the end zone from one yard out to take an early lead.

Sadly, those points would be the last of the Cowboys season as the Chargers went on to score 28 unanswered to launch themselves into the postseason.

This fall featured its comeback wins and heartbreaking, unexpected losses.

After rattling off 4 straight wins going into a tough matchup against Denton Guyer in late September, the Cowboys had the momentum they needed to make a run at the playoffs. The outcome of that stormy game was the complete opposite.

After senior quarterback Jake Larson was knocked out of the game late in the fourth quarter with a serious knee injury that ended his senior campaign, the season went downhill from there.

With no other proven passer at the position, the coaches began rotating two run oriented players, junior Tyler Zabojnik and sophomore Wilson.

The firing of offensive coordinator Mike Dormandy, coupled with the lack of depth at quarterback, brought about changes in the offensive scheme which became more of a pro-style set and run-heavy.

This game will probably hang over the heads of the seniors, as they had even higher aspirations than last year’s 13-0 team who played their last game on the same field and lost.

Last night, as the final seconds ran off the clock, coaches and players on the Coppell sideline were overcome with emotion. Pain, sadness, rage, disappointment. The players’ expressions said it all. No one was in the mood to comment on the game or even the season. Their silence spoke volumes.

Despite the adversity they faced this season, the Cowboys will look to rebound from what will be considered a rebuilding year, and next season come out of the gates firing on all cylinders. Cowboy pride never dies.

Today, seniors were given a late arrival day for underclassmen PSAT and ASVAB testing.

For most seniors this was a dream come true, but for those in the Ready Set Teach program it was a problem for their schedule. The Ready Set Teach program requires students to attend a class at either a middle school or elementary school and help teach the students. The problem with this late arrival day is that most of the students go to their Ready Set Teach classrooms in the afternoon and today all students are required to attend their core classes during the afternoon periods.

Most of the Ready Set Teach students will be unable to teach in their elementary or middle school classrooms. A dedicated few, however, have chosen to give up their late arrival day to go teach their classes in the morning. For some of these students its to get the grade, but for others its their passion for teaching that the Ready Set Teach program has helped them realize.

Seniors take the lead to show CHS spirit and pride at the recent Coppell vs. Arlington football game. Photo by Rowan Khazendar

By Dyer Whitt
Staff Writer

As the school year strikes with full force for the students at Coppell High School, the class of 2012 prepares to take its throne with class.

Webster’s defines seniority as “priority, precedence, or status obtained as the result of a person’s length of service,” and as a high school senior, this definition can have quite a few different interpretations.

“Seniority definitely deals some aspects of carelessness, but you feel more mature and know how to handle your work-load and can balance work and play,” said senior Chris Reagan, sports director of KCBY.

While some seniors focus on the power and maturity that comes with senior year, others are taking advantage of the freedoms that come with it.

“[Being a senior is] an inordinate gift of confidence,” senior Class President Anna Nudo said. “We feel fine walking down the hallways, singing to the songs over the loud speaker, not caring what any underclassmen think.”

Senior perks affect the majority of the class. Options including dual credit and senior release give students the opportunity to get out of certain periods everyday making their schedules less hectic.

Contrary to that, students like Nudo work hard and take on the responsibilities of planning fundraisers and events for the senior class, to ensure a smooth year.

“Our main goal this year is to raise as much money as possible to make prom tickets as cheap as possible, “ Nudo said. “We have had a couple fundraisers like the parking spot painting, homecoming parade and also a T-Shirt sale.”

The perks of senior year have enabled students to show more school spirit through senior overalls and jorts, as well as having benefits in the classroom.

“I think the teachers are more lenient in class about not giving us a lot of work and the CHS traditions like senior overalls are a big hit among the girls,” senior offensive lineman Jake Williams said.

Senior plunger boy Teddy Croft gets the student section pumped up every game, showing his pride for CHS with rowdy chants and plunger thrusts.

“Being a senior means I get to act as crazy and loud as I want at games and don’t have the feeling of being humiliated in front of my peers,” Croft said.

The culmination of high school has also given the students a sense of appreciation for the hard work and sacrifices made by the faculty, parents and volunteers who make CHS such a success.

“CHS has done so much for us and it’s our chance to show how much we appreciate our school,” Croft said.

Photo by Rowan Khazendar.

CHS provides unprecedented opportunities that no other school can, and now even more with the addition of the academy, that focus on different areas of talent and give students an idea of what career that want to pursue in the future.

Reagan, a three-year veteran to the KCBY staff, describes his experiences at CHS as “life changing.”

“We have a lot of opportunities at CHS and with the KCBY program I really fell in love with a career I could see myself in down the road,” Reagan said.

Entering CHS as a freshman, you are subjected to a completely different setting and lifestyle. The intimidations of keeping up with homework and balancing a social life can run its toll on a lot of students. You may even envision high school as a four-year prison sentence, but this year’s seniors are more assuring.

“It’s all worth it in the end,” Williams said. “Just make sure to try your hardest freshman and junior year and stay focused on academics.”

Staff Writer

This past week Jostens has come to CHS to talk to seniors about what they need to be doing to prepare for graduation. Seniors were given an order packet for their cap and gown. Jostens will be at CHS on Saturday, October 1 and Tuesday, October 4. If you were absent during the senior class meeting you can stop by student services and pickup a packet of information.

Seniors also need to go to Jostens in Plano to take their senior picture for the yearbook. You do not need an appointment so be sure to stop by. Their address can be found here.

During the senior class meeting on Wednesday, seniors voted on their class shirt. The shirt says “Back Off. I’m a senior.” Seniors must have a shirt to be in the senior class portrait. You may purchase a shirt on the stage during all lunches. Short sleeve shirts are $15 and long sleeve are $20.

For us seniors here at CHS are final first six weeks is coming to a close but is senior year all that we have expected?

From my point of view its been mostly what I have anticipated but I feel like I cant kick into senior- ides mode just yet. The past week and this current week teachers have flooded me with assignments but I think they are just trying to keep me focused until my mind lingers off to day dreams of college.

Something I wasn’t expecting about my senior year is how fast it has gone by already. Plenty of people have warned me that this year would be a quick one but I never believed them until now.

Things that I am looking forward to for the rest of senior year are finding out where everyone will be attending college and of course the subsiding of the work load. So far, I have had a good amount of work on my plate and especially at the end of this six weeks which will hopefully die off as we come closer to graduation. Also, with everyone applying to colleges and some people already getting excepted it will be interesting to see were all of our senior classmates end up next year.

Staff Writer

Seniors: it’s that time of year. It’s time to apply to college. Finding the perfect school for you can be a little difficult but luckily CHS is here to help. Throughout the year colleges from all over America come to CHS to visit with prospective students. Mrs. Poe, in the guidance office, is here to help. Every week Mrs. Poe sends out announcements of colleges that will be visiting CHS.

The colleges coming next week are:

UT Arlington on September 26 during 3^rd period

UT Austin on September 30 during 3^rd period

TCU on September 30 during 5^th period

If you have interest in any of these schools be sure to stop by the guidance office for a pass to these presentations. You may also email her at: dpoe@coppellisd.com

Undecided about college?

On September 15th CHS will be hosting a college fair for all interested juniors and seniors looking to narrow their college choices as well as get more exposure to new schools. On this night students and parents will be able to meet with representatives from all over the country. Over 160 schools will be present that night, including the University of Texas, University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Baylor, Columbia University, Emory University, George Washington University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M and the University of Oklahoma. Specialty schools such as the Dallas Culinary Institute will be present as well.

Students are encouraged to pre-register for this event in order to have more opportunities and longer visits with the representatives. To pre-enroll click here.

Once the student has enrolled they will have to print and  bring the barcoded pass for  admittance to The College Fair. As a student identifies college representatives that they would like to have contact them-–the representative will scan the student’s barcode. This provides students for an opportunity to discuss more with college representatives.

The College Fair is free to all current juniors and seniors and is a product of Texas College Fairs. 

With school already in its second week seniors are not only trying to focus on school work but also applying to colleges. Luckily for us in the senior class, we have counselors that are happy to show us the proper way for applying and what we will need.

Today, August 30, the seniors were pulled out of their english classes and given a crash course on how to start the application process. If you weren’t paying attention, seniors, here’s a quick summary.

First, you’ll need to set up a Naviance account (which should have been done last year) and then add the colleges that you are applying to on your account. This account will allow you to view what you are missing from a school’s application and allow you to get transcripts, test scores, and teacher recommendations sent. So basically, Naviance will do everything but apply for you; don’t you just love technology?

Second, you’ll have to find time in between Jersey Shore and chilling with your homies to actually go to the school’s website that you are applying to and fill out the application. You may have to send some items in specifically by mail but that shouldn’t be that much of a hassle. Just make sure your handwriting while addressing the envelope to the head of admissions isn’t completely atrocious.

Third, you’ll need to write essays if the school requires it, sorry guys, and then decide if you want to apply for some sort of scholarship or financial aid. This might require some more work but it’ll be worth it once college expenses come around.

Finally, the waiting game begins, just sit back and wait for the schools to reply. Don’t get heartbroken if a school denies you but make sure you have a back up; don’t just apply to one school because you might jinx yourself. But if you do knock on wood and hopefully, you’ll be fine.

Well that’s it, my fellow seniors, have fun with those applications. If you are too lazy to read this blog, seniors I’m talking to you, you can always go to your counselor and they will be happy to help with your college process.

Staff Writer

The class of 2011 has a lot to look forward to tomorrow. Coppell High School seniors have several big events taking place tomorrow morning. The day will start with a free breakfast in the commons at 7:45. Seniors will be provided with breakfast and will have an opportunity to deliver any thank you notes to staff members. Following breakfast, the annual senior awards ceremony will be held in the gym at 9:00. All seniors, juniors, and sophomores attend the awards and senior parents are welcome to attend as well. Seniors must make sure to dress nice, but appropriately.

After an eventful morning, the most anticipated part of the day arrives; Senior Skip Day. Seniors have the opportunity to skip an entire day of school with the school’s permission. The school is hosting a trip to Six Flags, open to all seniors, but it is not required. Many students will find other ways to celebrate their day of freedom.

Features Editor

As the newspaper wraps up another year of deadlines, ink and breaking news, seniors of The Sidekick look tentatively ahead at what promises to be a bright future. Be it home-state moves or cross country hauls, graduating newspaper staff members are optimistic about the mysteries tomorrow will bring.

The Sidekick focuses on helping students acquire the basic skills of journalism and reporting, but also help to instill lessons that will stick with students for the rest of their lives. The ideas of ethics, morals, open communication, curiosity and honesty are all ones that can be applied to multiple facets of everyday life.

“My three years on staff have taught me a lot about meeting deadlines and the importance of communication,” senior news editor Divya Kumar said. “Also, my last two years as an editor have helped me as far as working with others and helping them to improve.”

Along with Kumar, editor-in-chief Ashleigh Heaton has also spent all four years of her high school experience in room D115. Having both taken journalism their freshman year, Kumar and Heaton have been thrust headfirst into the fast moving journalism field.

“We have made so many changes since my first year on staff,” Kumar said. “We are no longer catering to print, we are consistently putting news on the website [www.coppellstudentmedia.com], we have partnered with KCBY and so much more.”

As editor-in-chief, Heaton has been involved in virtually every webpage, story, photo, print issue and twitter update done by The Sidekick. She started her sophomore year as a staff writer, moved into the entertainment editor slot her junior year, and finally clamped the EIC title this year.

“I think being Editor-In-Chief has taught me a lot about communication and working with others,” Heaton said. “Being on staff has forced me to grow up, and that is something I think will be really helpful as I move into a professional field of study.”

Heaton will be starting school at Emerson College in the fall, majoring in writing, literature and publishing, with an emphasis on publishing.

“Even from Boston will be The Sidekick’s number one fan,” Heaton said. “I’m leaving CHS, but I’m not leaving the paper. I will have a subscription, and I will check up on the website. I’m excited to see what a new generation will be able to bring to the table.”

As the rest of the senior students prepare to take these skills to various corners of the nation, they reminisce about the time they’ve spent on the newspaper. While they participate in end of the year festivities such as banquets, graduation preparation and final high school testing, certain seniors of The Sidekick are planning to continue in their journalism education.

“I really enjoyed getting to work with athletes and prominent figures in our school, and that is something I want to continue in college,” senior sports editor Peter Sblendorio said. “The UT communications program will be a great thing for me to participate in.”

In addition to Sblendorio, photo editor Aditi Shrikant, entertainment editor Rebecca Neumann and staff writers Beth Anne Carroll and Adam Bremner will also be studying aspects of the journalism field at their respective colleges.

“[University of Missouri] has a very hands on approach to teaching journalism, which is the type of environment I really want to be in,” Shrikant said. “I can’t wait.”

The select seniors who were chosen to serve as editors this year have gone above and beyond the call of duty – doing everything necessary to make sure the paper was the best it could be. And all their hard work was well recognized, as both The Sidekick’s print publication and coppellstudentmedia.com won multiple local and state competitions.

“Considering a majority of our staff are first time staffers, I am really proud of the strides we’ve made, by coming together as a cooperative team to make a cohesive publication,” Shrikant said.

For incoming students considering dabbling in the field of journalism, Heaton leaves them with a few final pieces of advice:

“Apply [to join The Sidekick]; even if you don’t think it’s for you, you don’t want to have any regrets. You get back what you put into your time on the paper,” Heaton said. “If you go in expecting to breeze through and just go through the motions, you wont benefit as much as those who really commit. It can be stressful, but it really is some of the best of times.”