R ANGER R EVIEW

April 2012 Ranger Review

April 2012

WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS HIGH SCHOOL

Volume 29, Issue 7

Sneak Project Lifesaver aims to prevent bullying, peek... create safe environment for troubled teens
News
By SAMANTHA JREIJ Reporter Its a typical day in school. You and your best friend are talking. She starts to zone out a lot. Youve noticed a change in her. She seems more down to you, sadder, like shes always quiet. She looks down at her lap, and says casually, Nothing, just contemplating whether my life is worth living any more. Deep inside, you know this is a cry for help, but you dont want to believe that she is being serious. You laugh and tell her something clichd, the rst thing that comes to your mind. Then you spend the whole day trying to make yourself tell someone, knowing all along that you could never bring yourself to. All around the world there are teenagers with depression and thoughts that scare them into doing horrible things to themselves. And yet despite the closeness that exists between friends, suicide is still the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, and was accountable for 34,598 lives in 2007. Are they telling their friends? Do their friends even know whats going on? And why are the numbers so high? The statistic that really hits home is that 70 per cent of all people who have committed suicide have told someone rst, said school pyschologist, Dr. Penny Kelly. Millions of stories like this exist, in which the bystander or the best friend knew something but just didnt know who to tell or how to help. This is why Dr. Kelly and a group of people who want to help CHS students have started to initiate Project Lifesaver, a program whose goal is to provide a safe place for printed and the drop boxes are set up, the program will begin. Lifesaver will consist of placing two boxes in the attendance ofce the attendance ofce, and virtually anywhere. The forms will say: I am concerned about blank, and the student will have to ll out the name

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Read about C.I.A. and their future performances

Features

Photo courtesy of Carter Shults Physical bullying, along with verbal and emotional, are common factors in causing teens to commit suicide. students to tell a trusted adult when and library where students can easily of their friend. However, use of a form is not necessary. Students will and if they have any concerns about and anonymously use them. The reason for these locations be able to write on a piece of paper a classmate or friend. The programs ofcial release is that we wanted to put the boxes and drop it in one of the boxes, but date is still under discussion, in places where students can be the name of the student you think said junior Carter Shults, a student discreet, but at the same time they may need help must be written planner for Lifesaver. We hope that are easily accessible. explained Dr. somewhere on the paper. You will then have to check one of the this will occur within a few weeks Kelly. Red forms will be available in multiple scenarios you think your after spring break. But once the ofcial posters are teachers classrooms, the commons, friend is going through.

Find out how teens are dealing with stress

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Lifestyles

Baseball team breaks in new Skeeters stadium

By FAROHA KHAN Reporter There is a new addition to the wellestablished sports arena and it is not a coach, player, or a new type of sport. It is, in fact, an entirely new stadium. The Skeeters Constellation Field, as it is called, is the brand new eld available for various teams across the area to engage in heart-racing battles and matches. The eld holds special signicance for the baseball team at Clements as Clements is scheduled to be the rst team to play on it. The Skeeters Constellation Fields is located at the intersection of the State Highway 6 and U.S. highway 90A and had an estimated cost of around 35 million dollars. It was designed to be able to hold matches for a variety of sports, including lacrosse, football, soccer, although the main sport will be baseball. In addition, it is capable of holding many events, such as concerts, scout sleepovers, and celebrations. After the opening, there will be several promotional offers to encourage people to come and experience the new baseball stadium. The Skeeters Constellation Field has many distinctive characteristics, including that it boasts the largest scoreboards in minor league baseball, rising over 100 feet, and that the stadiums shape is based on the well-known shape of Texas. Although the details of the stadium are interesting and fascinating, the main reason the stadium is so important is because the rst ever baseball game to be played at the new eld will be between two Fort bend ISD schools, Dulles and Clements. It is only appropriate that the communitys stadium open with two Sugar Land high schools playing a baseball game, said Matt OBrien, President of the Sugar Land Skeeters told Sugar Land Magazine. This event is the rst of many community events that will take place at the stadium. The Dulles team has done well in the past, advancing to state numerous times. However, Clements has been doing great as well, advancing to state and becoming districts champions several times, and beating Dulles twice last year. The opening of the new ballpark for the Skeeters is an important event for the city of Sugar Land and the surrounding communities, said Clinton Welch, Head Baseball Coach for Dulles. The Dulles baseball program is excited to be taking part. Our players will be able to take their own kids to this ballpark someday and share that they played the rst game in the stadiums history. Israel DeLos Santos, Head Baseball Coach at Clements, also expressed his opinions of the upcoming game to the Skeeters website correspondents. Having the opportunity to play Dulles at Constellation Field will be a memory these kids will never forget, said De Los Santos. I think its great that Clements and Dulles, two of the original Sugar Land high schools, are going to be able to open up the new stadium. That is a tremendous honor for me and all the other coaches before me who helped build the Clements Rangers program. The game will be on April 21. Each school will sell tickets at their own campus and the Skeeters Ticket Ofce will be open for those who do not attend the schools but would like to attend the game. The parking will be free. In addition to the fact that the event will be a large milestone in the history of Clements baseball, the following charitable deal may be another reason that many people might want to go and watch the Clements versus Dulles game. Skeeters will donate a percentage of the ticket proceeds back to the Athletic Department may be another reason to go to the game, the ofcial Skeeters Website said. The winning team will go down in the history of the arena as the rst high school baseball team to play and win in the arena. In addition, the members of

There is a blank left on the form for you to put your name, but it is completely optional. This program was designed so that students could feel comfortable opening up about problems they have had or ones they have observed, and they will not feel like someone is judging them. Unless a student tells someone, no one will know that he or she is the one who reported a student of concern. The boxes will then be checked twice a day by only the counselors. No students will be allowed to read the papers left in the box. Once the boxes have been looked through, the counselors will then call down the person mentioned on the paper and open up a dialogue. This program has been put to the test at other schools, and the results are impressive. In one middle school, we were even able to help a couple of girls who had eating disorders, and we wouldnt have known about it if it werent for the Lifesaver, Dr. Kelly said. Both Kelly and the other organizers believe this program refutes every fear a teenager can possibly encounter when dealing with a difcult situation like a friend who is depressed, or cutting themselves, or being beaten at home or bullied. The possibilities are endless. Our goal is to help students, and provide a safe environment for them to come and talk to someone here at school. said Kelly. Lifesaver has the potential to do just that.

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Find out what is on everyones prom checklist

Photo by Nia Wheat A Dulles batter prepares to hit a the winning team will be able to remember and pass on the story of how they were the rst winners of the eld. However, the excitement will not be over after the clash of high school baseball teams. Five days later, on April 26, will be the ofcial opening day for the a minor-league baseball team, the Skeeters The Skeeters will open its Inaugural Season by playing host to the two-time defending Atlantic League champion York Revolution in a four-game series April 26-29, the Skeeters website said.

Perspectives

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Are schools acting enough on bullying prevention?

Sports

CHS varsity soccer scores top spots in district ranking

By DEVIKA SINGH Copy Editor Voices-Co-Editor In the past four years, the girls varsity team has had to settle for less than number one in the district, but due to the recent victory against Austin, Clements earned its title as co-district champs. The Clements girls rose to the occasion for the win, since Austin had been undefeated for the past four seasons, and they proved that they could meet the challenge by defeating Kempner one week later. It is a pretty big deal for the girls and it is also a psychological advantage to prove that Austin is not unbeatable, but we have to keep at it to not drop back to number two, Robert Boagni, girls varsity coach, said. For the most part, though, the girls have been the ones setting the goals for themselves. Because they have all been playing for a long time, they have been carrying out their objectives by working as a team. To prepare, we did not really change the game plan, but we did hone down on strengthening our defensive responsibilities, since Austin has skilled players, Boagni said. By establishing their own goals and working on matching Austins prociency, the girls were able to do a good job, get the ball in the goal, and focus on nishing up the game. The teams future plans also reect their past victories, hoping to proceed deeper into playoffs. They hope to win regionals and try for further advance, but the immediate goal is to win the last few games. We are barely on top and all we need to do now is to keep winning one game at a time, Boagni said. The past couple of games have been motivating for the team, since they are glad to be number one in district. Being on top helps in playoffs and it becomes a lot easier to be number one, plus, the girls are more determined given that they were three deep in playoffs last year. It is a long road for the team, but they need to keep winning to maintain their title. Similarly, the boys varsity soccer team has many achievements which attract the spotlight, too. The boys are well on their way to an undefeated season, clinching rst in district and their title. The boys have worked extremely hard and they have played tough this season. They set their goals and are accomplishing them one by one, Todd Ericson, boys varsity coach, said. Defeating Kempner, Travis and Austin, the team put itself on the top, they have proved they are capable of going further. Firstly, the boys strong record so far has made them push themselves to the limit, play harder, and train tougher. Secondly, the strategies they have been using in their recent games have proved effective, and they have been brushing up on their techniques through practice.

ball pitched by junior John King. With the new eld will come many other factors, including name and fame for the Dulles or Clements and the introduction of a minor league baseball team in Houston. The game at the Skeeters stadium will be a great learning experience for both teams, teaching them how to work under the pressure of a large crowd. For baseball fans and non-baseball fans alike, the rst high school game ever for the Skeeters Constellation Field, the game between the professional baseball players, and the more than 70 home games that will follow are rsts for the area.

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Read about how students take the courts in intramurals

A good season is always motivating and boys are accomplishing goals they have set for themselves. We have also been strengthening the strategies we use because the other schools have good and skilled players, too, Ericson said. Being undefeated, the team and the coach look towards their future goals, which are to get deeper in playoffs and advance from there, anticipating regionals. We are on top right now and we need to make sure we stay there. We need to take one game at a time, Ericson said. With both teams as district champs, the teams aim still to work harder and perform better. They hope to maintain their number one titles and perform strongly with each game.

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By CLAIRE PERRY Reporter The Clements Improv Association, known as the CIA for short, will soon spotlight talented kids as they prepare to take the stage April 26 through April 30 in the auditorium at 7 p.m. The tickets to see the show cost three dollars. Clements Improv Association is an organization where anyone can try out and express their creative abilities by writing and performing skits. Besides their big showcase once a year, the CIA performs in the

Black Box, located by the art rooms, once a month during all three lunches for only one dollar. The kids work hard to come up with the best ideas to make people laugh and enjoy the show. According to Max Freidman, a three-year member of CIA, For the rst two weeks we practice for three days a week for one hour. The last two weeks before the show we practice every day for one to two hours. To be in this organization the students really enjoy acting. Sophie Frankel loves acting

News
because; Its such a thrill, and its perfect when you can hear the crowds reaction! Its a very unique form of expression because every time you play a different character you somehow learn more about yourself, Friedman said. The staff does many skits during the course of the year. For the show they sometimes have over 100. CIA staff tries coming up with new, fresh ideas so it comes natural to memorize that they enjoy. They have created some memorable moments. My favorite skit of all time was about hoarders, said Meredith Spalding, a Junior CIA member. My favorite CIA memory was probably my freshman year on opening nightthere are lots of secret traditions, When the staff comes up with ideas it is totally random and spontaneous. My favorite skit would have to be this one about an impulse shopping dramatic Jersey housewife who buys a snow leopard when her husband forgets their anniversary and throws a knife at her face, said Frankel. To get inspiration, Freidman said he sometimes drives around Sugar Land people watching. One of my favorite skits was old people pageant queens, and I pretended to be a lady on a walker. It was so funny, said Freidman. When they perform, the staff becomes extremely close. One of Freidmans favorite memories with the staff is giving secret Santa gifts every week. Its great because we are all

April 2012 Ranger Review

Improvisation Association awaits future performances

FBISD High School Summer School Information

For general Summer School information contact your school counselor at the following phone number or visit our website at www.fortbendisd.com under parent information FBISD High School Summer School 2012. Austin HS . . . . . .281-634-2000 Bush HS . . . . . . .281-634-6060 Clements HS . . . .281-634-2150 Dulles HS . . . . . .281-634-5615 Elkins HS . . . . . . .281-634-2609 Hightower HS . . .281-634-5262 Kempner HS . . . .281-634-2316 Marshall HS . . . . .281-634-6665 Ridge Point HS . .281-327-5200 Travis HS . . . . . . .281-634-7000 Willowridge HS . .281-634-2468 High School Summer School Dates & Times Session I* : June 18 - July 12, 2012 (1st Semester Classes) Session II : July 17 August 8, 2012 (2nd Semester Classes) * Note: July 4 & 5, 2012 - No classes held Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (includes a 25-30 minute break) NO CLASS ON FRIDAYS

Original Credit Courses (counselors permission required) are for students who are taking a course for the rst time or students who are repeating a course due to excessive absences or denied credit. The regular Fort Bend ISD curriculum will be followed. All courses meet ve (5) hours daily for the entire session. Reduced tuition fees do not apply to these courses. Remedial Credit Courses (counselors permission required) are for students who are repeating a course. The regular Fort Bend ISD curriculum will be followed. All courses meet ve (5) hours daily for the entire session. No student will be allowed to take the second semester of a course without having previously passed the rst semester of the course. End of Course (EOC) Tests: Incoming 9th and 10th grade students enrolling in courses with an EOC component will be required to take the assessment at the next available administration. Credit for the course will not be awarded until the EOC score is received and included as 15% of the nal course grade. Note: Incoming 2012-2013 9th grade students may only take Art I, Communication Applications (Speech), Health, or PE during the 2012 Summer School. Note: Incoming 2012-2013 8th grade students may only take Communication Applications (Speech) or Health during the 2012 Summer School. Summer High School Course Offerings **These are one semester courses and may be completed in one session for a .5 unit of credit. Students who failed during the regular term due to lack of attendance must repeat the course as an original credit course if offered. Registration Process: Online Registration Dates: April 2 thru June 7, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. Students may avoid summer school walk-in registration by selecting courses and paying online with a credit/debit card through Fort Bend ISDs Family Access. Parents may contact the FBISD customer support center at 281-634-1300 for Family Access assistance. Cash or money order payments (no checks accepted) may be made between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Fort Bend ISD Administration Building. Walk-in Registration Dates & Times for Session I and/or II: Dulles High School Tuesday, June 12, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (for all available classes) Before the registration begins, registration forms may be requested from the school counselor. Complete the forms, obtain the counselors signature, and bring the completed forms to registration. Each session requires a separate registration form. REGISTRATION FOR ALL COURSES IS ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS AND WILL DEPEND ON THE AVAILABILITY OF QUALIFIED TEACHERS. THERE IS NO LATE REGISTRATION FOR THE SECONDARY SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM. Payment of Tuition Fees at Registration Tuition for Original Credit courses for FBISD students is $320 per course and includes transportation. Tuition for Remedial Credit courses for FBISD students is $260 per course and includes transportation. Tuition for Remedial Credit courses for FBISD students served by the Federal Free/Reduced Lunch Program during the 2011-2012 school year is $100 per course and includes transportation. Payment must be made in cash, money order, or by credit/debit card. Full payment is required at the time of registration.

Spring trips kick off for fine arts students

By DEVIKA SINGH Copy Editor Voices-Co-Editor Choir, Orchestra, and Band have worked many hours this year and they recently rewarded themselves for the dedication with their annual spring trips. Choir visited Walt Disney World, leaving for Florida right before spring break. The group toured Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Universal Studios Harry Potter World, and Animal Kingdom. The Disney trip was a great way for the choir to bond with each other. People who have never met get to interact and people who are normally shy generally open up in such a fun environment, said Evan Hines, senior, choir co-president. Not only did the group journey through the sights and rides, but the students also had a chance to attend a workshop at Epcot, where they learned songs from the Disney movie, Lion King and then see the pieces be played to the movie. They also got to learn choreography to the song, Were All in This Together, from the Disney movie High School Musical. It was amazing being able to learn from choreographers who actually work at Disney. It is an experience you dont get every day, said Elaine Fisher, junior. Through the bonding and stronger team relationships because of this trip, the choir hopes to invest this energy into working hard for the UIL competition in April. The orchestra will also be making its spring trip, but in April, and right here in Texas. Leaving April 12 for San Antonio and arriving back on April 14, this trip will serve as a preface for the UIL competition later on in April. Friday afternoon, after arriving, all four groups will perform before a panel of judges, just as they will at UIL, and will receive critique from all judges to help the groups improve. That same night, the groups will go out for Salsa dancing, followed by a day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas on Saturday. Then that evening they will attend an awards ceremony with many other schools from Texas. This is a great way to build lasting memories, especially for the seniors, and we also have some shy underclassmen that usually do not seem to be as reserved during the trips. Aside from being a fun experience, it is also a chance to learn on how to improve before the actual competition, Kevin Kuo, senior and orchestra president, said. Lastly, the Clements band will also be spending time in San Antonio from April 27-29. Other than the rides, sights and the fun, they will also be performing, but after their UIL competition, having completed UIL and pre-UIL earlier in April. The San Antonio trip will be a very rewarding one since we will have been done with UIL. It will be more of a congratulating experience

Photo by Nia Wheat C.I.A. members, Carter Shults, Sophie Frankel, and Kerric Thompson, present an improv skit to their audience. friends so we know what everyone Frankel. is why people have a different white likes, said Freidman. Anyone can try out for CIA, even if piece of clothing on their body. The audition process is fun but they are not in theater. Professional Frankels white is a beanie, and stressful. There are about six people improv groups have to wear a Freidmans white is a vest. in it right now, but after auditions uniform so the Clements improve My white is a garter because I was they hope to have about 15 to 18. association decided to wear all the only freshman girl to be in the There is no set number of people black. The attire consists of a black show that year, and I was classy. I who make it. To tryout they played CIA shirt, black pants, white socks, was extremely embarrassed, said improv games like freeze, what are black converse, and everyones own Spalding. you doing, and animal freeze tag. The staff members keep the same individual white. The whites are My favorite memory would be a secret only revealed in CIA. It is a white the whole time they participate my audition, I had no idea what tradition passed down from a former in the CIA organization. I was doing and I was just weird cast member when they make CIA. So for the Clements CIA, it will be and sarcastic and people thought it The director wanted everyones Lights, Camera, Action on April was funny and then I got in, said uniform to be a little unique so that 26 through 30.

NHS presents senior citizen dance

By ZAINAB DHANANI Reporter The National Honor Society chapter at Clements is an active organization that puts on an annual event at the school- a Senior Citizens dance. This year, the Senior Citizens dance is on Saturday, April 28 from two to four p.m. in the Commons. Glenys McMennamy, English teacher, is one of the NHS sponsors. The Senior Citizen Dance is the spring philanthropic event that Clements NHS students organize as a way to strengthen the Sugar Land community, said McMennamy. The Senior Citizens dance has been an annual event for a couple of years now. Duties for NHS members range from setting up before the event, volunteering during the event itself, and cleaning up after. All of the NHS active members are required to participate in some way, either through set up, during the dance, clean up, or preparations before the actual day, said McMennamy. There are about 175 current active members that will contribute to the success of this event. Ofcers and ofcer candidates participate in the planning of the event as well as leading their peers in completing the various tasks involved. Some of the work is creative in preparing decorations or iers and whatnot. Other work is a bit more labor intensive to move around tables and set up the room, said McMennamy. NHS members who cannot attend the event due to certain circumstances are nonetheless, still required to participate. Students who are not able to be there on the day of the dance participate by calling to conrm our RSVPs or by bringing door prizes for the seniors, said McMennamy. This annual dance is a free event with no tickets to be purchased beforehand, and any senior citizen is invited to attend. We send out invitations to people who have come in the past and invite them to bring their friends. We also post iers in retirement communities and select businesses in the area. We expect to see 75 to 100 seniors come out to the event, said McMennamy. This is a social event for senior citizens all Photo by Nia Wheat around the Sugar Land community to enjoy a great afternoon lled with good music, food, and activities. There is a live band that plays all sorts of social dancing music. There will be tables for card games and relaxation and coffee and snacks to munch on while taking a break from dancing, said McMennamy. Clements students, even those not in NHS, can get involved by inviting any senior citizens they may know to this dance. Students with grandparents who live nearby or senior citizen neighbors are encouraged to invite them to the dance or to contact either me or Mrs. Taylor with questions they may have, said McMennamy. NHS members, ofcers, and sponsors all look forward to the day. One of my favorite things about the event is seeing the interactions between multiple generations. I cannot stop smiling when I see young people dancing and talking with the seniors who come to the dance, said McMennamy. The best part about the Senior Citizen dance is getting to see all the NHS members really connect with the seniors and even dance with them, said President, Ailen Vega. The most exciting thing about the Senior Citizen dance is getting to see

rather than one where we have to worry about our scores, said Darius Tamboli, junior. The students will be visiting Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Sea World, and will also take dance lessons to put a twist in things. Among all the enjoyment, though, the students will perform at a showcase before judges and will receive critiques on their playing similar to those they receive at UIL, but with a different scoring system. The spring trip is a great way to learn new experiences being around with the people you have known for so long. Also, we get a chance to display all that we have learned and get judged on it, Tomi Onadeko, senior and band president, said. Touring these cities during UIL season, all three of the ne arts groups hope to feature their musicianship and the hard work put in to the pieces they will be performing, all while building lasting memories with their peers.

the looks on all of the seniors faces when they get to dance or just hang out with us, said SAC chairman Michelle Tran. They really appreciate the event and it makes us feel extremely satised. My favorite thing about it is approaching one or two people sitting and being able to talk and get to know them for a little while. They are so warm and friendly and talking to them really brightens up my day. My favorite part of the Senior Citizens Dance is when the NHS members and the senior citizens dance together. It is very cute watching the seniors teach the NHS members how to dance the type of dances they danced when they were young. You can see the looks on the senior citizens faces light up when they get asked to dance by a NHS member, said historian, Tiffany Yick. My favorite thing about the dance is watching all the fun the seniors are having and knowing that I am making someone elses day, said treasurer, Kristen Pownell. Anyone whos wishes to can attend the dance. Students are urged to bring older family members, neighbors, or friends.

April 2012 Ranger Review

and ragin. 17. Clean your room, is your mantra. 16. With great shock, you hear your parents warnings pop out of your own mouth. 15. You barely refrain from telling co-workers to wash their hands before eating. 14. You suddenly become the most stupid person on the face of the earth (from You Know Whos point of view).

Parents
girlfriend your child acquires, as a potential family member. 10. You give up Saturday night date night to stay home and watch the clock until the kid gets home. 9. There may be 11 football players on the eld, but just one that matters to you. 8. You nally get alone time and you hate the quiet. 7. Class rank once again matters. 6. You plan vacations around winter and spring breaks. Mary Syndrome). 3. You dont have to watch television to see drama. 2. The worst two words in the English language become college tuition. 1. You never thought you could love someone as much as you love your child. This is my last column for the year, because the May issue is a special one dedicated to seniors. For those of you with underclassmen, Ill see

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TAKS Social Studies 10th Grade All day TAKS Social Studies Exit Level 7:00pm Boys Varsity Baseball vs Austin @ Frankie Field 7:00pm C.I.A. Improv Comedy Show Saturday, April 28 All day CHS Varsity Track @ Region 3 - 5A Meet 7:00am Choir Booster Club Garage Sale 2:00pm NHS Senior Citizen Dance 7:00pm C.I.A. Improv Comedy Show Monday, April 30 7:00pm Track Banquet 7:00pm C.I.A. Improv Comedy Show Tuesday, May 1 11:30am Parent Advisory Council Meeting (PAC) GSA Mentor/Mentee Meet & Greet 5:30pm Orchestra Booster Club Meeting 5:30pm Stars Booster Club Meeting Friday, May 4 9:00am VIPS Appreciation Breakfast 7:00pm Stars Spring Show Saturday, May 5 7:30am SAT Test 7:00pm Stars Spring Show Monday, May 7 All day STARR Algebra I & Chemistry 8:00am AP Testing Chemistry 8:00am AP Testing Environmental Science 12:00pm AP Testing Psychology 7:00pm Athletic Booster Club Meeting Tuesday, May 8 All day STARR World Geography & Algebra II 8:00am AP Testing Computer Science A 8:00am AP Testing Spanish Language 12:00pm AP Testing Art History 6:30pm FFA Banquet 7:00pm Theatre II Show 7:00pm NJROTC Booster Club Meeting Wednesday, May 9 All day STARR Biology & US History (Field Test for CHS) 8:00am AP Testing Calculus AB 8:00am AP Testing Calculus BC 12:00pm AP Testing Chinese Language and Culture Thursday, May 10 All day Starr Geometry & Physics (Field Test for CHS) 8:00am AP Testing English Literature and Composition 12:00pm AP Testing Japanese Language and Culture 12:00pm AP Testing Latin: Vergil 12:00pm AP Testing Latin: Vergil 7:00pm Drumline Percussion Concert 7:00pm GSA Booster Club Meeting Friday, May 11 All day CHS Varsity Track @ State Track Meet All day STAAR World History & Make Up Star Testing 8:00am AP Testing German Language and Culture 8:00am AP Testing United States History 9:00am PAC/VIPS 9th Grade Parent Coffee 12:00pm AP Testing European History

Dear moms (and dads, too): Top ten Parent Information indicators you know you are a parent
Dear Moms and Dads, In honor of spring and lighthearted April, I thought I would try my hand at a less serious topic. So here goes. TOP TEN REASONS YOU KNOW YOURE A PARENT 20. While shopping, you hear a little one cry Mama or Daddy and you automatically whip your head around to answer, forgetting your child is 17. Monday, April 9 All day CHS Varsity Track @ 23-5A District Meet 4:30pm Boys Sophomore Baseball FBISD End of Season Tournament Tuesday, April 10 All day CHS Varsity Track @ 23-5A District Meet 5:30pm Orchestra Booster Club Meeting 6:00pm GSA Parent Meeting (Incoming Freshman) 7:00pm Boys Varsity Baseball vs Elkins @ Elkins HS 7:00pm Lady Rangers Varsity Softball vs Dulles @ Clements HS 7:00pm NJROTC Booster Club Meeting Thursday, April 12 All day CHS Varsity Track @ 23-5A District Meet 10:15am Senior Panoramic Picture 3:00pm UIL One Act Play 4A Area Contest 3:00pm Boys JV Baseball FBISD End of Season Tournament 7:00pm GSA Booster Club Meeting Friday, April 13 3:00pm Boys JV Baseball FBISD End of the Season Tournament 7:00pm Boys Varsity Baseball vs Willowridge @ Willowridge HS 7:00pm Lady Rangers Varsity Softball vs Willowridge @ Clements HS Saturday, April 14 7:00am ACT Test 8:00am Boys JV Baseball FBISD End of the Season Tournament 2:00pm Boys Varsity Baseball vs Travis @ Travis HS Monday, April 16 All day Shared Dreams Donation Drive 4:30pm Boys JV Baseball FBISD End of the Season Tournament Tuesday, April 17 All day Shared Dreams Donation Drive 7:00am Annual Spring Blood Drive 7:00pm Boys Varsity Baseball vs Dulles @ Frankie Field 7:00pm Lady Rangers Varsity Softball vs Travis @ Travis HS Wednesday, April 18 All day Shared Dreams Donation Drive Thursday, April 19 All day Shared Dreams Donation Drive 4:00pm Invisible Children 2nd Annual Soccer Tournament 7:00pm ProGrad Committee Meeting Friday, April 20 All day CHS Varsity Track @ Regional Qualier Meet All day Shared Dreams Donation Drive 7:00pm Boys Varsity Baseball vs Hightower @ Hightower HS 7:00pm Lady Rangers Varsity Softball vs Marshall @ Clements HS Tuesday, April 24 All day TAKS Math Grade 10 7:00pm ProGrad General Meeting Wednesday, April 25 All day TAKS Math Exit Level Thursday, April 26 All day TAKS Science 10th Grade All day TAKS Science Exit Level Friday, April 27 All day CHS Varsity Track @ Region 3 - 5A Meet All day

Photo by Nia Wheat An angry mother reprimands her teenager over mistake and teenager responds by rolling eyes and directing acidic attitude towards parent. 19. You never even knew what an 13. The gas tank is always on 5. Youve memorized the number you next year, and for those of you to the nearest 24 hour emergency who have a senior graduatiing, I oboe sounded like until your kid empty. salute you with a Well, done! started playing one, and now its 12. You nd yourself arguing and clinic. your favorite musical instrument. then saying the dreaded words, 4. You walk into a bedroom lled with teenage girls, and all conversation Love, 18. You are 40 years old and you Because I said so! understand the meaning of swag 11. You look at each boyfriend or stops. (This is called the Typhoid Mom

Kids to Parents: Life proves that failure may bring future success
We, as human beings, fail quite often and it doesnt stop in the classroom. We make mistakes all of the time. We are not perfect, we were never made to be perfect, and there are no plans of us even becoming perfect in the near future. Like they always say, You win some, you lose some. Schoolwork is the perfect example of how easy it is to fail. One unit comes clear as day and the next is almost like a foreign language. No matter how many times you try to understand it, nothing seems to make sense. You win some, you lose some. Its a hard lesson to teach your teenagers, who are hopefully used to being blessed with intelligence and good grades. So, how do you deal with failure? Your child may go through a long time where they dont experience any true failures. They might have straight As, perfect relationships with their friends and family, and they may even get that promotion theyve been working so hard for. But, just wait for it. Failure will strike like a plague. One day after another, they will have to deal with failure. Theyll let their boss down, they wont nish a project on time, or they may even fail to call you back after countless attempts to get a hold of them. Dealing with failure is almost as hard as trying to avoid failure. It requires a heart of steel and having almost no emotion because, lets face it, failure hurts. Knowing that you didnt do enough or you werent good enough really hits home and the tears are induced. But, what if you have emotions? If you are like a majority of the human population and you do possess the ability to actually feel something, failure can be hard to accept. You might want to cry. You might want to lock your bedroom door and never come out. You might even want to curl up in a little ball and watch Friends reruns over and

By AMY WAGNER Co-Editor-in-Chief Dear Parents, Weve all been there before. Sitting at our desk, our teacher hands out the test, we look down, and we realize we have no clue how to answer any of these questions. Were doomed from the start and yet, we still attempt to salvage the last bit of our grade. We dread the next couple of days and then, when the test grades are posted, we sigh. Its another failure to add to the list.

TAKS Information
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) is the state assessment given to 10th and 11th grade students in the content areas of English/Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Students must pass all sections of the 11th TAKS to receive their high school diploma. For more information, visit TEAs TAKS website Testing Dates for Spring 2012 English: Wednesday, March 7th (10th and 11 grade) Math: Tuesday, April 24th (10th grade) and Wednesday, April 25th (11th grade) Science: Thursday, April 26th (10th and 11th grade) Social Studies: Friday, April 27th (10th and 11th grade) Please contact Stephanie Wallman at stephanie. wallman@fortbendisd.com for 11th grade retest dates.

over again until you can recite lines word for word. You have to be able to teach your teen that failure happens to everybody. Its perfectly normal to be upset but when one door closes, another opens. There will be plenty of opportunities down the road and its important to stress that to your teen. We teenagers tend to be very close-minded, so making sure we understand that will really help. Like I said, failure can really hurt. Some people are devastated after news of failure. Some handle it pretty well but teenagers seem to have a hard time acknowledging that, even though it is tough, life does go on. It is also important not to stay angry. A popular defense mechanism is to get frustrated at people and to lash out. People practicing this tend to say things they dont mean and hide from the rest of their peers. They mask their sorrow with anger, which is something that should never be done. So, if you notice your child lashing out after a disappointing loss in a game or a rejection letter from the college of their dreams, make sure they know that they are loved, they are appreciated, and that they have a lot going for them. Whether their future takes them across the world or just down the street, they need inspiration to keep going. Failure hurts but it doesnt have to sting forever. Tell your teen to stay positive! It all gets better in time!

4
By REBECCA PLUNKETT Copy Editor Creative Writing Club is one of the newer clubs here. They have been meeting since October and have already grown together into a network of close friends. No matter how different each person is, they all have one thing in common. They all share the love and passion for writing and the will to express their ideas and creativity. Last October, juniors Charisa Gunasekera and Misbah Mukhi founded the Creative Writing Club. It currently serves as a creative outlet for its fteen members. Both Gunasekera and Mukhi have big plans for the club. Wed always been really into writing, so we realized we didnt really have a club for it and decided to go ahead and make one, Mukhi, said. This club has no strings attached and is not just about putting it on a college resume. The members are writers who seek to share their ideas with others and improve their own abilities. This is a fun outlet for everyone and is a good place for introverts to come out of their shells. Even those who have never been comfortable sharing their writing with other people may nd this a good place to get over that initial fear and insecurity. Putting ones ideas out in the open may be difcult due to the fear of rejection. However the members of the Creative Writing Club are open to help improvement, encourage sharing ideas and

Features
have things where we have a song and well write what we feel from that song or well have a certain topic or well choose from our idea box, Mukhi said. A mystery surrounds the club concerning the idea box. Recently, it disappeared from their meeting room, never to be seen again. We had this box that had random writings, prompts, things we wrote down. I dont know why anyone would take it, Nikhil Rohira, junior, said. The Creative Writing Club also resembles a few other clubs at Clements, like Chess Club as Graves remarked, for in this club they have deep discussions and talk about a wide variety of subjects to suit almost anyone who shows up. It reminds me of philosophy club, Rohira said. For anyone looking for an outlet for their writing, the Creative Writing Club offers this and much more and is a good idea for anyone who wants to meet new friends. We meet every Monday from 2:45 to about 3:40, Mukhi said. The Creative Writing Club, though new this year, already offers so much and grows every week. Though denitely not just a name on a college application, it offers much to those seeking a good club to suit their writing skills, their ideas and their energy. While on a Monday, members say it is still high energy and fun and is denitely a good place for everyone. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors alike will t in. By: Brian Zhou Guest Reporter In a market dominated by a certain Japanese company for over 21 years, a new contestant is trying to break into the ring. After a relatively successful portable in the form of the PlayStation Portable (PSP), Sony is attempting to knock out the Nintendo 3DS out of rst place. Boasting highend hardware and a slew of features, could Sony nally beat Nintendo in the handheld market? The answer: with a constant ow of software to back up the system - yes. The gaming community has responded favorably to the PSPs successor, the PlayStation Vita. Some claim that this was the best portable theyve ever seen in their lives. Others are more skeptical, saying that the hardware is impressive, but Sonys approach with the PSP back then made them cautious. Regardless, many gamers agreed that the Vita has the potential to be the best portable made. I think the Vita is the best handheld Ive held in my hand, said Push Square editor Corbie Dillard. I mean, it ts my hands perfectly, and the buttons and touch-screen all feels responsive. And thats pretty impressive, as I loved playing the PSP, which I considered it the best portable since the Game Boy Color. Dillard also cites impressive build quality, encouraging people to at least try a Vita before writing it off completely. However, others are more skeptical. When reviewing the Vita, IGN Editor Scott Lowe relays factors like high

April 2012 Ranger Review

New writing club allows students Novel tech devices to express their voices of creativity in gaming market

The creative writing club gives students a chance to test out their writing skills.

Photo by Rebecca Plunkett

writing, and they make it a point to make everyone who shows up feel welcome. We help each other with other ideas we have outside of school, like books or short stories, Shaan Budhwani, senior, said. As far as entering the club is concerned, there is not much to do to join other than to show up and bring a good attitude. There are no requirements. You dont have to be a great writer, there arent any fees. You just have to show up and have fun, Graves said. Not being the most gifted writer

should not hold a person back from being a part of the Creative Writing Club. They are for expanding knowledge as well as improving members abilities in the written word. Everyone is encouraged to join. Even if you dont write you can always come in, Mukhi said. The love for writing has fueled this club in the right direction, taking the members through a journey of the literary world with every meeting. After we write for about 30 minutes or 40 minutes we just have some time where we share what we wrote for the day. Some days well

price point ($250) and expensive proprietary memory cards as a huge barrier to adoption of the Vita. Also, he notes that less than half the price of a Vita and a 32 GB Memory Card, a customer can buy a 3DS or an iPhone/iPod Touch. New features to the PlayStation family include Near and LiveArea. Near is basically a way to nd Vitas around your area to unlock special goodies in Vita games. Unfortunately, reviews that poured in claimed that Near was so convoluted to use and that it needed instructions. LiveArea is the new UI of the Vita, similar to the iOS home screen. LiveArea, in a stark contrast of Near, was praised for being easy and practical to use. It allows full-on multitasking in the Vita, a rst for a gaming handheld. The design of LiveArea was also compared to iOS, and some reviews even preferred LiveAreas UI over iOS, though only around ten percent of them really liked the UI. Battery life, however, is a common complaint. At the most, it can offer up to three to ve hours of gameplay, ve hours of watching videos, and nine hours of listening to music on the Vita with the screen turned off. Granted, the 3DSs battery is even worse, ranging at 2.5-5 hours of gameplay, but dont expect any battery life rivaling the iPad or Macbook. The Vita has some blunders over its positives, like the proprietary memory cards and steep price compared to the 3DS and iPhone 4S, but its overall an amazing device that proves that dedicated handhelds are here to stay.

Senior Spotlight

There are stories being told every second of every day, and its exhilarating to be in the midst of it all. -Joseph Bui
Photo courtesy of Joseph Bui photos and hopefully win a prize for their exceptional work. Some of the photos are even proudly put up on display around the school. Photography is a great hobby that keeps me entertained, Bui said. Whenever I am bored, I like to bike around the neighborhood and shoot a picture of anything that I see. It is fun and like a game of I Spy, but with the whole world. When he is not occupied with art, Bui utilizes his free time to volunteer and make a difference in his community. He is the current publicist for the Interact club, an organization that provides volunteering opportunities for students who want to have an impact in their society. With senior year being less stressful, Im enjoying the whole thrill of being able to help out while meeting new people and hang out with old friends, Bui said. I mainly volunteer through Interact since they just have so many events and opportunities to be a part of the giving community. The last ofcer position that Bui holds is the decorating manager for the International Club, which celebrates the variety of cultures and diversity in Clements. Bui loves exploring cultures and is very interested in his own Vietnamese culture. As Im getting older, Im really appreciating the food aspect of my culture, Bui said. While that may sound piggish, food is such a huge part of the Vietnamese culture and its the main form of celebration and gifts. Bui has huge plans for the future. He has applied to many art schools but is still waiting on their responses since art schools issues their decisions later than many other schools. His number one choice, however, is Pratt Institute in New York, the state he grew up in. I moved to Texas in seventh grade from Bronx, New York, Bui said. It was probably a small milestone in my life simply because of the huge changes I faced. In New York, I grew up around an endless number of cousins around my age and in Texas, it was just my family. Developing my own friends was both interesting and challenging. When Bui is old enough, he plans to move somewhere that will inspire him. He prefers the busy city life since it is more vibrant and has numerous opportunities to learn and experience new things. There are stories being told every second of every day, and its exhilarating to be in the midst of it all, Bui said. Bui has accomplished many of his goals in high school and hopes to continue to succeed in college and in the future. Many of his peers and teachers wish him good luck and success in all of his endeavors. By RABAB ZEHRA Sports Editor Every person is unique in his or her own way. This quote is very true and applies to all types of people, especially teenagers. All teenagers have something different about them that makes them special. In Michelle Chens case, she has a special gift of being creative and artistic. My favorite subject is art. I love the way the colors mix and the whole environment of it, Chen said. Chen does not get a lot of free time, due to her involvement in art. She has been in art all four years of high school and she loves it. Currently she is in Donna Reedys class for AP 2D Design. Since art is a subject that requires a lot of focus, time, and talent, Chen is not involved in any extracurricular activities. She also is not employed anywhere. Im desperate for a job, but at the same time art is really timeconsuming for me, Chen said. If Chen does have free time she spends it with her family and friends. Her hobbies consist of making art and playing video games. She plays the acoustic guitar and piano. She is also very involved in her culture. I celebrate the traditional holidays, but because all of my relatives live in China, I miss out on some of the family events, Chen said. In school, Chen is very involved too. She is currently in National Art Honor Society and ISO Photography and is the Co-President of NAHS. I was in Interact until this year and I did a lot of various volunteer work. NAHS also sponsors some community outreach programs that I go to, Chen said. Chen has had a lot of inuences on her life and these people directed her toward her goal. Her art teacher, Mrs. Reedy, has had a huge impact on her choices. Shes taught me everything I know about art. Shes so enthusiastic and funny and she feels more like one of my peers than a teacher. I never thought Id pursue art as a serious career until I met her. Shes denitely had a direct impact on my future, Chen said. Other inuences that Chen had are artists, her parents, and friends. She denitely will miss them, but says she will come back during breaks. Her high school experience is quite different than others. I would describe my experience as very stressful. Im pretty excited to leave here, but I do feel like Ive learned a lot these past four years, even if it wasnt by free will, Chen said. After high school, Chen plans to attend a college out of state. I want to go to Pratt Institute because its amazing. I love New York, and the school has a great digital arts program. And as of now, Id love to nd a career in video game design. Its a combination

My favorite subject is art. I love the way the colors mix and the whole environment of it.

-Michelle Chen
Photo courtesy of Michelle Chen

By ZAREEN KHAYRATTEE Lifestyles Editor As graduation nears, many seniors reect on their high school experiences, accomplishments, and the lessons they have learned. One such student who, as an ofcer of four school clubs, has demonstrated great leadership qualities and perseverance is seventeen-year-old Joseph Bui. Bui is best known by his peers for his unique artistic abilities and creative talents. His favorite subject in school is art, and he is even the Parliamentarian for the National Art Honor Society at Clements. It is no longer just a getaway or a creative outlet, but a future lifestyle and a network of friends, Bui said. It is super crazy to believe that this high school subject sparked it all. Drawing is not the only art form for Bui. He also is very interested in photography and is the founder of the ISO Photography club at this school. Bui is currently co-president of the club which is a place for all students who love photography. Bui encourages anyone who has a passion for images, art, and photography in general to join, regardless of experience. Bui works together with the other ofcers of the club to think of fun and creative assignments for the students each week. They come up with a theme, and the members have until the next meeting to submit their

of my two favorite things: art and gaming. Hopefully Ill get a job in New York or California, Chen said. Chen has a real big interest in video games and the designing of them. Mark Z. Danielewski is Chens favorite author. Ive only read House of Leaves by him, but I instantly fell in love with that book. The whole thing is like a giant maze. Theres so much to interpret and endless meanings to nd. Plus there are pictures, Chen said. Chens favorite quote is one by the Dalai Lama: When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satised. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, Oh yesI already have everything that I really need. Chen explained the quote. I feel like people are always working really hard to get more and more, which is mostly good because it keeps you motivated, but sometimes we lose sight of a lot of the great things we already have. I think people should always remain humble and grateful, no matter what their social stature is like, Chen said. Before Chen graduates she would like to give advice to freshmen. Always, always, always take your SATs early. If you want to wait until the last minute, then you better be super prepared to ace it, Chen said.

April 2012 Ranger Review

Students explore ways of dealing with everyday stress

By: MARINA BOTTIGLIERI Reporter Stress. A noun meaning a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Weve all heard of it. Weve all experienced it. But how do we deal with it? Different people have different strategies to manage their stress. Mark Bottiglieri is a son, a husband, a Commander in the United States Coast Guard, and most importantly, he is a father of ve. Stress is probably an understatement when it comes to this mans life. I get stressed, but I try to conceal it so that nobody tries to help me out, said Bottiglieri. But when the stress is too overwhelming for me to handle by just going on with my normal life, I like to make slideshows. I love to take pictures of my family whenever I think theyre doing something Id like to capture and remember forever, so when I do get stressed I make slideshows of the pictures, add a little music to it, and look at the pictures for hours. It may not do much, but it reminds me that family is and always will be rst, and that what Im stressing over is secondary and ultimately unimportant. But what if youre not a parent yet? You dont have a job and all of those so called adult responsibilities, but you have teenage problems... equally as important. Hannah Brun is the epitome of a teenager under stress. She is a daughter, a sister, a friend, a student, and a musician. On a daily basis she works as hard as she can to be an exceptional student to better her future. Music plays a huge role in her life, and is described as being her escape. Whenever Im stressed out about something,, said Brun, I put in music and run! Exercising is a common coping mechanism for people under stress. It is said to clear the mind and allow one to feel fresh and ready to take on anything that once seems too much to handle. It (running) clears my head, so that I know no matter what Im dealing with I can get through it, said Brun. Maybe when people are stressed, it is more comforting to turn to someone that they love and trust in order to see what they have to say about the situation, instead of actually doing an activity such as making slideshows or running. This is the case for Dina Pugliesi, a daughter, a sister, and a student of a world renowned performing arts high school that is located in New York City. Although she is clearly very talented in performing arts (drawing, specially), Pugliesi nds it more effective when she turns to her best friend, Stephanie Matishek, for reassurance. Steph has been there for me since

Features

Stressful situations may lead to physical and emotional consequences in future

By JENNIFER MATHEW Reporter Stress is an automatic reaction a person gets when there is a perceived threat. A release of chemicals caused by stress sharpens your senses, focuses attention, quickens breathing, increases heart rate, and tenses muscles. Stress can be a good thing if it is a certain amount because it provides challenge, change, and stimulation but excessive stress for a long period of time can have an unhealthy impact on your physical and mental health. There are four different levels of stress that measure how much the stressor affects an individuals daily life. When an individuals in the rst level, Level 1, the individual would just have mild anxiety. This level is considered healthy stress. A person in this level is highly motivated and feels very productive. The next level, Level 2 happens when a stressor continues to make an effect in a persons daily life. A person in this level may complain a little about feelings of being stressed and overwhelmed. Level 3, is characterized as chronic stress. In this level, people get feelings of irritability and tension related stress. During Level 4, individuals feel chronically exhausted, both physically and emotionally. There are many symptoms of being overstressed which people should be aware of especially today, since life has gotten even more complex then it used to be with more demands, deadlines, and pressure. Some symptoms include a sad, depressed, or irritable mood. People that are overstressed may also experience weight loss when not dieting, weight gain, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, feelings of worthlessness, inability to concentrate, thoughts of death or even suicide. If you nd yourself having many of these symptoms, its time to go see a doctor. Sometimes stress can be benecial, for example

Photo by Nia Wheat Stress balls are useful to have when it comes to coping with issues that bring students stress during their life. day one. I trust her and she really for her advice or her opinion on of dealing with it when it comes. knows me better than I know myself the situation, but more times than because it WILL come sooner or sometimes. She always knows most, I just ask her to listen. Shes a later. the right things to say and thats fantastic listener. No matter what it be, stress can be why whenever Im really stressed All in all, stress comes in dealt with in a healthy way, and just out I always know that I am able different ways to different people, remember that youll get the best of to talk to her. Sometimes I ask her and everyone has their own way it.

Photo by Nia Wheat Teenagers who are overstressed for a long time often get depressed.

Learn ways to measure stress easily

thing that should be considered is whether a person would have reason to stress. A recent death, a major change, or just a change in school or residence can often spur bouts of stress and anxiety. Even small things can instigate panic. Once it is determined that a person has stress, then the level and seriousness of the issue can be measured. There is no outright and straightforward way to measure stress, which is a feeling, and thus, an intangible thing. However, several effects of potential stress can be measured that can determine the severity of the anxiety. There are several ways to measure stress, for oneself or for others. There are many machines, such as electrocardiograms and electroencephalographs, which measure certain things like skeletal muscle strain, brain waves, and heart rate that can altogether provide a clue as to the measurement of stress in a persons life. There are many websites, additionally, that ask questions and determine the level of stress in the end. However, the following simpler methods are probably the most reliable. One way to measure stress is to measure breathing. If a persons breathing is shallow or quick, versus the normal deep and slow respiration, it is a clear sign of stress. Another easy method is to place a hand on the back of the neck. If the perceived

when someone is in a life or death situation, adrenaline ruses through their body, their senses sharpen, and their mind works faster and more efciently. Stress in Level 3 and Level 4 for long periods of time can cause a condition called distress which can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, and chest pain. Too much stress can also contribute to problems sleeping, obesity, diabetes, and even hair loss. Make sure to visit a doctor when you start getting too overstressed, too much stress is very negative for your physical and mental health.

By FAROHA KHAN Reporter Stress is a major problem for many people and consumes the entire nation, forcing many to resign to moments of pure depression and feelings of loss. It is mentioned on television and magazines, and doctors point at it as the cause of many problems and diseases. But a rare few actually discuss how to know if a person has stress and how to measure this problem. Some teens have their own way of measuring stress. I measure stress by how quickly someones emotions or anger changes, Paulina Hsu, said sophomore. Emotion experts say that the rst

Stress continues to bog down students in daily lives

By ZAINAB DHANANI Reporter Day-by-day, stress appears to be a growing issue in everyones lifestyle, and it is sadly increasing as peoples lives are getting more and more hectic. Stress can lead to detrimental consequences and effects, but identifying the causes can help with eradicating stress to begin with. As helpguide.org reports, a stressor is any issue that causes stress. Basic stressors can range from anything negative to anything positive. Topping the list of causes of stress as shown on www.stressand-relaxation.com are nancial problems. With bills for basically everything and debts that are still pending, families nd it increasingly hard to make rnds meet. According to webmd.com, the major causes of stress include personal issues and also social and work-related issues. Personal issues that can contribute to stress include issues with health, inner emotional problems, and family-related stress. Getting life-startling news about being diagnosed with a disease or serious illness can cause an innite amount of stress on people. As webmd.com reports, major changes, such as dealing with the death of a parent or spouse, losing your job, getting married, or moving to a new city, are also stressors. Often times, these major changes are foreign and new situations to people, causing overwhelming feelings and ultimately, stress. As www.stress-and-relaxation.com reports, work-related issues are on the list of major stressors. For teens and adults, work seems to be a big stress-causing factor, as there are many concerns and issues involved in the workplace. Some that contribute to stress include issues or dissatisfaction with ones salary, issues with ones boss or fellow employees, or even speculation about losing ones job. According to stresscourse.tripod.com, daily hassles are a major cause of stress, such as losing things, being stuck in trafc, or getting into arguments with people. The reason stated is its the constant, daily frustration caused by these hassles that cause us the most stress, because they occur so regularly and therefore can undermine our health. Teenagers are certainly not immune to stress. Many adults may nd it hard to believe, because they are so stressed out with adult matters themselves, that the problems of their teens might seem inconsequential in

temperature of the neck is cooler than the neck, it can be most likely be concluded that the owner of the neck is stressed or feeling intense trepidation. I personally measure stress by the amount of skin/nails on my ngertips, said Huixin Liu, sophomore. Although someone who is stressed about something to come or something that has happened will probably not take time out to measure the level of their stress, the former are great for those good people who would like to help their friends and family. It is important to realize that nding out the intensity of stress is the best step of guring out a solution and moving forward.

Photo by Nia Wheat The heart monitor is a small, useful gadget to use when measuring stress.

Theres more than one way to relax

By SARAH JACOBSON Voices Editor Stress is something that comes with the territory of being a high school student. With all the projects, tests, quizzes, and homework that are given every week, stress is almost always inevitable. That is why stress relief is so important. Without stress relievers, high school would be stress, drama, and more drama. There are many different ways to relieve stress. Some ways are as simple as taking a long, relaxing bubble bath, while others are not quite so easy, like exercising and running for a couple miles. Different people resort to different ways, but almost anything that a person enjoys doing can relieve stress. A quick way to relieve stress if you only have an hour or so to spare is to just hop in the shower, play some music, and sing like no one is listening. It takes the mind off of whatever is worrying it, and it is a fun and easy way to do so. The hot water can relax the muscles, and music is a great way to relax the brain. Another quick stress reliever is doing a lot of moving. This could mean simply sitting down and squeezing a stress ball for a little while, or just doing jumping jacks. An even more effective way is going for a short run. If you have more than an hour, there are multiple ways to relieve stress in this time. One of the most common is yoga. It is a great muscle relaxer, and the calm, swift movements it requires stops the brain from focusing on all the outside problems, and focuses in on doing the stretches. A good way to improve any of these options would be to light a candle in the room with a scent that promotes relaxation, such as lavender. It

comparison. But teens experience true stress just as adults. Some of the causes may be parental expectations, dating situations, grades, homework, extra-curricular activities, family issues such as divorce or death, after school jobs, and the list goes on. As most people already know, stress has numerous and sometimes deleterious effects that can spiral out of control. Identifying the causes of stress can help with taking precautions to avoid stress and therefore live a happier, stress-free life.

Photo by Nia Wheat Photo by Nia Wheat Yoga is one of many activities students can try to reduce stress.

stimulates the senses and takes the mind off of worrying. As there are many things that help rid the body of stress, there are also things that promote stress. Sitting in front of the TV and watching it while constantly zoning out for hours at a time are very bad for stress levels. No matter the situation, relieving stress can be a quick x. It may not remove all of the stress for a long period of time, but it does help with the moment. Stress will follow you around all of life, and learning how to respond and manage it is just part of the process.

Lifestyles
Although the technical challenges are great, it is possible to do. They will need to have glass which can also serve as a screen, a very sharp image, as well as strong voice recognition. The glasses with have facial recognition as well. If you were to come in contact with another person and couldnt remember if you know them or where you met them, the glasses can tell you exactly where you rst saw them. They also could be used for virtual reality games that will use the real world as a playground. Android software that power smart phones and tablets will be used for the glasses. Similar to the Android phones, they will have GPS and motion sensors. It is possible that the glasses will not be technologically ready this year, but it is denitely a possibility. If they do not come out this year, they will be out as soon as we know it. As well as the high tech Google Glasses, the iPad 3 came out in March. The screen of the iPad is in HD and will also has Siri. It costs between 500 and 830 dollars, depending on if you want to get LTE. Along with the iPad HD, there will be a smart case to fully protect the iPad from scratches or cracking of the glass. The iPad HD will have Bluetooth connection also. It will have a 5MP camera and can take 1080p video. The camera on the iPad is said to be much better than the other iPads and you will be able to use the camera for more things rather than just face time. Along with other apple technology, the iPhone 5 is said to come out in the fall of 2012. It will be more powerful and fast, and have a bigger screen. The iPhone will also have a better battery life span. It will be twice as fast as the iPhone 4. It is to be made with Gorilla Glass II which will be harder to crack and break the front or back of the screen and possibly make the phone thinner than the previous iPhones. Siri will also be included in the new iPhone, just like the iPhone 4S. The phone has dual core graphics that apple claims is up to seven times faster than the previous iPhone. Apple has yet another product that will soon be coming out, which is the iPad mini. Its competitor is the kindle re. This iPad should be released soon and is said to be 191 dollars. The iPad will have an iOS 5 operating system and 1GHz dual core processor. It will have two cameras, one on the back and one on the front. The battery life of the iPad mini will also provide up to ten hours of battery life. It also has a built in microphone and a built in speaker. It is will have a user friendly nger print resistant coating technology which will enhance its security feature. This iPad will also include Wi-Fi connectivity and cloud computing feature.

April 2012 Ranger Review

By ANN KENNEY Ads Editor Google Goggles, the latest technology of 2012, will emerge in the markets by the end of this year. Googles secretive X Lab in Mountain View has been hard at work to develop the special Google Goggles. These goggles, or smart glasses, will include small screens that sit at a distance from human eyes. The glasses will have a motion sensor and GPS capabilities. They will have 3G or 4G data connection, to make streaming quick, and a built in camera that allows you to take in both sights and people. Lastly, the will have a navigation system that is activated by head tilting to scroll and click. They are expected to feature some level voice control and navigation through the tiny screens of the glasses.They will identify products, famous landmarks, storefronts, artwork, and popular images found online. They can also translate words in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian. Smart glasses will range from 250 dollars, to 600 dollars. The glasses will include Google Latitude to determine location, Google Goggles to determine what objects are within view, and Google Maps to allow you to view what landmarks and buildings you are looking at. Google will be capable of streaming images and giving information about what the image is to the person wearing them. For example, if a person were to look at a landmark, the glasses will give you historical information about it. Picture walking through a museum and having a pair of glasses recognize the art that your looking at and whispering in your ear, the information and history on it.

New, advanced gadgets hit markets around world

Photo by Nia Wheat Students use new technologies in a way that keeps them organized and allows them to enjoy reading.

Eco-friendly actions help environment

By ABBY RUNNELS Reporter One of the biggest issues today both socially and politically is the environment and reducing our carbon footprints both as individuals and as a country. Whether or not you believe in global warming, it is becoming easier and more popular to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. There are a few simple and cheap ways to make an impact that allow you to live your life while protecting the earth at the same time. One of the easiest and most cost-effective things to do is to replace the light bulbs in your house with uorescent ones. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, uorescent bulbs use seventy-ve percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. They are more expensive than incandescent ones, but they could save you up to thirty percent on your energy bill, which your parents would no doubt appreciate. Another easy and energysaving practice is making sure the dishwasher or washing machine is full before running them. Running these appliances halfway full and completely full uses the same amount of energy. Make the extra effort to ll them all the way full, and you might even save your parents another few dollars on the water bill. In order to live a truly eco-friendly lifestyle, you might have to cut back on some things that were a part of your day-to-day lifestyle that might be a little bit too wasteful. One of these is the bottled water. Sure, water is good for you, but the process of harvesting the raw materials, processing and manufacturing the petroleum-based plastic water bottles, and shipping them to market is extremely energy intensive. So lter your own water and ll up your own reusable bottles for water at school and wherever you go. An easy and cheap way to reduce the amount of plastic in the landlls is to use your own canvas bags at the grocery store. Some stores even offer discounts for bringing your own bags and reducing the amount of plastic bags thrown away. Something you can do that will not only benet the earth but also local jobs is to buy things at the farmers market. Going to the farmers market can be a fun trip for your family away from the ordinary grocery store. It allows you to support local farmers and ranchers. Food grown or produced halfway around the world didnt just appear in the supermarket. It was shipped by plane, boat, truck or train, and no matter which method of transportation it took, greenhouse gases were emitted along the way. Pick the apple grown in your state instead of the banana grown in another country. Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website to nd the farmers market nearest to you. Carpooling is also an excellent way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

April horoscopes
By SIMRA MIRZA Reporter Aquarius - Get yourself together, youre falling apart! Dont let people control your life. This month you will have to balance out your social life, and your school life. Try focusing more on your education because youre gradeswell lets not go there. Love will nd its way to you one way or another, so keep your eyes and heart open. Dont be surprised if you lose someone or something, it will nd its way back to you by the end of the month. PiscesSad and alone. Thats how most of your days will be this month. Its awful, but the truth. Get over it. Another thing, put down that chocolate bar, and go out! Exercise! Believe me, you need it. If you believe in yourself you can achieve anything, just put in the extra effort and hard work, and you got it made! Capricorn- Love is in the air, so keep your schedule open. You may have the best dates of your life this month or possiblythe worst. Look around, who do you hang out with? Friends or enemies? Think about it. Dont let people tread on you, stand up for yourself! Have you looked in the mirror lately? Youre amazing just the way you are and dont let anyone tell you otherwise. Sagittarius- This month might be a bit confusing for you. There will be some misunderstandings in your love life, but dont worry, your friends will be there to support your decisions. How about a membership to a nearby gym? Youve been taking a few rounds to the fast food restaurants I see. Also, try achieving your highest goal this month, youll most likely reach it if you try hard enough. Scorpio- Be careful. There are people around you that you shouldnt trust. As they say keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. Keep your eyes peeled. On the bright side, love is getting closer, whether you like it or not. Its time for you to move on and look to the future; it holds great things for you. Libra- Do it. You know you want to. Tell your crush you like them! You might not get the answer you wished for but, look at it this way, is the world over? NO. So you need to move on, because theres a special someone waiting for you in the near future. Also a very good friend of yours is going through some trouble right now, they might not act like they need the help, but they really do. Reach out to them and help them get through this rough patch, because they would do the same for you. Virgo- Its time to move on. You know it, they know it, and we all know it. Move on from your ex. It ended for a reason, it just wasnt meant to be. If you keep dwelling on the past it will cause many unnecessary problems. Stand up. Sitting there isnt going to get the job done! Put your back into it! It will all be worthwhile at the end. Leo- Keep your mind and heart open to new types of people. You may be surprised with who you end up with this month. Follow your instincts; they might just lead you to the right stuff for the rst time. Lay off the pizza and cookies for a while. Youre not looking so good. Cancer- Stay ahead of the game, all of the time. You never know what might be coming at you. Also, dont give in to peer pressure. It might be hard, but give it your all, and youll get through it. Expect an important phone call, it could be life changing, in a positive or negative way. Gemini- Change. Youll be having a lot of that this month. Whether it happens in your love life, family life, or social life, itll be there. Stop hiding your feelings. Tell someone about the way you feel before it gets out of hand. It can be serious, but if you deal with it soon enough, the problem will subside quickly. Taurus- Set higher goals. The goals you have now are too low for your standards. You can do much better! But dont rush into anything. Take your time. Youre a funny person. But what might be funny to you might not be funny to someone else. What you need to do is really think about your actions before you do anything. It can help you a lot in the future.

Photo by Nia Wheat Recycling plastic bottles is a great and simple eco-friendly practice.

By NATALIA NARANJO Co-Editor-in-Chief It is crazy to think about how big of role music plays in our lives. For me, I cannot imagine waking up, driving to school, or showering without having some music to sing along to. Music is a powerful presence, because music can change the way people feel, how a memory is stored, and of course, its great effect on peoples moods. Since we are teenagers, it is a confusing time of guring out our thoughts and stabilizing ourselves. We want to learn and get involved in the crazy world around us, but at the same time we are kids of lethargy and laziness. Music helps us organize all these emotions. With so much going on in the world and with such amazing ways to keep track of it all, (the ever amazing internet and its trusty companion, WiFi) teens are so much more aware of these events. Political turmoil, war, famine, and natural disasters around the world are only some of the things that we are exposed to, and inevitably (as history suggests) we turn to music to evoke how we feel about it all.

Meaning in music evolves over time

Unlike the internet, this is not new. Artists like Bob Dylan, the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and Simon and Garfunkel among many others were young artists getting their message out in the turmoil of the 60s. Music sometimes stems from conict, and it is one of the only peaceful conduits for sharing strong emotions. Even though those songs were sung so many years ago, they remain popular because they had meaning. People have sung along, strummed along, and hummed along to these songs for ages. The power of the music lives on, past the lives of the original artists, because the passion remains. That is the beauty of music. A song serves as a snapshot of a specic time, a certain memory be it sweet or not. There are some songs by the Beatles that remind me of cooking with my dad on Saturday mornings. Music helps us relive moments in our lives, can de-stress us, and can make us feel like we used to for the one or two minutes the song plays. We listen to a multitude of songs in our lifetime, and not all of them make a difference. What I have been seeing in the past few years is that our generation is lacking what past generations had. Listening to the radio is embarrassing because of all the senseless, lewd and stupid lyrics blasting through the speakers along with the beats loud and eccentric enough to distract from the awful music. There is nothing substantial, nothing to hold on to or cherish, to show to the younger generation or, in fact, to cherish even now. Before, when Beatlemania was full blown and Bob Dylan and other artists in the 60s and 70s were raging, their songs would play on the mainstream radio, they would later be marked as the artists of the era. I am not saying their music was solely based on serious themes or political overtones. They did have their silly, simple love songs and nonsensical ballads, but it was nothing compared to what we have today. Back then it was hand holding and innocent love, and now the music of the age is full of obscenities and expletives. There is no reason for it, and it is really sad because I think about how in the future as adults, we will have what by then will be considered old MP3 les of all of these songs we somehow made memories to,

Getting a ride with someone to the movies or the mall could make a difference. If you are going into the city, Houston has the Metro Rail system and a good bus system. It is much easier than ghting trafc to and from downtown anyway. Of course, a list of eco-friendly practices would not be complete without recycling. Some areas have recycling trucks that pick up plastics, metals, and glass from the curb. If you do not live in one of these areas, there is a recycling center near you that you can take your materials to. Taking recyclables to a center once a month does not take much time and will be benecial in the long run. Another thing that many people forget about is recycling paper. There are easy ways to recycle your paper goods. By saving catalogs, newspapers, and the mountain of papers we as students collect at school, you could have a big load to recycle every month. Some elementary schools and middle schools, along with Clements, have recycling bins that you could take your papers to. It is becoming extremely easy for young people to make a difference in the environmental movement. We will be the generation that will be faced with the most extreme effects of climate change, and we need to start making a change now if we are to have a positive effect on the environment.

and they will be too unacceptable to show to anyone. Hopefully at some point, there will be some kind of musical revolution, and the music industry will realize everything it has been lacking and x itself. Granted, there are plenty of honest and sincere musicians with real talent. The only problem is that they are also greatly underappreciated. Music is a huge part of my life, and it describes who I am, what my interests are, and everything I love. I am collecting the music that has shaped me, and maybe someday I will have a soundtrack to my life, because in the end, we all have our own signature music.

Photo by Nia Wheat

April 2012 Ranger Review

out so that both dates know what to spend their money on if they plan on having shared expenses such as one pays for the limousine while the other pays for food. Buy the Dress Early Going to a tux or dress tting to nd the perfect outt is one of the rst things students should do, along with nding the perfect shoes, so that they can be sure to get their outts on time and not have to worry. Ideally, prom attire should be rented or purchased at least two months before the big day. It is also important for the couple to know each others outts so that they know what kind of corsage and boutonniere to get for their date. Also, the girl sometimes wants her dates vest to match her dress. Another thing that guys might want to consider to get with their tuxedos is a tie and cummerbund that matches with his dates dress, and cuff links along with studs. Both girls and guys need to remember to break in new shoes ahead of time, so foot pain does not spoil the evening. How to Get There Another thing that is important to add to the prom checklist is transportation. If a couple plans on driving in one of their cars, they will need to decide on whose car to take. If the guy wants to take his car, one thing he may want to do is make sure the car has been detailed. Another helpful thing to do is to make sure the vehicle selected as the main transport is in good shape so that there is not a break-down on the way to prom. If they decide to go with a group and take rent a limousine,

Lifestyles
then looking for a limousine rental company early is a good idea. This is denitely important to do so that couples will actually have their limousine on the night of prom and not have to make last minutes decisions for transportation. Where to Eat Food is another thing to consider adding to the list. If the couple or the group wants to go out to a restaurant to eat, whether before or after prom, then they may want to plan ahead and look for the restaurant they would like for dinner. Making reservations would ensure that there is a table free for the couple, instead of having to worry about arriving at the restaurant to nd that the place is packed. Make Appointments Well in Advance Set up hair, nail, and makeup appointments ahead of time. The last thing anyone wants is to wait until the last minute only to nd that all the appointments are taken.

By BRITTNEY SCHAFER Reporter With prom scheduled for May 12, students will have a lot of things to plan for, such as prom attire, transportation, food, corsages and boutonnieres, and other attributes to having a great night. To prepare for prom, starting early and checking off the prom checklist is one way to make sure the preparations are complete for the big night. Buy Your Tickets Buying tickets when they rst go on sale not only insures that you get them, but that you get them at the cheapest price. Talk Over Plans and Expenses with Parents and Friends The rst thing that should be done before anything else is for both dates to talk to their parents about their plans and the expenses that could be involved while planning for prom. The parents themselves may offer advice and their opinions that could be useful for prom preparations. If going in a large group, it is time to get everyone together to discuss the details and come to an agreement on everything, which can be a complicated situation. Some groups could consist of two couples, but many opt to go in groups as large as 30. Expenses are very important. This needs to be planned out before everything else, so that both dates know how much they plan on spending so that they do not end up spending all of their money while still having to pay for other things. Expenses also need to be planned

Many students gear up for prom with checklists

Photo by Nia Wheat Make a prom checklist in advance with these helpful ideas and tips If you are trying a new hairstyle, it while girls genrally like the wristlet is wise to try it out a week or two corsages the best. Want to really before prom in order to see how you make a hit with the girls mom? like it. Everyone knows that the Arrive at the door with owers for best make up is offered free at major her, too. stores. However, these book early, Just for Girls too, so dont forget to call at least It is convenient to carry a small three weeks in advance. evening bag, so you can pack some Dont Forget Flowers essentials such as a mini-make up kit, Order them ahead of time. Girls a little cash, and your ID. Make sure usually by their dates boutonnieres, your cell phone is fully charged.

Teens save by reducing prom expenses

By BRITTNEY SCHAFER Reporter Prom is a big event at Clements, and it involves a lot of preparation for students who want to make prom night perfect. Along with preparations come expenses, such as the price of a students outt, the limo rental, dinner, and so on. However, there are a variety of ways to save money. One way to save money is for teens to be creative and make things themselves. Corsages can be homemade by buying or picking owers of their choice and going online or asking someone to help them make the accessories. This saves them money that they would ordinarily have to pay the orist. Another way to save money is to borrow or even use hand-me-downs. Students asking a friend if they can borrow a suit or dress and accessories or asking a family member for these things is one way to get such items for free. It also saves students a trip to the store, and it saves time that they might have spent looking for their outts and accessories to go with them. Try visiting an upscale resale shop outside of Sugar Land, for a real deal on prom dresses. No one will know it is a resale dress unless you tell them. For girls, doing their own makeup, nails, and hair instead of getting it done at a salon is another way to spend less money. They can go online to look up different hair styles that they can do without a stylist. Money-conscious girls can have their friends or family members help them apply the make-up and do their nails, along with helping them style their hair. This leaves only the make-up, nail polish, and hair materials that they may have to buy if they dont have the necessary items already. If professional nail help is needed, going to a local manicurist can be cheaper than going to an expensive spa. Looking for bargains both at stores and online is another alternative way to save money. Looking for outts at discount stores, such as Kohls or Marshalls, are places where you can nd bargains and discounts. Going online and purchasing items from websites, such as Ebay or Amazon, to look for outts and accessories is also another option to consider when saving money. Shopping online does however mean doing so in advance, so that a students purchase arrives in time for prom night. Eating dinner at a fancy restaurant can be very expensive. To save money, students have the option to have dinner at their own house with their date. If they want to make it fancy and romantic, they can add their own touch, such as playing music in the background or even asking a family member nicely to be the server of the night. They can also decide if they want to eat outside or inside as well. If students want to be more creative, they could go to a remote area in a park and have a picnic or have their dinner in another unique place of their choice. For students that have after-parties, having it take place at someones house or even at their own place can be cheaper than going to a hotel or somewhere else. Another benet of hosting an after-party at someones house is that the teens may have accessibility to more things such as a hot tub or even a dance oor since most public places that have

to help ease the stress of prom. After Prom Know what you are going to do after prom ahead of time. Make sure reservations have been made and conrmed if going out to eat. Make sure your parents know where you are, and do not drink. It will only cause you harm. Making a checklist for prom can help with the pre-day stress, and it is a way for many to get organized.

Film industry vies for more DVD sales

By DANIEL TORRES Perspectives Editor If you have done some shopping lately you may have noticed some movies on Blu-ray or DVD carry a sticker or label that says a digital copy is included. The digital copy, is a copy of a movie that you can save onto your computer or Ipod, is a rather recent marketing gambit by the movie studios that in theory is a nice idea but unfortunately executed terribly by movie companies who are too scared and ignorant to acknowledge the reality of todays consumers. One of the main issues with digital copies is that they are often unnecessarily overcomplicated to download, often used to increase the prices of DVDs and do not take advantage of the technological capabilities of the format. Why limit the potential, especially when people can nd it illegally online through many torrent website. This is not meant to advocate piracy but meant to illustrate something that the entertainment and media industry simply have not gured out or are too negligent to address directly and intelligently. The reason for the recent struggle in home media sales (DVD, Blu-ray, Digital Copies) and the parallel rise of online piracy is because studio companies across the board have failed to come up with a system that gives the consumer what they want. If Blu-rays or any other home device format are to succeed they need to be able to provide an experience that competes with the free choices available online, because at this point in time one could nd illegal pirate copies with the highest video quality available. Instead of coming out with multiple additions of movies without special features or Piracy does need to be addressed and it is true that it takes hundreds of millions of dollars away from the movie industry each year, but one should know that the rise of piracy was inadvertently proliferated by the fact that free illegal downloading services like Napster took advantage of the desire for digital media by whilst on the other end record and movie companies had no equivalent

Photo by Nia Wheat nearly as organized or efcient. It is shame that instead of combating piracy by providing better services the MPAA (Motion Picture Arts Academy) has decided to use aggressive methods like the SOPA and PIPA bills, which would have enacted severe regulations and allowed the government to interfere or shutdown many websites ranging from Google to Wikipedia and even YouTube. It luckily failed to pass, but it seems as though as a whole the entertainment industry has not gotten the message across, embrace the future. RECENTLY WATCHED 21 JUMP STREET- The remake of the popular 80s television series starring Johnny Depp that chronicles the adventures of undercover police inltrating high schools, could have been another silly clichd lm. However, it succeeds due to its tongue in cheek nature and ability to embrace and poke fun of the quirks of its genre. It also doesnt hurt the Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have very good chemistry together and the rest of the cast which includes Dave Franco, Ice Cube, and a slew of fun cameos are all fun. All in all 21 Jump Street is a fun time at the movie theater. B LIKE CRAZY Like Crazy, recently released on DVD, focuses on two college aged lovers Jacob (Anton Yelchin) and Anna (Felicity Jones) who are separated when Anna violates her travel visa and is deported back to her home country of England. Yelchin and Jones do a solid job in their respective roles and Jennifer Lawrence also gives a sincere performance, but ultimately I found Like Crazy to be somewhat aimless. C

Shop for prom dresses with these tips

exactly what you want will help you in this process. Research, research, research! Months before prom and before going shopping for your dress, make sure to start browsing online to see all the different dresses and styles out there. Decide what type of dress you want to wear- short, long, sparkly, ball gown, mermaid, sequined, one shoulder, etc. Some great inspiration for choosing your dress can come from seeing celebrities gowns at awards shows to see whats hip and trendy for this year. After browsing magazines and prom websites, decide which type of style you want to wear, and choose a style that ts your personality. When choosing a dress, pick something that ultimately makes you happy, said Antonia Crupa, senior. If you are longing for that fairytale experience, a ball gown dress is perhaps for you. If you are looking for a more modern and chic look, a sleek, form-tting or mermaid style dress is probably more suitable for you. Everyone has a different body shape so identifying yours can help in choosing a dress that will compliment your gure. Find a dress that will atter and t your gure best, said Candice Lu, senior. As wikihow.com says, A-line dresses are best for curvy girls, and sheath-style dresses are best for slim gures. If you are petite and short, a shorter dress is perhaps best for you. If you are looking for a long dress, look for a short dress that is perhaps long for you, says wikihow.com. Though the traditional prom dress

such things are closed by the time prom is over. The only expenses that they would have to worry about are refreshments and damage costs if there is an accident of any kind involving property damages, especially if the party takes place at a friends house. Having a professional photographer take pictures of a prom-goers and friends can be very expensive as well. To spend less money, teens can ask someone in their family or even a friend with good photography skills and a nice camera to take photos of them during prom night. Once the pictures are taken, they can also ask someone with the right program on their computer and a printer to alter picture sizes, make copies, and print the photos for them. This is cheaper than going to a store and getting the photos done. Prom does not necessarily have to be so expensive. It is important to remember that after all, it is only one night. Spending a lot of money can put great expectations on the night, and create greater disappointment if prom does not live up to its expectations.

By ZAINAB DHANANI Reporter It is that time of year when high school girls are in preparation for one of the biggest events in their lifeprom. They are scouring boutiques for that perfect dress to wear on this once-in-a-lifetime night. They are looking forward to having a glamorous escape and fairytale for one night. Receiving a corsage by a date, taking pictures with friends, and having a memorable night are the last farewells to those four years of utter craziness and sleepless nights from the loads of homework and studying, yet, they also bid farewell to those four years of learning life lessons and building long-lasting friendships. Undeniably, one of the most important aspects of prom is the dress. The dress may cause tears of stress in the beginning part of the process but in the end, the dress will hopefully elicit tears of joy. It has become so important among high school girls that Facebook groups, in which girls post a picture of the dress they are planning on wearing, have been made. It aims to prevent every girls worst nightmarethe nightmare of showing up to prom only to get your excitement crushed as you see the girl across the room wearing the same exact dress! That perfect dress will be framed in pictures around the house for many years to come, and it is a big part of a girls prom experience. The experience of shopping for the dress can be a little stressing and overwhelming but knowing

is a oor-length gown, it is up to department stores, and online stores you in choosing what dress length to nd the best dress for the best you would like. If you are more value. of the traditional type, stick to the Choose a dress at least a few months oor-length gown. If you feel more before prom so that you have enough comfortable in a shorter, yet still time for necessary alterations. Once glamorous dress, go for it. you choose a dress, decide how Try on dresses even if they do not you will do your hair and makelook good on the hanger. They look up- professional or yourself. Either way better on most of the time, said way, do a trial before prom with the Victoria Fortenberry, senior. hairstyle you are thinking of making, Also, keep in mind that the person along with appropriate make-up wearing the dress can make the dress to prevent yourself from having a look better than it did on the hanger. make-up and hair malfunction the Keep an open mind because a day of prom! dress you think is ugly or plain may Once you are ready for prom and turn out to look amazing on you, wearing your dream dress, it is time said Fiona Gunawan, senior. to simply work the dress, exude an Prom dresses these days are very air of self-condence, and know that expensive and range anywhere you look like a million bucks! between hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars. Finding money to buy the dress is denitely the most stressful thing when it comes to shopping for a dress, said Gunawan. Though the price of a dress can often stress you out, setting a budget after talking to your parents can help ease the stress. Once you set a budget, start looking for dresses that are within your budget, and this can help with ruling out multiple dresses that you may fall in love with. Be a smart shopper. Buying a prom dress is an investment. Once you visit Photo by Nia Wheat boutiques and nd a style that you like best, check Shopping for the perfect prom dress is an out different boutiques, exciting and fun time for high school girls.

8 perspectives
Schools unjustly blamed for bad students decisions
By NATALIA NARANJO Co-Editor in Chief In this day and age, bullying can come from anywhere at any time. Especially with the advent of technology it is becoming increasingly easier for bullies to target fellow students online, but as in the days without computers, bullying still takes place in schools. While many would argue that schools and districts are not doing enough to protect kids who are bullied, there has been plenty of regulations in Texas alone to help students in need. Just in 2011, several acts were passed that require school districts to train teachers to recognize the signs of bullying and severe depression in students, among other regulations that allow schools to punish bullies and aid those in trouble. There have been cases where kids who have been bullied are never noticed or are too afraid to speak up which has led to some unfortunate events such as the incident in CyFair ISD with 13-year-old Asher Brown, an eighth grade boy who was relentlessly bullied for being gay and for his religion and size among other things. Brown killed himself in September. The boys parents claim to have contacted the school and the district about the bullying their son was enduring but say that nothing was done to ameliorate the situation. On the other hand, the district replied that no such calls had been made. This is the main problem. Communication is key when these problems strike. Schools have several strategies to tackle bullying and these implemented approaches have been effective in saving many students from the unfortunate fate of Asher Brown and many kids like him. The fact of the matter is that the public only hears about the failures of these policies and assumes that the school faculty is at fault for not noticing. In the public school system, high school teachers have hundreds of students that they see each day for a mere 45 minutes. In that time the teacher does not necessarily get a lot of quality time with each student and instead does their best to teach the lesson in the time allotted. Also, in many cases like the Browns, the principals and counselors are also heavily blamed. However, in high school it is very rare for the principals to get to know all the students, unless of course the school is very small which is not true of public schools, so blaming them on not noticing an issue with a specic student is somewhat absurd. Students are told countless times that their counselors are only there and the efforts schools put in to anti-bullying campaigns to work is that the students need to help themselves. No educator can just guess or infer that there is a problem because frankly, there are too many students and too little time. They cannot be the only ones to blame. Alas, communication is not easy to come by when students are being bullied or harassed. Most of them do not want to talk about it, or are too scared to even bring it up, so they repress the incidents and suffer in silence. Luckily, there is a solution. Clements has been very perceptive to this issue of silence among the bullied and has come up with a very proactive way to stop the violence. It is called the Lifesaver project that allows students to discreetly tell counselors about an issue they are having. Not only can the victim notify someone who can gladly help, but a friend of the victim or even someone who witnessed an event can grab a slip of paper from any classroom and write what they saw or experienced. The students then place the paper in boxes set up in the library and the counselors ofce so they can nd help from counselors and the school psychologist and stop the vicious cycle of bullying. This project can really help students who are suffering. In reality many victims are too scared to face their problems with a person face to face. There is enough being done in schools to regulate this dilemma of bullying, they are being implemented and they have saved many students from depression or worse. The only issue with the regulations is the lack of communication between students being hurt and the help they have available to them. Kids need to speak out, not be afraid and take a stand. Help is just a few footsteps away, a phone call away and now, only a slip of paper away.

April 2012 Ranger Review

Are schools doing enou

If a student is struggling, the sad truth is that they have to let someone know or else in the midst of thousands of students, they will fall through the cracks.

to help with whatever problem they may come up against, and there is no denying that they are, but these counselors in public schools are inundated with students they have to look after. Hundreds of kids are assigned to these counselors making it difcult to make a real connection with each and every one of them. There are many ways for students to talk about their problems. Students who are in crisis are told to speak with parents, teachers or a trusted adult, hotline numbers are posted all around the school and on the back of school issued IDs. If a student is struggling, the sad truth is that they have to let someone know or else in the midst of thousands of students, they will fall through the cracks. Communication is the most important factor for these types of delicate situations because in order for the many regulations

Photo by Nia Wheat

RANGER REVIEW

English language deteriorates, words

By DEVIKA SINGH Copy Editor Voices-Co-Editor LOL, BRB, TTYL, IDK, and YOLO. We all see these abbreviations on a daily basis and maybe even use them instead of typing out the actual sentence or phrase. These and many other words have invaded the English language due to mass media and the many electronic resources. And who needs the dictionary anymore when there is a dictionary.com app on phones and iPods? Youngsters are now using abbreviations instead of real words because its hip and all the cool kids are doing it. Because there is an iPhone in almost every hand, no one even knows what a thesaurus is any more and for those who dont have the device, they can just right-click the word and Microsoft Word will generate a synonym in seconds. Whats not cool, though, is that the English language is turning into this black hole of condensed words. Its value is nearly negligible since it is created on the basis of ignorance towards what English used to be. No matter how much teachers try typing in a text ot e-mail. Much of this ignorance is caused by a lack of wanting to try. Recently, even in high school, English teachers have received essays and research papers from students which use 2 instead of to, u instead of you or k instead of Okay. Students switch intellectual realms with their own version of grammar and spelling without paying attention to the fact that what they type is incorrect. Moreover, since these grammar and spelling rules arent being used on a day-to-day basis, it is extremely easy for them to slip students minds. Teenagers are so enveloped by all the machinery around them that they think it fruitless to learn them. Because of this, the quality of the English language is deteriorating. When colloquial jargon is used so often, remembering formal language

STAFF

W.P. CLEMENTS HIGH SCHOOL P.O. BOX 1004 SUGAR LAND, TEXAS 77479
Editors: Editor-in-Chief.........................................Natalia Naranjo Editor-in-Chief............................................Amy Wagner News Editor.............................................Yasmeen Yahya Parents Editor...........................................Yasmeen Yahya Sports Editor.................................................Rabab Zehra Features Editor......................................Maha Muhammad Lifestyles Editor..................................Zareen Khayrattee Perspectives Editor.......................................Daniel Torres Photography Editor.........................................Nia Wheat Voices Editor............................................Sarah Jacobson Advertising Editor........................................Ann Kenney Advertising Editor........................Laurence Golden Blais Copy Editor.................................................Devika Singh Copy Editor...........................................Rebecca Plunkett Cartoonist....................................................Felicia Chiao Reporters: Faroha Khan, Brittney Schafer, Zainab Dhanani, and Abby Runnels Sponsor: Ms. Linda Carroll Awards: Columbia Press Association medalist, 19871993; Silver Crown, 1989, 1994; Cold Crown, 19921993; Interscholastic League Press Conference Award of Distinguished Merit, 1987-1993; National Scholastic Press Association All-American Honor Rating, 19901992; Regional Pacemaker, 1990; National Pacemaker, 1990; Pacemaker Finalist, 1995-1996; Gold Medalist, 1995-1997; Columbia Press Association Silver Medalist 2000-2001, Columbia Press Association Bronze Medalist, 2008-2009
The contents of this newspaper are the private expressions of the students and do not reect the endorsement, sponsorship, position, or expression of the District.

No maer how much teachers try to reinforce grammar rules or SAT words, teenagers rapidly forget it all due to lack of interest or a sense that it is not relevant in their lives.

Photo by Nia Wheat becomes difcult. Another resource which takes the blame for the big changes in the English language is technology. The children born into this new age of technology are so wrapped up in the vast number of electronic devices

New kind of bullying appears with i

is the rst generation to have an unlimited amount of information available at their ngertips with the World Wide Web. The other aspect is the stand against bullying that our generation is taking right now, which comes from a general social trend toward acceptance for everyone in society. Bullying has become one of the most spotlighted issues in the social world, with several movies and television shows capturing the effects of bullying on teenagers. The news media has helped us along as well, offering several stories, such as that of Phoebe Prince, a Massachusetts teen who killed herself because of how terribly other girls treated her at school. These have started a social movement to keep kids from both bullying and committing suicide as a result of it. Campaigns such as the It Gets Better have helped garner more acceptance and hope for kids who feel like nothing will get better in their lives because they are different. While these can help the victim of bullying, the real change happens when we as young people take a stand against it in our schools and communities. Bullying is no joke. One of my really good friends from another school in this district recently lost a friend to suicide as a result of bullying. She felt as if it was her fault that he chose to take his life. She kept thinking that there was something she could have done to help him. That is a terrible feeling to have, and teenagers should not have to go through that kind of tragedy. But the truth is, sometimes we just do not know what people we know are going through. It is hard to tell what people are going through when they are not willing to share or conde with their friends. However, there are some warning

to reinforce grammar rules or SAT words, teenagers rapidly forget it all due to lack of interest or a sense that it is not relevant in their lives. They see value in abbreviations versus actual words because abbreviations save them from a few seconds of

Photo by Nia Wheat By ABBY RUNNELS Reporter Every generation has something about it that makes it unique from all the others, whether it is attending Woodstock and a music revolution for the young people of the 1960s, or protesting the war in Vietnam for the adolescents of the 1970s. Our generation of teenagers may have more than one different aspect, though it is a little harder to pin down at this moment in time. One of them obviously is that this

April 2012 Ranger Review

perspectives 9
By YASMEEN YAHYA News/Parents Editor Shocking stories of teen deaths are always somewhere in the news. What makes these deaths so shocking is the fact that they did not have to die. They were bullied and were beaten to death, or they took the situation into their own hands and did the deed themselves. Although there are anti-bullying programs like No Place For Hate, Steps to Respect, and the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program teens are still being harassed and are sometimes pushed to their limits. So the question is, are our schools doing enough to prevent bullying? The number of teen suicides would have to answer that question with a no. In Buffalo, New York a homosexual fourteen-year-old boy named Jamey Rodemeyer committed suicide on the eve of the National Bullying Summit. He took his life because he received anonymous messages from cyberbullies on Formspring that referred to his sexuality. On Staten Island, a girl by the name of Amanda Cummings stepped in front of a moving city bus because of the attacks of her peers that have been going on for years. She was only 15. A 17 year old boy by the name of Eric Mohat took his own life because of the insensitive words of his peers. They had the audacity to tell a fellow classmate to go kill himself, and so he did. What is dumbfounding about Mohats case is that sources say that he was harassed in front of school ofcials and faculty, and they did not do anything to protect him. These suicides are proof of the cruelty of teens these days. Bullying has also taken a new form recently. With the constant evolution of technology, teens can now hide behind their computer screens and send anonymous messages to their victims. Some of them do not even do it anonymously. They openly show their cruelty and post revolting comments online for the whole world to see. Whether it is on a Facebook timeline, a Twitter feed, or a text, bullying someone through a screen does not make it acceptable, nor does it make it less painful. Also, there is something that all teen suicides have in common. They did not have to die. They did not have to resort to suicide to try and escape the pain that their peers inicted on them. Recent statistics from bullyingstatistics.org give a whole new perspective on the bullying scene. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens. Each year about 4,400 teens die from committing suicide. A study in Britain found that most people who are targeted for bullying are girls who are 10-14 years old. How someone can be so cruel as to force someone to resort to taking

ugh to prevent bullying?

Bullying persists in schools, preventative measures lacking

How someone can be so cruel as to force someone to resort to taking their own life is unbelievable, but what is more unbelievable is that schools do not get more involved.
their own life is unbelievable, but what is more unbelievable is that schools do not get more involved. In May, Fort Bend ISDs technology department sponsors Internet Safety/ Cyberbullying Awareness Month, but what about the rest of the year? Although there is a specic month for Cyberbullying Awareness, the awareness should last the entire year. Instead of having one month dedicated to cyberbullying, the district should eke out a continuous amount of awareness. Also, having just one school assembly will not solve the problem. Have a monthly assembly over important issues that surround students in their everyday lives. That is how the students will know that the parents and faculty care. Make the students know they

Photo by Nia Wheat

s replaced by abbreviations
daily basis. Based on this trend, the future is bound to be full of students who know how to type only in this manner, causing the rapid weakening of grammar and spelling. And this trend is spreading so quickly even the smart kids have begun using lingo constantly and they rely on Microsoft Word to correct their papers for them. Today the red line underneath misspelled words is more important than learning how to spell. Also, with so many resources that are available to students such as laptops and iPads, teenagers will be more inclined to make use of the language incorrectly compared to writing that books are too mainstream for because, after all, there is no spelling them. suggestion given by right-clicking the They think new texting lingo is paper. Such changes to the English so cool that they become easily language are, without a doubt, going confused when they hear words that to leave the future generations with a arent even complex, but just more vocabulary full of abbreviations and intellectual than what they see on a acronyms that will eventually replace

are safe. Make some sort of announcements that let the students know that the school councilor or school psychologist is open to speak with students with issues that are troubling them. If students know that the faculty and other trustworthy adults care about them, they are more likely to come out from under their shell and tell someone what is going on in their life. To stop cyberbullying is a bit more challenging for schools because they cannot control what students say or do outside of school. However, just because a situation is difcult does not mean it is impossible to achieve. After all, Napolean Bonaparte himself said, Impossible is a word to be only found in the dictionary of fools. The Fort Bend district could hold a seminar that educates students, and even faculty members on bullying. These seminars would include topics like what to do if someone is bullied, the dangers of cullying, and the future affects of bullying. In the seminars, there could be special speakers like people who were bullied or knew someone who as bullied. Also a psychologist could come and speak to the group. Promoting bystander behavior is also another productive route to choose when trying to prevent bullying. Bullying can easily be stopped when even just one person speaks up. When one person has the courage to say, Hey, enough is enough, that is when the link between the bully and his or her victim is broken. The truth is, bullying is omnipresent, but schools can do more to diminish the amount of bullying that goes on around corners and in the hallways. There has always been a ubiquity of bullying, but that does not make it okay. In fact, that makes it all the more reason for schools to make it one of their goals to stop it. This is how progress is made and this is how schools can make their students feel safe.

increased access to internet

signs that we can use to detect if a friend is being bullied. Being moody, depressed or sad a lot of the time is one of them. It is always a good idea to ask a friend if they are being bullied when they act like this. Another sign is lost interest in school. If they just do not care anymore, then asking why they are acting this way could lead to a conversation about them being bullied. In order to stop this from happening in our schools, we have to take a stand to change how people are treated. That also means cyber-bullying has to stop. This is probably the easiest form of bullying, especially for girls, because one can hide behind a screen name. Cyberbullying can also be the worst kind of bullying. In a society where so much revolves around how we are perceived online, this can be the most damaging. We are the rst generation to have to deal with this, since we are the rst generation with Facebook and Twitter. By becoming more accepting of people who are different, we can start to phase out bullying. Of course, there will always be people who do not like each other, but hopefully in the future they will settle their differences in different ways, most preferably

actual words. Lastly, another issue not impressed upon students is that the English language is also used outside of English class. Many students believe that once they leave the classroom, there is no more need for words, grammar and spelling and they forget that writing outside of class is still writing and should be done using the language students are given. Students have taken to a completely different set of words that will ultimately cause the imminent destruction of the English language. There is no need to create another one when the English language is omnipresent and valid in all situations. If these values are lost, young adults will not be able to write professionally. The years to come will denitely not be legit.

The last thing we want is to be known as the generation who had so much potential to impress the importance of unity but ended up doing nothing with it and instead passed it on for the next generation to x.
without bullying at all. To really change society, however, we have to start treating bullying like a serious issue, and not just a joke. Every time we are joking around and say So and so is bullying me! the issue becomes a little less serious and a little more of a joke. We need to

know what constitutes as bullying and stop it. Sure, the It Gets Better campaign will help many kids see that their favorite celebrities have hope in their future, but if their friends at school are not buying into it, it makes it that much harder to really believe. We are the generation that has more power in our hands than any generation before us. We can make our voice heard so easily with the rise of social media. It is important that we use this power for good and not evil. By changing the social attitude to believe that bullying is not at all cool, we can make a difference in so many peoples lives. The last thing we want is to be known as the generation who had so much potential to impress the importance of unity but ended up doing nothing with it and instead passed it on for the next generation to x.

10
Houston area and we have been for about 25 years, Furlow said. Furlow is not new to Clements. In fact, he has been at Clements since 1983 when Clements rst opened. He has coached 30 tennis players who continued the sport in college, one who has played on the pro tour, and one who is now his assistant coach. Coach Brown, my assistant,

sports
played on my team for four years. It has been very nice having her back as my assistant coach, Furlow said. The four teams are Varsity I and II, JV and Freshmen. As with any team that is successful, the tennis team dedicates itself to tennis after school. We practice every day during the athletic period and then we rotate the after school practice. Since we have a fall season (Team Tennis) and a spring season (Individual Tennis), we have been practicing since August. Each team practices two days a week after school, Furlow said. All the practice has paid off as the Clements tennis team rises above the rest with their sights set on the highest prize. We accomplished our goals in the fall to win district, make it to at least the semi-nals at regionals (we made it to the nals), and be ranked in the top 20 in the state. We were seventh, Furlow said. Part of being a team is growing together and learning from each others mistakes. As time goes on, improvement is always evident. This is one of the best teams that we have had in several years. In team tennis, we won district and made it to the regional nals, Furlow said. Still yet to come are a few tournaments in April that will set the standards high for players coming in for the 2012-2013 year. Our District tournament is April 2 through April 4, so we will be getting ready for that, Furlow said. The Regional tournament is April 17 and April 18 and the State tournament is April 30 and May 1. Furlow feels condent about his players performing well in these matches.

April 2012 Ranger Review

2011-2012 Swimming All-State (Top 24 in Texas) 200 Medley relay Girls: 1st Team Colleen Lord, Romy Landeck, Keegan Pho, Amanda Allen Boys: 1st Team Harrison Bui, Kyle Yu, Clement Dulac, Alex Ng 200 Freestyle Honorable Mention 200 Individual Medley 1st Team 2nd Team 100 Buttery 2nd Team 100 Freestyle Honorable Mention 200 Free Relay Honorable Mention Cassidy Papso, Romy Landeck 100 Backstroke 1st Team 100 Breastroke 1st Team 1st Team 1st team 400 Free Relay G: Honorable Mention Keegan Pho, Madison Pho B: 2nd Team Kyle Yu, Harrison Bui
we always do our share of that, Furlow said. However, winning is only the tip of the iceberg. Having fun is what tennis is about for Furlow and his teams, as well as building connections and teaching life lessons. I am very proud to have worked

Rangers tennis team determined to win at Districts, Regionals, Nationals

I expect us to win district at all six levels. I hope to have most of our varsity advance to regionals, and I think we should have some players qualify for the state tournament, Furlow said. For next years team, Furlow is not worried in terms of players. Im not concerned about next year at all, Furlow said. We will have a lot of good players coming back, so I am sure that our expectations will be high again. For any hopefuls who wish to earn a spot on the team, Varsity tryouts will be the week before school starts and JV and Freshman tryouts will be the rst week of school. There are a few key points to keep in mind before showing up. They have to know how to hit the basic strokes. There are enough good players, so I dont have to keep any beginners, Furlow said. Once they show me they can play, we have challenges and the top players from the challenges are the ones that I keep. After being picked, players should work even harder, not only to prove themselves but to earn their spot. Keeping up with the team and being consistent is important to succeeding in tennis. We expect consistency at doing the basic things well and then understanding the strategy involved to being a good player, Furlow said. Behind the determination and hard work put forth by the players and coaches is a network of friendships that will last a lifetime. The best part about coaching is working with some great kids. Not only do we have good tennis players, but I have always had some of the top kids in our school, and they are always fun to work with. Of course, winning is fun, and

By REBECCA PLUNKETT Copy Editor Tennis is one of the sports at Clements that particularly shines, each year bringing success and friendship to its players. The tennis teams at Clements are coached by John Furlow, head coach, and Elizabeth Brown, assistant coach. Our tennis program is one of the top tennis programs in all the

Clement Dulac Romy Landeck Kyle Yu Clement Dulac Colleen Lord Madison Hann, Amanda Allen,

Harrison Bui Romy Landeck Harrison Bui Kyle Yu Colleen Lord, Amanda Allen, Colin Hwang, Clement Dulac,
with so many outstanding players over the years, Furlow said. I could have retired already, but I dont know what I could do that would bring me more joy than what I am doing right now. Furlow and Brown continue to lead the tennis team to success while maintaining a bright future.

Photo by Nia Wheat The players practice hard, determined to win their future competitions.

Player Prole
-Bucky Maler

By AMY WAGNER Co-Editor-in-Chief Running bases and hitting home runs have been almost second nature for senior Bucky Maler. Maler, who has been playing baseball for as long as he can remember, joined the Clements team this season as a transfer student from Florida. Baseball has always been a big part of my life. I have been playing since it was possible, basically. My dad played in college, so he inspired me to start a baseball career of my own, said Maler. Though Maler has not been here long, his career has been lengthy and lled with success. Both of his Florida and his Texas teams have been to several tournaments in which they have taken rst place. He also has stayed under the watchful eye of several college scouts. He was recently in the spotlight of several Ivy League schools, such as Harvard and Dartmouth. However, he has decided to stay in Texas. Im planning on playing baseball at Trinity University. Ive gotten several other offers but I feel like Trinity may be the best choice for me, said Maler. Maler, who currently is pitching for Clements, has several inspirations that have allowed him to achieve his full potential both on and off the eld.

Baseball has always been a big part of my life.

Photo by Nia Wheat Derek Jeter is my favorite baseball player and probably the biggest inspiration for me to do well during games and practice, said Maler. Although he started later at Clements later than his fellow teammates, Maler already feels like he ts in with the team and has enjoyed his senior season with them. One thing he has deeply enjoyed is the rivalries that go on within Fort Bend. Schools are very comptetitive and the race for the best is constant. Theres a lot of friendly competition that goes on within the district. We lost to Kempner in one of our earlier games, so I would say one of our biggest rivals would be them. Also, Dulles and Elkins are pretty good this year and beating them would be cool, said Maler. Although the team has lost to Kempner already, they have been successful in beating other schools. In fact, one of Malers most fond memories of playing with Clements was one of the rst games of the season. We beat this one team by a pretty signicant amount and we were feeling pretty condent about ourselves. However, our coach got mad at us for running up the score. It wasnt funny at the time but looking back now, it was ironically hilarious, said Maler. Malers time at Clements has denitely been memorable. He

believes that going into an organization that is so prestigious around the state of Texas is a perfect t for him, even if it meant leaving his home state of Florida. Being on a team that was so close to clenching the state title has gotten me to work hard and make this last season my best. I want to represent myself well on this new team and Im hopeful that we will advance in the playoffs this season as well, said Maler. In addition to baseball, Maler has also maintained a high grade point average and was apart of the National Honor Society back in Florida. Academics have always been very important to him and he believes that doing well in the classroom also presents itself on the eld. Studying for tests and doing well in school have always been important for me. If I could give advice to athletes or anybody in general, it would be to pay attention and do well in school. Anything is possible and moving to Texas has taught me that, said Maler. While his senior year is coming to a close, and Maler is preparing to get ready to go to college, Maler has no regrets. He is excited to see what the remainder of the season of the Clements Rangers varsity baseball team will hold for him. Good luck to Maler for college and in his career.

Photo by Maha Muhammad By MAHA MUHAMMAD Features Editor Darby Rosen, a junior, has had a passion for softball ever since she was six years old. She decided to use her interest in this sport to polish up and excel in it. Being the high achiever she is, Rosen made sure to reach her goals. Her sport taught her quite a bit, both on and off the eld. My favorite part is the all the people Ive met throughout the years and the life lessons that a sport like softball can teach you, said Rosen. In addition, Rosens sisters turned out to be a great source of inspiration. I had three older sisters that played, so I pretty much just followed in their footsteps, said Rosen. With hard work and dedication, the team has excelled throughout the years. Weve won one state championship and have reached 6th place in Nationals. For high school weve won tied in district and have made it to playoffs every year so far. My biggest achievement that Ive worked for all my life came true last month. I committed to play softball at the school of my dreams, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, said Rosen. Even though Rosen has reached her goal of committing to a college, she continues to work hard academically and athletically.

Work hard in everything you do because in the end it is so worth it. -Darby Rosen

I have nally reached my life long goal of committing to a college but know it was just be to get through this next year and a half of school with decent grades, so I am going to continue to try to do my best in both my schoolwork and softball, said Rosen. Rosens focus on her goal has allowed her to attain the stamina and will to go forward, embracing every step along the way. Coach McCorkle turned me into a SS my freshmen year for Varsity. I throw right and bat left. When I was about 10 I turned left handed because it gives you more options. It was a long process but now Im able to slap, drag, and hit. But I am mainly just a power hitter with my size. Magic is my team Ive always been a part of since I was 8 years old. Being part of the Magic is an honor. Its always been one of the top teams in the country and has an amazing coach that used to coach professional softball, said Rosen. The Lady Rangers have also been a source of motivation for Rosen. They support each other throughout the good and bad, and have a great time along the way. Team chemistry is the most important factor in any team sport. People that can support you and have your back is the key to having a great team. The Lady Rangers are just that. Everyone works hard and wants

the best for each other, said Rosen. Another important person to whom Rosen attributes much of her success is her father. He has supported her and helped her to reach her goals. He would drop anything he was doing if I asked him to come pitch some BP or hit some ground balls to me. Hes taught me everything I would ever need to know about the game and has pushed me to become the ball player I am. I would not have come close to being as good as I am without him, said Rosen. In addition to softball, Rosen plays tennis for the school in the fall, is a competitive equestrian, and will play volleyball for the school next year. With all that she has going on, balancing school and sports may sometimes be a challenge. Balancing school and sports is the absolute hardest thing. All I can say is I go to a lot of tutorials, Im always a quiz and a test behind all the other students, and I dont sleep much, said Rosen. As most hard working students do, Rosen sometimes takes time off to relieve the stress and provide herself a break. I love riding my horses and jumping courses, said Rosen Her advice to others would be to nd a passion and stick to it. Just work hard in everything you do, in both sports and class, because in the end it is so worth it, said Rosen.

April 2012 Ranger Review

provided by Los Tios. Another event that Invisible Children club host is the Invisible Children Soccer Tournament. Last year, the event was held in April and 16 teams participated. This year it will be held on April 4 at the soccer elds located behind the auditorium from 4 to 8 pm. The eld size will be half of the size of a regular sized soccer eld. The teams are to be made up of 7 students with a minimum of two girls. Each of the members must pay ve dollars with 35 dollars the total per team. In the previous year, Invisible Children Soccer Tournament raised a total of 600 dollars. The money donated to Invisible Children goes to pay for tuners to be built in Congo and sister schools in Uganda. Our goal this year is to fundraise 1,000 dollars, said Badillo. In order to sign up for this event, you must complete all the requirements as well as sign up on stage during lunch. Signup sheets on stage will be open the week before the tournament. Your team must choose a name and a country to represent. Last year I was on a team named the Doy Boys. We named it that because our friend Doy was our mascot, said Shelby Johnson. Other than choosing a name, the teams are also allowed to wear matching uniforms. My team made matching t-shirts with our team names on the front and our nickname on the back. For example, for my team mate, Grahm Duncan, we put Gram Cracker and Duncan Donuts, said Anthony Rafaile, sophomore. Other rules that apply are team captains must arrive 10 minutes prior in order to have a quick meeting. The deadline to nish signing up for the Invisible Children Soccer tournament is the Tuesday, April 3. There is no limit to how many teams can participate. After you have completed everything, all that is left

Sports

11

LAURENCE GOLDIN-BLAIS Ads Editor Invisible Children is a club devoted to ending violence in Africa and promoting peace, and has been an established part of the CHS club scene for several years now, and has upcoming fund raisers planned. The goal of the club is to raise awareness for the conict in central Africa, said Christine Badillo, the club sponsor. Many students at Clements have heard the name Invisible Children, but many do not know the story behind the cause. Yoweri Museveni became the president of Uganda in 1986. A woman named Alice Lakwena started a movement to oppose government oppression. It was called the Holy Spirit Movement (HSM). The movement gained alliances with other groups but was only able to reach regional support. When Alice Lakwena was banished, there was no one to take control of the movement. Soon after, a man named Joseph Kony took control of the group and renamed it Lords Resistance Army (LRA). Kony was unable to keep the movement going so he started kidnapping children to ll his army. . He was known to make children kill their family members and abduct girls to serve as slaves for his army. What started out as a ght against the government turned out to be cruelty against themselves. Every evening, children leave their remote homes and villages to walk miles in order to sleep in a citys community church or school to escape being captured by the Lords Resistance Army which carries out nightly raids. With around 100 students involved in the CHS organization, the club puts together different events in order to raise money for the cause. For example in the fall, students organize a benet dinner and view a documentary regarding the Invisible Children. This years dinner was

Invisible Children soccer tournament

Photo courtesy of Invisible Children Invisible Children has an anual soccer tournament and the funds raised in the event go to pay for tuners to be built in Congo and Uganda. to do is get ready to play soccer! For the rules of the tournament, regular soccer rules apply. The games will be no more than eight minutes long and all seven players will play. There are no handballs, throw- ins, or corner kicks. A goal can only be counted if it is between the cones and no higher than the waist. Lastly, rules will be enforced by the referees and their decision is nal. My favorite part of the Invisible Children Soccer Tournament was playing with other people especially the ones that didnt know how to play, said Shelby Johnson. Of course all competitions always have a prize. The prize this year for the Invisible Children Soccer Tournament is ultimate pride and maybe a free tshirt, said Badillo. The event is open to anyone who wants to play.

Intramural annual basketball competition, students participate

By: NIA WHEAT Photographer For those that do not know what it is, intramural basketball is for those who do not play on the schools basketball team, but would like to play, whether to get more practice or to just have fun. Basketball is not for everyone so no one should feel awkward or out of place if they are not good, or do not know how to play that well. This is why intramurals take place annually here at Clements. Coach Janet Cox has been holding intramurals for a few years now, in the girls gym for those who would like to be apart of them, and has had fun throughout the years with it, kids included. Basketball is one of my favorite sports and intramurals are good ways to have fun playing the sport you may love too, while getting some exercise in on the side, said Erin Taylor, senior. Even though intramurals are not the real thing competition is still pretty erce and the rules of basketball still apply. Anyone that wants to be apart of them forms their own team, picks a group name, and can even get knocked off a team if that person misses various game days. In a way it is tough business just like playing on a school team. It is not fair to let the team down. Intramurals are good to be apart of because there are a lot of kids that arent on the basketball team at school so it gives them a good opportunity to just come out with friends, and play other kids. It is like playing on an actual basketball team, but some things are different. Kids do get competitive with it because it is a game, but it is nice to see them work together and want to win with their team, said Cox. Some of the differences of participating in intramurals are it is a mixture of boys and girls on one team, one may pick who is on the team, team names are chosen by the ones on the team, and there are no outside practicing and things like that. It is just a way for kids to have fun together while playing a sport that is easy to love. Of course rules still apply. The game of basketball is simple to play, but like every sport it takes skill. Coach Cox will of course be watching but she will not be the only referee. There will be a scoreboard, and penalties, fouls, etc will be put to account, same as actual basketball. Intramurals have been around for a long time. In my experience, they have always been really good. The kids that participate seem to enjoy them and it is something that brings people together, and starts some friendships. It is something good for the kids, no matter what grades theyre in and I enjoy coaching them, said Cox. Boys and girls being able to be on the same team gives advantages to those who might just have a team full of girls verses a team full of boys, not to say that girls have no skill in this eld, it is just a good way to balance out the teamwork put forth. Seeing boys and girls play together is a good way to come together. Boys already know how to play, and so do some girls so when they both come together it may be a good learning and fun experience, or it may not be. It really just depends on the team members and their attitudes toward each other, and the game,

My team was named the Justice League and I think we made it to the quarter nals. Even though we didnt do very well, we all had so much fun and it was or a good cause. I will surely participate this year and hopefully do better than last year, said Amy Farell, sophomore.

National Baseball League, top teams

By DANIEL TORRES that of the Phillies, and that may be Perspectives Editor just enough to get them through to Last issue I covered the top teams the playoffs despite having such a in the American League, and this weak lineup. time the focus is on the top teams in MIAMI MARLINS the National League. The formerly named Florida PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES Marlins enter the year with an almost Last years leaders in win, return completely different look than this season with a strong pitching previous years. Owner Jeff Loria staff that includes a pair of Cy Young is committed to turning the lowly award winners in Roy Halladay and Marlins into a bonade contender. Cliff Lee, who are easily two of the He eventually signed Jose Reyes, best pitchers in all of baseball. With one of the top tier shortstops playing that being said the Phillies are one baseball right now, Closer Heath Bell, of the top teams in all of baseball, and Starting Pitcher Mark Buhrle and anything short of a all to long term deep playoff run would lucrative deals. be a disappointment. However I still ST. LOUIS doubt that those CARDINALS signings will be Last years world able to push the champions enter this mediocre Marlins season without their best into legitimate hitter, Albert Pujols, contenders, but who signed a massive if the Phillies or ten year contract Braves struggle with the Los Angeles they could be able Angels. Signing to pounce on that Carlos Beltran was a opportunity. nice addition because MILAUWAKE of his offensive skills. BREWERS When you consider the Even though the fact that the Cardinals Photo by Nia Wheat Brewers won the are equipped with one of the more National League Central last year solid pitching rotations currently, it seems unlikely that they will be and the fact that they play in a weak able to repeat this feat. They still division, making the playoffs seems have a solid rotation that can hold up well to competition, but losing like a very attainable target. Prince Fielder will no doubt hurt the ATLANTA BRAVES Despite having a sizable wild card offensive output. Add that with one lead for most of the season, the of the worst defenses in the National Braves ended the season last year League and you have a team that with one of the biggest late season seems likely to fall short of making collapses in recent memory, that it to the playoffs. saw them fail to make the playoffs. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS The roster is quite similar to last A team like the Giants has so much years, which is a minor concern more talent on paper. If the Giants because they play in perhaps the make it to the playoffs it will all be most competitive division in all of due to their pitching which features the National League. That being Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.The said the Braves are still a very strong offense is dreadful, but regardless team with a pitching staff that rivals the Giants are still a big threat.

said Cox. In the past, intramurals have been quite a success even the people that are on the schools teams like to be apart of the excitement. Intramurals are a great way to compete with other people without having to look good or stress out over who is winning because it is all for fun anyway. It is also an extra great way to play a little one on one with friends who are on the opposite team, or to play with your friends on the same team, said Paige Marquez, senior. The whole part of intramurals is to go out and have fun with friends. Anyone, no matter what grade, can get involved in it as long as a group is made and Coach Cox is spoken to about it. Coach Cox is mostly always on stage during all three lunches, can be found in the girls gym during classes, or in the girls locker room. Remember to not be unfair to teammates, one should be there with the team one is on or have a replacement, or tell Coach Cox beforehand, and most importantly have a good time playing a great sport.

Photo by Nia Wheat Intramural basketball is an annual event at Clements. Students pay ve dollars and form their own teams and compete with one another.

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What is your take on school unforms?

Voices

April 2012 Ranger Review

Do you think textbooks should be replaced by iPads?

As long as they are preppy trendy. -Amy Farrell, sophomore

It would be a lot easier to get dressed in the morning. -Jennifer Giraldo, sophomore

No are you crazy? -Katelyn Vidad, sophomore

I dont think so because it might give a bad example of maturity and our ability to handle them. -Simon Graff, junior

Yes its better for the environment. -Patty Lentz, freshman

Although I wish we could, it wouldnt work until schools can fully regulate the students iPads. -John Chow, junior

Im actually in favor of uniforms. No one can judge anyone based on clothes and looks. Plus it saves a lot of time in the morning. -Michelle Bevan, junior

I think school uniforms would be a good idea, that way people wouldnt care as much about what people wear and there would be less people in ISS. -Lauryn Merriett, freshman

Yes because you can put alot into an iPad so then you only have one thing to carry around. -DeBini Banh, sophomore

Yes because then you dont have to carry twenty pounds on your back everywhere. -Louis De La Sota, sophomore

Yes because it will be more conveniant and easy to store everything in one device. -Anisha Kelkar, senior

iPads should take over textbooks because they are lighter and eco-friendly. -Kolby Waterwall, junior

How is Earth Day signicant to you?

As long as I look swaggerful in it, then Im cool with it. -Chao Xiong, senior I dont want uniforms. The school promotes cultural differences. It would be contradictory toward our uniform. -Kartika Upadhyaya, sophomore

Uniforms are disgusting. If people cant express themselves, then they are unhappy. If people are unhappy, then school is even worse than it already is. -Debbie Osueke, senior

Uniforms would make life easier, but I absolutely love clothes. -Maheen Ali, sophomore

To me, it is a day to appreciate and enjoy the planet that we live on. With everybody going green, ther are a lot of ways for people to contribute. -Shavon Carvin, junior

Earth day is a time to help our planet and conserve nature. -Prithvi Prakash, freshman

To me it means taking time out of our busy schedules to appreciate the earth and every precious moment it contains. -Riti Santra, freshman

Earth day is a day of Earth. A day to go green. -Quyen Nguyen, sophomore

I wouldnt mind wearing uniforms as long as theyre stylish, but I also enjoy wearing what I want dressing in my own style. -Isabelle Hwang, junior

No, because I like individuality and choice of style. -Bellina Lie, senior

A time to appreciate the planet that supports our lives. People should always respect the Earth, but having a speciv day is agentle reminder to always care for our home. -Elaine Fisher, junior

Earth day is a day to conserve and preserve our resources on the planet. -John Johnston, sophomore

A day when we take the time to think about and respect out Mother Earth. -Carter Shults, junior

A day where our community can come together and do something. -Ahmed Sleem, junior

April 2012 Ranger Review

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April 2012 Ranger Review

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Field of Dreams
Student Life

April 2012 Ranger Review