Last year, the State of Texas voted on changing the well-known TAKS test to the STAAR test. This year, freshmen across the state of Texas will be taking the STAAR test in April in their respective schools. RAPS freshmen are no exception; they will take the STAARs in order to go to the next grade.

The STAARs will not only count as a state test, but it will also affect students’ grades. Whatever they score will be added as part of their final test grade, affecting their overall final grade.

Most students don’t know the exact difference between the TAKS and the STAAR, and they aren’t as confident as they would like to be, but they still believe they’re ready for it.

“I think that I’m ready for some parts of the test, because teachers do a good job of teaching the material, and I always do well on tests,” Alex Goodsuhm, freshman, said. “However, I feel less confident than on the TAKS, because [the TAKS] was easy, and for the STAAR I don’t know what to expect.”

Teachers have been preparing and learning about the STAAR, and, overall, they believe there are only very basic changes in the tests.

“Overall, the questions are written in a different way,” Mrs. Hankins said. “In the TAKS, [the questions] were more basic. On the STAAR, they’re going to be more difficult. On the TAKS they asked more about basic knowledge, but on the STAARs they’re going to ask to show a deeper understanding.”

Some students don’t think the change in test will affect them greatly.

“I am ready for the STAARs, because I did [well] on the TAKS,” David Thomas, freshman, said.

Even though the STAAR questions aren’t as basic as the ones on the TAKS, teachers are confident the students will do well on the test.

“We don’t know what most of the tests look like,” Mrs. Schattschneider said. “[But] as long as the teachers teach their content, the students will be fine.”

Students are taking different measures to prepare for the test, though some take it less seriously than others.

“We’re supposed to be preparing?” Goodsuhm said. “I’m actually preparing by just working on my school work.”

Other students utilize homework as another tool for preparing.

“I’m preparing by doing homework…most of the time,” Thomas said.

Another way that the STAAR differs from the TAKS is what the students will be tested on as well as how the grading will be incorporated.

“The STAAR that high school [students] will be tested on will be the subject they are taking, not based on grade level,” Mrs. Schattschneider said. “Also, however you do, or whatever grade you get, will be incorporated into the final grade of that class.”

Even if students don’t know much about the test, they know enough to realize it will affect their grades.

“The STAARs will affect my future because they’ll affect my GPA,” Goodsuhm said.

Other students take it farther, believing it will take on an important role that will affect their college.

“I think [the STAAR] will get me more prepared for college,” Thomas said.

The teachers take time to come up with new ways of helping students study.

“We are constantly researching and [im]proving methods to teach our students,” Mrs. Hankins said. “Typically if we aren’t here, we’re in training. I’ve been on 4 or 5 trainings this year.”

Some students worry that they won’t do very well on specific subjects.

“I’m worried about the English part and the writing, because I’ve never been good at writing essays,” Goodsuhm said.

 Students agree the STAARs will be harder than the TAKS.

“The STAARs will probably be harder, because they’re new and they’re more updated,” Thomas said.

Other students think they will be harder, because they have one STAAR per subject.

“I think they will be [harder], because you have to take all of the subjects every year,” Goodsuhm said.

In high school, the only students taking the STAARs this year will be the freshmen.

“The STAAR is only starting for 9^th grade; 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th still take TAKS,” Mrs. Schattschneider said.

Teachers give a bit of advice for students taking the STAAR.

“Make sure you’re taking class seriously, because we’re preparing you for college,” Mrs. Hankins said. “We don’t just teach the test, we prepare you; the things we teach you are important.”

 If somebody was to walk through the halls of the Annex on a Friday afternoon, they would smell aromas wafting from the Commons and hear laughter along with people having a fun time. So what’s the source of all the excitement? The answer: the recent edition to Meyer High’s club selection, the cooking and gardening club.

The cooking and gardening club meets every Friday from 3-4 p.m. Students are lead by Mrs. Fucci, the physics, green engineering, and biology teacher.

Believe it or not, Mrs. Fucci’s first choice for a club wasn’t cooking and gardening; it was biology.

“I wanted to start a biology club, but there wasn’t enough interest,” Mrs. Fucci said. “Mrs. Hankins needed help with the gardening club, so I did it.”

However, students were still eager to become a member of the cooking and gardening club.

“I really wanted to cook food and learn to cook other foods,” freshman Mileeya Walker said.

Mrs. Fucci said that the cooking and gardening club is focused more on cooking than it is gardening, but club members still manage to bring in the gardening side of the club.

“If we have a recipe that calls for [using food from the garden], we do it” she said.

For example, most of the foods the club has made so far have been made with vegetables from the garden.

“We’ve made pizza with some stuff from the garden, carrot cake cookies, and pasta with arugula and tomatoes,” Mrs. Fucci said.

As members of the cooking and gardening club, most students say that there is a lot to learn.

 I’ve learned how to care for a garden properly, [and] I’ve learned you need to have more responsibility in order to care for a garden,” Walker said.

Besides just learning about gardening, club members have also learned about food.

“I’ve learned that spinach tastes really good on pizza,” junior Brooke Womack said.

Mrs. Fucci says she enjoys bringing science into club in an effort to help students better understand the cooking process.

“[Incorporating science into cooking can help] explain why it’s better to cook something a certain way instead of a different way,” Mrs. Fucci said.

The response to the club experience has been pretty positive so far.

“The experience is great,” Walker said. “Everything is really hands-on, and you learn how to garden the right way.”

Students say they have also enjoyed the club because of the non-stop activity.

“My experience has been really enjoyable because there’s always something to do, and you’re never bored,” Womack said.

Students involved in the cooking and gardening club have high hopes for its future, including getting the whole class brainstorming together.

“We could have people bring [in] ideas or recipes of certain foods they like [to cook],” Womack said.

Mrs. Fucci also has some bright ideas of her own.

 “I would like for us to do cook-offs and have the whole school vote, but it depends on what the students are interested in,” Mrs. Fucci said.

Some students would like for the club to go past being just a club and be incorporated more in the class room.

“More class time would be great, so we could do more cooking,” Walker said.

When robots take over schools, most of the time a superhero shows up. When a robot club takes over the school, students show up. Multiple students and staff are involved with the Rapoport Academy Robotics Club. Junior Zoe’ Garman is the captain; senior Heather Codney is the fundraising captain, and sophomore Eric Moore is the co-captain. Little technological knowledge is needed and it is an educational experience for all.

“I had no technological skills,” said Moore. “I used to only be good at carpentry, but when I joined the Robotics club, I learned so much about it.”

Captain Zoe’ Garman said it is full of excellent experiences.

“L3 comes frequently to speak with us, and we have presented to them multiple times,” Garman said.

The Rapoport Robotics Club is not just about building robots. It also enriches business skills, programming skills, and engineering.

“In robotics you can do the business side of things,” Garman said. “You are also able to be a programmer or a engineer.”

Robotics club meets every day from 4-5 p.m., and on Fridays, it meets during club time.  The Robotics club is currently working on raising funds so that it may buy equipment and tickets to go into the Robotics competitions around Texas.

“While we do have sponsors [including Marathon-Norco, Texas Machine and Tool, and L3], robots are expensive,” said Codney. “We have UV bracelets selling for two dollars and fifty cents that benefit the Rapoport Robotics club.”

Marathon-Norco has donated materials, mentors and funding. Texas Machine and Tool donated funding, and L3 has provided mentors for the club.

According to Codney, Robotics is a good way to have fun and to exercise extra curricular activities, even if technology isn’t your thing.

“I don’t know much about robots,” said Codney. “I just thought it would be fun. I soon got really absorbed in it.”

The Rapoport Robotics club is currently working on a robot that is able to play basketball.

“We decided to go with a shooting robot who can shoot a basketball,” said Moore.

The robot is in the beginning stages of development.

“We have built the framework, and we have discussed different designs for the inside,” Moore said. “We might even use a motion sensor with it.”

The Rapoport Robotics club is used not only for robots, but also as a way to build community.

“We started as just regular students who didn’t know much about robotics,” Codney said. “Now we are actually beginning to build not only a robot, but also a community.”

Garman agrees with Codney, and also feels that they are building a community.

“Like every community, we do sometimes fight,” Garman said. “However, we remain a team and on task.”

Garman says that the Robotics club is hard, but it has great results.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” Garman said. “It is a commitment. You have to do work, but if you stick to it you can get amazing results.”

The Robotics club meetings are held in the DCAC.

“Rapoport Robotics isn’t mandatory,” Garman said. “But if you join our team you will be able to gain the benefits we will.”

‘Last year 1,647,123 students took the SAT. This year, the juniors in RAPS are going to take the SAT. The date for taking the test varies, but juniors will still have to go to Baylor to take SATs so they can have an opportunity in their dream college.

Juniors in RAPS have been preparing since the beginning of the school year, having SAT prep classes and taking the PSAT. However, studying at home and taking initiative is also part of the process of preparing for the test.

Teachers believe that some students are ready, while others are not.

“I think some students are ready, but others aren’t as they should be because they haven’t studied and the test is in March,” Mrs. Howard said.

Even if students have prepared they aren’t completely confident about the test.

“I’ve studied [for the SAT], but I don’t think I’m fully prepared because I don’t know what’s all in the test,” DeLuna, said.

Other students, however, haven’t taken the time to study for the SAT.

“I haven’t prepared for the SAT because is doesn’t sound very fun,” Kane said.

The level of stress in students can be seen, even though some students aren’t as nervous as others.

“I wouldn’t say I’m fully stressed,” DeLuna said. “I’m kind of worried, but at the same time I’m relaxed about [the SAT].”

Even if the students are worried, the teachers’ major concern is the students showing up on time.

“If they show up if scheduled, come prepared and do their best they’ll be fine,” Mrs. Howard said.

Some students’ biggest concern is scoring on the test.

“My biggest concern is not making a high enough score on the test,” DeLuna said.

Other students don’t take the test seriously at all.

“[My goal for the test] is not to study,” Kane said.

Another preoccupation the students have is the time they have to complete the test.

“Being able to live through the test would be nice, that, and being able to finish it,” DeLuna said.

Teachers not only help prepare the students, but they also give a few advices.

“If you don’t know the answer omit it,” Mrs. Howard said. “Also, please look over the material before you take the test.”

The test scores not only affect what college you go to, but also your future. Some students, however, believe they will not make it to college, or simply don’t bother thinking about it.

“I’m not going to college,” Kane said. “I’m going to drop out and work at McDonald’s because they have good fries.”

Other students take the test and their futures more seriously. Not only do they want to get into good colleges, but are also worried they won’t be able to go to a fine college because of the scores they make.

“The SAT scores either help [you] get in a good college, or they turn out low and make it impossible to go to a good college and you end up in a [bad quality] college,” DeLuna said.

In the month of February, love is in the air every day.  It’s filled with the cutest gifts and couples. Throughout history, there have been many famous couples that we all know and maybe even love.

Bonnie and Clyde had the type of relationship that you would kill to have. They brought the true meaning to being ‘partners in crime’. They went from spending time in prison to robbing banks for money. They stayed in partnership until the very end, being the most popular couple in the 1930s.

Most frequently talked about couple is Beyonce and Jay-Z. They are a very mainstream couple that has it all. Both working on their separate music careers, Jay-Z with his Watch the Throne album and Beyonce with her 4 album, they always have time to spend growing together. Going at it for 11 years, there will be nothing stopping this couple from falling apart.

Everyone in America caught the Bieber Fever, but there was a special someone who got the worst case. Luckily, Cupid was able to help. Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber are the young couple that everyone talks about. Having a bumpy start with angered fans, this couple managed to keep it together and grow stronger.

This famous E! couple has made their mark on TV and the court. Lamar and Khole Odom have been everywhere in magazines. With their own reality show, it seems like people can’t get enough of this affectionate couple. With Khole working on her DASH business and Lamar working on the court, playing for Dallas Mavericks, this couple continues to make time for their lovey-dovey relationship. At least this relationship will be one thing that lasts longer than Kim Kardashian’s marriage.

Saving the best for last: Michelle and Barack Obama, the presidential couple. Having been together since 1992, they have both worked hard in trying to strive for the best. Michelle has been by Obama’s side during elections and throughout his time being President. With two kids, Sasha and Malia, and the country to look after, this couple has managed to work hard and happily maintain their relationship in between, changing lives one by one and changing their own day by day. This couple will truly go down in history.

There are many other couples; these are just a few of the historical couples that come to mind in the month of February.

“I read all of the time,” said sophomore James Cody. “Most of my free time is occupied by books.”

Many of the students at Rapoport Academy are readers.

“I love reading,” sophomore Gabe Burge said. “It’s like a movie, except you can do it anywhere without distracting others.”

English Teacher Mrs. Maloney agrees with Burge.

“Reading is amazing,” Mrs. Maloney said. “You can unlock other universes with it.”

Many genres of books are preferred by Rapoport students, from nonfiction to romantic novels.

“I prefer science fiction,” Cody said. “It is full of things only a genius could imagine.”

Burge, another science fiction lover, agrees with Cody.

“It’s literally out of this world,” Burge said. “It might not be happening now, but what if in the future it did?”

Mrs. Maloney currently enjoys the epic Beowulf.

“I love Beowulf,” Mrs. Maloney said. “My tastes change all of the time, but this book is amazing.”

At Rapoport, even people who do not enjoy reading are easily immersed into the culture of readers.

“Reading is a valuable skill,” Mrs. Maloney said. “If you don’t like it, find a book with a subject you are interested and stick to that subject.”

Rapoport students say that reading is not only entertaining, but it is also an escape.

“When I want to get away, I have my books,” Cody said. “Nothing melts away stress like a book.”

Burge agrees, and he also uses reading as a tool.

“I enjoy talking,” Burge said. “I also enjoy sounding smart while I talk, and reading is a great way to boost my vocabulary.”

Books are very easy to come by at Rapoport Academy, and they are a great way to expand your opinions and knowledge of different people, customs, and views.

“I may not agree with many of the writers I read, [but] the books I read help widen my viewpoint,” Mrs. Maloney said.

She encourages the students of Rapoport Academy to read, and with great enthusiasm leaves her students one piece of advice.

“Read anything, and everything,” Mrs. Maloney said. “Make it a wide variety, and make yourself love it.”

Fashion is important to some people, and unimportant to some. Some focus on academics or extracurricular activities.

“[My fashion is] inspired by the sunrise and the millions of sparkles it creates as it slowly rises above the quiet, still ocean on a cool calm spring morning,” Mr. Studer said. “It comes from a drop of water that slowly forms, refracting light in millions of directions before landing on a newborn baby’s head for its first bath. My inspiration comes from the first snowflakes of winter, not one ever the same, and yet they are all familiar to me, as if we have always known each other. It comes from a simple, yet elegant rose, waiting to fully bloom, but still sheltering itself from the brisk morning air, waiting to shed the dew from its pedals and open itself up to receive mother sunshine. It comes from the smell of a homemade peach cobbler rising above the scent of freshly cut grass of a warm summer afternoon that lasts forever and is only ushered out by fireflies carrying in a sky full of stars with a full moon, shedding just enough light to see into the eyes of a loved one.”

 Other people focus on fashion or looks to create an identity for themselves.

“Fashion is somewhat important to me, but it doesn’t make me or break me,” sophomore Zia Carroll said. “It does help me express myself and to be original, setting me apart from others.”

For others, fashion is an outlet or a way to express themselves through clothing.

“I set out to be different because being different is the most beautiful thing on this earth,” sophomore Kim Winston said. “One of the most important things in life is one’s own uniqueness, and I strive for showing that in my style.”

Some people don’t pay attention to name brands or the stores they shop in, but for some people it is all about the brand or store they shop from.

“I don’t really focus on brands or the people that make the clothes, just the quality and style of the clothes; but if it’s cute I’ll wear it,” Carroll said. “I do like to wear brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Hollister, and Aeropostale.”

Some people tend to spend a high dollar for certain types of clothes.

“I’m willing to spend eight dollars on shirts, eleven dollars on pants, and thirty- seven dollars on shoes, but when it comes to sweaters, [I will spend] whatever it takes,” Mr. Studer said.

Others don’t really like to spend money on expensive clothes.

“I usually get my clothes from Goodwill, Garage sales and Christmas gifts,” Mr. Studer said. “My favorite name brands that I wear are Fruit of the Loom and Hanes.”          

Some people are flexible with the amounts they will spend to express their style but have set limits they usually abide by.

“I would spend an average of $10 to $20 on shirts and $10 to $50 on pants and bottoms,” Winston said.

People can be very cautious of spending money on clothes, but, after all, sometimes you can find good bargains on really cute clothes.

“Some things can be very cheap and affordable, but other things are really expensive,” Carroll said. “$30 for a shirt is pricy, but if I can catch it on sale, it’s a bargain.”

What would be the point in trying to live if there were no fashion? Some people think there wouldn’t be any.

“Most days, picking out my outfit in the morning is the only reason I get out of bed,” Mr. Studer said. “If there was no fashion, then what is the point?”

Some people might not have a problem with shopping at Wal Mart or the new and improved Goodwill, but some people are not this way.

“My favorite stores to shop at and to find cute clothes in are Forever XXI, Hollister, and Aeropostale, or any other stores that have cute clothes that catch my eye.” Carroll said.

On January 26, 2012, eight Rapoport students were inducted into the National Honor Society. These students were chosen not only for their academic excellence, but for being a contributing part of the community.

The students inducted this year were seniors Katie Blaha-Robinson and Abeneezer Kassa, junior Emily Garner, and sophomores Hannah Bridgewater, Cade Kegerreis, Matthew McWhorter, Paloma Matias-Ryan, and Joshua Obat.

“[When choosing the NHS inductees for each year,] we send applications home with everybody who is eligible by GPA, and the faculty council decides who is admitted,” Rapoport’s NHS coordinator Mr. Wade said.

There are certain guidelines that the faculty council follows when selecting future NHS members, including the rule that prospective members have to have completed a semester in the school. This is why freshmen typically aren’t inducted.

“Requirements are a minimum of a 3.5 GPA, 15 hours of service in the previous calendar year, less than 15 BPS points, and a position of leadership [in the community],” Mr. Wade said.

Although some students may believe NHS is only for those who are really intelligent, the organization looks for four values in a member: scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

“[NHS] is the nation’s oldest and largest body that honors students who excel in all four categories,” Mr. Wade said.

The main reason the society has those four categories is because the students they want to sponsor should have good community skills as well as a good grades.

“Someone can have really good grades but is not a nice person,” Mr. Wade said.

Certain students in the NHS at Rapoport are elected each year to be the president, secretary, vice president, and treasurer.

“I am the treasurer of the NHS; so it is my responsibility to keep up with member fees and other monetary issues,” senior Acton said.

The only reason to join the NHS isn’t just for the sake of being in it.

“There are scholarships open only to NHS members, and occasionally when you’re having a job interview, then [the person who is reviewing you will] know what kind of a person you are,” Mr. Wade said.

Being in the NHS isn’t a one-time thing; you have to continue exhibiting the organization’s main values in order to continue being a part of it.

“To stay in, you must have 10 volunteer hours a semester and keep your GPA above 3.5,” Acton said.

Different students have different reasons why they enjoy being a part of the NHS.

“It is worth joining, because you feel accomplished and extinguished for being a step above the rest,” Acton said.

One of the main reasons why students think that NHS is beneficial is that it looks good on paper.

“NHS looks good on a college application, because colleges want to see how you’re involved in the community,” sophomore Matthew McWhorter said.

McWhorter says he feels that joining the NHS was not that hard for him.

“I had the 15 hours, and my grades are more than proficient,” he said.

Although he says he didn’t have much trouble being inducted, McWhorter says that anyone who wants to join NHS should take school seriously.

“Don’t ever slack off, because every grade counts,” he said.

Meaningful history. Interesting speakers. Discussions that provoke thoughts about how lucky we really are to live our lifestyles the way we do. It could only be one thing: Black History Month celebrations at Meyer High.

This is the second year that Black History Month has been celebrated at Meyer High. Débuting last year, Black History Month celebrations ranged from February 21-28. They included Civil Rights videos and daily Black History themes with speakers discussing how the themes were important to them. This year, Black History celebrations include Black History movie presentations and speakers during community group, displays about Black History in the commons, and a soul food lunch.

Learning about black history was important to Mrs. Burrus, who helped start Black History Month celebrations at Meyer High.

“In high school I wasn’t informed about black culture and what happened to this country concerning African Americans,” Mrs. Burrus said. “I wanted people to rake the education I have [now] about black history and use it in their own lives.”

Black History Month is celebrated at Meyer High for several reasons.

“[We celebrate Black History Month] to not only highlight key African Americans in history but to enlighten the student body about the Black experience and show that it is a part of American history,”  Mrs. Burrus said.

The significance of Black History month is different for everyone.

“Black History Month is important to me because it shows how much America has overcome racism,” junior ShaLandra DeGrate, president of the Diversity Club, said. “It shows how a fight for justice from [a] little movement made such a big impact in American life.”

Other students have different opinions about why the study of black history is important to them.

“There’s a lot to learn from the experiences of African Americans and I think it’s important to reflect on those experiences,” junior ChiAnne Castro said.

Students participate in Black History Month in different ways, from listening to what the speakers have to say and even planning the Black History Month celebrations.

“I’m a member of the Diversity Club and we plan the school events during Black History Month,” Castro said.

Students, according to Mrs. Burrus, enjoy gaining a little more knowledge about the history of African Americans.

“[The students] like to hear about people they haven’t heard about before,” Mrs. Burrus said. “They want to hear [about black history] so they can appreciate the rights they do have to be in a school environment that’s diverse.”

Besides just the knowledge that they gain, students like other parts of Black History Month, also.

“My favorite part of Black History Month is when everyone realizes the struggle that was here—how fortunate we are that we can choose our lifestyles,” DeGrate said.

Other students enjoy Black History Month for different reasons.

“My favorite part of Black History Month is hearing stories from different people and watching movies – they’re touching,” Castro said.

Mrs. Burrus loves seeing the change in students as they learn more information as Black History Month goes on.

“[My favorite part of Black History Month is] seeing students that appreciate and are able to learn new things about African Americans that they never knew before,” Mrs. Burrus said. “It shows what unity can do.”

Black History Month brings about thoughts of who the influential people throughout black history are.

“[The most influential person of black history to me is] Martin Luther King Jr., because he wasn’t taking a stand to say Blacks deserve to be able to do this,” DeGrate said. “He wanted to unite everyone. Rather than just make them equal, he wanted everyone to be as one.”

Mrs. Burrus thinks that Sojourner Truth, Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, and the Tuskegee Airmen were very influential people from black history.

“Sojourner Truth was the first black woman to win an important court case against a white man, and Ida B. Wells was active for not only civil rights, but women’s rights as well,” Mrs. Burrus said. “People don’t know a lot about [the Tuskegee Airmen] and how they were allowed to defend white pilots in the war [when the country was segregated].”

Some students also have suggestions for future celebrations of Black History Month.

“[We should look at] the celebration of integration from all aspects,” DeGrate said. “[We should do this] to not show just the tragedy of Black History, but to emphasize the beauty of all racial integration.”