Volume 1, Issue 1 October 2012

PROGRESSIVE HIGH SCHOOL

Progressive Times
Contents:
New Faces, Great Additions (continued from page 1)
Squelching the Testing Jitters

Mr. Trevor Lemon

Ms. Lezlie Gless

Its All about the Food! Interior DesignForm Meets Function The Problem with My Generation Is... Science in Action

Verdones Visuals

Everlost Poem

89 10

Here We Go Again

PHS Celebrates Art in Education Week News You Can Use

11

12

PHS IS A...

This is Mrs. Gless seventh year as a guidance counselor. Prior to coming to Progressive High School, she was a counselor at Hightower High School for six years. Before becoming a school counselor, she taught business\technology classes for thirteen Progressive High School welcomed a years. She earned her bachelors degree from the University of North Texas in Accounting new principal this year. Trevor Lemon has Control Systems, and also earned two masbeen an educator for fifteen years. He came ters degreesone from the University of to Fort Bend Independent School District in Houston in technology and the other from the 2007 as principal of Missouri City Middle University of Houston Clear Lake in Counseling. Mrs. Gless is also a Licensed ProfesSchool and was most recently principal of sional Counselor and enjoys working with Marshall High School. individuals on life issues. Prior to joining the district, Mr. Education and learning are very imLemon was an associate principal at Klein portant to her, and she believes that a person Oak High School in Klein Independent School never stops learning, whether they are in a District. formal school setting or just living life! Mrs. Gless was born and raised in He obtained his bachelors degree from Texas Southern University and his mas- Richmond, Texas and now lives in Sugar Land with her family including 3 year old ters degree in education administration from twins (a boy and a girl) who keep her very Prairie View A & M University. busy with laughter and fun. Mrs. Gless says, I am thankful to be here at Progressive HS and look forward to a great future here!

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October 2012

Ms. Lanette Marquardt

Mrs. Kandee Mariani

Ms. Lanette Marquardt joined Progressive High School as the Family and Consumer Science (FACS) teacher. Ms. Marquardt earned her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from the University of Missouri (1989) and taught FACS for five years in the state of Missouri (grades 7-12). She is also certified in Special Education EC-12. During that time, she also taught Life Science, Study Skills, and Health. Ms. Marquardt then moved cross country to take her Masters of Fine Arts in Costume Production/Technology from Boston University (1999). Following that she taught costuming for one year at the State University of New York-Albany and worked for many professional opera and theatre houses throughout the nation. Ms. Marquardt moved to Houston in 2000 and is thrilled to be back in the secondary classroom. Ms. Marquardts classes include Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness, Interior Design, Dollars and Sense, Child Development, Fashion Design, and Interpersonal Relations. She and her son Jesse (adopted from Guatemala in 2007), reside in Fort Bend County.

Mrs. Mariani has thirteen years of experience teaching Spanish I and II. She is returning to Fort Bend ISD after teaching in Cy-Fair for ten years. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Oklahoma State University where she also studied Chinese. Recently, she earned her Master of Education degree in Education Administration from Lamar University. Mrs. Mariani holds teacher certifications in Secondary Spanish, Secondary Reading and also Texas Principal Certification. When not working, Mrs. Mariani enjoys spending time with her family.

Mr. Mario Cruz

Mr. Ron Jedkins

Mr. Jedkins has been employed by Fort Bend ISD for the past seventeen years. He is a former graduate of Dulles High School and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Northeastern State University before obtaining a Master of Education degree from Prairie View A & M University. He and his wife, Timiko, have two daughters. Cassidi attends Dulles Elementary and Courtnee is a student at Sam Houston State University. When not teaching, Mr. Jedkins is an avid sports fan and a Harley Davidson enthusiast.

Mr. Cruz is a graduate of Fort Bend ISD, having attended Palmer Elementary, First Colony Middle School, Lake Olympia Middle School, and Elkins High School. During his high school years, he played numerous sports including football and track and field. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Houston-Downtown. While there, he accepted an internship with the Texas State Senate as a Policy Analyst during the 78th Regular Legislative Session. Mr. Cruz and his wife, Lolly, have two children Marco and Mia.

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never know how cold the testing room may be Give yourself a pep talk!

DURING THE TEST: As test are being passed out, close your eyes Take several deep breathsholding your breath for a second every time you breathe in. Then, exhale slowly, releasing your anxiety with it Take 1-2 minute breaks throughout the entire exam. Allow yourself to calm each time before you resume the test Visualize what your reward will be for completing the test

AFTER THE TEST: Oh, how the warm thoughts of graduation fill the minds of anxious juniors and seniors. Yet, there is one more huge hurdle to crossthe TAKS test! The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) is in its final year within Texas classrooms. The state is already moving to the much more rigorous and timed standardized STAAR test. But, for some students this year, teachers and students both have to prepare themselves for success! Below are a few test-taking strategies that will assist in squelching pre-testing jitters. BEFORE THE TEST: Attend tutorials in the subject area(s) you know you struggle with Take practice tests either online or ask your teacher for a TAKS preparation packet Get a sufficient amount of sleep (the average teenager needs at least 10 hours of sleep!) Eat a well-balanced breakfast (low-fat milk, fruits/vegetables, whole grains, etc.) Try not to eat too much, so as not to make yourself sleepy or need several bathroom breaks during the test Bring a sweater/hoodie/jacket because you Review your Answer Document Make sure youve bubbled in all the appropriate responses and you have erased any stray marks Reward yourself! (Think of a treat youd like to give to yourself for completing the test. You deserve it!)

Image Source Page: http://www.migrant.net/migrant/ TAKS/index.html

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October 2012

Its All About the Food!

The Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness class meets the first and fourth blocks daily. Students in this class learn skills they will implement every day of their lives. A few weeks ago, they studied kitchen safety and sanitation which can be utilJoe Perez and ized in the home kitchen as Monique Araujo well as in any commercial kitchen. Table manners, etiquette, and proper table setting were also taught, but the favorite activity by far was the food lab. As with other food labs, students worked in pairs to create a recipe that highlights the topic being studied for the week. class is really helpful in finding new ways to cook, but with great tips that can really help you. Another benefit of working in the food lab is that it teaches students to use effective communication as they collaborate in order to accomplish a goal. This is a vital skill that employers report is lacking in todays workplace.

Cevera Hall

The Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness class at PHS is a great place to be! Students have fun through a variety of activities while they learn and discover

Whitney Miniex

For example, the culminating activity, after studying nutrition (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins), was to prepare Chicken Fettucini Alfredo using a recipe that includes all three components. To verify the students abilities to measure correctly, they prepared pancakes from scratchno box mix was used! Cevera Hall, a student at PHS, commented, This

Richard Nauls

life skills. Eric Anderson summed it up by saying, This class is the highlight of my school day.
By: Ms. Marquardt

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The Interior Design class at PHS (which meets second and third blocks in the Family and Consumer Science classroom) is putting creativity in action! Cooperative learning occurs frequently in the classroom as students discuss options and learn from each other. In mid-September, students began designing rooms as part of a unit which included floor and wall coverings, window treatments, furniture styles and lighting design. Kiana Whiting, Ezekiel Anderson, Daniel Richard, Trey Grant and Alba Agreda (see photo) got right to work designing rooms for an imaginary home. They explored various window treatments online and calculated the total cost for 2-4 windows, including hardware. In addition, they created visual displays consisting of fabric swatches for upholstered furniture and window treatments, carpeting, countertop surface options, paint, wallpaper, and a lighting fixture. When asked about the project, Mariah Cunningham (third block) commented, It brings out your creativity. Vincente Blanco, Nick Call, Josh Borka (see photo) shared ideas while creating their own project. Josh Borka summed it up saying, This project brings out the interior designer in me. Students were given three class periods to complete the assignment. Ms. Marquardt, the instructor, stated, Many times, students learn much more by completing a project of this nature rather than through a class lecture. There is nothing better than seeing students be genuinely excited about their own education.
By: Ms. Marquardt

From Left to Right: Daniel Richard, Alba Agreda, Trey Grant, Ezekiel Anderson, Kiana Whiting

From Left to Right: Daniel Richard, Trey Grant, Ezekiel Anderson, Kiana Whiting

From Left to Right: Nick Call, Josh Borka, Vincente Blanco

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October 2012

Students in Mrs. Guillorys class were asked to but now we prefer to gossip and worry about other write an editorial that begins with the prompt: The peoples affairs. problem with my generation is... The responses were surprising and intuitive. What is more apparent than Partying vs. Education anything is the general thread of hope and confidence By: Dean Pierrot that permeated throughout all of the editorials submitted. The problem with my generation is that we want to party a lot instead of getting an education in Being Cool school. If we didnt party so much, wed probably like By: Cesar Mata school more. My generation loves to have fun, but cant get serious in school. If my generation got seriThe problem with my generation is their new ous, wed show just how talented we really are. idea of what being cool means. Being cool is the desire of most students in my age group, and today Inappropriate Content cool means sex, drugs, and money. In reality, to be By: Laura Reyna cool should be the complete opposite of todays meaning, with the possible exception of money. The problem with my generation is an overexBeing cool should not be everyones goal. posure to inappropriate content on television, the Obsessions with partying, the opposite sex, and drugs computer, magazines, or through peer-to-peer confog true success that is found through education. versation. This dilemma is reflected in the rates of Therefore, I see my generation as both uninformed teen pregnancies and high school dropouts. and gullible.

Be Leaders
By: Angela Collins My generation is weak-minded. Most have no goals and have no self-respect. I feel we should take charge and be leaders. Instead, females worry about the latest fashion trends while males worry about thugging and living off of their parents. Some young adults do not feel the need for a job. Most want to rap or sell drugs. We need to be leaders and set an example for our younger generation.

Teen Pregnancy, Disrespect, and My Generation

By: Jeremy Perkins The problem with my generation is that overwhelming number of teen pregnancies. In addition, dudes show no respect for teen mothers and do not take responsibility for their actions. A girl should be able to live without stress from bad relationships instead of having to deal with a deadbeat baby daddy.

Give us Credit
By: Austen Hill

The Problem with Technology

By: Skyler King

The problem with my generation is that every other generation has a problem with us, and we dont The problem with my generation is that no one care what others think. My generation is the generareads books anymore. Its a visual age now, and peotion that will determine the future of the world, but the ple have technology available. However, my generaolder generations just dont respect us so we just igtion uses this technology in the wrong way. People nore them. We do this because their time has passed, use the Internet for gossiping more than to actually and they dont know how to handle the change. They gain knowledge. A vast amount of information can be still want to be in control, so they criticize us. Howobtained using a computer. You no longer have to ever, those who criticize my generation often forget pay thousands of dollars to go to college. Now, you that they raised us. can just find everything colleges teach on the Internet,

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Science in Action

Page 7

Students have been busy in Ms. Khwajas science classes. As a part of their module studies, they constructed projects to demonstrate what they had learned. These products included a poster of types of energy, a brochure on biological cycles, a poster on cell structure, a research paper on endangered species and extinct animals, and several

Verdones Visuals

Simile Poster: Melissa Pacheco and Maria Romero

Conflict Poster: Issac Bottelo and Jeroni Murphy

Sculpture: Marie Saucedo

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October 2012

By Lucy Castorena

If you asked me my name, I might not be able to tell you I wouldnt be able to tell you because I forget sometimes Wait! Nick I met Allie when the end began The forest was bright and so green Grass and leaves were what I smelled Lief was there to meet us Why did he keep calling us playmates? Allie didnt want to listen Didnt want to listen when he told us we werent living anymore I dont know why I followed Allie When we found out Lief followed, we saw two towers There were kids playing outside Kids like us They told us about Mary Mary told us we were in Everlost, and there were rules But Allie didnt want to listen, she just wanted to go home Nathan, Norman, Nate Nick I almost forgot We did something Mary wouldnt like, something against the rules Allie said she found someone, someone who would teach her things Things Mary wouldnt like But they would help His name was the Haunter He said we had to pick up a rock from the living world Lief and I failed and the Haunter locked us in barrels It was dark and quiet Dark and quiet for a long time after we heard Allie leave I was starting to forget again Nick, Nick, Nick I couldnt forget my name again Still dark and quiet, quiet and dark Then we heard the Haunter yelling and we started to move I was counting the seconds before something happened It smelled like pickles Image Source Page: http://www.spookysites.com/ clipart/previews/red-skull.html Image Source Page: http://spaceweather.com/archive.php? view=1&day=30&month=10&year=2011

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One thousand one, one thousand two Was Lief next to me? Light poured in and blinded me The monster, the McGill The monster of Everlost He threw Lief and I in a room with other kids We were all upside down, swinging Back and forth, back and forth But everyone wanted to stay as still as possible More timemore darknessI tried not to forget Then, Allie was thereShe said shed come back for us She told me a plan, a plan where I had to sneak out I ended up where Mary was, it was easy Mary was beyond furious, but she helped We flew to where Allie told us to meet her She was there with all the kids from the room I was, and so was the McGill But Mary showed him a pictureA picture of himself A picture of when he was human before he became a monster And started to change The kids jumped on him, but he ran off I lost Allie, but I knew she was alright Wed meet up somewhere again Mary and I took everyone with us so they could stay in the city with Mary When she went to sleep, I was alone with Lief I gave Lief a coin, and there was a light Lief was gone And then I knew When Mary woke up, all the kids were gone Then we were yelling She kept them from the light, from moving on She kept them to care of them, she said But I knew it was wrong, so we both raced to the city I won, and by the time she got back All the kids were gone I knew she was mad, but I have to stay The kids of Everlost New and old, need to move on I cant go on, not until they all can too Image Source Page: http://fbisd.ipac.sirsidynix.net/ ipac20/ipac.jsp? session=13Y7VJ4218039.3991&profile=phs&uri=full= 3100001~!490816~! 0&ri=2&aspect=power&menu=search&source=~! horizon&ipp=20&spp=20&staffonly=&term=everlost&in dex=.TW&uindex=&aspect=power&menu=search& ri=2&limitbox_1=LO01+=+phs&limitbox_1=LO01+= +allhs#focus

(A Creative Alternative to the Book Report from Mrs. Verdones ELA classBased upon the Novel Everlost by Neal Shusterman.

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Here We Go Again

October 2012

by KAnna Angton

The journey is finally over. Here we go again, Once more, Ive sinned. I woke up one day, Sitting on a plane, With blood all over my face. Not knowing Im on my way, To where? I don`t know. But they say I must go. To the Rehab Center I arrive, But I feel like Im barely alive. I really don`t want to be here, So I shed a tear. After I checked in and got settled, The Rehab Center gave me a medal. Then they made me go to a seminar, But Id rather be sitting in the back of a bar. Then, I saw this girl. She had some long, blonde curls. She was the most beautiful thing Id ever seen, Thought I was looking at a TV screen. Her name was Lilly, And I can`t lie, I wanted to touch and feely. I wanted to get to know her, But as I got close, I saw a blur. You can`t talk to girls here D***!!!!! I need a beer.

How can I talk to her, I thought? I should think about this and be smart. A months passed by, And now Im not shy. We always snuck out, We used to scream and shout. But we never got caught, Almost though. We had fun while it lasted, But now, that`s all in the past. The journey is finally over. It`s sad cause I really loved her. When I found out everybody relapsed, I swallowed hard, And took a gasp. This is the beginning of the end. I realized Im my only friend. This.. Is where I stand.
(A Creative Alternative to the Book Report from Mrs. Verdones ELA classBased upon the book A Million Little Pieces by James Frey.)

Image Source Page: http:// vadoc89.deviantart.com/art/Sad-girlalone-173463587

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Congress designated Arts in Education Weekthe second week in Septemberto promote and showcase the immense role arts education plays in producing engaged, successful, and college and career-ready students. Accordingly, students in Mrs. Hamiltons art classes spent the week creating a spectacular example of their artistic talents in the form of drawings and paintings as pictured below.

Hand Drawings
Art IA students created a set of five unique hand drawings exploring the possibilities of light and three-dimensional forms.

Micheal Ogbor Daniel Richards Eric Anderson

Figure Studies in Watercolor Wash

Art IB students used watercolor washes to fragment and abstract contour drawing of human figures.

Justin Purcell Romero Reyna Jeff Ogbor Kenia Castro Erika Turcious

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October 2012

From the Counselors Office

www.reachout.com is a great resource for students seeking help and information on a variety of topics: Anxiety, Becoming Independent, Depression, Loss and Grief and many more. The website has others stories and blogs plus resources and contacts for assistance.

www.bigfuture.org is also a great resource for students to use to research colleges and to help them figure out their
personal future plans. It is free and sponsored by the College Board.

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/know-yourself/5-ways-to-find-career-ideas - this one page

article lists 5 ways to find career ideas.

TalkLine 281-240-TALK (8255) Are you struggling with relationship problems, pregnancy, abuse, stress, drugs/
alcohol, school problems, family issues, suicide, bullying/harassment or depression - Help is just a phone call away. Free. Confidential. Anonymous

Harvard University AnnouncementNo tuition and no

student loans! Harvard University announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition. If you know of a family earning less than $60,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free... no tuition and no student loans! To find out more, visit Harvard's financial aid website at: http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.

Newsletter Staff
Editor: Jeanita Lovelace Faculty Contributors: Lezlie Gless, Shakira Guillory, and Lanette Marquardt Student Contributors: Eric Anderson, KAnna Angton, Issac Botello, Kenia Castro, Lucy Castorena, Jeroni Murphey, Jeff Ogbor, Michael Ogbor, Melissa Pacheco, Justin Purcell, Romero Reyna, Daniel Richards, Maria Romero, Marie Saucedo, and Erika Turcious Newsletter Advisor: Trevor Lemon
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Sugar land, Texas Permit No. 27

FREE FAFSA Forms are available in both English and Spanish at The Missouri City Library located at 1530 in Texas Parkway, Missouri City, TX 77489
Progressive High School 1555 Independence Blvd. Missouri City, Texas 77489