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Gift-A-Cow Fundraiser

11/12/2015

The Black Cow Newspaper has new plans for this year to have a fantastic magazine-like newspaper. But we need your help. The Black Cow will be holding a fundraiser known as the Give-A-Cow Fundraiser. We have partnered with Heifer International to raise money through donations for a family in need in Rwanda. By giving them a cow, not only are we giving them a source of milk, but members of the Heifer International will teach them how to use manure from the cow for agriculture and fuel for cooking. The families that receive a cow are also taught how to read, write, and are given refrigerated chilling plants where they may store milk to sell to others.

The rules for this fundraiser are simple. We are going to hold a contest in which 4 different cows will participate from this Monday 11/09/2015 to Thursday 11/19/2015. The students will be donating money into jars with different cow pictures to chose the cow that The Black Cow will give to the family. The students will add positive points to a cow jar by adding pennies or dollars into the jar. The students will add negative points to a cow jar by adding nickels, dimes, and quarters. The cow with the most positive points will be sponsored and gifted to a family in need with the money made from these donations. The rest of the donations will be given to The Black Cow. After adopting the cow, The Black Cow will update the students on how our cow is doing and explore more on how the cow is helping the family.

Edgefest 2015

6/4/2015

By: Macy McQuillen
11th Grade, Editor
Brought to you by 102.1 The Edge, Westlake Academy’s Black Cow presents Edgefest 2015.

A line up that included Hozier, the Kooks, New Politics, Vance Joy, Death Cab For Cutie, AWOLNATION, and The Offspring meant that even though the festivities lasted for 11 hours, my exhaustion was the last thing on my mind. I was dehydrated but elated. Each set was better than the next as the day escalated into the night. Performer’s sets lasted about 30 minutes each; enough time to put on a show and short enough that the crowd’s energy was renewed as each new musician passionately serenaded us.

After each set, a few people would leave the mosh pit where I was standing. I slowly worked my way up over the course of an hour and a half so that by the time Hozier was on only a depth of 3 people separated the stage and me. This was why I had come. Despite how diverse my music taste is and my fondness for most of the musicians there, for me this was the main event. The seemingly brooding, dark performer seen at the Billboard Music Awards weeks later was almost unrecognizable in comparison to the laid back singer I saw at Edgefest wearing Ray Bans, sporting the most effortless man bun ever seen, and grinning like a child as he sang out, mesmerizing the stadium.

Hot. …was the weather, that is. The smell of sunscreen filled my senses as I continued to reapply all day along with those around me as sweat quickly made these efforts moot. Since the stages were situated at the north and south ends of the arena, the sun bore down from the West, singing only the left side of my face and body. Luckily I got a break from the heat for a bit when a large ginger man of approximately 10 feet in height stood to my left, providing me with more than enough shade and saving me from premature wrinkles on only half of my face.

Sun, sweat, and SOUND. Deafening in the best way because at the time it felt like nothing could ever sound so great again. Only the music could provide an atmosphere so complete that even after having stood in the hot sun in Texas in summer for 8 hours, as soon as the rhythm erupted from the speakers any sunburn, aches, or fatigue was forgotten. You convinced yourself that “No, you aren’t going to faint” because that would mean being carried out of the pit by medics and losing your spot so close to the stage! There could be no greater catastrophe at a music festival. Power through for a few minutes because as soon as the bassline rumbles the ground, all discomfort is soothed, you are cured. I promise no medic can erase pain like hearing your favourite band kill it on a stadium stage, making you tear up like a proud Mom.

Was I exhausted to a point of fatigue at the end? Without a doubt.
Did I fall asleep on my bedroom floor mid conversation with my friend when we got home? Maybe.
Did Hozier propose to me? I can’t figure out why, but no.
Despite all that, am I already planning my strategy for next year’s mosh pit? Absolutely.

The simplicity of weight

6/4/2015

By: Rolando Hernandez
11th Grade, Manager
As technology continues to advance, people want a communications device that they can carry around with them easily. In modern times, we call these modern tablets iPads. At Westlake Academy, students use iPads to lighten their backpacks from the burden of textbooks. Adding on to this, the tool allows IB learners to be more productive in class overall.

In various types of education whether it be through younger grades, middle school, or high school, students and teachers are adapting to new technologies. Teachers like Ms. Nairon use Showbie, a homework organizer app, as a source to turn in and review assignments. Turning in homework digitally helps communication on both sides of the equation. A digital piece of work cannot be damaged physically, whereas paper material can be destroyed due to rips or liquid spills. This basically solves the old excuse of “sorry I don’t have my homework with me, my dog ate it.”

Furthermore, the transition of going digital keeps students organized. Laptops or iPads have made it easier for students to keep all of their work in one place. This ends the dilemma of students not having their work or not being able to find certain assignments. The use of iPads allows teachers to put their assignments online for students to access. Students who are absent during class can look on their school issued iPad to find out what they missed. After looking online, students may report to the teacher for further information and questions. Ms. Nairon states that iPads “allow for a positive workflow.”

The first year of one-to-one iPad initiatives at Westlake Academy ended successfully. Students of all grade levels have used this device as a tool to further enhance their IB learner traits.

“Wasabifyed”

6/4/2015

By: Josh MacKaron
9th Grade, Writer
I will never forget the day I tried my first Wasabi Ginger chip. The clock inched closer to midnight as the half-past-ten hallucinations, only a tired, sugarhigh kid could relate to, became evident in my every movement. A sign caught my attention as I scanned the restocked, crowded aisles of the local Walmart Superstore. A slight ambition for an adventurous treat coupled with a burning hunger redirected my path toward a cardboard castle, showcasing bags of the four finalists of Lays Potato Chips “Do Us a Flavor” contest. But one tantalizing bag seemed to glow; desiring my immediate attention. A euphoria of childhood nostalgia flowed through my veins, as flashbacks of swimming in ponds and white-fenced farms replaced my starving reality. Then, every thought fled from my mind except one. I knew I had to make this bag my own. My fingers grasped the sealed pouch of a perfectly-portioned combination of air, potato, and seasoning, then tossed it into the grocery basket.

The car ride home was no more than 5 minutes...but felt even shorter. The darkness seemed to absorb all time, leaving nothing but a vague memory of blurred street lights. We pulled into the driveway, as a renewed anticipation for the chips began to form in the pit of my stomach. From the garage door, I rushed into the kitchen and set the bag of chips onto the counter. Chills worked their way up my spine as the cackle of the bag protested its opening. As the final cries of the bag softened, an aroma reminiscent of Teriyaki and Wasabi began to fill the room. I grabbed a single chip and placed it into my mouth. The kettle-cooked-crunch beckoned for more to follow, as the intense flavors began to melt away into a mellow bliss.

I was completely wasabifyed.

Life With Wheels

6/4/2015

By: Rolando Hernandez
11th Grade, Manager
        Students transitioning from sophomore year to junior year may have the opportunity of obtaining a driver’s license. It’s apparent that most capable adults own a car and use it as a means of transportation in order to get from point A to point B. Until teleportation or flying is something for the masses, people driving on the road will most likely continue for generations to come.

        It can be a little bit intimidating at first to go behind the wheel of the car, risking your own life, as well as other passengers in the vehicle. The primary step to overcoming this fear is pure experience. To get that experience, some drivers-in-training will have their parents take them to an empty parking lot for practice and so they won’t crash into any distracting objects. Scratching “the beauty of dad or mom’s car” off would be nightmarish! Parents will teach their child to drive a car much like they did to ride a bike. They will be with them until a level of mastery is evident.

        Students view getting their permit or license as a sense of accomplishment. For the permit, students know they are one year away from driving on an open road by themselves. As they approach the driving test, students can taste the freedom. The only thing that comes to mind is independence. No longer will they be dependent on parents. No more waiting when mom “says I’m five minutes around the corner” when she actually means twenty minutes at least or more. No more planning the time to find rides to places back and forth. Having the means of ease of going when you want and not blaming parents creates open opportunities that must be appreciated.

The Mystery of OSS

6/4/2015

By: Surya Purohit
9th Grade, Editor

Operation Secret Service (OSS) started out in a enthusiastic way at Westlake Academy. Groups buzzed around with excitement and their thrill was evident in their conversations. Many group members dressed up in specific ways, such as everyone wearing matching pink bandanas, eyeliner on cheeks as war paint. After everyone was finally able to calm down, Meredith McCune and Ryan Parkey approached the crowd, officially introducing the start of the annual Operation Secret Service.

During this presentation, a hilarious video was shown to introduce the missions and instructions for the secret agents. Starring in the video was Mr. Williams, looking sleuth-like in a trench coat and fedora, acting out humorous scenes for the school audinece. Tanner Scott, the creator of the OSS videos, enjoyed hearing laughter in the audience, since the Pink Panther movie theme was part of the fun. He realized he helped create an atmosphere of joy and anticipation for the day of community service still to come.

Once group assignments were given, the groups were sent to different locations, including the Community Storehouse, local nature parks, and nearby retirement homes. The tasks varied per each location, such as picking up trash or sorting out donations. Every hour, each group received a special message from OSS Headquarters, containing another secret mission that was to be completed at the location. These missions differed throughout the day, from singing (horribly if I might say so myself firsthand!) to taking a creative and unique selfie or photobomb. Throughout the day, group members were required to complete whatever tasks each individual location had, as well as Student Council’s well-planned notifications of a new mission.

Returning to OSS Headquarters at the end of the day was the hardest part, because that meant the end of the fun-filled, eventful day. Student agents filled the gymnasium, all looking worn out and ready for a long nap. The award ceremony soon began, showcasing many of the missions from different groups, accurately depicting all the entertaining events from the day, as well as summing up all that happened. The motivation to create a clever video, and the promise of a cookie cake prize for the most remarkable footage was incentive enough for each group.

Finally, Student Council leaders announced the winners of the day and proclaimed the end of the 2015 Operation Secret Service. The winners earned their moment of fame. Students left the building, all smiling and taking group pictures before leaving and going home, ending another successful Operation Secret Service event.

The Black Cow would like to acknowledge the entire Student Council team, as well as Mrs. Milton, Mr. Williams, Coach Burt, and the countless other teachers that supported and helped make OSS more meaningful than ever before. Without these people, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to go and make new memories and inside jokes that we were now in on. Operation Secret Service was a success, and we can’t wait to see how it turns out to be next year.

Sports Moms Look Good

5/31/2015

By: Macy McQuillen
11th Grade, Editor

On March 3, weather was causing problems for regular school schedules. Deadlines were piling up and the athletes had to get in the yearbook. This was the last day--all day, and the only day--that sports team portraits could still be taken. Team photos, individual athletes, and all the uniforms (even though some of the seasons are already over and the uniforms are already turned in to Coach Burt) needed some very special attention. Clearly this was an olympic-size task fit for for Super Mom!
It may not seem like an olympic sport, but think about the details that go into athletic team picture day:

There are 35 sports teams at WA
There are 280 athletes on these WA teams
There are 97 students in more than one sport
There are approximately 377 uniforms to hand out (for sports with multiple uniforms in different colors)
There are 32 pages in the yearbook dedicated to sports teams

Here is how the day’s constant, if not chaotic, flow of students from class to arriving at the Field House, to receiving the correct uniforms from our parent volunteers, to changing clothes, to waiting on taking the photo, to taking the photo and then all of that in reverse. This had to happen multiple times over and over.

That’s why we salute the parent volunteers (moms) present for the entire affair: Melissa Sircar, Collette Morrissey, and Mona Mitchell were volunteer photographers. And the WAAC volunteers who arrived throughout the day seemed ready to pitch in. (photo here) WAAC Moms were seen organizing uniforms in bins, handing them out, collecting, re-folding and re-stacking, thus keeping order throughout the whole scenario like only a Mom can do.

So a special Black Cow salute of appreciation to the parents who make us look good even if it’s raining and cold on team photo day. Without them our school would not be the institution it is today. Without them, our fundraisers, proms, homecomings, pizza days, OSS, and so many other Westlake traditions, would not materialize at the high quality level they do now. Without them, this year’s athletic teams may not have photo proof they were around this year!

So, to any and all Westlake parents, we thank you for your seemingly boundless contributions to our school. And to the Moms who helped with this year’s athletic team photos, we hope to give you the same amount of recognition you made possible for our students.

Digging Dreams: The Story of a 5 Year Old Archeologist

5/31/2015

By: Daniel Martinez Murillo
8th Grade, Writer

   While riding to school, the radio stopped playing music and the radio announcers started talking about what has been on the news. I ignored most of it, but what caught my attention was the story of a boy who found a dinosaur fossil. There wasn't much to it, so after school I looked it up, finding an article by the Dallas Morning News. Because of that, I was able to write a lot of this article. All pictures and quotes are credited to the Dallas Morning News.

       How does one compare themselves to a little boy that has probably helped scientists grasp a deeper understanding of the past? It's practically impossible, unless that someone has done anything cooler than accidentally finding a nodosaur at an incredibly young age.

        A four year-old Wylie Brys used his great skills of playing in the mud and his love for dinosaurs to find the rare beast lying in the ground as he walked ahead of his father, Tim Brys, while poking around for fossils. At first, Tom believed the first fossil Wylie found was a turtle's, but upon later investigation he saw something far more interesting to it. Because of their interest, they dug a bit more, hoping to find late marine life in what used to be an underwater section during the Jurassic period. SMU Scientists have finally gotten permission to excavate the nodosaur with the help of the Dallas Zoo (Tom's workplace) almost a whole school year later,with Wylie now at five years old.

Out of all the places the old monstrosity could've died over 100 thousand years ago, it died in what would one day be a patch of land behind a grocery store in Mansfield, Texas. SMU Paleontologist Dale Winkler explained that the nodosaur was "quite a rare find" for the area and called nodosaurs "armored beach balls that floated out to sea." A nodosaur is an extremely rare, pony-sized land dinosaur that used to roam around the area of what is now Texas. Winkler also told media that excavation in the site would continue in hope of more discoveries for another week, then letting construction workers do their job and continue building in the area.

          After covering the bones in protective burlap and plaster, they were transported to SMU for further cleaning and assembly of the bones. Winkler believes it will be months until the cleaning of the bones is complete.

         This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will sure make for some great stories for the kid and his father to tell at the dinner table one day, and of course may change a lot we know about the beasts we call dinosaurs and their habitats. If it wasn't for the Brys finding the fossil, that dinosaur would likely have lived it's skeletal days underground and undiscovered.

Can Social Media Ruin Your Reputation?

5/25/2015

Emily Hudson
11th Grade, Guest Writer

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, it seems interconnectedness among friends and family is easier than ever. With a simple direct message, FaceBook post reply, or re-Vine, communicating with a peer becomes almost effortless.

However, many young teens are not aware of the digital footprint they leave behind. When a “harmless” Tweet is posted from an individual’s account, not only does the post copy onto Twitter’s database but also onto search engines such as Google or Bing. The words used within the post serve as keywords when searching for a similar word or subject. Although hashtags are used to locate related topics, word choice can also serve as a secondary hashtag.

So what of the so-called “privacy settings” available on social media sites?

Privacy settings allow the user to limit access of their content from certain individuals or parties. This maneuver may ward off unwanted third parties; however, it does not prevent social media users to screenshot and further share an individual’s content. An Instagram photo, Tumblr post, or Pinterest tag can easily be screenshotted or saved with the available features of modern devices. This causes an invasion of privacy and an overall distrust of users on the Internet.

For older teens, many do not realize that as they create an online profile, they are also creating a digital representation of themselves as individuals. Prospective employers often check social media before an interview to ensure their applicants are reliable. Most importantly, college admissions officers of prestigious schools also screen social media. As young adults are being admitted into college, their behavior directly represents the school they are attending. A vulgar or distasteful online profile can jeopardize the opportunity to attend the student’s dream school or perfect summer job.

Ferocious Football! (Powderpuff)

5/7/2015

By: Andres Martinez Murillo
11th Grade, Editor-In-Chief

This week our coaches and teachers showed off their excitement for a long-known Westlake Academy tradition. During Monday flag, the male coaches got dressed up as cheerleaders and introduced teachers dressed in Westlake football gear to promote Powderpuff!

For those who are new Westlakers, Powderpuff is a series of football games played by the girls of various high school grades. The Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors each compete to show off their grade’s superiority. It’s a lot of fun, especially seeing the boys cheer on their class teams. Oh, did I not mention that? Since the roles are reversed, the boys get to be cheerleaders for their team! They get to organize themselves and show off silly school spirit to support their ferocious squad. And if you don’t want to cheer, you can always become a coach for the girls and lead your grade to victory! It's always extremely entertaining. Traditionally, the seniors would always win, but you and your grade can change that!

I want all of you reading this to get as pumped as your teachers and coaches! I want you to spread the school spirit and sign up for this fantastic event. Get your friends to join you and find some guys with a lot of school spirit to be cheerleaders or coaches for you. Contact Coach Nothe at cnothe@westlakeacademy.org or these fantastic teacher volunteers to show your interest in this event as soon as possible:
PYP Morgan Boles (mboles@westlakeacademy.org)
PYP PE Lizzy Burnett (lburnett@westlakeacademy.org)
MYP Kirsten Siebach (ksiebach@westlakeacademy.org)
PYP Sarah Firsching (sfirsching@westlakeacademy.org)

Try Writing And Earn Creative Hours

4/28/2015

By: Andres Martinez Murillo

Editor-in-Chief, 11th Grade

Are you a creative person looking to make a mark on Westlake? Are you in need of creative hours before school ends in May? The Black Cow editors would like to offer everyone--even if you didn’t join The Black Cow Newspaper team--the ability to write guest stories for the school newspaper.

We want you to experience what it is like to publish an article for Westlake Academy. We will consider any subject that is appropriate and we can tell you are passionate about it. For those who recently completed their Personal Projects, you might want to share some details with us. For those in the PYP who have bright ideas, please send them to us. And DP students who can share collegiate advice about getting into the best schools, please reach out right away!

Send us your ideas to our email theblackcow@westlakeacademy.org and we will contact you if the editors would like more information.

Movie review: Cinderella

4/27/2015

By: Mackenzee Bumgarner
Editor, 9th Grade

Everyone loves a fairy tale ending, and most people have seen or heard the classics; Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and the list could go on. But one of the most well known princesses, especially in the world of Disney, is Cinderella. Children all around the world have seen Disney’s 1950 animated feature, Cinderella. Now in 2015, Disney hits us with a new adaptation of the story, the live action film rendition of Cinderella.

The tale follows the classic story with the glass slipper, the stroke of midnight, and even Cinderella’s mice friends are part of the new film. If you are relatively new to Disney’s world of fairy tales, you will find that the 2015 film adaptation follows the classic story very closely as Ella, a merchant’s daughter, who is left alone with her cruel stepsisters and stepmother. She reluctantly becomes the servant in her own house and is basically shunned from any life outside.

After mistreatment and months of despair, Ella finally discovers she has a fairy godmother on the night of the ball. Ella had been dreaming of going to the ball, after she accidentally met a mysterious man named “Kit” while riding her horse. The fairy godmother grants her wishes, and Ella dances the night away without worry. At least until the clock began to chime midnight....

Cinderella sends a message of kindness and compassion. The princess inspires young boys and girls to be kind and find the good in everyone. Ella’s stepmother and stepsisters prove self-centered motives can backfire, and even become evil. In this film, the power of good defeats evil. Love changes the course of the world for our heroine, and this nostalgic cinematic masterpiece warms the hearts of moviegoers young and old alike.

Besides...a movie starring Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother...it can’t be missed!!!!

FROZEN FEVER

4/27/2015

By: Surya Purohit
Editor, 9th Grade
Don’t slam that door yet, Frozen Fever is back and colder than ever! With an official announcement of a second Frozen movie, and even a short film that will play before Cinderella in theaters, it’s hard for people to let it go! Many people are saying there is too much hype about it! What’s so special about it? Well, group together a talking snowman, an ice queen, a lovable princess, a dashing ice picker and his adorable reindeer, you get another hit Disney movie. Now if you haven’t heard the Frozen soundtrack at least a million times already, be prepared for a whole new avalanche. New costumes, new songs, new Frozen! Did you know over 3 million Elsa and Anna costumes were sold last year alone, and over 2.5 million kids dressed up as a character from Frozen for Halloween? Frozen is a classic movie according to little kids, but what do teenagers have to say about it?

Macy McQuillen/Grade 11: “I literally love Frozen so very much. I got the DVD for my birthday and it is my favorite thing in the whole world. I’m requesting the songs to be played at Prom. I’m counting down to the short film and then Frozen 2!”

Rolando Hernandez/Grade 11: “It’s annoying. I think that Disney movies in general send the wrong message to children, but Frozen, to me, acts as a mediator since the happiness of both sisters relies on each other. I think this type of story lies in a more modern sense with a positive message, but still shows some bias of relying on masculinity to be strong.”

Sofia Martinez-Murillo/Grade 9: “I thought the movie was very powerful (in it’s own Disney way) because it helps girls realize they don’t need a man in their life. And the short story I thought was very cute! Anna and Kristoff’s relationship makes me blush everytime I think about them. They’re the perfect mix of clumsiness and niceness.”

Sabrina Aslam/Grade 9:"I liked it, but it's not the best movie in the world. I think the graphics were beautiful, and it was really different from the other Disney movies, but it was overrated. I just got sick of the songs after I heard it 100 times."

That was how some Westlake Academy teenagers expressed opinions; however, some of the PYP students interviewed seemed to be more enthusiastic and literally could not conceal their feels. After calming the screaming and making sure they actually understood the question, I was able to get some answers:

Sophie Griffith/Grade 2: "I liked the movie because I like the characters, mainly Elsa. The songs in the movie are very funny."

Alex Nibarger/Grade 1: “I don’t like it because it’s a baby movie and it’s bad. I don’t like the songs because they are weird. Olaf is my favorite character because he is hilarious and the other characters are annoying.”

Blake Crim/Grade 4: "It's annoying. When I walked in, I liked it but then they started singing. I didn't know it was a musical, otherwise I would have left that movie and asked for a refund. Ask any other guy in my grade, no boy likes musicals."

Well, as for me, I think overall Disney had a good concept for this movie. Disney seems to be leaning more towards princess stories that don’t always need to rely on a Prince Charming to be a hero. In the end, I don’t know if I’m elated or irritated about Frozen’s success, but I’m somewhere in that zone. Now, I wait as the entire population watches ahead to see Disney’s next move in the “ice-pocalypse”.

Partying the Night away

4/22/2015

By: Andres Martinez-Murillo
Editor-in-Chief, 11th grade

Saturday morning started off with a holiday-like feeling. It was the Westlake Prom and excitement pulsed through the student’s hearts as most of the juniors and seniors got ready for the gala at the Leslie Hotel in Dallas. The prom committee, led by student Brooke Cassidy and moms Jenn Cassidy, April Gallagher, and Jill McCune, did an amazing job with the Breakfast at Tiffany’s theme, for the venue was beautifully decorated with a New York skyline on opposing walls, Tiffany-blue lit trees as centerpieces on single tables, Breakfast at Tiffany’s playing inaudibly on opposite ends of the room while music was playing, and a fantastic array of lights filling the dancefloor and lighting the partiers with gaiety.

The evening started off with several glamorous pre-prom festivities. Some students gathered at houses to take pictures with their dates and friends. Flashes of light everywhere from excited parents, causing temporary blindness made it seem as if the partiers were celebrities on the red carpet. Other students held venues of their own, having dinner at a nice restaurant or a nice country club. Either way, the flashes were unavoidable and accepted with a warm spirit by the juniors and seniors. Soon, transportation arrived in the form of cars, limousines such as the seniors’ elegant white stretch, party buses such as the juniors’ 32-person party bus and a smaller party bus with lights and a pole, and horse-drawn carriage. Actually, the horse-drawn carriage did not happen, it would have been difficult to get to Dallas on time. But it would have been intriguing to see someone arrive fashionably late with a couple of stallions pulling them.

iPad Awareness Day Explained by Mrs. Maru

4/22/2015

By: Surya Purohit
Editor, 9th Grader

What exactly is iPad Awareness Day?
iPad Awareness Day is designed to ensure iPads belonging to Westlake Academy are being used for educational purposes according to the iPad Usage Agreement signed by students and parents.

How often will this occur?
One audit (ten students) once every two weeks.

How will you pick which iPad you will review?
Ten student names are picked at random each audit, utilizing a randomizer application to pick them. There is a technology committee that will review each iPad selected for the audits.

What are you looking for?
We are looking to make sure the iPad is being used in a respectful and responsible way. The iPad is a revolutionary device and educational tool given to students to help them succeed during their time at Westlake Academy.

What will happen if you do find something on a student’s iPad?
We will address it in a case-by-case scenario, following the Student Parent Handbook and the school’s Acceptable Use Policy / iPad Usage Agreement. These are legally acceptable documents to follow.

How long are these checks supposed to last? And what about when students need their iPads for classes?
Ideally the audit should last 1 day. We are wanting to have the iPad back in the students’ hands by the end of the day or the beginning of the next school day.

What caused the creation of the iPad Awareness Day?
We are looking to make sure the iPad is being used in a respectful way and that students are being responsible Digital Citizens. Part of the IB Learner profile is to be principled, so this is one way to demonstrate how principled you can be while using school property.

Any other comments, quotes, or any specific thing you would like to mention?
This is Dr Bryson’s favorite quote and we think it aligns really well with our 1:1 iPad mini initiative:
"The most important is that teaching is visible to the student and that learning is visible to the teacher. The more the student becomes the teacher and the teacher becomes the student, the more successful the outcome." -Hattie

The burning Van (April 3rd)

4/16/2015

By: Andrés Martinez Murillo
Editor-in-Chief, 11th Grade

It was fourth period on the makeup day from the winter storms and all the students of Westlake Academy were ready to go home for Easter Weekend. The DP students who drive their own cars were dismissed normally and were thinking about the weekend ahead, when suddenly, a crackling boom sounded from the fields near Westlake Academy.

Throughout the school, an announcement was made to delay dismissal if students were not already released. All students were told to stay inside their classrooms until further notice.

Meanwhile outside, some students and parents watched from a safe distance on campus as a white van on the northbound side of J.T. Ottinger Road caught fire and eventually seemed to explode, igniting its interior and setting off a series of mini fire bursts at 3:02 pm. The smell of smoke filled the air and sirens became part of the orchestra of sounds. Thankfully, DP students were not allowed to leave the student parking lot, so they were already a safe distance from the incident. Parents in the car line were also safe, although it may have seemed more like watching a movie stunt on a Hollywood set.

According to Westlake’s Fire Chief Richard Whitten, the driver of the burning car was surprised when this happened. “The driver pulled over safely after experiencing a problem with the vehicle,” said Mr. Whitten. “He got out of the van before the car ignited.”

The official fire department report from Friday, April 3, 2015, states the combustion originated from the engine and the cause of ignition is still undetermined. Westlake fire department and Keller police, arrived on the scene at 3:08. The Westlake Academy staff and Keller police organized a road block from the fire as the first responders extinguished the flames from the vehicle. Students were not allowed near the car and all cars from the campus detoured northbound toward Highway 114 to control the situation and keep everyone safe. The van was towed away by the Keller police and the service men withdrew from the scene at 3:55 pm.

Westlake faculty and staff worked swiftly to contain the potential crisis on campus, but the true heroes of the day deserve special thanks: the Westlake service men who helped with the emergency and the emergency communications: Firefighters Daniel Robertson, Victor Mesa, Thomas Villines, and Daniel Shrupp; Fire Chief Richard Whitten, and Keller Police Captain Thomas Simmons for supporting our community in our efforts to stay informed. We owe you a debt of gratitude and thank you for your service.

If you experienced this event and would like to send a letter thanking these special people, please email us at theblackcow@westlakeacademy.org and we will pass on your letters. We might even publish their response to you in a future issue of The Black Cow.

Promposals!

4/5/2015

Updated as of 4-6-15

By: Andres Martinez Murillo
Editor-in-Chief, 11th Grade

Prom week is upon us, so The Black Cow hopes all of you are ready with your suits and ties or dresses and fancy shoes because its almost time to party the night away! Thus far, the Black Cow reviewed some Promposals submitted for the Krispy Kreme contest and a decision will be made on who is the most creative. But before the winner is announced, let’s take a look at the contestants!

Our first contestant knows that the way to a girl’s heart is through her tastebuds. Collin Ziegler (11th) surprised Jenna Tews (11th) by bringing cupcakes to her in TOK class that spelled “Prom?” with a poster that said "It would be SWEET if you went to prom with me". The Black Cow does appreciate sweetness, so Collin did very well on his part. And besides, who can say no to cupcakes?

Our second contestant, Josh Hill (12th), senior pitcher for the varsity baseball team, was nervous Monday morning because "he didn't know if she would say yes". The she in this story is Danielle Fitzgerald (12th), Westlake’s yearbook editor-in-chief and also the team manager for the varsity baseball team. Josh designed a series of posters and created pathway signs along the entrance of the senior parking area. He included balloons for notability and had everything planned for the big ask. Even though the signs said "Danielle will you go to Prom with me -Josh" he wanted to be sure she knew it was him! So he wanted to wait for her to arrive at school and see her reaction. She was very surprised that everyone who parked on that side of campus noticed, but was very happy to say yes right away. Josh said it was totally worth it. Major points on Josh’s big pitch.

Another junior contestant, Charles Freire (11th) asked Sarah Pinto (11th) to prom. Knowing how Sarah has been trying a raw vegan diet, Charles decided to surprise her with his wit. He came to lunch with a fruit basket and a sign that said, “It would be totally raw if you went to prom with me”. Sarah accepted with a giggle. Wit is always a good way to go!

Our next contestant definitely knows how to put a spell on you. Rahul Tharoor (11th) came into Victoria Kubyshko's Spanish class and surprised her by making a Harry Potter themed promposal, as that is her favorite movie series. He used wit and a little magic...marker to create a poster that said “I may not be Harry Potter, but I was wandering if I could be your chosen 1 to prom”. He brought her chocolate and also a handmade wand. As a fan of the series, Rahul did a spell-tacular job! Okay, no more jokes about magic. Rahul was wand-erful.

Frank Titzler (11th) showed off his baking skills for this year’s prom. He broke out his cooking gloves and got down to creating a homemade cookie cake for Hannah Bumgarner (11th). Like many others, he knows that the best way to a girl’s heart is through a girl’s sweet tooth, but since Hannah is an expert chef from Papa Murphy’s we hope he was graded on a curve! How could Hannah not say yes to this sweet guy?

Grant Heindselman (11th) surprised Addison Adkins (11th) with a cute stuffed puppy and a sign that said "it would be ruff if I didn’t go to prom with my best friend". It is said that they will share custody of the puppy and have a great time in prom because she said yes!

Those are our contestants so far for this year’s Promposal competition! IF you know of additional Promposals, send them to us (theblackcow@westlakeacademy.org) before it’s too late. The winner with the most creative WA Promposal will get a box of Krispy Kreme donuts in their first period class and bragging rights for the most creative Promposal in Westlake Academy! To vote for your favorite Promposal just go to the Black Cow voting polls tab near the digital masthead and vote now. The winner will be announced on Friday, April 10!!!

Steppin’ it up to the plate!

4/1/2015

Sarah Ismaili
Staff Writer, 9th grade

The 2014-2015 school year has brought many new things for Westlake Academy. New students, new teachers, a new grading policy, and new buildings. It’s a whole new year, a whole new cycle, and it has big shoes to fill. With the list of the new additions made during the summer, the food in the dining hall is one of them. Mr. Walter, our head caterer, has changed the face of school lunches at Westlake Academy.

As before, the usual hot lunches and drinks such as water and milk are served. However, this year, a multitude of new things have been added to our menu. Iced tea, muffins, lemonade, smoothies, seasoned salmon fillets and a variety of Ms. Vickie’s chips are just some of those things that make up the new additions. One of the mainstays on our menu is the hot chocolate that is served during the colder months, which is a big hit with everyone.

There is also a bigger variety of meals that is good for all to enjoy. This year, the school lunches have reached out to many who have food limitations such as allergies or vegetarians. There are also many different types of food representing menus from around the world. Who knew one could eat spaghetti and meatballs like an Italian and a day later have fried rice like the Orient? I sat down with the man himself and asked him a few questions.

TheBlackCow: “How would you compare the difference between last year’s lunches and this year’

Mr. Walter: “This year we added a few more things. We created the salad bar and we are trying to introduce more vegetables and more options for the students so they have a more balanced meal.”

TheBlackCow: “What are some of the new things that have been added to the menu?”

Mr. Walter: “The salad bar like I said was expanded. We added the paninis and more beef options. We also added more vegetarian options as well. The lemonade and iced tea are some new drinks but we’re planning on working on a little bit. We’re planning on adding two more fresh drinks. We’re actually trying to -and you might not like this in the beginning - but we’re trying to eliminate bottled drinks little by little and it’ll take some time to get used to but I’m quite sure you’re going to like it.

TheBlackCow: “Has the number of students buying the food increased from last year due to the bigger variety this year?

Mr. Walter: “Yes, absolutely. Actually what we have noticed is that there were a lot of snack purchases last year and today the students are buying more meals. That’s a big difference.”

TheBlackCow: “Is there anything new in store for school lunches here at Westlake Academy? Any new plans or ideas you’ve been thinking about?”

“We’re definitely going to spend more on international food. We want to show the students the great variety we have in the world. Also we would like to offer next year maybe at least once or twice a year, a small class on nutrition - so everyone knows how the food we eat works in our bodies.”

The way Mr. Walter describes it, one could observe that the new additions to our lunch menu have helped to increase the food budget for the school. The student body is really enjoying the new additions to the “carte du jour” (as the French call it). Let’s take a look at what the students are thinking about the new things they can choose from for lunch.

“I like the smiley fries, the original chips, and the pineapple slices. It’s a big improvement! -Neena Perdue (9th grade)

“My favorite drink is the hot chocolate because it keeps me warm in the winter!” -Elaina (2nd grade)

Mr. Walter is a creative worker and puts the kids first. Everytime I see him, he has a smile on his face! I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all of us from Westlake Academy to thank Mr. Walter for everything he does and all the improvements that have been made. Thank you!

Want to know what will be served next week at lunch?

Check out the Westlake Academy facebook or the school website for the lunch calendar.

In da club

4/1/2015

By Daniel Martinez-Murillo
Staff Writer, 8th Grade

            School life is freaky. It can be exciting, it can be scary, but most of all it can be incredibly, insanely stressful. Still, there is one thing that can take one's mind off all that. Clubs. That is right, the service activities that are challenging to make time for can be both pleasant and extremely helpful. Not only do clubs provide skills, but they can also advance skills.

            One doesn't have to join a club, they can also organize one. A perfect example would be the Mathematics Club, created by Parth Purohit (8th Grade), Jason Wu (9th Grade), and Joshua Eapen (9th Grade). I interviewed Purohit, so some of the questions and responses are written here. "What inspired you to make this club?" He responded "I always loved math, and knew others loved it too. I also wanted to transfer my love of math into something tangible. Because of that, I created the Math Club focused on the American Math Challenge." He also talked about himself dreaming about this club for a long time. When I asked if there were any conflicts, because there will be conflicts, he had this to say: "One large conflict was finding a day and teacher to support us. But Mr. Aisthorpe has been really helpful, and we solved those conflicts." He believes that success will keep coming and that they should be very well on their way.

            That is only one club of many. There is the Ping Pong Club, Photography Club, Yearbook Club, and of course The Black Cow, with even more clubs still forming. If anyone wants to create a club or join one, you may talk to Mrs. Wilkinson or any of the club advisers.

Service in Action

4/1/2015

By Sue Purohit
Staff Manager

Community service hours are on our minds. Managing those hours makes a big impact on students, raising both awareness and important answers to your questions. What kind of service and how many hours should I commit to do? Did I do this the right way? Is there anything else I can do? These questions are prevalent throughout MYP and DP, and now, it's finally time for some answers.

          The change in the format of community service emphasizes what the IB program really believes in promoting. The primary reason for the 2014-2015 change is to help students focus a mission and target their community service points in order to make an impact towards the mission. These hours shouldn’t seem like a tedious requirement for graduation, but rather, be viewed as an opportunity to impact someone’s life. Ideally you have a goal in mind while you perform your community service hours.

          Now to address the next question: How am I supposed to balance my schedule? With so much going on (school, sports, college applications, and most importantly, sleep!), how can a student balance it all? Well that is exactly what makes an IB student. An IB student is supposed to manage their time efficiently, putting priorities first. This prepares us for life, when we are in college or have a job, we don’t have anyone to tell us when to go to sleep or when to do work. Starting now, we are preparing ourselves for the future.

          Balancing your schedule may seem hard right now, but it will get easier with practice and when checking your service hours regularly into ManageBac. While a fun party may seem like a big deal right now, that test next week is even bigger. The IB program recommends to set your priorities straight, and balance your schedule. Carry around a planner and get things done beforehand, so you have free time. Set goals and deadlines to make sure you are on task and on progress. While procrastination may seem like a very good option to you when you are distracted, that stress you go through trying to finish an assignment 10 minutes before it’s due isn’t fun at all. Excessive stress breaks down your body, causing a lot more problems than just a half finished paper. To divide time up, instead of watching that movie in theaters, go have a study session with a couple of friends and watch a movie with them after you are finished studying. This will count as both social time and study time, as well as the actual information sticks better in your brain.

Being an IB student is about management, so let’s all work together to get there.