NEWS

Calendar

Perfect Score IB STUDENT ACES HER ACT

KEEP
CURRENT

by staff reporter
Delilah Rivera

2
Cream
Puff Day

3
Festival
of Sleep
Day

4
Fruitcake
Toss Day

5
Bird Day

6
Shortbread
Day

7
Tempura
Day

8
Bubble
Bath
Day

9
Techno
Day

10
Apricot
Day

11
Step in a
Puddle
Day

12
Pharmacist Day

13
Peach
Melba
Day

14
Organize
Your
Home
Day

15
Strawberry Ice
Cream
Day

16
Appreciate a
Dragon
Day

17
Ditch
Your
Resolution Day

18
Thesaurus Day

20
21
CamSquirrel
corder AppreciaDay tion Day

22
Celebration of
Life Day

23
Measure
Your Feet
Day

24
Belly
Laugh
Day

28
Data
Privacy
Day

29
Puzzle
Day

30/31
Bacon
Day

January

1
New
Years
Day

19
Tin Can
Day
25
Opposite
Day

26
Peanut
Brittle
Day

27
Punch
the Clock
Day

Campus
BRAGS & BRIEFS

Watch D.O.G.S. On Campus: The group organizes

Over summer, in June, senior Marisa

Gras sat at a desk with a booklet filled
with questions on English, mathematics
and reading to test her knowledge skills.
Having taken the PSATs and SATs,
and knowing the range that she
typically scored in, Gras had set realistic
expectations for herself. Also, Gras
started studying the night before the
test, with one practice test, so she
expected an average score on her ACT.
I got an average score or so on the
SAT which was good, Gras said. So, I
was kind of expecting the same thing
on the ACT.
Going into the ACT, Gras discovered it
was different than the SAT.
The test wasnt as bad as I thought
it was going to be, Gras said. The SATs
was a lot of vocabulary I may never
encounter in real life, that I kind of had
to guess on. The ACTs was a lot more
information I already knew. I just had to
apply it, so I was happy about that.
When test results came out, Gras
found that not only were the tests
different, but so was her score. On the
ACT, Gras score was far from average.
She scored a 35.5 which rounded to a
36, a perfect score.
On average, less than one-tenth of
one percent of all test takers earn this

Cross-Country State Meet: Senior Melanie Enriquez

came in 14th and senior Joseph Meade came in 57th place at

the Texas State Cross Country meet. Both runners are coached
by Allison Coburn.

Beauty Pageant: Senior Natasha Lopez has been crowned

National American Miss 2013 Teen Texas-South Cover Girl.

ED Camp: Round Rock ISD will be hosting their first ED-

Camp on February 1st, at Walsh Middle School. The EDCamp

is a new professional development for education for adults.

Walking through the halls during a

time of fundraising, candy boxes are
seen everywhere. FBLA, NHS, HOSA
and many more organizations/clubs
use candy selling as their fundraising
strategy. However, this year HOSA has
decided to take a different approach for
fundraising and it is not just to benefit
the organization.
HOSA is working with Student
Council to host Winterfest, which is a
fundraiser for the Muscle Dystrophy
Association involving fun-filled games,
booths, and activities for all ages. It
will be held on December 19, in the
cafeteria.
This is the first year we are actually
doing something like Winterfest and its

Informed

HEB Grant: At the grand opening of the new HEB on

Reflections Contest: Students had the opportunity to

create a piece of art that demonstrated their vision of this

years theme, Believe, Dream, Inspire. Out of the 66 entries
submitted for the PTA reflection contest, the submissions
of the following students will move on to the next level of
judging: Ryan Dodge, Daniela Duke, Daniella Garcia, Meghan
Grayson, Machaelah Groves, Miya Harris, Audrey Mason,
Steffany Perez, Jessica Reyes, Ashley Selby, Khalani Valentine,
and Zoya Zia

SPHS Debate: On November 22 & 23, the debate team

competed at Reagan High School in San Antonio, TX. Junior

Rachana Jadala placed 2nd and was top speaker in Lincoln
Douglas debate.

National Scholastic Press Association:

Senior Kori
Cooper received second place Editorial /Commentary in story
of the year competition. Senior Julius Alums placed honorable
mention in Cartoonist of the year.

KNOW | CARE

SPHS Band: The band received a 1 at their UIL competition

on October 19. They also scored first in all the areas in their
division at the USSBA competition on November 2. The
drumline placed 5th out of the 12 drumlines that were in
their division on November 9 at the Lone Star Classic Drum
Competition in Dallas.

top score, according to information

provided by the ACT. Among ACT-tested
Class of 2013 graduates, only 1,162 out
of nearly 1.8 million students earned the
composite score of 36.
I was really relieved because my
mom would have been disappointed if I
got a low score since she knows I can do
better, Gras said. So I was really relieved
that I didnt let her down, and I was
really happy about a perfect score.
Gras says, despite being in talented
and gifted (TAG) classes starting fifth
grade, she has always had a little bit of
self doubt about her level of academic
talent, and she hasnt always felt as
mart as the other kids in programs for
advanced students.
When I was in middle school, I
honestly I felt kind of dumb because
I was in a class with people who were
doing cum laude since birth and were
in trigonometry in middle school so I
thought thats not me, Gras said. I was
always intimidated, feeling like I wasnt
as smart as the real smart people, but
I think gradually Ive come to realize I
kind of have my own natural aptitude
too.
Her teachers, such as Microbiology
teacher Susan Von Rosenburg, see
academic talent, Grass, but they also a
spark that others are missing.
Shes an excellent student and great

IB kid because she has all the right stuff,

Von Rosenburg said. Shes very bright,
but its beyond just that, its her interest
in learning that makes her who she is;
its her curiosity.
An A honor roll student, and
a member of Future Farmers of
America, Environmental Club and the
International Baccalaureate program,
Gras carries a heavy work load to
expand her knowledge in a diverse
range of skill sets.
I do pretty intense schooling, and I
was really happy about a perfect score,
Gras said. I mean, Im good at school,
but Im not a super genius or anything.

Winterfest Is More Than Just Winter Fun

by staff reporter
Yutika Diwadkar

fathers and father figures to provide positive male role

models for the students and to enhance school security.
Today, more than 3,156 active programs in 46 states
participate in the WATCH D.O.G.S. Program.

University Avenue, Stony Point High School was one of the

two schools that was granted $10,000.

December 2013 | Prowler

a little nerve-racking, but we have been

going a good amount of planning so
it should work out, president of HOSA,
Thuy Nguyen said.
Each year, HOSA participates in the
MDA Walk and tries to raise money for
MDA through donations, since one of
the members, Courtney Bennett, has
MD. This year, they hope to raise more
money in a more intriguing way.
Courtney is a part of the planning
committee and it is really helpful. She
has some great ideas for games and
booths, Nguyen said, I think we should
raise at least some more money than
last year.
Last year, HOSA raised roughly $400
through donations. This year, they hope
to raise $600-$700 for the MDA.
I know that DECA (Distributive

LOCAL

Round Rock
Gets In-N-Out Burger

WHAT
YOU
SHOULD
KNOW:
In-N-Out
Burger
has just
arrived
to the
round rock
location on University Street
right behind the IKEA.
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE:
In-N-Out Burger originally
started in California and
progressed its way in the
Texas area with only one
chain opening in Dallas and
it gained popular reviews.
Another has been made to
promote its franchise and
also give customers in Round
Rock something new to try.

STATE

Non-Profit Organization
Helps Hungry Students
WHAT
YOU
SHOULD
KNOW:
At Walnut
Springs
Elementary
in Dripping
Springs
the school
created Tiger Totes, which
is a non-profit organization
aimed at raising money for
students who dont have
enough to eat.
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE:
Some of these students
live on food stamps, which
doesnt provide them with
much to eat. This program
sends students home with
backpacks filled with food,
who need it every night.

by Miranda Garcia
While test scores are
just one of the many
criteria that most
colleges consider
when making
admission decisions,
an exceptional
ACT composite
score should prove
helpful in pursuing
education and career
goals, ACT CEO Jon
Whitmore said in a
letter recognizing
Gras achievement.

JUST

Education Clubs of America) at Round

Rock High School raised a few thousand
dollars by going door to door, but that
is not what we want to do. Winterfest
should be fun, senior Courtney Bennett
said.
Bennett has planned with, president
of Student Council, Wande Isola, and
Nguyen to have several events planned
for all, also involving teachers. For
example, the top donators are going to
be given the opportunity to spray silly
string all over the teachers participating,
They are also going to have a teacher
dress up as Santa Claus and there will be
many prizes for all who participate.
Tickets are only $1 and it is fun for a
good cause, Bennett said, I am really
excited to see all the people who show
up and just to see a successful event.

TH E

WHO: Health
Occupation
Students of
America & Student
Council
WHAT: HOSA

and Student
Council is hosting
Winterfest, which
is a fundraiser
for people with
Muscle Dystrophy
Association.

WHERE: Stony
Point High School
Cafeteria

NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL

Minimum Wage
Increases in 6 States
WHAT
YOU
SHOULD
KNOW:
In six
states,
minimum
wage has
increased
to $11.50
from $7.25 for workers.
These states include New
Jersey, Washington, Oregon,
California, New York, and
Conneticut
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE:
There will be more states to
come to catch the minimum
wage increase. Americans
and President Obama are
voting for this law to be
pushed. All thats needed is
the governments approval.

Chance of China/Japan
Conflict Growing

WHAT
YOU
SHOULD
KNOW:
Tensions
between
China
and
Japan,
at their
worst in half a century, are
making conflict much more
likely now than its probably
been in years
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE:
The U.S. has refused to
recognize China air defense
zone, but has nonetheless
advised civilian aircraft flying
through the area to notify the
Chinese government. This
could mean more military
action for the people of U.S.A.