Prom This Tennis goes Pictures is to America State Pages 10-11 page 18 page 6 photo Wikimedia Commons CCISD teaches job skills through H.E.A.R.T.S the individual students every single day. money the HEARTS program earns is used to Maddie Moore “We aren’t in it for the pay. We further improve their program and the school Fruits of the students’ labor are preserves Around Creek Editor continue to do what we know is best as a whole. Last year a share of the funds from the garden, natural soaps, even for the kids.” Ms. Koseoglu said. Wildcat Wakeup earned was used to purchase loofahs, which come from squash. Profits Recently parents have been CCISD high schools offer several the wood needed to build the benches in are plowed back into the program. The expressing their concerns about Clear different programs for students with special Creek’s courtyard and to pay for SAT tests grand prize is what’s given the students Creek Independent School District and needs in order to prepare them for the for Creek students who could not afford it. who tend it-a sense of purpose.” The their special education programs. On May future. Options for students are plentiful. “The parents of the students [who have complete video can be found on the League 7, The Galveston Daily News City Garden Club website. released an article in their paper When asked about regarding a parent group known the 8.5 percent “cap” the as Parents for Special Education Texas Education Agency Reform in CCISD “accusing had instituted, Ms. Quoyeser officials of covering up abuse responded by saying, “We and misdeeds in its special don’t go off of a cap; we go education programs”. The group, off of our student’s needs. led by Marta Brain, has since put We always put our students up several billboards along I-45 first,” Ms. Quoyeser said. and FM 518 accusing CCISD of For the past five school mistreatment of its children in years, CCISD has almost the special education program, consistently served one percent and protested at the upcoming above the TEA’s 8.5 percent school board meeting on May state average. During the 2016- 21. The billboard depicts a child 17 school year, 9.6 percent of whose mouth is covered by a CCISD’s population received set of hands and reads “Stand special education services. up for Clear Creek ISD Special Ms. Quoyeser and Needs Children,” followed Ms. Koseoglu strongly by the location and date of disagree with the opinions the upcoming board meeting. the Parents for Special In response to these parent’s Education Reform in CCISD accusations, Superintendent Dr. voiced in Galveston Daily Greg Smith sent out a memo News articles “Parent group to all CCISD staff members. forms over CCISD special “The District’s special ed concerns,” and “Amid education department from accusations, CCISD launches the paraprofessionals and special ed plan,” both written teachers in the classroom to Photo by Kadyn Chatman by reporter Matt Degrood. the diagnosticians and special education The participated in Wildcat Wakeup and are “I don’t think the voices in this administrators take great care of students. Helping Each Adult Reach Transition currently participating] in Wildcat Wakeup group speak for the majority of parents They work tirelessly and many times, Services, or HEARTS program, is a are thrilled to have their kids go through the whose children receive special education in very difficult situations involving state-recognized program that is offered program. Even after the student’s age out of services. We have yearly meetings where children with extreme behavior to its core to high school students with special the program their parents still want them to we give an optional survey to parents to mission questioned so publicly [by the] needs from ages 18 to 22. At Clear Creek continue volunteering for us,” Ms. Koseoglu voice their opinions and experiences. Parents for Special Education Reform High School, students involved in the said. The HEARTS program also runs a A majority of the surveys parents have in CCISD,” Superintendent Dr. Greg HEARTS program run a food stand garden in the courtyard where the students filled out are extremely positive, and Smith, in response to the Parents for called Wildcat Wakeup, where they sell grow various fruits and vegetables and learn reflect satisfaction,” Ms. Quoyeser, in Special Education Reform in CCISD, said. coffee, breakfast food and snacks up about different sciences. The garden was response to the recent negativity, said. Despite the negative publicity, until fourth period which ends at 11:08. featured by KTRK, Channel 13 in 2013. The Special Education department as Ms. Evelyn Quoyeser and Ms. Zeynep Run by Ms. Wafa Loft, Wildcat Wakeup Deborah Wrigley, KTRK reporter, had much a whole is dedicated to meeting the needs Koseoglu, team leaders of the special is a vocational class that benefits students to say in her on air story. “All special needs of all students at Clear Creek High School. education department at Clear Creek by teaching them job skills and giving them students at Clear Creek High School are Their hard work is noticed and appreciated High School, continue to do their jobs to a chance to interact with other students. The flourishing in this outdoor environment… by faculty, administration and the student the best of their abilities. They care for body of Clear Creek High School. Clear Creek Tennis Doubles plays in State finals match By Leah Burnam May 17 and 18, with the quarterfinals and has sent a boy’s doubles team to state,” Mr. ue[d] to practice hard every day lead- Reporter semifinals for 6A boys doubles being held Geise, Creek’s boys tennis coach, said. ing up to state,” Crookston, said. on the 17 and the finals being held on the 18. Like any sport, tennis is a hard “Being a part of Creek’s tennis team Creek’s boy’s tennis team recently went Raji and Crookston had a tough one to master you must time out when is something I definitely don’t take for to regionals and had a successful turnout, game at regionals, competing against the the ball is coming your way and precise- granted. I have formed so many friend- with two of their varsity players heading to number one seeded school, Cypress Ranch, ly hit it in order for it to stay in the court, ships and made a family in the process. state. They played in the State finals match whom Creek had lost to previously on two while at the same time trying to get it far Getting the chance to go to regionals and won second place. Michael Raji and Car- different accounts. However, Raji and enough away from your opponent so they and now state is an experience I will al- ter Crookston play on a doubles team together Crookston came through in the end winning don’t hit the ball and get the point. Creek’s ways remember. With this being my last and headed to regionals on April 20 with the the game for themselves and their team. tennis team trained long and hard for re- year, it is the last opportunity I have to rest of Creek’s tennis team. Raji and Crook- “Creek won in dramatic fashion as they gionals in hopes of taking home a title. play for Creek. I have had a great coach ston won the Region III 6A doubles cham- fought off 2 set points in the 2nd set, as they “Me and my partner [Raji] prac- and have been very lucky,” Raji, said. pionship and moved on to state to represent rolled off 4 straight points to close out the ticed every day during and outside of Creek. State took place at College Station on match! This is the 1st time in 30 years Creek school with coach Geise. We contin- Full Story on page 6 2 Opinion Editorial 3 What are your plans after high Sierra Shares: Journalistic Integrity speaking the truth about an event all help government uses this to their advantage such as poverty levels in another country, or people to become more informed and and sets plans for lowering the budget for the 45.2 million refugees that are scattered school? to have a voice, rather than to blindly foreign aid or sending an airstrike to Syria around the world, or even how large of an consume information that has no real and potentially starting another World War industry human trafficking has become. importance, except to those involved. or lifting hunting restrictions on animals that All these topics are overlooked because People have lost their voices in this are still considered endangered. The people journalists do not emphasis them when world due to the lack of factual reporting. of the nation are so focused on foolish things other pointless news is mixed with them. Because information from the government when instead we should be focusing on the Emphasized relevant news leads to the “I think I’m going to [Uni- to the public is dependent upon the problems within our nation as well as outside public becoming more aware and thus more “I plan on attending “I’m going to attend A&M versity of Houston] to the journalist, the nation then can make of it to promote peace. However, if the only participative within the country they live in. the University of University and pursue a Hilton college and I want decisions together, like in a democracy, minds that are dealing with these conflicts are Over the course of the last few years Houston and pursue to open a bakery.