“It’s nice to be recognized for what we do,” senior Jon Weldon said. “We’ve worked hard and I’m glad people will know it.”

The ceremony is open to everyone and is being held in the auditorium. Students being honored must arrive by 6:30 p.m. and wear business attire.

“It’s a great honor for these students to be recognized,” counselor Brad Posey said. “It shows that being in involved in your school really does help you succeed.”

“The most exciting thing is getting out into the world and showing your worth,” senior Tim McKenna said.

With only a few weeks left, seniors like Heather Woodworth have mixed emotions about leaving high school and moving on.

“I’m excited to finally start my life out and move on to a new chapter,” Woodworth said. “I will miss all of the people I know now and even people I got to never meet. It is the never-again part that gets me.”

Graduation will be held at the Cedar Park Center, Sunday June 3 at 1 p.m. That evening, seniors will have a chance to celebrate together at the Project Graduation party with check-in beginning at 10 p.m. The group will bus over to Main Event where graduates will have unlimited access to the games, bowling, miniature golf, rock climbing wall and laser tag. They will also have casino gambling games to play and a chance to win prizes at the end of the night. Students who register by Advocate of this week will receive an extra 10 tickets to play with.

“It keeps the seniors in a safe environment,” Project Grad coordinator Cherryll Price said. “Giving them a last time to see their friends, without any alcohol and drugs.”

For the seniors, this will be the final time to be with their friends and their whole class.

“There were many memorable memories,” senior Sabrina O’Lin said. “Experiences that you can take from high school and grow from.”

Hands down, this is the best superhero movie of the year. Or should I say superheroes movie. The Avengers is a group of Marvel superheroes, most of which who have had their own film previously. The team is brought together by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) after an alien energy source known as the Tesseract is stolen by Loki (Tom Hiddleston), super villain and adopted brother of Thor (Chris Hemsworth). Re-activating the Avengers Initiative, Fury recruits “playboy billionaire genius philanthropist” Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), super genius Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) who transforms into the Hulk when he’s angry, super soldier and World War II veteran Captain America (Chris Evans) and the Norse God of thunder, Thor. Rounding out the team is spy and agent Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and master archer and assassin Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner).  The team is a volatile mix of clashing personalities, overinflated egos and superhuman powers. However, they’re forced to unite and save the world from a threat “we are not prepared for.” The movie is essentially a sequel to the previous Marvel films: Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk and Captain America: The First Avenger and it does an amazing job at bringing aspects from all of their stories into one successful story. This was an amazing movie, filled with action, comedy, drama, some of the best quotes and lines in a movie, and that superhero flair. I recommend anyone to go and see it.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Of course to be inspired, you have to read other fantasy novels. The best examples of fantasy I have read are: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini and Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. These people are the masters of fantasy. They have created extraordinary worlds where the impossible becomes very real. The idea of building another world and calling it entirely your own is amazing to me. All you have to do is use your imagination.

When you write something, you are free to unleash the full force of your imagination. You are the boss and nobody can tell you what to do. You are essentially this world’s God. Writing a fantasy novel has been a long time passion of mine, and I haven’t been able to complete an actual novel yet. However, I have created several fantasy short stories which I am proud of, stories inspired by Tolkien, Paolini and Rowling.

I don’t know what I’m going to be writing. I don’t know when I’m going to start. But with a little imagination, I could build a world entirely my own and eventually put it in a book. Writing a book is hard but I know I can do it. I’m thinking of concepts right now. I have full control of this new world and I just need a little time. I’m going to see if I can actually create a new world no one has ever seen before with fantastic creatures, incredible magic, heroic characters and dastardly villains.

“In class it takes 45 minutes to an hour to get through a lesson, the videos take 10 minutes for the same concept,” Pre-AP Pre Calculus and Pre-AP Geometry teacher Joel Vandiver said. “It allows students to have class time to explore concepts in groups while I facilitate.”

After seeing videos of teachers in Colorado using a similar system during February Conference, Vandiver decided to bring the system to his advanced classes. It was shortly picked up by other teachers including Pre-AP Geometry teacher Kymberlen Portillo.

“It gives students the opportunity to help each other when they come across a difficult problem,” Portillo said. “Also, when I’m lecturing in class they don’t have the ability to rewind me, but in the videos they can make me repeat myself and work at their own pace.”

Flipped classrooms are effective because they allows students to target what they are struggling with at home and spend their class time working out the problems they are having. The system puts the responsibility for learning the material on the student.

“I like it a lot because it makes less work to do at home and it gets us the help and practice we really need while were in class,” sophomore Pre-AP Geometry student Dakota Unruh said. “I think it’s a good system to be considered in all math classes because then the students can get the help that they really need.”

This teaching style doesn’t always work though, as Vandiver found out. His students weren’t watching the videos and thus not mastering the objectives forcing him to revert back to traditional teaching methods.

“The biggest pitfall of the program is students waiting until last minute to watch the videos,” Vandiver said. “Life would be much easier for myself and students if they would watch the videos on time. That’s why I still answer questions and teach in class.”

Although there are shortfalls that prevent the system from being effective in some classes or with certain subjects and groups of students, Portillo believes if used right the system works.

“I think it is successful,” Portillo said. “I think that the students have grown in their learning. It has taught them responsibility as far as what they need to study on their own. The conversations in class about the math have risen to another level.”

Portillo is still going strong and suggests that any teacher who is thinking about switching to flipped classrooms should talk to a teacher who has already tried it, then alter the system according to the needs of their students.

“I’d like to continue having flipped classrooms, but with adjustments,” Portillo said. “I’ve gotten feedback from the students and with their feedback I can make adjustments to make it even better. One thing that could’ve made an adjustment is if I had known about this at the beginning of the year. It was a huge adjustment for my students, but they have stuck with me and I am proud of every one of them.”

The yearbook will arrive Thursday, May 17. This year’s theme, “It’s about Time,” was chosen because this is the first year to have seniors.

“Since this is our first group of seniors, we had to make it as perfect as possible,” sophomore yearbook staffer Julia Small said. “I think Rouse will like it. Hopefully, they understand that it is a student publication and that it’s near to impossible to make it 100 percent perfect, but we tried. I love it.”

Yearbooks are $62 through May 16 and can still be purchased by ordering online at www.balfour.com or by picking up an order form in the Commons, front office or outside 6203. All orders must be received by May 16 to receive the $62 price. Yearbooks go up to $68 starting on May 17.

Students can also add on a number of extras:  autograph pages for $2, a plastic cover for $3 and the end-of-year magazine for $5. The 12-page magazine includes events that happened after spring break that were too late for the yearbook, including One-Act Play, the Royals’ spring show, track district and prom.

“The staffers thought it was really important to get in those late events and the magazine is a great way to do it,” adviser Kel Lemons said. “It’s also one last chance for us to get more students in the books and that’s always one of our top goals.”

Students should come to 6203 to pick up their books on May 17. They will need to show their ID and sign for their book.

How do you feel about making it to state?

Allison Agbasoga:  I feel really good and that all of our work that we’ve been doing since August has paid off.

Natalie Tedesco: It is very overwhelming because I am just a freshman, and I feel very privileged to have made it this far.

 Marielle Plunk:  I’m excited, I’m truly blessed to have this opportunity and I hope that it pays off.

 Marissa Naab: It is such a blessing, especially since this is the second time I’ll have been there.

Have you ever been to state before?

Agbasoga: I went last year for the same events which I think prepared me for the competition I’d see at state.

Tedesco: I am beyond nervous. I feel so lucky though that my team has carried me here, I wouldn’t be here without them.

Plunk: This year is my first time going, and I’m really nervous to see the stadium where so many great people have ran before me.

Naab: Yes, I do think that it prepares you because the crowds and the stadium and just the sheer amount of pressure you feel can be overwhelming, but now that I know what to expect, I think that the nerves won’t be as big of a factor.

Are you going to Prom which is Saturday?

Agbasoga: I am going to prom, and hopefully with some good cool down I won’t be sore.

Tedesco: No, I wish.

Plunk: Nope, and I’m going to sleep in all day.

Naab: Yes, it doesn’t matter much, considering we run the night before. We’re lucky we aren’t 5A, or we wouldn’t get to go to prom.

Who are your biggest competitors?

Agbasoga: I think myself and Cedar Park.

Tedesco: Lake Travis, their third leg is really fast— I just want to stay ahead of her.

Plunk: Myself because I’ve struggled this season with being confident in my running abilities.

Naab: Lake Travis, they’ve been our competition since district. Lancaster as well, we barely beat them last year and they’ll be out for blood.

Why do you think the relay team has done so well this year?

Agbasoga: When Justine [Franklin] and Adriana [Reyes] got hurt others had to step up to the plate and I think that is the reason we have been so successful.

Tedesco: We switched people a lot to try and find who is the best at what positions and we have had lots of practice with technique.

Plunk: We’ve done well because we are all talented runners and we want it.

Naab: All the legs are so close this year. We act more like sisters and that adds to the team’s chemistry.

What areas have you worked on since regionals?

Agbasoga: My running for the triple and I have also worked on my handoffs a lot trying to get them faster and cleaner than ever before.

Tedesco: We’ve worked on handoffs, and getting out fast was major, as well as finishing all the way through the line.

Plunk: Handoffs has been a big thing and pacing ourselves throughout the race so we have a strong start and finish.

Naab: Our handoffs have improved; we’ve been working mostly on mentality and telling ourselves that we can do well, we can succeed, we are capable of success, and now we just need to work on realizing it.

What are your team goals and personal goals?

Agbasoga: I would like to jump 39 feet and run a low 55 split in the mile relay.

Tedesco: I want to break 60 on my 400, even though I know it’s hard, but really I just want to stay ahead of the other third legs.

Plunk: To run a 57 or 56 in the mile relay would be awesome and also, hopefully, to impress some college recruiters that will be there.

Naab: Breaking our district record from last year and placing so that we get to stand on the podium.

Second at regionals.

And state bound.

 Junior Allison Agbasoga will compete in the triple jump at her second state meet in a row this Friday at The University of Texas. All events will be broadcast live online at www.flotrack.com  for everyone to see. Agbasoga’s event will be broadcast at 4:30 p.m.

At regionals, Agbasoga jumped 37 feet, 6 inches; her goal for state is 39 feet although coach Kelly Thompson is hoping for her to jump 40 feet.

 “I think she is a great competitor that will be jumping this year with the experience and knowledge of jumping there last year,” Thompson said. “It really helps to know what to expect of the meet. She enters competitions with the expectation of doing her best and knowing that if she does that, she gives herself a chance to win.”

The junior hopes last year’s experience will help her be prepared for this year’s competition.

“Last year I sprained my ankle before the event and got ninth,” Agbasoga said. “So I’m hoping to stay calm, get a personal record and end this year with a bang.”

Agbasoga  and eight girls will compete in prelims, with their jumps deciding the order for finals.

“I think the Houston girls are going to be my biggest competition,” Agbasoga said. “They tend to jump around 42 feet.”

The competition isn’t the only thing that’s changing from regionals to state.

“At state you have to narrow down your flaws, making sure everything is set to go,” Agbasoga said. “You have to be flawless.

“The coaches have been making me do better,” Denmon said. “I’m pushing myself really hard, and trying to keep myself well for state.”

In order to prepare for state, Denmon has been working out as usual, but increasing his training a little.

“I want to at least place,” Denmon said. “And try to get my time down to 48 seconds, and just make everybody happy.”

Coach Luke Harrison has been helping Denmon prepare.

“I think he has as good a shot as any of the other guys,” Harrison said. “It all comes down to the race.”

The meet is being broadcast live online at www.flotrack.com. Denmon will run in the 400 Friday at 7 p.m.

“I feel like they‘re a great way to cap off the season,” senior Andrew Thomas said. “You get to together with your team and have a sort of a last hoorah before summer.”

Most sports team held banquets, celebrating the team’s accomplishments and giving out individual awards to players.

“The awards make banquets special because you can see how many amazing athletes are really on the team,” freshman Tanner Parker said. “It’s just a way to be with your teammates and have some needed bonding time.”

While preparing for a banquet, moms and helpful students will typically put together some creative ideas that make it an interesting way to look back at the events of the year, sometimes over multiple years if there are veterans on the squad.

“At the volleyball banquet this year we had a slideshow for all the seniors,” junior Caitlin Topham said. “It was fun seeing baby pictures of them, but it was also really bittersweet.”

But banquets are not limited to just athletic teams. Organizations like theatre and FFA also hold end of the year banquets to celebrate the year.

“At an academic banquet it is really nice because everyone gets a reward for what they have accomplished whereas, at an athletic banquet only a handful of people get recognized,” Topham said.  

For the seniors, though, this is one of their final high school memories with their sport or club.

“Having the seniors at the banquet makes it a more emotional experience because this is the last time we will all be together,” sophomore Lauren Baker said.

While banquets are a chance for seniors to say goodbye, it’s also an opportunity for the underclassmen to step up and start becoming leaders of the organization.

“I feel like it will be hard to fill the space that the seniors have left and knowing that this will be my last high school banquet makes me really sad because it means that it is a final closure to all the things I have accomplished and the fun times we’ve had,” senior Whitney Watson said. “But I think that the freshmen have the capability of making Rouse even better than what it has become over the last four years.”