Words With Friends: Epidemic

Photo Courtesy incase/Flickr (Creative Commons license) | Story by Lorenzo Cisneros Recently there has been much talk filling the hallways about a new trend on the up-rising but this time, it has nothing to do with clothes, shoes, or styles, but a game: Words With Friends to be exact. The game that is just like scrabble but allows the user to play against their friends from where ever they are as long as they have an internet connection on their phone or ipod.

“Everybody in the world is playing! I am addicted to it,” junior Josh Hanson said.

The game was first released for the Iphone/Ipod on July 6, 2009 and then later released for Android in February. In a recent survey of 100 students, 62 of them say they have allowed the app to occupy a spot on their phone. Although this is just a small portion of the school, it is imaginable how many students and teachers play this app school wide. Although a large majority plays, it is not for everybody.

“It’s a waste of time. I can’t just sit there and play scrabble. I have better things to do,” senior Cierra Harper said.

This is one game that teachers don’t seem to mind as much, possibly because it helps with spelling and language knowledge.

“Oh my gosh! That’s the number one game out there right now. I see students playing it in my class all the time,” Diane Bode said. “At least they’re doing something educational.”

Take our poll. Do you play words with friends? Why is it so addicting? Comment us now.

Art makes unique project

By Kristian Bush| Photo By Courtney Bowles

Art I recently finished their latest studio project on a very unusual canvas, an umbrella. Mrs.Freeman’s four Art I classes all contributed their own unique artwork onto this one umbrella.

“I thought it was interesting, that’s why I chose this studio,” Freeman said.

This type of artwork is called mixed media, which in this case uses print making. In this project students used stamps on the umbrella to represent each individual student and their culture.

“We use stamps for our own painting and we wanted to create something where we put all of our stamps together,” sophomore Mitchell Brown said.

The umbrella will be put on display with other artwork hanging off it on Apr.12 and 13 at Night Gallery.

Oscars Prove Nothing Spectacular

Photo credit: Scott Beale/laughing squid | Story By Brittany Weaver |

On Feb. 27, the Oscars announced winners for excellence in film in 2010. Oscar hosts Ann Hathaway and James Franco are said to be the two youngest ever. But even in their youth the excitement was dull. With few puns and no concerts the new generation of audiences nodded their way to sleep. Unlike other award shows, the Oscars seem to frown upon any form of entertainment in their show.

Soccer Beats Lee, Looks On To Playoffs

Photo By Courtney Bowles | Story By Richard Hernandez

The boys soccer team has reached the mid point of their season. The mid point brings district games, and one of those district teams is Lee. The team has been unable to beat Lee since coaches Jason Hendrick and Bruce Gillespie started coaching here, but this season was different. The Mavs (2-3) in district went out and defeated the team that has kept them tame.

“It was exciting. They played hard and my team knows they can play with any team in district,” coach Hendrick said.

The team was coming off a district loss against Reagan so they were ready to show that they are in the playoff picture.

“We came up with a big loss against Reagan, so with the game against Lee coming up we were determined that we needed a big win against Lee to show districts that we are here to play soccer,” senior Nate Finely said.

With the team fighting for a spot in the playoffs, each game the team plays brings a chance to improve their record in district.

“Right now it just means we are 2-3 in districts, but we have a tough schedule with a tough 3 game stretch against MacArthur, Johnson, and Roosevelt,” Coach Hendrick added.”This means to have a chance in playoffs we have to have a .500 record in district].

The team’s next game is against Johnson March 25 at , at BAC-E West at 3 p.m.

“They have a lot of heart,” Coach Hendrick added. “They play hard, and go out and do the things we teach them even though it’s simple soccer.”

Wrestlers Place at State

By Lorenzo Cisneros |

This past weekend was a big one for the state of Texas for wrestling. Wrestlers from all over the state came together for one weekend to compete for the title of “the best in state.”

Stephen Mears (180lbs) and Connor Hunsaker (heavyweight) represented Madison.

“I’m very proud of our team,” coach Paul Miller said. “They went there with their mind set on doing their best. They represented Madison very well.”

The state competition is a two-day competition. Both wrestlers advanced to the second day. Early in the second day Hunsaker lost his final match of the season and placed eighth out of state.

“It wasn’t my best tournament, but I’m still proud. Not everyone can say they wrestled at a state competition,” Hunsaker said. “I’m a little disappointed and I wish I did better but I am not mourning over it. I had an awesome season.”

Mears was able to go throughout the day competing until in one of his matches, which would be his final match, he suffered from a concussion from being thrown on his head by his opponent. That would not stop him from going on though. He finished the day placing fourth in state.

“I was a little dizzy from my concussion at the end but I was so happy,” Mears said. “I reached my goal and that’s all I wanted! I am satisfied with what I have done.”

With both Hunsaker and Mears together, they gave Madison a school ranking of 18th place out of a total of 112.

Dancers Give Sneak Peek of Competition

By Juan Garcia |

Last night the dance teams gave their parents a sneak peek of what is to come at this Saturday’s competition, at the annual Dance Parent Show-Off.

Time to Cast Our Vote

By Juan Garcia |
This week’s American Idol featured outstanding performances, heartfelt cuts, and intensified the dream for the top 24.

On Wednesday night Idol paid tribute to a legendary band of the 60s and 70s. In this round, participants competed in groups of two or three and sang some of the biggest hits by The Beatles. The duos and trios added their own mix to the hit songs. Some groups fascinated the judges; however, others did not. With the heightened pressure added to each and every contestant, it was hard to predict who will go home and who will make the cut.

New NEISD Calendar Creates Excitement

By Christina Dimyan |

Next school year students can expect to see a big change with the schedule: semester exams before winter break. Although the second semester is staying the same next year, there are some changes coming to first semester.

“I think its far better to end the semester before Christmas break, and it becomes a study period,” Roberto Ozuna, assistant principal said. “The kids will do better and can relax over Christmas break rather than study.”

The entire first semester will be complete before winter break begins. This gives students a solid week to study for exams, rather than come back after break and try to remember what will be tested, which often makes things a bit more stressful for students.

“All students will start both a new year and semester in January,” Kelly Taylor, assistant principal for curriculum and instruction said.

Although teachers have to cram everything into the last week before break, many believe they will see better exam scores. With exams for upperclassmen and TAKS in spring, there are many tests students have to worry about, and moving semester exams before break may relieve some stress.

“[Teachers] love it! We would much rather get them tested before than spend a week reviewing and getting them back to everything,” Diane Bode, government teacher said. “I think the kids do better. They’re tested out in spring; it’s much better since it gives me more time in spring.”

Since exams are two weeks earlier next year, exemption forms will also be due two weeks earlier. The process for exams will start earlier, and although students will have to adjust to this change, better exams score will be the outcome.

“The school board has adjusted the calendar that accommodated all state testing and made a student-friendly calendar,” Taylor said.

Basketball Rises From the Ashes

Photo by Rania Dotson | Story By Samantha Sanburn

The ball leaves the player’s fingertips and soars toward the basket, SWISH! It’s in! In an intense playoff game against Wagner High School, the varsity basketball team dominated their opponents. With a score of 62-52, the Mavericks came out on top.

“Our expectations are to be mentally tough, outwork our opponents, bring a ‘We Are The Champion’ attitude, bring an inspired effort, be the solution and not the problem, and to do it with class,” coach John Valenzuela said.

With the comeback story of the year, the team is now more determined than ever. Nine players have left the team this year for various reasons and now ten players are still standing. The lowest point was when they were 1-3 in districts, but then they came back and won the next four games in a row.

“Since the beginning of the year everyone was writing us off,” senior Andre Scott said. “We were supposed to lose against Wagner too. Today we are hoping to make another upset but for us, it won’t be an upset.”

They play Clark High School today at UTSA Convocation Center at 7 p.m.