The Polaris Press

Curtsies for Cotillion: Students and faculty prepare for dance

Melissa Merlin (9) with her mother at the 2016 Cotillion. Photo by Chloe Leline. On May 20th , many rising ninth graders will be nervous,
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Level up!: Austin teens spark change through theatre arts

CLYTE wraps up their performance at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Photo by Amelia Bagnaschi. The room is filled
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Breaking Bond: AISD to pass bond for renovations of Ann Richards

Holes in the Ann Richards’ track seen during a STEM class in early May. Photo by Alexandra Lopez. 7:30 A.M. Athletes on the track
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You’ve been served: O’Reilly fired from Fox following sexual harassment lawsuits

Photo of Bill O’Reilly during an interview by MyNewsLA Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly was fired after being accused of sexual
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On guns, violence, and the irreversible: 13-year-old accidentally kills himself on...

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons. On April 10th, 13-year-old Malachi Hemphill accidentally shot and killed himself in his room on
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Curtsies for Cotillion: Students and faculty prepare for dance
Level up!: Austin teens spark change through theatre arts
Breaking Bond: AISD to pass bond for renovations of...
You’ve been served: O’Reilly fired from Fox following sexual...
On guns, violence, and the irreversible: 13-year-old accidentally kills...

ARS News

May 29, 2017 • Views: 135

Working 9 to 5: Juniors reflect on May internships

During the week of May 15th to May 19th, the juniors embarked onto the annual internships week. Organizations such as Mother’s Milk Bank, Intel, and Planned Parenthood

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School for the Summer: Students get ahead on credits at local community college...

May 29, 2017 • Views: 100
The plot thickens: 7th grader wins honorable mention for play-writing

May 29, 2017 • Views: 127
Reasons why not: A look into Ann Richards’ perspective on 13 Reasons Why

May 20, 2017 • Views: 111
Curtsies for Cotillion: Students and faculty prepare for dance

May 19, 2017 • Views: 459
Level up!: Austin teens spark change through theatre arts

May 18, 2017 • Views: 169
Purposeful pets: Seniors raise kittens for school project

May 17, 2017 • Views: 146

Features

Thoughts lead to words: Looking back on ten years with Ms. Goka

Principal Jeanne Goka has three different fruit cups on her desk. For years, the Ann Richards School has boasted the most fruit consumed in the district, and if the lunchtime rituals of the school’s principal are consistent, it’s safe to say her adherence to the school’s healthy and well-balanced diet isn’t...

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Features, Health

Not getting enough Z’s: How sleep deprivation is affecting our next generation

Sleep is an essential part of life. However, some people don’t get enough of it, especially young adults. It is recommended that teenagers from the ages 14-17 should get 8-10 hours of sleep a night. Whether it’s because of homework, chores, work, electronic devices, mental/medical issues, or all of the above,...

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ARS News, Features, News, Showcase

The future starts today: Juniors interview for upcoming internships

Vania Neri (11) works on her business cards during her STARS class. Photo by Yoselin Resendiz. On Wednesday, April, 19, the Ann Richards Class of 2018 were sent off to conduct annual Junior internship interviews. During this time, the juniors were partnered up with outside organizations- relating to their pathways- in...

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ARS News, Entertainment, Features

The valley: ARS students and staff debate Coachella’s worth

Coachella in 2012, weekend two. Photo from Creative Commons. Heat rushed through everyone’s body. Tension held in the air as everyone pushed each other, running to get to their next location. What was a mile seemed like an endless road to many, with thousands of dollars on the edge. Though known as one of the...

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Entertainment, Features, Showcase

Wonder Women: Five women in entertainment that will go down in history

Women’s History Month has just ended, but it’s never a bad time to celebrate powerful and inspiring women. Here is a short list of some of today’s: Gina Rodriguez Gina Rodriguez is the second Latina actress to have won a Golden Globe for Best Comedy Actress. Her lead role on the CW comedy-drama Jane the …...

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ARS News, Features, News

More than a test: How one teacher helped students prepare for college admissions exam

Each junior at ARS undergoes SAT and ACT preparation from the More Than a Teacher MTAT program during their second semester STARS class. MTAT is provided to students to help them achieve the best scores they can on standardized college entrance exams. Ann Richards is one of the only schools that provides MTAT at no...

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Features, Fine Arts, Showcase

Hearing in color: ARS students polled for synesthesia

Can you taste certain words? Do you hear colors? No matter what senses may mix in your mind, it can be safely said that if you experience two or more different senses from the same stimulus, you are likely synesthetic! Don’t worry, it’s not contagious. Synesthesia is a neurological condition that, literally...

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Features, Our Voices

The future is female: What Women’s History Month means to me

When I first came to Ann Richards, it wasn’t because it was an all girls school, and that I knew the significance about the school being an all girls school. It was because I wanted a good education. I am, in fact, getting a good education, but I also got something more: knowledge about history …...

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ARS News, Features, Showcase

Schelling for coins: Student starts business to pay college tuition

Photo by Maddy Schell. With a bouquet of poinsettias in both hands, twelve year old Maddy Schell walked up to a house that did not belong to her, with only one goal on her mind: to pay for her Camp Champions field trip – all on her own. With her dad’s entrepreneurial skills embedded in …...

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Features, Our Voices

Lonely love: How to spend Valentine’s Day alone

Valentine’s Day: it can either be the loneliest or loveliest day of the year. For most Ann Richards students, due to the lack of boys (for those of you who like them), mountains of school work, and extracurriculars, we are on our own. So, here are some ways to not be a sad, little moping loner on …...

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ARS News, Local News, News, Showcase

May 16, 2017 • Views: 234

Breaking Bond: AISD to pass bond for renovations of Ann Richards

Holes in the Ann Richards’ track seen during a STEM class in early May. Photo by Alexandra Lopez. 7:30 A.M. Athletes on the track team sprint on the compressed track, ignoring how it stains

I’m just a bill: Students propose bill to Senate

April 21, 2017 • Views: 195

SXS-Digits: A look at the stats and facts of South by Southwest

March 10, 2017 • Views: 264

We are the champions: How Austin’s recent rank effects a growing metropolitan

March 8, 2017 • Views: 174

Remembering the dream: How Austin celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.

January 17, 2017 • Views: 365

Out running: races to try this season

December 17, 2016 • Views: 259

Beyond Our Walls

May 30, 2017 • Views: 103

A crippled nation: Venezuela’s political nation and economic turmoil

Venezuela has been in state of crisis since April 2017. The country has been ravaged with civilian anti-government protests, which have been responded to violently by the Venezuelan military,

A closeted world: Gay men in Chechnya tortured for their sexuality

May 30, 2017 • Views: 96

You’ve been served: O’Reilly fired from Fox following sexual harassment lawsuits

May 15, 2017 • Views: 115

On guns, violence, and the irreversible: 13-year-old accidentally kills himself on Instagram Live

May 6, 2017 • Views: 549

Far out: New space telescope will be able to view the entire history of...

April 18, 2017 • Views: 174

One less lonely girl: Are Pence’s comments about women sexist?

April 14, 2017 • Views: 218

April 30, 2017 • Views: 132

Running to the top: Track and field take on area...

Anna Shcherbakova (9) entertains Sammie Seamon (10) and Olivia Rose Griesmer (10) with a funny

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April 10, 2017 • Views: 245

Crossing the finish: Track and field team participates in AISD...

The Ann Richards track and field team participated in the AISD District meet on the 5th and 6th of

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April 2, 2017 • Views: 243

Keeping track: infographic of 2017 placings and personal records

“Our track team is not one of our biggest teams we’ve had in the past, but they are continuing

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March 31, 2017 • Views: 244

Achieving their goals: Ann Richards 2017 soccer team makes history

For the first time in the history of the Ann Richards School, the high school Varsity soccer team

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March 29, 2017 • Views: 207

Winning by spinning: ARS colorguard take first in competition

On Saturday, February 25, the Ann Richards color guard took home first place in district, their

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March 19, 2017 • Views: 164

From a running start, Track season continues at ARS

Track season kicked off with a varsity meet February 18th with a varsity track meet. Distance

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ARS News, Opinion, Our Voices

Reasons why not: A look into Ann Richards’ perspective on 13 Reasons Why

Photo courtesy of Netflix. On March 31st, Netflix released a show, “13 Reasons Why,” which quickly gained popularity on social media “I liked the show, it was really addicting,” Valerie Garza (9) said. “But I would probably be aware of who I recommend it to, depending on their emotional stability.” On...

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Beyond Our Walls, Our Voices, Showcase

On guns, violence, and the irreversible: 13-year-old accidentally kills himself on Instagram Live

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons. On April 10th, 13-year-old Malachi Hemphill accidentally shot and killed himself in his room on Instagram Live, a live video feature on the popular social media app Instagram. He had received the gun from a friend at Babbs Middle School, where he attended near Atlanta, Georgia....

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Entertainment, Our Voices, Satire

Partygoers and Partyno-ers: Which prom stereotype are you?

With prom season in full swing, try to figure out which “prom stereotype” everyone falls into. We’re all a little different, and that’s what makes prom so much fun. Which partygoer or partyno-er are you? Read on to find out! The date bringer So you’re here with a date. If you brought someone, you’re...

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Advice, Our Voices, Showcase

Final Strech: How to end the year off right

The final stretch of the school year is here. Summer is approaching and that means finals and the end of year rush. ou may be dragging your feet and your motivation might be dwindling, but drag your feet no longer:here is some advice on how to end the year off right and prepare for finals. …...

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Editorials, Opinion, Our Voices, Showcase

The grand finale: Reflecting on my senior year experience

If you compared what I thought my senior year was going to look like back in third grade, sixth grade, ninth grade, and what it is today, you would have three dreams and a harsh reality. In the third grade, I had a few senior year goals: go to prom, get a car, and get …...

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ARS News, Our Voices, Showcase

A plus on AP: Ten study tips for Advanced Placement tests

With the end of the year comes the pressure and stress of standardized testing. High school students are planning to take Advanced Placement (AP) tests, which are administered by the College Board within the first two weeks of May. Depending on a student’s score, they have the potential to receive college credit, or...

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Our Voices, Showcase

Censoring the census: Questions on LGBTQ+ status should be in the 2020 census

6On March 29, the Census bureau gave reports to Congress on proposed 2020 survey questions. For the first time in the history, the survey – which serves to gather national data such as age, race, marital status, and more – included questions on gender and sexual orientation. However, in a surprising (or...

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Beyond Our Walls, Editorials, Our Voices, Showcase

One less lonely girl: Are Pence’s comments about women sexist?

Vice President Mike Pence speaking in Mesa, Arizona. Photo by Gage Skidmore. Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States, is notorious for his views and comments on social issues like LGBTQ+ rights, abortion, education, and more. Having said this, it’s not surprising that yet another remark has been widely...

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Our Voices

Let’s put health first: High school teens are working harder today, and their minds...

Artwork by Danny Armendariz (10). Over the years, school has become more challenging and time consuming for students. According to Business Insider an average high school senior today graduates with around 27.2 credits, while the average high school senior in 1990 graduated with around 23.6 credits. In that time,...

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