The student news site of Kingwood Park High School

KP TIMES
The student news site of Kingwood Park High School

KP TIMES
The student news site of Kingwood Park High School

KP TIMES
Kathleen Ortiz

Kathleen Ortiz, Editor-in-Chief

Kathleen Ortiz, a senior, is in her fourth year on staff and second year as Editor-in-Chief. Ortiz is also a captain of the varsity soccer team. Her favorite things include Taylor Swift, Star Wars, musicals and mini M&Ms. Her favorite Taylor Swift album is Reputation. She also enjoys watching baseball and comedy specials in her free time.

All content by Kathleen Ortiz
Chemistry teacher Laurie Rosato participates in the teacher dance during the first day of school pep rally.

[Photo] [Slideshow] Teachers leave impressions in an unforgettable year

May 8, 2020
Senior Crystal Vargas poses at Deer Ridge park in her prom dress and a matching face mask.

Missing prom leaves void for seniors

Kathleen Ortiz, Photography Editor
May 7, 2020
Seniors, like Kyra Ivy, lit up their yards in celebration on May 1. They are finishing their last nine weeks of school from home since distance learning was implemented to keep the community safe.

[Slideshow] Seniors ‘light up the night’ in celebration

Kathleen Ortiz, Photography Editor
May 2, 2020

[Video] [VIDEO] Senior class left their mark

Crosslin Silcott and Kathleen Ortiz
April 22, 2020
Earlier this month, algebra teacher Kathryn Espinosa sits with her 6-year-old daughter Lilly as she works on her kindergarten homework.

Daily life takes new turn as many juggle teaching, parenting

Kathleen Ortiz, Photography Editor
April 16, 2020
Assistant principal prepares to hand a device over to a family with the help of associate principal Wes Solomon. The principals worked together to get devices in the hands of more than 100 students who needed them.

Admin passes out devices as final nine weeks get underway

Kathleen Ortiz, Photography Editor
April 7, 2020
Senior Jacob Bruce dribbles away from a Sharpstown player earlier this year. The Panthers were eliminated by Sharpstown one game away from State last year but avenged that loss this season. The boys were undefeated and dominated the district prior to the season being suspended.

[Photo] Soccer teams await word on future of seasons

Gabby Norman, Sports Editor
April 2, 2020
Junior Casey Smoot snowboards in Colorado over spring break.

COVID-19 alters many spring break travels

Kathleen Ortiz, Sara Geiger, and Crosslin Silcott
April 1, 2020
Sophomore Kate Tiedtke sits in a Houston Fire Station 101 fire truck on Feb. 21. After going into cardiac arrest Kate visited the firefighters often to sit and talk with them. “The experience to thank the firefighters was one of a kind,” Kate said. “They never get the appreciation they deserve. During their job they see the worst things in life like people’s death and their suffering. It is very hard for them to be happy sometimes because of this. At the reunion, they all looked so happy, and that is all I would ever want for them, because they’re like friends to me.”

IN A HEARTBEAT

Kathleen Ortiz, Photography Editor
March 22, 2020
Notre Dame freshman Andie Unwin said she misses the friends she met at school in South Bend, Ind., this year. She has returned home to Kingwood and is trying to stay on a schedule as she works on finishing her classes online.

Alumni adjust to college classes online

Kathleen Ortiz, Photography Editor
March 22, 2020
Taking a break from prom, 2019 seniors gather around to watch the NBA playoffs last May.

[Photo] Popularity of prom-posals vary

Taylor Rankin, Staff writer
April 3, 2020
The Kingwood Park parking lots sits empty as the school remains closed because of coronavirus. Teachers are creating distance learning lessons for students who are encouraged to stay at home until the government says it is safe for people to gather again.

Drabing encourages hope as uncertainty looms for many

Kathleen Ortiz, Photography Editor
March 20, 2020
Principal Lisa Drabing is named Region 4 Humble ISD Secondary Principal of the Year. She joined the staff as an assistant principal in 2000 and became head principal in 2012.

Drabing earns honor for outstanding leadership

Kathleen Ortiz, Features Editor
March 18, 2020
Katherine Eckerty, 9, Morgan Eckerty, 12, and Ryan Eckerty, 9, take sibling rivalry to another level. While Morgan is ranked No. 13 in the senior class, she has helped advise Katherine and Ryan through their freshman year of classes. The younger Eckertys have listened. Katherine is now ranked No. 1 in the freshman class and her brother is No. 4.

Sibling rivalry reaches new heights with ranks

Kathleen Ortiz, Photography Editor
February 14, 2020
Boys swim

Swimmers prepare for final test

Kathleen Ortiz, Photographer Editor
February 13, 2020
Senior Jake Bruce jumps in the air as his teammates celebrate a goal in a huddle around him. The team won the game against Sharpstown, the team that beat them in the Regional Finals last year.

[Photo] Undefeated boys seek big finish

Zoie Rasmussen, Staff Writer
February 13, 2020
A number of freshmen on the winter sports teams have made an early impact in competition. Some of the freshmen on the basketball, soccer, golf and swim teams are pictured above. Front Row: Carlie Solomon, Emma Yeager, Grace Byrd, Abigail Hunt, Matti McDaniel. Back Row: Camille Blair, Biva Byrd, Reagan Reville, Kaitlyn Neel, Nora Critzer, Taylor Netherly, Renee Alcala.

Fabulous Freshmen

Kathleen Ortiz, Photography Editor
February 13, 2020
A young woman with a Venus sign painted on her cheek solemnly listens to a speaker in front of City Hall on the morning of Jan. 25.

[Photo] Women’s March inspires thought, emotion

Sara Geiger, Editor-in-Chief
February 11, 2020
With half marathon experience in her past, English teacher Abby Armstrong prepares to run the Houston Marathon this weekend.

Marathon motivates Armstrong

Kathleen Ortiz, Photography Editor
January 14, 2020
Crosslin Silcott, Eliza Gonzalez, Kathleen Ortiz and Sara Geiger found different ways to spend their time during their week without social media.

Social media fast results in mixed emotions

Sara Geiger, Kathleen Ortiz, Eliza Gonzalez, and Crosslin Silcott
January 13, 2020
Science teacher, Meredith Schlosberg talks with sophomore Sharna Ngo in tutoring during flex hour. Schlosberg teaches Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) and pre-AP Chemistry.

[Photo] Young teachers bring enthusiasm to classes

Sara Geiger, News Editor
November 5, 2019
Juniors Crosslin Silcott, Anaih Ibarra and Richard Rivera help prepare the masa for a new batch of tamales on Sept. 21 while Richard’s mom Jaqueline Rivera assists. “It was 15 of us in the kitchen,” Richard said of the weekend the journalism students made 900 tamales at his house. “We don’t really see each other that much because we’re in different classrooms, but I felt like I got to know them a lot more because we’re all talking to each other while we were doing it and just talking about everything and listening to our music.”

Family always remains top priority for Rivera regardless of busy schedule

Kathleen Ortiz, Features Editor
November 5, 2019
Senior Jasmine Gaytan works the cash register at Pizza Hut on Kingwood Drive on Oct. 18. Gaytan has previously worked an office job at a construction company called Pipeline, the restaurant The Donkey and Starbucks. “[High school students] do need a job because that’s the way of life now,” Gaytan said. “Everybody needs money, money’s everything.”

[Photo] Juggling it all

November 5, 2019
Sophomore Cali Burningham is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Keeping faith in forefront critical to Burningham

Kathleen Ortiz, Features Editor
November 4, 2019
Sophomore Emily Blizman dances through the pain with the Silver Stars.

[Photo] Blizman dances through pain

Ryker Kluft, Staff Writer
November 4, 2019
Senior Marcus Block prepares soup for customers while working at la Madeleine on Oct. 26. Block has held a number of different jobs and works about 18 hours per week at la Madeleine.

Working teens struggle to find balance

Kathleen Ortiz, Features Editor
November 1, 2019
Senior LIbby Overmyer blocks the ball against Kingwood High School in a match earlier this season. Overmyer was the MVP of the state tournament last year as she helped lift the Panthers to the 5A state title.

Passion to excel guides Overmyer to the top

Kathleen Ortiz, Features Editor
October 31, 2019
Senior Canen Adrian catches touchdown pass and scores againt Barber’s Hill on September 14th. The Panthers eventually lost the game, 35-42. Adrian looks forward to a great season alongside his brother, Greyson.

[Photo] Brothers’ friendship prospers through football

Gabby Norman, Sports Editor
October 30, 2019
Imelda

Recovering, again

Kathleen Ortiz, Features Editor
October 30, 2019
During the passing period between fourth and fifth period, the usually packed commons had very few students walking through it. Testing was canceled Wednesday, and students were told absences would not count against exam exemptions or perfect attendance.

Students, staff adapt after flooding disrupts week

Kathleen Ortiz, Staff Writer
May 8, 2019
American Sign Language teacher Darnell Woods communicates with students in his fifth period class on March 22. Woods’ mom first noticed he was hard of hearing when he was 5 years old. He has worn hearing aids since third grade, but his hearing has progressively worsened over time.

Woods’ many lessons include acceptance

Kathleen Ortiz, Staff Writer
March 28, 2019
Terri Stanton leans in close to get her son Joseph’s attention during his 25th birthday party. Stanton suffered a traumatic brain injury in a skateboard accident the summer after his sophomore year of high school. He was a state swimming champion at Kingwood Park and still holds three school swim records, despite only competing his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Nine years since accident, Stantons showcase strength

Kathleen Ortiz, Staff Writer
March 28, 2019
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