• Coppell ISD is on Winter Break through Monday, Jan. 6. Classes resume Tuesday, Jan. 7.
The official student news site of Coppell High School

Coppell Student Media
The official student news site of Coppell High School

Coppell Student Media
The official student news site of Coppell High School

Coppell Student Media
Blanche Harris

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager

Blanche Harris is a senior and social media manager for The Sidekick. At school, she is the Choir Historian for Coppell Choir. Outside of school, she loves to travel, listen to music, sing, and watch New Girl. You can contact her at [email protected] or on Twitter @blanchegang.

All content by Blanche Harris
In today’s fast-paced world, many people forget the importance of a healthy diet, consistent sleep schedule, social interaction and sufficient exercise. The Sidekick social media manager Blanche Harris discusses the need for each of these factors in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Blanche’s guide to a happy, healthy life

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
May 13, 2021
Sonal Tandale is running for Coppell ISD Board of Trustees Place 7. Tandale is a CISD parent and thinks rank transparency is the biggest issue existing in CISD.

[Photo] Sonal Tandale (Place 7)

April 20, 2021
Student life: What happened to in-person learning?

Student life: What happened to in-person learning?

Angelina Liu, Sally Parampottil, Blanche Harris, and Joanne Kim
April 12, 2021
Offshoot: Class March Madness

Offshoot: Class March Madness

Blanche Harris, Sally Parampottil, and Angelina Liu
March 31, 2021
Coppell High School AP and honors chemistry teacher Courtney Crosby teaches a lesson on solubility during her second period class on Wednesday. Crosby has been selected for The Sidekick teacher of the week and has taught at CHS for two years.

[Photo] Teacher of the Week: Crosby changing what “mistake” means for students

Manasa Mohan, Staff Writer
March 12, 2021
Marvel franchise’s TV series “WandaVision” aired its season finale on March 5 on Disney+. The Sidekick social media manager Blanche Harris thinks the show is Marvel’s greatest feat to date and tested the versatility of the studio’s style. Photo illustration by Sally Parampottil and Nandini Muresh

What is WandaVision, if not Marvel persevering?

Blanche Harris and Nandini Muresh
March 12, 2021

[Video] #Starworld: Potdar paints with perfection

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
March 12, 2021
The Cozby Library and Community Commons provides Coppell residents with tools for e-learning, research, activities and more. The Sidekick social media manager Blanche Harris argues the importance of libraries and how they are an indispensable resource. Photo illustration by Tanvee Patil.

Don’t shelf the library

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
March 9, 2021

[Video] Graduation shifting to Buddy Echols Field to honor class of 2021 (with video)

Akhila Gunturu, CHS9 Editor
March 8, 2021
Coppell junior guard Naz Brown shoots a layup against Hebron junior forward Logan Zacarias at the CHS Arena on Jan. 26. Brown was selected to the first team of All-District 6-6A.

[Photo] Three-peat district champions recognized for All-District

Angelina Liu, Staff Writer
March 8, 2021
The Cowboy Spur - Episode 16

The Cowboy Spur – Episode 16

Blanche Harris, Neha Desaraju, and Joanne Kim
March 6, 2021
Coppell High School social media marketing, sports and entertainment marketing and INCubator teacher Brian Simpson is the founder of Triumph Sports, a camp that uses sports to share Christian teachings. Simpson used his experience creating Triumph Sports to teach multiple business-related classes at CHS.

[Photo] Entrepreneur turned high school teacher

Shreya Beldona, Executive enterprise editor
March 3, 2021
The Sidekick social media manager Blanche Harris manages posting content on Instagram and Twitter. For Scholastic Journalism Week, Harris shows how her love of journalism merges with social media.

#SJW2021: Security in social media

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
February 27, 2021
In a survey of 12,043 U.S. adults conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2019, it was revealed that Republicans had more than twice as much distrust when compared to Democrats in a sample of 30 news sources. As trust in the media has hit historic lows in the past four years, political polarization has been increasing. Graphic by Blanche Harris

[Photo] Waging an inevitable war (Part 2)

Avani Kashyap, Daily News/Assignment Editor
February 26, 2021
Coppell High School students play in the freshly fallen snow near Buddy Echols Field yesterday. This afternoon, Coppell ISD announced via email that all campuses will be closed through Friday due to inclement weather.

[Photo] District extends school closures through Friday

Avani Kashyap, Daily News/Assignment Editor
February 16, 2021
Snow starts to ice over a creek backing up to Coppell High School on Sunday. Coppell experienced snowfall on Sunday, and there is a winter storm warning for the Dallas-Fort Worth area as per the National Weather Service.

[Photo] Snowy surprise for Coppell

February 15, 2021
Coppell High School is surrounded by snow as the parking lot ices over on Sunday. Coppell ISD will be closed for in person and virtual learning this Tuesday and Wednesday.

[Photo] District closes in-person, virtual learning for next two days

February 15, 2021
Coppell High School algebra II and statistics teacher Dr. Roxanne Long explains her second period algebra II class on Friday. Long was selected by The Sidekick staff as the fourth Teacher of the Issue for the 2020-21 school year.

[Photo] Teacher of the Issue: Long incorporates old coaching skills into teaching math

Nandini Paidesetty, Staff Writer
February 10, 2021
The Business Professionals of America Regional competition was held over the WebEx conferencing service on Jan. 23. Every student participating competes in an individual and group event, all of which are virtual.

[Photo] Virtual BPA competition garners success for CHS students

Anjali Vishwanath, Staff Writer
February 9, 2021
Coppell special teams coordinator Christopher Lackey has been involved in multiple pursuits such as fishing, the Marine Corps, weight training and MMA fighting before coaching football. With his diverse experiences, Lackey utilizes his skillset to coach at Coppell.

[Photo] Fisher, corps, fighter, coach

Shreya Beldona, Executive enterprise editor
February 5, 2021
Coppell junior shooting guard Devank Rane dribbles while Coppell junior shooting guard Ryan Agarwal, Hebron senior David Deal and Hebron senior Grayson Allo anticipate his next move in the CHS Arena on Tuesday. Coppell hosts Plano East on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. in the CHS arena.

[Photo] Cowboys host Plano East after overtime victory holds first seat

Sapna Amin, Staff Writer
February 1, 2021
The Cowboy Spur- Episode 12

The Cowboy Spur- Episode 12

Blanche Harris, Meer Mahfuz, Sally Parampottil, Joanne Kim, and Victoria Hertel
January 29, 2021
Coppell junior guard Ryan Agarwal shoots against Hebron senior David Deal on Jan. 26 at the CHS Arena. Agarwal announced his commitment to Stanford University, his dream school, on March 16.

[Photo] Cowboys host Lewisville to defend their first place seat

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
January 29, 2021
Coppell High School nurse Beth Dorn updates the CHS COVID-19 tracker in her office on Wednesday. Dorn was one of the first Coppell ISD employees to receive the initial dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 6.

[Photo] District SROs, nurses receive first doses of COVID-19 Moderna vaccine

January 28, 2021
Coppell junior shooting guard Ryan Agarwal shoots against Hebron senior David Deal on Tuesday at the CHS Arena. The Cowboys defeated Hebron, 66-56.

[Photo] Cowboys cut 13 point deficit to claim victory over Hebron

Torie Peck, Staff Writer
January 27, 2021
New Tech High @ Coppell seniors Sydney Kutz, Emily Reynolds, Megan Chambless and Autumn Kranz protest against closing the school on Monday night during the Coppell ISD Board of Trustees meeting. The Board of Trustees declared closing NTH@Coppell and cutting the International Baccalaureate program at Coppell High School would be their last resort choices to offset the deficit.

[Photo] Board states closing New Tech, cutting IB last on list of budget options

Shreya Beldona, Executive enterprise editor
January 26, 2021
Coppell High School audio/video production I teacher Kendra Carter works with CHS sophomore Zachary Kichan during her sixth period class on Friday. This is Carter’s first year teaching A/V Production I, the prerequisite class required for students to join KCBY-TV.

[Photo] Carter grooming future broadcasters for award-winning program

Torie Peck, Staff Writer
January 26, 2021
The Cowboy Spur- Episode 11

The Cowboy Spur- Episode 11

Blanche Harris, Meer Mahfuz, and Joanne Kim
January 25, 2021
Coppell High School AP psychology teacher Kristia Leyendecker has worked at Coppell ISD since 2014. Leyendecker was inspired to get her teaching degree through her nine to 10 years of working in municipal government in Illinois, responsibilities in Human Resources and teaching Bible study.

[Photo] Teacher of the Week: Leyendecker normalizing mental illness through caring guidance

Trisha Atluri, Advertising/Circulation Manager
January 22, 2021
The Cowboy Spur- Episode 10

The Cowboy Spur- Episode 10

Blanche Harris, Neha Desaraju, and Joanne Kim
January 17, 2021
The Coppell ISD Board of Trustees reviewed the district’s current $7 million budget deficit on Monday night. The meeting allowed citizens to raise concerns and further conversation about how to address this deficit.

[Photo] Citizens take to open forum to discuss district budget deficit

Akhila Gunturu, CHS9 Editor
January 13, 2021
Last Thursday, Coppell ISD seniors participated in Adulting Day, where they learned life skills and lessons to prepare them for life after high school. CISD teachers and alumni hosted virtual panels throughout the day, covering topics such as Cooking, Finance, Self Defense, and Auto Maintenance. Graphic by Blanche Harris

[Photo] District’s Adulting Day gives seniors an insight into life after graduation

Avani Kashyap, Daily News/Assignment Editor
January 12, 2021
CHS9 Principal Cody Koontz surveys the hallways before school on Wednesday. Koontz has led many projects for CHS9 over the past semester and discusses goals he has for the rest of the school year.

[Photo] Concluding a semester like no other

Akhila Gunturu, CHS9 Editor
December 18, 2020
The Cowboy Spur- Episode 8

The Cowboy Spur- Episode 8

Blanche Harris, Avani Kashyap, and Akhila Gunturu
December 11, 2020
The Coppell ISD Board of Trustees reviewed the district’s current $7 million deficit and possible ways to reduce expenditure on Monday night. The board discussed cutting Coppell High School’s International Baccalaureate Program, requiring CHS students to take release periods and closing New Tech High @ Coppell as possible options.

[Photo] Board reevaluating programs due to $7 million budget deficit

December 11, 2020
Coats and warm clothes are stored in the wrestling team’s room in the CHS Indoor Facility on Thursday. Despite the cancellation of the annual Santa Slam tournament, the wrestling coat drive is taking place through Dec. 18.

[Photo] Wrestling coat drive warming up chilly winter (with video)

Tracy Tran, Photo Assignment Editor
December 11, 2020
COVID-19 has forced teachers to adjust to an online setting during class. AP English IV teacher Matthew Bowden discusses the importance of being there for Coppell High School students despite the adversity teachers face.

[Photo] COVID-19 in the eyes of a teacher

Matthew Bowden, Guest Writer
December 10, 2020
The Cowboy Spur- Episode 7

The Cowboy Spur- Episode 7

Blanche Harris, Trisha Atluri, and Meer Mahfuz
December 7, 2020
10 questions with The Sidekick

10 questions with The Sidekick

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
December 6, 2020
The Cowboy Spur- Episode 6

The Cowboy Spur- Episode 6

Blanche Harris, Sally Parampottil, and Sreeja Mudumby
November 21, 2020
The Sidekick staff writer Varshitha Korrapolu emphasizes that healthcare workers are truly heroes because they continue to fight COVID-19 for the greater good. Korrapolu thinks her interest in becoming a doctor outweighs the dangers that healthcare workers face.

[Photo] Passion prevails over perils in healthcare field

Varshitha Korrapolu, Staff Writer
November 20, 2020
Basics with Blanche: Three hairstyles for fall

Basics with Blanche: Three hairstyles for fall

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
November 19, 2020

The Cowboy Spur- Episode 5

Meer Mahfuz and Blanche Harris
November 13, 2020
Coppell High School seniors Catherine Fuselier and Soleil Ramirez wear senior overalls to school for spirit day on Oct. 30. Last week, each day had a theme for Red Ribbon and Homecoming week.

Dress up days boost school spirit

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
November 6, 2020
Coppell High School senior Plunger Boy Ryan Tompkins cheers from the sidelines during Coppell’s game against Highland Park on Oct. 9 at Highlander Stadium. In the midst of a pandemic, Tompkins leads the student section and cheers Coppell in their victory.

[Photo] Plunger Boy Tompkins takes over as new face of student section

November 4, 2020
John Jun is running for Coppell City Council Place 5 this year. Jun serves as president of the Korean American Coalition Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter and member of Coppell City Manager’s advisor group.

Behind the Ballot: John Jun, City Council Place 5

Blanche Harris, Shivi Sharma, and Camila Flores
November 3, 2020
The Witches Ride, a bicycle group of local residents distributing candy tonight, will travel around Coppell tonight and make 23 stops. The ride was planned by Coppell citizens wanting to have a safe way to trick-or-treat this year.

[Photo] Local witches taking to streets with Halloween treats

Tracy Tran, Photo Assignment Editor
October 29, 2020
Coppell High School English II teacher Stephen Patino engages with sophomore Madison Larson during fifth period in his classroom on Oct.19. Patino is a first-year teacher at CHS and was selected as the second Teacher of the Issue for the 2020-21 school year.

Teacher of the Issue: High praise for Patino

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
October 27, 2020
Coppell junior wide receiver Anthony Black and senior wide receiver Gavin Osteen runs their routes at the Highlander Stadium on Oct. 9. Coppell will travel to Plano on Friday for its first district game.

[Photo] A new beginning

Meer Mahfuz, Co-Sports Editor
October 22, 2020
American apple pie is a fall staple for your kitchen. This hearty pie will make your season a happy one. Photo by Blanche Harris

American as apple pie

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
October 22, 2020
Coppell East science teacher Jodie Deinhammer works in the Coppell Middle School East garden on Friday. Deinhammer created this garden to help foster students' learning.

[Photo] Deinhammer featured by Apple for CMS East gardening class

October 21, 2020
Coppell senior center Febechi Nwaiwu, senior offensive linemen Austin Darcy and sophomore offensive lineman Trevor Timmerman prepare for a play against Highland Park at Highlander Stadium on Oct. 9. The Sidekick executive editor-in-chief Sally Parampottil believes linemen are essential to football but often go underappreciated.

[Photo] The bottom line

Sally Parampottil, Executive Editor-in-Chief
October 21, 2020
Coppell senior defensive back Will Kraus drops in coverage against Highland Park at Highlander Stadium on Oct. 9. Coppell lost to Highland Park, 42-36.

Rally falls short against Scots

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
October 18, 2020
Coppell High School sophomores Shrayes Gunna, Zachary Li, Siya Sangani, Hunniya Ahmad and Alexis Sibanda hold up voting forms used at voting drives at Andy Brown East on Saturday. They are all founders of the Coppell High School Youth Politics Club, dedicated to discussing political opinions while hosting voting drives.

[Photo] Youth politics collective amplifying students voices for change

Angelina Liu, Staff Writer
October 16, 2020
PSAT testing for Coppell High School juniors is tomorrow, and all learners who are not taking the test will participate in remote learning. There will be no Zoom sessions throughout the day, but all students must complete their daily assignments in Schoology to receive attendance credit. Graphic by Blanche Harris

[Photo] Coppell High School to hold PSAT testing for juniors

Avani Kashyap, Daily News/Assignment Editor
October 13, 2020
Coppell senior linebacker Marcelo Estrada collides with a Highland Park player while Coppell senior defensive back Will Kraus watches on at the Highlander Stadium last night. Coppell fell to Highland Park 42-36.

[Photo] Cowboy down

Meer Mahfuz, Co-Sports Editor
October 10, 2020
Social media is widely used by teenagers. The Sidekick student life editor Victoria Hertel discusses the ability of social media to increase awareness around mental health issues and strengthen long distance relationships.

Pro/Con: Is social media an aid or adversary?

Blanche Harris and Victoria Hertel
September 30, 2020
The Voter Registration Drive is Saturday at Coppell High School. The district is providing an opportunity to register to vote for the upcoming election in November. Graphic by Blanche Harris.

[Photo] Coppell High School to host Voter Registration Drive this Saturday

Avani Kashyap, Daily News/Assignment Editor
September 29, 2020
Many teenagers use their phones to interact with others, and while there are the positives of having fun, social media can take a toll on their mental health. Many teenagers enjoy social media but it is a dangerous habit and negative thing.

Con: Social media is infecting us

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
September 24, 2020
On Sept. 1, Coppell High School Principal Laura Springer announced new Zoom video requirements. Coppell ISD students participating in both distance and in-person learning are required to join a Zoom for the first 15 minutes of class.

New Zoom class video rules reigniting learning

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
September 11, 2020
The city council budget meeting took place on Tuesday. The Coppell city council announced the new budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. Graphic by Blanche Harris

[Photo] City council proposes budget for new fiscal year

Sreeja Mudumby, Communications Manager
September 9, 2020
Hollywood actor Chadwick Boseman's famous roles as the Black Panther, Jackie Robinson and Thurgood Marshall are portrayed above. Boseman died on Friday due to colon cancer.

[Photo] Boseman lives on in his cemented legacy

Sapna Amin, Staff Writer
September 2, 2020
Wilson Elementary second grader Eliza Harris works on her math work on Friday. Due to online school, young learners have had to adjust how they learn interactively.

[Photo] Virtual environment provides new experiences for elementary, middle school learners to start school year

Sapna Amin, Staff Writer
September 1, 2020
Time is a concept perceived differently by each person. The Sidekick executive editor-in-chief Sally Parampottil explores the phrase, “time is relative,” while commenting on the fact that COVID-19 has made time fly by this year.

[Photo] Opinion: A sign of the times

Sally Parampottil, Executive Editor-in-Chief
August 27, 2020
Video: Breaking the ice remotely

[Video] Video: Breaking the ice remotely

Blanche Harris, Social Media Manager
August 25, 2020
The Sidekick social media manager Blanche Harris keeps her at-home workspace organized for the first day of online school on Monday. Due to COVID-19, Coppell High School students are learning remotely from home until Sept. 8, following Dallas County’s public health order.

[Photo] Unique desk spaces providing ideal environment to start remote learning

August 18, 2020

Video: Fine arts students flourish from home

Tracy Tran and Blanche Harris
June 9, 2020
Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

Alishba Javaid, Sally Parampottil, Victoria Hertel, Shivi Sharma, Trisha Atluri, Shravya Mahesh, Tracy Tran, Blanche Harris, Nishant Medicharla, Avani Kashyap, Angela Yuan, Andrés Bear, Karen Lu, Samantha Freeman, Pranati Kandi, and Nicholas Pranske
May 15, 2020
Coppell High School senior Cole Krautkramer is No. 9 in the class of 2020. During high school, Krautkramer was president of the National Honor Society at CHS and a part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Cole Krautkramer

Blanche Harris, Staff Photographer
May 14, 2020
Jars of jam sit on The Sidekick staff member Blanche Harris’s kitchen counter on April 6. While home during COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders, Blanche and her family have been following a family tradition of making homemade jam.

Raspberry Jam

Blanche Harris, Staff Photographer
May 2, 2020
The Sidekick staff writer Blanche Harris, executive sports editor Sally Parampottil and executive editorial page editor Claire Clements talk about how they celebrated Easter this year.

Video: How Christians celebrate Easter

Blanche Harris, Sally Parampottil, and Claire Clements
April 17, 2020
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