• The Cowboy Theatre Company shows The Old Man and the Moon in the Black Box at Coppell High School Thursday through Saturday.
  • CHS takes its senior panoramic picture at 10 a.m. on Wednesday
  • Coppell High School hosts signing day for athletes at 8 a.m. on Wednesday
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
Anette Varghese

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor

Anette is a senior and The Sidekick’s Student Life Editor. She enjoys listening to podcasts, being with her family and friends, and finding obscure music.  You can find her on Twitter @AnetteVarghese or email [email protected].

All content by Anette Varghese
Coppell High School CTE teacher and DECA adviser Richard Chamberlain teaches marketing strategies during his seventh period class on April 12. Chamberlain was selected as The Sidekick’s Volume 33 Issue 6 Teacher of the Issue.

Teacher of the Issue: Woo! Chamberlain championing a business-minded curriculum

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
May 11, 2022
Sherman Oak residents discuss the unanimous approval of the zoning change request for modifications to carport requirements on Tuesday at City Hall. Tuesday’s Coppell City Council meeting notably recognized the Coppell Fire Department and approved zoning change requests for carports and hog fences in the Sherman Oak subdivision.

Council amends Planned Development terms to extend carport requirements

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
May 11, 2022
Coppell High School senior Sahan Yerram is ranked No. 5 in the graduating class of 2022. Yerram will attend the University of Texas at Austin in the fall and is majoring in business.

Sahan Yerram

Sri Achanta and Anette Varghese
May 11, 2022
Coppell High School senior Shravya Konatam committed to Nova Southeastern University’s seven-year doctor of osteopathic medicine program. Admitted students follow a three-year study in any undergraduate major, and receive their bachelor’s degree after their first year of medical school.

[Photo] Shravya Konatam

May 9, 2022
Coppell High School senior Lily Arancheril committed to Nova Southeastern University’s seven-year doctor of osteopathic medicine program. Admitted students follow a three-year study in any undergraduate major, and receive their bachelor’s degree after their first year of medical school.

[Photo] Lily Arancheril

Varshitha Korrapolu, Communications Manager
May 9, 2022
Nick Taylor signs a contract with Orlando City SC on Jan. 11 to play professionally in the MLS with his parents Sorya and Randal Taylor. Nick graduated from Coppell High School in 2017 and was a part of the Class 6A 2016 state championship soccer team. Photo courtesy Sorya Taylor

One more goal scored

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
May 6, 2022
Coppell High School senior Sven Collins committed to a three-year program at RWTH Aachen University for computer science in Germany. Collins plans on taking a gap year in which he will serve as a Congress-Bundestag youth representative, studying and working abroad due to his vocational interests.

Committing the challenge

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
May 6, 2022
AP comparative government and politics is a one semester course at Coppell High School offering students the ability to gain insight into countries and their global affairs. Throughout the course, students participate in various projects, activities and assignments tailored to global politics.

Crash Course CHS: AP comparative government and politics

Aliya Zakir and Anette Varghese
May 6, 2022
Sports medicine is a three-year program at Coppell High School offering students the ability to gain experience in health and its relation to physical activity. Throughout the program, students also apply biomechanics, anatomy and physiology to their work.

Crash Course CHS: Sports medicine

Aliya Zakir and Anette Varghese
April 8, 2022
Coppell High School AP Spanish teacher Eligio Mares assists CHS sophomore Roma Jani during his first period on March 9. Mares has been selected as Issue 5 Teacher of the Issue for the 2021-22 school year.

Teacher of the Issue: Mares shows interconnected curriculum drives success

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
March 30, 2022
Coppell High School’s 1965 valedictorian Wheelice “Pete” Wilson died on Feb. 2. Wilson was a CHS teacher for 36 years, a founding member of Theatre Coppell and a proactive member of the Coppell Historical Society. Photos courtesy Theatre Coppell.

Legacies made, legacies left

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
March 29, 2022
March is Women’s History Month, a month dedicated to highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. As a part of The Woman Who Made Me series, The Sidekick student life editor Anette Varghese describes how she and her mother are alike.

The Woman Who Made Me: My mirror image

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
March 22, 2022
IB theory of knowledge is a two-semester mandatory course for students pursuing an International Baccalaureate diploma. The course bases its syllabus on the validity and reasoning behind knowledge.

Crash Course CHS: theory of knowledge

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
March 16, 2022
CHS9 student Ivy Tian sketches a figure in Coppell High School art teacher Michelle Hauske’s classroom after school on Feb. 14. Tian often draws inspiration from fandoms she follows and creates fan art incorporating emotions she faces in her daily life.

[Photo] Tian combining online community with artistic freedom

Maya Palavali, Staff Writer
March 4, 2022
Coppell senior defender Grace Turman and freshmen forward Jordan Clig fight for the ball against Hebron in Tuesday's match at Buddy Echols Field. The Cowgirls won, 2-1, with the first goal in the first six minutes of the first half, and the second goal in the last 10 minutes of the second half.

Cowgirls’ win takes them to the top of district rankings

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
March 2, 2022
Coppell forward Summer Chen recovers the ball from Plano forward Nathalie Muniz on Feb. 18 at Buddy Echols Field. The Coppell girls soccer team hosts first-place Hebron on Tuesday night.

Cowgirls face Hebron tomorrow, seek to take first place

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
February 28, 2022
Scholastic Journalism Week is Feb. 21-25 which offers student journalists across the nation the opportunity to celebrate this year’s theme of Amplifying Voices. The Sidekick’s student life editor Anette Varghese thinks her experience on The Sidekick will benefit her career in healthcare.

#SJW2022: Journalism bleeds into healthcare

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
February 25, 2022
Coppell senior defender Bryson Chen plays in Tuesday’s soccer match against Plano West. The Cowboys beat the Wolves, 3-1. Photo courtesy Macy Jarrell

Stone hat trick downs Plano West as Cowboys seek momentum

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
February 23, 2022
CHS9 Spanish teacher Alicia Prado assists freshmen Safa Ahmed and Sabah Udin with an activity about conjugating verbs in the present tense during seventh period on Feb. 14. Prado was named the December and January Teacher Spotlight for her dedication and innovative learning style.

CHS9 December, January teacher spotlight teaching through experience

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
February 22, 2022
George’s Coffee + Provisions temporarily closes down due to a shooting incident on Wednesday in Old Town Coppell. The incident killed a 21-year-old female and the male shooter is currently being treated at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center.

Updated: Old Town Coppell shooting leaves one dead, one hospitalized

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
February 16, 2022
Coppell High School AP statistics teacher Don Kemp teaches P-values during third period on Monday. Kemp has taught at CHS for 17 years and has been named The Sidekick’s Teacher of the Issue for February.

From statistics to the Olympics

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
February 10, 2022
Coppell High School sophomore Akshat Ghuge spends his snow day taking photos of LEGO figures for his photography account on Instagram. As a result of inclement weather and unsafe road conditions, Coppell ISD closed all schools and administrative buildings on Thursday and Friday. Photo courtesy Akshat Ghuge.

Sophomore amateur photographer takes advantage of winter weather

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
February 4, 2022
Coppell High School AP English teacher Benjamin Stroud showcases his “The Amazing Race” shirt on Jan. 12. Stroud received the shirt after passing round 1 of “The Amazing Race” auditions.

The world is waiting… GO! (with video)

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
January 28, 2022
Coppell High School United States History teacher Diane de Waal works on a recommendation letter for one of her students on Dec. 8. De Waal, who was selected by The Sidekick as its December Teacher of the Issue, has been teaching history for 17 years.

Teacher of the Issue: Keeping score with one of Coppell’s top historians

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
December 14, 2021
Coppell High School Muslim students have been performing Jum’ah (Friday) prayer in the library since Nov. 5. Jum’ah prayer refers to weekly Friday Dhuhr (midday) prayer, which can be practiced in congregations or individually.

Muslim students practicing weekly Friday prayers in library

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
December 8, 2021
True crime is a genre of media that has gained popularity over the last few years. The Sidekick student life editor Anette Varghese thinks true crime fans need to take a step back from making unsupported claims and spreading misinformation.

Internet sleuths should stay in their lane

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
December 7, 2021
From George Coppell to...a modern understanding of Thanksgiving

From George Coppell to…a modern understanding of Thanksgiving

Anjali Krishna and Anette Varghese
December 5, 2021
From George Coppell to... college applications from the educators' perspective

From George Coppell to… college applications from the educators’ perspective

Akhila Gunturu, Anette Varghese, and Angelina Liu
November 17, 2021
Coppell High School astronomy teacher Angela Barnes’s sixth period class researches topics for the global goals project. Honors Astronomy is a level three science elective course with prerequisites of biology, chemistry and geometry.

Crash Course CHS: astronomy

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
November 3, 2021
Coppell High School AP English Literature teacher Kim Pearce explains the relationships of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to CHS senior Izzy Ortagoza in third period on Thursday. Pearce has been teaching English classes for 38 years.

Teacher of the Issue: Pearce pens dream job into real life

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
November 3, 2021
Coppell High School International Baccalaureate History of the Americas teacher Kyle Dutton provides a lesson overview during fourth period in classroom B221 on Oct. 21. Dutton has been teaching at CHS for 28 years and is retiring after the 2021-22 school year.

Dutton graduating to retirement after 30 years

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
October 27, 2021
COVID-19 booster shots are available and recommended for adults who are at high risk of contracting the virus or have underlying medical conditions. Booster shots can be administered at local pharmacies such as Tom Thumb, CVS and Walgreens.

Booster shots available at local pharmacies after completion of initial series

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
October 26, 2021
Coppell High School forensic science students work to solve a mystery lab in seventh period on Thursday. Sandy Larson has been teaching forensic science for five years.

Crash Course CHS: forensic science

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
October 13, 2021
Coppell High School seniors Nitish Elango and Bhavesh Mandalapu discuss an SAT math problem in preparation to tutor middle school and high school students before the SAT tutoring sessions at the Cozby Library and Community Commons on Saturday. Elango and Mandalapu are co-creators of the Infinity Prep SAT tutoring group and have been uploading videos to their YouTube channel for three months.

To infinity and beyond, after your SAT

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
September 24, 2021
Coppell High School AP U.S. government substitute teacher Thomas Sills instructs his seventh period class on Sept. 15. Sills coached girls basketball and track for 16 years at Coppell ISD and is now a substitute after retiring from teaching.

Sills choosing CISD time and time again

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
September 22, 2021
Students often doubt the need for English class when they have spent their entire life speaking, writing and reading the language. The Sidekick student life editor Anette Varghese thinks English is a requisite part of high school curriculum due to its involvement of critical thinking skills.

Don’t write off English

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
September 21, 2021
Coppell swimming and diving coach Amanda Ross teaches during eighth period on Friday. Ross is a new coach at Coppell High School and has been coaching swimming for 10 years.

Coach’s Box: Ross starting year teaching perseverance

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
September 17, 2021
Magician Mike Super comes out to meet his fans, sign T-shirts, and take photos at the Coppell Arts Center on Sunday afternoon. The Coppell Arts Center spotlighted Super to conclude its last day of the Takeoff Arts & Music Festival.

Super ends Takeoff with a magical last show

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
September 13, 2021
Coppell junior Lakshana Parasuraman and Coppell senior Nandini Thallapareddy won both sets with scores of 6-3, 7-6 at Saturday’s doubles match against Tyler Legacy’s Audrey Deatherage and Sara Fry.

Tennis cruises to victory against East Texas foe

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
September 12, 2021
Coppell senior Nandini Thallapareddy and junior Lakshana Parasuraman celebrate a volley against Ursuline Academy at the CHS Tennis Center on Aug. 20. The Coppell tennis team defeated Dallas Jesuit and Ursuline Academy with a combined score of 15-4.

Tennis to face off against Tyler Legacy

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
September 10, 2021
Got You Covered is a Sidekick series detailing five events happening at Coppell High School the following week. It will be posted every Monday for the rest of the 2021-22 school year.

Got You Covered: 9/6 – 9/11

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
September 6, 2021
Coppell High School algebra II teacher Alec Nguyen Bui introduces characteristics of functions to his fourth period class on Monday. Bui is a new teacher at CHS and he graduated from the University of North Texas in December.

Bui breaks down his first week as an algebra II teacher

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor
August 27, 2021
Best place to shop: Grapevine Mills Mall

Best place to shop: Grapevine Mills Mall

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
May 17, 2021
CHS9 assistant principal Ashley Graham has been an AP for four years. As a University of Louisiana at Monroe graduate, Graham began in the medical field before eventually transitioning to the education field.

“Education is a calling and it’s what we were called to do”

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
May 14, 2021
Since the beginning of the pandemic, less teens in the United States have been able to complete proper driving education - almost three-quarters of parents with a teen said their teen’s driving education has been delayed by the pandemic. Parents have also been more concerned about their teen’s driving habits since the pandemic’s advent.

Pandemic leading to less teenage drivers on local streets

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
May 14, 2021
Coppell High School junior Dia Atluri is a part of the The Gen Z Go-Getters podcast with three other students, Shriya Venkataraman from Dallas, Shrutika Srinivasan from North Creek, Wash. and Vaishnavi Vangani from Tampa, Fla. Atluri and the co-hosts of the podcast talk about topics such as entrepreneurship, motivation and Desi culture. Dia is the twin sister of The Sidekick advertising/circulation manager Trisha Atluri.

Go-Getter generation fuelling new podcast

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
April 20, 2021
CHS9 Student Council treasurer Prateek Malkoti leads his class for the 2020-2021 school year. Malkoti collaborates with his fellow classmates and teachers to improve CHS9 during his time as treasurer.

Prateek Malkoti

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
April 2, 2021
Coppell High School sophomore Mihira Kada rehearses her Vivace! performance “Home” by Philip Philips at the CHS parking lot on Sunday. Kada was named co-captain of Vivace! early second semester.

Sophomore sings her way to Vivace! co-captain role

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
March 12, 2021
Coppell Middle School East sixth grader Sullivan (Sully) Kessler was diagnosed with stage 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma when he was 2. Although Kessler was blinded by a tumor that grew behind his optic nerve, he stays competitive in both schoolwork and gymnastics.

Blindness will not cloud Sully’s future

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
March 4, 2021
Coppell ISD announced that the free school SAT originally scheduled for Wednesday will be postponed to Wednesday, March 24.. College Board will be unable to provide testing materials by the original date.

Wednesday SAT rescheduled to March 24

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
March 2, 2021
Coppell High School sophomores (now juniors) Kelly Kim, Eden Kim and New Tech High @ Coppell senior (now 2020 graduate) Marlee Moe play the flute at the Mid-Winter band concert last year in the CHS Auditorium. The annual concert showcases every band including CHS9 bands (Symphonic and Concert), Symphonic Band 1, Symphonic Band 2, Concert Band 1, Concert Band 2 and Wind Symphony. This year weather concerns have forced the band to turn to individual performances rather than a full showcase.

Weather concerns force band to change February concert to individual performances

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
February 19, 2021
Coppell junior shooting guard Ryan Agarwal takes a layup against Flower Mound Saturday at the CHS arena. Coppell defeated Flower Mound, 52-39. Photo by Nick Larry

Cowboys loss results in Coppell, Marcus as co-district champs

Torie Peck and Anette Varghese
February 14, 2021
IB English teacher Stephanie Spaete discusses The Handmaid’s Tale with her seventh period on Monday. Spaete has been teaching for 11 years in total and specifically IB for six years and is this week’s The Sidekick Teacher of the Week. Photo by Samantha Freeman

Spaete grows by rising from first grade to IB English III teacher

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
February 4, 2021
Coppell junior shooting guard Devank Rane shoots a free throw during overtime to end the game versus Lewisville on Friday night in the CHS Arena. The Cowboys defeated the Farmers in overtime, 70-65, to keep possession of their first place seat in District 6-6A.

Cowboys go into overtime to keep its first place seat

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
January 30, 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.

Cowboys host Lewisville to defend their first place seat

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
January 29, 2021
Coppell senior forward Chloe Hassman attempts to go up for a shoot against Marcus on Friday in the CHS Arena. The Cowgirls defeated Marauders, 51-40.

Coppell surge in second half to take down Marcus

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
January 23, 2021

Manandhar siblings reaching goals: Duo donating soccer cleats to Nepal, mental awareness campaign (with video)

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
January 21, 2021
Coppell junior midfielder Renata Vargas looks for an open teammate against Mansfield at Buddy Echols Field on Tuesday. Vargas verbally committed to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Sept. 7.

UT Rio Grande Valley commit Vargas looks to pursue career promoting youth soccer

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
December 17, 2020
Coppell High School seniors Jaden Escoto and Kimberly Henze practice strapping CHS senior Emersyn Jorski in medical equipment during CHS EMT and pharmacy tech teacher Gary Beyer’s seventh period class on Friday. CTE courses are expanding their offerings at CHS and rebranding themselves.

CTE programs expanding to provide better career opportunities

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
December 17, 2020
Local sculptor Russ Connell welds a piece in his studio in Denton on Tuesday. Connell has two sculptures in Coppell, one in Old Town and the other at Andy Brown Park East

Connell adding color to Coppell through sculptures

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
December 5, 2020
CHS9 algebra I teacher Kara Schmidt conducts a first period on Friday. Schmidt, a first-year CISD teacher working as a case manager in the special education department, was announced the winner of the monthly teacher nominations on Oct. 29.

CHS9 October Teacher Spotlight teaches open-mindedness

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
November 20, 2020
The Knit Wits, a Coppell Senior Center club, has created and distributed more than 5,000 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. They distribute their masks at the Coppell Farmers Market every month while following precautions put in place to ensure others’ safety.

Sew many masks, so little time for local senior group of knitters

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
October 27, 2020
During the Coppell City Council meeting this Tuesday, Coppell Mayor Karen Hunt approved reallocations of the CARES Act funds. These funds will partially go towards supporting local businesses, the Coppell Fire Department, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and others.

City Council authorizes reallocation of CARES Act funds

Anette Varghese, Staff Writer
September 25, 2020
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