• Friday is a holiday for all Coppell ISD students.
  • Coppell High School hosts IB Diploma Awards & New Candidate Induction at 6:30 p.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
Christine Zacuai

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor

Christine Zacuai is a senior and the Executive News Editor on The Sidekick. She is always searching for the next best pho spot and bingeing The Office. She is involved with the Student Council on campus and outside of school, she is a member of her church choir and plays the piano.

Any questions, comments and concerns, contact her @chriszacuai on Twitter or shoot her an email at [email protected]

All content by Christine Zacuai
As a part of 2016 bond package deal, Coppell ISD is renovating Coppell High School, which will include tile flooring, LED lights, painting throughout the main corridor of the building. The entire construction is expected to end August 2020.

Campus renovations to begin in three phase construction this summer

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
May 14, 2019
Former Coppell Middle School East principal Laura Springer hugs Coppell High School outdoor adventures teacher Bill Parker on the cafeteria stage on May 9. Springer is the newly announced 2019-20 CHS principal.

Coming home

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
May 10, 2019
The Sidekick news editor and Coppell High School senior Christine Zacuai wears a traditional and formal Chin outfit, which is usually woven by a loom. Zacuai immigrated to Texas at 2 years old from Hakha, Myanmar.

A dual identity

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
May 10, 2019
Coppell High School Principal Dr. Nicole Jund is seen with CHS Student Resource Officer Chris Cobb and CHS senior CJ Ward in the main hallway last year. On Monday, Dr. Jund was announced the Coppell ISD assistant athletic director. Coppell Middle School East Principal Laura Springer will be returning as the new CHS principal

Jund moving to assistant AD role next school year

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
April 24, 2019
Penny Podcast - Episode #010

[Video] Penny Podcast – Episode #010

April 4, 2019
Best place to enjoy nature: Andy Brown Park

Best place to enjoy nature: Andy Brown Park

Christine Zacuai and Bailey Lai
April 3, 2019

State of the District: Hunt discloses upcoming policy, renovations, more (with video)

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
April 2, 2019
Coppell ISD has been taking measures to reframe the district’s academic structure for more than a year. After the college admissions scandals in early March, CISD is planning even more significant action.

Dismantling mistruths

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
April 2, 2019

On the Spot: Localizing legislation (with video)

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
March 8, 2019
Coppell ISD is in the midst of hiring its next district athletic director. The announcement is expected to be made at the CISD Board Meeting on March 25.

New CISD athletic director to be announced this month

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
March 5, 2019
Teacher of the Week: Hauske describes life as art teacher, VASE competition

Teacher of the Week: Hauske describes life as art teacher, VASE competition

Christine Zacuai and Sofia Guerrero
February 28, 2019
CHS9 teacher Christie Nelson’s sixth period Spanish II class surprises custodian Jose Rodrigues with posters of appreciation. Rodrigues has worked for Coppell ISD for nearly 30 years.

A sweet surprise: long-term CHS9 custodian receives jersey from students

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
February 26, 2019
On Friday, former Coppell football coach and current athletic director Joe McBride accepted the position as head coach and athletic coordinator at McKinney Boyd High School. McBride leaves behind Coppell football with a legacy of three district titles in five seasons from 2010-14.

McBride returning to sidelines

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
January 25, 2019
Registration for the 2019-20 school year is available for returning Coppell High School students and parents. All important links and dates can be found at the homepage of the CHS website.

Registration process for 2019-20 school year underway, prepares students for class choices

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
January 22, 2019
Coppell High School senior defensive back Jonathan McGill orally committed to Stanford, on Sunday, changing his recent commitment from SMU in October.

Change in opportunity: McGill switches commitment to Stanford

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
December 16, 2018
Coppell High School seniors Samuel Madhanmohan and Yuvraj Thakur work with Cottonwood Creek Elementary kindergarten student Prosper to write letters to Santa during Kim Pearce’s second period AP English IV class. Kindergarteners and first graders came from Cottonwood Creek Elementary on Dec. 7 to write letters to santa with AP English students.

“Dear Santa”: 28 years of letter writing tradition bonding all walks of life in education

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
December 14, 2018
On Wednesday morning, CHS9 Cathy Douglas is awarded Teacher of the Year for the 2018-2019 school year at the ninth grade campus in the library. Douglas, with CHS9 Principal Cody Koontz, Assistant Principal Chase Vaughn, and Assistant Principal Ashlee Graham is the first recipient of the award for the campus.

Modeling merit: First-ever CHS9 Teacher of the Year awarded to Douglas

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
December 5, 2018
On Wednesday morning, Coppell High School Special Ed Teacher Melissa Murray is announced as the 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year in the arena. Murray, with CHS Principal Dr. Nicole Jund, has been in the district for 20 years and has been teaching at the CHS for 13 years.

Openness, commitment characterize 2018-19 Teacher of the Year winner Murray

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
November 28, 2018
Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert speaks with an attendee at the annual Red Ribbon Week Committee Breakfast at the Wyndham Garden North Hotel in Dallas. The breakfast is hosted by different chambers annually to spread awareness about drug usage to local students and community leaders.

A fighting message: Calvert warns students, community of prominent dangers of drug usage

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
November 14, 2018
Coppell High School senior Tanay Pradhan selects candidates on the Texas Gubernatorial Mock Election google form in the CHS library in Bybiana Houghton’s AP Government class during eighth period. Voting is open all day with students requiring their student ID’s to vote.

[Photo] On the Spot: Mock election introduces students to voting process (with video)

Arman Merchant, Staff Writer
November 8, 2018
This morning, a group of voters support Julie Johnson for Texas State Representative for the 2018 general election outside of Coppell Town Center. Representatives give out cards and information about candidates that will be elected for local, state, and congressional level.

Record national early voting turnout make up 2018 midterm election

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
November 6, 2018
CHS9 assistant principal Chase Vaughn visits with freshmen Sam Ko and Pranav Swarna while on bus duty after school on Oct. 26. Vaughn has returned to Coppell ISD, and has worked at Coppell Middle School North in 2008 and Coppell High School in 2010 as a teacher and coach.

Q&A: Classroom to office: Vaughn returns to Coppell as assistant principal

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
October 30, 2018
Coppell firefighter and paramedic Daniel-Mark Knight and attendee Ramesh Chittipolu set up the automated external defibrillator (AED) device at the Coppell Life Safety Park’s monthly CPR-AED class on Saturday morning. Firefighters from the Coppell Fire Department instruct the classes about basic first aid tactics, use of the AED device in case of cardiac arrest in infants, children and adults.

Bringing the basics: Coppell Life Safety Park holds monthly CPR-AED class

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
October 16, 2018
The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is held on Wednesday in the large and small gym as well as classrooms throughout Coppell High School for sophomores and registered juniors, who are required to pay a $17 fee. The test allows testers to receive scholarship opportunities from national programs.

Annual PSAT testing held for sophomores, registered juniors

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
October 12, 2018
Coppell High School junior Monish Ravishankar is a Soundcloud artist who modifies beats and freestyles to create original music. Ravishankar has four released songs on Soundcloud, including his most popular track from November 2017, “No Love Freestyle” with more than a thousand plays on the app.

Creativity Showcase: junior Monish Ravishankar

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
October 12, 2018
Overcrowding proves to be an issue at Coppell High School as students make their way to classes during passing period.

NHS opens application for eligible juniors, seniors

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
September 28, 2018
Students are picked up by their parents in the new parent loop in student parking before school on Friday, Aug. 24th. Beginning this year, Coppell High School has made new changes to the parent loop and bus loop to relieve traffic flow before and after school. The former parent loop has been relocated to the bus loop; the bus loop to special needs transport and the parent loop has moved towards the student parking area.

New year, new traffic: Change in parent, bus loop policy raise both welcome, concern within CHS

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
September 24, 2018
Coppell High School assistant principal Cindi Osborne with son Ryne Osborne, who has Crohn’s disease, a rare illness that affects the digestive tract, in her office in Student Services South during eighth period on Sept. 12. A CHS team to participate in the Crohn’s and Colitis Fort Worth Takes Steps walk has been organized by Instructional Coach Derryl Lee to raise money and awareness for the illness. The walk will be held on Sept. 29 in Trinity Park in Fort Worth.

One step at a time: Osbornes combat Crohn’s through upcoming school walk

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
September 20, 2018
Beginning this year, security measures will be now more heavily enforced at the Buddy Echols stadium during athletic events for the 2018-2019 school year. This includes the enforcement of past policy concerning backpacks, pre-game searches, with the addition of monitoring from security personnel and local officers from the Coppell Police Department.

CISD prioritizing stadium security measures to keep staff, students safe

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
September 4, 2018

Biology On the spot from KCBY-TV on Vimeo.

On the Spot: IB Biology I classes sustaining life in new mesocosm project (with video)

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
August 28, 2018
CHS9 freshmen make their way through the hallways after being released from fourth period on the first day of school at the newly renovated campus. By housing nearly 900 students and 80 faculty members, CHS9 hopes to avoid the issue of overcrowding seen at CHS and become a more tight-knit community within the school.

Long-awaited freshman center opens its doors to both fresh feel, furniture

Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
August 15, 2018
Screen Shot 2018-05-29 at 12.42.05 PM

[Photo] Grant Knippa

May 29, 2018
Screen Shot 2018-05-29 at 12.40.43 PM

[Photo] Sagnik Mukherjee

May 29, 2018
Father Ken Griffin and daughter Morgan Griffin celebrate at the reception honoring the retirement of Ken in Coppell City Hall on March 28. Ken will leave his position as director of Engineering and Public Works for Coppell after 26 years of service for the city. As Ken retires, Morgan begins her position as a librarian at the Coppell Library and Community Commons.

Passing the torch: Griffins make their mark on the city

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
May 25, 2018
After 19 years of teaching at Coppell High School, theater teacher and Drama Club sponsor Lisa Tabor will leave to pursue other opportunities. She has directed UIL One Act Plays, school productions, such as “The Addams Family”, “Big Fish”, and “42nd Street”. Tabor teaches Spotlight and Premier and co-teaches Take One and Fame classes at CHS.

Lisa Tabor makes grande finale from theatre department after 19 years

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
May 23, 2018
Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Coppell High School senior Pierce McFarlane will be attending the U.S Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. after graduation. To be enrolled at the Naval Academy, McFarlane required a nomination from an official source, the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) and an appointment.

Senior Pierce McFarlane to attend dream school US naval academy

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
May 21, 2018
On April 22-25, the Coppell High School DECA chapter had a record number of 28 students advance to the annual International Career Development Conference (ICDC) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. They brought back a top 10 finalist and 13 competitors with qualifying scores for finals.

DECA brings record competitors to international competition

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
May 15, 2018

Video: Coppell Municipal Election brings out eager candidates, voters

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
May 5, 2018
On the Spot: Coppell Best Buddies to host fundraising car wash

On the Spot: Coppell Best Buddies to host fundraising car wash

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
April 25, 2018
School will be closed on Friday due to Staff Development Day being held on campus. Professional development days can be found on the Coppell High School calendar. Teachers and attend staff development days which aim to improve teaching methods for students at CHS.

On the Spot: Staff development day to bring growth for CHS staff

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
April 13, 2018
The Sidekick junior staff writer Christine Zacuai has experienced the repercussions of taking too much on her plate when engaging in school involvement and encourages students to not exert too much of their time and energy to achieve their goals in extracurriculars and clubs. With more than 60 clubs on campus, it is important to stay involved but be wary of overextending yourself.

School overextension: do not spread yourself too thin

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
April 11, 2018
Facebook users at Coppell High School find ways to protect their online information on their devices. After discovering that Facebook has been collecting personal information and data from their users, both students and staff feel they should take safety precautions when dealing with online media.

On the Spot: Zuckerberg hearing raises privacy concerns, speculation

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
April 10, 2018
Parent volunteer Katie Hubbard makes copies of requested papers from teachers on March 1 in copy room, B232. Coppell High School copy moms are parent volunteers that work in the student services and ninth grade offices to make copies and file paperwork for classes and offices.

Helping hands: “Copy moms” aid in running school errands

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
March 29, 2018

Video: A day in the life of CHS art classes

Lili Lomas and Christine Zacuai
March 26, 2018
Foreign exchange student and Coppell High School junior, Kyra Holmstrup, overlooks the deep hills and city of Burgos, Spain on the Castle of Burgos, where she has spent the last five months attending school. Holmstrup is attending IES Cardenal Lopez de Mendoza to improve her Spanish and find a new way of learning for a school year through the Rotary Internal exchange program.

Coppell to Burgos: Holmstrup takes on Spain as exchange student

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
March 26, 2018
Coppell High School senior Student Council officer Ashley Benyahoun sells carnation grams to senior Sol Hong on Thursday during lunch in the commons. The CHS Student Council is holding a Valentine’s Day Carnations fundraiser where students buy and request carnations to be sent to their friends or teachers. Carnations costs $1 each and are sold during all lunches in the cafeteria through Friday.

On the Spot: CHS shows its love through carnation fundraiser

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
February 8, 2018
CHS teachers, AP Human Geography teacher Ryan Simpson and AP Human Geography Chris Caussey, are two of the 45 faculty at CHS expected to be at CHS 9. CHS 9 is a new campus of CHS made entirely for incoming freshmen students attending in the 2018-19 school year.

On the Spot: New freshmen center expecting CHS teachers

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
February 2, 2018
Coppell High School student Nathaniel Umlas learns Intensive Teacher training (ITT) cards with special needs teacher, Ed Beal, in the new education room D101. Beal moved his special needs classroom from C hall to D hall this school year for a more spacious and accessible learning room for students.

Beal finds fulfillment through SPED program

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
January 31, 2018
Coppell High School HOSA members, sophomore Vyshnavi Nalla, sophomore Isha Agarwal, sophomore Hima Cheruvu and sophomore Athira Suresh, present their medical topic of drug and substance abuse in the lecture hall on Thursday in the Lecture Hall. About 40 teams of the club prepare for their upcoming competitions in February.

On the Spot: HOSA presentations prepares members for area competition

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
January 19, 2018
Honors II/III Spanish teacher Trent Pickrell connects with students in his classroom C121. Pickrell is The Sidekick's December teacher of the issue, nominated for his engagement he has with his students.

Pickrell excels in immersing students in language

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
December 7, 2017
Coppell High School English IV teacher Alex Holmes left Coppell to visit a national park in western North Dakota in June 2016. Holmes visited the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is well known for the wildlife viewing, scenic drives and many opportunities for outdoor activities.

Q&A: Holmes takes yearlong leave to North Dakota National Park

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
November 7, 2017
Coppell Rewind: A flashback to iconic points of interest, historical establishments

Coppell Rewind: A flashback to iconic points of interest, historical establishments

Lili Lomas and Christine Zacuai
October 31, 2017
Coppell High School seniors spend lunch on Thursday in the library for the National Merit luncheon. This luncheon is held to honor and recognize select students chosen by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their top qualifying scores on the PSAT nationwide.

On the Spot: Annual luncheon recognizes qualifying National Merit students

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
October 19, 2017
Mayor Hunt approves the proclamation officially naming October as the month for “National Breast Cancer Awareness Month”. The city council meeting was last Friday night at Town Center. Photo by Laura Amador Toro

City Council approves October as “National Breast Cancer Awareness Month”

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
October 15, 2017
The Brandenburg’s have boarding and personal horses in their ranch behind Coppell High School. Activities held by the school have not been an issue for these animals.

Best of both worlds: perspective of nearby family on school activity

Christine Zacuai, Staff Writer
October 5, 2017
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