• 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
Nrithya Mahesh

Nrithya Mahesh, Executive Managing Editor

Nrithya Mahesh is a senior and the Executive Managing Editor for The Sidekick.

After having a family member join The Sidekick, Nrithya came to read the paper and form an interest in joining as a member herself. Although she joined the program swearing to never veer away from design, she somehow ended up finding a love for writing and telling multimedia stories.

When she’s not designing the next issue or writing a feature, you can find her catching up on classic middle grade and young adult novels that she never got to in middle school, or maybe even listening to the latest Red Velvet release.

You can contact her at [email protected] or on Instagram (@Nrithya_M).

All content by Nrithya Mahesh
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[Photo] Finding our footing

Yug Talukdar, Assignment Editor
November 4, 2024
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[Photo] Breaking the bank

Sahasra Chakilam, Executive News Editor
October 1, 2024
Following hit singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” rising pop star Sabrina Carpenter released her sixth studio album Short n’ Sweet. Staff writer Ainsley Dwyer delves into the album’s different sounds.

[Photo] Carpenter brings emotion, fun to pop music with Short n’ Sweet

Ainsley Dwyer, Staff writer
September 4, 2024
Coppell sophomore outside hitter Brooke Felix, junior defensive specialist Siena Cameron and junior middle blocker Katie Keith block against Nolan Catholic senior Trinity Foster on Friday at CHS Arena. The Cowgirls defeated the Vikings, 3-2 (25-21, 25-27, 25-17, 19-25, 16-14). Photo by Pranavi Ramineni.

Cowgirls taste first success of season in tight match against Vikings

Nrithya Mahesh, Executive Managing Editor
August 31, 2024
Coppell sophomore middle blocker Finley Penniman hits against Keller on Aug. 23 at the CHS Arena. The Coppell volleyball team plays Nolan Catholic today at 6:30 p.m. Photo by Sohana Singh.

Cowgirls seek to overcome gap to success through defense

Nrithya Mahesh, Executive Managing Editor
August 30, 2024
Coppell High School seniors nominated their fellow peers for different awards categories. Here are the 24 seniors who shine underneath the spotlight for their respective categories.

On the red carpet

Avani Munji, Nrithya Mahesh, Nyah Rama, Katie Park, Manasa Borra, Sahasra Chakilam, and Sukirtha Muthiah
May 17, 2024
New Tech High @ Coppell launched its first online news site, The Newcomer, on Feb. 21. NTH@C sophomore Olivia Guerra and freshman Arjun Madhu are the co-editors-in-chief of the program. Photo by Ishana Sharma

New Tech reporting for duty with The Newcomer

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
May 9, 2024
As the year comes to a close, The Sidekick celebrates its seniors leaving the program. Staff designer Nrithya Mahesh expresses her gratitude for social media manager Sameeha Syed’s friendship. Photo by Maddy Park.

An ode to The Sidekick’s seniors: Sameeha Syed

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
May 2, 2024
Coppell senior infielder Mallory Moore bats against Lewisville on March 8 at Coppell ISD Baseball/Softball Complex. Moore has played softball for over a decade and is signed to play softball at Emporia State University. Photo by Isheeta Bajjuri

There’s no place like home: Moore taking softball talents to Emporia State

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
April 30, 2024
Fewer students at Coppell High School are driving to school, with one-third of the student population of Coppell High School riding the bus. This change in students’ means of transportation has had ramifications on students’ ability to participate in co-curricular activities.

The route forward

Manasa Borra and Nrithya Mahesh
April 1, 2024
Dr. Scharlene Gaudet of Resiliency Brain Health appeals to the council to improve handicap access to her practice. The council was presented with arguments by Old Town Coppell business owners to reserve their parking spaces on weekdays during Tuesday’s meeting.

Residents voice concern over Old Town Coppell parking space

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
March 27, 2024
Scholastic Journalism Week celebrates the freedom of press and importance of journalism. The Sidekick CHS9 editor Nyah Rama expresses her gratitude for being able to write about unexplored topics and express herself without fear.

[Photo] SJW2024: Journalism creating avenue for my self-expression

Nyah Rama, CHS9 Editor
February 23, 2024
Coppell High School is known to many students for its cheating culture, with people who speak up about it often called “snitches.” The Sidekick staff designer Nrithya Mahesh explores why speaking up can be so scary at CHS, and brings attention to the injustice. Photo illustration by Aasritha Yanamala

Column: To snitch or not to snitch?

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
February 26, 2024
Coppell High School senior Ethan Camaret views the moon through a telescope during the Moon Party. The annual Moon Party was held on Wednesday at CHS Main Entrance and Commons for astronomy students to showcase their knowledge and celebrate the moon.

Community basks in glory of outer space at annual Moon Party

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
February 22, 2024

The Talk: Microtrends and Overconsumption at CHS

Nrithya Mahesh, Kavya Lokhande, Ishana Sharma, and Wendy Le
January 29, 2024
Coppell seniors Ava Payne and Karissa Ghodia lead as the 2023-24 girls wrestling team captains. Godhia and Payne apply the values they learn from wrestling in their daily life. Photo by Sri Achanta

Godhia, Payne’s efforts culminate in wrestling leadership

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
January 26, 2024
The Coppell ISD Board of Trustees discusses district updates at its meeting Monday in the Vonita White Administration Building. The board celebrated school board month, recognized student leaders, talked about updates regarding intervention services and progress on several projects, and voted on the new calendars for the upcoming two school years.

Board finalizes calendar for upcoming school year

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
January 23, 2024
Your guide to by Nrithya Mahesh

[Video] Your guide to FAFSA

Sri Achanta, Executive Editor-in-Chief
January 19, 2024
Coppell freshman wrestler Josh Perez wrestles a Lewisville player in the Coppell Round-Up at the Coppell High School Fieldhouse on Nov 17. The Cowboys placed third in this meet as they look forward to another good year of wrestling.

[Photo] Time to step up

Namir Awan, Staff Photographer
December 7, 2023
Coppell junior percussionist Sophie Depew performs “An Ancient Observer” at halftime on Nov. 10. Depew won the Percussive Arts Society Texas Chapter’s Day of Percussion high school individual competition in April for her marimba performance and plans to go into the music field after high school.

Determination, dedication, devotion

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
December 5, 2023
The Sidekick staff designer Nrithya Mahesh reads Cinder by Marissa Meyer in the Coppell High School Library. Mahesh finds solace and comfort in the familiarity of rereading books. Photo by Sukirtha Muthiah

Giving thanks: Haven in tattered pages

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
November 9, 2023

Rangers spirit takes over Coppell with first World Series win (video)

Sukirtha Muthiah, Nrithya Mahesh, and Namir Awan
November 2, 2023
New Tech Model U.N. president Tejas Bhatia provides feedback to Model U.N. members on Monday at New Tech High @ Coppell on their pro-con speeches. Bhatia is a member of the Model U.N., winning 13 regional, state and international awards in the span of three years as well as qualifying for the Model U.N. international conference.

Bhatia exemplifies the model in Model U.N.

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
October 27, 2023
Coppell High School juniors Amanda Zhu, Larry Liu and sophomore Emma Zhao spent their summer as counselors for the Chinese Youth Camp at UT Arlington. The camp from July 1-8 allowed the students to connect with their culture and hone their leadership skills.

[Photo] Chinese Youth Camp calls counselors back to culture, community

Elizabeth De Santiago, Staff Writer
October 25, 2023
Your guide to the SAT: paper vs. digital

Your guide to the SAT: paper vs. digital

Nrithya Mahesh and Omega Tamang
October 19, 2023
Coppell High School canceled the Oct. 5 PSAT due to technology issues during testing. CHS Principal Laura Springer announced sophomores will retake the PSAT on Oct. 24 and juniors will retake on Oct. 25.

Campus voids digital PSAT scores; Students to reassess

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
October 11, 2023
Through the newly-passed House Bill 114, students receive harsher punishments for vaping, including being sent to alternate schooling environments.

[Photo] Clearing the haze

Anushree De, Student Life Editor
September 28, 2023
The Coppell High School Library has expanded its collection with new books in science-fiction, romance and more. The library is introducing many new changes to its system, including fresh titles to their catalog and creative activities such as painting and knitting. Nrithya Mahesh

[Photo] Turning to a new chapter: changes added and coming to the library

Noor Fatima, Graphic designer
September 22, 2023
High schoolers often have a lot of work and stress, with many feeling like they don’t have an escape. The Sidekick video editor Rhea Chowdhary explains how recess in high school can act as a stress reliever.

[Photo] Have we really grown out of recess?

Rhea Chowdhary, Video Editor
September 8, 2023
Coppell High School art teacher Sarah Williams shares a little about herself during Curriculum Night. Curriculum Night took place Aug. 28 at CHS to inform parents of their students’ classes.

Parents, teachers convene for night of introductions on Curriculum Night

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
September 7, 2023
Masterpiece

Masterpiece

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
August 30, 2023
Coppell High School junior Kapill Balaji learns the ropes of entrepreneurship with AlphaGraphics owner Sam Reed. Coppell ISD hosted a job shadowing opportunity open to juniors and seniors that matched students to professionals in their preferred field. Photo courtesy CISD Communications.

Inaugural Shadow Day giving students glimpse at professional experiences

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
May 17, 2023
Coppell High School senior Umang Vinayaka is valedictorian of the graduating class of 2023. Vinyaka plans on attending Harvard University, majoring in Computational Biology.

Umang Vinayaka

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
May 16, 2023
Coppell High School senior Amav Khambete is salutatorian of the graduating class of 2023. Khambete plans on attending Harvard University, majoring in Neuroscience.

Amav Khambete

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
May 16, 2023
Coppell High School junior Elise Howe is a member of the CHS Cowboy Theatre Company and Coppell Debate. Whether it be through arguments or scripts such as “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Howe uses words to guide her through her co-curricular activities.

[Photo] Howe employing words as a double-edged sword

Manasa Mohan, Executive Editorial Page Editor
May 10, 2023
Pydisetti, Wang triumph at Scholastic Art and Writing competition

Pydisetti, Wang triumph at Scholastic Art and Writing competition

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
April 27, 2023
Plugging in... Senioritis

Plugging in… Senioritis

Deepali Kanchanavally and Nrithya Mahesh
April 18, 2023
Miley Cyrus released her eighth studio album, Endless Summer Vacation, on March 10 with lead single “Flowers” reaching a peak of No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Staff writer Anvita Bondada believes the album fails to showcase Cyrus’s talents and potential.

[Photo] Cyrus makes primitive return to pop music with Endless Summer Vacation

Anvita Bondada, Staff Writer
April 5, 2023
PBS Kids is often undervalued as a children’s TV channel, even with its large audience. The Sidekick staff designer Nrithya Mahesh shares her appreciation for the channel through a humorous column. Graphic by Trey Boudreaux.

The Twist: PBS Kids is the magnum opus of children’s television

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
March 27, 2023
The Lone Star State is infamous for its erratic weather, from freezes one day to sunny skies the next. The Sidekick staff writer Sukirtha Muthiah researches the science behind Texas’s fluctuating weather patterns.

[Photo] Texas residents endure substantial temperature fluctuations

Sukirtha Muthiah, Staff Writer
March 6, 2023
The 65th Annual Grammy Awards held on Feb. 5 was home to many accomplishments, with Beyonce becoming the most awarded Grammy artist and Kim Petras making history as the first transgender woman to win a Grammy. The Sidekick staff writer Anvita Bondada takes a critical look at the award show and their winning picks. Graphic by Nrithya Mahesh.

[Photo] 65th annual Grammys stirs up mixing pot of opinions amongst viewers

Anvita Bondada, Staff Writer
March 1, 2023
Coppell High School senior Speech and Debate president Hunniya Ahmad delivers her Lincoln Douglas first Affirmative Constructive (1AC) during sixth period on Jan. 18. Ahmad is ranked 21st in the nation and attended the Tournament of Champions and has found success through her unique argumentation dealing with identity.

Ahmad breaking down borders with argumentation exploring queer-Muslim identity

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
February 10, 2023
Beauty standards are highly prevalent in today’s society, thriving especially in social media. The Sidekick staff writer Nyah Rama talks about the harmful effects Eurocentric beauty standards can have on teenagers. Graphic by Nrithya Mahesh

[Photo] Hidden danger

Nyah Rama, Staff Writer
February 1, 2023
Kondapalli draws a scene of a market using chalk pastels during the inclement weather day on Tuesday. Coppell and the DFW area was hit with winter precipitation starting on Monday, leading to temporary school closures. Photo courtesy Amolika Kondapalli.

Kondapalli painting the snow away

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
February 1, 2023
Avatar: The Way of Water released on Dec. 16 as the long-awaited sequel to the 2009 classic, Avatar. Staff writer Nashad Mohamed takes a deep dive into the movie to find out if it was worth the decade long wait.

[Photo] Cameron takes us back to Pandora with sequel Avatar: The Way of Water

Nashad Mohamed, Staff Writer
January 19, 2023
GradeWay is an app used among Coppell High School students to check their grades along with other supplementary features. The Sidekick staff writer Nrithya Mahesh finds out why many students use this app. Graphic by Minori Kunte.

Meet GradeWay, application taking CHS by storm

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
December 16, 2022
Coppell High School sophomore Safiya Mohammed won CHS’s Hurricane Ian sticker design contest, organized by CHS art teacher David Bearden. The contest was open to all art department students and the top designs were sold as stickers, with all profits going to World Central Kitchen, providing meals to those affected by Hurricane Ian. Photo by Aliya Zakir

Art department’s sticker design competition aiding in Hurricane Ian relief

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
November 28, 2022
Crazy Tip Time: Birthday Cards

Crazy Tip Time: Birthday Cards

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
November 16, 2022
Coppell ISD launched its Community Based Accountability System (CBAS) on Sep. 15 to measure CISD’s improvements as a district in several areas. The Sidekick Staff writer Ishana Sharma has the story with the details about the system. Graphic by Nrithya Mahesh.

[Photo] CISD releases new accountability system to help each learner achieve success

Ishana Sharma, Staff Writer
November 7, 2022
Stages of an Art Project

Stages of an Art Project

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
October 24, 2022
Coppell High School senior Sahith Mocharla, junior Anushree De and senior Umang Vinayaka have been chosen to be part of the Texas State Team this fall to compete internationally. The Texas State Team is part of the Texas Forensic Association (TFA) and has 15 members from high schools throughout Texas.

Debate qualifies for internationals with Team Texas

Nrithya Mahesh, Staff Designer
October 21, 2022
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