Coppell Student Media

News
Chasing the news: Wofford’s lessons reaching beyond D115
Rhea Choudhary, Executive Features Editor | March 7, 2025
CHS9
Moehlis bringing warmth with every welcome
Tanishka Kale, Staff Photographer | March 6, 2025
Student Life
SJW2025: Sidekick alumni reporting to communications realm
Sukirtha Muthiah, Nrithya Mahesh, Sahasra Chakilam, and Rhea Choudhary | February 28, 2025
Sports
Black History Month: True Price of strength, spirit
Sahasra Chakilam, Executive News Editor | February 27, 2025

News

Coppell ISD Board of Trustees presents the District Teachers of the Year award on May 21 at Vonita White Administration Building. The board emphasizes the district’s core values during times of crisis and difficult decision making.

Leading through crisis: Board of Trustees balancing community needs, financial responsibilities

Neha Nathwani, Staff Writer • March 14, 2025

Trustees face the crowded boardroom at Vonita White Administration Building, bracing for the difficult conversations ahead. Seats are filled...

Coppell High School DECA ended with a record 31 students and 18 International Career Development Conference qualifiers from the DECA state Career Development Conference. On March 6-8, the chapter competed at Texas DECA State at Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Photo credits by Hansini Routhu

18 moving on to international competition following state DECA conference

Raima Awan, Staff Writer • March 14, 2025

Practicum in Entrepreneurship providing hands-on experience, industry connections

Angad Raut, Staff Writer • March 14, 2025

On Tuesday, New Tech High @ Coppell students Rebecca Mckay, Reed Wiethoff, Sarayu Velkur, Ananya Pilla and Sahana Vijayan present their data about water usage in Coppell to the city council. The meeting concluded with all items on the agenda getting approved.

Council approves plans for entertainment plaza

Anushka Joshi, Staff Writer • March 14, 2025

Lewisville resident Angela Lewallen visits with Coppell High School history teacher Joshua Chanin on Feb. 15 at Flower Mound Senior Center during the third annual Tri-City Neighborhood Summit. Chanin is running for Place 4 on the Lewisville City Council to make a bigger impact in his community. Photo by Neha Nathwani

Chanin applies classroom teachings to real-life endeavors

Akshaya Ashokanand, Staff Writer • March 13, 2025

Photo Galleries

Cats in the bag
Kayla Nguyen, Sports Photography Editor | March 14, 2025
Racing past competition in another sweep of home relays
Kayla Nguyen, Rhea Chowdhary, Raima Awan, and Isabella Callegaro Santos | March 14, 2025
Creativity on the Walls: IB students display work at art center
Vidya Praveen, Staff Photographer | March 14, 2025
Another star added to the logo
Sohana Singh and Naila Ali | March 14, 2025
Fit for a queen: Texas International Pageant dazzles at local art center
Greeshma Marathu and Gia Ajani | March 14, 2025
Goal-getter mentality: Inside Coppell’s 6-0 victory
Prisha Hooda, Staff Photographer | March 11, 2025

Sports

Coppell senior Alex Kraus runs up for an attempt in the varsity boys high jump competition at Buddy Echols Field on March 6. Coppell track and field took home first place overall in both boys and girls divisions at the Coppell Relays. Photo by Kayla Nguyen.

Home team takes gold in annual relays

Reece Murry, Staff Writer • March 14, 2025

The Buddy Echols Field screen flashes the final results of the Coppell Relays. Coppell track and field owns the top score for all teams. Coppell...

Coppell junior goalkeeper Chase Anderson leads a prayer before the match on March 7 at Buddy Echols Field. The Coppell boys soccer team emerged as District 5-6A champions for the first time in nine years. Photo by Kayla Nguyen.

History in making: Cowboys looking to cap off season with state title

Elizabeth De Santiago, Staff Writer • March 14, 2025

Coppell senior first baseman Troy Hill rounds first base against Hebron on Wednesday at Coppell ISD Baseball/Softball Complex. The Hawks defeated the Cowboys, 4-1, in the first District 5-6A game.

Hebron dominates Coppell in district opener

Emmalee Jittasupo, Staff Writer • March 13, 2025

Coppell freshman pitcher Lily Bowen pitches to Little Elm in the seventh inning on Tuesday at Coppell ISD Baseball/Softball Complex. The Cowgirls defeated Lobos, 9-5. Photo by Neha Nathwani

Consistent lead carves first win of season

Sohana Singh, Staff Photographer • March 12, 2025

Opinions

Women’s History Month celebrates the women who play an important role in our lives. The Sidekick staff designer Ahana Roy expresses her gratitude for her mother, Indrani Roy. Photo courtesy Indrani Roy

Woman who made me: Attached at the hip

Ahana Roy, Staff Designer • March 14, 2025

Tui amar jaan. A mix of Bengali and Hindi combined translating to, “You are my life.” Hearing these words from my mom and being greeted...

Women’s History Month each March celebrates the women playing an important role in our lives. The Sidekick staff photographer Nidhi Medicharla expresses gratitude to her mother, Anagha Medicharla, for inspiring her daily. Photo courtesy Nidhi Medicharla

Woman who made me: More than enough

Nidhi Medicharla, Staff Photographer • March 13, 2025

The Sidekick staff writer Elizabeth De Santiago explores her identity growing up without speaking Spanish despite her Hispanic heritage. De Santiago examines the complexities of cultural identity and language barriers. Photo illustration by Pranavi Ramineni and Eirene Park.

Sincerely, a no sabo kid

Elizabeth De Santiago, Staff Writer • March 11, 2025

Women’s History Month is a time of year to celebrate the women who play an important role in our lives. The Sidekick staff writer Gia Mukund shares her gratitude to her grandmother, Vanaja Manicka, for guiding her through life and making her the person she is today. Photo courtesy Prashanthi Manicka.

Woman who made me: Age does not determine strength

Gia Mukund, Staff Writer • March 11, 2025

Student Life

Coppell High School Be the Voice juniors Anjana Boppana and Katy Yan are both co-presidents of the nonprofit organization to emphasize the importance of equity in the speech and debate community. The organization provides free tutoring, resources for research and makes scholarships available for students across the country. Photo illustration by Dayami Granados and Maanav Subramanian.

Project Be the Voice kindling reform in debate community

Anvita Bondada, CHS9 Editor • March 14, 2025

Prior to a debate tournament, Coppell High School juniors Anjana Boppana and Katy Yan flip through websites, case studies and research papers...

Coppell High School juniors Yug Sharma and Vignesh Somasundaram test their robot in preparation for the Region 5 High School Robotics State Championship in the Engineering Lab on Feb. 26. VEX Robotics Competition integrates STEM and soft skills needed for life beyond high school. Photo by Hiral Patel.

Programming for success: VEX Robotics whirring soft skills into students

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer • March 13, 2025

Coppell High School security attendant Liza Petrova holds the door open at the north entrance for students arriving in the morning on March 7. Petrova fosters a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for students through her friendly interactions.

Behind the doors: Petrova creating safe space for students through compassion

Maddy Park, Staff Photographer • March 13, 2025

The Academic Decathlon team stands with its medals on display after a winning sixth place at the Hebron High School regional competition on Jan. 25 and qualifying for state. Academic Decathlon is an annual competition that assesses groups of students in 10 academic events.

Academic Decathlon team making final push at state

Hamza Zakir, Staff Writer • March 13, 2025

CHS9

Signing through cinema

Aashi Panchal, Staff Writer • March 10, 2025

In the heart of room B106 at Coppell High School Ninth Grade Center, the ASL Movie Club is hard at work filming its most recent project: an American...

CHS9 is currently experiencing a partial power outage due to Tuesday’s storms. The campus is closed Wednesday while all other Coppell ISD campuses are operating as normal.

CHS9 closed due to power outage

Anvita Bondada, CHS9 Editor • March 5, 2025

CHS9 Letters of Love Club members present their finished cards during its meeting on Feb. 5, ready to deliver them to hospitals. Letters of Love intends to uplift patients’ spirits by delivering heartfelt, handwritten cards to local hospitals. Photo courtesy Abhirami Nachiappan

Letters of Love spreading kindness one card at a time

Hamza Zakir, Staff Writer • February 28, 2025

Incoming freshmen explore campus at Spring Showcase

Naseeha Masood and Aashi Panchal • February 18, 2025

Arts & Entertainment

Coppell High School sophomore Lasya Pillamari paints in visual art teacher Michelle Hauske’s art class on Feb. 26. Pillamari and CHS9 student Sahana Sudir’s artworks were selected to be displayed in the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum through March.

Painting the future starting with Youth Art Month

Gia Ajani, Staff Writer • March 13, 2025

As paint strokes the canvas and pencils color the page, young artists use art to invoke emotion into their pieces, hoping to be chosen for art...

Coppell High School Band percussionists perform “Stool Pigeon” at the Purely Rhythmic show in the CHS Auditorium on Saturday. The concert highlights pieces performed or composed by middle to high school students in Coppell ISD.

Purely Rhythmic puts practice on display for all to see

Jay Vernekar, Staff Writer • March 12, 2025

Authors meet readers and sign books at the North Texas Teen Book Festival last Saturday in the Irving Convention Center. The annual North Texas Teen Book Festival is a one-day event where book lovers come together to celebrate teen literature.

North Texas Teen Book Festival brings book lovers together

Tanishka Kale, Staff Photographer • March 7, 2025

Boba tea shop Feng Cha appeals to customers through its aesthetic decorations. Feng Cha has been popular amongst students after its opening in Coppell in September 2021.

Feng Cha serving up new changes to bring in students

Aamna Mirza, Staff Writer • March 5, 2025

Lifestyle & Wellness

Teenagers often get sucked into the workload of school and are not able to make time for themselves. The Sidekick staff writer Gia Mukund thinks school should not be the only priority for teenagers, especially so they can make time for other activities. Graphic by Moukthika Palli.
Teenagers often get sucked into the workload of school and are not able to make time for themselves. The Sidekick staff writer Gia Mukund thinks school should not be the only priority for teenagers, especially so they can make time for other activities.

Finding balance between fun, facts

Gia Mukund, Staff Writer • March 14, 2025

Do good grades really mean something if you do not balance studying with fun? Majority of the students at Coppell High School are probably studying...