![With the AISD rank and GPA discrepancies, some students had significant changes to their stats. College and career counselor Camille Nix worked with students to appeal their college decisions if they got rejected from schools depending on their previous stats before getting updated. Students worked with Nix to update schools on their new stats in order to fully get their appropriate decisions. “Those who already were accepted [won’t be affected], but it could factor in if a student appeals their initial decision,” Principal Andy Baxa said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/53674616658_18d367e00f_o-1200x676.jpg)
![Junior Mia Milicevic practices her forehand at tennis practice with the WJ girls tennis team. “Sometimes I don’t like [tennis] because you’re alone but most of the time, I do like it for that reason because it really is just you out there. I do experience being part of a team at WJ but in tournaments and when I’m playing outside of school, I like that rush when I win a point because I did it all by myself, Milicevic said. (Courtesy Mia Milicevic)](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/c54807e1-6ab6-4b0b-9c65-bfa256bc7587.jpg)
![The Jaguar student section sits down while the girls basketball team plays in the Great Eight game at the Denver Coliseum against Valor Christian High School Feb. 29. Many students who participated in the boys basketball student section prior to the girls basketball game left before half-time. I think it [the student section] plays a huge role because we actually had a decent crowd at a ranch game. I think that was the only time we had like a student section. And the energy was just awesome, varsity pointing and shooting guard Brooke Harding ‘25 said. I dont expect much from them [the Golden Boys] at all. But the fact that they left at the Elite Eight game when they were already there is honestly mind blowing to me.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_7517-e1716250578550-900x1200.jpeg)
![BACKGROUND IN THE BUSINESS: Dressed by junior designer Kaitlyn Gerrie, senior Chamila Muñoz took to the “Dreamland” runway this past weekend. While it was her first time participating in the McCallum fashion show, Muñoz isn’t new to the modeling world.
I modeled here and there when I was a lot younger, maybe five or six [years old] for some jewelry brands and small businesses, but not much in recent years,” Muñoz said.
Muñoz had hoped to participate in last year’s show but couldn’t due to scheduling conflicts. For her senior year, though, she couldn’t let the opportunity pass her by.
“It’s [modeling] something I haven’t done in a while so I was excited to step out of my comfort zone in a way,” Muñoz said. “I always love trying new things and being able to show off designs of my schoolmates is such an honor.”
The preparation process for the show was hectic, leaving the final reveal of Gerrie’s design until days before the show, but the moment Muñoz tried on the outfit, all the stress for both designer and model melted away.
“I didn’t get to try on my outfit until the day before, but the look on Kaitlyn’s face when she saw what she had worked so hard to make actually on a model was just so special,” Muñoz said. “I know it meant so much to her. But then she handed me a blindfold and told me I’d be walking with it on, so that was pretty wild.”
Caption by Francie Wilhelm.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/53535098892_130167352f_o-1200x800.jpg)
The buzzer blares, the boys basketball team pulls off another win in a very close showdown. Coach Cary Black, thinking that this is only an ordinary win, walks to the locker room, only to be jumped at and swarmed with cheers from his players, other coaches, and wife.
On December 2, coach Black achieved his 500th win during a tournament against Morton Ranch.
“Honestly, I didn’t know that game was the 500th [win] until my assistant coach and the players started celebrating,” Black said. “I didn’t know what they were celebrating for, but then they told me and I was like oh okay, great!”
Since becoming the head coach in the 2001-2002 season, Black’s impact on Klein Forest cannot be overlooked . His 500th win is evidence of his dedication to and a moment of success for the Klein Forest Basketball program, with many of the staff and players truly excited for Black and his accomplishment.
“I’m grateful to be a part of this milestone,” assistant coach Darius Gatson said. “It was great to see all the kids, principal Alexander and his wife celebrating for him for this huge milestone and I’m super excited for him.”
Since obtaining this record, Black continues to not focus on chasing accolades and records, but instead prioritizing what he loves doing the most.
“500 wins was never really a milestone for me and I’m not really concerned with milestones,” Black said. “I want to keep coaching basketball and keep on doing what we’re doing and have fun doing it.”
Throughout his career as coach, Black has continued to focus on developing ways to make his student athletes better.
“I’m trying to get these young people to be the best team we can be and act right and do right,” Black said. “And then they grow and mature and you see them get better and have success and that’s enjoyable.”
Black has a combined total of 27 years of coaching experience at Klein Forest. He’s worked with many current coaches and principals such as Klein Oak head coach Josh Ervin, Klein Forest principal Lance Alexander, and assistant coach Gatson.
“Coach Black has given me kind of a blank canvas, in the sense of how to grow and evolve and I’ve learned a lot,” Gatson said. “I’ve learned to stay humble, not have an ego, that all jobs are your jobs, there’s no being too big for sweeping the floor and you’re not too big for coaching freshman.”
This type of impact is recognized by many people. Black was formerly Houston Coach of the Year, Texas High School Coach of the Year, and multiple time District Coach of the Year. However, these accomplishments haven’t changed the way Black has carried himself over the years, according to his wife Susan Black.
“He’s been the same most of his life, he’s not a very showy person,” Mrs. Black said. “He’s not looking for awards or for people to give him praise, he’s been the quiet one getting things done.”
This humbleness is a main trait of Black, which is seen throughout the years by the many people around him. Black continues to show gratitude to those people for their support.
“It’s hard to be a basketball coach with the long hours, stress, and losing,” Black said. “After everything they’ve been supportive and I really appreciate it.”
This story was originally published on The Pinnacle on February 13, 2024.
