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The student news site of Richardson High School

The Talon

  • New Feature in Focus: Official GPA
  • RISD Enrollment for 2025-26 Opens on Feb 25
  • Course Verification Starts on March 17
The student news site of Richardson High School

The Talon

The student news site of Richardson High School

The Talon

Culinary Magnet Caters for 100 Guests from Omni Hotel

Laiba Shehzad February 2, 2024

When junior Kendall Kahn walked into the kitchen, she was told by her classmates that they were short on desserts for their biggest catering event in the Culinary Magnet. Scrambling from oven to oven,...

Debate captain Damian Knowles, gives a pep talk to the debate team during the Jasper competition.  
"Being the congressional debate captain especially since it is a newer form of debate in our school has been going pretty well," Knowles said. "We started off with not many novices but we have grown since with more people being interested in competition." 
After decade-long debate coach, Laura Dearth, leaves her position, the debate captains step up in leadership responsibilities. Photo credit: Jesus Serrano

Debate Captains Step Up After Former Debate Coach Leaves

Jana Pulak December 9, 2023

As debate captain Damian Knowles crouched down to listen to a debate student's concerns about their case, more hands shot up all over the room. Soon, Knowles found himself scurrying across the room from...

After Their Best UIL Performance in Program History, Band Placed First in U.S. Bands Southwestern Championship at AT&M Stadium

Jana Pulak November 20, 2023

As the PA announcement reverberated throughout the stadium, senior trumpet player Joseph Lugo hung his arm around his friend's shoulder, nervously anticipating the results. When the announcement was made...

RHS Implements New Vape Policy After TEA Revisions

Laiba Shehzad and Jaqueline Gomez-Lopez October 30, 2023

Due to the increasing use of vape products on school property, the Texas Education Agency created a revised anti-vaping policy to be implemented in all public schools in Texas. The policy change states...

On a bright autumn day, Melia Barker and Brooklyn Petersen shot pictures of a prop house at the Dallas Arboretum, practicing photography in full sun, which was a departure from the studio work they normally do in the classroom.
“I definitely like trying new things outside that helps learning more, and I definitely did enjoy it this time,” Petersen said. Photo credit: Jesus Serrano

Photography Magnet Students Traveled to Dallas Arboretum After COVID-19 Prevented Their Trip Last Year

Jesus Serrano October 26, 2023

On a bright autumn day, Melia Barker and Brooklyn Petersen shot pictures of a prop house at the Dallas Arboretum, practicing photography in full sun, which was a departure from the studio work they normally...

Nishat Tasneem texts her mom during class to let her know that she will be staying after school for a club meeting. 
"The phone policy prevents me from whenever I need to text my parents about something important", Tasneem said. 
The updated phone policy is stricter with their rules and consequences in order to create a suitable classroom space. Photo credit: Laiba Shehzad

RISD Makes Phone Policy More Strict

Laiba Shehzad September 27, 2023

RISD is enforcing an updated phone policy this year in which the consequences of students being on their phones during instructional time are more strict. "The phone policy is that during instructional...

New GPA Policy Finalizes Grades One Semester Earlier

Jana Pulak September 23, 2023

Last spring, the RISD Board of Trustees adopted changes regarding the timeline of the GPA calculations for graduation of the 2023-2024 school year. "The GPAs calculated at the end of the first semester...

Despite all the work the sacrifices each team members made for AcDec, Schaefers said that their hard work as paid off when they placed second.

“I feel so proud of not only my team but myself,” Schaefers said. ”I feel like I have improved and that it has really prepared me for college when I graduate next year.”

Academic Decathlon Places Second State Wide for First Time in History

Jana Pulak March 11, 2023

Sitting on the edge of their seats, tensions started to rise as the announcer counted down from the top ten teams. After reaching the top three schools, Jackie Foley almost accepted defeat as the schools...

Photography Magnet Students Go on Field Trip to Zoo

Savannah Armitage January 25, 2023

Eying the massive hippo in front of her, senior Emily Ryan concentrated on getting every wrinkle in focus before snapping a photo as part of an assignment with the photo magnet at the Fort Worth Zoo. “It...

The Halloween project came back for its second year while students were asked to design a functioning, "spooky-themed" machine that could run purely mechanically. "They [the projects in this class] are fun, and interactive, and then informative," said Abubakar Bakatunde, a tenth grader in the class.

Robotics Magnet Students Make Mechanical Toys with Halloween Theme

Ella Davis January 17, 2023

Plastic pumpkins flew across the robotics computer lab as 4th period magnet students operated a 3D-printed pumpkin catapult.The Halloween project came back for its second year while students were asked...

JROTC Competes In Different Events At Allen Raider Meet To Showcase Skills

Savannah Armitage November 11, 2022

His breakfast churning in his stomach, junior German Martinez struggles to carry senior Lucas Flores across a field in a fireman’s carry. “I was about to give up,” Martinez said. “I was about...

The Back to School Picnic was the First In-Person Event Since the Pandemic Began

November 1, 2022

As cheer sponsor Jeff Bivins’ voice echoed through the football field speakers, the sidelines were filled with hugs and laughter as the school was reunited for the first time since the COVID outbreak.Students,...

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