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The line of sandals have a repetitive effect.

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Students playing soccer in gym.

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The golden lamp with small reflections.

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Most parents have a tendency to introduce their children to a hobby such as playing an instrument, drawing, or their own favorite pastime in hopes that their children will learnto appreciate and hold a passion for the arts. Deepti Yogananda’s mom, Sunita, is the founder of Kalakshiti—a dance company she established in 2003. This is a dance program that uses the classical Indian dance form called Bharatanatyam. Naturally, she wanted Deepti to become a part with the program.

Deepti Yogananda aspires to become a dancer. Her mother teaches dance through Skype and now is offering studio classes.

At four Deepti already had a fascination for Bharatanatyam dancing and asked her mom if she could learn to dance too. Six years later Deepti performed in Indiana before moving to Texas. Deepti’s first recital was at age seven.

Moving to Texas didn’t stop Deepti from keeping up her dance routines and refining the movements.

“It helps me relax when I get home from a stressful day of school and at the same time I get to learn about my culture,” she said.

Bharatanatyam dancing consists of gestures and rhythmic steps, facial expressions, posture and motion which are all essential to narrate the myths and stories of the Hindu pantheon of Gods and Goddesses.

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Mrs. Matusek graduated from UT and for 18 years taught in Catholic schools.  She loved how the students developed spiritually and kids showed respect  toward each other and teachers. Matusek found that those in parochial school were not able to meet the needs of all children-especially those who needed extra help. She developed relationships with those students who didn’t always “get it” the first time a concept was taught. Those kids felt comfortable under her guidance and went to her for assistance.

Mrs. Matusek teaches the Focus Program which is a campus behavior management system designed to empower students to take responsibility for their own behaviors. Students receive instruction in general education and special education classes. The system is designed to address each student’s presenting problems, assist the student in becoming more compliant, and work with the student to devise a plan, debrief behaviors and return the student to the classroom to implement the plan.  The plan provides an opportunity for students to practice appropriate behaviors in the classroom.

Mrs. Matusek left the private school culture and went public like a stock.
She has taught at every K – 8 grade level and all subjects except for science at public schools in Austin

“I was afraid to teach in the public schools because I felt the students and teachers would not be the same spiritually,” said Mrs. Matusek. She had seen a new light here at our school because some of our students are kinder and more giving than some she had in a private school. She has been a teacher here for three years!

”I love Cedar Valley so much that I’m not going to leave here until they push
me out in a wheelchair!” Mrs. Matusek proudly stated as she accepted her title of teacher of the year.

Helping the special needs students is a vocation and not a job to Matusek. She knows it it her calling to work with kids who have to work hard to earn good grades and often struggle with the basics. ”Teaching is not a job, it’s a vocation,” said Matusek.

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Hello,

I'm Annie. I have been a staff writer for the Pawprint for about half a year now.

Since I was young, I always had a passion for writing and loved to write about fiction. Magic, mythical creatures, legends, you name it. Ever since I joined journalism, writing for the Pawprint has taken my writing ability to another level and dimension. I admired that aspect of journalism that it helps me become a better non-fiction writer.

Reading and singing are my main hobbies that I love to do when I'm not writing.
You'll usually find me reading fantasy/action novel or occasionally mystery. My favorite book series are Series of Unfortunate Events, Mortal Instruments, and Maximum Ride. On Youtube, Clara C is my favorite artist!

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Deepti Yogananda and Natalie Malluru won 1st place in the talent show. Both are new students to Cedar Valley and soon became acquainted after discovering their shared passion, dancing. They wore colorful churidars (Indian dresses worn with pants) while performing a Bollywood dance, alternated by Deepti's mother to add a more unique edge to the dance routine. They practiced at each other’s houses for hours after school and on the weekends to perfect their dancing.

“I had a great time performing this dance with Natalie.” Deepti said with a smile. “I would have regretted it if I said no to Natalie’s offer.” She said that the start of their achievement began when Natalie asked Deepti if she wanted to dance with her for the talent show and then it all led up to the day of the show. Even through thick layers of anxiety, it all vanished when Deepti began to dance. Years of having a strong passion for dancing paid off as the performance was one of the best moments of her life.

“It was my first year trying out for a talent show and I would definitely try out again in highschool!” she said enthusiastically.