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Covering the Bronco Nation.

The Rider Online | Legacy HS Student Media

Covering the Bronco Nation.

The Rider Online | Legacy HS Student Media

Covering the Bronco Nation.

The Rider Online | Legacy HS Student Media

Alanna Zaskoda

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief

Aloha. My name is Alanna Maria Zaskoda, but if you can’t pronounce that you can give me a nickname. I am an avid Harry Potter fan and fashion fanatic. My horse is my life and I’ll be your best friend. So shoot me an email or a tweet or a text and get to know me. That is all.

All content by Alanna Zaskoda
Think Healthy

Think Healthy

Alanna Zaskoda
September 19, 2016

For some, the process of trying to lose weight or get fit can be a daily struggle. We live in a country that has a huge advertising industry that advertises unhealthy food as harmless with neon signs at every fast food joint and decorative wrappers. Because of this, Americans must  go out of their way...

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Emmi sings the track "Sleep On It", which has a perfect beat for dancing or working out.

Review: Songs That Will Make Your Life More Awesome

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor-In-Chief
November 6, 2015

Taylor Swift, the most worshipped pop star of the century, dropped a list of “Songs That Will Make Your Life More Awesome.” So here lies my take on T-Swizzle’s playlist. “No Words” by Erik Hassle  When I listened to this song the first time, I couldn’t really place my opinion of it,...

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Coach David Geer (right) poses for a photo at a Dallas Maverick basketball camp.

Traumatic Injury Unites Community, Faculty

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
September 28, 2015

Coach David Geer gets out of bed in the morning and heads to the kitchen to do his daily devotional. “I can bring beauty out of the ashes of lost dreams,” it reads. “I can glean Joy out of sorrow, Peace out of adversity.” He makes breakfast for himself and his wife, Valerie, makes them both...

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Alanna Zaskoda, 12, talks about The Belmont Stakes and the significance of a Triple Crown victory.

Taking it in Stride

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
September 7, 2015

Texas obsesses about football in the same way that New York obsesses about baseball. Sure, I get excited when the Rangers are in the post-season and yeah, it would be cool to watch the Cowboys in the Super Bowl. But my house isn't a big sports-loving house. I've owned a horse ever since I was a little...

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Legacy Legend on March 25 will showcase Legacy's top singing talent.

Solo Artists Show Off Their Legacy

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
March 23, 2015

Legacy Legends, an annual “American Idol” based singing competition will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24 in the Performing Arts Center. The competitors will sing and then the audience will put money towards their favorite performance as a vote. The competition uses the funds to collect...

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Bus driver, Dickie Green, prepares to board the bus for his afternoon schedule.

A Day In the Life: Driving For A Cause

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
February 12, 2015

The first flashing, red and yellow lights bit through the dense fog at 5:07 a.m., shortly followed by the waking of a diesel engine. An hour later, bus driver Dickie Green and his helper Becky make their way down the aisles of busses to number 176. They proceed down their checklist, making sure the...

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New policy requires exempt students to remain in classrooms during exams.

[Photo] New Exemption Policy Ordered to Enforce Safety

Kyle Manning, Staff Writer
January 12, 2015

New policy requires exempt students to remain in classrooms during exams.

Ramen Eating Contest

Ramen Eating Contest

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
November 19, 2014

“Ramen Eating Contest” read the ominous, faded-yellow signs hanging in the hallways. At only one dollar per entry, sophomore Brittany Candia and the rest of the anime club expect a sizeable turnout. “It should be a good amount of people,” Candia said. “The contest should be interesting.” The...

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Yay: Cowboys are Winning

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
October 21, 2014

After several seasons of mediocre football, the Dallas Cowboys have (for now) stepped up to the competition and decided to finally win some games. The team has now acquired more *cough* bandwagon *cough* fans because of there sudden will to win. Hopefully, saying this as eagerly as possible, this years...

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After 34 years of teaching, Edward Barry retires.

Coach Retires After 34 Years of Teaching

Alanna Zaskoda, Staff Writer
May 27, 2014

After 34 years, beloved coach and history teacher Edward Barry has made the decision to retire from teaching. He has been with Legacy since its opening and will be missed both students and staff. After the school year ends, Barry plans on earning a license in Real Estate Investment and coaching a little...

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Another Semester, Another Exam Schedule

Another Semester, Another Exam Schedule

Alanna Zaskoda, Staff Writer
February 19, 2014

District administrators issued a new exam schedule for the fall and spring semesters, but the change didn’t appear any better. The schedule was extremely confusing, consisting of regularly scheduled blocks, half classes and half exams. Students even had to return to classes they already took their...

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A District-Wide Contribution: MISD collects 19,000 Toys

Alanna Zaskoda, Staff Writer
December 16, 2013

Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel, Krismasi Njema. No matter what language, it all means the same thing: Merry Christmas. Like the hundreds of ways to say it, Christmas is celebrated hundreds of different ways all around the world. Some people light their houses as if they’re the Griswold’s in Christmas...

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Mansfield Throughout The Years

Mansfield Throughout The Years

Alanna Zaskoda, Staff Writer
October 25, 2013

Founding the City The early Mansfield community started as a bustling, small town, built around a mill in the midst of the Civil War with a population of less than four hundred people. The area, known as the Gibson Community at the time, originally served as a food source for the Army of the Confederate...

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A still from Extra Gum's commercial, titled The Story of Sarah & Juan, which features a song sung by Haley Reinhart.

6 Stumbled-Upon Songs

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor in Chief
April 11, 2016

Songs from commercials can be wonderful finds for so many reasons. For starters, they always have an uplifting rhythm. Any creative or sound director at an advertising firm who wants to sell something won’t pick a sad tune to advertise it. Secondly, they all harbor a catchy tune. A commercial demands...

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The final chapter of the "Hunger Games" series premiered Nov. 20.

Review: Mockingjay Part 2

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
November 20, 2015

The end of an epic; the final film installment of the Hunger Games series certainly deserves that title. The film was everything that a grand finale should be: action, suspense, romance, special effects, you name it. In the initial Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) started off as...

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“Talking Pictures” Finishes Strong

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
November 4, 2015

The lights began to dim and the music kicked in from behind the set, as Katie Bell (Kelcey Mckinley) and Vesta (Catie Williams) fumbled through the dark to find their places on the couch. When the stage lit up again, the two were seated on an antique couch centered in the set built to mimic an old,...

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Abby Hogue, 12,  works on homework during class.

New Class Schedule Debated by School Board

Ben Townsend and Alanna Zaskoda
May 11, 2015

A new schedule may soon be on the agenda of Mansfield ISD school board meetings. A hybrid A/B block schedule has been proposed as a way to increase student productivity and reduce homework load. Junior Amelia Jackson has a full load of classes, many of those being AP and doesn’t want to sit in one...

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Chad Watkins, 12, prepares to hit during the baseball game.

Varsity Baseball Sets High Expectations For Upcoming Season

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor-In-Chief
March 19, 2015

Sophomore Grant Moore walked onto the field for the first day of baseball tryouts; slightly nervous, but confident. He later learned he had earned his spot as a catcher on the varsity team. “Im excited about getting to know everyone this year,” Moore said. “And winning games.” Moore is not...

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Alanna Zaskoda, 12, talks about The Belmont Stakes and the significance of a Triple Crown victory.

Friendship: Expectations vs Reality

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor-In-Chief
January 29, 2015

Ever since I was little, I grew up watching movies, just like everyone else. Inevitably, movies create false expectations and tend to raise hopes in every aspect, especially for a kid. Hollywood exaggerates the concepts of heroism, love, happiness and even friendship. Every movie I watched talks about...

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MISD's Toy for Tots event is scheduled for Dec. 10.

Toys for Tots Event Collects Gifts for Needy

Alanna Zaskoda and Bailey Reynolds
December 5, 2014

Toys collected by the Toys for Tots drive will be brought to the The Center on Wednesday, Dec. 10 during the annual event at 5:30-10:00 p.m. where all the clubs and activity groups from the Mansfield ISD schools set up booths and stands. Toys for Tots, a foundation organized to help less-fortunate...

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Nay: Drivers in the School Zone

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
October 21, 2014

Despite the many signs and distracting blinking lights, many drivers neglect the warnings and drive like Jeff Gordon in the parking lot. This is extremely concerning because of the fact that (not everyone knows this:) "drumroll please" there are student that cross the streets in the parking lot. Yet,...

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Yay: Gas Prices

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
October 21, 2014

After a year of outrageous gas prices, the industry has come to its' senses and dropped the price-per-gallon below three dollars. So stock up now, and don't take it for granted. It won't last forever.

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Runaway Bronco

Runaway Bronco

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor-in-Chief
August 29, 2014

Cheer coaches will be holding tryouts shortly for a new mascot, “Bucky the Bronco”. Over the summer, the previous mascot moved out of district, taking the Bucky costume with her. Though the costume will be returned, coaches need a student to fill Bucky’s shoes (or hooves). Normally, coaches...

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Students Face Laziness in America

Students Face Laziness in America

Alanna Zaskoda, Staff Writer
April 11, 2014

According to research at the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, by 2030 more than 42 percent of Americans are predicted to be overweight. With the rate of obesity skyrocketing, some researchers attribute the weight gain to laziness. With new technology, everyday necessities are more...

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Used with permission of mansfieldisd.org.

MISD to Rezone School Districts

Alanna Zaskoda, Staff Writer
February 10, 2014

In effort to keep the populations evenly distributed among the schools in the district, the school board will put together a committee to decide on a new boundary map. The committee’s first meeting will take place on Monday, February 24. MISD’s demographer noted that Lakeridge is projected to...

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Roaches Denied Meals In Legacy Halls

Roaches Denied Meals In Legacy Halls

Alanna Zaskoda, Staff Writer
December 16, 2013

Everyone seems to be up in arms about the new food policy (launched into action after concern about roaches). Don’t get me wrong, I’m not overjoyed either because I consume about as much as your average household vacuum cleaner. However, I don’t understand why we can’t live in harmony with the...

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Mrs. McDonald joins Legacy staff as Spanish teacher

New Teachers Arrive at Legacy

Alanna Zaskoda, Staff Writer
October 2, 2013

At the start of the year, people saw hundreds of unfamiliar faces in the hallways, 14 of them belonging to teachers. During the summer, around 20 teachers either retired from their teaching positions or transferred to different schools. As for the new teachers, the majority moved from neighboring districts,...

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Alanna Zaskoda, 12, skydives for the first time.

Review: Dallas Skydive Center

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor in Chief
March 4, 2016

As our car turned onto the cracking gravel drive in Caddo Mills, my stomach twisted in excitement. Coming around the corner, all I could see was a small metal building and an extensive field, decorated only by a few plastic chairs and two small prop planes. There were six of us standing by the check-in...

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Silver Spurs members perform a holiday tune.

Silver Spurs Spread Christmas Cheer at Elementary Schools

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor-in-Chief
December 25, 2015

The Silver Spurs clamber off the bus at one of the many elementary schools they would be visiting that day, to spread some holiday cheer by dancing. The girls all sport festive holiday dresses, carrying presents and hot chocolate props. Children shuffle excitedly into the colorful gym at Mary Jo Sheppard,...

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Alanna Zaskoda and Ashley Richardson share their thoughts on football.

How We Feel About Football

Ashley Richardson and Alanna Zaskoda
September 25, 2015

Ashley Richardson  Although fanatics might find it hard to believe, including me, football always will be a favorite sport in Texas. Football manages to cause many differences among individuals. With the football season kicking off, us ‘non-football fans’ have a hectic run ahead of us. Now,...

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What's Changed

What’s Changed

Alanna Zaskoda and Ben Townsend
September 11, 2015

Several things have changed since the shocking and disastrous attack on the World Trade Center 13 years ago. Some changes are obvious while some the average civilian wouldn’t notice. Airports: Airports throughout the United States made some major changes following 9/11. The Transportation Security...

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Good Friday, April 3, added as a regular school day to calendar.

Inclement Weather Make-Up

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
March 27, 2015

Recent inclement weather caused additional make-up days to be added to the school calendar. In an effort to gain input from parents, teachers and students, people voted so that the selected days would be approved by the majority. “The goal was to get everyone’s opinion,” Principal, Dr. Shelly...

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Dr. Butler working at her desk.

Dr. Butler Answers Questions From Community

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor in Chief
February 20, 2015

Legacy Principal Dr. Shelly Butler answered questions through a live chat hosted by TheRiderOnline on Feb. 12. A transcript of the questions as well as her answers are listed below. Comment From: Why does Legacy have a sucky administration? why is most of the staff rude and judgmental to students...

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"American Sniper" is up for Best Picture in the 87th Academy Awards. Kyle Gallner, left, as Goat-Winston and Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Village Roadshow Pictures' drama "American Sniper." (Photo courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/TNS)

American Sniper: Review

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
January 20, 2015

Another phenomenally directed movie by Clint Eastwood; American Sniper will have you crying, cheering and hanging on the edge of your seat, with an ending that will make you swell with pride for America. The movie begins with Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), a Texas native who grew up hunting with his...

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Nay: Rude Notes On Your Car

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
October 21, 2014

Public Service Announcement: the parking spot does not have anybody's name on it. It is open parking, so if you are married to your parking spot, get to school earlier. Leaving rude notes on a car that's in your spot won't accomplish anything, because chances are they will park there again the next day.

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Nay: School WiFi

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
October 21, 2014

After days of trying and trying it has been determined that the quality of WiFi in the school is declining. Hopes are high that it will return to normal. For now, however, it would be best to use a smartphone to create a personal hotspot.

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Yay: Pink Out Game

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor In Chief
October 21, 2014

The Pink-Out football game is scheduled for Oct. 24. What a wonderful excuse to go all-out and push back the borders of the dress code rules. So grab a tutu, some hair spray, a Pink Out shirt and get to work.

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100 Happy Days  photography challenge.

100 Happy Days

Alanna Zaskoda, Editor-in-Chief
August 29, 2014

Sulking at home and complaining about a bad day seems to be much more common than racing home to brag about a good one. Bad situations seem to have much more power over the outcome of your day than good situations. That’s the purpose of 100 Happy Days. What is it? 100 Happy Days started as a...

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Toddlers and Technology

Toddlers and Technology

Alanna Zaskoda, Staff Writer
February 24, 2014

For most high school students, the struggle to acquire a cellular phone as a child was very real. Fifth grade was around the time that most children were considered “of age” to own a phone, and even then phones looked like rectangular prisms weighing close to 450 pounds. Evidently things have...

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Legacy Listens: Music Reviews

Legacy Listens: Music Reviews

Alanna Zaskoda, Staff Writer
February 6, 2014

Whether it’s coming from headphones in the school halls or speakers in a truck, everyone loves music. But there’s always that favorite song, the one that’s better than all the others, the song that can flip your mood around in a matter of seconds. These five tracks are just that for Legacy students. “I...

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OPINION: Letter Jackets Deserve Funding

OPINION: Letter Jackets Deserve Funding

Alanna Zaskoda, Staff Writer
November 4, 2013

In the past, organizations were very selective about who received their prestigious letterman jackets, but not so much anymore. Students in clubs anywhere from Academic Decathlon to Home Economics may buy a jacket because MISD no longer purchases them. Previously, students received the jackets as rewards...

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Policy on Food in Class

Policy on Food in Class

Maria Castillo and Alanna Zaskoda
September 9, 2013

Administration has increased enforcement of the policies relating to food and drinks in the academic wings of the school. In order to preserve the campus, students are no longer allowed to eat and drink in the halls. Those caught with food or beverages in these halls must throw it away. "This is a...

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