Graduation - June 15, 2:30 pm @ HSU Safe & Sober - June 15, 9 pm - 2:30 am 1st Day of School - August 27 Labor Day - September 3 Hey Seniors! Are you going to miss The Pepperbox next year while you are out continuing your adventures at college? Consider a year-length subscription to The Pepperbox: we will send it to your dorm! Please email ahs.pepperbox@gmail.com if interested.
Editors Web Team
Kim-Thu Pham, Online Editor Kristyn Payne, Online Director
In the Box
Blanket A Awards �������������������������������������������������3 Farewell Ms. Wood �����������������������������������������������4 New Assisstant Principal �������������������������������������5 Valedictorian/Salutatorian �����������������������������������6 Rosebrook CA State Award ���������������������������������7 AHS Statistics �������������������������������������������������������8 Potty Passes ���������������������������������������������������������9 CR �������������������������������������������������������������������������10 Senior Signings ���������������������������������������������������11 Senior Map ������������������������������������������������������12-13 Rejection �������������������������������������������������������������14 Gap Year ����������������������������������������������������������14-15 Buscher Sneaks Out ���������������������������������������������2 Pepperbox Headlines �������������������������������������������3 Procrastination Olympics �������������������������������������3 Kid Killed by Bus ���������������������������������������������������4 Witzel Signs with WNBA ���������������������������������������4 THRIVE Changed My Life �������������������������������������5 Editor Wants Pics of Spidy �����������������������������������5 Sasquatch Hipsters �����������������������������������������������6 Bathroom Art Hung in Louvre �����������������������������7 Bars on Windows �������������������������������������������������8 Mr. Johnson “T”s Too Hard ���������������������������������8 Surviving Freshman Year �������������������������������������9
Box Briefs
Toby Shao, Editor-in-Chief Nadia Al-Yagout, Managing Editor Colin Swenson, Art Director Hannah Luu, Photo Manager Kimber Peterson, Graphics Editor
Forrest Lewis, News Editor Elaine Cunha, Sports Editor Felicia Watson, Feature Editor Francis Zierer, Opinion Editor Sarah Fraga, A&E Editor
Reporters Nirvana Begovic Taylor Bennion Kasey Cather Annie Ewald Shea Hamilton Lily Hebert Will Kauffman Billy Miller
Petey Levesque Victoria Moroni Michael Scofield Kaylee Steiner-Olson Brian Then Zoe Tinseth Carter Wright Felix Hackett
Special thanks to our wonderful advisor, DANIELLE LEHMAN, who dedicated countless hours after school and on weekends to help us make The Pepperbox.
The Pepperbox would like to thank Western Web, based in Samoa, for printing atcost. Western Web supports student journalism throughout Humboldt County and has made publications like the Pepperbox possible for decades. We appreciate their dedication to keeping print media alive!
friday, june 15, 2012
NEWS
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Shao and Al-Yagout win AHS “Blanket A” Awards Forrest Lewis News Editor
Seniors Toby Shao and Nadia Al-Yagout have much in common: they are both editors of The Pepperbox, graduates of Sunnybrae Middle School, and, as of Thursday, May 31, recipients of the Arcata High School Blanket A Award. A panel composed of senior class advisors Kelly Fernandes and Jennifer Berube, two anonymous students, Principal Dave Navarre, and Assistant Principal Geri Wood chose Shao and Al-Yagout to represent the most dedicated, influential, and active students of the class of 2012. The selection process began with teachers nominating students who they believed deserved to be recognized as being among the top 10 percent of their graduating class based on a select set of criteria assessing what they have done for Arcata High School over the past four years. The selected students were then asked to submit a short resume and personal statement. Seventeen students, including Shao and Al-Yagout, completed this task. The panel then split this group in two, deciding on nine students who they believed especially went above and beyond with their efforts. These select few were honored with the Tiger A Award while the others were granted the Circle A Award. The panel then narrowed it down to four students who they truly believed had a defi-
nite chance at winning the Blanket A Award and scheduled interviews. Among those chosen were Shao and Al-Yagout. After a rigorous interview process, the panel voted in favor of Shao and Al-Yagout to make up this year’s Blanket A winners. The panel has a history of having to make difficult decisions. “Having sat on the selection committee before,” explained counselor Kathi Oleson, “it is always a hard decision because Arcata High has really involved students.” However, Oleson agrees with the panel’s recent decision. “This year’s recipients seem to personify all the qualities that the blanket award stands for,” Oleson said. This year’s award winners stood out in one peculiar fact: both Shao and Al-Yagout spent their sophomore years of high school a long ways from home. Shao studied abroad at Peking High School in Beijing, China, while Al-Yagout spent a year at Whittier High School in Southern California. During their interviews, it was clear that spending a year at a different high school and then returning only made them treasure AHS even more. Leadership teacher Wendy Walsh explained this phenomenon: “I found it very interesting that they both went to school outside Arcata High for a year and could look back and make comparisons. It gave them unique insight.” Shao and Al-Yagout are extremely
well-rounded students. Besides being editors of The Pepperbox (Shao: editor-in-chief, Al-Yagout: managing editor/business manager), both students are dedicated to their school in innumerable ways. Shao is a renaissance man – talented in both arts and sciences. He sings tenor for the Madrigal Choir and is also a devout AP scholar, taking and mastering multiple college-level classes, which have earned him an outstanding GPA that places him 3rd in his class. Shao also is quite the athlete: he is a three-year varsity runner for both cross country and track and field and was a member of the wrestling team this winter. Last year, Shao was President of the German Honor Society. “Toby is great,” explained German teacher Mrs. Bareilles. “He’s fluent in English, Chinese, and soon to be German. He is extremely motivated in his stud-
ies and voluntarily decided to take the AP German exam this year after independent studying the entire course in the back of my German 2 class.” Nadia is the senior class president and a member of the leadership class where she recently planned an extremely successful senior prom. Her two senior advisors speak very highly of her. “She’s always positive and willing to complete the work. For every single seniors activity from homecoming floats to picnic to prom to brunch she has been 100% involved,” advisor Jennifer Berube said. Kelly Fernandes agreed: “Es incredible! I’ve enjoyed working with Nadia; she’s an inspiring, young woman. She has a lot going on and I’m impressed by how she’s been able to manage her school and personal lives.”
Blanket A Winners: Nadia Al-Yagout and Toby Shao Tiger A Winners: Nadia Al-Yagout, Ryley Burton-Tauzer, Erin McNulty, Lia Nelson, Matthew Nelson, Toby Shao, Shoshana Lescht-Smith, Wayne Zhong, Toby Shao, and Felicia Watson. Circle A Winners: Mahayla Camp, Frankie Christen, Felix Hackett, Treyce Meredith, Jenni Phillips, Faviana Fuentes Schectman, Rebecca Smith, Shoshana Lescht-Smith, Emilie Uemera.
Hannah Luu/PEPPERBOX
The 2012 Blanket A Award winners: Toby Shao and Nadia Al-Yagout
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friday, june 15, 2012
NEWS
Farewell, Assistant Principal Geri Wood!
Elaine Cunha Sports Editor
Geri Wood scrapes her plastic spoon against the edge of a Yoplait Light blueberry yogurt container while simultaneously answering one of the many phone calls that filters through her office every day. She will not be occupying this room for much longer. After three years as assistant principal, Geri Wood is leaving Arcata High School. She’ll stay close, however. Come next fall, she will return to McKinleyville High as an academic counselor. “I’m looking forward to returning to my coworkers at McKinleyville and rekindling old friendships,” Wood said. During her three years at Arcata
Associated Student Body President Felicia Watson said. Her time commitment stems from a steadfast work ethic and ability to meet the demands of the job. As assistant principal, Wood has handled a very demanding work schedule that includes coming in almost every day during the summer vacation and every Sunday during the school year. “She has so many duties – an endless list of tasks, yet she fills in all the gaps… She does what needs to be done without prompting,” Principal Dave Navarre said. As the dean of students, Tahnia Campbell has worked closely with Wood on a daily basis. She summarized the assistant principal’s dedication as being “so much more than what is visible.”
“I would like to thank Mrs. Wood for many years of outstanding service to our high school. She has always been gracious, caring and thoughtful in the place of assistant principal, and she will be missed.” --AHS Principal Dave Navarre
High School, Wood has devoted much of her time to supporting the school and its extra-curricular events. From AAI showcases to FFA banquets, she has enjoyed watching students’ creativity and achievements. “I’ll really miss the community and all the things that go on here… I’ve been fascinated with what the students can do,” Wood said. Her dedication to the school has been noticed by students and fellow administrators alike: “It’s been really nice always having that familiar face at ASB and sporting events,”
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Despite the long hours, Wood thinks that “there’s really not anything to dislike about the job.” So why is she leaving the position? “I do enjoy being the assistant principal, and I really like the challenge of it, but the demands are draining, and I can only handle a couple of years at a time… I’m also getting married, and the counseling job will cut my work week from seventy hours to about fifty hours, so I’ll have more time to spend with my husband.” Wood leaves behind a consistency as a community liaison that “will be
Toby Shao/PEPPERBOX
AHS Assistant Principal Geri Wood in her office. hard to replace,” according to Na- faculty, because the more you know varre. about the people of Arcata High, the He added, “I would like to thank better you can serve it.” Looking Mrs. Wood for many years of out- around her office – which is filled standing service to our high school. with art, photos, school calendars She has always been gracious, car- and miscellaneous papers – one can ing and thoughtful in the place of deduce that Wood has served Arassistant principal, and she will be cata High very well. missed.” Wood’s work is not finished yet, though. Her parting act as assistant principal includes some final advice for the new VP: “Work to get to know the students and
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friday, june 15, 2012
NEWS
New Assistant Principal: Roger Macdonald Toby Shao Editor-In-Chief
After two interviews with the man lined up to take Mrs. Wood’s position next year, I almost wanted to take another year of high school (almost). Administrators have given a multitude reasons as to why this man was hired. But here’s what you non-seniors need to know: Macdonald is a passionate insider of public education, a caring family man, and an admirer of the Arcata community.
“Arcata High has great academics and great athletics...” --Roger Macdonald Future Assistant Principal
When I called him for an interview about his upcoming tenure at Arcata High School, I managed to get some essential information. Macdonald is currently the principal of O’ Hara Park Middle School, in Oakley, California, which is located deep in the Bay Area, about fifty miles inland from San Francisco. He will be moving his entire family to Arcata to start his term in office in the 2012-2013 school year. “I’m confident about the job. I’ve been a principal of a middle school for the last six years, and I’ve also had secondary administrative experience before,” Macdonald said. Macdonald’s job description essentially holds him accountable for overseeing that the school runs smoothly. Geri Wood wished Macdonald a successful tenure, and has recommended that anyone holding the job should stay involved and
up-to-date with the diverse range of school activities. “A big part of my job is also overseeing special education and making sure we are in compliance,” she said. Macdonald’s daughter has Down syndrome which, according to Navarre, gives the new administrator a “personal, emotional connection” to specialized programs on our campus. Another duty that the vice principal is responsible for is enforcing attendance. Macdonald holds that best way to prevent truancy is to become acquainted with the student body. “There are different kinds of truants. Some kids have family situations that are difficult - sometimes. They just need support. Then there’s the other type that calls in sick, and then I see them at Hey Juan’s,” Macdonald remarked. In my interview, I joked that current English teacher Iain Macdonald thought he was being promoted to assistant principal. The coincidence of their last names has been the subject of many friendly jokes in the offices of Arcata High School. “Actually, Mr. Macdonald [English teacher] was on my interview panel,” Macdonald said. “I found it amusing that he even spelled his name the same way I did. Very few people do that. I look forward to getting to know Mr. Macdonald,” he said, humorously mentioning a desire to learn more about the motherland. Macdonald is also deeply concerned with the issue of budget cuts in California. He states that as Californians, “we’ve been carrying the blunt of the budget cuts, and we need to put more pressure on Sacramento.” Macdonald has met with senators and congressmen locally outside of school to express his concerns. Macdonald finds Arcata High
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Photo Courtesy of Roger Macdonald
Arcata High’s new Assistant Principal in a Bay Area outing School’s great mix of educational opportunities to be especially attractive. “Arcata High is an awesome school with great academics and athletics. You’ve got the tough AP courses, the shop classes, and the school has a great program for kids with special needs.” Macdonald cited Arcata’s redwoodnestled location and a good family environment as the main motive for
seeking the assistant principal position at Arcata High. Macdonald’s wife was born and raised in Arcata, and he has lived in this community in the past. “This is a place where I can be close to my community. It seems like an awesome place to grow up.” Macdonald genuinely cares for the the community. “I’m all in,” he said.
“...You’ve got the tough AP courses, the shop classes, and the school has a great program for kids with special needs.”
friday, june 15, 2012
NEWS
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Meet the top two students of the senior class... Kristyn Payne Online Editor
Valedictorian: Kim-Thu Pham year’s principal in not the conventional ‘Hello, I am a student of this school’ way, but in a Pepperbox interview where she grilled him on the aspects of class scheduling and class cuts. As Pepperbox Website Editor, she shot the Pepperbox into the technological age, posting an electronic interactive copy of each issue this year on thepepperbox.com. Most of her articles, not surprisingly, are on state school budget cuts, the college process, and other extensive education pieces. Kim-Thu is not always school, school, school. You may have seen her screaming with the bass at the top of her lungs at the Bassnectar concert, on the shoulders of Fran-
cis Zierer. You can often hear the statement around campus: “Our Valedictorian is so chill.” Which is true, Kim-Thu is one of the chilliest of chillers, letting life happen as it does and going through obstacles with ease. When Jake Bensonmeyer, voted “Worst Driver” by his class for Senior Awards, got into a fender bender while driving Kim-Thu’s car, she handled the situation with grace. Casually dealing with a police officer and not chastising Jake. Kim-Thu will be attending UC Davis this fall, majoring in engineering and rooming with her best friend, Stacy Han.
healthy social life. You can find him around campus with his white Macbook laptop. He constantly works throughout the school day. When there’s idle time in class he works for another, not taking a break until break time is allotted. Though, he’s not always working. Wayne’s motto is “Live well, laugh often, and love much.” During his free time, you can find him glued to a mirror, practicing a dance moves by a Chinese pop band or maybe a computer monitor, playing computer games. When he isn’t partaking in dance or gaming, he’s in the kitchen, cooking, or hanging out with his friends. Three years ago, Wayne attended a seminar on regenerative medicine. He was captivated. At the end of the seminar, he spoke to the Hannah Luu/PEPPERBOX speaker who then directed
him to Dr. Amy Sprowles, a stem cell researcher at HSU. Since the he has taken part in projects ranging from stem cell culturing techniques to differential gene expressions of cancer genes. Though he is currently dabbling in some stem cell research involved with cancer, he wishes to become more involved in regenerative research during college. With all this impressive research, Wayne has also spent the time and taken the effort to earn the very best of grades, working hard and battling procrastination. When asked why he tried so hard to reach the top of the class he replied “It was really Royal Sweet, he was my inspiration, my encouragement.” Wayne will be attending UC Berkeley this fall, majoring in molecular biology .
Though Kim-Thu Pham was voted in this year’s Senior Awards as “Biggest Overachiever,” those that know her believe that she is much more. Kim-Thu Pham has a thirst for learning, going beyond not only in her grades, but in understanding the overall educational system. “I really just paid attention to my grades for getting into college,” said Pham. “It really wasn’t that important to me personally, like, I wasn’t passionate about it.” What Kim-Thu is really passionate for is the quality of education. During her junior year, an essay she wrote on education reform won her a scholarship from the California Faculty Association. She met this
Salutatorian: Wayne Zhong It doesn’t surprise anyone that Wayne is poised at the top of his class. Breezing through his multitude of AP classes with an air of confidence, while still balancing a
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Hannah Luu/PEPPERBOX
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friday, june 15, 2012
NEWS
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Rosebrook: 2012 California History Teacher of the Year Kristyn Payne Online Editor
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, HISTORY®, and Preserve America have recognized the outstanding work of Arcata High’s Jennifer Rosebrook by naming her the 2012 California History Teacher of the Year. Many people agree that Jennifer Rosebrook is one of the best history teachers they’ve had. Her high standards, rigorous work ethic, and quick-witted sense of humor leave a lasting impression on her students. “Rosebrook has a way of making an incredibly hard class, a funny and
entertaining experience, while still teaching us what we need to know,” said her former AP United States History student, Declan Cowan. To be considered for the award Mrs. Rosebrook has to enter a current resume/curriculum vitae, one letter of support, a statement of her philosophy on teaching and how it relates to her instruction of American history, a sample lesson, a sample extended student project, demonstrating the use of primary documents, artifacts, historic sites, oral histories, and other primary resources. A panel of teachers, administra-
tors, and academics from all across California chose her for her use of primary documents in the classroom, the level of inspiration that she provides to her students and her career achievements in education. “You know, it took a lot of work, and it felt good to be recognized for it,” said Mrs. Rosebrook. To celebrate, her husband took Mrs.Rosebrook out to dinner, along with a few close friends. Due to Mrs. Rosebrook’s achievement, Arcata High School will be named a Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School. As the 2012 California History
Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Rosebrook will receive a $1,000 award, a certificate of recognition, an archive of books and historical resources presented in her name to the Arcata High School library, and an invitation to attend a 2013 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar. She will be recognized at a ceremony later this year. She is also a finalist for the $10,000 National History Teacher of the Year Award, and the winner of this national competition will be announced in the early fall.
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friday, june 15, 2012
NEWS
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friday, june 15, 2012
OPINION
Potty passes: Dangerous and juvenile Felix Hackett Guest Reporter
We’ve all been there. You’re sitting at your desk, crossing your legs, glancing at the clock every few seconds. Nature calls, but you have been denied direct control of your own washroom habits. Chances are you’ve either used up all your “potty passes” or you want to save them for extra credit at the end of the semester. Either way, neither you nor the implementer of the “potty pass” system have any idea of the health risks you are being subjected to.
“I don’t think it’s a fair practice; many students desperately need the extra credit and must sit in class while suffering to get it.” -Junior Matthew Nicholson
All human beings (all animals in general, in fact) have patterns of urination. Based on the fluids you take in (juice with breakfast, coffee on the way to school, drinking fountain at lunch, etc.) as well as the frequency and time of your intake, you will experience urination around the same hours each day (8 am, 12 pm, 4 pm, etc., etc.). Unless you make a meaningful change to the factors stated above (fluids taken in, frequency, and time), your urinary pattern is unlikely to change. This personal pattern explains why, every day during a certain period (to the chagrin of your instructor), you need to take a trip to the restroom. Woe betide the student whose pattern intersects with a “potty pass” class! Besides the mounting pressure in his/her lower abdomen, by “holding it” instead of peeing freely this student is increasing their risk of several conditions and ailments. The risks of “holding it” include excruciating kidney stones (resulting from a build up of crystallized minerals in the kidneys), urinary tract infections (resulting from a build up of bacteria), and even incontinence (resulting from an over-expanded bladder and a loss of muscle tone). The risks posed by “holding it” are anything but laughable. Would you like to wear diapers at age thirtyfive because your teacher insisted on regulating and controlling that which naturally occurs from your body? Is twenty points extra credit more important than the knowledge that you can keep your pants dry? If your answer is yes, consider why your teacher would offer these points to you, thereby encouraging you to “hold it” and risk your health. Maybe it’s just me, but doesn’t the phrase “potty pass” itself strike you
as a tad insulting? Juvenile, even? Going “potty” is something we do when we are toddlers, after satisfactorily passing “potty training.” I am a young adult. I have a job. I have an ID. I do not go “potty.” I use “the re-
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safe, responsible, dignified method. Perhaps a sign-out sheet, or perhaps a system of simple oral notification. As a teacher, you are responsible for not only the academic preparedness of your charges, but addition-
Is twenty points extra credit more important than the knowledge that you can keep your pants dry? stroom,” because I am not an infant who cannot accurately regulate its own bodily functions. This is not to suggest that the “potty pass” implementing instructors of AHS change the name of their passes. I understand the appeal of alliteration because, again, I am a high school student. No, rather, this is an informed appeal to those instructors to abolish this system; to shred and recycle those passes, and to adopt a more
ally their health and safety during the period in which they are in your care. Do you want your students old before their time, living in a diaper like a crazy astronaut? Don’t put them in diapers. Do the right thing. The students are the future, and the future should not be populated by masses of man-babies unable to control their bladders. Please, I deplore you. Do the right thing.
Hannah Luu/PEPPERBOX
Mrs. Rosebrook displays her version of the controversial “potty pass.”
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friday, june 15, 2012
OPINION
Why I am going to College of the Redwoods next year Nirvana Begovic Reporter
“But don’t you want to move away? You’re so smart, why would you go to CR?” First off, I’ll let you in on a little secret; myself, and most high school seniors around the entire country would like to attend college. Your first thought is probably “Wow, that’s great.” I agree. It’s too bad that I can’t really afford college; but neither can most of these students and their families. According to “Finaid.org” tuition costs for all colleges and universities in the United States tends to increase on average about 18% per year. Ouch. There is only so much that Financial Aid can provide for us, and with tuition costs steadily rising, why not attend the least expensive community college in all of the United States? At $46.00 per unit, more than twice of what it was in 2002 at $11.00 per unit, CR is still considerably less than the prices of other colleges. For example, UC Santa Cruz has a rate of $483.00 per unit. Since all colleges and universities require you to complete general education before taking classes that are specialized towards completing your degree, a lot of students end up paying tuition for a full year, sometimes more, that basically provides them with math and English classes, and only a few of the classes that they actually want to take. I understand that these classes which are included in general education that are a requirement to achieve another degree are necessary because they lay the foundations of education. My question is: Should the foundations of education provide us with crippling debt when it is essentially the same material at whichever school you attend, “distinguished” or practically
unknown? I plan to transfer from College of the Redwoods to a university of my choice after I complete general education, and have saved up some of the necessary funds to pay my way through university so that I am not forced to beg for as many student loans. Instead of attending an expensive university and changing my major seven times in the first year (which also wastes money), I am also choosing to attend College of the Redwoods in order to provide myself with buffer time while I think intensely about which major I would like to strive for, because it could shape my entire life. I know of several freshman attending fancy universities who have changed their major at least twice this year, which results in a lot of wasted time and money. Of course, I have some bitterness towards my peers who are moving away to huge schools and living in dorms, and have their perfect lives all planned out and paid off for the next four years, the kids who don’t have to worry about their financial aid or what they’ll do after they get their masters in liberal arts while they get tanked on the weekends. I’d be crazy to not be jealous of the kids who don’t have to
brave the unknown. Regardless of these pangs of jealousy, I know that I am making the wiser decision. When I look at the situation as a whole, it makes sense to plan further ahead than my four year UC graduation date, rather than
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prolonging my regulated childhood. The decision to stay close to home and save money while I learn to be a grown up doesn’t sound all that bad to me, and besides-how boring would Humboldt County be if all the kids moved away?
friday, june 15, 2012
SPORTS
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Six sporty seniors sign
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Photo Courtesy of Darcy Robins Photo Courtesy of Kerry Mayer
Joseph Mayer, soccer player Holy Names University Oakland, California
Photo Courtesy of the Advance 2012
Aedan Stranahan, soccer player Spring Hill College Mobile, Alabama
Savanna Nickols, wrestler Simon Fraser University Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Photo Courtesy of Erin McNulty
Photo Courtesy of Brittney Bisgrove
Brittney Bisgrove, golfer Dixie State University St. George, Utah
Erin McNulty, swimmer University of Hawai’i Honolulu, Hawai’i Page designed by Elaine Cunha Sports Editor
Photo Courtesy of Tom Witzel
Tom Witzel, basketball player Humboldt State University Arcata, California
The Pepperbox Senior Map College of the Redwoods Conor Allison Nirvana Begovic Andrew Brundin Stephanie Calderon Edgar Camarillo Jaelen Carter Lorig Declan Cowan Wes Crandell Nicholle Dyer Felipa Garcia Silva Nicole Goodin Ashlee Gorge Kaylee Gorge Tommy Grubb Samantha Harmon
Taylor Hawkins Lillian Hebert Justin Heidrick Alexander Hermstad Javier Herrera Andrew Hill Whitney Horn Will Hunt Reid Kernen Casandra Kress Olivia Kuljian Nathan Light Cedar MartinKunkle Jazmen McGinnis
F & C Beauty School
Shasta CC
Jessica Johnson
Chico State University Joel Lindblom
Sonoma State University Ty Watkins
UC Davis
Kanna Anderson Zeke Edwards Stacy Han Kim-Thu Pham Jennifer Phillips Elena Vaccaro
Dustin Peterson Briana Row Yanet Salazar Michael Scofield Royal Sweet Elysa Weatherbee Thomas Witzel Carter Wright Amber Yates-Smith Michelle Young
Simon Fraser University
University of Puget Sound
Willamette University Western Oregon University
Crescent City
Lewis and Clark College LinnBenton Community College University of Oregon
Kalynn Cossolotto Sam Kauffman
Butte CC
Mendocino CC
Klamath Community College
Shasta Community College
Luis Bressoud Thomas Souza Kyle Vina
Tony Bazan Jesse Rovai
University of Nevada
Chico State University Butte Community College
Mendocino Community College
Dixie State University
Bryan College Carli McKenny
Sacramento State University Maggie Chen
Mills College Shea Hamilton Johanna Smith
West Valley CC Almendra PhelanCaceres
Cabrillo CC
Emily Eyer Ryder Erin Hagen Raya West Powers
Musicians Institute
Petey Levesque
Vanesa Carrillo Salas Cavanaugh Carter Zane Dunmire Eadie Eichelberger Archer Harmony Chelsea HuntzingerCarlson Rich Macey Nicholas Notthoff Eine Perez
Humboldt State University College of the Redwoods Frederick and Charles Beauty School
Matthew Nelson Emilie Uemura
Gregory Arena Ryley Burton Tauzer Toby Shao Felicia Watson Wayne Zhong
Mira Costa CC
Humboldt State University
Santa Rosa CC
UC Berkeley
Nakisso Peralta Peter Saladino
Siara Moon Britney Morais Sarah Murphy Kodi Patterson Christian Pimentel Ashlee Richmond Lupita Rivera Miranda Shapiro Sharron Smith Cory Sprague Jett Stebbins Winnie Stitt James Waibel Clayton Wilson
Gra
Aveda Beauty School Kelsey Thompson
San Francisco State
Santa Rosa Community College Sonoma State University UC Berkeley Aveda Beauty School San Francisco State University West Valley Community College
Mahayla Camp Camille Flint Sarah Fraga Maya Schubert Cody Wolfberg
Diablo Valley CC
UC Santa Cruz
Joseph Mayer
Nadia Al-Yagout Jack Brown Sonja Goetsch-Avila Kona Orlandi Juniper Rosen
Tyler Federico
UC Santa Cruz
UC Davis
Bryan College Sacramento State University
Diablo Valley Community College California College of the Arts Mills College Holy Names University
University of Puget Sound
California College of the Arts
Nicholas Daugherty Bella Schiros
Treyce Meredith
Holy Names University
Lewis and Clark College Francis Zierer
San Jose State University Galina Owens
UC Santa Barbara
Willamette
Marine Corps
Santa Barbara City College
CSU San Marcos Ashley Moore
University of Hawai’i
University of Hawai’i Erin McNulty
Aaron Bishop Kunz Annie Ewald Geoffrey Gambrell Matt Gulley UC San Diego Kambria Larson Andrei Khmelnitski Billy Miller Iliana Rubin McQuinn Rapheal Thompson Blair Winnacott
Hana Busse Hopkins
Cal Poly, SLO
Alex Chino Julian Gordon
Jesus Ontiveros
Savanna Nickols
Cabrillo Community College
James Lucchesi Lia Nelson Kristyn Payne UC Santa Barbara Shosh Smith Santa Barbara City College Joyful Zendran Kavanaugh
Cal Poly, SLO
Simon Fraser University
San Jose State University
Western Oregon Unive Frankie Christen
Linn-Benton CC Macy Fusi
University of Or Musicians Institute
Sadie Trush
Klamath CC Riley Gomes
University of Ne
Mira Costa Community College CSU San Marcos UC San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Megan Breyer
Dixie State Unive Brittney Bisgrove
aduating Class of
2012
Stockholm
Allerød
New York University in London
Berlin Mol
Bern
Mount Allison University
Ardéche
Genoa
Trieste
Marseille Rome
Omaha
Antioch College
Mount Allison University Felix Hackett
NYU in London Hannah Luu
Returning Home
Noemi Schonenberger - Bern, Switzerland Victoria Moroni - Bolivar, Argentina Manuela Orozco Martinez - Popayán, Colombia Andrea Conti - Rome, Italy
Fort Benning
Foreign Exchange
Zoe Tinseth - Allerød, Denmark Colin Swenson - Trieste, Italy Faviana Schectman - Mol, Belgium Kimber Peterson - Germany Alex Puzz - Sweden
Traveling Abroad
Jake Benson Meyer - India Zack McKelvie - India Ivy Moller - Ardéche, France Kaylee Savage-Wright - Genoa, Italy Ruby Landen - Marseille, France
Spring Hill College Tallahassee Community College Lackland Air Force Base
ersity
regon
C
evada
ersity
Honolulu
ARCATA New Delhi
Lackland Air Force Base Nathan Hemmingsen
Antioch College Rebecca Smith
Fort Benning Skylar Nemetz Kyle Tripp
Spring Hill College Aedan Stranahan
Tallahassee CC Grace Iverson
Employment
Nathan Brock - Arcata, California Kaleb Mann - Arcata, California Carlee Walton - Arcata, California Ryele Kupilik - Crescent City, California Margarita Pena - Omaha, Nebraska Anthony Chambers - Tacoma, Washington Alexa Boughton - Eureka, California Ashlee Primofiore - Arcata, California Will Kauffman - Arcata, California
Military Service
Popayán
Taylor Bennion - Army Ian Fusi - Marine Corps Bolivar
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friday, june 15, 2012
NEWS
College decisions, rejection, and lessons learned Kim-Thu Pham Online Editor
It was always Berkeley, Berkeley, Berkeley. I grew up two miles from Berkeley. My dad’s alma mater was UC Berkeley. We went to the campus every week; he’d tell me, “When you grow up, you’ll attend school here.” Nothing changed when we moved. At parent-teacher conference my mom would always interject, “My daughter wants to go to UC Berkeley when she graduates from high school.” Ten times a day I’d hear “Berkeley.” I didn’t search for many other college options, applying to a couple UCs and a couple private schools. I wanted to attend Berkeley, so I thought, or so everyone thought.
“Why even search for colleges? Just apply to Berkeley,” people said. I naively believed them. I worked hard in school, earning the best grades in my class; did my part for the community; and participated in sportsall for Berkeley. I was completely brainwashed. Imagine climbing a mountain when, suddenly, the ground and rocks crumble underneath your feet and you slip through the air. I climbed Mt. Berkeley and on March 29th it crumbled. “We regret to inform you that we cannot offer you admission at this time…” The rest of the letter was a huge blur. In fact, the entire month of April was a blur- a huge, swirling mass of fragmented memories. I can pull out specific moments
where I questioned my four years of all-nighters, AP workloads, and stress over standardized tests. Were my parents still proud of me? More importantly, was I still proud of myself? I looked at old report cards and the A’s seemed like ridiculous squiggles of ink. In retrospect, I had been setting myself up for disaster. “Mt. Berkeley” was, in reality, not a mountain but a fragile crutch I leaned on for years. It was the sole reason I worked tirelessly in high school when the sole reason should have been for myself. I felt like an idiot. I could take derivatives, write research papers, debate about government issues- but I couldn’t even realize that I was blindly stumbling towards a goal that could vanish before my eyes.
I can only be thankful that, after a month of useless wallowing in selfpity, I finally looked at the emotional wreckage left by college decisions and began piecing my esteem back together. I stepped back and finally accepted that high school and college were a small fraction of the life before me. The truth is that high school, college, jobs, people, time, and money will pass you by. Do not invest time to earn grades, names, admissions, or job titles. At the end of it all, those material acquisitions you worked so hard for (the grades, the resumes, the bank statements) mean nothing more than ink on paper. Instead, explore, discover, and invest time in what truly matters: yourself.
Zoe Tinseth
lege, drop year, or even an overseas experience, but they all mean the same thing. A gap year is a time period, anywhere from several weeks to a year or more, when students take a break from formal education, usually between high school graduation and college. Common gap year experiences consist of traveling, volunteering, studying, interning, working, performing research, or a combination of all. “A gap year is a really good option for some students who intend to go to college but are maybe not ready to go right away,” said Maryse Hile from Arcata High’s College and Career Center, “many students want to explore the country or world, challenge themselves in a different way, volunteer, or learn a language before they commit to attending college.” What you do on your gap year is solely limited by your creativity and imagination.
Why should you consider taking a gap year? Reporter
Colin Swenson is going on exchange through Rotary Youth Exchange to Italy .
The PB
I didn’t apply to college this year. Go ahead. Gasp, scream, judge. “What’s your plan for next year?” As a senior at Arcata High, I have heard that question from friends, family, and even strangers, over and over again. The answer they are expecting: college. People don’t realize that a student doesn’t have to go to college right after they graduate. I’m not a bad student. I plan to graduate high school with an A average and I personally know that college is in my future, just not next year. Not all students are focused enough, mature enough, or sure enough in what they want to do to commit to spending their next years at another school. The answer to those problems is a structured gap year. There are many ways to say gap year: Interim year, deferring col-
The PB
friday, june 15, 2012
NEWS
...look at the benefits of a year of structured exploration Almost thirty-five percent of college freshmen don’t return for their sophomore years and an even larger number of college students don’t decide on their major until their junior or senior years. Most students cross a gap year off of their lists, even if they aren’t ready for college, because they afraid of the stigmatism and disadvantages when re-applying for formal education. However, students that go on gap years apply for colleges before they leave. Many leading colleges and universities, notably Harvard University, are openly supportive of a gap year for admitted freshmen; they now allow accepted students to defer their entrance for one year because they recognize the benefits of gap years. Students enter college with more maturity, confidence, experience and better wisdom after taking a gap year. As mentioned before, students increasingly don’t declare their majors until late in their college education. A gap year helps you learn what they are really interested in studying upon return. A gap year can give
you a second chance to get into college as well. There are many students who don’t get into their top choice of college and rush to choose a college that they don’t actually want to go to. A gap year can also help you get a job. Many students come back from their gap year with various new things to put on their resume. A large amount of gap years consist of learning a new language and becoming bilingual as well as many volunteering experiences that your future employers could admire. After a gap year, your college application becomes more competitive. It’s filled with more volunteer experiences, more languages, extra classes, or more work experience; your options are basically endless. You can apply to college at any point. If you didn’t get into the college of your dreams; you always have another chance to do so. I personally knew I wanted to take a gap year since the beginning of my sophomore year. I wanted to work for half a year and then travel around South America with a friend. This seemed perfect to me, but after be-
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ing realistic and getting some information from the College and Career Center, I realized something that everyone should know when planning a gap year: do a lot of research and make sure your year is structured. At the start of senior year, I finally settled on Rotary Youth Exchange. Rotary chose me to spend the next year in Denmark. On my exchange, I will do a fifth year of high school while living in Denmark. It may sound horrible to deal with another year of high school after you’ve graduated, but it is actually a great way to learn the language, make new friends, and do new activities. I am still not sure today on which college I will attend in the future and that’s why I’m giving myself a year to really figure out what I want to do. And who knows? I may come back a completely different person. That’s the fun thing about a gap year: it is all about you, you figuring out what you want to do, on your own, and to some people that may sound like paradise.
Zoe Tinseth/PEPPERBOX
From top left to bottom right: Alex Puzz will be on AFS exchange in Sweden, Kimber Peterson will be on AFS exchange in Germany, Will Kauffman started his own business and is using his gap year to continue his work, Faviana Schetman will be on Rotary Youth Exchange in Beligum, Ruby Landen will be au pairing (nannying) for a french family in Marseille in South France.
friday, june 15, 2012
NOT-News
The PF
Feature Editor
Fiftee n
steps
1. Walk in the middle of the parking lot on your way to lunch. Seniors love to wait for freshmen to walk by as they try to leave for lunch. 2. Be Negative. Pessimism will get you far in life. 3. It is way better to go to lunch than join clubs. No club is worth wasting one lunch period out of four years of off campus lunch for a meeting.
r an yea freshm
to survive
Felicia Watson
page 9
4. Think you are cool. Chances are seniors will also think you are cool.
5. Walk as slow as you possibly can when you walk down the hall. Don’t worry nobody, is walking impatiently behind you. 6. When crossing the street, walk slowly in huge groups. Upperclassmen drivers love to wait for giant groups of underclassmen to cross the street. 7. Sit alone at lunch. Friends in high school only hurt you and end up stealing your boyfriend or girlfriend in the end. It is better to stick by yourself, and then nobody can hurt you. 8. Girls, it is high school. Of course you need to 9. Walk on the wrong side of the dress up every day and show up in full makeup. hallway. Seniors love to run into Sweats are unacceptable (except for Yoga Pants). freshmen as they try to walk to class.
10. Procrastinate. It is so much easier and more fun to spend 11. Don’t try to be time with friends or watching TV than doing homework. Then organized. It is way too you can skip school to finish an essay, it’s a win/win situation. difficult and a waste of time.
12. Make out with your boyfriend/girlfriend as much as possible and as long as possible at school. Everyone loves watching PDA at break and outside of every classroom.
13. Don’t Study. Ever. Studying is a waste of time, when it is much easier to simply cheat to pass a test.
14. Make the worst first impression you possibly can on your teachers. When all of your teachers hand you those syllabus papers to get signed, try to take as long as possible to bring it back. This is important because it gives you the chance to show your teachers early in the school year that you do what you want. 15. Go to every party possible, even if freshmen are specifically told not to come. This will show everyone that you like to have fun and can’t be told what to do. The host of the party will understand even if you break things and spill all over the ground.
friday, june 15, 2012
NOT-News
page 8
Measure Q funds used to install bars on windows
Shea Hamilton Reporter
Arcata High School is pleased to announce that the 2012 funding from Measure Q has been used to install bars on the windows of AHS. Putting bars on the windows would cost less than buying new computers and other technology, but will be just as beneficial to the students. Each window on campus will be fitted with state-of-the-art iron bars, replacing the outdated glass windows that have negatively impacted the quality of education of AHS students for years. The new bars on the windows are intended to improve student focus. The decision was prompted by studies on prison inmates, where long-time incarceration led to better work ethics, and to a loss of counter-productive things like day dreaming and emotional distractions such as happiness. “Once the students accept that they can’t escape [their classes], they’ll be able to apply more focus to learning,” Vice Principal Geri Wood said. Putting bars on the windows has been in the planning for years, but
this is the first year that the school has the money to pay for it. The school has even held trials on the windowless rooms of AHS campus. “We’ve been running focus groups in Room 500 twice-a-year for decades,” ABC said. Jennifer Berube added, “The results have all agreed: Frosh Health is the most studious and well-behaved class in the school.” The school does not have the funding to take the windows out of all of its classrooms, but putting bars on the windows is the closest alternative, aimed towards aiding students to stay on task. The bars have the dual intent of protecting students. In the instance of a lock-down, these bars would prevent attackers from entering classrooms via breaking glass in the windows. “I feel safer already, knowing that no one can get me when I’m in class,” AHS student Brian Then said. The bars will even improve time management. “I love it! Now we won’t have to stop class when there’s a lockdown on campus,” AHS teacher Danielle Lehman said.
Kimber Peterson/PEPPERBOX
The bars will also help protect students from their own recklessness. “We’ve had instances of students falling out of, or climbing out of classroom windows,” Dean of Students Tahnia Campbell said. “Student safety is our main priority, that’s a big reason behind these bars.” The new bars have faced some criticisms; especially vocal is the ‘High Schools are Prisons’ Guy, who is attempting to sue N.H.U.H.S.D.
for stealing his idea. “I’ve been out there all year promoting my book, No Democracy, No Love, now they’re putting bars on the windows, but I haven’t seen any compensation,” he said. Time will see if his claims hold up in court. The bars will be installed over summer vacation so that all incoming and returning students will have the most safe and studious experience next year at Arcata High School.
Johnson “T”s student too hard, hospitalized for hand injury Kim-Thu Pham Online Editor
Kimber Peterson/PEPPERBOX
“I’ll ‘T’ ya!” - Doug Johnson
History teacher Doug Johnson was rushed to the emergency last Thursday after reacting to a student’s derogatory comment about Notre Dame. Witnesses recall that Johnson allegedly yelled his catchphrase, “I’ll ‘T’ ya!” and formed a T shape with his hands so forcefully that right hand’s fingers passed through his left palm. Johnson insisted that he could continue the lesson with both hands strangely interlocked, but his concerned students forced him to walk downstairs to school nurse Norma
The PF
Watson’s office. “In all my years at Arcata High, I’ve never seen such an extreme medical catastrophe,” Watson said. Johnson was transported via ambulance to the hospital where he endured five hours of surgery while refusing to take anaesthetics. “I miss being in the friendly confines of room 209. My students need me more than my hands do,” said Johnson in a telephone interview from his hospital bed. “But if I hear one more remark about Notre Dame, I swear I’ll release Big Ed and Big Fred.” Johnson’s student teacher, Ms.
Spies, is currently filling his role. “Johnson has a history of extreme disciplinary measures but this incident really shows his passion in teaching, my respect for him skyrocketed. If you haven’t had Johnson’s classes yet, you should really check them out,” Ms. Spies said. According to a teacher quality report from the Humboldt Board of Education, Johnson has threatened to “T” students thousands of times and even threatened to “kick them through the goal posts of life.” However, the only casulaty that has actually happened in his class is his hand injury.
The PF
friday, june 15, 2012
NOT-News
page 7
Boys’ bathroom art to be displayed in Louvre Andrei Khmelnitski Audio/Visual Stud
Tuesday, June 5, 2012-- A collection of art created by an anonymous student currently in the Arcata High School downstairs boys’ restroom will be featured in the much famed Louvre art museum in Paris, France this summer. It all began this weekend when famed French art connoisseur Art Vandelay decided to pay a visit to AHS’s own, world -acclaimed, Arcata Arts Institute. “I was impressed with the abilities of the students, but it was only when, shall we say, nature called, that I discovered the true star of Arcata High School,” Vandelay explained. “I was just about to walk out of the restroom when suddenly my eye was caught by the image of an isolated region of the human body scrawled over the urinal. Never in my whole life had I seen such a profound display of artistic talent.” He also added that “I found the graphic rendering refreshing in such a politically correct world.” When asked on how he decided to move the art piece to the Louvre, Vandelay simply stated, “Well, we will transplant the entire restroom, of course.” Luckily for Vandelay it
seems that the young prodigy has not simply stopped at one piece; his work turned up in many places. Vendelay claims that it is “miraculous” that the works of art has survived in such mint condition. We tracked down the student responsible for the art and his words were truly enlightening. “I dunno,” he said, “I was just using the bathroom, and suddenly I just got an overwhelming feeling that I needed to grab a pen and draw. I can’t really explain it.” ABC of AAI explained that this truly was “the sign of an artist” in the way he “so fluidly and accurately describes his feelings, there’s something so basically human about his work.” While this piece remains to be the most famous of the anonymous student’s pieces, many others have been garnering applause from not only the AHS student body, but the global art community as a whole. His piece “Joke” is especially popular. Written above the men’s urinal it reads “the joke is not on this wall, it is in your hand.” “”Joke” breaks the barrier between art and poetry, not only is it pleasant to the eye, but gives you something to think about. The joke isn’t on the wall, yet it is... it’s a commentary on how life could
be a joke...existentialism at its finest,” commented AHS Valedictorian Kim-Thu Pham. Other pieces such as “OBEY” have had large-scale corporate success. World renowned artist Shepard Fairey has picked up the slogan for a line of clothing that has already achieved a cult following. “It’s simple and catchy,” Fairey explained. “Plus it’s a brilliant satire of the overly regulated world we live in today.” When asked in an interview about how he felt about his pieces being displayed in the Louvre, the anonymous young artist simply replied, “What’s the loo?” making yet another brilliant allusion. This summer “Body”, “Joke” and “OBEY” along with eleven other pieces will be on display in the bathroom exhibit of the Louvre, or shall we say the “loo.”
“It’s a commentary on how life could be a joke...existentialism at its finest.” --AHS Valedictorian Kim-Thu Pham
“I found the graphic rendering refreshing in such a politically correct world.” -- Louvre curator Art Vandelay Colin Swenson/PEPPERBOX
The anonymous student is caught admiring his work in the boys’ restroom.
page 6
friday, june 15, 2012
NOT-News
Sasquatches and hipsters in Washington
The PF
Hannah Luu
shirts, homemade high-waisted jean shorts, combat boots, Ray Bans, ro Sasquatch: A giant hairy creature saries, and vintage band sweatshirts. said to wander the USA and Cana- Their hair was slightly nappy and da, often referred to as Bigfoot. dirty looking, and beards infestOver my Memorial Day weekend, ed every man’s face. These people I went on an expedition to find the loved to consume Pabst, American infamous Sasquatch. I absolutely Spirits, and anything local and oradore the wilderness; I love sleep- ganic. I had hit the hipster jackpot, ing on rocky surfaces, the feeling and it sort of sucked. of mosquitoes gently nibbling on At one point I thought I had fimy legs, and the sun distorting my nally found Sasquatch, but once I skin to bright reds. A camping trip got close I realized it was really just to find Sasquatch sounded like my a tall hipster with a beard. I was own little paradise. quite disappointed but I asked my After an excruciatingly long drive new Canadian friend, “Are you here to George, Washington, I got out to find Sasquatch too?” He scoffed and stretched my legs--expecting at me and said, “No, I am hear to to meet thousands of other Sas- ironically listen to some computer quatch enthusiasts. I was more than made music and discuss my hate for shocked to find a hipster cult in- America while wearing this Ameristead. can tank top.” Everybody was decked out in a I was slightly confused. similar uniform: American flag t- Everywhere I trekked, people all looked the same while trying to stand out. In an ordinary setting, they would be obnoxiously visible with their fixee bikes, Mason jar tea glasses, and strictly Urban Outffiters clothing. Here, they were a mass, a giant cult, which worshipped nothing more than the concept of irony. Nobody seemed to care about Sasquatch, they were all much more concerned with keeping themselves dirty and maintaining an arrogant attitude. I would bravely ask, “Oh do you like Britney Spears?” and I would receive a death glare. Clearly, this person’s t-shirt was actually proclaiming Britney Spears Photo Courtesy of Maya Schubert sucked, which didn’t make Senior Hannah Luu models an American any sense to me. flag t-shirt. Photo Manager
At one point I thought I had finally found Sasquatch, but once I got close I realized it was really just a tall hipster with a beard. I finally got the nerve to ask somebody why they were here, if it wasn’t to find Sasquatch. Their response: “I really wanted to go to a festival and Sasquatch is like the underground festival. I mean, Coachella is just so mainstream; I could never go to that.” This was the general attitude of all these hipster zombies. This strange cult also seemed to worship the idea of saving the environment. Interestingly, none of
them recycled though. They threw their “soda” cans wherever they pleased--maybe they thought it was some abstract form of art. I was very perplexed about my Sasquatch experience. I did get to ironically dance to some mainstream music and eat some local, organic food, but I never did find Sasquatch--I just found some really dumb cult that pretty much stands for absolutely nothing.
Hannah Luu/PEPPERBOX
Hipster cult in George, Washington, also known as “the hipster jackpot”
The PF
friday, june 15, 2012
NOT-News
“THRIVE changed my life!” - Peter Saladino Michael Scofield Reporter
Excitement hung in the air in room 105 as all the students of Mr. Filippini’s AP Econ class sharpened their pencils, sat down and cleared their desks. The young history scholars quivered with anticipation, eager to put their freshly sharpened pencils to work. What is the cause of all this excitement you may ask? One beautiful six letter abbreviation: THRIVE. For over a year now, THRIVE pretest and posttest assessments have been implemented throughout the Arcata High School campus, leaving students feeling accomplished and, as one student stated, “completed.” “If I died right now, I would have no regrets,” senior Peter Saladino said, moments after leaving his second period Economics class. “These tests fill me with inspiration and hope for the future.” Peter isn’t the only one feeling this way. Students and teachers all across campus have been moved by these assessments. History teacher Dave Filippini expressed his feelings about THRIVE and it’s effect on his students. “Passing out the assessments brings me joy. Before the tests are even graded, I can see the results in the faces of my students.” Most of the faculty feel that
“If I died right now, I would have no regrets. These tests fill me with inspiration and hope for the future.” --AHS senior Peter Saladino
THRIVE is an effective and productive use of class time. Teachers all over campus agree that THRIVE lifts the spirits of their students, and many hope THRIVE assessments will become a permanent tradition. “This is exactly what the students need,” science teacher Earl Peters said. “THRIVE captivates their attention and helps them to excel in all of their studies.” Often times THRIVE is the topic of conversation around campus. Sophomore Taylor McKenny stated her feelings about THRIVE right before her fourth period chemistry class: “I really hope that there are THRIVE tests for as long as I’m in school. I don’t have to think as much this year because the curriculum is already set for me. It’s saving me a lot of headaches.” THRIVE is having a great impact upon the student body. “More people are thinking alike and fewer arguments and pointless discussions are taking place in the hallways,” claimed Assistant Principal
Geri Wood. To many students, it seems that there is no need to discuss the curriculum anymore because the graphite-stained bubbles of THRIVE tests say it all. The faculty has been throwing around the idea of changing all tests on campus to the standardized test format and doubling the amount of
tests in general due to the positive effects of THRIVE on the school. “Since the assessments have such a great effect on the students, why not increase the amount of this type of test in general?” Principal Dave Navarre said as a group of beaming students walked past. “We’re changing lives, one test at a time.”
Sarah Fraga/PEPPERBOX
Peter is often thrown into a state of ecstasy when THRIVE comes up.
Editor-in-Chief upset with staff’s lack of Spiderman pictures Colin Swenson Art Director
Pepperbox Editor-in-chief Toby Shao’s everyday behavior has been becoming more frantic over the last few weeks, reported online editor Kim-Thu Pham. “His everyday behavior has been becoming more frantic over the last few weeks,” she said. Shao has been reportedly becoming more snappy and easily irritable, which may be attributed to
page 5
his newspaper staffs’ inability to capture pictures of the elusively “fictional” Spiderman. “I need pictures of Spiderman!” Shao shouted at me in my attempt to interview him. When prompted further, he dismissed me with a gruff bark and lit up a cigar. Last week, Shao reportedly burst into Mrs. Angles’ Senior English class, yelling and spinning in circles, taking pictures of anything
that moved. This confusion was apparently caused by student Luis Bressoud who exclaimed, “There’s a spider, man!” after spotting a pesky arachnid on the classroom wall. Similar incidents have also been reported. “When I first saw him I thought he was a homeless man, or an animal of some sort,” Dennis Chism, AHS Custodian, said, referring to last Thursday when Shao reportedly jumped out of a trash can
at him while taking pictures. “When I realized it was just a student, I was initially relieved, but after some thought, I am just as worried.” Recently, it has become evident that Shao’s actions and behavior have become even more crazed, reported online editor Kim-Thu Pham. “His actions and behavior have become even more crazed,” Pham said. “I think he’s schizophrenic.”
page 4
friday, june 15, 2012
NOT-News
Kid does not step onto curb, killed by bus Francis Zierer Opinions Editor
As you may or may not know, Arcata High School has recently been struck by heartbreaking tragedy. Dorian Jones, a junior beloved by his peers, was the victim of an unfortunate bus accident last Friday. A Pepperbox reporter interviewed one of the witnesses, Dorian’s friend Broderick Brown, who had this to say: “We were just, you know, chillin’, like, right before school, and, you know, we were standing just off the curb like we always do...and then, like, Ms. Wood came up to us...and, well...she told us to get onto the curb, and Dorian didn’t...I’m sorry, I just can’t, I just can’t...” Another witness, Jay Schoenfield, was able to finish the story: “I was like standing
by the bench with my friends, and I saw Ms. Wood ask Dorian to get on the curb, ‘cause, like, the bus was coming, and maybe he didn’t hear her or something, I don’t know what was going through his head, but he just like kept chillin’ right there; he didn’t move. Then out of nowhere, the bus just, like, hit him, cruisin’ at probably like four miles per hour, you know? Man, that was the last I saw of Dorian...” A forensics report from a local police department revealed that the bus was indeed going at four miles per hour, and Dorian was indeed standing in the wrong place. The front of the bus made contact with Jones’s body, and he died almost instantly upon impact. Geri Wood, assistant principal and principal curb-requester, had
a few words on the subject. “Every day I go out there, and I tell these students to please get out of the way for the bus, and really they are often outright disrespectful to me. As sorry as I am that Dorian has been killed, I really do hope this stands as an example to the students who roll their eyes and ignore me every
day.” Indeed, it is a morbid warning to all students who stand in the way of moving vehicles each day. The administration wishes students to know that this will be avoided in the future if they help. While the loss of Jones is highly regrettable, it should stand as a warning to all who ignore the morning bus traffic each day.
Photo Courtesy of Sharon Smith
An artist’s interpretation of Dorian Jones’ accident
Witzel signs with Sacramento WNBA team Carter Wright Reporter
Last week, a craze rippled through the WNBA. The cause: Thomas Witzel, senior at AHS, signing to the Sacramento Monarchs. “At first, there was quite an uproar about us deciding to sign a male player,” John Whisenant, head coach of the Monarchs, said. “However, after some discussion, it was decided that Tom would be allowed to play on the condition that he dress up like a woman.” When Witzel heard the verdict, he was ecstatic. Taking the chance to dress up like one of his favorite movie characters, Mabel “Madea” Simmons, Witzel quickly earned the nickname “Big Momma” from his teammates, and he seemed to have taken it to heart. “I’ll be the Big Momma dunking on fools,” Witzel said, and at six feet, eight inches, no one can doubt that.
When asked how it felt to be a male playing on an all female team, Witzel responded, “It’s different. Believe it or not, they’re talented. However, I think that I may have been absorbing estrogen from them because I’ve noticed myself jumping up and down and giggling a lot recently.” Just as with any other team, Witzel has noticed both pros and cons to the Monarchs. “I love the feeling of respect we get from our 16 fans, but I wish it was more of a challenge.”
“I’ll be the Big Momma dunking on fools.” --WNBA star Tom Witzel
The PF
Witzel has been attending practices or false is yet to be seen. However, with the team now for a few weeks, one thing is certain: next season is and his fellow teammates seem just sure to be an interesting one for the Sacramento Monarchs. as excited. “It’s great playing with Big Momma,” Ruthie Bolton-Holifield, guard for the Monarchs, said. “I have to admit though,” Bolton added “he fills out his uniform better than anyone else on the team. I’m a little bit jealous.” With Witzel added to their roster, the Monarch’s plays are rumored to have changed to revolve around him and his ability to slam dunk; a very rare sight in the WNBA. Whether Kimber Peterson/PEPPERBOX these rumors are true WNBA star Thomas Witzel hustles for the ball.
The PF
friday, june 15, 2012
NOT-News
page 3
A year in review: Some of The Pepperbox’s greatest headlines
• Bathroom graffiti compliments teachers, freshmen, and McKinleyville High students • Arcata High parking lot empties quickly • Seniors complain about being in the yearbook too many times • Boys’ locker room showers rigged to spray Abercrombie perfume on anyone walking past • Everyone passes Biology 1 with 200%, Condit caught crying in the bathroom • “Hipster free zone” signs put up around campus • Girls dress according to weather • ProQuest voted most useful website by students • New bells replaced with pure bass • Master schedule finished weeks in advance with time to spare • Freshman dies because hungry seniors cut off ambulance in parking lot, ambulance waits 2 hours
AP English students hold Procrastination Olympics Kim-Thu Pham Online Editor
Mrs. Lehman’s and Mrs. Buscher’s AP English classes have decided unanimously to hold a procrastination-off on their final essays, a synthesis essay and an analysis of Crime and Punishment, respectively. Within each class students will compete against each other to see who can finish their essay by deadline while starting as late as possible. The prizes for first, second, and third places in each class are lifetime access to Netflix, unlimited access the gaming service Steam, and ten thousand boxes of instant noodles. In addition, the AP English classes have decided to compete against each other. The winner will be decided based on which class has the lowest total “start-time-till-duedate” in minutes. “People think they can procras-
tinate,” said senior Andrei Khmelnitski, shaking his head. “I’ve been training for this for four years. Bring on the procrastination Olympics 2012!” Khmelnitski prides himself on being a year-round procrastinator and plans to lead his AP English 4 class to glorious, last-minute victory. The seniors seem to have a clear advantage as more weathered procrastinators. Meanwhile, Mrs. Lehman’s juniors have kidnapped and locked overachiever Anna Nordquist in the school’s janitorial room out of fear that she will be their downfall. Anonymous witnesses have spotted various seniors trying to break the triple titanium lock on the closet door and smuggle laptops into the closet so that Nordquist can start her essay. “We are absolutely not letting her out until three hours before
deadline,” said junior Forrest Lewis, leader of the procrastination competition. The legality of AP 3’s actions is currently being questioned by the school’s authorities. Forrest Lewis and Grant Harmon are currently tied for first place, having done negative progress on their essays by destroying their printers at home. Tech expert Benjamin McCreath has uninstalled all versions of Microsoft Word in the room and hacked onto both Proquest and Sparknotes, taking down the sites. “When I asked my seniors for peer drafts, they reported that their pets, from guppies to younger siblings, had eaten their homework,” said English teacher Sue Buscher. She is shocked and appalled at the competition and predicts that her students’ “scholarly credibility will be demolished.” “We’re not worried about our
Crime and Punishment essays at all, actually. We know the familiar stroke of terror two hours before the deadline will give us adrenaline rushes long enough to finish our essays,” said senior Royal Sweet. On top of his essay, he’s taken the competition to extreme levels, refusing to do work for the rest of the year. “I had a dream I was working on my essay, and then I woke up. Thank GOD I didn’t start, I’d be letting down my class,” said senior Kristyn Payne. Other seniors have experienced similar nightmares, subconsciously concerned about the deadlines, but shrug them off as “Kafkaesque.” The juniors and seniors have considered spray-painting inappropriate messages on their competitors’ cars, but, in the spirit of procrastination, they’ll “do it later.”
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friday, june 15, 2012
NOT-News
The PF
Buscher caught sneaking out on AP English trip Toby Shao Editor-in-Chief
ASHLAND, OR. – At 2:15 am, a parent chaperone thought he had caught a student that was trying to sneak back to her hotel room. The chaperone was surprised to find that the student was, in fact, Mrs. Sue Buscher, instructor of AP English Literature, Mythology, and freshmen English classes. “I wanted to see what the night life in Ashland was like,” Buscher commented. Buscher was seen by Ashland residents chatting it up with the actor who played Prince Charming in Medea/Macbeth/Cinderella at Beau Club Cocktails. Chaperones responsible for the 10:00 pm room-checks noted that Buscher had been behaving suspiciously. “I slept through all two hours of Romeo and Juliet! How do you expect me to be able to sleep at night?” Buscher said. Buscher proceeded to make lewd Shakespearean jokes unfit for publication. Buscher later confessed that she returned to the hotel at 2:00 in the morning. “I was having so much fun that I lost track of time,” she said. Though Principal Navarre refused to comment on the consequences of Buscher’s misconduct, anonymous sources have suggested that a zerotolerance policy will be imposed. Buscher was reportedly seen bragging about her punishment in the staff room, telling stories about her late night adventures, to a group
“Why shouldn’t I get to live life on the edge a little too?” --Adventure Seeker Sue Buscher
of fascinated younger “underclassmen” teachers. “The music from the jukebox is still reverberating through my ears,” she said. “None of the administration’s punishments will discourage me from having fun. I can choose to disobey the rules if I want,” Buscher reportedly announced at a staff meeting, in a sudden outburst of teenage rebellion. Last Friday, an anonymous student saw Buscher hanging out behind the school near Tiger Hill. She was described as “just chillin’, wearing a leather jacket.” In a recent interview, Buscher has admitted she was driven over the edge by stress on the job. “It gets so tiring teaching freshmen how to properly use commas year after year. On top of that, I have to correct text message slang too often,” Buscher said. On the other hand, Buscher reflected that her delinquency might also be caused by her daily proximity to relaxed seniors with compromised morals. This condition was identified by Arcata High School nurse, Norma Watson, as “Second-hand
Toby Shao/PEPPERBOX
English instructor Sue Buscher sneaks out of her hotel room cloaked in a rain jacket to avoid being seen by her students. Senioritis Disorder (SHSD),” which can result from prolonged exposure to high school seniors. “I teach two senior English classes. Why shouldn’t I get to live life on the edge a little too?” Buscher asked in a heated argument in the dean’s office. Next the administra-
tion will reevaluate her curriculum and reading lists. Some have suggested that existentialist philosophy may be the primary influence. “I will read up on Sartre to get to the bottom of this,” Principal Navarre said.
“None of the administration’s punishments will discourage me from having fun. I can choose to disobey the rules if I want.”