Bear Witness June 2017 by Branham Bear Witness

BEAR

WITNESS

SPECIAL SENIOR EDITION

Iz Munoz/Bear Witness

Four years of growth Campus leaders reflect on their roles in school

BY KELLEY SHEEN

ranham’s graduating class of 2017 may be one of the most impressive classes in terms of academics, athletics, and extracurriculars. While our class as a whole is characterized as one of the best classes Branham has had, our class broken down into individuals are equally as impressive. The seniors in our class have cultivated their skills through their interests since their underclassmen days. Seniors Vianna Vo, Teppei Tajima, Jason Kim, Kelley Sheen, Raul Davilla, and Cameron McKay are just some of the many seniors who have left a mark during their time at Branham.

Vianna Vo: Jane of all trades

Vianna Vo has been in band for all four years, and is the Royal Alliance Drum Major. She has not only helped to lead the

class, but she has also dedicated countless hours outside of class to band whether it be for rehearsals, practices, or fundraisers. Vianna thinks of band as “more than just a music class”. She stated that “band has taught me personal accountability and the value of hard work. This class has pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to grow both as a musician and a leader. Band has been an instrumental part of my Branham experience and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it.” Band has allowed her to become the person she is today, her skills and passions were not gone unnoticed, for she received the Department Award for band at the senior awards night. SEE GROWTH •SENIOR PAGE 6

BEAR WITNESS

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SENIOR EDITION |

JUNE 2, 2017

MAPPING YOUR FUTURE

CALIFORNIA

Butte College Gavin Rodinsky Cabrillo College Jaden Grandey Paige Toomey Canada College Farzin Javid De Anza College Hanya Ahmed Sabrina Amiri Erik Bentley Layne Burnett Minhduc Cao Marcos Castaneda Haley Claus Julia Cua Aldahir Fulgencio Jason Galdamez Diana Galindo Parral Kiera Gross Amanda Hodge Michael Jasper Ismar Kadric James Lumbera David Mata Luna Aymen Mohammed Jaden Nava Joshua Niccum Nicholas Norris Owen O’Brien Kristen Perez Alyssa Rentas Colin Rochfort Jesus Ruiz Lara Sonam Sherpa Camille Yocum Kayla Yoon Andres Zuniga Evergreen Valley College Jofel Belmonte Alexis Nevares Thu Thi Minh Nguyen Enrique Villegas Foothill College Devin Albarran Meghan Bergeson Jessica Donaldson Robert Fox Jing Hu Sinclair Madrid Nolan Sheridan Ashley Tullao Mission College Alexa Analiz Lopez De Nava San Jose City Lilia Alvarez Jhana Camarena Jacob Gil Brenden Lauck Rueben Madrid Nicholas Perkins Anibal Santana West Valley College Leigh Alexander Kendrick Anaya Bryce Anderson Melanie Asquith Felicia Beeson Rania Belamesh Wyatt Bensing Victoria Boxall Raygan Bradford Duy Le Bui Arianna Calderon Nallely Carrillo Maria Castro Christopher Cordova Miguel Davila Rebecca Dawson Nataly Denis Collin Foster Alyssa Frame Shelby Germany Sydney Goldston Elias Granados Dylan Hazen Rosa Hernandez Ismail Hersi Serena Hurst Kristen Johnson Nicolas Johnson Jason Laugesen Andy Macias Alyssa Margo Rachel Martin Julia Mazlumyan Emily McLaughlin Jordan Modesto Myles Moran Sheily Munoz Isaac Navarrete Michael Nguyen Kaleelah Osuna Jose Parra Jeralynn Pippins Anthony Ponce

Did you know? We live in the best state of all time.

Ryan Posey Soledad Ramirez Edgar Rangel Jessica Rodriguez Ryan Rogusky Evie Sanders Ryan Scadden Emma Shirley Joshua Solomon Nikolas Torres Jennifer Trampenau Felix-Ruben Tsaboukos Erica Tutton Makenzie Horn Alexis Vanderpaardt Kassandra VanSant Alecsander Villasenor David Villegas Jason Whitney Community college Carolyn Byrne Dulce Guadalupe Camacho-DeLaCruz Diego Hidalgo Devin Jennings Nash Loeswick California State University Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo Haley Beahm Andrew Bray Julia Fish Calen Golden Meghan Haas Keith Hackleman Lauren Hogan Jonathan Panella Brianna Sasao Cal Poly-Pomona William Broer Emily Young California State University, Channel Islands Maddison Flores California State University, Chico Mason Barrett Emily Beets Kathryn Flink Mariah McDonald Jalen Roderick Dominic Tucci California State University, Fullerton Ingrid Imfeld Cameron McKay California State University, Long Beach Kristen Williams Humboldt State University William Suiter San Diego State University Michael Applegate Jeffrey Burrows Taylor Doan Isabella Gaffney Brendan Lopez Samuel Nichols Matthew Sakamoto Samantha Vold San Francisco State University Sunanda Kottayil Isrrael Munoz San Jose State University Ariana Ashufta Alexis Avello Guim Matthew Ballard Sonja Boytcheva Dylan Chubon Adam Elwailly Josue Garcia Richard Gonzaga Anthony Guarnizo Demi Le Jessica Le Charis Mehdizadeh Jasmine Narkiewicz Vivian Nguyen Maxwell Pursey Ajrien Ramirez Josiah Uram Sonoma State University Jasmyne Damon Katryna Johnson Kylie Newberg Daniel Whitworth University of California

California is home to 264 colleges and universities.

Where next? Senior class decisions by the numbers

UC Berkeley Elden Li Nathan Young

Seniors who are undecided

UC Davis Jesse Harper Lucas Peters Joshua Rascov Nikhil Razdan Ty Shikashio UC Irvine Fiorella Castaneda Dan Nguyen Kyle Phan Gagandeep Sharma Kathy Vo UCLA Nicole Jacobs Allison Lee Joshua Olsen Madeline Trotter UC Merced Thani Nuru Gabriel Ramirez Anastasios Tentoglou UC Santa Barbara Kaya Fabretti UC Santa Cruz Charlotte Aid Meghna Banerjee Mikaela Desinger-Loretto Carl Erez Susan Kim Graham Moore Sarah Snitzer Renee Thompson UC San Diego Lindsay Hill Dylan Lam Azusa Pacific Courtney Simmerok Shelby Thompson California College of the Arts, San Francisco Jennifer Jang

Seniors who are planning to study in Caliafornia

Heading to a four-year school

AZ ARIZONA

The bolo tie is the official state neckwear. Arizona State University Matthew Fernandez David Mallory University of Arizona Tyler Pesavento

CO COLORADO

Claremont McKenna College Vi Nguyen

Colorado has 222 wildlife reserves.

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, San Francisco Zoh Hollinger

Colorado State University Joseph Porter

Santa Clara University Luca Morrone

University of Colorado at Border Jacob Seichrist

Stanford University Vianna Vo

University of Denver Elizabeth Brawn

Thomas Aquinas College Garin Ballard University of San Diego Heather Follo University of San Francisco Alexander Nassar Kelley Sheen University of Southern California Shiyi Huang University of the Pacific Emilie Jenkins Whittier College Jarrett Powers

Seniors who are heading out-ofstate

CONNECTICUT

The Charter Oak is the state tree of Connecticut. United States Coast Guard Academy Anthony Contreras

Hawaii is the only state to grow its own coffee. University of Hawaii at Manoa Sydney Lindsey

Heading to a two-year school

ILLINOIS

It is illegal in Idaho to give another person a box of candy exceeding 50 pounds. Brigham Young University, Idaho Alexander Headley

ILLINOIS

Though only 55,000 residents live in Wheaton, it’s home to 45 churches. Wheaton College Noa Nakao

NEW HAMPSHIRE The first state to declare independence from England. Southern New Hampshire University Alexandre Mertens

NV NEVADA

Nevada has the most mountain ranges of all the states (over 300). University of Nevada Reno Jordan Bateman Samuel Craig Peyton Schwiebert Jason Wagner-Jauregg Brianna Citrigno

MA NY MASSACHUSETTS

“Happy Hour” is against the law in this state Eastern Nazarene College Cortney Danley

NEBRASKA

The Reuben sandwich was created in Nebraska Doane College Grace Su

NORTH CAROLINA North Carolina is the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the nation. Duke University Jaesung Kim

NEW YORK

The very first American Chess tournament was held in N.Y. in 1843. Cornell Mike Fang St. Bonaventure University Audrey Bui

OH OHIO

Seven U.S. presidents were born in Ohio. Ohio State University Neil McKibben

Attending a UC

Attending a CSU Naviance survey of seniors

OR OREGON

Home of Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the U.S. Oregon State University Joshua Moore Pacific University Dana McCarthy University of Oregon Jay Carreon

WA WASHINGTON

Washington is the only state named after a president. University of Puget Sound Sydney Voss University of Washington Natalie Brennan Erin Rochfort Walla Walla University Cadence Trenchard Washington State University Emily Nguyen

WY WYOMING

First state to give women the right to vote University of Wyoming Matthew Knutson

JP JAPAN

Japan is made up of 6,852 islands.

Military Kiara Sanchez Andrew Flaherty Luis Lopez Joel Monroy Samantha Thirionet

Gap year Madeline Delgros Kira Schmidt Samuel Thurrott Julissa Vargas Jenny Wolfe

Work Keith Baughman Michael Downing Mitchell King

Undecided Odie Akins Sam Alaimo Evan Albers Aldo Araujo Dylan Baldwin Alexander Cary David Casey Kevin Cohen Gabriela Contreras Maya Cook Nicholas Cooper Citllali Delgado David Jackson Julia Emmanuel Kevin Erazo Thomas Havener Morgan Haynes Charlotte MacDonald Jennifer Monroy-Castillo Taiga Mori Priscila Munoz Michelle Nakken Brian Nichols Leonardo Ramirez Timothy Perez Andres Quiroz Francesca Raynal Jackson Rose Sophia Shifman Ashley Shreve Jannelyn Tabora Nikkole Vanderwege Maria Verginis Kathy Vu Allen Yonemoto

International Christian University Yuta Shiratori

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma is known as the “Panhandle” state because of its shape. University of Oklahoma Raul Davila

Illustrations by Azura Gutierrez/Bear Witness

BEAR WITNESS

SPECIAL SENIOR EDITION |

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JUNE 2, 2017

SENIOR AWARDS

The senior class earned more than $1,392,745 in scholarships. Department Awards Art Natalie Dennis “She truly has the soul of the artist... Her art, I can tell you, screams confidence.” -Ms. Lisa Pimental Yearbook Makenzie Horn “She goes above and beyond, she’s always willing to help, steps up and says ‘what can I do?’” -Ms. Lisa Pimental Science: Biological Anthony Contreras “The epitome of respect, intelligence, and hard work... desire to learn.” -Mr. Juan Fernandez

Culinary Art Sheily Munoz “[Cooking] requires attention to detail, dedication, and a lot of creativity. -Ms. Barbara West

English Shirley Huang “She has an incredibly beautiful writing both literally and figuratively.” -Ms. Tobie Schweizer

Science: Physical Allison Lee I enjoyed her enthusiasm and dedication throughout the year... she was always very respectful.” -Mr. Juan Fernandez

Drama Kristen Williams

Dance Evie Sanders

She is outstandingly cooperative and helpful and a go-getter.” -Ms. Barbara West

“She has so much pride in her work and really she is just a star.” -Ms. Eileen Bertron

Leadership Shelby Thompson

Journalism Kelley Sheen

“Just a ball of sunshine... She is a person that I can count on no matter what. -Ms. Shari Scott-Sawyer

“Kelley has the energy of five caffeinated students on a sugar high… She’s our paper’s cheerleader.” -Mr. Fitzgerald Vo Social Science Elizabeth Brawn

World Language: French Garin Ballard

Music: Instrumental Vianna Vo “She could be trusted and relied upon; she is one of the most outstanding students I have ever met.” -Ms. Barbara West Math Haley Beahm

“This is the single most exceptional student I have ever taught.” -Ms. Barbara West

Physical Education Matthew Fernandez

You never see her in math class without a smile on her face and with her positive attitude.” -Ms. Meredith Allen

“He has faced adversity, overcome adversity, and has been an amazing leader.” -Ms. Christie Henebry

World Language: Mandarin Kyle Phan

World Language: French Raul Davila

“He is one of the most hardworking students I have ever met. He’s incredible.” -Ms. Laurel Garceau

“Adds an undertone of humor in every class.” -Senior Dan Nguyen

Chinese, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Brenden Lauck President’s Education Jason Laugesen President’s Education, SVCTE Honors Award Demi Le President’s Education Jessica Le President’s Education Allison Lee National Honor Society, President’s Education, Physical Science Department Award, Summa Cum Laude, UCLA Freshman Alumni Scholarship Elden Li California State Seal of Biliteracy: Chinese, Cully Plant Scholarship, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Sydney Lindsey Manoa Academic Merit Scholarship, President’s Education, WUE Scholarship Charlotte MacDonald Citizenship Award Rachel Martin National Honor Society, President’s Education David Mata Luna California State Seal of Biliteracy: Spanish Julia Mazlumyan California State Seal of Biliteracy Dana McCarthy Honors Scholarship, National Honor Society, Pacesetters Scholarship, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Mariah McDonald CUHSD Scholarship for Excellence in the Performing Arts, President’s Education Cameron McKay BHS Music Boosters 2017 Choir Senior Scholarship, Citizenship Award, CSUF Merit Aid, Music: Vocal Department Award, National wHonor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Neil McKibben President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Alexandre Mertens President’s Education Graham Moore PLTW Scholar, President’s Education Joshua Moore Golden State Scholarship, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Taiga Mori President’s Education Luca Morrone National Honor Society, President’s Education, Santa Clara University Alumni Grant, Summa Cum Laude Sheily Munoz Culinary Arts Department Award Noa Nakao President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude, Wheaton Grant Jasmine Narkiewicz President’s Education Alexander Nassar BHS Home and School Club Scholarship, Hilltop Merit Award, President’s Education Dan Nguyen PLTW Scholar, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Emily Nguyen Cougar Academic Award, Kiwanis Academic and Community Service

Scholarship, National Honor Society, President’s Education Michael Nguyen BHS Home and School Club Scholarship, SVCTE Agnes Porter Award Vi Nguyen Kravis Scholarship, National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Vivian Hong Nguyen California State Seal of Biliteracy, President’s Education Samuel Nichols President’s Education Nicholas Norris BHS Home and School Club Scholarship Thani Nuru PLTW Scholar, President’s Education Joshua Olsen National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Jonathan Panella National Honor Society, PLTW Scholar, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Nicholas Perkins PLTW Scholar, President’s Education Lucas Peters Athlete of the Year, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Kyle Phan PLTW Scholar, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude, World Language: Mandarin Department Award Anthony Ponce Kiwanis Turnaround Scholarship Joseph Porter Presidential Scholarship, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Ryan Posey BHS Home & School Club Art Department Scholarship, National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Jarrett Powers John Greenleaf Whittier Scholarship, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Samuel Nichols

“She’s passionate, funny, respected, intelligent, and genuinely cares about others.” -Mr. Kirk Selfridge

Music: Vocal Cameron McKay

“He’s an incredible student… I have heard nothing but amazing things.” -Ms. Laurel Garceau

Other Awards Hanya Ahmed Country Women’s Club of Campbell Scholarship Charlotte Aid President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Michael Applegate President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Ariana Ashufta President’s Education Alexis Avello Guim California State Seal of Biliteracy, President’s Education Garin Ballard California State Seal of Biliteracy, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude, World Language: French Department Award Meghna Banerjee President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Mason Barrett President’s Education Jordan Bateman President’s Education Haley Beahm Math Department Award, National Honor Society, PLTW Scholar, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Emily Beets President’s Education Erik Bentley President’s Education Sonja Boytcheva PLTW Scholar, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Elizabeth Brawn Chancellor Scholarship, Dollars for Scholars Scholarship, Kiwanis Academic and Community Service Scholarship, National Honor Society, President’s Education, Social Science Department Award, Summa Cum Laude Andrew Bray National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Natalie Brennan National Honor Society, President’s Education, Purple and Gold Scholarship, Summa Cum Laude Theodore Broer PLTW Scholar, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Audrey Bui Academic Scholarship St. Bonaventure University, National Honor Society, President’s Education. Summa Cum Laude Layne Burnett Kiwanis Turnaround Scholarship Jeffrey Burrows BHS Home and School Club Scholarship, National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Minhduc Cao PLTW Scholar, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Steve Cao National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude, Valedictorian Nallely Carrillo California State Seal of Biliteracy Fiorella Castaneda National Honor Society, National Honor Society Scholarship, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Dylan Chubon

President’s Education Brianna Citrigno Italian Catholic Federation Scholarship, Local 393 Scholarship, President’s Education Anthony Contreras Biological Science Department Award, California State Seal of Biliteracy, Citizenship Award, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Samuel Craig National Honor Society, President’s Education, WUE Scholarship Jasmyne Damon Country Women’s Club of Campbell Scholarship Raul Davila Academic Merit Scholarship, California State Seal of Biliteracy: Spanish, President’s Education, Senior of the Year, Summa Cum Laude, World Language: Spanish Department Award Madeline Delgros BHS Home and School Club Scholarship, President’s Education Nataly Denis Art Department Award Mikaela Desinger-Loretto BHS Home and School Club Scholarship, National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Taylor Doan President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Adam Elwailly California State Seal of Biliteracy, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude, Xilinx Scholarship Carl Erez BHS Home and School Club Scholarship, PLTW Scholar, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude, UCSC Merit Scholarship Kaya Fabbretti President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude, UCSB Athletic Scholarship Mike Fang BHS Music Boosters 2017 Band Senior Scholarship, Citizenship Award, National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Matthew Fernandez Physical Education Department Award, Robbie Deauville Award Julia Fish National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Kathryn Flink President’s Education Heather Follo Citizenship Award, Citizenship Award, Marine Option NROTC Scholarship, President’s Education, ROTC Cadet of the Year, Summa Cum Laude Alyssa Frame President’s Education Isabella Gaffney National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Josue Garcia California State Seal of Biliteracy: Spanish, Citizenship Award, Xilinx Scholarship Shelby Germany Kiwanis Turnaround Scholarship Calen Golden President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Richard Gonzaga

President’s Education Jaden Grandey President’s Education Anthony Guarnizo California State Seal of Biliteracy: Spanish, President’s Education Maggie Haas National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Keith Hackleman President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Jesse Harper PLTW Scholar, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Alexander Headley President’s Education Rosa Hernandez Country Women’s Club of Campbell Scholarship Lindsay Hill National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude, University of San Diego Grant Amanda Hodge President’s Education Lauren Hogan President’s Education, Scholar Athlete, Summa Cum Laude Zoh Hollinger California State Seal of Biliteracy, FIDM Club President Scholarship Makenzie Horn Yearbook Department Award Shirley Huang BHS Home and School Club Scholarship, California State Seal of Biliteracy: Chinese, English Department Award, National Honor Society, National Merit Scholarship Finalist, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude, USC Presidential Scholarship, USC University Scholarship Ingrid Imfeld National Honor Society, President’s Education, SJVSC Scholarship, Summa Cum Laude Nicole Jacobs Citizenship Award, National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Michael Jasper Citizenship Award Emilie Jenkins Art Scholarship from BHS Home and School Club, National Honor Society, Powell Scholarship, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Kristen Johnson President’s Education Nicolas Johnson President’s Education Kelly Kagawa National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Jaesung Kim Asian Pacific Islander for Professional & Community Advancement Scholarship, ACSA Student Leadership Award, APCA AT&T Scholarship, BHS Home and School Club Scholarship, California State Seal of Biliteracy: Korean, Common Wealth Scholarship, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Susan Kim National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Dylan Lam California State Seal of Biliteracy:

President’s Education Maxwell Pursey President’s Education Hailey Rapa President’s Education Joshua Rascov California State Seal of Biliteracy: Spanish, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Erin Rochfort National Honor Society, President’s Education, Purple and Gold Scholarship, Summa Cum Laude Jessica Rodriguez California State Seal of Biliteracy: Spanish Matthew Sakamoto President’s Education Evie Sanders Dance Department Award, President’s Education Brianna Sasao Lauren Clay Memorial Scholarship, National Honor Society, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Lena Saucedo President’s Education Peyton Schwiebert President’s Education Gagandeep Sharma PLTW Scholar, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Kelley Sheen California State Seal of Biliteracy: Korean, Journalism Department Award, President’s Education

Sophia Shifman Citizenship Award Ty Shikashio Bruin Backers Sports Boosters Athletic Scholarship, President’s Education, Scholar Athlete, Summa Cum Laude Yuta Shiratori California State Seal of Biliteracy: Japanese, National Honor Society, President’s Education Courtney Simmerok Citizenship Award, Dean’s Scholarship, National Honor Society, President’s Education, Robbie Deauville Award Sarah Snitzer President’s Education Grace Su Doane Performing Arts Scholarship, Doane Presidential Scholarship, Doane University Legacy Grant, Doane University Visit Grant, President’s Education William Suiter President’s Education Anastasios Tentoglou Bobcat Grant, PLTW Scholar Samantha Thirionet SVCTE Achievement Award Renee Thompson President’s Education Shelby Thompson BHS Home and School Club Scholarship, Laurance J. Hill Award, Leadership Department Award, National Honor Society, President’s Education Nikolas Torres BHS Music Boosters 2017 Choir Senior Scholarship Jennifer Trampenau PLTW Scholar, President’s Education Cadence Trenchard Citizenship Award, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude, Walla Walla University Achievement Scholarship Madeline Trotter Cully Plant Scholarship, National Honor Society, President’s Education, Salutatorian, Summa Cum Laude Erica Tutton Kiwanis Turnaround Scholarship Alexis Vanderpaardt President’s Education Kathy Vo President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Vianna Vo 2nd Grand Prize Winner for the Water Career Pathways Challenge, BHS Music Boosters 2017 Band Senior Scholarship, Citizenship Award, Common Wealth Education, Elks Most Valuable Student, Music Instrumental Department Award, National Honor Society, National Honor Society Scholarship, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude Samantha Vold National Honor Society, President’s Education Sydney Voss Athlete of the Year, Bruin Backers Sports Boosters Athletic Scholarship, CCS Scholar Athlete of the Year, National Honor Society, National Honor Society Scholarship, President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude, UPS Trustee Scholarship Jason Wagner-Jauregg President’s Education Kristen Williams CUHSD Scholarship for Excellence in the Performing Arts, Drama Department Award, President’s Education Kayla Yoon National Honor Society, President’s Education Emily Young President’s Education Nathan Young President’s Education, Summa Cum Laude

BEAR WITNESS

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SENIOR EDITION |

JUNE 2, 2017 For many skillsets, it’s practice makes perfect.

BUILDING YOUR SKILLSET

By the time that you graduate from high school, you have amassed a large set of skills to help you succeed. But there are other skills that school may not have prepared you for. We compiled a few for you.

Finances

Recommended money-saving apps

Handling money takes time, patience “Money management is something that sticks with you for the rest of your life. If you can learn the basics about credit scores and managing pay checks and everything else right now you’ll avoid pitfalls later.” said Mr. John Salberg, the economics teacher. Money is important aspect of adult life. It impacts your education, your living situation and your health. He also said how not only does your own money affect decisions, but “All those things that are important impact other people such as your spouse, in the future, or your kids.” What you do with your money matters. This all applies to the basics such as budgeting, investing and credit which all young adults should familiarize themselves with.

Mr. Salberg pointed out how seniors actually have the advantage right now because their credit scores are zero. The best tip he could provide was that seniors can get a credit card in their name and give it to their parents to use and, assuming that their parents are responsible with money, their credit score can improve without them doing anything. In the past, Mr. Salberg had payed off college and opened too many credit cards. He warns students not to do this because it affected him later in life. Opening too many credit cards negatively affected Mr. Salberg’s credit score which made buying a house with his life many years later difficult. — Michaela Edlin

percent of Branham seniors surveyed say they lack money managment skills

words and structuring of language while the mechanics involved are body language, gestures, tone and strength of voice. All of these things utilized appropriately together allow someone to speak persuasively. It’s important to be passionate about what you’re trying to convince others of and to connect with your audience to truly persuade those listening. “My big tip is to prepare,” Mrs. Freschi says, “You need to practice [...] you’re thinking about how to pace it and sound sincere and how to sound credible [...]” If a speech or presentation is properly practiced, then it allows the presenter to be more effective with what they’re trying to say. — Michaela Edlin

Stop There is no sure way to remember exact communication tools in a given moment. Whether you are in an argument or just trying to plan something with another person, remember to stop, listen to what they have to say, and process what’s next. Clarify If there was a misunderstanding in your words, tone, or physical cues, clarify what you mean. Don’t be afraid to admit a mistake in your communication; fix it once you recognize it. Ease any differences between you and the person you are communicating with. Your expressions and their interpretations may vary.

Obtain vocabulary The way you communicate differs depending on who you are talking to. If you are at a job interview, use professional language. If you are addressing your peers, use casual words that they would understand. Know your audience to hold a more meaningful and successful conversation. Catch attention Speak loudly and clearly to be better understood. Be aware of what time is best to talk to someone; if they are busy, they are less likely to process what you are saying. Talking to them on their best terms strengthens your relationship and improves communication.

Tips to stay organized

For college success, establish routine

ter to study with.” Organization can also have the ability to reduce the amount of work a student needs to put in. In Spain, Mr. Fernandez’s college provided two “tests” to graduate. One was a project, and the other was an actual test. Mr. Fernandez’s ability to stay organized throughout the course of his college years allowed him to take the test instead of the project, which required more work. “One of the keys to staying organized in college is getting into a routine,” said Mr. Fernandez. “A routine for getting up, eating, studying, and going to bed will help a lot.” — Ty Shikashio

percent of seniors who would like to learn ways to develop organizational habits.

Digit This app creates a savings account after looking at your spending history, and determines the right amount that you should deposit every few days. Unlike other savings accounts, there is no interest earned.

“I am working on being more outgoing and get involved instead of keeping to myself.” — Emily Beets

Organization As freshmen in college, organization will play a key role in succeeding during the first year. Reflecting on his time in college, Mr. Juan Fernandez believed that organization of one’s personal life is absolutely critical to prospering freshman year. “The most important skill is being able to prioritize your life. First, of course, you need things to stay alive both physically and emotionally. Number two is academics, and then time management and procrastination come after,” he said. “The most important time to be organized is when you’re preparing for finals. You need to be able to find materials from far back in the semes-

SideChef You can’t always afford to eat out, so SideChef takes the learning curve out of making your own meals. There are videos and also instructions on cooking techniques available.

How to get your message across more effectively

Practice how you want to talk

percent of seniors who would think that effective communication skills are important

SquareCash Venmo may still be the most popular, but SquareCash has the advantage of having a simple setup. The money sent and received is almost always instantaneous, meaning you don’t have to wait a few days for the funds to be deposited.

“This summer I will have multiple jobs, so managing my money and saving a good amount of it to pay for college will be a great way for me to practice my math skills.” — Shelby Thompson

Communication Communication is a vital skill because as the public speaking teacher, Mrs. Nancy Freschi said, “...often times you’re going to have to present at a meeting or to your colleagues or at a conference; it’s very common to have to do as a task in your professional life.” Communication, in a daily and in a presentational sense, is a facet of adult life. Mrs. Freschi has to communicate with others every day of her life whether that be with other teaching staff, with her students, her family and friends, or in her past job as a lawyer. Everyday she experiences the benefits of communicating effectively. There’s two different aspects of communication, the literal side and the mechanical side. The literal refers to the

Mint Mint monitors your finances and expenditures as long as you have access to your bank and credit card information. It’s free, and has the simplest user interface among other services, such as Mvelopes and YNAB (You Need a Budget)

Reduce multitasking It’s physically impossible for nearly all the population to multitask. Instead, it’s more efficient to focus on one task until it’s done, or take periodical breaks. Monotasking increases focus and allows time to be saved. Keep the space around you organized If your living space is organized, you spend less time looking for things. Keep items in the same place in order for them not to be lost.

Create a schedule The human memory isn’t reliable, which is why it’s important to note significant events and plan for them. If you create a schedule, whether that be digital or on paper, it’s easier to manage all of you tasks. Delegate tasks If you can’t do something yourself, give the responsibility to another. This conserves time and prevents spreading yourself too thin. Delegating allows you to conserve your energy for tasks that only you can do.

“I’m starting to use a calendar “I’ll have a lot of and manage things on a day by timers set up.” day basis.” — Mariah McDonald Su

— Grace

SCIENCE AND TECH

Why you are seeing more robo calls

ART & ENTERTAINMENT

STUDENT LIFE

Sneak peek into this weekend’s CUHSD art show

The pressing issue of mental health

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WITNESS BRANHAM HIGH SCHOOL

JUNE 2, 2017

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

No room in parking lot TY SHIKASHIO

Managing Editor

ecent spikes in Branham’s popR ulation have had dramatic effects on the parking in the student

Catherine Monroy/Bear Witness

Do you lose some of your learning capacity once summer hits? ROSALIE GONZALEZ Staff Writer

ine months out of the year, students sit in classrooms conN stantly being fed information to prepare them for the future. Summer break, allows students to enjoy time away from school. No homework, no class schedules, no sleep deprivation, no expectations, just 10 weeks of pure freedom, right? As many of us have experienced, the school year starts and the teacher is already frustrated due to the fact that the students can’t seem to remember anything from the year before. Now the first few months will be spent reviewing past content rather than introducing new material. Some students complain because they don’t know why they can’t

remember anything, others are bored because they remember everything in perfect detail, and some are perfectly in the middle. What the majority of students are experiencing is known as the “summer brain drain” theory. It is based on the idea that students lose most or all of what they have learned from the previous year over summer break. Studies have found that students can lose anywhere from one to three months worth of learning and the first four to six weeks of the fall are spent reviewing the lost material. In addition, it’s said that the the brain drain effect can be seen in children as early as the first grade. Which raises the obvious question, how do we combat the issue? SEE SUMMER MELT • PAGE 3

Best prom for the Best Buddies

tives from high schools in the district. One of the representatives was Ameryka Lommigration, graduation rates, university el- pez, a freshman from Leigh, which does not igibility and school leadership were among have a a LSU. She said that she was happy the hot topics discussed at the district’s first for the opportunity to be involved in organizing the conference. The workshop Latino Student Conference on Ameryka led focused on students’ May 19. family issues. It was wellBranham’s Latino Student Union (LSU) organized the planned and the “I am very grateful that for the last district-wide event at San Jose p r e s e n t a t i o n s two weeks I have been able to take City College, where 300 Lati- they had were re- a part in planning this,” she said. no underclassmen expressed ally helpful and “Looking forward, we’re trying to get a Latino club at Leigh.” their concerns about issues at well-informed Students said that the event home and school. was very informational and an The students began the event Natalie eye-opener to the shared struggles in the San Jose City College Bacilio of the Latino community, and they gym, in which seniors Eman- Sophomore commiserated over said struggles. uel Garcia and Raúl Davila To them, the event provided advice introduced the event and adand support. dressed the issues that Latino students face. “It was well-planned and the presentations All the classes were led by student representathey had were really helpful and well-inSEE JUMP • PAGE 5

ranham’s Best Buddies Chapter hosted it B annual prom on May 20 at the Fairmont penthouse in Downtown San Jose. It was a

night filled with laughter, fancy outfits, fun dance moves and wide smiles. One of the buddies, freshman Evan Bray, was dropped off by his mom who said that it would be one of the best nights of his life. The night began with a sit-down dinner that everyone seemed to enjoy, with live music performances by some of the buddies. After dinner, everyone raced to the dance floor. Throughout the night, attendees could get their pictures taken at a professional photo stand and enjoy the candy bar donated by Leigh’s Sisters of Society (SOS) club and students. Four year member and the Chapter’s Secretary, Shelby Thompson, believed this night to be incredible. “This years’ Best Buddies Prom was especialBranham headlines........................2 Press shuffle.................................10

Promising start for first LSU summit OMAR ABABNEH

LAUREN HOGAN

Student Life Editor

INSIDE

Summer Melt Definition: The therory that if students dont review material over the summer, they’re likely to forget.

parking lot. Since 2013, Branham’s student population has increased by 300, and the influx of students is starting to have a negative impact on student drivers. Of classes that are eligible for licensure, the sophomore, junior and senior classes are about 1200 students, which dwarfs the amount of total student parking spaces in the lot. The inadequate parking has several other implications as well. For those with first or fourth period off, parking can be even more of a burden. Senior Natalie Brennan has a fourth off, and arriving at 10:15 each morning makes it challenging to find an open spot. “There has definitely been a change just in the past school year in the availability of parking, but this year is the first time it’s really becoming an issue for students,” she said. “A lot of students are parking in nearby neighborhoods or in the main office visitor parking lot.” After the last bell rings and students rush to their cars, the lot becomes extremely congested. The line out of Branham and onto Meridian gushes back into the parking lot, and the waiting line to merge onto Branham Lane overflows back into the parking rows. Junior Matt Dempelein doesn’t even bother trying to get out of the lot after school. “I usually just wait in the lot after school for a solid 20 minutes before I get in my car,” he said. Even the line into the Branham parking lot accumulates down Branham Lane, sometimes reaching as far back as Dent Ave. Principal Cheryl Lawton has received several complaints from students and teachers who can’t find parking. Students are even going so far as to park in staff designated areas. In terms of resolving this problem, Branham’s AP Environmental Science class suggested implementing a mass transit system for Branham. A bus system that provides transportation for even just a quarter of the students at Branham would alleviate some of the congestion. Ms. Lawton says that a bus system could possibly be in the future. “VTA is currently redoing their routes, and the stop right next to Branham may be taken out,” she said. “If there [is] enough of a demand we may be able to start using buses again.”

Lauren Hogan/Bear Witness

ly memorable because it was my last one being that I am a senior. Getting to dance with not only my buddy, but all of the buddies from our school and the other schools was so fun and it was truly a heartwarming experience. My favorite part of the night was seeing one of Branham’s buddies, Nathan, perform on the drums, he rocked it,” Shelby said. One way in which Branham works to bridge the gap between the special education and the SEE BEST BUDDIES • PAGE 5

Editorial..........................................3 Bulletin Board.................................4

Science and Technology..................5 Science/Tech Briefs.........................5

Staff Writer

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Mental health spread.....................7 Student Life................................6-7

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Club Roundup...............................11 Sports.........................................8-9

Arts & Entertainment..............10-11 The Back Page...............................12

BEAR WITNESS

JUNE 2, 2017 |

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NEWS

“Branham has been like an extended family to me.” Ms. Hernandez, on her past 12 years at the school.

Branham headlines Key club blood drive

Students donate up to two pints of blood Key Club brought the Stanford Blood Center back for its biannual blood drive on May 22. Donors donated one to two pints of blood, depending on one’s age. More than 100 students participated in the daylong event.

Graduation requirements Updates to increase UC and CSU eligibility The board approved California’s new graduation requirements: an extra year of math, science, and foreign language (the same language), which will be effective starting in 2019. The new requirements should increase the UC and CSU eligibility of students. Approximately 40 percent of Branham students are currently eligible.

Summer kick-off week Spirit week holds lunchtime activities May 22 to 26 Branham had a Summer KickOff Week featuring five themed days with activities. Monday featured College Dress Up Day, and the seniors posted the college they committed to in the quad. On Tuesday, students wore sports gear and played “Musical Chairs” during lunch. Junior Paul Fonkwo won the competition. On Wednesday,

students wore Tie-Dye and featured student rappers, including Junior Kunal Dutta. Thursday featured Bruin Day and a dodgeball game. The week ended with a beach-themed dress up day, a food fair, and performance from Juniors Paul Smith, Kaleb Fulmer, and Dylan Moore. The week ended with a party in the Branham pool.

12 teachers to leave next year Among others, special ed teacher Ms. Hernandez leaves her mark on the community WILL SUITER Staff Writer

s the school year comes to A a close, it is always a highly anticipated time for students and

teachers, as seniors prepare to graduate and students prepare to move up a grade. Although students make this change every year, teachers are a more permanent fixture. When a teacher leaves, they leave behind a legacy and a lasting mark on the Branham community. This year, Branham will say goodbye to 11 teachers, but the memories and impact they have had on campus will remain. One of the most meaningful and bittersweet departures is also one of Branham’s longest standing figures. Mrs. Charlene Hernandez has been a member of the Branham community for 12 years, starting out as a special education aide, and eventually becoming the senior special education teacher. “Being at Branham has been an amazing, life changing experience,” she said, beaming with positivity. “Coming in as an aide and working here made me figure out what I wanted to do with my life.” In addition to her role as a special education teacher, Mrs. Hernandez has also served as advisor to both the Latino Student Union (LSU) and Best Buddies Club. Her leadership and nurturing guidance helped Best Buddies win the Outstanding High School Chapter of the Year award, and the she spearheaded the LSU’s Latino Student Summit. In the midst of stressful planning of the Best Buddies Prom, she said that “I truly want each of our kids that are in these clubs to leave Branham having gotten the most that they can out of their experience.” “Mrs. Hernandez has been the backbone of Branham’s Best Buddies since the start,” said senior and Best Buddies club president Lauren Hogan. “We would not be where we are today if it wasn’t for her consistent support and love.” Mrs. Hernandez will be moving on to a new role in charge of a con-

Sports Editor

istory was made at Branham H with the announcement that the winner of the annual honor

“Teacher of the Year” would go to not just one teacher, but two! For the first time ever, there was a tie between science teacher Ms. Kori Reynolds and math and engineering teacher Mrs. Barbara Schremp. Principal Cheryl Lawton said she was “very excited that we have both a math and science teacher” as the pronounced winners. She also said both teachers are “extremely deserving” of the award for their “dedication to students and the Branham community.” The winners are only elected by Branham teachers. Ms. Reynolds has taught here

Bear Witness Editors-in-Chief Julia Kolman Kelley Sheen Managing Editor Ty Shikashio Production Editor Iz Muñoz

Arsonist identified as student

Julia Kolman/Bear Witness The shed built by alumni Tanner Robson was burnt down May 2, costing an estimated $10,000 in damages. JOCELYN PIERCE Will Suiter/Bear Witness Ms. Hernandez’s 12 year tenure at Branham saw the development of the first and largest Best Buddies program in the district and all of California. tinued education program for the district, teaching special education students life skills and valuable tools for finding jobs and careers. Branham will also say goodbye to Mr. Garrett Benjamin, Mr. Michael Cable, Ms. Stephanie Cottrell, Mr. Terence D’Alesandro, Ms. Paula Haaser, Ms. Katherine Messick, Ms. Cielle Summy, Ms. Melody Weathers, Mrs. Diane Wilson, and Mrs. Yun Yan. Mandarin teacher Mrs. Yan said that when she first came to Branham in 2011 for a one-day substitute teaching job, she was impressed with the school’s cultural diversity and inclusive environment. “My favorite quality about the Branham community is that it strives to provide equal opportunities to all students,” she said. Although Branham had previously offered entry-level Mandarin courses, Mrs. Yan was the first teacher to teach a higher-level course, offering three years of Mandarin study, which is especially useful in the

Teachers leaving

Bay Area, which has an estimated 300,000 Mandarin speakers. “The most meaningful part [of my time at Branham] is that my first Mandarin 1 students have stayed with me for a straight three years,” said Mrs. Yan. “The significant differences between English and Mandarin, and between American culture and Chinese culture, challenged us a lot. Nevertheless, we worked together collaboratively, and the students finished three years of UC a-g Mandarin classes. I hope these helped them in their college applications this year and will help them even more in their future lives.” With their many years of service to the students of Branham, these teachers have been an asset to hundreds of students, and have taught them everything from biology to ROTC drills to foreign languages. These teachers have instilled discipline and purpose in many students, and in the words of Mrs. Hernandez, “Branham has been like an extended family.”

Mrs. Charlene Hernandez Senior special education

Mr. Garrett Benjamin AP Biology, Biology

Mr. Michael Cable Physical education

Ms. Stephanie Cottrell Special education

Mr. Terence D’Alesandro JROTC

Ms. Paula Haaser English

Ms. Katherine Messick Math

Ms. Cielle Summy History, English

Ms. Melody Weathers Math

Ms. Diane Wilson Special education

Ms. Yun Yan Mandarin

Ms. Nicole Trapasso

AP Chemistry, Chemistry

Staff elects first co-teachers of the year GRACE CLINTON

— Compiled by Sai Tummala

for the past four years while Mrs. Schremp has been with Branham for 10 years, a journey that began with student teaching. Ms. Reynolds explained she was very excited to find out she had won and Ms. Schremp was both shocked and honored to have received the title. Co-workers of the two teachers gave further testament to the hard working and driven women, explaining some of their favorable qualities that make them such good teachers. Fellow math teacher Ms. Marie Pink said, “Mrs. Schremp consistently pushes her students to challenge themselves and always is willing to provide help to students and colleagues with a smile.” Science teacher Mr. Juan Fernandez said that Ms. Reynolds receiving the award was “well-deserved” and that she has admirably taken over

Courtesy of Lifetouch Ms. Schremp (left) and Ms. Reynolds (right) tie for the Teacher of the Year. the job of training teachers about the next generation of science standards, something teachers are very grateful for. Both teachers have similar methods in the classroom that they find effective with students, one of them being group work. Mrs. Schremp start-

Editors News: Cadence Trenchard Opinion: Sunanda Kottayil Science and Technology: Adam Saleh Student Life: Lauren Hogan Sports: Grace Clinton Entertainment: Sydney Uyeda Copy: Taylor Doan Online: Sai Tummala Photography: Iz Muñoz

ed using group work early on in her teaching career because the students enjoy it as they get the chance to talk to each other and see how others solve problems. Ms. Reynolds explained that she too does “both partner work and group work” in an effort to do different things. In addition to this, she explained, “We try to do as many hands on things as possible because it’s more interesting.” Both teachers tied their mindsets going into each day back to their student’s level of understanding and interest. Ms. Schremp similarly likes to gauge her student’s level of interest while teaching by knowing if she herself is having fun, because “if [she’s] not having fun, then [her students] probably aren’t either.”

Staff Writers Omar Ababneh, Fiorella Castaneda, Michaela Edlin, Rosalie Gonzalez, Laura Heffernan, Demi Le, Jocelyn Pierce, William Suiter, Clarabelle Walkup Artist: Catherine Monroy Adviser: Fitzgerald Vo Mission Statement The Bear Witness is committed to providing accurate, timely coverage of local and world news while connecting these events to the lives of our diverse student body.

Staff Writer

olice are wrapping up their investigation into last month’s snack shack arson, and have identified one of the suspected perpetrators, a Branham student. According to Principal Ms. Cheryl Lawton, the student, who is not being named because he is a minor. Some consequences include being recommended for expulsion and including charges for arson. He could face prison time, plus pay restitution toward the estimated $10,000 in damages, as well as payment for the investigation. Branham’s baseball snack shack was engulfed in flames in early morning May 2. The San Jose Fire Department was contacted, and responders took seven minutes to put out the fire, which destroyed the shed. Two nearby sheds had been broken into the same night, one of which was used by the Students Promoting Awareness of Recycling and the Environment (SPARE) club. The sheds themselves faced critical destruction, as well as the contents inside. A fundraising page has been set up to pay for the rebuilding of the shed. Branham Hills Little League baseball donated their concession stand earnings t. The fire station crew that initially responded to the fire came to Branham Hills to help raise money as well. The fundraiser earned over $1,500 in the first day of being set up. None of the money obtained from the measure AA bond the district received this school year will go toward the shed’s reconstruction. The shed that caught on fire was built by alumnus Tanner Robson who graduated last year. He renovated the shed as part of an Eagle Scout project, as well as a goodbye present to his alma mater. “This is a terrible thing that doesn’t just affect Branham baseball, but the whole Branham community,” he said in an interview with news station KTVU. This was not the only case of vandalism near the baseball field this year. A week before, $450 worth of snacks for a fundraiser had been stolen. Following the May 2 fire, students were lighting small fires around campus. It is unclear if these were connected to the main fire or not.

Contact Us Instagram: @bhsbearwitness Twitter: @witnessbear Website: www.bhsbearwitness.com Phone: (408) 626-3407 Email: bhs_journalism@yahoo.com

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Mental health support at Branham

How to fix lacking mental health services Editorial Staff

A surprising 12 percent have considered suicide.These are alarming statistics, yet there are minimal resources and support systems provided on campus. “We do need to do more (to improve students’ mental health),” said Principal Cheryl Lawton. “The question is trying to figure out what’s the right approach so that we are not encouraging [detrimental behavior].” Though the sentiment is to help students in need, discussing suicide does not equate to promoting it, and talking about mental illness does not equate to normalizing it. The school needs to do more to address these students who are experiencing depression, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health issues. Ms. Lawton said that Branham hopes to organize more support groups on campus, but that is not the setting all students are comfortable in. Students with mental health concerns need an environment where they can open up,

which may not be easy with students one hardly knows. These are ways that our school can better support students with mental health illness and suicidal ideation. Informational posters Posters can be placed in every classroom with suicide and self-harm hotlines, the contact information of the counselors on campus, and online resources to support students with a mental illness or suicidal thoughts. Introduce the counselors We have counselors on campus for academic and support services, but few students have their names or contact information, and they aren’t always available. Next school year, the only counselors we are already confirmed to have are four guidance counselors, including Ms. Danielle Morella, Ms. Loan Hong, and Ms. Joyce Davis, the psychologist Ms. Jeannette Medina, and the Counseling and Support Services for Youth (CASSY) counselor Ms. Sheree Polonsky. Each year, students should be in-

troduced to all the counselors and know what support they provide. Rallies promoting mental health awareness Leland High School held a rally to tell students that they aren’t alone. They held an activity with the lights turned off, and students turned on their cell phone light if they related to a statement announced. Students then knew that there were others in similar situations as them. This is similar to, but more private than “cross the line.” Encourage breaks Rest is essential for high school students. Teenagers need approximately nine hours of sleep each night, which is a difficult task with school work and extracurriculars. Administration and teachers should encourage students to rest, and even take naps in tutorial. Students face academic and social pressure, so teachers should often check in with their students and normalize taking breaks for oneself.

TrumpCare priorities skewed

Sai Tummala/Bear Witness DEMI LE

Staff Writer

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

Principal Cheryl Lawton, on supporting Branham students

recent survey at Branham showed A 26 percent of 986 Branham more studentsthatexperie sadness or hopelessness.

Do to address these students who are experiencing depression.

JUNE 2, 2017 |

“We do need to do more (to improve students’ mental health).”

OPINION Editorial The opinion of the Bear Witness editors

he American Health Care Act (AHCA) of 2017, or in more colloquial terms, the GOP bill or TrumpCare, has been a topic of heated controversy due to its many complicated provisions to repeal the Affordable Care Act, nicknamed Obamacare. The AHCA was introduced onto the Union Calendar by the House of Representatives on March 30, 2017, and passed the House. Before it becomes law, it will undergo revisions in the Senate before it will be voted upon. If the bill passes through the Senate and is signed into law by Trump, it intends to change financial assistance for those who are older or have low incomes. It will also increase the cost of health insurance and stop Medicaid expansion. This means that potentially millions of people will be forced out of proper medical assistance because our government lacks moral responsibility. It is a basic human right to be provided proper health care when sick. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it is estimated that about 14 million more people will be uninsured under the legislation by 2018 if it passes, and another 10 million will be uninsured by 2026. Health insurance is important because it connects people to a network of care providers, offers different possibilities for treatment, and reduces financial strain and barriers so that people don’t have to pay out of their pocket for care; especially those who have low incomes or require extensive medical attention for their conditions. Medicaid will face extensive changes as Trump seeks to change funding for the federal-state insurance program. Medicaid pro-

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This means that potentially millions of people will be forced out of proper medical assistance because our government lacks moral responsibility. It is a basic human right to be provided proper health care when sick.

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vides health coverage to not only those who are 65 and older, but to low-income adults, children, and people with disabilities. It is a safety net for those who are most vulnerable and require the most assistance, yet the bill fails to recognize the consequences of their provisions towards Medicaid beneficiaries and insurance beneficiaries across the U.S. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2015 analysis, about 62.4 million people are insured under Medicaid, which is 20 percent of the U.S. population. Under the AHCA, power will be returned to states which will allow them to make various decisions for Medicaid. For example, states can refuse Medicaid expansion and require Medicaid recipients to work. Under the AHCA, insurers are allowed to exclude certain benefits that they are required to cover under Obamacare, charge more for health insurance relapses, and even impose yearly and lifetime caps on coverage for essential health benefits which was outlawed by Obamacare. In other words, a person with a fatal or life threatening condition could ex-

By the numbers 14 million more people are estimated to lose insurance by 2018 24 million projected total number of people that will be unisured by 2026 20 percent of the U.S. population is insured as of 2015 analysis by Kaiser haust their lifetime coverage, leaving them ultimately, with no options. Financial assistance under the AHCA won’t be nonexistent. However, it will be very limited. The new tax credit proposal provides subsidies according to a person’s age, only giving fixed amounts. Meaning that those who are low-income or pay a high cost of insurance will not receive additional help. Older people will especially suffer from the tax proposal, because insurers will be allowed to tax them up to five times more than younger individuals. Overall, this will severely impact low-income adults, making it difficult or impossible to afford health insurance in addition to being subject to increased premiums if they are uninsured for longer than two months. If the AHCA is signed into law, those with low incomes will find it harder to afford health insurance while those with high incomes receive more benefits. Insurers will have far more power and funding for Medicaid will be cut, completely stopping expansion of the federal program.

Mental health screening Programs are offered to screen students for mental health issues and suicidal risk and instruction on how to support students and warn parents if their student needs professional care. This prepares students to recognize depression and suicidal signs in themselves and others. It may also lead to a proper diagnosis in students, as they regularly fill out a questionnaires. Train teachers to recognize the signs Teachers should be trained to understand and detect depression, suicidal concerns and other psychological disorders in students. At Branham, teachers have gone through professional development where they learn the signs and symptoms of mental health. Teachers should be trained on how to support their students directly and be more supportive in multiple sessions, enforced throughout the entire year. If a students is battling mental health problems, teachers can cooperate and ease their workload or find alternate assignments by using tools like the 504 plan.

From front page

SUMMER MELT | Keeping a sharp mind difficult over the break The most common solution is to have students review over break. But students review information all nine months of the school year, and if they study over break is it truly a break? On top of that, it’s entirely possible that not all students would be willing or able to review at home over the summer. Perhaps there is a deeper issue to the summer brain drain that many have been ignoring. Ever heard of the income-based achievement gap? It refers to any significant difference in academic performance between students of higher income and Explainer box students of lower income. The gap has been referenced and Income-based achievement touched on in numerous theories, such gap as the idea that more any significant books in the home or the option of books in difference in the home gives chilacademic perfordren a head start in their education. mance between How it ties into the students of brain drain, however, is rather interesting. It higher income is believed that the gap appears to be widening and students of lower income due to an increase in parental involvement/ investment in their Why it matters children’s learning. So if a parent can’t Wealthier parafford to advance ents can afford their child’s academics, it would suggest mentallystimuthat they fall behind. lating summer Wealthier parents who are able to pay for tuactivities give toring or mentally their child the stimulating summer camps would, in theo- advantage going ry, give their child the into the next advantage going into school year. the next school year. Now it’s a matter of accounting, (oddly enough math is the subject most commonly lost to the drain) should families splurge on education to avoid the wasted time of the fall ‘review period’ or save and hope the children will be responsible hardworking learners from fall until spring? A socioeconomic issue often proves more difficult to solve than just telling a bunch of lazy teens to read more over the summer. Maybe it’s time theorists and education staff alike start looking at a the bigger picture that proves more problematic by the day.

BEAR WITNESS

JUNE 2, 2017 |

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

AHOCKER

“Sometimes, summer homework will barely relate to what we actually study in the class.”

OPINION “Summer homework is useful as it helps reinforce what we learned over the course of our school years, as well as preparing us for next year”

Summer HW

“I find summer homework not useful because, well, I’m on summer break! I would much rather enjoy my free time with my friends and family, because that’s the point of a vacation. We work all year for this long awaited break.” Tara Lucas Junior

Evan Franco Freshman

“Sometimes, summer homework will barely relate to what we actually study in the class. It’s an excessive amount of work, which makes people rush through it and not really learn anything.” Julia Peterson Sophmore

“It’s useful for keeping students from forgetting what they learned from the previous school year. It also allows them to better prepare for the next school year.”

Brittany Pangaliman Freshman

“Summer homework is good [to a] certain extent, t because it keeps the studeng from forgetting everythin about school. Some teacher overpowers students with it, though.” Derek Hogan Sophmore

“It is useful, especially if you’re taking AP classes. Sometimes you can’t cover all the content within the school year, so doing some during the summer could help save time. “

“Summer homework isn’t very useful. Summer is a time of relaxation from a school year’s supply of hard work and dedication.”

Jonathan Dang Sophmore

Why do you think summer homework is or is not useful?

“Summer homework is only useful for AP classes. Those classes have such an advanced curriculum that any previous work done before class can make a huge difference on a student’s peace of mind. “ Hana Tzou Sophmore

“It is useful in that it keeps your brain still functioning on something educational during summer break to be prepared for that class next year. “ Mikayla Dimulias Junior

“ Summer homework isn’t the best. Summer is a time to be out of school, not stressing over it.”

Cole Gillis Sophomore

Alicia Dimulias Freshman

Summers of success and stress Summer assignments AP Studio students are also expected to complete an independent Summer Sketchbook Assignment in preparation for their fall semester. All AP students will use a sketchbook all year to develop their design ideas and show evidence of their working process

AP Stats students are expected to complete a worksheet involving statistics based vocabulary, solve basic statistics problems, brush up on algebra by way of an Algebra 2 worksheet, and improve graphing/plotting data skills

AP Computer Science Students are expected to complete a typing test to make sure their typing speed is 50 wpm or above, and complete a series of project based assignments involving pseudo code and real code.

AP Biology students are expected to complete a series of Labs, read a biology based book, direct and independent biological study, and memorize vocab pertaining to the course curriculum

AP Literature students are tasked with memorization and analysis of a series of biblical works, reading and analyzing a fiction novel, and memorizing a series of allusions pertinent to the class curriculum

AP World History students are expected to complete notes including study guides and visual aides for 125 pages of the book (5 chapters), and answer a long essay prompt on one of the world history topics.

Catherine Monroy/Bear Witness

Science and math homework holds benefits over summer ADAM SALEH

Science and technology editor

ummer homework: always done the week before the end school starts. This sad truth makes me question the relevance of even having the assignments. Yes, a refresher on calculus would be conducive to starting the year off right but what about the language arts summer reading or watered-down science projects we’ve become all too familiar with? In my experience, teachers often collect the work with no later discussion, if it is collected at all. Some teachers are addressing the purpose of summer assignments. Mr. Steven Turner’s AP Computer Science class asks that incoming students complete a series of project-based assignments to introduce them into coding and problem-solving concepts. The students also take a typing test to make sure that they can type faster than 50 words per minute (wpm). The effectiveness of that assignment lies in the actual building of skills rather than repetitive busywork. Students are tired of applying skills that they are already familiar with for summer homework. We already know what the structure of an essay is like. It feels as if there is nothing gained from it. This is where the distinction in context comes in. In math and most science courses, the summer homework will usually

involve some sort of conceptual enrichment along the lines of new equations or formulas. However, In language arts students are often tasked with weak, repetitive assignments that don’t necessarily teach the student anything they didn’t already know. If I’m tasked with extra work over the summer I’d rather be learning concepts that are actually constructive to whatever classes I will be taking in that coming school year. Teachers have caught onto this concept, but they haven’t really taken action. History teacher Mr. Brett Johanson reminds his students that he doesn’t believe in summer homework, yet still assigns it for his incoming AP students. The best reasoning for this logic is that summer homework is needed to provide students with background knowledge in order to hit the ground running will advanced course requirements regardless of if the student paces themselves on the work or waits till the last minute. “If you’re taking advanced courses it’s helpful, and it gives you knowledge on what’s expected during the school year,” said sophomore Connor Ngo. He thinks summer assignments help students effectively communicate and learn valid college skills. Junior Jessica Vo said summer homework is tedious. “I value my summertime for other priorities over summer homework,” she said.

Academics and structure best utilize break SAI TUMMALA

Staff Writer

ow do you plan on spending the 10 weeks of pure bliss and homework-less nights? Many choose to relax and soak up the sunshine as they enjoy the warm weather after strenuous months of school. With many students hounded by standardized tests such as the new state tests, the SAT and ACT, AP exams and sports, it is natural to take a few weeks to relax before returning to school in August. Many students are bolster their high school experience with summer jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities and even summer classes. Students work to money, volunteer in community or acquiring more knowledge to help them in the following year. While this does provide functional support as you aren’t idle-minded and are actually productively preoccupied, it is tough to convert to an alternative lifestyle from the relaxing bliss you had experienced before. Students who can afford expensive

SAT or ACT prep courses have a significant advantage, making it tough for students who come from low-income families Local community colleges provide free courses for high school students. Branham counselors have have prepared a list of summer opportunities for students including paying/non-paying internships, and free or paid seminars. A summer only relaxing without something to keep your mind busy would heavily debilitate your following year. All you have to do is to seek out courses, jobs, or internships that would match your interests as well as your financial status. But of course before you apply to anything, make sure you meet age requirements, check the organization’s background, and if you plan to work for payment and are under 18, pick up a work permit from the Student Service Center. With so many possibilities to utilize this summer to hone your intellectual edges and even stack some cash, what will you do on your vacation?

BEAR WITNESS

JUNE 2, 2017 |

SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

“Robocalls”, as they are now appropriately named, are are the No. 1 reason for customer complaint according to the Federal Communications Commissions.

Spam call takeover

Science/Tech Bytes Exoskeletons promise greater mobility

The home improvement retailor, Lowes, has been testing exoskeletons on a few employees in hopes to have all employees wear them to make it easier for them to lift objects and stock shelves. The exoskeloton suit has attached carbon-fiber shafts that run down the employee’s back and thighs. The shafts flex and store energy as the employee bends over to pick something up. When the employee stands, the rods straighten and the energy releases which makes the task easier to do and manage.

Increase in robocalls sparks FCC action

Unlimited external storage capabilities

Dash-i MicroSD Reader is a MicroSD card reader for iOS devices that gives you unlimited external storage capabilities. It can be attached to a key ring and taken anywhere you go; super portable. In addition, you can also password-protect files and back files up from your iOS device.

Aiming to save energy, money on roofs

Julia Bozzo/Special to Bear Witness SAI TUMMALA Staff Writer

any of you have received numerous M phone calls regarding an “all expense paid trip” to a beautiful destination

sponsored by a well recognized company. “Robocalls” as they are now appropriately named are are the No. 1 reason for customer complaint according to the Federal Communications Commissions. With robocalls averaging at 2.4 billion calls per month, robocall-blocking softwares are on the rise as well. Alex Quilici stated that the estimated number of robocalls has increased by 1.3 billion in the last one year alone. Said calls aren’t simply tedious to deal with, but may are preyed upon into giving up their financial information and fall victim to losing much of their savings. Robocalls have been around in the form of scammers, unknown numbers, or simply automated calls from marketers spamming you. Through such marketers or scammers sending millions of robocalls, individuals posing as tax collectors can scam the public of their money. The FCC reports that in the last year alone, such scammers have made over $26 million. In time, callers with un-

known or bizarre numbers became blocked, but they had evolved and expanded into imitating the victim’s area code in order to increase the rate at which callers picked up the phone. Carriers and the government have worked hard in order to end such disturbances by blocking numbers that aren’t valid, but call people. Collaboration between strike teams of large tech companies such as Google and AT&T and the FCC allows for attempts and ending robocalls yet more loopholes are found. The proposal that allowed carriers to block invalid numbers made robocallers to morph and make fake numbers that would call people instead. More websites that allow quick setups to send out numerous robocalls for cheap allow marketers to increase the flow of robocalls. The most notable change to robocalls is that they now have imitated the location of the person they call by matching their area code. Groups or individuals run millions of calls with little expense by using programs such as CallerBot, CallBot, or CallCoin (which is paid for by BitCoin). By utilizing these programs and having programmed replies for questions such as, “Are you a robot?” Some signs that you should watch out for should be questions like, “Can you hear

LSU | students unite to discuss their futures

formed,” said sophomore Natalie Bacilio. According to Emanuel, the LSU aims to create a support system for all Latino students, and it is founded on three core Cs: college, community and culture. The club also invites speakers who share information about Omar Ababneh/Bear Witness colleges and careers. Mariachi band plays music while Latino Three weeks ago, the Campbell Union High School District students LSU was presented with each lunch at the LSU conference. alarming statistics. According to the California Department of Education, only 43.2 percent of the Latino student population in the district graduate with their A-G requirements fulfilled, which are needed for UCs and most other colleges. Campbell Union High School District is eighth among a list of 12 districts in the county. Raúl said that he wasn’t very surprised. “This is only one part of our many issues,” he said. “There are many variables to it. Some issues are a lack of support at home, from parents, teachers … lack of encouragement and communication with students.” To remedy this issue, LSU created the LSU summit. “This is going to be a very real conference. It’s the truth. So we’re going to show them ways in which they can improve, too. I hope this gives the motivated kids a path and the unmotivated kids wake up calls” said Raul. The event caught the attention of news organizations in the the Bay Area, like Telemundo and KJO. The event was limited and only able to

me?” which allows callers to receive your voice signature when you answer with answers such as, “Yes.” or anything of the sorts. This of course makes you more prone to more robocalls and used as authorization for fraudulent charges according to the FCC Of course there are many ways that victims can fight back against the constant annoyance and scams. The Jolly Roger Telephone Company offers a robot to take over the call and puts the robocall on mute while the program gives programmed responses to either irritate real scammers or simply deflect robocalls: “The robots string the callers along with vocal fillers like ‘Uh-huh’ and ‘O.K., O.K.’ after several minutes, some will ask the callers to repeat their sales pitch from the beginning, prompting the telemarketers to have angry meltdowns…” states the New York Times. Robocalls are omnipresent with even one of our own Bear Witness students receiving a call in the middle of class, and with technology expanding so social media, e-mail, and caller bots working in cohesion to scam the public, it is extremely important that everyone pays attention to those who call them and to block all unknown numbers because more often than not, a trip to the Bahamas is not free.

Your Robocall follows this path

1. Your number ends up on the list either from guessing your number or receiving it from a public event 2. You get an illegal robocall 3. Either you: 1.press 1 to talk 2.press 2 to take your name off the list 3.hang up 4. Option 1 puts you on a hot list and they transfer you 5. Option 2 is most likely ignored 6. Option 3 is the end for now, but you may get another call later

Best Buddies | 16th annual

prom exceeds expectations

general education students is by hosting an annual prom specifically for students in Santa Clara County. This prom is similar to a typical prom that all high schools have in that both provide a night of a sit down dinner and dancing. What distinguishes the Best Buddies Prom is that it allows both general education students and special education students of any grade level to attend. Additionally, the Best Buddies Prom is a more inviting and positive environment for the special education students than a traditional prom because everyone is there to simply have a wonderful night filled of memorable moments. The masterminds behind the grand event are Ms. Heather Cooper, Branham’s Activities Director’s Assistant and Ms. Charlene Hernandez, the head of the Special Education Department. Both of them and other helpers have been planning for the prom since last semester. Each year, the prom theme is Disney-related; themes in the past have included such like Alice in Wonderland. This year, the theme was Neverland, a representation of the movie “Peter Pan”. Students from Branham’s Best Buddies and Branham’s advanced art class

all worked on decorations during the weeks leading up to the event, creating and painting posters that would be later hung in the venue of the dance. Senior Emilie Jenkins was just one of the students to work on prom decorations. “Making posters for the Best Buddies Prom was an absolute blast. I loved seeing all of our hard work pay off with the beautifully decorated room.” On the morning of Prom Day, students involved in Best Buddies and volunteers from NHS came to the venue at 10 am to set up the registration tables and decorations inside the ballroom. After set up, everyone went home to get ready for a magical night. In addition to hosting the prom, this year has been an especially triumphant year for Branham’s chapter. On April 22 at the annual Northern California Friendship Walk in San Francisco, Branham High School’s Best Buddies was awarded Outstanding High School Chapter of the Year out of all the schools in Northern California. This was a big accomplishment for Branham after many years of successful chapters. Branham can’t wait to see where this Chapter will go in the future.

Tesla is now ready to start selling the energy saving roofs, which start out at $21.85 per square foot of solar panels. Although initially expensive, the roofs can save people a large amount of money in energy savings in the long run. For example, a “Tesla solar roof for a two-story, 2,000-square-foot home in New York state would cost around $50,000 to install,” but “would generate $64,000 in energy savings over 30 years” (Sean O’Kane, The Verge). The energy saving roof can be ordered from almost any country and is very durable and highly unlikely to degrade overtime.

Is 8 glasses of water a day enough?

There has long been a general understanding that humans should ideally consume 8 glasses of water a day; however, Rachel Becker from the Verge recently challenged this longstanding suggestion. She explained that there isn’t a set amount of water humans need daily, and that the amount differs from person to person depending on factors like height, weight, exertion and thirst. In actuality, people don’t need to religiously stick to this guideline, as, according to the National Academy of Sciences.

No NASA crew for Space Launch System

A spacecraft called “Orion,” part of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) mission, is set for a launch in November of 2018, a date that is realistically going to be pushed back to 2019. There was briefly questioning on whether or not the flight would be a crewed flight and astronauts be sent on the mission, and whether or not this could be done safely by 2019, but NASA’s acting administrator Robert Lightfoot explained it is too “difficult to accommodate changes needed for a crewed mission.” As a result, this time there will be no crew on board this time around; however, NASA is looking to do a crewed flight some time soon after 2021

Alarm clock connects to mobile devices

The Phone-Charging Atomic Alarm Clock displays the time, day/date, temperature, humidity, and moon phases. The clock also can be connected additionally, mobile devices can be connected to side USB port for overnight charging. — Compiled by Fiorella Casteneda and Grace Clinton

BEAR WITNESS

JUNE 2, 2017 |

STUDENT LIFE

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM “If you want to do it and you push yourself hard, you can do it. ” Savidu Geevaratne on being able to balance multiple activities

MASTER OF ARTS

Dedication to trifecta of band, choir and drama makes Savidu a tough act to follow SYDNEY UYEDA

Entertainment Editor

o say that Junior Savidu Geevaratne’s daily routine is planned to the minute is possible understatement. Here was a typical day this spring: Savidu wakes up each day at 6:30 a.m., gets ready and walks to school with a friend. He takes four AP courses (Calculus BC, Biology, U.S. History and Language) and two music classes (Madrigals and Band). After school, he attends the hourlong jazz band rehearsals. Then he rushes to “The Addams Family” rehearsal, where he plays Gomez, the Spanish patriarch of odd New York family. He rehearses until about 9 p.m., where he works on homework until he falls asleep sometime between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Savidu has been doing musical theater and drama since he was in the fourth grade. His mom pushed him to do it and ever since, he has been hooked. “I’ve always been someone who was interested in theatre arts and stuff ” he says. “But my mom was the one who pushed me into doing musical theatre in a more legitimate fashion.” Savidu did Children’s Musical Theatre (CMT) outside of school since fourth grade until he stopped in high school. He has been in multiple Branham productions since his freshman year, including “The Red Curtain Rises,” “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” “High School Musical,” and “The Addams Family.” More than likely, if you’ve been to a Branham production, you’ve seen Savidu in it. When asked what his favorite memory from a Branham production was, his eyes widened as he said, “I can only pick one?!” He then went on to explain how the key component for him was the cast. Savidu explained how his freshman year he had a lot of seniors in the “Edwin Drood” and “Red Curtain Rises” casts, and that “it was nice to be able to watch and learn from them.” He also told the story of the time that he, junior Caroline Ware, and senior Kristen Williams stayed until almost 11 p.m. one time to perfect a dance number for “Addams Family.” Another favorite of his was when he, Kristen, and senior Brianna Citrigno wrote up all the cues for the “Addams Family” until about one in the morning. He laughs and said “We worked at a combination between a restaurant and Kirsten’s

house until one in the morning….. we were all kinds of delirious but it was still a fun time.” Not only does Savidu do musical theatre and drama, he is also in band and Madrigals. He has band second period and Madrigals fifth period, giving him two music classes in the middle of every school day. He began playing the piano when he was in kindergarten, and he continued to play up until middle school. “I was deciding what instrument to play in middle school and whether or not to continue doing piano with flute. [Continuing piano] and musical theatre inside and outside of school plus band was going to be a lot so I made the decision to drop piano and start the flute and have been doing that ever since.” Even though he dropped piano back in the beginning of his middle school years, he has still honed some skills and can still play. Not only can he still play piano after all these years, he also plays Ukulele in his spare time. With all of his crazy school activities, Savidu still manages to keep time for his friends. Whether it’s hanging out in the band room rehearsing, rehearsing for a show, or simply eating lunch, he manages his time so he can hang out with his friends. Junior Emma Tucker says the one thing she likes most about Savidu is “his dedication to everything he does, and how much he cares about his friends.” She also described him as “charismatic” and “hard-working.” Junior Claire Carter described him as “talented” and “altruistic.” Her favorite thing about Savidu is that “he has this unique ability to make people feel cared about and wanted. He always manages to make time for you even if he doesn’t really have time to give.” With band, theatre, musical theatre, school, homework, sleep, and socializing a question comes to mind: how does Savidu do it? How does he manage to balance everything he has going on on his plate? Savidu says that a lot of it is the want. “If you want to do it and you push yourself hard, you can do it but I think there is a limit to what you are capable of doing.” He continued with, “For me, during ‘hell week’ (the week before and of a show) my grades slip a little bit but I’ve been working really hard to get them back up….talking to your teachers is really important too.”

Starring roles for Savidu 2010 “A Pirate’s Life” 2011 “A Kid’s Life” — Grandpa 2013 “Aladdin” — Aladdin

s colleges become more competitive and A the need to stand out among applicants increases, students are looking for more profes-

sional extracurriculars such as internships and jobs. Students have different motives for taking part in such positions, ranging everywhere from earning money for college, meeting new people, getting more experience in a field of interest, or simply doing it because they love it. A number of students at Branham fall under this category, and take part in either a job, internship or work experience programs outside of school. One common work experience program that many Branham students partake in is the Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE). Junior Esperanza Herrera Rivera participated in SVCTE this year because she “wanted to do

Link Crew organized the Freshmen Quad Party on May 15 as their final meeting of the year. Freshmen participated in activities that included water balloon tossing, three-legged race, dodgeball, and sumo wrestling.

Clubs Boba, tacos, donuts at Food fair

On May 26, Branham clubs participated in a Food Fair during the Summer Kickoff Week. Clubs sold food including donuts, nachos, ice cream and Boba. Juniors Dylan Moore, Paul Smith, Kaleb Fulmer and alumni Aaron Sayre performed on the quad stage.

Leadership

Freshmen Sophomores

2015 “Mystery of Edwin Drood” — John Jasper/Clive Paget Juniors

2016 “The Pajama Game” — Sidsorokin 2017 “The Addams Family” — Gomez Addams

something more professional.” Esperanza originally wanted to enroll in the law program, but there was a struggle to find an adequate teacher, so she participated in the dental program. She is now a few exams away from becoming a certified dental assistant. She also took home a silver medal at the state level of the SkillsUSA competition, a competition that SVCTE students can compete in to demonstrate their knowledge in their field of expertise. Esperanza said one of the perks of the program was that it was completely free. After a first semester of SVCTE, Esperanza is now enrolled in an internship at Jamah Dental, where she practices on patients. Esperanza explained that she now has “learned the meaning of professionalism” and understands what it means to have integrity in the workplace. Next school year, Esperanza will participate in the work experience class rather than SVCTE. The work experience course for seniors, taught

Seniors

New class colors selected for next school year

For many years, Branham’s class colors have been blue for seniors, purple for juniors, yellow for sophomores, and orange for freshmen. Out of these four colors, the only actual Branham school color used is blue. Many have wondered: Why do we have these colors when they don’t represent Branham? There is no longer a need to fumble for an answer to this question. Branham will be having its 50th anniversary, and with the festivities, the school is bringing brand new changes to the school. These changes will include a new logo as well as new class colors corresponding to our school’s actual colors, columbia blue, navy blue, and white. Starting next year, freshmen will wear white, sophomores will sport gray, juniors will don Columbia blue, and seniors will model navy. “The new class colors will bring more school spirit, as they will all be Branham colors,” said Ms. Shari Scott-Sawyer, the activities director. — Compiled by Iz Munoz and Fiorella Castaneda

PAL class new option for leadership TAYLOR DOAN

Internships, work experience prepare students Sports Editor

Link Crew Link Crew concludes with freshmen activities

2014 “Hairspray” — Seaweed

Christina Plank/Special to Bear Witness Junior Savidu Geevaratne stole the show as Gomez Addams, the patriarch of the titular family. Savidu has acted in many of Branham’s musicals.

GRACE CLINTON

Campus Roundups

by Mrs. Mary Anne Neil, “combines supervised part time employment with academic and skill preparation in the classroom.” Students learn how to interview, file for taxes, and report unsafe working conditions. Through SVCTE and the work experience class, Branham students have many opportunities to stray from traditional schooling if they prefer. In addition, many students at Branham take on actual paying jobs in the community. For instance, junior Matthew Garcia works at Target. He applied for the job “because [he] wanted money and some work experience.” Having five or six classes to keep up with can be tiring at times, so to add on an internship or job to that is still quite admirable. Having jobs and internships in high school is very wise as it can help students ease the financial burden of college, find clarity in what they want to pursue in life, and help students acquire skills for fields of interest.

Copy Editor

repare for next year to be filled with new events on campus, and a lot more peerto-peer interaction with students who will be apart of next year’s new leadership program: Peer Assisted Leadership (PAL). The process for getting involved in the student body has changed, splitting leadership candidates into ASB and PAL. Activities Director Ms. Shari Scott-Sawyer is credited to this new leadership class on campus, and she believes that it will help reach all interests of students on campus. She said, “My My goal is goal is to make sure ev- to make sure eryone is able to participate, not just the kids everyone is who are already spirited able to parand involved in school ticipate. events.” Approximately 50 individuals are en- Ms. Shari rolled in the class. Scott-Sawyer Rather than being ad- Activities Director mitted into the ASB class, which organizes events such as rallies, dances, and spirit weeks, some students had been offered to join the new PAL class. Sophomore Leila Zonoobi, who will be apart of the program, said, “I’m really excited to be apart of thist.” She had hoped to make it into the ASB class for her junior year, but she is not any less grateful for the opportunity to be apart of a group that will help students in many areas such as depression, peer conflict, and stress. The program will enhance themes such as Cancer Awareness and Anti-Bullying to accompany spirit weeks already implemented by the ASB class. Winter Wishes will be organized by the PAL and leadership class. Leadership will take on the more traditional activities, such as homecoming and prom.

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BEAR WITNESS

JUNE 2, 2017 |

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

STUDENT LIFE

12 out of 100 Branham students have contemplated suicide

Signs of suicidal ideation

Withdrawal Voluntary isolation from friends, family, and previously enjoyed activities Self harm Visible bruises and cuts or talk of hurting oneself Appetite Excessive or lack of eating Apathy Feeling hopeless or ready to give up Speech Talk of wanting to hurt oneself or others. Indicating that they are a burden, they no longer see a point in living, or that they can no longer handle this Changes in mood Irritability, sadness, pessimism, or sudden changes in mood Substance abuse Alcohol or drug abuse Appearance Sudden changes in appearance or weight loss or gain Preparation Selling or giving away prized possessions, putting responsibilities in order, saying goodbye to loved ones Results are based on the Healthy Kids Survey, completed by 87% of Branham students.

Hotlines In a life threatening emergency Call 911

26%

25%

Experienced sadness or hopelessness

Experienced bullying or harassment

25% Had rumors or lies spread about them

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-8255 (English) Call 1-888-628-9454 (Spanish) Call 1-800-799-4889 (Deaf and Hard of Hearing) Crisis Text Line Text 741741

Julia Kolman/Bear Witness

“Thirteen Reasons Why” reflects reality of sexual harassment, rumors, and teen suicide

JULIA KOLMAN

Editor-in-Chief

uicide is not an option” reads the poster Alex Standall tears from the hallway of Liberty High. “What, they think these are going to save someone’s life? ‘Suicide is not an option.’ You know what? Clearly it is an option,” he says to protagonist Clay Jensen. And it is. Suicide is the option for the 44,000 Americans who take their own life each year, and is the second-leading cause of death among teenagers. Suicide, and some of its causes, such as bullying, sexual harassment, and rape, are explored in the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why,” adapted from the novel of the same name by Jay Asher. The central character, Hannah Baker, commits suicide, and records 13 tapes addressed to her peers explaining how they were involved in her decision to end her life. On Twitter, the Netflix series is the most trending show of 2017, but has received both scathing criticism and high praise from both students and administrators. Some fear that the show dramatizes and glorifies suicide, and the graphic scene of Hannah’s death is said to be “too disturbing.” But the truth is that 5,000 teens attempt suicide each day. Branham’s recent Healthy Kids Survey found that 12 percent of Branham students have considered suicide, which is approx-

imately 200 of the 1,600 students on campus. This statistic shows that suicide is an issue at Branham, and some feel that “13 Reasons Why” is reflective of our current high school climate. Sexual harassment

Hannah’s first reason began with a rumor, which led to the sexual objectification of her body by her peers. The events of sexual harassment unraveled, and Hannah both witnessed and was a victim of rape. French teacher Ms. Laurel Garceau, who read the novel, recalled a point in the book when “guys expect girls to do certain things sexually and then (the girls) get a reputation.” She states that this theme is prominent in high school today, and always has been. Assistant Principal Mr. Rick Hayashi watched the series with his children, and said that he had conversations with his son about “treating females appropriately.” The matter of bragging of what one has done, or claims to have done in Hannah’s situation, “is how rumors spread,” Mr. Hayashi said, “and it ultimately can get back to that person and you can’t undo that.” Rumors and bullying

The rumors and jarring words of the students in the Netflix series are true to many campuses, including our own. Principal Ms. Cheryl Lawton watched the show and believes some of the situations to be similar to those she’s seen in various schools. She said campuses have always had this issue, but social media now compli-

cates bullying. Mr. Hayashi states that the administration sees what students post on social media, “the rumors and the texts, the online bullying” and he hopes students report negative things they see online to the school. These comments are not limited to social media, however. In the series, Hannah’s mother finds derogatory words written on the bathroom walls. In the Branham’s women’s restroom, one would see a “conversation” marked in a stall that started with “what should I f-ing do,” followed by “IDK (I don’t know)” followed by, “KYS (kill yourself ).” These are the words students see everyday. This is the truth we choose to ignore. Reflection of school resources and support

The graphic scenes of rape and suicide in the series are disturbing, as they should be. These are raw topics that are rarely discussed in schools. Students are given limited information in presentations from the guidance counselors, and resources are hardly advertised. “13 Reasons Why” serves as a resource for students and brings awareness to these heavy themes. Beyond awareness, viewers can gain some understanding for how to help. Hannah addresses her school counselor as one of her “reasons” as he failed to provide support as she tried to confess that she was raped. Mr. Hayashi states, “It made me even more sensitive to the idea that you really need to listen to the kids, and sometimes kids won’t ask for help directly. You have to look at the little signs.”

Noticing the signs and receiving help

The signs are there, in Hannah, in Alex, and in most students who are battling suicidal ideation. School psychologist Ms. Jeannette Medina states that students and teachers can notice these signs in others, which include talk of death, depressed mood, withdrawal from others, and substance abuse. Ms. Medina states, “Any time a student or an individual is talking about wanting to hurt themselves or hurt others, we as a person have the obligation to follow up.” Any suicidal sign should be questioned and reported. “It’s better to be wrong in any case than to be too cautious.” English teacher Ms. Heather Amanatullah states that there have been instances where she contacts the school administration, or even the police, and informed parents that their child was contemplating suicide. As a teacher, she is trained to notice these signs in her students. Hannah’s situation with a school counselor was poor. He minimized her situation, and she felt alone. This should not be the case for any student. Ms. Medina advises, “If you don’t feel like you’re being heard by one person, don’t stop there. Continue to go and get help.” Thirteen Reasons Why brings to light the fact that suicide is an option, but of course, students need to be assured that there are certainly other options to relieve pain and get help. Support is available on an off campus, so students can contact school counselors, hotlines, or their physician for a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist.

BEAR WITNESS

JUNE 2, 2017 |

SPORTS

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM “Everyone trusted each other to do their jobs on and off the field. ” Taylor Wong on the relationships on the softball team

Bonded softball team to CCS JOCELYN PIERCE Staff Writer

ranham‘s girls varsity softB ball team closed out an extraordinary season with their

loss in a first-round CCS game against Leland High School. Leland took a 4-0 lead right off the bat, but Branham slowly closed the gap 4-3. Sophomore Madison Ribeiro was temporarily injured, rattling the Lady Bruins and letting Leland build their lead up to 8-3. Junior Zylee Augenstein hit a two-run double in the top of the seventh inning, closing the gap to 8-5. Sophomore Taylor Fowler then hit a three-run homerun over the fence, tying the game 8-8. This was Fowler’s first homerun of the year. Despite the Bruins’ amazing comeback, the girls faced a devastating defeat when Leland scored in the final inning, defeating Branham 9-8. The team finished off the season with a league record of 104, and an overall record of 20-8. Madison credits the girls’ accomplishments to their goals of improvement. “We recognized our Jocelyn Pierce/Bear Witness mistakes and faced them head on,

The girls huddle together after another great game . Their chemistry on and off the field was a huge factor in their success.

Golf

New coach leads to record of 12-1

Boys’ tennis

New team faces troubling season

TY SHIKASHIO

OMAR ABABNEH

ranham golf finished their dominant seaB son with an overall record of 12-1 and a regular (undefeated) season record of 10-0. The

ranham High School’s tennis team just B recently ended their season after somewhat of a troubling season. The tennis team

Staff Writer

Managing Editor

Bruins pummeled their competition this year, even clinching the BVAL league title just six games into the regular season. A new coach this year helped guide Branham to success. Coach Garrett Benjamin, who also teaches AP Biology at Branham, is pleased with his team’s performance this year. “I enjoyed seeing every athlete play to their greatest potential throughout the season,” he said. “Each golfer PR’d throughout league, and there was a lot of commitment by each of the players.” Coach Benjamin also added that the team’s success can be attributed to the overall focus at the task at hand and “worrying more about the process than the product.” Junior Nick Majors was a driving force who helped his team breeze through the Blossom Valley League. He enjoyed the success his team had this past season, and said, “As a team, we were more focused at practice compared to years prior.” Next year is going to be much more difficult as the team will then be in A league; however, Nick is still excited to play. “Even though we will be losing two seniors, it will still be fun playing a great sport.” Some highlights of the season include a 212309 win vs. Live Oak and a 213-278 win vs. Westmont. Junior Craig Elliott attributes Branham’s consistency to the practice they put in

Branham Golf Facebook/Special to Bear Witness Craig Elliot, junior, attempting to putt his way to victory.

each day. “The difference between this year and last year was the amount of practice time we put in,” he said. “Treating each practice like it was a match, playing realistic shots on the range, and playing a lot of practice rounds definitely helped us stay consistent this year.”

Basketball

Basketball tournament promotes health OMAR ABABNEH

Swim and dive

Undefeated JV girls win league champions LAURA HEFFERNAN

against Live Oak when they won with a score

ranham swimming and diving had a sucB cessful season this year with junior varsity girls finishing the season undefeated (7-0) and

ithin the last three weeks, Branham held W its 18th annual Hoops for Health, a fun basketball competition at lunch. Hoops for

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ended the season with a 5-9 (L-W) record. The team lost their previous coach Nirmit Shetty and had a struggle finding a new coach, causing the season to start a little late. This gave a disadvantage to a lot of the players. “It takes about 6 months to embrace a change, and we didn’t have that time. We didn’t have the time and comfort we needed. Guys only Max Minchin/ Special to Bear Witness had a week before stepping on the court, so Junior, Robert Brodsky, pictured wacking the it threw the team behind,” said Coach Brett tennis ball to his opponent during a match. Foreman, the current tennis coach. Another problem Branham faced was the land, Prospect and Piedmont. Branham then number of experienced players there were. managed getting a win against Silver Creek, Branham rostered around 30 players, and only beating them 6-1. Branham then lost to 15-20% were actually experienced players. Westmont 3-4, but ended the season strong Yet the boys managed to pull a decent sea- beating Willow Glen again 7-1. The coach and players are putting the past son for the numbers they had. In their first season behind and looking forward. Coach match against Evergreen Branham lost 7-0, but actually ended up winning by default be- Brett is already planning ahead to utilize the cause one of evergreen’s players was ineligible. next season to the maximum and hopefully Branham then lost both of their next games come out with better results. “Ultimately, what against Leland and Piedmont. In their fourth I would like to do differently is to have a betgame against Silver Creek, Branham again ter plan as far as setting up more fundraisers.I won by default because one of Silver Creek’s would like to have some luxury; other sports players was ineligible. Branham then lost to get a lot more funding. Other programs are Westmont 2-5. Branham got its first actual considered top sports, [and] tennis isn’t one of win against Willow Glen, beating them 7-1. them. I also want to set up more practices and Branham then went on to losing their next for the boys to improve.” The Branham Tennis five games against Prospect, Evergreen, Le- season is working hard to make sure their next season ends on a much better note.

Staff Writer

Health was founded to teach students sportsmanship and to stay healthy. In the beginning, the event was focused on promoting anti-smoking. The event was connected to the health class Branham once had as part of its curriculum. It got passed on through many classes, clubs, and drug awareness classes. We want to promote sportsmanship and staying healthy, so this event was created,” said Mr. Smare. “The event is all about honesty, playing fair, and most importantly, having fun.” Hoops for Health was inspired by Hoop It Up, a very famous countrywide event, that corresponds with the NBA. Hoop It Up is the biggest 3v3 basketball tournament in the world, and has been around for 25 years. The event got a lot of coverage, and inspired many schools to do what Branham has done. The rules of the competition were very simple. Teams of 3v3 play each other in a half court match. Every team is guaranteed three games. The first team to score twenty points wins. The winner of each bracket goes off to the playoffs. This year Branham has had 22 teams signed up, the most ever, one of the teams being a staff team. The event started on May 15. The games were intense at times and very fun

tackling them so they wouldn’t affect the next game. The joy we felt from our successes constantly drove us to do better and watch our hard work pay off.” The JV Lady Bruins enjoyed an undefeated season this year. They finished with a league record of 12-0, an improvement from last year’s record of 8-4. Sophomore Taylor Wong goes as far to describe this year as the “best season ever” due to the girls’ talents, as well as the behind the scenes chemistry. “Everyone trusted each other to do their jobs on and off the field. We all contributed equally, the game was never solely dependent on one person.” Freshman Emma Le shared a similar viewpoint as Wong. “The fact that we spent so much time together definitely contributed to our success. We started off the season with so many different skill levels, but it didn’t take long for us to learn how to work as a team.” Le says that playing for Branham was “probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I got to play the sport I love with the people I love.”

Iz munoz/Bear Witness Students engage in a friendly game of basketball at lunch in the Hoops for Health tournamnent. to watch. Every lunch, the gym was completely packed with students watching and cheering. In the end, Team Raw won, staying undefeated throughout the whole competition. Team Raw consisted of Jarrett Powers, Matt Sakamoto, Matt Fernandez, Keith Hackleman, and Gavin Rodinsky. “Hoops for Health is always a lot of fun and it’s nice to be able to play against a wide variety of teams,” said Jarrett. “The competition was great this year and it’s cool to see the program’s expansion over the past few years.” With the amount of success from this years Hoops for Health, Mr. Smare is optimistic about next year’s event, believing it will be even bigger than it is now.

becoming league champions. Sophomore and Junior Varsity swimmer, Doreen Yu, displayed excellence this season in the 100 meter freestyle, when she pulled ahead to take first. Sophomore Sam Rocheville said, “I think we really stepped up our game from last year.” Rocheville also adds how proud she is that everyone worked hard because they wanted to be league champions. Two girls from the varsity team, Bailey Donaldson and Melissa Muslic, advanced to CCS (Central Coast Section). Donaldson advanced in the 100 meter backstroke and finished with a final time of 1:01.56 which is faster than her qualifying time (1:02.59). Donaldson also swam the 100 meter butterfly and finished with a time of 1:00.58. Muslic advanced in the 50 meter freestyle and finished with a final time of 25.70. Varsity girls as a whole finished the season 5-2. Despite a loss to Piedmont Hills, the girls were successful at the Lincoln meet, finishing with a score of 92-88. Junior varsity boys finished the season 6-1 and third in league. JV boys had a great meet

Alex Headley/Special to Bear Witness A Bruin swim relay team posing for a picture after a very successful meet at CCS. of 13-12. Sophomore Gabe Burrows said, “We had a bigger team this year, and we improved as a whole and individually.” Varsity boys finished the season 5-2 and third in league. Varsity boys had a very close meet this season at Lincoln where they only won 87-83. Luckily, at this meet sophomore Sasha Mariniuk pulled ahead a full lap (25 meters) in the 200 meter individual medley. Branham’s swim team has seen great improvements since last year and hopes to continue improving in the future.

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SPORTS Track team to CCS

“The team chemistry is what really brought us to win league.” - Senior Jordan Bateman

CUHSD fields renovated

ADAM SALEH

Science and Technology editor

Iz Munoz/Bear Witness A posted sign alerts people that both the track and field, as well as the surrounding facilities will be closed during reconstruction. KELLEY SHEEN Editor-in-Chief

he track and football fields in the Campbell Union High T School District were renovated with funding from the AA bond. Because of the construction, the track and field team

held practice at Leigh and the P.E. classes are doing alternate activities in the tennis courts and around campus. While the construction of the track is ultimately a good thing for both our school’s athletic teams and overall campus aesthetic, to many, the timing seemed concerning and problematic. The projected date of completion for the field is June 6, two days before graduation. Construction began on March 29, yet the center Bruin logo was placed on May 4. Construction is tedious labor and not everything can be expected to go perfectly. For example, the portables alongside the history wing near Dent Grove were completed well past their projected date of completion. The main concern of both parents and students is whether or not the track and field will be completed before graduation. When Branham’s Athletic Facebook page posted the news, community members commented their concerns and reacted with the “angry emoji” reaction. Some expressed concern for the seniors and their graduation ceremony, while another

expressed concern for the P.E. classes. Principal Ms. Cheryl Lawton stated that the construction company must finish and sign off on June 6, or they will have to pay a hefty fine. Why did the school plan to redo the field in the middle of second semester so close to graduation? On Facebook, one community member asked why the school didn’t plan for this in the summer. According to Ms. Lawton, the company in charge of the construction for our district could only renovate three fields at once, therefore Branham and Del Mar decided to go under construction now and the remaining three schools will go under construction in the summer. While planning for the new fields began last fall, final decisions were made this year. The district’s main goal was to have the field ready with the least amount of disruption. Because there is much confusion and worry surrounding the field and if it will be completed as well as what would happen if it were not completed, Ms. Lawton expressed full confidence that the field would be completed in time. “I am usually a plan A, B, C, D person… I am confident that the field will be completed in time,” she said. Therefore, ideally the field would be completed on June 6, the seniors will have rehearsals on June 7, and graduation will be held on June 8.

Golf and Volleyball

Hard work yields perfect seasons for golf, volleyball

Iz Munoz/Bear Witness IZ MUNOZ

Production Manager

itles don’t just come falling from the sky, they T are earned by improving and working harder to achieve the goal- particularly these two Branham

teams, Boys Golf and Boys Volleyball. Seeing how far the golf team has gone this year, you’d probably be surprised to hear about some of its struggles in previous years. Last year, they were placed in the A league division but did not manage to pull off a single win. The team had struggled with organization and creating schedules that were flexible with the players. One main reason was that some of the student’s would not show up since the practice times were very free and loose. However, Branham golf has taken a huge step this year in improving their sports program. The team’s overall record was 12-1 and 10-0 in the Blossom Valley League which gave them the league title for B Division. After a new structure and organized practices, the team has worked many hours in improving their game. Here are some words Senior Jacob Gil had to say about the team’s improvement, “For golf, you need to practice everyday in order to keep consistency… Mr.Benjamin and the other coaches had knowledge that we didn’t have previous years which helped a lot of the underclassmen accli-

mate to competitive golf better.” The boys varsity volleyball team were as well on the come up with a spectacular season. Last year, the boys overall record was good with 13 wins and 12 loses. The team did have a bit of a struggle competing against big teams so their chances of the title were quite slim. The boys came into this years season better and more prepared than ever. They finished with a 25-1 overall record and 12-0 in the A Division league. This dominate season gave the boys a league title and a spot to compete in CCS with a second seed ranking. Senior Jordan Bateman was very proud of the team’s improvements and here are some words he had to say, “Last year we weren’t as much as a brotherhood… The team chemistry is what really brought us to win league but as well as Coach Cooper who was like our mom and coach at the same time. In the end this season will be in my heart forever because we were a brotherhood and no one could ever change that.” Unfortunately, the team was defeated by Mt. Madonna after a hard fought match during their CCS run, but what a great season the boys had. We hope to see many of our Branham teams reach those titles for our school. The hard work of our student athletes are showing and it all starts by improving and learning.

Branham High School track and field has had a productive year with a flawless season record for the girls varsity 4x100m relay team and league highs coming out of standout athletes from the girls and boys short sprinting team, girls vertical jumping team, and boys horizontal jumping team. Early into the season, pole vaulters Eseta Finau and Marisol Corton attended the Reno Pole Vaulting Summit to sharpen their skills and set PRs going into the track season. Short sprints runner Maya Cook and middle distance runner Jasmyne Umpierre also came into the season fresh out of Coach Greg Marshall’s own indoor track and field team that practices in the fall and winter. Branham’s track team also yielded high performing freshman, with Evan Franco producing sub 5 minute mile times, and pole vaulters Phoebe Roach and Drew Gilbert pushing the heights of 9’6” and 9’10” respectively.

Pushing through league finals, the girls sprinting, long distance and jumping teams continued to a well-deserved third place in CCS finals with Cook leading the pack, winning first place in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash with a time of 12.16 seconds and 24.73 seconds respectively. When asked about her season Cook said, “I did really well this season and I accomplished the goals I set in the beginning of the year. I feel like my coach has more confidence in me than I did in myself and I’m glad I had him as a coach to finish off my high school career.” Long distance runner Sarah MacGregor and vaulters Finau and Corton also performed well during the finals, with MacGregor’s mile run clocking in at a blazing 5:22 and vaults of eleven feet for both Finau and Corton. Branham track and field had an explosive season, and there is excitement already building in the team for next year’s season.

Adam Saleh/Bear Witness Senior Maya Cook races alongside other girls in the 200m at league finals.

Badminton

Badminton has bumpy season SYDNEY UYEDA

Entertainment Editor

he spring sports seasons have come T to a close, including badminton. Five captains were delegated at the beginning

of the season: juniors Julie Pham, Truman Tang, sophomore Robert He, and seniors Taiga Mori and Gagandeep Sharma. Little did they know the struggles they would face during the season. The badminton team struggled this season, as they lost one of their two coaches sometime in the early beginning of the season and, at one point, had too many players. “The beginning of the season was rough,” says Captain Julie Pham. “We had too many players and not enough court space… we never had tryouts because the vision was to give everyone a chance to learn the

sport.” They eventually had to have cuts which, in Julie’s eyes, enabled the team to have “better practices and [focus] more on the newer players.” Junior Nadia Hall however, says she thinks “the season went well and that everyone played well.” She had a great season, as her and her partner, junior Derek Huang, won their first game of the season against Yerba Buena back in the middle of March. Nadia also said that she plans on coming back next year to improve her badminton skills and hopefully win some more games. Julie really enjoyed the season, saying “I may not have won a lot this year but me and my partner are willing to put in the work from now to the start of next season in order to win and make it to league finals.”

Baseball

Baseball strikes out TAYLOR DOAN Copy Editor

aseball season is coming to a close as B the rest of the spring sports begin to hold their senior nights. Both junior varsi-

ty and varsity teams have failed to match previous season records, making the outlook for the 2017-18 season look quite bleak. JV Bruins did considerably well this season, with a record of 16-8-1, while varsity Bruins remain with a record of 8-18. Varsity pulled through with wins in games versus Del Mar, Lincoln, Ann Sobrato, Oak Grove, San Lorenzo Valley, to just name a few. Notable JV games include away games at fellow schools, Del Mar and Lincoln. The freshman and sophomore boys played hard and scored 22 runs in both games, consecutively. It looks like there may be a bright future for next year’s teams after all. The boys played Branham rival Leigh

in their last game on May 11. The varsity Bruins lost to the Longhorns, 13-2, despite strong efforts by seniors Jordan Modesto and Matt Fernandez. However, the JV team came through with a win, ending their game with a 2-point lead, 6-4. Friends and family came out to support the players, and especially to honor senior players leaving high school and moving on to pursue whatever future plans they may have. When asked about the overall cooperation within the team, Matt said, “We started off working well together but as the season went on, it seemed everyone focused on themselves rather than putting their teammates before themselves.” He believes that loss of focus contributed to the varsity team’s disappointing season. Hopefully, Bruins can shake off their poor luck and push to CCS next season. Good luck to graduating seniors, and a warm welcome to incoming players.

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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

“The fact that the band had too many people to perform on one night shows how much the band program had grown.”

PRESS 1. Press shuffle 2. No skipping Trinity Brush Freshmen “T-shirt” Migos “Bubbly” Colbie Caillat “Say Something” A Great Big World “[The last two songs] help me when I’m struggling mentally, and I just need to know someone else is going through the same issues.” Jennifer Vangelisti Sophomore “Get You Good” Roy Wood “Weight in Gold” Gallant “Blind Man” Xavier Omar “I usually enjoy beachy, reggae-type music. It puts me in an uplifting mood.” Paul Fonkwo Junior “Pipe it Up” Migos “Free Smoke” Drake “From the D to the A” Lil Yachty ““I like music that gets you hyped, slash turnt.” Noah Wong Junior “Magnolia” Magnolia, Playboi Carti “Love$ick” Mura Masa “Never” J.I.D “I like Mura Masa because it ties in two different music genres; it ties in electronic music and rap.” Emanuel Garcia Senior “Black Spiderman” Logic “Keep It Real” KYLE “Jump Out The Window” Big Sean “Candy Paint” Post Malone “Music has to have a balance between concept, lyrics, and overall beat. It’s got to make you feel good and also think.” Julia Fish Senior “Redbone” Childish Gambino “Not Above Love” Alunageorge “Show Me” Marc E Bassy “These are just the ones I can think of [right now]. I like them because they rock.” — Taylor Doan

Abundant diversity at Dance Show

Multiple concerts for growing band SUNANDA KOTTAYIL

Sydney Uyeda/Bear Witness Juniors Miranda Bravo, Romina Iranmanesh and senior Felicia Beeson pose in their dance to a song from the classic Disney film “Beauty and the Beast.” Disney was the theme becasue as Mrs. Bertron mentioned. “Everybody loves Disney.” SYDNEY UYEDA

Entertainment Editor

he spring dance show was on the T 18th, 19th and 20th of May. It was Disney-themed this year, because

according to dance teacher Ms. Eileen Bertron, “Everybody loves Disney.” I had the privilege to attend the show on the first day, Thursday, with my friend from another school and junior Ethan Ponce. We sat in the very front row, excited for the show to start. A few of our friends were in the show, so we were anticipating their dance numbers. Mrs. Berton came onstage to do her intro before the lights dimmed and the show began. The show was incredible, probably one of the most artistically crafted shows at Branham. The first number was from the movie “Frozen.” The dancers elegantly danced to the notes of the music, channeling their inner ice princess. Every number after that was beautiful and unique in its own way, showcasing each dancer’s talents. Senior Grace Su had a wonderfully choreographed dance to the song “Hellfire” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Her movements, mixed with the red background, gave a sense that she was dancing in the “fires of hell.”

Another great number was junior Jenna Cardoza’s choreography to the song “Breathe Out” as she played the character Meg from “Hercules.” Not only did her red hair add to this character, her years of dancing really shined in this number as she did jumps and twirls. Her emotions were spot on and played on to the number and the message behind it. One particular dance number that blew me away was the “Moana” dance performed by sophomore Isabela Dumo. She was not even in the class, but because she was a Hawaiian dancer, Mrs. Bertron wanted her in the show, and her decision was a great one. Isabela’s dance moves were flowy and elegant; it was as if her second language was the dance itself. Combined with the music, it gave me a spiritual feeling and I felt that all of my problems were cleared and everything was calm and collected. She was one of the best dances of the show, her movements flowing like she was in water. Another dance number that stood out was the Pocahontas Forest dance from the movie “Pocahontas.” This included most of the dancers, with juniors Ianna Duran, Miranda Bravo and Kimberly Ramos being the main leads in the num-

ber. Junior Sama Jasim rowed Kimberly out into the stage after which she danced a little bit with her fellow dancers acting as bushes in the forest. Ianna and Miranda then came out and danced their part of the number well. Then mostly everyone joined the stage to do an American Indian inspired dance. It was very well executed and enjoyable to watch. The final number was a “Lion King” medley with all of the dancers included. Ianna was lifted into the air, acting as Simba, by junior Payton Weiland. Payton’s strength was shown here as she kept Ianna in the air for a good 20-30 seconds. The whole number was really well done and a great ending the dance show. A final thing to mention was how the dance department incorporated their special ed students into the numbers. They were introduced in the “Little Mermaid” section of the show, waving their ribbons in the air to act like the current of the ocean, as the audience was taken under the sea. They did an incredible job and were a great addition to the show. All in all, the spring dance show was absolutely wonderful and was a pleasure to watch. Be sure to attend more dance shows in the coming months.

Opinion Editor

he Branham High School Royal Alliance Band played its last concerts on May 15th, 16th and 17th. The band was instructed and conducted by Ms. Diane Wyant. Unlike the fall season which has a theme of Italian dinner, this concert took a different approach. Each of the three nights had a different section of the band perform. On the 15th, symphonic band performed, on the 16th, wind and percussion ensembles, and on the 17th concert band and jazz ensemble. Senior Kelly Kagawa, who performed in symphonic band and wind ensemble and volunteered on the 16th, was happy with the decision to split the performances. Kelly stated, “There would have been no way for all of us to perform on one night. We were all given a chance to perform the music we worked so hard to learn.” Senior Maxwell Pursey, who performed in the same ensembles, agreed with Kelly, but noted the difficulties that the scheduling caused for his family. Maxwell stated, “I had family members who wanted to see me perform and it was hard to get them to come for multiple days. On top of that my family had other school concerts to attend that week so for them it was a week of concerts.” The fact that the band had too many people to perform on one night shows how much the band program had grown. Senior Garin Ballard said, “Since my freshman year the band has exponentially grown to the point that we can all barely fit in [room 62], which shows how much our program has improved.” The band program has grown so much that they plan on expending their wind ensemble, which was originally a part of their second period band class, into its own class. Confusion of getting family members to attend aside, the program kept up the band’s high standard. Hopefully the band program will continue to grow and share amazing music with our community.

AP math classes create parody music videos for finals s a final project for those taking AP Statistics and AP A Calc this year, students had to create a music video with the mathematical terminology and concepts they have

learned, displaying their newly gained knowledge. After a long year of hard work, a fun project like this gave students a

last pleasant memory of the class. According to the grading rubric, students were scored on their creativity, use of vocabulary, and the difficulty to which they crafted their lyrics. While there were some rules, students took advantage of the opportunity to display their originality in humorous music videos, going as far as wearing costumes to re-enacting a song from a musical.

Screenshot from Philip Schremp

Screenshot from Matt Fernandez

DEMI LE

Staff Writer

Screenshot from Lena Saucedo

“Yeah” by Usher

By Jhana Camarena, Lena Saucedo, Anthony Guarnizo, Thani Nuru, and Jose Parra “Stats (x6) Class with my homies Tryna score a 5 On the AP Do you know how it feels? They were teaching us test of significance From the start we didn’t understand, but they talked like we got it So we decided to ask Conversation got confusing They had us feeling like we were gonna fail (watch out oh, watch out)” They were talking about p values (p values) Type 1 and type 2 errors and more They said listen closely”

“YCMA” by Village People

By Bhumi Tandel, Philip Schremp and Jeffrey Burrows “Young man There’s no need to fear calc I said young man Grab your notebooks and pens I said young man Log into your Desmos account Graphing functions is rad I said young man Don’t fret about Y-prime” I said young man It’s not so hard to find”

“Photograph” by Nickelback

Keith Hackleman, Matthew Sakamoto, Matthew Fernandez, Gavin Rodinsky and Jarrett Powers “Every memory of looking at the projector I take my notes, my hand is sore It’s hard to get it, I really need it A five, a five Ms. Seden always tried her best She prepared us well for the test She made sure we always could Find parameters like we should”

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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

43rd annual CUHSD Art Show will be hosted in Branham’s gym from June 2nd-4th.

Celebration over competition 43rd annual art show promises amazing array of talent

Summer Block Busters Guide to weekly films throughout the break June

“The Mummy” (Action) June 9 During the first week of summer break, go to the theatres and watch “The Mummy,” a horrific tale of an ancient princess that is awaken from her crypt beneath the desert surface to go against terrors from human compensation. Tom Cruise headlines in this must-see thriller.

1 Cadence Trenchard/Bear Witness 1. Ms. Prates sorts through art set aside for the show. 2. Ariana Ashufta (12) paints a wooden box. 3. Jennifer Jang’s (12) acrylic painting. 4. Melody-Rhoades (9) finishes her alphabet poster. 5. Painting of a toddler by Reese Rosenberg (10).

3 CADENCE TRENCHARD News Editor

ranham will be hosting the 43rd AnB nual CUHSD Art Show in the main gym from June 2 to 4. Admission is free

to the public and some of the featured art includes traditional 2D art, 3D design, and photography from students from Branham, Del Mar, Prospect, Boynton, Leigh and Westmont. The host of the show rotates to a different school every year. Submitted art pieces (made of paint, graphite, paper, clay, wood, metal, and more) are judged by six county educators. Art teacher Ms. Tina Prates is the coordinator for this years’ show and is in charge of award distribution and layout. Each school in the district will receive four awards, three of which are the merit awards (2D art, 3D design, and Photography). The most impressive piece from each school will be awarded the “Best in Show.” According to Ms. Prates, the art show has always felt a bit unfair, since schools with more art students at higher art levels can’t be compared to schools with smaller art departments. To remedy this, she decided to let each school receive a “Best in Show.” “I tried to make it more of a celebration than a competition between schools,” she said. Additionally, each school’s teachers award scholarship money to a few outstanding seniors. Four senior awards will be given to Branham students this year. One of the hardest parts is choosing which pieces to display. “I’d like to put them all up!” said Ms. Prates. Another is the amount of physical labor required to carefully set up and take down all the art. Ms. Prates gives extra credit to

By the numbers 43 years of the annual art show 6 schools in the district art show 3 categories of art 4 awards that each school receives Times Friday, June 2 Opening Reception 6:30-9:00pm Saturday, June 3 10:00am-2:00pm Sunday, June 4 11:00am-2:00pm art students that volunteer to help with security, setup, and takedown. Ms. Eileen Bertron, who teaches 3D Design 1 and 2, said the hardest part is “boxing up and transporting three-dimensional, breakable projects.” It usually takes her multiple trips to bring the pieces to the hosting school, so “it takes a load off ”--literally--“when it’s at your own school.” Senior Emilie Jenkins, an AP Art student, is excited to display her portfolio at the show because her artwork looks really nice together. She said attending the show is a great experience for student artists, because “you may think you’re the best in the class, but then you see how talented other peo-

“Transformers: The Last Knight” (Action) June 21 In this continued series of movies, it is depicted that the hunted will become heros and the heroes will become villains. This redefinition of what it means to be a hero shatters the core myths of the Transformers franchise. Humans are at war with the Transformers, and Optimus Prime is gone. The only way to save the future lies buried in the secrets of the past and the hidden history of Transformers on Earth.

ple are. It’s a humbling experience.” Sophomore Reese Rosenberg is in Ms. Prates’ catch-all advanced class that consists of Art 2, 3, and AP students. Reese went to Leigh last year, and is excited to see what her former classmates have done this year in comparison to Branham and the other schools. After discussing the meaning behind her poster, Reese said her least favorite part of the show is that many people don’t take enough time to appreciate the art and look at its meaning. “Some parents take pictures of their kid’s work and just leave,” said Reese. Whether or not you’re an artist, a student, a parent, or just an interested community member, the art show is worth checking out. “Just come and enjoy! It’s free. You’d really be impressed at the talent in high school,” said Ms. Berton. “There’s no reason not to go.”

Cadence Trenchard/Bear Witness Dress made with newspaper and trashbags by Emma McCarthy (10) and Eileen Castaneda (11).

Roll the credits

Drama students end the year on a high note SUNANDA KOTTAYIL Opinion Editor

n May 24, Branham’s Drama 1, O 2, and 3 classes workshopped one-act performances, which are their semester finals. Instead of being led and planned out by Drama teacher Ms. Christina Plank, the performances were directed by upperclassmen. Some students couldn’t memorize their lines, so they needed the aid of cue cards, but it did not affect the performances whatsoever. Senior Kristin Williams, who was understudying as the lead role in a comedic telling of Whoopi Goldberg’s “Madea,” did such a superb job that you barely noticed her looking down at her white booklet. Students were easily able to improvise when

“Cars 3” (Animated Comedy) June 16 All of us remember “Cars” and “Cars 2” from our childhood. During the second week of summer, the long-awaited 3rd movie to the series airs. Owen Wilson voices the main protagonist, Lightning McQueen, who is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves: racing, and must figure out a way to get back in the game. With inspiration from the Fabulous Hudson Hornet and some unfortunate turns, McQueen prepares to compete on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage.

things went wrong, such as when two students were playing football and the ball fell into the audience. After a brief moment of confusion and most likely panic, the students continued speaking as though nothing went wrong. Some performances that stood out belonged to freshmen Elizabeth Simmons and Frankie Castro, who played Sally and Sam, two teenagers in the 50s preparing for their first date, in the scene titled, “Sally and Sam” directed by senior Alexis Guim. Simmons and Castro remembered all of their lines, and Castro even assisted the supporting characters who had forgotten their lines. Despite some hiccups, the drama showcase was a success, and it Sunanda Kottayil/Bear Witness looks like the students are going to Drama students present their semester finals on stage. ace their finals.

“Despicable Me 3” (Animated comedy) June 30 This year must be the year of trilogies, and the Cars franchise is not the only series with a 3rd movie. “Despicable Me” has decided to extend their story into a 3rd movie. Go to the theatres at the end of June for an extension of the adventure of the lives of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters - Margo, Edith, and Agnes - and the Minions.

July “Spiderman: Homecoming” (Action) July 7 A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man begins his new identity when he returns home to attempt to fall back into his normal daily routine. However, this must-see movie is nothing near a story about Spider-Man becoming your Average Joe when a new villain, the Vulture, emerges to threaten everything that is important to Peter/Spider-Man. “War for the Planet of the Apes” (Action sci-Fi) July 14 In the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are threatened by an army of humans led by Colonel McCullough (played by Woody Harrelson). After the apes suffer from unbelievable losses, Caesar channels his rage into going on a mythic quest to avenge his kind, those who damaged the ape population. If you love or have a passion for the environment- looking at all you APES kids out there- then this movie is one you do not want to miss. “Girls Trip” (Comedy) July 21 If you are looking for a fun-loving comedy to see with your friends, this is a perfect movie for you. Four lifelong friends travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival. On their trip, friendships are rekindled into sisterhoods and each of their crazy sides are brought to life making it a movie that will make you laugh out of your seat. “The Emoji Movie” (Animated) July 28 If you have to babysit your little siblings and are looking for something to do, this film about the secret world of our phones and the well-known emoji characters brought to life is a perfect event to bring the kiddos to. This movie, however, does reach a greater meaning than the typical animated kids film, for it implies nomophobia.

August “The Dark Tower” (Drama, fantasy) Aug. 4 If you are interested in seeing a dramatic fantasy movie, this is an incredible one to check out. The movie focuses on a gunslinger named Roland Deschain who roams a landscape resembling the Old West in search of the dark tower in hopes that reaching it will preserve the dying world. The Glass Castle (Biography) Aug. 11 To get your brain back into school-mode, check out this interesting biography the week before school begins. This drama tells the story of a successful young woman who was raised by nonconformist parents. Her world unfortunately turns upside down as her parents move to New Work to be by her. -Compiled by Lauren Hogan

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THE BACK PAGE Summer is for fun and adventure. Here’s 7 enticing summer spots that make a fantastic day trip, ranging from beautiful beaches to rugged mountains. *estimated costs include fuel based on an average 30 mpg and the cost of parking.

Artwork and reporting by Iz Munoz and Will Suiter Drive smart: When on the highway, use cruise control at the speed limit. Cruise control can significantly increase gas mileage, and although it may be tempting to speed, going slower uses less gas, saving you from big pump bills and potential speeding tickets. The more the cheaper: Not only is road tripping with friends fun, splitting the cost of travel between more people means that each person travels much less expensively. Pack a lunch: Eating out may be more convenient, but packing a picnic lunch can save you a significant amount of money. Foods like avocados, peanut butter, and bananas are filling, cheap, tasty and portable.

Estimated trip cost: $10* 18 mi

Embrace the heat: Although air conditioning may seem like a good idea on a hot summer day, your car’s air conditioning system draws power from the engine, causing your car to use more gas. Rolling down your windows will also reduce your gas mileage due to the drag it creates, but not as much as the air conditioning. Do your homework: Having a good knowledge of where you are going can help you save money and find the cheapest options. If you are choosing to eat out, research beforehand about the best deals on good food in the area and don’t be afraid of trying new things. You may find that a holein-the-wall restaurant has better food at a lower price than the latest happening spot you’ve seen plastered on social media.

Estimated trip cost: $15* 56 mi

Estimated trip cost: $21* 50 mi

Estimated trip cost: $17* 32 mi

Estimated trip cost: $27* 76 mi

Estimated trip cost: $22* 87 mi

Traveling and making your own adventure is one of the most fulfilling and fun ways to spend your time, but can come with some risks. When you’re in a new place with unfamiliar surroundings, things can go wrong quickly . Here’s a few tips to help make your summer adventures safe and hassle-free.

Estimated trip cost: $72* 182 mi

Roll safely: If you are taking a road trip, know how to check your tire pressure and tread. Many new drivers are unfamiliar with their car’s recommended tire pressure, or do not know how to use a tire gauge. Having tires at the incorrect pressure can give you less traction and control, and can make driving unsafe. In addition, having tires that are worn down from extended use can give you less grip on the road surface. Be prepared: If you are driving through a remote stretch of road far from services and stores, make sure that you have enough food and water in your car in case you break down or run out of gas. If you are out of cell phone range and far from help, it is frighteningly easy to become dehydrated if the weather is hot. Watch out for nature: If you are hiking, make sure you know how to identify harmful irritating plants such as poison oak and stinging nettle. In addition, watch out for rattlesnakes, which are present in all parts of California and are commonly found sunbathing along trails. Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Especially important if you are hiking or traveling alone, letting someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back is important to staying safe. A situation where you are unable to reach help such as a twisted ankle while hiking alone or running out of gas on a back road can spell disaster if no one knows where you are. Never turn your back to the ocean: If going to the beach, watch out for rip currents and sneaker waves, both of which can sweep you out to sea unexpectedly. Extended exposure to cold water at our local beaches, even in summer, can lead to hypothermia.

BEAR WITNESS | SENIOR EDITION | Making your food vs. eating out: 77 percent of Millennials have purchased ready-made food, compared to 58 percent of those born in the 1920s.

Special Section page 5

JUNE 2, 2017

BUILDING YOUR SKILLSET

YOUR

ART TAKES WORK Catherine Monroy/Bear Witness

percent of seniors see the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“I’m cutting back my hours of work for the following school year. I also plan to stay later at school to focus on my studies.” — Nallely Carrillo

Health

Taking care of yourself As a student, it is crucial that health is maintained to ensure the best conditions to learn. Although it is difficult in college, maintaining a nutritional diet affects energy used in class. Branham’s health clerk Ms. Michele Crescibene mentions constant hydration and ensuring that you are eating right. Maintaining a balanced diet and a decent amount of energy allows better thinking and mental conditions to function. Furthermore, Ms. Crescibene says to “take power naps” to conserve and gain energy. In college sleep deprivation is very common, ensuring that energy is stored and your brain is recharged helps cognitive memory. When you body isn’t functioning properly, carry drugs and simple first aid. For an upset stomach or minor pain, take ibuprofen or Tums. For medical emergencies Ms. Crescibene states “It wouldn’t be hard to learn (first aid) first hand. Have yourself take a small pack to college to keep for emergencies.” Simple things such as first aid kits, which can be bought at any pharmacy, can be a blessing when it is needed. — Julia Kolman and Clarabelle Walkup

What to pack in your first aid kit To treat illnesses Ibuprofen Cough drops Cough syrup Tums Thermometer

To treat injuries Reusable ice packs Baind aids Rolled gauze Neosporin or bacitracin Rubbing alcohol Tweezers

Leadership Project lead the way

dsadfsa Encourage others Support creativity and positivity in the environment. Trust your team to try out their new ideas and give them freedom to work in their prefered ways. Build off of their ideas and establish support. Build relationsips Know your staff’s strengths and weaknesses when assigning tasks to challenge them, but meet your standards. Ask others how they are and about their interests and family. Set the standard Do the work that you want others to do. Staying busy will show others that you expect them to do so also, and you will be respected as an equal. Find your strengths All leaders are different; some are outgoing, others are more reserved. All personalities are capable of being an effective leader. With a teacher or another admirable mentor, explore what ways you prefer to lead and how to do so properly.

Leadership is an invaluable quality to have, especially in collaborative settings. Leadership teacher Mrs. Shari Scott-Sawyer imagines a leader as someone who is self-aware, good with communication, and can accept constructive criticism. One of the biggest differences between high school and college is that a student doesn’t have her parents to make decisions. The student is in charge of her own actions. “In college you’re responsible for your own education. Students in leadership understand taking responsibility,” she said. But is leadership genetic or is it developed over time? “I think it’s a little bit of both,” she said. “Some people have natural leadership qualities, but others develop theirs over time.” In college, leadership opportunity is plentiful with the numerous campus organizations that exist. To continue developing leadership skills after high school, it’s important for students to get involved in on-campus activities. “Look for ways to get involved and get connected. Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she said. Not only does a leader direct the team they lead, but they also garner respect and attention from their peers. — Ty Shikashio

percent feel that leadership skills are lacking

“I’ll force myself to be a stronger individual and take charge of every situation I’m put in front of.” — Alex Nassar

Home skills

Learning to be independent percent want to hone their home ec skills.

While more students than ever will attend a four-year college or university, many may not know how to change their oil, or even baking a simple recipe.. Schools have historically addressed this deficit by offering mandatory life skills classes through a variety of methods. According to an Acosta marketing survey, 77 percent of Millennials have purchased prepared food, compared to 58 percent of those borni in the mid-1920s. In the 1990s high schools in the district had

a dizzying array of classes that could fall under life skills, or home economics. These included drivers education, foods, metal shop, wood shop, car repair. When Branham was still closed, Leigh High School operated a child care center for its childhood development class. Now, classes known as career and technical education are outsourced to a company called Silicon Valley CTE. Classes include auto repair, fire science, animation and many others. —Staff report

Special section page 6

BEAR WITNESS

SPECIAL SENIOR EDITION |

JUNE 2, 2017

from the front page

“

Growth | How leaders found their niche at school Teppei Tajima: Love in the club

Teppei has been involved in one of the largest clubs on campus since his underclassmen days. Although in the beginning he started out as a member of Interact, his hard work and commitment to the club has allowed him to be the Events Coordinator. With this title he was able to expand his connections beyond Branham, and was truly able to let himself immerse into Interact. Interact’s advisor, Mr. Juan Fernandez stated that he has seen Teppei grow not only as a leader in Interact, but as a student as well. Fernandez stated that Teppei’s passion and dedication for the club has not gone unnoticed and that he is a such a “hardworking young man who is a pleasure to be around.” Teppei describes the club as his “go-to place.” Teppei finds the most comfort surrounded by his fellow Interactors. “This year, we began this project called ‘Circle of Love’ which started as a mission to teach people self-love. Until this project, I never really thought of how much I always do for others, and so little for myself. Until this project, I neglected to take care of my physical and emotional health because I ‘didn’t need to.’ I have to say, right now I am more at peace with my life, and I’m much more healthy - physically and emotionally - as a person. Interact really does mean a lot to me. It’s not just a service club; it teaches compassion and kindness, leadership and initiative, empowerment and self-love. If I have a place to call my home, it’d definitely be here.” said Teppei.

Jason Kim: Leader of the pack

Jason has been involved in leadership and ASB since his freshmen year. He has held a position in ASB for all four years. From the eyes of both his peers and Activities Director Shari Scott-Sawyer, Jason is a natural born leader. “He is the leader of the class; he literally leads the class,” she said. “He comes prepared every day and makes sure everyone knows what’s going on. He is committed and well-respected. He is truly a dynamic leader. “When I came in he was already an established leader and he has shown to be someone I see for future leadership roles,” she said. “What amazes me the most is that he manages to come to class prepared everyday, while being involved in AP classes, clubs, on campus and off campus organizations, and internships. I see him as a natural leader that will continue to take on leadership roles and grow as a person.” From class president to ASB President, Jason has allowed for leadership to help shape who he is. Jason states that he is “very thankful of how Leadership helped me transition from a timid freshman to an idealist. The class had always pushed me to my limits, trying to find novel events/ ideas that could possibly revolutionize the school” He believes that he “became more of a leader who looks at the grand scheme of things” through his experiences in ASB.

Raul Davila: LSU pioneer

Raul has been awarded with the Senior of the Year award, which is truly befitting. Raul has dedicated his high school career to serving and helping others. He is truly a selfless person. One of his most notable contributions to Branham would be leading the Latino Student Union (LSU). Through LSU he was able to empower a whole demographic at Branham. He stated that “ I always knew that I was making a big difference in my Latino community by working hard getting good grades and proving people wrong educationally, but what LSU did for me was that it provided me with another source of being able to show the amount of potential that not only I have, but most importantly, my fellow Latinos. In regards to the responsibility, it has shown me how to look out for others and think every action and decision that I’ve made through - more than once; to double-check things. The most important thing that I’ve learned is that words and actions do have meanings behind them, so you have to think wisely when you’re trying to give advice.” He has created a bond with the students in the club. He helped build a community of kindness and empowerment. He also mentioned how LSU has impacted him as a person. He said that being apart of the LSU has allowed him to understand others by looking at life through their perspective, for not everyone leads the same life and everyone deals with different struggles. He also attributes his ambition to the club.

Cameron McKay: Lifelong love of music

Cameron Mckay is another senior who has let an elective help shape his interests. Cameron has been singing in choirs since he was in third grade; however, he states that joining choir in high school was completely different in that it reasserted his love for music and was a huge factor in his decision to want to pursue music education as a career. McKay states that “In high school there is so much competition, but in choir everyone is coming together to make something beautiful. I’ve had a bunch of great memories in choir. I’ve honed my lead-

ership skills over the years because I was able to lead the class. I am passionate about sharing what I love to others. It is so much more than an elective. It is a real art form. Choir was essential to creating my identity. I cannot even imagine who I would be without singing or music.” Choir director Ms. Barbara West,said that Cameron was gifted as a young child. “Cameron loved music and he obviously had a natural aptitude for it.” It came to no surprise to Ms. West that Cameron’s passion for music would lead him to a career in it, she states “Every member of the choir will miss him as he goes off to Fullerton to study with some of my favorite musicians and friends, but I am also so excited for his journey, and I know that in just a few short years, he will become my colleague in choral music education, and that is something that I look forward to.”

Kelley Sheen: A journalism family

I had the honor of being in Journalism for the past three years. Being in Journalism has allowed me to not only grow as a writer, but as a person. Before this class, I was lost and didn’t know what my purpose was, or what was to become of me by the end of senior year. Through countless late nights at crunch, multiple editorial meetings, and a short lived “Kelley’s Korner” I was able to create an identity for myself. Journalism was more than an elective, it was a lifestyle. It helped me cultivate my skills as a journalist and a leader. Being editor-in-chief for two years has taught me more than just writing or editing. It taught me time management, patience, control, and responsibility. I am so proud to have worked with such amazing people over the past three years and am truly blessed to say that I have not only found a career I have passion for, but a journalism family that I love. Our senior class is truly filled with some of the most hardworking and inspirational people that Branham has ever had. From the arts, to the sciences, to academics, to athletics, the class of 2017 has had a student in each activity who gave their high school careers into leaving their mark. Thank you, class of 2017.

Catherine Monroy/Bear Witness

Bruin-to-Bruin Tutoring Club Subjects needed: • Math • English • Spanish • Science • Art • History • Fitness • Mandarin • French

Branham’s peer-tutoring club is recruiting tutors for next year! Come see Mrs. Amanatullah or Joey Perez for more information.

SNACK & STUDY EVENT

6/5/17

Come for free snacks, workspace, and tutoring help before finals! Two hours afterschool in the Library

BEAR WITNESS

SPECIAL SENIOR EDITION |

Special section page 7

JUNE 2, 2017

CAREER FLOWCHART

Paint your path Start Here

Do you consider yourself an extrovert or an introvert?

Introvert

Do you want your work to define you?

Extrovert

Yes

Do you prefer to work unconventional hours or 8-5? No

Do you prefer to lead the group?

Unconventional

Yes No Do you prefer to work in large groups, small groups, or individually?

Do you like to be busy (take on extra work) or only what is given?

Large

8-5

Standard

Busy

Individually

Do you prefer a standard work environment (office) or a one that’s everchanging?

Always changing

Small

Are you prone to procrastination? No

Do you prefer set deadlines?

Do you take criticism well? Yes No

Yes

The Traditionalist Description • • • • •

• • •

Prefers order Shy Passive Reliable Organized, Timely

•

Compatible Career Paths • • •

Yes

Buisness Management & Administration Finance Government & Public Administration

• • • • •

The Backbone

The Optimist

The Inventor

Description

The technical aspect of theater Hardworking Doesn’t like being the center of attention Very focused

Compatible Career Paths

Architecture & Construction Law Enforcemnt & Public Safety Health Science Government & Public Adminstration Finance

• • • • •

Natural leader Social Prefer to be busy Typically opinionated Tend to be scatterbrained

• • • •

Compatible Career Paths Education & Training Hospitality Human Services Public Relations

• • • • •

Progressive, Unconventional Likes new ideas Tries new things Social Hardworking, but indecisive

Compatible Career Paths • • • • •

Manufacturing Arts Marketing Education & Training Video/audio Communications

Compiled by Rosalie Gonzalez and Laura Heffernan

Results from the Bear Witness senior survey percent of seniors favored senior year as the best year of high school

percent of seniors picked “friends” as the best part of high school

“Interesting” was the most common word seniors used to describe their high school experience

YOUR BLANK CANVAS How will you choose to fill it in?

Timeline

Name 1997 1998

insert your photo here

Birthday

1999

2000 2001

Hobbies/Interests • • • • • •

________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

POST-GRADUATION PLANS

4-year college 2-year college community college military work: _____________ other: __________________________

FAVORITES

2009 2010 2011

Favorite memories: Favorite teacher: Favorite subject:

2012 2013

GOALS

2014

Summer

2015 2016

In 4 years I will be...

2017

In 10 years I will be...

Last chance to express yourself Decoration guidelines • • •

Types • •

no offensive images no references to drugs or alcohol can’t violate the dress code

• • •

Caps will be approved on June 6 at the Senior Breakfast and will be checked before the graduation ceremony

•

Catherine Monroy/Bear Witness

celebration declaration of next step interest/hobby inspirational quote pop culture reference school pride

Materials • • • • • • • • • •

fabric paint glitter rhinestones paper cardboard feathers die-cuts ribbon tape patches