May 2017
Vol. III
Issue 4
The Magnet
Special Senior Issue
Table Of Contents Freshman 4 Seniors take a blast from the past Gabriella Kchozyan
5 Seniors’ stories from freshman year Arman Antonyan and Karla Solorzano
Sophomore 6 Favorite sophomore year teachers Anthony Francisco
7 Seniors’ stories from sophomore year Arman Antonyan
Junior 8 Hollywood Nights Formal was the highlight of junior year Ani Sarkisyan
9 Seniors’ stories from junior year Arman Antonyan and Karla Solorzano
Letter From the Editors The final issue of this year is dedicated to the ones who will no longer be at the home of The Magnet next year: the Class of 2017. Yes, this year’s seniors will be sent off with an issue of their very own, highlighting the best and some of the worst things of the past four years. We look back at some of the greatest successes and the worst failures we went through as a class and remember all the laughs and probably some of the tears also. As we get older and forget the experiences we had in this all-too-sho rt period of time in high school, we will have few things to look back at and remember the
pleasures and pains of these four years. It is the hope of these four editors that we will one day uncover this magazine, many decades from now, and remember the most delightful things about our time at Clark Magnet High School. It has been our honor to write and print this magazine for you, for the 2016/2017
school year and we hope that you have enjoyed reading it as much as we have enjoyed making it. — The Editors
Senior
10 Promposals Tiana Hovsepians
11 Planning the perfect prom Eunice Ramilo
12 Seniors get a jump-start on their day Lilit Krkasharian
14 Senior projects Urielle Corcuera
16 Still no grad night for Clark Ariette Reynaldo
17 Seniors’ stories from senior year Arman Antonyan and Karla Solorzano
Looking Forward 18 What we’ll miss/we won’t miss Lilit Krkasharian
20 Best music and movies of the past 4 years Kasy Vasquez
21 Humans of Clark Alen Zohrabyan
22 Colleges seniors will be attending Alen Zohrabyan
24 Miss Thomsen’s retirement Janine Porras
24 Mrs. Kassakian’s retirement Rita Bilamejian
25 Ms. Pettegrew’s retirement Ani Agesyan
The Magnet Magazine Magazine Editors: Karla Solorzano
Himanshi Ahir Anthony Francisco Natella Muradyan Vache Sarkissian
Kasy Vasquez
Staff Writers:
Ani Agesyan Urielle Corcuera Associate Editors: Anthony Francisco Trisha Gomez Arman Antonyan Tiana Hovsepians Rita Bilamejian Natalie DerAvanessian Gabby Kchozyan Lilit Krksharian Shaye Holladay Janine Porras Eunice Ramilo
Ariette Reynaldo Ani Sarkisyan Alen Zohrabyan
Photographers: Urielle Corcuera Jaden Florita Anthony Francisco Trisha Gomez Eunice Ramilo Alen Zohrabyan
Website Editors: Arman Antonyan Vache Sarkissian Kasy Vasquez
Business:
Ani Agesyan Arman Antonyan Rita Bilamejian
Advisor:
Chris Davis
The Magnet, an open forum, is published by the Clark Magnet High School Publications class (4747 New York Ave., La Crescenta, CA 91214, 818.248.8324), which is solely responsible for all copy, designs and ideas contained herein. The Magnet has the right to edit any letter for purposes of clarification, length and grammar. The expressed opinions are not that of Clark Magnet High School nor of the Administration. Layouts completed on-site. This magazine was printed by aPrintis Inc., 4695 Chabot Dr, Site 200 Pleasanton, CA. On-line edition available at www.clarkchronicle.com
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it all began in 2013
4
Freshman
Seniors take a blast from the past Interviews and introduction by: Gabriella Kchozyan From the pancake breakfast to college applications, high school flies by before you know it. Long before Clark’s seniors were the upperclassmen, there was a time when they were the newbies. As the year comes to a close, seniors are figuring out plans after graduation and getting ready for their future. However, our expectations of high school are often influenced from ideas and stereotypes that movies present. Many Clark students’ home school is Glendale High School. “I expected to go to Glendale High, so I didn’t think I would have a block schedule or such hard classes,” said Rosa Gonzalez. “TV shows made me think of high school completely Sam Witt said he wasn’t even planning to go to Clark. “I was going to go to CV so I was expecting a big and crowded school — a confusing, messy and smelly school,” said Witt. “Then I came to Clark and it was the complete opposite. It was chill and I didn’t get bullied. Through my years at
Clark and being a part of the A.C.E. program, I’ve enjoyed what I’ve done greatly. This school has shown a light on things I like to do, and I have a more clear sense with what I may pursue in my future now.”
Alexander Luke was deeply enveloped in his work in the Robotics room while he spoke about what Clark meant to him. “You come in with this plan and it all falls apart, really,” Luke said. “As you move through the ranks until you reach your senior year, you’ve been bombarded with John Bandek said that when he first stepped foot in Clark, he was worried he wouldn’t fit in due to rumors that this was a ‘nerd’ school. “My first day was really frightening because none of my friends from a private school were at Clark, and I didn’t know a single person,” Bandek said. “The transition from private to public was
differently. Most of my friends ended up going to GHS. I remember in freshman year everyone had a big circle of friends, but by senior year you just have a small group of close friends.”
so much change. Even though things don’t come out to be exactly the way you wanted them to, by senior year your new perspective on life and education ends up being nothing like from when you first started.”
difficult, but with the counselors’ help and the welcoming administration I was able to adapt and fit in. I was able to make many great friends here and ultimately become the school’s ASB Vice President. Now I’m the chairman of PAC and make sure that freshmen have an easy transition.”
Bandek wasn’t the only one with a private school background. “I came from a private middle school so I thought high school would be tough,” said Claire Garcia. “I was glad that everyone
was pretty nice and I made friends really quickly. I also got involved in clubs and classes like engineering, which I never thought I’d enjoy before coming to Clark.”
5
Freshman "Calvin cursed in the lunch lines, and Mr. Axelgard heard. He asks him, 'Excuse me, do you use that language at home?' We start dying of laughter at Calvin getting lectured, and Mr. Axelgard spreads his arms and asks 'Are you entertained?' It looked like that Gladiator scene." —Tristan O' Donnell
“Freshman year was fun because we were still getting used to Clark, and we were so young and naive. Now looking back, it’s great to see how much we’ve grown together.” — Tenny Vasghanian
"I’ll never forget the three magical words: Start. Running. Please." —Demetrio Rebollo
"Mr. Wyatt’s classic phrases: ‘Put a sock in it', 'Hoss', and 'sounds like a personal problem.' Then there was the GoPro video he showed of his drive to school, after he complained about it the whole year. He was hilarious. —Preti Abnoosi "Under all the keyboards in Reyna's, there was a folded piece of paper. We assumed it was an assignment we had to do, but once we took out the paper and unfolded it, we saw a disturbing photo of Michael Jackson. We don't know who put that there." —Enrique Vasquez "I'll miss Mr. Black because he got me interested into engineering and Mr. Reyna because of his leniency. In Tech Lit, when we were finished with our work, he'd let us do whatever. So, I downloaded Minecraft and we would all play in a LAN party." —Christian De La Cruz
"We were the last year with freshman Friday. I'd heard the stories and was really scared of what'd happen. Someone snitched beforehand, though, and it didn't happen to us. I lowkey wanted it to happen so I could pass on the tradition to the next year." —John Bandek
Interviews and memes by Arman Antonyan and Karla Solorzano
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Sophomore
Favorite Sophomore Teachers “My favorite teacher that I had for sophomore year would be Mrs. Day-Blattner. She was my favorite because she was extremely nice to me and made me feel like I belonged in the class. [Mrs. DayBlattner] made me feel [like I] belonged in a class full of juniors when I was a sophomore, because I took chemistry a year before. Being in a class full juniors, I made some friends in that class who guided me and gave advice when I became a junior and a senior. One funny and eye opening memory that I have with Mrs.Day Blattner was in the beginning of the year and we were learning about salt in chemistry.” — Karen Shahideh “My favorite teacher from sophomore year would have to be Mrs. McGrath because she was always there for her students. She is one of the teachers that anybody can go to for both academic and personal advice. My favorite memory would be the fishbowl project in which students would give opinions and ideas about a topic she gave us. One thing she has done for me is help me in improving my writing. I am now a better writer because of her comments and thoughts on how I should alter different areas of my essays.” — Nareh Abramian
“My favorite teacher is Mrs. Davis because she is a very thorough teacher that helps engage students in a diverse variety of project and assignments that are fun. She devoted her time to her students. If a student needed help, she was always there to to assist and keep the class under control despite the two combined class sizes. My favorite moment with Mrs. Davis was the field trip our class took to the USS Iowa Museum. After going over World War II, it was a fascinating experience to be able to visit and board one of the naval ships.” — Steven Lopez
"My favorite teacher is Mr. Ghavam because has a great teaching style and personality. I had to upgrade to honors, and on the second day and he gave me a lecture scaring me about it. Having him hand me 10 pages and yelling at me was fun. His teaching style made sure everyone understood before moving on. Having him for two years made us real close, and I was one of the lucky few who had dinner with him because he helped us out a lot with Vex robotics. He dedicated his time until 10 or 12 to help us out." — Anthony Karroum
Interviews by Anthony Francisco
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Sophomore "Elvis Davtyan stole Jean Simitian’s backpack at lunch. Jean started chasing him, and Elvis juked him at one of the big poles. Jean ran straight into the pole and then fell on the floor. Shoutout to them; they both left that year." —David Minasyan
“Christian and I started a riot. We watched Sergey and others playing Kent while Christian and I chanted “Obama" loudly. Then people crowded around us believing it's a fight but it's just the guys playing Kent. Everyone was yelling, clapping, going crazy all over." —Shant Manamshian
“I met two of my current best friends this year: Taleena and Tenny. And I got to make more memories with the ones who were already my best friends!” —Melanie Kasparian
"Menua reenacted a scene from Glenngarry Glenn Ross where Al Pacino swears at Kevin Spacey, said it all to Allen Shain and the lunch ladies thought Allen was getting bullied. Menua had to awkwardly explain." —Wolfgang Yakkel "During the Davis' field trip Sam was riding on a swing, he hooked the swing buckle onto his belt, he jumped off and the buckle flew off. His pants fully ripped across. He had to walk around the rest of the day with my pink jacket around the front of his pants." —Rania Mamo
"Me, Grigor, Allen, and Rania played a lot of truth or dare in PE. My favorite dare was probably when we made Allen run in the wet field in his socks." —Eden Morris "I had Mr. Blattner for geometry and he's a huge role model to me and my friends and has put in a lot of effort to help us succeed. I took AP Stats because of him! He's not given enough credit for his position." —Melanie Aghayane
Interviews and memes by Arman Antonyan and Karla Solorzano
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Junior
Hollywood Nights Formal was highlight of junior year
Seniors look back at what made their junior dance memorable By Ani Sarkisyan “Spring formal was a really fun time during junior year,” said Alejandra Lopez. “It was one of my favorite events because it was a chance to spend time with my friends outside of class.” Last year’s spring formal lived up to the class of 2017’s expectations. Its theme was “Hollywood Nights,” which was perfectly portrayed through the auditeria’s decorations. A red carpet led the way to the room filled with golden balloons and photos of famous Hollywood actors. “The formal went really well and it was very successful compared to prior years,” said Anthony Karroum. “It was nice to see that most
of the people at the dance dressed up to fit into the Hollywood theme.” The students stormed into the auditeria in March to have fun and share a dance. Not only did the students take part in creation of the dance, but chaperones Nicholas Doom, Alex DayBlattner, Eric Kursinski, Carol Pettegrew also contributed and made the dance a night to remember. DJ Shabang, who also attended the class of 2016’s formal, brought the life to the party with his lively songs and special requests. “Our formal was so much fun,” said Raisa Faisal. “I remember walking in with my friends and the ‘paparazzi’ at the ‘red carpet’
Karla Soloranzo and Kahren Torosyan hold up their mini Oscars at “opening night.”
Anna Parsamyan, Rania Mamo and Arvin Sarkissian wait for food.
entrance of the dance taking pictures of us as if we were celebrities. It was funny and they really tried to stay true to our Old Hollywood theme.” The PTSA provided pizza and sweet treats. “The formal was fantastic,” said Tristan O’Donnell. “The food was pretty good and the dance was better than I expected.” Since this is the only dance at Clark aside from prom, the junior formal is something of its own for Clark students. “Hollywood Nights” will remain a night to remember for all those who attended even faculty. “This was my first high school dance,” Faisal said. “I’ll always remember it as just that.”
Mrs. Pettegrew and Mrs. Snodgress have fun with popcorn while chaperoning.
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Junior “In class, Alex Karapetyan turned my backpack completely inside out multiple times while I wasn’t looking. Frustrating, but looking back it was pretty funny.” —Alek Barkhordarian
“Me and my friends made a poster of our friend Wolfgang Yakkel in a chef hat holding pasta, with the caption ‘He Will Serve you.’ We put it up around the school during ASB elections. He wasn’t running, but we made it look like he was.” —Anonymous
“Tadeh Tarverdian threw a lizard at me junior year and I reflexively karate chopped its tail off.” —Leo Issagholian
“We’re looking up inappropriate things during programming class, and suddenly my cursor moves and closes the tab. We get scared, but still do it again later and the tab closes again. We realized Mr. Blattner was taking over our computer.” —Hunter Regan “Ms. Sajjadieh was the most compassionate and understanding teacher. And she’s not just a teacher, she’s someone I feel like you could depend on for anything. “ —Raisa Faisal
“Getting pizza delivered to Mr. Black’s class was amazing.” —Andrew Tinoco
“We went to Starbucks in the morning and realized we were late. We brought three dozen donuts to Ms. Melville’s class to make up for it.” —Aren Bedrousian
Interviews and memes by Arman Antonyan and Karla Solorzano
10
Senior
Promposals
New year, new ways of asking "I went behind her, yelled her name and let the sign do all the talking. I was nervous because all the seniors and juniors were watching it happen." — David Minasyan
“I was in the GCC Scholars Program presentation and I received texts from Sev telling me to leave class. After the meeting was over I exited the room and found him waiting for me by the door. He walked me outside and there it was. This will be one of the most memorable moments in my life.” — Lily Nazarian
He brought a chocolatecovered strawberry edible arrangement, a teddy bear, and a big boutique.
Asked: Anita Megerdichyan
Asked by Sevada Khashadoorian
"Prom is a once in a lifetime thing and you'll regret it if you miss out on it. The process of making the poster and everything else is the best part. It takes a lot of guts and the proposal itself can be very nerve-wracking but at the end it's all worth it." —Mency Nazarian
"I walked up the ampitheatre holding two bouquets with my tall friends hiding me. I got Alejandra's attention and tried to get Raisa's attention away from her conversation by yelling at the top of my lungs. She yells back and realizes what's going on. They were both overjoyed." — Arman Antonyan
Asked: Arina Megerdichian
Asked: Alejandra Lopez and Raisa Faisal
"We never fully discussed prom or any type of promposal; it was never really a subject. And then one day he came to pick me up and wouldn't tell me where we were going. He drove to the airport and at that point I was really confused. We took a nice ride in a helicopter to a bunch of places like Hollywood. At the end of the ride, he got a poster out of nowhere that read: We'd look HELI FLY @ prom. I was so surprised and happy. I did not expect it at all." — Edit Simonyan Asked by Aleks Melkumyan
Interviews by Tiana Hovespians
Senior
11
Planning the Perfect Prom
ASB officers aim to give seniors a night to remember By Eunice Ramilo It’s the moment every senior had been waiting for! The ASB senior officers had finally put the prom planning into play. Everything was almost set in place for seniors to enjoy their once in a lifetime experience. The theme of this year's prom was “Una Bella Notte,” otherwise known as “A Beautiful Night” in Italian; and as a result of the Italian title, the whole event itself was based on the Italian vibe. With the theme in mind, the prom venue was located at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club, and thanks to the ASB senior officers, the whole floor was rented out plus there was be a separate room meant to serve as a lounge for hangouts. Adding on to the venue itself, a balcony was made available to those who needed some air after a night full of dancing or for those who just wanted to enjoy the breathtaking view of Los Angeles, the greenery and the large pond with a beautiful fountain on display. The same balcony had twinkle lights for the most memorable prom pictures as well
as to emphasize the ambiance of the night. The food, of course, was an Italian buffet containing a variety of delicious courses from Italian cuisine. Tables, decorations and floral centerpieces were gold and white based in accordance with
the elegant and romantic feel of Italy. Prom took place on Friday, May 12 from 7 p.m. to midnight which gave seniors a full five hours of partying and enjoyment for the last time before they head off to college and go their separate ways.
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Senior
Seniors get a jumpstart on their day Story by Lilit Krkasharian Photography by Anthony Francisco “I love not having a full schedule!” said senior Thomas Zohrabyan. “As a senior, you can take a minimum of five classes, which is amazing because you get to sleep, work and do other things with your time. Overall, it’s better because it’s less stress and you don’t have to stay at school for an extra hour.” Being a senior in high school comes with some perks, one of which is having the freedom to choose between a schedule of five, six or seven classes. Zohrabyan chose to take six classes during his senior year and is one of the 185 seniors at Clark who does not have a seventh period. These students are able to leave at 1:25 p.m., as soon as fifth or sixth period is finished. Tristan O’Donnell also does not have a seventh period and uses the extra time to his benefit. “The best thing about finishing school early is that you can get delicious lunch after school since you don’t have to stay until 3,” O’Donnell said. There are also some seniors who have a late start and can come to school as late as 9:45 a.m., right when their second block class is starting. However, these students are fewer, with more seniors preferring to have an early start and finish school early rather than having a late start and finishing school at 3 p.m. Head Counselor Karine Turdjian said that there are only a dozen students, give or take
a few, who have a late start this year. “We do our best to accommodate students’ wishes regarding their schedule, but it usually depends on which AP classes they are taking since some of the APs they request are only offered during certain periods,” Turdjian said. The small group of students who have a late start are mainly comprised of students taking six classes and are also in ASB, Publications or
“It’s less stress and you don’t have to stay at school for an extra hour.” — Thomas Zohrabyan
Robotics, all of which are classes only offered during seventh period. Senior Karla Solorzano is one of the students in Publications who only has six classes and therefore comes to school at 9:45 instead of 8. “I hate having a late start because it doesn’t make a big difference in my schedule, but it does in my bank account since I have to take Uber every other day,” Solorzano said. “I get an extra hour of sleep, but it’s better just to take five classes and come home early.” Not everyone views having a late start as the worse counterpart to going home early. “I get to do my homework in the morning before my class starts, so having a late start helps me manage my time and get all of my homework done,” said Anthony Francisco, also a senior that has to stay for seventh period because of Publications. The rest of the senior class, about
Students leave the parking lot early because of their short days.
Senior 50 students, has a full schedule of seven classes. “This year, we have seen the greatest amount of seniors taking seven classes than in all of Clark’s history,” said counselor Susan Howe. “Typically, it has been only students in ASB, Publications or Robotics that take seven classes because they need to stay until seventh period. However, we have seen a trend in more and more students taking seven classes in order to boost their GPA and take more AP classes.” Senior Natalie Deravanessian is one of the seniors who voluntarily chose to take seven classes because she wanted colleges to see that she was still working hard, even though it was her last year in high school. “I don’t see a point in going home early because I don’t have a job to rush to, and I wanted to show schools that although it’s senior year, I’m willing to stick to my schedule and not slack off. I kind of wish I did leave early, though, because I would be able to get a job and spend more time with my friends.”
“ I don’t see a point in going home early because I don’t have a job to rush to...”
13
Seniors Natalie DerAvanessian and Karla Solorzano work on the senior issue of the magazine in their seventh period class, Publications.
number of credits well above the required amount of 220 credits. “Students build up so many credits throughout their four years of high school that to meet the requirement, they would probably only need to take two classes their senior year,” Turdjian said. “However, they need to take more for college acceptance requirements. Also, people with higher GPAs tend to take more classes.” Not everyone looks forward to
taking seven classes their senior year, however. Senior Nareh Abramian is very happy with her schedule of five classes. “I think it’s great because it spaces out the classes in such a way that you have time to do all your homework, and it doesn’t pile up,” Abramian said. “It also prepares you for college classes since they are timed and not just periods, so you feel more ready to go to a college or a university.”
— Natalie DerAvanessian Clark is unique in that students take seven classes as part of their regular schedule freshman through junior year. Many other high schools, such as Hoover High School and Glendale High School, only offer six classes. Since Clark offers a seventh class, students are able to accumulate credits easily and graduate with a
One of the advantages of staying late is participating in various clubs during enrichment.
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Senior
Senior Projects Discovering hidden talents and skills All profiles written by Urielle Corcuera Putting full effort on his senior project, Tristan O’Donnell built a whole studio in his room to make his own music. O’Donnell initially planned to make a music album with five songs but ended up with six songs instead. Before O’Donnell found a mentor, he first listened to music tracks to see what he liked the best. O’Donnell also practiced using Reason 9, a recording software, and he took music classes at Burbank Music Academy. Guided by his mentor, John Zuker, a producer for TV shows and film, O’Donnell started to write his own lyrics for his songs. However, O’Donnell faced problems whenever his software wouldn’t work or whenever he thought that the music he was making was not good enough by his standards, which encouraged him to redo his work. Despite the problems, the music album was finished in a month and a half. “I’m gonna keep doing it,” he said. “And I hope to make music that’s higher quality in the future.”
Because of his love for cars, Marco Magardichian chose to learn basic car repair as well as improve his car modification skills. His father’s career as a smog technician also inspired Magardichian to learn how to perform smog check tests. Through his project, Magardichian hoped to hone skills that he knows he will need in his future. And because of his hard work, Magardichian mastered skills such as changing oil, tires, brakes, rims, spark plugs and fender lines— all of which are basic skills in car repair. Starting on the project, Magardichian came in with the expectation of the learning process to be easy. However, he was surprised to find out that repairing and modifying cars are much more complex and take more effort than what he had originally thought. Eventually, Magardichian managed to pull through the obstacles that he had faced and accomplish his project.
Tristan O'Donnell's album Incomplete Thoguhts on Soundcloud
Marco Magardichian's skills are displayed through his modifications on brakes, rims, and fender lines.
Senior Thomas Zohrabyan builds a component for his electrical arc furnace.
15
Through his passion for science and engineering, Thomas Zohrabyan was inspired to build an electrical arc furnace, a tool used in metal melting and the ore refining industry. The furnace uses electrodes to spark an electrical arc which then melts the metal. Zohrabyan wanted to make something that was very useful and hard to build, which is how he decided on his project. “My expectations were that it would be hard and tedious, and it definitely was,” Zohrabyan said. The project required Zohrabyan to do a lot of research on science and engineering in order to expand his knowledge. Zohrabyan got assistance from his mentor who is an electrical engineer. The whole process of making his project revolved around finding the right materials and understanding the concept of his project. “I needed to understand the basics of thermodynamics to know how it works, and it was quite annoying,” Zohrabyan said. Besides the need to further his knowledge, Zohrabyan also had many difficulties in building his electrical arc furnace such as not having enough power to his electrodes or having a bad insulating brick. In the end, however, Zohrabyan said that he didn’t like his project very much, though he still hopes to learn more about engineering.
Melanie Kasparian had the opportunity to work with the Autry Museum Education Department to create and teach a lesson plan for her senior project. Kasparian started by volunteering during the summer before her senior year to be more involved in the community. “I really enjoyed my summer there working with different people, teaching children, and just being at the museum,” Kasparian said. Being involved in the community made Kasparian realize that creating and teaching a lesson plan based off of one of the museum’s exhibits would be the perfect senior project. Kasparian’s main goal was for her lesson plan to be beneficial to the education department and for the students. Through her hard work, Kasparian’s lesson plan got approved to be used in the museum’s future curriculum by her mentors.
Edit Simonyan's final product: a baked and decorated cake
Melanie Kasparian teaches her lesson plan at the Autry Musuem Education Department
Edit Simonyan chose to learn how to bake and decorate a cake. Simonyan’s first step was to do research and soon enough she found a cake decorating classes offered at Michaels. “The senior project gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and be creative through baking,” Simonyan said. At times, Simonyan struggled with perfectioning the cake that she had envisioned. But despite the several issues Simonyan encountered, she said that she is still glad that she chose baking as her project. Learning how to bake has helped Simonyan strengthen her organizational and time management skills, she said. Simonyan made a very simple yet elegant three-tier cake covered with white fondant and gold lace. Baking the cake helped Simonyan figure out what she is passionate about, and she is now considering baking as a hobby in the near future. “This project has truly been a wonderful experience,” Simonyan said. “It has inspired me to bring out more of my creative and imaginative side.”
Senior
16
Still no Grad Night for seniors Clark again fails to grant seniors' wishes By Ariette Reynaldo All four years lead up to one single moment for many Southern California seniors: Grad Night at Disneyland Resort. After all the classes, tests, projects and college applications seniors have gone through, Grad Night offers an enjoyable respite at the end of the school year. It gives seniors the chance to enjoy all of Disneyland’s attractions with their friends late into the night, making a few final memories in their high school career. However, Clark has never offered a Grad Night for its seniors since becoming a high school in 1998. Many generations have tried, though none has been successful. The seniors of ASB came close to achieving Grad Night this year, planning out all the details over the course of a month. While Grad Night requires adult supervision, there were still concerns about the the fact that it takes place late into the night, worried individuals pointing out the numerous possible liabilities. Thus, Grad Night was rescheduled to take place during the day in order to appease these worries. Unfortunately, this led to scheduling conflicts as
there were an abundance of Clark events already scheduled on calendar. “There were too many liabilities and scheduling conflicts,” said senior class president Marah Hasan. “Any other schedule would put too much strain on administration.” Despite these setbacks, ASB tried maneuvering through the numerous scheduling conflicts, unwilling to let their efforts go to waste now that Grad Night was in their grasp. But as the end of the year approached, they were unable to find a compromise. “It was a senior decision to not have Grad Night,“ said ASB president Lina Petrossian. Plans for Grad Night were dropped before they could be presented to the school administration. An average Grad Night lasts until two in the morning and is hosted at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Disneyland encourages these events, listing what Grad Night entails and the proper protocols on their website. Some seniors were unaware of Clark’s lack of Grad Nights from the past “My friends and I were really looking forward to it for awhile now,” said Kristina Boshyan. “We worked so hard for four
photo via wikimedia.org under Creative Commons license
photo via wikimedia.org under Creative Commons license
years, so not getting a Grad Night is a bit disheartening,” said Alexander Popovic. “It’s not completely their fault, but I feel as though ASB should have tried harder to organize our Grad Night.” However, with changes in administration, attaining Grad Night is not a lost cause anymore. Clark’s new principal, Lena Kortoshian, is not at all opposed to having Grad Night. “I’m not against the idea of Grad Night since I’ve worked at Hoover before and they had Grad Night,” Kortoshian said. “But we need to really look into it and plan carefully since it would be Clark’s first ever Grad Night.” Other classes worry about their own senior year, wondering if they’ll be able to make enough memories at Clark by the time they graduate. “Our class has done a lot of fundraisers to save up for Catalina, prom, and grad night,” said junior Melanie Mesropian. “The junior committee and class have been planning and looking forward especially to Grad Night, so hopefully it will all work out.”
17 Seniors: We are so proud of your growth and accomplishments over the past four years. We encourage you to continue to work hard in pursuing your dreams. With determination and dedication all things are possible.
Best wishes to the Class of 2017 Mrs. Turdjian and Mrs. Howe
CMHS 2017
Seniors: We are so proud of your growth and accomplishments over the past four years. We encourage you to continue to work hard in pursuing your dreams. With determination and dedication all things are possible. Best wishes to the Class of 2017. Mrs. Turdjian and Mrs. Howe
"I want to apologize to Arman for drowning his souvenir monkey on the Catalina boat trip. He was in my seat, I asked him to move and when he got up his monkey flew off his shoulders into the sea." —Alejandra Lopez
"Taking AP Lang and meeting Mr. Pruitt was life-changing. That's all I'd like to say." —Gabriel Espinosa
Interviews and memes by Arman Antonyan and Karla Solorzano
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Looking Forward
What I’ll Miss “I’m gonna miss the friendly teachers and faculty, friends that are going to other schools, and the excitement of free dress days.” — Allen Deravanessian
“I’m gonna miss all of the friends I made at Clark and all the memories we created together.” — Arina Megerdichian
“There is nothing that I wouldn’t miss because this whole journey has been a blast, no matter what ups and downs we all went through. Those are the things that make our journey complete.” — Erik Sargsyan
“I’ll miss all the friends that I made over the years but unfortunately won’t be able to see after I leave.” —Amalya Chakhbasian
“I will miss the block schedule because it gives you time to finish other homework.” — Arvin Ohanian
Looking Forward
What I Won’t Miss “I definitely won’t miss all the traffic in the hallways, especially on minimum days.”
— Taleena Gharibian
“I will not miss Clark’s dress code.” — Lauren Rovello
“I won’t miss waking up extra early since Clark is in La Crescenta.” — Anna Ghazaryan
“I am not going to miss the stress of thinking about the test next class period.” — Karen Shaheideh
“Like Karen, I’m for sure not going to miss the stress of taking tests and studying for finals.” — Nareh Abramian
19
Humans of Clark Senior Edition
Anna Parsamyan
Marah Hasan
Eating and food. It’s definitely the most important part of the day. From my lanyard you can probably tell that I LOVE InN-Out, and you would be right. At In-N-Out you always have to get a double-double with whole grilled onions and fries. If you’re ever at a restaurant with a menu that has a double bacon cheddar burger, you HAVE to get it. I like all types of foods, but burgers and cheeseburgers hit the spot always. I also really like Armenian barbecue. It’s always important to go for seconds, because you can never have enough food.
My hijab, or my headscarf as some call it, is something that’s very important to me and my identity as a person. I’ve been wearing my hijab since eighth grade, and I made the decision to wear it and cover up because I felt like it was the right time for me to cover up and be modest. My parents didn't force me to wear it, and that’s a misconception that many people might think that it was something that was forced or put against me. I believe that taking this step has really been a way for me to become one with my religion, and this headscarf really has become a part of me.
Arpa Zarokian
John Bandek
As an 18-year-old who’s about to graduate and move out in less than a month to somewhere four hours away, I believe my family and my mom especially are very important to me. I have to take a lot of what she’s taught me throughout all the years she’s been in my life such as cooking, managing my time correctly, cleanliness, etc. I think it’s going to be a difficult transition from home to university, but I’m definitely ready to take it on.
I know a lot of people, if not all, on campus. From freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, I’m familiar with them. This is why I think I would be fit to be prom king. I’m also very nice and courteous, and I treat everyone with the respect they deserve. Since I’ve been a part of to many things including ASB and Publications, becoming prom king would sort of be like the cherry on top.
Edrik Abnousmasihi Vahe Farhadnejad Celine Abrahamian Melena Gadayan Sona Aghasaryan Anna Gasparyan Arlene Aladadyan John Golingay Narek Aloyan Ella Harutyunyan Rouzanna Asatryan Roni Hayroomian Natalie Azizian Michelle Hernandez David Babakhanian Arpi Iskandaryan Aren Bedrousian Vahan Jivalagian Araksie Berberian Alex Karapetyan Rita Bilamejian Chantal Kasbarian Lousaper Boghosian Melanie Kasparian Anik Boyadzhyan Avo Kegeyan Amalya Chakhbasian Mena Keshishzadeh Natalie Deravanessian Michael Koulian Talar Derbedrosian Marco Magardichian Hripsime Eghiazarian Tigran Mamikonyan Ryan Ellinwood Shant Manamshian Davis Farara Hasmik Manucharyan
Alen Martirosyan Anita Megerdichyan Anna Mikaelian Elizabeth Minasian David Minasyan Harutun Minasyan Armen Najaryan Hrach Nalchajyan Armen Navasardyan Anna Nazaryan Anna Parsamyan Geracl Petrosian Ani Petrosyan Hrair pogosian George Purtseladze Jacqueline Saakian Leen Sabaar Samuel Sackett Aren Shaginian
Allen Shain Ninette Simonian Edward Terzian Andrew Tinoco Tenny Vasghanian Jennifer Vo Wolfgang Yakkel Christina Zatourian
Kristina Boshyan Steven Lopez Harut Malkon Gilbert Saenz
Anthony Cragnotti Taleena Gharibian Leo Hacopian Michael Kallas Sevada Khashadoorian Yooje Lee Eden Morris Minely Mouradian Hunter Regan
Lia Gharabeg Arvin Ohanian
Eunice Ramilo
CSULB
Michael Chebishian
Michael Davtyan Kahren Torosyan Luiza Vardanyan
CLARK MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL *All information has been provided by students who completed the Publications college survey or by students who gave consent to be included in this section of the magazine. These names do not account for the whole senior class as some seniors did not complete the survey.
Arman Antonyan Arina Megerdichian Lina Petrossian Lauren Warshaw
Jimmy Zaarour
Dareh Aslanpour
Mason Metz Nanor Asadourian
Kuba Nogalski Armin Sadeghi
Anthony Francisco Kiara Gardea
Lucas Rosen Patrick Begian Pollyanna Esaghoolian Raisa Faisal John Junio Alexander Luke
Anthony Karroum Arpa Zarokian
Claire Garcia
Alejandra Lรณpez Marah Hasan
Levon Gukasyan
Aram Arutyunyan
Leo Issagholian Rania Mamo Karla Solorzano
24
Looking Forward
Seniors miss Miss Thomsen By Janine Porras
“Miss Thomsen was one of the best teachers at Clark,” says Anna Mikaelian as she remembers her sophomore year gym class. Mikaelian was one of the many students in PE teacher Judy Thomsen’s classes. “She made me feel comfortable being in her class,” Mikaelian said. Thomsen retired in December, 2016, halfway through the school year. Thomsen started working at Clark in 1998. For 18 years, she taught physical education to all sophomore classes and was in charge of the intramurals program. Before her job at Clark, Thomsen also worked at Hoover High School as their P.E teacher as well. “She always made P.E fun for us,” said Seiran Aleksanyan. “I always looked
forward going to her class.” “She really cared about her students and helped them with their personal issues,” said Nanor Martirosian. Martirosian said that her favorite part of being in Thomsen’s class was that she would always try to individually help each student improve their skills. “She was a great teacher,” said teacher Chris Axelgard, Thomsen’s colleague and friend. “She always knew what she was doing and was very professional.” Thomsen would share her love of sports with her students and guide them to become better players. She always encouraged her students to remain active, whether it would be playing a sport or simply going out for a walk. “She always reminded us that it
was important to keep fit,” Aleksanyan said. “It’s really disappointing that she left us,” Martirosian said. “We really miss her.”
Chemistry and one AP Chemistry class for her last year. Kassakhian studied at Yerevan State University for five years in order to receive her Masters in Chemistry and Physics. She later went to Cal State LA and took an online course at Phoenix University for her educational courses. She attended Harvard University as an unassigned student, where she listened to lectures on analytical and physical chemistry. “Mrs. Kassakhian renewed my appreciation for science,” said Arvin Sarkissian. “She teaches with patience, with positivity, and, most importantly, with passion.” A popular teacher among students, Kassakhian has had thousands of students over the years of her career who have been influenced by her. “I really enjoyed her class and was actually motivated to pursue a career in chemistry,” said Anik Boyadzhyan. As students and the school will miss Kassakhian, so will Kassakhian miss the school and her students. “I will miss the day-to-day interaction with
students,” Kassakhian said, “because I not only teach them but learn from them also.” Kassakhian not only learns about students’ views on issues but also about things like what songs are “in.” Kassakhian said that not only does she love the subject she teaches but her students also. “I have never had a bad experience in the classroom, and I have learned that if something happens it’s not personal,” Kassakhian said. “It has made me forgiving and made my job more enjoyable.” After she retires, Kassakhian hopes to travel to Greece, Canada, France and Switzerland where she will visit her family. Both students and Kassakhian have greatly impacted each other. While Kassakhian has taught students to be patient and embrace chemistry, Kassakhian has not only learned what music and movies are popular but also what students think. “I hope students have learned a lot and they become positive forces who are sensitive to issues and become involved,” Kassakhian said.
Clark says goodbye to one of chemistry’s essential elements
By Rita Bilamejian After 28 years of teaching chemistry, Loussik Kassakhian is retiring. Teaching at Hoover High School in the early years of her teaching career, Kassakhian transferred to Clark when it first opened in 1998. Teaching both chemistry and physics throughout her career, Kassakhian teaches both regular
Looking Forward
25
After 18 years, Ms. Pettegrew says goodbye to Clark By Ani Agesyan After 25 years of teaching, 18 of them being at Clark, English teacher Carol Pettegrew is retiring at the end of the 2016‒17 school year. “I love all the teachers and kids,” Pettegrew said. “The English department has always been great, all of the teachers have. The administration is really supportive, just everyone’s great.” Pettegrew has been a big part of the school during her years here. She is even the face behind the student favorite photography spot, the rose garden, which she planned in 2003. Every time she walks by the garden, she’s reminded of the time she brought the school together to plant roses. “I’ve always been proud of it,” Pettegrew said. “At first I just wanted to make it look pretty and we ended up dedicating it to [former principal] Mr. Dall.” One of Pettegrew’s favorite parts of working here is running the Bike Club, which she’s been doing for over ten years. “We are with the So Cal League,
It’s really competitive, I’m actually going to continue doing it after I leave.” Pettegrew said. “The Bike Club is a family environment, Ms. Pettegrew has been a really good leader, she even inspired me to take up mountain biking,” said freshmen and Bike Club member Robert Pinal. Pettegrew has also facilitated Relay for Life for about ten years. “We raised a ton of money for cancer,” she said. “Students who really care come together for a good cause and it’s been amazing seeing it year after year.” Pettegrew had her fair share of ups and downs at Clark. One thing she won’t forget is how supportive everyone was when she went through cancer while teaching at Clark. “When I went through cancer here, everyone was always supportive through good and bad,” Pettegrew said. ”I always felt like people were on my side here.” Although she will miss Clark and all the people here, Pettegrew said she has already made exciting plans for when she escapes the world of grading
papers. “I’m visiting my aunt and uncle in Michigan, in June, right after school.” she said. “Then, in August, when you guys are in school, I’m going to Oregon to see the total eclipse.”
and ended in 2017
28
Letters from the teachers
Dear Class of 2017 - Congratulations on all your accomplishments this year: Senior Project, Robotics, SkillsUSA, EcoNarcs, Scholastic Bowl, and I know there are many more. Each of you will be well prepared for your next steps IF you fully embrace all that you learned at Clark. Remember to enjoy the journey, smell the roses along the way, and reach out for help when needed. God Bless each and every member of the Class of 2017! — Mrs. Bondy
I am so excited to see you all graduate. I’ve walked with you in this extensive, four-year journey. My son and goddaughter are also seniors, and I feel like you have all been my kids. I have tried pointing you in the right direction, and I know you will continue to make us proud!! Best wishes, — Mrs. Rangel
Class of 2017: Wishing you all the best as you begin the next phase in your life. Remember that immediate satisfaction is far less gratifying than the full payout. Always try to think a few steps ahead. Don’t be afraid to be stubborn so long as you think things through and try to stay logical. Don’t wait to luck out in life. If you want something to happen, make it happen. Don’t be afraid to work harder than you think you should. Most of the time, it is worth it. Congratulations!!! — Mrs. Narine Tatevosian
Dear Class of 2017, It has been an honor and privilege to advise you alongside Ms. Pettegrew since your freshman year. Your first year here was my first year at Clark, and I feel as if we grew together during these past four years. As you head out into the "real world," I leave you with the words of advice I always shared with you during APUSH, US History, Photography, and/or Design: look at the world around you. Take it in and absorb everything there is to absorb. You will learn so much more by allowing others to enlighten you. I thank you for letting me attempt to enlighten you over the course of your high school career. Good luck to all of you and all your future endeavors. I'm eager to see where you all end up. Cheers, Mr. Kursinski Hola, Seniors, Shall I now say “Adiós” to you all? Perhaps, but I’d rather say “Hasta la vista,” because I do hope to see you again. You are probably happy to leave Clark and move ahead, and that’s completely appropriate. But don’t forget what you’re leaving; remember that you leave behind a group of people who have anxiously shepherded your growth and learning for four years. I probably speak for many of my colleagues when I say that I am fond and proud as I watch you go off into the world. And that I want to know what happens next......in a year, in five years, in ten.......... I will remember you. I will remember, perhaps wrongly, that your name started with A, or was it L? But I will also remember that you wrote the funniest poem, that you were quiet and loved to read, that you wrote something that touched my heart or made me laugh.
That you dreamed of being a lawyer or a NASCAR driver — whichever worked out first, or that you drove me absolutely nuts for 180 days (or more). I will remember that I admired your ability to support your friends, to share your insight, or to suit up and show up even when life wasn’t going so well. Send me an email, or come back and visit. (But be sure to go through the office and get a pass first.) Tell me what you learned, what you achieved, what you dreamed after you left Clark. I want to hear if and how you did well in the world, and more importantly, how you did good in the world. I’d like to share with you some closing words from a few famous philosophers: La curiosidad tal vez mató al gato, pero nunca al estudiante. (Sra. Reinhard) Measure twice, cut once. (Mr. Dall) So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact, and remember that life’s a Great Balancing Act. (Dr. Seuss) Hasta la vista. — Sra. R
Dear Seniors, How special is this that I’m graduating/retiring with you, the Class of 2017? How will Clark survive without us? Or maybe I should say, how are we going to survive without Clark? There is something safe and secure about a routine. Showing up to school at the same time, even and odd classes telling you where to be every minute of the day. You pretty much know exactly what to do and guaranteed to see your friends daily, knowing you will find them at the top of the amphitheater, or waiting for you in the parking lot, or for sure at lunch. We will never forget the Starbucks that you guys couldn’t get along without in the morning, and the ones you bought for me so I would give you a detain slip to your first block class. That has been my first order of business when I retired, caffeine detox! But as I clean out my office, and leave Clark for the last time, I know that I will have no regrets on the career I chose. I have loved teaching, sharing my days, my life, my office, and my classroom with all of you. The only days I dreaded were the ‘student-free’ days; it was never any fun without you at school! When people ask me what I do, they are amazed and reply, “How can you teach high school?
Aren’t teenagers disrespectful, selfish, apathetic and rude? To be honest……yes, but that’s where the teacher comes in, helping you guys mature from the scared freshman, the disrespectful sophomore, the rude junior, to a senior who has a choice to continue along that selfish path or choose to be something different. You can choose to respect, and put the needs of others before your own, and be appreciative of the things your parents (and teachers) did for you while you remove the entitlement attitude from your personality. Put your cell phone down and pay attention, listen and invest in relationships, because true friends are the things that tie life together. Remember, though, as most of you move on to college, that not all classrooms have four walls. There is an amazing world out there for you to explore! Find places where the wifi is weak and learn the value of the moment. “Better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times.” After you graduate from high school you can choose to have as many PE classes and recesses you want. Enjoy. I know I will. God Bless you all! — Miss Thomsen
Dear Class of 2017, I have never been so simultaneously delighted and vexed by a graduating class as I have been by yours. Perhaps it is a sign that the toll that three decades in the classroom has taken on me has been a steep one. Or, it could be that the perfect storm surrounding the implementation of these new academic standards has knocked me off balance. Or, it could just be that you are a group of people who are simultaneously delightful and vexing. When people my age look at people your age, we see unfulfilled promise (and lots of it). It scares me (just a little) that so many of you seem so indifferent to your own gifts. On the other hand, it brings me a lot of joy and satisfaction to see so many of you seriously exploring your capabilities. When you all leave here, I hope you will all come to see that you need to seize every opportunity to do the latter because time is short. Doug Dall, our former principal, retired last year. Nearly as often as you heard him urging you to measure twice, he would also quote Gandhi and say, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Be that change. Affectionately, Fred Blattner Dear graduates, Over the past four years, I have had the honor and the privilege of having many of you in my classes. The rest of you had other math teachers at Clark; yet, we somehow crossed paths. Either way, I am deeply grateful for that opportunity to have known you. I am confident, as you move forward in your life, you will not only make a difference, but also BE the difference. I wish you the very best on your journey and look forward to hearing from you and celebrating your accomplishments. Keep in touch! Much Love, Mr. Ghavam
Dear Seniors, You entered the doors of Clark Magnet for the first time four years ago. You weren’t sure what to expect. In these four short years you have grown physically, emotionally and academically. Even though you have all had different experiences here at Clark you all have one thing in common....you are Panthers. Did you know that unlike other felines who purr, panthers roar. Black panthers are also the strongest tree climbers. You are now leaving Clark to pursue your dreams. Whatever you choose to do, roar like a panther and be heard. Climb high and reach for the stars as you pursue your dreams. May you be successful in every step along the path to making your dreams come true. Wishing you the best. — Mrs. Howe
Congratulations to the Class of 2017! Love, Mr. and Mrs. Blattner
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