Table of Contents 05 Clarkopoly Carlos Rodriguez
Freshman 06 Fresh pancakes for kids
Looking Forward and Backwards
Junior 12 How the bus strike affected Clarkies
24 World Events from the past four years, 2015-2019
Reed Maryuama
Emili Cruz Sosa
07 Highlights of the year Pamela Faller
Rafael Aroustamian
13 Remembering Winter Formal
26 Retirement letters
Lois Ramilo, Deena Dandachi, Rafael Aroustamian
Alexandra Der Boghosian
14 Senior expectations vs. reality
28 Where they are headed now Leslie Chung
Lois Ramilo
08 Which yeacher are you? Carlos Rodriguez
Sophomore 10 Camp Darfur and Holocaust Museum trips create lasting impact Aleks Zadorian
11 Let’s take a nostalgic trip back to our Davii object presentations / Celebrating Sweet sixteens Aleks Zadorian
Senior
18 Senior Project
Victoria Bochniak
20 Seniors take a break at Catalina and Disneyland Bryan Han
22 Prom planning Tanya Yarian
24 Advice from Seniors Anna Arutunian
25 Top of the Charts Shaye Holladay McCarthy
W
elcome to the Senior Issue of The Magnet! There were a lot of things that happened throughout the four years for the class of 2019. Starting with the freshman pancake breakfast to starting college in a few months, our high school years are closing in. The Senior Issue is a timehonored tradition where we review the last four years of each senior class. As the class of 2019 is getting ready to start a new chapter in their
lives, we, The Magnet, decided that it was the perfect time to take a trip down memory lane. Not only is this issue going back in the past, but the Senior Issue, at the end, will show where the class of 2019 will be heading off to after leaving Clark Magnet. Seniors, we hope that you are able to look at this magazine and reminisce about the last four years that you have spent here, at Clark. Treasure the memories that
you’ve made here with many others who’ve endured and worked hard together with you. Your memories and adventures will always remain here at Clark. We wish you the best of luck wherever you are headed next. — Leslie Chung & Shaye Holladay McCarthy
Magazine Editors, The Magnet Cover by Dylan Weikel-Feekes
Corrections from the 2019 Yearbook Senior Quotes that were either changed or omitted
Madalynn Carr: “You don’t have to make someone else judge the satisfaction of your rlife.” —Kim Jonghyun Annabel Gholichian: ““Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” — Victor Hugo, Les Misérables Ismail Hasan: “Well, well, well, how the turn tables.” Aleen Keshishian: “A queen is never late. Everyone is simply early.” Allen Khachikyan: “Veni, Vidi, but I didn’t Vici” Gor Mirzakhanyan: “I have been forced to do many things I don’t enjoy, like write things down and speak with people.” —Ron Swanson Hasmik Sargsyan: “None of my assignments are done but I sure am” Dante Terteryan: “Cheaters never win, but we just graduated.” Kevin Vartani: “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” —Muhammad Ali
We apologize for misspelling the following names in the yearbook: 1. Elsa Abedian 2. Norayr Zhamkochyan
The Magnet Magazine Magazine Editors: Lois Ramilo Leslie Chung Carlos Rodriguez Shaye Holladay McCarthy Photographers: Staff Writers: Ani Avakian Rafael Aroustamian Victoria Bochniak Anna Arutunian Emili Cruz Sosa Victoria Bochniak Shaye Holladay McCarthy Tanya Yarian Leslie Chung Alexandra Der Boghosian Pamela Faller Website Editors: Bryan Han Victoria Bochniak Shaye Holladay McCarthy Carlos Rodriguez Reed Maruyama
Business: Rafael Aroustamian 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.
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TE S M P TU PO A R D R PA KI EN AR N T Y S S G
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4 • The Magnet
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Senior 2019 • 5
Freshman
Fresh pancakes for kids
Elizabeth Sexenian (left) and Nare Nazinyan (right)
Katherine Demirchyan remembers her pancake breakfast as a memorable and fun experience. “It was a really fun event, especially since we had the whole space enclosed to ourselves,” Demirchyan said. “I met my best friend there and the food being served was really tasty.”
Noraik Krakishyan (right, sitting next to Serli Khanbabaei) says she remembers the breakfast well. “It was at this event in which I saw every single one of my classmates and realized that was the class I was going to graduate with,” Krakishyan said. “I also thought it was funny seeing teachers out of their zone; instead of teaching, they were cooking pancakes.”
Eleen Hovanesian (left) and Mary Yenokyan (right)
6 • The Magnet
photo by: Farah Ali, Ani Avakian, Emili Cruz Sosa, and previous Publication students.
Freshman
Highlights of the year
Best
Nare Nazaryan
“My best experience in freshman year would have to be Ms. Mikaelian’s geometry class. I met my best friend, Arpine, there. She sat in front of me, and that’s how we became really good friends.”
Inesa Hovakimyan
Worst
“Physics, in general, was a big struggle. It was the first time I had a huge difficulty in my life. The children’s book at the end of the year was a challenge, but I got through it.” “I think my worst experience was working on my children’s book. I remember I would spend a lot of time in the last month trying to finish my project for physics.”
“My best experience was my seventh period, which was Ms. Mikaelian’s geometry class. Our study sessions for tests were really interesting. We would always be trying to help each other. We messed around a lot.”
A letter to my freshie-self Ramon Herrero @ramon_herrero
Dear freshman self, It was pretty easy to transition from Rosemont to Clark because it’s kind of the same floor plan. It gets harder, but it’s never too hard up to the senior project. Just don’t put off the senior project. Sincerely, Ramon Herrero 4:20 • 4/30/19 • Twitter for Samsung 309 Retweets 648 Likes
Jake Nalbandian @jake_nalbandian
Dear freshman self, Stop procrastinating because it gets you nowhere. Do more art because you can never have enough art. Last, learn to play the piano.
Sincerely, Jake Nalbandian
5:16 • 4/30/19 • Twitter for iPhone 1,097 Retweets 2,019 Likes
Isidro Hernandez
@isidro_hernandez
Dear freshman self, Join robotics to help pursue an engineering career. Study more to get better grades. Hoard more quarters from the vending machine.
Sincerely, Isidro Hernandez 7:32 • 4/30/19 • Twitter for Android 24 Retweets 105 Likes
photos by Ani Avakian and Emili Cruz Sosa Freshman • 7
Which teacher are you most like?
Mr. Pruitt, Mr. Bishop, Ms. Sajjadieh, Ms. Tatevosian, or Ms. O’Gara?
1. Choose a snack: A. Pop Chips B. Hummus & Crackers C. Pretzels D. Plain Yogurt E. Hot Cheetos & Yogurt
7. Favorite hobby?
A
B
2. Favorite sport? A. Baseball B. Basketball C. Ice Skating D. Hockey E. Football
3. Best Hollywood actor? A. Tom Hanks B. Leonardo DiCaprio C. Sandra Bullock D. Christian Bale E. Robert Downey Jr.
E
D C A
B
5. Pick a color: A. Sky Blue B. Navy C. Purple D. Green E. Turquoise
6. Favorite car?
A
B E
8 • The Magnet
9. Choose a TV show: A. Lost B. The Office C. I Love Lucy D. Parks and Recreation E. Game of Thrones
10. Choose a book:
4. Preferred breakfast? A. French Toast B. Protein Bars C. Toast D. Waffles E. Burritos
C
8. Where would you rather travel? A. Italy B. Nowhere C. Austria D. Europe E. Ireland
D
C
D
E
11. Preferred drink: A. Seltzer B. Hazelnut Latte C. Regular Coffee w/ lots of sugar D. Nonfat Latte E. Caramel Macchiato
14. Choose a movie:
A
B
12. Choose an animal:
A
B
C
D
15. Pick a clothing brand: A. Old Navy B. Tommy Hilfiger C. Ann Taylor D. Burlington E. Nike
17. Favorite sit-down restaurant? A. Mama Lu’s Dumpling House B. Panda Inn C. Malbec Argentinean Cuisine D. Olive Garden E. Din Tai Fung / Sushi Yuzu
E D
C 13. Pick a superpower: A. Mind Reading B. Super Strength C. Invisibility D. Invulnerability E. Teleportation
E
16. Favorite ice cream flavor: A. Cake Batter B. Vanilla C. Mint Chip D. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough E. Chocolate
18. One word to describe yourself: A. Particular B. Complicated C. Geeky D. Open E. Organized
If you got mostly...
A
D
B
E
’s: You’re Mr. Bishop! You are someone who has a keen creative eye and unique tastes. Catchphrase: “Save it on AVID!” ’s: You’re Mr. Pruitt! Your finessing skills allow you to get out of any situation and you are quite enthusiastic about sports. Catchphrase: “Bang Bang!”
C
’s: You’re Ms. O’Gara! You are a truly caring person who knows how to spread positivity and enjoys being around animals. Catchphrase: “¡Si se puede!” / “Yes we can!”
’s: You’re Ms. Sajjadieh! You always put care and effort into your work and are very persistent in getting things done. Catchphrase: “Only Connect!” ’s: You’re Ms. Tatevosian! You are a very organized and original person who knows how to get things done on time and always puts forth as much effort as possible. Catchphrase: “Did you make a list?”
Photo Credits: Ani Avakian, Trisha Gomez, Tanya Yarian, Aleks Zadorian, National Park Service, Flickr, Good Free Photos, Pexels, Goodreads, All Free Photos, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, IMDb, Public Domain Pictures
Senior • 9
Sophomore
Camp Darfur and Holocaust Museum trips create lasting impact on students By Aleks Zadorian Every year, sophomores learn about the Holocaust by visiting the Los Angeles Holocaust Museum in April or May and by going to the tents set up by Camp Darfur in April. Camp Darfur is an organization that puts up tents with records, pictures and facts about genocides, both past and present. Their goal is to spread information about genocide and to raise awareness about the ongoing genocide in the western Sudanese region of Darfur that has been going on since early 2003. The Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust and its wide variety of information about the Holocaust has been visited by Clark students in the spring for many years. The students get to hear a Holocaust survivor speak about his or her experiences with the massacres in the ’30s and ’40s. After that, they get to tour the entire museum with a curator that guides the group through
Photo by Eunice Ramilo
Photo by Mr. Davis
In the spring, sophomores visit Camp Darfur and the Holocaust museum, where Roman Zahrabyan and Kevin Sahak visit the Wailing Wall impression in the Holocaust museum.
the different pictures, facts, and memorabilia that is present at the museum. Camp Darfur does more than teach students about the various genocides and massacres of the past and present. “It brings the school together” says Teni Aghasian.
Both the Holocaust Museum and Camp Darfur aim to inform sophomores about genocides in history so that such events don’t occur ever again.
“Before I went there, I was pretty close minded and didn’t know too much about Jewish culture, but the speaker was very eye opening and I made a connection with her culture and mine” — Roman Zohrabyan
“The whole thing was very sombering. The pictures and the primary source left a lasting impact.” Photo By Ani Avakian
10 • The Magnet
— Mher Arutyunyan
Photo by Aleks Zadorian
Sophomore
Let’s take a nostalgic trip back to our Davii object presentations By Aleks Zadorian
When they were sophomores, students in Chris and Jennifer Davis’ Humanities class did a project where they brought an object of great sentimental value and did a presentation about the object in front of their class. “I brought my grandpa’s pen that he gave to me long ago,” said Harutyun Maranjyan. “He got it as a souvenir from when he was in Greece. It has been on my desk ever since I was very young. I keep it there because it reminds me of him every time I look at it.” Some students brought objects of very high sentimental value, such as family relics and memorabilia that has been passed
Photo by Harutyun Maranjyan Photo by Ani Avakian
down from grandfathers or great-grandfathers, maybe beyond. Another object was Rita Bedrossian’s doll. “I brought a stuffed doll to class that my uncle sent me from Venezuela, which is where I was born,” she said. “It made me feel way closer to him, and I even named the doll after him.” Ninel Abrahamian brought the collars of her dogs. “I showed the collars of my dogs that have since passed away,” she said. “I grew up with a number of dogs for 14 years, and they all helped me with my anxiety and I got rid of my fear of dogs because of my closeness with them.”
Celebrating Sweet Sixteens CELINE KARABEDIAN Location: La Boheme Banquet Hall Number of guests: 100 Favorite gift: Gold bracelet from her mom “My sweet 16 was really fun. If I didn’t do it, I would really regret it. It was cool to have all my friends in one setting dancing and having fun.”
CHRISTINEH ANTINIAN Location: Anoush Banquet Hall Number of guests: About 70 Favorite gift: Her new car
Photo by Gabrielyan Studio
“My sweet 16 was easily one of the best nights of my life. I danced all night with my friends and family.”
Photo by Deena Dandachi
Senior • 11
Junior
How the bus strike affected Clarkies “I didn’t really have any important classes, and since the bus drivers were on strike, I thought I’d just spend my time at home. I watched some TV, relaxed, and then when it was the time I normally get home, I started on my homework.” — Lilit Martirossyan
“I was surprised when I didn’t see the buses coming up the street because normally I see them on my way up the hill. I biked to school but I noticed that most people weren’t there until later in the day when they came with their parents.” — Samuel Thompson
“It took my bus over an hour to get to my stop. I thought about leaving when the bus wasn’t there, but I figured that eventually the bus would come. A few of my friends had already walked home, but I got to school late during first period.” —Vahe Aslanyan photos by Ani Avakian and Reed Maruyama 12 • The Magnet
Junior
Remembering Winter Formal rmal was “Junior fo mething I so definitely ber ys remem a lw a l il w ave able to h my — being it nce w h a d d n a fun rmal ade the fo friends m rable.” mo more me ian Aftandil ie k c a J —
“Junior y ear was v ery stressful an and junio d hectic, r formal helped u s be awa y from all of it. I felt a lot closer to all the teachers a fter the time I spent w ith them.” — Aleen Keshish ia
n
“Winter fo rmal was probably the most memorab le event fr om that stre ssful yea r― dancing with my friends and eatin g pizza, was just an uniqu e experien ce to Cla rk.” — Mary Kartashia n
casino “Playing g d winnin games an my usly with continuo y my side e friends b th e up was hyping m went wild .I best part est like the b and I felt ere.” player th
n
arkissia — Leo S
Senior • 13
Senior
Senior expectations vs. reality “Firstly, I was expecting more work for senior year even though I was planning to take fewer classes. However, this year was a lot easier for me and I had a lot more free time to be with my friends. Secondly, I thought senior project was going to be hard since it’s a yearlong assignment, but I actually thought it was pretty smooth and easy as well. I’m not really scared of graduation either; not only are leaving high school behind, but we are also leaving our childhood behind, and for me, I am looking forward to what the next chapter holds for
Christine Chang “For me, senior year was basically clickbait. I thought senior year would be easy and enjoyable. I was excited for not having a seventh period and going home early. In reality though, senior year was really stressful for me compared to other years. Since I don’t have a car, I still have to wait for the bus even though I don’t have a seventh period. The senior project was also challenging for me because I’m doing character design and I have to do a lot of drawings.” 14 • The Magnet
Marat Mustafaev “I was pretty happy with how senior year went for me. For graduation, I’m kind of unbiased because I’m really excited about going to college next year, but I’m also going to miss my friends here. I also enjoyed having no AP classes this year and having the ability to choose more classes that I actually want to take. I don’t mind having seven classes because I really enjoy the electives that I’m taking and I don’t have as much work to do. I especially like my Creative Writing class because now, I can just write what comes to my mind with ease.”
Aigul Nugumanova interviews by Lois Ramilo photos by Ani Avakian
Dear Class of 2019: Four years have come and gone….you are now ready to begin a new chapter in your lives. My best advice to you is to pursue your dreams. As you think of your future…your major, your career pathway….focus on what you love. A job is never work if you love what you do. When you get up in the work and look forward to going to work, you know that you have chosen the correct career for you. Many changes have happened these past four years. You’ve seen a change in principals, at least 15 new teachers have arrived, pathways have been added, and new courses have been made available to you. All this was to help you achieve your goals….graduate from high school and move on to higher education. As you reflect on the past four years, I hope that you have many good memories, and that they far outweigh the bad ones. You no longer have to worry about being out of dress code, and you may never ride a bus again as long as you live! Yet, these are all experiences and memories that have helped form who you are. As you move into the next chapter of your lives, I think….no, I know that you will become much more appreciative of your experiences at Clark and your Clark family. As your counselor, I have walked along side you on your high school path…well, with at least half of you. None of you had me as a teacher, and quite possibly many of you didn’t even know that I was a teacher here at Clark. I have been able to watch you grow into mature, young adults. As you start this new chapter in your lives I, too, will be moving on. I plan to retire this year after 42 years of service in GUSD. I have so many memories over the decades and have had the pleasure of seeing many of my former students move forward in every career imaginable. You are now moving on to higher education. Take the skills that you’ve learned and use them to surpass your wildest imaginations. You are capable of achieving the desires of your heart. However, to do so requires dedication, perseverance and patience. Be involved, take advantage of all the opportunities that are available to you and, to use the cliché, ….be the best that you can be! — Mrs. Howe
CLASS OF 2019: I am so proud of all of you! As you begin the journey toward adulthood, you will soon discover all the truth that your parents and teachers were trying to help you understand. As you work hard for your future, remember one thing: Enjoy life along the way! What do you enjoy doing? How can you give yourself a chance to slow down and reflect on what is truly important? Maybe you were not the greatest student in high school. Well, now is your chance to shine - grow up and accept the challenge to be productive!
Congratulations Class of 2019! YOU MADE IT! Don’t forget the Tatevosian Method: Make a list, get it done, cross it off. Power through and never look back. Good luck with whatever you choose to do. Don’t forget about your happiness. Last important date to add to your calendar: Senior Project Oral Boards May 2024 when you get to be the judges!! (also... tacos.) Come back & visit! — Mrs. Tatevosian
My prayer for the Class of 2019 is to stay focused and/or gain focus on what is truly important in life! Seek the wisdom you will need to get there. — Mrs. Bondy, Counseling Clerk
Senior • 15
Senior
Senior Project profiles WHAT? “For my project, I created a cookbook of family recipes. I collected the recipes, translated them from Armenian to English and learned how to make the dishes. Once I took photos of the finished result, I was able to edit them and gather all the components to design a cookbook.”
ANI PATRIKYAN
CREATING A COOKBOOK
Photo by Ani Patrikyan
BIGGEST CHALLENGE? “The hardest part was making sure that everything was translated correctly because minor discrepancies could lead to the whole recipe falling apart. The most satisfying part was being able to see my final printed cookbook because it is something tangible that represents my culture.”
Photo by Ani Patrikyan
Photo by Ani Patrikyan
BIGGEST CHALLENGE? “The most difficult part was making the different shapes with the clay especially when it was wet. Sometimes it took me more than eight hours to finish managing the clay.”
WHAT? “I decided to learn to make ceramics because it was something that looked cool to learn and possibly useful in the future. But it also required a lot of handeye coordination.” 18 • The Magnet
Photo by pxhere.com
EDUARD TER OSIPYAN CERAMICS
Photo by Eduard Ter Osipyan
Senior MICHELLE KURKJIAN DIGITAL ART
BIGGEST CHALLENGE? “One of the challenges was learning to use Illustrator and understanding all the functions. I struggled making the artwork smooth and controlling the lines because at times the computer would do its own thing.”
Photo by Michelle Kurkjian
Photo by Michelle Kurkjian
Photo by Taleen Amirkhanian
WHAT? “I worked on Illustrator to create four unique pieces of art. I focused on creating different seasons in each of the boxes that you can then hang up together as a whole.”
Photo by Taleen Amirkhanian
WHAT? “I chose catering as my Senior Project because it involves two of my interests: baking and business. However, I struggled getting everything decorated on time.” BIGGEST CHALLENGE? “Compared to my mentor, a professional baker, I worked a lot slower than she did. But as time passed, I improved and was able to work quickly as well. My final product allowed me to create a mock catering business for myself, as well as bake for children and put a smile on their faces, which is something I value greatly.”
TALEEN AMIRKHANIAN Photo by Taleen Amirkhanian
CATERING Senior • 19
Senior
Seniors take a break at
4
2
1
5
3
1. Victoria Bochniak 2. Matilda Minasian, Susan Sayamyan, Nare Nazaryan, and Farah Eskender 3. Renateh Moradian and Ariela Hamparsooniyans 4. Christine Chang and Madalynn Carr 5. Ariela Hamparsooniyans 6. Alique Malakian and Mary Kartashian
6
20 • The Magnet
Senior
Catalina and Disneyland
7
10
12
8
11
7. Isabela Lacsina, Nayely Araujo, and Deena Dandachi 8. Frances Mejia 9. Michelle Kurkjian and Ani Patrikyan 10. Jake Nalbandian 11. Rita Badrosian and Tenny Alaverdian 12. Renateh Moradian
9
Senior • 21
Senior By: Shirak Issakhanian
P pping the Question for the Starry Night
“Since her last name is Mashati, I thought of the phrase ‘Natalie will you be Mashawty,’ and I’m excited to attend Prom with her,” Narek Zeynalyan said. Asked: Natalie Mashati
By: Taleen Amirkhanian
By: Tenny Alaverdian
“I had been planning this for two weeks and I re-did it at the nurse’s office at Clark,” Vladimir Centeno said. Asked: Taleen Amirkhanian
“I promposed in the parking lot, and I wanted to do something with her name,” Rafi Rajoyan said. Asked: Tenny Alaverdian
By: Shirak Issakhanian
By: Elsa Abedian
“My sister gave me the idea, and since we both love food I knew I wanted to do it with donuts,” Alec Bejanian said. Asked: Emily Hortananian
“I wasn’t expecting Raffi to prompose to me, but he came up to me with a poster and red roses,” Elsa Abedian said. Asked by: Raffi Hovsepians
22 • The Magnet
Senior
Prom planning Making Memories Making Memories Making Memories “It will bring our class closer together, and it’s a once-in-alifetime experience.” — Matilda Minasian
“I am excited for the senior experience and for making new memories at Prom.” — Tigranouhi Berberian By: Matilda Minasian
By: Tigranouhi Berberian
By: Justin Gonzales
By: Justin Gonzales
“I’m excited to make new memories with my class before we go our separate ways for college.” — Ismail Hasan
“I am most excited about the food and having a fun time with my friends at the last party of the year.” — Justin Gonzales
Senior • 23
Advice from seniors “If it don’t matter in five years, don’t spend more than five minutes getting angry about it. Live for today because yesterday has passed and tomorrow may never come. Don’t sweat the small stuff because in the end it won’t matter.” — Wayne Baker
“Don’t overload yourself and take more AP classes than you can handle. If your college dreams don’t end up working out, don’t worry, because there are lots of other opportunities out there.” — Alique Malakian
“The worst part of high school is managing your time, so be on top of that. Work load for classes is fine, but procrastination is terrible. Start essays early and think them out well.” — Marcus Barga
24 • The Magnet
“Focus on studying, try your best, and if something doesn’t work out, look for alternatives. Find something you like and stick to it, like a passion. And just enjoy high school because it goes by really fast.” — Manana Khashadoorian
“Get an idea of what you’re going to do for senior project. Plan everything out and don’t stress too much. Enjoy high school because it goes by quick.” — Shirak Issakhanian
“Make sure to keep up with your classes. Try to balance your work and home life, and get enough sleep if you can.” — Edouard Aleman
“Develop work habits early because when you build up a negative habit, it affects you. Build good habits early on so that you don’t have to take two steps back to only take one step forward; don’t settle for mediocrity. High school isn’t going to last forever; you want to walk away with something to call your own. Try not to be good at everything but settle to be great at a few things.” — David Zakaryan
2015
Top of the Charts 1. “Uptown Funk!” - Mark Ronson
ft. Bruno Mars
2. “Thinking Out Loud” - Ed Sheeran 3. “See You Again” - Wiz Khalifa
ft. Charlie Puth nme.com
1. Avengers: Age of Ultron
2015
2. Ant-Man 3. Room 4. Love
4. “Trap Queen” -F etty Wap
5. The Hateful Eight
5. “Sugar” - Maroon 5
2016 2016
1. “Love Yourself” - Justin Bieber
1. Captain America: Civil War
2. “Sorry” - Justin Bieber
2. Doctor Strange
3. “One Dance” - Drake
3. Me Before You
ft. WizKid and Kyla
4. Split
4. “Work” - Rihanna
ft. Drake
5. Deadpool
popsugar.com
5. “Stressed Out” - Twenty One Pilots
2017 2017
1. “Shape of You” - Ed Sheeran 2. “Despacito” - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
1. Thor: Ragnarok 2. Spider-Man: Homecoming 3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
3. “That’s What I Like” - Bruno Mars
4. Baywatch
4. “Humble” - Kendrick Lamar
5. Deadpool
nme.com
5. “Something Just Like This” - The Chainsmokers
ft. Coldplay
2018
2. “Perfect” - Ed Sheeran 3. “Meant to Be” - Bebe Rhexa
ft. Florida Georgia Line
4. “Havana” - Camila Cabello officialcharts.com
2018
1. “God’s Plan” - Drake
ft. Young Thug
5. “Rockstar” - Post Malone ft. 21 Savage
1. Avengers: Infinity War 2. Aquaman 3. Arctic 4. Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse 5. Ant-Man and the Wasp Senior • 25
Looking to the past
World events from the past four years, 2015-2019 Presidential Election, 2016 The United States Presidential election was one of the most heated election’s in history, with Republican nominee Donald Trump beating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the final result. Nejdeh Babayan said that Trump is a businessman, and it didn’t feel right for him to be a presidential candidate. “He’s good with relationships with other countries, though, especially how he deals with North Korea,” Babayan said.
Kobe’s Retirement, 2016 Kobe Bryant, often regarded as one of the best basketball players in the history of the game, ended his career facing off against the Utah Jazz. Bryant scored an impressive 60 points against the team from Utah. Pierre Panosian said he was at the game when Bryant retired. “It was very emotional, and as he dropped the mic at the end my heart dropped,” Panosian said.
Muhammad Ali’s Death, 2016 On June 3,2016, one of the greatest boxers in history passed away. With 61 total fights and 56 wins, Muhammad Ali changed boxing history forever. “Growing up, I was a big fan of Muhammed Ali. I had a poster of when he fought Sonny Liston. And when he died, I couldn’t go to school due to one of my idols passing away,” said Dvean Shahnazarian.
Summer Olympics, 2016 The 2016 Summer Olympic Games were held from Aug. 5 to 21 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The first Olympic games to be held in South America, more than 11,000 athletes competed in the event. But the lead up to the games was filled with controversies, including a doping scandal with Russia and the political and economic situation in the host nation, Brazil.
photos from Flickr and Wikimedia 26 • The Magnet
Looking to the past Bruno Mars sweeps Grammy’s, 2018 The 60th annual Grammy Awards were held on January 28, 2018, with the television host James Corden returning as a host. But that would be the least of the many surprises, as Peter Gene Hernandez, also known professionally as Bruno Mars, was nominated and won six awards at the event, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year.
March for Life, 2018 On March 24, 2018, thousands of students left their classes to protest gun violence, in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. The shooting claimed 17 lives and 17 other people were injured. “I felt like gun violence is a very big problem,” said Albert Balyan. “I don’t feel safe coming to Clark in just a polo and khakis.”
France wins World Cup, 2018 When the World Cup was held in Russia, many countries participated in the global event. Out of the 32 teams that participated, France would lift the cup after a hard fought, 4-2 win. John Sabounjian was in Russia during the games. “I watched the France vs. Denmark game. It was really exciting even though it ended in a draw,” Sabounjian said. “I’ve been a France fan since the very beginning, so it was great to see them win.”
Notre Dame Cathedral Fire, 2019 The Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in France is one of the largest and most important churches in Europe. Several Christendom relics are housed there. But while undergoing renovation, the Lady in Paris caught fire and burned for 15 hours. Michael O’Gara was shocked to see the historic landmark burning. “It’s a place I always wanted to visit, and it was sad to see such a treasured landmark burning,” he said.
Timeline by Rafael Aroustamian Senior • 27
Teacher, counselor, and librarian: Three pillars of Clark Magnet High School set to retire in June
Ms. Sajjadieh bids farewell after 20 years at Clark By Lois Ramilo After 29 years of teaching — nine years at Glendale High School and 20 years at Clark — English literature teacher Stephanie Sajjadieh is retiring from teaching. A veteran of teaching English for both juniors and seniors, Sajjadieh has been teaching in GUSD since 1990, but came to teach at Clark in 1999. Although hesitant at first, she joined the Clark staff when she was offered a position by former principal Douglas Dall to help design the English curriculum. “I just couldn’t deny [creating the English lessons] since I could now teach the books I really wanted students to read,”, Sajjadieh said. Since then, Sajjadieh has become an integral pillar to Clark’s English department and her classes were largely seen as a rite of passage for upperclassmen to have at least once before they graduated. Throughout her life, Sajjadieh has always loved to read. The daughter 28 • The Magnet
of a former fourth grade teacher, she considered reading books as an escape from reality. It was that thrill of reading, along with the notion of having original ideas, that planted the seeds that eventually lured her to a career in teaching. “I really love this convergence of reading, books and teens,” she said. “I see literature as a vehicle for finding yourself and finding the things that make you you through the inward journeys of the characters we read.” Numerous students have spoken highly of Sajjadieh, with many experiencing a rejuvenated love for English. “She really cares about her students learning in her class,” said junior Ava Garcia. Garcia, a current student in Sajjadieh’s AP English Literature and Composition class, said she greatly admires Sajjadieh’s enthusiasm for reading. “The whole class just made me want to read again,” Garcia said. “Striving to read more and improve my writing are the biggest things I’ve learned in her class, for sure.” For Sajjadieh, English and the idea of original thought has never been
more prevalent and important as now. “I always want to create an atmosphere where people can freely share their own ideas,” Sajjadieh said. “Phones changed everything. It makes students think there’s an answer to how the book should be read and interpreted when there really isn’t.” When asked about what she’ll miss the most, it was an easy answer. “I, of course, will miss my co-workers here, but I’ll also miss my students as well,” she said. “The best part of teaching for me is seeing something in someone’s eyes light up with an idea they came up themselves. That’s how I know I did my job well.” Once retiring, Sajjadieh plans to travel around Europe and enjoy having more time for herself and her family. However, if there’s one thing that’ll never change, it’s her undying love and passion for reading. “I never get tired of reading,” Sajjadieh said. “If there’s one thing to know about books, it’s that literature is not about finding x, but about finding your own ideas and making your own
Ms. Howe, counselor and teacher, retires after 42 years in GUSD By Rafael Aroustamian
Most Clark teachers are known to stick around for a long time. So it came as a surprise to many students when they found out that Susan Howe, a longtime counselor and math teacher who has worked at Clark for 20 years was retiring this year. Howe, who has been working for GUSD for more than 42 years, says she believed that Clark was like “heaven on earth” when she first walked in through the doors. “The students were amazing, in all respects ― in behavior, in academic performance, in showing respect.” Howe started her teaching career at Toll Middle School in 1977. “It was actually Toll Junior High School at the time,” Howe said. “After that I taught at Hoover, and then I finally got the pleasure of working at Clark.” Although Howe is known to most current students as a counselor, she didn’t start out that way, instead teaching math and Spanish when she first arrived at Clark. “I really enjoyed teaching those two subjects because most students I know struggle with either math or Spanish. I enjoy math because most people hate it, and I like having math come alive in the classroom,” Howe said. “With Spanish, I enjoyed having students who don’t know too much about Spanish and all of a sudden they are learning everything and they can write paragraphs by the end of the school year. That’s what makes me feel good, seeing students progress.” But as Howe progressed through the years as a teacher and then as
a counselor, she noticed that many changes took place at Clark and around the community. “I see a change in the students, as technology evolved quite a lot since I started,” Howe said. “Students knew how to go to a library and read and research. Now you have the research in the palm of your hand.” Howe believes that students must also be careful in using technology while researching for their school-related work. “It all depends on how the students use it,” Howe said. “I think many times students use it in a negative way because there’s that instant gratification, so they don’t work as hard as they could to dig deep since everything’s there at a touch of a finger. I think it developed a whole different type of work ethic and working style.” Howe said that she also sees how expectations for college have fluctuated during her long stay at Clark. “When I first started as a counselor six or seven years ago, we probably had 50 percent going to a four-year college and 40 percent going to GCC, and now it’s taken a total turnaround,” Howe said “Part of that is cultural. But I feel that as a counselor I have opened a lot of windows of opportunity for people to get scholarships and to attend four-year colleges.” Howe says that she has many plans after to retirement. “I plan to travel a lot,” she said. “I love to travel. I have family in Wisconsin and Argentina, and I’m hoping to see them after a very long time. I hope to reconnect with my family and to volunteer. Maybe even come back and sub at Clark.”
Clark’s first librarian, Ms. Newcomer, retires By Deena Dandachi
The iconic and influential librarian of Clark Magnet High School, Susan Newcomer, ends her legacy at Clark after 21 years. Newcomer has been heavily involved in making the school reputable, being the first (and only) advisor of the Scholastic Bowl Team and helping out with the senior projects. Newcomer also helped with the creation of the first yearbook in 1998. Newcomer first started her studies at Los Angeles Valley College for two years. Newcomer continued her studies at UCLA where she finished her B.A. in histortical musicology and minored in history/social sciences. Newcomer worked for Lawry’s Foods for 12 years. She also worked for seven years at O’Melveny and Myers, which was the biggest law firm in the Los Angeles area. Newcomer found out about the creation of Clark through a newspaper article, she said. Newcomer applied to GUSD to initially become a substitute to extend her work experience since she had wanted to be a teacher ever since she was a child. Newcomer was later referred to founding Clark principal Douglas Dall, who was starting to create the staff for the school. Once Newcomer was hired, she earned a Teacher Librarian Services specialist credential. Newcomer has always been involved with different English and history classes whether it be through the senior project or through her many presentations. Also, in previous years, Newcomer taught several seniors how to do research and how to apply their knowledge and skills to their writing projects. “Ms. Newcomer offered a lot of her time to help me with my Senior Project and I am very grateful for that,” said senior Razmik Alemsharyan. “She will indeed be missed.” Those who have worked alongside Newcomer have appreciated her many contributions to the school community. “She has always been more than a librarian at Clark,” said Humanities and Publications teacher Christopher Davis. “Ms. Newcomer has always been an important foundational person in the formation and sustaining of Clark and its culture,” Davis said. Newcomer plans to continue her love of music by starting to play jazz saxophone like she once did. “I also have a great interest in learning world languages, including Italian,” Newcomer said.
Senior • 29
Where we are going . . . UCLA
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