2016 November Issue

Crimson

Volume 76 l Issue 2 l 11.9.16 l 801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles, CA l Paso Robles High School

An indepth look at Bearcats who lend a helping hand Cupped hands are the universal symbol of giving back.

Even though Bearcat volunteers do not literally cup their hands when helping others, their stories found within demonstrate compassion and inspire others to join the cause.

|News

Schimke returns to the classroom AP and math assignment resumes; coaching remains suspended

by Emmaline Voorheis, News Co-Editor and Lauren Wassam, Sports Co-Editor

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ead varsity football coach, AP Stats and IMP 4 teacher Richard Schimke returned to the classroom November 3. According to recent information, he is released to return strictly to teaching, restricted from coaching until further notice.

District higher-ups enforced the paid absence of Schimke from teaching and coaching assignments on October 23 due to an incident involving a player and a bottle of syrup.

The incident and its aftermath have raised questions about teacher-student interactions and whether the district will respond with a heavy hand. Parents have been protesting this week about it along Niblick Road.

According to eyewitness accounts backed by video, Schimke poured syrup into a player’s belly button during a postgame locker room celebration that took place October 14. The event soon after exploded on social media, as well as local news outlets such as the SLO Tribune. Outrage from both ends of the spectrum emerged within these outlets, triggering community wide response, and the debate of Schimke’s innocence.

The parent of the player involved police and triggered the district to place Schimke on leave.

“Winning football games at the expense of the mental and moral well being of our children is not only not worth it, but a grave injustice to them,” said the parent on Facebook. “They deserve to have the best examples of honor, integrity, and courage.”

The police department, San Luis Obispo District Attorney, and the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District were all notified of the incident from the parent of the player on October 19. PRPD have determined that no crime was committed.

But the ethics of Schimke’s locker room behavior will continue to be investigated by district leaders.

“We are continuing to consider the contents of the video as well as other available information as part of our administrative

investigation and internal review.,” reads a statement from Superintendent Chris Williams shared with the media November 1. “Our district takes concerns and allegations against a member of our staff seriously, and is committed to ensuring that a full and fair investigation is conducted. We hold all staff to a high standard of conduct and our district is dedicated to providing an educational environment where students are treated with respect and dignity and are provided with opportunities for success.”

Video footage was posted of the incident on the SLO Tribune’s online page November 2.

In the video, Schimke is seen pouring syrup onto a player’s stomach, who is spread on the floor with his back to the ground. The incident took place in a locker room with other cheering teammates gathered around the player, celebrating their recent win. Schimke is seen leaning over the player and dipping his head toward the player’s abdomen to lick the syrup from his navel. It is not clear in the video if Schimke actually made contact with the player.

Schimke’s attorney Bob Bartosh stated Schimke merely pretended to make contact.

Schimke’s players, their parents and the AP statistics students he teaches say that the incident has been vetted and blown out of proportion. PRHS Football parents in particular have taken up a call to action, most clearly spelled out in the Bearcat

Varsity Football Parents 2016 Facebook page, with posts and comments accompanied by the hashtag #istandwithschimke, which goes beyond Facebook into Twitter and Instagram. Outcry from parents loyal to Schimke has assailed the page since October 29, six days after Schimke was placed on leave. Posts reflect the opinions of Schimke’s players, parents, and AP statistics students that justice has not been truthfully served, as well as voiced concerns regarding the absence of their teacher in light of upcoming AP tests in the spring.

“Unless Coach Schimke is reinstated before our game against our biggest rival this Friday night, every clear thinking person should vote no on measure M.” reads a post by football mom Debbie Lou Horne, posted on October 31.

For their part, teachers are concerned that the significant achievements of Schimke’s teaching and coaching are not understood or supported by new administration, according to several who spoke at a meeting November 3.

Assistant coach and English teacher Matt Carroll, the team’s defensive coordinator, continues to serve as interim head coach during the season’s biggest game against cross town rival Atascadero HS.

Photos by Lauren Wassam, Aiden Kerr, Kathryn Varian, and courtesy of Debbie Lou Horne

The Race for the Presidency who would you vote for and why?

Ryan Jennings, 11

Trump “I support his economic policies and strategy of bringing jobs back to America.”

02 NEWS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

Diana

Kiley

Gonzalez,

Hinton,

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CLinton “I am against oppressive, judgmental, candidates towards other people.”

Trump “I don’t agree with most of the things Hillary says or her support of pro-choice.”

Guadalupe Contreras, 12

Clinton “I’ve been raised to be a Democrat and it would be cool to see a woman become president.”

Lunch scene spills over

News in brief

District Budget Update

by Valeria Cisneros, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Lines, laws, and entrepreneurs complicate situation

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By Esther Cabello, People Co-Editor

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s many as 20 students had gathered around the Bearcat the lengthy PRHS snack bar lines.

In some cases, students have resorted to buying food from Fresh Express not even a minute after the bell had rung on Wednesday, October 26. Students scrambled toward enterprising students who have taken a bizarre business the front, and at least three students cut in line seconds before opportunity in buying and reselling prepackaged foods.

A source who sold sodas made a significant profit than the the end of lunch bell rang. The line of Bearcats awaiting their smoothies, pasta salads, and sandwiches was less of a line first, appealing to a large group of buyers.

“I would get the word out, and as soon as I knew it, more and more of a mass, and whoever happened to be closest to people would show up saying, ‘Hey, do you have any soda? the front got to order their food first.

This scene is a typical afternoon in the lunch lines of PRHS. I need something to get me through the day,’ ” the source recalled.

In a survey of 275 PRHS students, 43.6% The student made a total profit of over of students reported using the snack bars $2,000 for the one and a half years he sold on campus as their lunchtime source of the sodas. He would buy a 24 pack of any food. Furthermore, 163 of the students soda he could find for $5 and sell each surveyed reported that they would buy soda individually for $1, making a profit of food from the school more often if there Snack Bars-43.6% nearly $20 per pack. were more locations to serve the near Administration breaks up such sales 2,000 Bearcats on campus, and almost Brought from home-50.9% and disciplines students who pursue 60% of the students listed the lengthy No lunch-20% them. Both students and staff on campus lines as their number one complaint.

Borrow from friends-6.9% follow the California Education Code Although the exceptionally long lines buy from students-1.5% must on what is allowed to be sold and when. are a large issue, students have reported The Competitive Food Sales section of the their dissatisfaction with the food served on campus. In the same survey, 67.5% of the students California Ed Code contains rules such as requiring foods stated that they would like to see the school improve their sold on campus to contain 35% or less calories from fat, entree snacks, beverages, and entrees as well as the lunch line items sold to pupils to be no more than 400 calories, and fruit efficiency. The other 32.5% of students selected one of those and vegetable-based beverages to contain no less than 50% categories specifically, the most popular complaint being the of fruit or vegetable juice with no added sweeteners.

Despite students’ feelings about food on campus, the JOOI improvement of the lines at a percentage of 14.2%.

The lines are not only an obstacle to tackle in order club is working to raise money for other clubs on campus— to obtain lunch, but they present a health hazard among perhaps by food trucks—which might present new food students. Nearly half of the students surveyed state that often variety on campus as well. times, there is not enough time left to eat lunch after waiting in

PRHS Students’ Lunch SOurce Of FOod

*275 Students Surveyed

Photos by Kayla Terry and Lindsay Darbyshire

WAIT (right):Students stand in line in front of Bearcat Fresh Express. 44.2 percent of surveyed students said they spend 15-20 minutes in lunch lines daily.

News|

he district budget is currently funding many projects as a way to create income to be able to provide funds to new programs and facilities.

One of these new programs is the solar project, which will cost an estimated 5.4 million dollars, though most will be payed for by the SunEdison company, and the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District will only pay 50 thousand dollars for landscaping and aesthetics. The solar power would help six Paso Robles district school sites including Paso Robles High School, Winifred Pifer Elementary School, Kermit King Elementary School, Virginia Peterson Elementary School, Flamson Middle School, and the Culinary Arts Academy. The project will shift the sites towards renewable energy, and would save the district an estimated 9.1 million dollars over a 20 year period. This project was approved last year and will begin at the high school campus in June of 2017.

The budget is also funding a synthetic turf project for the War Memorial Stadium which will be installed and ready before the Class of 2017 graduation ceremony, and will save about three million gallons of water annually.

The district is currently at a 9.3 percent reserve and is projected to be at 11.9 percent next year, and eventually at 15 percent. The California Proposition 55, which is an extension of Prop. 30 income tax increase and not a new tax measure, however, could impact district funding. “If it’s passed, we’ll be able to sustain our current budget, but if it does not pass there would be a tremendous impact on our budget of about four million dollars over general fund.” PRJUSD Superintendent Chris Williams said.

Two Part Cuesta Update Approved

by Emily Mowery, Environment Editor

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he North County Cuesta campus is now offering many summer classes in two parts in order to receive full credits for a school year.

The two part update is to ensure that students will learn all that they need to know for both semesters. The list of summer classes along with which classes will be split into two parts will be released in April 2017, but one example of a summer course offered with A and B is US History, according to Heather Gillis, the college and career counselor for seniors.

Students like sophomore Taniya Asberry took Modern World History (MWH), were not worried about the update because “It didn’t affect me too much because I didn’t have anything to do [over the summer].”

“I think it’s fine. Having classes divided into part A before lunch and part B after lunch seems practical. I still don’t understand why we had to be there for so long if we learned so little,” sophomore Kate Reupold said.

“I guess it makes sense to do more to get a full year’s credit. It’s not stupid, it’s logical,” freshman Estey Boling said.

Sophomore Reese Brumley said, “It should [remain permanent].”

However, some students found faults in the update.

“Not every student has the same pace, I wanted to stay but some students…. They have a more stressful life than me. I’m not sure if [the update] should stay,” sophomore Chelcy Salvador said.

“It was a joke really,” said sophomore Maya Cortez, who felt that the students did not learn anything in that extra time. “I feel like it should have been just one [part].”

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | NEWS 03

|News

School Board 2016

Five candidates competed on Nov. 8, 2016 for four seats on the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees. AP Government students invited the candidates to a panel discussion and ranked their responses below.

by Mason Seden-Hansen, News Co-Editor

Joel Peterson DON Goldammer

DAVE Lambert

Chris Bausch

A Family man

New Voice New energy

PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST

Your voice of Reason

Joel Peterson has been a Board member since 2012 and has previously served as Board Clerk. Peterson has three goals for PRJUSD-- to ensure student success and achievement, to keep great teachers and to ensure all teachers are qualified, and to maintain and expand extracurricular activities, such as drama, arts, music, dance and sports to “educate children beyond the classroom” and to help create “wellrounded students.” Peterson, who previously worked in the film industry, has a special interest in PRHS video program. “We’ve got a really good program with Mr. Rucker going on.. I’d love to see that strengthened,” he said.

Peterson previously served on the planning commission, and is currently the president of the Paderewski Festival. He has two young PRJUSD students, is also the grandson of Virginia Peterson, after whom the Virginia Peterson Elementary School is named.

Don Goldammer is the only non-incumbent candidate this race, yet he is not running due to any discontent with the district’s direction, but his enthusiasm for its possibilities. He is “passionate about education” and wants to “be a part of you achieving your dreams,” he said.

Goldammer wants to bring a “new voice” and “new energy” to the board to create a “world-class district.” “There’s a lot of great things the groundwork has been laid for, it’s going to take a lot of energy.. I bring a new energy.” He has owned a fingerprinting company for 13 years now and believes that the “communication, transparency, [and] efficiency” he learned in business would “play very well” for him as a school board member.

Goldammer also covers bearcat football for KPRL and is the father of two PRJUSD students.

Dave Lambert has been a Board member since 2012, an dhe is currently serving as the Board Clerk. Lambert is father of two former PRJUSD students, and he said they had a great experience. “I want that for you and all the kids in the future,” Lambert said. Lambert is unique in that he represents blue-collar workers: “I don’t have a college education, but I understand that the importance of one,” he said. He wants to expand the PRHS video department and would look to partner with Cuesta College to offer nighttime adult classes to non-English speaking parents. Lambert came into office during “bad times,” but with the help of the board’s “good decisions, such as the hiring of the new superintendent, we were able to turn things around,” he said. Lambert makes decisions by “putting students first,” he said.

Chris Bausch has been a Board member since 2012. He wants to continue to improve the SkillsUSA, Dual Immersion, Dual Enrollment, VAPA, Athletics, and CTE programs, and to help students “attend whatever university or career path they choose.” He wants the district to stay financially responsible by increasing the reserve, funding a $20 million unfunded pension for district employees and creating a plan in case of a recession. A notable decision was his vote against the Facilities Master Plan, which passed 6-1 but relied on a bond measure he believed might not pass. Bausch has owned several small businesses, is a licensed REALTOR®, a lifetime Heritage Foundation member, and a father of five PRJUSD students.

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Joan summers The inclusive choice

Joan Summers has been a Board member since 2012. Joan Summers has had three children go through Paso Schools. Summers worked as a secretary for 26 years at Bauer Speck Elementary and Flamson Middle school, and has experience working with staff, school budgets, union negotiations, parents and students. Summers is a member of the Kayla Peach Memorial Foundation advisory board, a group that aims to bring awareness and education about substance abuse. Summers is currently retired, so she can “dedicate [herself] entirely” to the School Board, she said. Summers also said that she is “committed to every child being ready for college, career and community.”

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About the ranking: The PRHS AP Government and Politics class organized and attended an October 12 forum and later voted on who they thought did best. The candidates are listed from most votes to least.

Students receive perfect CAASPP scores

by Mason Seden-Hansen, News Co-Editor

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leven Paso Robles Joint Unified School District elementary school students received perfect scores on one or more of the sections on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. Ten students received perfect scores on the ELA portion of the test, while one received a perfect score on both segments.

“I’m very excited and proud of the work from each of these fantastic students. It is quite an accomplishment and was a great opportunity for us to recognize their success!” PRJUSD superintendent Chris Williams said.

The students were representative of each of six elementary schools, with one student from Georgia Brown, Virginia Peterson, and Bauer Speck elementary, two students (including the top scorer) from

04 NEWS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

Winifred Pifer elementary, and three students from Kermit King and Pat Butler elementary.

PRJUSD Director of Elementary Education Carol Kenyon, who presented the awards, said it was “heartwarming” to call parents of the students and “to be able to hear [their] excitement at [their] student’s accomplishments” because “ this is why we’re here, and we want every student to succeed.” Kenyon also was overjoyed to hear parents say that “‘my child worked so hard, this is so exciting because my child worked so hard to do their best,’ because...it is our hard work that really grows our intellect.”

The CAASP has been in use at PRJUSD for only two years, and it “reflects the California state adopted standards to help prepare our students for college and career in the 21st century,” PRJUSD Director of Curriculum and Assessment Dana Budd said. The test has many types of questions besides multiple choice and it challenges students to “justify their answers, think critically, and show problem solving skills,” Budd said.

Photos by Martha Clayton and Steven Schouten

#We Still Stand With Schimke

Editorial|

Crimson’s urge to unite as a community during this time of controversy

Photo by Lindsay Darbyshire

by Lauren Wassam, Managing Editor

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aso Robles High School has been rocked, once again, with allegations of teacher misconduct. However, unlike previous incidents where criminal charges were brought against a teacher, this case was dismissed by the police department.

Despite the police findings, school administrative actions continue against the coach, and have resulted in a significant show of support by the community for Schimke.

A recap of the event goes like this: The PRHS Bearcats boys locker room was filled with euphoria after a huge 58-14 win against the SLO Tigers. Head coach Richard Schimke, surrounded by the cheering team and assistant coaches, poured maple syrup onto the belly a player and either pretended to, or actually did, touch the syrup with his tongue.

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Schimke’s attorney, Bob Bartosh, claims that Schimke never put his tongue on the player, and merely pretended to. However, the mother of the athlete says that Schimke dipped his tongue into her son’s belly button.

The police department have concluded that no criminal action occurred and while the students of Crimson are in support of PRJUSD’s determination to protect a student, we are not in support of dragging a loved coach, teacher, and family man through a prolonged investigation.

It brings tears to my eyes to see this beloved community brought to its knees once again. There are too many versions of the event details being spread and it is causing too much divisiveness in a community that should respect the decision of the police. We need to unify with a coach who made a poor decision while trying to uphold team camaraderie. If the police department, the students,

newsmagazine

Co-Editors-in-Chiefs Sadie Mae Mace Giving Back/Photo Essay Valeria Cisneros Carmesi

Managing Editor Lauren Wassam Sports Photography Director Madison Funke Blind Date Web Director Sam Mabry Graphic Designer

Editors Mason Seden-Hansen News Madison Warren Sports Morgan Rego People Esther Cabello People Marie Perez Opinion Jessica Jagger World Sabrina Hernandez A&E Sarah Jagger Health Brenna Collins Health Sam Harrison Sci-Tech Lindsay Darbyshire Editorial Emily Mowery Environment Social Media Director Kathryn Varian

the coaches, and most importantly- the student involved- all agree that this was not a criminal, moral, or educator issue, then we need to let it rest and let Schimke continue to teach in his classroom, coach his boys, and move forward.

We need to be engaged in the growth and education of students, staff, and athletes on how behavior decisions are often interpreted differently than intended, and sometimes choices made without ill intention are just as detrimental as those that are unwise.

“Ensuring that a full and fair investigation is conducted,” is the goal as written by Superintendent Chris Williams in a letter addressed to the media on November 1.

We are Bearcat Country and we stand with Schimke. WE also stand with our community and want everyone to learn from this, but it was nothing more than a poor choice and it is time to move forward and let Schimke coach.

Student journalism at Paso Robles HS, CA Graphic Designer Emma Corippo Reporters Logan Kepins Aiden Kerr Camden Tucker Alicia Myrick Business Team Steven Schouten Reporter Emmaline Voorheis News Elise Scheiffele World Adviser Jeff Mount

Facebook www.facebook.com/crimsonnewsmagazine Website www.crimsonnewsmagazine. org Email prhsjournalism@pasoschools. org

Crimson, an open forum for the exchange of student ideas, is an independently funded newsmagazine of the journalism class at Paso Robles High School. Crimson reflects the majority opinion of the staff and does not necessarily reflect the views of Paso Robles High School, its faculty, administration, or students. All stories, graphics, typesetting, and layouts are completed by Paso Robles High School students. We are happy to talk with you further about our content, subscriptions in U.S. Mail, and advertising on our pages.

Instagram @crimsonnewsmag

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | EDITORIAL 05

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Photo by Marie Perez

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|Opinion

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n February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin, with only Skittles and an Arizona ice tea in his possession, was shot and killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. When Zimmerman was acquitted July 13, 2013, the verdict essentially launched the Black Lives Matter movement. The hashtag resurfaced with the murder of unarmed black teenager Mike Brown by police in Ferguson, Missouri. The cry for the end of racial prejudice was heard around the world as we mourned the life of Brown and many others who shared his inequitable passing such as Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, Sandra Bland, and all others who have been victim to discrimination in our nation.

The Black Lives Matter movement’s call for justice has not been answered, even though it has been nearly four years since protesters gathered in the streets of Ferguson with aching hearts chanting “Hands up, don’t shoot.” Like a broken record player, the same headlines are repeated in the news again and again: “Man shot with 4 year old in backseat”, “25 year old violently apprehended by police, trauma endured in police transport results in a coma”, “Father shot outside convenience store.”

The meaning of this movement becomes muddled as people try to push different hashtags such as #BlueLivesMatter and #AllLivesMatter; hashtags that do celebrate people that matter, just not the ones that are being mistreated. These divert attention from the real intent of this movement: to create a voice against police brutality and racial injustice in our nation. The main argument against this movement is that people do not feel included; they fear that black lives are being elevated too much. The claim of “All Lives Matter” did not exist until the Black Lives Matter movement did.

“Please do not change the conversation by talking about how your life matters, too. It does, but we need less watered down unity and a more active solidarities with us, Black people, unwaveringly, in defense of our humanity.” Alicia Garza, the founder of the Black Lives Matter organization (along with Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors) said. Garza speaks out about how All Lives Matter may actually be a detriment in advancing towards

06 OPINION | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

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a better future. Yes, all lives do matter, so we should start acting like it.

America, which is supposed to be a haven for people of all backgrounds, has one of the worst track records when it comes to accepting people of color. We have come a long way as a nation since the enslavement and exploitation of black people, but we are nowhere near done being completed with the journey to salvation. The lingering feeling of having your intelligence, capability, or worth based solely on skin color is constantly breathing down the necks of people of color. African Americans make up 1 million of the 2.3 million people incarcerated, according to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The spread of this message over social media does not allow a blind eye to be turned; we all see the scenes unfolding, and we all have the power to express what we believe, no matter how positive or negative it may be. “In social media I think it’s taking a big turn, I feel like it’s getting a lot of attention; some negative attention and also some positive attention… and there is stuff that makes me sick to be a part of this generation because they don’t take it seriously.” Senior Samantha Vega expresses the influence social media has on the movement and everyone involved.

It has provided a platform where people from every walk of life can rally together to create change.

The Black Lives Matter movement is hopeful for a country where flicking on the news and seeing a father shot for selling CDs is not the norm, where the incarceration rate is not the highest in the world, and where people can feel safe no matter their skin color. “All lives matter no matter the race, or gender, or sexuality; I feel like everybody should have the same respect and same opportunities as everybody else,” Vega says on overcoming the discrimination in our country. It is revitalizing many of the ideals of the black liberation movement from the 70’s, and the struggle is finally once again getting the attention it deserves. The determination and desperation for change is there; the only thing left to accomplish is the solidarity of our nation coming together to answer the cry, and put an end to racial prejudice.

by Brenna Collins, Health Co-Editor

t s into a movemen

*To read more, visit crimsonnewsmagazine.org

Your vote only mostly counts

Opinion|

Is our voting system actually democratic?

by Emma Corippo, Graphic Designer

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n the presidential election, voters technically vote Despite winning the popular vote, indirectly. Residents of California vote for the 55 a candidate can still lose electors out of the 538 electors country wide, who the election. This has then pick our president. But here’s the catch. happened four times in the They don’t have to vote for whom we pick. history of the U.S. “We’ve In fact, only 29 states require electors to vote as seen discrepancies in citizens have pledged, and in the remaining 21, the past between the electors can vote for whoever they want. electoral college Since the late 18th century, America has practiced outcome and the a representative democratic system: a republican actual popular democracy. However, the government was never vote...just look at entirely representative in the first place. In 1789, only 2000,” said junior white men who owned land were allowed to vote, Gavin Hughes. accounting for 6 percent of the population, today In the 2000 election, electors still do not have to pledge the vote of the Al Gore won the Gerrymandering: people, and swing states allow candidates to ignore popular vote with over half of the nation 540,000 more votes than George Why is this unfair?

The representation between states is W. Bush, but Bush still won the Gerrymandering is the unbalanced. Ironically, smaller states actually electoral college, 271 to 266. tactic of dividing a state, have more representation, and “residents of Our two-party system excludes county, etc., into election the three least-populated states — Wyoming, third-parties such as the Green districts so as to give one Vermont, and North Dakota — have one Party or the Independent political party a majority in congressional representative for every 200,000 American Party. According to many districts while people, while those in the three states with the Gallup, Trump’s disapproval concentrating the highest population — California, Texas, and New ratings were higher than Gavin Hughes voting strength of York — have only one congressional member any other candidates in the other party into for every 670,000 people” according to The the last 60 years. 38% of PRHS as few districts as possiHuffington Post. students said they would vote third party if they could/ ble, severely tipping the From the time George Washington was in office, can vote. But, due to the two-party system, Trump was balance of power in voting. there have been over 157 “faithless electors” that have still a primary candidate. gone against the popular vote, according to Fairvote. In What’s more, most states outcomes are predicted 1976, an elector named Mike Padden from Washington before even voting; Since the 1940s Wyoming state voted against the popular vote for Republican has voted Republican as has Nebraska has voted Gerald Ford, instead he pledged his vote to Ronald Democrat. But, a collection of states like Ohio and Reagan. This was originally meant to protect our Florida are what we call “swing states.” Swing states government from citizens voting for the king of England usually don’t have a predictable outcome, which or someone the elector doesn’t feel is fit for the job. catches the attention of candidates. These swing states “The electoral college was supposed to create a allow candidates to ignore their “guaranteed” safe barrier,” said Government teacher Ryan Askew. states. “If you’re a Republican in California, your vote’s Back then, most people were uneducated, and the only going to be applicable on a local scale,” said electoral college provided the buffer between state and Hughes. people that many felt was necessary. Originally, slave Despite countless attempts to have the electoral states wanted to count the slave population, increasing college abolished, we continue to use this inane system The electoral college their chances at power. But, they didn’t want to give that allows parties to exclude others, unfairly increase was supposed to create slaves the right to vote. their chances of winning, and makes it possible for a barrier.

Gerrymandering is another issue that our voting a candidate to win the election without “winning” — ryan askew, ap system needs to see a change. Gerrymandering allows the popular vote. Regardless of our advances in government teacher parties to redraw district lines to benefit their party technological voting and easy access to news, we still based off the winning group. This basically permits ignore the weakness in our representative democracy. parties to increase their chances of winning. In recent years, this has increasingly continued at an alarming Graphics and photos by Emma Corippo rate.

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | OPINION 07

c armesi crimson in espaÑol

COMPAS AYUDANDO (encima) : Senior Daniela Lopez (izquierda) ayuda un estudiante, Sophmore Diane Rojas GutiĂŠrrez (derecha) con su tarea durante el tutorial en aula de historia de Geoff Land.

08 CARMESI | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

Photos por Kathryn Varian

Carmesi|

CONECTA Compas conecta mentores y los recién llegados

Programa asisten estudiantes que no hablan inglés a través de tutorías y amistad por Kathryn Varian, Director de relaciones públicas y Valeria Cisneros, Co-Jefa-de-Editores

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a que el año 2016 de la escuela marcó su primer trimestre,una nueva programa se ha desarrollado para ayudar 25 estudiantes que no hablan inglés para ampliar sus conocimientos y alcanzar los grados que desean para lograr el futuro que desean.

Este programa, llamado Compás, dirige a los estudiantes ELL, también conocidos como English Language Learners y proporciona apoyo académico.

A partir de octubre, 13 mentores bilingües, tutorean los jueves durante el tutorial, y también después de la escuela en The Lab. La mayoría de mentores provienen de MECHA o AVID y enseñan clases, incluyendo pero no limitado a, álgebra, biología, geometría, historia, gobierno, economía e inglés, según el maestro de historia, Geof Land.

La necesidad de Compás fue descubierta por Land y Xelina Rojas, la consejera de clase del estudiante de primer año, durante un reunión del club de MECHA. “Hay un mayor número de recién llegados (...) que están aprendiendo inglés y están luchando en sus clases,”dijo Land, que ayudó en la formación de Compás. “Nos dimos cuenta de que algo faltaba para estos estudiantes, y quisimos ayudarlos.”

Con 169 ELL en PRHS, 27 de ellos estar inscrito para un año o menos en la escuela, está presente la demanda de Compás y la escuela actualmente no está satisfaciendo las necesidades de estos estudiantes, según Heather Stover, que fue el Coordinador de EL de PRHS durante nueve años. Un coordinador EL está a cargo de la supervisión, apoyo y reclasificar los estudiantes EL, así como ser responsable de la prueba CELDT anual (Prueba para Medir el Desarrollo del inglés en California), según Stover. PRHS recientemente ha conseguido un coordinador de EL, la maestra de agricultura, Carli Bradshaw.

Un gran número de los mentores son capaces de relacionar a los estudiantes EL, cómo han experimentado lo que es aprender el Inglés como segundo idioma. Senior Noe Santa Cruz llegó a Paso Robles de Apatzingán,

Michoacán a los 14 al saber nada de inglés. Después de dos años, él es un mentor bilingüe de tres estudiantes en el programa. Después de de que Rojas lo contactó, accedió a ayudar debido a sus experiencias y luchas, aprender el Inglés.

“Quiero que sepan los estudiantes , que van a saber Inglés algún día si ellos se concentran realmente en él,” dijo Santa Cruz, quien pasa unas cuatro horas a la semana con sus alumnos, mientras también tiene clases y el fútbol.

Otros mentores Compás nacieron en América y comprenden la situación de los estudiantes desde una perspectiva diferente. Para un estudiante Latino, el pensamiento de venir de otro país en busca de una vida mejor es uno que no es exagerado. “... es difícil llegar a una nueva escuela y no saber a nadie (...) sobre todo no saber el idioma...”senior Angie Mariscal dijo.

Mariscal actualmente es mentor de dos estudiantes y pasa dos horas a la semana con ellos. “.. .simplemente cuando leen dos frases [en inglés] me hace feliz. Hasta cuando leen un poco, acabo de leer a Inglés y eso es suficiente. Te hace sentir como estás haciendo una diferencia,”dijo Mariscal.

Sophomore Diane Rojo Gutiérrez, uno de los estudiantes EL, ha estado en América durante dos meses y ha estado en el programa desde que empezó.

“La primera semana fue un poco difícil porque todo estaba en inglés y luego en el viernes de la semana [primera] [de escuela] pens锿qué estoy haciendo aquí?”y quería regresar [a México]. Pero ahora después de que ha estado aquí y estoy recibiendo ayuda de Compás] ya me siento mejor,” dijo Rojo Gutiérrez.

“Este país tiene una larga historia de la integración de las poblaciones de inmigrantes que vienen con un deseo ardiente para trabajar duro y avanzar a sus familias. Compás honora a ese legado y busca a llevar al siglo XXI, con orgullo de Bearcat,”Land, dijo.

Check out the English version of the story at www.crimsonnewsmagazine.com 11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | CARMESI 09

|Carmesi

Paradas Altas (encima): Senior Lupita Uribe y Junior Itzel Lopez están paradas altas en su imagen. Son dos de las cuatro mujeres latinas dando a la comunidad de Paso Robles.

HACIENDO UN CAMBIO

Las Latina bearcats cambiando el mundo tal como lo conocemos

by Lauren Wassam, Jefa de redaccion

D

ando le a tu comunidad puede suceder en cualquier momento. Puede ser a nivel de la escuela como la tutoreando a los ELL (English Language Learners) y los estudiantes. Aquí están las historias de cuatro mujeres que están haciendo el mundo un lugar mejor para vivir para sí mismos, su familia, compañeros y extraños incluso.

Seniors Lupita Uribe y Daniela Lopez Entrar en el año escolar este mes de agosto, mayores Lupita Uribe y Daniela López ya estaban aparte del esfuerzo voluntario del Link Crew. Pero cuando consejera Xelina Rojas vio la necesidad de tutores y mentores, Uribe y López también se unió a un esfuerzo nuevo de compañeros y tutores: Compás, nombrado por el club de la MEChA es asistido por dos alumnos.

Compás ahora conecta a 13 mentores bilingües, con casi 25 estudiantes, todos los jueves durante el tutorial, así como después de la escuela en The Lab, el centro de tutoría a cargo de maestros Aaron Cantrell y Ted Wagner.

Los 13 mentores tutorean en clases específicas y pueden ver los grados de los estudiantes para el éxito de sus alumnos.

“Si estaba en su lugar quiero alguien para hacer lo mismo para mí porque mi primera lengua es el español”, dijo Uribe. Ingresó porque ella quiere ver a sus estudiantes tener éxito y vivir sus sueños.

“Es tan grande como todos llegamos juntos para voluntear para ser mentores y cómo los niños están dispuestos a ayudar... es un esfuerzo de grupo y todos trabajamos juntos y por eso trabaja tan bien,” dijo López.

Junior Itzel Lopez Por Itzel Lopez, la pequeña escuela situada 11 millas al norte de PRHS es su lugar de esperanza y dando le patras a su comunidad. Cada martes, miércoles y jueves, López encuentra en el gimnasio de Lillian Larsen iluminado con las gradas de rojo que contrastan a lo verde de los Hornets y uniformes amarillos y cumple con metas de servicio y sus horas de clase AVID.

10 CARMESI | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

Photos por Lauren Wassam El trabajo de López es marcadora para los atletas de baloncesto y voleibol de séptimo y octavo grado, librando batalla en el piso del gimnasio.

López también sirve de obras durante la publicación anual Buzz Marathon, Fun Run, y Children’s Food Bank.

“Empecé haciendo lo en la escuela secundaria, y es algo que he seguido en la escuela preparatoria,” ella dijo.

Esta ocupada también como miembra del Link Crew y en el Friday Night Live (FNL) voluntaria.

Explicó que es una gran sensación para agradecer por algo que está haciendo voluntariamente.

Senior Marissa Sanchez En julio de 2016, Marissa Sánchez fue con su mamá de compras cuando se dieron cuenta de un fondo para soportar los niño pidiendo patrocinadores. El fondo estaba hablando de patrocinar a los niños que no tienen dinero y que no tienen casas con sus familias. No lo sabía en el momento, para Sanchez su vista del mundo iba a cambiar con la oportunidad de apadrinar a un niño.

La familia de Sánchez ahora está patrocinando a un niño de grado segundo en México llamado Gabriel.

“Le escribimos cada mes y lo enviamos dinero cada mes y envía fotos detrás de su familia y sus dibujos y actualizaciones acerca de cómo él está haciendo en la escuela,” dijo Sánchez, quien también es un mentor en el programa de Compás.

Sanchez dice que Gabriel y su situación la hizo que “dar cuenta de que no todo es sobre mi y mi familia y que definitivamente podemos ayudar a otras personas que lo necesitan”.

Las historias anteriores son cuatro adolescentes que aman a sus comunidades y usan su amor para hacer el bien. Están cambiando el mundo como su conocido y mostrando compasión a aquellos que lo necesitan más.

|Ads

Congratulations to Cross Country and Girls Volleyball!

Pound the Hounds!

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | ADS 11

|A&E

P e c u l i ar i t i es All the children at Miss Peregrine’s have a gift that sets them apart. Here are a few and their owners.

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children: Burton is back Tim Burton returns to the silver screen with an eccentric adaptation of Ransom Riggs’ young-adult novel

Air Manipulation Emma Bloom

by Elise Scheiffele, World Co-Editor

T

im Burton is the king of oddities and peculiarities.

Naturally, it would make sense for him to direct Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, a film adapted from Ransom Riggs’ 2011 novel. Burton’s brand appeals to millions worldwide, young and old. He often focuses his stories on oddballs and freaks that, theoretically, should make producers and screenplay writers run for the hills, such as sharpfingered Edward Scissorhands and button-eyed Coraline. But the universal appeal of Burton’s films comes from the quirkiness of the characters and the personal connection people can make to their stories. Burton stuffed the two hour and seven minute film full of so much excitement and incident that at times, I believed it be inevitable he lose the plot line.

Astoundingly, but still flawed, Burton meshed creepy with bona fide, wholehearted human emotion and kept the story together pretty solidly. Until about... halfway through the film.

The quirky and beloved main character, Jake, played by Asa Butterfield, guides us into the stories of the “peculiar children” – kids with talents like controlling fire at their will, manipulating air, exhaling bees and giving animation, or “life,” to inanimate things. Gathering clues from his dead grandfather, played by Terence Stamp, Jake winds up on a tiny island off the coast of Wales. After searching the island for the orphanage, he meets Miss Peregrine, played

by Eva Green, sporting both the gothic and alluring look as she does so well, who is the defender and headmistress of an orphanage settled permanently and precariously in the past.

Miss Peregrine’s is, at best, an admissible picture with spurts of excitement and sentiment. It’s perfect

for those satisfied with being directed through a charming, eerie maze that does not really make sense. Despite the mediocrity of Burton’s storytelling, the film’s aesthetic pleasure is indisputable; Burton does not sleep on capturing the Welsh terrain, indistinguishable houses in residential Florida, and vintage appeal of the orphanage. But this beauty only goes about as deep as the character development in the story. The young peculiars—Emma, Victor, Bronwyn, Enoch, Millard, Olive and Claire—do not get much personality or backstory. Although the story repeatedly insists their worth, Miss Peregrine fails at making them any more than their peculiarities, which are the very things society rejected them for.

Despite the lack of character development, the actors were not a detriment to the movie. They were casted well enough to fit the part, even if the part was not so good in itself. Butterfield played a relatable and uninspired Jake, alongside other actors who also held the difficult job of, well, milking it. The cast played their roles to the best of their abilities, making badly written parts have a not-so-soporific vibe. Even though there was an absence of substantial writing, character growth and literary merit, I applaud this movie for being interesting in the sense that the action and mystery were captivating. A snow covered carnival proposed a perfect place for a fight scene, monsters with a sweet tooth for eyes who lurked in the shadows of invisibility, and the almost magical nostalgia of Grandpa’s Bedtime Stories rested in the positives parts of Miss Peregrine. A perfectly average movie, perfect for the average movie-goer seeking a couple hours of entertainment.

Bee Breath Hugh Apiston

Fire Manipulation Olive Abroholos Elephanta

12 A&E | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

Sculpting a better community through charity work

|A&E

Ceramics class gives back by making bowls and mugs for others

F

by Sarah Jagger, Health Co-Editor

rom second to sixth period, Ceramics teacher Joshua Gwiazda’s five advanced ceramics classes mold, sculpt, spin, design, glaze, and fire their clay creations in room 508.

Sandy, tan clumps of clay cluster the room, halfmolded and waiting to be turned into whatever the sculptor intends. Each sculptor’s product is unique, shaped by their hands and the imagination controlling them. The creations of this class do not only solely reflect what the students want; both teacher and students combine forces to create ceramics that benefit the community.

The class does several projects every year that benefit others: they made bowls and mugs for the homeless, a wildlife rescue organization, and English teacher Matt Carroll, who lost most of his belongings in a house fire earlier this year.

“The best thing you can do as a human is to stop thinking about yourself and help others in their lives and endeavors. Helping and supporting with someone else’s goals is just amazing,” said senior Nolan Binkele, who has taken the class for two years.

Binkele and about six others joined forces last year to make over 50 bowls in support for the homeless. The bowls were donated to the Empty Bowls fundraiser, founded by ECHO (El Camino Homeless Organization), which is an organization in Atascadero serving the homeless in the North County. The Empty Bowls fundraiser is intended to raise money to benefit the people living in the shelter by providing them with housing, food, and career/job guidance. Empty Bowls received about 500 bowls last spring from 100 plus volunteers.

Along with the bowls, knitted goods were also made for the fundraiser by local volunteers.

On the day of the event, patrons who bought a ticket received a soup and bread meal, followed by the opportunity to select a bowl, potholder, soup bowl cozy, and other knitted items created by the volunteers. Cuesta College, PRHS, AHS, Boyd and Bradley Art Studio, Creston Elementary School, and Atascadero Fine Arts Academy all donated bowls to Empty Bowls, as well as three individual sculptors.

“Those that have participated have felt good about supporting efforts to feed and shelter the less fortunate in our community,” said Gwiazda, whose words reflect the very idea of the project.

Photos by Sarah Jagger, Kayla Terry, and Camden Tucker

ECHO is the only homeless shelter in all of North County. Each evening 50 beds and four family rooms shelter individuals, as well as families with children. ECHO has been open every night since it was founded in 2001.

The ceramics participants from PRHS helped the shelter to be maintained and operated with a donation of about 10 percent of the fundraiser’s bowls. Those who helped enjoyed the project and plan to participate again this upcoming spring.

“It [helping others] is my passion and I’m glad I’m able to not just benefit myself but also the people around me,” said Binkele, who has participated in multiple other charity projects.

Currently, the advanced ceramics students were given the option to contribute to the making of bowls and mugs for a Pacific Wildlife Rescue, a wildlife rescue organization based in SLO. The sculptors mold the bowls and mugs, design decorations of animals or their prints on the ceramics, fire and glaze them, then send the creations off to the organization so they can be sold to make profit for the organization.

The students are allowed the time to create these beneficial ceramics because of the laid back environment of the class. At the beginning of the year, several projects are assigned to be completed by the end of the year. The tasks may be completed in whatever order, at whatever speed the student wishes. This freedom allows the students the opportunity to participate in the charity projects so often offered in the class.

“It’s a pretty carefree environment: you’re allowed to make whatever you want with the clay, and everyone is kind of off in their own world working on their projects,” said senior Nick Reeves, who is taking his second year of ceramics.

Ceramics is a class in which students are allowed to explore their creativity through sculpting, at whatever pace they please. It’s a break from a busy school day, having a lump of clay slouching in front of the students. What they create is up to them, whether it be for themselves, friends, family, or charity. Whatever the cause, whenever the time, this class has the opportunity to not only benefit the students, but the community and the citizens living within it.

Nolan Binkele, 12

Joshua Gwiazda, Ceramics Teacher

Nick Reeves, 12

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | A&E 13

B g n a i v c i k G

Giving Back|

Homecoming Recap

17

Athletes volunteering

19

Mission trip to Africa

21

CUPPING HANDS (right) : Seniors Matt Olsen, Taylor Hargrave, andGraham Farrell cup their hands. All are featured for their leadership in volunteerism.

Photo by Lauren Wassam

Bearcat students embody the true spirit of volunteerism.

A recent survey of 236 students shows nearly 85 percent volunteer within our community, with 42 percent logging in up to four hours of volunteerism per month. Organizations that benefit from Bearcat generosity are as diverse as the students themselves, ranging from Goodwill, tutoring, participating in youth commission, and helping out in senior citizen centers.

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | GIVING BACK 15

B g n a i c v i k G

|Giving Back

by the numbers 5

36%

Top states that have the highest percentage of volunteers

of students consistently give back to the community

• • • • •

Utah 45.9% Nebraska 42.4% Minnesota 40.4% Alaska 38.8% Kansas 38.3%

17%

of students do not give back to the community

57%

of students believe volunteering is very important

47%

of students sometimes give back to the community

41%

of students believe volunteering is somewhat important

16 GIVING BACK | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

Donated money

Generosity in students

PRHS incorporates the Make-A-Wish foundation into this year’s homecoming

by Jessica Jagger, World Co-Editor

T

he week of homecoming at PRHS is a festive affair, filled with pep and anticipation for the big game. This year, an aura of generosity and altruism accompanied the event. For the first time in history, PRHS decided to sponsor a charity, the chosen being the Make-A-Wish Foundation, with homecoming. Other schools have had similar ideas, and ASB president and senior Josh Dewhurst was inspired by them.

“He came to us and said that this is something he’d like to do, and he had done some research already,” said Leadership advisor and Chemistry teacher Anthony Overton.

The idea was quickly welcomed by the Leadership class, and students were touched by the thought of coming together to support a worthy cause.

“We felt that everyone could connect with the idea of helping grant the wishes of children with life threatening illnesses, and would rally behind the concept to help bring joy into a child’s life,” Dewhurst, who is a firm advocate for the concept of service before self, said.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children diagnosed with terminal illnesses. Empathy connected students and staff to the cause, and this connection compelled Bearcats to donate amounts varying from $1 to $20 in order to help a kid in need.

However, many were unaware of a stronger bond they shared. This bond is student Shon Clayton, who became a part of Make-A-Wish two years ago. As he faced what he thought were his last months, the foundation reached out to him and gave him an opportunity to forget the pain, fear, and agony he was feeling. He was given a wish, and this became his escape to a place of happiness and peace in the face of fear.

In March of 2014, he went to Disneyworld for a week with his family. He went to Orlando thinking he would not make it, but this fear was forgotten during his seemingly endless trip.

“It seemed like we were there for a month,” Clayton recalled. Because of what the Make-AWish Foundation did for him, he considers this week as the best week of his life.

Clayton shared his story with the school at the homecoming assembly on October seventh, bringing the crowd to tears and drawing generosity from the wallets of nearly every student.

Over $1600 in change was raised in the assembly alone, contributing to the final amount of $8500 throughout the week.

This money was racked in as charitable students, staff, and members of the community purchased shirts that read “Make-A-Wish: Homecoming 2016” and placed money inside collection boxes in their English classes and at the gym during a “Miracle Minute”. This event took place during the assembly and consisted of one minute during which collection boxes

Participated in lunch activities

were passed out to the Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior classes in a competition to see which class could raise the most.

Teary-eyed students felt a surge of generosity after Clayton’s speech, and each class raised over $400, with the sophomore class in the lead at $513.

One of the teary-eyed students at the assembly was Leadership student and junior Teagan Ehlers, who was stationed at the senior section of the gym, and got to experience the results of Leadership’s hard work and Clayton inspiring speech.

“I was holding a box and this girl, she opened up her wallet and kept dumping money and the rest of her change into the box,” Ehlers said.

Moments of generosity such as this and seeing the students connect through the cause led her to the conclusion that this must be the best homecoming yet. After seeing everything behind the scenes, the results that came from it, and the spread of charity from the school to the community, she said, “having everyone work together and just seeing everyone be able to put something that big together for [everyone] who lives here is just amazing.”

Overton came to a similar verdict, as he exclaimed “I was really encouraged by our student body’s willingness to give back to something that was bigger than them,” and suggested “volunteering, getting out in your community, and doing stuff for the school are all other great ways to give back.”

This year’s homecoming was agreeably one of the most grand and large scale homecomings yet. It inspired Bearcats to focus on giving back and brought them to explore a selfless lifestyle. The results reflected this selflessness, with a total of $8500 raised that exceeded the expectations of nearly everyone involved.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better result,” said Dewhurst, “The spirit, enthusiasm, selflessness, and love our Bearcats have is truly amazing.”

It’s a win-win situation

Giving back benefits both the volunteer and the community

.8%

of students believe volunteering is not important

HOMECOMING PARTICIPATION

Bought a shirt

Giving Back|

S

by Sadie Mae Mace, Co-Editor-in-Chief

ome people turn to allopathic medicine in search of finding a cure for depression.

Other people seek out mood busting supplements. But there is a simple way to help you live 47 percent longer, promote mental stimulation, and boost self-confidence with just one action. It might sound near impossible, but the solution is found right in our community: volunteering.

The essence of volunteering can be broken down into two categories: intrinsic and extrinsic benefits. The intrinsic benefits mainly include better health and a more o p t i m i s t i c outlook on life. This is due in part to empathy, since volunteering is about understanding the problems others face and working to provide a solution. Extrinsically, the community reaps the reward of having selfless volunteers beautify the environment, provide mentorship, and even produce great economic output for businesses.

To put in basic terms, giving back to the community increases positive mental health. The action of volunteerism can best be described by the “happy chemicals”, which are also known as the four main neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins, that the body releases.

“Empathy and acting generously can increase levels of oxytocin,” said neuroscientist Alex Korb, who describes oxytocin as the chemical responsible for feelings of trust and closeness.

In fact, the most effective form of volunteerism connected with oxytocin is bonding with animals, so spending time at the animal shelter is considered a therapeutic experience.

In recent studies, the relationship between a pet and a human is similar to those between mother and child. This is a main reason why the abused, mentally ill, incarcerated, young and elderly alike benefit the most from this facet of community service, according to the

National Center of Biotechnology Information.

“It’s such an important thing to do. Everybody, no matter who they are, needs help in some way, shape, or form. I truly believe that it takes somebody else to believe in you before you can believe in yourself and I think we’re all here together, whether it be at the high school, state level, or homes and I think it’s so important to show love. I feel as though hatred as been this social norm lately, and I feel like it’s so important to spin this on it’s top and instead we produce this idea of love. And if you’re not out there helping other people, I feel as though that’s truly what life’s about is making those lasting connections that inspire others and by doing that we can make our community better ” said senior Josh Dewhurst, who is the ASB president and is the Northern Director of the California Association of Student Leaders.

The positive effects of volunteerism on mental health also transfers to physical aptitude.

Community service is proven to reduce stress, and thus can help lower blood pressure, depression, and heart problems, among others. In tandem, the action of volunteer work can offer an active lifestyle that overall reduces health risks, according to Rodlescia Sneed from Carnegie Mellon University.

Being an encouraging mentor to young children through tutoring or offering a helping hand to build a park playground are just a few examples of giving back to the community, and the extrinsic benefits are invaluable. Volunteering throughout the community helps improve community relations and pride, according to the World Volunteer Web. Another benefit of volunteers is their immense impact on the economy. In a 2014 lecture

by Andy Haldane, the chief economist at the Bank of England, he proposed the idea that the approximate 1.4 million Briton unpaid volunteers do the same amount of work as 1.25 million paid Briton employees. In 2008, about 83.9 million adults in America volunteered, representing $239 billion made from 9 million employees, according to the Independent Sector.

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | GIVING BACK 17

|Giving Back

Charity through faith Paso Robles Church of the Nazarene crosses off their second year of community outreach

by Aiden Kerr, Reporter

L

Love Branches

ife has its inexplicable way of bringing people together in times of great struggle. Whether you’ve been hit by a natural disaster, experienced the loss of a loved one, moved to a new city, or have just been laid off from a job that was once deemed your ‘big break,’ we all need someone to help us trudge through the valleys when we were once at the peak. This is the responsibility of the individual in a community, and it is most often called community service. One such way that our community has been giving back is through the outreach of our local churches – the Paso Robles Church of the Nazarene, in specific.

The mission of Paso Naz has always been sharing the love of God through selfless action. As of October of 2014, this faithful group of teens and adults have chosen one good deed to better their community each month and have carried on that tradition ever since. “As Christians, we answer the call to serve others just as Jesus did, just out of the greatness of our hearts,” said sophomore Amanda Snowbarger. “It’s good for the heart and soul; it makes you feel like a better person and I would love to see more people involved!” Snowbarger has known this life as long as she can remember and has been a loyal member of the Paso Robles Church of the Nazarene for over 12 years.

The entire journey has been fueled by one biblical passage, 1 John 3:18, which states,” dear children, let us not love in words or speech but with actions and truth.” Paso Naz has used this ideology while running neighborhood

food drives, park and baseball field cleanups, elderly prayer services, clothing and blanket donations to the homeless, blood drives and much more, in just the last 24 months. “A small act of kindness can have a big effect on the people you help,” said junior Makayla Wylie. As of yet, there have been about 16 Bearcats and counting who have been donating time and effort towards Love Amanda Snowbarger Branches, including sophomore Casey Dumong and junior Michael Dominguez.

During May 2015 and April 2016 church members arrived at a place known as Brian’s House, a rehabilitation center for young mothers with drug and alcohol addiction In their time, about 20 people fixed up the exterior of the house, painted, mowed and spruced up the lawn.

While this happened, Paso Naz teens babysat children as adults began to unveil this functioning healing clinic. It would come to demonstrate all of the qualities this church

WAYS to give BIG BROTHER BIG SISTER WORK:

Positively impact a childs life by being their friend and maintaining strong one-on-one relationship

PREREQUISITES:

Application process includes interview as well as parent/guardian and peer reference

HOURS:

One hour from 3:30 to 4:30 on designated match days

CONTACT:

Phone: (805) 239-3534 Email: diane@slobigs.org

18 GIVING BACK | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

FOOD BANK COALITION OF SLO COUNTY WORK:

Work at the warehouse, at fundraising events, or in the community working at food distributions

PREREQUISITES:

Must be accompanied by an adult or guardian

HOURS:

None required

CONTACT:

Phone: (805) 975-5688 Email: volunteer@slofoodbank.org

Woods Humane Society

WORK:

Canine and feline enrichment, such as teaching training to dogs, that are shy or unfamiliar with people

PREREQUISITES:

Volunteers between 12 and 16 are required to have a trained parent or guardian present. After filling a volunteer interest form and attending orientation, you must sign up for Canine and Feline classes.

HOURS:

Two hour shifts per week

CONTACT:

Phone: (805)543-9316 Email: volunteer@woodshumane.org

Giving Back|

How do you give back?

Bearcats are diverse in their opportunities to give back. About 77.6 percent of students volunteer through a school club or organization, and 40.8 percent are tutors. The majority of Bearcats give back in PRHS and the surrounding community.

Need for athletes to give back

by Steven Schouten, Reporter

T

here is a major need for all athletes to give back to their communities. Those who participate in athletics are put on a pedestal and are looked up to by younger kids who play sports, and I can testify to this. When I was in elementary and middle school, stand-out players such as Thomas Bernal (class of 2010), Jacob Searcy (class of 2011), and Elias Stokes (class of 2012) were all people that I highly regarded and wanted to be like when I entered high school. Young kids look to older athletes like this and want to replicate what they do, so if those same athletes are getting involved in their communities, then that will become a breeding ground for a positive feedback loop in the future. When athletes participate in community service, it can produce results that few other people could.

I have witnessed this first hand by being a part of Advanced Peer and the Athletes as Readers and Leaders program. It is a truly amazing experience when you can enter an elementary or middle school and all the kids are energized just by the mere presence of a high school athlete being at their school to visit them. In Advanced Peer, we are linked with children who the school has decided could use a mentor in their life and we just hang out and talk about life, school, and sports. Being of such high status in their eyes, most of the time they truly listen and take to heart the advice we give them. Other athletes in these two programs help to instill positive traits like being respectful, hard-working and attentive in the classroom and in everyday life. The kids that I have paired with are some of the nicest kids I have met in my life and just need a little bit of guidance from someone they respect.

This is exactly why the need for athletes to give by to their communities is so huge. Even though most athletes view themselves as just a normal high school student, the voice and respect that they carry is something we can use to help bring positive change to future generations of Bearcats.

Senior Maricela Garcia Serrano [I spend] like three to five hours a week helping people that came here and don’t know english. I have a girl that I work with every single week so I stay with her and ask her whenever I see her how she’s doing and if she needs any individual help. [I help out during] tutorial and then I stay sometimes after school to help...one of the clubs that I go to, Mecca, I automatically felt like I needed to help the people because they needed my help and I was perfectly capable of helping them.

Sophomore Marshall Wiesner I serve ... as a northern director of the council state board [for an organization called] the California Association of Student Leaders...what I learn on the state level, working with delegates all across the state, I can bring back and implement into our campus. By giving back in the community, you’re just going to make yourself feel so much better. [It gives me] this great feeling of joy and happiness and that’s what community service does: it just gives you that awesome feeling and it makes others feel like they belong.

Superintendent Chris Williams I think that the biggest role in giving back is having an organized system to support students. When you have people that care and kids know that you care about who they are, they’re going to care right back. Middle school, elementary, and high school, you should see an administrator out in front of your campus every day when you walk through. Because by saying good morning or giving a high five, you form a connection with the kids. And that connection really drives change and it also drives that purpose.

Photos by Kayla Terry

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | GIVING BACK 19

|Giving Back

Photos by Lauren Wassam

BOY SCOUTS at WORK

Seniors Graham Farrell and Matt Olsen address how giving back plays into their lives

H

elp other people at all times”, “service before self”, and “not for self but for country” are the beliefs of the Boy Scouts, the Air Force, and the Navy, respectively. Seniors Graham Farrell and Matt Olsen live by these beliefs, spending the hours after school, weekends, and summers doing volunteer work and giving back to the community.

Farrell and Olsen have given back through Boy Scouts, local churches, and JOOI (Junior Optimist Octagon International) club. These activities consume the two boys’ free time, taking up to 15 hours per week, but they do not mind sacrificing it to community service like most teenagers might.

“In the end I always figure ‘well, it’s for a good cause, and there’s always another time to hang out with friends,’ ” Olsen said.

His parents, devoted Catholics, raised him with the mentality of helping others, so this is something of a second nature. For as long as he can remember, he​​has​​found​​happiness​​ in helping others; as a result, charity and generosity have become his top priorities.

Olsen’s dedication to volunteer work began at five years old when he joined Saint Rose Catholic School and Church. The school’s curriculum had an emphasis on community service, and this introduced him to a life of giving back.

Olsen has since joined Boy Scouts as a way to instill altruism in the community, as well as attending a summer camp for the U.S. Air Force in Colorado Springs this past summer, which will assist him in giving back to the nation in the long run.

This camp took place in early June and consisted of six days during which up to 12 hours of physical training were completed and campers could attend classes offered at the academy. The camp was similar to a college visitation week, giving aspiring members of the Air Force a simulation of what their future might hold.

“What drew me to the Air Force was the ability and opportunity to serve my country and be a part of something that has such a big impact in the world,” said Olsen, who hopes to become a pilot with the Air Force.

He has been a member of Troop #60 of the Boy Scouts since he was six, conducting a large amount of his community service through this alongside Farrell, who is also a member. The group’s services vary from setting up community events to cleaning up trash in a creek.

Olsen and Farrell can agree that their volunteer work with the biggest impact was accomplished in West Virginia during the summer of 2013. They had traveled there for the National Scout Jamboree, a two week convention where 20,000 scouts from around the U.S. come and partake in activities such as

mountain biking, zip lining, and paddleboarding. One day of the 14 was spent completing volunteer work, and the troop was given an opportunity to give back on a larger scale than they ever had.

On one of their last days there, the troop took a bus from their campsite to Oak Hill, an impoverished town in WV, to build a playground for Collins Middle School. The school had previously owned nothing more than worn down play equipment. The group spent all day restoring it, and their labor proved to be worth every hour when the results elicited tears of gratitude from the school’s principal. Because of this, Olsen and Farrell feel this is the most important volunteer work they have completed, and continue to look back at this day with pride.

“It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Farrell confessed, “but it was so rewarding.”

Farrell’s experience with giving back is similar to Olsen’s. Also raised in a religious family, he grew up with the belief that he is a servant to God and the people of the world.

Growing up with these beliefs instilled in him the desire to give back in any way possible, and he was able to do so through Boy Scouts, First Baptist Church, and JOOI club. He joined Olsen’s troop at 11 years old, has attended First Baptist since childhood, and joined JOOI club his sophomore year of high school, meeting in room 1026 every Thursday since then.

Because of his dedication to volunteer work, Farrell made the perfect candidate for president of the club that encourages students to engage in community service, and won the position at the end of the 2015-16 school year.

“The kids [in JOOI club] are super awesome,” club advisor and English teacher Aaron Cantrell said, “Our president’s fantastic: Graham Farrell.”

Much like Olsen, Farrell attended a summer seminar in Annapolis, Maryland for the U.S. Navy from June 11-17. This week was spent meeting teenagers from around the nation who shared his ambitions and attending leadership classes that strengthened his want to serve his country.

His recent services include cleaning up trash at local elementary schools, helping out at a spelling bee for kids in Paso Robles, picking up litter in the Salinas river, and feeding the homeless on the streets of San Luis Obispo, each time knowing that he was making a difference for someone.

“It makes me really happy to see all these faces and know that I’m doing a good deed,” he explained.

Farrell and Olsen can agree that giving back plays a huge part in their lives. The joy they receive from helping others is irreplaceable, and their lives would be drastically different without it. In the end, each grueling task is worth it when the reward is the priceless smile of a grateful stranger.

—by Jessica Jagger, World Co-Editor

20 GIVING BACK | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

Compassion that changed her life

Giving Back|

Senior Taylor Hargrave travels to Uganda on a mission trip to spread joy and hope

by Morgan Rego, People Co-Editor

H

rgrave a H r o l y Ta

T

Ugandan

s

Taylor and Precious

er hazel eyes were widely open as she stepped off the bus she had been crammed in for the past five hours.

Her feet planted on the red dirt as she could see how different this was from the home she once recognized.

Arua, Uganda was a completely foreign world to Senior Taylor Hargrave who traveled halfway across the world to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the villagers.

Hargrave was first introduced to the opportunity to experience a new perspective on the impact of ministry by her best friend, her mom. Together they went with a group called His Healing Hands which is an organization run through First Baptist Church.

On July 27, 2016 she drove down to the LAX airport with the group to get on a strenuous 16 hour long flight filled with packets of peanuts and iced cold CoCa-Cola to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In Dubai, Hargrave experienced the different culture and the lavish wealth there, which became a huge contrast to what she was about to see in Arua. The next day she hopped on another plane for another five hours to Entebbe, Uganda and from Entebbe she went on a five hour bus to Arua, which was here home for the next 11 days.

“People were touching my skin because we were the only white people it was cool but weird because I felt like everyone was staring at me. But it was exciting at the same time because the little kids were excited to see me.”

She was eager to interact with the people on a personal level and to be able to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,” as said in the Book of Matthew.

“When the little kids see white skin they think gifts, happiness, love and Jesus” While Hargrave was there she spent most of her time in the pharmacy. Learning how to make prescriptions and fill them.

There were people lined up and camped out overnight in order to get medical care due to their sicknesses and she filled prescriptions for things all the way from cough linctus to malaria medicine.

“I had to learn all the conversions, and I was the only American doing it. I had to work with the Ugandan people, and their medicine conversions are different so I had to be trained into it”.

Hargrave also helped with the eyeglasses booth by holding up signs to test people’s vision.

Hargrave spent her 17th birthday surrounded by what has become one of the most important memories of her life. The celebration that occurred consisted of letters and gifts from her new Ugandan

Photos by Morgan Rego, Taylor Hargrave, Photos

by Morgan Rego, Taylor Hargrave, and Lizell Zayas

Smiles that will last a lifetime (left) : Senior Taylor Hargrave plays with children when she visits Uganda. friends and a whole village swinging their arms in the air as they sing her happy birthday.

“I spent my birthday there and this girl named Faith gave me her jersey and I am guessing that she only has one or two other shirts” Hargrave said.

The compassion Hargrave witnessed while she was there was not only unforgettable, but it had an impact on her everyday life.

“I am definitely way more grateful for what I have and we are so fortunate and we always say that but to actually see the starving kids in Africa changes your perspective” said Hargrave.

Hargrave wants to continue to go mission trips and give back through her ministries.

Hargrave spent her 17th birthday surrounded by what has by birthday.

“I spent my birthday there and this girl named Faith gave me her jersey and I am guessing that she only has one or two other shirts” Hargrave said.

The compassion Hargrave witnessed while she was there was not only unforgettable, but it had an impact on her everyday life.

“I am definitely way more grateful for what I have and we are so fortunate and we always say that but to actually see the starving kids in Africa changes your perspective” said Hargrave.

Hargrave wants to continue to go mission trips and give back

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | GIVING BACK 21

|Blind Date

AVI-LOVE Valley Barn

Seniors Tatum Van Horn and Matthew Horne enjoy San Luis Obispo on a blind date

O

ctober 22 was a warm day for seniors Tatum Van Horn and Matthew Horne to experience Avila Valley Barn for the first time. Matthew met Tatum by the large stack of large pumpkins, hugging and in sync saying, “I would have never guessed it was you!” As the couple walked through the crowd of people, the smell of grilled corn, pies and pumpkins filled the surrounding air, a very different scene from the usual PRHS campus.

With many fun options, including a maze made of bailed hay, a relaxed ride to a pumpkin patch and animals to feed crisp vegetables to.The couple started their adventure in the hay maze. Due to the recent downpour of rain, the hay had tarps blanketing over top, a cozy maze in the dark. Three minutes later, they emerged from the puzzle already engaged in conversations.

With a little wait time in the line to get onto the tractor, they had more time to get to know each other. A major topic was the volunteer work both have done as missionaries in Mexico through their church. Both are so passionate to helping others.

Matthew volunteers at Loaves and Fishes and has gone to Honduras for a week to build a parsonage,which is a house for the pastor. Throughout his life he’s volunteered over 50 hours of his time to organizations. But Matthew doesn’t want to stop after high school, one of his largest goals is to be wealthy enough to donate enough to build facilities for learning and shelter.

Tatum has gone to Mexico to teach four times, twice in spring and twice in summer and Nicaragua for a week for her church. From car washes to multiple enchilada dinners, handing out flyers for businesses, and rummage sales Tatum has had a major presence in the Christian community. Two years she read to elementary school children through a program called Book Buddies. All of her junior year, she volunteered at Twin Cities Hospital, including over Thanksgiving and winter breaks. Not only does she volunteer to read or care for people, she helped at the Harvest Marathon for three years.

The tractor filled with straw seats carted twenty others a few hundred yards to a patch of pumpkins to choose to take home.Van Horn and Horne picked up the pumpkins, seeing how heavy they could be,what they looked like and flexing muscles at each other. They both pointed out their perfect pumpkin: a round, pretty orange hue without scars across the skin with a curled stem.

For lunch, the duo sat on the patio overlooking the pony rides, hayrides,and the hay maze while a band played original music in the background about growing up in Bakersfield.

Both enjoyed a grilled cheese sandwich, shared pickle flavored chips, and laughs. Matthew was not sure about the pickle flavor at first, scrunching his face making Tatum smile.

After eating, the pair fed the goats, sheep and a cow pieces of lettuce, slices of pumpkin and other vegetables. Van Horn got to experience the cow’s purple tongue wrap around her hand instead of the veggies. Both laughed, but Horne did not want to take his chances with the cow. They moved on to the emus which wanted nothing to do with people. Van Horn suddenly got excited and pointed “baby emus!” Unfortunately they were just doves in a feeding bin. Horne could only be amused as they continued to the feisty miniature ponies. In the yard next to the kicking two feet tall horse, sheep and goats co-existed as they were fed heads of lettuce. Van Horn and Horne joined in the feeding frenzy as a large goat stepped on the wooden gate and reached for the cuisine.

After the lettuce was gone, Tatum and Matthew climbed onto a perfect postcard photo opportunity with hay, pumpkins, and scarecrows outlining the picture to end a fall date.

22 BLIND DATE | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

Describe this date:

T: “It was very fun, it was more than just the movies date. It was in a different environment than just school.”

Anything in common?

M: “Same faith, moral beliefs, definitely the same love of sports and we are goal oriented people.”

Anything the other persondid/said that made an impression on you?

T: “Wanting to be wealthy to use the money to help others.”

Would you go on a date again?

Both answered: “Either way, as friends or as something more!”

Photos by Madison Funke

Good Peers Lead to a Good Conscience

Surrounding yourself with encouraging people

P

eople have a huge impact on one’s life; with this in mind, choosing friends to be around should be thought about the same way one thinks about eating and exercising. Being surrounded by good, influential people results in a good attitude and a healthy life, according to Leon Logothetis from The Huffington Post. On the other hand, “some people can be parasites; they suck out your happiness, energy and maybe some of your tangible resources as well,” stated Logothetis. Overall, the environment you are in has an impact on the actions and thoughts of an individual.

Therefore, being with happy, inspiring, and good people should be an important decision one should make.

It is understood that getting rid of negative friends is hard because relationships have already been formed and everyone knows each other like the back of their hand. However, is unhealthy love better than no love? According to author Kristy Sin in her article “Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Only Surround Yourself With Happy People”, it’s not.

She states that growing emotionally and psychologically cannot be achieved by just staying comfortable.

When positive people are not part of the social circle, needless personal battles occur. “Thoughts become things,” stated Sin. Most people on campus have experienced this idea that thoughts turn into feelings and that energy becomes “things.”

Happiness is strong energy. Unfortunately, so is negativity and sadness.

Junior Serenity White-Ilole experienced this Healthy Relationships (PRHS) : Serenity negative energy among her previous friends, which White-Ilole beams at the newfound posiultimately caused tension and unhappiness in her life. tivity and motivation in her friend group.

“Last year I was around a toxic friend group and that Photo by Brenna Collins wasn’t good for my mental state”, said White-Ilole.

Health|

by Madi Warren, Sports Co-Editor

The unhealthy environment caused her relationship to go down hill.“I couldn’t say what I thought about certain things in fear of judgment,” said White-Ilole, who later confronted the group about her concerns, but sadly only received a mere shrug of the shoulders.

The harmful feedback she was given affected her school work to the point where she would “blow off essays [she] had to do and big projects to be with them,” said White-Ilole.

Finally she branched out from that friend group because of their bad decisions and hurtful actions toward White-Ilole. She eventually connected to new motivated friends that cared about her well being and had a better influence for her life.

Junior Melanie Harris, who transferred from Templeton on January 20 of her freshman year, struggled with the environment at THS due to a fear of being judged and looked down upon. “The general feeling there was more that they’re stuck up and you just kind of feel like you’re being judged all the time,” said Harris. Because of the small school, Harris stated that the drama was more intense and she had no medium in her life. She was torn between being with friends who only cared about school and didn’t want to have fun and friends that only had to goal to party and make school their last priority. This was the main reason Harris transferred to find a more comfortable place to be.

Once she came to PRHS, the vibe—according to Harris— is more welcoming and spirited than her previous school and her friends are a better influence. “They are a lot better of a group. We all have similar interests and we can just hang out and study and we all care about our grades, but we still like to do fun things,” said Harris. She loves the school and the people who make her feel more accepted and happy.

This is an important aspect to keep in mind to be surrounded by people that are successful and have more knowledge, things, and motivation like the new friends White-Ilole and Harris chose. This ultimately leads to the influencer pushing the friend to complete more than someone who doesn’t care where their life choices lead them. Ultimately White-Ilole and Harris’ new environment encourages them to complete their school work and it creates a more positive life for them. The goal is to take risks and get rid of the old to making room for the new. A good influence and happy friends will evidently lead to a happy healthy life for everyone who is willing to make a change for it.

20 Ways to Survive Winter

Tactics to stay happy in the cold months

by Elise Scheiffele, World Co-Editor

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | HEALTH 23

|World

Saving lives while in danger White Helmets have saved over 60,000 people and counting

HELPING OUT (left) : The white helmets aide the woman after an attack.

They help and serve anyone one in need of help.

by Emma Corippo, Illustrator

A

n estimated 540,000 people have been killed during Syria’s five-year war, and millions more are injured. Nearly 50 bombs are dropped over cities each day, accounting to eleven percent of the country’s population being killed in the turmoil, according to freebeacon.com. With the country in ruins, the Syrian Civil Defense has stepped in to protect civilians. Volunteers known as the White Helmets have made a promise to rescue citizens from attacks.

Unarmed, the white helmets main purpose is to insure the safety of Syrian civilians. The Syrian Civil Defense has saved over 62,000 people and counting.

From pulling a month old baby out of rubble, to saving a old man from a burning building, the white helmets put their lives on the line to help those in need.

Serving nearly seven million people, the white helmets do more than just rescue civilians.

Many set up refugee camps,

fix electricity, provide food, and make areas safer.

Seventy eight women have trained in medicine have joined the white helmets. In some instances, men would not allow the male white helmets to rescue woman from the rubble, until the female white helmets stepped in many women were trapped under rubble with no assistance.

The white helmets don’t serve one side, they serve anyone in need of assistance.

As many as 141 volunteers have been killed in the process, often while attempting to rescue people from government fire bombs. But that hasn’t stopped them from putting their lives on the line for the citizens of Syria.

The white helmets were awarded the “Right to Livelihood Award” in 2016 for their bravery and sacrifice. The group was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in October.

24 WORLD | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

Comparing the state of different countries

Determining the quality of life around the world

by Brenna Collins, Health Co-Editor

F

or those who don’t experience it on a daily basis, poverty is not seen as something that affects more than 3 billion people in the whole world; it’s viewed as a looming, unchangeable problem as we carry on in our bubble of peaceful ignorance. Families sometimes survive off of between 2 and 10 dollars a day; this presents as a major obstacle blocking the path to obtaining education, health, and basic necessities. Countries like the United States and France are in the middle ground, with less than a fifth of the population living in poverty, as opposed to the 30 percent in Ethiopia, the 9th poorest country in the world. Haiti, who has recently suffered from Hurricane Matthew and is still recovering from the effects of the 2010 earthquake, has 80 percent of their population living under the poverty line. Similarly, Syria has been knocked down by outside factors; in their case warfare has caused the poverty rate to increase to 80 percent, resulting in many fleeing to neighboring countries. These conditions block the way for development of the country, and the development of the minds of young people who are in families struggling to find their footing. The life expectancy in countries like France, where healthcare and higher education are easily accessible, is 20 years longer than countries where the income is significantly lower. As a nation we should be thankful for the chances we have; but not use that as an excuse to stop striving for better. It is important to not dismiss the hardships of people who are struggling, whether they are across the globe or right in our backyard, but instead offer a helping hand.

|Environment

Ways the Wilderness Club has given back: • Sold reusable water bottles for sea turtle fund • Traveled to Santa Cruz for field biology • Did botanical research at Santa Cruz • Monitored how climate change affects Joshua Walking in the wild (above) : Wilderness gives back to and takes part in exploring the environment.

trees

Saving the earth one hike, fundraiser and cleanup at a time

Wilderness Club gives back to the environment

by Sarah Jagger, Health Co-Editor

A

s Wilderness Club’s meeting commences in room 409, the 60 plus members begin to discuss methods in which they could experience nature and protect the environment. If a member has a subject they are passionate about, they are allowed to take the floor and present their idea to the club. When a member takes the floor, the group quiets, bringing their attention to the speaker.

“We encourage people to come and advocate for causes they would like to raise money for,” said senior Ethan Athey, the club’s president.

Members consider future activities, allowing every attendant to have a say in the decision. Previously, the club has sold reusable water bottles to help sea turtles, traveled to Santa Cruz island to do field biology, and gone to Joshua Tree National Park to monitor how climate change has affected the trees. The trip to Joshua Tree National Park occurs once annually, while the trip to Santa Cruz island occurs twice a year. Botanical research is what the club mostly does on both these trips.

At JTNP, they monitor the growth of Joshua trees and the effect that global warming has on them. They also study the effect of exotic primary consumer removal, which is basically just herbivore removal, on native plants of the island.

Every Friday at school and two times per month outside of school, the club meets to discuss and actively participate in events that bring them to be more aware and appreciative of the environment.

“This year, we are trying to encourage our members to create

This year, we are trying to encourage our members to create special committees that focus on a topic they really care about and want to raise awareness — Ethan Athey, 12

special committees that focus on a topic they really care about and want to raise awareness,” said Athey, who has been an active member of the club for two years.

One committee created this year was started by senior Coleen Wiest, in hopes of conserving the endangered redwood trees.

“My hopes are not only to donate to a worthy organization but also to raise awareness for the trees as well as the rapidly changing environment, and hopefully inspire a few students with a passion for nature,” said Wiest, who hopes Wilderness Club will have a positive impact on her fundraiser through active members who care about the trees.

The projects range from fundraisers for endangered species, to hikes, to beach cleanups. Meetings outside of school often take place near hiking places, such as Bishop’s Peak or beaches, at dawn, dusk or anytime in between. The club’s intent is to spread passion about nature by immersing students in activities entirely outdoors, such as

26 ENVIRONMENT | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

hiking, giving back to the environment, or anything other outdoor activity. An appreciation of nature is taught, as well as ways to benefit the environment.

“Our main goal is to get students out into nature. Because once you have fun in it - once you appreciate it - then you want to protect it,” said senior Nicole Raithel, the club secretary.

At its core, Wilderness Club is an organization of students who aim to create a better environment and appreciate nature. The club bonds through moments in nature, admiring it, helping it, and understanding it. Surrounded by fog atop Bishop’s Peak to witness the sunrise, staring out at the ocean surrounding the Santa Cruz island, and crammed into room 508 every Friday, members are there to celebrate the one thing they have in common: each and every member of Wilderness Club is there to make our environment the best it can be, however they can.

Graphic and photo by Emily Mowery

Drones

SCI TECH|

Availability, Functionality, and Usability

by Sam Harrison, Sci Tech Editor

INSPIRE 1 (above) : The DJI Inpire 1 Pro is one of the companies most powerful drones. It is most commonly used by film professionals.

Photo by aerialphotographyseattle.com. Used with permission.

U

nmanned aerial vehicle, more commonly referred to as drones or UAVs, are looked upon by some as an invasion of privacy in the way that most recreational drones have a camera on them, whether it be live feed or seen post flight, and on amazon.com, a lot of drones run for less than $100, but most others may think of a drone for recreational uses, such as a flight over the coastline or a rolling vineyard, or even racing your drone at speeds that can soar above 100 miles per hour. Some of the highest end personal drones are produced

by DJI, or Dà-Jiang Innovations, and one of their highest end drones, the Inspire 1 PRO, can shoot with a thermal camera and utilizes an automatic hover mode where if the user releases their grasp on the controller, it will automatically hover in place, and those are just some of the features. Unfortunately, this product isn’t for the average consumer, mainly because it will drain your wallet about $3,400.

Drone flight may be a pastime for some, but for Reese sophomore Reese Eddy, he sticks to flying mostly professionally. Reese flies a DJI Phantom 3 Professional, which can record 4K video, and has unique integrated flight modes such as a beginner mode for first time pilots, which allows the user to set the range the drone will fly from you so you can literally stay in your comfort zone. Reese has flown his drone for a wedding service where he took aerial shots of the venue at Tooth and Nail Winery, and followed the bride and groom throughout the vineyard, filming the whole time, and received about $100 from the job. “Producing

The structure The basics of most drones consists of four propellers, arms, center frame, and a camera. Other components of the drone such as the prop guards, don’t come as common on all drones, even though it makes sense to protect your propellers, it does add a lot of weight which can hinder the drone’s functionality.

acceptable-looking footage continues to drop in cost. Film, and by film I mean digital video, is the new major medium of communication that people expect. Although Hollywood continues to pioneer new techniques and advanced effects, the basic audio/visual storytelling capabilities of the average digital-device-holding-citizen make them competitive in the multimedia industry. This capacity to produce on the cheap threatens the traditional structure of exclusive big production studios which were able to charge huge amounts of money for their high-end and unique technology and skills. Luckily for big studios, the market for entertainment continues to grow. They will be hit hard if we run into another major recession and society trades costly cinema trips for cheaper stay-at-home options like streaming short videos and the like”. Video Production teacher John Rucker said.

Drone flight is something that any person could do professionally. Seeing as they are getting cheaper, it is getting a lot easier to get a Eddy controller in your hands. It is easy to start a business with your drone, with things like advertising, film making, or even as far as inspecting areas of land, according to droneguru.net. Camera equipped drones create unique opportunities for videographies that have otherwise been unobtainable, seeing as in the past these kinds of aerial shots have only been shot from a manned aerial vehicle such as a plane or a helicopter, and there are plenty of employment opportunities for aspiring teens or anyone who is up for the challenge of flight.

DBPOWER UDI U818A: This drone offers first person view, or FPV, which is live feed that streams to your phone or tablet, so you can see through the eyes of your device. This drone is equipped with 720p HD video at 30 frames per second, and is one of the cheaper FPV drones that can capture high quality footage and is found on amazon.com for around $100.

UDI RC Eagle Drone: This drone offers 120 degree views with a FPV 720p camera. It also offers drone virtual reality support, which means you can link up your VR goggles to your drones camera feed and fly that way. Another key feature for beginners is the device’s One Key Return Home Function, which allows the user to have the drone fly home with the push of a button. This drone is the cheapest of the three at only $70.

Camera usually placed at front of drone

Propellers or “Props” is what provides uplifting force for the drone

The center frame holds all of the vehicle’s important components such as GPS and a gyroscope

The prop guards ensure that the propellers stay safe during a crash or collision

DJI Phantom 3 Professional: This drone is the most expensive of the three as it runs on amazon.com for around $800, but has the most added features. It shoots in UHD 4K video, and DJI lightbridge allows for the user to view live camera feed from the drone in 720p while the drone itself is simultaneously recording the footage at full resolution on its SD card. An interesting fact added in by DJI, the manufacturer, is that flight of this drone is restricted within a 15 mile radius of the White House, and has an operating range of 1.24 miles away from the user.

11.09.16 | Crimson News magazine | SCI TECH 27

|Sports

How well do you know Regan Dobroth?

Senior Regan Dobroth, varsity tennis player, sets the challenge to see who knows her best. Weighing in is freshman and brother Devin Dobroth, boyfriend and senior Andrew Luna, and teammate and senior Aneva Mason, who has played with Dobroth since sophomore year.

by Lauren Wasam, Managing Editor & Sports Co-Editor

Regan Dobroth

The Brother: Devin Dobroth

The Boyfriend: Andrew Luna

The Teammate: Aneva Mason

Annoying Brother

Loud chewing

When people don’t ask for help

Mac n’ Cheese

White Cheddar Mac n’ Cheese

Mac n’ Cheese

Carmel Mocha Frap

Peppermint Mocha

Carmel Mocha Frappuccino

Theo James

Scott Eastwood

Luke Bryan

Rae

Rae

High School Musical

No clue

High School Musical

Horses

Collects Model Horses

Collection of Model Horse

Horses

Graham Farrell

Becca Slason

Rosy

Becca Slason

Something most people don’t know about you?

Dresses dogs in clothes Breeds sheep

Breeds sheep

Horse Riding

TOTAL:

6/10

5/10

Pet Peeve?

Long nails Favorite Food?

White Cheddar Macaroni Favorite Starbucks drink?

Peppermint Mocha Celebrity Crush?

Ryan Gosling Nickname?

Rae

Rae

Pump-up song?

Any High School Musical Weird obsession?

Collects Model Horses Who or what is your spirit animal?

Graham Farrell

Jax

Funniest person on the team?

Becca Slason

28 SPORTS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

4.5/10

Photos by Lauren Wassam

SENIOR NIGHT (below) : Water polo teams plays on thier senior night.

Iver Hansen: Goalie

Varsity waterpolo breaks records this season

by Alicia Myrick, Reporter

A

t the towering height of 6’6 and wingspan of 6’9 senior Iver Hansen, goalie for the boys varsity water polo team has broken the school’s record for amount of saves in a season and in a single game. Hansen has greatly improved throughout this season as well as his entire water polo career, according to Hansen himself.

Hansen began playing water polo his sophomore year because Duane McRoy, his P.E. teacher at the time, encouraged him to try out for the team.

“I did what I could not to sink like a rock,” recalls Hansen.

Now, Hansen says he loves playing water polo because of the people on the team and how fun and enjoyable they make the sport.

“They make it really interesting at times, but a lot of fun”, Hansen said about his team.

Boys water polo has been having a great year, according to Hansen. The team itself has broken multiple school records, including junior Zack Tucker.

Tucker has broken the school record for goals made. The previous record was broken by Tucker’s 101 goals. Water polo spent a few weeks in spring 2016 and most

Sports|

of summer practicing and now practice before and after school.

Hansen almost broke a record in the first game of the season but instead tied with 21 saves in 1 game. Since then, Hansen and Tucker have both improved with more school records broken. The school record for most saves in the boys water polo season is 240 and Hansen’s broken that record with 321 saves throughout this season.

“Though we suffered a tough loss to Atascadero we made it close. Player of the game is Iver keeping our team in the game with 24 saves. Awesome game Iver.” said coach McRoy on their game against Atascadero about Hansen.

The team ranked fourth in PAC-7 league finals, ending 3-3. This is the best that boys water polo has done in the past few years and this years team gets along very well and are like brothers, according to Hansen.

“The fact that the team is so close might be why the team is doing so well because we all know that we have eachothers backs, there is a sense of brotherhood.” said Hansen.

Feet, don’t fail them now

Bearcat cross country runners plan to pound the pavement at CIF State Finals

by Lindsay Darbyshire, Editorial Editor

A

fter a draining seven hour school day, 65 students make their way up to the track, preparing for the four to ten miles they will run in the approaching two hour practice by following the special routes around town they have memorized.

This year’s set of coaches consists of three veterans and a single newcomer. Jessica Meyers, a new assistant coach who ran cross country for UC Santa Cruz, now contributes her time and knowledge to the cross country efforts.

She will work alongside volunteer walk-on coach Jory Hallahan, coach of eleven years Jon-Paul Ewing, and head coach of 30 years, Ivan Huff.

Forty-eight boys and seventeen girls circle around their leaders, laced up and ready for their warm-up instructions. Rain or shine, heat or chill, these runners repeat this schedule five days of the week from Monday to Friday. Saturday mornings, the long run day, is spent logging around six to ten miles, unless competing at other race courses.

This 2016 fall season, the team is striving to recreate and even usurp last year’s season, both Ewing and Huff credit it to be their best season in the history of PRHS cross country.

“Last year… [The boys] ended up second in the CIF Southern Section and third in State. It was by far the best season we’ve ever had,” Huff said. “On the girls side… we ended up tied for third in league last year, but we made it to the CIF Finals, which was a

highlight of the season for the girls and we ended up tenth in the Southern Section.”

This season, coaches agree that the team is made of strong runners and will pose a fierce competition. The top runners include senior Annie Meeder for the girls, and senior Trad Berti for the boys.

Meeder, who has ran for the varsity team for four years, plans to end the season stronger than she started out and overcome the iron deficiency problem that she struggled with last year.

“I really want to show college coaches that I’m a durable person… I really hope that my times can actually be something that a Stanford coach would look at because Stanford’s my dream college,” says Meeder with a hopeful laugh. “Before when I ran, I’ve never had such a passion for it. Now I want to show myself that I can be strong and do this.”

To kick off this year, Meeder’s first three races resulted in new records for the Bearcats. “[Meeder] is literally running faster than any girl distance runner has ever run in the school. Her senior year, it’s going kind of crazy good for her,” said Ewing, who hopes to see the girls team make it to CIF Finals.

For the boys side, top runners Berti and senior Luis Armendariz push each other to do their best. Currently the number one runner, Berti has been running all four years of his high school career and holds the record for the fastest mile at four minutes and seventeen seconds. On October 1 of the 2016 season , Berti shocked the crowd by running a 5k race with a time of 14:57, his fastest race time, at the Stanford Invitational.

Coming in after Berti, Armendariz claimed second place in the Boys Division 3 section with a time of 15:29.

As for the future, Berti plans to fill this season with a win at the CIF State Division 3 meet and hopes to be one of the forty boys fast enough to run in the Footlocker Nationals in San Diego on December 10.

“We have the same goals [as last year] to try to win League, place high at CIF Finals, get to be in the top seventeen and make it to the State meet… ,” Huff said.

“I think the reason for the success we’ve been having is the commitment that our runners have. You have guys like Trad [Berti] and Luis [Armendariz] that are putting in seriously big miles… Annie [Meeder] as well,” said Ewing. “The high mileage and commitment to come to every single practice… we don’t take days off… that is what pays off. It toughens them up and they can out-suffer other people on the course in the season. And that is what Paso has going for us.”

.

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | SPORTS 29

|Sports

Strength

Technically Speaking:

Kiara’s hand is open and her elbow bent and her arm ready to unload.

Spiking

with Senior Kiara Gable

Direction Her arm should be up to guide where the ball will go.

Mind

Agility

Her eyes are looking at the ball while using her peripheral vision to go around the block.

Her legs are essential to jump high enough to spike the ball. Kiara has a strong and high jump, so her hits go in the middle of the court.

Photo by Kayla Terry

Gables STATS 149 Kills 69 Sets Played 45.6% Hitting Percentage Senior Kiara Gable Left Side Hitter

172 Digs

30 SPORTS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16

Kiara the killer

by Madi Warren, Sports Co-Editor

J

oining the varsity volleyball team as a freshman, the now senior Kiara Gable has impressed many with her overpowering abilities. With 149 kills her senior season, Gable has given the team a huge advantage and is ranked with the second most kills in PAC-8 league this season, right behind senior Madison Morrison. Gable is excepionally strong giving her the ability hit the ball fast and down in the court. She is also a smart player and knows where to place the ball to win the point.

The lady Bearcats were placed third in league with a 10-4 record and 20th in the southern section divion four rankings. They won their first CIF game againt Oak Park High School on November 1; however, they lost agianst Sierra Canyon at the home CIF game on November 3. Coach Doug Harbottle brought up four JV girls to practice with and support the varsity team during their fight for the champion title.

Running the game

Sports|

Senior Christian Erickson’s success on the gridiron

by Madison Funke, Photography Director and Lauren Wassam, Managing Editor

I

f you want a picture of the power of 220 lb. Bearcat running back Christian Erickson, look to the September win over McClymonds, the third game of the 2016 season. Erickson was indestructible with 33 carries for 271 yards and five touchdowns.

Watch his 80-yard kickoff return for a score. The Bearcats pulled out the win in the final minutes 48-44 with senior Mark Armstrong scoring the final six points from the one yard line with seconds left in the game. And where would Bearcats have been without Erickson’s power?

“It was a breakaway game, and I decided that I wasn’t going to lose. I played my heart out,” said Erickson.

Anyone who follows PAC 5 football knows the name and power of the 5’11 and 220 pound senior Christian Erickson, the remarkable factor behind Bearcats’ 7-2 record and tie for second place in PAC 5 league. Fans have witnessed Erickson’s crimson and white jersey all season shoving past the defense with the pigskin clutched in between his forearm and palm. We have heard the

announcers exclaiming his name as he has crossed the TD line 44 times.

Erickson has landed himself at the top of PAC-5 stats. He’s ranked first in 2016 league stats in three categories: rushing yards with 882, touchdowns with 18, and total points with 114.

When the strength of the opposing defense overwhelms the Bearcats’ passing game, Erickson’s strength kicks in and can only be described as unstoppable. Although he’s known for his tumultuous amount of touchdowns, Erickson’s ability to get the first down is his real strength.

With a varsity career total of 4016 rushing yards on 559 carries, Erickson averages 7.2 yards a carry.

Erickson’s senior season has proved to his best: 882 rushing yards on 137 carries for 15 rushing touchdowns. He has also had three receiving touchdown catches from senior and quarterback Steven Schouten, leading to a total of 18 touchdowns in the eight games he’s played in.

Erickson has a CIF ring on his finger from his sophomore year and was awarded CIF and All League his sophomore and junior year. These awards are voted by the coaches in each league and division and given to the best player at each position.

Though these awards are attached to his name, he stays humble.

Erickson says he is “never above the team, I play for them.”awards are voted by the coaches in each league and division and given to the best player at each position.

Though these awards are attached to his name, he stays humble.

Erickson says he is “never above the team, I play for them.”

OTHER KEY PLAYERS

Special Teams #21

Cade England, Punter

Daniel Giroux, Wide Receiver Stats updated as of October 27, 2016.

Junior Cade England has already made substantial efforts for the Bearcats. As a punter, England has had a total of 744 yards from 17 punts this season. Englands punts have had major impact in the Bearcats seven wins.

England’s punts have come at crucial times, including the game against the Cajon Cowboys. On the Sept. 16 game. England’s punts were able to drive the Cowboys back on multiple occasions. Punting isn’t England’s only strength, he’s had 19 touchbacks from 49 kickoffs.

Currently, England is ranked first in PAC-5 for kickoffs.

Offense #18

Defense #50

This season, senior and wide receiver Daniel Giroux has made a grateful switch from his position as safety last year. Giroux has been the explosive, big-play threat for the Bearcats and is currently leading the team in receiving yards. He also has the second most receiving yards and touchdowns in PAC-5 with 456 yards and six touchdowns. Despite not playing on Oct. 28 against 4728, Giroux is ranked 19th in California for his yards per catch.

Senior and defensive end Nick Montelongo brings two years experience and leadership to the defensive unit.

As a sophomore, Montelongo was pulled up to varsity for CIF, and is now known for his speed and elusiveness as a lineman. Currently, Montelongo is ranked second in tackles for the Bearcats.

Photos by Lauren Wassam and Kayla Terry

Nick Montelongo, Defensive End

11.09.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | SPORTS 31

H A We’ve got spirit!

E Y AH |Photo Essay

YE

SHOWING RESPECT (top left) : Members of the PRHS dance class recite the Pledge of Allegiance during the Homcoming pep rally. They wore all black, sporting Homecoming shirts.

HIP HIP HOORAY (top right) : Senior Josh Dewhurst and juniors Cassidy LeClair and Kylie Folks show their school spirit during activies in the quad during Spirit Week.

BEARCAT MANTRA (bottom left) : The senior section of the pep rally chant “Let’s go Bearcats!”, along with the other classes.

COZY IN PJ’S (middle upper center) : Bearcats show their school spirit by wearing onesies during Pajama Day of Spirit Week.

PINK SISTERS (middle lower center) : Juniors Daniela Bernal and Lizzy Loewenn wear similar shirts and matching hairstyles during Twin Day of Spirit Week.

Photos by Kathryn Varian, Jeff Mount, Kayla Terry, and Aiden Kerr

32 PHOTO ESSAY | Crimson Newsmagazine | 11.09.16