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Crimson. PASO ROBLES HIGH SCHOOL 801 NIBLICK RD. PASO ROBLES, CA 93446 NOV. 15, 2019 VOLUME 82 ISSUE 2
WEST COAST, BEST COAST
Paso High celebrates Homecoming with a day filled with events and activities
PG. 03
DESIGNED TO
EDUCATE Bearkittens program motivates learning in preschool and high school students PG.18-23
IS THIS OUR AMERICA?
With the above rallying cry, senior Janice Palacios fights for human rights and her view on immigration
PG. 12
THE WRIGHT WAY
Junior Jakob Wright commits to Cal Poly Baseball
PG. 34
| NEWS
News Briefs
The Variety of Floats in a Parade
Bearcats represent the high school and participate in the Pioneer Day Parade by Malia Gaviola, Opinion Co-Editor
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lusters of students gathered close together, the crisp air briskly reminding them of the season them of the Autumn season as they awaited the sharp 10:15 start. Some already sat on their floats, neon signs in their hands, while others who carried banners chatted among themselves while standing in the shade of nearby buildings. On Saturday, October 12 at 10:00 AM, Bearcats from a variety of different social groups, personalities, and grade levels gathered on Spring Street. A
shrill whistle pierced the air and the sound of dozens of instruments in synchronized motion was heard as senior Reagan Rowens called the band to attention. With Aimee Ware accompanying them, Rowens served as the Drum Major for the Pioneer Parade, her duty was to keep Paso Robles’ band in structure and on tempo. She commented that one of her favorite parts of the parade was, “seeing the middle school and high school band coming together to do something they loved”.
GO CATS! : PRHS cheerleaders stride down the streets of Paso for the whole town to see. The cheerleaders provided a show for their audience, doing stunts, flips, and cheering all the way through downtown Paso Robles. Photo by Malia Gaviola
Press Play Students discuss their feelings towards later start times by Phoebe Corgiat
02 NEWS | Crimson Newsmagazine 10.04.19
FSC Coordinator and Cal Poly professor map out a new field studies course in New Mexico by Jasmine Romero, Video Director
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even Field Study Collaborative courses are currently available for students; among these are: Joshua Tree National Park Field Biology Research, Santa Cruz Island Field Biology, and Marine Intertidal Monitoring Project. Last March, Mark Dimaggio, retired Paso High science teacher, collaborated with Dr. Emily Taylor, a professor of Biology at Cal Poly, to create a new Field Studies Course for Paso High. “I work in a very snakey area in Arizona and New Mexico each summer,
[so] it provides the perfect opportunity for PR High students to come along and learn about them,” Dr. Taylor said. Students will conduct research on terrestrial vertebrates in Chiricahua mountains by running five mile long transects in New Mexico. Researchers will compare their results to two earlier studies that were taken place in the 70’s and 2000’s to see if the species are moving uphill in response to global warming. The course is scheduled to take place in August 2020 and applications will be available sometime in the spring for the 11 students who will participate in the course. Teachers will hold a few of the 11 spots on the trip for this year’s seniors. Steven DeCou, Amanda Lincoln, Katelyn Lee, Gaylene Ewing, and Lynda Greer are all organizing and working to fund the trip since the course is over the FSC budget. The course is continuing to proceed in its early stages of planning and will need to go through site level approval and Board approval. This new additional course would be the second summer course offered, along with the Santa Cruz Island Field Biology course and the first FSC course to offer [students to work with reptiles],” Dimaggio explained.
A NEW FSC COURSE IN TOWN : Dr.
Taylor, the Professor of Biological Sciences at Cal Poly, smiles while holding a snake.
Photo used with permssion by Dr. Taylor
Check out more videos at crimsonnewsmagazine.org
THE APPROACH TO A LATER START The Daylight Savings of school start times
NEW FSC COURSE ON THE RISE
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law pushing back school start times for high school and middle schools. There is a threeyear window available for schools to change bell schedules, anytime between 2020-2023. The earliest bell can ring at 8:30, excluding zero periods, which start before school. Scan the code to watch Bearcats voice their opinion on the subject.
The ROAD TO HOMECOMING
Scan this too watch “The Road to California: How Leadership Organized Homecoming 2019” and gain an inside scoop on the hours of planning, organizing, and rehearsing leadership navigated to give Paso High a nostalgic trip straight through California to our backyard, War Memorial Stadium.
by Christia Taylor, Victoria Escamilla, & Alayna Hernandez
West CoasT, Best Coast T ALL HAIL THE HOMECOMING COURT: Seniors Michael Hollinger (right) and Kaya McCasland (left) pose for a picture after accepting their titles. Out of the six other nominees, they came out victorious.
hrough the years, students have come together to experience homecoming’s exhilarating school tradition of the pep rally, the football game, and the dance. Homecoming took place on Friday, Oct. 25, starting with the pep rally. Bearcats gathered for an hour of fun, games, and school spirit.Different grade levels competed and spirit points were awarded to the loudest class. The victors this year were the juniors. The pep rally included a game played with ropes and trash cans called “Kajabe Can Can.” The pep rally was also used as a way to celebrate the homecoming royalty for grades 9 through 11 and the Homecoming King and Queen candidates: Michael Hollinger, Kaya
NEWS |
Paso High celebrates homecoming with a day filled with events and activities by Calvin Cross, Sports Reporter
McCasland, Jose Muniz, Estey Boling, Zane Warren, and Gabriella Clayton. Next was the football game at seven o’ clock; this year the varsity football team was in for an arduous fight. At halftime, Homecoming King and Queen candidates were called up to the stage in the center of the football field, along with their fellow royalty. After a few stressful moments, Hollinger and McCasland won Homecoming King and Queen. The Bearcats were defeated by the Righetti Warriors, who won 14-28. After the football game, the Homecoming dance took place from 9:30 to 11 pm, officially putting an end to PRHS’s 2019 Homecoming.
TEAM CAPTAIN MAKEOVERS (above) :
Senior Gabriella Clayton speaks with sophomore Charlotte Castelli, whose face has been madeover. Members of the student council as well as leadership students did the fall team captains’ makeup.
HOLD ON TIGHT (above): Students play “Kajabe Can Can” during the pep rally. The victor’s grade was given Pride Points; the juniors won the pep rally.
SCAN ME!
JUST DANCE! : Advanced Dance performs during the halftime show of the homecoming pep rally and football game. Intermediate and Beginning Dance also performed.
Photos by Vivianna Hernandez, Luis Salas, and Hailey Radder
CRIMSON AND WHITE : PRHS Cheer performs during the halftime show of the homecoming football game.
Scan this too watch “The Road to California: How Leadership Organized Homecoming 2019” and gain an inside scoop on the hours of planning, organizing, and rehearsing leadership navigated.
11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | News 03
| NEWS
AP Policies Rattle Prhs Students
College board changes exam payment deadlines along with essay rubric rework by TJ Rothbauer, News Co-Editor
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ollege Board has launched new policies regarding application of the essays, it’s on a 6 point rubric instead of a 9 point holistic scale.... deadlines along with tweaks to English Literature and Language this new rubric is a grid rubric with a section for a thesis, a section for exams. There may be slight changes to the overall exams, but commentary, and then there’s a section for sophistication. You either get a point or no point for a thesis… for evidence and commentary, you the new policies could, in fact, affect students if they are taking can earn a one through four and then for sophistication it’s either multiple AP classes. sophisticated or it’s not sophisticated,” AP Language teacher The new application deadline will be the biggest Janice Hoy said. change that will affect any Bearcat who is planning to Students taking AP tests should also understand that this take the AP exam. Instead of ordering in early March, new system makes expectations more clear and concise College Board has decided to move the deadline compared to the previous system. “The grading system should to Nov. 4 with a $40 down payment because of clarify what’s being looked for,” Hoy explained. the enrollment policy including “increased student Hoy made clear that AP classes engagement throughout the course,” according to should not be taken for granted or College Board’s website. Students will have to pay a $40 treated like any other class. late fee if they don’t pay by the deadline. JANICE HOY, “Don’t slight any of your classes The policy is enforced because College Board AP LANGUAGE TEACHER because if you want a 3 or higher on has found that schools whose students apply an AP test, then you really have to earlier tend to be more focused than they are when dive into the class.Sometimes doing the work payment deadlines were in March. Senior Josh Ramos is enrolled in six different Advanced Placement isn’t just enough,” Hoy said. “You have to classes, and is currently planning on taking seven tests in total. Ramos do a little bit more, go a little above disagrees with College Board’s statement, saying, “It’s a joke. Their job and beyond, in order to get that should be to determine if I’m college ready for a course, not to ‘motivate extra understanding.” me to continue the course.’” Another minor change was also constructed over summer vacation JOSH RAMOS, 12 regarding the AP Language and AP Literature essay portions. “In terms
THE NEW PLAN 1
Nov. 4
First payment of $40 due
2
Nov. 5 - Mar. 1
$54 AP Fee must be paid in full or incrementally.
3
May 4 - May 15
AP Exams: Millions of U.S. teens take their exams—if the test has been paid for completely throughout the year. Graphics by TJ Rothbauer
Photos by Vivianna Hernandez
Black Student Union mobilizes for campus sensitivity Black Student Union seeks to obtain a more socially aware campus by Phoebe Corgiat, Sports Co-Editor and Jeremy Hunt, Writing Director CREATING AN OPEN-MINDED CAMPUS: The Black Student Union meets every Thursday at lunch in room 403. BSU welcomes anyone who wants to join the club.
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he September lunch fight and an alleged use of the N-word by a substitute teacher have triggered Black Student Union club members to foster a multipronged campaign of social awareness on campus. The BSU has made a series of moves making progress towards improving racial sensitivity at PRHS. The club’s social media accounts advertise its messages; additionally, members have created signs to post on campus. Members Naleah Daniels and Kelen Macharia are currently drafting a letter to school administration intended to voice a number of the club’s grievances. “There are black people that go through [racial incidents like the one involving the substitute] everyday, and there’s nothing that can be done if no action is taken and people don’t speak up,” said senior Bryce McEwen, one of the BSU’s leading members. “My sister is just starting school and I don’t want her to ever go through something like this. But I can’t even attempt to prevent it if I don’t speak up and speak loud.” Many BSU members expressed frustration with prevalent
04 NEWS | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
use of racial slurs on campus. They feel that considering be respectful, don’t interrupt, and be open minded. “We the lack of response to the substitute teacher incident, decided to make those rules so everyone has a voice and is administration is doing little to help create a more tolerant heard,” Steve said. These rules reflect the larger behavior it is population. They are concerned that the club is viewed as expecting of students campus-wide. McEwen and senior Sara Metzler run the social media a self-help club when, based on their own experience, a accounts of BSU and are activists trying to increase campus prejudice clearly exists. The issue is planned cultural understanding on campus. They to be discussed at the next upcoming faculty recognize that for change to occur action meeting. needs to happen. “I believe that it is the role and call for all Casual and inflammatory use of the of us to rise against the bullying, bigotry, and basic callousness that we see in our n-word by many PRHS students is one of the society. We should not pick any one group club’s most important concerns, according of disenfranchised or beaten down students, to many students and adults interviewed. The but stand up for all, and I call on my colleagues, slur was a triggering factor in the lunch fights of peers, and students to do the same. We are better. September 2019. We all deserve better,” engineering teacher and “Racial incidents aren’t something that we JAZ STEVE, 12 should have to go through, especially when it clubroom host Alisa Bredensteiner said. On Thursdays at lunch, a group of about 20 is unprovoked, and we’re just trying to get our people meets to discuss events, community service ideas, education,” McEwen said. and other topics related. Most recently, they are planning to Additionally, the club is preparing to meet with PRHS have a lunch where a large group can gather at a designated faculty this month in their campaign to improve campus sensitivity. They are also in touch with representatives from area to bond on campus, called “Black Wednesday”. President Garrison Thomas and Vice President Jaz Steve the NAACP — the National Association for the Advancement implemented rules into the club to make sure all students of Colored People. feel safe and welcomed in the club. These rules include:
NEWS |
NO HOME SWEET HOME HERE Hundreds of Paso citizens evicted from Grand View Apartments amid housing shortages to contemplate relocating to apartments as far away as Santa Maria. Waiting lists plague the low income rent market and with rising fixed rent costs in Paso Robles, averaging at $1,662 as of October, finding an apartment that a low income family can afford is difficult. “It didn’t take that much time to find apartments. It was more that it took time to gather the money to pay the deposit and first month’s rent,” one year Grand View resident and senior Erik Zavala said. Zavala and his family were able to secure a spot at Dry Creek Apartments following the eviction notices. But his dad and his 19 and 7 year old brothers still had to pay $800 for a one room apartment at Grand View. “On top of that we didn’t use the kitchen to cook because they were in really bad conditions,” he said. The family had to gather a total of about $2,500 to secure the spot. For Zavala and his family, moving from a one room aise your hand if you have a family to stay with apartment to a two room, two bathroom apartment means right now?” asked Grand View Apartment resident paying an additional $600 a month to live there. Zavala plays Francisco Ramirez, who was attending an soccer during the winter season, so he is unable to help his affordable housing options meeting Oct. 9, 2019 following brother and dad pay for rent and bills, which places a financial eviction notices given to families occupying 47 units there. strain on the family. No hands were raised. The room was quiet for a mere second, As the 47 families flood the waiting lists to apartments in eyes darting at one another until SLO County, tenants voiced their worry suddenly the peace erupted into a chaos It was more that it took in finding housing by the time the 60of frenzied voices. “We have no place days terminate. The Oct. 9 meeting time to gather the money 90 to stay,” shouted one resident. Another gathered local housing organizations pleaded, “What are we going to do?” to pay the deposit and such Housing Authority SLO, People’s Just four months prior, reports of first month’s rent. Self Help Housing, ECHO, and the Paso bed bugs, black mold and plumbing Robles Joint Unified School district to problems led Grand View residents present options and programs available Erik Zavala, 12 to file a class action lawsuit against to Grand View tenants. landlords Ebrahim and Fahimeh Madadi One resident at the meeting had the resources to get a new for not addressing the $2.5 million worth of repairs needed apartment. “There just isn’t anything available.” for the 54 units located on the corner of Spring and Niblick. A Nov. 4 phone call to Dry Creek Apartments, between The SLO County Superior Court ruled in favor of the Madadi Rambouillet and Creston, confirmed that units are being filled couple, allowing them to claim bankruptcy and evict its 200 up following the boom, saying that, “At this moment we have plus tenants rather than pay for repairs. The eviction notice, waiting lists for apartments up until December, we just got effective on Oct. 4, gives tenants 60-90 days to move out of notified as of today.” their Grand View Apartment homes. Dry Creek Apartments are full, and Oak Park 1 and 2 have “We were at first a little disappointed [when we found out] waiting lists. Oak Park 4 has yet to accept applications and because we had just moved in and we had to move out. We will not be ready until 11 units are opened in December 2019. also paid so much to get in,” said PRHS sophomore Alejandra “We are looking into making Grand View Apartment Gonzalez, who moved in from Morro Bay four months ago residents a priority for Oak Park 4 apartment openings,” due to a lack of other affordable housing options at the Director of Property Management for Paso Robles Housing beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. Authority Liz Lopez Byrnes said. The eviction notices come at a time where the rental The school district attended the meeting. “We are here to vacancy rate is at 1.9%, according to Census Bureau data. identify students impacted [by the Grand View Apartment With few options for affordable housing, families are forced
by Ysabel Wulfing, Editor In Chief
evictions]. As a school district we can provide things such as transportation for up to a year and then after that, if the family is moved out of Paso Robles, the situation will be reviewed on a case by case basis [in terms of what the district will provide],” said Pam Foster of PRJUSD Students Services. In the meantime, Ramirez and PRHS senior Nemo Wells are working on a voucher program for tenants unable to find housing after the allotted 90 days. She plans to team with the Activism Coalition for Tomorrow Club and community with the La Quinta to set up a voucher program for people being evicted in order for them to have a place while they look for new homes. Unfortunately, for students like Zavala, higher rent costs mean that his goal of going to Cuesta after high school is nearly impossible if he has to work eight hours shifts to provide for his family after his dad moves back to Mexico. In the future, local nonprofits are looking at buying the Grand View property as to repair and rebuild the apartments to be placed back on the low income housing market.
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Photos by Ysabel Wulfing Graphics by Ysabel Wulfing and TJ Rothbauer 11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | News 05
| Editorial
Growing roots
in solid ground T
c
The impact people and the environment around can have
here’s a common theme among those who grow up in a small town: they want out as soon as they can. They want to go backpacking through Europe or stare out at the skyline in a big city or maybe they simply want to venture into the town an hour south. It is through these hopes and aspirations that we start to forget just how consequential and significant life in our hometown can be. Regardless of where we come from, where we go, or how long we stay there, we each grow our roots deep into anywhere and everywhere we go. It is the people, the culture, and the experiences we have that feed us and help us spread further into the solid ground, giving us a stable foundation for our lives. We learn from the experiences, the people, and the environment that surround us. They influence our decisions and motives throughout our lives, whether we recognize it or not -- and even if they are from a provincial place like Paso Robles. So remember the important things and experiences. It’s your responsibility. It is just as vital that we support each other and ensure that we are all growing in the right direction. You can be as positive as you wish about where you come from and choose to only focus on the good, but if the people around you do not support each other and give a full sense of community then there are very few opportunities for those individuals to flourish. “Remember your roots,” follows a common notion. “They are the foundation of your life and the wings of your future.” As we, the Crimson staff, recognize these reasons, we find it more than worth our time to dig deeper into the Bearkittens program. Students on campus have become teachers of young
newsmagazine
Editors In Chief Brighton Garrett Ysabel Wulfing
Directors Phoebe Corgiat Sports Cole Eberhard Web Victoria Escamilla News Alayna Hernandez Buissiness Hannah Hochheiser Web Jeremy Hunt Writing Mckensi Keller Photography
Directors Jasmine Romero Video Tyler Seidel Social Media Christia Taylor Promotions Anya Veach Op/Ed
Editors TJ Rothbauer News Malia Gaviola Op/Ed Jaclyn Di Matteo People Asusena Uribe People Maeven Perlich Chase Carmesi Declan Higgins Poli-Sci Rayvin Wulfing A&E
06 Editorial | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
children under Director Brenda Matthysse’s program, raising up the next generation and developing the principles of potentially vital future members of our community. However, positivity does not mean that we should always remain in our hometown until the day we die, clinging to the hope that we will continue to progress. Rather, it means the opposite. We need the opportunity to take in the world around us, to learn and grow from others and from new and exciting events in our lives. It is just as vital to allow ourselves to learn from the beginning of our lives and acknowledge the rich elements that ultimately led us to develop. We can learn from the times that we burst into laughter in the middle of class. We learn from meeting and missing deadlines. We learn from screaming for the home team at homecoming, not even caring if they win or lose. We learn from heart to heart talks with our friends and mentors, from grasping at every opportunity we can and losing hold of what really matters to us as individuals. We learn together and we learn from each other. We will learn from these roots. But what we learn from it is ultimately our choice. There is no such thing as a perfect town or a perfect family or a perfect home; everything has room for improvement in someone’s eyes, and there’s no point in trying to view everything as flawless. We, however, are the product of our surroundings, and the product of how we view them. We have to let each other and our homes influence us, and we have to accept that they will do so whether we want them to or not. It is not our decision where we grow our roots. We can, however, decide how we want to grow them.
- Crimson Staff
Student journalism at PASO ROBLES HIGH SCHOOL Editors Maicah Cabello Blind Date Vivianna Hernandez Blind Date Jocelyn Lopez Pop-Culture Emily Mathein Environment Amy Banderas Health Ashley Paulsen Sports
Specialists
Calvin Cross Sports Reporter Kaia Diedrich Reporter Madison Fanning Photographer Emily Neri Videographer
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Adviser Jeff Mount
Crimson, an open forum for the exchange of student ideas, is an independently funded newsmagazine produced by 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. Interested in sending a letter to the editor or have any tips for future journalism? Contact us at crimsonnewsmagazine@gmail.com
OPINION |
A HEALTHY MIND Activities on campus are heighting awareness on mental health issues
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veryday at school people greet each other, either in between classes or during breaks. “Hey, how are you?” they might ask. “How has your day been?” It’s a nice gesture, but a surface level answer like “I’m okay,” is the usual response, and one’s exterior composure or gleeful smile may not match their mental state. For the 90 students (of 188 who were surveyed) stated that they frequently felt anxious or depressed, as well as the 189 students (of the 365 surveyed) said they were rarely honest towards similar everyday questions. Further help or counseling may be necessary to identify their mental state. Counseling resources and supportive staff members are available at Paso high, but it raises some questions: is there a mental health crisis on campus, and are we doing enough as a campus to combat mental health issues? Mental health in schools remains a relevant subject nationwide because of the amount of teens who suffer from mental issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and others. According to Pew Research, in 2017, 13 percent of U.S. teens ages 12 to 17 (or 3.2 million) s a i d they had
by Cole Eberhard, Web Director
experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year. Psychiatry.org states that common symptoms of depression are loss of interest, sleep, appetite and a lack of energy, which are all factors that could be detrimental to a teen’s physical health and education.
For a lot of people in our age range going into their freshman year in college, a lot of people struggle with depression and other stresses. Hannah Lowry, 12 Similarly, seven-in-ten U.S. teens said anxiety and depression is a major problem among people their age in the community where they live (Pew Research). Senior Hannah Lowry has witnessed many of her peers dealing with emotional issues in the wake of college applications and financial anxieties. “For people of our age range going into their freshman year in college, a lot struggle with depression and other stresses. Everyone in their senior year is kind of feeling things they’ve never felt before and feeling overwhelmed,” Lowry stated. A local application of this issue was the Walk to Fight Suicide that occurred in San Luis Obispo on Oct. 12. Though the walk focused on suicide, mental health issues play a role in that 60 percent of people who commit suicide have had a mood disorder (Department of Health
RED THE SIGNS (left) : Zoe Murphy (left), Mazie Ross
(middle), and Hannah Lowry (right) pose with their suicide prevention signs to show their support.
Photos by Jeremy Hunt
and Human Services). Lowry, Paso High’s Lifesavers club president, attended the walk with other students from the club. “Those participating in the walk had signs that said ‘I’m walking for…’ and then they’d write the names of those who had committed suicide or had attempted it and survived,” Lowry said. “They also had beads of 15 different colors and each different color would represent a child, veteran or a certain age range. Some people had like 10 beads of different groups they were representing in the walk.” Apart from student-run clubs combating mental health issues, the counseling department offers resources for any student seeking social or emotional help. ”Counselors see students for a variety of reasons. We offer academic, college and career, as well as social/emotional support,” counselor Natalee Johnson stated. “The social/ emotional counseling may come up as the primary issue the student wants to address or it may come out when doing academic or college/career counseling. If the need is beyond our scope, we work with other agencies to meet students’ needs the very best we can.“ In the end, no amount of supportive programs and help on campus can allow everyone on campus suffering from mental health issues to gain help unless one is willing to accept the uncomfortable truth that they may not be “okay”. Rethinkmentalillness.org states that “Your recovery journey may be easier if you learn to accept your [issues] and the difficulties [they] cause” and realistically, that’s correct. Mental health resources on campus can’t be expected to seek out those who need help, but once someone can seek help they can be exposed to the extensive programs offered on campus to ensure every students’ well being.
STANDING FOR A CAUSE (above) : From Left to Right
Mazie Ross, Zoe Murphy, Will Tews, Carson Turnquest, Hannah Lowry, Morgan Rouget, Angelo Marziello stand up for mental health and suicide prevention.
11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | OPINION 07
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| opinion
otentially S roblematic
Advice for the uninspired and easily tired
by Anya Veach, Op/Ed Editor
g n i g r e Em >
Activist
Speaking up on the lack of affordable housing for low income and middle class families by Ysabel Wulfing, EIC
ome days, you can look around and see the beauty in everything. Some days, inspiration surrounds you wherever you go. Some days, everything seems wonderful, frivolous, and perfectly flawed. And some days, everything seems completely and utterly dull. Having an optimistic attitude is a great way to go about your life, but there’s no denying it can get tiring. Everyday can’t be a perfect day and everyday won’t be a perfect day. However, it goes further than simply having a “perfect” day. There can be beauty in imperfection, and having a positive outlook helps one to recognize that, to love it and accept it. But some days -- regardless of which side of the bed you wake up on and how good or bad of a day it may be-- you just cannot be inspired by anything around you. Sometimes, you are overworked and far too exhausted to notice the masterpieces being painted around you; other times, there isn’t a thing that you have changed about how you go about your day. Uninspiration can hit at any time, anywhere. A piece of uninspired advice for those in the former category: sometimes you just have to suck it up and make it happen. While some may be able to wait for the sun to rise and allow its light
to illuminate their path, the rest of us are left wondering where we went wrong. It can be unbearably tempting to blame this on the world around you, to impress upon the world the same black and white vision you have been unfortunately handed. But blaming doesn’t bring back color. This, unfortunately, leaves one wondering how they could possibly find their mojo once again. To that, the only advice I can offer is the same that I’ve been given an innumerable amount of times, though I would only begrudgingly oblige once it was the last option remaining: make a change. Whether it’s dropping something that you can no longer balance or switching up your morning routine so you can do yoga before brushing your teeth, make a change. You don’t have to have something to say everyday. You don’t have to have an opinion on every subject. You don’t have to be inspired by everything you see and hear and feel throughout the day. But don’t blame the rest of the world for your own problems; make things happen on your own.
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y family was appalled. Our landlord was threatening to raise rent costs above the already barely affordable level and my single parent mom was stressing over how she would be able to find a home in a crowded apartment market. Adapting to the low income housing process and living style has taught me a significant amount about the inconsistencies that exist in the affordable housing dilemma occurring in this rapidly growing county. My family was subject to finding affordable housing after our landlord threatened to raise rent costs already barely affordable for a single mom raising three children. As we juxtaposed struggles to pay rent at a fixed price of $1,600 for a relatively larger home with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a backyard, it was appalling to notice that most small “affordable housing” apartments for a family of four cost about the same price. In Paso Robles, apartment complexes such as Dry Creek have the lowest fixed rate cost at $1,400 per month, but if a family misses payments, they can be evicted, leaving them back on waiting lists with no place to live. That is what makes the Grand View Apartment evictions — reported on page 5 this month — so problematic. With 40 families left without homes, an already crowded field of applications and waiting lists for apartments governs city housing and stresses families. It tears an already increasingly broken system to shreds and leaves people stuck in the same residence .
BEST OF THE BEARCATS
08 OPINION | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
The inequities in housing remind me of the middle aged class systems where young families or single parents are stuck at the bottom tier while they drown under high housing costs. In order to get by, people in SLO county seem to need a two parent income live somewhat comfortably in the middle class. Some people assume that low income families and students don’t try enough, that we get too much help from government subsidies. The reality is there is no equity in North County housing. Because my family lives in an adjusted income housing situation rather than at unaffordable fixed rates, we are stuck in fear that we make too much or not enough to live there. If we make just a little more, we can still never stay ahead because of housing costs. In a county that pressures it citizens with high living expenses, little time is available for parent and children interaction time since twoparent incomes are necessary for affording rents and mortgages. Although family planning is more prominent in our country, salaries have not adjusted to housing inflation which leaves extra costs, such as child care for larger families, very difficult to pay for. Paying for a roof over your head shouldn’t have to come at the cost of your family members well being and I would hope that people that have the time to make a difference will take action to reduce housing costs at the middle class and low income class levels.
by Malia Gaviola, Op/Ed Editor
Graphics by Malia Gaviola
OPINION |
CIf or GPA? Athletic success demands a certain degree of academic sacrifice by Jeremy Hunt, Writing Director
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very Wednesday of water polo season, psychology would only be offered during first junior Carlotta Abascal arrived at PRHS period, creating a scheduling conflict with the at approximately 9:30 a.m. For the first 90 required 1st-period Aquatics PE course for water sport athletes. minutes of school, she wasn’t taking After weighing the pros and cons for a math exam, or doing science the first few weeks of school, she experiments, or writing an dropped psychology to enroll in English essay; she was Aquatics PE and join the water swimming laps at the Paso polo team. “Choosing between Robles Municipal Pool as AP Psych and Aquatics PE was part of 1st-period Aquatics difficult because I didn’t feel PE. comfortable giving up a class For many of the that would serve me so well sports offered at PRHS, academically,” Abascal said. athletes must enroll in a In Aquatics PE, students alternate PE class specifically catered daily between morning swim practices to their needs. Water polo Carlotta Abascal, 11 at the Paso Robles Municipal Pool players are enrolled in Aquatics and weight-lifting sessions at the high school. PE; cheerleaders must take 6th-period Athletic Cheer; and football players have 6th- Through the class, freshmen can obtain their period Advanced Weight Training. These classes Health credits, and older students are taught about give athletes additional practice time to improve NCAA requirements for water sports. Though she their performance -- but at the cost of one slot had to give up the opportunity to improve her on their schedule. For students focused on both GPA with a weighted course, Abascal believes that academic and athletic success, it can be difficult Aquatics PE is critical to having a good water polo to rationalize signing up for a PE course instead season. “Frequent practice is necessary for building of another elective like art or ceramics, or even an strong aquatic athletes, and so is spending time academic class like AP Biology. But is the loss of a with teammates,” she said. “The Aquatics PE class “normal” class worth the gain of practice time for provides both those things, and my performance a sport? For dedicated athletes, the answer is yes. has improved because of that class.” Varsity girls water polo coach Grant East Generally, colleges love to see high GPAs and rigorous coursework from their applicants; sport- points out that the Aquatics PE class has directly related PE courses do neither of these things. improved the performance of PRHS water polo But as colleges depend less and less on academic teams. This year, after starting the season 1-7, the statistics and use increasingly holistic admission girls JV team won 13 of their next 17 games and processes, the benefits of having a successful finished the season with a winning record; East athletic season often outweigh the missed chance believes this was “due to the strength training and swim endurance they were getting in class.” for a slim GPA bump. Abascal enrolled in AP Psychology for her Additionally, both varsity teams (boys and girls) junior year; she also intended to play on the advanced to CIF. Abascal’s GPA with an A in Aquatics PE will varsity girls water polo team. But these two plans proved contradictory when she learned that AP be 0.17 lower than it would be with an A in AP
Psychology, but because of Aquatics PE, Abascal can say she was part of a hugely successful CIFqualifying water polo team. College admissions officers will care more about Abascal’s skill in the pool -- something that sets her apart from the average applicant -- than 0.17 grade points. Water polo athletes aren’t the only students faced with this decision: PRHS cheerleaders must enroll in 6th-period Athletic Cheer if they wish to be part of the squad. In the class, the athletes practice their jumps, tumbling, and other material that they must learn for upcoming events. Of the 15 hours per week that varsity cheerleaders spend at practice, roughly four of them are during Athletic Cheer; daily practices start during the Frequent practice 6th-period course is necessary for (around 2:15pm) building strong and continue until 5:30pm. The varsity aquatic athletes... stunt team won CIF in the Spring 2019 Carlotta Abascal, athletic season. 11 Junior Presley Escalante is one such athlete enrolled in Athletic Cheer. She says that the extra practice time during 6th period is critical to her success on the team. “Having the extra time, even just 40 minutes [per day], is very beneficial to perfecting the technical aspects of the sport,” Escalante stated. Though she acknowledges that Athletic Cheer has prevented her from adding an art class to her transcripts, Escalante is “not worried” and will opt to take one her senior year. Though unfortunate for students like Abascal and Escalante who may miss out on other classes, the sport-related PE courses are well worth the accolades that come with extraordinary athletic success.
Photos by El Roble Yearbook 18/19 11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | OPINION 09
| people
The only bearcat at the zoo
Senior Blair Baker combines her passion for animals and art
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his past summer, Senior Blair Baker spent her early mornings chopping discarded fruit for the monkeys, bears, and kinkajous at Zoo to You. She tossed frozen mice through the fence for the owls and falcons, and measured out feed for the motleycolored macaws. To Baker, these are not chores, because they mean hanging out with the animals. Baker started volunteering at Zoo to You last January. During summer break she spent four to six days each week with the macaws, opossums, kinkajous, chinchillas, eagles, alligators and other rescued or injured animals living there. For her senior year, she requested a reduced schedule in order to continue being a part of the program after school and now volunteers four to five days a week. “Over the summer I got there early in the morning and started meal prep but now that I don’t get there until after fourth period I just do whatever is left to do. This usually includes cleaning in the reptile room and doing all the dishes from throughout the day,” Baker explained. Conservation Ambassadors Zoo to You is a refuge and educational program for animals that have been abused, displaced, or injured. Volunteers clean cages, do household tasks, prep and dole out food, and give educational talks about the animals at events such as the Mid State Fair. “I show up and do whatever is needed that day. I regularly clean enclosures, feed
10 PEOPLE | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
by Maeven Perlich Chase, Carmesi Editor and Jasmine Romero, Video Director animals, change
waters, and do yard work. When we get new reptiles, I get to decorate their terrariums,” Baker said. Her favorite animal at the zoo right now is a red tegu named Magma. This reptile lives in savannas, swamps, and rainforests in the wild, is native to western Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, and can live for up to 20 years, according to animalspot.net. Baker loves how “sweet, docile, and highly intelligent they are. They need to be played with and they need to be snuggled,” Baker said. “I love animals so I obsess over animals and learn everything about them. Basically if I get interested in something I look up everything I can about it and just fall in love with it even more,” Baker said. Baker’s mother, Dorian Baker, said that her love of learning is a delight during dinner. “Blair’s dad and I are very proud of her. We love Blair’s many unique gifts, including her talent for imparting random but interesting facts into discussions. [She] has enriched many a dinner conversation with her trademark ‘Did you know... tidbits of animal or plant trivia,’” Dorian Baker said. “I’m especially glad that, through her classes and some terrific teachers, she has developed an interest in science, especially botany and zoology.”
Read more on the next page! Photos used with permission by Blair Baker
PEOPLE | Blair Baker’s AP Environmental teacher, Katelynn Lamb, her National Ocean Science Bowl coach, Amanda Lincoln, and her Marine Biology teacher, JonPaul Ewing, have helped solidify her interest in biological sciences. Baker is also pursuing her interest in art. For Zoo to You events, Baker paints murals and signs for exhibits. For a company party at Filoli Historic House and Garden, Baker painted a jungle-themed, lifesize stand-in mural, complete with monkeys, butterflies, and frogs. She also painted signs for otter, alligator, and bald eagle exhibits. She has taken art classes at PRHS for three years and is a student artist in residence at Studios on the Park. Her art teacher, Clarissa Wilson, described her art as “one of a kind” and said that she has “made many beautiful large artistic signs for the different animal enclosures” at Zoo to You. “When I think of Blair as an artist I think of so many of her art projects, not just one. From acrylic buffalo eyes, sunsets, detailed fine line pen of trees, bears, dogs, and flowers, torn paper, mixed media, and experimenting with new concepts. Most of all I think of her soft watercolor flowers and succulents,” Wilson said. Baker has been accepted to Southern Utah University, where she plans to major in art and minor in biology. She says that her time at Zoo to You has given her “a love of animals with a special passion for reptiles.” A SEA OF COLORS (right) : Baker combines art and science to keep track of tides throughout a week and identify different types of marine life demonstrated through water color.
Operating in the real world Students at PRHS learn from the experts and get real experience in local healthcare facilities by Madison Fanning, Photographer
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earcats face the real world, working an average of five hours a week in places such as the ER, the athletic training room, a physical therapy office, a dental office, and multitudes of other places if they will take an intern. The healthcare pathway starts with Introduction to Healthcare, then moves to Sports Medicine, and is concluded with the practicum classes. Instructor Shelby LaMendola describes the community healthcare practicum class as providing them with a wider range of knowledge about modern healthcare environments. It is a way for students to learn in a real facility, where they are exposed to potential career opportunities, advanced training, and higher education options, LaMendola’s website explains. “There will be various practicum site opportunities for students to choose from that will provide them with a global view of today’s healthcare environment,” LaMendola said. In addition to learning hands-on in healthcare facilities, the community healthcare practicum class prepares its students for working in the real world. It
teaches the importance of their work so students are ready to work in the future. The students attend class once a week where they perform labs and/or watch healthcare documentaries. Senior Hannah Lowry spends her other class time at Twin Cities Community Hospital working in the Radiology department. Lowry assists the technicians with x-rays, CT’s, and MRI’s. She occasionally gets the opportunity to scrubin on surgeries to learn from the experts. Lowry has always wanted to be a healthcare professional because she wants to help people, and she was originally interested in being an orthopedic surgeon. “Practicum has given me an inside view on so many different occupations that has helped me decide what I like and don’t like which has helped me figure out what I want to do after high school.” After exploring the field of psychology while in practicum, she can’t decide between the two careers. Lowry’s favorite part of her week is going to work at the hospital, and getting to view surgeries has helped her imagine her healthcare future.
EDUCATION IN RADIOLOGY (above) : Senior Hannah Lowry works in the Emergency Room specializing in radiology and is pictured in front of an MRI machine.
Photos used with permission by Hannah Lowry 11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | PEOPLE 11
| people
Is this our america? With the above rallying cry, Senior Janice Palacio fights for human rights and her view on immigration by Asusena Uribe ,People Co-Editor
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enior Janice Palacios spoke at the Bend the Arc and Defund Hate Rally on Oct. 6, 2019, delivering her “Immigrant Justice” speech in front of about 200 people. She preached equality and empathy over hate and distrust, sharing the vision of the Jewish foundation to fight against ICE and unfounded hate. Palacios is part of the Activist Coalition of Tomorrow Club, which she stated has been the catalyst for most of her activism. Although Palacios had planned for the past three years to be a fetal surgeon, she realized this year that activism was her true calling. Social Studies teacher Geoffrey Land and her friend Cheyenne Holiday encouraged Palacios to use her voice to “make a big difference [and do] something that would mean something,” Palacios said. Through her involvement in a nationwide Sept. 20, 2019 Climate Strike and the Immigrants Rally, she has found a passion for political science. One topic that she has a growing passion for is immigration issues. She advocates for immigrants whose situations force them to cross the border illegally. “I think it’s inevitable for many reasons. I think it’s not just people escaping poverty or escaping war, it’s climate refugees seeking asylum. America has always been painted as the dream land where there’s jobs for everybody, where everybody’s inclusive, where there’s opportunities for everyone ranging from kids’ education to jobs. So I think immigration is inevitable when you paint a country like this to be cut out for these people. And I think that although it is wrong, I guess because it is a crime , there are many loopholes in the laws,” Palacios said. Palacios believes that many immigrants face stresses and risks in their home countries that prevent them from having time for visa applications. She stresses that children who cross with their parents don’t have the fault and should not suffer for situations outside their control. “Regardless of what the adults think there is no reason for the kids to be paying for this. From the Dreamers to the little kids in custody , they deserve the basic rights to live , basic rights to food and hygiene. I’m very passionate about this because Im human, I can’t help but feel and care about this situation” Palacios was referring to adults, children, and families being held in Border Detention. In these centers, humans faced filthy and mortifying conditions. More than 2,000 children have been held in the southern detentions centers, and 14,000 to 18,000 people were held per night, according to a Vox article written by Senior Correspondent Dara Lind. Palacios’ speech addressed these problems. DEFENDING RIGHTS: Senior Janice Palacios stands
VOICE OF CHANGE : Palacios gave a speech at a nationwide Climate Strike. It was held at the Paso Robles Downtown City Park on Sept. 20, 2019. “Is this our America, where refugees fleeing violence and poverty -- in part caused by U.S policies -- are denied the most basic human rights? Is this our America? Is this our America, where parents are separated from their children, and U.S. agents strip them of their humanity? Is this our America? Is this our America,where innocent children are caged like animals? Is this our America? Is this our America? Where innocent children die at the hands of those who pledged to protect them? Is this our America ? Is this the greatest country in the world, whose promise to the tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to I feel like I relate breathe free has been forgotten?” Palacios referred to the famous lines from the to her feelings of frustration because... Statue of Liberty with such words. Her target was to wake people up to the immigration she feels like she realities that are happening in our country. can’t identify with To connect the points, Palcios included a the title of being story about her friend Esperanza, a regular person like everybody else with a fear of losing American with all everything she loves. these things going “Let me tell you about a young woman I on against people know. She lives here in the county. She loves who are like her. Tuesdays, she never passes up the chance to Kristal Roman, 11 dance and sing, and when she laughs her eyes crinkle and a little dimple forms on the side of her cheeks. She has dreams but in the eyes of the law she isn’t a DREAMER , because she didn’t make the deadline. And now our President has closed that door. I can’t tell you her name because I would put her and her family at risk . So I will call her Esperanza (which means hope)... She goes to school everyday, uncertain whether her family will get deported when she’s at school, whether she will be able to go to college, uncertain whether she even has a future in the only country she’s ever known,” Palacios said. Fellow members of her Club, have also learned and felt the emotion that Palacio feels. Junior Kristal Roman was moved by her friend’s words. “It was interesting to see how she was able to persuade the crowd. It made me cry. She makes you reflect and makes you think It made me reinstate why I believe what I believe. It made me think about some experiences that my family has had with immigration. It was just really reassuring of my feelings,” Roman said.
with a sign that defends the rights of immigrants. She also gave a speech at the Oct. 6, 2019 event.
Photos by Asusena Uribe, Rayvin Wulfing, Mayor Heidi Harmon, and Geoffrey Land
12 PEOPLE | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
CARMESI |
¿ES ESTA NUESTRA AMéRICA? Con este dicho, Janice Palacios del año cuarto defendió los por Asusena Uribe, People Co-Editor
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anice Palacios, una estudiante del cuarto año, habló que cruzan con sus en la manifestación de “Doblar el arco y desembolsar el padres no tienen odio” el seis de octubre de 2019. Dio su discurso “Justicia ninguna culpa y no para los inmigrantes” en frente de aproximadamente 200 deben sufrir por personas, predicaba la igualdad y la empatía en vez del odio situaciones fuera de su y la desconfianza. Palacios es parte del Club de la Coalición control. “A pesar de que los Activist para Mañana, que ella dice ha sido un catalizador para adultos creen no hay ninguna su activismo. Aunque Palacios esperaba ser una cirujana fetal desde su razón para que los niños paguen primer año de la escuela preparatoria, se dio cuenta este año por eso. Desde los Dreamers hasta que siente la vocación por el activismo. Geoffrey Land y su los niños pequeños en la custodia, amiga Cheyenne alentaban a Palacios a usar su voz para “hacer merecen los derechos básicos de vivir, una diferencia y hacer algo que tiene significanza”, Palacios los derechos básicos a la comida y la higiene. Me dijo. Según su involucración en una huelga apasiona eso del medioambiente y en la Manifestación ¿Es esto el mejor mucho porque de inmigrantes, ha descubierto una pasión país del mundo, cuyo soy humana. No por las ciencias políticas. Palacios expresó su opinión de que promesa a la multitud puedo evitar que esta situación me la inmigración en los Estados Unidos ha de gente cansada importa mucho”, llegado a ser: y pobre deseando Palacios dijo. “Creo que es inevitable por muchas respirar libre ha sido Palacios refería a los razones. Creo que no es solamente adultos, niños y las familias gente huyendo la pobreza o la guerra, olvidada? que están siendo retenidos en los pero también es los refugiados del Centros de detención de inmigración. calentamiento global buscando el asilo. Janice palacios, 12 En estos centros, las personas enfrentan Los EEUU siempre ha sido pintado como condiciones sucios e humillantes. Más que la tierra de sueños donde hay trabajo por todos, donde todos son inclusivos, donde hay oportunidades 2.000 niños han sido retenidos en los centros de detención del para todos, desde la educación de los niños hasta los trabajos. sur y 14.000 a 18.000 personas fueron retenidos cada noche, Por eso creo que la inmigración es inevitable cuando se pinta según un artículo de Vox escrito por Dara Lind. El discurso de Palacios era acerca de estos problemas. un país como ser para estas personas. Y creo que aunque sea “¿Es esta nuestra América, donde los refugiados que huyen malo porque es un crimen, hay muchos resquicios legales”, de la violencia y pobreza--en parte por la política de los Palacios dijo. Estados Unidos--son negados los derechos humanos lo más Palacios cree que muchos inmigrantes enfrentan tensiones básicos? ¿Es esta nuestra América? ¿Es esta nuestra América, y riesgos en sus países de origen que le impiden tener el donde los padres son separados de sus hijos y los agentes de tiempo para solicitar por una Visa. Ella enfatiza que los niños los EEUU les quitan la humanidad? ¿Es esta nuestra América? ¿Es esta nuestra América, donde los niños inocentes son puestos en jaulas como animales? ¿Es esta nuestra América? ¿Es esta nuestra América, donde los niños inocentes mueren a las manos de los que prometieron protegerlos? ¿Es esta nuestra América? ¿Es esto el mejor país del mundo, cuyo promesa a la multitud de gente cansada y pobre deseando respirar libre ha sido olvidada? Palacios refería a la línea famosa de la Estatua de la Libertad. Su meta era abrir los ojo de los que la escuchaba a lo que está pasando acerca de la inmigración en nuestro país. Para conectar estas ideas Palacios PROYECTANDO SU VOZ: Palacios dio su discurso durante la Manifestación de inmigrantes. incluyó una historia sobre su Predicó la empatía y la aceptación.
Foto por Heather Gray
amiga Esperanza, una persona normal que teme perder todo que le ama. “Déjame contar de una muchacha que conozco. Vive aquí en el país. Le encanta los martes, nunca pase la oportunidad de bailar y cantar, y cuando ríe sus ojos se arrugan y hoyuelos pequeños forman en cada de sus mejillas. Tiene sueños pero en los ojos de la ley no es una Dreamer porque no cumplio con el plazo. Y ahora nuestro presidente ha cerrado la puerta. No le puedo decir su nombre porque podría poner ella y su familia en peligro. Entonces la llamará Esperanza. Va a la escuela, no sabiendo si su familia será deportada durante que esté en la escuela, si podrá ir a la universidad, si tiene un futuro en el único país que conozca”, Palacios dijo. “Déjame contar de una muchacha que conozco. Vive aquí en el país. Le encanta los martes, nunca pase la oportunidad de bailar y cantar, y cuando ríe sus ojos se arrugan y hoyuelos pequeños forman en cada de sus mejillas. Tiene sueños pero en los ojos de la ley no es una Dreamer porque no cumplio con el plazo. Y ahora nuestro presidente ha cerrado la puerta. No le puedo decir su nombre porque podría poner ella y su familia en peligro. Entonces la llamará Esperanza. Va a la escuela, no sabiendo si su familia será deportada durante que esté en la escuela, si podrá ir a la universidad, si tiene un futuro en el único país que conozca”, Palacios dijo. Otros miembros de su Club también han aprendido y sentido la emoción que Palacios siente. Kristal Roman del tercer año de la escuela era conmovida por las palabras de su amiga. “Me interesaba ver cómo persuadía la multitud. Me hizo llorar. Ella le hace reflejar y pensar. [Su discurso] me aseguraba de lo que creo. Me hizo pensar en algunas experiencias que mi familia ha tenido con la inmigración. Me tranquilizo mucho de como siento”, Roman dijo.
Gráfica por Maeven Perlich
11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | CARMESI 13
| Carmesi
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Retos de ser biligue Retos de ser biligue
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Tener padres que hablan el español afecta muchos estudiantes de PRHS por Amy Banderas, Health Editor
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14 CARMESI | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
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uchos estudiantes de PRHS tienen padres que en el clase de English Honors. Puedo ver que estoy principalmente hablan el español. De hecho los avanzando y aprendiendo,” Gomez dijo. Estados Unidos es el segundo país que tiene el Ahora Gómez puede estar en el English Honors y el Espanol mayor número de hispanohablantes siguiendo México. La AP. Ella es una de muchos estudiantes que han pasado por Oficina del Censo predice que cuando llega al año 2050 habrá situaciones similares. 138 millones de hispanohablantes en los EEUU, que lo haría Ximena Ortega, un estudiante del tercer año, tiene retos el país hispanohablante más grande. que manejar diariamente. Zaira Gómez, una estudiante del segundo año, mudó a “No recibo ayuda de mis padres con mi tarea porque México con su familia cuando tenía seis años donde “tuvo ellos no sabrían cómo ayudarme. Pero un beneficio de ellos que aprender el español correcto y conversacional. Cuando no sabiendo el inglés es que me da una oportunidad de ser regrese a Paso Robles estaba en el tercer grado. Solamente independiente,” Ortega dijo. hablando el inglés con mis hermanos y mirando videos en Aunque sus padres no la puedan ayudar con su tarea la red. Mis padres me daban aliento para ellos asisten a eventos de la escuela para continuar al nivel de los estudiantes de mi apoyarla. grado. Tuve que tomar el clase de inglés “Mis padres van a las asambleas y las Recordando como conferencias para ayudarme. Miran mis en un grado bajo porque necesitaba era my ingles cuannotas que saco en mis clases para ver si son practicar mas,” Gomez dijo. do apenas empez- buenos. Si no lo son mis padres me alientan Gomez tuvo que aprender dos idiomas aba a aprenderlo, para tratar más y obtener notas mejores,” como joven. Aunque no era fácil, ella fue puedo notar cuanto Ortega dijo. capaz de continuar con los de su edad. Ser A pesar de algunos retos, tener padres criado bilingüe puede ser un reto pero los he avanzado en el estudiantes como Gómez pueden superar hispanohablantes también es un beneficio lenguaje. y tener éxito. enorme. “Saber más de un idioma se puede “Recordando como era mi inglés dar un avantage en conseguir un trabajo y, Zaira Gomez, 10 cuando apenas empezaba a aprenderlo, en la economía de hoy dia, eso es algo que puedo notar cuánto he avanzado en el todos pueden usar,” “7 beneficios de ser lenguaje. Tome clases de inglés avanzados bilingüe que cambiará su vida” dijo. el la escuela intermedia y ahora estoy Mientras que el número de hispanohablantes en los Estados Unidos llega a ser más grande, es importante practicar el espanol y el inglés. Hablando el español puede abrir oportunidades de trabajo y de viajar y opciones en la escuela. “Muchas industrias tienen oficinas internacionales, venden sus productos en otros países y tienen facilidades de producción en otros países. Estas industrias quieren contratar los empleados versátiles que pueden hablar otros idiomas y navegar expectaciones culturales distintas. Los estudiantes no son solos en esta situación y continúan a trabajar por los sacrificios que hicieron sus padres para que tendrían un futuro bueno. “No siento solo porque se que otras personas pasan por la misma cosa y si nuestros padres hacen sacrificios, nosotros debemos hacerlos también,” Santiago Neri, un estudiante del cuarto año, dijo. Neri está tomando clases de AP y es un estudiante de AVID. Está trabajando duro para su educación. “Tome AVID porque se que es un paso esencial para obtener mis metas de la universidad. También es mi familia secundaria,” Neri dijo. Hay gente en PRHS que puede ayudar a los estudiantes a llegar a donde quieren ir en el futuro, si es un maestro de AVID o un consejero.
Fotos usadas con la permision de Santiago Neri (arriba) y Ximena Ortega (abajo).
POLI SCI |
CALLING ALL BEARCAT VOTERS The election is less than one year away and upcoming voters are trying to prepare by Brighton Garrett, Editor in Chief
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Bearcats by the numbers
64% 25% 46%
Don’t know how to register to vote Are registered to vote Unsure what political party they belong to
Numbers based on 89 PRHS upperclassmen surveyed Graphics by Malia Gaviola Photos by Vivianna Hernandez & Mckensi Keller
ov. 3, 2019 marked the one year away date from the next presidential election. Many seniors will be released into the voting pool this year and able to share their voice. On National Voter Registration Day, Sept. 24, the PRHS Activists’ Coalition for Tomorrow club held booths in the quad promoting students to vote. “I think it’s important to vote because it is a person’s duty to contribute to their society by voting for what they believe in. Young voters account for a large part of the voting population, which makes young voters powerful. Every vote counts and even if it doesn’t seem important now, it will in 4 years,” the ACT club founder Cheyanne Holliday said. In a recent survey of 89 PRHS upperclassmen, 36 percent of students didn’t know when the next election is. In the same survey, 64 percent didn’t know how to register to vote. Only 25.8 percent were registered to vote. “Voting is a right that some throughout the world don’t have the opportunity [because] we are founded on freedom, not dictators. Voting gives the citizenry a say. Students should know the candidates and or the issues being voted on before they vote so they can make the best educated decision for themselves,” economics teacher Derek Stroud said.
Voting Quick Facts Next
ELECTION
Need to US Citizen & be a Calif. Resident Register:
NOV. 3
2020
18 Election Years or older on
In Person
GO TO
Even though voting is a right for citizens of the US, not every US citizen can or will vote. According to pewresearch.org, 56 percent of eligible Americans voted in the 2016 presidential election. “I think it is extremely important to vote. That being said, we can’t just mindlessly vote. As American citizens, we should be educated before we elect leaders who impact our lives. The vote is a right, a right many have fought for. It is important to let our voices be heard. I have been researching the candidates that belong to the party that I will be voting for. I as well tune in to the debates and listen to what each candidate has to say and how it will best benefit the beliefs that I hold to be true,” senior Leslie Ramirez said. The current senior class will be the newest voters. In a government class students learn about politics and then in the 2020 election they can apply their knowledge. “I am going to vote in the next election because I think my vote matters and I want to vote for the changes that need to be made. I think it’s very important to vote. Your vote has the possibility to tip the scales in politics; you just have to believe that it will. To educate myself I listen to political radio shows and watch current events to fully grasp the political forecast,” senior Cassidy Fiel said.
Online
registertovote.ca.gov
Day
Must be registered
15 Days before election
Sources usa.gov , sos.ca.gov, & registertovote.ca.gov Graphics by Brighton Garrett
Cheyanne Holliday, 11
Leslie Ramirez, 12
Cassidy Fiel, 12
Who Can’t Vote? Felons
Non-US Citizens
Preregister at age
16 or older
Drivers License
*** ** **** 02-25-00
Mentally Incompetent Automatically registered at
18 to vote
Must have:
CA Drivers License Last 4 digits of Social Security Birthdate
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Which water is
Worse? worse?
ENVIRONMENT |
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Popular bottled water brands each have a unique recipe for their water taste and nutrition. Can students decipher which is best/worst? by Rayvin Wulfing, Arts and Entertainment Editor
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ave you ever taken a refreshing sip from one particular brand of bottled water and noticed it tasting different from another? Or maybe you even noticed the water coming from your school drinking fountain tastes different from the water on tap coming from the faucet in your house… But have you ever considered why that is? Each brand of water has their own secret recipe, creating their own special taste. Well-known bottled water brand, Dasani, for example, includes potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate and salt, as well as purified water on its Nutrition Facts label. Kirkland Signature on the other hand includes, bicarbonate, sodium, calcium citrate, sodium chloride as well as potassium, magnesium and purified water on their Nutrition Facts Label. The differences in tastes that is varied between brands is evident in the differences in minerals or ingredients present in the water. In mid October student researchers conducted a survey and experiment to see what the school population could predict about water taste, and which water brands the school thought would taste better. The experiment consisted of sophomores, Emily Rogers, Solana Fairburn, Ricky Navarro, and Franki Anaya, whose main
focus was to test four different water brands, and order them from worst to best based on taste. The four water choices were, Crystal Geyser, Kirkland Signature, PRHS water, and Atascadero High School Water. In conclusion, each contestant unknowingly chose Crystal Geyser as the best tasting water. In a survey of 108 students at PRHS, 56.4 percent chose Crystal Geyser as the best tasting water, 37 percent chose Kirkland, and the remaining 5.6 percent chose PRHS as the best tasting water. No one voted for Atascadero High School’s water. But what makes Crystal Geyser different from other brands? Why do the majority prefer one specific brand of water, despite not knowing the brand? The answer is held in the secret recipe. Unlike Kirkland Signature and school water, Crystal Geyser’s water is captured directly at authentic natural springs. The sweeter taste in the water is caused by the ability it has to pick up minerals naturally as it makes its way down mountain ridges into streams and rivers. Other water brands, like Aquafina, Dasani, and Kirkland Signature are filtered tap water, that are injected with minerals to add taste to their water, so they do not have the same bona fide taste from spring captured water, as with Crystal Geyser.
Which water BEst? is best?
Photos and Graphics by Ashley Paulsen
Taste Testers Weigh IN in WEIGH
6 voted for PRHS
40 voted for Kirkland In a survey of 108 studetns at PRHS, they voted on which water they think would be the best.
62 voted for Crystal Geyser
Which water do you think will be best?
Which water do you think will be worst?
Solana Fairburn
“Enough”
“Crystal Geyser”
“Atascadero”
Emily Rogers
“A bottle. 24 ounces? I don’t know.”
“Crystal Geyser”
“Atascadero”
“5 gallons a day”
“Can I pick Niagara?”
“Obivously Atascadero”
“A lot. It’s good for you”
“Not either of the school ones”
“A-Town”
Ricky Navarro
0 voted for Atascadero
How much water do you think you drink in a day?
Franki Anaya
11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | ENVIRONMENT 17
| In DEPTH
Press Play SCAN HERE: Watch a feature video to find out more about the bearkittens program and how it benefits both high school and preschool students.
The
LAB
DESIGNED TO
EDUCATE Bearkittens program motivates learning in preschool and highschool students
high school student teachers
by Brighton Garrett, Editor In Chief
T
he sound of drums beating in the background, teachers kindly reminding students to walk, and children chattering to all their friends rings loudly in room 331/332, the room of the capstone childhood education class, or better known as Bearkittens. The lab preschool houses 98 high school students, 33 preschool students, and one teacher. Multiple changes in the Early Childhood Education program have been on the rise in the past few years affecting the preschoolers and high school students, including site changes, facilities in the process being built, dual enrollment course additions, and surpluses of student enrollment have all surfaced for the program. In 2018, the Bearkittens preschool moved from portable classrooms on a dirt lot near the parking lot to the former special education building. In preparation for a pool being added to the PRHS campus, the Bearkitten preschool instructor and Career Technical Education (CTE) Education Pathway Instructor Brenda Matthysse began planning for the facility movement. It took nine months of planning for the relocation to occur. The time was well spent, with the new location being a large improvement to the program, according to students and staff. “The change has been phenomenal for our program. We ran our program out of portable classrooms for years, and it was a real challenge.
18 IN DEPTH | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
Now, we are a professional early childhood education lab. We have more space, the environment is developmentally appropriate for the learning of the small children, and it’s a wonderful learning environment for high school students to teach in. The learning centers are constructed clearly, and we have been able to place systems in place that enhance learning. I’m very thankful for this new building! It’s a very positive and upbeat environment,” Matthysse said. The new building offers more amenities than the old. It has a full kitchen, four bathrooms, a laundry room, two offices, and extra space. The additional space means more learning centers
98 33
and room to play for the preschoolers. It allows for more opportunities for teaching and learning for high schoolers as well. However, the new building is missing one thing the old building had: an outside play area. The outdoor play area is in the process of being built. Construction for the playground will begin on Nov. 13. This new playground facility will allow the preschoolers fresh air, more gross motor learning opportunities. It will also give the high schoolers more room for creative lesson planning. The outdoor area will have a Daniels Woodland climbing structure, slide, climbing wall, tunnel, log steppers, play house, sand box, and more.
HANDS ON (left) : Kassadie
Cape helps paint the hands of the children in fall shades of paint. The art section is all about explor-
Photos by Ysabel Wulfing
PRESCHOOL students enrolled
NOV. 13
Construction for playground begins
12
UNITS
offered through Cuesta Dual Enrollment
IN DEPTH | “Not having a playground has been annoying the pathway,” Matthysse, who partners with a to say the least. Gross motor is a huge part of Cuesta ECE teacher for each course, said. child development and not having a playground This course enrollment makes the Early doesn’t allow us to give them the same amount Childhood Development course more rigorous of motor as having a playground would. Having than past years, but Matthysse has tried to a playground also allows the children to let go of work out a good system with Cuesta instructor built up energy,” third year Bearkittens teacher Madelyn Chevalier, an alumni of the program, to Catalina Magnuson said. make the class achievable for each student. Facility additions aren’t the only thing “I feel like being dual enrolled is a good the program has been adding. opportunity for all students The early childhood education to learn more about this pathway has offered articulation In order to begin pathway and to get Cuesta credit through Cuesta for several I don’t think dual to address the im- credit. years, but this year has entered a enrollment makes the mediate need for course harder because Ms. dual enrollment agreement with early childhood Cuesta. This offers students of the Matthysse gives us a free course a chance to earn up to 12 teachers, we have period to work on anything units in Early Childhood Education. we need to for Cuesta,” third entered a dual Students can take ECE 201 and ECE Bearkittens teacher Mya enrollment agree- year 202 in this school year and ECE 203 Gonzalez said. ment this year with The new dual enrollment and ECE 204 in the next school Cuesta College. year. Students also receive honors has made the numbers credit because the courses are a in enrollment go up. 200 level course, which means they The education and child BRENDA MATTHYSSE, are equivalent to a college level development pathway offers BEARKITTENS DIRECTOR four courses: Developmental course. “There is a high need for early Psychology in Children, Early childhood educators and a growing need for Childhood Development, Careers in Education, many jobs in the field of education in our area. and Practicum in Education and Training. There In order to begin to address the immediate need are roughly 175 students enrolled in these four for early childhood teachers, we have entered a courses with about 30 students enrolled in dual enrollment agreement this year with Cuesta the advanced course. There are 98 students College. [This meets] the minimum requirement enrolled in a course working in the lab preschool, to be a credentialed teacher in a preschool. Bearkittens. This is a huge opportunity for our students in The preschool enrollment is also up to 33
1
SENSORY:
-Advancing fine motor skills -Experimenting -Refining observational skills -Putting ideas into shapes
5
MANIPULATIVES :
-Learning new ideas -Classifying and sorting -Hand-eye coordination -Recognizing patterns & shapes
7
PAW PRINTS:
-Room transition point -Non verbal system -Enhances PBIS: Positive Behavior Intervention System
4
ART :
-Expanding creativity -Increasing communication skills -Expressing individuality -Exercising fine motor skills
CABINETS
CHECK IT OUT : See more floor plan maps and Bearkitten content at
Crimsonnewsmagazine.com
4
-Site where Matthysse indicates what station each bearkitten teacher is manning that week.
8
DOOR
ART
SENSORY
5
6
7 8
SCIENCE
6
PROJECTOR :
SINK/CLEAN
SELF HELP ART
3
Daniel Rodriguez plays with Rawlins creating a wheel. Manipulatives teaches the kids how to build and create with different shapes.
MANIPULATIVES
-Expressing creativity -Using fine & gross motor skills -Acting out realistic situations -Observing others
2
DOOR
DOOR
DRAMATIC PLAY:
-Advancing fine motor skills -Toning manipulative skills -Using our imagination -Developing artistic skills
OFFICE
-Developing language skills -Sequencing events -Gathering information -Using our imagination
LET’S BUILD (above):
BEARKITTENS ROOM B Floor Plan
SCIENCE :
READING :
children this year, but some families do not attend every day of preschool. Generally, the preschool enrolls around 30 children, but has been able to accept more children in the new building. The preschool is difficult to get into, with the waiting list being about two years. The program has gone through multiple changes in the past few years. It has affected student enrollment and the facilities. The program has made an impact on students lives as well. “I love being a Bearkitten teacher because all of the kids always know how to put a smile on my face; they helped me realize I want to become a teacher,” senior Gonzalez said.
READING
1
Graphics by Ysabel Wulfing
2
DRAMATIC
PLAY
3
11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | IN DEPTH 19
| IN DEPTH
RADIATING LOVE (left) :
MOMMA BEAR
Bearkitten Director Brenda Matthysse leads with love and vision for 20 years by Rayvin Wulfing, Arts & Entertainment Editor
A
s children ran around the newly built Bearkitten Preschool, Brenda Matthysse’s momma bear instincts kicked in as she heard the piercing scream of a child in Room A, located on the east side of the campus. Without hesitation, she moved across the hallway to assess the situation. With 20 years of preschool directing experience, addressing the problem was easy as her firm yet kind voice gave the child an opportunity to observe their behavior and take a break from the activity that was distressing them. With the problem put at ease, she looked at her high school student teachers’ notes to see what qualitative observations they were making on their assigned child. Her psychology teaching skills were activated as she pointed out that the high energy behaviors displayed by the children at the science station required a high energy activity to meet them where they were at. She suggested they swap out microscopes for a plastic toy hammer and nail activity that required less focused attention. With children and teenagers requiring her attention from every angle, her intuitive prowess allows her to educate across all age levels. After majoring in Early Childhood Education at UC Santa Barbara, Matthysse started out as a preschool teacher in the Santa Barbara area at a parent-child co-op school, eventually leading her into the position as director of the school. “The whole experience of working with the parents and the children in the classroom was just a wonderful experience ,and I actually like working with the high schoolers probably more than the parents,” Matthysse said. Starting her first year at PRHS in 2000, Matthysse jumped right in as Early Childhood Development Teacher, and Bearkittens
Preschool Director. Matthysee has been really magical experience and I take great joy teaching at PRHS for 20 yrs, but was not in just kinda being apart of it,” Matthysse said. The Early Childhood Development class is the first to start the community renowned preschool. Over 30 years ago, Nancy Steward part of PRHS’ Career Technical Educational Pathway classes, where it allows started the preschool on campus, until students to move up in class Val Poalillo stepped in for 8 years levels throughout their before Matthysse took on the years at PRHS to improve role as Director. Alongside their teaching skills, and Matthysse, Psychology and experience what it would ASB Leadership teacher, truly be like in a future Jennifer Martinez has been career working with teaching the Early Childhood children. It is Matthysse’s Development Classes for the first year teaching the past 4 years. introductory class for the “If you ever want to see what passion for teaching jENNIFER mARTINEZ pathway. The preschool is in session from 8am-1pm (periods looks like step into Mrs. Brenda 1-4 during highschool). The Matthysse’s Bearkitten class consists of close to 150 program. Somehow she She has created a far highschool students who makes, what one would superior preschool work individually with one imagine a preschool atmosphere to look like environment that rivals of the preschool students “chaos”, a calm collected any other preschool in enlisted in Bearkittens. The highschoolers work learning environment the county. diligently, tracking the where students ages 3 preschoolers progress to 18 are engaged and jENNIFER mARTINEZ, through the school year, learning,” Martinez said. including working with Being the only known pSYCHOLOGY TEACHER them in specific areas that high school in SLO County with a preschool run by highschool students require more attention. “I want them to understand that working on campus, Matthysee is very proud of the with young children in any career is distinctive program. “Due to her passion and imagination for important, professional work that has lifelong the preschool setting she [Matthysse] has implications for young children. Intentional created a far superior preschool environment interactions make a difference and children that rivals any other pre-school in the county,” should always be respected,” Matthysse said. A program like no other, Bearkittens allows Martinez stated. “I think we kind of take advantage and a very unique dynamic between highschool take for granted a lot of what happens in the students and early developing children that development of a child, and it’s just to me a Matthysse is thrilled to continue with success.
20 IN DEPTH | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
Photos by Ysabel Wulfing
Bearkitten Program Director Brenda Matthysse checks in on the kids throughout the hours of the preschool. She provides a staffing list for the student teachers every week so that they can learn about different developmental aspects in children across the 14 different stations.
“Brenda Matthysse is definitely one of a kind and extremely dedicated to creating a successful environment for her littles and her bigs,” Martinez noted. Junior Wrynn Calagna, who’s been in the Early Childhood Development class for two years, adds, “Ms. Matthysse is an incredible teacher. Without her the Bearkitten program would not be as amazing as it is.” “My hope is Bearkitten is a place that makes a difference in the lives of small children and high school students,” Matthysse concluded. “It should be a place where the young children grow and develop and find joy and where the high school students find a school ‘family’ where they can hopefully discover what their passion is and then go out and share that with the community.”
OBSERVATION SKILLS : Melissa Martinez completes her child observation for her report for a Cuesta assignment. Using the skills Matthysse taught her, she observes the child’s fine motor skills at the blocks station.
IN DEPTH |
The Future is
Teachers and Teachhims Student Jorge Sandoval challenges gender norms as a proud male Bearkitten teacher by Malia Gaviola, Opinion Co-Editor
T
eacher” is epicene: the title doesn’t vary based on the gender of the educator. Both female and male are called teachers, but despite this androgyny of the title, the career is dominated by women. Across three decades, the percentage of women to men teaching has risen, climbing nearly 10 percent, according to Education Department data provided in an article by the New York Times. This “disparity is most pronounced in elementary and middle schools, where more than 80 percent of teachers are women” Motoko Rich writes in his New York Times piece “Why Don’t Men Go Into Teaching?” Yet, student Jorge Sandoval is able to buck the trend in comfort and ability to connect with children. Out of the total 98 PRHS students enrolled in the Bearkittens class, only 9 students form the male population of highschool student teachers. There is no one reason for why males tend to stray away from Education as a career. John-Paul Ewing, the PRHS 2018 Teacher of the Year, thinks society has limited some careers to the feminine gender. “These are different traits than what we think men should be doing. I think it really come down to, as a society, what we expect from a certain gender, which reflects what are gender norms for that sex.” When senior Sandoval first entered the Bearkittens classroom on Aug. 20, 2019 he didn’t bat an eye that there weren’t many other male teachers. Surrounded by girls for most of his life, Sandoval grew up alongside his female cousins. By applying his experiences in his youth to the Early Childhood Development program, Sandoval found it was, “easier to communicate with the Bearkittens and that he was more comfortable,” around children, specifically girls. He recalled trips to stores and being forced to tag along to the girl’s section with his female family members. He adapted to playing his female cousins’ way,
She thought about the uneven numbers, where Sandoval’s abilities would catch the her mantra, and the young boys in her eye of his instructor. Bearkittens director Brenda Matthysse, classroom. “Especially for the young men, [having a mentor of future educators, commended Sandoval for his success in her class, male teacher] just offers a different kind of highlighting his ability to make himself open connection and personality that the children really seem to enjoy.” to the young learners. Since his freshman “Connection is one of our year of high school biggest my biggest mantras It’s not really a Sandoval experienced an in this class. No significant class to me, it is almost magnetic pull to learning happens without something fun that I Matthysse’s Bearkittens. a significant connection,” His first encounter with the Matthysse said . enjoy doing. class of bright eyed kids was She applauded a moment he would never Sandoval’s skill “Jorge is jorge sandoval, 12 forget. As he enjoyed the very engaging with young splendors of a high school children. He’s very good at pep rally, Sandoval turned to find the herd of speaking to them. He’s always on their eye preschoolers sitting patiently - as any class of level… he’s one of the teachers who are very 4 year olds could- as they gawked in innocent good at making those connections.” Matthysse, who’s aligned the course wonder at a high-fiving Bearcat costume. to Cuesta dual enrollment, addressed the From that pep rally on, he applied every year drought of male students within her four class to Early Childhood Development program periods, “Unfortunately there aren’t a lot of and defined his goal of training for teaching. males yet. Often they are very successful in His senior year he finds that Bearkittens is less of a class and more of the highlight of his this field.”
day. “It makes me happy. It’s not really a class to me it is something fun that I enjoy doing,” he said. Sandoval will always hold Bearkittens closely to his heart. “It will always be a thought in the back of my head that I’m good at working with kids. It’s something I will always look forward to. No matter if I go into business, I still will want to be able to interact with little kids,” Sandoval said . He is therefore one important new generation teacher —and a teachim.
MANNING THE CROWD (left to right) : Gerald Norte, Jorge Sandoval, Tyler Dunn and Tyler Anderson enrolled in the 4th period Child Development, Careers in Education and Practicum in Education classes are 4 of 9 male students working together in the lab preschool to help educate the young children.
HELPING HAND (top right) : Jorge Sandoval holds a child enrolled in bearkittens while on a field trip to the River K Pumpkin Patch.
Photo by Zaira Gomez
11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | IN DEPTH 21
| IN DEPTH
LAB TO COMPETITION Early childhood development course
prepares students for professional trainings and Skills USA by Victoria Escamilla, News Co-Editor
F
rom across the nation 6,300, students careers in education class, and the practicum including two Bearcats, traveled to in education class. This has sparked her Louisville, Kentucky for a chance to interest in majoring in psychology after high showcase their abilities at The SkillsUSA school and earning her teaching credentials Championships. Senior Audrey Hughes for grades k-8. placed first in the nation for early childhood SkillsUSA competitions begin in February education and senior Mya Gonzalez placed at the regional level held at PRHS. It gives students the 13 out of 50 in the job opportunity to interview contest. My ultimate goal was to test their skills SkillsUSA is a national push myself to see where I developed in organization based could improve my teaching classrooms. The on students with and career and technical abilities in order to benefit education child development skills competing in the hundreds of children I pathway prepares their preferred field hope to teach one day. for the job interview of interest. It was contest, the founded in 1965 and early childhood began its program Audrey Hughes, 12 education contest, at Paso High with 104 contests available for students. Career the career pathway showcase, and more. technical education (CTE) pathways at “Pretty much everything they do in the lab PRHS, including the education and child environment prepares them very well for development pathway has classes designed skills. There’s a lot of soft skills you learn: to prepare students for potential careers in how to handle situations, and things that come up with small children and the other that field. “I knew that [teaching] was what I’ve always staff members. That definitely prepares wanted to do with my life, so my ultimate students for SkillsUSA in the sense that they goal was to push myself to see where I could can answer interview questions better...” improve my teaching abilities in order to Child Development teacher Brenda benefit the hundreds of children I hope to Matthysse explained. teach one day,” Hughes explained about The course has the Bearkitten Preschool, deciding to compete in SkillsUSA for the “the lab,”and the classroom aspect which prepares students for the test portion of first time her junior year. Hughes has taken all three years of the the contests. Both environments prepare education and child development pathway, students in lesson planning for children including the child development class, the three to five years of age during the second
22 IN DEPTH | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
semester which is a section of the early childhood education contest. This past year, 15 to 20 early childhood development bearcats competed at regionals. Six students participated in the early childhood education contest filling the contest limit from our school. Four students competed in the job interview contest along with other students participating in other contests. At state, five early childhood education students from PRHS placed sweeping first through fifth place. Hughes placed first in early childhood education, Gonzalez placed first in job interview, and Ceci Martinez placed first during her freshman year in the 20 second elevator contest. Only first place in each category in
ART CRITIQUES:
Senior Audrey Hughes, a Bearkittens teacher, asks her students about what they are drawing in the Self-Help Art Station.
state is sent to nationals however not every category is sent to nationals. At nationals, Hughes won first in her category after having been tested on appropriate teaching protocol, a book reading demonstration, creating a lesson plan, and an interview. “Winning first place in the nation is absurd and yet I did it. I truly never thought I’d be able to say that. I already felt honored to be able to say I competed in a nationwide contest doing something I love and want to devote my life to, but saying I won the competition altogether is just insane,” Hughes recalled. With a new year beginning, preparation for SkillsUSA is in the works within the child development class with discussion of which students are planning on competing. Another year of competition is another year of trying new things and testing expertise. “It is a great experience traveling with other competitors and learning more about other competitions that people enjoy doing. I definitely recommend competing in something you are passionate about cooking, welding, etc because there are so many options for everyone,” Gonzalez said. AWARD-WINNING ELEMENTARY TEACHERS: Seniors Audrey Hughes and
Mya Gonzalez won state and national distinction for their skills as educators of young children—Hughes bringing home First Place at Skills USA Nationals in Kentucky.
Photo used with permission by Brenda Matthysse
A daycare just
IN DEPTH |
around the corner
Six PRHS teachers bring their tikes daily to the award winning dual enrolled early ed program led by Bearcat future teachers by Malia Gaviola, Opinion Co-Editor
P
andemonium and elation swirled Sept. 3 on the first day of school for 25 thrilled students who happily charged through the door. They weren’t high schoolers, it wasn’t Aug 20, but it was a picture of the good environment drawing kids -- and kids of teachers-- into the school’s award winning early childhood education program. The anticipation wasn’t just limited to the high school students: PRHS teachers and administration also found their calendars marked for their own children’s first day of preschool. This year six Bearkittens have one or both parents that are working in the district under the expert eye of veteran teacher coordinator Brenda Matthysse.
BEARKITTENS OF BEARCAT TEACHERS: JUPITER: John-Paul and Gaylene Ewing JESSE: Marcy Goodnow Brandon: Gwen Baker Monty: Kiley and Clarissa Wilson For Drama teacher Marcy Goodnow, September 3 was a big day. “Jesse and I were both excited that he will be at mommy’s school, but he was pretty nervous. He attended a different preschool last year, so it was a change.” Both Goodnows --child and adult-grinned with anticipation at the day awaiting them. Jesse hung his backpack on the hook outside room 331 as his mother, due to start Advanced Drama class across campus in 20 minutes, gently guided him into a new land of fun and creativity.
“Both preschoolers and high schoolers For Jesse Keiser-Goodnow, Bearkittens is age group that he doesn’t typically interact a significant change. The four year-old would with,” and is able to benefit from the surplus benefit from being exposed to a structured find that despite having to leave his friends of socialization that Bearkittens offers. As preschool and being able to teach as a high from his old preschool, his new one had fresh a working mom and teacher, Goodnow is a school student,” Martinez said. “It’s a great fan. “I love it. I love knowing I could go visit opportunity for Bearcats to think about possibilities. The on-campus preschool presents him during nutrition. I know Ms. Brenda is what it’s like going into the early childhood opportunities for staff, preschoolers, and amazing at what she does and that makes development or teaching career pathway.” me excited for his Parents want their child to experience students taking the ECE year.” a friendly learning environment. Fathers pathway. According Martinez knows and mothers within the PRJUSD staff want to sophomore Cecillia Both preschoolers and Keiser-Goodnow, a preschool they can trust. High school Martinez, highschoolers high schoolers benefit “usually likes students want a future in career technical learn about “different from being exposed to a all the gross education and preschoolers want to have teaching strategies structured preschool and motor activities fun at the “fire truck station” or with their that help us create being able to teach as a -- not really into real life football player teacher who is as cool developmentally like the sitting as a superhero. appropriate exercises high school student. down projects.” Matthysse’s Bearkittens Program delivers that fit a preschooler’s She reminisced on all fronts. developmental needs.” Cecillia Martinez, 10 about the blocks A veteran of the Bearkitten program, Martinez, able to station. The four year-old literally began complete her first year as a freshman, found to think outside the box when he started herself more knowledgeable her second a game that resulted in bursts of laughter time around. Martinez imagines her future and glee: teacher would hold a crate, as one “working with kids and pursue a Jesse would throw play tires into it. Such a career in helping them,” as a pediatric doctor straightforward event created a smile that stayed on his face until he was tucked into or first grade teacher. Martinez, otherwise known as “Teacher bed that night. Jesse Keiser-Goodnow shared some of his Ceci” by Jesse, is paired with KeiserGoodnow for the year-round portfolio favorite things about his “Teacher Ceci. “She project high schoolers are assigned. That gives me snacks like gummies and crackers portfolio consists of “regular observations and MUFFINS!” he exclaimed with a twinkle of the child, notes, keeping student work... in his eyes. and providing brief assessments,” Mattysse explained.” At the close of the year, the student provides the family with a book culminating the child’s development with recommendations as well, handed to the family on the Bearkitten Graduation and slideshow evening. Although Martinez described the first day of school as “pretty chaotic… and crazy by Jaclyn DiMatteo, People Co-Editor due to the kids running around and crying t is widely known the students enrolled in childhood development partially take on because of their separation anxiety,” it also the role of a teacher, but they also begin to take on the role of an older sibling or even was full of new friendships as the students a parent figure for part of the day. In the case of junior Jaiden Angiano she actually focus on getting to know the children rather is an older sibling to one of the Bearkittens: Kylar Angiano. than having an itinerary planned, which they “I get to see him and talk to him and it’s fun when he sees me, he gets all excited and would execute on a normal day. is like ‘Jadie!’ and so that’s really cute,” Jaiden said. The Ewings, Goodnows, Wilsons and It being her first year in the class, Jaiden has room to grow as a teacher while her others chose in the beginning of the school brother can develop as a student and they can become closer with each other. year to trust their children to the hands Brenda Matthysse made sure to put Kylar in a group different from Jaiden’s to make of the ECE program due to the careful sure that she is giving the proper attention to the other kids as well as making sure that consideration and care that the program Kylar has the chance to become independent from Jaiden. This makes it fun when they gives their kittens. Drama teacher Marcy do get to see each other and gives them both the chance to focus on their own work, Goodnow commented that “I think he while simultaneously allowing for them to be there for each other. [Jesse] gets a lot of individual attention by an 11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | IN DEPTH 23
CAT & Kit Siblings Siblings Jaiden and Skylar Angiano develop together through the Bearkitten lab
I
| arts And entertainment
Welcome back to the
Ghoulish family America’s iconic family of spooks debuts in theatres this Halloween season by TJ Rothbauer, News Co-Editor
T
he classic Addams family came back to theatres for Halloween, bringing Paso families into theatres to experience the nostalgia of the previous TV series that has been loved by families across america. This time, Metro Goldwyn Mayer puts their own spin on the Addams, primarily displaying themes such as accepting people for who they are as well as the importance of family and making sure to look out for one another, along with the pressure parents put on children to succeed. I found the jokes to be hilarious throughout the film, and definitely recommend that families go to theatres to revisit America’s most comically frightening family. Directors Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan made sure not to forget hilarious pop culture references to Mr. Rodger’s neighborhood and Battleship, as well as movies such as It and Frankenstein. The movie even satirizes Starbucks coffee, joking about how complicated the items on the menu are. The film follows the story of the Addams family, a peculiar family seen as outcasts and monsters to society. The family was forced out of their homeland and Morticia and Gomez Addams, the parents of the family, are in search of a new home when they stumble on an old Asylum. In the classic ghoulish style, the Addams find it disgusting and repulsive, which is their equivalent to beauty, and make it their home. Several years pass, Morticia and Gomez have kids of their own, Wednesday and Pugsley, when an interior designer by the name of Margaux develops a town named Assimilation, displaying her idea of a perfect society where everyone is the same.
But what she doesn’t know is that the Addams have their atrocious manor overlooking the town, which would make it difficult to sell the houses of the town. As the movie progresses, Wednesday, the Addams’ daughter, begins to act out defiantly against her mother as any typical teen, and Margaux attempts to destroy the manor calling it “design intervention” in place of divine intervention, a witty twist of words that the writers used to display Margaux’ thoughts of being a higher power ruling over the town. As the movie comes to a close, the nostalgic theme song of the 90’s TV series sings to the audience, with families in the theatre snapping their fingers along to the iconic melody that everyone knows and loves.
24 arts And entertainment | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
ARTS & Entertainment |
TRUE TO HIMSELF 18-year-old rapper from the Bronx releases his first ever album
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by Mckensi Keller, Photography Director
eleasing just singles since 2017, Tione Dalyan Merritt, better known as Lil Tjay, dropped his first album, “True 2 Myself.” “Staying true to yourself is just like, always making the decision feel is best for you,” Merritt mentioned in his documentary about the album release. The rapper, brand new to the music industry, brings a hype vibe. The 17 song album contained songs from his recent extended play records and remixes of them. Containing features with Rileyy Lanez, Jay Critch, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, and Lil Wayne, Merritt brings his “True 2 Myself” album together. “Most of the songs are like a letter to myself,” Meritt said. The rapper uses his own music to get through things and this is what he brought on his album, to not only help himself, but his fans too. He mentions that everything he raps about is mostly about his past experiences and that is how he got through things, was to rap about it. Merritt started rapping at age 14 and he was rapping about his personal life, not to become famous, but to get through the issues he was having. In his song “Hold On,” he tells a story of just waiting and things will get better, just hold on. In “Post To Be,” he raps about getting cheated on and it brings the personal aspect to his album. He is “headed to the top” with his song “Top of My Game” and doesn’t expect anything to stop him. He ends his album off with “No Escape” where he shows that where he grew up, there wasn’t an escape, but he made it out with the
Graphics by Rayvin Wulfing and Calvin Cross
outlet of music. The album was put together very well. Starting off with such a good song, “One Take,” Merritt and his team produced songs that have lyrics that can relate to anyone and how they are feeling. The only part I didn’t really like about the album is that he kept most of his singles on when people were expecting an album of brand new songs. The remix of “Leaked” with Lil Wayne and “Brothers” with Lil Durk made that factor better by introducing something new to the same songs. “Goat” and “One Take” had to be my favorites because they were hype and had lyrics that meant something that I could relate to. Merritt is selling out shows and performing on big stages such as the giant music festival, Rolling Loud. He makes sure to have a good time while making his music and performing it for his fans. Being only 18 years old, Merritt has a lot in store for him and with his first album being a hit, the outcome is limitless for him. “Whatever it is you want to do, just make sure to put your 100% all in it and anything is possible,” Merritt said as a tribute to his fans.
11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | ARTS & Entertainment 25
| arts And entertainment
WARE ’S THE BEAT Choir teacher Aimee Ware takes on the band to share her passions with more students by Jaclyn DiMatteo, People Editor
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reviously known as just the choir director, Aimee Ware stepped into the position of band director this school year as she continues to lead more than 40 singers in the choir program she has directed since 2011. Teaching at PRHS for eight years, Ware is excited to be teaching full time this year and comments that it was the right time in her career to make the shift. Ware has an extensive background in band, herself playing a range of instruments including flute, baritone, trombone, trumpet, clarinet, and saxophone, but she also has experience in all the instruments in the band. Focusing on the flute and studying it throughout college, Ware has performed it in notable places such as Carnegie Hall and Disney Hall. When Ware had a bad experience with a band director in high school, it inspired her to become a teacher and make sure that her students would build a greater appreciation for music and grow as musicians themselves. “This year I’ve loved watching hard work pay off. I’ve loved watching the rehearsals and then going to a football game performance and watching my students go ‘Ohh yeah! This is so much fun!’ Because it is,” Ware said. The 30 band students typically practice for at least six hours a week before going to put on the crimson uniform to perform in front of the school and football fans on Friday nights. This has created a makeshift family for the students where they can all relate to their common interest in playing music together. Ware continues to be friends with people she met through music and hopes
to create the same environment for her students as well. A lot of factors go into the decision of what type of music the band and choir perform depending on restrictions if it is during a festival, what the audience would like to hear, if it is a themed event, and what the kids want to play or sing. Recent notable performances by the band during the football games have been Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Don’t Stop Me Now. Ware tries to hone in on each individual student’s strengths and her own as a teacher and take the band to new places to challenge them as musicians. “Every teacher is different, every teacher has their strengths, every teacher has their weaknesses, every person for that matter so I just say, learn from the past and keep going forward,” Ware said. Ware can be seen at every football game AIMEE WARE, band and running the band while drum majors, Regan Choir Director Rowins and Hayley Fuller, also takes m o r charge and directs the flow of the music. The student section is always dancing and singing along with the songs the band plays adding a new sense of comradery to the students of PRHS. “I enjoy the Friday night football games because it is a performance, but is also just more than that and we are allowed to go crazy and still follow the rules while having so much fun,” Gabriel Olivo said, a freshman who has played trumpet for five years. “Miss Ware is always encouraging and supportive of every one. I have learned so much in her class and always have a lot of fun!” junior advanced choir student, Audrey Dart said.
“Every teacher is different, every teacher has their strengths, every teacher has their weaknesses, every person for that matter so I just say, learn from the past and keep going forward.”
26 arts And entertainment | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
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11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | PR PRESS 27
Thrifting With
| Pop culture
Four students scavenge to recreate 2019 Emmy red carpet outfits
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VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES HERE The Emmys is a nationwide showcase that nominates, recognizes, and awards outstanding achievement in actors and actresses in television. While finding out who gets to take home the envied Emmy awards, the nominees also have the opportunity to strut their fashion statement of an outfit that has been professionally
our PRHS students brought the 2019 Emmys from LA to Paso Robles as they recreated some of the most dramatic outfits from the Sept. 22, 2019 red carpet event. Senior Addy Gomez, junior Luis Salas, and sophomores Caroline St. Martin and Danny Perez recreated four outfits that left the critics customized to their liking buzzing. Having and personalities. only 10 minutes This year was the 71st at Goodwill and Primetime Emmy Awards only $15 in hand, and it occurred on the participants September 22, set off to find 2019. The award their pieces to show usually airs on make them look FOX at 8 PM ET/11 as similar as PM PT. While they possible to the catwalk the runway, outfit they were many of the actors get assigned. swarmed by the “I’m excited to paparazzi and later try and recreate get criticized something that and/or was made out recognized of hundreds of for their dollars when I can find
Graphics by Malia Gaviola
something similar at a thrift store for a few bucks,” Gomez said beforehand.
I’m excited to try and recreate something similar at a thrift store for a few bucks. Addy Gomez, 12 The four students were handed pictures of famous actors and actresses outfits to remake that same day and got straight to business. They each spent 10 minutes in Goodwill and had to find the best dupes there were. Perez was running around the store trying to find as much as possible, he didn’t realize that he still had to consider the price limit until St. Martin mentioned it. With the weekend rush shopping, the store was pretty crowded but they all still all found the items they were looking for in time. All four contestants could agree that the time limit was one of their biggest
obstacles. Perez recalled that the 10 minutes of browse time was a challenge itself “because Goodwill has a lot of racks of clothes and [he] wasn’t sure which gender to start with.” The normal bustle of the Saturday rush afternoon at Goodwill was met with our contestants who were scanning the isles with speedy reflexes. After 10 minutes of scrambling around, it was time to pay. Some were blindsided and forgot that they had a price limit. Perez spent around $35, St. Martin spent $16, Salas spent $18, and Gomez spent $21. They then were able to put their outfits together using the picnic blanket on the field of grass like a work table. Being able to also use a crate of materials that was waiting for them such as fabric glue, feather boas, sewing scissors, and jeweled ribbon they had some outside help to aid them in DIY-ing their clothing. With no time limit to put the outfits together, the four fashionistas attempted to mirror the original pieces. Three out of the four volunteers said they were pleased with their outfits, and they could all agree that they would do another challenge, if the chance came up again.
RuPaul RuPaul is an American drag queen who, since 2009, has hosted and produced the reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race. This television program has helped him acquire five Emmy awards in the past three years, two of those awards being in this past 2019 Primetime Emmy Award Show. RuPaul took the two trophies home for best host for a reality or competition program and for an outstanding competition program.
Photos by Kevin Mazur,Getty Images & Frazer Harrison,Getty Images. Used under Fair Use.
28 Pop Culture | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
Maisie Williams
Williams, who was nominated for outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series with her role of Arya Stark in Game of Thrones, did not end up winning.
The stars
POP CULTURE |
Luis Salas, 11
by Jocelyn Lopez, Pop Culture Editor and Maicah Cabello, Blind Date Co-Editor
Caroline St. Martin, 10 With the task to recreate Christie’s godly aesthetic, St. Martin was conflicted while trying to put the gown together. “It was a bit difficult because there’s so much to look at a Goodwill, and it’s hard to weigh all of your options between what looks better and what price is better, ” St. Martin said. “I think I did pretty good recreating the outfit.” St. Martin left the secondhand store confident with a red cape, white dress, and gold lining in hand.
aDDY gOMEZ, 12
know what
Gomez’s excitement turned to nerves as she was faced with Maisie Williams’ asymmetrical JW Anderson original. Gomez, who made the best of the situation, claims that she is not significantly proud of her recreation because “the price limit made it pretty difficult to find pieces that were similar.” With a loose black tank top, sticky jewels, two skirts and the game plan to mash them together, Gomez did not fully to expect.
James Van Der Beek
Taking another walk down the purple carpet, James Van Der Beek returns to the public in his “bellini-hued velvet jacket.” This look, named one of the “riskiest” by ENews, was a breeze for Perez to duplicate.
Salas was assigned to recreate RuPaul’s floral print silk suit. Salas claims that RuPaul’s originally crafted outfit was challenging while “trying to make the outfit look exactly or somewhat similar to the actual outfit,” as he struggled with the time consuming do-it-yourself aspects of this suit. His task of coloring floral outlines on pink pants and a pink button-down loomed ahead, but the make-shift ascot was found and finished by the start.
DANNY pEREZ, 10 With a pink button up, black pants, and velvet salmon blazer, the only difficult aspect was the time crunch, “because Goodwill has a lot of racks of clothes, and I wasn’t sure which gender to start with,” recalled Perez. “I would recommend going to the thrift stores. It’s cheap and eco-friendly,” stated Perez as he was pleased with the items he bought at Goodwill.
Gwendline Christie Gwendoline Christie from Game of Thrones, dressed in Gucci, brings brought the late 1400s back to the future. She was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
Photos by Maicah Cabello and Jocelyn Lopez
11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | POP CULTURE 29
| HEALTH
COPING WITH CANCER Unveiling the hardships of cancer affecting a loved one by Declan Higgins, Poli-Sci Editor
PANIC at your disco
WHAT EXPERTS IDENTIFY AS SYMPTOMS
Opening the door for undertanding panic attacks
COLUMN
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hen my father was first diagnosed with cancer in June 2019, I had no idea. In fact, I was busy acting at the Paso Robles Youth Foundation (PRYAF) for a performance I’d been practicing for months on end. My situation wasn’t so different from any other busy high schooler’s who has had a family member suddenly become ill. According to NCBI, “18% of cancer patients have minor children.” It’s next to impossible to complete high-level school courses while struggling with a sick family member, as I’ve learned through my own experiences since June. But I have hope and a new sense of purpose to go with rigorous cancer treatments with my dad. I found that persistence is important, and am doing my utmost to stay strong for my father and support him through this chaotic time in his life. To be frank, this experience doesn’t only affect high schoolers; it affects people in all walks of life. The National Cancer Institute reveals that this disproportionately affects the age group of 65- to 74 -year-olds, although the rate is similar in younger age groups, as cancer does not discriminate. I didn’t know how to react when I first learned that my dad had cancer, I felt calm at first, but worries, doubts, and misgivings crept into my mind across the following days turned into weeks. When I returned to school in mid-August, I felt more uneasy than usual, with more responsibilities than usual at home keeping me preoccupied outside of school. These tasks, mundane at first, ended up costing time and energy after a drawn-out school day. I washed my stepmother’s, father’s, and my own dishes. I served my father meals and helped him get up from bed. Other odd chores added up around the house. I began to feel it wear on me throughout the weeks. I had less time for homework and, in turn, I got less sleep, which became a vicious cycle of working late into the night and feeling progressively more exhausted as the week went on. I confess I became more pessimistic about my academics; I now need to compensate for certain assignments I didn’;t have time to finish. Socially, I remained mostly the same, attempting to remain upbeat despite feeling burdened by this abrupt change in my life. Nevertheless, each moment I spent with my friends made me feel a little more grateful - as if standard social interaction temporarily took the edge off my mind’s lingering uncertainties. Regardless of my current predicament, I can’t help but have a hint of optimism for the future. Despite his advanced cancer, I feel reassured by the fact that my father’s condition is not worsening, and he’s being treated regularly to help him feel as little pain as possible as he goes about his daily activities. He’s able to walk (with a walker’s assistance), and he can still eat and talk normally. Despite my various challenges along the way, my dad’s experience with cancer has helped me learn that one can cope with even the most severe situations.
30 HEALTH | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
by Emily Mathein, Environment Editor
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etween college admissions, standardized tests, and extracurriculars, there’s a lot for teenagers to consider in their high school careers. As these stressors accumulate, the risk of panic attacks looms over the student population. A panic attack is an intense and immediate influx of fear, often unexpected and momentarily paralyzing. Panic attacks can run in families, appear with major life transitions, be triggered by severe stress, or are the result of medical conditions, according to Mayo Clinic. Oftentimes, triggers aren’t able to be distinguished by victims, making the abrupt ordeal even more severe. In a study done by Harvard Medical School, by conducting their National Comorbidity Survey (NCS), it was found that, “an estimated 2.3% of adolescents had panic disorder.” Dealing with panic attacks is a simple enough process. To avoid a panic attack, try to stay away from smoking, alcohol, and caffeine and learn how to control your breathing. To help someone having an attack stay calm and attempt to get them focused on their breathing or move around to get them out of their heads.
Tremblin g
Numbness or tingling
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or faint Fear of dying, Hot losing control, or cold or going crazy flashes Hear t palpitations
Feeling unreal or detached Nausea
Sweating
Racing heart Shaking
Choking feeling
Shortness of breat h
Hyperventila tion Chest pain
PANIC ATTACK Q&A
SOURCE: Mayo Clinic
Naomi Wells chimes in
What causes your panic attacks? Sometimes, they can be induced by large amounts of stress at one time and can be triggered by stressful situations such as family issues or even exam week.
How do the attacks affect your academics? Sometimes, I can’t get work done because it affects both my motivation and memory, making it hard to do work and remember what I have to do. Even when I try my hardest, things get hard and overly intense from classes, and I can’t handle it all, all the time.
What do you do to deal with them? I can’t always deal with them while I’m having them, but once it passes, I try to get back into my work, or I get up and eat something good for me and take a short break or even a nap. But for the bad ones, I have to just stop and lay down and watch TV or do something peaceful for a bit, and I’ll eventually get back to work.
Do you have any advice for people who have panic attacks? All panic attacks are different. Some are super mild where you just cry for no reason and feel completely useless, and that’s okay. The best thing to do for those is to lay down a bit and get stable. There’s bigger panic attacks where you shake and sob and feel absolutely miserable and you may explode with rage or tears; let those take a course for a little and try to not say things that’ll hurt someone if they’re trying to help. I recommend, from my experience, to be alone. Once you start feeling better, drink water or juice, eat some fruit or oatmeal, and take a nap, then go back to work and breathe. Just go slow.
Photo used with permission by Naomi Wells
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11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | PR PRESS 31
| sports
Twinning is winning A look into the world of playing on sports teams with a twin
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by Ashley Paulsen, Sports Co-Editor
ost athletes power through every season generally on their own, celebrating their victories with their friends and teammates. But for a few PRHS athletes, they have the opportunity to play sports with their duplicate alongside them. Twins playing on the same team is a rare occurrence, yet fraternal twins Jacey and Jenelle Loewen have played on three teams together for over eight years -- the sophomores play volleyball, basketball, and track together. In volleyball, Jenelle plays opposite hitter and Jacey plays middle hitter; in basketball, they both play forward; and in track and field, they both throw shot put. “We have strong connections on the court. We can almost read each other’s mind,” Jenelle said about her likeness. Having a sibling on the same team can yield advantages to both players. With the opportunity to have each other to rely upon, it allows them to practice outside of the team together, talk about plays, and have a connection unlike any other on the court. Also, having twin players can lift the weight off of coaches and parents shoulders: one text for both, one ride for both, one copy of papers, etc. “Playing with twins creates an environment like no other. You just instantly feel welcome around them when they are trying to get you on one of their sides while bickering with each other. Just all around they make the game and life more
DOUBLE TAKE: On the left,
32 SPORTS | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
fraternal twins Jacey (left) and Jenelle (right) Loewen smile in their volleyball uniforms. On the right, identical twins Kyle (left) and Brandon (right) Bonham pose after their win against Atascadero.
interesting,” sophomore Kelen Macharia said, who has played basketball for the last two years with the Loewen sisters. Despite there being many pros to having a twin with you on the same team, it can also be a burden for the players. “Some people see us as one, and it’s harder to see when one of us accomplishes something or makes a difference on the court,” Jacey said. Identical twins Kyle and Brandon Bonham play football and baseball together. Kyle plays safety in football and first base in baseball, while Brandon plays wide receiver and corner in football, and pitcher in baseball. The sophomores have played baseball for ten years together and football for eight. “It’s always fun to compete with [Brandon] in practices,” Kyle said. Twins aren’t typically common, but at PRHS there are 29 pairs of twins. The national average is 1 in 30 births results in a set of twins, but the PRHS sophomore class has a rate of about 1 in 25 , with 24 twins out of 596 students. At least four sets of the total twins play sports together, including juniors Xena and Janiel Stanko playing basketball, and freshmen Katie and Lexi Wagner in golf. “Playing with Kyle and Brandon is pretty sick. They’re always fighting with each other, which only motivates them to work harder. Kyle’s got more style, and Brandon, well, Brandon is just Brandon. But when you put them together on the field, it’s pretty cool to watch how hard they push each other,” sophomore Cole Raymond said about playing with the twins. Raymond has played football with the Bonhams for eight years. Both sets of twins want to pursue their sports throughout the rest of their high school career, with the hopes of getting college scholarships.
SPORTS |
Jacey Jenelle Brandon Kyle Favorite Sport?
Volleyball
Volleyball
Football
Baseball
Which twin is better at which sport?
Basketball: better at offense Volleyball: better at hitting
Basketball: better at defense Volleyball: better at blocking
Better at football
Better at baseball
What positions do you play?
Basketball: center/forward Volleyball: middle blocker
Basketball: center/forward, Volleyball: opposite hitter
Football: Corner and Wide Reciever Baseball: Pitcher
Football: Strong Safety Baseball: First Baseman
Brandon
Kyle
Facts about
TWINS
- Four twins play sports together - 29 total pairs of twins at PRHS
8 12 5 Freshman Sophomore
Jacey
Jenelle
BACK TO BACK: Both pairs of twins pose, showing their similarities. Jacey and Jenelle on the left, and Brandon and Kyle on the right
Junior
4 Senior
Photos & Graphics by Ashley Paulsen
11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | SPORTS 33
| sports
The Wright Way
Pitch In Progress
Junior Jakob Wright commits to Cal Poly baseball
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by Tyler Seidel, Social Media Director
tepping up to the mound, Jakob Wright is dead focused. He starts his windup with his eyes glued to the player at bat, and he catapults the baseball straight into the glove of the catcher. Wright walked on to the varsity baseball team as a freshman, and it’s been all uphill since then. Now, as a junior, Wright has verbally committed to play baseball at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) after he graduates in 2021.
Wright has been working hard since he was 5 years old to get to where he is today. Countless teams, tryouts, practices, and outside training have paved the road to his high school success and the start of his collegiate career. “I play with a club ball team called BPA,” Wright said. Big West Travel Baseball, or BPA, as he calls it, has given Wright the opportunity to play in tournaments all over the nation: Georgia, Florida, and also New York, where Wright played in Cooperstown. BPA takes their team to college workouts at UCLA, San Jose State, and many more universities throughout California, which puts players in direct contact with college teams. Wright has been able to effectively balance his school work and training all through high school, which ultimately led him to his success in baseball and caught the eye of some of the colleges the team visited together. Wright was recruited by Cal Poly after a workout BPA did at the campus. “I pitched in front of the head coach and he liked me! So we started talking.” After a tour of the campus, coach Larry Lee asked Wright to “verbally commit” to be a Mustang, and of course, Wright accepted. On September 8th 2019, Wright posted his commitment on his Instagram, accompanied with a photo of the Cal Poly logo. “Excited to say that I have committed to Cal Poly SLO to further my academic and athletic career. Thank you to everyone that has helped me along the way. #gostangs,” Wright wrote. Soon after, dozens of positive comments from his friends and family began to flow in. As a division one school, Cal Poly Baseball has always been on Wright’s radar. Just 30 minutes away from Paso Robles High School, Cal Poly is just far enough away from home for Wright, and it seems to be a perfect fit for his baseball dreams. “It was definitely one of my top schools because I wanted to stay close,” Wright said when speaking about Cal Poly, the delight in his voice evident. Wright is also a proud player for the Bearcat baseball team. After spending his freshman and sophomore year on varsity, this spring will be Wright’s third year playing with the team. “I met friends I wouldn’t normally talk to. Really, we just try and win.” The mix of comradery and fun creates a team dynamic that makes baseball extra enjoyable. Looking forward, Wright will begin the 2022 baseball season as Mustang, but he isn’t taking it for granted. His hard work and time spent with BPA has opened his eyes, and his glove, to possibilities that will keep his future bright.
PITCH PERFECT (above) : Jakob Wright, future Cal Poly baseball
player, pitches the ball toward home plate. Wright isn’t a stranger to striking out his opponents; he earned 52 strikeouts last season.
34 SPORTS | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
1
Wright winds up, drawing his arm back and begining to launch the ball.
2
With his elbow high, he releases, using all his strength to rocket the ball to home plate.
3
The momentum from his pitch drives his shoulders forward. He watches the plate in anticipation of the batter’s
Photos by Mckensi Keller
Sports Action
SPORTS |
The best sports action photos from the month
JUST ME (above left) : Junior Janiel Stanko practices her free throws in practice. Girls basketball has been conditioning and training, preparing for the approaching season. NOT IN MY HOUSE (above right) : Senior Zane Warren passes the ball up the pool. The boys water polo team lost 7-8 against Madera High School in the first round of CIF.
OH SHOOT (above) : Senior Tatiana Smeltzer attacks the goal
against the Sierra Pacific Bears on Nov. 6. Smeltzer scored three goals in the Bearcats’ 12-5 victory in the first round of CIF.
PERFECT TOSS (above) : Sophomore Abby Reimer
serves in her singles match. The girls tennis team did not qualify for CIF.
GET UP! (left) : Senior setter and opposite hitter Becca Stroud puts a short and quick set up for the middle to hit. Stroud recorded a total of 302 assists.
GET ‘EM! (above) : Senior nose guard Adrian Zambrano (#27) latches onto the opponent. The Bearcats lost 20-21 against the Arroyo Grande Eagles.
Photos by Keller, Paulsen, Eberhard, Wulfing, Romero
11.15.19 Crimson Newsmagazine | SPORTS 35
| SPORTS
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: DRIVING with sophomore Ceci Martinez VISION
Following the ball, watching for obstacles, and avoiding houses are important when driving.
TEEING OFF by Mckensi Keller, Photography Director
STRENGTH
Arm strength paired with swing speed increases the distance the ball will travel.
FLEXIBILITY A full range of motion is needed to maximize strength.
STANCE
Wide stance, angled feet, and bent knees are all elements needed for the perfect positioning.
36 SPORTS | Crimson Newsmagazine 11.15.19
S
ophomore Ceci Martinez has been playing golf for two years, starting her freshman year. She dedicates most of her time to the sport, spending seven days a week either on the golf course or the driving range. “Golf is a sport that requires full dedication and commitment. I play golf to become mentally stronger and to increase focus,” Martinez said. Completing her second year of golf, Martinez advanced to CIF along with the rest of her golf team. Her best score of the year was a 49 against Highland High School in Bakersfield, California. Martinez has been on varsity since she was a freshman. With so many supportive people around her as she plays, Martinez appreciates all the support she receives from her teammates, including junior Jenny Armstrong, who has also been playing golf for two years. “She’s an amazing golfer and is always working hard to improve her game and play to her best ability,” Armstrong said. Walking onto the golf course creates a new mindset for Martinez, she mentioned. “The first tee shot is always super nerve wracking. After that, it becomes more of a routine and the next hole will become more comfortable with your game,” Martinez said.
BEST 9-HOLE GAME
47 Photos by Zoey Rainey