Crimson Volume 81 Issue 1 08.16.18 801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles, CA Paso Robles High School
|NEWS
Bearcat victories at SkillsUSA Brown takes silver at Kentucky nationals By Estey Boling, Reporter TRIUMPH (above): Brown (in black) lifts hands in celebration with fellow Telecommunications Cabling winners.
SHOWCASE:
Pictured below are the Bearcats that swept through State competitions and earned their spot to compete at Nationals.
John Nash
5th in Plumbing
Clinton Marsh
18th in Electrical Construction Wiring
Aline Gonzales 14th in Basic Health Care
Avery Thompson 13th in Web Design
Liz Phillips
13th in Web Design
Maddi Harris
8th in First Aid/CPR
Zac Alves
7th in Welding
02 NEWS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 08.16.18
T
he Kentucky sun blares down, yet skilled students are sheltered by spacious walls and tall roofs. All bodies lay decidedly focused on their craft, skilled hands working hard and adept brains working harder. Out of 200 Bearcat competitors from the SkillsUSA Regionals back in February, 8 of them made the jump to July nationals, experiencing this firsthand — and oh, what a jump it was. The week-long event, officially dubbed the “National Leadership and Skills Conference” (NLSC), took place in Louisville’s Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC), spanning from June 24 to June 28. More than 6,000 students competed in 100 competitions involving different trade and leadership fields, all trying to put out their best work in order to climb the ranks and place as high as possible. Our Bearcats competed in 7 different categories: Mason Brown in Telecommunications Cabling, John Nash in Plumbing, Zac Alves in Welding, Maddie Harris in First Aid/CPR, Avery Thompson and Liz Phillips in Web Design, Aline Gonzales in Basic Health Care, and Clinton Marsh in Electrical Construction Wiring. For the awards ceremony, students filed into the vast Freedom Hall within the KEC, seats dappling every corner to accommodate for the large event. All sat in wait to see who struck champion gold in the eyes of the judges. Brown, who had been a junior upon competing and will be a senior this school year, is one of those champions. He won second place overall in his competition, trouncing 30 skilled competitors from across the whole nation. Brown has been doing SkillsUSA for three years, and he has learned a lot of trade skills and experience from it. He’s stated that he’s been “injected into both local and national organizations that could possibly lead to high paying jobs in the workforce in the future.” On his stunning victory, he said “it was really satisfying after 3 years of work, finally being recognized for it was one of my life’s best moments.” Phillips, who placed 13th alongside Thompson in their competition, says that “being involved with Skills has made me see that there’s so many different jobs and careers out there I had never heard of or considered before, and a lot of them are really high paying.” Although she isn’t leaning towards a career in web design, she stated that competing in it has taught her many other skills, much like Brown’s experience with the program. Randy Canaday, coordinator for PRHS’s SkillsUSA region and advisor for our chapter, says that “all in all, we had a good showing for a west coast school. Many of these students at NLSC are in tech high schools. They spend 3 to 4 hours more per day in their pathway classes than our students are able to spend.” “It’s a pretty amazing organization,” Phillips says about SkillsUSA. “There’s a lot of people involved and so much planning at every level. Mr. Canaday does a lot since he’s the one in charge of our region.” Canaday wants to thank all sponsors from the community, businesses and individuals alike, who support the program.
IN ACTION (left): Brown works hard during the Telecommunications Cabling contest.
New Changes Head our Way
NEWS|
PRHS districts expects shifts in policy, staff, and security By Jessica Jagger, EIC
A
s a new school year rolls in, so do new policies. Reflective of last year, changes in the day to day lives of students and staff, even minor ones, often cause great uproar. In the 2018-19 school year, these are the policies we expect to
Dineen will work with teacher and the student body as a whole to increase the positive culture on campus. arise. “This position was built to continue in our A new Loss of Privilege Act has been established, which is reliant on student pursuit and belief that every student will have sucattendance, grades, and behavior. Information on this act will be shared in class cess,” Martinez explained. meetings and assemblies as the school year begins. Additional changes to staff include several “Students must put their academics first as we are preparing them for colpromotions as Dan Sharon, former assistant lege, career and community,” principal Eric Martinez said of the reasoning behind principal, has accepted the position as principal at a the act’s establishment. new alternative education school within the district Additionally, an Academic Re-engagement Center will be initiated in order and Anthony Overton, Leadership and Chemistry to restore and redirect student behaviors. Certain students may be required to “com- teacher, has been promoted to replace Sharon as an plete intervention modules, fulfill classes and/or on-campus full day suspensions assistant principal. as part of natural consequences assigned”. The center will be utilized by Assistant Lastly, added security measures have been put in place. Additional fencing Principals along with a new position, Dean of Culture. will be installed around the school to secure the campus during the school day, and Jennifer Dineen has been hired to the position, which entails working a Paso police officer will be stationed as a Student Resources Officer on campus with students to provide academic, behavioral, social, and emotional supports that to build relationships with students and families in an effort to provide a safe and will help re-engage students and match their need with appropriate interventions. secure environment.
CARMESI CRIMSON EN ESPAÑOL
LOS PARTIDOS MIRADOS ALREDEDOR del mundo El verano de la Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2018 por Victoria Escamilla, Reportera
L
a prisa de la emoción en el verano provino de uno de los eventos más memorables que solo ocurre cada cuatro años: la Copa Mundial de la FIFA. Del deporte que une al mundo y tiene fanáticos al borde de sus asientos, la Copa Mundial permite a los fanáticos apoyar a los equipos que tanto les enorgullecen. Viendo los partidos temprano en la mañana y sosteniendo esperanza fue lo que llevó al juego final el 15 de julio de 2018. Con Francia ganando por segunda vez desde 1998, dejó a muchos equipos con el corazón destrozado por la posibilidad de ganar la copa mundial, especialmente los fanáticos. Uno de los equipos eliminados de la Copa Mundial 2018 fue México. México perdió ante Bélgica en la decimosexta ronda con un puntaje de dos a cero. Sin embargo, esta no es la primera vez que México ha sido eliminado en la decimosexta ronda. De hecho, México ha sido tan consistente que han perdido en la decimosexta ronda por siete copas mundiales consecutivas, incluida la más reciente. Todo esto nos lleva de vuelta a la Copa Mundial de la FIFA de 1994 porque en la copa mundial anterior, en 1990, México fue descalificado debido
a una prohibición de dos años. La prohibición se debió a cuatro jugadores por encima del límite de edad en un equipo juvenil mexicano que participaron en un torneo clasificatorio para el campeonato mundial. México ha estado intentando retomar el camino desde entonces. Además, el equipo masculino de fútbol de los Estados Unidos no pudo clasificarse para la Copa Mundial 2018. Esto se debe a los partidos clasificatorios en octubre de 2017, donde el Equipo Nacional Masculino de los Estados Unidos perdió contra el equipo nacional de fútbol de Trinidad y Tobago. Con un puntaje final de dos a uno, los Estados Unidos no pudo calificar. Esta es la primera vez desde 1986 que el Equipo Nacional Masculino de los Estados Unidos no pudo estar en la copa mundial. Con la próxima copa mundial en cuatro años, solo podemos esperar a ver a los equipos de fútbol luchar para tener la oportunidad de ganar la Copa Mundial de la FIFA.
SPANISH EXPRESSION OF THE MONTH... por Ysabel Wulfing, EIC
EXPRESIÓN “Comiendo moscas”: Literally means “eating flies.”
ESPAÑOL
DEL MES
The phrase originates in places across Latin America and means to be distracted. The English equivalent to the phrase is “to go off on a tangent.” In a sentence: Cindy, first you were talking about your summer fling in Costa Rica and now you are talking about your vegan pozole. ¡Estás comiendo moscas!
08.16.18 | Crimson Newsmagazine | NEWS 03
|NEWS
THe wheels on the bus go around yearlong
Students at PRHS take summer courses to get back on track or advance in a class. by Jasmine Romero, Reporter
I
n Paso Robles, most bearcats find themselves soaking in the sun and relaxing during the summer. However, others take their personal time to catch up on school credits, or take classes for extra room in their schedule for the next year. This years’ summer school for the Paso Robles High School had over 400 students participating. “What I enjoyed about summer school was that I could choose how I used my time to finish my work.” said Mandy Lee, a Junior at PRHS. Others, such as Baylee Burrows, agreed that it had given them an opportunity to get ahead in their courses. “It only really helped me get my history out of the way so I have another elective, but I like teacher interactions better than online courses.” Burrows, a Junior, expressed. The year before, most students who are attending the online courses this year had taken classes with teacher and student interactions. “It was difficult to transition because it went by too fast. The course we did last year was easier and was easy to understand what I was learning unlike the online courses. The whole point was just getting it done before a certain deadline so very little knowledge was being learned.” Adeline Gomez commented. The transition to online courses was a little more difficult to some students because of the intensity of the courses. “Yes and no, no in the sense of grades being pretty straight forward, and yes because it’s complicated adjusting to having to watch videos and try and retain an entire chapter from a screen with no live, or physical contact with a teacher. Lessons aren’t as interesting, making it hard to really concentrate and get all of it done.” Maya Cortez added.
04 NEWS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 08.16.18
A negative aspect of summer school for some students was having to balance their personal vacations and social life with the intense school work. Burrows felt that “it got in the way of a lot of things.” She also stated, “I had to cancel a lot of plans so I could attend the class and do the online portion at home.” Yet, a student in the same class expressed, “I didn’t have any issues with getting in the way of summer other than my parents both working full time and one having to take time to drop me off.” Overall, the majority of students said that summer school had helped them get to where they wanted to be.“I’d say for sure it’s worth it since you finish a whole year in three weeks at the most and not have to deal with it after.” said Viviana Hernandez, a junior at PRHS. “It is an opportunity for students to get ahead or make up credit so they can stay on track for graduation.” Mr. Overton expressed. Summer school was an opportunity many bearcats took to accomplish their scholarly goals!
Anthony Overton
“I’d say for sure it’s worth it since you finish a whole year in three weeks at the most and not have to deal with it after.” - Viviana Hernadez, 11
Healthy hot day habits Beat the heat with these summer tricks
HEALTH|
by Sarah Jagger, EIC
Wear sunscreen.
No matter how appealing the thought of a golden tan may be, the sunburns, wrinkles, skin cancer, and other risks prove that it just isn’t worth it. While sun tans may give someone what seems like a “healthy glow”, it doesn’t change the fact that tanning without sunscreen can lead to permanent damage. It’s perfectly fine to get plenty of sun and enjoy it, but attempting to do so without using SPF in order to tan quicker is not a smart idea, especially not during the summer.
Eat lots of fruits and veggies.
The summer season doesn’t just mean hot weather, beach days, and seasonal activities. In the summer, a lot of produce, especially fruit, is in season, which means that delicious, healthy foods such as cherries, nectarines, strawberries, melon, zucchini, bell peppers, and corn are plentiful and cheap. Seize the opportunity and stock up on delicious summer fruits and veggies.
Exercise often, but not excessively.
Exercise is an important habit to maintain throughout the year, and it’s easy to lose motivation during the summer. With sweltering Paso Robles heat and the idea of doing anything else aside from suffering in the heat, many people avoid their regular exercise routines. Exercising through swimming, indoor sports, yoga, walking, and even spending a day at the beach are great ways to not only beat the heat, but have fun and maintain a healthy lifestyle while doing so.
Stay hydrated.
Hydration is always necessary, but in the summer, the repercussions of dehydration increase. Failing to hydrate on hot, 100 degree days could lead to heat stroke, fatigue, and more. There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot, summer day than a glass of ice cold water. Other refreshing summer drinks such as lemonade, iced tea, and slushies are good ways to stay hydrated while also enjoying a treat.
Be active.
Being active doesn’t have to mean exercising. Spending time with friends, cleaning, doing homework, and taking a day trip are all ways to stay active during the summer. As the days get longer, seize the opportunity to enjoy the season. Staying inside all summer doesn’t make for great memories, and this season is a great chance to try new things.
Photos labeled for reuse.
08.16.18 | Crimson Newsmagazine | HEALTH 05|
|EDITORIAL
the beginning
of a new chapter
06 EDITORIAL | Crimson Newsmagazine | 08.16.18
EDITORIAL|
Choosing direction Make your year great with the right attitude
E
very year, there are situations that arise in which we either use it to break new records or we break ourselves. It is within our attitudes and outlooks in life how we decide what the challenges will become to us. There was a point in summer in which everyone returning to school in the fall realized that the marquee had changed from the cheery announcement “Graduation June 15” to the dread inducing “First Day of School August 16.” As the short eight weeks come to a close, we find ourselves with a chance to rewind the tape, wipe the boards clean and start over. Whether you be an incoming freshman or a member of the class of 2019, your year is what you make it to be. The attitude you hold towards your high school career will make or break it for you. If last year was a bust, you have another shot. Every year throws a different challenge in our paths and it is our decision how we choose to deal with it. An Op-Ed article by Shiv Khera for Pune Mirror recognizes the importance of a positive attitude in the face of hardship. “When you are faced with a problem, you can either choose to back away, or turn it into a purpose,” Khera wrote. Work with a purpose this year: make this something worth
C
newsmagazine
Editors in Chief Sarah Jagger Ysabel Wulfing Jessica Jagger
Photography Director Camden Tucker
PR Director Catalina Magnuson
your time and future instead of just seeing it as four years where you wake up every day and go through the motions. Challenge yourself to become a better person. The beginning of the year throws surprising and fresh challenges our way and we are expected to deal with them. An old Indian proverb uncovers the internal conflict between greed and compassion, where a chief teaches his grandson about the battle between the “two wolves.” Curiously, the boy asks “Which wolf will win?” and the answer is whichever he feeds more. In conclusion the tale uncovers the true struggle is within ourselves and if we can conquer that, any difficulties thrown our way will be a piece of cake. We all have the opportunity to change our old habits and make ourselves into the student, the friend, the athlete, and the bearcat we want to be. A new year isn’t something to dread, it is something to welcome with open arms. This year, like every other, is the beginning of a new chapter which will set the chapters to follow in place. Be aware of how the present will affect the future. So take this upcoming year by the horns and steer it in the direction you choose: your attitude will be the best GPS you’ve got. — Crimson Staff
Student journalism at PASO ROBLES HS
Reporters
Page Editors
Estey Boling Elise Scheiffele Mckensi Keller Loretta Burke Brighton Garrett Phoebe Corgait Ian Grace Casey Dumong
Emily Olsen Madi Loff Tyler Dunn Jasmine Romero Cheyanne Holiday Victoria Escamilla Anya Veach Tyler Seidel
www.facebook.com/ crimsonnewsmagazine
Adviser Jeff Mount
crimsonnewsmagazine@gmail.com
Website
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 —Crimson Staff in U.S. Mail, and advertising on our pages.
www.crimsonnewsmagazine.org
08.16.18 | Crimson Newsmagazine | EDITORIAL 07
2018 / 2019 Updates and information
|ANNOUNCEMENTS
Subscribe to Crimson Newsmag Dear parents & business owners, We on the Crimson staff would love to deliver our keen, nationally awarded journalism to your doorstep or business. A Crimson subscription keeps you informed about PRHS and students, and promotes quality journalism education. Please consider subscribing! Jessica & Sarah Jagger // Editors-in-Chief Ysabel WulďŹ ng // Editor-in-Chief Crimson is a 6-time NSPA All American and 2018 Top-Ten Best of Show at the Nat’l HS Journalism Convention
Click in your address and subscription choices at www.pasoschools.org/prhs
08 ANNOUNCEMENTS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 08.16.18
Reminders about the upcoming school year announced by Crimson Staff
Loss of Privilege To be able to participate in athletics, attend dances, obtain a work permit, or take part in other extra curriculars, a 2.0 gpa and no more than one F are required, as well as a satisfactory citizenship/disciplinary record.
Attendance Students are expected to be on
time and prepared for each class period. When a student reaches eight tardies, a twenty-minute lunch detention will be assigned. Additional tardies merit an after-school detention, Saturday school, or an assigned Behavior Plan.
Cell Phones Cell phone use is prohibited during the instructional day unless permitted by a teacher or staff member. Unauthorized or inappropriate use of cell phones will result in disciplinary action.
Tutorial Students will meet with their teacher to discuss their continuous improvement, collaborate with their peers, attend events to support growth, and receive instruction.
Parking Lot Students who park at school
must obtain a parking permit from the safety office. Parking lots are off limits during school hours and failure to abide by this policy may result in school discipline.
Dress Code All clothing must be appropriate
for school and worn as its design was intended. Clothes must meet the dress code with or without a jacket or sweatshirt covering the clothing.
Tutoring Math tutoring is available in the Career Center on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:05-4:05 pm. Tutoring is voluntary and no appointment is necessary. Teachers and Councilors may also refer students who are in need of support.
summer Blockbusters
REVIEW|
A look at a few of this summers biggest movies
It’s truly Incredible
The world’s favorite superhero family is back with an action packed sequel by McKensi Keller Reporter
A
fter waiting 14 years for the highly anticipated sequel, Pixar decided to release yet another Incredible adventure for all ages. Incredibles 2 hit the theaters June 15, with a record breaking 183.7 million dollar opening weekend beating Finding Dory’s 135 million, as the all time top animated movie weekend sales. Director Brad Bird, captivates the audience with an action packed, thrilling, family friendly experience. Picking up right after the first movie ended, the Parr family, known as the Incredibles, fight an underground threat to the city. The family comes together to defeat and save the city, but the police believe there is too much damage for the super hero’s to continue assisting in keeping the citizens safe. As all of the city continues to turn against the superheros, there is one character, Winston Deavor, who believes they should not be criminalized. Deavor, business savvy man, and his sister Evelyn introduce a plan to the Incredibles. This plan would allow them to put body cams on the superheros to wait for crime to show how much the public needs their help and make them fall in love with the superheros. The Deavors only wanted to use Elastigirl (Mrs. Incredible) because they believe she will be cause less destruction than her husband who specializes
in strength. So now Mr. Incredible gets to be stuck at home to try to raise superhero kids. With this comes a lot of accidents and long days especially with the little one Jack Jack. Elastigirl searches for the perfect crime to redeem the superhero’s reputation. While scouting out waiting for the Deavors to give her the perfect spot, she encounters the mysterious supervillain Screenslaver. With the entrance of Screenslaver, Elastigirl must take measures into her own hands and save the world from the dastardly villain. The strategically placed references to the first movie and thrills of adventure brings out the child in all ages. Bird brings the classic that we all came to love 14 years ago back into a new revamped 2018 experience. Even bringing back characters that thicken the plot. Incredibles 2 was a very anticipated film that did not disappoint. The improved animations and action packed scenes create something that glue the audience and make them want more. In two hours and 5 minutes, the Incredibles allow not only children but adults to pursue their childhood imagination and save our world.
Crimson Score:
4.5/5
Online Reviews:
8.1/10
93%
Super Trouper of a movie MAma mia! Here we go again! A Get your singing voices ready for the thrill of all musicals
by Emily Olsen, Reporter
A Crimson Score:
4.5/5
Online Reviews:
7.3/10
79%
fter ten years of fun and spunky songs, hold onto your seats because they’re back with an even spunkier musical sequel. Phyllida Lloyd’s Mamma Mia movie was sure to leave you in a sing along mood, but get ready because here we go again for the sequel. Set ten years later and directed by Ol Parker, we get to follow all of our favorite characters as they become closer than ever. Through a roller coaster of emotions, we see Sophie grow closer to her mom as she finds herself pregnant in the same spot her mom was with her years before. The flashbacks showing the contrast between the mother and daughter’s situations show
just how close they are, and although Sophie doesn’t know the true identity of her real father, she has all three there to support her through the ride. She has become such a confident young women, portrayed amazingly by Amanda Seyfried, that you’ll never know what’s coming for Sophie and Sky, or what Donna’s best friends will be up to, past or present. Lily James’ portrayal of young Donna was on the spot at every point. Donna’s wild personality and confident need to travel provided such a great storyline as she broke the hearts of two young men, and threw her heart into the open only for hers to get broken along the way. This remarkable remake will not disappoint and you’ll love the songs, new and old.
08.16.18 | Crimson Newsmagazine | REVIEWS 09
|SURVIVAL GUIDE
The Ultimate High School Survival Guide Everything you need to know in order to thrive in the upcoming years by Anya Veach and Tyler Seidel, Reporters
B
eing in high school is like fighting a bear - except instead of fighting it’s doing homework and instead of a bear it’s a teacher. It can be tempting to poke the bear, but it’ll bring you nothing but trouble. Sometimes, however, you have to take a risk and take things head on. Though this may seem a daunting task, there are some simple tips that may help you survive the coming years in this wilderness. Rule one of high school: be prepared for anything that might come your way. Whether it’s taking a test, writing a timed essay, or running the mile in gym, make sure you have everything you need to complete these challenges as well as being mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared. Though it may seem impossible at times, attempting to get a full night of sleep before any task is always a good idea. Remembering to charge your chromebook is a must and carrying a big eraser never hurt anyone. You will inevitably come to an endeavor that appears like your life’s greatest crisis, which brings us to our next rules: ditch the drama and surround yourself with positive friends. Be sure to keep in mind that drama never helped anyone to survive this jungle. Try to keep a positive attitude with trusted companions at your side. Having a dependable friend or two is vital to survival as no one can really survive
on their own. (Pro tip: if you could use a new friend, pulling out a pack of gum will instantly lure in a new wave of faces.) Sophomore Jaclyn DiMatteo provides a bit of her own advice on this. “i just think that you should put yourself out there,” she says. “Try not to keep yourself so secluded.” DiMatteo reminds everyone of the most important rule of high school: enjoy your time here! “I wish I had joined a club,” she says. “It’s a great opportunity to meet more people and make new friends.” She reminds us that so many opportunities are ahead, so be sure to take advantage of your time. While getting good grades is important, having a good mood and strong mental health is as well. Be sure to have fun and give yourself time to relax, but don’t be afraid to be brave, be bold, and try new things! Stick to these guidelines and you are sure to make it out of your high school years unscathed - mostly, anyways.
10 SURVIVAL GUIDE | Crimson Newsmagazine | 08.16.18
DO’S DON’TS
Made with Piktochart
Infographic by Tyler Seidel
Striving for the banners
MID STATE FAIR|
Exhibitors from ages 9-19 strive to earn the champion’s banners at the California Mid State Fair by Emily Olsen, Reporter
F
or the agricultural community of San Luis Obispo county, the local California Mid State Fair is one of the greatest opportunities for kids to showcase their animals. Kids from all over SLO County and farther come to the California Mid State Fair to show their animals, displaying that they have properly raised, fed, and worked with their animals to prepare them for the fair. The exhibitors range from ages 9-19 and include a variety of animals. Over 800 animals were exhibited, including hogs, different beef projects, lambs, goats, turkeys, rabbits, and chickens. “The best part about showing an animal at fair is it teaches you responsibility and you get to meet so many great new people. I think I’ve benefited from it by not only from the money, but from all the new skills and things that it takes to show an animal at the fair,” said Loryn Boggs, a second year FFA member who shows hogs. Exhibitors come from 4-H and FFA programs where kids are taught how to properly raise the animals: giving them baths, feeding them, and most importantly caring for them overall. It’s important for the kids to keep the animals happy and in the end, most of the exhibitors have fun and become companions with the animal. Programs like 4-H and FFA teach kids how to be responsible, and how to be leaders. They help mold kids into good leaders for the future and
show them how important agriculture is in the world. They are taught to be hard workers and how to put effort into everything they do. “I show market lambs and it’s hard at times, but totally worth it. I work with my lambs about 21 hours a week and more the closer we get to fair. It’s definitely taught me the importance of responsibility, time management and how to budget money wisely,” said Jordan Mendez, a second year in Paso Robles FFA. At the end of the fair, the market animals are auctioned to local buyers for meat and the exhibitors receive a paycheck, but it’s not just about the money for most kids. “What showing means to me is having a companion next to you that helps you succeed in whatever you do. FFA has taught me to push myself to the end and realizing that hard work always pays off,” said Jory De Santos talking about what FFA has done for him. “My main goal when I take my lamb to the fair is trying my best in every aspect and being a leader for kids that want to show possibly in the future.” The best part about showing animals is seeing all your hard work pay off, and there’s nothing more rewarding than doing well with your animal.
FAIR AT DUSK: As the sun goes down the lights go
SUMMER LIGHTS: One of the rides at the fair
features swings that spin and includes a dazzling light display on each piece.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: 4-H member Devin Dobroth’s
up. The ferris wheel in particular has a magnificent multi-color display.
pig “Madi” looks right at the camera. Devin worked with his pig in the months leading up to fair.
having fun at the fair
The entertainment aspect of the California Mid State Fair broken down by Anya Veach,
F
Reporter
or a summer full of fun, screams, laughter, and even chocolate covered bacon, the teens of Paso Robles know exactly where to go. The 2018 mid-state fair is the pride and joy of this town, as it brings people from all over the state and even the country together for twelve days of fun-filled activity, despite the hundred degree heat. But through all the hustle and bustle, the students of PRHS know exactly where they want to be: the rides. “There’s a lot of different ride variations,” sophomore Tyler Seidel said. “There’s crazy ones and more chill ones so you can do whatever you feel like and there’s something for everyone.” If you’re in for a more scream-inducing thrill, Tyler recommends riding The Zipper. This ride spins you upside down and around in circles as you hold on tight in your seat. If you revel in the feeling of your stomach flipping, Tyler also suggests trying The Hammer. Feel what it’s like to walk on the sky with this heart-stopping ride. However, if you’re in for a more low-key ride as many are in the heat of summer, there are still tons of options. For example, sophomore Alayna Hernandez suggests trying the new
and improved swings, just recently added to the fair. “I’ve never been on anything that high before,” she explains. “It was thrilling. As someone who likes heights, but not falling, it was a great alternative to other more extreme rides.” In addition to the swings, the Hang Glider also provides an easy going relief for many while still getting the joy of spinning in the sky. The Pharoah will also give you a fun, easy time while still giving your stomach a good lurch as you swing back and forth in the giant boat-like seat. As always, the ferris wheel is a must among many fair-goers. The sky-scraping wheel gives you the best view in the town as you look down at the night lights and overjoyed crowds. Though the heights aren’t for everyone, it’s still a thrilling and picture-worthy time for you and your crew. Through the heat of the sun, there are still one hundred ways to have a good time in the summer. Thrill seekers and easy goers alike will find something to enjoy at the mid-state fair.
08.16.18 | Crimson Newsmagazine | MID STATE FAIR 11
POP CULTURE|
08.16.18 | Crimson Newsmagazine | POP CULTURE 13
|POP CULTURE
Transitioning
from summer to school styles by Phoebe Corgait and Brighton Garrett, Sports CoEditors
S
tarting off school and adjusting to the rules again is not easy, but adding a few pieces to your wardrobe can transform a summer statement into a back-to-school head turner. The difficulty of dressing within dress code parameters in the heat is hard but with a few additions it can be done. We saw the challenge and decided to tackle it. We visited Target and Tj Maxx in hopes of finding two female school appropriate outfits for under $20 each.
for under $ $ 20
Target
T
his is where our search began and it wasn’t easy. The day was hot and shopping was long. We went into Target with hopes that the challenge would be easy, but with one glance of the price tags our mindset quickly changed. On average, tops were $15 and bottoms were $20. Considering we had to buy an outfit for $20, this seemed near impossible. One of the target employees noticed us recording and shared with us an ongoing sale. Mossimo and Xhiliration, the two most popular brands of Target, are being discontinued. This meant these brands were 30% off. This opened new opportunities for us because we were worried about the cost. We shopped for 40 minutes in all of the sale racks and found a total two pairs of shorts, 3 tops, and one dress. After trying on the clothing, we decided the black t-shirt dress with a knot cutout in the middle was our best option for $13.99. We hoped to add some accessories but once again we ran into a price wall. As we were about to checkout, we decided to look one more time and found a black and white polka dot wrap dress for $7.43. We decided to buy both dresses for a total of $23.07.
BLACK AND WHITE POLKA DOT: Junior Phoebe Corgiat
poses in a Target dress bought for less than eight dollars. The price makes this piece a great back to school outfit.
W
SIMPLE YET STYLISH: Junior Brighton Garrett shows off a dress from Target, bought for less than $14. While stylish, the dress also helps stay cool during long, hot school days.
TJ Maxx
alking into Tj Maxx, we could already tell it was going to be ten times easier. Even though we were hot and tired, taking a glance at the price tags instantly lifted our spirits. We started looking at dresses and there were so many we liked, clothes just started flying off the shelves. We went on to tops and even though there weren’t as many, there was still a ton we were interested in. As we were walking to the dressing rooms, we realized we had no bottoms, an essential to school dress code. We instantly saw jean skirts, totally in fashion, and knew that’s what we needed. Back to the dressing rooms we went, with our arms loaded with clothing. We had gathered five dresses, two jean skirts, one jumpsuit, and one tank top. Right as soon as we tried on the multi-colored striped tank top and the Billabong jean skirt, a crazy find in the fashion world, we knew this was THE outfit. It had a retro vibe for back to school and covered all the right areas. The price came out to be $9.99 for the top and $13.99 for the skirt with a total of $24.76 Although we didn’t meet the challenge at either store, we finished with cute and in style outfits that were reasonably priced. Overall, we believe that Tj Maxx was easier to shop at due to the abundance of options and low prices. Also, they have nice brands at a fraction of the cost, whereas Target has brands selective to their store. This challenge was definitely not easy, but with continuous searching and persistence we were able to find outfits for under $25. Even though this did not include shoes, undergarments, or accessories, the prices were relatively cheap. Our new outfits are school appropriate and fashionable.
PRO TIP: When shopping, instead of just picking out individual items that you like - such as a collection of patterned blouses - make your goal to match things together. Find a top, find some bottoms to go with it and then find things to layer on top of it. This makes it easier to 80s RETRO: Junior Phoebe Corgiat wears a tank top and jean skirt purchased at TJ Maxx for under not end up with too many tops or too many bottoms that $30. This outfit is a great back to school choice. have no correlation. 14 POP CULTURE | Crimson Newsmagazine | 08.16.18
Photos by Brighton Garrett and Phoebe Corgitat
POP CULTURE|
B Bea Miller
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ea Miller (19) released her debut EP, “Young Blood,” in 2014. This rising, New Jersey, singer/songwriter has hit the charts multiple times since 2015, when her first album “Not An Apology” became #7 on Billboard 200. Miller’s rise to fame began at just 15 years old when she performed “Titanium” by David Guetta (ft. Sia) in 2012 on “The X-Factor.” In 2017 Miller created a collection of EP’s; each one portrays a chapter of her life and her second full album “aurora” is the final chapter. released on Feb. 24, 2018. The album features 14 new songs and was released on Feb. 24, 2018.
illie Eilish released her debut single “Six Feet Under” on June 23, 2016 when she was just 14 years old. This 16 year old pop sensation grew up in California singing, dancing, and writing songs. Eilish wrote her breakthrough song “ocean eyes” with her brother Finneas in 2017; the song has over 80 million streams on Spotify as of July 11, 2018. In 2017 Eilish’s song “bored” appeared on Netflix’s hit original series 13 Reasons Why, and then again in season 2, Eilish’s song “lovely” (ft. Khalid), was featured on the show.
Billie Eilish
Bea Miller
A
Alec Benjamin
lec Benjamin is a hard-working singer/ songwriter who has gone from the bottom to the top by age 24. His first single “Paper Crowns” debuted in 2014, and he now has 5 singles released. Benjamin has handed out business card, performed in concerts, played in lines and in parking lots, but all that hard work has paid off. He now has over 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify. The musician can play the guitar and the piano; he uses those talents to tell stories and narrate through his music. Benjamin has toured with artists like Jon Bellion, Matisyahu, and Hoodie Allen.
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Chelsea Cutler Photos labeled for reuse
helsea Cutler started her music career writing, singing, and producing songs on soundcloud, which quickly grabbed the public eye. She eventually self-released her #1 streamed song on Spotify, “Your Shirt” which has over 43 million streams. Cutler has worked with artists like Louis The Child, Adventure Club, Chet Porter, ayokay, and Quinn XCII. The 21 year old singer collaborated with Quinn XCII on a song called “Flare Guns.” They also collaborated on a song from Beer’s EP called “Giving Up Ground;” Quinn XCII and Beer are going on a 2018 tour together.
5 Rising Music Artists You Should Listen To Five singer/songwriters establishing a fresh, young vibe in the music industry by Cheyanne Holiday, Reporter
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race Vanderwaal charmed the world with her vocals when she won “America’s Got Talent” in 2015 at only 12 years old. Vanderwaal’s first EP “Perfectly Imperfect” was released on Dec. 2, 2016. The Rolling Stones has praised her work, calling her a “pop prodigy.” This role model has been awarded as Billboards “Rising Star” two times. Vanderwaal was featured in the “Youth Impact Report” by Variety Magazine. Recently, she put her own modern twist on the 70’s classic song “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash.
Grace Vanderwaal
08.16.18 | Crimson Newsmagazine | POP CULTURE 15
Fair food for a fair price |TASTEBUDS
The Tastebuds rate California Mid State Fair’s treats by Sarah Jagger, EIC
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hen one thinks about the California Mid State Fair, specific things come to mind: concerts, rides, swing dancing, that horrible mid-summer Paso heat, and overpriced, fried fair delicacies. While local businesses can and do set up booths around the fair, selling food or drinks available throughout the year at their permanent establishments, there is also an abundance of “fair-specific” food only available for these two weeks. This includes funnel cakes, hot dog on a stick, and of course, a variety of fried treats.
This round of taste-testing, we focused on the classic fair foods seen only at the Mid State Fair; we tested fried oreos, fried twinkies, funnel cake, fried cheese on a stick, dip n dots, and a frito chili bowl. Because of the unique way these foods are sold in comparison to usual businesses whose food we review, we edited our basis of rating a bit. Rather than judge service - which is, for the most part, identical between most fair businesses - we rated food as compared to the hype around it. Additionally, we rated food according to its affordability, appearance, and taste.
Dippin’ Dots A
seemingly classic cold treat, dippin’ dots aren’t widely available in Paso outside of the fair. We began our taste test with two small cups of dippin’ dots; at five dollars for a small size of ice cream, the price is a bit excessive, but as the largest size is ten dollars but about three times the size of the small size, the affordability is semi-reasonable. Our two flavors, rainbow ice and cookies and cream mixed with strawberry both had attractive appearances, their bright colors somewhat artificial but nonetheless fun too look at. The taste matched the look of the ice cream. You can’t go wrong with ice cream, and these treats proved that right. Did it live up to its hype? In our opinion, dippin dots surpasses the hype given to them. While people tend to look forward to the fair for hot, fried food, this sweet treat is not only a refreshing break from the rich food offered at the Mid State Fair, but also a remedy to the sweltering summer heat.
Fried cheese U
pon hearing the words “fried cheese on a stick”, one may think: “ew they make that?”. Yes, they do. And yes, it is gross. To start with the positive points, however, this fair snack had one thing going for it: its appearance, which was semi-attractive, resembling a corn dog rather than fried cheddar cheese. With the price set at five dollars, this abomination costs far more than it is worth. Maybe, after a full day at the fair and significantly lower standards, this snack may be worth the price. Because the most important factor is taste, this may be one of the worst foods we rated. To put it simply: fried cheese does not taste good. Rightly so, this food is not given much hype, and I predict it will remain that way.
Fried Twinkie A
nother classic fried fair treat, fried twinkies have long been a mystery to me. While I don’t even necessarily enjoy twinkies as they come, fried twinkies have long been a staple treat served at the Mid State Fair, and I was curious. When we ordered the twinkie for six dollars, which is only a two dollar markup from an average twinkie you’d find checking out of a grocery store, it was served similarly to the fried oreos: dusted in powdered sugar and drizzled with chocolate sauce. Like with the oreos, the chocolate sauce was disgusting, but the taste of the actual twinkie wasn’t too off from the original. Given that we were able to take a few more bites of the twinkies than we did of the oreos, this could be named a decently priced, acceptably tasting fair treat. If you like twinkies, you’ll like the fried version.
16 TASTEBUDS | Crimson Newsmagazine |
Photos by Sarah Jagger
Fried Oreos
TASTEBUDS|
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he mentality of fair food booths seems to be “fry anything and everything”, but fried oreos really go to show that not everything tastes good smothered in batter and fried. To begin, one of the most appealing aspects of oreos are that the crunchy cookies serve as a contrast to the smooth, creamy filling inside. When fried, the entire cookie adopts a soggy texture, similar to if one submerged an oreo in water for a minute. The dish was served somewhat attractively, with a powdered sugar dusting and a chocolate syrup drizzle. After only one bite, though, we were able to make our conclusion that oreos are not a snack that should be fried. The signature taste of the cookies was masked by the fried batter and the chocolate sauce tasted cheap and, frankly, gross. There isn’t much hype around these, but what is said about them around the fair has, for the most part, been negative, so technically, these live up to their reputation. Additionally, at five dollars for four oreos, each costs $1.25, which, in my opinion, is too much for a hot, soggy oreo.
Frito boat A
fter tasting sweet ice cream, oreos, and twinkies, we were in the mood for something a bit more savory, so we headed over to The Tater Patch for a frito boat: a bag of fritos with chili, cheese, and sour cream on top. Albeit a little hard to eat, this was one of the better meals at the fair. The boat didn’t taste too cheap or blatantly unhealthy, and at only five dollars and still serving as an actual meal, this may be one of the better deals in a sea of overpriced, unhealthy food. The appearance was likely one of the most underwhelming of the foods we tried, as the meal was served in a bag of fritos held in a cup. This wasn’t a bad presentation, but it wasn’t as exciting as the others. Unlike the three previous snacks we had, this seemed to be one of the lesser known, which means that frito boats exceed their hype. If you’re looking for a cheap, filling meal next year at the fair, head no further than The Tater Patch.
Soft serve A
dipped vanilla cone is most likely one of the most basic desserts, a treat that can be perfected by virtually anyone. Although served at the fair, this product lacks no significant quality. As I said, it’s hard to mess up ice cream. The overall look of this ice cream is pretty appealing, aside from the factor of heat causing the ice cream and chocolate shell to melt. Combine that with the delicious taste of a good vanilla and chocolate combo, and you’ve almost got a perfect fair treat. However, this cone cost a total of six dollars, which, in my opinion, is far too high for vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate. It’s a fine dessert, and if one wasn’t tight on cash, this would be a good choice, but considering the fact that customers don’t necessarily get their money’s worth (it’s just an ice cream cone!), we had to knock the rating down by a bit. Disregarding the cost, this treat does live up to its hype and is worth trying.
Lemonade
L
emonade isn’t necessarily a food, but it is a staple item at the Hot Dog on a Stick booth. As the midday sun beats down on the California Mid State Fair, a refreshing lemonade sounds like the best thing in the world. While this drink definitely isn’t the best thing in the world, it is a very good drink available for purchase at only $3.67. Not watered down at all, this sweet drink has strong notes of sweetness and bitterness from the combination of lemon and sugar, and though we drank this after the sun had gone down and the weather cooled off, it was still a good refresher from the richer food we had. The appearance was pretty good; the drink came in a fair-festive cup colored red, blue, yellow, and white. Compared to other drinks stands at the fair, Hot Dog on a Stick’s drink held up pretty well, proving to be better than its hype. If you find yourself parched and with a limited amount of money, this drink is worth every penny.
08.16.18 | Crimson Newsmagazine | TASTEBUDS 17
Leading the Way into a Successful Season
SPORTS|
At Paso High, multiple sports are preparing for the season through summer training by Victoria Escamilla, Reporter
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t Paso Robles High School, summer training is the foundation for the upcoming seasons for a variety of sports. Summer training allows student athletes to prepare to the best of their abilities for their sport in order to make themselves successful. With multiple summer training programs, the athletes are encouraged to prepare for the season with their team. Some of the sports that offer summer training are water polo, cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, cheer, football, and tennis. The sports listed provide different sources of training and methods that could improve the players and the games that they love to compete in. For example, there are clinics for tennis, weight training for football, and camp for water polo. One sophomore and tennis player, Zoey Mayo, expressed how beneficial the summer training had been, “The summer training for tennis is going really, really well. I’m getting more opportunities and time to bond with teammates as well as improve my skills in the sport itself. All the training and conditioning we’ve been doing has made me stronger and faster, and it has improved my strokes tremendously. Not only that, but it’s helped improved my mental game as well.” In the trainings, the procedures of preparing for
the season covers from fundamental drills to weight training. It was reported that four out of the eight sports offering summer training include weight training. Aside from training, there are games and tournaments involved in some summer training programs for soccer, basketball, and water polo. The games and tournaments can vary as basketball can have five to six games in a month during the summer or as water polo can have a game every Wednesday and a tournament depending on the weekend. With the games, tournaments, camps being attended, and numerous hours of training being put in by the athletes, it leaves the athletes hopeful for the season to come, especially because six out of the eight sports involved in a summer program have their season in the fall. The hours of summer training ranges, as does what is included in the training; however, it is done to make Bearcats the best that they can be, as junior and water polo player, Sarah Clark, stated, “It’s been pretty tough trying to work it into summer since I have a pretty busy schedule but it’s going to help us all in the fall a lot, and we are going to be more on top of our game this year. I’m really excited to see how we do.” With the school year and seasons approaching, the hard work of summer trainings will come to pay off.
I think [volleyball summer training not only prepared me for the upcoming season but it made me a better volleyball player. I got to focus more on my skills because of the high trainingwe did every day. Working with my teammates also created a supportive environment when becoming a better player. -Hannah Tibbetts, 11 Volleyball
Summer training has been really fun! I got to bond with my teammates and play the sport I love with them. Summer is the time when coaches tell us to practice all the basic fundamentals, because when the season comes, dribbling, passing, and the basics shouldn’t be our problem anyore. It should be improving oursleves to beat one team at a time. - Chelcy Salvador, 12 Basketball
Graphics by Victoria Escamilla
08.16.18 | Crimson Newsmagazine | SPORTS 19
CAMPUS
MAP
VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS (VAPA)
TECHNOLOGY
QUAD
GIRLS
ATTENDANCE
CAREER CENTER
BOYS
SNACK BAR BATHROOM
20 MAP | Crimson Newsmagazine | 08.16.18
900
MUSIC
SCIENCE
300
SCIENCE
LOCKERS
MATHEMATICS
400
200
SPECIAL EDUCATION
STUDENT STORE
BEARKITTENS
KEY NEWBIE NEED-TO-KNOW
LIBRARY
FRESHMEN LOCKERS
COURTS
GYM
GYM 1000
TENNIS
PRACTICE
GIL ASA
LANGUAGE
ADMIN
100
c 600
BUILDING TRADES
PAC
COUNSELING
SOCIAL STUDIES
AGRICULTURE
AG AG
500
SENIOR & STAFF PARKING
AG
STUDENT PARKING
TRACK
PRHS
STUDENT PARKING
BUS ROAD
|BACK TO SCHOOL
800
MATHEMATICS Graphics by Ysabel Wulfing