Crimson Volume 79 l Issue 1 l 10.06.17 l 801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles, CA l Paso Robles High School
We will Protect you PRJUSD will support their dreamers in accordance to California law
p. 06
Kragh fights for open campus Open campus petition aims to reach over 1,300 signitures
p. 03
New Horizons Fresh people and programs arrive this fall
|News
Teachers, PRJUSD reach pay agreement Negotiations result in 2% salary raise
by Mason Seden-Hansen, Managing Editor
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eachers will receive a 2% pay raise in the 2017-18 school have decreased revenues overall, according to district year and a 1.5% raise in the 2018-19 school year, budget projections. according to a tentative two-year agreement The agreement did not include PRJUSD paying reached by the Paso Robles Joint Unified School for 50% of health care premium increases, which District (PRJUSD) and the Paso Robles Public are expected to amount this year to a 7.00% Educators (PRPE) union. The agreement was increase, as the district has done in the reached in the fifth meeting between the past. However, it did continue three extra district and union representatives; after an staff development days beyond the state initial proposal that did not offer teachers a minimum, which if lost would have equated salary increase on the salary schedule, and to a 1.62% cut in annual salary. did not help finance increased healthcare This agreement comes after a particularly costs for teachers. heated negotiation between the district “What we got is probably the best deal we’re and teacher’s union. Teachers from schools going to see at this time,” PRPE negotiations team throughout the district took action after an member and teacher Jenny Martinez said. initial proposal did not offer a salary increase, The pay negotiations come as PRHS has JENNY MARTINEZ, with approximately fifty teachers from throughout Social Studies rapidly increasing enrollment, and in fairly good the district attending a Sept. 12 PRJUSD Board of economic times. However, PRJUSD is expected to Trustees meeting, with some speaking during the
public comment. “Every teacher is going to have a pay cut...this is completely unacceptable,” PRPE negotiations team member and Social Studies teacher Robert Skinner said of the initial proposal. The administration is tasked with long term plans as well as current concerns. According to district officials, PRJUSD is working towards a 10% reserve, which both district officials and union leaders have cited as part of the reason for the initial low offer. “We absolutely believe in [a 10% reserve]... Most of us lived through the horror of having a 3% minimum reserve and almost being taken over by the state [and having] the blizzard of pink slips and furlough days. It was awful...I will never willingly go back to that,” PRJUSD Board of trustees president Field Gibson said. The agreement still needs to be ratified by the membership of PRPE, and the negotiations team recommends ratification. A ratification vote was expected to occur sometime between Oct. 2 and 6, according to PRPE executive director Jim Lynett.
School Board Clerk Resigns
Two-term PRJUSD Board trustee Dave Lambert “can no longer support the direction of the district” by Mason Seden-Hansen, Managing Editor
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I am very disappointed about recent decisions that have been made, and I can no longer support the direction of the district. — DAVe LAMBERT
ave Lambert resigned unexpectedly from the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) Board of Trustees on Monday, Sept. 11. Lambert, who was first elected in 2012 and was reelected in 2016 and had served as board clerk prior to his resignation, was not present at the Sept. 12 meeting. “After careful thought and consideration, I have made the decision to resign my position on the Board... At this time, I am very disappointed about recent decisions that have been made, and I can no longer support the direction of the district,” Lambert said in a press release first published by the Paso Robles Press on Sept. 13. Lambert’s resignation comes at a time of relative turmoil for PRJUSD, with the parting
02 NEWS| Crimson Newsmagazine |10.6.17
DAVE LAMBERT (middle left) : Former
PRJUSD Board of Trustees clerk Dave Lambert speaks at a candidate forum in October 2016. Lambert resigned just 10 months after his reelection on Nov. 8, 2016.
of ways between PRJUSD and former head football coach Larry Grant causing public outcry and as the teacher’s union and PRJUSD had an extraordinarily heated pay negotiation cycle. Board of trustee members at the Sept. 12 meeting expressed sadness that Lambert resigned and gratitude for his service. “I always appreciated everything [Lambert] had to offer he was a great man and I wish him all the best,” PRJUSD trustee Joan Summers, who was elected to replace Lambert as board clerk, said. “[Lambert] was a valuable member of [the PRJUSD board of trustees], he was a hard worker...sometimes family and health come first, and I respect that,” Field Gibson said at the meeting. Lambert, however, later reemphasized his disapproval with the direction of the district as his reason for resignation, “not because of health issues, as stated by the board president.” Gibson later clarified that “It is my belief that the decisions that [Lambert] is referencing
are of a more personal nature rather than any decisions that are being made by the Board...If you check the minutes of how the Board voted, I don’t think you will find hardly any votes where he voted against the majority or prevailing decision. In fact, I can only remember one such vote in the last year.” An analysis of the board minutes from May 24, 2016 to May 25, 2017 corroborated Gibson’s assertion. Gibson also said he “sincerely [wishes Lambert] and his family the best...we all have been under a tremendous amount of stress for most of a year now, with a lot of very personal attacks, misinformation and outright dishonesty coming from certain quarters. At some point, it would be understandable for any of us to step back from the hard work and long hours being devoted.” Lambert also said in his release that he feels “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the students of Paso Robles, and I wish the Board, Administration and District the very best.“
Photo by Steven Schouten Illustration by Casey Dumong
Kragh fights for open campus
News|
Petition aims to reach 1,400 by Brighton Garrett, World Editor
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n open campus attempt seems to resurface every year, permission in order but some students believe this year may offer a different to be eligible to leave outcome. Brian Kragh, 12, is taking charge and spreading at lunch. an open campus petition that aims to satisfy both students and Opening the administration. campus comes This year Kragh’s petition has captured bright-eyed students’ down to approval by attention as it rapidly spread via Instagram and social media. Board of Trustees, He started it because he “was talking with many [students] and and the Board is noticed they wanted to see a big change in our school, which was aware of students an open campus.” wanting to open the campus. Yet Board President Field Gibson Kragh plans to get two thirds of the school involved. He has does not support an open campus at this time. He cited problems reached 1,010 students as of Sept. 21, 2017. with the need for additional staffing, impact on neighbors, “This is not an easy thing to do. This is why I want to get traffic problems, and law enforcement. He also worried that two-thirds of the school involved so we can have administrative staff’s workload would be diverted from more momentum going with our petition,” said other tasks. Kragh, who, as Senior Class President, must Board member Chris Bausch, responding as do the petition after school hours. a parent of five graduated Bearcats, said he He, as well as many students, know would support an open campus. that an open campus can prepare for “Food options would be much larger, the the freedoms and responsibilities of opportunity for personal growth in managing adulthood. Yet administration and board one’s affairs and demonstrating personal members say they are unlikely to support responsibility would all be beneficial,” Bausch the petition, citing Bearcats’ safety and best said. But he declared that 35 minutes of lunch interests. time is not enough to depart, eat, return, and Eigthteen-year assistant Principal Tom make the Period 5 tardy bell. Harrington believes opening the campus “We would have a very difficult time putting has “just too much probability of someone getting BRIAN KRAGH, 12 constraints on certain people leaving campus and seriously injured.” certain people not leaving campus. We don’t have the Last year an attempt at an open campus reached over 1,000 resources,” Harrington said. students, the farthest it ever has in 18 years, but it eventually However, Kragh believes the plan is feasible. faded out, according to Social Studies teacher Geof Land. He said the California Ed Code 44808.5 permits high schools to Atascadero HS Principal Bill Neely oversees his campus’s have the privilege of an open campus. open lunch campus. “No person in the school district or any officer or employee is “There are two sides to every pancake. There may be some liable for the safety of the student during lunch if the school is student benefit, some downtown business benefit and maybe open campus,” Kragh explained. even some family benefit, but those benefits may come with “An open campus allows students to have more meal options some disadvantages as well. I’m sure there is some impact on and more time to be independent and do their own thing before traffic, neighborhoods, loss of time for eating due to travel, and they have to get back to the classroom and face all the stress maybe even a more frenzied pace for students,” Neely said. and responsibility that comes with school. It will give students Hunter Walden, a senior at AHS, likes having an open campus the opportunity to go home and get homework assignments and said it is “just [a] part of high school.” and food without having to lug those things around all day,” an His peer, Ian Marshall, 12, said, an open campus builds “trust anonymous leadership student said. with the campus, school administration, and [school] board.” But convincing students is only the first hurdle. However, PRHS administration is not convinced the benefits of “The real challenge lies in convincing parents, staff, community an open campus outweigh the risks. members, and board members an open campus policy promotes “The primary factors are student safety, student health, and student safety, health, achievement, and success at PRHS,” student attendance—all of which impact student achievement Sharon stated. and success... A closed campus promotes student safety, healthy As of right now, Kragh plans on growing his petition signatures. food choices, and punctual attendance,” Assistant Principal Dan He then wants to speak with the community. He wants to present Sharon said. administration with well-thought out plans and help them make Yet, Kragh’s petition regulations help counteract some of the best decision. administrations’ disquietude. He has added new provisions in “Let’s get this done,” Kragh declared. hopes of “having a good conversation with administration.” REMOVING STOPS: Open campus campaigns have His provisions require students to be a junior or senior earning historically started up each fall. Kragh’s petition is shaping a 2.5 GPA with no D’s or F’s in their previous semester, to have no up to be the most exhaustive effort ever to rally support. serious disciplinary or attendance issues, and to have a parental Photo by Madi Coons..
The 2017 Open Campus Campaign in brief
Graphic by Emily Mowery
10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | NEWS 03
|News
Solar dream becomes reality
Updates to the progress of solar panels
by Emily Mowery, Web Director
PRJUSD, Larry Grant part ways Team faces third former varsity football coach in two years by Ysabel Wulfing and Loretta Burke, People Co-Editors
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nyx construction workers have been working on the PRHS solar panels since May 2017 with twelve hour shifts fro,m 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. And although the workers work long hours, construction is now expected to be done some time in October. The initial date for PRHS to get 80 percent of their stalls, or panels, back was August 11, however, the official end date of construction was scheduled for the beginning of September according to TOM HARRINGTON Eric Martinez, the PRHS Principal. But delays are to be expected. “Construction projects routinely run over time,” explained Assistant Principal Thomas Harrington, “That is just the nature [of construction]. There are many different factors that affect the construction process which can not necessarily be anticipated, resulting in projects running over time.” Some grow impatient with the construction still and wish it to be over. Others have more complaints about the solar panels because they are not aesthetically
pleasing, that there is not enough room for their cars, and a concern for where the trees that used to reside have gone to. The trees that once photosynthesized by the student’s cars were put into a chipper over the summer, but many of the trees planted in the school parking lot were not of native origin and were plagued with diseases, according to Harrington. Although the construction is taking its time for completion and not everyone likes the look of them, they may like an atmosphere with reduced greenhouse gas emissions, an overall cleaner environment and reduced collective dependence on fossil fuel as well. Martinez explained that the panels will produce 1,714 kilowatts of energy, equaling over $160,741 saved per year. Within the next twenty years, PRHS will have saved over $5,441,307. “Needless to say, the project will pay for more than itself in a form of clean energy that we can be proud of,” Martinez said. Solar panels are an excellent way to save and make money; Solar Engineering contributes to provide jobs to over 374,000 for Americans (a rise in nearly twentyfive percent from 2015-2016, according to the Fortune). They also help create jobs with good income since Solar Panel installers earn $32000-$48000 depending on experience and knowledge, but Solar Photovoltaic Installers will normally get a wage of $48,700 per annum, according to Recruiter.
Solar Panels: By The Numbers
$160,741 $5,441,307 1,714
Projected savings per year for the school’s electric bill Projected savings in the year 2037 (over the next 20 years) Kilowatts produced by solar panels at PRHS
04 NEWS| Crimson Newsmagazine |10.6.17
ormer PRHS head varsity coach Larry Grant and the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District agreed to “mutually part ways,” Tuesday, Aug. 29, according to a statement released by the district the following day. Grant was hired in LARRY GRANT Jan. 2017 to replace former head c o a c h Rich Schimke after a controversial video was posted in Oct. 2016 on facebook depicting Schimke licking, or pretending to lick syrup off a player’s belly button. Schimke lead the PRHS varsity football program for 17 years. “There comes a time when you have to look at everything in an organization, our staff as well as Grant sat down and met and had a great conversation and mutually agreed to separate and part ways” superintendent Chris Williams said of the parting. Grant is a former linebacker, who played for the San Francisco 49ers in 2008 and 2011-2012, the St. Louis Rams from 2008- PRHS Varsity Football 2010, the Chicago Coaches: Bears in 2013 and the Rich Schimke 1999-2016 Cleveland Browns in Matt Carrol 2016-2017 2014 and who was the Larry Grant Apr- Aug 2017 NJCAA Defensive P.O.Y. of 2005. Grant was JR Reynolds Aug 2017-present an assistant coach at Foothill High school for one season and the defensive assistant coach at Clovis North High School in Fresno before being let go in mid season in Sept. 2016. On Wednesday, Aug. 30, Grant posted a note to his 30,597 followers on his twitter account stating, “I would like to sincerely thank the Paso Robles High School for the opportunity to serve as head coach for their prestigious school. I’ve gained some amazing relationships with my players at the high school level and even many, many kids in the youth here in Paso Robles. I wish the team and their new coach all the best going forward for the rest of the season.” Varsity football players have declined to comment, raising questions about the circumstances of the team. Some players such as Cameron Moore refused to be silent and commented on a Bearcat Boosters Facebook post on August 30th, writing, “Coach Grant always gave his 100% and cared about the whole team.” The district has started talk about the hiring of a new permanent coach. JR Reynolds - the current interim coach for the Bearcats is to finish the current season while the school board and district restart the interviewing process for a second time. Photos by Camden Tucker and Madison Funke
It takes Patience
Editorial|
Alterations of policies raises questions
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any in the student body are outraged by sudden and seemingly unjustified changes. Returning to campus this past month, the honeymoon period during the week of Aug. 20 was nstantly put to an end as students were met by changes and inconveniences such as construction n the parking lot, stricter rules regarding going into the parking lot during school hours, seniors’ lack of lockers and access to their cars, a third football coach lost within one year, construction on the track unfinished, a new system for tutorial, and tensions between students/teachers and administration. As a group of journalists, we try to seek and print the truth. The truth is that students are bothered by many developments this season. We can understand why. We have seen our peers shamefully escorted out of their fourth period classes to serve lunch detention for visiting the parking lot. We have watched Richard Schimke’s passionate speech on teachers facing pay cuts. We know the rumors of the causes for Larry Grant’s firing. And we witnessed a humble protest of parking lot restrictions fall through as students worried for their academic and athletic careers that could suffer at the hands of free speech. But we urge students to practice patience. Change is never easy, and although these ssues may seem inconvenient and ill-advised at the moment, it would be ignorant to assume that administration had no reasoning behind their decisions. Over time, students will begin to settle nto a routine, tensions will fade away, and this conflict will be in the past. Granted, it will be difficult to grow accustomed to this change, but the majority of those made are well within reason, and we hope that our peers will understand administration’s side as we have.
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—Crimson Staff Photo by Madison Funke
newsmagazine Student journalism at PASO ROBLES HS
Editor in Chief
Valeria Cisneros Co-Carmesi
Managing Editor Kathryn Varian Photo Essay Mason Seden-Hansen News
PR Director
Catalina Magnuson
Business Manager Hayley Lacey
Traveling to the parking lot may seem like a basic freedom, but to administration, it is a liability. They have little control of what goes on past the campus, and while restricting students from the parking lot has caused unrest, it’s not unreasonable. In fact, this policy has been in place for long before this school year, the enforcement has just grown stronger. “It wasn’t necessarily a change, just an emphasis on [this policy]: our parking lot rule has been there as far as we can look back in our student handbook,” said Principal Eric Martinez. Despite the age of this rule, administration has been forgiving: consequences for not being aligned with some policies were not issued until the fourth week. As these consequences were first distributed, up to 20 students served a 15 minute lunch detention for this offense; now, a month into the school year, 5-7 students are serving for a parking lot violation. This is simply one cause of unrest within the campus, but it serves as an example of others and the way they are being handled. There is always a bigger picture with these decisions and changes, and while it may be difficult to adjust, accommodations are made and the reasoning behind them stands. We also urge students to speak up. Students who wish to voice their opinions or better understand issues are encouraged, and can do so by meeting with Martinez, going to a board meeting, or relaying their concerns through leadership or elected officials. The student body will always have a voice, and one that demands to be heard. So have patience, because as bitter as it may seem, the aftertaste is sweet and well deserved.
Editors
Elise Scheiffele Opinion/Editorial Sarah Jagger Sports Jessica Jagger Sports Loretta Burke People Ysabel Wulfing People Marie Perez Opinion Brighton Garrett World Tyler Dunn Review Kaya McCasland Health Karina Neumann Health Phoebe Corgiat Environment Eric Contreras Carmesi Emily Mowery Web Director
Illustrator Emma Corippo
Reporters
Madi Coons Calynn Long Campbell Long McKensi Keller Camden Tucker Madison Funke
Business Team George Dominguez
Crimson, an open forum for the exchange of student ideas, is an independently funded Facebook newsmagazine produced by the journalism www.facebook.com/ crimsonnewsmagazine 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, Website www.crimsonnewsmag- or students. All stories, graphics, typesetting, azine.org 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. Email crimsonnewsmagazine@ Mail, and advertising on our pages. gmail.com
Adviser Circulation Manager Jeff Mount Emily Olsen
10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | EDITORIAL 05
|Opinion
no sugar Coating
COMPAS INVOLVEMENT (below) : Compas is one of the view programs that supports ELL students. Students from AVID and M.E.Ch.A tutor their peers during tutorial.
A monthly column: The logic behind a closed campus by Eise Scheiffele, Opinion and Editorial Editor
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t’s that time of year again, folks. We detest the disgustingly fluctuating weather, incessant alarm clock beeps at 6 a.m., and the same mundane school policies we have faced year after year. And, as we do so often, we try to alter the guidelines and regulations and satisfy our need to rebel: whether it be by countless petitions, a weak protest, or straight up disregarding the rules. Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as opposed as you are to the dress code that’s insensitive to the 100 plus degree heat. I personally prefer to wear shorts and a tank top in these hellish months so I don’t get heat stroke and die—especially since we aren’t allowed to sit in the air conditioned hallways at lunch or nutrition. But, for all the things I disagree with, there are some rules I understand just why they can’t change. Open campus has been one of the most sought-after ideas for decades here at PRHS. But, as umpteen petitions have floated around throughout the years, few moves have been made further than just that: a petition. Sure, being able to get over 1,000 signatures and almost 200 Facebook likes on the petition is ace, but obstacles such as students’ apathy and the project’s impracticality will collapse the project, similarly to the “Free the Bearcats” campaign from the 2015-16 school year. Senior Class President Brian Kragh desrves credit for taking the reins. His next step is pushing the open campus campaign to a place of actual administrative consideration. He plans to “get two-thirds of the school involved.” As I see it, what we fail to take into consideration as students is the impracticality it would be to support an open campus lunch period at this point in time. There are just too many variables. Our lunch period is only 35 minutes long, and with the inefficient layout of our parking lot, it would take 10 plus minutes just to get out of school. Plus, the limited fast food restaurants within reasonable distance of our school will all have lines out the door and drive-thru making it difficult for a speedy grab-and-go lunch. Liability is also an issue; we are still the responsibility of the school regardless of our whereabouts, and with an administration that doesn’t have a tight grip on everything quite yet, it’s just too hard to make it happen. I applaud you for your efforts, friends. But as I look logically at this situation — and supress my desire to get the hell out of here — open campus is a lost cause, unless there is a campaign that is genuine and strenuous in effort. Keep petitioning if you wish, but when somebody throws in the towel again, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
06 OPINION| Crimson Newsmagazine |10.6.17
We will protect you PRJUSD will support their dreamers in accordance to California law Photo by Madison Funke
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illions of Americans were shocked Tuesday, Sept. 5 when Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump administration would repeal DACA with a six month delay. The 800,000 Dreamers once protected by DACA are now puppets on a string and “contestants on [Trump’s] dysfunctional reality show,” CNN said. DACA, otherwise known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is an American immigration policy that allows minors without documentation to be eligible for a work permit and get a two-year period of deferred action from deportation that is also renewable. The people protected under this act are called Dreamers. As a Dreamer, Senior Diana Gonzalez was brought to America when she was only six years old. The now 18 year old is in two AP classes and plans to go to college to continue her education. But with the end of DACA, Gonzalez is now concerned that attending a university in America may not even be in her future. “I was scared, but also confused because I was watching so many things [about DACA] and so I was like ‘What’s going on?’. I was scared because I was like ‘Okay so this is something that is going to happen,’ and I don’t know what I’m going to do because when this program started, I didn’t really know what it was but [I knew] it was going to help me go to college, it was going to help me be safe and do better things,” Gonzalez said. Principal Eric Martinez is giving those with DACA status the assurance that PRJUSD’s priority is “ensuring a high quality education for all students that walk through [PRHS] doors” and that it is “important for [us] to provide the supports that are available for kids.” The California State Superintendent Tom Torlakson issued a statement denouncing the end of DACA, and “...told California public school students and their families that California will keep protecting and supporting them,” according to the California Dept. of Education.
by Elise Scheiffele, Opinion and Editorial Editor and Valeria Cisneros, Editor in Chief Under state legislature, PRJUSD is required to follow stateissued laws, which includes the denouncement of the DACA repeal. Unrelated to DACA, California has the California Dream Act, which allows undocumented student to receive state financial aid for college. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), which is in charge of the act, reassures students that they “ will take all available legal precautions to protect California Dream Act information, which is used solely to determine eligibility for state financial aid and is not shared with any other government agency.” “We also do follow under state legislature as well, our State Superintendent has made a commitment to support our DACA students and so we will make sure our actions are in alignment with the legislation,” Martinez said. Superintendent Chris Williams sent out a staff email in support of PRJUSD Dreamers, “The decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program is disturbing as these are our students, our community members and our families we serve. While I am disappointed by this news, we will continue to provide necessary support for every student and remain focused on educating all students at the highest level possible regardless of their immigration status or the status of their family members.” The state of California and PRJUSD are doing everythig in their power to denounce Trump’s DACA repeal, but with 800,000 lives on the line, it’s a huge number to protect. This repeal should have never been proposed; punishing one person for the mistakes of another is not the correct way to handle the situation, ever. President Trump is not a perfect person, and instilling cruelty upon people he deems to be cruel makes him no better than the “bad guys” he fears. From the words of Mahatma Ghandi, “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”
NORTH KOREA TIMELINE
World|
A brief insight into the history that has lead to current aggresion by Emma Corippo, Art Director
1948 - Kim II-sung is installed as the leader. 1950 : July 27, Korean War starts. 1953 - Korean war ends, with 36,914 deaths, North Korea and South Korea are in ruins.
1996 April - North Korea announces it will no longer follow the armistice signed by both Koreas that ended the Korean War. They deploy thousands of troops into the demilitarised zone. 2003 January - North Korea withdraws from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, marking the beginning of a series of six-party talks involving China, the Koreas, the US, Japan and Russia to try to resolve the nuclear issue. 2003 May - North Korea withdraws from 1992 agreement with South Korea to keep the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons.
2011 December -Kim Jong-il dies after years of health problems. Kim Jong-un becomes the new leader of North Korea at 26.
MISSILE TESTS: Over 600 Scud variants Around 200 Nodong Fewer than 50 Musudan and Taepodong
1945-48: After WWII, the Soviet Union takes control of North Korea while the US takes South Korea. In 1948, Kim II-sung is installed as the leader through the communist.
1998 - North Korea fires its first ever long-range missile the Unha-1 rocket, also known as the Taepodong-1 missile. The missile flew over japan, landing into pacific water.
2006 - North Korea is Sanctioned by the UN for testing weapons underground. 2009 May - North Korea carries out its second underground nuclear test, which is later disapproved by the UN.
2017 July - Pyongyang test fires a long-range missile into the Sea of Japan, with some experts stating the missile could potentially reach Alaska. 2017 August - Tension rises in war of words with US over North Korean threat to fire ballistic missiles near US Pacific territory of Guam. Graphics by Emma Corippo and Jeff Mount
UPDATE TODAY
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ithin the past decade, tensions between North Korea and the western world have been on a steady rise. Since Kim Jong Un became leader in 2011, the fear of Nuclear war has grown. Many nations, including the north’s one ally, China, have placed sanctions on goods that could allow them to build nuclear weapons. But that hasn’t stopped the north from continuing to develop their weaponry. During the time of the Soviet Union, the North, received most of its funding through them. When the Soviet Union collapsed on December 26, 1991, most of their funding stopped. Today, North Korea receives much of its weaponry from Iran, China, and Pakistan, according to BBC. In 2017, North Korea began to frequently test its weaponry, firing 17 missiles, according to CBS News. Despite global backlash, the North continues to further improve weaponry, and threaten the US and South Korea. Drastic measures were taken by the United Nations in 2016, placing sanctions on coal. But the North is still firing numerous missiles over Japan. Kim Jong Un claims that their weaponry has the ability to reach the west coast, just under 6,000 miles away.
On September 21, North Korea threatened to test a Hydrogen Bomb over the Pacific, two days after President Trump’s address at a UN General Assembly, according to CNN. Trump promised to “crush loser terrorists” if the country further threatened the United States and it’s allies. “We will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” Trump said. In response, North Korean foreign minister Ri Yongho warned that North Korea was ready to retaliate. “This could probably mean the strongest hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific Ocean,” said Yong-ho in New York. For 37 years, no nation has tested nuclear weapons above ground according to the NYtimes. But, that could quickly change. “By threatening to totally destroy North Korea, he created the impression around the world that it is actually the United States — instead of North Korea — that’s motivated by aggression. In effect, Trump gave Kim Jong-un a freebie for another major provocation. Kim will oblige, and claim that it was in ‘self-defense’ against Trump’s unnerving threats.” said Lee Sung-yoon, a Korea expert at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | WORLD 07
|World
Are we ready for our “Hurricane”?
PRHS emergency routines prepare students for natural disasters. by Campbell Long , Reporter
Hurricane Update C I
alifornia can relate to theses disaters because of the current possibility of a massive earthquake on the San Andreas Fault. This fault is an active strike-slip fault on the west coast extending from San Francisco to southern California. When this fault creates a massive earthquake it will leave major destruction on the west coast. “I haven’t really thought about it in detail because I can’t really imagine it happening,” said freshman Madi Loff in regards to her preparedness. In regards to safety procedures for an earthquake at school sophomore Mairin McNerney stated, “If it were to be a mild earthquake, I think I would feel fine at school. However, if it was a higher
by Campbell Long , Reporter
n the recent month’s, devastating hurricanes have blazed through the east coast leaving everyone in the US wondering, what’s next? On Aug. 25 for the first time in 56 years a major hurricane that is stronger than a category three, made landfall in Texas as a category four hurricane. Hurricane Harvey left more than 100,000 people without homes and dumped over 19 trillion gallons of water throughout southeast Texas. The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, predicts about 180 billion dollars in damage. Irma crashed through the Florida Keys and the Caribbean on September 10th, as a category five hurricane. With winds as low as 85 mph and as high as 130 mph, houses were ripped apart as if all of them were made of straw. The massive destruction of Irma has already cost millions of dollars, but the final cost could possibly take months to finalize. Hurricanes feed off of warm water and the ocean water has to be at least 79 degrees, but the Pacific waters are only on average around 60 degrees and can’t produce major tropical storms. With this, it is very unlikely to have a hurricane hit the state of California.
scale earthquake I would feel a little iffy.” Knowing that there is a possibility of something like this, students and staff must be prepared. Although students may be on the line about safety, the administration seems Madi Loff to have a handle on it as stated by the Photo by Catalina Magnuson assistant principal, Tom Harrington, “The school has a very extensive crisis plan in case of an emergency and that every October the school participates in the Great Shakeout.” Aside from the Great Shakeout, PRHS also has an extensive plan to help get the students out of the building and make Mairin McNerny sure there are no casualties. With all of Photo by George Dominguez the things that PRHS does for safety, it is easy to say that in case of an emergency, the school would be in pretty good shape.
Tom Harrington
Photos by Camden Tucker
Hurricane Categories
1 74-95 mph winds minimal damage Ex: Hurricane DAnny (1985)
2
96-110 mph winds Extensive damage Ex: Hurricane Erin (1995)
08 WORLD | Crimson Newsmagazine |10.6.17
3
96-110 mph winds Devastating Damage Ex: Hurricane katrina (2005)
5
4 130-156 mph winds Catastrophic damage Ex: Hurricane MAria (2017)
157+ mph winds Catastrophic Damage Ex: Hurricane Irma (2017) Illustrations by Emily Mowery
Carmesi|
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The Crimson spanish section is dedicated to the Spanish speakers of our community. La sección española de Carmesí está dedicada a los hispanohablantes de nuestra comunidad.
Foto a la izquierda por Valeria Cisneros Foto a la derecha es marcado para reutilización con modificación
TE VAMOS A PROTEGER PRJUSD apoyará a sus Dreamers de acuerdo con la ley de California
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por Valeria Cisneros, Jefa de los Editores, Elise Scheiffele, Editora de Opinión
illones de estadounidenses estaban sorprendidos el Martes, 5 de por el estado, que incluye la denuncia de la derogación DACA. No relacionado con Septiembre, cuando el Fiscal General Jeff Sessions anunció que la DACA, California tiene tiene el California Dream Act, que permite a estudiantes administración de Trump derogaría DACA con un retraso de seis meses. indocumentados recibir ayuda financiera estatal para la Universidad. La California Los 800.000 Dreamers una vez protegidos por DACA ahora son estudiantil Comisión (CSAC), que está a cargo de la P: Cómo reaccionaste ayuda marionetas en una cuerda y “concursantes de Trump y su reality ley, tranquiliza a los estudiantes que “tomarán todas las cuando oíste que DACA precauciones legales disponibles para proteger la información show disfuncional”, dijo CNN. Senior Diana González fue traída a América cuando tenía se iba desaparecer? de California Dream Act, que se utiliza únicamente para sólo seis años de edad. Ahora tiene 18 años y toma dos clases de determinar la elegibilidad para ayuda financiera estatal y no se AP y planea ir a la universidad para continuar su educación. Pero con comparte con ninguna otra agencia del gobierno.” el fin de DACA, González ahora le preocupa que ella no va poder ir a “También seguimos bajo la legislatura del estado, así, nuestro la universidad en su futuro. Superintendente del estado se ha comprometido a apoyar a “Estaba asustada, pero también confundida porque nuestros estudiantes DACA y así nos aseguraremos nuestras estuve viendo tantas cosas [de DACA] y pensé ‘¿qué está acciones están en concordancia con la legislación, dijo sucediendo?’. Tuve miedo porque estaba pensando ‘Okay, Martínez. esto es algo que va a suceder,’ y no sé lo que voy a hacer Superintendente Chris Williams envió un correo porque cuando comenzó este programa realmente no sabía electrónico de personal en apoyo de soñadores PRJUSD, “la lo que era, pero que va a ayudarme a ir a la universidad, va decisión de rescindir la acción diferido a ayudarme a estar segura, y hacer mejor las cosas, “dijo para el programa de llegadas (DACA) González. de la infancia es preocupante Director Eric Martínez aseguró que la prioridad de PRJUSD ya que estos son nuestros es “garantizar una educación de alta calidad para todos los estudiantes, nuestros miembros estudiantes que caminan a través de puertas [PRHS]” y cómo de la comunidad y nuestras es “importante para [nosotros] proporcionar las ayudas que están familias que servimos. Aunque estoy disponibles para los niños.” decepcionado por esta noticia, seguiremos El Superintendente del estado de California Tom Torlakson emitió un comunicado a proporcionar la asistencia necesaria para cada denunciando el fin de DACA y “le dijo a estudiantes de escuelas públicas de California estudiante y permanecer enfocado en educar a todos y sus familias que California mantendrá protección y apoyo,” según el Departamento los estudiantes en el nivel más alto posible sin importar Diana Gonzalez, 12 de California de Educación. su estado migratorio o el estado de sus familiares.” Bajo la legislatura del estado, es necesaria que PRJUSD sigue las leyes expedidas
An English version can be found on page 6
Photos by Camden Tucker
10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | CARMESI 09
Reviews|
The Glass Castle
TODAY’S MOVIES
by Kathryn Varian, Managing Editor
Jeanette Walls’ memoir done justice on screen
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magine having a mentally unstable mother, who put more care into her paintings than feeding you, a dad whose sole way of teaching you to swim is throwing you into the deep end of the pool, and squatting in house after after in town after town; this is just a few of the scenes that plague Destin Daniel Cretton’s film, “The Glass Castle.” This bildungsroman is based on Jeannette Walls’ 2005 memoir and tells the hard to believe story of her upbringing with her three siblings and parents Rex and Rose. Her father Rex, played by Woody Harrelson, is an alcoholic with big dreams and no motivation, while her mother Rose Mary, portrayed by Naomi Watts, was an apathetic painter who could care less about being a mom. As Walls, played by Brie Larson, and her three siblings drive their car that is barely on four wheels racing from “the feds,” Rex promises his children a Glass Castle. Constantly saying that “all this running around is just temporary,” the children grow out of dreaming big and into barely surviving. In today’s world of uncertainty, The Glass Castle will give you faith in the American Dream again. Walls goes onto live a successful life despite having all odds against her for her entire adolescence. This movie is a comedy, a tragedy, and a coming of age story all in one. It is a masterpiece of human suffering equipped with all the things each and every one of us goes through: utter tragedy, brutal anger, limitless love, and overwhelming joy. Go and see it for yourself; you will not be disappointed.
Glass Castle Ratings: Crimson Score:
7.2/10 48%
Editors Note: This is Woody Harrleson’s fifth starring role in 2017. HIs roles include: War for the Planet of the Apes, Wilson, Lost in London, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
We all float down here
The re-adaptation of the classic horror novel of the same name by Stephen King hits theatres on September 8th. by Tyler Dunn, Review Editor
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986: the year the novel “IT” was written by the legendary Stephen King, also known for “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption”, “The Shining”, “Carrie”, “Misery”, and “The Dark Tower”. Fast-forward 31 years and ‘IT’ hits the big screen for the first time. Yes, the novel has also been adapted into a two episode mini series in 1990, but this is the first time Pennywise, the clown, has been shown in theatres. The film re-adaptation was released on September 8th and since then, has had huge box office success. Making 123.1 million dollars in the opening weekend alone, “IT” has stunned hollywood by cashing in 40-50 Crimson Score: million more than was expected, for that weekend alone. For being an R rated film, it surprised many by filling theatres nationwide. Taking place in the fictional town of Derry, Maine, a group of neighborhood kids who call themselves “The Losers Club” discover the daunting past of their small town. “Derry is not like any town I’ve been in before. People die or disappear, six times the national average. And that’s just grown ups. Kids are worse. Way, way worse,” character Ben Hanscom said. Together they bond through being victims of bullying, and attempt to overcome their fears as they try and stop It from taking more children than it already has. Directed by Andy Muschietti, the film stars the up and coming Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise. Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things, plays Richie Tozier. Sophia Lillis (Beverly Marsh), Jack Dylan Grazer (Eddie Kaspbrak), and Jaeden Lieberher (Bill Denbrough) are just some of the talented young actors in this
frightening, yet beautiful film. Despite their short careers and never working together beforehand, these adolescent stars have chemistry, something not many actors develop quickly. Not much could be viewed as “bad” in this film, but there is some parts that moviegoers are more likely to feel as though a scene was done poorly. A couple scenes in particular can be thought of as “cheesy”, a result of lazy screenwriting. These few scenes are ineffective when it comes to the overall quality of the movie. Therefore, it does not change how good this film truly is. Ever since Haley Joel Osment’s performance in “The Sixth Sense” back in 1999, child acting has been held to a high standard, for there is more expected from young actors/actresses. The “Losers Club” did not disappoint and excelled at their roles, each and every one of them. 27 year old Bill Skarsgard is truly a star in the making with his outbreak role that many consider better than the beloved Tim Curry’s portrayal of the killer clown. The few jump scares and utter creepiness of the film were done extremely well. With good screenwriting, visual effects, and the CGI done right, Andy Muschietti and his crew proved they knew what they were doing with the making of this film. Muschietti is starting to make a name out of himself in Hollywood, and he should be a director to look out for in the future. Although leaving out a couple things from the award winning book, “IT” pretty much followed the storyline spot on, with little to no changes to the narrative. All in all, the film may not be perfect, nor be considered the best of 2017, but it is certainly one to recommend. The terrifying novel turned to film is a must see this fall.
Ratings:
7.9/10 85%
10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | REVIEWS 11
|Reviews
TODAY’S RAP Peace, love, and positivity Artist Logic writes the album dedicated to ‘Everybody’ and confronts controversial issues
EVERYBODY
by Valeria Cisneros, Carmesi Editor
Crimson Score:
T
he newly released Logic album ‘Everybody’ is confronting controversial topics like politics, homophobia, and race. With this being his third studio album, Logic, is writing about issues his audience has never heard him talk about before. More specifically he talks about how he himself as a biracial man, growing up looking white but feeling black and how that has been difficult for him. In a majority of his songs, he raps about being biracial and he especially writes about in the fifth song ‘Take It Back’. “Everybody wanna tell me what I am, what I am not / You ain’t white you are… white boy” Along with issues of race, Logic wrote the song ‘1-800-273-8255’, which spoke about depression. A subject that rappers don’t see to talk about often. The song aptly named after the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, has raised awareness
about depression. So much so that, calls for the hotline have increased by 33 percent and the hotline is seeing three times the activity on social media. “We had the second-highest call volume in the history of our service the day of the song’s release,” said John Draper, who has been director of NSPL for 13 years. Critics of the album say that the song is too heavy on race and that Logic is “complaining” about being biracial. Logic however, pushes a message of equality and unity: “Overtime the tracks became about everyone. You look on the album cover, everybody. Who’s this album for, everybody. What perspective am I rapping from, everybody. I wanted to make it more about that [and] not make it try to make it a fight about what’s going on in my life,” the rapper stated in an interview with HardKnockTV.
Second to none Brockhampton’s Saturation II as eclectic and gripping as their debut
SATURATION II
by Elise Scheiffele, Editorial and Opinion Editor
T
hree months following their debut album, Brockhampton’s Saturation II, released Sept. 6, is just as compelling and unique as it’s prequel. The group, insisting on being called a “boy band” rather than a crew or collective, is made up of 15 rappers, producers and artists who moved to Los Angeles with “$300 to [their] names.” They revamped the alternative rap game with Saturation and Saturarion II, mixing g-funk synths with snake charming pentatonics. Merlyn Woods, Kevin Abstract, and Ameer Vann make up a few of the eight voices on Brockhampton’s songs. Their dissonance and varying levels of vocals creates a sound unreachable to any other group. The Los Angeles group develops their sound in II to something more aggressive and punchy, moving away from the sleekness found on I. Brockhampton’s
12 REVIEWS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 10.6.17
Crimson Score:
catchiest songs all separate the most attractive sounds found within them. “...like a keyboard arpeggio on their debut’s ‘Gold’ or string plucks on II’s ‘Jello’,” Matthew Strauss, an acclaimed Pitchfork review writer, said. II’s 16 tracks brings out the very different roles and personalities of each member, from Abstract’s ability to kill any hook he’s on, to Dom McLennon’s unwavering flow, to JOBA’s falsetto magic and stability as a rapper when needed. Brockhampton is beginning to progress and come out of their shells within their music. As the second part of a musical trilogy, II paves a great path for the wrap up, Saturation III. Still riding the fence between pop and hip-hop genres, the neo-authentic “boy band” took an approach to music that rewrote the rap game, and portrayed a bona fide coolness and fresh perspective more than a need to be risky and to stand out.
New Horizons|
New Horizons
New Horizons E
“The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” —Christopher McCandless, American hiker and itinerant traveler
ach morning the sun rises in the east and each day new experiences, new challenges, new people, and new promises are presented to us. It is up to us to take full advantage of the new horizons. For 675 new freshmen bearcats, high school in itself, is a new horizon, and for 480 senior Bearcats, 2017-18 is the last sun on the horizon of their high school career. Whether it is in the new classes you take, new clubs you join, new
passions you discover, or the new friends you make; these experiences will all feed into the richness of your time here. We challenge you to branch out of your bubble and meet new people, experience new things, and add more colors to your horizon, for without change we will never grow. It has been our task to capture some of the colors of this horizon. We hope you enjoy the view.
— Crimson Staff 10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | NEW HORIZONS 13
|New Horizons
Samantha Woolf
J.R. Reynolds
Alumni of PRHS
Alumni of PRHS
NEW FACES AT PRHS
New Horizons|
Elizabeth Dustin
Katelynn Lee
by Hayley Lacy, Business Manager & Brighton Garrett, World Editor
Elizabeth Cordoba
World Languages
Varsity Girls Volleyball Head Coach
Varsity Football Head Coach
“Winning is not the most important aspect of playing a sport.. Going out and giving 110% from point 1 to point 25 is, never give up, be consistent.”
“There is always a mean to my madness… Student athletes ALWAYS come first… never take shortcuts.”
Stacey Scott Alumni of PRHS
JV Volleyball Coach
Vicki Luna
Alumni of PRHS
Freshman Volleyball Coach
“Work hard, play as a team, have fun, and improve every week.”
“Play as a team, win as a team, and lose as a team. Nothing is individual.”
Dan Loney
Billy Gallant
Photo by George Dominguez
Alumni of PRHS
Alumni of Mission Prep
JV Football Coach
Freshman Football Coach
“There is always a mean to my madness… Student athletes ALWAYS come first… never take shortcuts.”
14 NEW HORIZONS | Crimson Newsmagazine |10.6.17
“When it comes to players it’s really all about players they always have to be our first priority it’s not about us it’s about the team and the players… We are PLAYING the game of football.” Photos by Mckensi Keller, Layout by Hayley Lacy, Graphics by Emma Corippo
Spanish
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by Hayley Lacy, Business Manager
ast year, Cordoba was hired as a substitute teacher for our Spanish 3 and 4 classes. But this short term resolution quickly turned full time when the position of the Spanish teacher didn’t pan out. We found ourselves in need of a skilled individual willing to fill the position- which Cordoba fit perfectly. She formerly taught at Santa Maria High School For 20 years, up until she decided to retire. With her new found time, Cordoba followed her passion in starting her own line in designing bicycle clothing. But after some time, she realized teaching was close to her heart and immediately applied for the full time position as the Paso Robles High School Spanish 1 and 2 teacher. “The longer I stayed, the more I liked it, and by the end of the year (last year substituting), I had fallen in love. We have a very cool culture here and I felt so appreciated, and that made me want
to come back,” Cordoba said.
Sean Mccallon Alumni of PRHS
New Horizons
JV Tennis Coach
“Lead by example.”
Science
“I like the area, I’ve always spent a lot of vacations in San Luis Obispo County.”
“I took a tour of the campus and it was just so beautiful, and then I started to hear about how awesome this school and district is.”
Kevin McDonald
Hilary Walters
Performing Arts
“My favorite thing about Paso Robles High School is 100% the students, that’s the reason to have any teaching job- to work with your students, and see this beautiful growth in them.”
Nathaniel Ybarra
English
“My favorite thing about PRHS is the people. There seems to be a lot of solidarity among the staff.”
Alicia Witman
Special Education
English and Performing Arts
“My favorite thing about PRHS is the awesome weather.”
“I would have to say the administrative staff are very supportive and have all been really wonderful to me.”
10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | NEW HORIZONS 15
|New Horizons
PRHS Welcomes Meinert New deputy principal Nathan Meinert leaves former math teaching position at SLO High
Photo by Gabriela Clayton
by Gabriella Clayton,Copy Editor
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ew Deputy Principal Nathan Meinert is using his math skills to find the perfect equation for ways to improve Bearcat Country. Transferring from SLO High School as a math teacher, Meinert is eager to start his first year being a Deputy Principal. Rather than a Head Principal, a Deputy Principal’s duty is mainly focused on creating a positive impact on student and teacher learning, along with supporting PRHS’s campus and educational success. A Deputy Principal bureaucrats instruction, curriculum, and assessments in regards to those for both teachers and students. The ambitions and aspirations of Meinert’s job is to precisely focus on the roles of progress and advancement of PRHS’s principles that “every student will have success.” Meinert states that “there is nothing more fun than working with teenagers” and his passion for teaching and helping students is his motivation to do well in the works of others. Math was his gateway to a career and his way of “helping all students achieve their dreams, figure out who they want to be, learn how to think for themselves and grow into being young
adults.” Meinert decided to go to Cal Poly and become a Mustang ten years ago and received his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and his Teaching Credential six years ago. Not long after, he became a math teacher and after five years he made a return to Cal Poly to receive his Masters in Educational Leadership and Administration. The roles of leadership play a significant factor in his life. He knew that he was a natural leader and when the job opportunity came, Meinert stated that he “knew it was the right fit.” With two other applicants competing for former Deputy Principal, Kristen Shouse’s job, Meinert was the most qualified candidate. Prior to his new job, he was also head of the math department chair at SLO High from 2014 to 2017 and was also an athletic director for two years. With the variety of leadership fortuities that Meinert seized, he states that he enjoys the aspects that come with a leadership role.
16 NEW HORIZONS | Crimson Newsmagazine |10.6.17
On the contrary to SLO HS, “Paso has an abundance of school spirit and unity that most other schools don’t offer”. The spirit and friendliness on campus is Meinert’s favorite aspect to the school. Seeing new faces everyday, along with working with staff members such as Mr. Martinez, Mr. Sharon, Mr. Harrington, and Mrs. Clayton encourages Meinert everyday and pushes him to work tenaciously for PRHS. Meinert believes he was born a natural leader and he believes that his faith in The Lord gives him the strength to do the job he has. With such a positive campus already, Meinert states that he believes “there is never an end point with improvement and even just a simple smile can make the campus a better place.”
New Horizons
NEW BEARCATS SWEll ENROLLMENT New Horizons
Historic enrollment makes PRHS the fastest growing county school by Calynn Long, Reporter
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he numbers of enrollment for this school year have jumped enormously from last year. The enrollment by the end of last year was at 1,939 and currently PRHS is at 2,181 Bearcats on campus. Growing at a With the freshman class has a total of 609, sophomore class at 553, junior class at 540, and finally the senior class at 479 students for the 2017-2018 school year. This school year PRHS has been deemed the highest growing school in the county. With Atascadero High School only going up three students from 1,331 to 1,334 for the 2015/2016 to 2016/2017. the San Luis Obispo High School grew 121 students from the school year of 2016/2017 to 2017/2018. Having a total enrollment of 1,406 last year to now having 1,527 in the current school year. These days walking through the campus of PRHS without bumping into many students might be a little more difficult than last year with a total of 216 more bearcats enrolled. The amount of new students that have been enrolled into PRHS this has formed a new perspective regarding the way that the school is run. With a flood of students Principal Eric Martinez had many remarks on how PRHS grew with abundance this school year. “I believe it is because students and families want to be part of our organization [high school and school district]. We have many passionate educators who are focused on providing opportunities for student success. We also have a wide variety of co and extra curricular activities for students. We have also had great success showcasing our school’s academic accomplishments such as Crimson, Skills USA to name a few, as well as being recognized as a top 10% school in the Nation and as a California Gold Ribbon School.” Eleven new teachers have been hired to field courses for the enrollment bump. Even with the amount of new staff students still see many of their class rooms filled abnormally large. “My Precalculus class has 39 students, the class is packed and it’s crazy,” sophomore Audrey Hughes said. While even students are seeing the effects from the increasing of enrollments, the teachers even can see the enlarging of PRHS from their
classes to just watching the crowds. Locker shortages plagued many seniors This year over 50 seniors did not receive lockers and were not allowed to store their books in their cars. Locker shortages were solved within the first weeks of school by offering a reward for those underclassmen that weren’t using their lockers. Even though there can be issues like the locker situation there can be many advantages of the enrollment increase for PRHS and the whole district. “Anytime we have any increase in students it increases the level of diversity on campus. It also provides our programs with the ability to grow in their levels of student participation. Our growth also could mean more additional growth for the district, as siblings could attend our elementary and middle schools. The increase in their numbers could have the same positive effect” Martinez said. No matter the struggles at first like the locker situation PRHS will always welcome as many new bearcats as possible, because we’re bearcats and that’s what bearcats do.
ENROLLMENT GAINS 2013 - 2017
Policies Update ‘17-’18 by Mason Seden-Hansen, Managing Editor
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RHS administration has re-crafted policies for the 20172018 school year, including in the areas of tardies, tutorial and dress code. Students can expect increased tardy and dress code policy enforcement, as well as a tutorial focused on behavior and emotional well-being and academics. “We want to be able to react when students are struggling, before it gets to be too late,” Assistant Principal Tom Harrington said. Student extracurricular activity participation is now subject to many of the regulations that restricted athletic participation. In order to participate in any extracurricular or co-curricular activity, such as music groups, cheerleading, student government, leadership, club officers, dances, student performances, performing arts, work permits, and SkillsUSA, among others, a student must have a GPA of at least 2.0 for the quarter, and maintain “satisfactory citizenship,” according to the PRHS official website. The policy is meant to ensure that students are maintaining adequate progress towards graduation and college and career readiness. We want all students to be involved in the multiple opportunities that are available to them...however not at the expense of their academic achievement,” principal Eric Martinez said. Tardy punishments have changed this year as well. Students will now be required to attend a twenty minute lunch detention after their 8th cumulative tardy, lunch detention and a vice principal conference after their 12th, Saturday school and a vice principal parent conference after their 16th, and another vice principal parent conference after their 20th. Tutorial has undergone major shifts as well. Students are no longer required to turn in tutorial forms each week, and no longer need signed approval to travel. Instead, students may simply sign out to leave class, and a once a month, more comprehensive tutorial form will be required. The new tutorial form now includes mental health and goal-setting areas, in addition to academic analysis. In addition, teachers will have meetings with their tutorial students to discuss goals, mental health and other topics. “[PRHS staff wanted to] make tutorial more effective [and to] monitor students on a regular basis on their grades, attendance, social and emotional well being, and discipline,” Harrington, who led a committee of teachers and other staff aiming to improve tutorial, said. The change has been well-received by teachers. Algebra II and Calculus teacher Kirsten Riggenbach, who has previously worked with her tutorial students to set goals, said that it was “excellent” the practice was becoming common to all tutorial classes.
Design by Loretta Burke
10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | NEW HORIZONS 17
|New Horizons
The New Fish in the Sea Meet six students of the Class of 2021 by Catalina Magnuson, PR Director
Photos by Catalina Magnuson
Brie Howenstine
Lottie Abascal
Kasey Nguyen
Favorite class- English Favorite part about high school so far is the great amount of snack bar options and the school spirit. In high school she hopes to “get straight A’s and be very involved in the school”
Favorite class- Science Favorite part about high school so far is the great amount of snack bar options In high school she hopes to be “adequately prepared for college, learn more about myself, make some new friends, and have fun.”
Favorite class- none Favorite part about high school so far is the great amount of snack bar options. In high school she hopes to get “fulfill my expectations as an Asian and to be[come] a doctor.”
How welcome do you feel?
Welcome Scale
Welcome Scale
Welcome Scale
Declan Higgins
Khang Troung
Jason Scruggs
Favorite class- Intro to Multimedia Journalism. Favorite part about high school so far is the abundance of people, variety of classes, and higher level learning. In high school he hopes to “graduate with straight A’s and take a variety of classes”
Favorite class- Math Favorite part about high school so far is the school spirit. In high school he hopes to get “straight A’s, be king of the school, and be ASB president.”
Favorite class- Beginning Drama Favorite part about high school so far is the abundance of people In high school he hopes to be “one of the top people in my class, grade-wise and I hope to make the cross-country and track varsity team.”
Welcome Scale
18 NEW HORIZONS | Crimson Newsmagazine |10.6.17
Welcome Scale
Welcome Scale Design by Emma Corippo
Traveling across the horizon
New foreign exchange students set and goals for their year abroad
New Horizons
by Sarah Jagger, Sports Editor
H.JS. L.V.
Beatrice Carniato S.H.
B.C.
“I want to learn English, make new friends, and learn American culture.”
TREVISO, ITALY
Hannah Juell-Skielse Lara Vanhove
“I hope that I will be able to learn the rules of American football.”
“I would like to speak English perfectly, be less shy and grow up.”
SWEDEN
BELGIUM
Rintaro Wantabe “My goal is to play sports with Americans. I will join a rugby club in SLO. Also, I want to get good English skills.”
K.S. R.W.
YOTSUYA, JAPAN
Simon Hubner “I want to enjoy my year and make it unforgettable.”
ZARAGOZA, SPAIN Graphics by Ysabel Wulfing
B.C. R.W. K.S.
Beatrice Carniato Rintaro Wantabe Kai Sugiyama
H.JS. L.V. S.H.
Hannah Juell-Skielse Lara Vanhove Simon Hubner
Kai Sugiyama “I want to learn English, make new friends, and learn American culture.”
TOKYO, JAPAN
NEW TECH: District Grants $500,000 for Chromebook Distribution
Paso High Students will be receiving personal laptops starting in October
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by Madison Funke, Reporter
game changer for Paso Robles High School arrives Oct. 10 as Paso Robles Joint Unified “The reaction at the middle school has been very positive. Teachers and students both have adjusted well to the use and access to technology. I expect the same for the high School District will check out every student a $225 Lenovo N23 Chromebook school.” in his or her English class. Students grades 9 to 12 will be able to have But, many freshmen also complained about eye strain and fewer discussions that internet and textbook access over any wifi. The district's vision, backed by a $506,250 result from hours on the laptops. “I like the old school way, without technology. Using investment, is that every student will be prepared for success in college, career and the online learning, we learn more on our own and don't interact with the teachers as community. much,” said freshman, Chloe Callarman. The district went through possible options of buying a Chrome cart for each For student safety, the district abides by the laws set forth by CIPA, the same classroom, but saved $100,000 by opting for an individual checkout system. Lightspeed online filter system used in classrooms and the library will be on all Daniel E. Lewis and Flamson middle schools have distributed Chromebooks for Chromebooks. The filter can access any account's browsing history, if needed. Parents over a year to students in grades 6 through 8. Ronalee Andersen are expected to monitor their children’s activity for academic success, according to Freshman Ryan Slawson commented, “I believe that the Chromebooks are a very Andersen. useful tool for PRHS. Students that are absent and don't have computer access will A Chromebook handbook will be going home for parents and students be able to make up assignments easily. However, I think that with the Chromebooks can become to sign an agreement contract that includes the choice of insurance. over dependent. If teachers are relying too much on Chromebooks, it may be very hard for The laptop can be uninsured, put it on personal insurance, or students to get the one on one interactions that they need. A teacher based curriculum is very bought for $20.00 for one student. For those who do not want functional and works very well for a multitude of students.” a Chromebook, there is an opt out contract available, but is not Homework is expected to be turned in via Google Classroom, students cannot print from the advised because students are expected to have their checked Chromebook, but if needed they can log into any desktop and print. out laptops in class. Ronalee Andersen, Educational Technology Supervisor, is excited and has high hopes for the high school. 10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | NEW HORIZONS 19
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Subscriptions 2017-2018 Dear parents & business owners, We on the Crimson staff would love to deliver our keen, nationally awarded teen journalism to your doorstep or business. A Crimson subscription keeps you informed about PRHS and its students, and promotes quality journalism education. Please consider subscribing! Valeria Cisneros // Editor-in-Chief Jeff Mount // Adviser Crimson is a 6-time NSPA All American and 2017 3rd Best of Show at the Nat’l HS Journalism Convention
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Environment|
Crimson Newsmagazine // 10.6.17
NATIONAL PARKS FACE BUDGET CUTS Congress aims for biggest NPS budget cut since World War ll by Sarah Jagger, Sports Co Editor
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illions of travelers, nature lovers, students, scouts, and more visit national parks every day. These experiences are enhanced by visitor services, protective acts over park land, and hundreds of staff members. With President Trump’s National Parks Service (NPS) budget proposal for 2018, staff will be cut, protective measurements will be lessened, and visitor services will be limited, as the proposed budget would cut about 380 million dollars and 1,250 staff members from national parks across the U.S. These budget cuts would also eliminate funding for the National Heritage Area program and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and opportunities for local input and environmental review of energy development near national parks and other sensitive areas, to name a few. With these cuts, parks face vulnerability to development within their boundaries, the lack of protection of their natural resources, and limitation of visitor services. “What Trump doesn’t understand is how vital the natural world is for all of us,” said Senior Jeneva Putman, Vice President of Wilderness Club and GEO student. This is not the first time U.S. national parks budgets have been cut. In 2011, more than 100 million dollars were slashed from the parks’ 2.75 billion dollar budget. For this year’s budget, the National Parks Service (NPS) requested 2.6 billion dollars, which would be 378.5 million dollars below 2016’s budget, according to Nationalparkstraveler.org. These cuts most likely demonstrate the government’s priorities, according to medium.com. “Trump administration’s priority is driving the crown jewel of our public lands, the National Park Service, into the ground while freeing up funds for oil, gas and coal development,” (In their own words: National Park Service explains impacts of crippling cuts in President Trump’s proposed budget, medium. com). There are 417 parks in the National Parks System totalling 84 million acres of land across the U.S., with California home to 28 parks, the most out of any other state. Visitorship peaks up to 40,742,515 people annually, according to www.nps.gov. These visitors display just one of the many ways to aid national parks in the face of budget cuts. For those who would like to support national parks, websites such as nationalparks.org provide a fast, efficient way to donate money. Other method of helping include volunteering, purchasing National Park Foundation products, which are offered in park gift shops and online, and, again, simply going to national parks. Nearby parks include Yosemite, Big Sur, and Sequoia. Through public support, national parks are able to further expand and maintain their offered services. The services and protections provided by the NPS budget are vital to many experiences at national parks, including the GEO trip to Zion each spring. With accessible guest services, the struggle of obtaining a permit to backpack in the park is alleviated significantly. If certain visitor services are eliminated, obtaining that permit may be more difficult. “If the staff gets cut at Zion or any other national park that’s experiencing a lot of visitor ship, then they’re gonna have a hard time giving the help and the support of the services to the visitors that come,” said Mark Dimaggio, Geo teacher and Wilderness Club advisor. Although it may be more difficult to obtain a permit and staff services may be cut, Dimaggio stated that he does not predict the annual Geo trip to Zion being eliminated. The class will
Graphics by Casey Dumong & Trevor Jaureguy
most likely continue its 24 year tradition of traveling to Zion, despite changes in visitor services. In terms of the general public, parks may have to close or limit hours for campgrounds and/or facilities. This would mean fewer guest services, less available camping, and perhaps most detrimental to national parks, would impede the parks’ abilities to protect their natural resources. Oil and gas companies would be the few to benefit from these cuts, as park land would be unprotected to drilling, mining, grazing, and timber harvesting. Without the Clean Water Act or the Clean Air Act, scenic vistas may be hazed by pollution, lakes and rivers may be polluted, and the fresh air of national parks might not be as clean. Since 2011, the annual parks budget has decreased 11 percent, while visitation has increased 17 percent. With continuing trends, parks will find it more and more difficult to support visitors as before. National parks provide common access to nature, educate on topics such as cultural resource projects, protect plant and animal species, and attract millions of people each year. Looking at the data, the question on many minds is, “How long before park budgets are cut to their demise”?
Average Number of National Parks in Each State
<5.2 5.2-9.4 9.4-13.6 13.6-21.4 >21.4
10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | ENVIRONMENT 21
|Health
MENTAL HEALTH PUTS UP A FIGHT
PRHS handling the issues of teenage mental health by Karina Neumann, Co- Health Editor and Phoebe Corgiat, Environment Editor
Photo by Emily Olsen
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ental health is the foundation for a constructive school environment: the balance of the mind, body, and spirit is essential for an adolescent student.The staff at PRHS make it a priority to keep students feeling safe and secure to enhance the ability to learn. “The way we handle ourselves emotionally, mentally, physically, has a great significance on our relationships, on our behavior, and other people - consequences are huge. So I think mental health is very very very important,” PRHS athletic clerk Holly Bigelow said. In a study done by Youth.gov “one in every four to five youth in the general population (U.S) meet criteria for a lifetime mental disorder that is associated with severe role impairment.” Mental health is being mentioned in our everyday life more and more as time passes, it is becoming more relevant and administration at PRHS are creating new and easy ways to incorporate mental health into our life at school. The improved monthly tutorial forms ask simple questions to make sure students are emotionally sound as well as stable in their grades and classes. “It was important in tutorial to make sure that not only are we supporting students academically, we are supporting them socially, and emotionally and how they feel connected to the class and how they feel as a person in school,” principal Eric Martinez said. Efforts are being made by the administration to integrate mental health, they value the simple and easy ways to accommodate student needs. Once a month, students receive a sheet that asks what classes they take, their grades for the class, and what they can do to improve that grade. It also asks simple questions about stress and what their levels of emotion are. “Students need to feel safe and secure in their environment in order to really learn and absorb and so I think if mental health is affecting how
HEALTH 22 | Crimson Newsmagazine |10.6.17
the student feels and they are not able to concentrate or be present in the classroom, then it directly affects their learning in a negative way,” guidance counselor specialist Jennifer Clayton said. “So I’d say I know that one of the main reasons students don’t go to counseling for help is because of the threat of their parents finding out”, an anonymous student from PRHS said. In past years, students have fallen silent in confronting their mental health. But with these new regulations, students will be able to reach out with ease. This will be the first year that our counselors and psychologists will be going to classrooms and doing what’s called Signs of Suicide curriculum. All grade levels here will receive this curriculum, teaching students the acronym ACT: acknowledge, care, and tell, throughout the year. The district also uses a program called ASIST training, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. “Well we have two thousand students and a certain percentage of those students are going to struggle with mental health issues whether it’s depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. It could be a lot of differant things and so you’re going to have a significant number of students who are going to struggle with that. We as educators have to be prepared to deal with that and support those students through those struggles,” Assistant Principal Tom Harrington said. Twice a year Clayton and Cheryl Gibson, a school psychologist, will be providing any adult that wants to learn how to intervene in a suicidal position. The ASIST program has been in place for three years, they have two classes, one in the fall, and one in the spring. “I believe that the ASIST training has aligned our support staff and our efforts to be more aware and service all of our students in need. We currently have eight staff members trained and will be training more throughout the year,” Clayton said. PRHS is making a steady impact regarding mental health, having staff prepared and trained for issues is a smart and simple way to increase involvement, and spread awareness.
Health|
SICKLY SWEET The worst drinks for you by Emma Corippo, Art Director
SODA AND DIET SODA SWEETEND TEA
Diet Soda is even worse than regular soda. The body is unable to process large amounts of processed sugar and chemicals, which diet soda is filled to the brim with. This can cause kidney stones, increased blood pressure, and weight gain.
Many sweetened teas, such as arizona tea, have more sugar than soda SoBe Green Tea (1 bottle, 20 fl oz) 240 calories 0 g fat 61 g sugars
Sunkist (1 bottle, 20 fl oz) 320 calories 0 g fat 84 g sugars
Energy Drinks - From high fructose Corn syrup, artificial colors, energy drinks are one of the worst drinks for your body. Added sugar with caffeine can make your heart rate extremely fast if you consume too much. Rockstar Energy Drink (1 can, 16 fl oz) 280 calories 0 g fat 62 g sugars
Fruit Juice Most fruit juice has added sugar, and little to no fiber. Orange juice has around the same amount of sugar as a small soda.
Simply Orange(1 cup 8 fl oz)110 calories 0 g fat 26 g sugars
coffee -most bottled coffee has lots of sugar and high levels of fat Starbucks Vanilla Frappuccino (1 bottle, 13.7 fl oz) 290 calories 4.5 g fat (2.5 g saturated) 45 g sugars
10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | HEALTH 23
|Health
Knocking out the flu bug Preventions and natural relievers to the dreaded influenza
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by Ysabel Wulfing, People Co-Editor having to be injected with a needle. “Prevention is s the airplane glided across the May sky, key,” seven year district nurse Ashley Aiello said. Sophomore Payton Beasley ignored the Washing hands frequently, eating a balanced developing ache in her body and the diet, getting at least 8 hours of sleep and tickle in her throat. The only thing on her mind keeping hands, pens and pencils out of one’s was her flourishing head cold and the amount mouth are the principle preventing factors to of work she would have to make up for an illness according to Aiello. attending a ballet festival in Arizona for a week. Staying active and getting exercise is “It was the week before finals and [the bug] another contributing factor to preventing made me feel really stressed which probably made me even more sick,” Beasley said. The Payton Beasley, 10 the influenza virus. “Staying fit will help you heal quicker [when you get sick],” Life Fitness stress and the fatigue where a toxic combo and teacher Cara Macomber said. Beasley was taken down by the dreaded flu bug for The first steps to reducing the amount of an entire week. time and discomfort spent in bed is drinking The start of school and the icky flu bug plenty of fluids. “Studies show that warm are a package deal. Occurring between fluids clear the nasal passage and helps the cooler months of October and May, with congestion, along with soothing a between 5 and 20 percent of Americans sore throat,” Aiello said. Drinking warm each year are affected by influenza, beverages such as herbal tea with honey according to WebMD. The flu is a highly and eating nutrient-rich soups can contagious respiratory virus that can relieve the symptoms of a flu. be spread through “airborne respiratory Macomber advises students to droplets” such as coughs and sneezes, stay home if they do become ill and email physical contact, saliva and contaminated teachers for assignments to keep up with surfaces. The flu can often last between 3 their studies. “If you aren't taking care of yourself and 7 days but fatigue and coughing can last and your health then keeping up with your studies is for an additional 2 weeks after that. The symptoms of the flu include fevers, coughs, runny or stuffy noses, sore going to prove a difficult task. It all starts with a healthy diet, throats, fatigue, achy bodies, and chills. During the fall and making sure you are getting enough sleep and keeping your winter months, “...we see a lot of stomach illness and body body moving,” Mcneal said. Knocking out the flu bug is not a fun task and taking steps to prevent it will help relieve the aches,” three year PRHS site nurse Kelly Mcneal said. The Center for Disease Control strongly advises people stress of making up weeks worth of school work and the days to get an annual flu shot in order to prevent the flu but luckily spent in bed. there are several ways to prevent and soothe the bug without
Prevention
Chicken Noodle Soup Time :20 Minutes Serving Size: 1
1/4 Cup Diced Onion
1 Sliced Carrot
1 Sliced Celery Rib
3/4 Cup Diced Chicken
3/4 Cup Egg Noodles
natural relieF
Keep a distance from people that are sick.
Drink plenty of fluids such as herbal tea with honey.
Wash or sanitize hands frequently to get rid of germs.
Eat foods with powerful antioxidants such as blueberries and cranberries.
Eat lots of proteins such as eggs and fish to boost the cv immune system.
Place essential oils on the neck to support the immune system.
Stay hydrated by drinking fluids throughout the day.
Breath in steam to help thin mucus in the sinuses.
Get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.
Stay at home and get plenty of rest.
Exercise at least 3 days a week.
Stand outside for some fresh air.
24 HEALTH | Crimson Newsmagazine | 10.6.17
The Flu Puncher
2 Cups Chicken Broth
Directions
1. Mix vegetables and chicken broth in a pot. Cover and bring to a simmer for 10 minutes. 2. Incorporate noodles and chicken broth and cook until noodles are soft. 3. Add salt and pepper to taste. 4.Knock out that flu bug!
Sports|
PUT ME IN COACH (below) : Sophomore Hunter Barn-
hart playing firstbase as a freshamn in a game against Righetti in May 2017. Barnhart started at first base as a freshman.
Barnhart Batting his way to ASU Sophomore Hunter Barnhart verbally commits to ASU for college baseball
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by Mckensi Keller, Reporter
ophomore Hunter Barnhart isn’t your typical first basemen. On Aug. 29 “During the summer a lot of schools began to show interest in Hunter: UCLA, Santa Barnhart verbally committed to Arizona State University after having a season Clara, University of Arizona, Cal Poly, and Arizona State to name a few,” said Stroud. consisting of hitting .328. He had ten homeruns accumulated in (RBI’s) with six “There are pluses and minuses committing so early. The way the recruiting process doubles and seven runs scored. Barnhart, last year, started at first base. is going these days, kids are having to commit early; it is not really fair to ask a freshman The 2020 ASU commit is a three sport athlete playing football, basketball, or sophomore where they want to go to school 3 or 4 years away, but that is the and baseball. Barnhart started as a freshman on Varsity Baseball. He nature of recruiting and it’s that way in all sports.” played on the freshman teams for basketball and football, now playing Stroud claimed that many of these schools have been calling quarterback on the Varsity football team. Barnhart will continue to about Hunter and his amazing ability for the game of baseball. ASU was the best play multiple sports throughout his high school career. Baseball “ASU was the best fit for me, and the coaches were a great fit fit for me, and the is his favorite sport and he has been committed to for about for me there,” said Barnhart on choosing ASU. 11 years, playing with his older brother’s, Tyler Barnhart age Stroud mentioned that Hunter is an important member of coaches were a group and always getting as much practice as he could. His the team, who cares about the program and what he can do great fit for me brother is who played for the graduating class of 2017. to contribute. Ty Barnhart, his father, brought him up to play with his With one year of varsity baseball already under his belt, there. brother and his team. His dad is a big part of his baseball career. Hunter got the award for best practice player, which, coming Hunter Barnhart’s dad has taught him everything he knows and is a big from Coach Stroud, is a great honor. inspiration to Hunter. “It’s always baseball, never a doubt.” Hunter said. Barnhart, 10 Barnhart wants to be the best he can be, practicing with any time Barnhart is truly committed to playing baseball, his favorite sport, he gets. Coach Derek Stroud said, “Pretty much every morning, he was and loving every second of it. out working on his swing, taking batting practice in “Committing to ASU is a huge step into creating the cages, then working on his defense and pitching: [my] future.” either taking ground balls or throwing bullpens.” Playing on many travel teams this summer, including teams out of San Jose and USA baseball, Barnhart has made Stroud a proud mentor.
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Photo by Camden Tucker
10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | SPORTS 25
|Sports
PRHS Football strikes back with Teams Played first win Lemoore high school
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12 - 7
Mclymmonds high school
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20 - 9 cajon high school
L Victory against Clovis North marks first of the season
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by Kaya McCasland, Health co-Editor and Loretta Burke, People co-editor
48 - 21
clovis north high school
27 - 7
s the Varsity football team takes the field for the fifth time this for our team to get adapt to another new coach and practice plan season, they will be fighting for their second win, which would with everything changing so fast,” said an anonymous varsity player. boost their 1-3 streak. After three defeats at the beginning of Multiple unnamed players have stated that while Grant deserved a the season, the Bearcats pulled off a 27 to 7 win against Clovis North coaching position, head coach might have been too big a role. High School. In the 2016 season, the team had an overall game score “I want to say that Grant should be apart of the 2017-2018 football of 8 to 3, winning the first five games in a row. Like last year, the team season but not as the head coach. With Grant’s knowledge of the is facing a major change, as Head Coach Larry Grant has “parted game defensively and JR’s knowledge and game plan offensively our ways” with the school. This was announced the morning of Aug. 30, team can make an impact on our school and town. It will also help the 2017, by the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District. The recent kids that want to play college football and achieve their goals to be comings and goings of the Varsity head coaches have left both the successful in the future”. school and the town in the dark; the future of the Varsity team still Grant was liked and admired by many people at Paso Robles High Quarterback remains a mystery after multiple significant changes in only two School, and his willingness to give back to his students and to the seasons. community quickly immerged him in the town and school. As the district starts the search “What really impressed me about for another coach, many people Larry was that he was willing to come are experiencing a strong sense work for us for free, so we’re going to I have absolute faith, you of deja vu. Only ten months ago, take all that money and give it back know. We have a great Running Back, Cornerback former head coach Richard to the kids” said Board of Trustees Schimke was released from his member Field Gibson, “He was also football program and coaching position after a locker bringing in super high level college tradition here field room misjudgement caught on coaches to help train our coaches, so tape was leaked to the public. I was just thinking things were really gibson, Board Memeber Schimke apologized, and while he fabulous.” Despite all these perks, the Strong Safety, Wide Receiver was allowed to keep his teaching first game of the season was started position, was the first of three with a devastating 12-7 loss against coaches to be let go. The next two coaches include previously the Lemoore Tigers with Coach Grant being fired shortly after. mentioned Grant and Matt Carroll, both of whom’s letting go had Since 2014, the PRHS football team has not earned another CIF nothing to do with Schimke’s incident. Championship title, and with this turmoil, it may be an unlikely goal Schimke had coached the Bearcats for seventeen years and this year. Punter, Kicker had lead them to six consecutive CIF wins, the last one being in “There is a little bit of regrouping and effort into regrouping. I December of 2014. In 2012, Schimke was praised for his 100th win have absolute faith you know, we have a great football program and as the head coach of the Paso Robles Bearcats. Upon his firing, tradition here. We have a lot of talented young men and i think we will the town erupted in debate over facebook, school board meetings, be fine,” said Gibson. and protests. Although the next two eliminating of coaches proved Despite this claim, the Bearcats are struggling, only gaining their far less dramatic, each affected the football teams. Now, with Grant first win on September 22 against Clovis North High School in Fresno, gone from the head coaching position and JV coach JR Reynolds who also happened to be Grant’s old coaching grounds before being holding the job for the rest of the season, unrest is settling back over fired after a 24-7 mid season loss against the Bearcats. the players heads as they fight to keep their team together. However, the team has six non-CIF games left in the season to fight Varsity players are feeling as if their futures are in a disarray as back. The Bearcats have faced similar conflicts during the season, they look for answers and try to piece together what happened. many whom still remain on the team. One can only hope as they look “I feel Coach Grant was put into a very tight spot because of what into the future for the Bearcats, they will push past these unfortunate happened last year with Coach Schimke. He had a lot to carry on his events and fight to make their school proud because, in the end, isn’t back. With a new team and kids he didn’t know very well, it was hard that what Bearcats do?
26 SPORTS | Crimson Newsmagazine |10.6.17
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Varsity captains zach hanson, 12
julian madrigal, 12
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cole roberts, 12
Cade england, 12
Rankings
state 269
Southern section 123 ss division four 15
Photos by Camden Tucker, Eric Contreras, and Trevor Jaureguy
Sports|
Local radio stations drop Bearcat Football
Changes in football broadcasting resolved
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by Emily Olsen, Reporter
he Paso Robles community has always been involved in the happenings of Paso Robles Joint Unified School District, and in this case, it’s the matter of who broadcasts the Paso High football games. The SLO County’s local radio stations, KPRL and KJUG have both been broadcasting PRHS football for the past 3 years, but this year is a bit different. According to the KPRL news post they reported, “Superintendent Chris Williams asked for a $100 fee per game and for stations to bid for space in the broadcast booths. No stations bid for the games.” KPRL made it clear that they were not happy with Williams that they were not going to broadcast Bearcat games. Bearcat fans who regularly listened to the football games on the radio have provided mixed feelings about it. “It is very upsetting that KPRL has refused the offer [to broadcast the games] and will not sign a contract for it,” an anonymous fan shared. Paso High now has a new radio station broadcasting the games, fulfilling the community’s hunger for a radio broadcast. Board member Field Gibson mentioned, “They had no problem signing a contract for the media content. They sold over $6,000 in advertising in 10 days.” in the comments of a Paso Robles Press online publication. Rich Clayton, the Director of Physical Education and Athletics for the Paso Robles school district confirmed that yes, they did ask for bids, but it isn’t quite what other sources have reported. “What we asked the stations to bid for is the designated Media Room up in the announcer’s booth, and we didn’t really set the floor for a bid. They could have advertised for the football games on their station as their bid, it was as simple as that,” Clayton explained. The Voice of Paso is now a very willing station to broadcast the football games and soon Bearcat Volleyball games. “One of the neat things about working with The Voice of Paso is that we want to be able to expand the opportunity and we are truly excited to get more involved with our students and we can’t be more happy to show what PRHS is all about.” Chris Williams, Paso Robles School District Superintendent stated. To listen to a broadcast of the Paso Robles High School football and volleyball games, go to www.voiceofpaso.com/ or go to www.pasoschools. org for more information.
Photo by Eric Contreras
Cross Country overthrows Central Section champs At golden eagle invite in Clovis, PRHS boys come in first overall and beat Madera South by Campbell and Calynn Long, Reporters
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he pounding of running shoes and the beeping of each watch in the background after every mile with a combined total of 8,064 miles that the team ran during the duration of summer payed off with huge win in Clovis. Leading up to Clovis the team ran at Arroyo Grande Invitational on Sept. 2 and the Morro Bay Invitational on Sept. 9. PRHS varsity cross country traveled two hours north up to Clovis on September 22 for the Golden Eagle Cross Country Invite. With a very successful day with varsity boys coming in first and beating Madera South, the reigning champions of the Central Section, and the varsity girls coming in a respectable fifth place. Beating the reigning champions Madera South would place PRHS as first if everything goes well next year since PRHS’ athletics are moving to the Central Section next year. The boys varsity won the meet despite a computer glitch which they didn’t score the fifth man and scored the sixth one, instead. This results in a higher score which is not good for cross country since it is won similar to golf: lowest score wins the meet. Paso won by 3 points but if the scoring was not incorrect,
Paso would have won by 12 points. For never running in this race before, runners were not expecting a big win that was accomplished. “We were told by the coaches to run the course fast but not all out which means he wanted us to run the course to become familiar with it,” senior varsity runner Ian Young said. With this hopeful future in this fall sport, there are many young men that are willing to step up to the plate when the seniors are gone; Having a strong lineup for the future with junior Pablo Cortes , junior Steven Scruggs, sophomore Damian Gavilan. The varsity girls scored a worthy fifth place racing against many teams they have never ran against. Freshman Madi Loff had an outstanding performance, coming in 23rd; freshman Grace Chamberlain came in 29th. “While we may not have the dynamic duo of Trad Berti and Luis Armendariz we have a tighter front five than we did last year. This is promising for the boys because it means we have a good shot on making it to CIF Finals and possibly CIF State again,” Young said.
Goodbye to Southern Section, hello Central Section!
PRHS sports will make the move in 2018 by Campbell Long, Reporter
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earcat Athletics have been competing in the CIF Southern Section since 1901. For the past ten to twelve years, administration talked about a change in sections, but the idea was never put into works by previous athletic directors. For the past two or three years, the switch has been in the works and finally next season it will take action. There were many reasons why the push was so big to move to the Central Sections- for example, traveling five hours to anaheim and back in one day. PRHS is one of the most northernmost schools in the Southern Section and traveling six hours for the playoff game is difficult. Teams are now looking at a two-hour trip max as far as traveling with Central. PRHS will not be the only school moving athletic sections. This realignment will involve all thirteen schools in the PAC 8 and Los Padres athletic leagues, including schools such as Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo and many more. Since all of our league is also moving sections In CIF playoffs PRHS will now face teams from Clovis, Fresno, and Bakersfield that are considered “top programs”, according to Track and Cross Country Coach, Anthony Overton. This includes Clovis East, Clovis West, Clovis North, Buchanan, Madara, Liberty, Bullard, Central, Lemoore and more that PRHS will compete
against. Currently there are 115 schools in the central section and 500 plus schools in the Southern Section. “This is a huge difference in numbers of schools and it gives us a more of a competitive advantage as far as competing and to gain and win more CIF championships” stated PRHS Athletic Director Anthony Morales. Competing in the central section, there is only a fifth of the schools compared to the southern section, which means there is less depth in the level of competition. “For us, that means more teams will compete in a higher division (many of our programs in Division 1). Also, with fewer teams in the central section, all teams will get a first round playoff berth each season” stated Overton California Interscholastic Federation, or as many people would recognize it, CIF, is a governing body for High School Sports in the state of California. It is broken up into sections such as Central, Central Coast, Los Angeles City, North Coast, Northern, Oakland, Sac-Joaquin, San Diego, San Francisco, and Southern. Currently, the Athletic program at PRHS is in the Southern Section, but starting the 2018/19 school year there will be a change to the Central Section.
10.6.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | SPORTS 27
|Sports
Technically Speaking: Double Block With Junior Camryn Currren and sophomore maizie ross
Eyes
About Camryn
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urren has been playing volleyball for over nine years. She got her start when her sister, Teagan Curren, started playing, and she decided to give it a shot. Ever since she made this decision, volleyball has become one of the biggest priorities and passions in her life. Throughout the years, she’s had the opportunity to play a little in every position, except for middle blocker. This season, she’s been playing outside hitter and some libero. “My goals for the future are to build strength, confidence, and trust, both individually and as a team,” Curren said. At this point in the season,, she’s served 34 aces, made 102 kills and 259 digs, 185 passes on serve recieves, and has a hitting average of 22.4%. Her first team was TCA in Orange County, followed by NCVC and Mid Coast Volleyball Club. Freshman year, she played on the freshman team, and is now on her second season of varsity as a junior. These years of dedication have given her hope of playing either beach or indoor volleyball in college. Her favorite postion is outside hitter, and her greatest strengths are passing and digging in the back row.
When you’re blocking, it’s important to watch the ball and to track it. Blocking requires a lot of confidence and strength, both physically and mentally.
Hands and Arms
The hardest thing to do is to time your jump and to be in the right spot. When you’re there, the goal is to jump as high as you can and press over the net with strong hands and strong arms to prevent the ball from coming onto your side of the court.
Synchrony Another aspect of blocking is to be able to mentally sync up with your other teammates so you can jump togethe in unison. This creates a bigger wall that opposing hitters have to get around.
Photo by George Dominguez
34 Aces 102 Kills 259 Digs 22.4 Hitting % 185 Passes on serve receive 28 SPORTS | Crimson Newsmagazine |10.6.17
Practice
The girls practice for two hours every day during the school week, with the exception of game days. They focus a lot on playing with intensity and building up their physical and mental strength as a team. Additionally, they watch their eating habits, to allow for the speed, stength, and agility they need to play volleyball. Photo by Camden Tucker