Granite Bay Gazette May 2016

Hidden gems of Sac Favorite local hot spots

Athletes of the year

Year in review

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Annual summary of events

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Male and female stars recognized

The Granite Bay Gazette GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL w 1 GRIZZLY WAY w GRANITE BAY, CA w 95746 w VOLUME 19 w ISSUE 8 w FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016

COMMENTARY

troy pawlak

tpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

College offers me a needed opportunity

O

ne of the things that I am looking forward to the most about college is the change in friends. I know that sounds rude and as if I do not value those that I have now, but that is not the case.

Up until now, I have moved through life surrounded by the same group of people year after year. While my interactions have changed with individuals as I adopted new views and perspectives on people and the world around me, for the most part, those close to me have remained relatively constant.

Those that I called my closest friends worked so well with me, and I never felt any need to try to drastically change those who I hung out with. In college, however, I will be in a whole new world and I am nothing but excited.

In the Granite Bay bubble, I often see similar people and feel as though I am seen a specific way, one that does not fully reflect my changes throughout life. Those who surround me now are a result of those earlier characteristics of me, and I treasure them for that – for keeping me grounded and from becoming a completely different person. But I also want to be able to start anew, with no one assuming they know what goes on inside my head or how I will act.

I have gone to two separate summer programs for engineering where I knew no one, and there I forged groups of friends far more varied that any I had ever had at home. It made me feel uncomfortable at first.

There were many differences between these summer buddies and those who waited for me at home and that excited me – I was used to interacting intimately with individuals similar to me in most ways, and now I had a chance to meet others and grow close to them.

There was no evaluation of better or worse between old friends and new, only a difference that I had not realized I was in dire need of.

Through my life I have had two real blocs of friends – those who knew the more intelligent and responsible yet silly side of me those who knew the more rambunctious, wild and instinctive side of me.

I have always been proud of being able to use the two in moderation and know when I was with those who appreciated each side more.

In the more diverse groups from my summer experiences, there was not the clear delineation between groups but more of a collage of both sides that had never had experience with either side of me, and thus would not be surprised by either one.

While the crazy side has developed in me more over the years, the calm side has been seen by many for much longer, so most people had a preset image in their heads. In the last few years, I have let the sides merge more; but in the end, I was always in one of two modes.

College will let me figure out how much of either side I want in me and start again with people more compatible that new mix of personalities. I won’t have to worry about losing friends on either side with a shift in personality from their point of view.

I will be able to be the person who I want to be without having to lose those who I love, and I want that freedom. *** Troy Pawlak, a senior, is a Gazette co-editor-in-chief.

Special to the Gazette/NICK PANTOJA

Gazette photo illustration/TROY PAWLAK

After four years on campus, seniors begin the transition to college life but many hold on the best memories of their time on the Granite Bay High School campus

Seniors reflect, prepare for the next stage of their lives

BY NASEEHA ISLAM nislam.gazette@gmail.com

With just a few days left of senior year, the class of 2016 is preparing to end one four-year chapter of their lives in order to open a new one. While some people are overjoyed with the fact that they’ll be far away from the “Granite Bay Bubble” after May 28, others do not necessarily feel the same way.

As graduation approaches, seniors reminisce on the good times, the bad times, the stressful times and the times they’ll never forget.

It is perhaps the most bittersweet times of seniors’ lives thus far.

Yet despite the nervous, reflective anticipation that the last week of school brings, seniors are still fighting hard against senioritis

(some harder than others) to keep up with coursework in their last few days.

Seniors Brett Yamashiro and Abraham Denton are both persevering to the end.

“Senioritis has definitely kicked in and I feel more lazy now than ever,” Yamashiro said, “but I need to do well in the classes I’m in so I can’t afford to slack off.”

Denton seems to agree, carrying a heavier load than most seniors as he runs toward the finish line.

“The final weeks of school have been stressful and busy because I have been trying to juggle two jobs, school and AP’s,” Denton said. “It’s been a big struggle because no matter how much I wanted to stop coming to school or skip classes, I had to keep working hard

because I had no time to mess up the most of their final moments at and fall behind.”

GBHS and create memories that Luckily, could last a lifetime. the stress “Senior Ball was serithat comes ously lit,” senior Emily along with Gallegos said. “That’s The only thing that I the best word to describe last-minute AP and IB am sad about when it.” exams, class it comes to the end Gallegos also said she finals and is looking forward to of senior year and Senior Sunset because end of the my high school ca- seniors are going to be year projects has also reer is the people symbolically ending the come along year together, united. with the But apart from the ex– Abraham Denton citing events and strenuexcitement of senior ous testing that take events such place in the month of as Senior May, seniors have one Ball, Senior other thing to do – reflect Sunset and Sober Grad Night, all on their four years as Granite Bay opportunities for seniors to make High School Grizzlies, and the

FAST FACTS Last week of school wSenior Sunset Fri, 5/20 wFinals Wed,Thu, 5/25 5/26 wSenior Breakfast Fri, 5/27 wGraduation Practice Fri, 5/27 wGraduation Sat, 5/28 wSober Grad Night 5/28-29 Granite Bay High School

things they’ll be leaving behind.

“The only thing that I am sad about when it comes to the end See REFLECTION, page A10

Achieving students get honored Fear in American government Valedictorian and salutatorian selected for 2016 graduating class Rising nervousness and

BY CAROLINE PALMER distrust in political theater Jonathan Chu cpalmer.gazette@gmail.com Annually, Granite Bay High School honors students for being at the top of their class.

Although the valedictorian and salutatorian are historically the students with the highest grade-point average, GBHS also takes other factors into salutatorian when picking these students.

In the past, GBHS has sometimes picked two salutatorians depending on the year and students’ achievements, but there is one valedictorian and one salutatorian for the class of 2016.

Jonathan Chu and Savitri Asokan have been named valedictorian and salutatorian respectively.

Chu’s GPA is 4.63 he plans to attend UCLA after high school. “(My major is) still undeclared within (the) engineering department” Chu said, “because I’m not sure which specific direction I want to go.”

Throughout high school, Chu said he was most interested in math and physics because he seems to have a greater affinity for

BY HANNAH HOLZER

The 2015-16 class valedictorian is going to be studying at the University of California, Los Angeles.

hholzer.gazette@gmail.com

The anti-politician and anti-establishment wave of candidates who have vied for the 2016 presidency are a newer life form in American politics, but the government mistrust that fueled their popularity has possibly been ingrained into American political

Savitri Asokan The 2015-2016 class salutatorian is going to be studying at Stanford University. them and the reasoning that goes into them.

Although Chu wanted to be valedictorian See TOP STUDENTS, page A9

inside the Gazette news

See FEAR, page A8

English teacher reassigned Instructor loses sections of AP Literature courses

BY CAROLINE PALMER and EPSA SHARMA cpalmer.gazette@gmail.com

Jenny Padgett has been teaching at Granite Bay High School for 15 years and had Advanced Placement Literature classes for four years. However, recently Padgett’s

Yearbook wins Pacemaker award

Seniors prepare for first voting day

Ursus staff claimed honor in a competition against the best of the best.

Some accidentally registered with nontraditional party

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culture since the creation of the country itself.

Public mistrust of the government stretches its roots as far back as 1788, when Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison published 85 articles convincing the dubious public to place their trust in a more powerful form of democracy. More recently, a 2015 study published by the Pew Research Center found that just 19 percent

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voices

Advanced Placement classes have been removed from her course load and she has instead been given all college preparatory English 9 classes.

Speculation has arisen as to why Padgett’s classes have been taken away. Some reactions to the removal have been passionate.

“I was in shock,” Maggie Bell, GBHS graduate and University of California Berkeley student said. “My jaw actually See PADGETT page A7

We should not take things for granted Many are born into circumstances that they don’t consider.

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News

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Friday

NAMES IN THE NEWS

Granite Bay Gazette

w May 20, 2016

surina khurana skhurana.gazette@gmail.com

Senior Elizabeth Sciascia places first in art contest

S

enior Elizabeth Sciascia won first place at the Congressional Art Competition with her painting “Four score and 73 years ago.” She won two tickets to Washington, D.C.and her work will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel in D.C. for a year. Way to brush to success, Liz. *** Junior Cierra Brown placed third in the same art competition. Junior Allison Doleschal and senior Sarah Garcia both received honorable mention.

ART you happy for their achievements? *** Congrats to the girls swim team for winning the Sierra Foothill League and Championship for a consecutive 19 years. *** The boys’ swim team lost its first league meet since 1997 to Oak Ridge but recovered to join the girls as Sierra Foothill League Champions. *** Junior Clayton Buck was selected to perform with the Bands of America Honor Band in the 2017 Rose Parade.

That is one big honor! *** Physical education teacher Andi Rothman, English and Speech and Debate teacher Bob Prichard and football coach and special education teacher Jeff Evans were honored at the Teachers who Make a Difference banquet. *** Congrats to the students and mentors who won the ACE Competition. Construction technology teacher Steve Dolan did a great job leading the students. *** GBHS Choir has been singing its way to success.

The Grizzlies left the Golden Empire Music festival with a unanimous superior rating – the highest rating a choir can earn – from all three adjudicators. They also placed first at the Great America Six Flags Music Festival. I wish I could sing like them. *** Junior Hannah Stubee won Best of show at the Crocker Art Museum for her self-portrait. Senior Elise McGregor won first place at the Placer County High School art show.

Art-tastic job! *** The Robotics team is engineering its way to success and spent a few days at the World Championships in St. Louis.

*** Surina Khurana, a junior, is a Gazette news editor.

CORRECTIONS Accuracy is perhaps the most important fundamental of good journalism. It's the policy of the Gazette to correct all factual errors that are brought to our attention. Email us at: gbgazette@yahoo.com.

Identification Statement GRANITE BAY GAZETTE PUBLISHED EIGHT TIMES PER ACADEMIC YEAR c/o Granite Bay High School 1 Grizzly Way Granite Bay, CA 95746 Subscriptions: $25 per year/ $15 per half year

Special to the Gazette/ ISAAC NOSCHKA

Special to the Gazette/ ISAAC NOSCHKA

Left, Ursus staffer Selena De La Torre displays the two awards Ursus won – the Pacemaker and eighth in Best of Show. Right, De La Torre and senior Ambreen Siddiqui pose with the Yearbook Pacemaker Award. The awards were received at a convention in Los Angeles, California.

GBHS publications win NSPA awards in L.A. Ursus awarded Pacemaker – Gazette joins Ursus in Best of Show top 10

BY RAWAN KHALILI

rkhalili.gazette@gmail.com

Each year, the National Scholastic Press Association presents one of the journalist community’s most prestigious and distinguished awards, the Pacemaker, to high school and college publications.

This year, Granite Bay High School’s very own Ursus yearbook was one of the lucky winners. The award honored all of the hardwork and dedication of Ursus Staffers.

This is the second Pacemaker in a row for Ursus.

“We were very excited,” yearbook advisor Bernadette Cranmer said. “This year was especially memorable because the editor-in-chief, Ambreen Siddiqui, attended.

“It’s really rare to have an editor-in-chief more than one year, and it’s nice to have (them) actually be there and see us win the award. Usually (they) graduate and can’t be there to see the team accept the award.”

Siddiqui, a senior, talked of her excitement after winning the award.

“I felt a sense of accomSophomore David Goni plishment and joy as we resaid this was his first conceived the pacemaker” she vention after two years said. “The yearbook staff on the Yearbook staff.

I felt a sense of acdropped in numbers this “It felt amazing to look complishment and year, making the process up on the big screen and more difficult, but we all see our yearbook,” Goni joy as we received really grew close together, said. “I was screaming the pacemaker... like a family.” so loud, it felt so rewarding.”

A convention was held in this year...we all Not only did Ursus win Los Angeles to announce really grew close the Pacemaker, they also the recipients of the prestigious Pacemaker award, won eighth place in Best together. as well as for other awards. in Show for its category – Yearbook editor-in Also at the convention, based on the size of the chief Ambreen Siddiqui yearbook members were book. able to attend workshops to “Last year’s book was better advance their skills. one of the best the school “We attended a bunch has seen, so I was hoping of classes that would benefit us this upcom- to receive the Pacemaker,” Siddiqui said. “Best ing year,” said junior Selena De La Torre, a of Show, on the other hand, was a surprise. We student in the yearbook class who attended the beat some schools who are famous for their workshop. yearbooks, so it was nice.”

Classes ranged from design, photography, The yearbook staff is extremely proud of their writing captions and how-to’s. award, as they should be.

Japanese teacher will be moving to new campus

State’s bathroom laws spur online controversies

Beloved instructor will no longer work at GBHS

GBHS’ bathroom policies also are discussed

BY SAVITRI ASOKAN

sasokan.gazette@gmail.com

BY HANNAH HOLZER

Hholzer.gazette@gmail.com

The heated, national controversy spurred over the creation of public bathroom policies in relation to who, depending on how gender is determined, may use either male or female bathrooms, has been intensified by impassioned arguments from groups on either side of the issue.

Although there are more inclusive facility alternatives, such as family or non-gendered bathrooms, often public places such as schools offer only female or male bathroom choices. In determining gender lays the controversy: North Carolina’s House Bill 2 upheld the definition of biological sex, that “stated on a person’s birth certificate” to determine gender; whereas Target, after announcing a new national bathroom policy at its stores, has declared that employees and customers alike are free to use the restroom which corresponds with their gender identity.

“I believe policies protecting the rights of transgender individuals are important to ensuring their safety – even in the restroom,” said senior and Granite Bay High School Gender-Sexuality Alliance club president Marty Kantola, who is a transgender male.

“The point is, there shouldn’t be a debate about this.”

North Carolina’s House Bill 2 was found to be discriminating against transgender individuals, and thus in violation of Title IX, which ensures the absence of gender discrimination in federally-funded education programs or activities. The Department of Justice told the state’s government officials to immediately stop enforcing the legislation, or risk losing billions of dollars in funding for North Carolina’s education programs.

Now it seems North Carolina and the Department of Justice are embattled in a mainly philosophical dispute.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory filed a lawsuit at the end of the allotted time period given by the Department of Justice to eradicate HB2. The Department of Justice has filed its own lawsuit, citing the law’s discriminatory policies.

Target, however, was met with a public backlash for its implementation of a moreprogressive bathroom policy. Almost 1,200,000 people have signed the American Family Association’s petition to boycott Target stores, claiming it “endangers women

“It’s not easy to win those awards, I was speechless,” De La Torre said. “It is such a rewarding feeling to know that our book is the top one percent in the nation.”

However, this win did not come easy.

“Despite the difficulties with production, deadlines and errors with the publishing company, the staff did a phenomenal job,” Cranmer said.

But the staff won’t stop now. Preparation for the 2016-2017 year has already begun.

“I hope to see more cool graphic designs, something that catches the eye with amazement,” De La Torre said. “Something that will relate to our school as a whole, and our students personally.

Cranmer also spoke in regarding the 2016-17 yearbook, saying the staffers will be spending time improving and working on their photography skills, as it is the backbone of the book.

The Gazette, the school’s monthly newspaper, was also honored to receive the National Scholastic Press Association’s award of fourth place in Best of Show from in its category – newspapers with 17 pages and more.

“It was an honor to receive such a prestigious award,” Gazette co-editor-in-chief Hannah Holzer said. “ I’m very proud to be a part of a nationally recognized team.”

Gazette illustration/CARISSA LEWIS

For transgender students, using public bathrooms can be daunting. and children by allowing men to frequent women’s facilities.”

“I think the main reason people are against open bathroom policies is (because) they’re afraid of people who may take advantage of the policy to sexually assault someone,” junior Reagan Tran said. “But the thing is, if someone has intent to sexually assault anybody, they obviously don’t care about the law and will find a way and a place. Open restroom policies don’t promote sexual assault – they merely allow transgender people to use the bathroom of the gender with which they most comfortably identify.”

In California, after the passing of AB 1266, transgender students who attend public school in grades K-12 may use the bathroom which corresponds to the gender they identify with, as well as play for a gendered sports team according to the same criteria.

Jessup McGregor, a GBHS assistant principal, said the administrative staff is looking at all parties involved to be as inclusive as possible before implementing a uniform bathroom policy.

“We are trying to move slowly because it’s charged, and I think whatever … we do, we get (complaints) from somebody,” McGregor said. “Our goal then is to ... make sure we’re

See POLICY, page A10

Japanese teacher Naoko Iwasaki Montague’s classroom is adorned with images from Studio Ghibli films and hundreds of origami swans. It’s a place where a day in class might consist of watching anime or learning about tea ceremonies as much as practicing conversation or writing essays.

Montague, affectionately known as “Sensei” to her students, will be leaving Granite Bay High School next year to teach at Sheldon High School in the Elk Grove Unified School District, teaching Japanese 1, 2 and 3.

Her Honors, International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement Japanese classes will be cut, and a part-time teacher will likely be hired to teach the lower levels of Japanese.

“I’ve been here for 17 to 18 years and this is actually my home, so it was really, really hard to make that decision (to move schools),” Montague said. “For the sake of the students, it breaks my heart that the program isn’t continuing.”

According to Montague, principal Jennifer Leighton called her in and told her because there are only 7 students signed up for the Honors 4/AP Japanese class next year, she would not be able to give Montague a period for the class, which is already combined with IB Japanese. To keep the class, Montague would have to combine that with something else, like a different level of Japanese such as Japanese 3.

“I have had to do that in the past and it didn’t work out,” Montague said. “I felt that I would do a disservice to my students.”

The news about the changes in the Japanese program was met with backlash from students, both current and former.

Senior Grace Lyu also raised concerns about the effect of the cuts on current and prospective students’ schedules. Lyu, upon hearing the news from Montague in her IB Japanese class, felt the situation was “really unfair.”

“What I’m most angry about is how Sensei has dedicated so many years to GBHS teaching and inspiring so many students throughout the years,” Lyu said, “and yet it seems as though the administration is taking her for granted.”

The Japanese program is a rarity in the

region, and for some, it is a critical reason for enrollment.

Additionally, current students planning to take Honors, IB or AP Japanese will be unable to do complete the language track.

IB Diploma candidates who plan to take IB Japanese SL as the required language class will no longer be able to get their diplomas.

“I honestly think it was unjustified for our administration to give Sensei an ultimatum,” Lyu said. “Just because the teacher to student ratio is out of balance doesn’t mean you can cut the only Japanese teacher – who’s one of the most dedicated and passionate teachers I know. She doesn’t deserve this treatment and I’m glad she’s leaving this place that doesn’t appreciate her.”

Preceding her departure, students shared their favorite moments of Japanese class and reflected on Montague’s impact on their high school experience.

Several students stressed her compassion and commitment to forming personal relationships with students.

2015 graduate and UC Davis freshman Victor Chiu, who had Montague as a teacher for four years after studying Japanese in Taiwan, said she “definitely became one my personal friends.”

“She was always there to give me advice, and I don’t know where else to find a teacher like her, who treats her students like her family,” Chiu said.

Chiu said he counts attending Montague’s wedding in January 2016 as one of his fondest experiences of high school.

“Sensei was one of the most supportive and compassionate teachers I’ve ever met,” said Jesse Damos, who graduated early in December. “Everyone who knows Mrs. Montague knows that she was the heart of Granite Bay. Her teaching style constantly changed to fit the needs of her students, and she never forgot any student.”

Lyu also questioned the necessity and prudence of eliminating the Japanese program, noting the biology department has hired more teachers, while overall Japanese enrollment is increasing yet the program is being cut. She characterized the administration’s proposal for Montague to teach a combined AP/IB/Japanese 3 class See STAFF, page A7

News A3

Friday, May 20, 2016

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Friday, May 20, 2016

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Young voters anticipate upcoming Election Day

News

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Many mistakenly registered as American Independents

BY NATASHA CHANDA

nchanda.gazette@gmail.com

There are independent voters and the American Independent Party.

Oddly enough, there’s a difference, which a majority of California registered voters failed to notice.

A recent Los Angeles Times investigation discovered that 73 percent of Californians who registered as part of the American Independent Party were unaware of what it actually was.

In the effort to register as independent voters, they checked the American Independent Party box, assuming it was indicative of liberty from any particular political party.

The AIP, however, is defined as a far-right political party of the United States, which in many cases is the exact opposite of how these Californians intended to register.

As revealed by these voters, their true intention was to register as “No Party Preference” in preparation for the California primary elections.

In reality, the AIP is known for supporting controversial topics such as voting against abortion rights.

Since 73 percent of Californians were not fully educated on the difference between political parties, this raises a question regarding how reliable many voters actually are.

The 2016 presidential election is rapidly approaching, and a vast amount of young adults will be eligible to vote this fall for the next President of the United States and a numerous amount of bills.

Many seniors have reached the privileged age of 18, raising the question of whether they are ready to vote and if they have all of the information to vote.

Have they been exposed to enough information to vote for a future president?

Are they aware of the difference between the AIP and being an independent?

Such questions are important to ask the next generation of voters who will be deciding the fate of the next U.S. leaders.

“I do think that it’s important for teens to vote,” senior Nathan Dell’Orto said. “At 18, one can buy a

Some opt out of standardized test

home, join the military, et cetera. If they can be trusted with those decisions, I believe they can be trusted with the right to vote.”

Along with voting comes the concept of political parties, which Dell’Orto believes creates a divide among the student population.

“I think it is important as far as political identity goes,” Dell’Orto said. “But it can also cause partisanship and polarization. Right now, I’d say we have too much of that.”

Ethan Quinn, another senior eligible to vote this fall, disagrees with that viewpoint and believes the candidate is more important.

“I don’t think it’s that important for people to identify themselves as part of a political party, but I think it is important for people to vote for a candidate they identify most with,” Quinn said.

For the upcoming election, a bill for the legalization of marijuana may be on the ballot in California, in November, which could influence the voter population.

Marijuana has been a part of young adulthood for many years, but it has always been illegal.

The use of “medical marijuana” has been officially legalized in 24 states in America, including California.

This bill, however, if on the ballot, will be for legalization of marijuana for regular recreational usage.

The legalization of recreational marijuana in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia has sparked the interest of more states to do the same, including California.

Since marijuana has proved to have no significant health risks, the acceptance of weed has been increasingly prevalent in recent years.

BuzzFeed has been recognized for releasing cooking videos incorporating the usage of cannabis, signifying the wide popularity of the drug.

With the popularization of marijuana among teenagers and young adults, people have begun to question the impact of new voters on the legalization of marijuana.

Some think that the bill will encourage more teenagers to go out and vote.

“I do you think more people will (come out and)

Gazette photo /SURINA KHURANA

Several Californians won’t be able to vote for a desired candidate because they are part of the AIP. vote,” Quinn said. “This is a huge issue in teenagers lives and most other people’s lives.”

Dell’Orto agrees with Quinn.

“I believe that it will bring out more people than usual – it will mobilize citizens who are pro-marijuana, and possibly those who are anti-marijuana as well,” Dell’Orto added.

The effect of teenagers on the upcoming election,

Senior Ibrahim Hajar receives recognition

Less than 95 percent of juniors took the test

Student named IB student of the year

BY ANJALI SHRIVASTAVA

ashrivastava.gazette@gmail.com

BY NASEEHA ISLAM

nislam.gazette@gmail.com

Everyone knows about the unfortunate effects of senioritis. The terrible disease is motivated by the longing for summer and near disregard for all things academic. However, the class of 2017 also seems to be suffering the effects of a similar issue – junioritis.

This year, juniors were expected to attend the standardized testing that took place in early April. The test, known as either the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) or California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP).

However, many students employed their legal right of absence and failed to show up to the exams for independent reasons.

Many heard from current seniors that perhaps the test was not worth taking.

“Seniors who took it last year told me that it wasn’t really important, was a really stupid test and just a lot of busy work,” said junior Sommer Suchevich.

Juniors, who apparently do not, as of now, receive individual recognition or credit for the scores they earned on the April tests, were expected to arrive at the normal school start time, while peers in other grades had a chance to sleep in or have some free time.

“I don’t think it’ll affect me because it’s a placement test that you have to take in college anyway,” Suchevich said.

Other juniors who attended the test, including junior Christine Song, however,

specifically the California preliminaries, is likely to be heavily influenced by young adults.

Based on how teens vote, their knowledge on the well-being of the nation will be tested in numerous ways.

“I think we are educated enough,” Quinn said, “to make an informed decision at 18.”

Gazette photo illustration /AISHWARYA PATTNAIK

As of few weeks ago, less than 95 percent of juniors took the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium exam and 95 percent is needed to make the test count. don’t think that some students should have opted out.

“I thought it was a little unfair that they got to sleep in for an extra two hours,” Song said.

Song also shared what she thought was the importance of the CAASPP tests.

“I know the CAASPP testing affects how our school is ranked in terms of its performance,” Song said, “and I’m pretty sure it also determines whether or not students will have to take remedial classes in college.”

Advanced Placement U.S. History teacher Brandon Dell’Orto helped elaborate on the importance of standardized testing, why the school needs students to attend and the introduction of Common Core ideals.

These standardized tests allow schools and the state to collect data on how students are doing in order to assess the best way to improve teaching programs.

“For the school, this is one of the major ways that the rest of the world looks at us and ranks us compared to other schools of similar economic levels and education level,” Dell’Orto said.

In addition to ranking schools, the test was designed to assess more than what old standardized exams tested.

“Common Core came in saying that we’ve ‘dummied down’ education for too long to a multiple choice scantron test and we want to get it back to the basics – reading, listening, thinking, speaking, math,” Dell’Orto said. “It is a much different testing system… (but) it’s just another way now to see if our schools are doing what we tell them they have to do for our kids.”

However, GBHS, especially this year, has had a tough time meeting state standards in

NEWS BRIEFS

ASB UPDATE

Three educators named Teachers who Make a Difference Every year, Granite Bay High School administrators pick three teachers for the “Teachers who Make a Difference” Award.

This year, administration picked Jeff Evans, Andi Rothman and Bob Prichard.

“I was very honored, I was very touched,” Prichard said. “They had a keynote speaker who was the Placer County teacher of the year, I think she was an elementary school teacher, she gave this really great speech about teaching and making a difference and then they announced all the winners and then they had a slideshow where they had our pictures and then we went out to dinner. Brian McNulty and Jennifer (Leighton) were there, and they bought us dinner.”

Assistant Principal McNulty said when picking the teachers, they look at the overall year and the teachers who are positive and smiling and trying to get the job done.

Specifically, McNulty said they also look for whether a teacher has done anything different this year than in past years.

For each teacher, he said they considered special things each teacher had done.

For Jeff Evans, McNulty said Evans really stepped up by becoming head football coach this year and special education teacher.

“Mrs. Rothman,” McNulty said, “became the department chair of PE and to try to lead, I can’t really

See TESTING, page A7

International Baccalaureate senior Ibrahim Hajar was recently named Granite Bay High School’s “IB Student of the Year,” an award given

by The California Association of IB World Schools (CAWS).

Hajar, who is planning on attending University of California, San Diego in the fall of 2016, was nominated for the award by IB coordinator Duane Blomquist because he best exemplifies the values of the academic program.

One of the principles espoused by the IB program is the ability to “approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies.”

Hajar most obviously exhibited this trait when he wrote a six page letter to administration in protest of the cancellation of the IB Chemistry course, an action IB teacher Suchi Krishnaraj described as “well thought out,” and required “guts.”

Krishnaraj, who has taught Hajar for three years now, explains additional reasons as to why he is deserving of the award.

“He’s very sensitive to other people’s feelings (and) very global in his thinking, which is not something

you’d expect from someone his age,” Krishnaraj said. “I really feel he’s an old soul.

(He’s) very tolerant, extremely hard working. On multiple occasions I’ve said Ibrahim Hajar ‘He’s the son Senior is the IB I’ve never had.’ student of the … Just pretty year and plans much everything he does (is) what to attend UCSD you would expect in the fall from an IB kid.”

Hajar, who is both humbled and honored by the recognition, attributes at least some of his achievement to the quality of the teachers at GBHS. “It’s cool to be recognized for my work and all, and it’s definitely a reflection of the teachers ... who have helped me grow in so many ways,” Hajar said. “I’ve tried my best to appreciate all the knowledge and opportunities available to me, and the payoff is really walking away from high school with augmented awareness and understanding. This award’s definitely a nice addition and let’s me know other people appreciate my approach to learning.”

ASB discusses the last few events to occur at GBHS this year The Gazette talked to senior Aubrey Holt about the activities to culminate the year Special to the Gazette /DAVE MACINTOSH

Assistant principal Brian McNulty, left, and principal Jennifer Leighton, right, accompany teachers Andi Rothman, Bob Prichard and Jeff Evans at a recognition event.

say much about it, but to change PE from Common Core, as we go through that transition, it’s huge, and so (is) her leadership, in trying to get vocabulary, literacy, involved into PE.” “And then Mr. Prichard, it’s interesting that a second generation, and I’m not trying to take anything away from him as an individual, but to continue our superior competitiveness in forensics and speech and debate, was just second to none, he takes his own time to travel with these students, they go to numerous competitions and he’s there the whole time, he’s making sure that they are safe and that they are doing really, really well.”

The teachers, McNulty and Leighton all attended the “Teachers who Make a Difference” Award reception in Auburn and then out to dinner for Mexican food after.

-By Caroline Palmer

Q A &

Gazette: What is the in- spikeballs, sunglasses, spiration behind Senior hats and be ready to Sunset? party as a class before we graduate.

Holt: (Student Government) wanted to give Gazette: How do you seniors one last time to think the ASB events be together before (they) have gone this year? graduate.

Gazette photo /SAVANNA THOMPSON Holt: I think that this years Gazette photo /Natalie Erickson  ASB President Aubrey Holt Gazette: What should events have been aweprovides a recap of the last the seniors know about some. Student governcouple activities of the year.

Senior Sunset? ment did a lot to make all the events special this Homecoming, Ripple EfHolt: Check in for Senior year. fect, Day at the Bay, and Sunset will begin at 8 Quad. They were great p.m. (tonight) and end Gazette: What have events because they at 8:30 p.m. Food and been some of the best included the entire student drinks will be provided events this year? body. throughout the entire day.

Seniors should bring a Holt: Some highlight –Compiled by Clair Kasel swimsuit, towel, frisbees, events were

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News

Seniors have a ball at their last formal dance of high school

The annual Senior Ball was held in the downtown Sacramento Hyatt Regency hotel.

Seniors Arianna Jones, Nicole Zenzola and Megan Miller smile before the dance, top left.

A group of girls pose with their decorated corsages, bottom left.

Mira Pexa and her guest pose at the Capital, middle.

Walking to the dance is Savanna Thompson and Drew Kindelt, left.

Gazette photo /ARIANNA JONES

Gazette photo /MEAGAN TALLMAN

Gazette photo /MEAGAN TALLMAN

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Gazette photo /MEAGAN TALLMAN

New ASB positions filled for 2016-17 school year The Gazette talks to the newest leaders of Student Government

BY ARTHI BOBBALA

abobbala.gazette@gmail.com

The newest leaders of the Granite Bay High School Associate Student Body and the Student Government class have been elected into their positions by the GBHS student body. Juniors, sophomores and freshmen alike casted

Andrea Hagener senior class president

their ballots and the results were counted. The students voted in Katie Carson as 2016-17 ASB president, Andrea Hagener as senior class vice president, Danielle Griggs as senior class president and Jack Lugo as ASB vice president.

Others positions include: Daphne Peters as ASB secretary/treasurer, Taylor Stiern as

junior class president, Sarah Braclet as junior class vice president, Gabby Williams as sophomore class president and spirit commissioners Colby Bradford and Jillian Arizcuren.

The Gazette interviewed four of the newest Student Government and school leaders about their goals for the new school year.

Jack Lugo

Danielle Griggs senior class president

ASB vice president

Katie Carson ASB president

Gazette: How long have you been in Student Government?

Gazette: How long have you been in Student Government?

Gazette: How long have you been in Student Government?

Gazette: Why did you choose to initially join Student Government?

I have been in the class for three terms.

I have done three terms of student government. I was sophomore class vice president, my second term I was spirit commissioner so I was in charge of all the rallies. The first term of my junior year I was activities commissioner.

I ran for ASB vice president. I just started Student Government the fall of my my junior year, so I am currently in my second term. I was the 20 anniversary commissioner, and I was also on the Homecoming dance committee. This semester, I am serving as Day at the Bay Commissioner.

My brother did it his senior year and had a lot of fun with it and I wanted to be a part of something that was bigger than myself.

Gazette: Why did you join Student Government?

I have been involved with Student Government since I was a freshman!

Gazette: Can you discuss your involvement in the class?

This will be my first elected position. I wanted to take on an elected position and work on the Homecoming floats because I thought it would be fun to be involved in Homecoming during my last year. Before this, I have been involved in some of the bigger events like Winter Ball and Sports-A-Rama.

Gazette: What is your favorite part of Student Government and why did you choose to join?

My favorite part is being part of what happens behind the scenes of all of our events. I got involved because I am a pretty introverted person so I really like getting involved in what happens behind the scenes of a great event.

Gazette: What is your vision for the 2016-17 upcoming year?

As senior class vice president, I hope to unite the senior class through floats and work with the senior class president because she has experience doing float. I hope to work with her and work toward a common goal.

Gazette: How have you grown in Student Government?

It has taught me how to manage my time well. I have also definitely become more outgoing in student government. If you told me that I would have been senior class vice president when I was a freshman, I wouldn’t have believed you.

Gazette: What is your favorite part about Student Government?

My favorite part is probably all the people because you build relationships with everyone in your classes and committees. You get to know a lot of underclassmen and upperclassmen, and it’s just a lot of fun.

My sister was in Student Government, and I would often come to help her clean up after dances. I have also always loved leadership and what they do, so I decided to join this year.

Gazette: Elected Position and vision?

Gazette: Favorite part about being in Student Government

I will be the senior class president for next year, and as a cabinet member, I will be teaching lessons and running classes. I want to build upon the ideas of my predecessors and make the events bigger and better than they were before.

Gazette: Can you tell me about your campaign journey?

I wanted to make posters that were really nice and clean-looking. I printed them out at my parents’ office so that they were big. I also wanted to have personalized items so I decided to make campaign buttons.

I tried to make them unique so that no two buttons would be the same.

Gazette: How have you grown in Student Government?

I learned how to reach out to others, handle different situations and manage my time. I became more accepting of myself and of others.

I love being able to plan school events and have a say in what goes on at our campus. Everybody in Student Government is really enthusiastic about school events, and they are very passionate about what they do.

Gazette: How did you conduct your campaign?

I kept my campaign really simple and made posters with my name on it and put them all over campus. I did this when I ran for office in the 8th grade and it seemed to work, so I thought, why not try it again?

Gazette: What are your goals and vision for next year?

I have a lot of enthusiasm for school events and I love attending all of them. I want to instill in students the same enthusiasm and school spirit that I have. I want to make that a priority and make sure that students are able to give Student Government feedback because I want everyone to have a great experience at the events that they attend.

Gazette: How long have you been in Student Government?

Gazette: What previous commissions have you been responsible for?

Day at the Bay, Quad dance and the Talent Show Gazette: How did you feel when you found out you had been elected ASB president?

So excited! A little bit nervous because I have big shoes to fill – but mostly excited.

Why did you decide to run for ASB president?

I decided to run for ASB because, throughout my high school experience, I have had ASB presidents that I have really looked up to and admired in terms of what they did for the school. My favorite part of Student Government is the culture aspect so I thought it would be a perfect fit.

Gazette: What are your specific goals and vision for next year?

I really want to connect with staff and students and encourage them to try new things and get involved with all Granite Bay High School has to offer.

Compiled by Hannah Holzer

‘Grades’ app encourages RJUHSD to improve Aeries Students use external platform to check grades; system failures cause frustration

BY KATIE COLOGNA

kcologna.gazette@gmail.

For most students at Granite Bay High School, the mobile application Grades is an easy and efficient way of accessing current school grades. Compared to Aeries, Grades has even more tools that help benefit students’ knowledge.

The Grades app allows students to adjust grades on assignments to see how it might affect the overall grade. Students can also add in mock assignments, such as tests, to see what grades they need to get to reach their desired grade. Aeries does not have those features.

“A lot of student lives are based around their phones and all the apps that go with that – Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr (and other apps). So it’s really

convenient and easy to have the that you’re giving to a single Grades app information at your developer because that single fingertips,” Roseville Joint developer really isn’t beholding Union High School District to anybody but themselves,” Ham said.

Te c h n o l o g y “Which, Director Tony when it Ham said. comes to Aeries is the I didn’t like the student main website (Aeries) app privacy the district recbecause it didn’t and your ommends to check grades let me get into my privacy of and personal your data, grades the easy way. you’re takinformation. ing that The Aeries risk.” website con– Hannah Chaves, tains student Even freshman attendance rethough cords, grades, the Aeries medical inforwebsite mation and test contains scores – all of all of that which are components that are extra information, it requires not included in the Grades app, a lot more time to access the except for grades. website.

“There’s kind of a leap of faith “I didn’t like (Aeries) be-

cause it didn’t let me get into my grades the easy way and the manual way I would have to get into the Safari app and log into more website which requires more work,” freshman Hannah Chaves said. “The Grades app lets me access my grades in just one tap of the app, and it’s there, so it’s more accessible.”

With so many students that use the Grades app at GBHS, the students were thrown a curveball when they were blocked from using the app on and off campus. The school district did not block the app; it was actually due to malfunctions with the creator of the app.

Ham said the app was not made by a major corporation and, instead, by a lone inventor. The app programmed a predefined response when it malfunctioned which blamed the school network for the app’s

failure.

After the few days of the app blocking students, it is now allowing students on.

“I’m happy the app is back,” said sophomore Raina McCulloch. “It makes it a lot easier for me to check my grades throughout the week, rather than having to log into my Aeries every day. It’s a huge time saver.”

The district is now starting its own app. It was not the tech department’s top priority, but now, seeing that the Grades app has been such a hit, it is in the works.

“I think it’s probably going to be basically the same thing, maybe with a few more tools because of the popularity of the Grades app,” Ham said. “I would be shocked if it wasnt very, very similar – just not similar enough to violight any kind of copyright.”

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

Aeries app shows student grades and overall progress. The Grades app can help students calculate the exact score they need on tests in order to reach their preferred grade.

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Theory of Knowledge class goes from zero to fourth period

IB philosophy course will only be offered in the regular day schedule next year

BY ARTHI BOBBALA

abobbala.gazette@gmail.com

While most Granite Bay High School students are comfortably laying in bed at 6:30 a.m., IB students are already up frantically getting ready for their Theory of Knowledge class at 7 a.m. This zero-period class is taught by one of the schools’s most beloved teachers – Jenny Padgett. Nevertheless, as with most zero-period classes, TOK is dreaded by IB students.

The class is centered around teaching students about the way that humans derive information and knowledge.

Every single day, students’ brains are inundated with information through statistics, new stories and school. TOK allows the student to take a step back and scrutinize this information and the methodology behind its discovery. This course is of great value to IB students, who learn to question the validity of any information they are presented with.

“It’s a tremendous course that connects all disciplines and ways that we know things,” Padgett said. “It’s a privilege to teach it!”

Next year, IB students will have more time to sleep in because TOK is being moved to fourth period. While this is a great perk for students, more sleep for students was not the only reason that this change was made.

Because TOK is not considered a full contract class, Padgett was teaching 5 classes of students in the fall: TOK 1 and 2, two AP Lit classes and Honors English 10.

“With 176 IB/AP/honors students in my gradebook, the workload was overwhelming,” Padgett said. “It was basically an unteachable schedule.”

If Padgett were to continue to teach TOK, then some changes needed to be made.

Padgett worked with IB coordinator Duane Blomquist to figure out a solution to the issue.

They decided to move TOK to fourth period so she could give the class the attention it deserved.

Let’s go to the movies!

“Teachers cannot provide the kind of preparation and deliver the kind of quality feedback when they are given such a large number of students,” Padgett said. “IB and AP and honors courses are grading intensive, and I was frustrated with my efforts to stay on top of everything in the fall.”

This change will not only be beneficial for the teacher teaching it, but also to students.

“One benefit for the TOK students is that they will now have mornings free to meet with teachers in their other IB subjects,” Padgett said. “I also think the little bit of extra sleep will be beneficial for them.”

While this transition has its benefits, it also comes with some drawbacks. IB students will no longer have the opportunity to take elective classes during their fourth period such as speech and debate, journalism, athletic P.E. or musical theater.

“One of the things our IB students have done so brilliantly has been to complete the intense IB

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curriculum and participate in some really amazing extracurricular classes on campus,” Padgett said. “That option is no longer available.”

Students will also no longer have the option to take additional AP or IB classes during their fourth period. For IB students, the only period they have free to take additional classes is their fourth-period class. Most usually take AP Government early during their junior year, or they take additional IB courses like IB Business or IB World Religions. Having TOK fourth period will prevent students from choosing this option.

“At first I was not keen on the transition but then I came to terms with it,” IB junior Julianne Hamler said. “Padgett is really understanding about other commitments, and she is trying to make it work with students.”

While students will not have the opportunity to take other weighted classes, Blomquist said this course has been accepted by the IB and the UCs as a weighted course.

“Overall, I think that this will be a good change for IB students because TOK is an amazing course that deserves to be its own class,” Hamler said.

 The 2016 GBHS dance show featured several numbers inspired by classic old Hollywood flicks, with a contemporary twist.

Clockwise from top left: junior Whitney Knorp kicks up her legs during an umbrella dance; senior Gianna Lagorio exuberantly greets her dance partner; girls perform a ballet-inspired routine; seconds before lifting a focal dancer up, students pull sashes away in all directions; senior Zac Anderson forcefully leaps over senior Adam Kahan’s head.

Gazette photo /EPSA SHARMA

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STAFF: Closure of Japanese department upsets students Continued from page A2

AP/IB/Japanese 3 class as ludicrous and unreasonable.

As an international student who found his best friends in the Japanese class, Chiu was disappointed with the district’s decision.

“I felt Granite Bay once again lost the battle to nor-

mality,” Chiu said. “In a mainly white campus, the students lack appreciation for foreign culture and eliminating the Japanese program certainly lowers the diversity. It saddens me that the school fails to give support to nontraditional classes and the general issue of cultural awareness.”

Montague said breaking the news to her students was the hardest part of the process.

“Leighton kept asking, ‘Have you told your students?’ for three days, and I said no, because I needed to know … that the students will be taken care of,” Montague said. “Without knowing how the program will be next year, I wasn’t going to be able to say anything.”

Despite her regrets, Montague is excited to collaborate with the other Japanese teachers in Elk Grove,

which has a strong program. She eventually hopes to establish an IB Japanese program there.

“I have had many teachers, but I will always remember what a wonderful person and teacher Sensei is,” Damos said. “I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to be a part of her class. I know she’ll make the new school a better place, just as she did in Granite Bay.”

intendent Ron Severson’s office. Holzer did not receive any comments back from either, other than a confirmation from Severson that he had received the documents.

Holzer said she had a number of reasons as to why she started the petition.

“This year the administration has done a few things that I have disagreed with, but this was by far the action that I disagreed with the most,” Holzer said.

“Taking away classes from her is not only shallow, but it also comes on the basis of a philosophical difference rather than a real negative action or effect that she has on students. Students love her, and them taking away the classes is not only going to I thought, ‘We need upset but also further to listen these kids, polarize administrators they have something relationships with important to say and students and teachers.”

to write about.

“It concerns me, because (what if) the message is that students having space to express themselves is seen by adults on this campus as something we shouldn’t allow to happen?” Padgett said. “Where are (students) going to have that chance to express that?

That message makes me sad as an educator.”

Cranmer, on the other hand, said she doesn’t believe students should have a choice on the topic that they write about for a few reasons.

“It is is important for choice to be part of a classroom, but as a mature, educated, experienced adult, it’s my job to decide when choice is (given),” Cranmer said. “Your frontal lobe is not fully developed until you’re about 23 years old … I know that (students) don’t always make the best choices.”

PADGETT: Students upset over course changes, administration discusses decision Continued from page A1 dropped open. I was very surprised that our administration would have the audacity to take AP (classes) away from her, as she is honestly one of the most influential teachers I’ve ever had. I think, from what I’ve heard, it was due to the District Writing Assessment incident, which I was actually a part of and Mrs. Padgett didn’t actually play a huge role in.”

The District Writing Assessment, also known as the DWA, is a district-wide writing prompt that is given to students in the district once each semester.

Padgett was reprimanded in the fall semester of 2016 for not enforcing the prompt in the manner the district considered appropriate. However, some students say Padgett did not influence their writing.

“Padgett didn’t affect how the students wrote at all,” said senior Charlie Tooley, who was in the AP Lit class Padgett taught which caused the reprimand by the district. “The choice was the student’s – whether or not they were going to participate in the DWA. I feel that it was just us as seniors being annoyed with how much stuff we having to do and we were sick of it.”

Bell, who was also in the class, agreed with Tooley.

Bell said Padgett told their class to do whatever they wanted to do, but the refusal to write the prompt was the students’ own decision.

“I don’t think she should be punished for something students choose to do,” Bell said.

Lack of clarity over DWA outcome Padgett said she thought that the incident with the DWA had been worked out after the fall semester when she received a permanent letter in her file detailing the incident which served as her punishment.

Thus, Padgett was surprised when the news about her classes was presented to her.

“I asked my department chair – (Bernadette Cranmer) – why I wasn’t going to be able to teach (Lit) anymore and she told me, to her credit, that she had been told by the principal that I was not to teach AP seniors because of what had happened last fall, (which) refers to what happened in my first and second period AP Lit. classes with some students choosing to write off prompt,” Padgett said.

Although the district had been unhappy with the results of the DWA from Padgett’s fall AP Lit classes, spring semester’s DWA passed without any problems.

Fall semester, Padgett was not aware that there had been a problem with the essays until she got to read them over winter break.

“I had committed to making sure and encouraging my students this term to do their best and write to the prompt, and so it felt punitive to me,” Padgett said.

“It felt like I was being punished for something, and when my department chair confirmed that that had been the decision, it seemed like I was being unfairly punished again for something that I thought resolved.

“There wasn’t any kind of communication about it until the end of the semester when finally I was able to even see my students’ essays and see who had written off prompt and who hadn’t and when I took them home over winter break and was faced with the idea of a letter of reprimand, I started reading through the student’s essays, the ones off prompt, and they broke my heart because they wrote about how stressed they were – the anxiety that they were experiencing, their frets of not getting into the right college, the pressure they are feeling from families and family traditions to get into college, and they had written some of them really frankly and honestly and beautifully.”

Off-prompt essays cite important issues While Padgett acknowledged that some students “diffused (tensions) through humor,” most wrote about what mattered to them and the high levels of stress and anxiety they were feeling. To Padgett, this was significant.

“There were some (essays that were) very principled, ones about being over-tested and expressing frustration,” Padgett said. “There were other people who chose to write on topics that mattered to them and it blew my mind. I thought, ‘We need to listen to these kids, they have something to say and they are trying to tell us something important.’”

Padgett and her husband spent their winter break reading over the “unscorable essays” and doing research on how mandatory tests affect students.

Student-led petition As well as single-student reactions, there has been a grassroots movement that took hold on campus shortly after the news broke.

“I started a petition the night I found out that Mrs. Padgett would no longer be teaching AP Lit classes,” senior Hannah Holzer said. “I divided the signaturecollecting between myself and Brigid Bell and, from the first day, we had already collected 100 signatures.

Right off the bat, we knew that this was something students were passionate about.”

The petition ended up receiving over 300 student signatures and was turned into both Leighton and Roseville Joint Union High School District super-

are trying to tell us something important.

DWA on campus Although some teachers enforce the – Jenny Padgett, DWA strictly, Holzer Advanced Placement said most teachers she’s had over the Literature teacher years haven’t.

“Knowing that other students have had teachers that have encouraged them to go off the prompt – who are not specifically Mrs. Padgett but other teachers at this school that I know of – I would feel like the teacher who was forcing us to write the DWA, think that we had other thoughts to bring to the table, Holzer said. Lots of teachers don’t encourage their students per se, but, instead, make it known to students that (the DWA) isn’t going to be graded, and they (insinuate) that it is a waste of their time.”

While some teachers believe the DWA doesn’t hold much value and serves as a waste of class time, other teachers said it is important.

Cranmer, the chair of the English department, said the DWA is a tool that the district and administration values “because it’s something that we use to help measure how well we are doing with students.”

Although Padgett has a different perspective on the DWA, she still attempts to make the DWA an assignment in her gradebook for points. However, Padgett tries to give her students a choice on what they want

Administrative response Mike Fischer, a GBHS assistant principal, declined to comment; he cited personnel issues. However, principal Jennifer Leighton said that the DWA didn’t affect Padgett’s transfer to English 9 classes whatsoever.

“We’re trying to move forward with getting teachers to teach some upper-level and some lower-level classes,” Leighton said. “By lower-level, I mean (teaching) younger kids. You need to understand how these kids got to where they are, and take someone who has been teaching our best and brightest seniors and have them touch on our beginning learners.”

According to Leighton, the need for teachers to explore other levels of teaching and the future expected population of GBHS are the two main reasons behind many of the staffing changes.

“People have aged out here,” Leighton said. “We are down to 1,950 students right now and only 1,600 students live in this area. So as you get smaller, people have to do more things to accommodate for the overall picture.”

Leighton was aware that sometimes teachers might not be thrilled with their new assignment, but it’s not supposed to be a punishment.

Leighton said many steps go into selecting a course plan for the new school year, so the selection of freshman English 9 for Padgett had no relation and no connection to the DWA situation.

“We try to put the people in the places where we think they’ll do the best work,” Leighton said. “Nobody owns a course, and I understand that people get really attached to the courses because they’ve been teaching this course for so long, but if we feel like there might be a better place for somebody, (we have to make those decisions.)”

TESTING: Students refuse to take junior test, leading district to investigate

Continued from page A4

terms of attendance during the testing days.

Assistant Principal Jessup McGregor elaborated on the repurcussions that GBHS could face if not enough students are tested.

“If we don’t have enough kids tested, we automatically fail AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress),” McGregor said. “If you fail for a few years you go into … program improvement, which means the government comes in and says ‘Look, you’re clearly not getting it done and we have to do it for you. They start taking away our ability to run Granite Bay (High School).”

In terms of exactly how many students need to attend the annual tests, GBHS is cutting it as close as possible, even after test make-up days.

“We need 95 percent of juniors to take the test, which (this year) is 478 students,” McGregor said.

“Right now we have 477.”

Currently, administrators are asking themselves why this happened this year? Why did so many juniors from the class of 2017 choose to opt out more than those from other years?

Dell’Orto has one unique possible theory as to why students are opting out without any personal reasons.

“I listen to left, right, liberal and conservative (news and radio),” Dell’Orto said. “Every election year, politics gets super heated.

Over the last five months, I’ve heard different people say that Common Core is trying to steal your student’s souls … I’ve never heard anything (like that) about STAR tests.”

Whether or not politics are playing a role in attendance rates, both students and administration have been brainstorming ways to improve attendance in future years.

This also inspired the rumor that

GBHS would prevent teachers from in while their peers had to go to writing letters of recommendation school and take the test.”

McGregor, for students who however, said opted out of the the adminisCAASPP testing tration will not their junior year. be enforcing I think it would have “I think to some any kind of been much more extent, there “no letter” polshould be consehelpful if more stu- icy on teachquences because dents knew about ers to punish the way they set students. He the importance of the does recognize up the testing the possibility schedule, misstest. that a student’s ing testing was absence could essentially like – Christine Song, junior still impact cutting a class,” them. junior Christine “If a teacher Song said. “Also, is writing a it was a bit unfair letter of rechow those who opted out of testing got to sleep

ommendation for a student, they may consider whether that student has been contributing to the school, and this is one of the main ways that kids can give back to our school,” McGregor said.

Although students retain the legal right to opt out of testing if they present a legitimate document before testing begins, administration is trying to figure out ways to discourage students from not taking the test simply because they don’t want to.

The most important thing that both students and administration have learned from this is that communication between the two needs to be better in order for the school’s future testing attendance numbers to be successful.

“I think it would’ve been much more helpful if more students knew about the importance of the test, because then maybe not as many students would’ve opted out,” Song said.

McGregor, for example, has faith that students would have been much more committed to helping the school if they had known more about it, and realized that it isn’t just another stupid test enforced by the bureaucracy to make students suffer.

“We would have done a whole lot more to push this information out in advance,” McGregor said, “because I think our kids care enough that they would at least show up and try.”

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FEAR: Experts explore the political impact of anxiety Continued from page A1

of Americans say they trust the U.S. government.

In an annual study examining fears in America conducted by Chapman University, 1541 Americans nationwide were asked about their level of fear relating to 88 pre-chosen possible fears. The top-ranking fear in the most recent 2015 study, one that 58 percent of surveyed Americans said they had, was fear of corruption of government officials.

“I was surprised with what popped up … as the biggest single fear, which was government corruption,” said Chapman sociology professor Lemuel E. Day, who was a principal investigator for the survey. “I think a big part of that was the beginning of the primary season, (with) all candidates running on how the country is going to hell in a handbasket. That makes people afraid, but I was surprised the results were that high.”

Locals weigh in on corruption In regards to government corruption, some students, like Granite Bay High School senior Will Duckhorn, who identifies as a moderate Republican, say they can understand why so many Americans see it as a threat.

“Politicians have been known to do some shady activities, but that’s not what I would consider corruption,” Duckhorn said. “I think Americans are afraid of corruption because they see things like FIFA and the Panama Papers and believe that something similar is happening in the U.S. While I can’t be entirely sure if the government is hiding something from the public, I don’t believe it could be anything comparable to what’s going on in countries like Russia.”

A second part of the same Chapman study examined the responses to the fears of the participants. The most popular response, which 22.6 percent of those surveyed say they participate in “because of their fears,” was voting for a certain candidate.

Senior Jack Kennedy, who supports Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, said that he does not personally fear government corruption or corrupt individuals infiltrating government. Kennedy said people vote for certain candidates based on their fears “because it makes them feel more comfortable with themselves” but that, ultimately,

individuals should vote for who they believe in.

However, senior Eddie Gleason, a Republican who supports Donald Trump for the presidency, said that he believes America needs to “strike fear into the country” to keep former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton out of the presidency at all costs. Doing so by utilizing fear, Gleason said once a Republican returns to the presidency “we won’t be giving out free money.”

Votes for fearmongering If individuals participating in government recognize the power of fear, to what extent do candidates employ national fears?

“Fear has been probably the most important tactic used throughout the race,” Duckhorn said. “Trump’s campaign has done so well because he knows how to use fear to his advantage. He talks about Mexicans and how they are stealing our jobs, and voters are (thinking) ‘I don’t want to lose my job, better vote for this guy.’ He does an incredible job playing off of the fears of Americans, and, because of it, he’s going to be the Republican nominee.”

The power fear holds in influencing decisions is undeniable, but exactly how fear shapes perceptions is more complex than most individuals, even those who have high political efficacy, may consciously acknowledge.

GBHS Advanced Placement Psychology teacher and marriage and family therapist Natalie Elkin said that fear is a primitive and primal emotion linked with survival. If we perceive a threat to our survival, she said, our emotions hugely influence our ability to correctly process and interpret information.

“A corrupt government is a threat to us because we are still functioning from this idea that we need to hold on to our freedom, … whether (from perceived threats like) immigrants,” Elkin said. “One candidate in particular has been good at identifying these different threats.

“If a politician, then, is speaking to us and explaining their side or they’re talking about their opponent, and they connect (or)… insinuate there might be a threat if you vote for this (person), then our brains immediately light up and … we then process that information with this possible threat. And it gets stored in our memory that way, so then that shapes everything about how we vote. We have such horrible cognitive biases, … that

when it comes right down to it, we don’t vote from a logical, rational place. We vote from pure emotion.”

The Chapman study highlighted the responses individuals take in response to fears, but responding to fears by voting and voting out of fears are two separate circumstances. To what extent do Americans vote out of fear?

McKenzie Hunter, a senior who is registered as a Democrat but is considering re-registering as an independent in protest of the two party system, says voting out of fear occurs often.

“People certainly vote out of fear,” Hunter said. “People generally just fear the uncertainty of the country. Everyone living today was born with America as a super power in the world and no matter the nationalism we all feel towards our country, there is a realistic fear we aren’t competing anymore. More importantly, people fear for their own futures. There’s concern over jobs and education and foreign policy, just general safety in the time of potential nuclear war. Politicians win support by easing these fears and promising a secure future for people and their families.”

study also focused on the effects of perceived fears on individual’s behaviors in different circumstances.

“We were interested in finding out if fear of crime has real effects on people’s likelihood of withdrawing from their neighborhoods,” Chapman Sociology Professor Christopher Bader said, who worked alongside Day and a third colleague as a principal investigator.

“We expected that to happen and found strong evidence that people do indeed, become less likely to volunteer, meet with their neighbors (and) join neighborhood ... groups as they become more afraid of crime. So fears can have very real, very negative effects on us.”

A deterioration of trust Day also commented on the influence of fears on human connections, saying he was surprised “at how little trust there is between people,” which, he also said, was

disappointing.

Chapman will release their newest annual study on American fears in a few months. Bader said he expects the fear of government corruption to remain high, but also expects fear of Muslims to be high as well, “due to the increased negative discussion of Muslims.”

The increased negative discussion of Muslims by certain political candidates might be used as a scapegoat tactic, which, Elkin pointed out, works well to whip people into a frenzy.

The impact of fears, which resonates with all fears, including those that influence how and what we vote for, are, at their core, concerned with self-preservation.

“I think, when we identify a group of people by a designation, that inherently causes us to shrink up and feel more tribal. Instead, politicians (could) talk in terms of ‘Americans’ or talk in terms of being a ‘global citizen’ and that

(would) automatically change things, because that means (we would see others) as allies – you might be a different skin color, religion, whatever, but you are a part of me and so therefore we’re going to be much more cooperative, more communicative, (more likely to) give each other the benefit of the doubt (and) trust that we do have more or less the same goals in mind.

“Looking for those similarities means really having to overcome and realize (certain) fears aren’t doing (us) any good. Instead, the moment you talk about differences, people’s backs go up against the wall (and) their guns come out. It does us no good, it’s just very destructive and I’d like to think that as a society or culture our civilization has ascended enough that we can be more tolerant and accepting and focus on commonalities and cooperative interactions, but clearly we’re not there yet.”

A ‘danger to democracy’ Like Hunter, Elkin pointed out the fear of the unknown and how it can “reduce or minimize our perspective” causing those that perceive the uncertain as a threat, and thus influencing how we act and vote.

When examining American fears, or the idea that voters are influenced by threats, Day referred to the long term consequences of such behavior to the preservation of the nation and the principles the country was founded upon.

“The ideas that we’re picking candidates out of fear (rather) than … policies or what could help the country, I think, (is) a long term danger to democracy that we need to be aware of,” Day said. “The whole point of democracy is an exchange of ideas about how the country could best move forward and, instead, politicians are running on fear, they’re pushing it, they’re making people afraid and people are responding accordingly.

I think that’s a real danger for our nation.”

In regards to a more generalized viewpoint of how fears play out across the country, the Chapman

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WHEN YOU

Friday, May 20, 2016

w The Granite Bay Gazette

A9 News

TOP STUDENTS: Graduation speakers reflect on GBHS Continued from page A1

of faded in the midst of his junior year.

“I didn’t really care if I would be selected,” Chu said. “I found out the Friday before (the Academic Merit Awards ceremony) which was a Monday. Because it’s mostly based on GPA, my family and I weren’t really surprised.”

Chu said the class ranking system at GBHS and other schools is flawed. “(It) can be manipulated to one’s favor,” Chu said. “I avoided an unweighted class (half of government/economics) by going to Sierra, and in return got four weighted grades rather than one weighted grade and one unweighted grade.

Students who take journalism, speech and debate, athletic PE and band are at a huge disadvantage.

Nobody really says these things out loud, but they do unfortunately exist, and are why the class ranking system isn’t ideal.”

Asokan’s GPA is 4.56 and she is third in the class; GBHS took into consideration her extracurriculars and other factors.

“I didn’t set out to be the top of the class, it was mainly that I knew I wanted to do journalism a lot of semesters,” Asokan said.

To make up for journalism not being weighted, her brother suggested that she take certain weight-

ed classes and skip some other unweighted classes.

“That’s why I skipped two semesters of Japanese and asked (formal principal Mike) McGuire to let me take AP Art History (a weighted VAPA) as a sophomore, since I wouldn’t have room within my IB schedule which he was really generous about,” Asokan said.

“To make room for a semester of journalism that year, I also went straight into AP Calculus BC pretending I actually took Calculus AB already (Becker doesn’t know this so if he reads this, lol). Junior year, I self-studied for the AP Physics Electricity and Magnetism test too.”

Asokan will be attending Stanford University after high school.

For a few weeks, she was deciding between Dartmouth, Caltech and Stanford and ultimately decided on Stanford for a number of reasons.

“I really wanted strong academics in the humanities and sciences,” she said, “as well as a feeling of energetic intellectualism in the community, a decent campus, an inclusive/laid back/mostly unpretentious student body and a collaborative environment. I originally wanted to go far away, but that didn’t work out. But after visiting Stanford, talking to students and getting the general vibe, I just felt like there was quite a large percentage of students there who are both

starry-eyed about academia and have wild unrealistic ambitions about innovating and creating, which I really connected with.”

Asokan also started the essays for Stanford hours before they were due.

“The essay supplements I submitted were the most honest, rawest ones, and I didn’t edit them since I started them two hours before they were due, so they were really reflective of me,” Asokan said. “I felt if they enjoyed my neurotic, unfocused tendencies, then I’d fit in well.”

Asokan said being recognized as salutatorian doesn’t mean much in relation to academics globally.

“My parents (weren’t particularly enthused) and neither was I,” Asokan said. “The whole ranking system strikes me as wholy irrelevant, because it’s all based on comparing you against others in the school, and that’s not really an accurate measure of anything.

“When I interviewed at Cambridge and talked to the other students, who were from Britain and Cyprus and all over, I just was struck with how ridiculously intelligent people around the world are. On a global scale, none of us here are remotely outstanding.

We should stop acting like this is something meaningful and try to focus on feeling content and proud on a personal level, without be-

OUR

ing thirsty for validation from a random school in a small area in northern California.”

Over the years, both Chu and Asokan had classes that stood out to them over the years.

“My favorite classes were Honors Physics with Miller and AP Statistics with Kunst,” Chu said, “because of the people who ended up in my class. The biggest challenge would be IB English with (David) Tastor because he is very different from other teachers in terms of grading, and clearly wants to challenge his students.”

Asokan’s favorite class was AP Art History.

“Mr. Cordell was incredible,” she said. “His lecture on Neoplatonism honestly revolutionized my whole way of thinking, and he had a cute

way of mixing his eclectic interests into teaching, like relating themes in Fight Club and The Matrix with the Renaissance. Studying for that class was my favorite form of procrastination.”

After high school, Chu said he’s not sure exactly what he’ll be doing yet, but he wants to go to graduate school and then find a job.

Asokan has plans that are a bit more specific for after high school.

“I plan to visit Cuba and become involved in drug smuggling (pharmaceutical drugs, because the U.S.’s embargo is stupid and inhumane), become a Rhodes, Fulbright or Marshall scholar so I can get a scholarship to graduate school at Oxford, obtain a medical degree so I can heal socialist revolutionaries in battle just like Che Guevara,

join the KGB and eventually become a professor at Oxford and an internationally renowned literary theorist,” she said, tongue firmly in cheek. “Not necessarily in that order, though.”

Both Chu and Asokan will be speaking at the May 28 graduation ceremony.

Friday, May 20, 2016

News A10

w The Granite Bay Gazette

REFLECTION: Bittersweet time discussed by graduating seniors Continued from page A1

of senior year and my high school career is the people,” Denton said. “Not being able to see my friends every day (will be hard) knowing that I probably won’t see many of them for a long time after this summer. But other than that, I’m so ready to leave.”

Many, however, while realizing that goodbyes are approaching, are ready to tackle the changes coming their way.

“I’m very excited for high school to be over,” senior Caroline Brown said. “I’ve had some great experiences and learned a lot about myself, but my four years are up and I’m ready for a new adventure.”

The same goes for Yamashiro, who, like Brown, is anticipating the exciting opportunities in his future.

The rest of life is all up to me, whereas high school had a path set out and people to get you there.

– Emily Gallegos, senior

“I’m a little n e r v o u s about the changes, but it’s just like the transition from middle school to high school where I’m both really excited and nervous at the same time knowing that it’s going to be a big

change,” Yamashiro said.

These big changes are only expected, of course, but the change in environment will still probably be a shock to seniors’ systems when the step outside the gates of GBHS after receiving their diplomas.

“The thing I’ll miss most is having everything being laid out for me,” Gallegos said. “The rest of life is all up to me, whereas high school had a path set out and people to get you there.”

Brown feels the same way, but in terms of the social setting rather than than academic challenges.

“I think I will miss the comfortable environment that I’m used to at GBHS,” Brown said.

“At any time (at GBHS) you can see your friends and teachers you know, and I’ll miss being able to see everyone everyday on a campus that I’ve been on for

four years,” she said.

When reflecting back on the experience at GBHS as a whole, no one could express the confusing feelings that come along with the end of four years better than senior Erica Lucia.

“I feel pretty satisfied – I feel like I was able to make the most of my experience and I came into it as a learning opportunity,” Lucia said. “A lot of it has to do with just luck and circumstance. But if you go out and try as many things as you can, you can have a really rich experience. I just feel like I’ve learned a lot along the way, not just academically but about people.”

“I’ve realized that life can throw crazy things your way,” Lucia said, “but you just need to keep thinking ‘what can I learn from this, how can I grow?’ And I think these four years are the best growth opportunities we get so far in our lives.”

POLICY: Social media activists praise and critique differing public restroom policies Continued from page A2 “in compliance with what we need to do. So we work with our lawyers and have meetings about this kind of thing to make sure that we’re complying, which is good, but that’s really not the big thing.

The big thing is how do we accommodate to people’s needs? How do we then (provide) service to every student on our campus?

“You have folks who are in various stages of transition also, emotionally, physically and mentally.

Each one we take as a single-case basis. We have not outlined a specific (protocol), like Target has, for example. We also have to balance out with the needs, wishes and desires of everybody on campus too.

So it’s hard to come up with a blanket policy just yet, so we’re going slow. We’re taking each student individually and trying to (ensure) they have a hospitable environment to go to school in and get their education in.”

Benefits of genderless bathrooms Marty Kantola pointed out that he has the right to use the bathroom that corresponds to his gender identity because he resides in California, but he would still feel more comfortable in a gender neutral bathroom.

“When it comes to Granite Bay (High School), I know that I’d be physically safe using the restroom I feel comfortable in,” Kantola said.

“Personally, I’d rather use a gender neutral bathroom. For example, Del Oro High actually has a twostall, gender neutral bathroom on campus, which is awesome. As for using restrooms on campus, I actually avoid using the GBHS bathrooms at all cost, because when I

go in either bathroom, I’m always afraid that someone will tell me I’m in the wrong place, when all I need to do is pee.”

Madison Shroyer, a Del Oro junior who transferred after attending GBHS, verified the existence of gender neutral bathrooms in the middle of campus which are open to anyone. Shroyer said she thinks it might be easier for students who are either transgender or struggling with their gender identity to use gender-free bathrooms.

GBHS, however, has no gender neutral bathrooms.

“I think, across the education (system) in general, there’s going to be some shifting around, in terms of how we build our schools,” McGregor said. “But we have what we have right now, and we have to adapt our facilities to (fit) the needs of our students.”

Administrative interactions In regards to improving the comfortability of students using the facilities provided at GBHS, McGregor and Kantola both said neither the GSA nor administrative staff have attempted to talk to one another about the bathroom policy at GBHS. McGregor said the district works with each student on a case-by-case basis to come up with an individual plan the student feels comfortable with. “(We) have a vested interest in providing students with the best services possible, regardless of what they’re coming to us with,” McGregor said. “So we would absolutely be open to having a conversation, having even forums, potentially, to make sure that everybody feels like they have a voice and has access to the decision-making pro-

Your names.

Your faces.

The Gazette.

cess. All students have an interest in their privacy and their ability to access facilities so we’re open to hearing from everybody, certainly.

“I think we’re all anxious to make sure that we get it right, and concerned about the implications if we get it wrong, either out of innocence or ignorance or otherwise.

We all want to do the right thing by people, but it’s really hard because … a lot of people have a lot of very charged opinions. I hope that our student body has patience with us as we go through this and try to get it right.”

Bathroom policies and social media Nationwide, however, schools, companies and even states are struggling to find an inclusive policy that works for everyone. The difficulty lies in meeting everyone’s needs, and when bathroom policies fall short of expectations or personal desires, Americans are using the internet as an outlet to vent their concerns.

In regards to both Target’s newest company policy and North Carolina’s legislation, individuals took

to social media or other online platforms to petition against or support the policy. The AFA’s online petition is one example of mass online protest.

The future of grassroots social movements – movements started by the public – might be more concentrated online.

“I think it is just in keeping with everything else in society, no one writes letters of any kind anymore – it is easy to post something to Twitter and reach tons and tons of people, so naturally people are doing that,” said Sacramento State University Government Professor David Barker, who has expertise in media and politics. “Traditional forms of protest take a lot more effort (and) organizing, and naturally most people don’t have time for that.

“I don’t think that people don’t protest ... in traditional ways. I think they (do). But again, you can’t do it that quickly because someone has to organize it. It is easy and fast to get a bunch of signatures via social media, and we have now gotten to a point when a big majority of the population is on Facebook and a substantial percentage is on Twit-

ter.”

Effects of social media social justice Undoubtedly, the online presence of teens is particularly high – according to a study published in 2015 by the Pew Research Center, approximately 92 percent of teens surveyed said they engage in daily activities online. Teens may or may not choose to become politically active online, but if they do, is social media social justice effective?

“I think both forms – traditional and modern – … will continue to be important,” Barker said. “Social media may be easy and it may be impactful, but it is nothing like a march. People still need to take to the streets in large numbers to really get noticed. It is bang for your energy buck: you get a lot of bang for not much effort. That is why you are seeing it used so much now.”

However, Tran, who said she promotes her own political ideologies on her personal social media

accounts “pretty often,” said she thinks social media is an effective way to make change.

“I think social media has a larger outreach than any other form of protest does – it raises awareness in a way that is totally unique and accessible to people everywhere around the world,” Tran said. “I’d dare to say that social media is more effective than traditional organized protests or letters. Discussions about topics pop up everywhere and allow so many people to see it and really promote more people to talk about topics, especially when things get trending and hashtags get started.

“Organized protests, even when televised, only reach so many people locally. The internet and social media are constantly checked by people, and when topics start to trend they do end up on television and other news sources. Social media really has the biggest reach of any other type of protest or discussion about a topic.”

Voices

Granite Bay Gazette

A11

Friday w May 20, 2016

GAZETTE Conversations more interesting than you think The Granite Bay

GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL 1 GRIZZLY WAY GRANITE BAY, CA 95746

Editors-in-Chief: Savitri Asokan Hannah Holzer Troy Pawlak News Editors: Surina Khurana Caroline Palmer Voices Editors: Connor Hinson Amanda Nist Anjali Shrivastava Lifestyle Editors: Natasha Chanda Garbhita Shah Hannah Xu Green Screen Editors: Olivia Heppell Blake Panter Amanda Prather Epsa Sharma Sports Editors: Cole Kahmann Matthew Ontiveros Jacqueline Romero Online Editors: Clair Kasel Rawan Khalili Jill Kurpershoek Ali Lemos Isabella Tkachuk Illustrators: Natasha Chanda Carissa Lewis Troy Pawlak Photo Editor: Carissa Lewis Staff Writers/ Photographers: Brigid Bell Arthi Bobbala Shivani Bobbala Katie Cologna Sonia Garcha Naseeha Islam Brayden Johnk Stephenie Kang Kayomi Kayoshi Whitney Knorp Aishwarya Pattnaik Meagan Tallman Savanna Thompson Adviser: Karl Grubaugh The Gazette is published eight times per academic year by students in the advanced journalism class at Granite Bay High School.

Content is determined by the staff and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Granite Bay High School’s faculty, administration, adviser or student body.

Students are protected in their exercise of press freedom by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and California Education Code 48907.

Signed editorials and columns reflect the views of the writer.

Letters to the editor and guest commentaries are encouraged and must be signed, although anonymity can be granted on a caseby-case basis.

The editorial board reviews letters to the editor, advertising and guest commentaries and reserves the right to edit and refuse material.

Reasons can include length, clarity, libel, obscenity, material disruption of the educational process at Granite Bay High School or violation of copyright laws.

Send Letters to the Editor to: gbgazette@yahoo.com Identification Statement GRANITE BAY GAZETTE PUBLISHED EIGHT TIMES PER ACADEMIC YEAR c/o Granite Bay High School 1 Grizzly Way Granite Bay, CA 95746 Subscriptions: $25 per year/ $15 per half year

Listening to someone else’s story is sometimes more important than adding your own anecdote

A

COMMENTARY s humans, it is natural for us to want to engage vidual’s own perceived in conversation. It is boredom in what their not only essential to our interaccompanion is saying.

While this boredom may tion, but has become a desirable be real, it is usually a inclination. result of the individual’s While the prospect of converlack of effort to immerse sation is overall well-intended, themselves in what the there is one problem: people other person is saying. don’t always listen to listen.

In other words, if you They listen to respond. don’t try to listen, you are This is equivalent to skimming guaranteed to be bored, through a book. You might pick clewis.gazette@gmail.com but if you take the time to up on keywords or phrases. You listen rather than wormight even be able to describe the basic plot, but you won’t ever be able to expand rying about how you’re going to respond, you upon the general information. might actually find the conversation intriguing.

But what would happen if you tried to write an adThe simple act of engaging can enhance the conversation.

This is not only because you will ditional chapter? be more involved, but because the other person You would be lost. You might be able to throw in will become aware of your interest and react a few relevant details, but the book would wind up positively. choppy and uninteresting.

When people feel as though they are being Similarly, if you treat people like skimming through listened to, their mannerism changes. They a book, your conversation will be limited. The less become more zealous and thus their voice you listen to a person, the less you are able to underbecomes lively and eccentric, further propelling stand and contribute to the discussion. their own enthusiasm.

Conversations can be thought-provoking and comOne meaningful discussion leads to a sepelling, but a conversation can’t develop if you are constantly racing to write your own chapter. quence of subsequent conversations. By engagOften, people pursue their end of the conversation ing yourself in someone else’s thoughts, you because speaking out loud helps them process their develop your relationship with that person and own thoughts. This is an excellent way to introspect expand upon your own realm of knowledge. and build upon your own cognition, but it is not more It is not a crime to want to hear yourself talk beneficial than listening. every once in awhile, but writing your own Your mind is available to you at any time of the day. book without a filter, or attempting to throw Being able to observe someone else’s thoughts is the random ideas into some else’s, will be much more rare opportunity. less progressive than collaborating.

If you are thoroughly engaged in a discussion, then You can throw in a chapter here and there, but the ideas you add will furnish the dialogue, and the first you should thoroughly read the story that conversation will become much more enriching to comes before it. both you and the person you are talking to. *** Carissa Lewis, a junior, is a Gazette photo The tendency for individuals to want to fast-forward to their part in a conversation is catalyzed by the indi- editor.

carissa lewis

Gazette illustration/TROY PAWLAK

A letter to my three brothers: thank you Growing up the only girl sibling truly has its advantages

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rowing up as the only girl in the family has had its pros and cons.

Some of the pros include earning the status of daddy’s little girl and never having to share my clothes with anyone.

Some of the cons include stolen food no matter where I hide it and always losing out when it comes to picking a movie. Up until I was 8 years old, I was constantly wishing for a sister, however I could not be more glad that wish never came true.

I think anyone who has grown up with brothers can attest to the fact that it adds a special something to childhood. As I get ready to move miles and miles away from the three goons I grew up with, I realize I have them to thank for many of the life lessons that have shaped me into who I am.

First of all – they made me tough.

Brothers are the first boys to pick on you, and they will never miss an opportunity to bother you relentlessly. Whether it was pushing me into the pool, using me as a wrestling partner or teasing me until I cried, my brothers never failed to torment me when we were little.

They had no mercy beating me in any game we played and had no sym-

COMMENTARY

meagan tallman mtallman.gazette@gmail.com

pathy when I cried afterwards. Though I thought they were just being mean at the time, my brothers taught me from a young age to suck up the pain, rub some dirt in it and move on – a lesson that can be applied to all tough situations in life.

They also taught me to broaden my horizons. I remember once my mom and I were going to have a mommy-daughter tea party day and my dad and brothers were going to go to a monster truck show, but something came up and I instead tagged along to watch big trucks run over little trucks.

I was less than thrilled with the idea at the time and cried the whole way there, for I thought there could be nothing more boring. But when the show began, I was just as enthralled as the rest of them.

After that I learned that maybe their ideas weren’t so bad after all, and was more willing to tag along to events I previously deemed “boring and just for boys.”

Without my brothers I never would have taken up an interest in anything outside of the typically girly-girl realm.

They’ve taught me the meaning of loyalty. Whether it’s helping me cover up a mistake from our parents or giving me brutally honest advice, I know wholeheartedly that I can always, always count on my brothers. I’ve called on them to pick me up when I needed them and to make me laugh through tears, and they’ve shown me that no one truly has your back like family.

The thing about brothers, or really siblings in general, is that they have literally been there since day one, and have seen your good, your bad and your ugly. They are your first friends as a kid, and they were the ones who entertained

They’ve taught me the meaning of loyalty .... I know wholeheartedly that I can always, always count on my brothers. you that one time your parents thought it would be a good idea to take a roadtrip to Montana. Regardless of what you go through, there is a bond between siblings that holds us together for life.

So thank you Brennen, Rylan and Hayden for including me in three flags up and NASCAR video game tournaments; for teaching me that Sundays are for church and football, and that flinching means I’m getting hit again.

To all brothers out there, thank you for enriching the lives of your sisters – we love you. *** Meagan Tallman, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Japanese program more important than bureaucrats

I

this news is nothing short of n the coming years, the Granite Bay High School student body is expected to devastating. shrink significantly. As a result, GBHS The current truth is that is slated to lose at least one teacher per year Mrs. Naoko Montague, the The voice of the for the next few years. only Japanese teacher GBHS Granite Bay As budgets get cut, so do, it seems, any has ever had, is transferring Gazette emotional ties the educational bureaucracy to another district on her own has to the consequences. Schools have accord. However, those who begun to be run like a business, where know Mrs. Montague know students and teachers and the rest of the staff are that Granite Bay High School is her home, making moved around like commodities in order to create the circumstances of her transfer a bit questionable. the most economically ideal condition for the school.

This is not to say that the school or district adminThis is not a critique of our school, nor is it a critique istrations are withholding information or that Mrs. of those who are forced to make such decisions – it Montague was moved out by the administration, it simply is. just seems strange that this program was the first to Unfortunately, the students have been affected far go, as enrollment for Japanese 1 next year was slated more than we should have. In the process of restructo be higher than it ever has, requiring two separate turing, it appears the advancement of our education periods of the class. Also, International Baccalaurehas taken a back seat to the “more pressing issue” of ate Japanese enrollment will increase, as students budgeting. from outside the district choose to attend GBHS based on the presence of this program.

For the past 17 years, our high school has been The fact remains that a significant number of stuhome to a Japanese program. Next year, it will not dents will now have to restart their foreign language be. For the 60-plus students enrolled in the program,

EDITORIAL

learning with a new language, possibly in their junior or senior years. This major setback could affect scheduling into these students’ senior years, forcing compromises which otherwise wouldn’t – and shouldn’t – have to be made.

Out of all of the programs the administration could have done its best to keep, the Japanese program should have been near the top of the list. We have six Spanish teachers at the school. We only have one Japanese teacher.

What’s more is that Mrs. Montague is one of the few native speakers of a foreign language teaching at out school. Granite Bay High School is losing what little diversity our predominantly white school has to offer.

School is not for the staff. School is for the students. It is a place of education, created for the singular purpose of teaching children. When issues like budgeting get in the way of education, there is a problem.

Budgetary cuts have to be made, no question. In absolutely no circumstances, however, should these cuts hinder a student’s ability to learn.

Friday, May 20, 2016

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The Granite Bay Gazette

Voices A12

Not everyone can afford the GB lifestyle HEARD Yes, we do have struggles, but we also Gazette ill

on the

BAY

ustration/

COMMENTARY

“Politicians’ campaigns are derived on fear in order to satisfy the people. To get votes, they’ll emphasize things that the people want and against what they’re afraid of.”

surina khurana skhurana.gazette@gmail.com

Stephanie Samson “Politicians use fear tactics to create fake problems so that they can come up with solutions that make them seem like heroes and that’s how they get your vote – by playing on your fears.”

LEWIS

have much to be grateful for

How do you think fear influences modern politics?

freshman

CARISSA

E

very so often my mom and I volunteer with a local organization called Compassion Planet. It is located at a small church, and on Sunday evenings they have hot food for anyone who needs a meal.

My mom and I serve food to the people who come by – some live out of their cars, some don’t have a home and others just need a free, warm meal.

Twice now I’ve seen this one girl, a high school student who is probably 18 years old, at the church.

After I saw her the second time, I really started thinking about why it is that the meal we gave her was the

only food she had eaten all day.

Why was she born into a family where she and her mother don’t have enough money to eat comfortably? Why is her mother a drug addict, and how much of their money is used buying drugs? Why was I born into a family where we’ve never had to worry about how much food would be on the table that night?

I didn’t do anything to receive thegood family I was born in – I just showed up.

Do I deserve what I was born into?

I probably deserve what I have just as much as the girl at the church deserves what she has. Nevertheless, here I am and there she is.

I don’t usually walk a mile in other people’s shoes that are so drastically different from mine. Imagining her life makes me realize just some of what we have that is seldom appreciated.

After serving her dinner and watching her interactions with others that Sunday evening, I started to imagine what her life is like. I started to think about what classes

she takes at school, or if she even goes to school, what she eats when she comes home, if her friends were the other two kids in the room, if they go to school with her and where she sleeps every night.

Just an hour before I started speculating about this girl’s life, I was stressing about my AP tests.

When I realized how one moment I was thinking about my problems, nearly all concerning standardized testing, and then the next moment I was thinking about this girl’s problems, nearly all concerning her basic health

needs, I thought ‘Wow, my problems are so trivial and insignifcant problems are indeed struggles. We all have our own challenges and they are also important but if getting a 5 on an AP test is the main worry, then we’re probably doing reasonably well in life.

I forget that every school is not like ours, that every student is not like the typical Granite Bay High student, and that everyone does not have what we take for granted.

It’s difficult to put our problems into perspective, but taking a step back to see where we truly stand can help us realize how fortunate we truly are. *** Surina Khurana, a junior, is a Gazette News editor.

Why do people continue to ridicule psychology?

sophomore

Psychologists dedicate just as much time and effort to their field as other experts

F Olivia Grijalva “Fear is the strongest emotion and politicians know that and use it to their advantage and prey on the fear of the public to get their votes up.”

junior

Alexios Alexandrou Barcelo “Fear is a big influencer of modern politics ... because some people are simply voting for Trump because he says that Obama made America look weak and so people are afraid of (invasion). Other people are voting for Hillary because they’re afraid that Trump is going to ruin America.”

But now, new research shows or the last few years, the COMMENTARY that the effects might not even branch of psychology exist. that revolves around the Instances like these make many theory of self-determination believe that psychology isn’t a has been in trouble. legitimate science.

The theory states that What they fail to recognize, people have a limited amount however, is that the mistakes the of willpower and self-control, psychologists make are not inherand that when we have to ent to the field. restrict ourselves from our Psychology is a newer field wants, we experience ego of study. Whereas biology and depletion. physics have been heavily torn Ego depletion makes us less apart since the medieval era, true willing to spend time on tasks in-depth experimentation in psythat are mentally gruelling. hxu.gazette@gmail.com chology began in the late 1800s.

In order to test this theory, These mistakes are sure to exist a group of scientists set up simply due to the youth of such a field. Should an experiment where two groups of people were incongruities like the theory of self-determination separated into two rooms. Each room had cookimpede on the title of a subject? ies baking in an oven, allowing the smell to waft Disallowing psychology to be named a science through the room as participants waited.

Participants in one room were told they could eat because of the errors that might occur would be the cookies while those in the other room were told similar to calling medicine illegitimate because doctors used to bloodlet to “cure” people. to avoid the cookies and instead eat the radishes if But the inaccuracies that psychology faces aren’t they got hungry.

Afterwards, they were told to complete a test that the only things that hinder it from receiving its proper title. was made to be impossible. The results? Those “Psychological theories are unfounded,” critics who ate the cookies lasted a longer time than those say. who were prohibited.

And yet, these theories are rooted in heavy exThe theory was taken as so influential that a perimentation, like every other science out there. whole sub-branch of psychology was dedicated to These theories aren’t meant to be taken as fact, it and its effects.

hannah xu

Sarah Jolly “Donald Trump (exemplifies) fear in modern politics. Just look at how he’s run his campaign – (with the) fear of America falling apart (and) not being great again. He’s galvanized the section of society that’s felt like they’ve been pushed aside and forgotten about ... and that fear alone, I feel, has led to his uprising.”

staff

Jason Rath Compiled by Hannah Holzer

as is true with any theory. And psychologists don’t claim them to be. Psychology notices tendencies first and foremost and tries to explain them. There is not a difference between what psychology is trying to accomplish and what chemistry is trying to accomplish.

Therefore, why is it treated as a joke?

So much of it is grounded in neuroscience; would anyone dare say that neuroscience isn’t a science?

So much of it requires intensive studying, with experiments ranging from days to weeks to months.

So much of it is made up of researchers dedicated to truly deciphering the human brain.

When a subject like psychology is degraded for being less stable than other established sciences, a whole community of hardworking and, most importantly, grounded researchers are undeservedly mocked. * * * Hannah Xu, a junior, is a Gazette Lifestyle editor.

Don’t feel ashamed to ask for help

We will make mistakes, and that’s acceptable

COMMENTARY

F

senior

These mistakes are sure to exist simply due to the youth of such a field. Should incongruities like the theory of self-determination impede on the title of a subject?

or the last nine months, seniors have been on top of the world – or at least at the top of the high school hierarchy. Those months have been filled with both anticipation and anxiety, as we slaved away in coursework, extracurriculars, and those awful college applications. But as we all know, all of what we are familiar with will soon change when we say goodbye to our four years at Granite Bay High and prepare ourselves to embrace what comes next, whatever that might be.

The class of 2016 is splitting up to follow individual paths, whether that’s a four-year institution, a community college, a gap year or something else entirely. But I’m sure we can all agree that we’re all at least a little bit nervous for what happens once we throw our caps in the air on May 28, and it wouldn’t hurt for us to hear a little wisdom.

Perhaps the best piece of life advice I’ve received, I learned at band leadership camp which I attended with some of my best friends in August of 2015. At the camp, one game in particular taught me a lesson I won’t soon forget.

The camp facilitator set down a circle made of rope on the ground, large enough for the 23 camp attendees to stumble around in. We were then asked to step inside the circle and close our eyes, and were instructed to find our way out of the circle. There were very specific instructions: “Find

naseeha islam nislam.gazette@gmail.com

your way out of the circle – there is only one correct way out, and if you use the wrong way, you will be put back into the circle. Keep your eyes closed, and raise your hand if you need help.”

Before long, the people I’ve known for years were trying every conceivable method they could imagine to find the “correct” way out of the game.

We went from confidently stepping over the line, to slightly less confidently picking up the rope and crawling under, only to be gently led back inside the circle. Soon enough my peers (and myself) were spinning out of the circle, blindly feeling around and attempting to untie the knot that held the circle together, or leapfrogging over one another and sheepishly giggling when we, unsurprisingly, realized it was to no avail.

Eventually, we began to give up, remembering the original instructions and reluctantly – very reluctantly – raising our hands for assistance.

Only then were we pulled out of the

god-forsaken game and told that we had successfully found the only way out of the game – asking for help.

We came out one by one, some people quickly admitting that they couldn’t complete the challenge alone, others taking up to 15 minutes trying every possible option they could think of before they ultimately asked for help as a very last resort.

This game in particular was created to teach us the importance of humility, and the valuable capacity to admit our own occasional insufficiencies in comparison to others who might know more.

In the simulation, we all initially overlooked the offer for a helping hand – just as we do far too often in our daily lives.

With the intense academic rigor and highly individualistic lifestyles we put ourselves through, we like to have our accomplishments be solely due to our own hard work and determination.

While I do agree that independent goals are important, I personally think that, sometimes, our own wellmeaning determination can become arrogance if we fail to see just how dependent we really are upon one another, our parents, our teachers or just someone who might know better.

Accepting an offer for help goes against most of our values. But our pride and motivation, rather than being personal assets, can easily become an obstacle between ourselves and our dreams if we are too insolent to give up even a little credit for our accomplishments.

I admit that as a class (and individually), those accomplishments are astounding. As big bad seniors,

In the simulation, we all initially overlooked the offer for a helping hand – just as we do far too often in our daily lives.

the knowledge and life skills we’ve acquired give us the ability to lead others, especially underclassmen.

Unfortunately, our time at the top of the educational food chain – in our high school community that is – has accustomed to giving advice rather than receiving it. I’m sure by now we’ve all come to the bittersweet realization that we’ll soon be in new environments – I just hope that once we get there we’ll be brave enough to reach out for that same helping hand that we are so used to lending.

If I’ve learned one thing over the past year, it’s that nothing I’ve done I’ve been able to do alone. Whether it was my family, my close friends, my leaders, teachers or advisors, others have always been there to help me along every step of the way, as I know they will continue to do so as long as I maintain enough humility to simply ask for it. *** Naseeha Islam, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Friday, May 20, 2016 wThe Granite Bay Gazette

Voices A13

Tiny tot tech troubles

Modernity negatively affects childhood

I

was a child of the streets. My most vivid childhood memories are those spent in the beating sun during summer days when it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement.

Starting early in the morning, we would play kick the can on the faded concrete, lay in the grass after a game of pickle and swim in the cool water of the pools until our mothers called us home in the last moments of dusk.

The street beckoned to all of us. It taught us creativity and spontaneity. It gave us the opportunity to be silly, to be children.

The purest and most cherished memories I have of my childhood are the hours I spent on that cul-de-sac, and as it draws to a close, I could not be more grateful for them.

I wish the same experience on every kid, but in reality, the classic picture of neighborhood gang spending their time playing in the sun is becoming something of the past, only found in memories and Sandlot.

Increasingly today, kids are staying inside, absorbed in phones, tablets, violent video games and television.

According to the American Academy of Pediatricians, kids age 5-16 today are spending an average of 7 hours a day looking at a screen, compared to the mere three and a half hours in 1995.

Now more than ever, screens are how we stay connected . Snapchat, text, instagram, twitter– it’s almost impossible to keep up with today’s modern society without having your nose stuck in an electronic device.

We’re all adults (or practically so) and we can make our own decisions as to what we spend our time doing. However, over exposing our youth to this technology while taking away the precious moments they deserve to have is unethical.

They should be running around and playing tag with the wrong rules, accidentally breaking arms and cracking open chins.

They should not be worried about their body image or who liked their latest instagram post.

These days I see kids barely old enough to walk, much less read or write, working Ipads like tech whizzes instead of exploring their surroundings.

This tool that is supposed to enhance our

COMMENTARY

brigid bell bbell.gazette@gmail.com

lives has begun to inhibit us from living up to the full potential of the human experience. We now view life’s greatest moments through our screens in order to “remember it forever,” but in doing so, we live online instead of in the moment. And it’s rubbing off on the youth.

Also, there’s this massive push towards using technology in schools. I get the appeal– the opportunities when using technology are essentially limitless, while old school materials are becoming impractical.

Sometimes it’s good for kids to put down the screen and just think, independent of the constant distractions bombarding us in the form of alerts, texts and updates.

These kids aren’t learning how to personally interact with others because they’re too enveloped in their screens.

Even I do it. Oftentimes I find myself using my phone as a social crutch. As soon as I get into an uncomfortable situation, whether it be waiting in line at the grocery store or at a party where I’m unfamiliar with the people, I whip out my phone instead of striking up conversation with the people around me.

We don’t even notice it, but kids are watching, and learning. We can help to fix this epidemic of the youth if we put down our snapchat or our instagram for 2 seconds and teach kids how to make mistakes, get into a little bit of trouble and just enjoy childhood while they have it. *** Brigid Bell, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer

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ISSA

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Helping others is a very rewarding accomplishment Altruism is an important part of becoming better

T

he act of giving is so much more rewarding than receiving. Whether it be giving gifts on Christmas or giving advice to a sad friend, I always feel internally satisfied when I am able to give a part of myself to someone who needs it.

I once saw a sign in my 6th grade school library that read, “It’s better to inspire than be inspired.” I was unsure of what that unfamiliar, confusing word meant: inspire. What does it mean to inspire? What is inspiration?

It took me a while, but once I entered

COMMENTARY

isabella tkachuk itkachuk.gazette@gmail.com

high school I finally realized what those words suggested.

It is a gift when a person inspires someone; a part of someone has been given to them, to help and guide them to success.

When I have the chance to give someone advice or to promote them to do

small head. something they may be doubting, I take I showed her a few tips and tricks, and it. I think that it is important to be there later she mastered the activity. for people, and to encourage them that The rest of the week, I always kept they shouldn’t let anything stand in their my eye on the work way, especially station with the self-doubt.

It is important to be colored sand art, and When I was volsame girl was unteering in the art there for people, and that there. But this time, station of a church to encourage them that she was helping her summer camp last out. summer at Bayside they shouldn’t let any- friends As I felt a smile Church, a little girl thing stand in their way. grow on my face, I was struggling with began to realize that creating a picture I had inspired that with colored sand little girl to continue and glue. To most, that project and to it may seem a simple task, but to her it not give up. was the hardest craft she had ever atThat feeling was one of the most gratitempted. fying I had ever felt and I didn’t want it I walked over to her and asked her if to vanish. she needed any help, and she looked at So I never let the moment I read the me with worry in her eyes and nodded her

sign in my elementary library, and the moment I encouraged a little girl, to leave my mind because I let them help me in times of anger and jealousy.

The moments I am giving and watching people’s reactions to my offerings are the most satisfying and fulfilling things one could ever experience – it’s never been about the satisfaction of getting something I have always wanted, it is simply about giving someone what they have always wanted or needed.

Life is filled with so many people that constantly want more even when they seem to have it all, but can I be that person that gives it all?

It’s never easy to be selfless, but there is always room for improvement, especially when it comes to inspiring others. *** Isabella Tkachuk, a junior, is a Gazette online editor.

Outward appearances don’t matter in genuine relationships Stop worrying about how you look on the outside

COMMENTARY

A

s a senior who looks towards graduation and the future, I’ve also taken the opportunity to look back on the past four years I’ve been here at Granite Bay. I’ve realized that in those past four years, I tried way too hard to gain the attention and appreciation of my peers. Now, I just don’t care.

I’m sick and tired of all my efforts going to waste when I tried my hardest to build relationships with others on campus because I’ve just finally realized that you can’t please everybody.

I’m done with trying to act like the perfect student and classmate to those who just don’t care, and you know what, I shouldn’t have to. No matter how I dress, how I speak, how I act, etc., I’ll never gain that attention from my peers that I desired for so long.

That craving for attention is derived from a long time sense of insecurity and lack of confidence. A lot has changed in my four years and the changes in social approach I have towards others.

In my freshman year, I would’ve jumped up to the chance of sucking up to a classmate by sharing my answers and assignments. As a senior, I’ve realized how much my knowledge is worth, and I shouldn’t

sonia garcha sgarcha.gazette@gmail.com

exploit it for a pat on the head from my peers.

As students, you should realize that your main priority in school is to learn. And while socialization is “a part of our educational system”, our only job is to learn, and to learn for ourselves. Don’t let yourself get caught up in trying too hard for others.

By now, we’ve all heard the phrase “don’t change yourself for others.” While it is such a common phrase, and one that we let get by us far too easily, we don’t actually realize how much we change ourselves for others.

Sometimes that change can be a good thing, but only when you accept that change as something you want, not others.

Your voices.

In 8th-grade, I asked a very special boy a very special question. I had told him that there was nothing I would change about him (that was pretty deep for middle school), and in turn, I asked him if there was anything that he would change about me. I expected him to tell me what I had told him, because even if it wasn’t true, that’s the right thing to do.

The absolute nerve this boy had still haunts me to this day as I traumatically remember him telling me to dress a little better, maybe change my hair and makeup, because “even though (I wasn’t) necessarily ‘ugly,’ (I wasn’t) the prettiest girl in the 8th grade.”

From that day in 8th-grade, up until my senior year, I made every little change to my appearance in an attempt to prove that I was more than just a bad case of acne and frizzy hair.

I made sure that even when I saw him during the passing period for .05 seconds, my hair, makeup and outfit were good enough to make his jaw drop to the floor.

After three consecutive years of trying hard to get his attention, you want to know what happened?

Absolutely nothing.

I changed my look, bought hundreds of dollars of makeup, woke up at 6am every morning for nothing.

Now I wake up at 7am, roll out of bed with my half greasy and half messy hair, wash my face, brush my teeth, slap a little moisturizer and lip balm on and I’m out the door.

Your choices.

I’ve never felt so beautiful and so confident in my life. The reason is because I don’t have to be so overwhelmed in keeping myself up for the benefit of others.

I completely stopped wearing makeup everyday, something I hadn’t done since I began wearing it in middle school.

It has made no difference in my relationships. My friends and classmates don’t look at me differently, and when I pass that boy for .05 seconds, I don’t even give him anymore attention that he gave me.

It doesn’t matter if you relate to my situation or not, the fact of the matter is, everyone tries a little too hard to please others and you shouldn’t have to.

So if I could give one piece of advice to students who have yet to graduate, it would be to stop worrying about the little things.

You know your friends, your classmate and your teachers who bring out the best in you. And not the ‘you’ they want to be, the ‘you’ that you want to be.

If that’s too much to handle, then don’t worry about it and move on.

Now, when I wear makeup, it’s not because I’m insecure or feel the need to cover up. I wear it because I decided to be a little extra and do something for myself, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with putting yourself first. *** Sonia Garcha, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Your newspaper.

A14 News

Second look

Friday, May 20, 2016 w The Granite Bay Gazette

Day at the Bay

ď ˇ Jocelyn Zellhoefer, top left, chooses an airbrush tatoo.

Carly Arfsten and Camilla Griggs, top right, compete in an obstacle course. Hunter Busby, middle left, pulls against a backwards force. Andrew Pate and Nico Maggio, middle left, race to the end of an inflatable. Surina Dhanota, Tanvi Yadlapalli and Rida Jan, slide down an inflatable. A group of students, left, join in a game of volleyball. Dillon Ruddell, above, gets an airbrush tatoo.

Gazette photos by Carissa Lewis

Lifestyle

Granite Bay Gazette

B Section

COMMENTARY

garbhita shah gshah.gazette@gmail.com

An ode to the universe

O

ur universe is a constant sphere, rotating through a cosmic journey of indefinite time. It continues its infinite spirals, having neither a defined beginning nor a point of termination.

And through these timely spirals, it incorporates so many irregular states of affairs, from the evolution of mankind and nature to the depths of human activity.

But regardless of the complexities that the spirals entwine, they remain continuous.

Over the past few years, I’ve become more conscious of deriving such metaphors about the world we live in.

For instance, in an attempt to make sense of the chaos that surrounded me through academic pressures and the realities of life that I was faced with throughout high school, I found myself mentally returning to a concept I had learned in my chemistry class regarding entropy.

Entropy, by definition, is the measure of the disorder that a reaction causes The more disordered it is, the more spontaneously it occurs.

The universe, therefore, is said to be prone We have to disorder very little – retaining control over its infinite spirals to this timeless embrace universal it, thereby sustainjourney. ing and preserving a very orderly, consistent world.

And because of this phenomenon, the universe has a way of making everything fall into place eventually.

Viewing the world like this makes it difficult to imagine that the individual has any control or place in this vast macrocosm.

However, that’s what the ironic beauty of this system is.

This spiral shape and movement of the universe is symbolic of the karmic nature of human society, representative of the profound saying: “What goes around comes around.”

As humans continue a consistent input into the universe, the latter holds its spiral body and thereby emits a constant output.

It comes to convey this idea that as humans we can only do so much work, put in so much energy into a system in order for it to reach a final endpoint. At the end of an undertaking, we have to trust that the universe will find a way to bring our work to fruition.

But we have to realize that in fact, the universe has no beginning or end. Within its limitless spirals is a system that brings everything to equilibria, from balancing disorder against order to emanating reactions to human activity.

We have very little control over this timeless universal journey.

We can only dutifully perform our actions and allow its spiraling

***

Garbhita Shah, a senior, is a Lifestyle editor.

A YEAR IN REVIEW

Friday w May 20, 2016

BY AMANDA NIST AND BLAKE PANTER anist.gazette@gmail.com

See REVIEW, page B2

Gazette illustration/HANNAH XU

Is privacy on social media at risk on campus?

Junior and senior conflict on Twitter arouses administrative attention

BY AMANDA PRATHER AND MEAGAN TALLMAN

O

aprather.gazette@gmail.com

n Friday, April 8, the annual Powder Puff girls flag football game took place at Granite Bay High School.

Juniors and seniors battled it out to the end, but the seniors ultimately took home the trophy, winning by a score of 21-7.

Preceding the game, there is always rivalry between the two classes. However, what is usually harmless competition and rivalry manifested into an issue this year.

Participation in social media banter resulted in some girls, both juniors and seniors, being punished by having to sit out for the first half of the game.

Social media can be an outlet

for kids to share their opinions, humor, or anything in between, but regarding Powder Puff, social media may have been used for other incentives.

Junior Powder Puff player Alina Poczobutt said that the conflict was a misunderstanding that was blown out of proportion.

“I think that the girls who posted (on social media) on both sides should’ve been taken out completely,” Poczobutt said. “It made girls try to go out of their way to hurt other girls on the field instead of just playing the game.”

Poczobutt also said that social media shouldn’t be regulated unless it poses a potential threat, like

some of the posts were said to have implied.

So how much can administration in schools actually regulate what students post on their personal accounts?

The current verdict is that a school can only punish a student for a post on the Internet if the post is disruptive or poses a potential threat to the school.

The tweets that came from some powder puff players mostly included “#BAJ,” which administration interpreted as “break a jaw.”

Administration had no choice but to take it seriously and punish those who tweeted this because of the possible threat to other players.

Senior Katie Densham was

called into the office the week after the Powder Puff game for a picture she posted on Instagram.

“The picture was posted with a comical caption that was in no way directly threatening or rude towards anyone,” Densham said.

“It was a joke, and I got comments from both junior and senior girls who thought the post was funny.”

Apparently not everybody found the post amusing, for it was reported to the administration by a fellow student. Densham was brought into the office as a result and faced consequences for the post.

After that, Densham said it became somewhat of a hunt amongst girls to report each others’ posts – not because they

found the posts offensive, but solely out of retaliation.

“It felt like (administration) was searching all of our social media looking for reasons to get us in trouble,” Densham said. “They were really harsh and took petty tweets or posts and made them a bigger deal than it needed to be, causing a lot more drama between the junior and senior classes.”

There seems to be a large gray area when it comes to how high schools can handle the regulation of students’ social media posts. If there is no direct threat, but there is a rumored reason to believe the student has an underlying message of violence, does administration have the right to get involved?

Kassidy Henson, although noting that she understands adminisSee SOCIAL MEDIA, page B5

inside lifestyle Top Ten

B2

Book of the Month

B3

Random Facts

B5

TCID:BW

Unblocking APUSH GBHS students relay their experiences unblocking the intense history course

Senior Ditch Day The unofficial ditch day contributes to the growing sense of Senioritis

B3

B4

Day at the Bay Granite Bay High School recaptures the highlights of a beloved tradition

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Friday, May 20, 2016

B2 Lifestyle

Celebrating accomplishments Academic merit awards recognize exceptional seniors and juniors

BY EPSA SHARMA

esharma.gazette@gmail.com

T

he Academic Merit Awards or more popularly known as the AMAs were held at Granite Bay High School on April 25, 2016.

Principal Jennifer Leighton, Assistant Principal Brian McNulty and College and Careers representative Cindi Underwood oversaw the event and deal with all of the behind-the-scene work that goes into it.

This award ceremony recognizes seniors and juniors who have maintained above a 3.51 weighted GPA as well their other academic and club standings.

“The ceremonies are certainly not an end all be all, Leighton said. “If you are not invited to attend it doesn’t mean that you’re not smart or that we think less of you.”

Due to the high academic standings of GBHS’ students, the criteria for our AMA’s differ from the other high schools in the Roseville Joint Union High School District.

GBHS’ cutoffs are at 3.51, while Roseville, Woodcreek, Oakmont and Antelope have a 3.31 cutoff.

“We had to raise the criteria for our students because, between the junior and senior class, we have 500 students who meet and exceed the benchmark.”

Besides earning recognition for having above a 3.51, qualifying students are also awarded scholarships, students with straight As all four years, presidential award, the principal’s award, and the valedictorian and salutatorian are announced.

Underwood is in charge of the scholarships and presidential awards that seniors received on AMA night.

“During the senior AMA the Local Scholarships are announced, which some seniors applied for in February,” Underwood said.

The presidential award that was on the index cards during the senior AMA award ceremony showcased their academic standings matched with test scores.

“The Presidential Certificate requirement includes 3.5 GPA and one of the following on the SAT or ACT,” Underwood said. “620 on Critical Reading or 620 on writing, or 640 on math or a composite 26 score on the ACT..”

This year, there was a shift in recognition between the seniors and juniors.

This years instead of only recognizing seniors for being members of California Scholarship Federation and National Honor Society, juniors were also acknowledged.

One of the final awards that is presented is the Principal’s Award or more

formerly known as the Administrator Award.

The award is a 1,000 dollar scholarship.

“The history of the award has always been one student government kid because they represent the leadership of the campus,” Leighton said. “And another student who stands out to me.”

However, the decision process is difficult because according to Leighton it was very hard narrowing down students because so many kids stand out to her for so many different reasons.

“I had to think about who had the largest impact, which doesn’t mean they’re the most popular, but who has changed the campus the most for the better while

having really good integrity,” Leighton said.

This year the recipients were seniors Audrey Holt and Sean Vajanapanich.

According to Leighton, how Audrey handled the Ripple Effect program and kept it going with the instagram account @PeopleofGBHS, is what made her leadership skills stand out.

“With Sean and the hardship he’s overcome, he continues to be a stellar student athlete, active member of clubs, all while being in the top 10 of his senior class.”

Leighton said she had a different student everyday in mind for the award and she finally narrowed it down Monday morning of the award ceremony.

“The awards serve as a recognition platform for hard work and it’s just a chance to celebrate juniors and seniors and showcase them.”

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Hostess Special to the Gazette/SCOLASTICA CHANG

GBHS seniors pose with their awards after the Academic Merit Award Ceremony.

REVIEW: Final reflections on school year 2015-2016 Continued from page B1 Amanda: Oh yeah! That was such a heartwarming hashtag and movement.

I can’t believe he never got on Ellen though.

Blake: I know, that was such a let down. Almost as much as a let down as our choices for presidential candidates this year.

Amanda: RIGHT. No one is a good choice. I can’t believe we waited 18 years and we have to choose between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Blake: A racist and a liar – such amazing options.

Amanda: Thank the lord the election is almost over. I can’t deal with anymore pointless debates and uneducated comments.

Blake: I think the most heated debate of the year though, was Beat All Juniors or Break All Jaws? The campus, and whole world, may never truly know.

Amanda: Yeah, I’m surprised they

didn't even get dress coded for that controversial Powderpuff acronym.

Hey, wait – remember when I sent you screenshots of Lola’s, I mean Ms. Anvari’s, blog?

Blake: Yeah and I went online to look at it later but it had been mysteriously deleted. I wonder what that’s about?

Amanda: Maybe because she’s an administrator and to have a blog critiquing what students are wearing is outrageously unprofessional … but that’s just my take on it.

Blake: I mean as much as I loved Lola’s tips and tricks on how to decorate my bathroom like the aspiring trophy wife I am, I think it was good they took it down.

Amanda: And you know what else they took down?

Mrs. Padgett. Demoted from respectable AP Lit teacher to overqualified CP English 9 babysitter.

Blake: I unfortunately never had her as a teacher, but I have heard nothing but her positive influence on this campus.

The administration is doing a serious

How to: Ace Your Finals 1. Don’t procrastinate . . . start early, create a study plan and follow it.

2. Improve your focus and productivity by taking short regular breaks . . . go outside for some deep breaths of fresh air!

disservice to the student body.

Amanda: You know what else is a disservice? Mrs. Healy leaving. I understand she wanted to pursue new endeavors but she was arguably the best administrator at this school Blake: And we all know we could really benefit from any good administrator. Maybe next year even the golf cart duo will be promoted.

Amanda: Regardless of all of the, uh, interesting administration changes this year, do you know what hasn’t changed? The fact that senior fifth quarter is completely staged.

Blake: I didn’t even go, but I’ve heard the rumors.

Amanda: I didn’t go to a lot of senior events that I wish I would have. I did go to senior ball though, my first high school dance.

Blake: It was my first dance too! Did you hit up the club after?

Amanda: No, but I heard it was a really good time. It’s cool that the seniors

got to have a night to bond before graduation.

Blake: Yeah I saw a bunch of cool pictures on all of the Finstas.

Amanda: Love me some finstas – that’s been such an entertaining trend this year.

Blake: It’s interesting to say the least.

To see what people post when they don’t feel afraid of pretending their life is going well and actually put together.

Amanda: I mean, that’s basically what my finsta is. That and pictures that are not school appropriate. Honestly, high school was so wild.

Amanda: I know, I might actually miss it a little bit, maybe. I’ll remember some things forever.

- Compiled by Brayden Johnk

Day of silence becomes day of speaking out

BY STEPHENIE KANG

O

skang.gazette@gmail.com

n April 16, ten students wove through Granite Bay High’s densely packed hallways, wearing white shirts with bright words splashed across the front and back, stating what they identified as and inviting peers to approach them and ask about their experiences.

For all who had watched the bulletin in their classes previously, they knew what this was about: Day of Speaking Out, an event organized by the Gender Sexuality Alliance club in an attempt to educate the students of Granite Bay High about the struggles of the LGBT community.

The day of, the GSA found several GBHS students eager to learn more about what their lives were like.

“We did get asked a few questions,” said Marty Kantola, the co-president of the club. “Some people had their LGBT knowledge expanded.”

Ramos found that there was additional curiosity on the part of peers even after the event.

the Internet can only do so much,’ and it’s nice to talk to a person who has personal experience.”

Other members of the GSA have expressed their opinion that they have seen changes in their classrooms after the event, even if minute.

“A member of the GSA previously expressed concern (about) people in (their) class who are not very sensitive to social issues and so (they were) a little nervous about this but now (they say) that after this event (they felt) like (they were) able to talk about it to teachers and stuff more and that my teacher noticed this event and was coming down a bit harder on people who says slurs.” Ramos said. (Edited for anonymity of subject by request) However, although club members do believe improvement is happening, it still isn’t enough. Concerns about harassment are still abundant and progress is considered to be too little to be totally effective.

“I want to say that the LGBT community is trying to reach out and educate people on not using those hurtful words or saying those weird things and telling them where their boundaries are and where to stop, but despite their efforts, there are only ten of them -- they

Referee

Blake: But, you know, the most important thing from high school you can remember, Amanda, is to cover up your cookie, or the boys will eat it ;)

4. Don’t get side tracked . . . avoid social media, internet and phone calls when you are studying!

“I had a conversation just yesterday during sound

Summer Camp Counselor

Blake: As much fun as I had, I’m so ready for it to end. We had some great memories.

3. Keep your stress levels in check by eating healthy foods, taking time for aerobic exercise, and getting enough sleep!

Gay-Straight Alliance tech for “Into the Woods.” Someone came up to me and they were like, ‘I know you had a shirt that said nonbispreads campus-wide message nary, and I wanted to research it before I asked you, but

Life-guard

can’t do that much,” Andrew Phillips, the advisor of the GSA, said. “The ten active members of the GSA we have are not going to really provide information to the 2,000 students and faculty on our campus and tens of thousands more outside our campus, so it really takes a village to do this all together.”

GBHS has seen the effects of harassment before. In 2012, Jeffrey Fehr, a then-recent graduate of Granite Bay High, hung himself in the front entrance of his home.

His family speculated that a lifetime of harassment due to peers’ perception of his sexual orientation even before he came out as gay and involvement in the cheer squad at GBHS was a \factor in his death.

The GSA finds such harassment intolerable.

“If you look at somebody you can’t tell if they’re gay.”

Ramos said. “I don’t care if people say that they have “gaydar” because it doesn’t exist--people say things like “oh you’re being such an f-slur,” and statistically, there’s probably a gay person in the room with you.

But people don’t understand what those words really mean.”

“Like, people die for words like that, and that’s horrible, and I think that it’s a problem around our campus (even though) we have a great campus (with) administrators and faculty members that are safe space members.”

Waitress

Swimming Instructor

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Paid Internship

- Compiled by Savanna Thompson

Friday, May 20, 2016

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Lifestyle B3

A year of APUSH unblocking

Students recap the pros and cons of the 2015-2016 U.S. History schedule

BY HANNAH XU

hxu.gazette@gmail.com

A

fter almost 20 years of having a blocked Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. History course, juniors in the 2015-16 school year that wanted to take the class had to take an unblocked version. This meant that rather than having a year to learn the curriculum, the class would be fit into one semester.

The AP U.S. History course covers 500 years of history, starting from the preColumbus years and ending with Reagan and other modern-day presidents.

Additionally, Brandon Dell’Orto, who teacher of AP U.S. History, typically gives his students extra supplemental reading such as The Jungle alongside microhistories – or readings on specific people of the studied time period.

With the cut time, both types of additional readings were kept to a minimum.

The class, as a whole, was met with a few challenges. “(Unblocking the class) was really hard

for the spring students,” Dell’Orto said.

“Because we have, functionally, fifteen less days before the AP test … we had (less time) to teach the same material, which meant we really didn’t even have time for a (practice) test. We rammed through some very important units like the New Deal and Civil Rights and World War II just because we were running out of time.”

The lack of time to truly ferment what is learned has frustrated many students.

“I was upset and I felt cheated compared to the classes before me who got to have the blocked classes,” junior Reagan Tran said. “The class and curriculum definitely felt rushed … I definitely would have been more confident (on the test) had I had the extra time.”

Those who took the class in the fall also faced difficulties despite having the full time.

“The last time I had written an essay or a DBQ (before the AP test) was in December,” said junior Kaley Dover. “My skill had definitely deteriorated since then.”

Dell’Orto said he noticed the consequences of having the class in the fall during his review sessions.

“For the fall kids, it’s really hard for them to remember everything,” Dell’Orto said. “They actually talked about how weird it was to sit next to the spring kids … who remember all the material.”

Beyond just the struggles that many students faced, the culture at Granite Bay High School may shift.

(As of now, for the majority of sophomores, the main history and English classes taken are the AP European History and Honors English 10 courses.) For juniors, the AP U.S. History course and AP Language course are typically taken.

However, with the unblocking, the culture could change.

Especially with the option to take U.S. History at Sierra College, the student count may drop within the coming years.

However, it is still very early to tell.

“I think less and less people will opt to take AP U.S. History and settle for (College Prepatory) U.S. History instead, unfortunately,” Tran said. “The word will get around that AP U.S. History is extremely difficult and not worth the effort required to squeeze everything in time … The only real thing keeping (this class) a worthwhile class is Mr. Dell’Orto.”

Gazette photo /NATASHA CHANDA

The AP U.S. History course book pictured above has been a core part of the class for many years. Students in the class experience up to 20 pages per night from this text for homework.

Understanding the symptoms of mono GBHS experiences numerous viral cases around campus

BY SHIVANI BOBBALA

sbobbala.gazette@gmail.com

M

ono or mononucleosis is an acute illness caused by the EBV virus. Young adults and adolescents are especially prone to this virus.

Symptoms usually present themselves four to six weeks after one comes into contact with the virus. Symptoms include chills, high fevers, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, and sore throat.

Diagnosis of mono can be difficult especially because it shares so many symptoms with the common flu. Some distinguishing symptoms include a swollen spleen under the left side of the ribs and swollen glands in the neck, which signify lymph node enlargement.

Jesse Damos, a GBHS alumni, said diagnosis was difficult when his sister got mono. She experienced a lot of the symptoms associated with mono; however, her doctor failed to recognize this.

“When my sister was in eighth grade she could barely keep her eyes open in class,” Damos said.

“She spoke with our doctor several times, and he told her that she was making it up and exag-

gerating the symptoms which my sister claimed she had. My sister is usually extremely energetic and rarely brings attention to herself especially with illness unless it is something serious.”

Others who have had mono could attest that Damos’ sister probably was not exaggerating.

Caroline Brown, a senior at GBHS, also commented on the symptoms of mono.

At first I thought I was just getting a common cold.

Then I started feeling very weak and had no energy.

Caroline Brown, a senior at GBHS

“At first I thought I was just getting a common cold,” Brown said. “Then I started feeling very weak and had no energy. I had no energy and couldn’t even talk. My throat was in so much pain, and Advil soon became my best friend. It was hard to eat or

drink because swallowing made my throat hurt even worse.”

Misdiagnosis of mono can be harmful. Because mono is a virus rather than an infection, certain antibiotics like ampicillin or amoxicillin can cause rashes.

For a proper diagnosis, a blood test must be taken so the doctor can receive the white blood cell count. The test will ensure that no misdiagnosis occurs and can even help identify any other illnesses that may exist as a result of having mono.

“After a few months, we changed doctors and (my sister) had a blood test done to see if she has or had mono,” Damos said. “The test showed that she did in fact have it.”

A negative test doesn’t mean the patient is off the hook. If all of the symptoms of mono are present, but the test comes back negative, it is very important to get tested for primary HIV infection.

When somebody first starts to show symptoms of acute HIV infection, the symptoms often mimic mono.

In mainstream media, mono is often depicted to be spread through kissing. While it is true that mono can be spread through saliva, there are many other ways that it can be spread. Other

common ways one can catch mono is by being close to someone when they sneeze, drinking out of their cup or using their utensils.

The stereotype that mono can only be spread through kissing confused Caroline Brown when she contracted the illness.

“I have no idea how I got mono because I’m a total germaphobe,” said Brown. “When I found out (I had mono), I was confused and angry because I’m very careful with germs and try to stay away from people who are contagious with an illness.”

Mono will usually go away on its own if treated with supportive therapy.

The best treatment for mono is plenty of sleep, fluids and avoiding contact sports.

In rare cases, mono will lead to the spleen rupturing. The risk of this happening increasing with participation in contact sports. Antiviral drugs such as acyclovir are not recommended.

Recovering from mono should be approached with caution. For athletes planning to resume noncontact sports, training can be gradually restarted three to four weeks from symptoms onset.

More than four weeks, however, are necessary for contact sports.

If you really knew me,

you would know...

Michaela Setiawan

If you really knew me you would know that I want to be in the FBI when I am older.

Book of the Month Title: The Plague Author: Albert Camus

The Great Gatsby

Dante Tafoya

of mice and men Romeo and Juliet

Grapes of Wrath

Summary: The Plague by Albert Camus, is translated from French by Stuart Gilbert, and although not in its original language, does not lose any of its literary flair. Camus, in his traditional existential style, brilliantly chronicles the ever-shifting psyche of the inhabitants of city after the onslaught of a deadly plague. A series of dying rats brings the contagious killer disease to Oran, and the citizens of the city find themselves at once isolated, quarantined and exiled from the rest of the world and their loved ones. The narrator examines humanity’s reaction to the indifference of death, the brutal exile, the hopeful survival or finding peace in defeat, the intense longing of love - and eventual resignation after survival.

If you really knew me you would know that I had brain surgery when I was younger.

Tessa Oushan

If you really knew me you would know that I love theatre and I have two dogs.

Random House Penguin Books

- Compiled by Blake Panter

- Compiled by Jacqueline Romero

Lifestyle B4

Friday, May 20, 2016

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2015 graduates highlight drastic differences Old students share insight and advice on first-year college experiences -Compiled by Brayden Johnk

How has college been different from high school?

What advice do you have to graduating seniors?

“So far, college has been nothing like high school. The biggest difference is the amount of free time. I only have classes for 12 hours a week and on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Another big difference is that the amount of classes to pick from is huge (with) the ability to take classes as specific or general as you want. Finally, you can fail every exam and still get an A in a class in college. Most classes at Cornell are graded on a curve, which means your final grade depends on your performance relative to other students.”

“My best advice to incoming freshman is to not slack off.

Each class might only be 3 hours a week but that’s because there is 6 hours a week of work outside of class. It’s easy to get very behind very quickly. Also just be open to meeting people from all around the world. There’s a lot you can’t learn in the classroom. Oh and go to office hours!”

Tyler Soares is currently studying Economics and Math at Cornell University.

What advice do you have to graduating seniors?

How has college been different from high school?

“No matter how cool your (residence assistant) might seem the first day you meet them, they are out to bust you and they cannot be trusted. Don’t schedule 8 a.m. classes on Fridays, trust me. If you spend more time drinking than you do studying, you are going to fail out. Don’t get put in jail, that will ruin your day. Lastly, enjoy your final weeks of high school.

You can not wait to leave the (Granite Bay) bubble, and then you get to college you realize that you miss your old friends, you cannot afford real food and you no longer get an allowance.”

“In high school, you have tons of time to just chill and do nothing. In college, you literally have no time to sleep. Your are either in the library or a social event. You are always busy.”

Special to the Gazette / TYLER SOARES

Tyler Soares

Special to the Gazette /MICHAEL GRACE

Michael Grace is currently studying Mechanical Engineering at Baylor University.

Michael Grace

Special to the Gazette /EMILY WAGNER

Emily Wagner

How has college been different from high school?

What advice do you have to graduating seniors?

“College gives you a lot more freedom than high school, and I’ve definitely been enjoying that freedom. Living on your own for the first time in your life is a really cool and exciting experience, and it’s forcing me to be more responsible in pretty much everything I do. Also, college is much more difficult than high school — honestly, this is a bit of an understatement. You definitely can’t half-ass your way through college classes if you want to pass, let alone do well. College has also given me space to express myself in ways high school never did. I am able to do whatever interests me and dress however I want without worrying about the judgement of other people. Nobody really cares what you do in college, and all the people I’ve met are incredibly supportive of each other.”

“I would suggest trying to meet as many new people as possible. Although you’ll get tired of asking and answering the same three questions — Where are you from? What’s your major? What dorm are you living in? — for probably the first time in you life you’re being exposed to so many new people with such different upbringings, experiences, and points of view. College is a chance to start over and make new friends, so incoming freshmen should definitely take advantage of this.”

Emily Wagner is currently studying Pre-Public Health and PreSocial Welfare at University of California Berkeley.

Seniors discuss ditching

Faux-tradition continues with low participation McGregor said that Senior Picnic serves the same purpose as a ‘ditch day,’ which is why GBHS doesn’t sponsor or aplthough there aren’t many days left prove of a class-wide ditch day. in the 2016 school year, seniors However, Senior Ditch Day is seen are still finding themselves caught as something more than just missing with “senioritis” and racking up absences. classes.

However, on May 16, seniors partici“I think (Ditch Day) is both (a tradipated in a special absence, also known as tion and excuse for senioritis), but I’m Senior Ditch Day. sure some people believe that it’s a riteAs the semester winds down, they have of-passage,” Mehta said. begun enjoying their last moments with One of the biggest problems the events such as Senior Ball and Senior administration faces is keeping track of Picnic students and their attendance in classes.

Senior Ditch Day, however, is con“I think it’s an honored tradition sidered an unofficial senior event that is (just like how) every other high usually decided by the students. school has a senior ditch day,” the “I received a group Snapchat that reanonymous senior said. vealed the date of said ditch day and I was Senior conduct and tardy policies in a few group messages that discussed have also affected many seniors this it,” said a senior, who asked to remain year and in some cases, have prevented anonymous. them from attending senior events.

Students believe that this date was cho“Our school community (and the law) sen because Advanced Placement testing have always been and will always be had concluded, but International in opposition to students not attendBaccalaureate students are the ing classes as they are supposed to,” exception because their McGregor said. testing was still in According to the absence policy place, not allowing of GBHS, after a certain number of them to participate. unexcused and excused absences, stuIB senior Tanvi dents are not permitted to leave or skip school without any doctor’s note.

Some students claim that they were unable to participate in Senior Ditch Day for this reason.

“Obviously it’s more exciting for most to be at the beach than in class – but that doesn’t make it okay to ditch school,” McGregor said.

“We absolutely want each senior class to have a positive, exciting experience. We try to do all that we can within the boundaries of the CA EducaGazette illustration /CARISSA LEWIS tion Code to provide this each Senior Ditch Day is an unofficial senior tradition. The message of when to ditch is year, but we simply can’t endorse a ditch day.” spread through social media, especially Snapchat.

BY SONIA GARCHA

A

sgarcha.gazette@gmail.com

Mehta said she believes that another missed day of school is nothing, as IB students anticipated their tests for a while.

“Frankly, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal because I signed up for the IB tests and I accounted for the three weeks of testing,” Mehta said.

“I think it (was) well deserved,” the anonymous senior said. “We haven’t really been a rebellious class at all and I don’t think it’s really that bad because we’re all done with AP testing and about to graduate.”

Although Senior Ditch Day is an unofficial senior event and not arranged by the school, administrators had been notified.

“We (had) heard that some seniors are planning this,” said Assistant Principal Jessup McGregor. “There are certainly natural consequences for truancy of this sort, regardless of whether it is part of a ‘senior ditch day’ or not.

“I do believe that seniors, who have dedicated four years to excellence in high school, deserve to celebrate and take a break – which is why we have the senior picnic.”

Student

Spotlight

Student shares passion for art

Gazette photo /ANJALI SHRIVASTAVA

Kendall Smith How are you involved at Granite Bay High School?

I’ve been in the theatre and art programs since freshman years.

Why did you get involved with these programs?

I’ve always been interested in art and drama was kind of an impulse and it ended up being really great and I decided production design would be a good career choice for me.

How have these programs impacted your high school career?

I’ve always been interested in art and drama was kind of an impulse and it ended up being really great and I decided production design would be a good career choice for me.

What has been your favorite experience?

Doing backstage work for Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged. The show was hilarious and it was so much fun every single night.

What’s your favorite piece of artwork?

The mural on the wall in my room of a lion. I cranked it out in a solid continuous time period of 8 hours. I just really needed to paint, and it ended up looking like a lion.

-Compiled by Anjali Shrivastava

Friday, May 20, 2016

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Lifestyle

The Granite Bay Gazette

Application advice: How to get a job GBHS students search for summer employment

BY CARISSA LEWIS clewis.gazette@gmail.com

O

n January 1, 2016, the minimum wage in California rose to $10 an hour. It is currently set to increase to $10.50 an hour by 2017.

While a higher minimum wage is harmful to those in specialized careers because it lessens the salary distinction between skilled and unskilled workers, it is beneficial to those who are applying for their first job.

This is the uplifting circumstance for many high school students who are looking to save up for college or to simply make a little extra spending cash.

But while getting a job may seem idealistic, many students struggle with maintaining an occupation.

Junior Cassie Cook, who works at Cool River Pizza, has learned how to balance her work schedule

with other daily activities.

“I don’t have that much time to do homework on nights I work, so I have to do it before or on the weekend,” Cook said. “It can be hard to balance my other responsibilities, but I just have to be efficient with my time.”

With the end of the school year approaching, time management becomes less of an issue. As a result of not having any prior job experience, high school students struggle with the application process.

The Granite Bay High School College and Career center is open to students in search of information regarding internships and other working positions.

Students can also pick up a work permit in the College and Career center. Work permits are required for high school students who are between the ages of 14 and 18. Graduated students do not have to complete a work permit.

Another resource for job applicants can be found on

A leaf’s lasting dangers Increasing awareness of cannabis at GBHS

BY KATIE COLOGNA

kcologna.gazette@gmail.com

A

new concern among many has brought upon some mixed feelings of students of being educated on Cannabis.

Granite Bay High School Health and Safety teacher Kathie Sinor will be putting on a two-part series of Cannabis awareness and information.

“I've been here since we opened the doors and I feel it's my obligation and responsibility to educate not only my students but also community members and families about health issues that affect teens,” Sinor said.

The first meeting was on Wednesday April 27th, at 6:30 PM in the GBHS theater for a showing of the “The Other Side of Cannabis” and students drug and alcohol abuse at GBHS. The documentary “The Other Side of Cannabis” goes in depth with medical experts and people who were addicted to Cannabis on the mental illness effects on humans who abuse Cannabis.

“There’s probably dozens of studies that indicate that if you have schizophrenia marijuana can be remarkably helpful and there’s an equal amount of studies that say if you have schizophrenia that marijuana can be very agitating,” Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) said.

For many teens marijuana is just something they learn about in their freshman year Health and Safety class, but after that there is not much more education on the topic.

“We went into the topic of marijuana use briefly, but the forums went further in depth,” freshman Fernando Santos said.

As for parents of young teens, they are not aware of how the drug has changed since they were in high school. The potency of marijuana has increased dramatically in the last few decades. Researcher Andy LaFrate commented on how potency of marijuana used

to be around ten percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), whereas now it has reached up to nearly 30 percent THC levels.

“This is a piece of the process of helping kids make good decisions about not using drugs, so this is why I advocate parents come as well,” Sinor said. I'm hoping parents will begin talking and say ‘hey it's not just pot’ it's a dangerous drug,” Sinor said.

Others would say that the drug could be safe if there weren’t limitations to the law that stop it from being safe.

“There is no legal incentive or a financial one to stop the adulteration of marijuana. only prohibition allows it to happen, so for those who do have a concern about adulteration i always say ‘that’s really easy, legalization” St.Pierre said.

The second meeting will be on May 19th, at 6:30 PM in the GBHS cafeteria for guest speaker, Jon Daily Iscw an addiction specialist.

Jon Daily, founder and clinical program director of Recovery Happens Counseling Services, is known for being a speaker and giving presentations at schools and community forums.

Many educators and medical experts are happy when they get the chance to share facts and how they feel about the drug and being able to educate people on the topic at hand.

“People that are in the health field, their all very willing to come out, they're passionate about what they do,” Sinor said. “Everyone's willing just to come because that's part of what they feel like my mission and responsibility and commitment is to educate people inside and outside the classroom, they do the same.”

Even though these forums are to educate and steer students into abstinence of a potentially harmful drug, there are some educators and advocates that think there is a responsible age and way to use marijuana and some that think it is what society chooses it to be.

“Data indicates that most of these people used marijuana until their age 25, then they have kids that they

College of the Month UCLA Location: Westwood District of Los Angeles, California Mascot: Joe and Josephine Bruin

Naviance, which provides tools for students to construct their own resume.

Junior Kendall Smith, who recently applied to The Bamboo Source, utilized advice from her mom to design a professional resume.

“When you make a resume, it’s almost like you’re selling yourself,” Smith said. “You have to organize it really well and … present yourself in a positive way.”

During the application process, Smith maintained constant communication with the manager of The Bamboo Source.

“What I have learned is when you email somebody, you always send a follow up email,” Smith said. “It shows that you … care about what you’re about to do and … you have the ambition and motivation to work for (the company).”

Although most businesses post contact information on their company webpage, Cindi Underwood, who works in the College and Career center, said the best way to apprach an employer is by face-to-face communication.

If the initial introduction goes well, employers will then conduct an interview with the applicant.

“Make sure to dress appropriately,” Underwood said. “Make a good first impression. Make sure to arrive for your interview on time or even five minutes early.”

There is no way for applicants to predict how extensive the competition is. Because of this, applicants are advised to find a quality that makes themselves stand out. One way to do this is by expressing familiarity with the potential work environment.

“Make sure to learn something about the business you are applying to,” Underwood said. “Do some research so that you know before you go into the interview … that you can answer questions with some knowledge of what your job responsibilities might be.”

Underwood said students should try to search for a job they are excited about because lack of enthusiasm can translate into poor performance, but sometimes the companies that are hiring are not ones that reflect the applicant’s interest.

“If a student so happens to work at a job they are not enjoying,” Underwood said, “they should still try and give it their best. Remember you may need that employer as a reference someday!”

are responsible generally for those kids about the age of 20 or so, and then lone behold around the age of 50 you start seeing an increase again in people over the age of 50 using marijuana again,” St. Pierre said.

There is some irony with the overall concept of being an adult and your rights.

“Right now where were at the legal age I would suggest should be the same age that we have the legal consent of all other things that you are an adult it is with some irony that you’re an adult in the united states at 18 years old in every single sense of the world except for one, the use of an intoxicant, ethyl alcohol,” Pierre said.

There is just one problem with most of the forums that are put on, they are typically only showing one side of an opinion. Instead of just one side, these forums miss the education of benefits and responsibilities to take if a student chooses to try the drug when of age.

“If you use the product responsibly what concern of is it of the government why are you thought of as a criminal,” St.Pierre said.

“If you misuse and abuse the substance well who would argue that you should not possibly face some sort.”

These forums have brought up some mixed reviews, but since the forums were not mandatory students didn't feel too pressured. If they wanted to learn more about the effects of the drug they got to learn from the forums.

“Knowledge is power and that's the key to then giving them information so they’ll make good health choices,” Sinor said.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Admin intervention Continued from page B1 tration members need to keep students safe, there were lines crossed in the handling of this situation.

“My twitter is on public, therefore it’s open for anyone to see. If admin wants to see my posts, they can because that’s the choice I have made.

However I do think it’s a violation of privacy when admin began asking people to screenshot posts from private accounts and have it sent in for ‘evidence’,” Henson said. “None of the posts

B5

were threats, so there was no way to prove there was malicious intent.”

According to a precedent set by the 1969 Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines, schools can limit students’ free-speech rights only in situations where they can show that the speech would cause a substantial disruption to the school day.

Thus, if going in accordance with that precedent, one could conclude that the abundance of social media posts regarding powder puff were

Gazette illustration/HANNAH XU

causing a disruption to the academic environment.

However it could also be argued that punishing those who posted simply escalated the situation instead of easing it.

In our technology centered world, the underlying message or context of someone’s social media post fails to be heard. A harmless joke can easily be interpreted as a threat and cause a snowball effect of damage.

Opinions aside regarding the situation this past April, one thing to take away for all students is that it is important to speak responsibly and maturely – both on the web and off.

Random...

Enrollment: 29,585 undergrads, 43,301 total Tuition: In state - $34,062 Out of state - $60,744

Facts

Student to faculty ratio: 17:1

1.) Elephants are the only mammals that can’t jump.

Acceptance Rate: 17.3 percent

2.) In the average lifetime, a person will walk the equivalent of 5 times around the equator.

ACT Average: 31

3.) “Goodbye” came from “God bye” which came from “God be with you.”

SAT Averages: 675 Reading, 702 Math, 687 Writing

4.) Left-handed people process multiple stimuli faster than righties.

Most popular majors: Social sciences, Biological/life sciences, Psychology - Compiled by Brayden Johnk

5.)The smell of freshly-cut grass is actually a plant distress call due to trauma.

- Compiled by Aishwarya Pattnaik

Student: Raymond Forbes

Gazette: What do you do in your free time?

Raymond: I enjoy participating in Dos Lenguas Una Voz Gazette: What is do you do at Dos Lenguas Una Voz? Raymond: I go to Woodbridge Elementary School and help with their tutoring program for english learners.

Gazette: How many volunteers help out?

Raymond: We have about 11, that help out at three schools.

- Compiled by Rawan Khalili

Friday, May 20, 2016

B6 Lifestyle

w The Granite Bay Gazette

A water-filled day marks the end of the year summery feel that I love,” Lugo said.

But, like any event, there can always be improvements alemos.gazette@gmail.com that will encourage more of the student body to stay and participate.

“It would be much better if they had more food options,” Mahavni said. “For me, since I’m a vegetarian, all fter a long two weeks of Advanced Placement and I could eat was the cheese quesadilla, which was just a International Baccalaureate tests, what is better tortilla with very little cheese inside. Also, it would be nice than getting to relax at Day at the Bay. to have healthier food and drink options.”

Granite Bay High School traditionally holds a day in Increasing the healthy options and the vegetarian options May where students have half a day of classes and then are might please more people. invited to stay and enjoy the rest of the day.

Regardless of all this, Mahavni still plans on attending However, students are also allowed to leave campus as Day at the Bay next year. soon as classes are over if they choose to, but there is no There are some students who decide to leave Day at the re-entry into the school.

Bay and go to the lake instead.

Activities this year included inflatables, Junior Emily Larson only attended Day at swimming and a dodgeball tournament.

The inflatables the Bay her sophomore year.

“The inflatables are somewhat an old favorite. They are a tradition,” said junior are somewhat an “Freshman year I was sick so I went home I went last year.” Larson said.

Jack Lugo the commissioner of the event. old favorite. They butInstead she spends her time at the lake or But the food this year was quite popuare an old sleeping after such a tiring few weeks of lar with the abundance of options, some school. tradition. of them even being free.

While Larson plans on attending Day at the “We had hot dogs and quesadillas for Bay her senior year, she hopes to see some free for everyone who came,” Lugo said.

Jack Lugo, a junior at change.

“Slushies were for sale, (but) cookies, GBHS “Most of the food costs money besides the doughnuts, otter pops and lemonade … hot dogs,” Larson said. “Everything should were sold by our schools clubs.” be free.”

With such a wide variety of food and According to Lugo they offered many other activities, this day is a highlight for many free items that people came and enjoyed students. instead of just the free food.

Sophomore Sabina Mahavni loved the activities offered “People should’ve come because there was a DJ, an open at Day at the Bay. pool, a dodgeball tournament, and free airbrush tattoos,” “The best part this year for me was the volleyball nets.

Lugo said.

My friends and I played volleyball until the very end,” This all costs money from the school and Mahavni recMahavni said. “Also, it was fun to watch all the teachers ognizes that. get dunked in the dunk tank.”

“Obviously it’s not free for the school, so we might as Day at the Bay is supposed to be a day where people can well take advantage of the cool things the school provides relax and hang out for a few hours at school with music. for us at Day at the Bay,” Mahavni said. “Almost all of It’s a tease for the upcoming summer. my friends went. We all hung out together and had a really “My favorite part of Day at the Bay was probably all the good time.” inflatables and water and outdoor music. It really gave that

BY ALI LEMOS

A

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

Freshmen Surina Dhanota, Tanvi Yadlapalli and Rida Jan prepare to slide down one of the many inflatable slides.

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

Numerous seniors gather to play a game of volleyball on one of three grass courts available during Day at the Bay.

Gazette illustration/NATASHA CHANDA

Sports

Granite Bay Gazette

C1 Section

Friday w May 20, 2016

COMMENTARY

cole kahmann ckahmann.gazette@gmail.com

Questionable pasts shouldn’t determine athletic careers

I

t is one of the toughest question organizations go through when deciding on signing certain players. How much does individual character affect team performance and chemistry?

In attempt to pick players that ultimately will help them win the most games, teams on the collegiate and professional level often question whether or not talent is worth the off the field risk.

Minutes before the 2016 NFL draft started, a picture surfaced on social media of Laremy Tunsil, the top ranked offensive tackle and prospect according to many scouts, smoking weed using a bong and a gas-mask.

Despite the picture being two years old and the player passing every single college drug test he ever took, many NFL teams felt that the red flag prevented the use of a top pick on him or even taking him as the first tackle.

This is not a new story for many athletes looking to continue their career. Athletes pose questions all the time to organizations about off the field issues.

However, the question This is not a new remains whether story for many or not athletes looking past decisions to continue their like these career. Athletes should determine pose questions a player’s all the time to success in the organizations league, about off the field and the answer issues lies in how recent the abuses are.

Using the example of Tunsil, a crime hadn’t been committed in a significant amount of time and it is safer to assume the player will avoid future incidents than players who have more recent charges.

It is no surprise that some players are currently suffering from questionable lifestyles to organizations, but if a player has demonstrated change, there is no reason they shouldn’t be expected to perform well.

For instance, if a player has been charged with a DUI in the past three years, what would make someone think another one isn’t coming the fourth year and stopping them from getting on the field.

As many who follow sports are aware, many players that are affected by questions from their past are by no means prevented from wild success at the next level of competition.

The deciding factor lies in whether or not intensive research and interviews are done with the player to determine whether or not the problems are far over and unlikely to repeat, or are still prevalent and can resurface at any time.

Like I said, it isn’t very difficult to see the trajectory of certain athletes.

If adequate effort is put into learning about the personal life of athletes, questions regarding success at the next level can be put to rest without worrying teams or unrightfully hindering the future of many young individuals.

*** Cole Kahmann, a junior, is a Gazette sports editor

Athletic programs at GBHS continue to succeed Gazette Photo /CARISSA LEWIS

Charlie Tooley selected for the regional Optimist game

BY COLE KAHMANN

ckahmann.gazette@gmail.com

After watching many talented and special athletes throughout the year, senior basketball player Charlie Tooley is a real standout.

Leading the men’s Varsity basketball team in points, assists and steals, Tooley was selected to play in the regional Optimist game. He was the first player selected from Granite Bay High School in seven years.

The game is a highly prestigious event in which only the top senior players in the Sacramento region are invited to compete.

“It was a great honor to play in that game,” Tooley said. “It was just something that I, throughout my four years, have been trying to make, so it was just very gratifying to play in the game.”

However, the road to success has not come by sheer talent and abilities alone.

In fact, many of Tooley’s teammates and coaches credit who he is as a person for his impressive career thus far.

Being a varsity starter for three years, varsity head coach Jason Sitterud appreciated Tooley’s role as not only a great player, but a leader.

“It was like having another coach on the floor,” Sitterud said. “He knew what we wanted

BY BRIGID BELL Some coaches just have what it takes to make a team great. They can motivate their teams, put together a winning roster, and point a team towards victory. Most of these coaches have years of experience with their programs, building up from the ground level. Winston Prather, boys’ varsity volleyball coach, however, has managed to do it in less than a year.

As the Grizzlies launch into playoff season they have nothing but respect regarding their coach.

“Winston is probably the hardest working coach I’ve ever had,” senior outside hitter, Ethan Heldt said.

Prather spends hours sifting through game film, finding flaws with both the Grizzlies’ play and their opponents.

“We normally don’t watch the video, he just shows us film, takes stats and tells us what we’re doing wrong and how to fix it,” Heldt said. “He’s definitely a technical coach.”

And apparently, technical wins games. The team went undefeated in league and are currently

Male Athlete of the Year

to do in various situations and was able to help communicate what we were trying to do with those on the floor.”

On top of his ability to lead, Sitterud saw rare traits in Tooley that played a large role in the success of the team this year, contagious passion and unselfishness.

“It was never about him, it was always about the team.” Sitterud said. “ He had the ability to make everyone feel connected and important.”

For Tooley, being a leader to his teammates was what made his experience at GBHS memorable.

“My favorite moments have just been with my teammates and just building that bond and brotherhood,” Tooley said. “Playing with some guys since we were in second grade up until senior year in high school has been just some of my favorite moments.”

The relationships that have formed between him and his teammates over the years are cherished and greatly valued by his team.

“I think the thing I admire the most about Charlie is just that he is always doing the right thing whether or not anyone is looking; he’s on top of everything and doing it at his best See MALE, page C3

Winston Prather leads the boys’ volleyball team to a national ranking during his first year coaching at GBHS bbell.gazette@gmail.com

Special to the Gazette/NICK PERJANIK

Coach of the Year

33-3 overall for the season. Prather’s meticulous stat taking and analysis shows not only through the team’s success but their national rankings as well. Maxpreps ranks the GBHS Grizzlies as the 12th boys’ volleyball team in the nation, and the season is still not over for the Grizzlies. Their dominant win over Elk Grove last Thursday night showed promise for Prather and the team.

“We played really well,” senior setter, Adam Kahn said.

Kahn attributes the team’s success this season to Prather’s coaching.

“Without him as a coach, we wouldn’t be where we are right now,” Kahn said.

Heldt agreed that without Prather’s help, the team would not be at the level they are right now.

“I think he is one of the biggest components of our success this year,” Heldt said.

Even though the Grizzlies have a team of talented players, Prather still finds ways to push the boys to be better volleyball players.

Savanna Thompson’s dedication leads to a spot on the USD soccer team

BY CLAIR KASEL

Female Athlete of the Year

c.kasel.gazette@gmail.com

Self-motivated, dedicated and passionate. Three words that coaches, teammates and her mom all used to describe senior Savanna Thompson, female athlete of the year.

Changing princess dresses for a soccer uniform, five year old Savanna found her passion for competitive soccer at a young age.

“My husband and I were surprised when she said she wanted to play soccer but it was what she wanted to do, so of course we signed her up,” Savanna’s mom, Gaby Thompson, said. “She had this competitive spirit that we didn’t know was in her,” Savanna said that she loved playing dress up so much as a child that she felt like she had two personalities.

During her many years of playing, she has always looked up to other soccer players, striving to play with their same level of tenacity.

“I never thought I would have the potential to be like the players I had always watched above me,” Savanna Thompson said. “They were just so good and I didn’t know if caliber of my play would get me to that level, but I am really glad it has.”

Two of her biggest soccer icons are Brandi Chastain and Juilia Johnston. Savanna admires both athletes because of their incredible talent.

Juilia Johnston’s “aggression and work rate” inspire Savanna to work hard.

Determination is never lacking for Savanna. She has always been seen as someone who knows what she needs to do to improve and is more than willing to take all the steps to make that happen.

Savanna said that soccer has taught her many things on and off the field that she uses in her daily life and understand the true meanings of commitment. “(Soccer) has helped me with the concept of sacrifice,” Savanna said.

“With competitive soccer you don’t have much time for a social life or school and you have to find a balance. When things are more important you have to go with those and (have) the discipline to make the right choices.”

Savanna said that after dedicating this many hours and years to one sport, it has become more than just an activity but a major component in her life.

“I didn’t really know where soccer was going to take her when she was so young but since her early age she has had a strong passion for the game,” Gaby said. “Now that she is going to college to play and she won the female athlete of the year, I am so proud of her and that all of her work has paid off.”

Having a natural talent for the game and knowing the plays isn’t enough to thrive in the sport. In order to get where she is today, Savanna has had to eat healthy, exercise and stay focused.

“To be able to play soccer, you need to know what tactics work and what runs to make,” Savanna said. “It’s not just going out (on) the field on kicking a ball. Sometimes I wish people would realize that it is a tougher sport than they give it credit for,” Savanna said that many of her teammates would agree that her love for the game shows in her competitive spirit.

“I would hope that (my teammates) know that my competitiveness comes from a passionate place,” Savanna said. “I just love the game so much and I just want everyone to love the game so much and I want them to be as into it as I am.”

When on the field, her concentration can rarely be broken. Her passion for the game is easily seen through her desire to play her best and motivate her teammates at their best too.

“I push people really hard because I see the potential that they have,” Savanna said.

Playing for her competitive coach, Ron Benjamin, for 5 years has helped her grow as a player and reach where she is today.

See COACH, page C3

See FEMALE, page C3

inside sports Sports Update

C5

Grizz Quiz

C3

2015-16 All Grizzly teamC6

Sleeptrain Arena GBHS students react to the local arena being torn down and a new one being built

C4

Boys Volleyball With the help of a new coach, the team advances to postseason playoffs with a national ranking

C2

Senior Athletes Sports teams at GBHS prepare for the 2016-17 school year after teammates graduate

C4

Friday, May 20, 2016

Sports C2

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Boys’ volleyball finds success and a national ranking Team ends season atop the SFL and northern CA

BY SURINA KHURANA

Almost all of the players play club volleyball when they’re not in the high school season. A large group of them play at Northern California Volleyball Club, a local program.

Two weeks ago, on Senior Night, the mens’ volley“They’ve played probably seven years of volleyball ball team ended their league season 12-0 and the clear each,” head coach Winston Prather said. “So they’ve winners of the Sierra Foothill League. had a lot of training and a lot The mens’ volleyball team probably of experience. Compared to doesn’t receive as much praise as it a lot of the schools, we are should. They have already won their lucky to have as many playleague, were favored to win the Sac-JoaWe are so ers who have played with quin Section Championship, are ranked experience.” successful because thatThemuch 11 in California and ranked 12 in the amount of experience nation. these players have had on we have been They all say the highlight of the season the court is visible in their thus far was beating Saint Francis High playing together for skills and level of play. of Mountain View, ranked third in the “What separates us (from at least four years other country, at the Brian Nolan Invitational teams in the area) is Tournament. our consistency,” Kahan – some six years “They were the best team out there, but said. “We have the best hitwe ended up playing out of our minds and we know how ters in the league and (we) that game,” senior and captain Cole always looking for the to play with each are Rodgers said. “It definitely was a physibest ways to get them better cally exhausting match, but we ended up balls to hit, and they are other. putting it away pretty easily.” so good at putting the ball Senior Adam Kahan, the team’s setter, down.” attributes their success this season to both – Adam Kahan, GBHS As far as the rest of the the team chemistry and the talent they season goes, the team recvolleyball player have on the court. ognizes that they still have “We are so successful because we have things to work on. been playing together for at least four “The team needs to work years – some six years – and we know on taking every team serihow to play with each other,” Kahan said. ously,” senior Jason Mazure “We know each other’s strengths and said. weaknesses.”

Kahan also said the team’s overall attitude needs skhurana.gazette@gmail.com

Being both fan and player Sophomore enjoys playing junior varsity football and watching the varsity games in his free time.

BY STEPHANIE KANG

F

skang.gazette@gmail.com

rom a glance, it’s obvious that Granite Bay High sophomore Nathan Lee is a football player.

Appearance-wise, he fits the stereotypical definition: tall with an athletic build, and frequently sporting shirts with phrases along the lines of “Go Grizzlies!” emblazoned across the front.

However, he only recently started playing the sport.

Many factors went into him trying it out, but what drew him to it the most was the way the game is played.

“I like the physicality of football,” Lee said. “It allows me to get out pent up anger or have fun.”

Gazette photo/CARISSA LEWIS

Senior Jason Mazure attempts to block an opponent in their win against Davis High on May 10th. some improving in the last few weeks of their season.

“We need to know that anyone can beat any team at any time,” Kahan said. “We need to prepare for whoever we play against with the same intensity every time.”

As the season winds down, the team will continue playing playoff games and hopes to win NorCals.

Something that sets this team apart from other teams

He first picked it up during his freshman year, never having played before in his life.

“I started to play football as a freshman because I had always wanted to play ever since I was young.” Lee said. “My dad wouldn’t let me play tackle football until I was a freshman, so I seized the opportunity when it came.”

“The closest thing I got to real football was flag football, which I played from (third grade up) until freshman year.”

He quickly came to realize his passion for the sport after just a year of playing.

“Freshman year after my first football game,” Lee said. “That’s when I knew that’s what I wanted to do for four years of high school.”

On his off days from the rigorous football training schedule, however, Lee likes being in the stands because rooting for Grizzlies in the Tribe is just one of his favorite things to do when relaxing after school.

“It’s always super energetic in the Tribe,” he said.

He goes out to varsity football games whenever he can spare the time with his friends.

is the mindset with which they play.

“Our goals are always to play as hard as we can when we go on the court,” Prather said. “We don’t really set goals as far as winning league or winning sections or making it to NorCals or something like that. Those would be called outcome goals. We set what we call process goals. Every time we step on the court (we) try as hard as we can for every point.”

Nathan Lee After his long-desired freshman year of football, sophomore Lee discovered that football was his true passion, whether he is playing or watching it.

Lee also enjoys watching soccer for its entertainment, although he does understand football a lot more.

“When I was younger, I played soccer up to about third grade,” Lee said. “(Nowadays) I enjoy watching soccer because it’s fast paced and entertaining.”

But in general, Lee loves all sports.

“They’re fun,” Lee said. “You get to meet a lot of new people.”

The spring season continues to go strong for the Grizzlies

Many GBHS sport teams achieve goals and move into the remainder of the season geared for playoffs

BY SHIVANI BOBBALA

sbobbla.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay High School is known for its prestigious sports teams. Spring sports teams have all performed very well this year, and many are looking forward to playoffs.

Riley Sullivan, a GBHS golfer and senior, reflects on the successful past season.

“We played well this season,” Sullivan said. “Prior to winning league, we broke our school record with a team score of 3 under par during a match.”

The mens’ golf team is also looking to attend states this year, a feat only 3 schools from the entire NorCal region achieve. “We play in our second round of playoffs Monday, May 16th,” Sullivan said. “If we advance there, we are one round away from reaching state for the second consecutive year.”

Sullivan is optimistic that mens’ golf will not only qualify for the state tournament, but also do extremely well there.

“Our goal for the rest of the season is to break more records and to win the state championship,” Sullivan said.

Track and field has also had a great season so far.

“We’ve done pretty well so far this season,” Nicole Zanzola, a senior at GBHS and one of the captains of the track and field team, said. “Everyone trained really hard so we’ve seen success across all the

events. This year our JV boys were really strong and placed well in a lot of our league meets.”

“We just had league trials and finals,” Zanzola said. “We had a lot of people win events and move on to section trials (on) Tuesday (May 17th).”

Drew Kindelt, a senior at GBHS and an outfield/pitcher for the baseball team, commented on how the mens’ baseball team has been doing.

“This year has been an awesome year,” Kindelt said. “We have definitely improved a lot and expect to do well in playoffs.”

The top four teams in the league made playoffs and the team had their first playoff game against Pleasant Grove on Monday, May 16th.

Girl’s Soccer has also done phenomenally well this year. They haven’t lost by more than a score of 0-1 this year and their best win was against Nevada Union, whom they beat on their senior night 10-0.

Their playoffs will go on until the third week of May. The girls have won their first two games so far.

“Our goal is to win sections this upcoming Saturday,” Laura Perjanik, a GBHS senior and one of the captains of the girls soccer team, said.

Arjith Jayaraman, a GBHS junior, is the captain of the Boy’s Tennis team and plays the #1 position.

“The year has been great for the team

because we went undefeated in league,” Jayaraman said, “Although we had some close matches, the team worked really hard and won them.”

After the season ended mid-April, there was an additional individual tournament that Jayaraman and another player, Nayan Pallegar, were selected for. Jayaraman made it to the semi-finals round of the tournament, after which he had to withdraw from the tournament as it coincided with AP testing.

Boy’s Volleyball has also gone undefeated in the league this year, with their best win being against Saint Francis at the tournament held at GBHS. Cole Rodgers, a GBHS senior, is the captain of the team and plays the position of outside hitter.

“Our goals are to win sections and then to win NorCals,” Rodgers said. The team is currently 2-0 in playoffs.

All of the spring sports teams have also grown this year in terms of team bonding and camaraderie.

“I love all of the teammates I have and the experiences I have gone through with Gazette photo/CARISSA LEWIS them have been unforgettable,” Kindelt Senior Savanna Thompson dribbles the ball up the field against Nevada Union High said.

School during a recent GBHS girls’ varsity soccer game. The team won the second round of the Similar feelings go across the rest of the playoffs against Elk Grove High School and look to continue their dominance. sports here at GBHS in the spring. ferent if we compared our team to others,” ence,” Sullivan said. “Our whole team is “This year we’ve done well by working Jayaraman said. “Our focus was there so talented and our team chemistry is so on bringing the team together and buildevery time. ing camaraderie,” Zanzola said. strong. I wouldn’t have wanted to finish “This year has been such a great experi- my senior year any other way.”

“The vibe on the courts was vastly dif-

Toot your own horn.

Read the Gazette.

Friday, May 20, 2016

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Sports C3

Grizz Quiz Compiled by Katie Cologna

Chase Mannsfeld Lacrosse

James McCarthy Volleyball

Avonna Usher Lacrosse

Allison Doleschal Softball

I practice on my own and do drills and activities to strengthen my muscles.

Practice saxophone and I do club volleyball as well.

I do a lot of art mainly painting.

What is your favorite thing about your sport?

It’s intense and very physical.

I think its fun to play with other people and for people who are just trying to do the same thing.

It’s a really good team bonding experience and you build a lot of new friendships.

Does your team have any traditions before the game?

Jam out.

We always get in a little hype circle before the game is about to start.

My coach always gives us a pep talk before the game so we’re all hyped for the game.

Our home games we usually bring music and go through our whole playlist.

It’s kind of a mix of random stuff that we play on the loud speaker.

It depends on my mood so it can pretty much range anywhere.

Rap and Hip Pop

I went under the net and almost broke both of my ankles.

My team gave up in the fourth inning and just kind of stopped playing the game.

How do you spend your free time outside of your sport?

What kind of music do you listen to before the game?

Ones that sound good.

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a game?

Broken foot

I dance.

Competition.

I missed four goals that I should have made.

Michael Birch Baseball

I hang out with my friends, family and two bulldogs.

My favorite part is playing defense. I love playing catcher.

We have a team prayer before every game.

Classic rock

Having to catch a guy throwing 90 mph who is having a bad day.

GBHS sophomore looks to make a varsity impact

BY MATTHEW ONTIVEROS montiveros.gazette@gmail.com

Andy Pham is getting ready for another transition in basketball as he steps up to the next level of competition.

The GBHS sophomore has now been playing basketball for eight years at both shooting and point guard.

This transition will mark a similar step up from what he accomplished this year.

“The difference between (Freshman and JV) was speed,” Pham said. “The pace of the game was so much faster and you had to work much harder to get your buckets.”

Pham said that his favorite part about the Junior Varsity team was the dance circles before games.

To get ready for the next level, Pham has been playing on an AAU travel team that will continue throughout the summer.

He plays for ‘Beast mode’ which is a team sponsored by retired NFL running back Marshawn Lynch, who will

The pace of the game was so much faster and you had to work so much harder to get your buckets – Andy Pham, GBHS sophomore

occasionally come out to the basketball team’s big tournaments.

The team has been regularly taking first place with Pham playing starting point guard.

“My goal for varsity is becoming the (type of) player (that will) lead the team to a win and the guy you can depend on in the clutch,” Pham said.

Moving on to the next level of competition also has its benefits – larger crowds and more at

COACH: Players’ admiration for coach fosters growth Continued from page C1 “He knows we’re a good team but he doesn’t let us just do what we want,” Kahn said.

And yet, Prather is able to strike the balance between challenging his players and being a mentor who has their backs both on and off the court.

“I can talk with him whenever I want about anything, even if it’s not volleyball related,” Kahn said.

Prather has elicited respect and admiration from his players.

“He’s a really nice guy and I definitely want to be like him as a person,” said Heldt.

Kahn believes that Prather’s close relationships with his players also leads to success on the court.

“He knows each one of us so well and what our strengths and weaknesses are,” Kahn said.

According to Kahan, this has been a major component in Prather’s ability to lead the team to their pristine 12-0 record in league.

“When we honor coaches with awards like this, it’s really a reflection of everything that goes into their program,” Prather said, crediting the strength of the both the Freshmen and JV teams in contributing to the ultimate success of the Varsity team.

Prather also put an emphasis on the team’s unparalleled chemistry.

“The majority of the starters have played together… for the past 4 or 5 years,” Prather said.

Kahn said that one of Prather’s main priorities was strengthening team camaraderie.

“He really wanted us to be a well oiled machine and bond together because that’s how you play better together.” Kahan said.

Although the team has had great success this season, Prather admits that there were some hitches although not necessarily volleyball related. He recalls being baffled by the idea

of having to reserve the gym and having to raise money for the program.

“Luckily I had a great set of Booster parents that knew exactly how to get things done,” Prather said.

For all his success though, Prather doesn’t coach just to win. “ You get the opportunity to affect lives of the players not just for the few months they play volleyball, but sometimes for a lifetime,” Prather said. “Coaches get to help prepare young adults for the future through athletics… and we get to do it through the sport we love, in my case, volleyball. That’s why I coach.”

stake.

“What I’m most excited for is the Tribe to show out because I’m out here putting on a show,” Pham said.

Ultimately Pham realizes he still has a long road ahead of him.

“I learned (this year) that I have a lot more work to do (for varsity),” Pham said.

MALE: Tooley looks to find

success on the collegiate level Continued from page C1

effort,” senior teammate Sean Boyle said. ”He can gather everyone’s attention and be the guy everyone looks up to.”

Senior teammate Chris Hurley agrees with the other three in that Tooley’s work ethic, whether shown on the court, in the classroom, or in the community, is his greatest trait.

“He is one of the hardest working guys I know on and off the court, and he is always working to get better,” Hurley said. “He’s never content with where he is, he’s always improving his game.”

After this year, Tooley is looking to continue his career by playing basketball at the University of Nevada, Reno and achieving a college degree.

Upon looking back at his legacy here at GBHS, Tooley feels that he benefitted from the basketball program as much as he helped it.

“Throughout my years here I have grown as a young man,” Tooley said.

“Not only just my skill assets, but just my leadership and my outlook on the game to improve and work hard everyday.”

FEMALE: Intensity and leadership on the field helps to reinvigorate her club team Continued from page C1 “I have a very strong team, all of the girls Soccer has are very good, but without had such Savanna’s intensity, I don’t think it would be the same team,” Benjamin said. a positive Combined with her talent for the game, her natural instinct as a leader also helps her impact on her teammates with their game. life.

“She is almost like having second coach on the team,” Benjamin said.

Savanna said all of her coaches have a dif– Gaby Thompson, ferent style that have helped teach her things Savanna’s mother to further improve her soccer career.

According to Savanna, Granite Bay High School’s girls soccer coach, Mark Broers, allows the girls to work together on the field to solve issues and find what works. “(Broers) coaches but he isn’t totally in your face, so if something

isn’t working it allows me to find a solution to it without his help,” Savanna said. “It has helped me to be a stronger individual player.”

Soccer is one of the unique sports in the fact that each person has a specific task to do, but in order to be successful everyone needs to make sure they are doing their job..

“In soccer, you can rely on your teammates and they can rely on you to play well,” Savanna said. “It’s just fun to get to run around and play.”

Seeing her grow as a soccer player and as a person, Savanna’s mom has seen the positive influence it has had on her life.

“Soccer has had such a huge impact on her life,” Thompson said. “I think it has made her the wonderful person she is.”

Getting to this point didn’t come easy, but now that she will be leaving in a little over a month to play soccer at the University of San Diego, GBHS’s center defender will continue to make her mark on and off the field.

“When I was younger, I never thought much of sports,” Savanna said.

“I think I just liked to be busy but now I am very happy and grateful that soccer is part of my life.”

Join the “A” team.

Read the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette/NICK PERJANIK

Savanna Thompson takes on an opponent against NUHS.

Sports C4

Friday, May 20, 2016

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Athletes consider next season as this year ends

As seniors graduate in the end of May, spots will need to be filled to continue GBHS athletic success across all sports

BY JACQUELINE ROMERO jromero.gazette@gmail.com

Every year sports teams at Granite Bay High School have to adjust to loss of many seniors who graduated from the previous year.

With this can cause many challenges preparing underclassmen to help take the spots of the seniors.

Junior Chloe Miller, GBHS varsity swimmer, said that she thinks it will take a lot of work to prepare for next year because of the large amount of talented seniors that will be leaving.

Being undefeated for 15 years, Miller said she thinks the team will have to maintain a strong focus if they want to continue their winning streak next year.

“I think a lot of our underclassmen have the potential to really step up,” Miller said. “I think if everyone focuses on a common goal and works together in a positive atmosphere everyone’s training will get better.”

In addition to training during the season, many teams also practice and compete during the offseason to prepare. “(Coach) Sherman always has the swimmers start swim in the winter which sounds crazy but it’s just part of the Granite Bay swim atmosphere,” Miller said. “It’s pretty cool to think everyone is that dedicated.”

In addition to off-season train-

ing with the GBHS team, many swimmers also play water polo, participate in recreational swim leagues or are part of year round competitive swim teams which helps them keep their swimming skills up when they aren’t swimming for GBHS. According to freshman Matthew Handy, varsity boys tennis player, a huge component in preparing to compete during the season is individual training.

Handy said that while the GBHS boys tennis team doesn’t do much organized off-season training together, the majority of the athletes on the team train with their individual, private coaches to help them prepare. Because the boys tennis team is very competitive, Handy said that the players who want a senior’s spot will need to be very disciplined in their offseason training.

“I think they will need to play a lot and just grind out all their shots until they become pretty solid,” Handy said. “We have a pretty competitive top 12 who all have solid shots. They will also need to play matches against each other.”

Freshman Lindsay Poulos agreed that while the girls softball team trains hard together during the season, a lot of the off-season preparation is with other teams.

“Right now we are all in conditioning during athletic PE,” Poulos

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

Emily Talmi, a key player for next year’s girls’ soccer team, sprints past a defender to get the ball said. “Most of our girls play on travel teams so they will continue playing throughout the summer Because the girls softball team only has one senior this year, they

won’t have as much of an adjustment next year as some of the other sports teams at GBHS. “I think the team will improve because we all have really great

talent,” Poulos said. “By next season all of our skills should be really refined and hopefully we can make it to playoffs.”

According to sophomore Alyssa

Sewell, one of the biggest things that her and the rest of the GBHS girls tennis team focuses on during the offseason is mastering the basics of the sport. “(The biggest thing) we need to do in the offseason is practice, practice, practice,” Sewell said.

“We really need to form that muscle memory.”

With losing seniors can also come many challenges with the energy and camaraderie of the team.

“I love this team so much,” Sewell said. “We are all one big family and we work very well together. I love how we have bonded together and made the best of every match and practice this season.”

Sewell’s teammate, sophomore Amanda Bone agreed that the real challenge in losing seniors is having to lose them as teammates and adjust to not having them there for support the next season.

“I think the hardest part about losing our seniors is not the fact that they were some of our best players but because they are some of my closest friends,” Amanda Bone, sophomore on the varsity girls tennis team said.

“They each brought something special to the team and it will be hard to not have them around anymore,” Bone said.

Golden 1 Center welcomed in Sac Granite Bay community prepares for a new sports arena downtown as the Kings organization gets an upgrade

BY ISABELLA TKACHUK itkachuk.gazette@gmail.com

Once home to the Sacramento Monarchs and the current home of the Sacramento Kings, Sleep Train Arena, previously called Arco Arena and Power Balance Pavilion, is on the verge of undergoing a major upgrade– a big move to the new Golden 1 arena to be located in Downtown Sacramento.

Opened in 1988, the arena served as a home to not only basketball games, but also concerts, circuses, and many other entertainment events.

The new arena will open in October of 2016, and will cost approximately $507 million, according to golden1center.com.

Many families in the Granite Bay community were season ticket holders for the NBA team the Sacramento Kings for many years at Sleep Train Arena, and know that they are going to continue to be once the new center opens.

Granite Bay High School senior, Alex Gavia, says that his family has been and will continue to be season ticket holders, despite the fact that the tradition of

going to Sleep Train year after year will discontinue.

“We already bought season tickets at the new arena because my parents love the Kings and have had tickets since early 2000,” Gavia said about his family.

The new arena should not affect the attendance during basketball games, but Gavia does believe that it will draw more attention. “(Sleep Train) was old and it was time for a new one,” Gavia said.

The new technological advancements made for Golden 1 include bi-fold aircraft hangar doors and will be known as “the ‘smart’ building” by golden1center.

com Not only are families in the community looking forward to what is anticipated technologically from the new arena, student fans at Granite Bay express their optimism towards what’s yet to be revealed. “(I’ve been a King’s fan) for 6 years now,” said Kenny LeBeau, a junior. “Basketball is a fast-paced sport that’s fun to watch and (the King’s) are the local Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS team.” Opened in 1988, the old Arena has hosted countless NBA seasons and other events over the years.

LeBeau said that Sleep Train is important to a lot of fans in the community, as well as the Sacramento area.

“Considering the Kings have sucked recently at Sleep closing of Sleep Train arena is overpowered by the excitement towards Golden 1 center and the new “I think it’s sad that (Sleep Train) is closing but Train, I think they can make a new identity for thempromises it made to the public.

(I’m) also excited about the new arena,” LeBeau said. selves, hopefully,” LeBeau said.

“I look forward to the fresh new record in the Not only is he looking forward to the new atmoLeBeau is not the only junior who is a regular atGolden 1 center and the new state-of-the-art equipsphere of Golden 1 in Downtown, LeBeau also thinks tendee to basketball games. ment,” Walston said. “We get a new start in the best it will contribute to the businesses around it.

“I’ve been a Kings fan for 17 years,” junior Brett arena in the world.”

“I think a lot of businesses (around Sleep Train) Walston said.”

Walston carries a lot of hope for the Kings and their will go out of business, but more businesses will Walston said that he has attended about 200 games future at Golden 1. open around the new one so it will even out,” LeBeau in his lifetime at Sleep Train arena.

“I believe with my full heart that the Kings will be added. “ I feel sad about the original Arco Arena closing able to rediscover their greatness that they achieved As far as being a Kings’ fan goes, LeBeau looks since it was the first arena I ever saw the Kings in,” in the past at Arco and one day win the NBA champiforward to the fresh environment the NBA team will Walston expressed. onship in the Golden 1 center,” Walston said.

The sadness most people are feeling towards the be playing in starting October.

GBHS athletes reflect on the intensity of their seasons I’ve had 7-10 matches I definitely need time to decompress or I will be burnt out for the next competiof another season of accomplishment and It’s a balance of tion.” the start of an offseason to improve upon.

Athletes from other sports see a GBHS junior Jack Ramalia finished anbeing in great similar need to retain concentraother Varsity wrestling season this March. shape but not tion and ability throughout the “I pace myself to make sure I’m peaking during the state tournament,” Ramalia over training year. “(The Girls’ Golf season) is said. (and) practicing three months and I think it’s a For most athletes long, intense seasons good amount of time,” senior raise the bigger question of how to last hard but not Chisay Arai said. “It’s not too long the whole year. where people lose focus or miss “It’s more of an art than a science getting hurt. too much school.” getting through the wrestling season,” – Jack Ramalia, varisty Arai will be continuing on to Ramalia said. “It’s a balance of being in play golf in college at Holy Names wrestler great shape, but not over training (and) University next year. practicing hard but not getting hurt.”

To prepare for the upcoming “After years of experience and countless year, athletes across all sports are hours of training my body has acclimated training in the offseason. to the constant competition pretty well.

GBHS junior Parker Wilkin However keeping the mental edge is far more difplayed Varsity Water Polo this year in the fall and ficult,” Ramalia said. “After big tournaments where

Students look for improvement during the offseason

BY MATTHEW ONTIVEROS montiveros.gazette@gmail.com

As Granite Bay high school spring sports enter playoffs the 2015-2016 athletic year is coming to an end.

For Boys’ Volleyball competition is heating up as the Grizzlies look to capitalize in the playoffs.

“The season is going very well, our goals for playoffs are to make it as far as possible, that being the NorCal Finals,” senior Jason Mazure said.

Mazure is a starting middle blocker on the Boy’s Varsity volleyball team.

“The first game (of playoffs) was on march first and the last regular season games was May 3,” Mazure said.

However for many athletes this marks a completion

Big hits Big news The Gazette

wrestled in the winter.

“For the offseason Water polo has much more structured practices. Wrestling is more independent in that you work as hard as you want but you don’t have any formal obligation (in the offseason),” Wilkin said. “I ultimately prefer how wrestling structures it because it challenges you to become as best as you can on your own.”

It is this upcoming time that allows for the most personalized improvement.

“The club season is my favorite time since you can really focus on improving your weaknesses without a tournament each weekend beating you down,” Ramalia said. “As opposed to off season football, wrestling is much more individualized and you plan out what you personally want to work on, rather than the team.

Even for the spring athletes just now competing in playoffs the offseason is right around the corner.

“The offseason commitment is basically the same as the regular season,” Mazure said.

Friday, May 20, 2016

w The Granite Bay Gazette

C5

SECOND LOOK

For the Record Boys Baseball: April 18 @ Oak Ridge: Loss 6-5 April 20 vs Oak Ridge: Loss 6-0 April 22 vs Oak Ridge: Win 6-4 April 25 @ Nevada Union: Win 6-1 April 27 vs Nevada Union: Loss 6-0 April 29 @ Nevada Union: Win 9-6 May 2 vs Woodcreek: Loss 3-1 May 4 @ Woodcreek: Win 11-1 May 6 vs Woodcreek: Loss 3-1 May 9 @ Rocklin: Win 6-1 May 10 vs Rocklin: Win 10-1 May 11 @ Rocklin: Loss 11-3

Gazette photos /CARISSA LEWIS

Gazette photos /CARISSA LEWIS

Girls Softball: April 21 vs Rocklin: Loss 6-4 April 26 @ Del Oro: Loss 11-3 April 28 @ Folsom: Win 4-1 May 5 @ Oak Ridge: Loss 4-3 May 10 vs Nevada Union: Win 11-0 Girls Soccer: April 15 vs Del Oro: Loss 1-0 April 18 vs Oak Ridge: Tie 0-0 April 20 @ Folsom: Win 4-2 April 27 @ Oak Ridge: Win 2-0 April 29 vs Nevada Union: Win 11-0 May 3 @ Woodcreek: Tie 1-1 Boys Lacrosse: April 16 vs Marin Catholic: Win 13-8 April 18 @ Casa Roble: Win 21-0 April 26 @ De La Salle: Loss 15-10 April 29 vs St. Mary’s: Win 17-7 May 3 vs Jesuit: Win 14-5 May 6 vs Oak Ridge: Win 8-4 May 11 @ Clayton Valley Charter: 15-2 May 13 vs Amador Valley: Win 8-6 Girls Lacrosse: April 16 vs Menlo-Atherton: Win 17-12 April 19 vs Casa Roble: Win 22-0 April 26 vs St. Francis: Win 19-7 April 29 @ Christian Brothers: Win 24-14 May 3 @ Davis: Win 20-6 May 6 @ Oak Ridge: Loss 13-12 May 11 @ Amador Valley: Win 17-7 May 13 @ California: Win 13-12

Gazette photos /CARISSA LEWIS

Boys Tennis: April 19 @ Folsom:Win 6-3 Boys Volleyball: April 16 @ Lincoln: Win 3-0 April 19 @ Oak Ridge: Win 3-0 April 21 vs Nevada Union: Win 3-0 April 26 @ Woodcreek: Win 3-0 April 28 vs Rocklin: Win 3-0 May 3 vs Del Oro: Win 3-0 May 10 vs Davis: Win 3-0 May 12 vs Elk Grove: Win 3-0

Gazette photos /CARISSA LEWIS

Compiled by Jacqueline Romero -As of May 20, 2016

Gazette photos /CARISSA LEWIS

Gazette photos /CARISSA LEWIS

wJunior Karim Richani, top left, finishes his swing during a recent golf match against Del Oro. Sophomores Emily Talmi and Nicolette Lewis, top right, run to take possession of the ball during a GBHS girls’ soccer playoff game. Sophomore Nicolette Lewis runs in front of her opponent in attempt to steal the ball during a recent playoff game. Junior Collin Tanner, small middle, jumps up to spike the ball during a GBHS boys’ varsity volleyball game. Senior Kennedy Christie, middle bottom right, calls to her teammate for a pass. GBHS senior Tyler Genetti, bottom right, spikes the ball after receiving a set from his teammate. Junior Tim Sauer, bottom left, completes his swing during his recent match on the GBHS boys’ varsity golf team.

Gazette photos /CARISSA LEWIS

C6

Friday, May 20, 2016

w The Granite Bay Gazette

The 2015-2016 All-Grizzly Team Selecting Granite Bay High School’s finest athletes

First Team

Jack Ramalia wWrestlingw Junior

Carlin Isaacson wLacrossew

Tre Lockwood wTrack & Fieldw

Senior

Brigid Bell wVolleyballw Senior

Senior

Junior

Hunter Loomis wSoccer/Footballw

Sydney Ladrech wSoccerw Senior

Heaven Quintana wSwimw Senior

Sam Cusano wFootball/Rugbyw Senior

Chisay Arai wGolfw

Darren Nelson wBasketball Baseballw

Zac Anderson wSoccerw Senior

Senior

Junior

Second Team Drake Mendenhall wGolfw

Kassidy Henson wSwimw Senior

Senior

Angelo Uribe wWrestlingw Senior

Alaigra Usher wLacrossew Senior

Ethan Heldt wVolleyballw Senior

Ryan MacIntosh wFootballw Senior

Emily Talmi wSoccerw Sophomore

Kovey Palmaer wBasketballw Senior

Jackson MacLeane wSwimming Water Polow Junior

Sienna Lyford wGolfw Sophomore

Arjith Jayaraman wTennisw Junior

Honorable Mentions Abby RowewTennisw Senior

Shelbie SoareswSoftballw Junior

Sean BoylewBasketballw Senior

Jason MazurewVolleyballw Senior

Amanda PratherwVolleyballw Junior

Kaley StunzwLacrossew Junior

Ethan SmithwLacrossew Junior

Kenny LebeauwBaseballw Junior

Lexi HarringtonwSoftballw Junior

Ratheya RajakumarwTennisw Junior

Connor MacdonaldwWater Polow Autumn Mannsfeld wLacrossew Junior Junior

GS The Gazette’s arts and entertainment guide.

May 2016

GREEN SCREEN A look at the must see places in Sacramento

PAGES

8&9

Special to the Gazette/ ALESSANDRA DENNING

Page 2

May 2016

sneak peek.

Special to the Gazette / AlESSANDRA DENNING

wSee page 5 to see the latest trend of Finsta

Special to the Gazette/ KENNEDY CHRISTIE

wSee page 8&9 To see Sacramento’s hidden gems and secrets

Special to the Gazette/ KENNEDY CHRISTIE

wSee page 16 for a look at swimming holes

Social media has impeded our reality

Social media friendships should not account for tangible ones

“N

o we don’t really know each other, we just follow quad, a glance is shared but no concrete communication is reciproeach other on Instagram.” cated.

So let me get this straight, you follow each other Thinking about that makes me ponder at why that is a norm. It’s on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat, yet you’ve never unfortunate that you’ll walk by someone who you see or follow on spoken a word to each other. social media, but have never really spoken to in real life.

The world we live in is a double sided world.

Like hey on Twitter I saw that you went to Nuyo this afternoon, One revolves around our interactions online, which tend to be or hey I saw on Instagram that you went to Cabo for spring break. more expressive and jubilant than not. The other represents our real So many intimate moments flood through internet platforms, life presence which is the complete opwhich allows you to be aware without personposite, eliciting reservation and personal ally seeking out the who,what,where and whys of restrictions. Why is this the case? someone actions or adventures.

At this day and age it seems as if the For the most part, I know who my followers integration of social media into our lives are, but for the ones I don’t know - I’m always has impeded on our reality. fascinated by their posts and I want to interact with All internet platforms have slowly but them but it almost seems taboo. surely hindered our progression of normal It almost seems like social media interactions interactions, and normal ways of getting restricts the advancements of an actual social moto know someone. ment.

Funny how this generation justifies beIf anything, being a social media friend should ing friends with someone, solely based on serve as an invitation to be more inviting with your following them back on social media. actions towards others.

It’s a shame that a social media friendSocial media is a platform to showcase your ship seems to account for a tangible one. likes, dislikes, photos and relatable moments. It’s The amount of authentic moments and used to share aspects of life and for the most part esharma.gazette@gmail.com conversations that should have been held you are able to seek out those who have similar in real life are replaced by a like, a favorinterests as you and conjure up a relationship. ite, a snapchat response.

I commend those that are able to wield their friendly and expresI’m all for using social media to interact with friends, I mean sive phone presence and integrate it into friendships in the real it would be hypocritical of me to bash a platform that I use on world. However, the indivudals that are heavily active on social the daily. But what I don’t understand is why we follow so many media yet hesitant to pursue a friendship in real life, confuse me. people that we don’t talk to or make an effort to.

Why would you waste time formulating a materialistic relationI’ve had moments where I’ll see someone who I’ve had countless ship when a face to face interaction and acknowledgement is so social media interactions with but when we see each other in the much better.

COMMENTARY

epsa sharma

Guide to Green Screen

Upcoming GBHS Events for may May 26

Last day of school

May 27 Senior Breakfast May 28

2016 Graduation

Page 3 Music reviews

Page 6/7 Food Reviews

Page 11 summer concerts

Page 14/15 Movie reviews

Page 4 Top Tweets

Page 8/9 Sacramento’s hidden gems

Page 12 Follow Friday

Page 16 Swimming holes

Page 5 Finsta trend

Page 10 Summer trips

Page 13 The life of birds

May 2016

Page 3

tune in.

Young Forever Bangtan Boys

BY STEPHENIE KANG

E

skang.gazette@gmail.com

ven though I’m Korean, I still don’t really like “K-pop” music, aka South Korean pop music (I know, I know, I didn’t make up the name.)

Yet my K-pop trash friends were extremely enthusiastic (some might even call them overly so) about this new album being released by their favorite South Korean boy band BTS, so as their friend, I had to listen to the new album.

The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Young Forever is special, being BTS’ first compilation album.

This album includes songs from their two extended plays The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Part 1 and 2, three totally new songs and a few obligatory remixes.

When it came out, it also marked a few more milestones for the group.

BTS was the second K-pop act to put two consecutive albums on the Billboard 200.

They controlled the Top 3 on the World Digital.

Songs chart with “Fire,” “Save Me” and “Epilogue: Young Forever” for the first time in K-pop history.

The majority of the album was, in one word, chill.

They’ve really found their niche in relaxing, generally nostalgic songs about being lonely andor missing some fill-in-the-blank, guesswhat-it’s-you! girl.

A few standouts were “Butterfly,” with lush wobbly beats and melodies reminiscent of Justin Bieber’s good material, and Whalien 52, whose everything is outshone by the content of its lyrics.

It’s literally a song about a lonely whale - a bad pun, yes, and also a way for the members of BTS to inform you about the existence of

the 52-hertz whale, who calls at the much higher frequency of, well, 52 hertz and who has been described as “world’s loneliest whale.”

However, I found that I didn’t really like it when they started moving away from that familiar territory.

Although they absolutely killed “Dope” and “Fire,” in particular was not as phenomenal as the rest of the album was.

Although it mellows out in the bridge to the chorus, the majority of the time all seven members of BTS were just shouting.

And although their producer was just on it the whole time, having Korean men shout at me for three straight minutes is not why I listen to music.

After the majority of the album, they also have a few remixes and ballad covers of their own songs, but come on, who really listens to those?

Mute to North America

Young Forever was released May 2, 2016.

B+

Skip to: “Fire”

HunterDrake Hayes Storyline VIEWS

BY CONNOR HINSON

O

36 brickhouse

VIEWS was released on April 29, 2016.

B

Skip to : “Controlla”

chinson.gazette@gmail.com

h man, oh man. Not again. Toronto rapper Drake is back with a new album, although it could be argued he never left. In the past year alone, the titular “6 God” released two massively successful mixtapes, bodied Meek Mill into irrelevance and became a living meme.

I enjoyed last year’s “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” quite a bit, wherein Drake’s new trap influenced sound worked considerably better than his prior pop-rap M.O. With this in mind, I set my expectations fairly high for VIEWS. However, as VIEWS creeped closer to release, Drake put out three singles in succession, two of which were genuinely awful. Both “Summer Sixteen” and “Pop Style” were among the worst songs Drake has ever released.

Still, this couldn’t be a reflection of the

quality of the album, right? His third single “One Dance” was a pretty okay track, and it recently became Drake’s first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 as lead artist.

Unfortunately, VIEWS is less a product of Drake’s previous successes, and more a product of hip-hop’s current trends.

VIEWS is boring. It’s too long. It’s exhaustingly whiny. In fact, in the 20 tracks that make up this marathon of a record, there are only six remotely memorable songs, one of which is the 2015’s infamous “Hotline Bling.”

The opening track, “Keep the Family Close,” is a serviceable intro, detailing Drake’s struggles with all of the “let’s just be friends” in his life, adding that they are, regrettably, no longer his friends.

On its own, his message is palatable.

However, when the breadth of the album is made up of these struggle-bars, it’s hard to feel anything but annoyed with Drake. Half of the album is Drake complaining about some girl who did something to him, and now he’s sad

about it.

The beats on the album are marginally better than the lyricism. Both “One Dance” and “Controlla” feature beats influenced by Dancehall, a style which runs through the veins of this entire record. In these particular instances, the style works.

Similarly, the beat on “U With Me?” produced by Kanye West, has a very refreshingly retro sound which recalls the Kanye of old. Sadly, this one production credit is not enough to revive the entire album.

Songs such as “Grammys” and “Pop Style” have obnoxiously bland trap instrumentals, which feels like a stylistic departure from the rest of the album.

Overall, the album is far too stylistically scattered and has little mastery of any one sound.

VIEWS is a regrettable misstep for Drake.

Although this is hardly enough to hurt his career, it certainly makes me more wary of the the music he will be releasing in the future.

Cleopatra The Lumineers

BY WHITNEY KNORP

wknorp.gazette@gmail.com

A

fter a four year gap from their selftitled debut album in 2012, the Lumineers released their second album Cleopatra at the beginning of April this year.

This album was long anticipated by fans of the folk band after their first album became a hit due to the popular song “Ho Hey.” Cleopatra displayed a unique sound that deviated from that of the first album, but it nonetheless did not disappoint.

Where The Lumineers album was generally funky and folky with a lot of banjo and flavor, Cleopatra altered its classic folk-rock feel to take after a modern Mumford & Sonsinspired, softer indie sound in conjunction with more somber lyrics in many of their songs.

“Sleep on the Floor” starts the album off with a call to a lover to leave behind their town together in the middle of the night for a spontaneous adventure in the name of living life as though it could end tomorrow.

The song may sound like a quirky take on the complications of falling in love at first listen, but Lumineers frontman Wesley Schultz elaborated to Entertainment Weekly, or EW, that its true purpose vaguely expresses the dangerously addictive act of falling in love with fame.

“Cleopatra,” the album’s title track, also serves as the standout song of the album.

Its feel-good, catchy tune adds a unique dimension to the overall album and complements the other songs, though none of them can duplicate “Cleopatra’s” originality.

Schultz also told EW that “Cleopatra” was inspired by a friend of a friend- a taxi-driving hard-core woman that represented strength in a non-beautiful yet rare, incredible way.

The deluxe album also features an acoustic version.

“Gun Song” is a quirky dedication to Wesley Schultz’s late father and to the feeling of realizing you may have not known a loved one as well as you thought you did.

“Angela” is a crooning dedication to finding a home within another person’s love and having that sole connection to keep you

grounded despite all the fickle people and parts of life around you.

“Long Way from Home” is a beautiful song detailing the hurtful journey that can be clinging to hope throughout hardships, as the very prominent verse starts the song off, “Held on to hope/ Like a noose/ Like a rope.”

“Patience” is ironically named as it is the shortest song on the album and is an instrumental piece.

Though it has no lyrics, the music speaks for itself and conveys an emotional experience to the listener that’s open to their personal interpretation.

“Where the Skies are Blue” and “In the Light” are sweet tunes that are remindful of Jack Johnson’s type of chill, relaxed music.

With a little ukelele, these songs would fit in perfectly with Johnson’s nostalgic beachy vibe.

Overall, the Lumineers pulled of a diverse and more modern sound.

They did not suffer with their second album by making it too different or too similar to their old pieces of work, but they found an excellent balance.

Polydor Ltd. (UK)

 Cleopatra was released on April 8, 2016.

A

Skip to: “Cleopatra”

Page 4

May 2016

current.

Top Tweets Spirited tweets by Granite Bay High School students

BY AMANDA PRATHER aprather.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette illustration/AMANDA PRATHER

Twitter

Gazette file illustrations/THOMAS TAYLOR

Netflix Picks

BY SONIA GARCHA

is it too late now to say “sorry i dont want to take my ap tests”

nat

@nataliehatchh

sgarcha.gazette@gmail.com

1. Mean Girls While we didn’t experience a therapy session with Tina Fey or read about ourselves in any burn book, we can’t help but think this is the most relatable (and fetch) high school experience of them all.

2. Clueless Some students believe that nothing more necessary in high school than popularity. As if! Cher Horowitz uses her power of popularity towards the well beings of others in this classic 90s rom-com.

3. High School Musical This movie is such a high school classic that they actually put it in the name!

The secrets, romances and impromptu dance numbers didn’t keep these Wildcats from showing us what high school goals are.

0 Retweets

5 Favorites

being able to serve Sage The Gemini at chick fila and having him be so gracious with the compliments ain’t all that bad

Abriana Rowe @abrianarowe

0 Retweets

44 Favorites

6 Retweets

13 Favorites

#KeepPadgettLit

julia

@julia_droolia

I love being a senior so much, I had to get a second bandana!!!!!!

4. Grease Similar to HSM, dance numbers seem to make their ways through the high school halls, but John Travolta as Danny Zuko makes us swoon in the classic flick! Make sure to watch it or you’ll be cruisin’ for a bruisin!

5. Drive Me Crazy This movie defined the phrase “opposites attract.” Yet, that didn’t keep these neighbors from finding each other and making their exes jealous? Although their story is a little unorthodox, they drove us crazy throughout the whole film!

Recipe of the Month: Ingredients:

Filling: 1. One eight-ounce package cream cheese, softened 2. One–third cup sugar 3. One–eighth teaspoon salt 4. One large egg, beaten 5. One cup semisweet chocolate chips Cupcakes: 1. 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 2. One cup sugar 3. One–fourth unsweetened cocoa powder 4. One teaspoon baking soda 5. One–half teaspoon salt 6. One–third cup vegetable oil 7. One teaspoon distilled white vinegar 8. One teaspoon vanilla extract 9. One cup water

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Fehrenheit. Line miniature or regular size muffin tins with cupcake liners 2. Prepare the filling: in a small bowl, cream the cream cheese with the sugar and salt.

Add the egg and beat well. Stir in chocolate chips and set aside.

3. Make the cupcakes: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and stir the oil, vinegar vanilla and one cup of water; beat well until thoroughly combined 4. Spoon the cupcake batter into the cupcake liners,filling them about three-quarters full.Dispense a small dollop of the filling mixture on top of each cake. Bake for 20 minutes and remove from the oven. Let cool on wire racks.

montana tech dad @jennah_qunell

2 Retweets

24 Favorites

Black Bottom Cupcakes

BY ALI LEMOS

alemos.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photo/ ALI LEMOS

May 2016

Page 5

finsta fun.

Finsta Fest Gazette Illustration/ HANNAH XU

A private new way to connect friends at GBHS

BY WHITNEY KNORP

wknorp.gazette@gmail.com

Social media has become a portal to a world of the user’s own creation. From social media enthusiasts to reluctant partakers in the worldwide trend, people can portray their lives however they choose and set the tone for what they choose to reveal about their lives, relationships and interests.

A development in social media trends has been sparked by the endless possibilities presented by the Internet today. The desire to share more intimate details as well as more trivial details of one’s life in a more private and personal form of social media became particularly relevant among the Granite Bay community and students recently.

The name by which this blossoming trend is known – “finsta” – is a play-on of the platform on which it takes place, Instagram. A finsta is essentially what the name suggests: a “fake Instagram,” or an additional Instagram account, usually private, not used for the “traditional” purposes of Instagram.

“Basically, it’s an account where you can actually post stuff about your actual life, and not just all the pretty pictures where your life looks amazing. It’s your real life,” said Chloe Miller, a Granite Bay High School junior.

Nate Moudakis, a GBHS junior, is also a finsta user.

“Finstas are becoming so popular because it is basically an output to post all the pictures that don’t ‘look good’ or aren’t ‘Instagram worthy,’” Moudakis said. “They show more of what everyday life is like and not as much

of the glorified, edited and unrealistic aspect of life that Instagram has turned into.”

Regarding the rapid increase of finsta use, GBHS junior Emily Franklin said, “(It’s a result of) conformity.

It’s trendy and people want to be apart of it.”

Social media is even shape shifting accordingly to fit the desires of the millions of users. Instagram developed an update, responding to popularization of individuals using two or more accounts on the site, that would allow a user to switch between their accounts with a tap of a finger instead of logging out and into each account multiple times.

“The biggest annoyance is probably having to switch back and forth (between accounts),” Moudakis said. “But Instagram made it easier so it’s not as much of a problem anymore.”

In regards to the reasoning behind opening more than one account on the same social media platform, many people wonder what the point even is.

Diana Garcia, another GBHS junior, said that people should feel free to post on their traditional Instagram what they post on their finstas.

“I thought it was cool because you could be yourself without having others judge you, and that way it’s only your close friends seeing what you post – it’s a safe haven,” Garcia said. “But I don’t really understand why regular Instagrams in general aren’t like that.”

Some see “normal Instagrams” as superficial because they are primarily used to post generally happy events occurring in a person’s life that don’t always accurately portray the way their lives really are. Hence, the popularization of finstas is due to the unnecessity to be so

consistently polished.

GBHS juniors Emily Schofield and Emily Franklin found comfort in their respective finsta accounts because of this.

“I post things that I would probably not put on my regular Instagram because I wouldn’t want everyone who follows me to see them,” Franklin said.

Schofield agreed that the limited number of followers was freeing.

“I’d consider it to be a truer reflection of myself, so I post things that are like currently happening in my life, when I’m having bad days, funny things I find on the Internet.” Schofield said.

“So, in normal Instagram there are things about your life that you’re just not suppose to post, and, as strange as it may seem, that line is there for a reason so that people don’t know too much about your life,” Miller said.

“On finstas that line gets pushed back where, since only good friends follow your account, you can post more “real” stuff – everyday experiences, a lowkey issue you might be going through, a really weird event, a really happy event that isn’t acceptable on Insta – but there’s still a line. People don’t post all the bad issues they’re going through. Nobody wants their dirty laundry on display. They still want to look good.”

Though the finsta trend may have its pros and cons, it has helped some friends become better connected in a unique way.

“I think (finstas) might (help connect friendships) because people might not realize how much they have in common with someone until they see the stuff they post on their finsta,” Franklin said.

Page 6

May 2016

the best for last.

Don’t dessert me now...

Rita’s Italian Ice

BY NASEEHA ISLAM

nislam.gazette@gmail.com

Rita’s Italian Ice provided an entirely new dessert experience for me – well, more or less entirely new.

The store itself, though small, was friendly and inviting. Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by a welcoming employee who asked if this was my first time at Rita’s and began to explain the process, which was extremely helpful because I was a bit perplexed by both the “Ice Custard Happiness” (what on earth does that mean?) slogan at the entrance, as well as the dozens of menu options.

The chain, which originated in Pennsylvania and is extremely popular on the East Coast, serves sweet summer treats that many of us Californians (or at least myself) are unfamiliar with. The store offers everything from varying flavors of Italian ice, frozen custard (which to me resembled a thicker form of your ordinary soft serve), frozen custard sundaes and their most popular item Gelati--a layered combination of both Italian ice and ice custard of your choosing.

The employee behind the counter was eager to offer me samples. Out of the few Italian ice flavors I tried, my favorites were the strawberry cheesecake and mango. There were many options of both fruity and dessert-flavored with at least one sure to satisfy every client.

I ended up ordering one of Rita’s famous Gelatis, with vanilla ice custard and mango Italian ice. The dessert was

The Gazette staffers ends the year like they end a meal – with dessert.

Honeytreat

under $4, making it affordable as an occasional summer treat. However, I was a bit disappointed with the item itself--the Gelati was good, I admit, but probably not spectacular enough to warrant the drive all the way out to Rocklin. Plus, it tasted just like a combination of soft serve ice cream and shaved ice, both of which I’ve had (separately) on multiple occasions.

Rita’s offers quality service and a variety of tasty, affordable options to satisfy a sweet tooth, but the location and otherwise ordinary treat makes one wonder whether the proclaimed “ice custard happiness” is really worth the hike. Rita’s Italian Ice offers an entirely new dessert experience.

Gazette photo /NASEEHA ISLAM

BY BRIGID BELL

bbell.gazette@gmail.com

If Nuyo is the Caitlyn Jenner of frozen yogurt, then Honey Treat is Bruce Jenner. At one point it was the one and only, the gold medal, go-to fro-yo place in town.

Now though (if we’re keeping up with the Kardashians metaphor) it’s been reduced to the secondary reference, the place people tend to fondly recall when thinking of the days before Nuyo opened right around the corner.

While Nuyo is self serve, Honey Treat isn’t. Nuyo has biodegradable spoons and paper cups, Honey Treat has plastic and styrofoam. Nuyo has over 60 toppings, Honey Treat no more than 25.

While the latter might be considered to have that old town mom and pop shop feel with ancient arcade games and wood paneled interior, the former is newer, bigger and better if you’re a diehard yogurt fan.

However, Honey Treat, like Bruce compared with Caitlyn, has advantages of its own.

Their yogurt is not as light, but resembles a frozen custard. It’s more rich and creamy, leaving you feeling like you couldn’t have another bite after finishing off just a size small.

I was actually pretty impressed with their yogurt, although different from Nuyo’s more healthy tasting alternative.

Their fruit flavor and sorbet selection was practically nonexistent but if you’re in more of a chocolate mood,

their Fudgsicle flavor tastes authentic.

I would also recommend the salted caramel, which, while not that salty, was deliciously caramelly.

Honey Treat also offers espresso, a variety of tasty looking ice cream flavors served in heaping scoops, candy, and popcorn, everything to satisfy your sweet (or savory) tooth in one place.

But if you’re looking for a place to stop for dessert after dinner, Honey Treat probably isn’t a viable candidate.

Because it closes at 9 p.m. nightly, rather than the other dessert places around Granite Bay and Roseville that close anywhere from one to two hours later, Honey Treat is often closed by the time I’m looking to get sugar high.

Frankly, Honey Treat, while still a refreshing dessert on a hot summer night, is a little outdated and could use a bit of a makeover.

Maybe add a couple more flavors to their somewhat limited menu, get some better toppings (namely cookie dough because let’s be real, that’s the most important) and choose more earth friendly serving ware and they’re in contention to be the best yogurt place in town. But for now, passable will have to do. Honeytreat has a mom and pop feel.

Gazette photo /BRIGID BELL

Estelle’s Patisserie

BY RAWAN KHALILI

rkhalili.gazette@gmail.com

Summer is just around the corner, and with that comes the seasonal trips to Europe.

It’s always been a dream of mine to travel to France, and not because of the Eiffel Tower or that it’s the city of love or anything cheesy like that – but because of the food and dessert.

Unfortunately for many, France is not a possibility this year. It’s okay, though, because I found a reasonable solution to any French cravings.

Estelle’s Patisserie, located in downtown Sacramento is a European style bakery that will whisk you away to France, except you’re not actually there. This way you can eat all the macaroons you want without spending a fortune on plane tickets.

Upon entering Estelle’s, my first instinct, naturally, was to pull out my phone and snapchat every single sweet they had on display. Estelle’s definitely scores high on aesthetics and Snapchat worthiness.

Sweets on display include enormous cookies the size

of my face to brightly colored macaroons. However, I opted out of the traditional pastries because it was Sunday, and on Sundays we eat croixnuts, which is Estelle’s version of the classic cronut.

Yes, you heard that right. They have their own version of the amazing donuts made from flaky croissant layers rolled delicately in a thin layer of blissful, sweet cinnamon and sugar. I couldn’t pass the opportunity, especially since they’re only served on Sundays. Boy, was it magnifique and messy, but delightful.

Estelle’s also serves coffee at their espresso bar, where you can try beverages ranging from hot chocolate to white mochas. Not a coffee person? Estelle’s also has a variety of tea options for our caffeine-free friends.

Talk about best of both worlds.

And if you’re not into the sweet and sugary life, check out their savory menu for an assortment of sandwiches and salads.

Now, there’s no such thing as perfect, and Estelle’s could have been the rule breaker – but the staff was not as warm and welcoming as the croixnut was. Maybe it was because I was there at 10 in the morning? Nevertheless, I wasn’t going to let the cold service ruin my

experience.

Price wise, Estelle’s does not stand out from any other bakery in midtown. In my opinion, the price is justified for the portion sizes of the cookies and pastries.

There’s no doubt that I will be returning to Estelle’s in the future, when I need a sweet, pick-me-up. So if you’re ever craving cronuts or giant cookies, take a day trip to France, or Midtown for Estelle’s Patisserie.

Estelle’s Patisserie will whisk you away to France.

Gazette photo /RAWAN KHALILI

Page 6

May 2016

the best for last.

Don’t dessert me now...

Rita’s Italian Ice

BY NASEEHA ISLAM

nislam.gazette@gmail.com

Rita’s Italian Ice provided an entirely new dessert experience for me – well, more or less entirely new.

The store itself, though small, was friendly and inviting. Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by a welcoming employee who asked if this was my first time at Rita’s and began to explain the process, which was extremely helpful because I was a bit perplexed by both the “Ice Custard Happiness” (what on earth does that mean?) slogan at the entrance, as well as the dozens of menu options.

The chain, which originated in Pennsylvania and is extremely popular on the East Coast, serves sweet summer treats that many of us Californians (or at least myself) are unfamiliar with. The store offers everything from varying flavors of Italian ice, frozen custard (which to me resembled a thicker form of your ordinary soft serve), frozen custard sundaes and their most popular item Gelati--a layered combination of both Italian ice and ice custard of your choosing.

The employee behind the counter was eager to offer me samples. Out of the few Italian ice flavors I tried, my favorites were the strawberry cheesecake and mango. There were many options of both fruity and dessert-flavored with at least one sure to satisfy every client.

I ended up ordering one of Rita’s famous Gelatis, with vanilla ice custard and mango Italian ice. The dessert was

The Gazette staff ends the year like they end a meal – with dessert.

Honeytreat

under $4, making it affordable as an occasional summer treat. However, I was a bit disappointed with the item itself--the Gelati was good, I admit, but probably not spectacular enough to warrant the drive all the way out to Rocklin. Plus, it tasted just like a combination of soft serve ice cream and shaved ice, both of which I’ve had (separately) on multiple occasions.

Rita’s offers quality service and a variety of tasty, affordable options to satisfy a sweet tooth, but the location and otherwise ordinary treat makes one wonder whether the proclaimed “ice custard happiness” is really worth the hike. Rita’s Italian Ice offers an entirely new dessert experience.

Gazette photo /NASEEHA ISLAM

BY BRIGID BELL

bbell.gazette@gmail.com

If Nuyo is the Caitlyn Jenner of frozen yogurt, then Honey Treat is Bruce Jenner. At one point it was the one and only, the gold medal, go-to fro-yo place in town.

Now though (if we’re keeping up with the Kardashians metaphor) it’s been reduced to the secondary reference, the place people tend to fondly recall when thinking of the days before Nuyo opened right around the corner.

While Nuyo is self serve, Honey Treat isn’t. Nuyo has biodegradable spoons and paper cups, Honey Treat has plastic and styrofoam. Nuyo has over 60 toppings, Honey Treat no more than 25.

While the latter might be considered to have that old town mom and pop shop feel with ancient arcade games and wood paneled interior, the former is newer, bigger and better if you’re a diehard yogurt fan.

However, Honey Treat, like Bruce compared with Caitlyn, has advantages of its own.

Their yogurt is not as light, but resembles a frozen custard. It’s more rich and creamy, leaving you feeling like you couldn’t have another bite after finishing off just a size small.

I was actually pretty impressed with their yogurt, although different from Nuyo’s more healthy tasting alternative.

Their fruit flavor and sorbet selection was practically nonexistent but if you’re in more of a chocolate mood,

their Fudgsicle flavor tastes authentic.

I would also recommend the salted caramel, which, while not that salty, was deliciously caramelly.

Honey Treat also offers espresso, a variety of tasty looking ice cream flavors served in heaping scoops, candy, and popcorn, everything to satisfy your sweet (or savory) tooth in one place.

But if you’re looking for a place to stop for dessert after dinner, Honey Treat probably isn’t a viable candidate.

Because it closes at 9 p.m. nightly, rather than the other dessert places around Granite Bay and Roseville that close anywhere from one to two hours later, Honey Treat is often closed by the time I’m looking to get sugar high.

Frankly, Honey Treat, while still a refreshing dessert on a hot summer night, is a little outdated and could use a bit of a makeover.

Maybe add a couple more flavors to their somewhat limited menu, get some better toppings (namely cookie dough because let’s be real, that’s the most important) and choose more earth friendly serving ware and they’re in contention to be the best yogurt place in town. But for now, passable will have to do. Honeytreat has a mom and pop feel.

Gazette photo /BRIGID BELL

Estelle’s Patisserie

BY RAWAN KHALILI

rkhalili.gazette@gmail.com

Summer is just around the corner, and with that comes the seasonal trips to Europe.

It’s always been a dream of mine to travel to France, and not because of the Eiffel Tower or that it’s the city of love or anything cheesy like that – but because of the food and dessert.

Unfortunately for many, France is not a possibility this year. It’s okay, though, because I found a reasonable solution to any French cravings.

Estelle’s Patisserie, located in downtown Sacramento is a European style bakery that will whisk you away to France, except you’re not actually there. This way you can eat all the macaroons you want without spending a fortune on plane tickets.

Upon entering Estelle’s, my first instinct, naturally, was to pull out my phone and snapchat every single sweet they had on display. Estelle’s definitely scores high on aesthetics and Snapchat worthiness.

Sweets on display include enormous cookies the size

of my face to brightly colored macaroons. However, I opted out of the traditional pastries because it was Sunday, and on Sundays we eat croixnuts, which is Estelle’s version of the classic cronut.

Yes, you heard that right. They have their own version of the amazing donuts made from flaky croissant layers rolled delicately in a thin layer of blissful, sweet cinnamon and sugar. I couldn’t pass the opportunity, especially since they’re only served on Sundays. Boy, was it magnifique and messy, but delightful.

Estelle’s also serves coffee at their espresso bar, where you can try beverages ranging from hot chocolate to white mochas. Not a coffee person? Estelle’s also has a variety of tea options for our caffeine-free friends.

Talk about best of both worlds.

And if you’re not into the sweet and sugary life, check out their savory menu for an assortment of sandwiches and salads.

Now, there’s no such thing as perfect, and Estelle’s could have been the rule breaker – but the staff was not as warm and welcoming as the croixnut was. Maybe it was because I was there at 10 in the morning? Nevertheless, I wasn’t going to let the cold service ruin my

experience.

Price wise, Estelle’s does not stand out from any other bakery in midtown. In my opinion, the price is justified for the portion sizes of the cookies and pastries.

There’s no doubt that I will be returning to Estelle’s in the future, when I need a sweet, pick-me-up. So if you’re ever craving cronuts or giant cookies, take a day trip to France, or Midtown for Estelle’s Patisserie.

Estelle’s Patisserie will whisk you away to France.

Gazette photo /RAWAN KHALILI

May 2016

Page 7

the best for last.

Icing on the Cupcake

BY SAVANNA THOMPSON sthompson.gazette@gmail.com

“It’s like a smile in a box” claims the cupcakes boxes at Icing on the Cupcake, and the advertisement could not be more spot-on.

The texture of each cupcake is thick yet moist, soft yet not crumbly, and the frosting is sweet but not overwhelming.

There is no better place to get cupcakes in the area even if it takes a 15 minute trek to obtain its deliciousness. Then, thank goodness there is not one closer, because that would be dangerous.

While the store itself is small, it is never bombarded with a crowd all at once because the store experiences a steady stream of traffic with most people taking their cupcakes to go as there is limited seating to eat there.

As I drove some friends to the cupcakery, we drooled with anticipation. Upon entering the store, we were semi-greeted by a less than friendly employee, the only attribute of the store that was remotely disappointing.

The worker was not very engaging and was seemingly annoyed at the length of time we spent deciding on which cupcakes to purchase.

Ultimately, I stuck to the basics, ordering the vanilla cupcake which consisted of vanilla cake with a vanilla buttercream frosting sprinkled with sprinkles.

In an attempt to branch out from my normal simplicity, I ordered the Butter-Finger Licious cupcake, a seasonal cupcake flavor served on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday while the flavor is in season. The other seasonal flavors currently in store are Blackberry Cobbler, Chocolate-Covered Strawberry, Ginger Bread and Rose Petal.

The Butter-Finger Licious cupcake was sweeter than the vanilla cupcake as the cupcake and frosting were infused with butterfinger pieces. This cupcake resembled a peanut-butter cupcake but the flavor was less extreme because the cake but was not a peanut butter base but rather infused with pieces of the peanut butter candy bar.

On the counter, employees refill a case of samples, making customers’ decisions easier or in some cases more difficult.

Icing on the Cupcake offers a few of their flavors in gluten free options. The red velvet cupcake is the store’s best seller, but I didn’t want to eat a rich cupcake in the middle of the afternoon.

For chocolate-lover Emma Darragh, the Pinkdeli-

Nuyo

BY AISHWARYA PATTNAIK apattnaik.gazette@gmail.com

As summer rolls around and it starts getting hotter, I start craving cold treats such as frozen yogurt.

Nuyo was all the rave when it opened in 2011 and it still is. Personally, it is my favorite frozen yogurt place due to its fresh fruits and updated flavors. They literally have flavors for everyone, even your dogs.

Get excited my fellow lactose intolerant people because they are over 22 non-dairy flavors. Their flavors range from non-dairy and nonfat pomegranate raspberry tart to low-fat German chocolate cake.

Aside from the quantity of flavors and the many accommodations Nuyo has for people who are either lactose free or trying to be healthy, I believe that Nuyo has quality yogurt and other desserts too such as custards.

While picking your flavors, you can look right above the froyo machines to see all the nutrition content like calories, carbs, and sugar which is extremely beneficial if you are trying to be healthy.

I usually get fruity flavors rather than sweet, chocolatey flavors just because I am not a huge sweets person.

When I go there, I stick to the basic flavors that I know I love. However, this time I branched out and got all the fruit flavors that I usually do not get. And I regret it.

I should have just stuck with the favors that I knew and loved. The strawberry flavor was way too sweet so it masked all the other flavors. But the fresh fruit

cious cupcake consisting of a chocolate cake with pink vanilla buttercream frosting was not overbearing or too heavy.

Every cupcake behind the class is well-decorated and visually appealing. I briefly considered refrain from eating my cupcake because I did not want to ruin its pretty appearance.

If a customer is planning on serving the cupcakes at an event or is not hungry enough to eat a full cupcake, Icing on the Cupcake offers Babybites, mini cupcakes in the flavors they serve every day and a few more rare ones.

Without a question, I will return to Icing on the Cupcake to satisfy my sweet tooth, but not too often. Other wise I will roll home instead of driving back to Granite Bay. Icing on the Cupcake will surely give you a “smile in a box.”

Gazette photo /SAVANNA THOMPSON

Cheesecake served as a refreshment since it was scorching that afternoon.

However, a benefit was that I found that tart or non-sugar flavors appeal to me the most because it is the perfect amount of sweetness and tart, so it was not a complete waste of $4.74 for me.

Compared to prices of other frozen yogurt places, the price of Nuyo is relatively inexpensive at 48 cents per ounce.

For me, the ambience of a place can be integral in my judgement of the location as a whole.

Although subjective, I personally enjoy a simple aesthetic with colors that complement the place, which is what exactly Nuyo has. It has white tables with a pop of green on the wall that has all the frozen yogurts.

For my social media addicts, you can post artsy pictures of your colorful froyo contrasted against those white tables.

All the factors combined including price, quality and ambience, Nuyo never fails to satisfy me.

Gazette photo /AISHWARYA PATNAIK

Nuyo is a local frozen yogurt shop that lets you pick your own toppings.

BY MEAGAN TALLMAN

mtallman.gazette@gmail.com

In this world there are two types of people: those who love dessert and those who don’t. I fall into the former category because I have the world’s largest sweet tooth. Thus I consider myself quite knowledgeable when it comes to knowing whether the sweet after dinner treat is a culinary masterpiece or a waste of calories.

So when the Gazette staff decided the food to review must come from the realm of dessert you can bet your bottom dollar I was the first hand up in the air to sign up, and after much consideration, I decided to go the the Mecca of cheesecake – the Cheesecake Factory.

My expectations were low for how good could the quality of an overpriced franchised restaurant really be. But after rave reviews from many of my peers I ventured to our nearest Cheesecake Factory.

I entered the restaurant accompanied by a fellow Gazette staffer and though I’ve been there before, time and time again I forget the trying-too-hard-to-befancy interior that I personally think is a bit much. I felt a bit underdressed in my leggings and running shoes, however it was 1 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon and this restaurant is attached the the Galleria, so I quickly got over it.

My compadre and I were promptly seated. The hostess was on her game and then quickly brought us waters moments after being seated. I always appreciate efficient service, so the Cheesecake Factory gets an A in that category.

After browsing through many dessert options, I decided on the Oreo Dream

Extreme, for obvious reasons because what part of that doesn’t sound delicious.

When the slice arrived I was extremely pumped. It was everything I expected and more with Oreos baked into the cheesecake and layers and layers of other variations of chocolate – amazing to say the least.

One thing to note is I was sharing this delicacy with a friend, and between the both of us neither could finish the huge piece of cake in front of us, so I highly recommend sharing with a friend.

So overall, I was very pleased with my experience at this restaurant. It may be a trying-too-hard chain restaurant, but when it comes to giving customers a good dessert, they definitely know what they’re doing. Cheesecake Factory and its extensive menu does not stop at the entrées; the cheesecake options are endless.

Gazette photo /MEAGAN TALLMAN

Page 8 & 9

May 2016

sactown aka hometown

Sacramento explore the gems of

The city of Sacramento has a plethora of shopping centers, restaurants, murals, art museums and gardens for the local citizen to explore

BY BRIGID BELL

T

bbell.gazette@gmail.com

he City of Trees holds many hidden fruits to explore. Perhaps we could characterize Sacramento as “city-lite,” but it has a some gems hidden among the urban sprawl. GBHS students often exist solely within the Granite Bay bubble, only venturing to Sacramento occasionally for a family outing or a concert with friends, but with everything from tacos to tackling girls, the Capital City offers a refreshing variety of eats and events outside the normal spots.

Brunch is the 21st century tea time, a great excuse to get dressed up all fancy in floppy hats and fedoras and hit the town with friends or spend long hours of the weekend discussing politics over a stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes or chocolate banana waffles. Cafeteria 15L is the place for the classic brunch experience, especially if you have a group of friends in tow (as the menu is plenty large to accommodate both your vegetarian and gluten free buddies.) If the weather is nice, their patio in the heart of bustling Midtown is urban chic enough to make your Instagram followers drool.

If you’re looking for something a little more quick and dirty, or you want to picnic at one of the many parks spread throughout the city, track down one of the Brunch Boys food trucks. The quasi-brunch menu features savory treats like the Brunch Chicken and Waffle Sandwich aka fried chicken and egg, smothered in cheese and spicy aioli, and all sandwiched between two Belgian waffles.

Fresh local produce and homemade goods abound at the Midtown farmers market so if you’re a do-it-yourself kind of bruncher, or just someone who like to take it easy and browse the local scene with your fresh brewed coffee from Old Soul Co. down the street, hit up 20th st. for a relaxing morning filled with fresh air and even fresher pears.

The question you will be asking after finishing your tacos with a Korean

flare. Tako, located on the outskirts of Midtown, is a historic gas station turned hip quick-bites rivals. Or if you’re looking to beat post concert depression after seeing your favorite band at Ace of Spades, grab some fresh ahi tuna with the build your own poke feature at Fish Face on R St. Not feeling so adventurous? Try the Federalist for some awesome pizza and sandwiches.

Tucked in an alley behind Sacramento’s famous Waterboy, the restaurant resides in an old shipping container and boast a great indoor/outdoor space with a bocce ball court so you can get your game face on (they even have a Thursday night summer league).

Sacramento, although a city full of cool events that shouldn’t be missed like a favorite 80s film at the old school Crest Theater or rocking out to one of your favorite bands in a small venue like Ace of Spades, the Golden State capitol offers some more alternative options and hosts more sports teams than just the Kings.

For those who breathe, live and die for Powderpuff season, you may want to consider checking out a Sacramento Sirens game, and see how the pros do it. The IWFL (Independent Women’s Football League) season is in the spring so it’s not too late to see ladies take on ladies like real men.

Or if you’ve wanted to try roller derby ever since you saw that episode of Psych, Sacramento has two teams so you can catch a bout with the Sac City Rollers or the Sacred City Derby Girls.

Haggin Oaks golf course offers something for the more passive and late night owls with their 24 hour driving range. And since when 2 a.m. rolls around, you never want to tee your own balls, Haggin Oaks has this nifty little contraption where it gets teed for you. Swing away. Top it off with whipped cream and a cherry.

Although not necessarily a hidden gem of Sacramento, Rick’s Dessert Diner is a classic Sacramento staple.Taste the tangy lemon cheesecake or let the red velvet cake melt in your mouth. Whatever you choose, there is no way to go wrong.

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FAST FACTS Sacramento Finds  Sacramento offers a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner venues to explore.

GOT THE BRUNCHIES Cafeteria 15L brunch recommendation: Chocolate Banana Waffles with salted caramel sauce, fresh bananas and maple cream-- $11.95

DINNER Federalist Public House dinner recommendation: Midtown Pizza with crushed tomatoes, sauteed peppers & onions, and roasted kale-- $13

EVENT Event Recommendation: Hit a bucket of golf balls at Haggin Oaks Driving Range, open 24 hours-- $6 al eci

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Source/BRIGID BELL

 Top Left showcases the skyline of Sacramento. Top right is a lemon macaroon from Ginger Elizabeths. Middle photos include a Sushi Burrito from Wrap N’ Roll and a scenic background in Downtown Sac. Bottom right is a popular avocado treat from Midtown Sac. Special to Gazette/ CARLOS LIASON

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Page 10

May 2016

travel.

Summer Trips

Senior Michaela Setiawan paddleboards on her yearly trip to Hawaii, above. The eiffel tower, below, shines bright during the night.

Special to the Gazette/ MICHAELA SETIAWAN

GBHS students talk about their plans to venture aroud during the summer

BY STEPHENIE KANG skang.gazette@gmail.com

In their last summer before college, the majority of seniors will be storing up on last-minute memories with close family and friends before they have to start over somewhere new.

But beyond just the ever-publicized Europe trip, seniors are also hanging out with their families and friends to save money, make last minute memories or simply as a present for making it through high school.

Michaela Setiawan is one such senior who will be traveling around the world this summer.

“I’m going to Hawaii, London and France,” Setiawan. “I go to Hawaii almost every year because my aunt lives there. It’s really nice to visit her, especially in a beautiful place.”

She will also be heading to Europe. “(As for France), this will be my second time visiting, and I am planning on minoring in French and studying abroad in France as well,” Setiawan said. “Since I’m going to France, I’ll be spending a few days in London before my trip to France.”

Setiawan said that she hopes to make new memories with her friends before going off to college at San Diego State University in the fall. She said she will “definitely have to make memories” with her friends over the summer since “everyone will be going to different schools next year.”

Sierra Redfern is going to France as well.

“I’m going to France for about 10 days in July,” Redfern said. “I’ve

been there for five or six times before I took French all the way up to AP (level) and I hosted foreign exchange students from there before. I love the country and it (the trip) was a graduation gift.”

Redfern also mentioned her family’s exclusive travel deals.

“My mom’s a flight attendant so we get free flights,” she said. “A lot of the Europe trips have flights included, but it doesn’t make any sense to pay for flights when I can fly for free, so it’d be a lot cheaper to go with my parents.”

Senior Cierra de la Cruz will also be venturing over to Europe this summer.

“We’re going to a lot of places like Barcelona, Milan, France, Rome, Italy, Naples, Greece, Athens, Montenegro, Venice and Italy,” she said.

“As senior year has gone by, I have really come to appreciate the people in my life even more so, so I’m taking advantage of this last school year and the summer to really connect with people in passing and stay in touch with them.”

Neither de la Cruz or Redfern will acompany Advanced Placement United States History Teacher Brandon Dell’Orto on Granite Bay High School’s annual trip to Europe.

“For the total cost of us, it’s less expensive (than going on the Europe trip) and my grandparents aren’t really involved in our life, so it’s just one last thing they can do before it’s off to college,” de la Cruz said. “It’s the last time we are together and we can have fun before we go to college” Gazette photo/ BLAKE PANTER

May 2016

music to my ears.

COOL FOR THE SUMMER

Page 11

Gazette photo /EPSA SHARMA

Gazette photo /EPSA SHARMA

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ummer is rapidly approaching, and that entails no homework, freedom, more free time, fun in the sun and–oh, did I mention freedom?

Because of the lack of school, summer is an ideal time to let go of any and all worries and celebrate within close proximity with music artists.

The season of summer is also known for the many music festivals available, which have been significantly growing in popularity over the past few years.

Senior, Jennifer Tarbell, had gone to this year’s Coachella, and she easily deemed it her best summer concert to date.

“Concerts during the summer are a good way to get a big group together that you haven’t seen for awhile and hang out and listen to music” Tarbell said.

Coachella, one of the United States’ biggest music festivals, takes place over two weekends and has numerous acts per day. Jenny said that her all time favorite concert experience was at Coachella when she got to the very front row for G-Eazy.

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BY KAYOMI KAYOSHI

kkayoshi.gazette@gmail.com

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SH AR MA

Summer concerts are a fan favorite among many GBHS students

GBHS students attend concerts such as Aer, Taylor Swift, and John Mayer.

Junior, Hannah Whalen, is planning on going to see Twenty One Pilots this June.

“My favorite thing about concerts during the summer is that you can stay out as late as you want to and not have to worry about school the next day” said Whalen.” The (concerts) allow you to live in the moment (...) and forget about all of your troubles for a few hours.”

Northern California offers many festivals, along with concerts, to go to. Many students have, or will be, attending some of the many festivals such as: Bottlerock 2016, Outside Lands, and many more.

Junior, Hope Halpin, has attended Outside Lands, which is located in San Francisco, and says that was her favorite concert because she witness some of her favorite artists in action. She saw Kendrick Lamar, The Black Keys, and Tame Impala.

Not only are summer concerts great for viewing your favorite artists, but they’re a great opportunity for getting together with friends.

Senior, Tanvi Mehta, said she’s mainly looking forward to celebrating the end of school-and IB testing- with superb music and her closest friends.

“Music, in general, helps contribute towards unity and comradarance, so combining live music, which brings on a heavier presence, with your best friends is definitely my ideal way to spend my summer” Mehta said.

Also, with her recently widely talked about album Lemonade, Beyonce will be performing at Levi’s Stadium May 16.

Along with major popstar sensation Beyonce performing this summer, Coldplay will also be playing at the same venue on Sept. 3, 2016.

Although summer concerts are highly enjoyable, there are some aspects that could possibly lessen the experience.

Because these concerts take place during the summer, sunscreen, water bottles, and portable chargers are a must in these situations. Getting sunburned at a concert would be highly unfavorable, and a dead phone would be disastrous.

“I suggest wearing a fanny pack and bringing a water bottle because once you’re in a crowd, it’s hard to leave and get your spot back” Halpin said.

Senior, Elise Ramos, loves going to concerts, not only because of the atmosphere, but for another reason that’s often overlooked when thinking about summer concerts.

“You can go to a bunch of concerts in succession so you don’t spend all of school with post-concert depression,” Ramos said.

Page 12

May 2016

current.

Artist of the Month

Mixtape - Dance with the Dead

ciara thompson 1.What projects have you made throughout the ceramics course?

I have made a few planter boxes, a rock, pumpkins, a birdhouse, and a few bowls in Ceramics 1. In Ceramics 2, I worked on a vase the whole entire semester from August until December.

KAYOMI KAYOSHI

kkayoshi.gazette@gmail.com

1.Tongue Tied – Grouplove

From their album Never Trust a Happy Song, this song by indie rock band Grouplove was their second single off the album, and made debut in 2011. This upbeat song is perfect for the summer because it’s easy to jam to and it embodies the feeling of recklessness.

2. What are you working on right now?

2. Ride – Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots, who have been recently on the rise, had released their album Blurryface in 2015, and this track is the third song on the album. This song has a reggae feel to it, yet the build up on this song definitely increases a person’s hype. Because it is in the reggae genre, it’s perfect for creating a refreshing, relaxed atmosphere.

3. What is your favorite part of ceramics?

3. Let’s Go Crazy – Prince

In honor of the late Prince, I chose to add this song to the mixtape.

This get-on-your-feet song comes off of the album Purple Rain and was also featured, and performed, in the film. With lyrics mentioning “a world of never ending happiness.” It’s obvious that this song is perfect on any summer day or whenever someone needs a pick-me-up. Also, the song starts with “Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life” and if that doesn’t inspire you, then I don’t know what will.

4. Will you continue to be involved with ceramics after high school?

I’m currently not enrolled in ceramics.

My favorite part of ceramics is being able to create anything you want from a bag of greenware clay. It’s pretty amazing how in ceramics we learned the skills to transform clay into beautifully glazed projects from our imagination. I just love putting my headphones in and seeing what I can create.

I will probably not continue my involvement with ceramics unless my college has ceramics classes and I will take those for elective credits.

4. Boogie Wonderland – Earth, Wind, and Fire

To commemorate Maurice White, founder of Earth, Wind, & Fire, I decided that this timeless song guarantees a perfect end to anything. This song, released in 1979, easily went gold, and to this day it’s still noted as one of the classics from the disco era. And who doesn’t like disco?

Follow @nataliehatchh for a touch of cool artsy photography.

Follow Friday

Instagram

Compiled by Natasha Chanda

Compiled by Jill Kurpershoek

FRESHMAN 2019 201 vs.

VS. SENIOR 6 If you could go anyhwere in the world, where would you go?

Ankita: Spain Stephen: Seoul, Korea What is your favorite TV show?

Ankita: Supernatural Stephen: House of Cards

Ankita Joshi is a freshman at GBHS.

Stephen Chang is a senior at GBHS.

Compiled by Shivani Bobbala

Page 13

talk birdy to me

May 2016

Gazette photos /BRAYDEN JHONK

BACKYARD Gazette staff writer Brayden Johnk discovers doves

BY BRAYDEN JOHNK

bjohnk.gazette@gmail.com

A

lbert Einstein once said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

Recently, I have been fortunate enough to do just that – to experience and learn from an incredible phenomenon of nature happening right where I live.

In mid-April, I happened to look out my dining room window one afternoon to see something very curious. To my surprise, on our covered porch where there is a tall plant rack, I saw a pair of Mourning Doves gathering up twigs and small branches to form a nest on the top shelf of the rack.

The next day, I looked out again to find the two doves sitting together in their newly built nest and also heard their cooing sounds, which, although deemed “sad” by most, I think sound very peaceful. At that point, it was clear that it was mating season.

The doves felt they had found a safe and protected little space to tend to the incubation and raising of their new family. My parents and I realized that we were going to have a front row seat for the entire exciting process.

This event, alone, represented something special to me. I was about to witness life in front of my eyes, and I wasn’t going to let anything disrupt it.

Since the nest was just a few feet from our front door, we made that entrance off limits, so as not to disturb or frighten the birds. As a family, we resorted to only using the garage entrance, and to keep others away, we put up yellow caution tape across the front door walkway with a sign saying “Wet Cement – Do Not Enter.”

(Yes – this actually worked!)

Being as curious as I am, I went straight to the internet to learn more about the birds themselves. I found out it takes about 14 days for the eggs to hatch once they eggs are laid.

I also realized the female and male birds actually switch off incubating the egg, with the male taking the day shift and the female taking the night shift.

As luck would have it, just when we thought we done everything to guard the birds’ safety, misfortune struck.

A few days after the doves started their surveillance routine, my mom called out frantically from the dining room. I ran in to see our neighbor’s cat coming up our walkway eyeing the birds’ nest, looking as if it was ready for dinner.

I envisioned the cat jumping up on the rack, scaring the dove off, and devouring the eggs, if in fact there were any there, since we had yet to see any. But I was determined to not let this happen.

I went outside through the garage and came around the front walk, inadvertently trapping the cat between me and the birds – not smart!

The cat ran away suddenly, but, in doing so, frightened the dove, which also franti-

Sophomore and Gazette staff writer reports on his discovery of doves and eggs in his front yard.

cally flew to safety into the trees. In the nest, it left one small, delicate, white egg.

I remembered reading on the internet that these birds would leave their nest and abandon their eggs if they felt even the slightest bit threatened, yet I didn’t think that would ever come to fruition.

But there I stood, looking at the little egg alone in the nest now abandoned by its parents – and feeling completely responsible.

My mom tried to console me by saying that just the fact that a nest was built at our home was a sign of good fortune – even if it was abandoned. Clearly, she didn’t see this ending well.

Needless to say, that did little to help me, and I went to bed that night very sad and fearful that the nest had been deserted, yet praying that the parents would come back.

Fortunately, my prayer was answered. The next morning, we saw the mother sitting on the egg like nothing had ever gone wrong – miracles do happen!

This proved to me how dedicated these birds were as parents – at least the two that came to live with us! To feel that threatened, but still come back and care for their baby showed more than just instinct – it demonstrated the wonders of the heart of nature.

Over the course of the next weeks, the nest was occupied 24/7 by one of these devoted birds.

While we kept watch over our birds, our birds kept watch over their egg. Several times a day we would peek out the window to see if the little squab (the term for a baby Mourning Dove) had hatched.

For about two weeks, all was quiet, and we hadn’t seen anything unusual going on.

But then, my life changed!

Walking past the window one morning, I timed it perfectly to see the two parents switching their watch duties. It was then that I finally saw it – a tiny, dark, baby Mourning Dove. It was small, fluffy and incredibly cute. But before I could call out to my parents or whip out my phone to snap a photo, he was gone. The adult bird nestled over him again, protecting the squab from the outside world underneath its large feathers.

Every day, I saw more and more of the squab each time I passed by the dining room window. Sometimes I saw a parent feeding it, other times it was attempting to flap its wings and maybe even once or twice I saw it poop.

The special part of this was being able to see life in front of my eyes.

From seeing the nest being built, to the sole white egg, to the parents working as one in their devoted vigil, to the precious squab itself, I now have a deeper appreciation for nature and the beauty of new life.

As I write this, I am still waiting for the squab to fly away and leave its nest. While that day will be sad, I will always appreciate my Mourning Doves and their squab who gave me an up-close and personal glimpse and understanding of the amazing world of nature – right outside my window.

LIONSGATE

Hologram for the King opens with a surrealistic scene of technology salesman Alan Clay (Tom Hanks) dancing to Talking Heads’ song “Once in a Lifetime.” Incidentally, the lyrics he lipsyncs are the same as the epigraph to one of my favorite novels, Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Marriage Plot: And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife And you may ask yourself Well...How did I get here?

Rated: R By: Savitri Asokan sasokan.gazette@gmail.com

hologram for the king: B-

That question – and all its concomitant statements about existential anxiety, displacement and confusion – dominate the psychological landscape of the film, an adaptation of contemporary novelist Dave Eggers’ identically titled work.

The defining feature of the film’s imagery is the overwhelming emphasis on surrealism.

Since it’s set in the middle of the Arabian deserts – replete with mirages, abandoned construction sites and communication breakdowns – these scenes felt perfectly natural and genuinely enhanced the atmosphere.

However, it’s worth wondering whether the high points of A Hologram for the King are really indicators of the quality of filmmaking, or merely dependent on Eggers’ literary flourishes.

All the elements of surrealism and absurdity are plot inventions, and the clever motifs are really just owed to the techniques of the novel itself.

It’s one thing to argue about whether a book is better or worse than a movie, but in this case, that debate might be better served focusing on whether this movie was actually necessary.

In fact, the one clearly terrible moment of the film were the last 10 minutes. (I know the exact time, because I expected the movie to be over and had my mom drive over, only to wait awkwardly while the completely unnecessary ending played out.)

Not to spoil the ending, but essentially, the last 10 minutes were an extension of a semi-implausible romantic subplot.

Although it was a somewhat cute story, it just epitomized the entire movie: too focused on stylistic displays to achieve actual distinction.

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SONY

love all types of movies and all parts of movies. But what I love most about movies is that they make the audience feel things – we sympathize and empathize, and that’s one of the best parts.

Money Monster was in theory a movie that could’ve been really great and really groundbreaking. In reality, it was extremely mediocre, and in some cases slightly irritating.

It could have been so easy to relate to the three main characters – played by George Clooney, Jack O’Connell and Julia Roberts. Clooney plays a typical womanizer alcoholic celebrity, who hosts a talk show about stocks and what’s happening on Wall Street.

The acting was of course good – there was an amazing cast. O’Connell has come so far since he played Cook on Skins UK. Basically, O’Connell invested all of his money in a stock that Clooney told his audience to invest in, and then the stock lost 800 million dollars overnight, with no real explanation as to why. So the only thing that could fix it, he thought, was to strap a bomb to Clooney and hold a gun to his head until he got real answers.

Seems like an effective plan to me.

Clooney’s character was extremely obnoxious. When he got taken hostage, he didn’t care at first about helping O’Connell out, he only cared about not dying. By the end we saw some mediocre character development, but it was development nonetheless.

The movie should have been about 10 times more intense than it was. Unfortunately, the movie had some completely unnecessary comedic relief. What’s the point of having a drama or suspense movie if the drama and suspense is interrupted by humor that is not needed?

Money Monster would have been a million times better if the entirety of it would have stayed serious. It jumped from intense monologue to a joke about erectile cream, to talks about murder and suicide – and then back to more pointless comedy.

It was a good ending – but it was predictable.

The whole movie worked to prove a single point, which in the end didn’t even seem to matter. So what truly was the point?

I think it’s still worth seeing, however, because Jack O’Connell was phenomenal. If anything, I’d watch it just to see his acting again.

Rated: R By: Amanda Nist anist.gazette@gmail.com

money monster: C-

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May 2016

film.

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PUREFLIX

ven if you ignore the cheesy Christian pop, the subpar acting and the poor direction of this movie, it is hard to ignore the fact that the logical premises of the movie simply don’t make sense.

Generally, I am a pretty tolerant person, and while I am not religious, I do respect the views of other religious people. So, I honestly truly went into this movie with an open mind.

I was willing to listen to the grievances of the “silent majority” even if the silent majority was a bunch of white Christians.

Firstly, the movie portrayed an unrealistic scenario that would likely take place in America.

No teacher is going to get fired or disciplined for saying the word Jesus or even quoting the Bible in the classroom. The laws that are in place as of now, such as no prayer on school grounds, are there to ensure that separation of church and state is upheld.

The movie went as far as to suggest at one point that because the idea of separation of church and state isn’t in the Declaration of Independence or Constitution, it shouldn’t be used in a legal setting. So, by that logic, we should just throw the idea of religious freedom out the window right?

The movie also seems to forget that in English classes, most teenagers are constantly exposed to Biblical allusions that teachers are allowed to expand upon in class. If the premise of the movie is valid, then most of our English teachers would also be in Grace Wesley’s position.

This movie, however, exaggerated the situation and blurred the line between separation of church and state, and the persecution of the Christian faith. It simply served to perpetuate the idea that Christians have a persecution complex, and really didn’t add to an important discussion that we as Americans should be having.

Its portrayal of the opposing side was unfair as it created a false dilemma between being either an innocent devout Christian saint or a hate mongering, evil atheist.

Furthermore, the characterization of the main character as something between a five-year-old and a saint made her completely unrelatable. It really is no wonder that this movie scored a 10 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Rated: PG By: Shivani Bobbola sbobbola.gazette@gmail.com

god’s not dead 2: F

Page 14

WARNER BROS.

Rated: PG By: Katie Cologna kcologna.gazette@gmail.com

the jungle book: A

or many, The Jungle Book movie was a big part of their childhood, and when I heard that there was a new one coming out, my expectations were set pretty high.

The movie is fully animated except for the main character Mowgli, acted by 12 year old Neel Sethi.

All the animals resorted to the one water source in a jungle-wide drought with the rule of no conflict with one another. Despite this rule, Shere Khan threatens to kill Mowgli for being a man-cub and tells him to leave the jungle.

Forcing Mowgli to grow into a man, Bagheera takes him on the start of a journey but shortly loses him. This is where he soon finds Baloo, who uses him at first for honey, but creates a bond with Mowgli. The difference in guidance between Bagheera and Baloo is that Bagheera taught him to only act as a wolf and not use human tricks, whereas Baloo taught him the value of being a human and accepting who he is, and using it to his advantage.

Once all three are joined together, there are differences in opinion. Mowgli runs to the village to get the red flower. He then runs through the jungle and sets it on fire. He fights against Shere Khan with the support of all the animals.

He becomes the new leader of the jungle.

Aside from Neel Sethi being incredibly young for a single man movie and pulling it off perfectly, the humor Bill Murray brought to the table as Baloo brought lightheartedness to an intense movie. It was great how the two figureheads for Mowgli were completely different. Compared to Baloo, Bagheera, voiced by Ben Kingsley, was much more strict and protective.

As for the animation, it was impeccable how it looked so real. It was the most impressive aspect of the whole movie, more so than the one man acting.

As for the storyline between the second Jungle Book and the most recent one, they are quite a few differences. It’s different in the way the story is told, and it’s from a different point in time.

The one made in 1998 was from the perspective of an older Mowgli telling the story of himsef finding his way to manhood as a young boy. The most recent one is from the point of view of a young Mowgli and his actual experiences and relationships in that moment of time.

T

MARVEL

he Russo brothers nailed it on the head in a way that no one else has ever been able to.

This movie is the third film of the Captain America movies, and it revolves around Tony Stark/Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr., and Steve Rogers/Captain America, played

by Chris Evans, and how their inability to see eye-to-eye has caused a split in the Avengers.

Before watching this film, I would highly recommend watching the trailers because that will allow you to create preconceived notions as to what is going to happen in the movie. Anything your mind conjures up is wrong; the Russo brothers, the directors of the film, will leave you astonishingly mind blown by the end of the film.

Once the movie ended I was instantly debating whether or not that was the best Marvel movie of all time. Did it leave me with an intense feeling of euphoria? Yes. Was I moved by the storyline? Yes – I even have the tear-soaked tissues to prove it. It wasn’t until I compared it to every Marvel movie, that I came to the realization that yes, Captain America: Civil War is the best Marvel movie, if not the greatest superhero movie, of all time.

Without wanting to reveal any spoilers, the best thing about this film is its balance. There are scenes where we get to see the Avengers doing domestic acts, Spider-Man and Ant Man add some much needed comic relief to the film, and the fight scenes in this movie are jaw-dropping.

This movie also incorporates more grim aspects. In other Marvel movies, the viewer has a slight inkling as to how the movie may end, but in this movie the viewer has no choice but to be vulnerable to whatever ending the Russo brothers have conjured up. The characters, who develop hostility towards one another, aid in illustrating the severity of the situation.

The premiere of T’Challa/Black Panther, played by Chadwick Boseman, and a younger Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland, are, without a doubt, characters that people will immediately be attracted to, and they also provide a new perspective to the ordeal.

Captain America: Civil War was an undoubtable success for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

From its well-rounded plot to its subtle, yet effective, villain – Baron Zemo – this movie is one I would recommend to anyone.

By the way, Marvel is notorious for their end credit scenes; this one has two, so be sure to stick around until the very end.

Rated: PG-13 By: Kayomi Kayoshi kkayoshi.gazette@gmail.com

captain america: civil war: A+

F

Page 15

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BROADGREEN PICTURES

reen Room, the newest film by writer/ director Jeremy Saulnier, is a disturbingly horrific and memorable horror-

thriller.

The plot of the film is kept simple; when a gig doesn’t net them the cash they need, an underground punk band is forced to take a job playing for a cult of Neo-Nazis. Naturally, the gig quickly spirals out of control, leaving the group held hostage in the venue’s green room by the soft-spoken yet terrifying venue owner, played by Patrick Stewart.

The film recalls Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 cult classic Straw Dogs, both in its premise and its unapologetic portrayal of human violence.

Although I went into the movie expecting unsettling imagery, I did not expect the gruesome realism of it all.

Green Room feels like the embodiment of violence, but it doesn’t glorify it like in a Tarantino flick. Instead, the movie utilizes a theme of violence and the violent acts themselves to instill a sense of hopelessness within the viewer. Maintained throughout the film is the feeling that there is nothing the main characters can do to protect themselves from Patrick Stewart’s stalwart cronies, and from Stewart himself.

Stewart’s performance is a standout in the film. What makes him such a terrifying villain is his strangely reserved nature when discussing the fate of the band members. His emotions never seem to go passed “slightly annoyed,” and in fact he only really seems to get angry when people are violate the fire codes in his building.

Similarly, the performances by most of the band members are quite good. Each member reacts differently under the stress of being held captive, but each performance is believable in their own regard.

Honestly, it’s hard to find a flaw in Green Room. The only issue I had was with Alia Shawkat’s performance, which was a bit overacted when compared to the rest of the performances. However, this is only a minor complaint, and honestly, in most other movies, her performance would have been standout.

Green Room, while not for the faint of heart, is a wonderfully tense, brutal thriller that could easily be a contender for best film of the year.

Rated: R By: Connor Hinson chinson.gazette@gmail.com

green room: A-

May 2016

Page 16

a hole lot of fun.

May 2016

Just Keep Swimming Gazette guide for the local swimming holes in the Greater Sacramento Area

BY SAVANNA THOMPSON

L

sthompson.gazette@gmail.com

emke’s Lagoon This swimming hole has been a well-kept secret around Sacramento because it is so difficult to find and to access. Lemke’s Lagoon includes multiple swimming holes, high cliffs, crystal clear water, caves, and underwater tunnels.

Once in the water, there are few places to get out of the water, so you should be aware of your surrounding area and exit routes prior to jumping in. About a half mile past Hoyt’s Crossing on the South Yuba River, you will see signs pointing toward Lemke’s Lagoon. You will know you are in the right place when you see “bowl” shapes along the water. The journey from the trailhead to the water’s edge is moderately difficult and not recommended for young children or anyone with ailing injuries. In some spots, adventure enthusiasts have to climb down a steel cable. Lemke’s Lagoon is best known for its beautiful water and opportunities to cliff jump.

Happy Valley Happy Valley is the spot for any adrenaline junkie from the drive there to all of the excursions at the swimming hole. While driving, you should be cautious of your speed as the road is narrow and near the edge of a cliff along the north fork of the Cosumnes River in Placerville.

The walk to the swimming hole is not rigorous, but the rocks in the water are slippery.

At Happy Valley, you can enjoy swimming through underwater tunnels and jumping into a hole between rocks where a waterfall rushes.There are numerous pools and large granite rocks dividing one swimming spot from another, secluding visitors from each other if you desire privacy.

Emigrant Gap Accessible between June and August, the Emigrant Gap swimming hole and trail consists of a one-mile trail, good for all skill levels.

This swimming hole is located near Soda Springs, California at the head of the Bear River, totaling about an hour and a half of time spent in the car.

The water is fairly cold as the melting mountain ice filters into the river, so it is recommended to wait til the end of summer to select this adventure.

Emigrant Gap is surrounded by rock walls which people can jump off of and into the water in some of the deeper spots. It also makes an excellent picnic spot as there are many separate, flat rocks, perfect for dining and relaxing.

Big Tit If you don’t want to drive over an hour or jump too far out of your comfort zone, you can wander over to Folsom near Rainbow Bridge to plunge into some refreshing water off of the popular “Big Tit” jumping rock.

This local attraction is stationed across the street from the Powerhouse on the right side of the river.

Once you reach the back side of the rock “Big Tit,” continue for about 200 more feet then keep right, and you will see a 15 foot boulder with big ledges and chalk marks.

People can set down their belongings on this ledge before taking the 50 foot plunge.

Supposing that heights make you fearful, you can opt for the shorter leap of faith off of “Little Tit” which eliminates about 15 to 20 feet off the original jump.

Overall, these swimming holes serve as a platform for summer fun. Local water holes allow people to relax and go for an adventerous swim.

Each watering hole listed below has various rigor levels for all types of swimmers.

Sleep T shows F Left inclu final play