Granite Bay Gazette November 2015

GBHS geotags

School start time

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School and community logos added

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Studies show more sleep helps brain functions

Top wrestler transfers to GBHS

The Granite Bay Gazette GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL w 1 GRIZZLY WAY w GRANITE BAY, CA w 95746 w VOLUME 19 w ISSUE 3 w FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015

COMMENTARY

MY LIFE, MY

hannah holzer hholzer.gazette@gmail.com

Lack of talk is detrimental

O

n Yom Kippur – a Jewish observance that falls directly after the welcoming of the new year in which we reflect upon our past wrongdoings in order to better ourselves – my rabbi gave a sermon about how and why we don’t talk about mental health.

He asked everyone in the room to stand if they or someone they knew had cancer – about half of the room stood. He then asked the audience to stand if they or someone they knew closely had battled with a mental disorder – only about 20 people stood. In the U.S., there are about the same number of people living with cancer as there are battling mental disorder, meaning there were certainly more people in our Temple affected by them that remained seated.

There are a few reasons explaining why people feel more comfortable talking about a physical life-threatening illness for which the effects can be visible, versus a mental disorder which can also be life-threatening, but in which the effects can’t usually be seen.

One line from the sermon that stuck with me talked about our society’s obsession and love of happiness – leaving little to no room to talk about sadness and other emotions that can make us uncomfortable or put us in a bad mood.

Pixar’s newest film “Inside Out” reminded children that happiness is good, but sadness, joy, fear and anger aren’t ‘bad’ emotions. This is a great message, but I think it’s sad we have to remind ourselves that constant happiness isn’t healthy and other feelings are also OK. Mental disorders should not be discussed only in rooms with closed doors, in hushed whispers or in health classes when parental permission is granted. It affects millions of people every day, and should be talked about openly and without criticism toward those who live with maladies. After all, you would never tell a cancer survivor to get over their disorder, minimize their problems or talk about their struggles as trivial.

So why have mental disorders become such a taboo topic to talk about? It might be because we are sensitive to the subject, especially if directly affected by it, but perhaps it mostly has to do with our dislike of talking about things that make us uncomfortable.

In my everyday conversations, I rarely discuss topics that are sad.

But maybe we’re doing ourselves a huge discourtesy by keeping mum.

What if someone who has struggled with depression never heard it discussed, someone with a personality disorder thought he was alone or someone with anxiety thought she was abnormal because of her condition – perhaps only worsening their struggle.

The fastest way to deal with a problem is to ignore it. But it’s horribly detrimental to normalize a problem or tell someone it’s OK to deal with issues of any kind by ignoring them. Psychologists tell us that ignoring problems or believing they don’t exist is denial, which can’t actually solve anything.

It’s time we reevaluate how we treat those with mental disorders, and how we talk about mental disorders. Feel free to talk about the subject so as to educate others. Talk openly about it to make those struggling or affected feel less criticized, isolated or forgotten. It’s time we talk about and give mental disorders the attention they deserve. *** Hannah Holzer, a senior, is a Gazette co-editor-in-chief.

CHOICES

Assisted suicide and consent when choosing to engage in sexual activities are among choices addressed by CA Governor Jerry Brown.

BY HANNAH HOLZER

C

Gazette photo illustration/JILL KURPERSHOEK Gazette illustration/TROY PAWLAK

hholzer.gazette@gmail.com

alifornia Governor Jerry Brown has passed several significant pieces of legislation – including Assembly Bill 329, which makes Affirmative Consent curriculum mandatory on high school campuses, and Assembly Bill 15, which would give physicians the means to administer life-ending prescriptions to terminally ill patients as a right of patients to decide to end their life.

Yes Means Yes requirement AB 329 requires that California high schools that require health classes must teach the Yes Means Yes standard, which would educate students about consent. Governor Brown also signed a bill making health classes in high schools mandatory – unless explicitly negated by a student’s parent or guardian.

‘Yes Means Yes’ and Affirmative Consent are synonymous policies – both necessitating an audible or physical (for example, a nod), enthusiastic and clearly stated signal of approval to engage in a sexual act. Both poli-

cies recognize acts of intimacy as consensual only when both parties engaged agree to the act at every stage.

“It’s so important to start teaching young people about consent at an early age so they can practice (using it) throughout their life,” said junior Julia Huss. “I think everyone has an idea about what consent is, but maybe not everything (about it). I know some people who are all for consent, but (who) didn’t know that you can’t consent while intoxicated or say no to sex after you have already

See CONSENT, page A7

Euthanasia Controversy AB 15 legalizes assisted suicide in California for those patients who are terminallyill, mentally healthy and have six months or less left to live. After passing the legislation, California became one of five states to allow doctors to administer fatal drugs to patients with little time left.

The bill requires two doctors to sign off on their approval stating the patient has six months or less to live, that the patient requested life-ending drugs on multiple occasions (in a written format), that the lifeending prescriptions must be taken by the

Classes that hone physical skills not as stressed as academic curriculum cpalmer.gazette@gmail.com

Many at Granite Bay High School believe that the majority of graduates go off to college following graduation – but they are mistaken.

“There is a misconception that all our students go to a two or four year,” said assistant principal Sybil Healy. “ (But) it’s not as high as we think it is.”

While college is a goal for many, some students have other ideas about continuing their education.

The other 30 percent or so will spend time doing activities such as taking a year off, joining the military or going into trade school – otherwise known as vocational school.

Trade school is a learning insti-

Survey seeks to increase AP, IB enrollment

Construction Tech class will change to engineering course See page A4. tution where students specialize in a certain skill and typically start working shortly after they complete the program.

There is a plethora of trade schools, ranging from skilled trade schools such as plumbing, automotive, electrician and aviation, to healthcare trade schools where students can pursue a career in topics like nursing, radiology and coding, to business trade schools, pertaining to accounting or management to culinary arts trade schools, to legal and criminal justice trade schools.

Laura Preston, a GBHS graduate, attended both trade school and colSee TRADE SCHOOL, page A11

inside the Gazette news

BY SAVITRI ASOKAN

sasokan.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photo illustration /MADELINE WILLIAMS

AJ Mersereau, a senior, works hard on a creation in Construction Tech, a class that will no longer be offered, leading some to feel trade school isn’t an encouraged option.

Wynden On Ellen movement

Construction Tech class modernized

Campaign to get GBHS student on daytime show attracts popularity.

Popular course upgraded to metal fabrication program.

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See SUICIDE, page A9

Poll encourages harder courses

Option of trade school may be disregarded at GBHS

BY CAROLINE PALMER

patient and that the death be witnessed by two observers.

One interesting aspect having to do with the passing of the bill is the reality that it defies the core of the American Medical Association’s Code of Medical Ethics. Senior Mark Zagaynov said he thinks the bill will be controversial mainly because of its failure to respect the Hippocratic Oath, which states that doctors will treat all patients to the best of their abilities – doctors who administer life-ending drugs would be the

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voices

Last month, thousands of Granite Bay High School students took out the Chromebooks to learn about neural plasticity, the myriad failures of Thomas Edison and the best way to develop a growth mindset.

On Monday, Oct. 26 and Tuesday, Oct. 27, students were required to take the Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) survey during their secondperiod class.

The survey included a series of questions regarding perception of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes, including rating statements about personal learning beliefs, comfort level with teachers and an informational segment on how intelligence develops in the brain.

Roseville Joint Union High School District superintendent Ron Severson said in an email that the purpose of the survey is to “collect a great deal of information about student attitudes and See SURVEY, page A10

Hawaiian Day makes a costume of culture School spirit day reflects overwhelming ignorance of Polynesian culture.

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News

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Granite Bay Gazette

Friday w November 13, 2015

NAMES IN THE NEWS

surina khurana

skhurana.gazette@gmail.com

Special to the Gazette / FAITH GLOVER

Former Grizz hoops coach is honored Burnel Pinkerton, the first varsity basketball coach at GBHS, was inducted into the Sac State Coaches’ Circle Hall of Fame. Keep balling, Coach Pink. *** Junior Brandon Hill continues to open doors for students, offer smiles and make the world a better place. *** The Granite Bay Gazette was selected to be a Crown Award Finalist by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The award was in the hybrid category, for both newspaper and website content published in the 2014-15 school year. A huge congrats goes to last year’s co-editorsin-chief, graduates Akash Khosla, Neha Kompella, Colleen Vivaldi and Tamren Johnk. *** The dance show starts on Dec. 2. If you would like to get grooving, you should get moving to the theater! *** Students at GBHS were introduced to the alma mater song at the Homecoming rally. This introduction marked the third time the song has been taught to students. Sam Bragg, the first ASB president of GBHS, wrote the song and set it to music. I wonder if students will know it 20 years from now. *** GBHS financial aid night for seniors is on Wednesday, Dec. 9. *** The Talent Show is on Nov. 19, attend if you’d like to see spoken word infused with Jazz and more. *** There is one week until Thanksgiving break! *** Some ski resorts in Tahoe have opened for the winter. El Niño has arrived. *** The girls’ golf team won a SFL title and then went on to win the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championship title! *** The winter solstice is just over one month away. *** The drama department put on a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in the quad! That was certainly drama-tic. *** Band championships are next weekend! Good luck, Emerald Brigade! Toot that horn! *** 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 / GRACE SALAZAR

Gazette photo / MADELINE WILLIAMS

Students come together to get Wynden Grealy on Ellen Ellen has seen the videos and said she will have Wynden on her show, if the social media presence can be increased

Special to the Gazette/ FAITH GLOVER

Top left, Leadership students, who started the Wynden moment, pose in the wrestling room with Wynden. Top middle, Timmy Sauer, a student in Leadership class, dresses up as Ellen. Top right, a student holds some photo props for “Ellen Day at Granite Bay.” Bottom right, Wynden stands with his parents.

BY MAGGIE BELL

mbell.gazette@gmail.com

“Hi Wynden!” “Hey Wynden!” “How’s it going, Wynden?”

From a modestly known sixth year senior to a Granite Bay celebrity, Wynden Grealy is constantly greeted by Granite Bay High School students as he walks through campus.

Grealy is a six year ‘super senior’ who has autism. In recent weeks, the greater Granite Bay community has rallied around Grealy in attempts to help him reach his lifelong goal of meeting Ellen Degeneres on her daytime talk show.

The campaign started in GBHS’ third- period leadership class when teacher Linda Dickson asked her class what makes them feel alive in their lives. Sitting in that class period was senior Kristen Garcia, who is one

of the main forces behind the ‘Get Wynden on Ellen’ movement. “(Wynden) doesn’t really talk much,” Garcia said, “but out of nowhere he was just like ‘ELLEN!’ and yelled it and had this big smile on his face.”

After class, Garcia, along with fellow leadership classmates Grace Salazar and Faith Glover, who are both freshmen, approached Dickson about the possibility of helping Grealy get onto the show.

Garcia said they wanted to help him reach his dream because of the positive effect he has had on her and her classmates.

“He is always positive and always has a smile on his face,” Garcia said. “Every time you see him, you can’t help but want to smile and be positive and be a good person– that’s just who he is.”

Freshman Grace Salazar, another leader in the “Wynden” campaign, agreed with Garcia

about this “effect” Wynden has on people.

“He always comes into the classroom and is always excited and happy,” Salazar said.

“All he talks about is Ellen and he kind of reflects onto (you).”

The following two days, the leadership classes brainstormed how they could get the Ellen show producers’ attention and get Grealy onto The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

From reenactment of Ellen’s show to Ellen themed zumba to an Ellen-themed spirit day, the leadership class has done its best to make GBHS into an “Ellen” arcadia, going as far as passing out water bottles with the hashtag “getwyndenonellen” on them.

Local news channel ABC 10 out of Sacramento visited GBHS and reported on the events going on and all of the leadership’s class efforts, even filming a school wide chant at the school’s homecoming rally.

Q&A A Conversation with Wynden

1. How long ago did you start watching the Ellen show? 2003, I love her ‘cause I love her funny stuff.

2.Whats your favorite part of the show? The jokes.

3. Does it make you happy that the entire school is getting behind you in this? Yes. 4. If you could go onto the show what would you tell Ellen? I love you Ellen!

Most scholarships

tend to favor whites Contrary to belief, 72 percent of awards go to Caucasians

BY HANNAH XU

hxu.gazette@gmail.com

Whether in need of financial help, or want of recognition in a field of work, students are given multiple opportunities to apply for a scholarship.

For instance, there are scholarships like those offered by California Scholarship Federation (CSF) that reward students with high GPAs. Scholarships can specialize in any topic, from offering grants to LGBT youth to rewarding outstanding people of color.

However, while every student is able to find the right scholarship that fits them, there is a growing perception that the growing number of scholarships that target a specific demographic is outweighing those that are all-inclusive – or made for Caucasian students.

In actuality, despite this perception, the number of scholarships given to marginalized groups – specifically, people of color – is surprisingly small.

According to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) in a 2011-2012 study, 72 percent of all scholarships are awarded to Caucasians, whereas only 28 percent are given to minority students.

This begs the question: why are more Caucasian students being offered scholarships in comparison to people of color? “(Caucasians) … are more likely to receive scholarships because their characteristics tend to resonate with the scholarships’ selection criteria,” said Mark Kantrowitz, nationallyrecognized expert on financial aid and author of Secrets to Winning

“Need-based grants … are failing to keep pace with increases in college costs, causing declines in college affordability,” -Mark Kantrowitz, recognized expert on financial aid and scholarships

a Scholarship. “Most scholarships were created by Caucasian philanthropists.”

If these numbers hold true, how is it many students have the opposite perception?

Kantrowitz said most undergraduate students don’t win scholarships.

However, despite this, most students go into applying scholarships with exceptionally high hopes, and when they don’t receive a scholarship they wish to blame someone who did receive one.

And when one of those people is a person of color with a “specialized scholarship” they are the one who gets the blame.

Because of this, many students belonging to minority groups find the scholarship system as unfair.

“I don’t feel like it’s fair to have limited (scholarship opportunity) for minorities,” said junior Afrah Tahir. “Why should … the minori See SCHOLARSHIPS page A6

Gazette photo illustration / MADELINE WILLIAMS

A student is shown wearing a “bindi,” sacred in Indian culture, as an accessory.

Students hold opposing views regarding culture appropriation Some find it wildly offensive, others don’t mind

BY SONIA GARCHA

sgarcha.gazette@gmail.com

All cultures have certain and specific rituals that distinguish them. The newer generations have taken it upon themselves to become aware of and participate in a few of these rituals.

However, many of these rituals have lost their cultural significance and have become “fashion trends” and “costumes.”

For instance when regarding accessories such as bindis, henna tattoo and headdresses, some argue that the significance of these cultural traditions is lost when they’re traded in to serve for “fashionable purposes.”

Halloween, a holiday in which many dress up in costumes and eat candy is a time when some

feel that culture appropriation is especially frequent. Junior Julia Huss said she has noticed this trend.

“You see a lot of costumes that are sold from cheap fabric that doesn’t mean anything and they have demeaning names and they fetishize the culture,”Huss said.

The GBHS campus has also experienced some controversy with “Hawaiian Day” which took place during the recent Spirit Week.

Many students believed that “Hawaiian Day” is not an accurate representation of Hawaiian culture and that the attire worn was reminiscent to tourists in Hawaii, not actual Hawaiians.

Sophomore Kanami Kayoshi, who is of Hawaiian descent, said that “Hawaiian Day” was somewhat offensive to her and

her culture.

“That’s not how Hawaiians dress,” she said, “People just wear clothes as if they’re going to Hawaii, but that’s not how native Hawaiians dress.”

She said she understood the idea of Hawaiian Day wasn’t meant to be offensive, but that Student Government should consider re-naming the spirit day.

“It is a little bit gimmicky and should just be called Tourist Day because people walk around with fanny packs and sun hats and that’s not like, a Hawaiian thing.” Huss said, “That’s just what we associate with a Hawaiian stereotype.”

While most of these trends seen more by females, there has See CULTURE, page A6

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Teachers plan to replace Construction Technology course Engineering Design and Development will substitute

BY TROY PAWLAK

tpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

While many aspects of Granite Bay High School have been modernizing over the last few years, the Construction Technology course has remained the same woodshop class at heart for the past 20 years.

In the coming years, the course is likely to undergo a modernization of its own, in order to stay relevant.

“We have had lots of conversations about (ending) the Construction Tech program and replacing it with a Project Lead The Way course called Engineering Design and Development (EDD),” Construction Tech teacher Steve Dolan said. “We are 98 percent (of the way to making that change), and we have district approval.”

The Construction Technology course that will be replaced in the near future is usually high enough in demand to warrant two sections each year with a total of 75 students. However, Dolan said the new course that will replace Construction Tech will teach students more important skills in modern fabrication. “(EDD, the new course) is consistent with (the school’s) theme of wanting to implement Project Lead The Way and support STEM,” Dolan said.

STEM, short for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education, is a program that focuses on aiding students to develop skills vital for jobs in related categories.

EDD will be centered around teams of students, guided by community mentors, researching, designing and constructing solutions to real engineering problems.

Instead of the course being called woodshop, the name will be changed to fabrication shop, or fab shop. New tools will be brought in to accommodate the change in materials, such as the different metals used.

“Will there be a table saw in the middle of the shop cutting lumber?” Dolan said. “No, but we will have various tools and equipment … (for metalworking).”

Along with the shift in medium will come a new focus for projects.

“We are going to support robotics,” Dolan said.

“We are going to have this class, probably during third period, and students who want to have an opportunity to work on the first robotic project, or aspects of that project, can and should enroll in EDD, and they will (have) 90 minutes a day, five days a week to work on it.” “(The robotics project) is going to be a joint effort,” said Steve Miller, who teaches physics and supervises the robotics team at GBHS. “Whatever we do in robotics and whatever Mr. Dolan does in fab shop … is all going to meld together.”

Senior Kamal Sadek is on the robotics team and said he loves the idea of the new fab shop. “(The robotics team is) really constrained in the shop in terms of what we can do and spacing,” Sadek said. “If you take a look back there, it is bordering on dangerous how close the (current metalworking) machines are to one another.”

With the possible expansion, the team and class would both have far more room to work as well as some new and upgraded tools.

Miller said the robotics team already has some of the fabrication tools and will use these and newer tools in conjunction with EDD and any other program that wants to use the shop.

“We are talking about how the plasma cutter could be used for things for drama when they need to cut things (for sets and) art students could do some cool designs,” Miller said.

These processes would be made safe and simple for all people, according to Miller. A portion of the shop will be devoted to computers to design objects to be cut out automatically, making it sim-

Gazette photo /MADDIE WILLIAMS

Students in the Construction Technology course work on various projects in class. The class will be replaced with the Engineering Design and Development course, in the upcoming future.

ple and safe for students. By doing this, Miller said he hopes to open the machines up for more possibilities.

“Even if they are not doing art things with metal, (art students) could make a sign advertising (their work at an exhibit),” Miller said.

Dolan said that beyond robotics collaboration, there will be few other large projects, likely only

Increasing tuition deters students from applying

Social media brings problems

Teens participate in activities that they may later regret

Students refrain from taking student loans

BY PARKER MATHESON

BY AMANDA NIST

pmatheson.gazette@gmail.com

anist.gazette@gmail.com

After filming themselves engaging in sexual activity last month, two Ponderosa High School students were arrested and sent to El Dorado County Juvenile Hall.

According to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, a boy and girl were filmed having sex by a second boy, without the girl’s knowledge. The two boys have been arrested on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, possession and distribution of child pornography and conspiracy to commit a felony crime.

With the click of the record button and one bad decision, these Ponderosa teenagers forever impacted their futures.

The investigation started when the school police officer heard rumors of the video circulating campus. Similarly, at Roseville High School, rumors came to the attention of the Roseville Police Department after a social media post threatened a school shooting.

RHS senior Jaci Sannar said she first heard about the alleged school shooting on Twitter after reading some of her classmates’ tweets.

Despite the threat, Sannar decided to go to school, because it was only a rumor.

“I think that people can spread rumors faster through social media because everyone can see it rather than just telling a few people at a time,” Sannar said.

Sannar said that because of social media, she believes situations become bigger deals

the Shell Eco Car. This is to allow for more focused work and fewer students doing their own side projects or nothing at all.

“Kids like to build stuff, no doubt,” Miller said. “(They are) just going to be (building) a different product with more state-of-the-art equipment.”

Gazette photo /MADDIE WILLIAMS

Students post things on social media that they may wish they hadn’t later on.

than they really are because they’re posted for everyone to see. She also said she thinks people definitely post things on social media to draw reactions from people.

“I think that they do it because they like all the attention they can get from posting one simple thing,” Sannar said.

Bad decisions can stem from social media, Sannar said, because people see someone else doing something and they want to do it too, however people are going to make bad decisions either way.

In a similar fashion, yet completely unrelated, GBHS was also threatened by a social media post which claimed someone was threatening the school.

An email from GBHS Principal Jennifer Leighton stated that a student did the right thing and reported a possible threat made toward GBHS, which was posted anonymously on a social media site.

NEWS BRIEFS

“Without social media, I think people would be probably less inclined to make bad decisions,” GBHS junior Emily Franklin said.

Franklin said she thinks people want attention from other people on social media.

“If people aren’t super social in person ,(social media) could be a way for them to … voice their opinion,” Franklin said.

Franklin said she thinks people aren’t always going to follow through with what they tweet, but that they just want to draw reactions from others.

“Not all attention is good attention but a lot of people are OK with just getting attention,” Franklin said. “They don’t care whether it’s bad or not.”

Whether or not something is true and whether or not people know it’s true, Franklin said anyone can post anything online.

See INDISCRETIONS, page A8

ASB UPDATE

GBHS Football makes it to Section Playoffs

The Granite Bay High School Football team made it into Division II Section Playoffs. They are seeded ninth and will face Downey High School in the first round of playoffs.

“The season has been rough on us,” senior football player Hunter Loomis said. “I thought there were a few games we were unlucky to not (have) come out on top (against). But I’m still happy that we have (the) chance to compete in the playoffs.”

Downey is seeded just one above Granite Bay at number eight. GBHS plays at Downey today, November 13. The Grizzlies are looking for a win which would advance them to the second round of playoffs.

“In the next few games we will be facing extremely good teams which will be tough,” Loomis said.

“Sometimes it’s hard for a team to keep their mind throughout an entire season, but after loosing to Del Oro and (having) the possibility of our season being over, our team has gotten some new life.”

Should the Grizzlies win tonight, and advance to the second round of playoffs, they will play either the first seeded team, Grant High School, or seed number 16, Beyer High School.

“During the remainder of the season, I’m looking forward to making the most of my final days being a part of the Granite Bay football team,” Loomis said.

“It will be important to focus on the task at hand each week and take it day by there from there.”

-Compiled by Surina Khurana

The amount of students with loans has increased dramatically.

This is due, in large, to simple economics, as the demand for higher education has also dramatically increased.

The amount of students applying to universities has doubled or even tripled at Granite Bay High School.

Counselor Paul Stordahl said schools charge such high prices simply “because they can.”

He also added that minimal state budgets can contribute to higher prices, as schools are often not fully funded.

Stordahl added that he hopes “to see schools become more accountable.”

By becoming more accountable, Stordahl suggests universities be more responsible in that they find ways to make students finish degrees on time and ways in which they don’t have to pay extra years of tuition.

Senior Kaitlyn Blake is one of many who has been affected by the increasing price of college.

Even though she has maintained competitive grades, she feels her education path after high school is limited.

“I feel like I’m only able attend a junior college then transfer to another university due to high tuition costs,” Blake said.

Senior Kyle Giannini said the price

of college has inflated well beyond the overall demand for higher education.

“Any private universities have been taken out of the picture (for me) because of their price,” Giannini said.

Giannini said he believes that a government subsidy which pays for “less than 25 percent” of tuition would be reasonable for taxpayers to pay.

Additionally, he says “students overborrowing and not completing degrees on time are big reasons” for the increase of student loan debts.

Senior McKenzie Hunter said there should be some government action in reducing the price of college tuition.

“Schools should receive subsidies (and subsidies) should be given to schools (with tuition) under a certain price,” Hunter said. “Penalties should be given to schools (with tuition) over that (given) price.”

Another less-likely solution Hunter offered would be to artificially inflate the market with more schools, to decrease the demand. The decrease in demand would drive the prices down.

“Essentially anything to shift the supply curve to the right (would be beneficial),” Hunter said.

“I feel students are already motivated to finish degrees early and (to) get good grades,” Hunter said.

Hunter, like many, says subsidies should be focused on the school level not individual students.

ASB discusses the upcoming Talent Show at GBHS The Gazette talked to junior Katie Carson about the Talent Show

the overall winner of the talent show last year! Now he is in a band performing again.

Carson: (Students can expect) lots of very talented singing, dancing and a band!

Gazette: When is the talent show and what time?

Carson: We have cash prizes for each of the categories.

GBHS senior and football player Hunter Loomis looks forward to the remaining games of the football season.

&

Gazette: What can students expect in this year’s show?

Gazette: What are the prizes for winning the talent show?

Gazette Photo/CAROLINE PALMER

Q A Carson: It’s on November 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Gazette: How many acts are there going to be?

Carson: (There are) about 20-25 acts.

Gazette: Which act won last year?

Gazette: Is there a theme to the talent show?

Carson: LJ (Matias) was

Carson: Right now, it’s

Gazette photo /Natalie Erickson

Talent show comissioner Katie Carson talks about the upcoming Talent show

classic, so black and white, but we aren’t sure what to call it yet.

–Compiled by Jill Kurpershoek

Friday, November 13, 2015

w The Granite Bay Gazette

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Student groups begin initiatives for fundraising Clubs find ways to solicit money for various organizations

BY MCKENNA ARAM

maram.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay High School’s athletics, clubs and classes are always obliging to help contribute toward their community.

For example, in support of breast cancer awareness month, the varsity volleyball team hosts an annual “Dig Pink” event where all revenues obtained are donated to the Placer Breast Cancer Foundation.

This year it was held on Oct. 22. The event sold things such as raffle tickets, gift baskets, T-shirts and even held a bake sale to generate donations toward the Placer Breast Cancer Foundation.

“It’s a fun event, it’s good for the community, and (players on the varsity volleyball team) all look forward to it every year,” said junior Julia Reese, who plays on the varsity volleyball team.

The Placer Breast Cancer Foundation is composed of several community activists and cancer survivors dedicated to breast cancer prevention.

They also help provide support services throughout breast cancer treatment for current breast cancer patients.

Peer Counseling, a class dedicated to improving the welfare of Granite Bay, is also adamant in contributing toward members of the community.

“We raise funds for transportation money for buses.

Bus students have to get from place to place and it’s expensive: $1,000,” sophomore peer helper Tori Ahmad said. “Peer helping has raised over that amount to help students out.”

They also are involved in organizing the annual Santa’s Helpers event which occurs in December,

around Christmas time.

In Santa’s Helpers, GBHS students can sign up and receive a younger “buddy” who provides their Christmas wish list. The “buddies” tend to be from an underprivileged area.

GBHS students then purchase a gift for their buddy, and visit their school on the predetermined visitation date.

“We also raise funds for the kids of Santa’s Helpers whose older buddies from GBHS ditch or don’t show up,” Ahmad said. “We typically have around $300 extra saved.”

Even clubs on campus such as the Autism Awareness Club are supportive about making a difference in the community.

The Autism Awareness Club holds meetings every Tuesday to inform other students more about autism and advocate kindness to disabled people.

Another one of the club’s goals is to generate money to help find a cure for autism.

“To go about achieving the goals, we plan on running events on and off campus to raise money and plan to interact with people who have autism,” senior club president Ambreen Siddiqui said.

So far, the club has raised funds by participating in local fundraisers such as selling food at GBHS’s annual bonfire event.

The club plans on branching out to other businesses to collaborate on creating fundraisers.

“At the moment we plan on donating money to Autism Speaks, which is an organization that researches to help find a cure for autism,” Siddiqui said.

It’s also quite popular, especially for GBHS athletics, to connect with local businesses in order to benefit themselves.

Athletics such as cross country and football annually participate in selling coupons to the citizens of the Granite Bay community.

When redeemed, the coupons benefit that business in addition to the sports teams, and citizens get reduced price items at those businesses.

It’s - win-win-win.

Gazette file photo /KAT MCGRAIL

Seniors Katie Densham and Melina Sneesby read to a boy at the 2014 Santa’s Helpers event.

The Extreme Dance team connected with the popular Mexican restaurant Chipotle to help generate funds for the team.

The team created fliers and passed them out around GBHS to raise awareness for their event.

“It was very helpful in supporting us with things like costumes, choreographers and all the other dance essentials,” sophomore extreme dancer Sarah Doss said.

On a specific night, if someone presented that fli-

er at checkout, half of the proceeds would go to the dance team. This opportunity generated considerable revenue for the team.

“When we got (to Chipotle) we would stand out in front and tell people if they said their purchase was for (the extreme dance team) the proceeds would go to us,” Doss said.

GBHS, thanks to its determined students, will always be an advocate of community welfare and will continuously generate support for its organizations.

SAT vs. ACT Gazette photo /NATASHA CHANDA

Two standardized testing types are available for GBHS students to take

BY JILL KURPERSHOEK

jkurpershoek.gazette@gmail.com

With college application season almost here, many seniors find themselves cramming in their last opportunities to take the ACT and SAT. Although the SAT has been the more common choice for high school seniors, the ACT has recently risen in popularity, leaving some students wondering which test is more beneficial for them to take.

“For years, the ACT has seemed to be a more popular test on the east coast,” said Cindi Underwood, director of Granite Bay High School’s college and career center. “It appears to be becoming more popular here on the west coast now.”

The SAT is designed to test a student’s academic strengths and readiness for college. It’s scored out of 2,400 points and includes three main sections: critical reading, math and writing. The test has nine subsections, each either 20 or 25 minutes long, with one 10-minute portion of the writing section.

The SAT is accepted by virtually all colleges, one of the main reasons more students take it. However,

“In all reality, the material is not much different beas the ACT becomes more common, certain colleges tween the two exams,” said David Tastor, an English have been said to prefer one over the other. teacher at GBHS. “The delivery is “The one college that I am the difference.” aware of that prefers the ACT is Each subject is covered in one Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo,” Underwood said, “(but) they are of (The ACT) appears test, rather than multiple subsections like in the SAT, and are anycourse willing to take either the to be becoming where from 35 to 60 minutes long.

SAT or ACT.” more popular here Students often report that they It has also been reported that Brigham Young Univeron the west coast don’t always finish all of the quessity tends to look at ACT scores tions on the ACT in time. now. more than SAT scores.

Both Tastor and Underwood rec– Cindi Underwood, ommend that students take both The ACT is said to include tests, as most kids generally do betmore straight-forward questions, college and career ter on one over the other. designed to test a student’s probcenter director lem- solving and analysis skills, However, both tests have had although the math section tests their content changed in 2014 and concepts that may be learned as 2015. late as the beginning of twelfth The ACT added a more analytical approach to the writing section, grade for some students.

It is scored out of 36, and includes four sections: while the SAT made many changes such as making English, math, reading, science and an optional fifth the writing section optional, like the ACT’s, and taking away the infamous penalty for guessing incorsection for writing.

rectly on questions.

The College Board has also said that the test no longer includes “vocab that you’ll never use again.”

The SAT is also supposed to change the structure of the essay, giving the prompt more of an analytical approach.

“It would be wise for kids to take the (AP English Language and Composition) classes,” said Tastor, “as that is one of their domains of writing.”

Tastor said the new SAT will begin to resemble the content of the ACT. Melina Sneesby, a current GBHS senior, said she would recommend students take the ACT. “I like the ACT more because I’m a math and science person and I find those sections really easy,” Sneesby said. “Plus I like having five sections rather than nine on the SAT.” Sneesby also said colleges might prefer one test over the other depending if the school is more focused on science or math majors.

While it’s true that some colleges may prefer one test over the other, it’s best for a student to take both as the tests are changing because of Common Core’s restructuring of education, since a college’s perception of scores may change because of the new content.

Teachers hesitate to update grades immediately Policy intended to refocus attention back on education

BY ALI LEMOS

alemos.gazette@gmail.com

When students check their grades, are they reflecting on the points or what they learned?

As the end of the quarter approaches, teachers are supposed to be entering grades, but there are some on campus who don’t for fear that student are simply looking for an A and not learning the material they need to be learning.

Students like Granite Bay High School sophomore Akshay Reddy, who has Honors English 10 with Anthony Davis, must wait until grade reports are due to know their grade in the class.

“Davis waits until progress reports to put in an actual grade, which is fine because he gives you feedback on what areas ...

that you can improve on,” Reddy said.

Davis waits to enter grades because he believes his class should be based more on the improvement of writing and reading than the actual letter grade.

“I (delay updating scores) because I think students become too obsessed with their grades,” Davis said. “They get too caught up in points.”

He began adopting this way of grading after he saw, and still sees, students grow unconcerned about what they are learning.

“The fixation becomes on points instead of the real point of why they are in class,” Davis said.

Wanting to bring the focus of his class to the improvement of the student rather than the points, Davis never returns anything with a number score, but instead

with written feedback to help students improve.

English is a class where it is possible, and definitely easier, to give feedback without utilizing a numerical scoring system.

But for Reddy, English is the only class where he feels he knows his growth in the class without needing to see physical numbers.

“In every other class I prefer that (the grades are) updated faster because I don’t know how I am doing,” Reddy said.

Junior Natalie Hatch has a little bit of a different outlook on her grades.

“If I know I’m not good at a class, then I don’t mind it not being updated because then I don’t have to be reminded of how I’m doing,” Hatch said. “But if it’s something I’m nervous about or anxious about

then I would like it to be updated so I do simply have a lot of work and don’t get know how I’m doing.” the chance to grade assignments as quickFor Hatch, updated grades are really ly as other teachers. only necessary “They’ll pass back a for her borderline lot of stuff at once so grades. it doesn’t really bother However, she me,” Hatch said.

The fixation prefers to see all For both Reddy and becomes on points Hatch, they need to at her grades just to make sure she instead of the real least get their work returned to them, whether knows whether or point of why they with a score or with writnot she should go ten feedback, so they can to a teacher and get are in class. assess how the are doing help. in a particular class.

“It’s important – Honors English Davis’s focus is on imthat we know how teacher Anthony Davis proving someone’s abiliwe’re doing in a ties and not their scores. class so we know “If a grade is supposed how to prepare and to mean something, then whether or not we it should be a reflection need to get extra of what they learned,” Davis said. “You help,” Hatch said.

Hatch recognizes that some teachers should be focused on the skill set.”

News

Friday, November 13, 2015 w The Granite Bay Gazette

The terror, reward of the college application period Students share their tips, stress and hopes

BY MEAGAN TALLMAN

mtallman.gazette@gmail.com

For most, fall is the season of Pumpkin Spice Starbucks, Halloween decorations and cleaning leaves out of the yard. However, for students in their senior year, fall is the time of year to prepare for the future.

Senior Ciara Thompson is applying to nine schools, and she has been making sure she is prepared for deadlines.

“I started my essays over the summer when the prompts were released, and then I started filling out the application questions around August and September,” Thompson said.

Thompson said getting an early start was definitely a helpful tool in making the process go a little smoother, but still rates the stress level at a nine on a scale of one to 10, because of the immense pressure.

“Juniors should get their SAT and ACT out of the way during their junior year because it’s really stressful to be worrying about your scores when you’re still applying” Thompson said.

New school still planned for district West Roseville still waiting for new campus to be built

BY PAIGE ERICKSON

perickson.gazette@gmail.com

The construction of the new high school in West Roseville has been stuck in the planning process since 2001.

Because of funding troubles that resulted from the Great Recession, the development of the school had to be put on hold, which was inconvenient to local homeowners.

Originally, the homes in West Roseville were predicted to generate enough money to build a Phase 1 campus, but unfortunately this arrangement didn’t pan out the way the Roseville Joint Union High School district had anticipated.

Issues with state funds, developer fees and local bonds were only a few of the contributing factors to the campus having to be temporarily put on hold.

“The state currently does not have any funding for new school construction,” said Joseph Landon, Executive Director of Business Services for the school district.

“Even if they do get new funding, we are not likely to be eligible due to the enrollment growth in West Roseville being offset by declining enrollment in other areas of the district.”

With the original plan falling through, the district anticipates 5,000 to 6,000 homes must be built and sold in order to generate enough money to complete the campus.

The small number of homes sold in the area has reduced the number of high school students who would enroll in a new campus – and it’s much smaller than originally predicted.

Currently, the planned campus has the capacity to hold more than 2,000 students, but with only 346 students in the attendance area, this number is not large enough to open a new school.

“When the full campus is built, we expect it to house approximately 2,300 students, which would be the largest school in the district,” Landon said.

The early action or early decision deadline for most schools is Nov. 1. This means students who have declared a school their first choice or simply want their admittance early must have all test scores, transcripts, essays and letters of recommendation sent by this date.

For schools that do not have a Nov. 1 deadline, applications can still be sent in as soon as the application becomes available.

Another senior who has tackled the admissions process ahead of schedule is Adam Alvarez.

“I made sure to start early and pace myself in order to meet deadlines,” Alvarez said. “I have submitted one application and the other seven are done, I’m just waiting for my SAT scores before submitting.”

Alvarez will also be applying for the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship. This program is an agreement between select western states to offer in-state tuition to qualified applicants wishing to attend school at one of these universities. With the WUE scholarship, students will be given the in-state cost of tuition at these schools. Since several of Alvarez’s choices are out-of-state universities, he was eager

to participate in this program.

Alvarez encourages all juniors to start early. He also said they should make sure to have multiple teachers look over their essays so they can get corrections from multiple points of views.

Though it is common for students to apply to a handful of schools, senior Kylie Shimada has had her heart set on one university for the past three years.

“I am only applying to one school and that is university of HawaiiManoa,” Shimada said.

She’s been interested in the school since her freshman year and has been working to achieve the standards required for admission since then. She said she was partly inspired by her grandmother and father – who are former Rainbow Warriors – and wants to continue the family legacy at the university.

“As a whole, I’d say this process would be an

A6

eight stress level,” Shimada said. “Mainly because my class rank is really not where it should be compared to my GPA. I’m in good standings with my ‘GPA’, but as for my class rank, I should be higher.”

Shimada also hopes to be apart of the cheer team at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, so in addition to the hours spent on applications, she’s training for auditions in April.

Though n e r v e wracking and stressful, all the seniors agreed that this is a very exciting time and can’t wait to find out where they will be spendGa zet ing their next four te i llus trat years. ion / TR

OY

PA WL

AK

Joseph Landon Executive Director of Business Services says he understands why parents are upset.

Cars defaced in school parking lot Vandalism on the rise for student vehicles

BY JENNIFER TARBELL

Going years past the expected finished date has caused many people, especially parents in the area, to become frustrated.

“We understand why parents are upset, (as) we are very frustrated with the situation as well,” Landon said. “It is unfortunate that many homeowners were promised a new school by the people selling them (their) homes.”

Because of this current situation, students in the West Roseville area have no choice but to commute to another high school – in this case, Oakmont.

“We do not like having to bus students across town,” Landon said.

“But (we) have tried to make it as painless as possible and continue to provide them (with) great opportunities at Oakmont High School.”

Even though the district in not in a position to start actual construction on the new campus, the design and review process is still moving forward.

In some classrooms, the layout will have a more open and transparent feel with more glass windows and smaller collaboration spaces, similar to most of the designs in many contemporary business offices. In most classrooms, however, such as in the common core classes, the look will be similar to other schools.

“We (need to) have a fully completed design that has a stamp of approval from the Division of State Architect (DSA),” Landon said. “We are currently working on completing the design and getting the stamp of approval.”

With this development comes a high estimated cost of $110 million and an expected construction time frame of more than three years before the campus is likely to be finished and occupied by students from West Roseville.

The district is doing it can to get the school completed and has assured parents in the community that it will be worth the wait.

“The district is committed to continue to explore every avenue possible,” Landon said, “(in order) to get (this) campus built as soon as possible.”

jtarbell.gazette@gmail.com

Recent incidents in the Granite Bay High School parking lot suggest that car vandalism might be a chronic problem after school hours.

Joey Scotti, a senior at GBHS, found his car covered in paint after the Granite Bay vs. Oak Ridge football game on Oct. 9.

According to Scotti, he and his fellow Tribe leaders stayed late to help clean up after the game, leaving his car one of the last in the parking lot.

“I was walking back (to the lot) and noticed something on my car,” Scotti said. “At first I thought it was just a shadow, but once I got up to it I could really tell what it was.”

Scotti said his car was covered in various markings across the hood and back window of the car.

“I thought it wasn’t going to come off,” Scotti said. “After 40 minutes of scrubbing, they both did end up coming off.”

Scotti suggests not parking in the back of the lot late at night.

A similar incident occurred a couple weeks later with se-

niors Melina Sneesby and Neha Prakash.

Sneesby and Prakash parked in the parking lot at GBHS while they went on a group trip to Six Flags Discovery Park.

When they returned to Granite Bay around 1 a.m. to drive home, both cars were covered in eggs and eggshells.

“I shouldn’t have parked in the parking lot knowing that I would get back late that night,” Prakash said. “Other people can learn from this.”

The damage done to both cars was minimal, but the paint was damaged slightly.

Both Sneesby and Prakash suspect that it was a student at GBHS who vandalized their cars and hope students will be more respectful and considerate of others’ property.

It is not the school’s responsibility for what happens to cars on campus.

“There are signs when you come in from the street,” assistant principal Brian McNulty said. “(They) say that when you’re coming on campus you’re assuming your own risk by coming on campus and parking here.”

Special to the Gazette/JOEY SCOTTI

Scotti’s car was left defaced by paint in the lot Students are responsible for their own property when they enter school grounds.

Various accidents happen in the parking lot, and standard ve-

hicle codes still apply, regardless of whether the accidents are on school property or not.

CULTURE: Accessories such as the Bindi can be offensive to some when worn by others just for fun

Continued from page A2

been an effect on males as well.

Senior Ibrahim Hajar said that offensive trends can even be adopted from Rap culture and he says more males participate in this culture compared to females.

“I see a lot of people emulating rap culture.

I think to a certain extent they understand what it means, but they don’t know to the degree that they should.”

Kylie Jenner was one example of this when she posted a picture on Instagram with cornrows in her hair. Many criticized her on Twitter, saying she was appropriating the black community. Others, however, said no offense should be taken.

Naseeha Islam, a senior, said it’s sometimes hard to draw the line between cultural exploitation and cultural acceptance.

“A lot people of nowadays consider any person (participating in that trend) who

isn’t of that ethnic descent as appropriatincluded headdresses and bindis – on Instaing a culture. To me, gram, while others posted comments of that seems more like admiration. acceptance than ap“I think the things that become apI think the things propriated are things that are interpropriation. However, (participating in) that become esting on a superficial level, such as trends just to make bindis and henna tattoos,” Hajar said. appropriated are Bindis and henna tattoos represent a fashion statement seems ignorant.” things that are much more than a silly fashion to Actress Vanessa many though. interesting on a “It might be trendy to wear a bindi, Hudgens is another example of a celebrity superficial level, but it’s important to realize that it’s who has been both trendy to scream ‘cultural such as bindis..” equally criticized and praised appropriation’ at that person. And I – Senior on social media for the just hope that term doesn’t become so same choice – in her ubiquitous that it loses all meaning in Ibrahim Jajor case, the focus was on the process,” Islam said. the outfits she wore Junior Rhanda Abasi disagreed and at last spring’s and said cultural appropriation shouldn’t be past, Coachella music festivals in Southern looked at as an intentional act.

California.

“If they realized how wrong and offensive Many have criticized her outfits – which the clothes were, then I don’t think they

SCHOLARSHIPS: Only 28 percent of scholarships are given to minority students Continued from page A2 -ties take the brunt? Already many African American families have no net worth. ( … ) Without the ability to get a college education, it’s

harder for African Americans to get a job.”

Similarly Candice Leung said she’s recognized how difficult it is to get a scholarship as a minority.

“Many schools are predominantly Asian populated, and (therefore) they will offer scholarships to (others) that they want attending their school,” said sopho-

more Candice Leung. “(I feel like) this shows that hard work does not pay off for Asian groups.”

As a result of this disadvantage, there is a need for colleges to reach out to minority groups more.

“Need-based grants … and are failing to keep pace with increases in college costs, causing declines

in college affordability,” Kantrowitz said. “Private scholarships help fill the gap in some areas, but not all.

One of those gaps is in the distribution of scholarships by race. Why should college be more affordable for a Caucasian student than for a minority student?”

Your names.

Your faces.

The Gazette.

Friday, November 13, 2015

w The Granite Bay Gazette

A7 News

New findings regarding cancer spark concern Some students anticipate lifestyle changes, especially diet

BY CLAIR KASEL

c.kasel.gazette@gmail.com

For many years, there have been myths about cancer and what can cause it, but recently, there have been new studies revealing unnerving results about everyday items and their repercussions.

Meats, especially processed ones, have now been linked to causing cancer. But surprisingly enough, the sales of these products haven’t dramatically decreased.

Increasingly, scientists have found foods, products and toys that have given cancer to unwitting consumers. Some general examples of these are hot dogs, artificial turf, M&M candy dye, not flossing your teeth and many others.

Some processed meats are being recalled by certain stores across America, and people have been reimbursed for what they have purchased.

The exact amount of meat consuumption that can trigger cancer isn’t yet known

– people have different tolerances for carcinogens – but according to CNN, eating 50 grams of meat a day can increase a person’s probability of getting cancer by 18 percent.

While the risk is fairly slim to begin with, is it worth it for people to continue eating meat even after knowing that the protein can do more harm to the body than good?

Natalie Elkin, a Granite Bay High School Advanced Placement Psychology teacher, said most people won’t be changing their diets unless they alter their idea of convenience.

“People have priorities on different levels and unless they want to make the difference and make (family dinners a) No. 1 priority instead of quick ready-togo meals, then I don’t think people care enough to change their eating habits or what they purchase from grocery stores,” Elkin said.

Organic markets and eating healthier

foods have been a rising trend in many countries, resulting in better eating habits for many people.

But the organic brands tend to be more expensive, and if both parents in a busy family are working, then buying prepared foods is easier because it often only needs to be warmed up. Most working-class families get something quick for their meals so they will have time to get the other stuff done that is more important.

“I think that the families who are eating (processed) products might not know, or look for the information about negativelong term side effects and focus on getting the immediate gratification,” Elkin said.

Because the findings about meat have only recently been announced, some people either have only seen very brief accounts of it or they have no clue what the research actually says. Many people said they saw it on Facebook, but they didn’t look into it.

People who do not eat meat already believe they are way ahead in terms of knowledge, and their food choices are made to protect themselves from possible cancers or other food-related diseases.

“I do not eat meat mostly because I can’t bring myself to eat the animals’ insides, but also because I think it is unhealthy to eat other creatures,” said senior Nikki Tafoya, who has been a vegetarian for years.

It is important to note that eating meats does not guarantee that you will end up with a cancer diagnosis, but studies have shown people can have a predisposition for such a diagnosis.

“I would rather enjoy my food and be happy than be restricted to bland foods,” senior Michaela Setiawan said.

For her, the recent announcements about meat being a carcinogen is not a factor in what foods she consumes.

“Even though I haven’t heard much about it, I’m not too concerned about it,” Setiawan said.

Setiawan also play girls’ lacrosse, and that sport is primarily played on the turf field at

GBHS. Artificial turf is another thing that has been linked to cancer.

Setiawan has played lacrosse since her freshman year, so this spring season will be her fourth. While the team practices daily for a few hours and then has games on the field, it is not a significant enough amount of time for her to stop playing because of any cancer fears. “(It doesn’t make me want to stop playing because), lots of things lead to cancer, and I don’t think that playing one more season will give me cancer because of turf,” Setiawan said.

Giving up on their lifestyle preferences can be the hardest thing people would have to do, and it could be one reason why people do not want to change. Also, the level of concern for individuals varies, and one person’s proof might not be enough to result in lifestyle changes for someone else.

“I will still continue to eat the meat and play on turf, but maybe eat less of the meat that is bad for me,” Setiawan said, “I would rather enjoy my food and be happy than ... live life in fear.”

Anti-bullying initiative aims to improve positivity

Peer helpers spread a little more sunshine

BY SONIA GARCHA

sgarcha.gazette@gmail.com

Recently, many posters have been circulating around the Granite Bay High School campus promoting antibullying.

The standards of bullying have shifted from upfront and in-your-face to using one’s words across social media platforms.

Activities, such as Ripple Effect, involves building student’s confidence and judgment, rather than focusing solely on anti-bullying.

The peer helping class on campus is raising awareness of bullying in hopes that it will decrease.

Sophomore Victoria Grivette, the president of peer helping, said that the overall goal is to get students to understand the effect bullying has on people.

“I think we do have a bullying problem at our school, but it’s not as bad as other schools so I’m extremely happy about that,” Grivette said. “I’ve heard heartbreaking stories about kids just being awful for no rea-

son other than to put people down.”

Although GBHS isn’t generally considered to be bullying-prone, apps such as Twitter and Yik Yak can give students more leverage to pick on other students, occasionally remaining anonymous.

“There will always be ‘those’ people who have issues with themselves and feel the need to take it out on others and pick on them,” said senior Alex Smith, who is also involved with peer helping.

Recently, an Instagram account, @anti_bullying_ gbhs, has been posting uplifting quotes as well as challenging students each week to interact with others in hopes to inspire more positivity across campus.

“This year we’re trying really hard to be more visible on campus and push our anti-bullying campaign,” Grivette said. “It’s not only about not bullying, but standing up (for) those who are (bullied). People see the effort.”

Senior Jack Kennedy said that while there is judgment passed among students, many may not be aware of the campaign.

“I don’t think the anti-bullying campaign will do much on campus since it’s not run very efficiently,” Kennedy said, “but it is a good reminder of the right way to treat people, at least for those who know about

the campaign.”

Since early October, peer helping have also been selling blue wristbands from their classroom for $1.

“If (the campaign) includes the students and teachers on campus, it will have a huge impact with others,” Smith said. “Hopefully, we will make them open their eyes (by) keeping it on the bulletins, making large posters and word of mouth.”

“Be an upstander, not a bystander,” expresses the sentiment that students who watch others get bullied are as bad as bullies themselves. This is a motto that has been seen on posters around campus.

“To raise more (awareness) about this issue, we need to lead by example and show people how to stand up to bullies,” Kennedy said. “Anybody at our school can be a leader and change someone’s life if they choose to and this should be emphasized more.”

Grivette said peer helping has also participated in “respect lessons” with the freshman physical education classes.

They announced phrases such as “step up to the line if you’ve ever felt alone.” The activity made peer helping realize this was a bigger problem than expected.

“It was shocking to see how many freshman were dealing with serious issues,” Grivette said. “They

were sympathetic and realized that they aren’t alone, and it was powerful to be a part of that.

“It was a safe place made up of kids who wouldn’t usually talk to each other. I wouldn’t be opposed to doing the respect lessons with more classes.”

Peer helping is divided into different groups and are given an issue on campus that they must tackle.

Senior Caitlin Barnickel is one of the students involved with the campaign and says that it will encourage positivity throughout the campus.

“We just hope our actions encourage everyone to be nice to others. Regardless if they are a close friend or not, we want a safe, friendly campus,” said Barnickel.

They also enlisted media to put on “if you really knew me” videos to make the student body more familiar with one another.

“It’s about making people stand together against a serious issue, and it’s working,” said Grivette. “ I’m really proud of the anti-bullying group in peer helping.”

They hope to keep the momentum of the campaign alive by inspiring more students to join the movement.

“Just because you may not be dealing with (bullying), doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,” Grivette said.

CONSENT: Brown makes sexual consent education mandatory Continued from page A1

had it.”

The Yes Means Yes standard replaces the old No Means No standard – implying that a sexual act was not consensual if the person says no – which had been criticized for ambiguity. Seniors Mark Zagaynov and Isabella Li favor the Yes Means Yes standard because they said it increases clarity and makes the policy more positive.

“A lack of a no doesn’t mean a yes,” Li said. “That’s so important. Even now, police will be misinformed when they ask ‘Did you say no?’ It can still definitely be considered rape if the no wasn’t actually said. You can feel so pressured as a victim that you’re too scared to say no – but that doesn’t mean yes at all.”

Granite Bay High School does mandate that all students take a health class – usually in the form of Health and Safety their freshman year – so GBHS will not be affected by the legislation requiring those types of courses.

Furthermore, Health and Safety teacher Kathie Sinor said she doesn’t think the passing of AB 329 will have a significant effect on the curriculum already in place, as the importance of consent is taught about already.

“For ourselves, how we teach and what we teach isn’t really going to be any different,” Sinor said. “We do go over … the consequences (after becoming) sexually active.

That decision is very personal, but it has to be your decision – not the decision of someone else. We also focus a lot on circumstances that make it difficult for you to say yes.

If a (person) is drunk, that’s not the time to have sex with (them) because (they) can’t say yes. It’s the alcohol that’s saying yes. We really look at the realities of (sex), but then if it is consensual … it needs

to be communicated between the two of you. You don’t want to be saying yes in the spur of the moment. You want to make sure the decision is right for yourself, but it’s something that’s a very mature action and has huge potential consequences that the two of you need to openly discuss for there to be enjoyment in the sexual relationship. We’re also looking at (the fact that) these are freshmen, and (the) type of situations (they) are most likely to be in where they are having sex – and many times they’re pressured to have sex, but it does need to be clear from both parties that it’s something that they want.”

An anonymous and voluntary survey was recently administered by the Gazette – 10 percent of the population of the school took the survey. Students were asked if consent had been granted in 10 separate, hypothetical scenarios.

(The majority of GBHS freshmen have not yet been taught about consent, as they have not reached that point in the curriculum.)

The survey showed that about 92 percent of freshmen, 80 percent of sophomores, 91 percent of juniors and 77 percent of seniors answered no, consent had not been granted if one person said yes while drunk.

If one party was unconscious, 99 percent of freshmen, 88 percent of sophomores, 100 percent of juniors and 100 percent of seniors said consent was not granted.

If one party was the other’s significant other (girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse), 16 percent of freshmen, 20 percent of sophomores, 10 percent of juniors and 12 percent of seniors said consent had been given. Consent had also been given if one party has engaged in a sexual act with the other party before, according to 16 percent of freshmen, 17 percent of sophomores, 10 percent of juniors and 12 percent of seniors.

If provocative clothing was being worn by one person involved, 15 percent of freshmen, 12 percent of sophomores, 3 percent of juniors and 5 percent of seniors said consent had been granted. If one party began to remove clothing, 35 percent of freshmen, 25 percent of sophomores, 27 percent of juniors and 25 percent of seniors said consent was granted.

Most seniors, juniors and sophomores have completed the Health and Safety requirement and have been taught about consent. But the survey results still show a significant number of uninformed students unsure when clear consent had been given.

Junior Selena De La Torre said she doesn’t remember learning about consent, and she began to learn about the topic through posters advocating for consent on campus, through social media and through stories published in the Gazette.

“I feel like students do need to know what consent means, and, to a certain point, when it’s OK to do that stuff and when it’s maybe not OK to do that stuff,” De La Torre said. “I think it’s really good we’re going to be talking about (consent), because I feel like not everyone has the same definition or point of view (on consent).”

The posters that De La Torre is referring to were made by the Empowered Against Violence (E.A.V.) club to promote the concept of consent. Last year, E.A.V. was a grant-funded program on the GBHS campus which met once a week and taught participants about sexual assaults, how to prevent them and resources that could be of service to survivors of assault/abusive relationships.

A representative from Stand Up Placer – a Placer County organization that provides support, resources and services to survivors of sexual assault – taught a lesson

SOURCE: A survey of 190 Granite Bay High students conducted in nine GBHS classes.

each week, but this year, E.A.V. is a school club. Julia Huss, a junior, is also the E.A.V. club president, and she said the club is a safe place for survivors to talk or ask for resources.

If a student has been assaulted or knows someone who has been assaulted, he or she can also talk to a trusted adult or teacher on the GBHS campus, but should know that because teachers are mandatory reporters, the situation becomes a legal issue. Teachers are mandated to report situations of abuse – for example, if a student is being sexually or physically abused or caused harm to themselves or other.

“Help is kind of weird on all campuses because there’s a lot of mandated reporters,” Li said. “So if you’re not sure if you want to get the police involved, which is a completely reasonable (feeling), be wary of mandated reporters, because they will have to report it and it will become a legal issue. Just talking about it to a safe, non-biased source is really helpful. When you put it into words (it might help you see) this wasn’t

(your) fault.

“A lot of people don’t know about Stand Up Placer – talk to them, they’re very nice and they’re there to listen, and they’re not mandated. There’s a lot of resources that they offer and even just if you’re calling for a friend – like (if) you don’t know what to do – that’s a good help line and they’ll give you advice and listen to you.”

In response to a portion of students stating that consent had been granted if one party was the others’ significant other, De La Torre said asking is important for couples because “it’s not something you automatically get to do” and should not be assumed – even if the individuals are involved in a romantic relationship.

“Your significant other doesn’t belong to you,” senior Nathan Dell’Orto said. “You don’t have the right to do with them what you choose. Just because they’re your significant other doesn’t mean that it’s an implied yes. If they say no – no means no. So unless they give you a yes, there is no consent.”

In a survey given by the Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foun-

Gazette infographic /HANNAH HOLZER

dation to college students currently and recent graduates, only 29 percent of respondents said they believe mandating sexual assault prevention programs is an effective way to decrease sexual assaults.

However, education on the subject of healthy relationships and consent is an effective way to reduce sexual assaults. Sinor, for example, said education is effective if done correctly.

“I think it’s weird that consent is a touchy issue, when it’s just a clear, simple question,” Li said.

“It implies a lot of other things, but we talk about sex so often and consent is never tied together – (so) why aren’t we having this discussion? Part of having safe sex is asking the partner if they want it – otherwise it’s not sex.” *** If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, email eavgbhs@gmail.com to talk with a member of E.A.V., or call Stand Up Placer’s crisis line (1-800575-5352) to speak with a trained member for help or for resources.

Friday, November 13, 2015

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A8

INDISCRETIONS: Questionable choices are exposed on social media Continued from page A4

“I guess when you hear stuff … it’s intriguing and then it sparks a conversation whether or not it’s a conversation you should even be having,” Franklin said. “It just gets your attention.”

Although many things on social media are incorrect or false, Franklin said she feels like there are a lot of things she wouldn’t

know about without social media.

“You can learn things from what people post – some good and (some) bad things,” Franklin said. “Social media is just a breeding ground for horrible ideas.”

GBHS senior Abe Denton said he agrees and that people are bound to take what they see and hear and make it bigger than it really is.

“Social media makes it really hard to keep

things to yourself, especially if you make dumb choices,” Denton said. “It makes everything public.”

Denton said he thinks people post things because it gets them the attention they want and it is worth it to them even if someone is greatly affected by what they fabricate.

“People just want attention,” Denton said. “Why would they post something if they knew no one would care?”

Denton also said he thinks everyone should be careful with what they post if they think their posts could possibly affect their future in negative ways.

Franklin agrees saying she couldn’t imagine a future or her current employer reading her tweets.

“On social media you can emphasize anything, and ... it’s harder to tell what people mean when it’s in writing,” Franklin said.

“You can’t sense sarcasm and you can’t sense if people are being serious or not.”

Denton said even without social media, people would still make bad choices, although there may be a few less poor choices made.

“The world and peers are constantly pushing things in our face, trying to get us to do or believe something,” Denton said, “that we may not want to.”

WYNDEN: Community rallies to get student on celebrity talk show Continued from page A2 Because of community support and social media efforts, the leadership class was informed that Ellen DeGeneres had actually seen their video approximately a week after the campaign started.

“We are 90 percent there, (now) the producers want to see more social media,” Dickson said.

For the leadership students, what had started as a simple class idea had quickly blossomed into a plausible event.

“They are thrilled,” Dickson said. “This little tiny thing we thought we were doing and (now) it has just blown up and it’s really on Channel 10, and El-

len has really seen the videos – that’s crazy!”

The Ellen Show is known for its generosity and outlandish events so bringing a special needs high school fan onto the show safely would not be out of the ordinary. However with less than 21,000 people in all, the Granite Bay community is far from the obvious pick for ‘Ellen’ attention as their show can bring in over 4 million viewers for a single episode.

“I hope he will get on, but if he actually gets on I think I will be speechless,” Garcia said. “This has just showed how great Granite Bay is.”

Wynden’s parents, Peter and Carly Grealy said they are amazed by the way the school and community have reacted.

“We just love what the kids at GBHS have done,” Peter Grealy said.

After a rough start in his elementary years, Wynden has adapted to GBHS to the point where his parents said he doesn’t want to leave.

“He was bullied when he was younger because he was always a bigger kid,” Peter said. “It was hard for him to communicate (since) he was a big kid, and kids just bullied him.”

When Wynden experienced a hard time with interactions with his peers at school he turned to social media and television where his love for Ellen began.

Wynden started watching Ellen in 2003, the same year it first aired and has continued ever since.

He has attended the show twice as a regular audience member but never fully understood why he could not meet Ellen in person.

Carly Grealy said Wynden has “just hooked into her, and now he’s obsessed.”

“He is funny,” Carly Grealy said. “He just has a liking towards certain people, and with her, he just loves her.”

Whether Wynden will receive the opportunity to go onto the Ellen show remains to be seen but regardless, Carly said the attention and support from his peers has been incredible for him. “It’s awesome,” Carly said. “It’s just kind of put a light in his eyes and he is really excited.”

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A9

SUICIDE: Students’ personal experiences with ill relatives influence opinions Continued from page A1 most defiant of all scenarios rebelling against the Oath.

Over the centuries, the Hippocratic Oath has been whittled down, and is most well-known by its most memorable and quoted phrase: “Do no harm.” But what about the circumstances in which, by prescribing life-ending drugs, physicians permanently alleviate the pain of someone suffering intensely? Granite Bay students discussed differing opinions on the topic.

“Recently, I went up to visit my grandmother who just fell and broke her hip and her femur, and she’s not been doing well lately, so I was thinking, … if she wants to hold on for as long as she can – by all means (go ahead) – but I wouldn’t want her to just have to sit there and waste away to nothing, even if she wanted to end her own life,” senior Nathan Dell’Orto said, who is in support of the bill passing. “It’s all about the person’s comfort. I think the way they went about setting up the bill is very good as far as assisted suicide, because the people that I’ve heard critique it make it sound like it’s going to make it way too easy for people to take their own lives, but you need approval from multiple doctors, from what I’ve heard, who say ‘Yes, this person has no chance of surviving, they’ve made the choice to end their own life.”’

The choice and the power to end one’s own life is what most find complicated and complex when deciding whether or not they support the bill. Senior Ryan Joy, who said he is neutral on his stance on the passing of the bill, said he thinks the decision to end a life should be up to the entire family – as that is who will be left to live with the consequences of the decision.

Joy, who, like Dell’Orto, has personal situations that have influenced his stance, said his view on assisted suicide – that it is “not as humane as it seems” – is influenced by his mom’s friend who, once exceedingly healthy and fit, is now dealing with heart problems and bone cancer.

“She’s a 40-year-old mom of (a little girl, and) the chances of her coming out of this and living a decent life (are) not very good,” Joy said. “If her condition were to progress in the wrong way, or some surgery were to go wrong, she would be dying not having given up. The whole thing with cancer is you fight until the very end. That’s what a lot of people pride themselves on. Medicine isn’t completely, 100 percent (correct). You never know what’s going to happen in a human’s body.

One area of controversy surrounding the bill is that suicide in general is controversial in many religions.

Zagaynov, who said his views on the issue are neutral, said his neutral stance has been influenced by his religion.

“I think suicide isn’t the right choice in many circumstances,” Zagaynov said. “But in the circumstances that the assisted suicide would be administered (under), it’s a little more grey. These are patients that would die otherwise.

It’s patients that have six or less months to live, they have a terminal disease and their death would be pretty painful and horrible otherwise, so I think that’s why I’m not really sure where I stand. Because it’s such a grey area. In other cases, it’s black and white – suicide is never the good ... way out.

There’s always another choice that you can make.”

One religion in particular – Catholicism – believes suicide is a sin because life is a gift from God and to defy God is a sin, according to the Catholic Education Resource Center. Furthermore, Catholic Answers reports that a Catholic who repents before suicide will not go to hell, because God may give them a final opportunity for repentance.

However, the Catholic Church has come out in opposition of the passing of the bill because it would allow patients to commit suicide who are not yet terminal and might place pressure on terminally-ill patients to end their own lives.

Carmela Flores, a Catholic senior at GBHS, said she is neutral on the topic, but she does concur with the Catholic Church’s stance.

“I do agree with the Catholic Church that it is immoral to go forth with assisted death,” Flores said. “I personally believe that it is in God’s will to determine (to) take an individual’s life, and that it is not in the position of someone else to do so. I feel that people should value one another and comfort/ support those who are terminally ill up until their death. (However), I also do respect and accept if the patient chooses euthanasia because

they don’t want to keep living life in agony. I also think that they are choosing what is best for them and that they want to die with peace and dignity.”

Senior Reed Homen, who isn’t Catholic himself, said he is influenced by the Catholic ideology because half of his family is Catholic. Homen said he doesn’t believe people should help others hurt themselves, but his views are conflicted in the case of Brittany Maynard – perhaps one of the most well-known cases of assisted suicide – and in her case, the choice to die peacefully was acceptable.

Maynard, a 29-year-old who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, chose to end her life this time last year. A California native, she chose to move with her family to Oregon – a state where assisted suicide had been legalized.

Maynard chose to die peacefully, with the assistance of life-ending drugs, by the side of her family, instead of naturally – where she would have most likely suffered from seizures and extreme pain, perhaps lack of vision or speech, and eventually become paralyzed

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and die.

Before her death, Maynard recorded videos of herself speaking in support of California passing AB 15. The Brittany Maynard Fund is still working to make ‘death with dignity’ available for all, nationally.

While Joy said the topic is still a complicated one, he said he does feel that conversations regarding

assisted suicide are constructive and productive.

“I think Governor Brown’s stance (on the legislation) will provide more of a dialogue,” Joy said.

“Historically, California’s regulations and new laws have really started a national dialogue. There (are) states that are completely against assisted suicide, ... so it is a positive dialogue. It is state by

state. Alabama will probably never pass this for years, because their religious standing is that they want to have the loved one there for as long as they want, and they want God to take them instead of a doctor. So standpoints like that, that are heavily religious, (are helped by) talking about it. It’s better than being complacent in it.”

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SURVEY: Questionnaire seen as unnecessary by some Continued from page A1

ence.

Some of the main reasons that her students didn’t take the survey, Padgett found, centered on the lack of knowledge about the survey.

Students did not understand what it was or what its purpose was, who the information went to and whether there was an opt-out available.

“Administration wasn’t prepared for my class’s response,” Padgett said. “I wasn’t prepared for it. But I went with it and was told it wasn’t an option, and I thought that was interesting, because there should always be an opt-out for giving personal information for any reason. As a faculty, we were told that it was coming but I don’t know if there was a lot of transparency in its purpose.”

To remedy the situation, McGregor came to talk to her class, asking them to take the survey not for their own benefit, but for others’. While there was no clear reason offered for seniors to answer the questions, he appealed to the idea of filling out the survey as a

service for other students.

Finally, 10 to 15 students decided “I tried to be honest with them,” to go back and take the survey afMcGregor said. “It’s not going to terwards, because “they felt that help them at all; it’s going to help (McGregor) was respectful tous build the school. I hoped they wards them … and told them to do viewed it as building the commu- what they felt was the right thing,” nity they’d been a part of.”

Padgett said.

However, many students reIronically, seniors were not even mained unclear about how ex- supposed to take the survey in the actly it was going to help. Senior first place, according to the district Chalyse Thompson, who did not guidelines. However, due to butake the survey, said it was a collec- reaucratic oversight, senior classes tive decision by the class, and that gave up instructional time to parMcGregor “admitted it wasn’t go- ticipate. ing to benefit us at all, and implied From Advanced Placement that if we didn’t do it, we weren’t United States Government teacher going to help the other students,” Jarrod Westberg’s perspective, the which she considered an attempt to survey “was pointless” and “didn’t “guilt trip (the class).” make any sense.” Westberg’s sec“To his credit, (McGregor) said ond period class is seniors only, we were being asked to do this by and participation was unnecessary. the district,” Padgett said, “which “It was a large waste of time for isn’t a bad reason, but when (stu- teachers,” Westberg said. “There dents) push back with questions, I was no explanation either. They don’t think they’re wrong to want were pushing some kind of agenda some answers. I was heartened on us, so it was like they were trythat it came from a place of frus- ing to brainwash me.” tration and inquiry. They weren’t Westberg also questioned the veT: 11.5 in disrespectful.” racity of the statistics McGregor

provided. According to Westberg, teachers asked for the results of last year’s survey in a meeting earlier in the year, and no information was given.

All that was revealed was the large sum of money spent on the EOS services, and the number of students who were influenced to sign up for AP courses after the survey – which, according to Westberg and other teachers, was around six or seven students, not 62.

Regardless, the EOS survey is a source the administration looks to for data on equity in higherlevel courses, and will likely continue in future years.

“My hope is that we can consider developing programs or initiative to better inform our school community to about what higherlevel classes mean for them, from homework loads to teachers,” McGregor said. “But I don’t know what people don’t know until I hear from them.”

T: 21 in

beliefs and feelings about their academic experience, with a focus on AP/IB.” This information is subsequently analyzed and students who might potentially be capable of taking higher-level courses, yet for various reasons aren’t, can be identified and informed of the availability and accessibility of the classes.

“The district initiated a contract with EOS over a year ago to help us examine our practices,” Severson said, “and to determine if there were students who would benefit from an AP or IB experience who were not signing up for classes.”

Last year was the first year the EOS survey debuted at RJUHSD schools. According to the EOS website, the AP/IB Equity & Excellence Project increases sign-up rates for low-income students and ethnic minorities.

Severson, who attended the survey results meeting at three sites, said that “they were different at every site and we learned a great deal.” Districtwide, there was an increase in AP/IB sign ups of more than 1,500 students, which meant that they “achieved equity at all but one school.”

“We want to continue that kind of success,” Severson said.

While the number of students who were identified and signed up for higher-level courses in other schools in the district was reportedly much higher than at GBHS, of the 113 students identified on campus, 62 did sign up for AP/IB courses for the first time – around a 55 percent success rate – according to assistant principal Jessup McGregor. McGregor has been in charge of facilitating the GBHS survey this year.

“My personal goal for the EOS survey is to give equitable chances in higher-level courses to all of our students, even students who might not think that they are AP or IB material, or belong to a subset of students who people don’t typically think of as AP or IB material,” McGregor said. “Kids who wants to (take AP/IB courses) should have the access to it, and that’s not the case currently. The whole point of EOS is learning about their mindsets.”

At the monthly faculty meetings, McGregor presented to the staff about the survey and how to prepare for it.

Currently, the school has achieved equity, according to McGregor. This means that in AP/IB courses, the percentage of certain populations – whether racial or socioeconomic – reflects the overall percentage of those populations on the GBHS campus.

However, because the school has a Caucasian majority of more than 90 percent and is relatively affluent (with an estimated median household income of more than $100,000), in the smaller scale of higher-level classes, the percentages translate to very few students.

“That’s what the numbers say,” McGregor said. “But I don’t think we’re there yet, because we have a lot of mindsets still from people

who are a bit off in terms of who they think belongs in these classes.”

And the results don’t just end with the survey itself. Gathering the information is part of a much larger effort, according to McGregor – EOS is simply “an entry point to get more information.” Part of the effort is to track those students who were identified and consequently enrolled, to ensure that they are not failing classes because of encouragement from administration following the survey and to provide support in case they are struggling.

McGregor is working on this with the help of intervention counselor Melanie Anvari and learning support specialist Holly Minor.

“It’s criminal to me that you could be 18 or 19 years old,” McGregor said, “and only have one path to go down because we didn’t give you access to the courses. We want students to get more access, so they have more access to the colleges of their choice.”

Still, a small yet vocal minority disagreed about the advantages of the EOS survey. Although all students were asked to take it, students in Advanced Placement Literature teacher Jenny Padgett’s second period class chose not to.

According to Padgett, at the time of the survey the students seemed to be “feeling a lot of stress and pressure,” following Homecoming week and the impending deadline for early decision college applications. When she asked her students why they didn’t want to take the survey, they initially cited exhaustion, but when she continued to inquire further, she found it went beyond simply lack of sleep.

“They’re feeling at 17, 18 years old that they’re done,” Padgett said. “They’re constantly fulfilling obligations and requirements, filling out expectations and applications … They just wanted to draw a line.”

Padgett said she didn’t try to push them to complete the survey because she believes that for seniors, many of whom will leave home and live by themselves in college, “it’s good to explore where your lines are.”

“That’s a really important lesson for seniors who … are going to have all kinds of options open to them,” Padgett said. “Attending class, completing assignments, showing up for obligations, partying – a lot of seniors haven’t had the chance to assert themselves against authority. In this case, it was being told to take this survey.

I chose to turn it into a chance to let them explore that … In college, they’re going to be jumping on this crusade, or joining this group; I think some critical thinking skills will be good there.”

Instead of merely permitting her students to stay in class, Padgett discussed their decision with them, pushing them to articulate their motivations and choose whether they would be OK with the consequences, if indeed there were negative ramifications. Additionally, she assigned an essay on rebellion, turning it into a learning experi-

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TRADE SCHOOL: Course closure creates conversation

Continued from page A1

lege and thought it was a viable experience.

“I graduated with a degree in human physiology from Oregon,” Preston said. “Unfortunately, that’s a degree that can’t really get you anywhere without more schooling. My end goal is to either go to physician assistant (PA) school or med school. Most PA schools require hundreds of hours of handson patient care experience in order to apply, so I thought working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) would be a good way to get those hours.”

Although Preston values both her degree and CNA certificate, she said her degree would be lacking without her CNA certificate.

“Having my CNA certificate supplements my degree because it directly takes what I learned about anatomy and physiology in the classroom and applies it to a work environment,” Preston said. “My degree was able to give me the required coursework that I’ll need to apply to schools, and knowledge that I can relate to my job, but the degree itself really isn’t useful without further certification.”

Even though Preston completed trade school, she has little to no recollection of it being mentioned when she went to GBHS. “I don’t really (remember) it ever being mentioned as an option,” Preston said, “There were never talks about how to go to trade school, or even what a trade school might be able to do for you. Even thinking back, there were dozens of presentations from different colleges and universities in the Career Center, but I don’t remember any from schools like ITT Tech or Carrington College.

“Going to a four-year school may not be financially possible for everyone, and a lot of people may feel like college isn’t the right option for them, so I think making sure other options are known would be valuable to students.”

Trade schools and GBHS There are many reasons as to why vocational schools aren’t more emphasized.

“Our district … and our school has a focus on (wanting) kids to have choices,” principal Jennifer Leighton said. “If you are 16 or 17, you don’t know for sure what you want to do and we want to open as many doors as possible, so I like the idea of kids being able to do whatever they want to do. (Trade school) is not looked down upon, but there is a perception that kids think that it is looked down upon.”

The primary focus on college could have something to do with the atmosphere and expectations of the school.

“There is a high expectation that students will obtain a four-year degree, or go to a community college and then transfer to a four-year institution,” Preston said. “There is definitely a stigma around doing anything other than the conventional college route, so I think that contributes to why other options may not be discussed as often.”

Some feel that another reason why trade schools are not discussed enough is due to parental and societal expectations in South Placer County.

“I think part of it is (that) our (parental clientele) and our local region has kind of come to expect white-collar-type, collegeeducated careers from their kids,” Advanced Placement United States

and International Baccalaureate History of the Americas teacher Brandon Dell’Orto said.

As for programs on campus preparing students for trade school, there are four programs on campus that are classified as Career Technical Education, which are media, engineering, computer science and business.

“We used to have a culinary program,” said Steve Dolan, the Design and Engineering and ROP Construction Technology teacher said. “But a few years back, our then principal, (Mike) McGuire, decided to make a cut there ... and that was a shame.”

Another class taught by Dolan is Construction Technology, which could be cut soon. Senior Nick Lynch would be upset if CT was cut and said he has learned a lot in Dolan’s class.

“You learn a lot of building techniques,” Lynch said. “You learn how to use a lot of power tools that I would never have any idea how to use, you learn techniques that can help you fix things around your house. I’ve learned no life skills at all in my other classes compared to CT.” Lynch said trade school is almost downplayed at GBHS. “They almost make trade school seem like it’s not an option.”

Lynch said. “They definitely try to get everybody to go to college, and for some reason now it seems wrong if somebody just wants to be a builder or if someone just wants to be a truck driver. They don’t see that as being OK anymore – they definitely don’t want you to go to a vocational (school) where you just learn one skill – but if that’s what somebody wants to do, they should be able to do that. “ However, Dolan recognizes the significance of the construction class but also points out that the school only has so many classes to pick.

For students who aren’t as skilled in academic subjects but still like the brainstorming, planning and building aspect of engineering, Dolan said he recommends they look at construction management.

“I spent a brief amount of time as a construction manager, and it’s a growing career path that you actually make more money in than an architect or a civil or structural engineer,” Dolan said.

“Construction managers are very well-paid and very high in demand.”

Due to statewide, mandated testing (STAR testing) started by the California Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999 (PSAA) and the Bush Administration’s No Child Left Behind Act, many programs that didn’t have testable knowledge had to be cut.

“We don’t have woodshop any longer,” Healy said. “Nor do we have anything in the automotive industry because that’s mechanical. We actually did (have) auto shop back in the 90s in our district (but) they closed those programs.

The high-stakes testing precluded us from doing things like CT.” Another reason for the dropping of these classes is A-G requirements.

“One thing is … it has not been A-G approved, because that really is a school focus,” Leighton said. “What’s going to reach more of our kids?”

Healy said students who don’t excel in academics or are not nat-

Celebrating twenty years

urally skilled test takers sometimes can feel like they aren’t as important.

For these students, classes they like may not be A-G but still hold an importance to them.

“Vocational arts, performing arts

and visual arts and then other electives like journalism and yearbook play a really big role in students’ success,” drama teacher Kyle Holmes said. “Students are good at things (that may not be) academic, and for them to feel like school

is worth coming to every day ... those programs are great ... and I think that they are necessary.”

Dolan agrees that trade school is not talked about as much as college at GBHS, but that it should still be considered a feasible option, and

that whatever students end up doing, they should have some guidance along the way.

“We as educators need to at least plant the idea in a young person’s mind that it’s more of just getting into college,” Dolan said.

My name is Peter, and in eight years I’ll be an alcoholic.

I’ll start drinking in middle school, just at parties.

But my parents won’t start talking to me about it until high school. And by then, I’ll already be in some trouble.

The thing is, my parents won’t even see it coming.

START TALKING BEFORE THEY START DRINKING Kids who drink before age15 are 5 times more likely to have alcohol problems when they’re adults.

To learn more, go to www.stopalcoholabuse.gov or call 1.800.729.6686

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GAZETTE Consent education mandatory for responsible sex 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: Amanda Nist Anjali Shrivastava Lifestyle Editors: Carissa Lewis Garbhita Shah Hannah Xu Green Screen Editors: Olivia Heppell Blake Panter Amanda Prather Epsa Sharma Sports Editors: Maggie Bell Jordan Holt Cole Kahmann Matthew Ontiveros Jacqueline Romero Online Editors: Natasha Chanda Clair Kasel Jill Kurpershoek Ali Lemos Isabella Tkachuk Illustrators: Natasha Chanda Olivia Heppell Blake Panter Troy Pawlak Photo Editor: Madeline Williams Staff Writers/ Photographers: Paige Erickson Sonia Garcha Kassidy Henson Connor Hinson Kayomi Kayoshi Sabina Mahavni Parker Matheson Frances Strnad Meagan Tallman Jenny Tarbell 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.

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I

n October, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the ‘Yes means Yes’ law which requires high school students in California to learn what it means to get clear consent before engaging in sexual activity.

This law will require all students to take a sexual education course unless their parents exempt them.

In the law it is stated that consent must be indisputable. It is not enough for someone to only say ‘no,’ but they have to explicitly say ‘yes,’ and consent cannot be given while either partners are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Although this is a great advancement, some have found issue with the new law.

We don’t understand why the law is controversial in the first place. What’s wrong about teaching high school kids to attain consent before sex?

EDITORIAL The voice of the Granite Bay Gazette

Some critics of the law claim there is no true, clear line of what consent really is, and that the definition is still in debate.

But isn’t this the whole point of the law? It will create a straightforward, understandable definition of consent and educate high schoolers about this meaning.

It’s supposed to help define sexual assault by establishing the clear line between what consensual and what nonconsensual is. If teenagers understand what consent is, they will make more intelligent decisions while engaging in

sexual activity.

Another criticism of the law is that people might use it as a weapon and claim they were raped because they didn’t say “yes.” This is an illogical accusation, because if they didn’t say yes, they technically were assaulted.

Also, this law isn’t going to prevent sexual assault. If someone truly wants to physically and sexually assault someone, learning the rules of consent isn’t going to impact them.

This law is for justice. This law is for victims.

Requiring a class which teaches teenagers what consent is is extremely important.

As ninth graders at Granite Bay High School, we should have been taught about this matter. It will benefit the students immensely because they’ll have an idea of what is necessary during sex, and hopefully it will teach people

to acknowledge if their partner is truly ready for sex.

The only people who are against this law are the parents of students, not the students themselves. They refuse to believe their children should be subjected to proper sexual education, for some reason we don’t even understand.

Maturity is required to become sexually active. If people are not ready to face the consequences that come with having sex, or they’re so enthusiastic and aroused they’re willing to force themselves on someone, they shouldn’t be having sex.

The only real problem with this law is that it wasn’t enforced years ago. We should be educated about consent as soon as possible. High school is a time where kids explore their sexualities and experiment with sexual activity. There’s no better time for kids to learn about consent.

Lack of scholarship money is not a mark of failure High-profile sports receive more money to give to athletes

G

ranite Bay High School senior athletes are about to sign away the next four years of their lives to compete at the collegiate level, a dream planted while playing Little League baseball or youth soccer.

The Granite Bay community thrives off of the almost genetic athletic potential of its children. Or is it the water? Each year, multiple students at GBHS sign to play a Division I, II or III sport, and of those students, a few will go on to play the sport professionally.

However, it is

ironic that a community that idolizes its sports teams unconsciously undermines the achievements of its individual athletes.

Success in youth sports can spawn the misconception that a full-ride athletic scholarship is guaranteed.

Yes, DI and DII schools provide $2.7 billion in athletic scholarships annually to more than 150,000 athletes, according to the NCAA. But the reality is, only two percent of high school seniors are awarded any athletic scholarship, and what’s more deceiving is only six sports in the nation offer full rides – women’s basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, tennis and men’s

COMMENTARY

tral component of signing ceremonies, but as fewer athletes receive athletic money, the letter of intent is being replaced by blank pieces of paper to fulfill the criteria of literally signing to play a college sport.

To sign a letter of intent, an athlete is committing himself to a particular school for a particular sthompson.gazette@gmail.com amount of

scholar ship. And

to partici-

pate in a

signing ceremony, those students who are not receiving athletic aid simply sign a piece of paper to designate which school they will be attending.

Many sports programs award their upperclassmen athletes with larger scholarships, leaving a disproportionate DA share for incoming athletes.

AN CH If a student is not receiving as much HA AS athletic money, it does not mean the AT N / ns o athlete is any less deserving or desirable. i at str llu Yet parents, journalists and broadcasti tte ze ers perceive the additional funding as an Ga basketball exceptional level of talent. and football.

Any particular sport or college practices Naturally football and men’s basketball different methods of distributing scholarare huge money-makers for any college, so ships, so it is erroneous to make a it is obvious that the NCAA would reserve conclusion about the individual’s athletic huge funding for these sports. But sports potential by the size of his or her that generate less viewership suffer from scholarship. less available funding and with that, fewer For example, some colleges do not award scholarship opportunities. scholarships to incoming freshmen while The National Letter of Intent is the cenothers only provide financial and merit-

savanna thompson

based scholarships.

Moreover, many view the success of recognizable athletes as insignificant because they decided to play at the DIII level where there is no athletic scholarship.

Any athlete recruited to play in college is worthy of celebration as the individual’s success did not come any easier than that of a DI or DII athlete.

The life of a college athlete revolves around the sport; it’s a job. To avoid this huge commitment, athletes may opt out of playing DI sports to compete at a lower level, but they then face a prejudice that they are a less-admirable athlete.

Rather than discriminate against athletes who do not receive athletic scholarships, the community should be more congratulatory of any athlete because only half of the athletes at the DI and DII level receive any athletic aid.

With all the GBHS athletes that sign to play collegiate sports, the community feels a great sense of pride for its athletic programs, coaches and players. This sense of community worth should not be dictated by the level an athlete chooses to compete at in college or by the dollar figure attached to an athletic scholarship. *** Savanna Thompson, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Mainstream feminism ignores repressed minorities Some women experience discrimination on counts of gender, race and sexuality

W

ith the vast number of terms floating around on the interwebs, it’s difficult to keep up – especially when a new one appears. White feminism, though not a new concept, is often either unacknowledged or unknown.

Basically, white feminism is the failure to recognize intersectionality, which is the idea that different forms of societal oppression intersect.

Intersectionality is ignored in white feminism for a number of reasons – it’s an uncomfortable topic; it “takes away from the core value of feminism;” it muddles the line between the struggles of sexism and the struggles of racism; it opens the door to acknowledging that nonmarginalized women have privilege over women who are also minorities.

White feminism shows its face in ways we often miss.

COMMENTARY

hannah xu hxu.gazette@gmail.com

When a white woman stands for feminism, we applaud her.

On the contrary, when a black woman makes the same case, she is held to the stereotype that she is just “an angry black woman.”

When Miley Cyrus exposes herself for her music video Wrecking Ball, despite the controversy she is still recognized as a champion of owning her sexuality. However, when

Nicki Minaj did the same with Anaconda, she was ridiculed.

This poses the question as to why that was the case for the Minaj music video but not for the Cyrus music video.

A confident black woman taking a stand for her sexuality makes others uncomfortable. White women simply do not experience this sexual oppression in the same way.

And unfortunately, it’s easy to fall prey to white feminism. But awareness can make all the difference.

Earlier this year, an argument erupted between the two musical powerhouses Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift.

Minaj tweeted that she was tired of black women not being acknowledged for influencing pop culture, and stated that any music video that celebrates women with slim bodies will get nominated for an award.

By saying that struggles like homophobia, racism and ableism are not the problems of feminists, we fail to achieve equality for all women.

Swift, who took the tweet as a personal attack, then responded saying that it isn’t like Minaj to pit women against women.

While still encompassing the core idea that feminism is about all women, Swift made the crucial mistake of failing to acknowledge that what Minaj stated held truth.

Despite still standing for her views on feminism, her tweet ignores the problems of different women and vouches solely for the problems that privileged women face.

She made an inevitable, all-encompassing umbrella for the problems of women, when in reality, every situation is different.

Yes, putting women under an umbrella makes each one

equal to the other.

But by doing this, we forget that different women experience different levels of sexism.

We forget that black women still face racism on top of sexism.

We forget that trans women are more likely to be harassed or assaulted than cis women.

We forget that Hispanic women only make 54 cents for every dollar a man makes.

By saying that struggles like homophobia, racism and ableism are not the problems of feminists, we fail to achieve equality for all women.

And feminism that doesn’t strive to find equality for all – that isn’t feminism at all. *** Hannah Xu, a junior, is a Gazette Lifestyle editor.

Friday, November 13, 2015

The Granite Bay Gazette

w

HEARD on the BAY

Who has been your favorite guest star on The Ellen Show?

“Taylor Swift because she’s my favorite artist and she’s so sweet.”

freshman

Kaitlin Wreshe

Voices A13

Current generation’s motivation plummeting Our laziness is evident in everything we do

COMMENTARY

O

ur generation has become increasingly more lazy – however we have aspirations which cannot allow us to be.

We want to find our soulmates, yet we don’t do anything remotely romantic; we want to go to our dream colleges, yet we become too lazy to complete the applications which then impacts our chances of acquiring the jobs we desire.

The problem with most of this generation’s issues is that despite being aware of them, there appears to be no active fight to solve our problems.

Apparently, true romance is dead with our generation – that’s almost a fact at this point – but so is anything that requires any effort.

True romance, apparently once existing, now seems as though it’s less common than most comets. We

parker matheson pmatheson.gazette@gmail.com

live in an age where favoriting, or now liking, a person’s tweets is an adequate form of flirting. Nowhere or at anytime do I recall my parents teaching me that their love started with obtaining mutual likes of one another on Instagram.

No great Shakespearean romances started with, “Yeah dude, she keeps favoriting my tweets so she has to be into me.”

I can’t tell you how many times

I’ve seen people tweet that making effort is attractive, yet ironically the majority of kids my age seem to lack just that – effort.

Even college applications have been designed for our ‘convenience,” aka laziness.

The common application offers a means by which one application applies to hundreds of schools. Even though we have this ease, kids still disregard many of those schools for fear of requesting letters of recommendation.

Kids are limiting their futures because they’re afraid to ask one or two people a few questions. Then these same kids go on to retweet Twitter accounts such as one named “Billionaires,” insinuating they aspire to become a billionaire.

As far as I’m concerned, you’re going to have to do more than merely ask for a letter of recommendation if you’re going to buy those matching his and hers Range Rovers with your billions of dollars.

Furthermore, despite our higher education and advanced use of technology, we complain about not find-

ing jobs or being successful enough.

I know there are facts that say there aren’t enough jobs out there for college graduates, but it seems as though kids are willing to create any excuse as a reason for their lack of success.

It also seems like most of our generation is suddenly supporting Bernie Sanders purely because he’s offering free college and we have no problem with the fact they’d be using someone else’s tax dollars to pay for our education.

It’s almost as if our generation thinks we’re owed something, and this allows us to be indolent..

Our internet never seems to be fast enough, which is kind of a crazy accusation considering we’re the first generation to grow up with a mobile connection in our pocket.

Our generation, myself included, has this insatiable need for more, which in turn leads us to many more great endeavors – but it always ends up circling back to a lack of effort that limits our abilities. *** Parker Matheson, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Hawaiian culture should not be a costume

“Bradley Cooper because he’s super sexy and his scare prank was hilarious.”

GBHS ‘Hawaiian Day’ proves to be culturally oblivious and insensitive COMMENTARY

sophomore

kayomi kayoshi

I

Arman Behesht “One Direction because I really enjoy their music.”

junior

Ariana Samson “Taylor Swift because Ellen pranks her every time and it’s funny.”

kkayoshi.gazette@gmail.com

magine having an African American day, Indian day or Native American Day. While it might seem like a kind thing to have, it’s extremely easy for people to disrespect the culture of ethnicities they are not a part of.

These are all hypothetical examples of days that are dedicated to others’ cultures, yet for the most part, none of these are common because people are aware of cultural appropriation and being politically correct. But for some incomprehensible reason, Granite Bay High School always has “Hawaiian Day” as one of the Spirit Day themes.

I cannot express the extent of my disgust on this issue. Being of Hawaiian descent, and someone who avidly participates and practices the Hawaiian culture, I find the “Hawaiian Day” theme very offensive.

Initially, it might seem like a neat concept, but when I come to school and see everyone in plastic leis, grass skirts and coconut bras, I honestly want to scratch my eyes out.

For some reason unknown to me, people have this idea that Hawaiians actually wore these items.

Hawaiians have never worn coconut bras, grass skirts and wouldn’t give plastic leis a second glance.

Yet for some reason – this is what people associate Hawai’i with.

When it comes to Hawai’i, people tend to be very ignorant. The Hawaiian culture has been whitewashed. When Hawai’i was first annexed, the United States government banned Hawaiians from prac-

ticing their language, dancing, hula and other cultural practices. Now, even the names of the islands are said incorrectly by the people on the mainland, and the Hawaiian pronunciation is completely neglected.

Also, every time I tell people that I’m Hawaiian and speak the language, they accuse me of lying and forcefully tell me that “Hawaiian isn’t a language.”

Whenever this happens, I’m blown away by their obliviousness. stupidity and their audacity to tell me that Hawaiian isn’t a language.

If Hawaiian isn’t a language, then where do the words aloha, mahalo and ohana come from? These words are extremely overused and only known because of Lilo and Stitch, yet some people refuse to admit that Hawaiian is a language.

Students are exceptionally ignorant when it comes to the Hawaiian culture, but I don’t blame them.

That’s not where my animosity comes from.

I don’t like when a population that is so oblivious to Hawaiian culture, my culture, has the nerve to dedicate a spirit day to it, as if being Hawaiian is some type of costume.

Having done hula for years, I can tell you the effort put into the art that is hula. If you think that we dance in those fake plastic grass skirts and those headache-inducing colorful flower leis students wear on ‘Hawaiian Day,’ then you are beyond wrong.

I have pulled all-nighters just making headpieces for my costumes. I don’t know why people think of the Hawaiians as being uncultured. Do you think we didn’t have cloth in Hawai’i? Is that why you think that we had to wear grass skirts and coconut bras?

The Hawaiians either wore skirts and tube top-esque shirts or they danced in the nude; coconut bras and grass skirts were never worn.

For those people who think that those shirts with palm trees, beaches or pineapple designs on them are Hawaiian shirts, here’s your moment of enlightenment: they’re not. None of the things on those shirts are exclusively Hawaiian, so I don’t know why those tacky shirts are associated with Hawai’i.

I’ll admit, some of my family members own Hawaiian shirts, but they don’t have the stereotypical design of inauthentic Hawaiian shirts. They have designs of taro, poi or spam on them; they have things that are actually accurately associated with Hawai’i.

Honestly, I cannot fathom why someone’s ethnicity is a spirit day. It’s demeaning to my culture, especially when I see people’s horribly inaccurate portrayals of what Hawai’i is.

Dressing up as a Hawaiian is very insulting. Being Hawaiian isn’t a costume for me – I am not allowed the option to decide when I want to be Hawaiian or when I don’t want to. It’s who I am. If anything, the ‘Hawaiian’ day we have at GBHS should be changed to Tourist day, because it definitely is not Hawaiian day. *** Kayomi Kayoshi, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer.

How can I crack the SAT when it’s already broken?

Standardized tests do not effectively measure intelligence

senior

Wynden Greeley Gazette photos / EPSA SHARMA

“Hugh Jackman – he’s super humble and seemed like a super real person.”

staff

Natalie Elkin Compiled by Epsa Sharma

COMMENTARY

A

t the time of its creation, the SAT stood for Scholastic Aptitude Test. The name was then changed to Scholastic Assessment Test, SAT Reasoning Test, and as of 1997, the letters S, A and T stand for nothing. And just like the letters, the actual SAT test strayed from its original, intended purpose.

Standardized tests are a huge part of high school culture – in our minds, a good score on these tests is a ticket into a good college.

The SAT in particular is thought to be an indicator of how smart a student is and more importantly, how well they will do in college. Except, it doesn’t test any of that.

Intelligence is impossible to quantify merely using a multiple choice test.

How can a test which measures our knowledge of obscure vocabulary words and elementary math skills accurately predict our chance of success?

Carl Brigham, the man who created the SAT, was an ardent

anjali shrivastava ashrivastava.gazette@gmail.com

eugenicist. He believed American intelligence was on a decline due to increasing racial diversity.

Basically, we are still using the same format of a test that was produced during a time when segregation was accepted.

In 1926, the birth year of the SAT, it was generally thought that certain races were smarter than others. And wouldn’t you know it, the SAT test “confirmed” this.

Its results perfectly replicated the preconceived “intellect hierarchy.”

In other words, the original test, which was severely racially biased, did not describe individuals’ aptitude, but their stereotypes.

And the prejudice surrounding this test continues today.

Studies have shown a correlation between household income and scores on the SAT. According to fairtest.org, male students tend to have higher scores than female, even though female students have higher matriculation and graduation rates.

One theory as to why this is, is that the format, language, references and expected set of knowledge are more familiar to certain groups of people.

For example, in a study conducted by Phyllis Rosser, she found the questions girls were getting wrong and boys were getting right were on traditionally “masculine” subjects such as sports and business.

In no way am I saying that girls know less about these subjects than boys, but if this test is equally fair, then there should be a balance of traditionally “masculine” and “feminine” questions.

And the other obvious reason is wealthy families can afford test prep, tutoring and other helpful assets.

So basically the SAT is just as much a test of personal resources and wealth as it is of knowledge and aptitude, if not more so.

I ask now, why do so many colleges continue to use and even

require this outdated, biased test?

Maybe it’s because of habit, but I think it’s because the SAT provides a simple way for colleges to compare students.

Ideally, an evaluation as important as college acceptance would be personalized and holistic. But in reality, admission and high test scores are synonymous in most minds.

The entire idea of the SAT is to reward the people who are smart according to colleges’ standards by giving them opportunities to become even smarter. And the kids who scored poorly will not receive what they need in order to excel, but what their intelligence is worth according to one number.

Testing to determine what a student needs in terms of resources is reasonable, but testing to determine what resources a student deserves is a little more questionable.

What really is the goal of American education? Is it to help every student learn by giving them the best opportunities or only teach a select few who happened to bubble in the right letters? *** Anjali Shrivastava, a junior, is a Gazette Voices editor.

A14 News

Second look

Friday, November 13, 2015 w The Granite Bay Gazette

Homecoming Hype.

Gazette photo /MADELINE WILLIAMS

Gazette photo /JENNIFER TARBELL

Gazette photo /KASSIDY HENSON

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

ď ˇShowing their spirit at the Homecoming rally, above, seniors Hailey Dredge and Mira Pexa, above, sing the Granite Bay High School anthem. Seniors Chris Rufo and Sabrina McCord, above left, dance in the senior guy/girl dance. Alumni and 2014 homecoming royalty Maadhav Shah and Daniella Cassano, left, make an appearance to crown the 2015 Homecoming king and queen. The band, far left, marches down Wellington Way at the first ever GBHS Homecoming parade. Seniors Brooke Gonzalez, Kylie Shimada and Gianni Cannon, below, celebrate their last time being on their class float. The 2015 Homecoming royalty court, bottom, react to the announcement of the Homecoming king, Michael Birch.

Gazette photo /KASSIDY HENSON

Gazette photo /KASSIDY HENSON

Lifestyle

Granite Bay Gazette

Friday w

COMMENTARY

B Section

November 13, 2015

garbhita shah gshah.gazette@gmail.com

Hard work is undermined too often I am naturally inclined to challenge myself academically.

I stay up late at night and wake up early in the morning. There have been countless numbers of times that I’ve forced myself to only have three to four hours of sleep in one night, assuring myself that earning an ‘A’ on my upcoming test will be much more rewarding than a few extra hours of sleep.

I think that at this point it is safe to mention that I am a hard worker and a sincere student. I do not seek superfluous commendation for my hard work nor do I intend to affirm that I am a more exceptional student than others.

I simply ask for some courteous respect, and I know that several other equally – if not more – hardworking students would agree with me.

To expand upon this, a couple weeks ago, students took the EOS (Equal Opportunity Schools) survey in their second period classes, a district-wide mandate in an attempt to ensure that all students had the knowledge and resources at their school to enroll in higher level classes.

In an effort to encourage student enrollment in challenging courses, the latter part of the survey presented us with passages, stating that working hard for a difficult academic subject makes a person more intelligent, expanding the acuteness of their brain.

While the research behind the studies was accurate and delivered with positive intention, I could not help but detect an underlying pretense.

Because, as soon as hard-working students like me enter such higher level classes - ready to take on all the challenges to the best of our abilities - we are instantly demoralized and told that we are working too hard.

The most mocking statement of all that is jeered at us remains the unforgettable: “There’s no need to work hard when you can work smart.”

Are we suddenly not smart because we work hard? Why is our intelligence suddenly not associated with our personal motivation to excel academically, but rather, is seen as a reflection of our abilities to produce an end result – be it a mediocre one?

Supporting working smart over working hard dismisses the fundamental idea that achieving our aspirations in the future depends upon how hard we work in the present.

Instead, it promotes the idea that learning how to take short cuts and simply doing the bare minimum right now is what our long-term success is founded upon.

This mindset is so prevalent that one’s ability to produce a successful finished product is evaluated over one’s diligence, and hard work is simply reduced to be seen as a wasted effort.

However, I refuse to become discouraged and lower my personal standards simply because of others’ expectations of me.

Because at the end of a long day, it is always comforting to hear that hard work will pay off in the longrun. However seldom heard the statement may be, the truth behind it is what intrinsically motivates me.

***

Garbhita Shah, a senior, is a Lifestyle editor

Sleep or School?

BY CARISSA LEWIS

clewis.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

W

Despite the recommended school start time of 8:30 a.m. to allow students to fully wake up in the morning, Granite Bay High School begins class at 7:45 a.m.

BY SURINA KHURANA

skhurana.gazette@gmail.com

aking up for school can be one of the toughest chores for students. However, studies have shown on multiple occasions that students would dramatically benefit from having school start later in the day.

The American Academy of Pediatrics published a new policy in 2014 stating that “middle and high schools should aim for a starting time of no earlier than 8:30 a.m.”

The average start time for high schools throughout the United States, however, is 8:03 a.m. according to a report from theCenters for Disease Control and Protection (CDC).

It is recommended that schools allow students’ biological clocks and circadian rhythms to adjust to the 8:30 a.m. start time. At certain times of the day, the biological clock opposes sleep, making it natural for teens to struggle with falling asleep early in on the night.

“There’s … a period of time in the evening where (adolescents’) brains don’t shut off,” said Natalie

Elkin, who teaches Advanced Placement Psychology and Peer Counseling. “So it’s normal for them to not really be able to go to sleep until after 10:00 p.m.”

If a student goes to bed at 11:00 p.m., the natural time for adolescents to fall asleep, and sleeps for nine hours, they would wake up at 8:00 a.m. This is 15 minutes after Granite Bay High School begins first period.

According to CDC, 17.7 percent of public high schools started their school day after 8:30 a.m. during the 2011-2012 school year, but GBHS has yet to adopt such policies.

“A lot of people aren’t even awake in the morning (in class) and I know that I barely retain information in the morning,” senior Aishwarya Pattnaik said. “I can

barely wake up and I don’t know what’s happening in the morning.”

According to the National Sleep Foundation, only one in three students get eight or more hours of sleep.

But even though there are benefits that come from modifying the school day, several problems could arise.

Transportation is one of the leading issues preventing schools from starting classes later.

“We share buses with the elementary schools … so that would need to be revisited,” principal Jennifer Leighton said.

Another central issue concerns athletics and other extracurricular activities.

“Our athletes miss so much class right now,” Leighton said.

“If we start later, we will go later

in the day, and athletes will miss even more class.”

Senior Sara Fassler is involved in the band program at GBHS and plays varsity volleyball. On most days, Fassler gets to school at 6:30 a.m. for band rehearsal and, after volleyball practice, leadership meetings for band, and band practice, isn’t able to leave until 9:00 p.m. “(Starting school later) would be beneficial for … the select group of people who choose not to do extracurriculars,” Fassler said. “They wouldn’t have to start early.”

As for sports, clubs and other programs, the activities would simply continue on regardless of what time school let out and started.

“I think that if everyone started (school) later, band would still start at the same time,” Fassler said. “To us, that would just mean more rehearsal time.”

Pattnaik, an International Baccalaureate student and member of the Speech and Debate team, devotes much of her time to academics, striving only for the best.

“I would say (I sleep) maybe five to six hours (per night),” Patnaik said.

Pattnaik is not alone, however. It is common at GBHS for

students to partake in as many activities as they can, sacrificing their sleep.

Elkin says that one of the main reasons students pack so many activities into their schedules is to get into a “good” college.

“If (getting into college is) the ultimate goal, and we are willing to make every sacrifice we need to achieve that goal, then … that means we know what has to go into a college application,” Elkin said. “We know all the things people have to do – volunteer, be an MVP of this sport, be president of that club, have travelled here, interned there and done everything in the world under the sun and have done it really well.”

The obsession to do well in everything that one can possibly do in high school prevents students from making health a priority.

Schools start early, in part, so students can do as many activities as they can after school. “(We’re on one) end of the spectrum where we want the ultimate supreme college and we’re willing to sacrifice health and happiness,” Elkin said. “If we shifted that and valued health and happiness and were willing to sacrifice maybe the Ivy League schools, only then would we be open to changing the school day to later.”

Casting away mobility: broken bones and big bruises Troy Pawlak injures both arms

BY BLAKE PANTER

bpanter.gazette@gmail.com

S

nap, crackle, pop – Troy has two broken wrists.

Troy Pawlak, a senior at Granite Bay High School and co-editor-in-chief of the Granite Bay Gazette, was enjoying what was left of his day on Friday relaxing after a day of midterms. What was supposed to be a fun skating session with his friend ended in a cast-astrophic accident.

Troy and his partner in disaster, David Damiano, had been down the hill a couple of times before on their penny boards.

This style of board is 22 inches long and built for cruising, not for downhill skating and speed.

See the problem here?

Previously the two had kept

their distance while rocketing down the hill, but on the final descent, Troy loosened up and decided to get a little closer. David took a tumble, and Troy, not far behind, had to make a split second decision: save himself and ruthlessly run over David or execute a roll maneuver.

Deciding on the roll maneuver, Troy hit the ground, getting his hand stuck beneath him and losing a portion of skin on his back.

With one break in the left arm and two breaks in the right, the pain made it evident to Troy that something was wrong. Bone didn’t break through the skin, but Troy knew he made the wrong decision based off the unnatural angle of his left wrist. The

nature of the breaks in his right drives to the hospital with two broken arms, they hit every wrist gave him a fleeting hope single red light. The pain conit was simply sprained. It was tinuously intensified, growing clear to Troy he had made a to a six on the pain scale. foolhardy decision, and his After waiting in the hospital friend was left with nothing but for some time, in what seemed scraped up palms. like waiting room after waiting While they moved to the room, Troy was finally given side of the road, a random x-rays – the second most painbystander rushed to their side. ful part of the entire endeavor.

Troy called his mom while the Angling his wrists while the bystander called 911.

At that point, on a scale from doctors took the x-rays was a brutal endeavor. Trembling one to 10, Troy was ranking only a four in terms of pain due with pain from having to hold his arms in place, the ache shot to his adrenaline rush. up to a solid 11 on the pain The fire truck came, and one scale, making the experience of the paramedics wrapped exceptionally tortuous.

Troy’s arms with ice packs, More waiting. More pain. 15 temporary splints and gauze. on the original pain scale.

With the option to ride in an At last, the sweat release ambulance or have his mom of morphine made Troy feel drive him to the hospital, Troy chose the less expensive option “awesome.” The doctors put of having his mom drive.

See TROY’S ARMS, page B5 As is expected when one

Gazette photo /TROY PAWLAK

Troy’s x-rays revealed two broken arms.

inside lifestyle Top ten B2 SAT tips

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How to B4 Random club

B5

TCID:BW

Friday the 13th Tensions stir as people become superstitious.

Food donations School clubs collect canned foods to help feed the hungry.

Homecoming GBHS experiences its first ever Homecoming parade.

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Friday, November 13, 2015

B2 Lifestyle

TOP

Interesting Star Wars Facts Theaters did not want to show Star Wars when it first came out because they wanted to leave plenty of room for The Other Side of Midnight.

Yoda has three or four toes on each foot depending on what movie you’re watching.

The lightsaber sound is created by the sound of an old television picture tube.

Han Solo was supposed to die at the end of Jedi, but producers changed the ending because they wanted to keep action figure sales up.

Jabba the Hut was originally meant to be furry.

You can use Star Wars collectible coins as real money at the South Pacific island of Niue.

Chewbacca’s voice is a mix of animals including bears, walruses, lions and badgers.

David Prowse (Darth Vader) is banned from all official Star Wars events because he’s “annoying”.

Ewoks speak Tibetan and Nepalese.

Fears of the ill-fated Friday the thirteenth Superstitions remain debatable

BY NATASHA CHANDA

nchanda.gazette@gmail.com

S

ince as long as it can be remembered, Friday the 13th has been an anticipated day for some, but not as much for others.

The unluckiness of Friday the 13th stems from religious ideals from deep in the 19th century.

Friday had always been classified as an unlucky day in the realms of Christianity, Hinduism and many other religions for a variety of reasons.

The number 13, in the context of Christianity, is considered to be unlucky due to the fact that Judas was considered to be the 13th person seated to dine during the Last Supper. Other religions also have similar reasons why the number 13 is considered unlucky.

When a series of unfortunate events began to occur on both the 13th day of the month, having also fallen on a Friday, people began to put two and two together.

As the years have progressed, the concept of Friday the 13th has stayed prevalent.

The idea that a plethora of unlucky things are bound to happen based on past events is the basis of the day.

Friday the 13th is, in itself, a superstition, but not everybody seems to think the idea behind it is legitimate.

Some seem to think that Friday the 13th has more of a relevance on social media and has little to no relevance to reality.

“Friday the 13th is a media thing,” senior Aishwarya Pattnaik said. “There is no reason that one day is unluckier than another.”

Pattnaik used the example of 9/11 occurring on a day other than Friday or on the 13th, to show how bad events can occur at any time.

According to her, such events are not any more prone to occurring solely because of a specific date.

Junior Arjith Jayaraman agrees.

“I just think of it as any other

Gazette illustration/TROY PAWLAK, GARBHITA SHAH

How early is too early to take the SAT? Students prepare for college admission testing in advance

BY FRANCES STRNAD fstrnad.gazette@gmail.com

T

he SAT is one of the most defining tests of a high schooler's academic career. It’s no wonder that taking this test is such a daunting task for many students.

However, high school students today are beginning to tackle this task earlier than ever before.

“I plan on taking the SAT, both the old and new versions, as a sophomore to gain insight on what the SAT is like,” sophomore Charan Karthikeyan said.

Karthikeyan hopes that by taking the SAT early, he will be able to observe the changes between the new and old versions of the SAT. Sophomore Samantha Khieu will also be taking her SAT as a lowerclassman, in order to practice for her future SATs as an upperclassman.

Khieu began preparing for the test at a very early age.

“I technically started preparing when I was in 6th grade. I’ve built it up from vocabulary practice to full on practice tests,” Khieu said.

Though it may seem counterintuitive to take the SAT before having fully mastered the high school curriculum, these early SAT takers still have many incentives to take the test.

Get

Yoda was almost played by a monkey.

- Compiled by Jordan Holt

day,” he said. “It’s not really any sort of fear factor for me.”

Though the day may no longer hold much importance to today’s generation, superstitions outside of Friday the 13th still hold strong for many.

These notions can sometimes cause individuals to approach life in a different manner in order to prevent a certain unwanted situation, or even promote a beneficial situation.

“A superstition, for me, tends to develop after repetition and consistency,” Jayaraman said. “If I’m getting consistent results doing a certain action, I keep note of it. After a while,

if I keep getting successful results, it turns into a superstition.”

Sports is an area where superstitions can be seen in a variety of ways.

Players have a number of small rituals they do before a game in hopes of winning or playing well.

Though Jayaraman pays no attention to Friday the 13th, superstitions still prove to be relevant in his tennis career.

“I play certain matches with certain colored shirts,” Jayaraman said.

“Based on my results I either wear those shirts more often or not at all.”

Aside from clothing, the things he does on the court also play into his superstitious mentality.

“I bounce the ball a certain number

Gazette photo /GARBHITA SHAH

“It gives me an idea of the type of questions that are on the test, so that I can study those types of questions more,” sophomore Karthi Chakaravarty said. “I can figure out how I want to study for the SAT when I take it formally.”

In addition to providing useful skill preparation, taking the SAT allows these early test takers to generally familiarize themselves with the test.

“You get a lot more exposure to the test, and a lot more understanding, as well as reference for future times that you’ll take it,” Khieu said.

Despite the many benefits, there are also quite a few challenges for these young SAT takers.

“The SAT can be very scary and overwhelming.

Especially at a young age when you haven’t learned nearly as much as is being tested,” Karthikeyan said.

It can also be disappointing to not receive the score desired on the first attempt.

“Be prepared to get a bad score because you haven’t learned half of the information that you are tested on in the SAT,” Chakaravarty said.

Nevertheless, these SAT-takers don’t regret their decision to take the test early.

“The SAT will be a great learning experience now, when I have less stress regarding college, so that I am able to perform better when it really counts,” Karthikeyan said. “By being familiar with the testing process and test format, I think it makes people more comfortable when they're taking it for college application purposes.”

w The Granite Bay Gazette

of times (three times and five times) … those numbers have let me focus much more easily,” Jayaraman said.

“I (also) have to spin my racquet on my left hand before I return the serve.”

Some have signs that they see that indicate a particular outcome, like the result of a game.

Junior Gemma Rizzuto sees butterflies.

Though it sounded odd at first, it all made sense when she explained how butterflies would predict the outcome of her soccer games.

“If I see a black one (butterfly), it means that we win, and if I see a yellow one, we will lose.” Rizzuto said.

“If I see a white one, then we tie.”

The “butterfly phenomenon” is known by all of her teammates and can sometimes drive the mentality they play with.

Rizzuto sometimes even chooses not to tell her teammates when she sees a yellow or white butterfly so it doesn’t affect how they play.

“If I were to not see a butterfly, I would get really, really scared and I wouldn’t necessarily want to play,” she said.

It is safe to say the superstitions can affect the mindset of a person, and in turn, can affect the outcome of an event.

“It’s sort of like me focusing and not worrying about anything else,” said Jayaraman. “Since I do it in practice so often, if I do it out of the ordinary (during) match time, it just bothers me.”

The idea that superstitions can drive a person’s lifestyle can seem absurd to some, however, it is more of a mindset that is developed based on past experiences, they say.

“If you manipulate yourself to believe that (events happen) because of a certain lucky object or thing, then you’re going to obviously keep (using) that in the future to obtain the same results,” Pattnaik said. “It’s more of a mindset instead of the actual object.”

Regardless, superstitions are still prevalent in today’s generation, regardless of whether the particular day of Friday the 13th is or is not.

They can be a driving factor in the mentality of individuals in both their school careers and sports careers, showing how superstitions act as yet another influencing factor in the lives of people around this community.

Random Student

Sarah Ehrlich

Gazette photo /PAIGE ERICKSON

Gazette: What is your role in band?

Ehrlich: I’m in guard so I spin the flags.

Gazette: How long have you been in band?

Ehrlich: Four years.

Wynden on

Ellen

Gazette: What is your favorite part about being in band?

Ehrlich: I love the performance aspect

of guard.

Gazette: What has been your favorite band event you have competed in?

Ehrlich: WBA championships when the band members stay at a school for a weekend.

Gazette: Do you ever get nervous when you compete?

Ehrlich: I get nervous when we walk on the field, but then I get excited.

- Compiled by Paige Erickson

Friday, November 13 2015

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Heading East

Cranmer to teach in Hong Kong

BY FRANCES STRNAD fstrnad.gazette@gmail.com

F

ew teachers are fortunate enough to receive the opportunity to teach abroad.

However, Bernadette Cranmer, teacher of CP English 10 and yearbook, has been selected to participate in the Hong Kongbased Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection (AFTEC) program.

Cranmer is a member of the Globe Education Academy, a program created by the Globe Theatre of London, that partners with University of California Davis to make Shakespeare accessible to students around the world.

After receiving training in London from theatrical specialists, Cranmer was chosen to teach Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in Hong Kong via the AFTEC program. She was selected by Globe Theatre actress and director Margo Gunn.

“When I taught IB, the IB juniors were performing ‘Henry V,’ and Margo came to visit and help us perfect the play,” Cranmer said. “She selected me because she could tell that I had experience working with a diverse group of students that were not Americanized, single-language speakers.”

Cranmer will be teaching alongside actors and directors from both the Globe Theatre and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.

“I’m the only traditional class-

Bernadette Cranmer Teacher of CP English 10 and advisor of Yearbook, Cranmer will be travelling to China in March. room teacher, which will be fun but also intimidating because of the talent the other teachers bring,” Cranmer said.

She will be teaching Shakespeare through a teaching style called “lively action,” a style which Cranmer and English teacher Robert Prichard have begun implementing here at Granite Bay High School.

“The point is to experience Shakespeare by actually performing Shakespeare,” Cranmer said.

“We will do warm up activities that are essentially the same as our drama class does to get (the students) moving, get them engaged with the language, and ultimately help them stage the play.”

Cranmer has begun preparing for her teaching and directing role by researching Twelfth Night and other supplemental materials about the play.

“There aren’t really that many resources available, so I’m going to have to take all those things I already know how to do and connect them to what’s happening with the characters in Twelfth Night,” Cranmer said.

Though Cranmer is excited for the experience, the opportunity poses many challenges as well.

“I have never taught Shakespeare in another country, and I have never worked alongside actual actors and directors from professional theatre companies,” Cranmer said. “I want the students I work with to receive as valuable an experience with me as they would with the other teachers.”

Cranmer plans on facing these See CRANMER, page B5

Clubs find ways to contribute opportunity at GBHS through various clubs such as Key Club, Food for Thought, Water Project, the ASPCA club, Gold Ribbon Cancer Club, Make a Wish and so many more. However, a lot of the students are unaware of all these opportunities.

“With the numerous clubs (GBHS) offers, there are numerous opportunities,” said Colette Curran, a junior at GBHS, “but I think the school could do a better job promoting the opportunities that are available and telling students how to get involved.”

Curran also said that GBHS could do a better job at giving back, especially in terms of the environment.

“There is a great need for more recycling on campus and we know that many people aren’t aware of

Students explore opportunities to give back to the community

BY SABINA MAHAVNI

smahavni.gazette@gmail.com

G

community,” Fatemi said.

A drive of any kind is a good way to get the whole school involved in donating to the less fortunate. Anyone can donate some extra cans of beans or old sweaters that can really change the life of someone in need.

Those of the Granite Bay community have a reputation of generally being very privileged and well-off.

“We … help (people struggling in our community) improve their lives because we are already so privileged living in Granite Bay,” Wong said.

There is plenty of volunteer

Lifestyle B3

the paper recycling program on campus, (the Go Green Club),” Curran said.

Curran is a passionate volunteer, who spends much of her time giving back. She is a member of several GBHS community service-based clubs and has even won awards for her work.

“I enjoy volunteering in the community because I get to work with others to make the community a greener and more just place,” Curran said.

Due to the great number of opportunities to do more for the community, students often find themselves with a vast understanding of how to help others and give back.

“Giving back is important to me because I know that I make a difference in the world,” Curran said.

ranite Bay High School does a lot to benefit the community’s less fortunate. A lot of the work the school does can be credited to its many volunteer-based clubs.

Marisa Wong, a GBHS junior, has been the president of GBHS’s Key Club since March of 2015.

The Key Club is a communityservice based club that has been present at GBHS for about ten years.

The Key Club partnered with the Food for Thought club in late October to put on a drive to benefit victims of the Jackson wildfire.

The clubs collected food, clothing, and stuffed animals. Club members dedicated their lunches and time after school to collecting the donated items.

“We just want to help out in the community that’s been affected by the fire,” Wong said. “Specifically, we are helping out the Jackson Butte fire victims – collecting items for children there and families as a whole whether it be food, clothes or toys.”

Negin Fatemi, a sophomore at GBHS, is the vice president of the Food for Thought club. This new club is dedicated to preventing food waste.

“Volunteering is a really good way to give back to your community and help others who are in need,” Fatemi said. “It is also a great way to socialize and make new friends.”

Both the Key Club and the Food for Thought Club have experience in volunteer service and verify Gazette photo /SABINA MAHAVNI how good it feels to help others. Food for Thought spends a day organizing food/care packages for those less fortunate. This club, “It makes me feel good when I along with a others, has been spending time donating food, especially in the spirit of Thanksgiving. am helping other people and the

If you really knew me,

you would know...

- Compiled by Paige Erickson

Sanjna Saini

Madeline Yang

If you knew me then you would know that I am Drake’s number one fan, and I celebrated his birthday on October 24th.

If you knew me then you would know that I was born in Malaysia and I lived there for seven years.

The un-

CollegeBoard SAT

practice

Official SAT tip Strategize:

This Issue’s Expert:

Pace yourself so that you work as efficiently as possible.

Reread: Reread every question you look at.

Paying attention to detail is crucial to getting the score you deserve.

Gazette photo /FRANCES STRNAD

Neil Shah is a senior at Granite Bay High School.

Eliminate: Eliminate answers because it can help you narrow down your options to the correct answer.

- Compiled by Frances Strnad

Brandon Hill

If you knew me then you would know that I have a special case of Autism that makes socializing with other people hard for me.

New program offers support

Peer Counseling helps advise others

BY KAYOMI KAYOSHI

kkayoshi.gazette@gmail.com

T

he idea of being mentally healthy is a recent thought that’s become more relevant in this time and age, especially in high school.

While adults tend to recall high school as some of their happiest days, high school has increasingly become more stressful. Mental health plays a huge role in one’s life because it affects every aspect of daily life, which is why the new Peer Counseling class’s goal is to help better the lives of others.

The Peer Counseling class was started this year by Natalie Elkin, teacher of Advanced Placement Psychology at Granite Bay High School, and she hopes to overall increase the quality of a student’s life.

The Peer Counseling class is unique because it’s extremely inclusive, and the student counselors and Elkin have gone through rigorous training to validate their status as a counselor.

“Kids need some basic tools about how to deal with stress, how to manage time, what to know about an AP class, … skills that we don’t teach in classes, but kids are just expected to know,” said Elkin.

Arianna Jones, senior, is involved with this group and said students had to go through an eight-week training in order to become a student counselor.

A part of this course is to ensure

“They are all so sweet and receptive,” senior Sabrina McCord said.

“It’s a cool opportunity to improve that the students were capable to the vibe on campus and be there properly act as counselors. The for any kids on campus who need training for this class was intensive someone to talk to.” and the students learned listening Ethan Guttman, a senior, said skills, how to handle certain situahe decided to sign up for the class tions, when and when not to break because he’s noticed the lack of confidentiality and other essential attention towards mental health and skills. wellbeing, so when Elkin said she he saw a program was inspired to at school looking to start this program Kids need some change that, he was because, in the all in. past when she basic tools One of the topwas teaching ics Peer Counseling about...skills that English, many covers is how to deal of her students we don’t teach with the stress of would discuss in class, but kids taking higher-level their problems classes. For some, with her. This are just expected this is what encourmade her realize aged them to join the that numerous to know. class. kids at GBHS – Natalie Elkin, teacher Flores said that she had problems of AP Psychology and found juggling AP that weren’t and Honors classes being dealt with Peer Counseling and her outside acbecause there tivities very difficult. was no easily acFlores said she cessible way for decided to participate it to be solved. in the Peer Counseling class, to “I think this class is important because we all go through different help students out with their school problems, because she understands things in life,” said senior Carmela how stressful it is to juggle higher Flores.“Even though we may think level classes without any guidance. we’re the only one’s dealing with Peer Counseling allows for kids something, it’s good to know that who need any help, whether it be there is a place where you can be with classes, tests, or personal able to talk to someone.” issues,to have an outlet; this class One of the subjects that they’re helps make students at GBHS feel focusing on in Peer Counseling is like they’re not alone, and they’re reaching out to every freshman to paired with people who can admake sure they’re adjusting well to equately help their cause. high school.

Lifestyle B4

Friday, November 13, 2015

w The Granite Bay Gazette

College freshmen relay their experiences GBHS alumni share advice

BY SAVANNA THOMPSON sthompson.gazette@gmail.com

W

ith heightened exposure to the lifestyle of college students from social media, current Granite Bay High School seniors yearn to join their predecessors as college freshmen.

But these social media posts did not fully capture the college students’ adventures as they began the next chapter of their lives this past fall.

Shelby McPhail, a freshman at the University of Alabama, experienced a tough transition when she moved across the country, debating whether or not she had made the right college selection.

“It is a completely different environment and culture,” McPhail said. “People talk differently, and the clothing style is not as laid back. People dress up more for game days and going out.”

Compared to Northern California, McPhail said the meal selection at UA is limited. The options generally include “soul” or fried foods.

The culture shock, at first, made it difficult for her to enjoy the freedom and independence from parental control.

Before joining the Delta Gamma sorority, making friends was a huge challenge – one unforeseen by McPhail and numerous other freshman.

“I would call my mom, cry a little, and then move on,” said McPhail, who frequently dialed home to hear a familiar voice during her first few weeks at college.

Despite the difficult start, McPhail said she is currently enjoying living in a new city where she meets new people and has new experiences every day. Her sorority has opened doors to new friendships and activities, allowing her to become more involved in school.

Not every transition from highschool to college is as arduous. For GBHS alumni Natalie Rhodes, the Academy of Art University in San Francisco has been the perfect fit.

“Living in the city, you see a lot of weird things,” Rhodes said. “It’s always crazy busy, but it has been a really great experi-

had high expectations for her experience ence because not everyone can say that at Loyola Marymount University, but the they lived in downtown San Francisco.” school has since surpassed those expectaThe transition to college often marks a transition to adulthood. tions.

Without parental encour“The best part about colagement to be on time, lege is meeting all the new go to class and do homepeople and exploring the It is a city with everyone,” Ito work, some students completely said. “I love being able to become overwhelmed go into everyone’s rooms with responsibility. different to socialize and hang out.”

“You have to hold environment and Although the first month yourself accountable was a breeze, Ito struggled for making it to your culture. People to say goodbye to her classes, to your job or, talk differently, family, close friends, do­gs for me, getting to soccer and the clothing and her own personal practice when the coach bathroom. says,” Rhodes said. style is not as In receiving a college Unlike high school, laid back. education, students seek students in college are to expand their knowledge not required to attend – Shelby McPhail, from the foundation built classes for the full freshman at UA during high school. duration of the class.

For Brian Zhuang, the Students are free to roam hard work he did in high on and off campus. school helped him get “In high school, you accepted into the Univerare sheltered,” Rhodes said. “Once you are at school, you can’t sity of Southern California. Zhuang, who leave and being late is such a big deal. But is majoring in business administration, has college is just the real world.” yet to use much of what he learned in high Before leaving for college, Kelsey Ito school.

Triumph of the trombone Band member recieves honorable distinction

BY MEAGAN TALLMAN

mtallman.gazette@gmail.com

G

“I opened it and it said ‘Congratulations; you have been selected!’” Armstrong said. “I was really shocked and surprised about being selected since I knew the chances were so slim.”

Emerald Brigade director Lynn Lewis has known Armstrong all four years of high school and was extremely proud of his accomplishment.

“I was notified by the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band

Student

that Trey had been selected and (I) was thrilled,” Lewis said. “I did not hear it right away because he is very modest and humble.”

She shared how Armstrong and the other candidates from GBHS all worked hard on creating, perfecting and submitting their audition videos.

Lewis said she was impressed when she reviewed them for the required band directors approval. Though there were other applicants from GBHS, Armstrong was the only one selected. “(Armstrong) is a great musician,” Lewis said, “and a great representative for the high school.”

Spotlight

ranite Bay High School has been noted for winning various honors and awards. Sports, academics and art programs are recognized both locally and nationally as top tier. Recently, GBHS senior Trey Armstrong received an outstanding honor by landing a spot in the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band.

Armstrong, who plays the trombone, will join an elite group of high school marching band members and will perform during halftime at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. This football game is the largest celebration of high school football, drawing a crowd of 35,687 spectators last year to the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

“When I was a freshman, one of my best friends auditioned for this band,” Armstrong said. “He said it was a really fun and good experience, so I decided to audition this year.”

For his audition, Armstrong had to complete a set of requirements.

“I had to make a couple videos,” Armstrong said. “One of me marching, another of just me playing and another of me giving a description about myself.”

The U.S. Army All-American Marching Band recognizes the top 125 high school senior marching musicians and color guard members from across the country.

Armstrong had no expectation of receiving this award.

“I didn’t even realize that the people had been chosen,” he said. “A few of my friends who also auditioned were talking about it so I … check(ed) my email.’”

The email he earned, however, Special to Gazette /TREY ARMSTRONG was different from the ones his Trey Armstrong is accepted by the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band friends had received.

Student shares passion through volunteering

Gazette photo /FRANCES STRNAD

Isaac Noschka Gazette: How are you involved on campus?

Noschka: I’m in yearbook, Peer Helping, and photography. It’s my first year in all three.

Gazette: What inspired you to join these activities?

Noschka: I joined yearbook and photography because they are my passion(s). I joined Peer Helping because I like helping kids, and I’ve been volunteering with kids for numerous years.

Gazette: How has your involvement on campus impacted you?

Noschka: Throughout my life, I have had many times where I’ve had to recieve a lot of things and have people give. I like being able to give back, especially on campus.

-Compiled by Frances Strnad

HOW TO: DRAW THE

Band.

Art. Athletics.

20 years and marching on.

-Compiled by Sabina Mahavni

H NA AN ati on /H str illu

Step 4: Draw eyes and feet. If desired, add a gobble and a pilgrim’s hat.

tte

Step 3: Imagine the thumb as the turkey’s head and the rest of your fingers as the feathers.

Ga ze

Step 2: Trace the outline of your hands and fingers.

XU

PERFECT HAND TURKEY Step 1: Place the hand you don’t write with palm up on a sheet of paper.

Rhodes is attending an art school and also noticed that her high school education does not correlate with her experiences in college.

“The art classes I took (at GBHS) have definitely helped me,” Rhodes said, “but all the math and science haven’t really turned over.”

Rhodes is majoring in interior design and said whether or not a student uses their high school education in college depends upon the student’s major.

For Ito, the Advanced Placement classes she took in high school have given her credit to get ahead in her studies and take classes outside of her major or general education.

“Apply anywhere and everywhere,” McPhail advised to current high school seniors. “I never thought in a million years that I would end up at Alabama, yet here I am.”

Once in college, students have the opportunity to join a sorority, fraternity, club or intramural sport, allowing them to meet classmates and to make college feel like home.

If these connections are not formed, students potentially miss out on some of the most memorable experiences in their lifetime.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Lifestyle

The Granite Bay Gazette

w

B5

Clocks wind back as the year keeps moving forward Daylight savings affects sleeping patterns of students

BY SABINA MAHAVNI

smahavni.gazette@gmail.com

D

aylight Savings Time: students love it half the year and hate it the other half.

Is it really worth to put students’ bodies and minds through so much confusion?

Daylight Savings Time is an energy-conserving method most notably used during the energy crisis of the 1970s. It is still enforced today

in all U.S. states except Arizona, Hawaii and some areas in Indiana.

In the spring, most U.S. states move one hour ahead, and then in the fall, they regress one hour.

This year, Daylight Savings Time started on Nov. 1, giving students the opportunity to adjust to the new time shift over the Halloween weekend. Time will spring forward an hour next year on March 15.

Junior Zainab Chaudhry moved here from Arizona a few years

ago. Arizona does not change time here I was very confused.” according to the DST (Daylight Transitioning from a state Savings Time) schedule. that doesn’t practice In fact, the state DST to a state that doesn’t alter its does can cause time at all. some confusion, “I like getting especially makan extra hour ing the transiof sleep; that’s tion during the really nice,” academicallyChaudhry pressuring said. “But years of high when I lose an school. hour I’m not “I realized very happy. The when I transition is kind of came here, weird. In Arizona we because of DST, I got had the same time all Gazette illustration /TROY PAWLAK a little lazier because year, but when I came of the extra hour,”

Chaudhry said. “I got used to it, but when the hour got away from us, it was very rushed and surprising.”

Mike Valentine currently coaches the freshman football team at GBHS. Although he claims to be unaffected by this annual time change, his football team takes a little of its brunt.

Football has to start earlier because it will become dark outside sooner starting next week.

“Practice, which usually starts at 3:30pm, is now going to start at 3:00 or as soon as I can get out there and get them warmed up,” Valentine said.

The evenings have gotten darker sooner, but the mornings

have gotten lighter also sooner, which is disadvantageous for the GBHS football team but supposedly advantageous for early- rising students.

“I think (DST) is saving energy because without (DST), we’ll be going to school in the dark,” Sophomore Mika Sakata said.

The debate about whether DST is a valid energy-saving method or not is ongoing. Regardless, students have to adjust.

“I don’t know if it does save energy, because either way you’re using energy,” Valentine said. “I’m using it in the morning and in the evening when I’m turning on my lights.”

TROY’S ARMS: The life of a boy with arms rendered useless for six weeks Continued from page B1

him under general anesthesia so they could position his wrists with accuracy. If he moved at all, the result would have ended badly.

Troy woke up with temporary Ace bandage casts below the elbow, but a nurse quickly finished putting on the casts, ending them halfway up his bicep. He walked out of the hospital with both arms in slings.

Hopeful, Troy anticipated the temporary casts would not go above the elbows. “Oh, I’m at least glad for that,” Troy thought. Boy was he wrong.

Three days later, Troy went back into the doctor’s office where they sealed his fate. Two hard casts above the elbow, essentially rendering both arms useless.

No bending the elbows, no itching, no running, no sweating, basically no arms – for the next six weeks.

Being an avid runner – six days a week, 48 weeks a year, for almost six years– Troy was utterly disappointed to find out he could no longer run. This unfortunate deal shattered his streak.

All of the day-to-day activities that people partake in and take advantage

of by being able to use their arms comes to light once their arms are broken.

Eating was next to impossible at first. Troy initially had to use a skewer to eat food – stab, stretch, chew, repeat. Luckily, with the shoulder rotating motion mastered, Troy was able to stretch out his shoulder enough to eat with a fork – almost as well as a normal person would be able to.

In regards to going to the bathroom, Troy responded, “I can manage,” and nothing more. Thankfully.

Showering entails two shower bags for the casts and a lot of awkward stretching and bending. Sleeping involves restless nights while hugging a pillow for comfort. He can also “somewhat drive.” Comforting.

With his right hand casted with palm up, the way Troy “writes” has been completely changed. What wasn’t amazing in the first place is now completely atrocious. Teachers have been accommodating to his condition, allowing him to have extra time or to type out typically hand-written assignments.

Troy’s hand-icapped status has made him a prime target for pity. Being

headstrong and proud, Troy refuses assistance for things anything he is able to do on his own. He is still able to do most things; it just takes a bit longer.

“I’m usually pretty determined to do things and will do what it takes to (get them done),” Pawlak said. “I don’t give up (easily). If I want to do something, I don’t usually ask for help to do them. It’s nice to know that if I need help, it’s there. But people saying ‘oh if you need anything, let me know’ isn’t going to stop me from trying to do it myself.”

He tries to ignore the fact that he is in casts and remain high spirited about the situation. Troy laughs along with those around him as he struggles to eat.

Troy said he never thought about what it would be like to not have either of his arms. But now that he is unable to use them, even simple tasks become strenuous chores, like pouring himself a glass of milk from a full jug or tying his own shoes.

“If your friend falls longboarding in front of you, run him over,” Pawlak said. “And don’t even get me started on the itchiness.”

Random ...

Club Club Name: Month Club Presidents: Afrah Tahir and Megan Le

What is the purpose of your club?

Every month, it has a different cause. Usually months have various causes, so we’re going to vote for which causes we want to donate to that month and hopefully fundraise to support and give to a charity that promotes that cause.

How many people are in your club?

We have 10 regulars, but our club is open to anyone who wants to support various causes.

How do you promote your club?

We use Remind like the math department because it’s a lot easier to communicate with kids with technology.

When does the club meet?

It (meets) every other Wednesday.

How did you come up with the idea for your club?

We have clubs devoted towards one single cause, but we thought every cause deserves some notice.

- Compiled by Carissa Lewis

Principal advising begins Leighton meets with students in sessions

BY JENNY TARBELL

jtarbell.gazette@gmail.com

T

he first Thursday of every month gives students the opportunity to discuss school matters with the principal.

Principal advising meetings, or PAC, are held in the college and career center during both lunches.

This is an optional meeting for students who have been chosen as leaders by their teachers or coaches.

“The purpose is to give our student leaders a voice and a direct communication line to the principal,” said GBHS principal Jennifer Leighton.

Only one meeting has been held so far, but according to Leighton, many topics were covered, and she learned a lot about what the students value.

“I’m really enjoying getting to know the students, and look forward to discussing many more things,” Leighton said.

GBHS senior Michaela Setiawan and junior Benjamin Gould both attended the first advising meeting.

“I was curious if the results would positively impact our school,” Setiawan said. “I thought it was good to see (administration) try and contact the students directly to improve to the school.”

According to Setiawan, they discussed AP and IB classes, new pride slips, the administration’s role on campus, and its engagement with students, as well as many other various topics.

“I noticed that more admin showed up in our classes to try to be more involved,” Setiawan said.

Setiawan stated that she feels the students bring up topics that adults might miss or skip over, and that students should try to make a difference before they complain about different issues.

Both Setiawan and Gould found the meetings to give the administration a fresh perspective.

Gould plans on attending future meetings, finding them to be very helpful to the administration and students.

“It’s really helping students to give their opinions to the administration,” Gould said.

CRANMER: Teaching abroad Continued from page B3 challenges by utilizing her planning and organizational skills along with the strength of her faith.

“Only God can get me through an experience like that one successfully, especially because we have to get the yearbook finished right before I leave,” Cranmer said.

She looks forward to the experience, and it’s impact on both herself and the students.

College

Facts

“I would love it if on the way back I felt really content, pleased with the effort I put forth, and proud of the students I worked with because they made connections with themselves as actors and performers and as learners.”

With her passion for travel and teaching, Cranmer will depart for this week-long program at the end of March 2016.

1. University of Missouri was credited by the NCAA for holding the first official Homecoming in 1911.

Baylor University Enrollment: 16,263

Student Faculty Ratio: 15:1

2. The origins of Homecoming bonfires comes from freshman at Baylor University maintaining overnight fires to safeguard the campus from their rivals at TCU.

Mascot: Bears

3. Ohio State voted a cow named Maudine Ormsby their Homecoming queen in 1926.

Tuition: $40,198

4. Scotland holds an annual Homecoming festival that involves no American football whatsoever.

5. The only time University of Illinois missed a Homecoming game was in 1918 due to the influenza outbreak.

Location: Waco, Texas

Fall Acceptance Rate: 55.4 percent ACT averages: 26-29 SAT averages: 1810-1970 GPA averages: 3.1-3.6 Percentage accepted: 55 percent

- Compiled by Parker Matheson

YOUR NAMES. YOUR FACES.

THE GAZETTE.

- Compiled by Cole Kahman

Friday, November 13, 2015

B6 Lifestyle

w The Granite Bay Gazette

A walk down Wellington. . .

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

Gazette photo /GARBHITA SHAH

Left, junior Homecoming prince Brandon Hill smiles to the crowd. Middle left, seniors show off their Spongebob themed float. Middle right, senior Homecoming king and queen nominations Michael Birch and Erica Lucia wave to the audience. Right, sophomore Colby Bradford holds up the American flag, representing the guard.

GBHS introduces new parade to end Homecoming week

T

BY KAYOMI KAYOSHI

kkayoshi.gazette@gmail.com

his year, because of the 20th anniversary of Granite Bay High School, the school has introduced many new events that pay homage to the anniversary. The newest addition included crowds on the streets, a lot of pictures and an introduction to some of GBHS’s most beloved programs.

In honor of Homecoming, the school had decided to go beyond GBHS’ standard Homecoming traditions, and decided to hold a parade on Wellington Way, the street adjacent to GBHS. The parade took place on Fri., Oct. 23 and Jennifer Leighton, the GBHS principal, was pleased with the outcome of around 300 people.

The Homecoming Parade gave many students the opportunity to participate and gave the Granite Bay community a chance to feel involved with the high school; many sports teams got the chance to walk in the parade and the class floats were also displayed.

“I thought it was a great way to get the community involved without them having to come to the football games” said senior, and tennis team member, Abby Rowe.

Rowe also added that she was glad that GBHS finally decided to have a parade, since other schools have been doing parades for years.

As part of the Homecoming fun, alumni are invited

back as per tradition.

“It was a lot of fun, coming back to the school and seeing teachers and other friends,” said Maadhav Shah, GBHS alumni and 2014’s Homecoming king.

“It was awesome seeing the Tribe out in full force.”

This tradition of bringing the alumni back to GBHS has allowed the graduates to continue holding a connection with the Granite Bay community, despite the distance that post-graduation plans have brought.

“It was really fun to walk in and see all the floats and the royalty nominees,” Rowe said. “But if there was any way to make it longer, I say do so in the future.”

Jennifer Leighton is also in favor of including the new Homecoming parade in the multitude of annual traditions.

“It gives the younger kids in the neighborhood even more reasons to look forward to coming to GBHS,” Leighton said.

Many reasons account for the encouragement of a large number of students to attend the latest Homecoming festivities. The 20th anniversary of GBHS ensured that many interesting details would be added to the traditional Homecoming events.

For some, however, attending was simply due to nostalgia.

“I tried to make the most out of it since it’s going to be my last high school Homecoming,” said senior Rawan Khalili.

Khalili’s favorite part of the Homecoming events was the campaign to get Wynden on The Ellen Show.

“The campaign to get him on Ellen is amazing. It restores my faith in humanity,” Khalili said. “My favorite part of the game itself was when the tribe chanted ‘Get Wynden on Ellen.’ It was so sweet.”

Although GBHS doesn’t have a formal Homecoming dance, many of the students aren’t upset over that.

“I think we have plenty of formal dances, having a formal Homecoming dance and Winter Ball after each is a bit excessive,” Khalili said.“Parades are, hands down, much more entertaining.”

Sophomore Kanami Kayoshi said she agrees that parades are more entertaining than many of the multiple formal dances the school offers.

“Parades help bring the community together,” Kayoshi said. “It’s great to go to the games and parades and see everyone united as one.”

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

Parade participants wait at the junction of Eureka Road and Wellington Way, anticipating their performance in front of an approximate 300-person crowd.

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

The Emerald Brigade opens up the parade, starting with the brass sections. They head down Wellington way, followed by the cross country team and later by the cheerleaders and football team.

Sports

Granite Bay Gazette

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Friday w November 13, 2015

COMMENTARY

jacqueline romero jromero.gazette@gmail.com

Coaches have a massive impact on player experiences

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hen playing a high school sport, there are many factors that can contribute to your overall experience. Teammates, passion for the game, and one of the most important things, your coach.

Coaches have an immense amount of power to influence your life both in positive and negative ways... and most of the time, they don’t even realize it.

For me, most of the time my coach is the main determinant in whether or not I enjoy playing the sport. Growing up, when I have liked my coach, I have loved coming to practice and being part of the team. However when my coach has had a negative effect on me, it makes going to practice one of the biggest burdens in the world.

I think many coaches have the misconception that the only things that they can impact your life with are tips on the sport.They forget that players want to be treated as more than just a person on the team; they want to be treated as individuals.

Some of my favorite experiences on sports teams have been when my coaches make the effort to make a personal connection with me. They take into consider- They ation my feelings pick their and life and don’t treat their relation- favorites ship with me like on the a business deal. team and There is more disrespect to being a coach than just being an the others instructor. There if they don’t is an opportunity fit their mold to be a mentor and of an ‘ideal a role model for your players. player.’

In addition to the actual skills of the game, good coaches will teach you about good sportsmanship, attitude and integrity. Rather than teach you that winning is the most important thing, they will teach you how to become a better person. They will treat you with respect and won’t treat their job like it is a hassle.

Like most people, I have experienced both ends of the coaching scale.

Some only care about winning and they make that very clear. They pick their favorites on the team and disrespect the others if they don’t fit their mold of an ‘ideal player.’ They have no patience to help players improve, but instead choose to focus only on a few to make their jobs easier.

The good ones however treat their players as equals. They treat them all with respect despite their ability. They serve as a role model and make their players feel proud to be part of the team.

Sometimes the sole of a team is someone who may not be the most athletic, but they always play with their heart.

The best coaches recognize this and look past the talent to see other qualities in their players.

Coaches can heavily affect athlete’s lives. They can crush their self-esteem and confidence or they can inspire their players and allow them to develop not only as players but also as people.

Good coaches can shape people’s lives by impacting them with lifelong positive lessons on morals, respect and integrity in competition. *** Jacqueline Romero, a senior, is a Gazette sports editor.

Special to the Gazette/TONY ROTUNDO, WRESTLERSAREWARRIORS.COM

Wrestler Israel Saavedra maintains a good position in order to win his second straight state championship during his sophomore year.

Transfer athlete brings major talent

New student wrestler comes with two state championships and many other accolades

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BY MATTHEW ONTIVEROS montiveros.gazette@gmail.com

ranite Bay High School wrestling has received a radical new change to their lineup – a two-time state champion and three-time state placer.

Israel Saavedra transferred to GBHS from Modesto High School this year and will be wrestling for the Grizzlies this winter season.

Saavedra accomplished something very few wrestlers have ever done, winning a state championship in both his freshman and sophomore years.

GBHS has never had a wrestler win a state title in school history.

Saavedra may be the one to break that record.

Yet Saavedra’s success began earlier than his state titles. Saavedra was able to place in the high school division of two different national tournaments as an eighth grader.

“He doesn’t have (extreme) natural ability, that’s not why he’s so good. (He’s good) because he works so hard,” team-

mate and GBHS junior Jack Ramalia said.

“He’s by far one of the most hard working guys that I’ve ever been around.”

Saavedra’s current coach Carolyn Wester has been working with him throughout the main successes of his career.

“I’ve known Israel between his 7th and 8th grade year,” Wester said. “He started coming out to Wrestling Prep then and he has been with us every summer (since).”

Wrestling Prep is a wrestling program dedicated to training high school wrestlers and is led by Wester and other elite coaches.

“Wrestling Prep is a nonprofit organization that enables kids all across the coun-

The greatness of the GBHS vs. DO rivalry How the schools have come to embrace and keep the tradition alive

BY JORDAN HOLT

jholt.gazette@gmail.com

Green, black and silver vs. black and gold – the colors that make up the game of the season for every sporting event at Granite Bay High School.

Whether it’s fall, winter or spring, there’s always the big game to look forward to against Del Oro High School, home of the Eagles.

On November 6, GBHS football traveled to play DO in Loomis with community members and the student body to spectate the seasonal battle.

Rewinding twenty years ago to when GBHS first opened its doors for the class of 1998, DO had already been open for 37 years.

It didn’t take long for a rivalry to spark once the schools began engaging in athletic events regularly.

Dede Walker, who began teaching at GBHS in 1997, saw the contention between the schools grow from the roots.

“It seems the Granite Bay – Del Oro rivalry has always been very active,” Walker said. “The stereotypes are so opposing that it makes for good, fun

V

S

Gazette illustration/TROY PAWLAK

Granite Bay High School and Del Oro High School’s rivalry always sparks excitement in both communities competition.”

Not only did she experience the start of the rivalry on the GBHS campus, but also in her own family.

“My step-children used to come to the Granite Bay basketball camps I used to work at, but then they ended up choosing (to attend) Del Oro High School,” Walker said. “My nephew was the DO ASB President last year so we always talk smack.”

Today, the rivalry between the Grizzlies and the Eagles is stronger than ever.

When the two schools prepare to clash, it’s hard for students to ignore the excitement of game day approaching.

Tim Bartolomei, as senior co-leader of the DO student section known as ‘the Blackhole’, appreciates the vibe the big games consistently brings to the DO student body whenever they face GBHS. “Both schools love to feed off of each other’s energy,” Bartolomei said. “(Students) know that both on the field and in the stands it’s going to be a battle and people really like the challenge.”

With the schools only being a 17-minute See RIVALRY , page C3

try to wrestle at any level,” Wester said.

“It’s ancillary to high school programs (as) it adds on to...whatever they are getting in their high school (wrestling).”

Saavedra was one of the 2,020 kids that wrestled at Wrestling Prep this summer.

However Saavedra’s success ultimately extends past the physical aspect of wrestling.

“I can work with Israel and tell him two to three things and he will adapt at such a rapid rate that he suprises all his competition,” Wester said. “He’s not surprised but everybody else is.”

The ability to always adapt is in part due to a constant learning of new moves.

“He is not a one dimensional or two dimensional wrestler; he is actually multi faceted and always wants to learn new things,” Wester said. “The kids that are the very best in the country realize they always have to be learning.”

Saavedra is certainly one of these top wrestlers. He is currently ranked seventh in the nation for his weight class according to the Associated Wrestling Press and up to third according to other rankings.

It is this extreme success that Saavedra has accomplished that has gotten him a lot of attention from college wrestling

Looking back at the past 20 years of GBHS football Remembering the best moments the football team has had since its first season in 1996

BY SURINA KHURANA

skhurana.gazette@gmail.com

Ever since Granite Bay High School opened in 1996, football games have been bringing the community together on Friday nights.

This year marks the 20th year the school has been open and the 20th football season at GBHS. Over the course of the 20 years, many memories and accomplishments have been made.

“My favorite memory was having the Emerald Brigade and drum line walk us onto the field for the State Championship game,” GBHS alumni Grant Caraway said, who was captain and quarterback for the 2012-2013 season. “The whole band traveled to Southern California just to get the team hyped up for the big game like they had been doing for us all season.”

The football team has brought home 10 league

inside sports Fan of the month

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Grizz Quiz

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For the record

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Club vs. school Year round teams and programs take away athletes’ abilities to play for their high school

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programs.

Saavedra committed to wrestle at Old Dominion University this past September.

He will be joining his brother Emilio who is currently wrestling there as a freshman.

“The coaches (at Old Dominion) were great, I mean I loved them. They are behind me 100% in everything I do,” Saavedra said. “There is also a plus with my brother (wrestling) there, it’s just awesome.”

“I’m super excited that he’s going to Old Dominion because coach Steve Martin is really incredible,” Wester said. “I think he is going to prosper in college.”

Saavedra’s personality will also help him out in college wrestling. Especially in the past few years, Saavedra has stepped up and taken a leadership role with wrestlers of all ages at Wrestling Prep.

“It’s a lot of work to step up and help train everybody else and take care of everybody,” Wester said. “He’s always willing to extend himself to others’ benefit which will be a huge asset for him at Old Dominion.”

Old Dominion was not Saavedra’s only choice however when it came to choosing a college.

See SAAVEDRA, page C3

Is cheerleading a sport?

A recently passed bill decided whether or not the activity is an official sport in CA

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Gazette file photo 2012/KRISTIN TAYLOR

The GBHS football team and former coach Ernie Cooper celebrate winning the state Divi. 1 championship in 2012.

championships, five section championships and one Division 1 State Championship.

Coach Ernie Cooper led the successful teams for 18 seasons.

Cooper coached 17 straight seasons, from 1996-2012. Coach Skip Albano coached the 18th season in 2013 before Cooper returned for the 19th season in 2014. This year, the 20th season, Jeff Evans is coaching the varsity football team. “(Granite Bay) is a com-

munity,” Evans said. “It’s almost like a small town feel even though we’re surrounded by a big city.

The people grow up in this area, their families go to this school and it … just seems to mean a little bit more to the guys because this is something they grew up around their entire lives.”

Cooper, though not the head coach, still is deeply involved with the football program by serving as the See FOOTBALL, page C4

Students show off their unique skills Two students at GBHS take their hobby to the next level

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Friday, November 13th, 2015

Sports C2

w The Granite Bay Gazette

GBHS sports teams extend past the regular season Athletes gear up for playoff schedule

BY MADDY WILLIAMS and SAVANNA THOMPSON sthompson.gazette@gmail.com

Girls’ Golf The girls’ golf team has had many victories this season.

According to Granite Bay HS senior Chisay Arai, the team has made history.

“We broke the school record multiple times,” Arai said.

They also broke the course record and are the first girls golf team to make it to Norcals.

Although they lost one of the SFL league tournaments, it was only by a few strokes.

“I wish we could redo that because that’s the only loss in all our matches and tournaments,” Arai said.

According to Arai, when the team played at Masters, the weather was not ideal, but despite the rain and wind, the girls finished strong.

The team made it to masters for the fourth year in a row said GBHS senior Caroline Brown.

“The season has been amazing so far because we all have gotten so close and formed new friendships,” Brown said.

Players like Arai and Brown will be graduating this year but luckily there are a lot of freshmen on the team to fill their shoes.

While players come and go each year, this year’s team has really bonded.

“I wish that we had more time together as a team because there are a lot of freshmen and the older girls won’t get to play with them as much,” Brown said.

Despite the fact that golf is often consid-

ered an individual sport, the GBHS girls golf team proves otherwise.

“I’m proud that the team has all come together to play as a team and not individually,” Brown said.

because none of us expected to play as well as we did,” senior captain Camilla Griggs said.

Last week, the team beat Gregori High School 9-0 in the first round of Division I playoffs, advancing to play in the second round where the team won yet again, beating Turlock High School 7-2.

The team was scheduled to compete in the third round of playoffs on Monday.

Boys’ Soccer Suffering the worst way to lose Varsity Football a soccer game, Prior to last week’s game against the Grizzlies were Del Oro, the football team stood 2-3 knocked out of in league and 5-4 overall. With ups playoffs in the and downs throughout the season, first round in penthe team has come far and kept their alty kicks to an mind set on making it to playoffs acSpecial to the Gazette/CHISAY ARAI undefeated Napa cording to varsity captain and GBHS team last Tuesday. Girls’ Golf Team members (from left) Deborah Dollesin, Hailey Rietz, Vanessa Richani, Sienna Lyford, senior Ethan Milner.

Chisay Araid, and Danielle Dollesin celebrate competing at the Section Masters tournament Although the “Our teams’ proudest moments were team was not as probably making it through double zlies are prepared to compete by coming beginning earlier this week, and aim to at successful of as they had hoped to be, days and becoming closer as a team,” together as a team and maintaining the least make it to the second round. they finished 4th in the Sierra Foothills Milner said. momentum from league play.

“We are very capable provided we play League with a record of 4-5-3.

While closer games against Folsom, Senior captain Megan Plank said that our game,” captain Emily DeMure said.

With many sophomores on the team the team has the ability to compete in “Our strategy is to maximize what we can Oakridge and Rocklin resulted in defeat, now, the team will be very experienced home victories against Jesuit and Woodeither the Division I or II level of playoffs control- our serving and passing.” going into next season regardless of losing as long as the team continues to push each creek had favorable outcomes.

Seven seniors from the program will ten graduating seniors. other. graduate in the spring, so the team hopes “If we focus on the technical side of Cross country “We just need to stay motivated and to live up to expectations set by previour game, we will be successful,” said The cross country team competed in the positive because once any one of us is in ous years’ teams for their last high school sophomore Brennan Holt, who could Sierra Foothill League Championships the wrong mindset, it will spread,” Plank season. not compete in the last few games of the on Friday, October 30th which resulted in said. season due to a concussion. many Granite Bay victories.

Girls’ Tennis GBHS Senior and member of the team, Girls’ Volleyball Battling against stiff competitors from Girls’ Water Polo Nicole Zenzola ran her best time of the Finishing with an overall record of Del Oro, Oak Ridge, and Rocklin High As the Grizzlies finished second in the 27-10, the girls’ volleyball team finished Schools, the girls’ tennis team finished 6-6 season at the SFL Championships.

Sierra Foothills League with an overall According to Zenzola, many people third in league only losing to Oak Ridge in league play. record of 4-1, the team seeks to clench have improved their times from last year and Rocklin, whom finished in first and The Grizzlies’ goal is to win sections, a section title. Accomplishing this feat and the varsity team won the SFL League second respectively. but if it is not met, the players are proud would be to break the curse of the blank title.

Although the tough loss to Rocklin in of their success during the season and the wall. The girls’ water polo program has “I’m really proud of the girls team this five sets resonates clear in the players’ friendships and memories they made with never achieved this goal in its history. year because we have improved a lot memories, the team plans on using it as one another.

Regardless of the team’s placement in from last year and have been winning motivation moving forward.

“Beating Nevada Union and the match Division I or II for playoffs, the Grizraces in the league,” Zenzola said.

The Grizzlies advanced to playoffs, we beat Oak Ridge were great memories

Fan of the Month

consistently to show his support for Grizzly athletics.

“I was the awkward kid that was trying to cheer my heart out,” Scotti said.

While at the time his actions did not seem to have a huge effect, down the road his early determination made him stand out in the Tribe’s white masses in stadium.

Scotti continued to go to games and cheer with love and enthusiasm through his junior year, which is when he became a larger part of the Tribe.

“Halloween night (Granite bay football) played Rocklin at home in the rain,” Scotti said. “That was a crazy (experience), I think only 10 of us stayed through the whole thing.”

Scotti said the game was one of the best he ever watched live, and from then on he had more and more to do with the Tribe.

Scotti said he loves being able to get the crowd on their feet, but it

GBHS senior recounts his progression in the Tribe

BY TROY PAWLAK

tpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

When it comes to sports on the Granite Bay High School, the Tribe is the wild animal leading the uproarious crowd. At the head of all the organized chaos is senior Joey Scotti, one of the Tribe leaders. Standing in front of the sea of white, megaphone in hand and covered in body and face pain, Scotti channels the beating heart of the Tribe.

Scotti first began his history with the Tribe his freshman year. Despite not having a significant impact at the time, Scotti went to games

is really all about supporting the people on the field. .

“At the end of the day, it’s not about me, Charlie(Tooley), or Jack(Willing),it’s about the players,” Scotti said. “As long as they get motivated we are having a good time.”

Scotti said his own experiences with being cheered on while playing soccer greatly contribute to his love of spreading the motivation to push on to others through cheering.

Joey Scotti Scotti has been an active member since Freshman year and is one of this year’s tribe leaders

GBHS athletes participate in signing day

Many students are looking forward to developing new relationships in addition to discovering the culture of Zac Anderson, Soccer, Brown University college athletJared Baer, LAX, Stevenson to the University of the ics.

Justin Baer, LAX, Stevenson Pacific.

“I am most These reasons seem Bryan Baumgarten, Golf, Univesity of Illinois excited about to be the group consenBrandon Beland, LAX, University of Massachusetts, Lowell making new sus among these student friendships Gianni Cannon, LAX, Aurora University athletes. Each of them sucand continuEmily DeMure, Volleyball, Penn State ceeded in finding a school ing the sport Will Duval, LAX, Mannhattanville College that fits them both athletiI love,” said cally and academically.

Kassidy Henson, Swim, San Diego State University Emma DarCommitting as early as Carlin Isaacson, LAX, Villanova ragh, who has possible has relieved some committed Sydney Larson, Swim, University of Houston major stressors in the lives to Wesleyan Hunter Loomis, Soccer, United States Military Academy of these seniors.

University.

Ethan Quinn, LAX, Seton Hill For a few of the studentThe transiathletes, signing day has Heaven Quintana, Swim, University of California, Santa Barbara tion from high been a long anticipated Victoria Unger, Swim, Whittier College school to coldate. Soccer commits Maglege is difficult Alaigra Usher, LAX, Central Connecticut gie Bell and Jordan Holt, for any stuas well as lacrosse commit dent. Athletics Celebrating Early Graduates Carlin Isaacson submitted allow the stutheir verbal commitments Maggie Bell, Soccer, University of California, Berkeley dent to make to their colleges well beJordan Holt, Soccer, University of Kentucky a smoother fore senior year. transition into Knowing the school college by ever the pressure to perform well while they would be attending in integrating them into a family of not only maintaining good grades was still present. the fall of 2016 was a huge relief, howtheir sport, but almost all college athletics.

Big time universities recruit GBHS athletes from all sports

BY KASSIDY HENSON

khenson.gazette@gmail.com

The college search is stressful enough for any high school student. Seniors at GBHS can be seen filling out college apps, preparing their final SAT/ACTs, and taking college visits. However, there are a few students who have athletics to thank for ending the college search early.

With so many NCAA regulations being added to college recruiting across an array of sports, it is difficult to keep up. The first national signing day for all NCAA sports was November 11, 2015. The final day for this signing window is November 18, 2015.

A group of 17 student-athletes at Granite Bay High School will be signing their National Letters of Intent within this November window. Among the various collegiate sports are soccer, lacrosse, swim, and volleyball.

“I signed early because I knew where I wanted to go and I wanted to have the college process over with,” swimmer Brandon Reno said. Reno has committed

Where Are they Going?

Club programs takes priority over HS teams Soccer academies pull talent away from highschools

BY MAGGIE BELL

mbell.gazette@gmail.com

NPL, ECNL, PDP, ODP, Academy— although to the average person these abbreviations may appear as only jumbled letters, to those educated in the youth soccer lingo, these are just a few of the programs available for boys and girls to compete with.

Despite having separate means of getting there, these programs are all in place to achieve the same basic goals - player development and scouting purposes with the ultimate goal being to reach the collegiate level.

Some programs choose to continue year round without room in schedules to participate in any other programs such as high school soccer.

Both the Academy league (boys) and the Elite Clubs National League (girls) have this mentality. With rules restricting players from playing high school soccer, the Academy league forces players to either give up high school competition altogether or opt for a different non Academy affiliated team.

Although ECNL itself doesn’t technically restrict

players from playing for their high school, opportunity for those who may want to represent their many teams within the ECNL require it or school athletically without the intensity and pressure at the least highly encourage it. of preparing for college soccer.

Sophomore Cameron Douglas currently Verbally committed to play for the University of plays goalkeeper for the local Sac Republic California, Los Angeles, Douglas is set to compete FC academy team and was a member at that next level and is at a of last year’s GBHS varsity squad. different place than some of “The reason I opted out of HS classmates who play for the One of the benefits his soccer (this year) was because I had varsity team. of high school played academy soccer at the end of Nonetheless, Douglas admitlast year, and I absolutely loved it,” ted that he does miss some of soccer is learning Douglas said. “Also, I felt that acadthe social parts and the camato play with a wide raderie he experienced during emy soccer would help me get into a better college than if I had played HS level of skill sets all his freshman year on the varsity instead.” squad. on the same team Although a generation ago college “I still go to the GBHS soccer coaches used high school soccer for games to cheer on my old teamscouting purposes, in today’s youth mates and it still has the same – Mark Broers, GBHS girls’ soccer world it is rare to even see a look and feel it had last year or soccer coach college coach at a high school game the year before,” Douglas said. as most do serious scouting at large Despite critiques regarding national club tournaments. High the level of play, some coaches School soccer is viewed by most as a and players consider other pros fun opportunity rather than a way to to outweigh the cons. GBHS improving a player’s game. teacher and girls’ varsity soccer Douglas said he thinks that high school is also a good coach, Mark Broers also coaches for local soccer

“I’m headed toward a really supportive team that I know will push me beyond my limits,” swimmer Sydney Larson said. “I can’t wait to grow alongside my teammates and my coaches.”

Graduating early is easy and popular among the student body, due to the block schedule at GBHS. Maggie Bell is graduating early and will be starting classes at the University of California, Berkeley in January of 2016.

Jordan Holt will be starting classes at the University of Kentucky following winter break as well.

When a National Letter of Intent is signed, the athlete is bound to attend that college.

In accordance with the National Letter of Intent Administrative Guidelines and Interpretations, a prospective student-athlete agrees to attend the signing institution for one academic year and to a written offer of athletic financial aid for that year upon signing a letter of intent.

Though early signing is convenient for those looking to relieve some stress, it is not for everyone. Many student-athletes need more time to decide than just a few months and a maximum of five recruit trips.

The options are endless when it comes to choosing a college, but for our 17 college-bound student-athletes, the wait is finally over.

club, Placer United SC which does not partake in the ECNL league.

“One of the benefits of high school soccer is learning to play with a wide level of skill sets all on the same team.” Broers said.

With an age range spanning from 14-18, both physical gaps and technical gaps are inevitable.

Younger more technical players who are able to make the varsity squads as underclassmen get to compete with older players who can serve as role models to them.

“As older players, you have a real chance —if you haven’t been a captain before— to develop leadership skills that you may not have the opportunity to develop in club soccer,” Broers said.

In the San Joaquin Section (which GBHS competes in), both the boys’ and girls’ soccer seasons are being switched from their traditional fall and spring to winter. Starting in the 2016-17 school year, this transition presents an opportunity for the clubs to review their rules on high school soccer participation.

GBHS senior and current captain of the GBHS boys’ varsity team Joey Scotti has partaken in the program for all four years of his high school career.

Scotti said he thinks it is too soon to tell if high school will continue to be a part of the youth soccer experience or if it will be fazed out all together.

“If the academy’s start to pull all the talent from these age groups then I believe it will die off and become much less competitive,” Scotti said.

Friday, November 13th, 2015

Grizz Quiz

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Compiled by Natasha Chanda

Ann-Marie Seidel Water Polo

How many times do you practice in a week?

What is the best part about your sport?

Are you superstitious before games?

Sarah Enos Cheer

Arjith Jayaraman Tennis

Sarah Kenney Extreme Dance

Soccer

3 times

Meeting new people and all the opportunities

Performing at games

I always wear white shorts

I put my right shoe on first and I pray

Saying something inspirational in our team huddle

Listening to music, shopping, and makeup

No, its more about the experience with your friends

2 times

Everyday

The games, I love all my teammates

Hanging out with friends and learning dances

I love the competition

I always eat food

Carter Bliss

3-4 times per week

5 times

No, but my team always does the same warm up

and take a power

Swim

Art and coaching Jr. Grizzly Cheer

Playing soccer with my coaches

Hanging out with friends and having a good time

Yes, it feels good to win

Winning a football game is good because we have more energy

I learn a lot more from losing but winning in tennis builds more confidence

For high school, it is more about having fun, but for club, winning is super important

What is your favorite hobby besides your sport?

Is winning important to you?

Sports C3

nap

and rallies

Senior finishes golf and gears up for basketball season

BY KASSIDY HENSON

khenson.gazette@gmail.com

The goal of most American sports is to be the fastest, score the most goals, or get the most points. For Granite Bay senior Caroline Brown, less is more as she pursues her talents in golf.

Both the men’s’ and women’s’ golf teams at Granite Bay high school are well renowned for their talents.

“I’ve been playing golf my whole life, but I started taking it seriously my freshman year,” Brown said.

Senior year marks her final year as a member of the golf team. And she hopes to

make this year her best one yet. As the golf team heads to “Nor-Cals” which is their final tournament before state, Brown continues to be a team leader.

“My favorite part about playing on the GB team is meeting new people and forming friendships with people who also love to golf,” Brown said.

Golf creates a challenge for Brown that other activities do not. She also strives to pursue golf later in life.

“I hope to play golf in the future with my family and continue to meet new people who play,” Brown said.

Along with almost every sport, golf provides a community of players who challenge

each other.

Along with golf, Caroline Brown has also played basketball for the high school for the past four years. Balancing basketball, golf, and school has been no easy feat for Brown, which is part of what makes her such a phenomenal student-athlete.

Brown has put in a lot of time becoming the person she is today. The discipline, patience, and time-management that being a two sport athlete will stay with her for the rest of her life. As Caroline Brown finishes up her final season of golf and gears up for her last year on the basketball team, it appears as though this will be her most memorable season yet.

SAAVEDRA: Change in priorities from mat to class Continued from page C1

“There were a lot of schools … like ASU, Oregon State, (and) Boise state,” Saavedra said.

“The main goal for me with Israel and every wrestler is to go to college,” Wester said. “Israel has put himself in a situation where college is not going to be a financial burden for himself.”

As he has reached the goal of getting into college with a full ride scholar-

My goal is for him to have a great academic year and to really enjoy himself this year – Carolyn Wester, Wrestling Coach

ship, Saavedra has shifted his focus from winning on the mat to winning in the classroom.

“My goal is for him to have a great academic year and to really enjoy himself this year,” Wester said. “Once he decides to win there is nobody in California in any weight class that compares to his talent, and that’s just a fact…(so) my goals are just all academic for him.”

Special to the Gazette/TONY ROTUNDO,WRESTLERAREWARRIORS.COM Israel Saavedra battles Gionn Peralta in his second state finals; Saavedra ended up winning to secure his second state title

RIVALRY: Student sections and the community participate in the GB-DO feud Continued from page C1

said. “My nephew was the DO ASB President last year so we always talk smack.”

Today, the rivalry between the Grizzlies and the Eagles is stronger than ever.

When the two schools prepare to clash, it’s hard for students to ignore the excitement of gameday approaching.

Tim Bartolomei, as senior co-leader of the DO student section known as “the Blackhole”, appreciates the vibe the big games consistently brings to the DO student body whenever they face GBHS. “Both schools love to feed off of each other’s energy,” Bartolomei said. “(Students) know that both on the field and in the stands it’s going to be a battle and people really like the challenge.”

With the schools only being a 17-minute drive away from each other, the crowd turnout is always expected to be at high numbers.

DO faculty member Jeff Dietrich is the head varsity baseball coach and associate athletic director. He

has been at DO for eight years and is very familiar with the gameday atmosphere when his school plays GBHS. “Well, here (at DO), each kid goes out of their way to dress as ‘country’ as possible,” Dietrich said. “We are pretty spirited each Friday, but against Granite Bay (the games) are usually late in a season and there is a lot at stake so the energy is increased.”

Despite the generally tame rivalry, in the past, students have taken it beyond what is considered ‘acceptable fun’.

“As a teacher and as a coach, I know some kids have taken (the rivalry) pretty far,” Dietrich said.

Last year both school administrations dealt with vandalism issues caused by students of the other school, but neither let it take away from the ultimately good spirit behind the competition.

“Rivalries are great for high schools,” Dietrich said. “(GBHS and DO) have experienced a lot of hard earned success against each other so it’s fun and entertaining.”

The pressure on the athletic teams is one thing, but

the anticipation that builds within the student bodies is another crazy aspect of the rivalry.

The Blackhole and the Tribe prepare all week long to get ready for a battle of their own outside the sidelines.

Tribe leader Jack Willing sees the competition as a chance to earn bragging rights until the next meeting.

“It’s usually a close game and it’s always fun to rub it in their faces when we win,” Willing said. “GBHS always gets really pumped for games against DO.” Beating DO is typically more exciting than most games for students at GBHS according to Willing.

“I think it’s tradition that keeps the rivalry going,” Willing said. “Defeating DO has always been something to be proud of and it’s passed on to all the classes that come through GBHS.” Leaving the stadium, field or court victorious adds to students’ pride for their school and community.

Senior Morgan Brummand of DO is a Blackhole council member. She also credits tradition and legacy for bringing the enthusiasm to the campuses when the big game comes around.

“The rivalry seems to revolve around ‘hicks versus rich kids’,” Brummand said. “Although I may not want to admit it, when I think of Granite Bay, I think of a good school that’s always going to be good competition no matter what.”

According to Brummand, people don’t even question the rivalry anymore, they just grow up within the environment until the rivalry is officially their own.

No matter the outcome of a single game, match or meet, the everlasting battle continues to carry on year after year.

At the moment, the Eagles have the upper hand on the rivalry, having just defeated GBHS varsity football 14-17.

Although it was high intensity on the field, the student sections displayed the healthy competition the rivalry offers.

At the end of the third quarter, both sections chanted, supporting the efforts to get GBHS’s Wynden Grealy on Ellen.

The Grizzlies next face the Eagles in boys and girls basketball on Jan 15.

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Friday, November 13, 2015

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The Tribe is given new football regulations GBHS student section moves to the bleachers

BY COLE KAHMANN

ckahmann.gazette@gmail.com

The last football home game for Granite Bay High School was a different sight for many fans and viewers.

The Tribe, GBHS’s student section, wasn’t in its normal cheering area behind the end zone, instead they were in the stands. This change was made due to a damaged fence where the Tribe previously rooted on their team.

“Originally at the beginning of the year they wanted us to move up to the stands because we broke the fence last year,” senior Tribe leader Joey Scotti said.

However, after talking with the administration and the football team they decided it would be best to stay on the field.

“The asterisk behind going on the field was that we couldn’t break the fence, and if we did break the fence we would move up to the stands,” said Scotti. “Sure enough, we ending up breaking the fence so we were forced to move up to the stands.”

The Tribe leaders have responded to the move in a

The asterisk behind going on the field was that we couldn’t break the fence, and if we did break the fence we would move up to the stands. Sure enough we ended up breaking the fence so we were forced to move up to the stands.

– Joey Scotti, Tribe leader

positive manner pointing out that it actually helped them get the crowd into the game and provide fans with a better viewing area, especially for homecoming.

“We tried staying positive about (moving to the bleachers),” senior Tribe leader Charlie Tooley said. “It kinda worked out since it was homecoming so we could see all the floats and the whole event.”

They also felt the change benefits the team.

“I think from my point of view we were louder up in the stands.” Scotti said.

“Initially we were kinda disappointed with it, but at the same time I think it is better because everyone’s in a tighter area and it’s easier to get the chants across.”

While the change has only affected their last home game of the regular season, the leaders say that if the team has a home playoff game or another sporting event on the

Gazette photo /MADELINE WILLIAMS

The Tribe cheers on the varsity football team from the end zone before moving to the bleachers. football field then they are going to stay in the stands.

However, not everyone agreed that the stands were the optimal viewing area.

Senior Hailey Dredge, who has enjoyed being a member of the Tribe since her freshmen year, doesn’t like the move to the stands as much, despite thinking that the Tribe has improved as a whole this year.

“I like the field better because I feel like everyone’s more into the game,” Dredge said. “In the stands there was a lot of talking and not as much chanting as there would usually be.”

She also agreed with the leaders that moving to the stands for homecoming is a good idea.

“I think it enhanced (homecoming) cause we got to see (the floats) better and the people on the floats got to see (everyone in the stands together),” Dredge said.

Senior Alex Rocha agreed with Dredge in that the spot was great for homecoming, but felt it wasn’t the same as being on the field.

“You have a better view of the … homecoming ceremony where they crown the king and queen, but a worse view of the game,” Rocha

said.

Tooley believes that while the view might not been as good, the experience was more exciting.

“Since we were all together we enjoyed it more, we thought everyone had more fun,” Tooley said.

The leaders are also looking forward to the upcoming basketball season, a busy time for the Tribe.

“The Tribe is very different than what it is at football games because basketball is more of an up and down sports rather than football where there’s a lot of Tooley said.

Tooley is excited for their signature tradition of dancing to the song “Original Don” during halftimes of special home games against rivals or big opponents.

As the year is progressing the Tribe leaders want to encourage everybody to try cheering on some sports they wouldn’t have thought of watching before.

“We want to get people to go to a variety of sports,” Tooley said. “It’s not necessary going there and doing chants, it’s more just being there for moral support and cheering them on.”

California recognizes cheerleading as an official sport GBHS students react to the recent bill signed by Jerry Brown

BY ANJALI SHRIVASTAVA ashrivastava.gazette@gmail.com

On Oct. 7, many Californians cheered as the latest bill was signed into legislation by governor Jerry Brown.

Assembly Bill 949, also referred to as the California High Schools Expanding Equality Respect and Safety (C.H.E.E.R.S.) Act, officially classifies competitive cheerleading in high schools as a sport and allows student cheerleaders to earn physical education credit for participation in their activity.

Though the bill was passed with an unanimous vote, several still believe cheerleading is undeserving of the new title.

“In my sports marketing class that I took last year … the whole class said (cheerleading was not a sport),” said Kendra Mullin, a senior cheerleader on the Granite Bay varsity team. “Sometimes we feel underappreciated because we are considered an activity but we train really hard and a lot of people can get hurt.”

In addition to the new label, the bill requires the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which governs high school sports in the state, and the California Department of Education to develop guidelines and safety standards for cheerleading.

According to The National The list of injuries is extensive Center for Catastrophic Sports and exhaustive.

Injury Research, 65.2 percent of Considering that it is such a all catastrophic injuries in youth dangerous sport, the fact that sports, including head, neck and some still continue to trivialize spine injucheerleading is a ries, occur in “slap in the face,” cheerleading. as Shimada put it.

With Shimada has cheerleading been cheering since being such the age of five a dangerous Sometimes we feel years old, and has sport, proper become unfazed underappreciated by the danger. safety regulations are in because we are con- However, that does order. Most make it any less sidered an activity but not cheerleaders real. experience “Because we’ve we train really hard major injubeen (cheering) for and a lot of people so long, it doesn’t ries in their can get hurt. cheering seem that dangercareer. ous,” Shimada said, Mullin “(but cheerleading – Kendra Mullin, herself has is) dangerous and varsity cheerleader had four it’s scary to (actuconcussions ally) think about and recently what we’re doing.” got a scar on In fact, many her lip from a seem to underflyer landing estimate the risk on her. Kylie that cheerleading Shimada, another senior cheerpresents. leader, currently has a concussion “It was difficult,” said Reed Hoand has had several injuries in the men, who participated in the cheer past. Lily Williams, a freshman routine with senior cheerleaders cheerleader, broke her right fibula, and football players. “I already incapacitating her leg for more had respect (for cheerleading) but than a month over the summer. (the routine) put it into perspec-

Gazette photo /JENNY TARBELL

Senior Kylie Shimada performs with her team at halftime of a home football game. tive.”

The unappreciation cheerleaders experience can be frustrating, especially when they put in such effort. Including games, practicing, coaching junior grizzlies and the occasional event they put on, cheerleaders put in 7-9 hours per

week.

“It’s upsetting to me and my team when we hear that (students) don’t appreciate our work (since) we’re doing it for the school,” Williams said. “We make it look easy, we make it look fun. That’s the point of it.”

But though there are stereotypes attached and it is very dangerous, cheerleaders still enjoy their sport.

“I love it. Cheer is like a second family (for me),” Mullin said. “I’ve grown up with these girls ... and we’ve become a close family.”

FOOTBALL: GB reflects on the past 20 years of football Continued from page C1

Cooper, though not the head coach, still is deeply involved with the football program by serving as the strength, speed and agility coach, and doing whatever Evans needs him for.

Cooper says that one of his fondest memories was creating something out of nearly nothing when the school first opened. In 1996, there were only freshmen and sophomores enrolled at the GBHS resulting in no varsity team the first year.

“We went 3-7 with our first varsity team but it was made up of 35 juniors and 2 sophomores.”

Cooper said. “Again, we got stronger in the offseason (and) got faster. Our first group of seniors went 8-2.”

Cooper said that the dedication from those players was something extraordinary.

“They got better every year, they were fun to be around, they were totally into it, and everything we asked them to do they wanted to do it because they wanted to be winners,” Cooper said.

“The next group... the first group we had go from freshman … to seniors... went 13-0,” Cooper said. “They didn’t lose

a game. We won the league title (and) section title. We were able to build a program from nothing, and not be very good, into (becoming) the best team in the area,” Cooper said.

Though Cooper views those first four years as some of the best of the program’s, many players look to the 2012 State Championship as a key highlight of their time at GBHS. Alumni Luke Bussey, captain during the 2013-2014 season at GBHS and football player at San Diego State University, recalls fond memories from his time at GBHS. “There (were) so many awesome memories but I’d have to say my favorite was when we won the State Championship,” Bussey said. “The whole experience of traveling down to L.A. with the team and having our band and families there was awesome. Then winning at the last second was just an amazing accomplishment and we all saw how our hard work in the summer and offseason paid off.”

As for the future, Chet Dickson, the only coach who’s coached the team all 20 years, looks forward to seeing similar work ethic and passion in players

as he has years past. captain of the team, agrees with “We’ve been so successful (in Bussey’s assessment. the past),” Dickson said, “that “I think that it’s great because it’s hard to think about things the school really rallies around being different. A lot of (what we the football team and supports need to do in the future) is just it, the coaching is great and all maintaining this level of success the players really buy into the in a variety of ways (and) getting program and work hard,” Milner … each new group of (players) said. to be as good Not only is it as they can apparent that the be.” players dedicate Both curhours upon hours rent and for- Again, we got stronger of practice to the mer players but also and in the offseason game, attribute the that the coaches (and) got faster. Our continue to provide success of the football with nothfirst group of seniors players program to ing but excellent the coaches coaching and serve went 8-2. and players. as exemplary role – Coach Ernie Cooper “I think models. that at “As a player, I (GBHS) have a huge amount almost all of of respect for the the playamount of time ers want to reach their max (Coach Cooper) spent working potential,” Bussey said. “As a with us on the field, in the weight result, all the players are always room and in the film room to competing against one another make sure that our team was to become better players and this prepared and confident going results in a better team overall. into every one of our games,” The players’ passion for the Caraway said. “Granite Bay’s game and work ethic sets (the success has a lot to do with program) apart (from others).”

Coach Cooper’s commitment to Senior Ethan Milner, a current the football program.”

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Sports C5

GBHS students strike their way to perfection

Bowling offers non-contact competition

BY JACQUELINE ROMERO jromero.gazette@gmail.com

When one thinks of high school sports, football, basketball, soccer or baseball are usually some of the common ones that come to mind.

However for some Granite Bay High School students, none of those are their passions.

Bowling rather, is their sport of choice.

Senior Sam Northam began competitive bowling for the Rocklin Juniors “Rock Squad” team about two months ago and since then has developed a love for the game.

“I started because I thought it would be fun to try out,” Northam said. “I kept it up and I started making friends and getting better.”

Along with bowling, Northam also plays baseball for GBHS and said he notices a difference between the two sports.

“I like playing it more than other sports,” Northam said. “It’s a sport that I can actually judge how well I am doing based on my scores.”

Northam is not the only GBHS student who has developed a liking for the sport.

Junior Edwin Baradas began bowling almost two years ago for the same team as Northam. He joined the team after being diagnosed with a kidney disease that prevented him from playing other sports.

The doctors advised Baradas to stop playing sports with physical contact because they were unsure of the severity of the disease.

“I had to stop playing a lot of sports I loved,” Baradas said. “Luckily I stumbled across bowling and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

According to Baradas, even though bowling is technically an individual sport, it is still very social and

has allowed him to meet a lot of new people.

“What I love about bowling is the family dynamic that is present in the sport,” Baradas said. “You’ll see and bowl the same people almost every weekend so you get to know your competitors on a different level than you would in any other sport.”

Even though some people choose to bowl competitively, there are many students at GBHS who bowl recreationally. Senior Sammi Tafoya said she loves to bowl because it’s a fun thing to do with friends.

“I love how it still feels competitive yet at the same time is an enjoyable activity,” Tafoya said. “I think it is really cool that people are on bowling teams and I see why they like playing the sport so much.”

According to Tafoya, her dad used to work with the president of the Professional Bowling League, Chris Peters, so she always hears about how great of a sport it is.

“My dad and (Peters) used to work together at Microsoft,” Tafoya said. “(Peters) left Microsoft to become a professional bowler. I figured that if he left his job with such a successful company then what he was doing must be pretty great.”

Because Tafoya swims, plays volleyball and coaches swim, she said she has too busy of a schedule to join a competitive bowling team.

Special to the Gazette /KIMBERLY POWER “I think it would be really fun to be on a bowling Sam Northam bowled at the Earl Anthony Memorial Tournament where he averaged over 200 points during the tournament. team,” Tafoya said. “I wish I had more time to do it but for now I just have time to play for fun with Wednesday and Saturday also practicing on Monday, Tafoya said that she has never bowled a perfect friends and family.”

Friday and Saturday after league. Although bowlgame herself so she understands how much of an According to Baradas, dedicating time to bowl com- ing might not be labeled as the most popular sport accomplishment it is. petitively can be a big commitment especially if you “Because I only bowl recreationally I haven’t had around, Northam knows first hand the amount of are serious player. enough practice to bowl a perfect game,” Tafoya work it takes to be a threat in the competition. “(In addition to practice), I personally bowl a toursaid. “I respect the talent that competitive bowlers Even though Northam has an average of 200 and nament every weekend,” Baradas said. “Most of the have - A perfect game is not an easy thing to achieve Baradas has an average of 220, both of them have time they are in the Bay Area so it is a lot of traveland I don’t think a lot of people realize how good bowled a perfect score of 300. ing. Every now and then it will be out of state.”

“It is really uncommon for our team,” Northam said. you have to be to do it.”

Northam said he bowls for his league on Sunday, “Only (Baradas) and I have bowled one.”

Winter sports teams prepare for upcoming seasons

Wrestling, basketball teams wait in anticipation as their seasons near

BY PARKER MATHESON

pmatheson.gazette@gmail.com

As the weather gets colder, GBHS sports are moving indoors. Boys basketball, girls basketball, and wrestling are all ramping up their training in preparation for competitive seasons ahead.

After a tough ending to last year’s boys’ basketball playoff run, the Grizzlies have high expectations as redemption.

With numerous talented players returning, Coach Jason Sitterud said the team has just as many goals as last year’s, if not more.

Players such as Charlie Tooley, Darren Nelson, Sean Boyle, and Kovey Palmaer offer a strong core that other players will

contribute to giving Sitterud has high hopes for the team.

With the ability to practice months before the season starts, Athletic PE has given the team an opportunity to bond and form chemistry on the court. “(Having Athletic PE) helps a lot with skill development,” Sitterud said. “We’ve always believed in the ‘we’ and not the ‘me’ mentality.”

For Senior Kovey Palmaer, the team has many traditions that help them get to know each other on and off the court.

Annually, the varsity basketball team substitutes the court for Rolling Greens Golf Course and plays a round of golf.

According to Palmaer, those 18 holes are a key source of camaraderie.

With a league that includes teams such as Woodcreek and Folsom, the Sierra Foothill League offers some of the toughest competition in the area.

Earning a spot in the post-season is a yearly goal for the GBHS team.

“Getting placed higher than the eighth or ninth seed in the playoffs is our goal as a team,” Palmaer said.

If the Grizzlies can achieve this they could avoid facing extremely challenging competition early on in the playoffs.

Girls’ Varsity Basketball is also looking to carry their season as far as they can.

This year is about more than just than just winning games for the Lady Grizzlies.

Because of severe injuries last year and a fairly young age of the team this year, the team will look at this season as a chance to rebuild.

Senior Daeja Black may be one of the

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biggest losses to the team, as one of the team’s strongest players in years past.

Unfortunately, Black tore her ACL last winter.

Although she is making her way back to the court and progressing at a steady rate, whether or not she will be healthy enough to return for the upcoming season is still up in the air.

Senior Monica Contreras, who also dealt with a torn ACL that occurred last fall is looking forward to redeeming the season she missed out on last year.

“We hope to play to the best of our abilities and focus on our strengths,” Contreras said.

Despite these setbacks, the Grizzlies are still focused and motivated.

As the season draws closer with tough competition lying ahead, the girls plan to bring their ‘A’ game to the court consistently in practice and games.

Senior ready for his final season Tooley’s passion allows him to excel on court

While basketball takes to the court, the GBHS wrestling team ramps up their training regime a wall away in the wrestling room.

This year, the wrestling team’s opportunity to be successful is a very likely possibility.

With the acquisition of talented wrestlers such as senior Israel Saavedra, a two-time state champion, the team has individual talent it hasn’t had in years’ past.

However members of the team are still very positive about the team’s ability to achieve success.

Junior Parker Wilkin is looking forward to a great season. “These new skilled wrestlers will make great practice partners for the other guys,” Wilkin said.

According to Wilkin, he and the other members of the team are eager to see everyone bring success to the school.

Charlie Tooley Charlie found his love for the sport when he started playing in 1st grade.

BY MATT ONTIVEROS

montiveros.gazette@gmail.com

Senior Charlie Tooley is gearing up for his last year of Granite Bay High School basketball.

Tooley will be team captain again just as he was last year.

This season will bring a new position for him however - he will be moving to point guard instead of small forward as he played last year.

“I (think) that we will have a very good year,” Tooley said. “We have some good guys coming back.”

Tooley was brought on the varsity team as a sophomore, an achievement few athletes actually accomplish.

“I think the past two years we have been an average team that (had) good (moments)” Tooley said.

Last year, the boys’ basketball team ended their season when they lost to Folsom in the section playoffs.

The team entered the playoff bracket seeded 9th, and pulled off a close victory over Jesuit to play Folsom before their post-season journey was halted.

Folsom ultimately ended up winning the section championship.

“This year we want to get over that hump that’s been preventing us from normal years and from going far in the playoffs,” Tooley said.

Tooley said that he is confident in the ability of this year’s team, especially the current seniors.

“The senior core group has been playing AAU and Hotshots basketball together since 3rd or 4th grade.”

Tooley said. “I think the chemistry is definitely there, it’s just (...) put-

ting it into the game and figuring it all out (that can be challenging).”

Of the starting five players four of them will be seniors including Tooley. Darren Nelson is the only junior.

“The starting five will be me, Kovey, Darren, Sean and that fifth spot will probably end up being Scott,” Tooley said.

With a lot of experience in the starting lineup, he hopes to start the season off strong and carry the momentum through the playoffs.

With games approaching quickly, the varsity team is highly competitive in practices in efforts to immitate game scenarios.

The team will be premiering on Dec. 1st against Oakmont at GBHS.

C6

Friday, November 13, 2015

w The Granite Bay Gazette

SECOND LOOK

For the Record -As of November 13, 2015

Girls’ Volleyball 10/17 vs Hilmar (1-2) 10/17 vs El Camino (2-0) 10/17 vs Tokay (2-0) 10/17 vs Sonora (1-2) 10/20 vs Rocklin (1-3) 10/22 vs Del Oro (3-1) 10/27 @ Folsom (2-3) 10/31 vs Whitney (2-0) 10/31 vs Christian Brothers (2-0) 11/2 vs Oak Ridge (0-3) Boys’ Soccer 10/21 vs Oak Ridge (1-3) 10/23 vs Nevada Union (1-0) 10/27 @ Woodcreek (4-2) 11/3 Section Playoffs(2-2, lost in PK’s)

Gazette photo /FRANCES STRNAD

Gazette photo /JENNY TARBELL

Boys’ Water Polo 10/20 vs Oak Ridge (18-4) 10/24 vs Turlock (13-2) 10/24 vs Jesuit (7-3) 10/24 vs Golden West (9-8) 10/29 SFL Tournament Finals Football 10/16 @ Nevada Union (24-14) 10/23 vs Woodcreek (2821) 10/30 @ Rocklin (24-27) 11/6 @ Del Oro 11/13 First Round Playoffs Girls’ Tennis 10/08 vs Del Oro (4-5) 10/13 @ Folsom (8-1) 10/20 @ Oak Ridge (2-7) Gazette photo /MADELINE WILLIAMS

Girls’ Golf 10/26 Gold Divisionals 11/2 Section Tournament (1st of 8) 11/9 NorCal Tourney 11/17 Golf State Girls’ Water Polo 10/23 Julian Schmidt Tourney 10/23 vs Lodi (7-13) 10/24 vs Clovis East (9-8) 10/27 vs Woodcreek (6-4) 10/29 vs Del Oro (4-11)

Gazette photo /FRANCES STRNAD

Gazette photo /JENNY TARBELL

Cross Country 10/30 SFL Champions 11/7 Sac-Joaquin Subsections Boys’ Basketball 12/1 vs Oakmont 12/7 @ Saint Mary’s 12/10 vs Pleasant Grove (@ Monterey Trail)

Gazette photo /CARISSA LEWIS

Girls’ Basketball 11/30 vs Whitney 12/3 vs Christian Brothers (@ Placer Tournament) 12/8 vs Oakmont 12/11 vs River Valley 12/14 @ Del Campo 12/15 @ Vista Del Lago

Gazette photo /JENNY TARBELL

Wrestling Schedule to be announced

Gazette photo /JENNY TARBELL

wSophomore Amanda Bone, top left, prepares to hit the ball during tennis practice. Yena Jan, top right, putts the ball on the green. Wynden Grealy smiles as the Tribe, big middle, chants for him to be on Ellen. Sienna Lyford, middle left, carefully lines up her ball with the hole. Tribe leaders Jack Willing, Charlie Tooley, and Joey Scotti, middle right, lead GBHS students in a chant.

GBHS cross country, second up from bottom left, walks down Wellington Way as part of the Homecoming Parade. The varsity cheer team and football team, bottom left, pull off a stunt at their last Homecoming rally. Senior Jared Baer, bottom right, celebrates making a crucial tackle during the Homecoming football game on Oct. 23.

GS The Gazette’s arts and entertainment guide.

ADD US!

November 2015

GREEN SCREEN Snapchat’s geotags allow users to collect geographical memories

PAGES

8&9

Gazette photo/ EPSA SHARMA

Page 2

November 2015

sneak peek.

Gazette photo HANNAH HOLZER

wSee page 5 for students’ opinions on pies this fall season.

Gazette photo / AMANDA PRATHER

wSee pages 8&9 for the latest and greatest geotags from all around the world.

Special to the Gazette /JESSE ULI

wSee page 16 for a feature on Jesse Uli and his photography

Social media implements antisocial actions

S

Internet sites used for unintended purposes

ocial media, Is it an outlet for creativity, or just an opporwill judge us, but in reality who cares? tunity to show off everything and everywhere you go?

People will tell you that in college, no one cares how popular Why do we go places anymore? you were in high school.

Going places with friends has become much less about enjoyBut in my opinion, no one cares how popular you are in high ing the moment and more about showing it off to others on social school while we’re still in high school. media.

Just be yourself.

Going places with friends should be I know how cliche the phrase “be yourself” about being in the moment and enjoying can be, but it’s so relevant in this day and what you are doing, and yes, taking picage. tures is totally acceptable.

Too many people just judge you for irrelTrust me, I love a good Instagram picture evant and petty reasons. with a fire caption just as much as the next.

Social media is a huge contributor to However, posts have become so much people putting on an act to cover their true more about making others jealous rather personality and identity. than just enjoying your experience and takIf people don’t accept you for you, then ing some pictures to make memories. they are stupid and don’t deserve to have you Snapchat stories have definitely adopted as a friend anyway. this stigma the most.

Social media fights are also relevant to this I feel like most people’s favorite part of subject. going somewhere with friends is being able People are cowards in real life and would to post about it and “prove” that they have never think of starting an argument, but Twitaprather.gazette@gmail.com more fun than others. ter is another world.

The number of stories I’ve seen that are People don’t realize that anyone can see DEFINITELY trying to evoke jealousy are endless. what you post on Twitter or any social media, and that it can folSorry to break it to you, I don’t care and that you went to The low you for years to come.

Parlor for the 17th time this week.

People like to call people out for all kinds of crap on social The persona that people decide to take on the internet is commedia.

Why do people feel the need to fight on the internet where the pletely different from what these people are like in real life. whole world can see it, when they could have their disagreement It’s just so odd to me why people act so different on social in a more private setting? media than in person.

Attention. People want everyone to see them engaging in this People hide behind their Twitter or Instagram identities and are argument on Twitter and give them attention for it. afraid to be their funny quirky selves in real life, and for what But in reality NO ONE CARES about your petty problems. reason?

So keep them off the internet please and thank you.

We worry too much about how people will look at us and who

COMMENTARY

amanda prather

Guide to Green Screen

Page 3 Music reviews Page 4 Follow Friday Page 5 Love and hate for pie

Page 11 Thanksgiving traditions Page 8/9 Page 12 Snapchat GBHS’ Top geotag trend Tweets Page 10 Page 13 Talent show and Black Friday lip sync and fashion Page 6/7 Food Reviews

Upcoming GBHS Events for November & December November 19 Talent show November 23-30

Thanksgiving break

December 5 Dance show

Page 14/15 Movie reviews Page 16 Jessi Uli photography phenomenon

November 2015

Page 3

tune in.

Demi Lovato Confident

BY KASSSIDY HENSON

C

khenson.gazette@gmail.com

hildhood Disney star turned American pop sensation releases a new album that will be sure to top the charts.

Demi Lovato’s autobiographical album is dripping with fragility and swagger; it is sure to attract new listeners and impress fans.

Singer and songwriter Demi Lovato released her latest album Confident with Safehouse, Hollywood and Island Records on Oct. 16, 2015.

Though this date marked the release entire record, the album’s hit single “Cool For the Summer” debuted on July 1, 2015. The track peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The following single released, “Confident”, peaked at number 33 and now rests at number 36.

This album is truly the start of something new for Lovato.

With help from producers, she co-wrote a majority of her songs with guest appearances from Iggy Azalea and Sirah.

Releasing this album illustrates Demi Lovato’s developing ability as an artist to concisely convey her message.

The album itself is incredibly revealing. She takes the listener on a journey through what she is currently experiencing in a measure of 15 tracks.

Everything from sexual experimentation, struggles with addiction and bipolar disorder to her relationship with her now deceased father is expressed throughout her album.

Along with a new heightened sense of self, Lovato also showcases a style that is different from any of her previous releases.

Her unique sound could be described as a pop ballad with jazz and soul infusion.

The range of her voice is eloquently showcased in a majority of her songs. However it is done it a way that doesn’t overwhelm the listener.

Songs such as “Mr. Hughes” and “Waitin for You” present Lovato’s classic pop sound with a lot of synthesized beats and catchy background vocals.

However, songs such as “Stone Cold” and “Father” appeal to the emotions of the listener in many different aspects.

Tremendous pop-hit radio numbers, followed by the vulnerability of Lovato’s discussion of her addiction and mental disorder continue to add to the complexity of the album.

Her voice resembling an early Kelly Clarkson with a sprinkle of Amy Winehouse.

Demi Lovato is sure to keep you on your feet

Hollywood Records

Confident was released on Oct. 16, 2015.

ASkip to:

“Waiting for you”

Neon Indian Intl. Night School Hunter HayesVega Storyline CONNOR HINSON

V

36 brickhouse

Vega Intl. Night School came out Oct. 16, 2015.



B+ Skip to :

“Baby’s Eyes”

chinson.gazette@gmail.com

ega Intl. Night School is both a mouthful to say and an earful to listen to.

Hopefully, its density didn’t turn anyone off of the album prematurely as this is Neon Indian’s best release by far.

Neon Indian gained popularity in 2012 with his song “Polish Girl,” topping indie charts as well as making his way onto nearly every indie playlist.

Vega Intl. Night School maintains the cheeriness that drew people to his previous release, as every song will have you moving in some way, voluntarily or not.

The opening track “Hit Parade” sets the tone for those which follow.

While more of an intro than a full song, it does its job effectively, preparing one for what’s to come.

And what does come are layers upon layers of loud and dreamy vocals.

What I love about Neon Indian is how original his music sounds.

Cliches aside, nothing sounds quite like this album. Everything about him is genuine and unique.

My love of his sound partly stems from an obsession with the 1980s – a time period which his music pays homage to.

Every song on this record could find a home on the soundtrack of any self-respecting 80’s film, funky basslines and synth melodies intact.

My favorite track off the record, “Baby Eyes,” especially embodies this sound.

Although a single listen through this album is enjoyable on its own, the clearly high production value stands out best after listening to it three or four times.

One issue I had with the album,is that every song is just as upbeat and cheery as the last.

At no point is there a break in tone or a shift

in the mood of the whole.

It seems that Neon Indian wanted to make a pure dance album through and through.

And while he definitely accomplished that, the record feels almost overwhelming, especially when listening to the whole thing in one sitting.

This also leads to some of the songs sounding too similar.

More often than not I didn’t realize a new track had started until I checked the name.

In this way, Vega Intl. Night School reminds me of Daft Punk’s 1997 release, Homework.

Both are non-stop dance records and, in fact, both albums feature transitions between songs utilizing club sounds from discotheques.

Vega Intl. Night School maintains an upbeat vibe and rarely feels stale.

This is the best Neon Indian record to come out and the best synth-pop record to come out all year.

5 Seconds of Summer Sounds Good Feels Good

BY KAYOMI KAYOSHI

kkayoshi.gazette@gmail.com

W

ith a lot of hype surrounding the Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer, their new album, Sounds Good Feels Good, did not disappoint.

Sounds Good Feels Good was released on Sept. 23, 2015 and proved to be a success on the billboard charts.

Their new album shows a clear evolution from their last album. The new album has a lot of pop-punk songs and is balanced out by a few slower, more serious songs.

The singles that were released, “She’s Kinda Hot,” “Money,” “Hey Everybody” and “Jet Black Heart” were a perfect preview for the album.

The message 5 Seconds of Summer is trying to convey with this album is the emergence of “The New Broken Scene,” it is a saying used to ignite a form of unity within their fanbase.

On their last album their only soft ballad song was “Social Casualty, ”which was about being a social outcast in society.

However on the new album there are songs that touch on deeper issues.

There are songs about depression, breakups, divorce and anxiety. The songs that touch upon more serious issues are the ones that really highlight what “The New Broken Scene” really is.

While it’s thoughtful to have songs about deeper issues, some of the songs on the album seem unnecessary and even awkward to anyone who can’t relate.

Their song “Broken Home” may trigger a sense of uneasiness to a listener who isn’t dealing with, or been through family issues.

“Broken Home” is also a bit cheesy in the overall lyrics, but I prefer cheesy lyrics and a serious meaning over cheesy lyrics about something extremely superficial.

I found “Fly Away,” “San Francisco, Castaway,” “Vapor” and “Safety Pin” to be my all time favorite songs on the album.

Of course, being born and raised in California, I was excited to hear “San Francisco.”

The song has a very breezy feel to it, and it just fills you with euphoria.

It’s definitely a song I would listen to if I were on a road trip or adventure One thing I love about this album is that there are heavy instrumentals.

The last song of the deluxe album, “Outer Space” and “Carry On,” are very unique.

They are actually two songs separated by 30 seconds of the sound of rain, and then ends with a short song that encaptures the whole feel of the album.The overall feel of those songs takes you away from their boyband stigma.

The ballad like song ends with the lyrics “You know it’s gonna get better,” which is the perfect way of signing off the album and serves as a little message to everyone in “The New Broken Scene” to carry on.

Overall, the album lives up to its name: it sounds good, and makes you feel good.

Capitol Records

 Sounds Good Feels Good was released on Oct. 23, 2015.

A-

Skip to: “Vapor”

Page 4

November 2015

current.

mixtape - big bold voices

Artist of the Month Emma Borushko 1. How long have you been painting?

I have painted since I was little.

2. Where do you get your inspiration for your art from?

“I get it from other artist and photographs mostly.

HANNAH XU

hxu.gazette@gmail.com

3. Who is your favorite artist?

Adam Caldwell is my favorite artist.

1. Hello – Adele Adele makes her grand comeback after a four-year hiatus with this power belt. Warning: even the most jaded will feel heartbroken and nostalgic whilst listening to this song.

2. Over the Love – Florence + The Machine Inspired by The Great Gatsby, Florence Welch hits the heart with her high notes.

4. What is your favorite part of painting?

It’s very relaxing and unwind and you let your mind wander and I am able to do my thing!

3. Alive – Sia This enigmatic singer releases the first snippet of her forthcoming album This is Acting with the strong single that simultaneously makes you feel ready to conquer the world and take a calming walk in the rain.

5. How has the art program at GBHS bettered your art?

It has exposed me to new styles and techniques that I am able to incorporate in my art work.

4. 1000 Times – Sara Bareilles Bareilles shows off her pipes in this at first calm but then powerful song.

5. Only Love Can Hurt Like This – Paloma Faith British singer Paloma Faith’s jazz-centric music has finally made its way to America. The second single off of her album A Perfect Contradiction, Only Love Can Hurt Like This is perfect for dramatic gazing out of car windows.

Follow @brooke_gonzalez for a school spirit-filled feed.

Follow Friday

Instagram

Compiled by Jill Kurpershoek

6. Do you plan to continue to paint in college?

I might pursue art as a minor in college or do it as a part time thing.

7. Who is your favorite art teacher you have had?

Mr. Stevens has been my favorite teacher.

Compiled by Clair Kasel

FRESHMAN 2019 201 vs VS. SENIOR 6 .

What is your favorite traditional thing to eat for Thanksgiving?

Joseph: “The turkey because it’s the big centerpiece of the meal.”

Jack: “I like the turkey because it’s traditional and it tastes good.”

What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory?

Joseph: “We have big family get-togethers and we get to catch up.”

Jack: “We have football on TV while we eat and then at half time we go out and play some family football.”

Joseph Kennedy is a freshman at GBHS.

Jack Kennedy is a senior at GBHS. Compiled by Olivia Heppell

November 2015

Page 5

ins-pie-red

Got pies?

Gazette photo /BLAKE PANTER

GBHS students evaluate their relationship with different types of this dessert

BY ISABELLA TKACHUK

pies are not all the talk. said that she thinks of pumpkin pie when she hears “I don’t like pumpkin pie,” senior Zac Anderson the word “fall.”

Most people dessertit’s – it’s theirfavorite favorite part Most people lovelove desserttheir part of a holiday. people love fall-Hatch cold bakes whether,said.

Thanksgiving, and warm colors. What screams Similar to Most Hartmeier, junior Natalie of aand holiday.

Most Pie. people love fall – cold weather, Anderson likes to eat pies such as apple, but he pies every year during the holiday season. both fall dessert?

Thanksgiving, and warm colors. What screams both said pumpkin pie is something he prefers not to.

“Yes, I bake my own pies,” Hatch said.

“They are Typically, pie is the dessert eaten by many during the holiday season, especially around Thanksgivingthat in November. fall and dessert? Pie. Anderson is not the only person that does not great and they never get soggy.”

Throughout thepie course of the eaten years,bymany types of pies have been created aside from the traditional pumpkin and apple pies.

Typically, is the dessert many during enjoy consuming pumpkin pie.

Hatch prefers homemade pies rather than storeManythestudents at Granite Bay around High School believe bought that pies contribute to them the holiday holiday season, especially Thanksgiving According to a survey taken by Capital Public because she makes with her spirit. grandma. in November.

That being said, some prefer specific types of pies over others.

“The best pies come from my grandma’s kitchen,” Radio in 2012, less people prefered pumpkin than Throughout course of the years,pumpkin many types they did apple pie.

Hatch “She’sduring been making pies since she was Sophomore KatietheHartmeier bakes pies with hersaid. family the fall. of pies have been created aside from the traditional Over 17 percent of the 140,000 people they interlittle so she knows all of the secrets.”

Though Hartmeier and her family bake pumpkin pies, her favorite pie is apple cinnamon. pumpkin and apple pies. viewed favored apple pie, and less than 14 percent Even though she loves to eat stappleberry pie, a “(The Many best pies) areatfrom Apple Hill School because are amazing. Also a farm in Watsonville (has good pies) because they grow their fruit students Granite Bay High be-their pies voted pumpkin or other. combination of strawberry and apple, Hatch prefers fresh.”lieve Hartmeier that piessaid. contribute to the holiday spirit.

“I think people like apple pie more than pumpkin making pies over eating them.

That being said, some specific of pies said Despite her disinterest in prefer pumpkin pie,types Hartmeier that she thinks pumpkin whencool she hears the word “fall.” pie because it tastes more authentic,” Anderson said.

“Making (pies) is so of much fun and pie it’s really overtoothers. “(To me), pumpkin pie is too mushy.” to know how to make something from scratch,” Similar Hartmeier, Junior Natalie Hatch bakes pies every year during the holiday season.

Sophomore Katie Hartmeier bakes pumpkin pies Why is it that many people prefer apple over Hatchand said.they “It’s something grew up doing, so it’s “Yes,with I bake my own pies,” Hatch said. “They are great never getIsoggy.” her family during the fall. pumpkin pie? It may just be the taste, consistency or special to me.”

Hatch Though prefersHartmeier homemade ratherbake than store-bought because she makes them with her grandma.perhaps both. and pies her family pumpkin Hatch said that she doesn’t think of the typical “Thepies, besther pies comepiefrom mycinnamon. grandma’s kitchen,” Hatch “She’s making pies since she was littleit’s sobaking she knows theorsecrets.” favorite is apple Whether all sortsall ofof pies, consuming pumpkinsaid. pie when she been hears the word “fall.” “(The best pies) are from Apple Hill because their Even though she loves to eat stappleberry pie, a combination of strawberry andofapple, Hatch prefers making eating them, people pies seem over to believe thatthem. pies are one of the “Stappleberry makes me think fall because pies are amazing. a farm Watsonville (has factors contributing to the fall spirits. every to Thanksgiving and it’s one of my “Making (pies) is soAlso, much fun inand it’s really cool toI make knowit how make something from scratch,”key Hatch said.

“It’s something I grew up doing, so good pies) because they grow their fruit fresh,” “My family will continue to bake pumpkin pies,” favorite parts of fall,” Hatch said. it’s special to me.”

Hartmeier said.

Hartmeier said. “But I don’t enjoy them as much as Though it might seem as though baking your own Hatch Despite said that doesn’t of pie, the Hartmeier typical pumpkin pie when she hears the word “fall.” hershe disinterest in think pumpkin apple cinnamon pies.” pies is the tradition, some would agree that certain itkachuk.gazette@gmail.com

“Stappleberry makes me think of fall because I make it every Thanksgiving and it’s one of my favorite parts of fall.” Hatch said.

Though it might seem as though baking your own pies is the tradition, some would agree that certain pies are not all the talk.

Page 6

November 2015

food.

Best of the Brunch...

Flower Farm

BY JENNY TARBELL

jtarbell.gazette@gmail.com

Located off Auburn Folsom, the Flower Farm Inn is a dainty cafe and hotel accompanied by a garden pathway.

The Flower Farm offers yoga, bed and breakfast, weddings and events, a cafe and a beautiful nursery.

Most people stop by the inn for a light brunch because their food is some of the best in the area.

When I paid a visit to the inn I purchased a pesto pizza, which was honestly one of the best pizzas I’ve ever tasted. Everything tasted so fresh and natural.

The combination of the scenery, the smell of the flowers, and the overall comforting, home-like vibe served for a very relaxing morning.

Everyone was so kind, the employee’s and the other customers. I couldn’t even begin to form a complaint about this place.

After brunch you can walk around the garden, purchase plants and visit their store.

This place is one of the most low-key places to go for brunch. It’s never been too crowded the many times I have gone, and is by far one of the most relaxing places to eat.

If you’re looking for a quiet morning, this is the place to go.

The prices are decent as well. Nothing was overpriced, especially considering the quality of food you receive.

I also tried one of the morning yoga

The Gazette staff gets the brunchies for the greatest meal in town.

Early Toast classes that they offer. The room was large with very large windows instead of mirrors, which opened up the room and left a nice breeze.

Most yoga classes are rather warm, so this was a nice refresher.

The class was easy but definitely gave a good stretch.

If you are someone who likes yoga for an easy morning wake up then this is the class for you.

Overall, my experience at the Flower Farm inn was incredible.

The customer service was great and the atmosphere and food was even better.

I would recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a nice place to have brunch.

Gazette photo /JENNY TARBELL

Flower Farm Inn offers a unique atmosphere to enjoy yoga, weddings, a cafe and nursery.

BY CAROLINE PALMER cpalmer.gazette@gmail.com

I’ve heard mixed reviews for Early Toast on Eureka Rd. Some of my friends have said that the service is awful: slow and forgetful waiters with subpar food. Others have said that the food is excellent and that their service is some of the best they’ve had.

I figured these varied responses had to do with who was working at the time my friends went, so I ventured into Early Toast to set the record straight for myself.

The restaurant has an attractive outer appearance. Their sign has a sun in the middle and it mentions that they are mimosa and breakfast house.

It took about five minutes for the hostess to sit me, which I thought was kind of odd since there was only a few other people there, but I don’t mind a slight wait.

I went with my Dad at 11 a.m. optimal brunch time and I convinced him into getting a mimosa since I heard they are known for their excellent mimosas.

Combining my love of Mexican and brunch, I opted for huevos rancheros.

Our waiter was very attentive and personable and had our drinks to us within a few minutes of us sitting down.

The water cups, however, were very small and being a very thirsty person I finished my cup within the first 30 seconds of getting it. However, I wonder if it’s because we are in a drought. If

the disproportionate water cups are to conserve water then I can’t complain about that, but I did feel slightly annoying having to ask my waiter to fill up my cup multiple times.

My dad got the Folsom Lake Mimosa with white cranberry juice and mango.

He said that it was one of the best mimosas that he has had.

The food took about forty minutes to come out, so I wouldn’t advise eating here if you are in a rush.

The huevos rancheros were excellent, the tortillas were perfectly crispy and the avocadoes as fresh as they come. Plus it had the perfect amount of chives. I am very picky on chives; I feel if overdone they can ruin a meal but, done right they can make it.

My meal also came with frijoles or hashbrowns or house potatoes. I had picked the hashbrowns and to be honest, I was less than impressed, they were way too crispy and they were stuck together like my dog and I on a Sunday afternoon.

Besides the hash browns though, I would say I had a solid experience at Early Toast. Early Toast boasts one of a kind mimosas to accompany a Sunday morning brunch craving.

Gazette photo /CAROLINE PALMER

Iron Horse Tavern

BY SAVANNA THOMPSON sthompson.gazette@gmail.com

Some say weekends are for sleeping in. I say weekends are for brunch.

While many locals don’t wander into the heart of the Sacramento on a whim, a trip to the Iron Horse Tavern is worth the journey.

Its modern dining experience and intriguing American cuisine makes the restaurant an ideal brunch spot.

As I walked into the restaurant late one Sunday morning, I noticed a large crowd surrounding the hostess.

The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so it can be difficult to get seated during the mid-morning or lunch rush.

The outdoor terrace consisting of family style seating and regular tables was bustling with activity and savory foods. I couldn’t help but salivating as I watched costumers’ food arrive.

I found my way to the bar area as I awaited my table, not realizing that I could order and eat food in the secluded seating area.

Upon being seated at my table after 30 minutes of waiting, I ordered right away as I had plenty of time to review the menu.

With the snap of my fingers the food was set in front of me. I have never experienced service so expeditious – the fastest my food has ever come out at a sit-down restaurant.

Ironically, the lunch items were served first: ahi poke nachos and a tavern combo pizza.

The nachos are a signature dish as I saw nearly every table sharing the appetizer. Spicy and a little sweet, they did not disappoint.

The pizza was satisfactory but could have been better with thinner crust and less meat.

Breakfast foods, as they always have, hold a special place in my stomach and heart.

The Belgian waffles were to die for. That is not a recommendation. Do not die for the waffles, just order them.

Compared to the cinnamon roll pancakes or stuffed french toast, the waffle may seem too simple a substitute, but you will not be underwhelmed.

The syrup had the perfect consistency, not too heavy,

and when combined with the fresh berries, the waffle immediately wowed my taste buds.

Because the restaurant is located on 15th Street, the parking is limited, but there is a small lot one block over.

The earlier you arrive, the more likely you are to find parking, be seated in a reasonable amount of time, and consume the waffles without feeling guilty.

Brunch is served from 8a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, but it is also open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the weekdays if you do not have time to drive to Sacramento on a weekend. Iron Horse Tavern, although in Sacramento, gives a modern dining experience worth the drive.

Special to the Gazette /TIFFANY NGUYEN

November 2015

Page 7

food.

Four Sisters Cafe

BY MCKENNA ARAM

maram.gazette@gmail.com

Walk in hungry, walk out planning your next outing. I can guarantee you that Four Sisters Cafe will not leave you disappointed.

Located just off Fairway Drive, this charming little cafe is undoubtedly the best brunch place in Roseville.

It was started back in 2012 by four sisters with an endeavor to satisfy taste buds.

Whether you’re in the mood for a strawberry waffle with whipped cream or a juicy hamburger, they’ve got it all.

The cooks make everything from the jelly smear on your warm, toasted English muffin to the leafy green salads from scratch.

The cafe truly does go above and beyond. Not only do they serve a variety of options within each food category, they’ve come up with new styles for preparation.

I’m sure at one point an innovative chef there said, “You want bacon with your pancake? How about we put the bacon inside your pancake!”

They have selections from bacon and sausage stuffed pancakes to waffles filled with an assortment of healthy, crunchy nuts. If you don’t feel drawn toward any of the

menu items, which I’m adamant you will, some food categories let you design your own meal. Go ahead, build your own veggie omelet!

To those of you with bottomless appetites: do not fear for I am among you. Many restaurants I visit don’t fully satisfy my cravings, but I can fully attest that Four Sisters does just that.

Your main course is typically accompanied by two sides. There’s an array of options ranging from fruit and sauteed potatoes to buttered, sourdough bread.

The service is outstanding: the waiters are timely, polite and very charismatic. From the minute you sit down, you’ll feel right at home from the attention given.

The one con I would say about the place is the prolonged wait for seating and the bustling about of customers. That’s out of the cafe’s control, but it’s still a bit bothersome.

It’s open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. with 10 a.m. unfortunately usually being its most swamped hour.

I mean, what can you expect with such an outstanding brunchery?

Though the waiters do make up for the wait with consistent attendance, and your food is typically prepared and served within ten minutes of your order.

Out of empathy to your wait, the cafe provides com-

plimentary coffee and fruit-infused water. Yet the wait never tend to succeed 25 minutes.

The aura of the place is very calming and happy, despite its busyness. Even if you still feel a bit aggravated by the crowd, there’s available outdoor seating.

The prices vary in expense based on your point of view. Quite frankly, I think the cafe has very reasonable prices in correlation to the quality of food. On average, it’s about twelve dollars per meal without drink.

With such quality food, who’s to complain?

I warn you now, your departure may be saddening due to the separation with the overly satisfying food.

Yet if you’re ever in search of an outstanding brunchery, I strongly encourage you to have a bite at the Four Sisters Cafe. Four Sisters Cafe goes above and beyond when it comes to flavor and service.

Gazette photo /MCKENNA ARAM

High Hand

BY MADELINE WILLIAMS mwilliams.gazette@gmail.com

Wake up and smell the coffee ... or the flowers. High Hand Cafe offers a unique brunch experience in a bright and beautiful atmosphere.

When it’s too late for breakfast but too early for lunch, head to High Hand for the perfect brunch that will hit the spot.

Located on Taylor Rd. in Loomis, High Hand is adjacent to a gorgeous nursery that provides a pleasant fragrance as you enter the cafe. Inside, windows make up the entire perimeter as well as the roof, which gives you the feeling that you are still outside.

I was very impressed by the interior design and the fact that natural light filled the whole room.

Overall, the inside has an elegant feel. However, I would not say formal attire is necessarily required. While you might not want to show up in your PJs, I would say, depending on the event, casual or semi-formal clothing is appropriate.

The service at High Hand was excellent, the staff was extremely friendly and I felt welcomed as soon as I walked through the door. My server gave me a free appetizer because my food was supposedly taking awhile to be made. However, I didn’t think it took long at all.

I was also impressed by the variety of choices on the menu and the quality of the food. I ordered the High Hand Huevos Rancheros and it was amazing.

Everything tasted farm fresh from the

Love at First Bite eggs to the tomatoes in the salsa.

There are so many options for both breakfast and lunch. Whether you are feeling like a classic eggs benedict or a wood oven baked pizza, you will not be disappointed with what you choose.

While some items on the menu are a little pricey, I think it is well worth it.

Also, don’t let the location turn you away because it’s actually a pretty short drive.

Whether it’s a birthday brunch or just a typical Saturday morning, I highly recommend High Hand. Next time you’re flower shopping and craving a quality brunch, make sure to make your way out to Loomis and check out High Hand Nursery and Cafe.

Gazette photo /MADELINE WILLIAMS

High Hand Cafe gives the customers the chance to enjoy the smell of flowers while enjoying their meal.

BY ALI LEMOS

alemos.gazette@gmail.com

As the name promises I was sold on this restaurant after my first taste.

As soon as I entered the restaurant I was immediately assaulted by the aroma of coffee and cinnamon.

I knew this was going to be a good meal as soon as I spotted the cafe because there was a line almost out the door.

Love at First Bite bakes their own pastries in house and has enough variation to warrant a display case.

This makes it easy to stop in for a coffee and pastry on the run. However, I would recommend staying for brunch.

I glanced into the kitchen and saw a pile of dishes crowding the sink. Turns out, their dishwasher broke.

I would never have known had there not been a window into the kitchen. The service was never slow.

After being quickly seated, I was offered their signature citrus-mint water which proved to be quite refreshing.

This cafe has deemed their food as California Confused Cuisine.

This means their inspiration comes from multiple cultures including Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Indian.

Each dish is created seasonally, which means not only are fresh ingredients used but also the menu is constantly being refreshed.

The menu had all the classic options, pancakes, french toast, and eggs, but everything had its own twist.

With a pumpkin spice special the pancakes could offer something new or the classic preparation.

The french toast was offered with both seasonal fruit and a gluten free option, All their eggs are farm fresh and offered in a variety of ways.

The lunch side of the menu again offers both seasonal choices and gluten free options while sticking to comfort food.

So full of options, the menu made it hard to choose just one thing to eat.

While waiting for my food to come out I watched the football game on one of the cafe’s two TVs. Supporting our local team, the 49ers were one of the games shown on the TV. Once my meal came I was ready for some good food and I was not disappointed.

The food was delicious, everything was cooked as ordered with the perfect mix of spices.

Throughout my entire dining experience the staff was quite friendly, checking in, offering some of their many desserts.

Located in Fair Oaks, which is about twenty minutes away from Granite Bay, Love at First Bite is a bit out of the way but the food is definitely worth the drive. Love at First Bite offers a seasonal menu with dishes inspired from multiple cultures.

Gazette photo /ALI LEMOS

Page 8 & 9

Geotag ... you’re it

November 2015

geotaggin’ around the world

Geofilters make a presence on the GBHS campus, as well as all around the world

BY MCKENNA ARAM

T

maram.gazette@gmail.com

his year, Granite Bay High School has implemented one of the social media world’s various prevailing gadgets onto our campus: geofilters.

Snapchat, the application from which this geotag phenomenon is derived from, is a renowned social media application with over 100 million active users every day.

18 percent of all United States social media users have Snapchat.

In this application, users can communicate through pictures or videos with captions for word text.

Geofilters, also known as geotags, were a new addition to one of Snapchat’s recent updates.

“Anyone can make a Snapchat geotag. Snapchat has a great online interface where you can submit your designs,” said senior Luke Snedecor, who is the creator of Granite Bay High School’s newly famed geotags.

Now when a Snapchat user takes a photo at or near Granite Bay High School, the school’s customized geofilters appear.

“During one of my digital arts classes at Sierra College, I created the two filters for GBHS. They got approved about halfway through the summer,” Snedecor said.

These geofilters appear onto a Snapchat photo in correlation to a user’s specific location.

For example, if one were to be snapchatting in Los Angeles, various Los Angeles geotag designs may appear onto the taken Snapchat photo.

It’s all dependent on one’s location. Geofilters are used virtually all over the world.

“I was just bouncing around on the internet and I came across how to make a Snapchat geotag,” said junior and student-technology director of Granite Bay Information Technology Brendan Bissell. “I knew my friend Luke was a great graphic designer so I sent him a text and said ‘Hey, we should have this for Granite Bay, and he ended up making a bunch of them.”

Gazette illustrations/ AMANDA PRATHER

Geotags from all over, even our own Granite Bay High School geotags are used frequently on the Granite Bay campus and in the community.

Thanks to senior Luke Snedecor and Granite Bay’s GBiT class, the World-wide phenomenon was incorporated onto Granite Bay High’s campus.

“I have had artwork approved anywhere between 2 days and 2 weeks,” Snedecor said. “It takes another couple of days for the filter to appear in the region you set.”

GBiT is a class students can enroll in to help support the technological needs of students and staff.

Whether it’s a problem with a classroom computer or confusion with a device’s functions, GBiT is there to help.

“I think the new geotags are really cool and I think a lot of people are using them,” said sophomore Kyle Jayousi who is apart of GBiT and helps manage faculty and business websites.

Not only does GBHS have a few of their own personalized and permanent geofilters, but they also have created temporary ones correlating to school events.

“Once people found out I was making these, they started asking me to make filters for them,” Snedecor said.

For GBHS’s annual “Spirit Week,” Snedecor along with the help of GBiT , even created a custom Spirit Week design that could be activated on campus specifically during that week.

“Student government asked me to make filters for Spirit Week, drama asked for one for their upcoming play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and I’m even creating one for a local business.” said Snedecor.

GBiT students also created a geotag that would transpire when students took a Snapchat at the annual bonfire held on campus on Oct. 22, 2015.

“It’s kind of cool you can set (the geotag) so it only lasts for that event. Like for the bonfire, (we) made the geotag last for just (that night),” said Bissell.

Other high schools in the area have also begun to take up this new social media addition onto their campus.

“I think it really does show how technologically advanced our campus is,” said Bissell, “It’s pretty cool.”

Special to the Gazette / WHITNEY KNORP

Page 10

November 2015

talent.

Classic Lip Sync merges with talent show

Students hope to participate in school event with a new spin to the competition

BY PAIGE ERICKSON

perickson.gazette@gmail.com

Lip sync is a popular event held at Granite Bay High School in which many students look forward to and engage in every year.

Participants of this show group together and create a routine lip syncing to a song of their choice.

During the competition students are able to showcase their lip sync talents to friends, classmates and teachers.

“I get to help students show off their unique talents,” said Shianne Dingeman, the talent show commissioner.

“Which in itself is extremely fun.”

Lip sync is put on every year by the student government class and in order for a successful show to occur, a large number of students must be willing to participate.

Last year, however, due to lack of sign ups, lip sync had to be cancelled as a single event.

“I think a lot of people are nervous about performing in front of people especially if they know them,” Dingeman said. “It’s also very common that some people just don’t have time to prepare something, practice and show up to

rehearsals and the actual show.”

Even though a small number of students signed up to participate in this event, the student government class didn’t want to get rid of it completely, so they thought to mix it in with the talent show.

“I think students will like this incorporation because it combines the two events into one fun and enjoyable one,” Dingeman said.

With this new idea, comes a new set up and routine.

This year, the talent show will include a non-judge act, which will serve as the lip sync portion of the show.

“We are going to have a lip sync battle between two groups, and the audience gets to choose who they want to win the battle,” Dingeman said.

Since this event will combine two stand alone competitions, the involvement of people is hoped to increase.

“I think (students) will (prefer this event) especially because more people come to the talent show than the lip sync competition,” said student government class member Gianna Cassano.

Dancing, singing and playing instruments are only a few of the acts in which students may choose to perform.

“I love watching the lip sync acts because you can tell the people in the act are having a lot of fun,” Dingeman said. “They can also be very interesting because you never know what to expect.”

On top of the two week preparation that participants have from the time they sign up to the time of their audition, they are also given an additional two weeks.

These weeks can be used to prepare for the rehearsals and the final performance.

“All of the acts practice as much as they want on their own,” Dingeman said. “But we also have the rehearsal two days before the actual show.”

This year the talent show will occur on Thursday, November 19th.

Students are encouraged to come to this event to cheer on and support their friends and classmates.

“Students should come to witness some of the amazing and unique talents we have at GBHS,” Dingeman said.

Granite Bay’s Got Talent

Previous participants show apprehension about this year’s competition

BY CONNOR HINSON

chinson.gazette@gmail.com

Kicking off Thanksgiving’s week-long break, this year’s annual talent show promises to emulate and even improve upon what has made previous years’ iterations so special.

One such improvement is the addition of a non-judged lip-sync battle to the evening’s entertainment. While the Granite Bay campus has been host to lip-sync competitions in the past, its addition within the talent show could cultivate a new crowd of fans.

This year, the talent pool is deep. Granite Bay is home to a wealth of gifted individuals, some of whom will be flexing their forte in the upcoming competition.

Among these is sophomore David Goni who is going to be singing.

“This is my second time doing the talent show,” said Goni, who also sang at last year’s talent show.

“Being with a lot of other people who signed up to do the talent show, hanging out with them, talking to them, and also jamming out with them was a really fun experience,” Goni said.

Although he had a great experience, he is still somewhat apprehensive about performing this year.

“Performing is sometimes a problem, because I get kinda nervous singing in front of a lot of people since I don’t get a lot of chances to sing in front of an audience,” Goni said.

Senior and talent show veteran Alee Yap had her own reservations about performing this year.

“I’m really excited because I love performing but it’s bittersweet because I don’t have Amanda (Ramos), (my singing partner from the last two years), with me this year and it’s the first time I’m doing the talent show without her,” Yap said.

These two students are among the 21 people who will be performing in the show.

Student government member and assistant commissioner of the talent show Shianne Dingeman had details about the show.

“The talent show is Thursday, Nov. 19 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. It might end earlier or later as we have not finalized the time yet,” Dingeman said.

Last year each act was given a bit more time for their acts, which led to the show going over schedule. This year, however, a slightly shorter amount of time per act should lead to a more streamlined show.

There is also an incentive to participate in the talent show. For those who win the show, there is a cash prize.

Anyone who attends Granite Bay High School is eligible to participate in the show and show off talents.

Those who have participated in the show in the past have not regretted it, but one does not need to be in the show itself to have a good time.

“People should come to the show because, honestly, everyone is incredibly talented,” Yap said. “It’s just fun because you see people who come on stage and you never even knew they had that talent.”

November 2015

Page 11

seasonal.

RLD TRADITIONS

W

Students celebrate Thanksgiving with a variety of family customs

BY OLIVIA HEPPELL

A

oheppellgazette@gmail.com

s the holiday season approaches, students at Granite Bay High School have noted the importance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

“I like thanksgiving a lot – I like the idea of getting family together and visiting with them especially if we didn’t get to see each other a lot that year,” senior Arianna Jones said.

Nicole Infantino, also a senior said she agrees with Jones.

“As I’ve grown up I’ve learned to appreciate the holiday more and am thankful I get to spend time with my family each year,” Infantino said.

Spending time with family is a major part of the Thanksgiving holiday. For GBHS senior Lison Lemoine, however, it is the only important aspect of the holiday.

Lemoine was born in France and has lived in the United States for the past couple of years. Because Thanksgiving is celebrated

exclusively in the United States, she said she has developed a unique view on the holiday.

“I don’t think it’s weird that you go see your family, it’s weird that it’s almost one month before Christmas, and you go see your family for Thanksgiving and then go see them for Christmas once again,” Lemoine said.

She also said that she uses the holiday and time off to visit her family and choose to not celebrate the holiday.

Infantino, however, said she enjoys the festivities and traditions that come with Thanksgiving.

“The idea of the holiday is really nice. I think it’s important to remember our history too.I know my family shares what we’re thankful for so we hold up the ideals,” Infantino said.

Jones, who said she actually celebrates Thanksgiving twice, once with her mom and once with her dad, sides with Infantino.

“I think Thanksgiving is an important holiday to remember what we are grateful

for and a good time to celebrate family, so I feel like those ideals should be celebrated more everywhere,” Jones said.

While the feelings of gratefulness accompany Thanksgiving, students have noted the darker side to the holiday.

Lemoine and Infantino both said that the holiday doesn’t properly address the Native Americans, who were ultimately killed by settlers.

“I think how it started is a bit morbid because there was a lot of death involved,” Infantino said.

Thanksgiving also gets overshadowed by the anticipation of Christmas, which Jones said she finds frustrating.

“Thanksgiving has sort of turned into a buffer before Christmas, and it’s sad that the one holiday about giving thanks and being grateful is a lot of the time forgotten about and rushed to Christmas,” Jones said.

Although the holiday is not celebrated worldwide, it is beloved by Americans for its ideals and history. Many students enjoy celebrating regardless of differing traditions.

Gazette illustration/ EPSA SHARMA

New season

new shows The season of fall brings in new television programs 20th Century Fox Television

20th Century Fox Television

20th Century Fox Television

Warner Bros. Television

Buena Vista Home Entertainment Gazette illustrations/ EPSA SHARMA

BY EPSA SHARMA

T

esharma.gazette@gmail.com

he season of fall not only brings in new fashion, drinks and candles – it also brings in new T.V shows. The new season also brings in new seasons. Many TV shows tend to resume in the fall because the theme of the show correlates to the weather.

Fan Favorites such as “American Horror Story,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Gotham” return to cable TV every fall.

Senior, Sabrina Mccord is an avid American Horror Story watcher and is always awaiting the new season. “ American Horror story hotel is all of these events that are occurring in the Hotel “Cortez”, it’s based around a character played by Lady Gaga, and she is basically has a blood disease so she has to drink blood making her a glorified vampire, Mccord said.“ The hotel is built like a big murder house.”

With Halloween being a prevalent holiday in the fall, many shows utilize the eerie aspect of it and include it in their shows. “ I love ‘American Horror Story’ because I really like horror genre in general so it is a good way to get my fix,” Mccord said. “I love the acting, the show is written really well and the overall ambiance of the show is intriguing.”

The popular show “Gotham” returned for season two and pulls in many Batman fans. The show introduces a throwback aspect into the popular known Batman series.

Senior Adam Kahan, is an avid TV watcher who is always ready to watch the return of a popular TV show. “Gotham” has been his personal favorite and the season always airs in November.

“It’s basically pre- Batman. The first episode was about Bruce Wayne as a little kid, showing his parents getting shot in front of him, and now there is a hunt directed by Detective Gordon saying he will find whoever killed Bruce’s parents, Kahan said. “Season two is known as the rise of villains, so all the villains are coming out and you get to see them in their adolescence. It basically shows how they grew up, it’s strange, yet draws you in.”

The ever so popular show, “Grey’s Anatomy” has been on air for 12 years and counting.

The producer Shonda Rhimes has been continuing the show until it absolutely cannot go on any further.

Senior Ashley Waid, has been watching “Grey’s Anatomy through all of its ups and downs.

“I love “Grey’s Anatomy” because not only is it about Doctors, but it’s just really interesting and it focuses on a lot of interpersonal seasons,” Waid said. “ The chilly weather right now also correlates to the darker themes and feelings in the show.”

New shows were introduced to the cable TV this fall as well specifically, “Scream Queens” and “Godfather.” “‘Scream Queens’ is more of a light hearted, witty, dark comedy about a sorority house that is being targeted by a seriel killer, known as the red devil, McCord said.

The infamous Uncle Jesse from “Full House” has returned to cable TV in the new show “Grandfather.”

“Uncle Jesse from ‘Full House’ and Josh Peck from ‘Drake and Josh’are in it and they are a hilarious dynamic,” Kahan said. “The show has people that I’ve grown up watching on other shows, so it’s cool that the seasons brings in new shows that rekindle memories.”

Page 12

November 2015

current.

Top Tweets

Spirited tweets by Granite Bay High School students

BY ISABELLA TKACHUK itkachuk.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette illustration/AMANDA PRATHER

Twitter So blessed to live the life I have, surrounded by great friends and people

Who’s Hiring

Sean Boyle

@SeanBoyle_

8 Retweets

52 Favorites

the thing that scares me the most about going to college is the stress of finding a new eyebrow lady

BY MEAGAN TALLMAN

mtallman.gazette@gmail.com

Gigi Cannon @GianniCannon

Mel’s American Diner

3 Retweets

33 Favorites

1804 Douglas Blvd, Roseville, CA 95661 (916) 783-6357 Mel’s is looking for dedicated individuals with a strong work ethic.

Applicants do not need previous restaurant experience, and should be at least 16 years old.

I JUST UBERED HOME AND MR TROUT WAS MY DRIVER

Sparkles Ice Cream & Yogurt

@jessica20baker

jess

5550 Douglas Blvd, Ste 150, Granite Bay, CA 95746 (916) 826-8889 Applicants for Sparkles should value exceptional customer service and be able to work as a team. Needs ability to multi-task and learn new skills.

Must be at least 18 years old.

0 Retweets

34 Favorites

Help this sweet boy fulfill his dream!! #GetWyndenOnEllen

Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes

5194 Commons Dr, Suite 110, Rocklin, CA 95677 (916) 660-9591 Mooyah in Rocklin is now hiring for all positions. Candidates must be upbeat, enjoy helping others and hard working. Come into the restaurant for an application.

Recipe of the Month: Ingredients:

1. Three pounds potatoes, thinly sliced 2. Salt and pepper to taste 3. Nine tablespoons allpurpose flour, divided 4. Six tablespoons butter, diced 5. One quart whole milk

Directions:

Aubrey Holt @aubs_holt

259 Retweets

161 Favorites

Scalloped Potatoes

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

2. Arrange one layer of potatoes in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt and pepper, three tablespoons flour and two tablespoons of butter. Repeat layering two more times, until all of the potatoes have been used.

Slowly pour milk over the potatoes until the dish is three quarters full of milk.

3. Bake until the milk comes to a boil (check after 15 minutes), then reduce heat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake until potatoes are tender, 45 to 60 minutes more.

BY SONIA GARCHA

sgarcha.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photo/ SONIA GARCHA

shop till you drop.

November 2015

Page 13

Wear’s Winter?

Warm weather alters winter fashion

BY AMANDA PRATHER

aprather.gazette@gmail.com

Sweaters, scarves, coats and boots are just a few of Granite Bay High School’s students’ favorite things, but with the weather still holding in the 80’s recently, we are all wondering when winter is going to show up in Granite Bay. Some popular styles at GBHS in the winter and fall in the past have been the infamous Birkenstocks, big sweaters, leggings of course, scarves and much, much more.

New emerging styles like warm vests and socks and sandals have become more and more popular on campus lately.

GBHS junior Keaton Dougherty said that winter fashion is the best of the entire year.

“You can add more color and contrast to your outfit with more layers like button ups under sweaters, and jackets if it’s really cold,” Dougherty said.

no matter the weather,” Reece said.

Reece said she enjoys big sweaters and the convenience of comfy warm clothes during the colder months, while still looking cute.

This unusually warm kickoff to fall and winter isn’t that unusual for the Granite Bay community.

In the past few years, the Sacramento area has been in a constant state of exceptionally warmer weather than expected for the months of October and November.

When will Granite Bay get to experience an actual winter?

Well, with the predictions of El Niño surging into our news, hopefully our community will see the other side of the weather spectrum for a change.

“We have had enough summer for the year,” Knorp said. “I think we are all ready to break out our coats and boots and experience fall.”

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Dougherty said he enjoys the later months and the fashion that comes with them. He will continue to wear his favorite winter outfits, with less layers, as it is not exactly cold enough for jackets, coats and layering yet.

Winter fashion seemed to be an agreeable favorite, as Whitney Knorp, a junior at GBHS, agreed with Dougherty. “(Winter fashion) is much more comfortable than summer fashion and there is a wider variety of clothing to wear,” Knorp said.

Knorp said that she will wear winter clothes in the later months when it is not too cold, but sometimes refrains because of the lack of comfort of being too hot.

The recent warm weather doesn’t stop junior Julia Reece from sporting some winter fashion as well.

“I think winter clothes like jeans and leggings are more comfortable than shorts, so I wear them

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Black Friday takes away from Thanksgiving Day festivities

BY CARISSA LEWIS

clewis.gazette@gmail.com

Known for gratitude, turkeys, and mouth watering dishes, Thanksgiving is a holiday which traditionally holds a spot at the dinner table. But while some feast upon pumpkin pie, others indulge in delectable discounts.

While Black Friday was originally restricted to the day directly after Thanksgiving, each year businesses have nudged it earlier and earlier.

On November 26, Thanksgiving Day, many stores will open their doors just as families are sitting around the dinner table. Out of the stores who have already announced their opening time, Michaels takes the lead, unlocking its doors as early as 4 p.m. on Thursday night.

As crowds of people leave their homes to wait outside these establishments, junior Sophia Reinero and her family turn toward the opposite direction, tak-

ing care to avoid colliding with hungry shoppers.

“We make sure everything is stocked, especially if we go out of town,” Reinero said. “That way we don’t have to deal with people trying to squeeze passed (us) for all the discounts.”

Black Friday has a reputation for turning those recently satisfied by a fulfilling Thanksgiving dinner into hungry consumers. According to the WSAZ news channel, a man from West Virginia was trampled over by Target customers and later found dead in the store during Black Friday of 2011.

Fear of being brutally injured is what prevents many potential shoppers from leaving the safety of their homes.

“It scares me,” junior Kaley Dover said. “I don’t want to get trampled.

That’s why … you don’t go when it opens. You go three hours after.”

But besides avoiding early hours, there

are other ways to evade the chaos of Black Friday. Many buyers have converted to shopping online, delaying their purchases until Cyber Monday.

Nevertheless, the focus remains on obtaining goods that are not yet in the buyer’s possession.

While Thanksgiving is a day intended for sharing gratitude, Reinero said Black Friday insinuates individuals are not thankful for what they already have.

“Materialism rules that day because it’s not just people going after food or necessities,” Reinero said. “They’re going after new phones, game consoles – all kinds of just random stuff.”

Businesses such as Target and Walmart will extend their store hours beyond Friday. Employees and managers will be assisting customers on Thanksgiving Day. “It’s kind of their choice,” senior Lison Lemoine said. “It’s either business or

family dinner.”

According to Lemoine, only a few select businesses need to be available to customers on Thursday. She said families who are picking up last-minute turkeys or other Thanksgiving dishes may want to make a quick stop at the grocery store.

“Otherwise, I don’t think (businesses) should be open,” Lemoine said. “They should enjoy their day off.”

But gaining maximum profit is also an issue companies are concerned about. According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, on Black Friday consumers spent an average of $423 per person in 2012, $407.23 per person in 2013 and $380.95 per person in 2014. “(Black Friday) boosts the economy,” Dover said. “But given that most of the stores that are competing are the megagiants that they are, that doesn’t actually benefit society.”

Gazette illustrations/OLIVIA HEPPELL

Page 14

Rated: R By: Blake Panter bpanter.gazette@gmail.com

paranormal activity: C-

aranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension is the sixth installment of the Paranormal Activity franchise, and thankfully the last.

I am not a huge horror movie fan, but the kinds that really get under my skin and keep me up at night are the ones with demons and possession.

The only Paranormal Activity movie that I had seen before this was the first one when there was hype all around it. I did like that first one, but not enough to bother to watch any of the successors.

It had an appealing idea: give the viewer the ability to see the paranormal, and in 3D. I thought I would be faced with some insane jump scares in a movie viewing experience that I had never dealt with before, but I was far from right.

I had to go all the way to Palladio Theater in Folsom to watch this movies – my first disappointment.

Second, I had to pay extra for the 3D experience, and this movie was not worth the money at all. The 3D did little to improve the movie.

Not only was the movie short, but it’s overall plot line was not intact conceptually.

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension started off a little confusing, because it began with a scene from the previous movie. Since I had never seen it, I had no idea what was going on.

The entire movie is based during the Christmas holiday, and after the main character finds a camera in a box of paint from the previous house’s owners (a little too cliche for me).

While the family’s girl started to talk to mysterious spirits and the father tried to catch them with his nifty camera, all hell broke loose.

Literally.

The idea for the film in the first place did not make sense. The way they portrayed the ghosts through the camera was quite strange and did not work at all.

I don’t recommend you watch this movie unless you are a die hard Paranormal Activity fan.

With a confusing plot line and subpar acting, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension failed to spook me. I went to bed that night feeling perfectly safe and sound, and if a scary movie can’t even do that, I don’t think it is worth watching.

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LEGENDARY PICTURES

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DREAMWORKS PICTURES

ost commonly known for directing Hellboy and Pacific Rim, Guillermo del Toro is a director, producer and screenwriter with a love for fantasy and horror.

I love del Toro’s movies and horror movies. His most recent film, Crimson Peak, was advertised as a ‘gothic horror’ movie, so I was excited to see it.

However, after actually watching Crimson Peak, I realized the movie wasn’t really so terrifying and was actually more of a twisted love story. That being said, the movie still had a dark and mysterious tone and creepy elements.

I thought I was going to be watching a movie about a haunted mansion with hundreds of malicious ghosts. However, Crimson Peak’s most malicious element was neither the manor nor the ghosts – it was the relationships between the three main characters: Edith, Sir Thomas Sharpe and Lady Lucille.

Edith is a young, aspiring writer whose father does not approve of her budding romance with Sir Thomas, an Englishman in New York on business. Enter Lady Lucille, Sir Thomas’s slightly surreptitious sister.

After the sudden death of Edith’s father, she and Thomas quickly wed and move back with Lucille to the Shape’s lonely, decaying mansion, which is called Crimson Peak.

The plot aside, Crimson Peak was a beautiful movie. The colors red, white, black and blue were contrasted throughout it. Specifically, the prettiest scenes were of the red clay of the mansion against the white snow, giving the illusion of blood.

Along with the colors, the setting and costumes were equally as intriguing and beautiful.

Yes, I enjoyed the sinister, eerie feeling, but I never felt the crippling fear and anxiety of a true horror film.

The ghosts are not malicious, though they are haunting and pretty. The scariest part comes in the wavering mental stability of Lady Lucille, who is unnerving and intimidating.

There is a plot twist towards the climax of the movie, but it’s not unexpected; there are a multitude of clues which gives it away.

Although this movie is not as horrifying as I’d hoped, it’s sincerely beautiful. If you enjoy movies, you’ll appreciate the cinematography, and I highly recommend seeing Crimson Peak.

n 1960, Norman Rockwell painted his famed “Triple Self-Portrait.” There are three Rockwells, yet somehow all of them hold his composed, intense and almost challenging stare.

Set in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Bridge of Spies opens with a set piece strikingly reminiscent of the Rockwell work.

Colonel Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), a Soviet spy living in New York City, sits in his room, painting a self-portrait.

It’s not Abel that we’re introduced to first – it’s his reflection in a mirror, and as we watch Abel watching himself, it is clear that perception constitutes the central motif of the film.

Espionage stipulates the fabrication of numerous identities manipulated to fulfill a role. For spies like Abel, the abundance of these “selfportraits” can obscure the truth about their real identity.

In Cold War-era America, anti-Communist sentiment makes for an atmosphere where others’ perceptions dictate your image.

This is the challenge faced by James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), a lawyer who is chosen to represent Abel after he is arrested.

Donovan lobbies for life in prison, as opposed to the death penalty for the spy. Presciently, he remarks that if the USSR were to capture an American spy, it would be useful to have leverage of their own.

When aviator Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) is indeed discovered taking surveillance photos of the USSR, Donovan is approached by the CIA to conduct a deal exchanging Powers for Abel.

Bridge of Spies is at its best when it showcases Rylance and Hanks. The moments when the two talk, or when they are silent and alone, return to the motif of perspective.

The atmosphere – laconic, delicate, speckled with a plethora of bowler hats, horn-rimmed glasses and tweed coats – was magnetic without being suffocating.

Perhaps the most iconic moment in the film occurs when the spies have been exchanged across the bridge. Powers, turning to Donovan, insists that he didn’t give his captors any information.

Nostalgic with the thought of Abel, Donovan yells back, “It doesn’t matter what they think!”

He can hardly be heard over the roar of the snow and wind outside.

Rated: R

Rated: R

By: Amanda Nist anist.gazette@gmail.com

By: Savitri Asokan sasokan.gazette@gmail.com

bridge of spies: A-

PARAMOUNT PICTURES

crimson peak: B

P

November 2015

film.

MGM STUDIOS

Rated: PG-13 By: Connor Hinson chinson.gazette@gmail.com

spectre: B-

pectre is a completely different film than its predecessors, yet it maintains that quintessential “Bond” feel.

Daniel Craig reprises his role as a slightly more weathered 007 in this installment. M, his now deceased boss, has sent him a tape giving him orders to kill a certain man, which leads to the discovery of a secret organization.

This is the first place in which the film falls short. Bond lost his beloved mentor and boss, M, yet he begins the film as cheeky as ever, missing any character development that may have occurred in the last film.

Although this can be excused because of the unknown time gap between the two films, you begin to wonder if you can actually trust Bond’s emotions.

The action sequences, however, more than make up for this. Each set-piece is grander than the last, keeping the audience engaged despite the shallow story.

The hand to hand combat scenes in particular were expertly choreographed and shot, feeling gritty without the unnecessary gore.

Without the frequency of these incidents, Spectre would have been a much worse film.

Yes, Bond movies are built around the car chases and explosions, but that does not excuse poor storytelling.

As is expected, the score is wonderful. Every track fits perfectly. The film’s opening track, “Writing’s On The Wall,” sung by Sam Smith, is very impressive, too.

The villain this time around is played by one of my favorite actors, Christoph Waltz. I found it very disappointing, therefore, when he was only present in three scenes. His performance was standout as usual, but it was barely seen.

His character’s motives also remain extremely vague, and it seems far too forced when he inevitably confronts Bond.

Director Sam Mendes did a fantastic job with Skyfall, so it’s slightly disappointing that this film fell short.

In spite of these criticisms, I still liked Spectre. A lot, actually. It’s just not what the last few films were.

It isn’t Casino Royale. It isn’t Skyfall, either.

Is it better than these films? Probably not. Is it enjoyable? Hell yeah.

T

LEGENDARY PICTURES

he newly-released film Steve Jobs, directed by Danny Boyle, was a wellwritten story of one of modern history’s great innovators.

The movie told the tale of Steve Jobs’s climb to technological success through issues going on in his personal and business life.

I thought the angle this movie proposed was creative and unique. I had expected to see one continuous story of Steve Jobs starting out building computers in a garage with Steve Wozniak to becoming the CEO of the multi-billion dollar company.

However, the film started when he was already experimenting with new technological advances within the Apple company. Boyle creatively captures three major stages of Jobs’s life. The first stage we see his during his career at Apple, the second is during his new company’s launch of the Black Cub and the third is during his reveal of his new iMac released by Apple.

These three stages covered more than the business aspect of Jobs’s life. The film revealed his personal issues with his daughter, Lisa, and his previous lover, Chrisann, providing a parallel between his personal struggles and his business problems.

The filmography was truly captivating, and the great acting complemented it.

Michael Fassbender played the main character, Steve Jobs, and he did a spectacular job.

He nailed the portrayal of one-of-a-kind genius mind.

I had never seen this actor in any other movies before, so he was an unexpectedly refreshing choice.

Kate Winslet played Steve’s assistant, Joanna Hoffman, with style and poise. However, this was the kind of role I have seen Winslet play a thousand times before: an organized and intelligent female, similar to the role she played in Insurgent.

The only thing that did not quite impress me was that there were many scenes building up to the grand premiere on one of Jobs’s new products, but the actual showcase was not shown, leaving me disappointed.

Despite that one minor unsatisfactory quality, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Steve Jobs and would encourage others to watch it as well.

Rated: R By: Sabina Mahavni smahavni.gazette@gmail.com

steve jobs: B+

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TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX

hen I first saw the trailer for this movie, I could tell that it was going to be somewhat cliche (i.e. small-town girl goes to Hollywood). But, I gave the movie some faith and hoped that it wasn’t going to be as bad as the trailers.

It got pretty bad, pretty fast.

First off, the theater was empty. Not empty like it was a couple people and then me and my sister-in-law. No, it was completely empty for the entirety of the movie, despite the fact that it had been released two days earlier.

The cast was pretty awkward and had little to no chemistry with one another. I mean, I know they’re acting, but it’s their job to make it look like it’s a genuine story. This isn’t even the worst of what I have to say.

The main character, Jerrica or her alter ego, Jem, made one Youtube video of her singing.

Guess what happens? It was obvious that she was going to instantly become famous from one video.

We weren’t even 30 minutes into the movie and she got signed to a record label. Great job, Jem! Yes, I’m being completely sarcastic.

Her sisters also joined Jem in Hollywood to form ‘Jem and the Holograms.’

Let’s not forget the best – and worst – part of the movie that had me in tears of embarrassment. Jem brought a robot with her. Oh yes, you did read that correctly. A robot that her father tried to build before he passed away.

The robot was missing some pieces so Jem and the Holograms had to go find those missing pieces.

The plot got really messy, really fast. Not only was she becoming a popstar, but she was also finding missing parts of a robot. It was at this moment that I realized this was a crossover between Hannah Montana and Wall-E. The robot’s name was Synergy and it was completely useless. It had nothing to do with Jem’s singing career and personal life.

The band makes up, and they find the missing pieces of the robot.

When we first left the theater, I apologized to my sister-in-law for dragging her to that awful movie. I was quite heated that I paid $14.50 for nothing but cinematic garbage to review.

Skip this movie and go watch something else.

Anything else for that matter.

Rated: PG By: Sonia Garcha sgarcha.gazette@gmail.com

jem and the holograms: F

November 2015

Page 16

November 2015

hey jesse.

Taking pictures in a flash

Granite Bay senior Jesse Uli finds success in local media opportunities

BY KASSSIDY HENSON

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khenson.gazette@gmail.com

n a culture full of Instagram models and Tumblr girls, it seems as though anyone could become a photographer.

Though capturing an image on an iPhone is no difficult feat, many aspiring photographers disregard the artistic basis of photography.

In light of all these so called “photographers” at Granite Bay High School, one student seems to honor the title: Jesse Uli. His knowledge of the art form is eloquently displayed in his pictures,making use of lighting, location and color scheme to convey his message.

“I started when I was 14. I borrowed a camera to do some short films with friends, which progressed into doing weddings and being a production assistant on smaller shows,” Uli said.

Being a senior at GBHS, Jesse has

had a couple of years to make his mark. He seeks to collaborate with fellow artists at GBHS and use all of the resources provided to his advantage.

Uli not only puts time and commitment into his film efforts within the high school setting, but he also has found the time to jump-start his own business. A full resume, contact resources, as well as previous and current works can be found on his website.

“I love the music scene that flows with film and photography. I’ve been blessed to take pictures of bigger artists like Tyler The Creator and Glitch Mob, but this is all just the beginning,” Uli said It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jesse Uli walking around campus, camera in hand.

At a young age he would always set goals while striving to exceed expectations.

His work illustrates his clear drive and passion for his work.

Special to the Gazette /JESSE ULI

Many may not know the ties between photography and film.

Within the music industry especially, album covers and music videos work hand and hand to appeal to listeners.

“I’ve already begun capturing an artist and putting a creative image behind their music. I’d love to go on tour with some of these bigger artists and eventually make the transition to traditional filmmaking,” Uli said For the past three years Jesse Uli has been making a name for himself throughout the Sacramento area.

His unique style and appeal to his audience has made him the artist that he is today.

“The main thing that inspires me to work harder is the idea of those big dreams coming true and the life I’ve built in my mind becoming a reality.”

Jesse said.

GBHS has witnessed his drive to find success first hand.

There is no doubt that Jesse Uli will continue down a path to fulfill.

Uli enjoys taking self portraits of individuals and action shots of nature. He uses Instagram and Twitter as an outlet to showcase his work.