The Granite Bay Gazette Volume 15 Issue 2

Tribe facing minor setbacks this season

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GBHS alum Tessa Lindow takes the cake with new business

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Gazette THE GRANITE BAY

Friday, October 14, 2011

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Best horror movies ever

THE AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL

GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL w 1 GRIZZLY WAY w GRANITE BAY, CA w 95746 w VOLUME 15 w ISSUE 2 Commentary

shannon carroll

PUBLIC REPUTATION

scarroll.gazette@gmail.com

Always take things with a grain of salt

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s a joke, someone once listed movie titles that were supposedly butchered in translation. The list said Pretty Woman was shown in China with a title that, translated back into English, would read, I Will Marry a Prostitute to Save Money. Field of Dreams supposedly became Imaginary Dead Baseball Players Live in My Cornfield. My personal favorite: Babe was The Happy Dumpling-to-be Who Talks and Solves Agricultural Problems.

The thing of it is that the New York Times ran a story that treated the movie titles as the truth, not a joke.

You’d think people would learn their lesson, that not everything they read is true, especially online.

That’s a lesson that Gazette advisor Karl Grubaugh reinforces all the time and that my dad, who spent 17 years at the Wall Street Journal, has been teaching me since I was a little girl.

Instead, people seem to be heading in the other direction, feeling free to treat as truth anything they read or hear. In fact, the Internet gives people cover for their stupidity.

They can say they’re not vouching for the truth of something they’ve read, then repeat it as though it’s true.

As an experiment, freelance writer Jason Schreier tweeted an anonymous rumor that quarterback Pat Devlin was joining the Arizona Cardinals. Within 30 seconds, NFLDraftInsider posted the rumor.

CBSSportsNFL quickly picked it up. So did the Cardinals’ website.

No one checked the facts.

At least the Devlin rumor was just sports. My biggest problem is that our politicians use Devlin-like “facts” all the time.

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann recently said a woman came up to her crying after Bachmann debated Texas Gov. Rick Perry on the merits of a government-mandated vaccine.

“Her daughter was given that vaccine,” Bachmann told Fox News. “She told me her daughter suffered mental retardation as a result.”

If Bachmann had bothered to check her facts, she’d have learned that extensive testing on the vaccine has shown no link to mental disabilities.

When she got beaten up for her baseless claims, she said in another interview on Fox News, “I am not a scientist. I am not a physician. All I was doing was reporting what a woman told me last night at the debate.”

That’s simply not good enough.

If you want the responsibility of being president, Rep. Bachmann, then you need to take responsibility for what you say. If you want to argue that Perry shouldn’t have mandated a vaccine for 12-year-old girls, fine. But don’t use hearsay.

As a reporter, I take offense at the Bachmanns of the world – and there are many. I do not just repeat what others tell me. I do my best to make sure that everything printed is true.

I don’t just trust the word of my friend’s sister’s boyfriend’s best friend’s aunt. And if I can check my facts, then our nation’s politicians can, too. They have whole staffs of people. I’m just one 17-year-old high school student.

Riddle me that. ** Shannon Carroll, a senior, is a Gazette co-editor in chief.

vs.

PRIVATE BEHAVIOR Gazette photo illustration /RACHAEL vasquez

 Students want to protect the way their friends and family view them, yet they still want to do what they want in private without being judged. anonymous, is one of the 13 percent of teen- coming sexually active at a later age, and for agers who have sex by the age of 15. males to have more sexual partners and beA majority of teens who are privately ex- come sexually active at an earlier age,” Elkin ploring sexual behavior don’t, however, tell said. others, because they worry about public per“James,” a pseudonym for a senior who lost his virginity as a freshman and who ception.

“I don’t tell anyone about my situation wished to remain anonymous, views sex as

BY RACHAEL VASQUEZ doms? because it’s not something that you can a bond that only the two people involved can rvasquez.gazette@gmail.com Donna and her mom have a very open re- just bring up in a conversation. It’s taboo,” experience and understand. He also believes lationship, so Donna told her mom that her Donna said. “People… feel awkward about that talking about sexual behavior can cause At 16 years old, Donna had been sexually period was late. Her mom consoled her, it, and (so would I) because people could bullying. active for six months, when she and her boy- but four days later Donna’s period finally take (my pregnancy scare) as… that I’m a “You (can) put anyone down and say, friend realized Donna’s period was late. arrived. She and her boyfriend then parted bad person.”

‘Oh, you had sex with that girl? She’s (so) Her boyfriend starting questioning her, and ways.

AP psychology teacher Natalie Elkin said ugly that I can’t believe you would have sex she started questioning herself. Had she forYet the pregnancy scare remains fresh in that there are polarizing forces that encour- with that,’” James said. “So yes, you can be gotten to take her birth control pill yet again? her mind. age teenagers to be reserved or to engage in teased (as a male) if your partner is deemed Did traveling to another country and taking According to the Guttmacher Institute, sexual behavior. as undesirable.” the pill in a different time zone disturb her “Donna,” a pseudonym for a Granite Bay “Culture gender expectations (include) menstrual cycle? Should they be using con- High School senior who asked to remain women having few sexual partners and beSee PRIVATE, page A6

Students feel uncomfortable telling others about personal matters

Clashing coaches

Policies differ on outside coaches

BY KYLE PAWLAK

kpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

At the start of every year, Granite Bay High School teams understand that they have gaps as a result of graduation, but teams sometimes lose athletes because they choose to train and compete else-

New GBHS feminist club ruffles administration feathers

Clare Carroll Carroll transferred to Vista del Lago after a dispute with the Granite Bay coaches over personal coaching where.

This year, at least the soccer and crosscountry teams had athletes choose not to play for GBHS. Last year, the tennis team was without two stars.

See COACHES, page A5

Using every advantage

Private counselors help students through college application process

BY KELSEY KNORP

kknorp.gazette@gmail.com

Over the past decade, counselors who help students get into colleges have become progressively more popular nationwide as admissions standards have risen.

inside this issue

News

A1 – A6

Voices

A7 – A9

Second Look

A10

Features

B1 – B6

Sports

C1 – C6

Green Screen

G1 – G20

In an alarmingly crippled economy, jobseekers with college degrees have taken priority over those without higher education, so the average current high school student has been conditioned to believe college acceptance is a life-or-death situation.

See COLLEGE, page A6

Fundrasing for Planned Parenthood created controversy

BY SHANNON CARROLL scarroll.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photo /Rachael vasquez

As people set up their tables for Club Day Club originally denied because Planned Parenthood was seen as too controversial on Sept. 16, junior Haley Massara frantically tried to figure out why her club wasn’t school’s curriculum. listed on the map with the other 60 clubs.

Courts have already ruled that the act Another student said she had a friend provides rights to sometimes controversial whose club wasn’t on the map, either, so Massara assumed there was just some confu- clubs such as the Gay-Straight Alliance. So, Massara and some allies prepared to chalsion. She approached school officials and lenge the school, accusing it of violating eventually learned that her club had, in fact, federal law. been denied.

When questioned by a reporter, school offiThe rationale was that her club, Femicials said they would reconsider. As of Tuesnists Against Negative Gender Stereotypes day, the district formally approved FANGS’ (FANGS), intended to raise money for charter after marking it as under review.

Planned Parenthood. School officials said Massara said she had known that FANGS they felt the organization was too controverwould cause problems, but she didn’t think sial. they would arise until after the club had been But in trying to stem one controversy, in existence for a while. At that point, parents GBHS threatened to step into another, bemight object. cause the federal Equal Access Act provides, in simplified terms, that schools can’t deny See CLUB, page A5

Science Stress Teachers feel overwhelmed after extra sections were added

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Before the Game A photo essay from Senior Tailgate

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News

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Granite Bay Gazette

Friday w October 14, 2011

NAMES IN THE NEWS

Science department under pressure

michaela monaghan mmonaghan.gazette@gmail.com

STAR grade adjustment window over

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fter nearly two months of the administration wading through piles of paperwork from students hoping to get an extra three percent boost in their grades, the STAR grade adjustments have finally come to a close.

According to principal Mike McGuire, 322 students qualified for 471 grade adjustments. However, these weren’t all actual bumps from one letter grade to another.

217 of the grade adjustments only raised the students’ grades by three percent, therefore altering a borderline grade, but not actually affecting their overall GPA. However, 254 of the grade adjustments bumped a letter grade up and significantly altered GPA. 19 percent of the grade changes involved a grade of B+ moving to an A-, while 13 percent of the grade changes involved a grade of C+ moving to a B-. Only three percent of the adjustments involved a grade of D being adjusted to a C. Though only 322 students received grade adjustments from the STAR tests, the bumps have impacted the entire student population at GBHS. As GPAs have been adjusted to accommodate the grade bumps over the past couple months, some students have watched their class ranks either slowly rise or decline.

The remaining concern is if these grade bumps could impact qualifications for Eligibility in the Local Context, or ELC. This is a program that uses class rank to select the top nine percent of students from each graduating class.

Those students who qualify are automatically guaranteed admission to at least one UC campus.

However, after the grade adjustments are taken into account, there may be some changes in which seniors will be qualifying for the ELC program.

Know something we should know? Contact the Gazette’s Michaela Monaghan at: mmonaghan.gazette@gmail.com

CORRECTIONS In an A2 story in the September issue about the Krumal family, Jana Krumal’s health problem was incorrectly reported. Krumal was diagnosed with multiple breast lumps. The Gazette regrets the error. *** In an A2 story in the September issue about the impact of high school students on the local economy (especially on minimum days at local restaurants), a quote was incorrectly attributed. The correct source of the quote was Courtney Huber, the supervisor at Panera Bread on Douglas Blvd. Here’s how the quote should have appeared: “I have been looking into getting a calendar going with all the local events like the minimum days at the high school so we can prepare for them,” Huber said. The Gazette regrets the error. *** Perhaps the most important fundamental of good journalism is accuracy. It's the policy of the Gazette to correct all factual errors that are brought to our attention.

Contact 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

Gazette photo /RILEY MAC MILLAN

GBHS teacher Shane Dixon explains a chemistry concept to a student in his fourth period CP Chemistry class. Because of department difficulties, Dixon currently teaches three periods of CP Chemistry, as well as a period of AP Biology, leaving him without a preparation period for several days a week.

More students and preps result in increased stress for teachers

BY CHRIS PEI

cpei.gazette@gmail.com

Realizing that his workload would more than likely overwhelm him, Granite Bay High School science teacher Shane Dixon decided in early October to resign from his position as wrestling coach for the 2011-12 season.

Despite being disappointed about not being able to coach the team this year, Dixon said he felt that it was “a necessary decision.”

“I thought it was important for me to step back to make sure that

I could do my primary job to the best of my ability,” Dixon said. “I felt like I was already putting in more hours than I could afford. If I were to add on (coaching) wrestling, that’s another 20 or 30 hours a week.”

Dixon has coached the GBHS wrestling team since 2002 as an assistant coach, up until last season, when he assumed the position as the head coach.

As a science teacher, however, Dixon has his hands full.

Besides teaching Advanced Placement Biology during third

period, Dixon also teaches College GBHS science department, Dixon Prep Chemistry during his first, has the responsibility of teaching second and fourth periods, a course multiple different science courses he hasn’t taught for this year, otherwise several years. known as having “mul“I have two or preps.”

I felt like I was tipleDebbie three days a week Noyes, who already putwhere I don’t teaches biology and have a prep pephysiology, has four ting in more riod,” Dixon said. preps this semester, hours than I “If you’re teachmeaning that she has to ing four straight could afford. teach four completely classes, you don’t different courses: IB have time to create Biology, physiology, CP – Shane Dixon, AP lesson plans, grade Biology, and a physiolopapers, or whatgy course that’s blocked Biology teacher ever you have to with AP Biology. do during school, “The stress just nevso all that takes place after contract er ends. I thought I could do four hours.” preps, but I had no idea how difLike several other teachers in the ficult it would be,” Noyes said.

STAR grade bump confusion Students express mixed feelings regarding incentive policies

BY SYDNEY KAHMANN

skahmann.gazette@gmail.com

Last year, Granite Bay High School students were introduced to a new grade bump and incentive policy to improve the school’s STAR scores.

Now, after the school’s scores have improved, some confusion has resulted between students and faculty as the administration scrambled to come to an agreement on the specifics of the grade bump policy.

The confusion started out with students getting their grade bumps rejected during the week of the Sept. 30 grade bump deadline.

This deadline had already been extended, because of the number of students who were not aware there even was a deadline to apply.

Students who were called into the office were told that because of certain technicali-

ties, their grade bumps would not be put into effect or considered valid.

Students said these technicalities came down to their grade, in subjects other than math, not being a ‘+’. For example, students with a B- or B could not get bumped to a higher grade, unless they specifically asked the administration for their grade bump.

But Principal Mike McGuire said many students were bumped from a B to a B+.

Clearly, students and administration had a different perspective on the issue.

Students who missed the required STAR score by a few points also didn’t qualify for the grade bumps. Not to mention, some students received a low grade in a class, but there was no STAR test for the subject so they were excluded.

McGuire said that the purpose of the grade bumps was to try and get students to put

more effort into the STAR test.

“Our primary goal was just to get every one of (our students) to take the test seriously,” McGuire said.

According to McGuire, the policy was “wildly successful” in increasing the school’s Academic Performance Index.

While the grade bumps worked well as a student motivator, school officials realize that if the grade bump policy continues into the next year, certain changes will have to be made. “(The grade bumps and incentives) definitely have to be fine-tuned,” McGuire said, referencing the variances between classes vs. STAR test difficulties, especially in the case of the higher math classes where the standardized tests only cover up to some PreCalculus.

Some of these changes might be grade

Damien Lawrence, a new teacher to the district, also said he thinks his workload is rather demanding, despite it being his 16th year of teaching.

“This is the most labor-intensive lesson planning that I’ve ever had,” Lawrence said. “I’m making lesson plans for three classes, so it ends up being quite a lot of work. From that aspect, it’s fairly stressful, just because you have so much to do.”

According to Suchi Krishnaraj, who teaches chemistry at the IB level, the bulk of the problem is the fact that there are only 10 science teachers at the school but 16 different courses in the department that need to be taught.

See STRESS, page A4 Mike McGuire The GBHS principal said that, although flawed, the new STAR policies proved to be a success.

bumps for classes without STAR tests and changes to the A passes.

McGuire wasn’t sure if the A pass should let students skip their midterm/final during their next math class.

Fortunately, students didn’t seem to mind the grade bumps or A passes (which exempts a midterm or final score from a student’s grades).

Thanks to the policy, junior Sara Northam ended up with three grade bumps and a free parking pass after her STAR results came back.

Northam’s grades were changed “pretty dramatically” receiving grade bumps in her See STAR, page A4

California college prices on the rise

Tuition likely to double by 2016

BY NICOLE BALES

nbales.gazette@gmail.com

In mid-September, the Oregonian reported that the University of Oregon lost one of its top track instructors, who left the college for “a six-figure California community college salary.”

In the past few months, numerous UC and CSU administrators have had bonuses and pay raises approved.

One of these raises, reported in the Contra Costa Times, was $744,950 for the UC system’s chief investment officer, Marie Berggren, added to her already $470,000 salary.

This contributed to a total salary of $1.2 million, three times the sal-

ary of the President of the United States.

This upset many students, especially when they received a letter from UC President Mark G. Yudof in August saying due to enormous cuts in state funding, the university was “forced to turn to students and their families for remaining revenue,” adding $1,068 to their yearly tuition.

According to Dianne Klien, a media specialist at the University of California Office of the President, such bonuses are unable to be rebudgeted toward lowering tuition for students.

“That money belongs to retirees See TUITION, page A6

SOURCE: Merced Sun-Star Database

Gazette illustration/LENA EYEN

UC Davis tuition is currently $11,598, nearly triple what it was 10 years ago. Tuition for other colleges in both the UC and CSU systems have also undergone similar trends.

News

Friday, October 14, 2011w The Granite Bay Gazette

A3

GBHS students come together to recognize bullying problems Lessons learned at Point Break apply to everyday situations

ience became highly emotional and came to a peak with the shockingly high number of students who confessed to thoughts of suicide. “(I remember) thinking if everyone went through with it then they all wouldn’t be here today,” senior April Lujan said. “It really makes you think about what you say about other people because you can really affect how they feel about suicide.”

Encouraging students to talk about their problems and helping them to see that they are not truly alone in their struggles are very important aspects of the Point Break experience. The true purpose of the event, moreover, is to teach students to think about the effect their words and actions have on others.

“The goal is to continue unifying the school, breaking down barriers and getting students to see that although there are many differences between us, there is that bond of humanity that keeps us all together,” said Katrina Wachs, GBHS teacher and coordinator of Point Break. “(We) just ask people to think; to think about what they are doing, to think about what they are saying.”

While the common perception is that GBHS doesn’t have a bullying problem, this event aimed to help students to understand that there is a problem and to address it.

BY DANIELLE DIETERICH ddieterich.gazette@gmail.com

“If you have ever seriously considered committing suicide, please step up to the line.”

The words seemed to echo in the silence as students slowly began to trickle toward a line on the floor, until nearly half the Granite Bay High School students attending the Point Break event stood facing their peers.

Oct. 3 marked the semiannual Point Break event, during which students participate in a number of activities, both serious and silly, in an attempt to break through barriers and improve student relations on campus.

Among these activities was the aforementioned “Cross the Line” event in which members of the Point Break staff gave a series of situations and students who found that the statement applied to them stepped forward and faced their peers.

“I felt like the Cross the Line event was really … impactful, it definitely was the most impactful for me,” GBHS senior Sam Holzer said. “It was probably was the most emotional as well.”

As students watched their fellow classmates and even friends admit to drug abuse, using self-inflicted pain as a coping mechanism and suffering abuse at home, the exper-

See POINT BREAK, page A6

Gazette photo /Danielle Dieterich

Point Break, an annual GBHS event, involves students and faculty in a variety of activites. Senior Brooke Johnson above center, and GBHS Spanish teacher, Ben Soper, right, participate in a get-to-know-you game.

AP class sizes continue to grow

ASB UPDATE Emma Farrell discusses this year’s new additions to the halftime show

Record number of students taking advanced placement courses

BY MEGHAN CARLSEN

The Gazette talked to Homecoming halftime show commissioner, Emma Farrell.

Gazette: As the Homecoming halftime show commissioner, what do you do?

I organized everything. I pull together all of the cars for royalty, make sure that all the floats are put together, create a timeline for the show, arrange for fireworks, write the script, decided emcees and direct the halftime show when it occurs.

Gazette: What will be a part of the half time show this year?

We have a really cool fireworks show that will be choreographed to music, which is really unique for our school.

Gazette: What makes this year’s Homecoming different from the last?

Our school’s Homecomings are very traditional but we always change the themes. This year we will have a carriage for the royalty winners.

Gazette: How else will the theme be implemented?

We’re going to decorate the stadium a lot.

The script will be based on the theme instead of being straightforward.

“That’s not the highest pass rate we’ve had but when you have that many students passing (it’s impresAdvanced Placement European history is often the sive),” Valentine said. “We had 157 pass, that’s more first AP class that many students are ever faced with at than have ever passed the test in any one year at GranGranite Bay High School, and this can be a daunting ite Bay.” From these results, Valentine felt confident with the new experience. The current junior class dived right class of 2013 moving on to junior year and noticed into this opportunity during their sophomore year. that a majority of them continued the AP program with Being the biggest class GBHS has had, the school administration brought in another AP European His- Dell’Orto.

“The one thing I told Mr. Dell’Orto, because of the tory teacher, Jillyan McKinney, success that (they) had, (was that) to take some of the load off Mike the group that went over (to AP Valentine, the usual AP European U.S.), you guys were pretty sharp, AP allows kids history teacher. with that kind of pass rate,” ValenHowever, they were faced with to really chaltine said. challenges when McKinney had Dell’Orto, after having experience lenge themselves to go on maternity leave for a porwith this group of students himself, tion of the year. in areas they feel agreed.

Valentine, as well as GBHS AP “What I saw was a really good strong enough to U.S. history teacher, Brandon group of kids that, if they were inDell’Orto, filled in as teacher in be challenged in. dicative of the rest of the AP Euro her place. This created an environkids, was going to make for a really ment where Valentine had experistrong AP U.S. year,” Dell’Orto – Brandon Dell’Orto, AP ence with all AP Euro students and said. “That’s kind of played out so Dell’Orto saw a preview of some U.S. history teacher far.” of his future AP U.S. students.

Usually some students that take Valentine and Dell’Orto were AP Euro decide that the AP route is not overwhelmed with this impronot for them. visation, however, and were quite proud of the results “They’ve been ‘A’ students forever and they got their that came out of the big class of 2013.

“When we added it all up, it was about 240 (students) first ‘B’…that kind of scares them out of a lot of AP all together,” Valentine said. “Out of that, I think we anything,” Dell’Orto said.

However the current junior class has the most stuhad about 227 actually take the test, which is far more dents enrolled in AP U.S. in the history of GBHS. than we’ve ever had before.”

“I was happily surprised it was a little bit bigger than With all those students stepping up and taking the normal,” Dell’Orto said. “There’s more (students) test at the end of the year, it made an impact - not so much on the passing rate itself, but the sheer number See AP CLASSES, page A4 of students that did pass. mcarlsen.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photo /Rachael Vasquez

Emma Farrell, halftime commissioner, revealed that this year’s theme is Once Upon a Homecoming, where royalty will ride in a carriage.

Gazette: What are the themes for each class?

Our theme is Once Upon a Homecoming so they are all very cute, childhood themes. Freshmen have Tarzan, sophomores have Little Mermaid, juniors have Jack and the Beanstalk and seniors have Dr. Seuss.

-compiled by Rachael Vasquez

News Briefs

COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER Speakers:

SAT I & II Deadlines:

Oct. 18th Sierra Nevada College

Test date Deadline Late

Oct. 24th Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Oct. 25th NROTC Presentation Oct. 28th Connecticut University

Nov. 5

Oct. 7

Oct. 21

Dec. 3

Nov. 8

Nov. 20

Speech and Debate Team off to a good start The Speech and Debate team opened its season Sept. 17 at Ponderosa High School.

Throughout the long day of six rounds of competition, a GBHS competitor was found in the finals of every event. The team was rewarded after the rounds with 23 trophies and just as many medals. Students from all grades represented GBHS and contributed to the success.

“We had a great turnout with the novices,” said Natalie Kreeger, a senior Captain of the team. “Overall, this is a basic rebuilding year of our team. Our goals are to get as many qualifiers to (compete in) state and nationals (as possible).”

Since last season, the team has expanded and now it has 44 members ready to compete. The next competition is on Oct. 22 at River City High School.

Mall Re-Opened The closed portion of the Westfield Galleria at Roseville re-opened Oct. 6. The opening was just two weeks before the year anniversary of last years arson

that closed a portion of the buildings.

The completed re-built section of the shopping center opened more than 50 new and old stores and restaurants. A few stores didn’t open last week, but will open later this fall. Though it is remodeled completely, it still has the old mall feel.

More than 40 of the retailers are holding exclusive grand re-opening offers. The Disney Store offered free Mickey Ears to the first 250 guests. Many other stores are also offering discounts on purchases. Westfield celebrated by offering the first 1500 customers a free tote bag with discounts and promotions inside.

Blood Drive The Fall Blood Drive is Oct. 20 in the small gym.

Last year, more than 200 pints of blood were donated to the drive.

Sign-ups are held in the Health Office by nurse Linda Warfield. Students who want to participate in the drive must be 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.

Gazette photo /Rachael vasquez

The Tribe cheers at Sports-a-rama. Activities and rally games included: pass the person, human snake, tire race, a boys’ dance and a girls’ dance, skits, and decorations. This year, the seniors won.

Banned Books Week Banned Books Week is an annual event that takes place the last week of Sept. and celebrates the country’s First Amendment and the freedom to read.

During the week, books in danger of being banned and that are banned become exposed in order to em-

phasize the right to free open access to information.

The majority of books featured during the week were saved from banning thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers and booksellers.

-compiled by Dorien Johnk

A4 News

Friday, October 14, 2011

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Food safety measures vary among stores Mom-and-pops, large chains both bear risks of illnesses

BY CROSBY ALLISON

callison.gazette@gmail.com

Melon-eaters, beware; an unusual and seldom fatal bacterial strain has been found in American cantaloupe.

Since July 31, more than 90 victims have been infected by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in 18 different states, primarily in New Mexico, Texas and Colorado. Cases were recently reported in California, as a result of listeria-contaminated romaine lettuce from Oregon.

A primary source of listeria-carrying cantaloupes has been Jensen Farms, a Colorado-based company

that shipped melons to surrounding groceries as well as other areas of the nation.

Although most victims of the disease listeriosis already had health complications that reduced the efficacy of their immune systems, the tainted foods still pose an unnecessary danger.

Unfortunately, not much can be done to eradicate the listeria from cantaloupes. Typically, thoroughly washing or cooking a tainted food will decently cleanse it, but such methods are ineffective when applied to cantaloupe.

The last known shipment of in-

fected melons was sent on Sep. 10, primarily in the states where deaths have occurred. Still, produce is often resold and could circulate to a multitude of other places.

More cases of listeriosis will likely arise because of the incubation period after initial infection that can last up to 10 days. The mortality rate for the disease is between 20 and 30 percent.

Several food-borne illness scares have occurred over the past decade, such as spinach infected with E. coli in 2006 and the more recent porkrelated H1N1 panic, but still more lives are claimed by new strains that

are difficult, if not impossible, to anticipate. The number of deaths in the current outbreak is the highest figure since a past listeria outbreak in 1998.

Christine Kuratomi, an employee at the local “Mom-and-Pop” farm Otow Orchard, feels that buying from small scale providers lowers risk of catching an illness..

“I think that if you go to a smaller place for produce, you know where it came from,” Kuratomi said, “It’s more direct… We can also remind people to wash things before they eat them… With a grocery store, you don’t know exactly where (the

Academic dishonesty list use by staff has decreased

Few students added in recent years

BY CHASE EVANS

chevans.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay High School addresses cheating in the same way that communities have for decades: You do the crime, you do the time. But instead of time, GBHS puts people on the academic dishonesty list.

“Academic dishonesty is a process that’s been put into place by teachers to make sure we have good communication with the few students who make an unwise decision to cheat,” said GBHS assistant principle Brent Mattix.

Students get put on the academic dishonesty list for cheating, plagiarizing or being academically dishonest in any other way.

The list also serves to help the teachers by giving them information about their students.

“The more we know about our students, the better we are able to teach them,” GBHS teacher Ramona Drury said.

Teachers feel they need to know if a student in their class has been cheating in other areas.

“If there is a student in my class with an integrity issue, then I need to know about it,” Drury said.

GBHS math teacher Scott Becker said the list’s value lies in its efficient means of communicating information of academic dishonesty.

“We need (the list) because teaching is a sort of isolated deal and you can’t com-

noticed a decrease in cheating lately.

“I have put very few students on it in municate with the other classes as much the past couple years,” Drury said. as you would like to,” Becker said.

“I haven’t put anyone on the academWhile the list is used to help the teach- ic dishonesty list in 10 years. If I ever ers communicate, it is also to help the caught someone though, I would put student learn. them on the list,” Becker said.

“Being dishonest academically is a Other factors may have affected the trait that we are making sure our students decline in cheating however. don’t have,” Mat“The way I do my teachtix said. “It’s reing leaves very little room We know that if ally important for for students to cheat,” Drury them to underthe (previous) consaid. stand the negaThe repercussions of cheatsequences didn’t tive impact of ing change depending on the their shortcuts.” work, then we need frequency of the offense.

While the aca“We know that if the (predemic dishonto change the con- vious) consequences didn’t esty list is geared sequences in order work, then we need to toward helping change the consequences in students become to change the beorder to change the behavmore honest, havior. ior,” Mattix said. most students “The repercussions should are unaware of or be different for a person who care little about – Brent Mattix, has shown a habitual patthe list. assisstant principal tern,” Becker said.

“Every now Both Drury and Becker and again you hear kids talking about it. But not often,” said they don’t check the list before the year to stereotype their students, a trend Becker said.

“I’m not sure that students have the ma- Mattix noticed.

“I don’t believe that teachers check the turity to understand the consequences of list to catch students,” Mattix said. their actions at this point,” Mattix said.

While Drury and Becker both believe When the list was first introduced nearly a decade ago, teachers made immedi- the academic dishonesty list is successful ate use of it in its purpose, Drury believes that there “When the list first came out, I put a should be a couple “changes” significant amount of students on the “I am advocating for hanging the cheatlist,” Drury said. ers up by their toes in the quad,” Drury However, both Drury and Becker have said jokingly.

food) comes from.”

Larger food companies would seem to have more difficulty in determining the origin of outbreaks due to their size and systems for mass-production, but many corporations have rules in place to counter outbreaks. Recalls can be enacted quickly, but the problems that require a recall may remain.

Corey Watkins, a manager of the produce section of the Granite Bay Raley’s, explained the system used by the chain.

“There are a lot of guidelines and checklists we have throughout the day to ensure the produce doesn’t touch the ground, or it’s not stored on the ground or near chemicals,” Watkins said.

“As soon as a recall is issued, our main office picks up and sends an email directly to the stores… It’s actually a very fast system.”

Many small chain grocery stores, like Sunrise Natural Foods, are also reasonably safe bets for those purchasing grown goods. Eric Barbee, a manager at Sunrise Foods, explained the store’s policies for food safety and handling.

“We’re the biggest, cleanest, friendliest natural food store in town’” Barbee said. “Most of our produce comes from a distributor out of San Francisco, and they pretty much pull most things out of California when it’s available. Most products are local when available.”

STAR: Bump removes distinction of getting A’s, offers easy way out Continued from page A2 history, English and math classes.

“I think (the classes) were just harder than the STAR tests,” Northam said.

“I was kind of surprised at first that (the school) went through with (the policy), because I thought it was a really good deal,” Northam said.

Daniel Graham, who received two grade bumps, sees a flaw in the system, despite the benefits he received.

“It didn’t affect (people) negatively who didn’t get one, because (they) didn’t think they would get one when they took the class,” Graham said. “It just affected me positively.”

At the same time, however, Graham doesn’t fully support the bumps.

“I think it’s unfair for pretty much everyone who’s taking (the STAR test), but I’m going to take advantage of (the policy) because it’s there,” Graham said.

From an A student’s perspective, this new policy is not fair in the slightest. Kritika Amanjee, a sophomore, received all A’s in her classes and was advanced on all of her STAR tests, but only received an A pass. “(The grade bumps are) pretty misleading,” Amanjee said. “You look at the grade and you think it’s an ‘A’ but the STAR testing is a lot easier than the class. So what should’ve been a ‘B’ based on the standards of the class is really an ‘A’ by a much easier standard.”

The administration doesn’t see anything misleading about the grade bump policy.

McGuire has been talking to college representatives who have been visiting the school this year, and he said they haven’t minded the policy.

McGuire said the college admissions officers also had no problem with the grade bump policy whatsoever.

Amanjee doesn’t believe grade bumps are just deceptive to outside people, but also deceptive to the students. “(Grade bumps) are helpful for the student’s (grade), but when you think of it in a broader perspective and an academic perspective, (measuring) what exactly the student is learning, it’s misleading,” Amanjee said.

Amanjee believes most ‘A’ students aren’t the type who have a problem with studying.

But, the math A passes create a way to get out of studying, from many students’ perspectives.

“I don’t mind taking a midterm or a final, because in the end it usually helps you out,” Amanjee said. “If you study more, you usually end up doing better in the class.”

The concern Amanjee has is that STAR grade bumps will promote classroom laziness.

“The reward mostly goes to people who aren’t getting the grade,” Amanjee said. “It’s always their last resort or something they’re always banking on, (so) that might discourage people from trying as hard as they should be (in class).”

Many of the students who earned an A in their classes are concerned how this policy will affect their class standing. With more than 700 applications for grade bumps and incentives, students wonder how this will affect their GPA compared to their peers.

The question on students’ minds is when will students know if the grade bump policy will return this school year?

“We should be able to communicate (if the bump policy will be continued) … before next quarter … if not by then, as soon as students get back (from winter break),” McGuire said.

SCIENCE: Teachers take on large classes to balance much smaller IB classes See STRESS, page A2 Brent Mattix, a GBHS assistant principal, said in an email interview that potential factors related to this issue are “available classrooms, courses offered, class size/staffing ratio, staff available to teach and classroom resources.”

“The challenge we’ve found is that what is best for students sometimes creates challenges for teachers,” Mattix said. “The bottom line is that GBHS is committed to students being able to take a science course should they request it.”

One of the main problems is the huge gap in class sizes that has arisen due to the uneven distribution of students among different courses.

“IB is the looming culprit in this,” Krishnaraj said. “IB classes only have nine to 16 (students), so it’s going to impact all the other classes, which are well above 30 (students).”

One of Dixon’s CP Chemistry classes, for example, consisted of a total of 42 students at the beginning of the year. Since then, the number has been reduced to 38, still far above the size of a standard IB class.

Playing a large role in this was the problem of late registration.

“The day before school started, we had

50, 60 new people walk in,” Krishnaraj said. “So (teachers) found out the day before school started that they were teaching a class that they didn’t even know they were going to be teaching.”

According to Dixon, GBHS teacher John Thomas, who normally teaches CP Earth Science, had to take on a section of CP Biology as a direct result of the influx of new students in August. Likewise, James Cunningham, regularly a CP Chemistry teacher, had to take on a section of CP Earth Science.

“There used to be a time where the biology teachers would only teach biology and the chemistry teachers would only teach chemistry,” Krishnaraj said. “If we as teachers have only one course to teach, then we can refine and practice teaching that course.

Once you get to three or four preps, it becomes difficult to balance.”

Further expanding this issue is the general lack of facilities, forcing some teachers out of their own classrooms during their preparation periods.

“We have teachers teaching multiple preps, with no room to do it,” Krishnaraj said. “By sharing rooms, teachers are in the alley during their prep period, getting ready for labs.

It’s gotten to the point where biology has to be taught in a culinary room.”

As for how this issue is affecting students, Krishnaraj said the personnel issues that are taking place in the department “shouldn’t affect the quality of what’s happening in the classroom.”

“We’re trying our hardest to not let it affect the students,” Krishnaraj said. “It’s much more about handling stress at a personal level.”

The negative consequences that are caused by the large class sizes, however, are quite apparent, and for the time being, unable to be fixed.

“When we have labs, especially, the students start to feel the crowdedness,” Noyes said. “If the students were just doing standardized testing, it would be fine, but the science classes we’re teaching require more than just that.”

As a short-term solution, Dixon said he actually brought extra desks into his classroom.

“If you have more than 32 students, you’ve got multiple students sitting in the back at the lab tables, not facing the front,” he said. “If you’re doing instruction, they’re more often than not going to be talking to each other. So (large class size) definitely has its effects.”

Despite the glaring problems, there is only

CRUNCH: Many students take advantage of opportunities at community colleges See WORD, page A3 that decided to take the chance this year than any other year, so that’s nice.”

The class of 2013 continues to hold up its high reputation in this current AP U.S. class. “(The current) class right now is getting better grades faster than any other year that I’ve had so far,” Dell’Orto said.

However, a portion of GBHS students opted out of taking AP U.S. at GBHS and instead enrolled in a local community college like Sierra College.

This gives students a chance to take another class they wouldn’t normally have room for with a full block of AP U.S. and Honors English 11 on their schedule.

Junior Greg Callaghan, who took U.S. history at Sierra College, was able to replace that period with AP Art History.

“What I could do in two months was a year here,” Callaghan said.

He felt this was an easier way that would also help with filling out his transcript with more classes.

“It was just more convenient at the time,” Callaghan

said.

But even Callaghan admits the learning experience was probably not up to par with the education that students receive here in the AP U.S. course. “(I) probably (learned) less than (I would have) here,” Callaghan said.

Valentine and Dell’Orto both found problems with the curriculum offered at the community college level compared to the curriculum offered at GBHS. “It’s considered a college, almost AP, class, (but) it’s not,” Valentine said. “It’s only half the class; it’s half of what Mr. Dell’Orto teaches.”

While the U.S. history course at Sierra or any another college is less work and less time consuming, it is also less informative than the class taught at GBHS. In this type of course you get the “17B” half but not the “17A” as far as units are concerned.

It worries teachers like Valentine and Dell’Orto that students are only getting half of the learning experience.

“We want history 17A and 17B. We’ve been fighting that battle for awhile but haven’t won it yet,” Valentine said.

As long as they don’t “win” it, students who take U.S. at Sierra are continuing in the AP Euro through the AP

so much the department and school administration can do.

“The school administration’s hands are kind of tied,” Noyes said. “The district gives us the number of sections in our department based on our teacher-student ratio. The only way to adjust that is to sacrifice classes. If we were to cut, let’s say, AP Biology, that wouldn’t fly in the community.”

Another obstacle arises from the tight budget the school and district are facing.

“We can’t just add another science room right away,” Dixon said. “It would take hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention construction time. It’s something that we can’t afford to do right now.”

That being said, both the department and administration are taking small steps in hopes of slightly alleviating the problem.

“We just have to be realistic in terms of the budget and what can actually be done,” Krishnaraj said. “We had a meeting with Mattix and (principal Mike) McGuire where we laid out what our problems were and what the (school administration) was going to do in terms of a solution. So it’s going in the right direction.”

Mattix added that both parties are currently working together to make improvements.

“One change that we’re looking at, to help

with our class size, is to not allow students to re-take a science class in order to earn a higher grade, unless there is room in the class,” Mattix said. “This is a change that may take place as early as next term.”

According to Noyes, the science department had planned on having another meeting on the 184th teacher training day, Oct. 12, to further discuss the issues taking place.

Dixon, in the meantime, said the question of whether or not he might reassume his coaching position in the future is “tricky to answer at the time.”

“If things do change, I would certainly evaluate (whether) things could work out or not,” Dixon said. “But if someone were to (take the position as wrestling coach), it wouldn’t necessarily be open. If someone gets put that position and they’re happy doing it, they could stay in that position until they’re ready to quit.”

But the bottom line, Dixon said, is that he can’t return to coaching until things have changed for the science department.

“We have some ideas that we’re currently mulling over,” Dixon said of the science department. “We’re working on making a solution that’s both workable, and that will hopefully provide relief soon.”

government program by picking up AP government in has proved that they are up to the challenge as well. their senior year.

“I think more kids are stepping up (to the AP pro“Everything I’ve heard from (Jarrod) Westberg…is gram),” Dell’Orto said. that the 17B kids are not anywhere close to being as Many students are beginning to recognize the pracwell-prepared, ready (or) knowledgeable,” Dell’Orto ticality of starting up their AP journey with classes said. like AP Euro and AP U.S. Furthermore, Valentine and Dell’Orto readthey reap financial benefits, the transcript ily stand by their AP program, and AP allows kids to re- boost, as well as a valuable experience. while many students would advoally challenge them- “AP allows kids to really challenge themcate for the Sierra College route, selves in areas they feel strong enough to they push for the GBHS course. selves in areas they be challenged in,” Dell’Orto said. “(It) “I think it’s sad because I think feel strong (in)...(It) means they won’t be overwhelmed when they would have benefited longthey get to college; they will be able to term, getting ready for collegemeans they won’t be blow it away,” wise, better than if they would have overwhelmed when Because AP Euro is the first AP class just gone and done the easy checkstudents take, more and more stuoff,” Dell’Orto said. they get to college... many dents are signing up and thus being sucked Because of this, Valentine and into AP Euro through government classes, Dell’Orto welcome the numerous – Brandon Dell’Orto,AP whether they take AP U.S. at GBHS or at AP students to join the AP program a college. along with the rest of their peers.

U.S. history teacher GBHS holds its AP program to high The larger number of juniors enstandards, but Valentine insists it is more rolled in AP courses is not just due of a community effort than the simple talto the fact that the junior class has ent of the teachers provided at the school. more students than any other class in previous years.

“It is the area; it is the parents; it is (students); it’s all “(I have) the same amount (of students) but three peof it together,” Valentine said. riods now,” Valentine said.

“I think we probably have the strongest AP program While it may have been more evident in the big numbers of the class of 2013, the current sophomore class around,” Dell’Orto said.

Friday, October 14, 2011

A5 News

w The Granite Bay Gazette

COACHES: Training conflicts caused athletes to leave Continued from page A1

Cody Giddings and Ty Thompson chose not to play for the soccer team because they also play in an elite league known as the California Development Academy, and that league issued an ultimatum: Choose your high school team or choose your academy team, but you can no longer play for both.

Clare Carroll, who last year finished second in the state in cross country as a freshman, transferred from GBHS to Vista del Lago. She cited a lack of trust in the GBHS coaching staff that partly related to whether they would consult with her private coach.

Last year, Karolina and Kammy Kecki chose not to compete for GBHS. This year, however, they have decided to return to the team.

GBHS athletic director Tim Healy said athletes sometimes feel that private or club training can, in many sports, pay off more in the long term than playing for a high-school team.

“The reality is that parents want to do what they feel is best for their kids, and sometimes you have an outside coach telling a parent or kid, ‘Here’s what’s going to help you get a scholarship,’ which is typically the almighty word,” Healy said. “In some sports, scholarships are, for the most part, generated outside the high-school setting….

Those scholarships are given based on how athletes do at club and individual tournaments. As a result, you could argue that the outside coaches have some validity.”

However, Healy said that playing for a high-school team also has upsides not offered by club programs.

“There is something neat about playing for a high school and playing in front of your buddies…being part of something bigger than just you,” Healy said. “You’re part of a culture…and that’s something that club programs can’t really replicate.”

Girls’ and boys’ tennis coach Rory Wood sees advantages to both private and highschool training.

“Our boys’ team, for example, has 20 boys (who) have all had private lessons,” Wood said. “The depth of (that) private coaching gives the individual as well as the team the depth.”

Wood said that private training can be effective simply because of the increased availability of skilled players that outside training offers.

“My top four girls are benefiting from (high-school tennis),” Wood said. “But

Problems within cross country caused one student to transfer high schools

L

eaving Granite Bay High School was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I loved it at GBHS. The classes, teachers and people are all amazing. My sister, Shannon, and best friend, Katie, go to GBHS, and it’s hard not to see them every day. However, I believe transferring to Vista del Lago was the right thing for me to do.

I run cross country and track and have big dreams, and I don’t believe I could have attained those goals with the GBHS coaches. It never felt like they supported my dreams my freshman year. By the end of the year, I felt bullied and dejected.

At the start of track season last spring, I had an injury, so I was just hoping to get fit enough to qualify for the two-mile at the state meet in June. But when I told the distance coach my goal, she said she didn’t “want the pressure of getting (me) to state.”

Before the qualifiers for the state meet, I told the coach I wanted to run the twomile because that is clearly my best event in track, but she said I was going to run the mile.

I tried to talk to her many times, but my many conversations with her fell on deaf ears, even though she let other athletes choose their events.

That was the breaking point for me.

Knowledgeable people in the running they aren’t getting the ultimate workout.”

He said they would benefit if they could find four other girls at their level and all practice together. He also said that the GBHS girls are so strong that they don’t always get much competition during school matches.

“When we go out and play matches…we have so much depth, No. 2, 3, 4 don’t get much of a match,” Wood said.

Wood said, “The commitment I ask (the athletes) to make is to be here four days a week for practice and matches…If you want to go out and do your private stuff, too…it’s better for me, better for the team, better for you.”

Karolina Kecki, a senior, said she chose not to play for GBHS last year because of her club commitment to tournament play and the desire to get the best training she could.

“It’s a big-time commitment to do high school tennis,” Kecki said, “and it’s really hard to try to get the quality matches I

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clare carroll community told my family and me they were shocked I was being forced to run the mile.

After thinking for a long time, I decided to go ahead and run the mile, but my body wasn’t ready for that kind of intensity. I injured myself and had to withdraw from the qualifiers. That injury cost me almost three months of fitness.

As you can imagine, I was heartbroken and lost a lot of trust in my GBHS coaches. The relationship and communication between us deteriorated. None of the coaches, by the way, ever checked in with me to see how my recovery was going.

Last fall, before I started at Granite Bay, I had a personal coach, Leonard Sperandeo.

He is a fantastic coach who has coached at the college level, coached an athlete to the need.”

She returned to the high-school team this year because of a shift in her priorities.

“This year, I’m just not as serious about tennis, and I wanted to have a little more fun and just take a break from serious tournament tennis,” Kecki said.

Carla Kehoe, the co-head-coach of the cross country team, has a different view than the tennis coach does. “(In the off-season,) it can always benefit the athlete to be doing things that will help them, in particular, with someone who is qualified,” Kehoe said. “During the school year when athletes are in (seas on), I think that is up to the (school’s) coach.

“The one aspect that every team has in common is that we are a team…and if an element of the team, whether it is one person or (a group), is not training with the team, then the cohesiveness of the team is not the same.”

Olympics and has coached his wife to the Olympic trials in the marathon four times.

Leonard, who refuses to take any money, coached me to a national title. We developed a fantastic bond.

The current GBHS coaches don’t have much experience coaching high school runners and have never coached a runner to the kinds of titles I am trying to win.

But the GBHS coaches told me that I wasn’t allowed to consult Leonard. At all.

I told them my goal was to be in the top three at the state cross-country meet last November. They said they’d be happy with top 25.

At the meet, the GBHS coaches didn’t offer any tactical advice, so I called Leonard. He gave me some detailed advice on the course and the competitors, and I finished second in the state. Without that advice, I highly doubt I would have placed as high as I did.

The next weekend, I qualified for the Foot Locker National Championships, probably the most prestigious high school race in the country. None of the coaches called or texted to congratulate me.

Because last year went so badly, my parents had multiple meetings and conversations with Athletic Director Tim Healy and with the GBHS coaches over the summer to see if we could get Leonard involved as a bridge. He would help the coaches unShe added that if school coaches don’t know all the training their athletes are doing, then they may ask those athletes to overstretch themselves.

Carroll – one of only two freshmen in the country to qualify for the prestigious Foot Locker National Championships in cross country – said she was prepared to train with the team and to keep the coaches informed about all her training.

But she said Kehoe declined to consult with Carroll’s private coach or to allow Carroll to do so. Carroll, who said she had felt bullied by the coaching staff, decided to transfer.

“The reason why I left Granite Bay really boils down to trust,” Carroll said.

“Last year I came with an open mind. But by the end if the year I had been in tears many times because of the stressful situation.”

The cross country and track teams have had conflicts related to personal coaches in the past.

derstand me and would help me build trust in them.

I was prepared to work with the GBHS coaches as much as possible, so no one on the team even had to know that Leonard was helping. I would be at all the practices and all the meets. The GBHS coaches would be told everything I was doing.

I figured my plans would be much less noticeable than the situation that occurred last spring, when the distance track coach let another runner do her workouts away from the team for three or four weeks.

The GBHS coaches were adamant that they wouldn’t take any input from Leonard. They even said I couldn’t work with Leonard in the off-season that follows cross-country, when Foot Locker occurs.

I didn’t see how the GBHS coaches could tell me what to do during the off-season.

They kept saying I would have to trust them. But I didn’t and don’t think I ever would have.

Their stance meant that I had to either sign up for three more years like last year, or I needed to leave. I just couldn’t imagine even one more year like last year.

Leaving was an agonizing decision. My new cross country team at Vista is fantastic, but I will miss every member of the GBHS team. For many months, they were my family. I’ll miss all of you, too.

“History has a habit of repeating itself,” Kehoe said.

2011 graduate Katie Zingheim was told she would be kicked off the track team if she used a personal coach. Zingheim and her parents eventually convinced the track coaches that her specialty, the pole vault, required more coaching than GBHS could provide. She went on to earn a track scholarship to Stanford University, which she says would have been impossible without her private coach.

“The coaches wanted to emphasize keeping the team together and having team unity by everyone having the same coach and training together,” Zingheim said. “My side of the argument was that I wanted to get the best possible coaching for myself, and so if there is someone who can help me in addition to the school coach then why not do that…I wouldn’t have (been so successful) if I hadn’t.”

CLUB: Administration feels pressure, causing approval of feminist charter Continued from page A1 “The way I found out was probably the most unpleasant part,” Massara said. “I had prepared for something like this to happen, but I didn’t think it would happen this early in the process. I was pretty angry.”

On the charter she turned in to Student Government, Massara had written that her purpose was to “empower the female students of GBHS and support causes friendly to women.” There was no problem with that.

Club Day commissioner Kristin Kurpershoek said clubs cover a wide variety, from service clubs like the Key Club and the Future Business Leaders of America to more eccentric clubs like the Avocado Club.

The initial screening is done by Student Government teacher Tamara Givens, who typically looks over the charters and returns them with questions that need to be answered. FANGS was the only club that was flatout denied this year.

The controversy arose because of the question: “What plans do you have for raising money, and what

will the money be used for?” Massara wrote that she was planning on selling crafts and food and would donate the entirety of the money to Planned Parenthood.

That raised some eyebrows.

Givens said she was concerned because of the connection to Planned Parenthood.

“Don’t you think it’s about abortion?” Givens asked.

“That’s what I think it’s about – donating directly to an organization that espouses that as an option. There wasn’t an issue with (the club) being feminist.”

According to statistics from the Planned Parenthood website, three percent of all of its services are related to abortions. The site also says that one in five women in the United States has visited a Planned Parenthood health center, where, among other things, advisers help prevent unintended pregnancies and provide Pap smears that help detect cancer.

Assistant principal Brent Mattix, when queried by Givens, decided the club would be disruptive.

“We have the responsibility for all of our clubs to make sure they’re promoting positive energy, that

they’re constructive, and that they’re going to be in a position to not lead to any distraction to the education process,” Mattix said. “So with this particular club… the feeling is that (Planned Parenthood) is too controversial of an organization to have one of our campus clubs connected to, and it would become a distraction to the education process.”

AP government teacher Jarrod Westberg said he thought the administration might have acted too fast.

He said it’s uncommon to exercise “prior restraint.”

It’s more common, he said, to wait and see if a problem occurs and then, if necessary, react to it.

Kathie Sinor, who is listed as the adviser to FANGS, said, “You can’t deny a club. (The administration) is afraid of repercussions. They’re afraid of something happening, and I understand that, but you still have to go back to the rights of students.”

Raquel Simental, the public affairs director of Planned Parenthood, said she was shocked.

“Women’s health shouldn’t be controversial,” Simental said. “We’re very supportive of women’s

rights, both reproductive and otherwise.”

After hearing the concerns, Mattix said, he spoke with officials at the school district level.

“We truly want what’s best for Granite Bay,” he said.

Mattix later sent an email to Gazette adviser Karl Grubaugh, saying that “we have decided to not deny the (FANGS club) the opportunity to form on campus.

The proposal is being reviewed.”

Massara, who had been considering pursuing legal action with the American Civil Liberties Union, said she was glad the situation seems to have been resolved.

“I have high hopes for the club,” Massara said. “I feel like this whole ordeal will at least spread the word about a good cause.”

She also said she was impressed with the way the administration seems to be handling the situation.

“Their reaction was pretty mature,” Massara said.

“They didn’t drag this out into a three-month-long ordeal. I’m just glad it’s over and done with, and there are no hard feelings.”

A6 News

Friday, October 14, 2011 w The Granite Bay Gazette

POINT BREAK: Peer Helping spreads event’s message on campus Continued from page A3 Verbal bullying in particular was addressed as a major issue on GBHS campus. Throughout the day, several students admitted they had at one time or another been afraid to come to school for fear of being bullied.

Other students publicly apologized to peers, whom they had verbally abused in the past.

“I really think that I view everyone on campus now with so much more respect and admiration for just the daily struggles that all of us have to go through,” Holzer said. “(I) understand that this should be a safe environment where everyone feels loved and appreciated by the people around them.”

Other students found the event to be educational if not as emotionally stirring as expected.

“I thought it was going to be a lot more emotional than it was,” Lujan said, “but I was really surprised at what I learned and how I realized (that) everyone was affected at school by all the bullying.”

Wachs, who has been coordinating the Point Break event for a number of years, is also now running a new on-campus Peer Help-

ing class at GBHS. The class aims to improve the atmosphere on campus by encouraging students to treat each other with kindness and respect and providing students with a safe haven to come and talk about their struggles.

“I think the (Point Break) program is being advanced by the new Peer Helping class that’s happening on campus, because we have a follow-up club and we are doing a lot more activities on campus to house kids,” Wachs said. “(We as a club) bring kids in, and get kids involved and follow up and follow through with participants.”

In addition to the strides made by the new Peer Helping class to improve campus life, Student Government has been hard at work with the “Make a Difference” campaign.

Much like Point Break, the campaign is an attempt by students to improve life on campus.

“I was really just encouraged by (the Make a Difference Campaign) to try to positively affect culture on campus,” Holzer said.

“I just wanted to … experience (Point Break) and see how it could positively change my mindset in order to impact the campus.”

Last spring, senior Adam Johns

PRIVATE: Teens want to protect public reputation Continued from page A1

James says the bullying can also push some to have sex earlier. “For some people, (losing their virginity) seems to be a race,” he said, “but for some people it is more special and cherished.”

James says he is now fine with purchasing condoms, which the Palo Alto Medical Foundation says reduce the chance of pregnancy to three percent if used properly. But he says his first experience was rough because he didn’t want to be judged at the store because of his age.

“I wasn’t sure how I was going to react, how the clerk was going to react, or how the other consumers (were going to react) the first time I bought condoms,” James said. “I was a freshman, so a freshman buying condoms is a weird image for people.”

Now, James is more concerned with people he is close to socially hearing about his sexual life. “(Someone’s sexual behavior)

is almost like a secret, because it’s something that I’ve only been able to experience, something that I’ve only been able to witness,” James said. “It makes me uncomfortable and worried when I think that someone else might be able to know what I’ve gone through, and I (don’t want to) feel that I’m losing something of myself.”

While issues about contraception are obviously important for preventing disease and pregnancy, people are reluctant to talk either because they don’t want people to know about their private life or because they have other reasons for needing to be on “the pill.”

“In my class, I try to point out that you can’t (generalize), because if you know a teen who is on birth control, that doesn’t (necessarily) mean they’re sexually active,” health teacher Kathie Sinor said. She said the pill can also function as hormone therapy.

Senior “Brooke,” who asked that her name be withheld, is on birth control for medical reasons, but she still feels that talking

Gazette photo /DANIELLE DIETERICH

Art teacher Amelie Rider joins students in a warm up activity at Point Break. The event gave students a safe place to discuss life.

shocked the school when he committed suicide. Not only did this devastate those close to him, but for many GBHS students it was their first exposure to suicide.

Like many tragedies, the expeKathie Sinor Health teacher teaches students not to assume a girl on birth control is having sex

about birth control is awkward.

As a freshman, Brooke had an irregular menstrual cycle and severe acne, so she was put on birth control. Soon after, she developed red lumps on her shins and was taken off.

Two years later, Brooke was put on birth control again, this time by her OB/GYN. “It’s embarrassing to be on the pill because guys automatically think that a girl is on the pill because she’s having sex,” Brooke said. “It’s a personal thing, and I’m fine sharing it with my closest friends, but people automatically associate birth control with sex.”

In general, Brooke understands that private sexual behavior should remain private.

“No one should judge you on anything,” Brooke said. “It’s your life.”

TUITION: UC costs expected to rise

Continued from page A2

“I’m planning to apply for more scholarships to help out my parents,” Orchard said.

A main cause of the tuition increases is the fact that and future retirees and it is against the law to use that money for any other purpose, but for the investments. universities are often forced to raise fees in order to Yes it is a big pot of money, but there is no way legally, avoid further cuts, which could affect the quality of that we can take that money (and) put it toward (lower- education.

UC Newsroom reported in mid-August that “without ing) tuition.”

However, according to Ricardo Vasquez, a spokes- fee increase, UCLA would need to cut an additional $29 person for the University of California Office of the million.”

According to the report, this would be equivalent to President, there are several measures that the university “replacing 1,268 California students with out-of-state takes to aid students.

“Whenever we have a fee increase, we take about one students,” the reason being that out-of-state students are third of the increase and set it aside for financial aid,” required to pay the full tuition cost.

“We have accepted as many California residents as Vasquez said. the state funding for California stuIn these past years, UC has condents allows us to,” Vasquez said. tinued to cover tuition for family According to Vasquez, the revenue incomes below $80,000 per year, Whenever we acquired from enrollment of out-ofthrough grants and financial aid. state students helps to fund the hiring Families who make an income have a fee inof additional teachers, as well as the up to $120,000 a year will be ofcrease, we take addition of more core sections to each fered a one year grant to help covdepartment. er the new fee increase. about one third of Another measure that colleges are However, many Granite Bay the increase and taking to increase revenue is to accept families have incomes high a higher number of foreign students. enough to disqualify them for fiset it aside for The Sacramento Business Journal nancial aid, but not enough to pay financial aid. reported in late September that UC for the rapidly rising tuition.

Davis “announced a dramatic plan to Helen Gallo, whose son recentaccept more foreign students as a rely graduated from Folsom High – Ricardo Vasquez, UC sult of state cutbacks.”

School, was one such parent. Her Office of the President Linda Katehi, chancellor of UC Dafamily was especially affected by spokesperson vis, told the Journal, “It’s critical for the 12 percent increase in state us to provide (students) with the abilcollege tuition this past July. ity to learn from other cultures.”

Her son is currently a freshman Foreign students make up six perat California Polytechnic Institution at San Luis Obispo. The tuition for this university cent of the campus populations across all nine UC’s, significantly higher than last year’s 3.7 percent. This has more than tripled since 2001.

“As a parent you put money away assuming that (it year, foreign student tuition was raised to $38,000, will) cover most of college and then, when it finally while California residents’ tuition was only raised to comes time to send your kids to school, you realize that $15,000.

According to Katehi, UC Davis has also been cutting money isn’t enough.” Gallo said. “So you have to readministrative costs in recent years in order to lower evaluate your finances,” Gallo said.

Students at Granite Bay High School have also been tuition, thereby increasing student enrollment.

Despite these efforts, tuition for California communiexpressing concern with the recent increases in tuition.

“It’s definitely more stressful since the prices are ris- ty colleges, state colleges and universities have all douing, especially for private colleges,” senior Lisa Or- bled in the past five years, and have more than tripled in the past 10 years. chard said.

With UC tuition expected to rise eight percent evOrchard plans on attending Pepperdine University or UC Davis next fall, both of which have had a substan- ery year for the next four years, basic tuition may reach $22,000 by 2016. tial increase in tuition costs in the past few years.

rience had a uniquely unifying effect on the school campus. In a strange way, it made students more willing to accept each other and less quick to judge.

This, paired with Student Gov-

ernment’s “Make a Difference” campaign, and the new Peer Helping class, all seem to be pushing the school toward a more empathetic mindset.

“Hopefully Point Break is some-

thing that can prevent things like (Adam’s death),” Wach’s said. “ “(A place) where kids can come and feel safe to talk about what’s going on in their lives so that we don’t have any more tragedies.”

COLLEGE: Students enlist advisers for help with application process Continued from page A1

So, many Granite Bay High School students turn to people like Rick Singer, who has been counseling students for 24 years.

His method of counseling is based on one-on-one advising sessions at a student’s home every other week. During these sessions, which typically start during a student’s freshman year of high school, Singer helps each student plan the progression of his or her high school career with a focus on eventually being admitted to the college of their choice.

“It’s just a process, and you have to understand the process,” Singer said.

An itinerary is planned, including college tours during which the students stay with actual college students. Dates are established for taking exams such as the SAT or ACT, and preparation for these is set in motion. When application season rolls around, Singer supervises the completion of applications and assists in the process of writing essays and supplements.

At $4,000 a year, Singer acknowledges his services are pricier than most.

“Probably nobody is as expensive as us,” Singer said. “It’s kind of like the difference between going to Nordstrom and JC Penney.”

One of the resources that Singer considers key is a certain position he holds behind the scenes. In addition to counseling students, Singer says he is also hired by a couple of college admissions departments each year to review applications as if he is part of the admissions team.

Senior Haley Harris, who hopes to be accepted early decision to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has used Singer for counseling since freshman year. “(Singer) has helped me to get my future in order, set goals and access the tools to reach them,” Harris said. “He encouraged me to pursue a law degree.”

Bill Downing, another counselor in the Sacramento region, once worked for Singer but now counsels independently not only in Sacramento but in San Francisco, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Downing also takes a one-onone approach with his clients and makes himself constantly available to them through Skype, email and text messaging. He said that the individual attention is one of the big-

gest rewards a student reaps from his services.

“I think (the benefit is) having somebody that’s been there and done that, so that when you have a question, you have somebody there to support you,” Downing said.

When it comes to the essay, Downing stressed the importance of a student finding his or her voice, as well as a topic that he or she is truly interested in writing about.

“What I hope we do is give students ideas (about)… things that might be important parts of their life that don’t show up on the application,” Downing said.

Scott Hamilton, president of Future Stars College Counseling Center, wanted to help students and their families decipher a sometimes confusing process.

“I enjoy taking the stress out of this and helping people approach it in a way that makes sense and that ends with them at a school that’s a great match,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton has 13 years of experience under his belt and sits on the board of professional associations such as the Western Association of College Admissions counselors and the Higher Education Consultants’ Association. In fact, he will soon be president of HECA, a national organization for independent educational consultants such as himself.

Hamilton’s clients usually start the process as sophomores. They begin with an hour-long introductory meeting during which Hamilton works with students and their families to establish goals to ultimately highlight the strengths of each student throughout his or her high school career.

The total cost of the Future Stars program averages around $3,000 and guarantees a student counseling from when he or she starts through the entire application process.

Kiersten Keester, whose son Jake is a senior at GBHS, decided to enlist Hamilton to counsel her son when he was a sophomore.

“I thought… that maybe to be competitive you needed help, (and) that it wasn’t fair but that we could afford it,” Keester said. “I knew I would kick myself in two years if I didn’t do it and (my son) ended up with only Chico State as an option.”

Keester also said that hiring Hamilton alleviated much of the stress she would have otherwise felt had

Your names.

Your faces.

The Gazette

the duty of researching colleges and helping inform her son fallen to her.

“It removed me from the ‘nag’ (position) and made him more accountable to (Hamilton),” Keester said. “It’s his last year here, and I don’t have to be that person.”

GBHS government teacher Jarrod Westberg said that he doesn’t believe that college counselors are necessarily a good thing.

“As a teacher, I don’t like the fairness aspect,” Westberg said. “If there’s a trick to get into a college, I don’t like the fact that someone pays for that trick. I don’t think it’s fair to have that kind of advantage.”

Six or seven years ago Westberg and some other teachers attended a session about how to improve their teacher recommendations for college-bound students. At least, that’s how the seminar was advertised.

“They never even mentioned once how to write a letter of recommendation,” Westberg said. “I just remember walking out of there wondering why it was phrased (that way).”

The meeting turned out to be a sort of self-promotion event for a college counselor. Westberg said he thought the original premise of the session had been misleading.

“They don’t realize we want the best kids to get in,” Westberg said. “(We) don’t want to help kids beat the system.”

In the past, Westberg has had students who have been encouraged to ask for unsealed letters of recommendation from multiple teachers so that their college counselors can choose which to actually send to college admissions departments.

“We’re not here to be a trial run,” Westberg said. “If the kid asks for a letter of recommendation, then we’re sending it straight to the college.”

Furthermore, Westberg has had students flat-out tell him that their college counselors wrote what were supposed to be personal statements from the students.

Though he is frustrated by such unethical practices, Westberg acknowledges that many advisers in the industry are morally sound.

“There are a lot of amazing, legitimate college counselors,” Westberg said. “It’s very helpful (that they) help organize, and they know the dates, which type of college has (the right) majors. (But) some are just in it to make money.”

Voices

Granite Bay Gazette

A Section

Friday w October 14, 2011

GAZETTE The Granite Bay

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

Editors-in-Chief: Shannon Carroll Kyle Pawlak Jessica Reese Rachael Vasquez

E L U D E H C S

As a senior, getting the classes you want is almost impossible

Gazette illustration/LENA EYEN

COMMENTARY

News/Web Editors: Nicole Bales Chris Pei Voices Editors: Lena Eyen Haley Massara Lifestyle Editors: Danielle Dieterich Kelsey Knorp ShinEui Park Green Screen Editors: Ari Black Hayley McAvoy Michaela Monaghan Sam Spargo Sports Editors: Meghan Carlsen Austin Downs Mat Fukuhara Illustrators: Lena Eyen Chase Evans Hayley McAvoy Jessica Reese Sam Spargo Photographers: Olivia Cornell Dorien Johnk Riley Mac Millan Rachael Vasquez Staff Writers: Crosby Allison Olivia Cornell Chase Evans Dorien Johnk Sydney Kahmann Brooklyn Klepl Riley Mac Millan Becky Massil Joey Puhala Kristin Taylor Brad Wong Advertising Managers: Mary Haney Brooklyn Klepl

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 case-by-case basis.

The editorial board reviews letters to the editor, advertising and guest commentaries and reserves the right to edit and refuse material. Reasons can include length, clarity, libel, obscenity, material disruption of the educational process at Granite Bay High School or violation of copyright laws.

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

kyle pawlak

I

kpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

t seems like every year people have complaints about their own schedule or the jumbled process through which they receive them.

I know there are a ton of classes, and it can’t be easy to try to coordinate them all so that everyone gets all the classes they want, when they want them.

But I would have expected that there would be improvements over the years.

Yet I have been disappointed. If anything, my experience has gotten worse.

As a freshman and sophomore, at least I got the classes I requested, even if the order of the classes was terrible.

I requested fourth period physical education because during the spring semester I often had to leave early to play for the school tennis team, but I never got it. Instead, I had to skip math and Spanish and make it up on my own time.

But as a junior it got worse: it took a few days for me to get all the classes I requested, and then my Spanish 4 class was cancelled and I had to reorganize again.

After all these problems, I started my senior year already biased against the system, but what came next topped all my previous schedule frustrations.

I requested five AP and honors classes, Advanced Journalism twice so I could continue to be a part of the Gazette, and an off period.

I thought it might be hard to fit my off period in among all my other classes.

However, that didn’t turn out to be the problem at all– in fact, the opposite happened.

I got an off period, but I couldn’t have all my requested solid courses.

Of all seven other classes I requested, not one of them was available first period in the

spring or fall.

To say the least, I was more than a little shocked and quite annoyed.

The fact that the administration hadn’t foreseen the possibility that some seniors would take all those classes seems incredibly shortsighted.

For a high school that prides itself on its academic strengths, I would think that whoever creates the master schedule would put a higher priority on making sure that students could make the most of themselves academically.

However an excuse was readily provided for why this doesn’t happen: the school intentionally doesn’t schedule AP classes generally taken by seniors for first period because so many of us want to take first

period off.

At first glance that seems like a reasonable thought, but when I thought about it, I found flaws in the logic.

First of all, this decision is based on an idea that many seniors are too lazy to take a full schedule, and some of us are, I’m sure.

But did they really think the students who have taken tons of AP and Honors classes all along were suddenly going to say, “screw it, I’m not going to work at all this year”?

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think a lot of those same students are worried about not getting into strong colleges, and that paranoia will stop most of students from slacking off completely (at least until they get acceptance letters).

Even if that wasn’t true, I’m willing to bet there are more than enough parents with the same worries about admissions (plus the struggle for financial aid) to force their offspring to fill up a few first period AP classes.

Maybe my analysis is completely wrong and I’m the only crazy senior who is willing to start his day with AP Statistics, AP Language or Honors Physics; maybe I’m the only one who is actually annoyed by not being able to take another demanding AP class.

But I doubt it. I know some people will hate me for saying this, but maybe next time we shouldn’t schedule around laziness. *** Kyle Pawlak, a senior, is a Gazette coeditor-in-chief.

To the terminally trendy: Stop trying

Originality isn’t something bought in a vintage boutique or recorded on vinyl

I

COMMENTARY don’t much care for “Pumped Up or not you’re a jerk.

Kicks,” Urban Outfitters and TOMS. Or, well, see, that’s exactly the problem.

I’m generally not a fan of falsettos, They think those things actually matter. synths not used in the ‘80s or ironic facial People of this exceedingly trendy hair on scrawny adolescents. And I just persuasion spend eternities trying to don’t see the point of any glasses you can look like they don’t care about anything see without. except designer coffee and the raw depth I think you know what kind of people I’m of what’s-his-face’s lyrics. getting at. The h-word. Once merely urban They spend hundreds of dollars on fauna, they’re now a commonplace sight clothes designed to look used. They in good ol’ suburbia. I would never have follow all the right blogs, listen to all predicted their weedlike success. the right NPR clips and watch all the Now, I want to make it clear I don’t mean right shows. hmassara.gazette@gmail.com to imply that people who dress and live this And – if I may generalize for just a way are inherently bad. moment – they look down on people that So what if they don’t share my taste? I’m the first to admit don’t, thus propagating their v-neck-sporting, bespectacled that I listen to terrible, terrible music. I’m not well-read, species through shame. What they do, they do for approval. and I barely watch new movies. And as for our clashing These people don’t make me angry. True, some of their preferences in clothing, fashion tends to be more subjective fashion choices irk me, and I cannot stand much of their than a PSAT test. music, but that’s not enough for me to truly loathe them.

So I don’t mind that we disagree on things. What bands you No, what bothers me so much is how hard they try to like and what clothing you wear have no effect on whether be something that requires no effort: original. They are

haley massara

T

everything that’s popular, because they are everything that isn’t.

But they kid themselves, like so many cliques and fads before them, that they are in some way better than “conformists.” That somehow the designer commemorative charity T-shirt they sport makes them more unique than someone who wears nothing but American Eagle.

They are hypocrites. They do everything they can to project a certain image – an image which just happens to contrast with the blander-than-motza idea of “normal.”

But I pity these floral-draped creatures, I really do. Don’t they realize that originality isn’t something that must be earned or purchased?

To the lace-and-jegging-clad masses: If you really want to look thrown together, go on a thrift store adventure! Listen to what you like! Watch what you like! Do what you like!

And do it because you want to.

It’s a free country, so why let someone in an acid-washed tee and intentionally messy hair boss you around? They’re just missing the point of it all. *** Haley Massara, a junior, is a Gazette Voices editor.

How far would you go for a good college app?

hree agonizing and hairpulling hours, and 45 unbearably stressful minutes later, you have completed the SAT. But not to worry, you can take a break in the car ride to your volunteer shift at the animal shelter.

High school students have fallen under the impression that we need to boast artificially “fluffed” resumes and applications in order to get into the college of our dreams.

Society has decided that junior and senior year should determine the rest of your life. If you pass the SAT, you shall succeed; if you fail, you are doomed.

It seems that many have lost the idea that with determination and perseverance, you will find your way into the college of your dreams that will allow you to create a future surrounding what you are

EDITORIAL The voice of the Granite Bay Gazette

passionate about in life.

But no.

The problem with the current method of determining our worth to colleges is the fact that everything has become so inflated with trying to become what we are not.

Sure, you are expected to, and should, try your hardest with everything that you do – on your own.

Instead of simply working hard in school and doing our honest best on the tests such as the SATs, we have decided that we need to inflate our

artificial knowledge with the help of tutors and classes.

These educational aids show us how to trick the minds of the graders, in order for them to perceive us as being smarter than we really are in topics we truly aren’t passionate about.

However, in the grand scheme of things, don’t we wish for a college to want us for our individuality and special skills that set us apart from Joe-Shmo? Yet we still spend hours upon hours trying to ace a test that makes us just another number.

With the problems with the written work, come the problems of showing our dedication toward our school and community.

Because how many hours we spend knitting blankets for the less fortunate will determine whether we are good or bad people…right?

There is no question that

people should step back from their own insignificant problems by undergoing a wonderfully humbling experience, such as spending time at a local shelter.

But will doing these things simply for the sake of being able to put more words on a resume truly enable you to put the care and passion into what you are doing?

Or are we too focused on trying to impress someone into thinking we are something that we aren’t?

There is no reason to blame individual people. In fact, it seems that our only chances nowadays are to do exactly that, by pretending we are the most dedicated person in every single thing that we do.

It is better for each one of us to flaunt our own personal skills, while still trying our hardest and putting effort into everything that we do.

Not what can be jammed into our heads hour after hour in a small classroom full of people giving us the idea that we need to become an expert on every last detail in order to succeed in life.

Let’s not join 10 clubs so that we can say that we are so “wellrounded.”

Let’s not play four different sports so that we look like an “amazing athlete.”

Let’s not take every AP class just to boost our GPA higher than the next person.

If you are passionate about every club, and love every minute you play on the field, and are excited when you solve that math problem that has taken you hours to solve, then go for it.

But if you are simply doing it to get into a college you aren’t even sure about, then at least reconsider.

A8 Voices

Friday, October 14, 2011

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Upperclassmanship a downer HEARD Junior year comes with more problems than privileges on the BAY S What are your plans for Halloween?

“Hang out with friends and go trick-or-treating.”

F r e s h m a n

Taylor Greer “We actually might dress up for Halloween because it’s kinda fun to do every once in a while.”

itting in the ‘50s decorated freshman zone of the bleachers at the first day of school rally, I decided I couldn’t wait to be an upperclassman. All the energy and cheering and excitement came from the far side of the gym where the juniors and seniors were battling it out in a competition of school spirit.

I couldn’t wait for my class’s turn to fill their shoes. Two years into the future, we would be them. The best years of high school were yet to come.

The following year I graduated from my freshmen orange shirt to the sophomore red and this year, I finally earned my junior blue. However, to my disappointment, so far the change of color is the only thing living up to my expectations.

Being a junior isn’t as great as I thought it would be.

What I’d been looking forward to most was being able to drive myself to school. But driving means leaving the house 20 minutes earlier and waking up 20 minutes earlier to get the parking spot I want.

I thought sitting in the car listening to the radio with friends in the morning would be so much fun, but being in the hardest year of high school, I end up cramming to read the AP U.S. history packet I didn’t have time for the night before or pre-reading the AP Biology lab I have third period.

That’s something I didn’t account for

Commentary

kristin taylor

ktaylor.gazette@gmail.com

when I was admiring the upperclassmen as a freshman. I was blind to the things that weren’t very appealing. I forgot about the actual school part of school.

In addition to having their licenses, another thing I’d been so jealous of the juniors for was that they were done with PE. However, the absence of PE from my schedule leaves room for one more AP class. I didn’t realize what an amazing class PE is until this year when I’m not forced to take it. It’s a class where the only thinking you have to do is strategically planning out the maximum distance you can walk on the mile course and still get an A. I’d gladly switch back to my second period PE class out of my second period of calculus.

And here’s the biggest let down.

You’d think the class of 2013 would be the most spirited class Granite Bay High School has ever seen since we’re the largest class to ever walk its halls.

But the First Day of School rally this year

Gazette illustration/LENA EYEN

proved differently. We were standing in the same positions as the juniors I remembered from my freshmen year, but our spirit didn’t even compare to my memory of theirs.

Only the seniors seemed to be really

into it. Senior year better be great, because junior year has been a let-down. *** Kristin Taylor, a junior, is a Gazette staff writer

Seeing between the dotted lines

S o p h o m o r e

STAR testing rewards turn out to be broken promises

Commentary

Zachary Harvill “ I’m going to dress up and hand out candy to the kids with my friends.”

“I’m planning on going to Fright Fest with my friends and probably watch scary movies and eat lots of candy.”

S e n i o r

R

emember the plethora of STAR testing incentives Granite Bay High School offered? The parking passes, football passes, dance passes, midterm passes and grade bumps sure motivated me to do my best on all the STAR tests.

These incentives helped drastically improve our school’s (API) Academic Performance Index score by 23 points.

And the reality is that as students, we weren’t exactly given for what we were promised.

I was really looking forward to the other benefits as a result of my hard work and instead, I was severely disappointed.

Even with the grade bumps, the administration has been unclear about the criteria.

My initial impression was that if a student scores one level higher on a subject test, they get that grade bump.

However, now the administration is saying those incentives are for just last year and using one grade bump means one declares all other incentives null and void.

As a junior, my memory is still clear and sharp, and I know that was not the case last year and I know that the school didn’t notify the students of any change.

Grade bumps are a great start, but I could have sworn that we were also promised other rewards in addition.

People have contested the rewards but the school won’t even begin to listen without a hard copy of what the school said last year.

What perturbs me the most is how secretive the school is about the entire situation. It seems the school has an aversion to the topic, to

Gazette illustration/ LENA EYEN

Thumbs Up

Natalie Bunnay “Hand out candy at my house.”

Thumbs up:

Halloween is almost here!

Thumbs Down

Allison Sims

J u n i o r

brad wong

bwong.gazette@gmail.com

fessing up to what they promised the student body last year.

In fact, take a look at the high school website, which announces the deadline for grade adjustments. Nowhere does it mention where one can get those parking passes or any other rewards.

Maybe this entire rant is my misunderstanding of the entire situation that I have blown out of proportion, but for goodness sake, can’t someone show me where I’m wrong?

Instead of just saying how it is, can’t the administration show us the STAR incentive papers from last year, which formulaically listed out what scores led to what rewards?

As it stands, the school promised the student body a lot last year, and now those promises have been secretly revised to a select few.

With the rush of excitement for all those incentives last year, I tried my best on those STAR tests and seemingly, so did the entire student body.

Now with the gift of hindsight, it will be interesting to see how the STAR test scores this year will be affected knowing that these incentives have more or less fallen through the cracks. *** Brad Wong, a junior, is a Gazette staff writer

Thumbs up: Fall is

officially here!

S t a f f

Jason Rath

Thumbs down: A

Monday night Halloween is not as exciting.

by Riley Mac Millan, staff writer.

Thumbs down:

Time to invest in some new rainboots.

Compiled by Riley Mac Millan Gazette photos /Rachael vasquez

Friday, October 14, 2011

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Voices A9

‘Reality’ TV is just faking it for the cameras Producers want money, stars want fame, and everything is invented in the editing room

‘R

eality TV” should be renamed.

COMMENTARY It should be called “partially scripted TV,” or maybe “mostly scripted TV,” or perhaps “completely fictional TV that is being treated by willfully naïve viewers as though it’s real for reasons that are truly hard to fathom.”

Just pay a little attention as you watch these shows.

On Jersey Shore, two of the too-tanned, fist-pumping, boob-jobbed, self-described “Guidos and Guidettes” got into a fight on scarroll.gazette@gmail.com the cobbled streets of Florence. The fight just happened to occur in an area where bodyguards were blocking access, so no ten” played in the background, bringone walking by could intervene in the fight. ing the whole series full circle, and Even better, the fight happened right under Brody Jenner watched Kristin leave a street light that lit the scene to perfection. while he stood right in front of the Hollywood sign. It was the perfect What uncanny good fortune.

When Ali Fedowsky had to tell Bachelor ending to a drama-filled, soapy six Jake Pavelka that she was leaving, he was seasons.

Then everything just disappeared. shown in his bathroom when the phone started to ring. Walking toward the phone, The cameras shifted and showed us 10 feet away, he had no watch on. Then he that the beautiful blue California sky was nothing more than a simple picked up the phone, wearing a watch. curtain.

Do you think that Then the scene was staged and whole crew involved multiple of The Hills takes? Do you think?

Producers want emerged Just imagine how and surhits. They don’t long that scene must rounded have taken to film – it’s care how they Kristin. not as though someone get them. And They were would remove a watch on a set. if there were only 30 the “reality” stars The proseconds between takes. know that reality ducers were Despite all the drama basically is mostly boring, about bachelors and winking at bachelorettes searchso they do crazy the audiing for the loves of things just to get ence, letting their lives, and all the us know the despair when someone people talking. whole thing is spurned, how many was a fake. happily-ever-after mar“Everyone riages have stemmed is trying to from those shows? I’m get story lines and create drama in not aware of any.

For that matter, how many of America’s their lives,” Cavallari said in an inNext Top Models have actually become terview with Times magazine. “It’s America’s next top model? The way the just so. . . fake. There’s no truth to show is hyped, you think all the decisions it. At all.”

The fact is that producers can splice are life and death. In reality – and, yes, I mean reality – they’re just standard televi- together anything they want and make even the ordinary seem dramatic. sion.

Heck, follow me around for a week, I certainly don’t know any people finding people who drum up stressful who are out getting paid for hunting for paranormal activity that doesn’t exist. Oh, situations for me, and I bet even my boring academic life devoid of crazy and I’ve never met a couple that traded parties and hordes of boys can look spouses.

In fact, shows don’t go very far to hide entertaining. Just cut the video in a their manipulations. After the “fight” on way that takes things out of context Jersey Shore, a waitress in the café where and makes me look mean, bitter, the incident began told a newspaper she or some other attribute that really had heard two guys planning the details of doesn’t reflect me.

Producers want hits. They don’t care the fight and had seen the cameras go out first. She said the fight began only after one how they get them. And the “reality” stars of the cameramen gave the participants a know that reality is mostly boring, so they do crazy things just to get people talking. thumbs-up.

And people do talk. Even my completely When Kristin Cavillari said her tearful goodbyes on The Hills, the song “Unwrit- reality-TV-illiterate dad knew who Heidi

shannon carroll

Encouraging path of least resistance?

Gazette illustration/LENA EYEN

and Spencer were.

Sure, I understand that dramatic interactions on TV can be a guilty pleasure, and I watch my share of junk.

Why these shows are called “reality TV,” though, I’ll never know.

I say we start a crusade. Let’s get TV networks to switch the term to “unreality

TV.” That way, people won’t get depressed about not having in their lives an orangeskinned, four-foot-tall (without the two-foot hair poof) Guidette who is so famous she’s known by only one name, who is getting into car accidents every other day and who fights so often that fighting might as well be her religion.

Look at it this way: if there were no reality TV, we wouldn’t ever have had Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt on every magazine cover. Imagine how great a world that would have been. *** Shannon Carroll, a senior, is a Gazette co-editor-in-chief.

Granite Bay’s strict class-dropping policy does more harm than good

A

COMMENTARY t Granite Bay High School’s September Parent Exchange Meeting, a parent brought up that students could not drop a class at GBHS after the first 10 days without receiving an F on their transcript.

Since I have not had to change a class, I was surprised to hear that the policy is so strict.

The parent at the meeting was concerned and mentioned that many universities were skahmann.gazette@gmail.com not as unforgiving as our own high school.

Not knowing that our high school had a 10-day policy, or what the college policies universities don’t even do are, I decided to look into it. that.

I found that many universities have a drop For high school deadline, but students, this one which is our first allows students experience This is our first exto drop classes choosing our own perience choosing without classes, trying to anything make decisions our own classes, appearing while we are still trying to make on their learning what we transcripts. decisions while we want to pursue Following when we graduate. are still learning that deadline, There are many what we want to universities things to consider allow a lengthy in high school. pursue when we time period, Learning time graduate. weeks into the management and figuring out how all of our term, for class classes and extracurriculars fit together, while withdrawals. allowing some time for sleep, can leave some Students students feeling they are in over their heads receive a note on their transcript that they withdrew and in need of relief. from a class, but would not receive a straight F. If college students experience these problems, it This seems to be completely backwards. A would be even more likely for a high school student high school should not give students an F when with less maturity to face similar issues.

sydney kahmann

Gazette illustration/LENA EYEN

We should be encouraged to take a risk and expose ourselves to various classes with a reasonable grace period to withdraw. Our penalty for putting ourselves out there should not be a permanent mark of failure if we realize a class might not be a good match for us after all.

Ten days of class is only 15 hours, not nearly long enough for students to decide if they should drop a class or not. Ten days goes by fast, and by the time students

figure it all out, they find themselves stuck in a class that they know they will not be successful in.

An automatic F just increases the stress in a student’s life. It’s unfortunate that high schools take such a firm stance; a withdrawal would be a much better alternative. *** Sydney Kahmann, a sophomore, is a Gazette staff writer.

A10 Second Look

Second look

Senior tailgate

Friday, October 14, 2011 w The Granite Bay Gazette

Class of 2012 shares its spirit before a home football game ď ˇJack Hanly, left, applies green face paint to a fellow Tribe member, Jerald Hansen. Daniel Flinders, below left, passes a yellow beach ball to Kevin Staniszewski. Kassie Donnels, Jake Keester, Daniel Flinders and Dean Cable, below middle, help themselves to complimentary hotdogs, condiments and chips. While tossing a football around, below middle, Jacob Neptune, jumps and beats Jordan Long to the ball. Below right, Dean Cable participates in a game.

wGazette photosw Rachael Vasquez

Lifestyle

Granite Bay Gazette

B Section

Friday w October 14, 2011

Commentary

kelsey knorp kknorp.gazette@gmail.com

Scoliosis:

College Board capitalizes on mental torture

a pain in the back

I

’m biting my nails and tapping my foot incessantly. My stomach is full of pigeons (butterflies’ wings are too small for my present descriptive purpose), and trembling as if the room is 20 degrees below zero.

These symptoms make the correct diagnosis glaringly obvious: I am about to take the SAT. This evil, anxiety-inducing exam is one of the few reasons a teenager dreads a Saturday. Every college-bound 11th or 12th grader knows the four digit (hopefully) result could determine the remainder of his or her very existence.

Obviously, I’m being a little dramatic. But you kind of know what I mean, right?

No matter what school you decide to apply to, all will have a couple of things in common with regard to their admissions decisions. All schools take into account a student’s grade point average, which is the culmination of the various grades a student has received in all of his or her high school classes that is then averaged into a score somewhere between zero and (for the AP kids) five.

They will also take into account a student’s SAT score. This number is different from a student’s GPA not only in number of digits, but in its basis off a single demonstration of intelligence that supposedly reflects a person’s college readiness.

With these two things being somewhat equally weighted importance-wise, odds are a student will fall quickly into a state of frazzled panic.

So society pressures us into purchasing books, tutors, even prep courses that cost several hundred dollars, all to prepare us for a single day and a single score.

This is after already paying the initial $45 to take the test in the first place.

I can’t recall another instance when I’ve paid so much to buy my own unhappiness.

The SAT begins with a 25-minute section during which a student must write an expository essay, using historical, literary or current examples to support a prompt that he or she has never seen until the moment the section begins.

There is no possible way to construct an even adequately well-written piece of writing in 25 minutes. If the SAT is supposed to measure a student’s college readiness, then how, I wonder, is a rushed, rudimentary-at-best piece of writing supposed to show that said student is ready for an environment in which he or she will have to write papers that are several pages long?

If college professors only allot half an hour to write a term paper, then just forget it; I’m destined to flunk out of college anyway.

Also, what is the logic behind the convoluted scoring system?

Incorrect answers only result in the loss of one fourth of a point, and skipped questions result in no penalty at all. Thank you, College Board, if this is meant as a gesture of kindness on your part, but your incomprehensible scoring is just one more thing to study.

I don’t see the fault in using a normal point system. For every correct answer, the test taker should get a point, and the points should be added up to a final score. Now doesn’t that sound refreshingly simple?

In a country founded on democratic principles, we, the collegebound generation, are subject to dictatorship and driven to obey by the almighty College Board.

As extensively as I rant and rave against it, I too will join the testtaking masses in hopes that my four digits will somehow secure me a prosperous future.

*** Kelsey Knorp, a senior, is the Gazette’s Lifestyle editor.

Students receive treatment by surgery or brace for genetic spinal affliction

BY KRISTEN TAYLOR

ktaylor.gazette@gmail.com

T

he Emerald Brigade was marching out on the football field, striving for perfection as Granite Bay High School band director Lynn Kulikowski searched for individual flaws. In the trumpet section, she spotted a fault and over the dinging of the metronome, she called out to junior Emilie Decavel-Bueff through her megaphone. She told Decavel-Bueff to stand straighter.

Decavel-Bueff felt as though she was straight as a pin, but the student directors told her that her shoulders were consistently crooked. In order to attain Kulikowski’s approval, she had to mechanically hold her left shoulder higher than her right.

Decavel-Bueff suffers from the spinal condition scoliosis.

Her vertebrae are shaped into an “s” and the curvature in her lumbar is more dramatic than in a healthy spine. Like many other students with scoliosis at Granite Bay High School, she was first diagnosed in middle school.

The family didn’t act upon her condition until a day in the pool when Decavel-Bueff was in her swimsuit and her mother noticed her hip protruding out.

She would have to wear a brace for six months, which she would only escape from during PE when her doctor allowed her to take it off.

“I was really embarrassed at first because I had to wear baggy clothes because I didn’t want anyone to see it,” Decavel-Bueff said.

The brace’s function wasn’t to correct the curvature, but to

keep it from worsening through her growth spurt.

She now takes palates once a week to strengthen the muscles in her back for support to treat her scoliosis.

Lynda Farley, the nurse at Olympus Junior High School who first identified Decavel-Bueff’s condition, aims to catch as many cases of scoliosis as she possibly can.

She and a coworker perform a screening on the 7th grade girls and 8th grade boys once a year. She does it this way because most girls reach puberty earlier than most boys. A small curvature can become much more ill shapen during a growth spurt.

Farley has the middle schoolers remove their shirts and carefully inspects the alignment of their shoulders, scapulas and hips to make sure they are even. She then has them bend over to check for a lump on either side of their backs.

Kids who don’t pass the exam receive a phone call from Farley recommending them for a follow-up appointment with a doctor.

Farley finds signs of scoliosis in a very small percentage of students and gives only five or six referrals between both middle schools annually. However, she thinks the screenings are well worth the effort for the cases they do diagnose.

Junior Olivia Nasir also suffers from the spinal affliction. Her scoliosis was caught by a doctor in elementary school and in sixth grade she wore a brace all day and all night. Nasir, like Decavel-Bueff, was embarrassed of her brace and after the first year of wearing it, switched to only wearing it at night.

“My ribs were grinding against my hipbone, so it was really painful,” Nasir said.

As she got older, Nasir began to notice the pain more and more as the curve got worse.

For three years she slept in a back brace, up until freshmen year when her doctor informed her that the treatment wasn’t working and surgery would be the only option.

Nasir had the surgery this past summer. Doctors made an incision from the side of her back to her shoulder blade, removed a rib and inserted it in her back and put metal rods in between her vertebrae.

See SCOLIOSIS, page B5

Courtesy photo / ALISON KNORP

Sometimes family goes beyond DNA Blood relation not an important factor in adopted students’ families

BY SHINEUI PARK

spark.gazette@gmail.com

W

ith a population of around 2,000 students, Granite Bay High School offers a huge selection of different backgrounds. With some stories having never been told, just how many out of the 2,000 might possibly have been adopted?

It is nearly impossible for any student to know, but juniors Marissa Huang and Meliza Washino and senior Justin Remy reveal their untold backgrounds of their

inside lifestyle

Top Ten

B2

Unofficial SAT tip B3 Random student B4 Random facts

B4

Breakdancing crew Student starts dance crew with friends

B2

adoption.

Marissa Huang Huang is part of the dance and drill team, a member of the yearbook staff, a studious worker and well-liked among her peers. She may appear to be just a regular student, but her adoption story shows just how different she may be.

The majority of her friends are aware, but what outsiders might not know is that Huang, in fact, was adopted.

With abortion and abandonment as the biological mother’s only other alternatives, she decided the best option was to have her daughter adopted. The only information Huang knows about her mother is that she was a South Korean sixteen-orseventeen year old single mother with no husband-figure to support her. “(A) long time ago, I thought about wanting to meet her in the future,” Huang said. “But I kind of feel that she might have a totally different life now and that she might be married with kids of her own.”

Huang first realized she was adopted when she was around five years old. As a child, her Korean mother and Chinese father often told her she was “special.”

Understanding the hint at a very early age, the fact of being adopted did not phase her much. It did not change her life dramatically or make her view her parents in a different way.

What adoption did was give her a second chance.

“I think it has made me more aware of how thankful I am for having a family—a mother and a father,” Huang said.

Meliza Washino Washino’s adoption case is not the normal story of a parentless child being adopted into a new family.

Washino still lives with her biological mother, but was recently adopted in 2010 by her stepfather and had her biological father’s surname be changed to her stepfather’s.

When she was only one year old, her mother and father divorced. After the

Artful success Recent graduate makes the most of art education

B3

Marissa Huang GBHS junior was given up for adoption by her South Korean birth mother.

divorce, her stepfather met Washino’s mother when Washino was two years old.

“Because I had been living with him ever since I was two years old, changing my last name wasn’t really shocking,” Washino said.

It was stranger for Washino to actually go through the process of becoming adopted under her stepfather than to accept the fact that he was her legal guardian.

Her mother had filed for the adoption a year prior when Washino was 15, but it did not become official after she went to court when she was 16.

See ADOPTED, page B5

Cake artist Alumnus expresses culinary creativity

B6

B2 Lifestyle

Friday, October 14, 2011

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Breakdance crew shows a new flare

ways to be spirited for football games

Bring as many people as you can to the game.

Memorize every players’ numbers and cheer for them after each play.

Make Grizzly posters and wave them around.

Wear Grizzly spirit wear from head-to-toe.

New beginning inspires three dancers toward improving

BY RILEY MAC MILLAN

R

rmacmillan.gazette@gmail.com

ecently, a local group came together to form a dance crew.

It was founded by Granite Bay High School sophomore Giacomo Giorgi.

“What got me into dancing… (was when) we had my friend who (had danced) for 16 years now (came) and showed me some moves (that) I was just stoked about,” Giorgi said.

This is a break dancing crew that also has a ‘popper’ who dances with them. Popping is a style of dance in which a dancer tenses and relaxes their muscles quickly to a rhythm.

The group called ‘The Internationals’ consists of Giorgi who is the group leader. Matthew and Dylan Smith, who are also in the crew, are eighth and seventh grade students at Olympus Junior High School.

Giorgi spread the idea of being in a dance crew and recruited friends.

“I saw a lot of people doing it at my school so I started to get into it and I found it was really fun and I’m good at it,” Matthew Smith explains.

His brother Dylan Smith said, “I was first watching a friend dance and it looked (really) fun so I tried dancing, which was just amazing.”

“After I taught Matt, my best buddy, we (said) ‘hey maybe we should start a crew together,” Giorgi said. “So we did and we tried to get our name out there… and now we have a website and we get a lot of views.”

Giorgi has been to competitions in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“Before a dance battle, (I) usually (feel) nervous. (I think) ‘I’m just going to do it,’ and ‘I’m going win it,’” Giorgi said. “Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t.”

The group hopes to be able to attend more competitions in the future.

Among the many professional breakdancers who influence ‘The Internationals,’ Bboy Lilou, a French breakdancer, is a major influence.

“Giacomo influences me, (because) he danced before I did, and … (he) taught me a lot, which is why I know so much right now,” Brandon Smith said.

With years of practice, Giorgi is now able to input his knowledge about dancing. To Giorgi, breakdancing is natural.

“I don’t even think about it… when I listen to music my body randomly reacts to it… I don’t think about anything (when I dance),” Giorgi said.

Practice makes perfect, but the group has various inspirations that drive each member individually.

“My inspiration was this song he was playing, called ‘B-boy Macamore,’” Dylan said. “While he was dancing to the song, the moves looked confusing, but it looked fun so I tried it.”

Inspirations as well as motivations move the group forward.

“My motivation…is how …fun it is, and my friends like it. (A lot)

Gazette photo/RILEY MAC MILLAN

Eighth grader and dancer Matthew Smith, top, practices a move. Sophomore Giacomo See BREAKDANCING, page B4 Giorgi and Matthew and seventh grader Dylan Smith, bottom, rehearse choreography.

Living with superstitions

Start an ongoing wave.

Supernatural voodoos continue to haunt students

BY MICHAELA MONAGHAN

S

u-per-sti-tion (noun) 1. A belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge, in or of the ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance, occurrence, proceeding, etc.

2. Irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious.

Superstitions are extremely common today, despite the efforts of scientists and television shows, like Myth Busters, to prove that superstitions are not based on fact.

According to a poll from the Associated Press and Ipsos, over 30 percent of Americans believe in ghosts.

However, these superstitions are anything but new. Most historians believe that superstitions date back as far as the Aztecs, who sacrificed their citizens because they believed this action would please their gods.

Gazette illustration/HAYLEY MCAVOY Since then, superstitions have continued to appear.

Run around in the Grizzly bear mascot costume the whole entire game.

Organize a tailgate.

Create Grizzly football chants and get everyone in the audience to yell it with you.

mmonaghan.gazette@gmail.com

Students create a new business

Brett Bautista Bautista is one of the original cofounders of the Second World Clothing brand.

The number 13 is believed to be unlucky, mainly for religious reasons. Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th person to arrive at the Last Supper and Christ was crucified on Friday the 13th. Because of this fear of the number 13, over 80 percent of the world’s skyscrapers skip straight from floor 12 to floor 14. Also the fear of Friday the 13th is so common that it has been named Triskaidekaphobia, which an official Webster’s Dictionary term.

Chinese, Korean and Japanese cultures also believe that the number four is unlucky because it sounds like the word for death in these languages. Because of this, it is common to invite guests over in multiples of five and skip the fourth floor in a building. The Chinese Air Force does not assign the number four to any of their planes.

Some other common superstitions include the fear of stepping on sidewalk cracks, breaking a mirror, spilling salt, seeing a black cat and walking under a ladder.

Superstitions are common among students at Granite Bay High School.

Senior Hailey Israel confesses that she has a fear of meat.

Culture of tests Many now wonder if every teacher has fair opportunities

Second World Clothing a success

Completely paint your face and arms in green, white, silver and black.

Join the Tribe.

-Dorien Johnk

A

BY BRAD WONG

bwong.gazette@gmail.com

few concerned Granite Bay High School juniors saw more and more people wearing the same brands, even the exact same shirts, and decided to make a change. Grayson Walker, Joe Ellis and Mat Fisher started what they hoped to be a revolutionary clothing company — Second World Clothing.

“I just wanted to give people a new look instead of only wearing the popular brands,” junior Brett Bautista and shirt designer said.

Started in the middle of August, Second World Clothing (SWC) began making its way into the student body and the name “Second World Clothing” was being talked about more and more.

In the beginning of the school year, Walker, Ellis and other SWC fans wore their product around school, hoping to promote their unique line of clothing.

Later, they made a Facebook fan page in hope of spreading their popularity and displayed all of their products.

Within the first two days of starting their com-

See SUPERSTITION, page B4

BY SYDNEY KAHMANN

W

skahmann.gazette@gmail.com

pany, the Facebook page received about 180 “likes” and people were eager to see the designs created by some of their friends. Many of their designs received positive feedback by the Facebook community and became a fresh company to those who are sick of the existing brands.

Sales were high within the first wave of clients and “made a solid profit” according to Bautista.

In fact, in late August, Walker and other SWC owners would be rushing around campus filling out orders for students who were eager to get their own SWC apparel. And in the following weeks, one could see a few students here and there wearing SWC apparel.

All their designs, including sweaters and t-shirts, can be seen on their Facebook page and they certainly have an original look to them.

A lot of shirts are unique and their subject matter definitely is in its own style.

For example, one shirt shows a pair of headphones with music notes from ear to ear. Above the graphic is a quote “Fresh to Each Sense,” certainly not seen on a lot by other brands.

ith midterms ending at Granite Bay High School, students and teachers discuss the value of midterms and all the other assessments they have taken thus far.

Naoko Eshbaugh, the International Baccalaureate Japanese and Honors Japanese teacher, firmly believes the purpose of tests are to check how much students have learned and mastered the topics covered in class.

“My goal in handing out a test is to check for their understanding,” Eshbaugh said. “Before I give (students) a unit test or even a section test, I give them various different assessments to make sure that they’re getting the things they need.”

But if a teacher notices that students are not grasping test concepts, what happens then?

To answer, Eshbaugh cited a unique example that recently affected her classes.

A few weeks ago, Eshbaugh went back to Japan after a family member’s death, while her students continued to learn in her absence. After they were tested on the subjects they covered without her, Eshbaugh found that the tests scores were lower than she had hoped.

Normally, Eshbaugh said, if a small group of students

See BRAND, page B4

See TESTS, page B4

Friday, October 14, 2011

Lifestyle B3

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Unlocking the truth about Key Club More than what meets the eye, Key Club offers many opportunities

BY SAMANTHA SPARGO sspargo.gazette@gmail.com

N

o, the Key Club does not spend its bi-monthly meetings trading and comparing key collections: its members would more likely be found serving food at the Junior Grizzly’s snack bar or passing out necessities to the homeless of Sacramento. The Key Club is an international club run by Kiwanis International, a similar organization for adults, and dedicated to serving the community.

A Granite Bay High School chapter was formed in 2010, by student Taylor Mark, with the help of Granite Bay Kiwanian, Landa Dubose.

“I was working with the builders club that we had going on at the junior high at Cavitt and as the kids were graduating from Cavitt they wanted to continue on with the program in high school (with Kiwanis),” Dubose said.

Despite its status as a relatively new club on campus, Key Club has a long history that can be traced back to neighboring metropolis, Sacramento, where the first Key Club met in 1925, under the leadership of local Kiwanis volunteers. From its early start in the

first quarter of the twentieth century to today, the club has grown from the one or two clubs that existed in 1925 to more than 5,000 clubs and 250,000 participants in around 30 countries.

“Believe it or not there are more Key Club members involved nationally than there are even Kiwanis members,” Dubose said.

The opportunity to volunteer, while making connections with others outside of their own school, draws many high schoolers to join this international organization.

“If there is a volunteer event, we try to be there and send as many people from our club as possible,” said junior Felix von Wendorff, a Vice President of the Key Club.

GBHS’ club participates in many fundraisers and service projects in the community, such as running the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Granite Bay Golf Club. During Christmas time, the Key Club helps the Granite Bay Kiwanis pass out presents to local needy families.

Some club members volunteer with the Pediatric Trauma Program that offers seminars to nurses on handling children who enter the Emergency Room in a way that will comfort

Painting toward a future

School art program allows students to find career paths

BY LENA EYEN

T

leyen.gazette@gmail.com

he ability to earn up to 2,000 dollars off of one “school project” can be flaunted by very few classes, or even schools.

The art classes at Granite Bay High School have turned into more than classes for some and can even offer college pathways and job opportunities for a few especially talented individuals.

Class of 2011 graduate Elyse Fulcher, recently completed her experience through the GBHS art program.

Fulcher is one of the few individuals who has taken art to the next level and has been able to use her talent in order to create new opportunities beyond high school.

She was accepted into UC Santa Barbara, where she has received many benefits due to her art work.

“UCSB offers me my own studio space, unlimited classes without prerequisites and the ability to drop classes when I need, without penalty,” said Fulcher in an email.

UCSB offers resources for information and guidance.

Art teacher, Myron Stephens, was one of the people who had the greatest impact on Fulcher as an artist.

“I owe almost all of my training to him,” Fulcher said.

“He taught me everything I know about painting.”

Fulcher completed four years of art, including Advanced See ART, page B5

The

CollegeBoard SAT

un- Official SATpractice guide

Match the words in the first column with the definitions in the second column. Each chalkboard is its own separate game. Answers can be found on B5.

Chalkboard 2

Chalkboard 1 1. Infallible 2. Venerable 3. Affable 4. Superlative 5. Prodigal

a. To lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness or pain; moderate b. Done maliciously or unjustifiably c. Commanding respect because of great age d. Of the highest kind, quality or order; surpassing all else or others

6. Wanton 7. Abate 8. Zealot 9. Mitigate 10. Ethereal

e. Light, airy or tenuous f. An excessively radical person; fanatic g. To reduce in amount, degree, intensity h. Pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial i. Absolutely trustworthy or sure j. Wastefully or recklessly extravagant

Gazette illustration/JESSICA REESE

them, not scare them. Others plant sions. trees with the Sac Tree Foundation “There are a lot of scream-offs and the list of their endeavors continin Key Club,” von Wendorff said. ues.

“Whenever Key Clubs get together “It’s a great way to get community we always try to out-scream the other service hours that kids need already clubs, and it gets pretty loud.” (to graduate),” Spanish teacher and The club even has Spirit CommisKey Club advisor Jennifer Hill said. sioners who organize ice breakers, But there is more to the Key Club create club cheers and coordinate than charity the clubs outfits for work. events.

“It’s not all GBHS’ Key Club It’s not all about about service, will be sending 21 service, that’s that’s just half members to attend of it,” junior one of the organizajust half of it. We and Key Club tions largest spirit have fun while President Joshevents, Fall Rally during our serua Wild said.

North, held at Six vice.

“We have fun Flags Discovery while during Kingdom. The rally our service.” will draw Key Clubs – Joshua Wild, At division from across NorthGBHS Key Club meetings, ern California.

President schools are Although its memin constant bers enjoy the spirit competition events as much as with each other. the volunteer events, They aim to ultimately, the club’s both accumulate the most community purpose is service. service hours and demonstrate that “The main idea behind Key Club is they have the most club spirit, through that the adults (of Kiwanis) are trying cheering and wearing their school’s to get the kids of today to really think colors. about their future and ‘What can I do When meeting at the state level, to help my community’ rather than… though, divisions band together to ‘What can I do to get into college,’” compete against other attending diviHill said.

Different hair colors and piercings are trending up Hair dyes vary in color and piercings vary in location

BY KRISTIN TAYLOR and OLIVIA CORNELL

A

ktaylor.gazette@gmail.com

s society evolves, so do personal appearance trends. Shorts get shorter, pants get tighter, makeup gets darker, skin gets more orange and piercings become more and more common.

Helix, industrial, dermal punch, forward helix, snug, rook, shell, anti-tragus, tragus, lobe, transverse lobe and diath are all types of common piercings one can get on their ears alone.

Theoretically, someone can pierce any part of their body, but places are more common than others with high school students.

“Nose piercings are the most common (between everybody), but belly buttons and noses are the most common with high school kids,” said Chris Swaney, a piercing artist at Red Dragon Tattoo and Piercing in Rocklin, CA. Swaney’s favorite piercing is microdermals.

“They are implants that you can put anywhere on the body,” Swaney said. “The coolest I have done is I made a star out of them.”

The piercing artist notes that about 80 percent of all clients at Red Dragon are high school students.

One of those clients was senior Samira Meschi.

“I got a piercing because I think it looks nice for summer,” Meschi said.

Although she likes her piercing, she does not plan on getting another.

“I really like the ‘monroe,’ but I would never get it,” Meschi said.

The “Monroe” is a piercing on the left-hand side on the upper lip.

Senior Christian Adams, also a senior, has numerous piercings on his ears.

“I find them esthetically pleasing,” Adams said, One rare piercing he has is gauges in his ear lobes.

w

ocornell.gazette@gmail.com

“I decided to stretch my ears over the summer because I have wanted to since freshmen year,” Adams said.

He plans on getting more piercings in the future, but is unsure of which ones.

“I got my cartilage pierced at a tattoo shop,and (Independence High School senior) Megan McFarland pierced my ears that I gauged,” Adams said.

According to Ron Cox, the owner of Red Dragon, gauging is the process of tapering your ears to a larger size in order to hold a larger diameter earring. Normal earrings are size 22, and as you go larger, the numbers get smaller.

“You can usually go up to five-eighth of an inch and it will always shrink back to normal,” Cox said. “Stretching is a technical process, but if you do it the right way and keep it healthy, it works fine.”

“The taper looks like a spike because it’s pointed at the end,” Cox said. “People usually do two sizes each stretch and it’s not good to go too fast because that can cause tears.”

Tears can lead to infection and scarring, which can cause the hole to never heal and make the ear look deformed.

When most people think of getting piercings, they think of a piercing gun.

“We don’t endorse piercing guns,” Cox said.

“We do all our piercing with needles.”

This method is unlike many other piercing places, such as Claire’s and Icing.

Another trend other than piercings is beginning to gain popularity as well—hair dyeing and unique hair styles.

Senior Lindsey Johnston wants to shave See STYLE, page B5

- Compiled by Danielle Dieterich

If you really knew me,

you would know... that I like to go through drivethroughs riding my bike and ordering food.

Daniel Graham

that I like stargazing, long walks on the beach and horrible clichés!

Ryan Mckinney

that this is a really hard question for me to answer.”

Gazette photo/OLIVIA CORNELL

Sawyer Flood

- Compiled by Becky Massil

Ear gauges, cartilage piercings and bellybutton piercings are just few out of the many trends that have been gaining popularity throughout the past years locally and nationally.

B4 Lifestyle

Friday, October 14, 2011 w The Granite Bay Gazette

Random facts

Random club of the month

A list of facts you will never need to know but always find interesting

One of 2,100 GBHS students is randomly selected every issue

Young Life President: senior Rebecca Schmidt

In Baltimore, Maryland, it is not legal to take a lion to the movies.

Gazette: What is Young Life?

Young Life is a nationwide organization designed for students to be able to have an opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ in a non-church setting.

The sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter in the alphabet. It was developed by Western Union to test Telex and TWX communications

When and where do you meet?

We meet at the Calton’s house (5723 Oak Creek Place, Granite Bay, CA) every Monday night.

The name Wendy was made up for the book “Peter Pan.”

What is your goal as a club?

(We want) to have a safe place for students to go where they can meet new people, build relationships and have fun.

It is illegal to slurp soup in New Jersey.

Why should people come to Young Life?

People should come to Young Life because it’s a whole bunch of fun and you will make unforgettable memories.

The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds.

In its entire lifetime, the average worker bee produces one-twelfth a teaspoon of honey.

No matter its size or weight, no piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven times.

Sources: http://www.allrandomfacts.com/

–Compiled by Nicole Bales

Madalyn Chavoya, freshman Gazette photo /Samantha spargo

If you could be in a reality TV show, which would you join?

Jersey Shore

What has been your favorite year of school?

Freshman year

What was your favorite TV show as a child?

Blues Clues

What is your favorite Disney movie?

Beauty and the Beast

If your house caught on fire, what would be the first thing you would save?

My bunny (Chip)

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Rocky Road

How many siblings do you have?

Three

What do you do at Young Life meetings?

We hang out and play the craziest, most ridiculously fun games (and listen to) cool, contemporary music.

What is something you want people to know about Young Life?

That everyone is welcome. We hope to see you next Monday!

–Compiled by Chase Evans

–Compiled by Samantha Spargo

Tests: Do exams reflect lessons? breakdancing: Crew masters new moves Continued from page B2

ing process as a tool to monitor mastery of a subject.

“By taking the exams, (students) know don’t do well on the test, she would meet what they do know and what they don’t with them individually and help them know and what they need to study for reach their personal academic goals. (later on),” Eshbaugh said.

This time, however, it was not a small Sophomore Jonah Poczobutt agrees with group of students that were having Eshbaugh. trouble, so Eshbaugh spent two days “I think it helps when you know what reviewing with the whole class. you did wrong to prepare for a test in “Even though midterms are coming up and I’m kind of nervous about the pace of the future and just to get better at what (the teachers are) trying to teach you,” the class,” Eshbaugh said. “I spent (two Poczobutt said. days) going over (it) and I’m going to While students acknowledge the value of have them retake, not exactly the same, testing, they sometimes find that once the test.” test is given, the learning process seems However, Eshbaugh does not have anyto stop. thing against hard tests. She designs her Students even feel assessments to chalat times that they do lenge her students. not always learn from Junior Jaci Willing tests. In some classes, does not mind difficult By taking the there is so little followtests either, as long up that students do exams (students) as they are for more not see for themselves difficult classes. know what they what they have and “Regular classes have not mastered. do know and what that have (very) hard Teachers do not tests don’t help you, they don’t know always pass back because then you get tests and, when they and what they a bad grade, get frusdo, they only hand trated and don’t want need to study for back answer sheets to to learn anymore,” problems instead of Willing said. the work and questions Many students and – Naoko Eshbaugh, that go along with teachers also believe Japanese teacher them. a test should be based “It’s frustrating off of information because, personally, I taught in class, not want to know what I worksheets or other did wrong and learn materials students from my mistakes,” Kwan said. must teach themselves at home.

Students complain they sometimes do “The test has to contain the information not even know why they received a grade being given in the classroom,” Eshbaugh either. said.

“Knowing what I did wrong on a test Sophomore Samantha Kwan does not would be extremely helpful,” Kwan said. believe that teachers always follow Esh“Sometimes, I … get questions wrong that baugh’s policy.

I was completely 100 percent sure I got “Tests aren’t necessarily showing what right.” you’ve learned in a chapter,” Kwan said Work is often passed back late, if at all, in an email. “You can study for hours so most students must come in on their straight and still (do poorly).” own time to go over their tests.

Eshbaugh went on to say that a teacher When tests are handed back to the class, should not teach something once and then students do not always have enough time test on it much later. to review what they missed before they “You can’t just quiz or test (students) have to be returned to the teacher. on things that are not being covered or But what is the main thing students want haven’t been covered in a few months or to convey to teachers that are not like so,” Eshbaugh said.

Many students agree with Eshbaugh and Eshbaugh?

“A corrected test helps me learn so the idea that tests should be a reflection of much more,” Kwan said. “When I get a what is being taught and how thoroughly test back, I find the problem I did wrong, it is being taught in the classroom.

I learn from it and I’m able to bring that Overall, the general consensus between knowledge to the next test and get a better teachers and students is that tests are imgrade.” portant and should be a part of the learn-

Continued from page B2 of people like to watch and learn (breakdancing), and I like to teach other people.”

A little sibling rivalry is also a good

motivation for the Smith brothers.

“My motivation is so I can finally get better than my brother,” Dylan said with a smile.

‘The Internationals’ have supportive friends who follow them through their journeys.

“We’ve known (the people in the crew) for about two years now and they’ve been working on (breakdancing for) awhile,” OJHS student Kelli Coleman said. “They work really hard with it and they don’t give up… if they mess up they keep (trying).”

brand: GBHS juniors launch clothing line Continued from page B2 Shirts like these align with the hopes of why Walker made this company.

“I was just trying to inspire new kids to try new things,” Walker said.

According to Ellis, the style suits extreme sports, including skimming, snowboarding, skiing and wake boarding.

Also, the brand’s inspiration came from other successful clothing brands, such as Diamond, LRG and Jus Liv It. While they were initially successful, Walker thought that support has dwindled. In the time passed since the SWC fever, the fan page has only received ten extra “likes” and sales are almost non-existent.

However, with the full swing of school and academics, it has been tough maintaining a business, according to Walker.

Currently looking around the campus, one will rarely see someone wearing a SWC product.

Nonetheless, the group’s dream lives on to push their brand into Sacramento and outside the GBHS community.

“It would be sweet to see our product on a manikin in a major store,” Bautista said.

Bautista unveiled the “Bautista Fall Line” in early Sept. with a few shirts he designed himself.

Ellis also hopes to spread their brand into stores around the area to increase the popularity of their brand.

Walker helped make the motto of SWC, “New Place, Fresh Start” and hopes to keep the company running to add some more unique clothing styles to GBHS.

superstition: Students form different unique habits based on unconventional beliefs Continued from page B2 “I am terrified of eating meat for fear I will turn in to a savage animal,” Israel said.

When asked what caused this particular superstition, she pointed to events from her childhood.

“It started after the whole mad cow scare,” Israel said.

Senior Jolie Rogers also admits she has a superstition.

“I have superstitions of my dreams,”

Rogers said. “It’s really weird because my dreams are either like a past memory or what I wish I had done that day or a prediction of the future.”

Rogers says she has had this superstition for a long time.

“It started a while ago because I would think about my dreams and realize that what happened in them would actually happen to me later.”

Senior Hank Montgomery, a senior, also confesses to a strange superstition.

“I have this thing where I don’t say

anything bad because then I feel like it will actually come true,” Montgomery said.

He explains that he tried to avoid saying things like “I won’t get in to college” or “I am going to fail this test” because then he believes these things will actually come true.

“I started believing in this a while ago,” Montgomery said. “I felt like everything bad that I said would come true a few days later. So now I don’t want to jinx myself by saying bad stuff.”

www.granitebaygazette.com

Friday, October 14, 2011

The Granite Bay Gazette

Lifestyle B5

ADOPTED: Students learn stories of biological parents early in life Continued from page B1 The adoption process was prolonged because Washino’s biological father did not want her stepfather to change her last name. However, because he was unable to pay for child support, he gave in to the adoption.

Not only did she have her last name changed, but Washino’s stepfather now has legal rights over her as well.

“Since my real dad lives in Vallejo (CA), it wasn’t really sad not having his last name anymore,” Washino said. “I don’t think I ever had a really deep father-daughter connection with him (because of the change).”

According to Washino, growing up was difficult since her biological parents argued often and never reacquainted. However, she still feels as if life has gone on without any major disturbances.

“I visit my (biological) father in Vallejo every other weekend. It’s really nice living (in Granite

Bay) with my family and having all these opportunities,” Washino said. “I think if I lived in Vallejo, everything would be so much more different.”

Justin Remy

As a senior, it is time to work on college applications, to start preparing for college, and in Remy’s case, to meet his biological parents.

Adopted at birth, Remy has known he was adopted ever since he can remember. For him, it is a blessing.

“Every single day, (my adoptive parents) wake me up and it’s that feeling of having a mother and a father (have cared) for me ever since I was a little kid,” Remy said.

Through all the baseball and soccer games, through all the tears and pain, Remy believes his adoptive parents have been there to support him every step of the way. The only problem is that Remy somehow feels there is a factor missing in their relationship.

“There has never been that blood-related connection,” Remy said. “It’s different knowing my mother didn’t give birth to me.”

Remy expressed this feeling of not as causing a void in his life.

“It’s like a puzzle. It’s that piece that’s gone until I find (my biological mother) and I know she will be there to fill that hole,” Remy said.

Yet Remy still has a difficult time imagining what his life would have been like if he might have stayed with his biological parents or how different his life would be without his adoptive parents.

There is little key information Remy knows about his biological parents and their whereabouts. They were never married and Remy’s father ran away when he was born. Recently, Remy and his family were notified of his birth father’s location and are aware that he is safe.

Remy’s birth mother currently lives with her mother.

“All I know is that they’re doing well. She’s a good Christian who follows God (and) follows

the word,” Remy said. “She cares for me and thinks about me, and that’s all I could ask for.”

When Remy turns 18, he will have the opportunity to decide whether or not he would like to meet his biological parents. His older sister, who is also adopted, met her parents when she turned 18.

“It’s that time in my life (when) I can make my own decisions,” Remy said. “I feel like I’m mature enough to where I can be with my (adoptive) family, yet still meet my birth mother.”

These matters do not mean that Remy does not feel a connection between him and his current parents. They have given everything and anything he has ever asked for, including unconditional support and love. Between all the hardships and happiness, Remy believes everything fell into perfect place.

“I believe that I’m here for a reason. God put me here with my parents right now, in Granite Bay,” Remy said. “I feel like this was meant to be and it shouldn’t be any other way.”

Justin Remy Senior has been aware of his adoption all his life.

ART: Student finds opportunities to profit from artistic talent in college Continued from page B3 Placement Studio Art. The art program begins with Basic Art, taught by teachers Brad Cordell and Amelie Rider, where students learn the basics of sketching as well as an introduction into different types of mediums such as oil pastels and tempera paint.

After Basic Art is Advanced Art, which continues the application of basic skills as well as an introduction to graphite, airbrush and acrylic painting on canvas.

Once students have completed Advanced Art, they can continue on to Art 3, 4, 5 and 6. These classes are structured around the completion of a certain number of paintings while still learning new techniques and skills.

In addition to taking those classes, students can also choose another route by taking either AP Studio Art or International Baccalaureate Art. Junior Chloe Pan is a current IB Art student who has taken both Basic and

Advanced Art with Stephens.

“In the IB program, it’s more about connecting to worldly experiences,” Pan said. “The art isn’t as much about your feelings personally, it is more about global problems or connecting to history, so other people around the world can relate to the art.”

The art program has the ability to enhance a student’s skills, if he or she is willing to work for it.

“Elyse was one of the more naturally talented students,” Stephens said. “She was really exciting to have as a student because I could show her something and she would absorb it like a sponge.”

For some such as Fulcher, these skills and a desire to pursue art have been existent since childhood.

“I grew up in art museums with a crayon in my hand,” Fulcher said. “Art has always been a pivotal part of my life.”

Fulcher said that Stephens really changed her attitude towards art.

“I really became serious about art as a

career,” Fulcher said.

In addition to her new journey at UCSB, Fulcher stumbled across a once in a lifetime opportunity. On a trip to Las Vegas, she visited an art gallery, where artist Vladimir Kush was coincidentally in attendance.

Kush is a Russian surrealist painter and sculptor who sells his work for tens of thousands of dollars.

“After several minutes of conversation, he looked at my portfolio on my phone and took my card,” Fulcher said. “Months later, he contacted me and I apprenticed him in (Las) Vegas where I helped him embellish paintings.”

While she is currently in school, Fulcher says that Kush continues to check up on her progress and offer critique and encouragement.

While Fulcher’s situation is one in a million, Stephens tries to awaken students to the fact that success in art isn’t always based on natural born talent.

“We always believe that anyone can

Continued from page B3

Boston University

Gazette illustration/CHASE EVANS

• Students study with distinguished faculties that include Fulbright Scholars, Pulitzer Prize winners, MacArthur Fellows, Nobel Prize winners and a former Poet Laureate.

• BU offers students more than 250 programs of study, cutting-edge research with faculty mentors and internships in the U.S. and abroad • 23 BU professors are currently Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. More than 35 professors have received Guggen-

Blue Line Gallery and won best of show and also entered into the 16-18 age group of the California State Fair where he won best of show, best of class, and first place.

“Stephens has changed my life as a student,” Chapman said. “He forces students to become above and beyond the artist that most people can be.”

Even though there are many students enrolled in art classes, some still stick with the notion that they are simply not creative or talented enough.

“Cordell and Rider do an excellent job (teaching Basic Art) and everyone that (begins with) the program realizes that they can be successful,” Stephens said.

Because of Fulcher’s success and passion for art, she hopes that art will be part of her future.

“I’m aiming to be an animator for Pixar, but I’m keeping an open mind to opportunities,” Fulcher said. “Wherever art takes me, I’m sure I’ll be content, whether I’m a gallery artist, or a muralist or a kid doing sketches on Venice Beach.”

STYLE: Changing hair color

College of the Month Who: 18,714 undergraduate students, 14,013 graduate students Where: Boston, MA Tuition and Fee Cost: $41,420 (201112) Acceptance Rate: 54% acceptance rate U.S. News Ranking: #53 Athletics: Boston University Terriers • BU has 23 NCAA Division I varsity sports.

• In the last seven years, BU has claimed 43 conference championships, raised the Beanpot (Hockey) four times and earned the University’s fifth men’s ice hockey national championship.

• There are 36 club sports recognized at BU. Mascot: Rhett the Boston Terrier Academics: • BU offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral’s, medical and dental degrees through its 18 schools and colleges.

learn how to be a successful artist or painter,” Stephens said. “You don’t have to be talented to be good at it, you just have to be able to follow directions.”

Due to their experience in the program, many of the students have the ability to enter and excel in competitions and galleries that are open to all professional artists in the area.

“I don’t know of any other art program that offers website making, how to approach galleries and how to have their own shows.” Stephens said. “All of these things are pretty unique to the program.”

The idea of making money isn’t so far fetched either.

“Generally the low end (of student work) is about $250-$300 and then up to $600 or $800,” said Stephens. Some of the even larger paintings can even sell for around $2,000.

Cole Chapman, a senior and current student of Stephens, has also experienced his own personal success in art.

Chapman entered into Sacramento’s

heim Fellowships.

Fun Facts: • The BU Bridge is the only spot in America where a plane can fly over a car driving over a train going over a boat, all at the same time.

• In 1875, BU professor Alexander Graham Bell received a year’s salary advance to pursue his research. The following year, he invented the telephone in a BU lab.

• Each year, the Redstone Film Festival, one of New England’s premier film venues, showcases short films written and directed by graduate and undergraduate filmmakers from the College of Communication to sold-out crowds • Rebecca Lee, the first African American woman to receive a medical degree in the U.S. (and perhaps the world), graduated in 1864 from the New England Female Medical College, which became a part of Boston University.

- Compiled by ShinEui Park

her head for the Saint Baldrick’s event in March. It will be the perfect opportunity for her to grow out her naturally colored hair, and hopefully raise a lot of money for charity.

Johnston is one of an increasing number of Granite Bay High School students who have taken a more artistic approach to their hairstyles. It’s the new form of self-expression.

Johnston got into vibrant hair colors through her friend, junior Haley Massara. Massara started taking her to concerts and punk shows where they were surrounded by unconventional hairstyles.

Johnston then decided to dye her hair purple because it had always been her favorite color.

“To have the right to be able to dye my hair purple and to have my favorite color on my head was the greatest thing ever,” Johnston said.

She was dubbed “Purps” and “Purple Dragon” by her PE class.

Johnston thinks dyeing her hair is a fun and youthful thing and that after high school, she will break the habit for a more professional look.

Junior Penelope Lenaerts also enjoys playing around with hair color.

“I wanted to look like Ariel from The Little Mermaid,” Lenaerts said about the inspiration behind her

fiery red and pink hair.

Lenaerts changes her hair color at least every other month and touches it up every other week.

“I’ve dyed it more than 25 times,” Lenaerts said. “I just get bored of it.”

Lenaerts dyes her hair with either a box from CVS or Safeway or she gets hair dye from Sally’s Beauty Supplies.

She conditions her hair regularly and sparingly straightens it to prevent damage.

At the beginning of her sophomore year, Lenaerts had blue hair and said random people would come up to her and acknowledge her as “the girl with the blue hair” that they had heard about.

Junior Madison Miklancic, also a chronic hair dyer, said when she had blue hair people would call her “smurf.”

Miklancic has dyed her hair 13 times and also dyes it herself.

She found her inspiration when she first saw a girl at school with hot pink hair.

Miklancic then spontaneously died her hair turquoise, regretted it because it looked horrible and then fixed it. From there on out, she just kept tweaking her hair every once in a while.

Her boyfriend hates that she constantly dyes her hair and that he likes her just the way she is, but Miklancic keeps trying out new colors. “(I do it) just for change,” Miklancic said.

In January, she will begin attending beauty school Monday through Friday from five to nine after school to learn more about hair and see if it is a profession she would like to go into.

Miklancic has also experimented with KoolAid as a hair dye. She said the Kool-Aid works well but that it begins to fade after a few weeks. She uses this method to dye the ends of her friend junior Jami Duarte’s hair.

“You mix a Kool-Aid package with conditioner and you just paint it on your hair,” Miklancic said.

“Then you leave it in for 10 hours and it doesn’t harm your hair.”

Hot Topic sells hair dye in a variety of colors.

Employee Angelina Anaya said their hair dye products are most popular among young people and that high school students account for 60 percent of their hair dye profits.

Brockway Hair Design receptionist Tori Overmyer said teal and hot pink are the most common colors chosen by clients wishing to abandon their natural shade and that they regularly have people coming in asking for just a dyed strip.

“I tried having my hair dyed at a place once and I didn’t like it,” Johnson said. “There are so many different shades of different colors that you have to dye your hair yourself.”

SCOLIOSIS: Chronic problem Continued from page B1 After a bed ridden week in the hospital drugged up on pain medication, Nasir would have to wear yet another back brace.

For the first two months following her surgery, she would wear the brace 24/7.

Afterwards, the brace would be worn only when she went out, for caution. This meant she would have to wear a brace at school again.

“I think most people ignore it because they don’t want to be rude,” Nasir said.

However, she didn’t let the brace bother her.

“It (was) only temporary,” Nasir said.

Wearing a brace wasn’t a big deal for her.

The only down side was not being able to wear anything sleeveless because it would cause irritation.

Although Nasir is now free of scoliosis, her children may not be. There is proof that scoliosis is hereditary. Nasir’s mom had the condition, and Decavel-Bueff’s brother suffers from it as well.

Sept. 30 was the last day Nasir had to wear any kind of brace forever and she will never have to worry about her scoliosis again.

“It’s nice not to have to worry about scoliosis anymore,” Nasir said.

Continued from page B3; The un-Official SAT practice guide answers: 1. I, 2. C, 3. H, 4. D, 5. J, 6. B, 7. G, 8. F, 9. A,

B6 Lifestyle

Friday, October 14, 2011 w The Granite Bay Gazette

cake

Have your

and eat it too

Gazette illustration /JESSICA REESE

Courtesy photos /TESSA LINDOW HUFF

GBHS grad specializes in one-of-a-kind cakes in her one-woman bakery

BY JESSICA REESE jreese.gazette@gmail.com

T

essa Lindow, 19, rushes into her dorm room at University of California Davis.

Her schedule has afforded her a few rare moments of downtime before her next class.

She settles on the couch and flips on the television. Having limited time and channels, she has come to rely on Food Network.

It’s a bit ironic, really, considering she’s never been a fan of cooking. Her adolescence was spent in a dance studio, not a kitchen.

Still, the channel has become familiar to her. In fact, it’s started to make her want to cook. *** In 2006, Lindow, now Lindow Huff, graduated from UC Davis with a degree in communications. Shortly thereafter, she began working at the county in the communications department.

Then, a year later, she quit her job at the county, took up a post at Freeport Bakery and decided to become a cake designer.

“I can’t sit at a computer for eight hours a day,” Lindow Huff said. “I was really itching to get up and do something.”

A year after starting at Freeport Bakery, she branched out on her own and opened The Frosted Cake Shop.

Located in Midtown Sacramento, the shop specializes in custom, made-to-order cakes.

“You’re not going to be able to come in here and buy a cupcake, but at least you’re able to know that your cake hasn’t been sitting in the freezer for a couple of weeks,” Lindow Huff said.

Lindow Huff makes every cake from scratch and controls every step in the process, from conception to decoration.

Unlike some cake shops, all of The Frosted Cake Shop’s decorations are edible. There are not plastic cake toppers or Styrofoam cutouts.

Most of the decorations are made out of gum paste, a sugar paste that dries solid.

Creating great tasting, visually appealing cakes is something Lindow Huff is committed to.

“I always try to do something new; a twist on the classic,” she said.

This stems from her pursuits earlier in life.

Although baking and cooking weren’t a part of her life growing up, art always was. Most of her youth and early adulthood was spent dancing.

Due to health problems, she no longer is able to dance, but she has found a way to channel her creative energy into cake making. “(For me, making cakes) is more about finding another creative outlet, designing and being very hands-on with the cake designs,” Lindow Huff said.

At UC Davis, she also took an art class. This proved to be another useful skill when she opened her own bakery. Often, a cake sketch is required when coming up with an idea for an order.

“Some people have (an idea of what they want), so (I) have to guide them,” Lindow Huff said. “Sometimes it requires a sketch so that we have a visual.”

Often, in order to come up with a design for a cake, Lindow Huff must draw from a number of inspirations. These can include the color scheme of a wedding or birthday party invites.

Of her many talents, Lindow Huff considers herself particularly apt at gum paste flowers.

“I took a course at the French Pastry School in Chicago that was strictly on gum past flowers,” Lindow Huff said. “That’s something that I feel I’m really strong at now.”

Taking outside courses and attending conventions is one of the main ways Lindow Huff broadens her skill set. Unlike most cake designers, Lindow Huff does not have any formal training in the baking industry.

Because she didn’t discover her love for baking until she was already in college, attending culinary school never really occurred to her.

Once she started her bakery, of course, she began to consider going back to school. In the end, however, she decided against it.

“I … debated (about) going back all the time, but after doing four years at Davis, I didn’t really want to go straight away,” Lindow Huff said.

As she began to establish herself in the industry, the idea of going back to school began to grow less important.

“At first, because I am a lot younger than most

people (in the business), I was kind of intimidated,” Lindow Huff said. “I felt like I had to say I went to (a culinary school).”

Lindow Huff does not believe that attending a culinary school would change a thing. Even if she did take a pastry class, it would not directly apply to what she is doing, as most classes only devote a week to decorating cakes.

To keep her skills sharp and to continue to challenge herself, she frequently attends conventions and workshops. Most notably, she took a private class with Elisa Strauss, owner of Confetti Cakes.

On numerous occasions, Strauss has appeared on the Food Network Challenge, one of the shows that first inspired Lindow Huff. In fact, last year Lindow Huff auditioned to be a contestant on the most recent season.

“I have to attribute some of my success to Food Network,” she said. “I never learned to cook until I started watching (the network).”

Lindow Huff made it all the way to the top 100, but was cut in the last round.

As she continues to experience success with her bakery, Lindow Huff is beginning to consider growing her business. Although cakes remain the main focus of The Frosted Cake Shop, Lindow Huff has begun to dabble in cupcakes, cake pops and dessert bars.

“I’ve been in this location for almost two years, and I keep toying with the idea of expanding or hiring,” Lindow Huff said. “But I’m still not exactly sure yet.”

Sports

Granite Bay Gazette Commentary

C Section

Friday w October 14, 2011

Golfer plays with calm composure Brandon Baumgarten ranked internationally among golfers

meghan carlsen mcarlsen.gazette@gmail.com

Prayer breaks down social barriers on the football field

G

A

ccording to every teen drama out there, the high school “in” crowd is made up of football players and cheerleaders.

Granite Bay High School is not the most dramatic of schools, comparatively, but there will always be rumors of who was with whom last weekend, what substances were consumed there and so on and so forth.

I personally don’t view the football crowd as the most saint-like students but I have to give them credit on the one thing they come together to do before each game: prayer.

Now I admit I am slightly biased being born and raised a Christian but I think this is inspired and refreshing.

Of course, the whole team doesn’t participate in saying this prayer and it is, and should remain, their right to stay silent.

However I find something amazing about the fact that these 200 hundred pound teenage boys, trained to be vicious and relentless for their sport, take the time to gather together before the games they work so hard to get to and pray.

As they bow their heads and join hands to pray to a God they may or may not believe in, it seems to present a bigger symbol to the rest of the student body.

I believe this act of prayer is more than something religious or something solely said for those who are Christians. It’s a humbling, equalizing process that we as people, not necessarily Christians, join in together.

Fact is we are all people, whether you are considered popular or unpopular, whether you are Christian or Jewish or Muslim or even Atheist.

This simple act of public prayer states that life isn’t really under our control at all times and we all know that.

All of us are struggling with one thing or another and when these football players come together and hold the hand of another player who they may or may not like, it seems to say to the crowd in the stands that we know that each one of us is fighting some kind of “battle” and we can put aside our differences for a couple minutes and just accept each other.

Yes, I know cheesy, but isn’t that what all those assemblies on bullying are telling us anyway; that we are all in this together.

I feel like the fact that this is a tradition for our football players (supposedly and conventionally the top of our “food-chain”) is a sign to all the normal people.

Deep down we know that we are all just people. Our own football players, whether they consciously think of it in this way or not, acknowledge that by doing this.

I’ve gained a whole lot of respect for these athletes by witnessing their maturity in this sense.

Now you might think I’ve blown this whole prayer issue out of proportion but in high school it seems to me that those little signs of maturity or respect are comforting.

Because, before you know it, we will be outside these walls and the so called“food chain” will be all shook up by the outside world. The more independent values we uphold now, the easier it will be to adjust to depending on ourselves instead of [high school social standings.

I’m glad that our football athletes, the core of our school, have taken the time to show us something that could last longer then the simple win or loss of the game they will go on to play.

*** Meghan Carlsen, a junior, is a Gazette sports editor.

said.

Pedone leaves no doubt in his mind that Baumgarten will play brwong.gazette@gmail.com collegiate golf, and even thinks ranite Bay High School ju- Baumgarten has the potential for a future professional career. nior Brandon Baumgarten Although Baumgarten has had starts his pre-game ritual plenty of success at the high by doing pushups and kissing the school level, it is dwarfed by the gimmel side on the dreidel. prestigious awards he has on the From there, he goes to work on junior circuit. all 18 holes.

On July 7-10, Baumgarten This is the process played in the First of a professional Tee Open in Pebble and internationally “If there’s Beach, California. recognized golfer.

The tournament had one person Baumgarten fina rigorous selection ished with the lowest who could process of progress average score at put a golf ball checks, essays and GBHS and won the interviews.

Sac Joaquin Section in the hole, The format of title as just a freshit’s Brandon the tournament man paired a ChampiAccording to boys’ Baumgarten ons Tour Player, (a varsity golf coach, professional golfer Terry Stafford, – Chase Pedone, on the PGA senior the Sierra Foottour) and an accomteammate hill League is the plished junior. strongest and most Baumgarten talented league in placed second the section. Both among 76 teams, as a freshman and sophomore, Baumgarten has been named as an and nearly won the tournament, had it not been for a lapse on the All-League member.

18th hole.

Stafford believes Baumgarten “Everything was fine until the is one of the top ten golfers in the last stretch,” GBHS junior Scott Sacramento area. He attributes Romuk said, who caddied for Baumgarten’s success to his Baumgarten during the tournarecovery shot-making ability and ment. ability to remain composed and According to Romuk, Baumgarstay focused. ten started off the hole with a “If there’s one person who could flawless drive to the left in order put a golf ball in the hole, it’s to avoid a tree in the middle of the Brandon Baumgarten,” teammate See BAUMGARTEN, page C5 and GBHS junior Chase Pedone

BY BRAD WONG

Gazette photo /riley mac millan

Brandon Baumgarten spends most of his time preparing for international and local tournaments at the Grante Bay Country Club and courses around the Sacramento area.

Tribe addresses problems as it grows in numbers Members want to be louder and more spirited at athletic events

BY AUSTIN DOWNS

adowns.gazette@gmail.com

Something has swept through Granite Bay High School’s sport fans, leaving them more spirited and enthusiastic than ever. It’s The Tribe.

GBHS’ fan-based cheering section was started last year, and has grown continuously larger ever since.

The idea fo a student-oriented cheering section began a few years ago.

“A couple of years back a group of students tried (to) show up to soccer and basketball games and would get together and cheer the players on, but it wasn’t that successful,” said Tim Healy, social science teacher and faculty advisor to The Tribe.

Healy’s involvement in The Tribe includes helping out Tribe members, giving them recommendations on what is appropriate and what is not, aiding The Tribe with its barbeques and buying official Tribe shirts. “(Will Harkin, Hunter Christian and I) sit down usually and have meetings once in a while about how they can make sure we’re channeling their energy in positive ways,” Healy said.

“I would say that our school has never really had a large amount of student support, which is kind of ironic because we are (one of the) most prolific high schools in northern California when it comes to See TRIBE, page C5

GBHS sports attract tranfers

BY HAYLEY MCAVOY

With over a hundred league championships, and countless section titles, Granite Bay High School has made a name for itself in the world of athletics.

The girls’ swim team has never lost a league meet, and the boys have only lost one, which was in the school’s first athletic season The boys’ water polo team has had similar success, winning 10 league championships, and 4 section championships.

This high level of success found at GBHS is often times greater than other teams in the district, attracting transfer athletes.

Alek Dendell is a transfer student hoping to be a member of the IB program. Had he not trans-

Tribe members support their grizzlies at the varsity game against Nevada Union.

Alek Dendell Boys’ water polo freshman would have attended Rocklin High School if it weren’t for GBHS appeal

Athletes believe GBHS teams give a competitive advantage hmcavoy.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photo /Riley Mac Millan

Soccer faces a loss of two team captains Club team trumps school team

BY CHASE EVANS

ferred, Dendell would be attending Rocklin High School.

He has made an immediate impact on the boys’ varsity water polo team as a starter.

In fact, Dendell is one of three new transfer students on the boys’ varsity water polo squad, with two of which are starters.

The other two transfers, freshman Max Ellinthrope and junior Jack Ellinthrope, moved from Southern California, to the area, because of their dad’s job.

However, they still decided to go to GBHS out of the other schools in the area, for athletic reasons. “(GBHS) definitely has one of the better (water) polo programs (in) the area,” Max Ellinthrope said.

See TRANSFERS, page C5

cevans.gazette@gmail.com

Club sports are starting to impress their power over high school sports.

Senior soccer players Cody Giddings and Ty Thompson have been told to quit the Granite Bay High School soccer team by their club team.

Both Giddings and Thompson play for a club team that is part of the Academy, an elite club, program.

“We have both been playing for (the Academy) for three years,” Giddings said.

Giddings and Thompson both

were aware that the Academy frowned upon playing high school soccer, but thought that an actual rule wouldn’t be enforced until next year.

“We were under the impression that this would be a transition year,” Giddings said.

“They told us that we can’t play high school soccer anymore when at the beginning of the season they told us we could,” Thompson said.

It started when the U.S. soccer scout Hugo Perez came and talked to their Academy coach.

During the discussion, Perez found out that there were many players on the Academy team See SOCCER, page C5

inside sports C2

Grizz Quiz Athlete of the Month

C5

Rising Star

C4

Fan of the Month

C3

Stadium undergoes much needed changes Athletics spends funds on new stadium score board and audio system.

C2

Cross country searches for strong runners New team hopes to fill gaps left behind by last year’s graduates.

C3

Sports weight and body image standards How GBHS athletes cope with the pressure.

C4

C2 Sports

Friday, October 14, 2011

w The Granite Bay Gazette

GBHS stadium receives various upgrades

New audio equipment has impact on fans

BY MAT FUKUHARA

mfukuhara.gazette@gmail.com

“Touch down Grizzlies!”

Granite Bay High football fans who have become accustomed to this phrase will never it as quite the same way ever again.

The start of the this football season was loud and spirited against St. Mary’s High School, leaving fans wondering why the game sounded so different.

The culprit was the newly installed sound system.

Adjusting to the new system has led to a few problems. Assistant principal Brian McNulty said that volume was an issue for the opening game.

“What we have to watch out for is making the sound too loud,” McNulty said.

“Some of the fans around my age don’t want to have music played too loud; they just want to enjoy the music.”

The issue with sound volume is a big change from the past because the old sound system at the stadium was only equipped with a PA system, which is not capable of the mid ranges and bass needed for quality sound.

“If you look up above the new sound system, there are the old PA horns which were meant to only carry voice and if you turn them too high, they will blow out and over the years they did,” McNulty said.

He also believes that the old system did not reflect the expectations and standards the community would expect the stadium to have.

“I think, as an administrator, we are trying to put on events at our school that are up to Granite Bay standards,” McNulty said. “We are trying to show that the green school has character, class and competence, that we can take care of our needs in a systematic approach that will be accepted by the community in a righteous manner: Sound happens to be one of the components.”

Contractor Steve Givens, who was involved in the installation of the system and is familiar with the GBHS stadium, said the change was pretty substantial when compared to the original system.

“There (have been) three different sound systems in the stadium since its opening,” Givens said. “The first was a PA system which still functions, but doesn’t sound as clear as the portable system. The portable system is a step up in quality and power, but it’s not as powerful as the new permanent system.”

The portable system was the speakers that were placed on the track at both ends of the home stands for a number of years.

Grizz Quiz

Announcer Dave Brown smiles and laughs,left, as he announces the unfolding plays during the GBHS varsity football game vs. Nevada Union High School on Oct. 7. A score box official, below, adjusts the scoreboard.

Gazette photo/ RILEY MAC MILLAN

The problem that arose from using the portable system was the amount of preparation time it took to setup the speakers and the entire system on Friday nights. The task took around two and a half hours.

Weather was also a factor and could add to the preparation time substantially because the system was not weatherproof and could become a potential safety issue.

Athletic director Tim Healy, seeing these problems, decided it was time for a change. “(The stadium) has been falling apart over the years partly due to wear and tear and rodents chewing up the cables,” Healy said. “It’s roughly 15-16 years old and things needed to be modified.”

Healy said fixing the old system was an option, but was not the best option because it was nearly the cost of an entirely new system.

“We looked at refurbishing the board.

To refurbish it would have cost roughly $24,000 and to put in a brand new board (would be about) $26,000,” Healy said.

The benefits for the new sound system far outweighed the cost of repairing because the technology had drastically changed since the old systems installation over a decade ago.

Tiana Teunissen Cheer

“The new system has wireless capabilities,” Healy said. “For lacrosse and other field sports, the score board and the microphones are wireless so that it’s easier for them to run their games and the refs can be heard more clearly from the field.”

Healy, along with others, attended the first couple of games and was aware of the high volume issue but believes the volume level will be easy to fix.

“The first game we heard it was really loud and we were really trying to fine tune it,” Healy said. “The stadium needs to be filled in order to replicate what we want the sound to be because the people like anything else block sound, so we’re fine tuning it the first couple of games.”

The quality of music can affect the sound that projects from the speakers contributing to a negative reaction from fans.

“One of the problems is when you put in music that’s not clean; it’s still not going to be clean when it comes out of the speakers,” Healy said. “Sometimes cheer will bring in recordings of songs on their iPods and the recording can be really (bad), so when they go through the system, it’s just louder.”

Healy plans to solve the problem by checking the format of the music before the games and making adjustments as

Max Ellinthorpe Boys’ Water Polo

Bailey Earhart Football

needed to provide the best experience possible for GBHS. “Saying that we were doing this to Granite Bay standards infers that we were trying to do things bigger and better when we really weren’t,” Healy said. “This was really just about making something that was pragmatic, as cost effective as possible and as functional as possible.”

Athletics spent around $90,000$100,000 on athletic infrastructure which included other expenses including the scoreboard and the gym sound system.

“Bottom line is the tax payers didn’t pay for (the new sound system) of it and the school district didn’t pay for any of this, Healy said. “All the money came from Granite Bay parents and community members.”

Healy and others who were involved in the decision firmly believe the sound system will positively affect GBHS athletics for years to come.

“We challenge you as students and athletes to be champions and that’s what we build,” McNulty said, “so why not a good sound system too.”

Ashlyn Howes Girls’ Tennis

Adam Rodriguez Boys’ Soccer

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas

Halloween

St. Patrick’s Day

4th of July

Nike or Adidas?

Nike

Adidas

Nike

Nike

What is your favorite scary movie?

Strangers

Paranormal Activity

Insidious

The Shining

Mirrors

What is your biggest fear?

Drowning

Snakes

Being obese

Screwing up my life

Scary movies

What is your favorite candy?

Sour gummy worms

Lollipops

Snickers

Junior Mints

Labor Day

Adidas

Skittles Compiled by Kristin Taylor

wRead the Gazettew The award-winning student newspaper at Granite Bay High School

Friday, October 14, 2011

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Sports C3

Girls’ cross country loses three key runners Team looks to shake off absence of important leaders and strive to be the best

BY BECKY MASSIL

bmassil.gazette@gmail.com

Last year the Granite Bay High School cross country team was at its peak.

With a crop of runners among the nation’s best, the varsity girls’ team received top honors in races, earning them a team section title, a spot in the state meet race and a high ranking of eighteenth in the nation.

However, the runners that made the varsity girls’ team so strong last year have left GBHS this year. Alumni Christine Zavesky and Brooke Holt both graduated with the class of 2011, leaving big shoes to fill in the team’s leadership and talent.

“I really miss them,” junior Allison Daly said. “(Zavesky) was a really good leader. We followed her, she helped us to get ready before the races (to) mentally prepare us and we would warm up together.”

In addition to those two key losses, the fastest female athlete last year, Clare Carroll, is no longer on the GBHS team due to conflicts with the coaches. She is currently a sophomore a Vista Del Lago High School in Folsom.

The gaping hole she left behind has made a significant impact on the team. The difference has been noticed by both head coach Carla Kehoe and assistant coach Kevil Pool.

“Last year, it was kind of an allstar team,” Pool said.

In addition, this year’s team

doesn’t have enough depth to fill the absences during races.

“This year we’re pretty slim on the seniors,” Pool said.

Last year, the team was in Division I for cross country. However, this year they have been moved to Division II. The results for some races between last season and this season have varied. According to second year varsity runner and sophomore Katie Mersereau, last year the team finished second in the Stanford Invitational seeded race. This year, however, the team was seventh in the less competitive Division II race. This year’s finish indicates that the chances of a repeat trip to state are a lot slimmer.

“Since we lost all those girls, it’s not as (easy) because we’re running in Division II instead of Division I,” Daly said.

Considering the magnitude of the losses, the runners feel that they are doing fairly well.

“We’ve been getting second or third place (in most of our races), so we’re still doing really well,” senior Natalie Hassna said.

Because of the shortage of upperclassmen, many underclassmen have had the opportunity to join the varsity team.

Freshman Carmen Lyon was one such underclassmen. As a member of the varsity team, she was able to run at the Stanford Invitational.

For Lyon, the meet was a good learning experience for the future.

“It (was) pretty different,” Lyons said. “Normally I place pretty

Gazette photo /OLIVIA CORNELL

Boys’ cross country team sets off on a run during one of their weekly practices. Many of the team’s runner graduated last year. high in my (junior varsity) races, but (this race had) so many kids that you (would be) lucky to place in the top 100.”

Even the boys’ varsity team, also lacking upperclassmen, has also begun adding underclassmen to their varsity roster.

“We’ve got a really good boys’ team,” Mersereau said. “Everybody’s working hard and we’re seeing results.”

Freshman Samuel Neptune was able to join the varsity team this

year and ran at Stanford, along with many other underclassmen.

“It was difficult because I haven’t run many (5,000 meter) races,” freshman Samuel Neptune said about his Stanford experience. “But I was able to run a little bit faster because there were faster people around me.”

The coaches think that losing last year’s stars has allowed younger runners to step up, while preserving the diligence of the team. In fact, they believe the

team’s diligence has increased, since last year. “(The team)’s definitely rebuilding, and I think all of the girls have brought it up a notch because they’re older and more developed,” Kehoe said. “It’s the level of commitment that keeps getting better.”

The athletes this season believe that they’ve been running the extra miles to fill in the gaps.

“During race days, we all work very hard to stay together and sup-

port one another despite our variances in abilities,” senior Kelly Greco said.

Mersereau also said she has stepped into the leadership role left behind by the runners who left.

“I need to be that leader that (Zavesky), (Holt) and (Carroll) were to me,” Mersereau said. “It’s helped me in a way because now I know that I need to work harder to be the team leader that the other girls were for me last year.”

SPORTS BRIEFS Wrestling coach position is so far unfilled

GBHS lost to Jesuit Marquette with a final score of 2-1.

wFormer wrestling coach Shane Dixon has resigned as coach in order to better focus on his teaching position in the science department. Dixon says no new coach has been announced as of yet and he is not sure who will end up filling the position.

wAfter losing some key players, boys’ soccer held try-outs to fill the open spots. Four new players were added: junior Charlie Gunn, senior Cole Chapman, senior Andrew Stabbert and senior Jack Hanley

Boys’ Soccer wJesuit Marquette traveled all the way from Wisconsin to play the GBHS boys’ soccer team on their home field on Oct. 7.

wOne of the key players in the GBHS vs. Jesuit Marquette game was J.C. Nichols, scoring GBHS’ only goal. Seniors Brady Nations and Will Harkin, defenders and team captains

were also key players according to Nichols. “The whole team is really strong” Nichols said. “Unfortunately we let them get two goals and we ended up losing.”

Football wFootball won their first league game against Nevada Union on Friday, Oct. 7. The final score was 28-21. Both teams were tied, 14-14, going into the fourth quarter. Their current record is 5-1.

—Compiled by Meghan Carlsen

Fan of the Month

Jack Hanley supports friends and fans at every athletic event

BY MATHEW FUKUHARA mfukuhara.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photo /RILEY MAC MILLAN

Senior Jack Hanley cheers on football on Oct. 7 against Nevada Union.

The paint may come off at the end of the night, but his dedication to his friends and Granite Bay High School sports team has never been stronger.

Senior Jack Hanley, a member of the Tribe, prides himself on being an example for other GBHS fans, with his intensity that can only be matched by the players he cheers for.

“It doesn’t matter how far away (a game) is; we’ll go,” Hanley said. “We go to football and soccer games and a big part of it is our friends play on the team.”

This dedication to the teams has inspired him to cheer passionately for his friends and their teammates, which translates into a lot of body paint.

“I usually do two handprints on my chest and my friend’s numbers on my stomach with claw marks down my face for every game,” Hanley said.

Hanley usually paints his friend Michael Bertolino’s number and said there really isn’t any meaningful significance to the claw marks or hand prints except to show school spirit.

Still, he tries not to stand out too much in the stands, as he doesn’t want to take attention away from the players. His overall goal is to draw more fans to support grizzly athletics.

“I specifically don’t do anything unique (to excite the crowd),” Hanley said. “We just show that we’re cheering because some people don’t think it’s cool to cheer, but if everyone is doing it, it makes the game more exciting and more fun.”

To Hanley, a silent fan is not a strong as one that is more spirited. Otherwise, players can’t hear the support from the

field.

He advises fans to get excited and cheer loudly for their team.

“Be as loud as possible. We want the players to hear us on the field and if they say after the game (that) they didn’t hear us on the field, we feel like we let them down,” Hanley said.

He believes the problem lies in the top rows of the stands where fans are thought to be quiet.

“If the top section of the stands starts to chant and get excited, we’ll have really good volume,” Hanley said. “Don’t be someone that’s just sitting up at the top (quietly). You have to cheer and be loud so other people can hear you.”

To become more spirited, Hanley believes the crowd needs to be a certain mentality. This is best described by the Tribe’s favorite chant.

“The ‘I believe chant’ is our mentality because we just believe that we’re the best and hopefully when we believe it, we will make the team want to win,” Hanley said.

Hanley gets into the spirit by listening to a special playlist before each game.

“We made our own playlist specifically for the occasions.

There are about nine songs and ‘Brick House’ is on there, but most of the songs are classic 80’s to get us excited,” Hanley said.

To display the same amount of spirit as Hanley, one must go to the game early to get seats close to the stands and get others more excited for the start of the game.

“Go to every game you can and support your players even if they’re losing,” Hanley said. “You can’t just walk out when they’re losing because you have to be the best fan and stick with your team.”

www.granitebaygazette.com

C4 Sports

Friday, October 14, 2011

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Athletes overcome usual body image pressures GBHS athletes and coaches believe pressure to be a certain weight is not an issue in their sport wrestle at their natural weight because they are growing and they need to have proper nutrition.”

Most coaches feel that the type of pressure exhibMany feel that society puts great emphasis on ited in professional sports starts in college rather than weight and fitness. Athletics is often seen as a means high school and Dixon would agree. for gaining a healthy, acceptable lifestyle.

“In college they’ve done some crazy things,” Dixon Recently, athletics have come under fire for putting said. “But high school is very regulated.” too much of an emphasis on body image and, causing In the beginning of the season, all wrestlers have to athletes’ health to suffer. take a body fat analysis that gives coaches a reference “From statistics and information I’ve heard, you of a healthy weight range for them. It also explains really cannot be an effective NFL lineman, either the amount of time a wrestler needs to reach a certain defensive or offensive, unless you are over 300 weight healthily. pounds,” Kathie Sinor, health teacher, said. “(Only) By having this on hand, coaches can watch their man is not designed to be 300 pounds.” wrestlers and make sure they aren’t taking drastic Because of this, Sinor doesn’t think some sports are measures. promoting as much of healthy body image or lifestyle “They can’t go down below that (body fat) percentas they are expected to. age if they weren’t already there at “There’s a lot of obese footthe start of the season,” Dixon said. ball players,” Sinor said. “But The top priority for the coaches then they’re getting paid a lot is to keep athletes healthy not to of money to be massive.” force them to become top athletes In sports where weight is a by unnatural methods. major factor, such as football, “We keep good tabs on all our wrestling or cheerleading, kids,” Dixon said. athletes have been known to Because of this high school do extreme things to comply regulation, Dixon doesn’t see a with health standards. problem in the GBHS wrestling “The only way (GBHS program with eating disorders or football players) are going to body image complexes. gain mass on that line is to There is, however, a certain gain body weight in the form amount of managing weight in – Shane Dixon, of fat,” Sinor said, the sport in general and there is a GBHS wrestling coach This type of overeating need for wrestlers at one point or becomes an inhibiting health another to gain or lose a couple of factor in the wellness of propounds. fessional athletes. In the same “To manage weight they may way, the extreme diets that wrestlers endure to get have to manage a couple pounds during the week but under their weight class often are not healthy either. that’s just about eating smart,” Dixon said. “(There’s a) huge emphasis placed on guys that you The wrestlers themselves express some stress on need to be buff,” Sinor said. “Guys are also self-conthe weight emphasis in their sport but it is not overscious over their own body image.” whelming.

However, the opposite pressure, to be thin is more “If we have to cut (weight), it’s kind of stressful,” of a problem for girls and one of those sports were it Andrew Broadland, GBHS senior wrestle, said. “I’ll has been known to appear is in cheerleading. put sweats on and stuff and just go run on the tread“The whole perception of being accepted and only mill.” being accepted for being thin, I think there’s a huge The players and their coaches agree on using natuemphasis (on that as well),” Sinor said. ral terms to be at a healthy weight.

Cheerleaders, especially those who are flyers, ste“If they aren’t eating they are not going to be able reotypically, are challenged with body image comto hang out in the practices,” Dixon said. plexes to stay light for the bases lifting them.

Dixon feels the grueling practices will prevent the It is evident that not all professional sports are the wrestlers from trying to go outside natural limits with ideal healthy activity that people think when they are under-eating because they won’t be able to maintain first introduced to sports in general, as children in a strength and they will just not be able to keep up.

P.E. class or as a recreational activity.

Being a Biology teacher, Dixon gives his wrestlers But does this problem start in professional sports simple, body-healthy advice. and college, where it’s more popularly seen, or could “Burn a lot of calories; eat the right stuff; don’t its roots begin at the level of high school sports, speeat the extras; start moving towards that optimum cifically in the GBHS cheerleaders or wrestlers? weight,” Dixon said.

“We as a society here in Granite Bay, put such an Dixon has also had experience with cheerleading as emphasis on the look-ism, to always look a certain he was a member of the college squad. way,” Sinor said.

He believes the pressure in college for cheerleading While this may be true, many coaches and even is also far greater than in high school. players believe that this “look-ism” pressure is not During his college cheerleading tryouts, there were taking root in their sports. only six spots for girls and six spots for boys on Recently resigned wrestling coach Shane Dixon, the squad. Despite this about 50 boys and 200 girls said “We, (as coaches), always encourage wrestlers to showed up.

BY MEGHAN CARLSEN

mcarlsen.gazette@gmail.com

One of the first things they did was put a scale out and like a hundred girls left.

Gazette photo /Rachael Vasquez

Athletes are faced with the weight scale which forces them to deal with the pressure of trying to maintain or attain a convenient and appropriate weight to satisfy standards in their sport.

“One of the first things they did for the girls was to acknowledge the standard for weight that is publiput a scale out and like a hundred of them left,” cized for cheerleading.

Dixon said.

“Most people just have to think about not getting This is not the case at the high school level of too heavy for their bases,” Loyce Chin sophomore cheerleading. cheerleader said.

“I would never stress dieting or being ‘X’ amount Even though a social standard for weight is a part of weight because of the position (the cheerleaders of the position on the cheerleading squad, both girls are) in,” cheer coach Bri and coaches agree on one thing: exLarson said. treme diets are not the way to satisfy Larson doesn’t feel that these pressures.

I would never girls should be struggling to “No one I know is really on a diet,” stay small in order to be a Periolat said. “It’s just (that) cheer stress dieting or flyer. mainly just keeps you in shape.” being ‘X’ amount “You don’t have to neces“You see (pressures) but it’s not resarily be tiny to be a top girl,” ally a huge deal,” said Chin. “It’s not of weight beLarson said. “Sometimes the like in movies; cheerleaders aren’t like cause of the posmallest girls on the team that.” have no body awareness, no Both Larson and Dixon try to emsition (the cheerflexibility and do not work in phasize the health of the athletes over leaders) are in. the air.” the tangible success of those athletes.

Dixon saw this to be true Sinor agrees with this coaching in his cheerleading experimethod and advocates for it strongly.

–Bri Larson, ence as well when he had a “I think it’s the coach’s responsibiliGBHS cheer coach 140 pound girl who was an ty to really keep an eye out on athletes athletic stunter. but also provide information on nutriThen he changed partners to tion,” said Sinor. “That should be part a 100 pound girl but she was of the coaching.” not as athletic or adept with Dixon, Larson, and most of the her stunting skills which made it harder on Dixon. players in their sports are aware of the pressures that “I would take the 140 pound (partner) that I had on are exuded in the cheerleading and wrestling in other varsity way better because you have to know how to areas or levels. stay tight, you have to carry yourself (and) you have However, according to the coaches, any weight to push into the stunts,” Dixon said. pressures that come with their sport are not affectJunior cheerleader Julia Periolat, however, says ing players at the high school level in the drastically sometimes she does feel the classic “cheerleader negative ways that are seen in higher levels. Most pressure.” athletes feel that the sport is more helpful than it is “As a flyer, (I feel pressure) to stay more fit and harmful to their body image. small so it’s not as hard on my bases or so I can stay “Bottom line is trying to accept who you are and as a flyer,” Periolat said. focus on more (of) what your strengths are and what Even as sophomores, some cheerleaders are starting you bring to your sport and your team,” Sinor said.

Nicolette Pinkney

BY AUSTIN DOWNS

adowns.gazette@gmail.com

Your names.

Your games.

The Gazette Sports.

It’s not every season that both outside hitters for girls’ varsity volleyball are sophomores.

Nicolette Pinkney is one of those sophomores.

Pinkney began playing girls’ volleyball in seventh grade and now feels like a veteran of the sport, both in high school and in club.

“Playing on varsity (as a sophomore) is an exciting opportunity,” Pinkney said. “Although it’s a little difficult getting used to the whole team and playing together.”

So far, in the high school season, Pinkney has flowed nicely into her roll of outside hitter and continues to look onward.

Pinkney’s position as an outside hitter is a key spot to the game.

Her position is crucial because the

outside hitters receive the set a majority of the time. If a mistake occurs during the rally, the “safety” set will usually go to the outside as well.

Because of this, Pickney must be on top of her game.

Pinkney feels that the one thing she needs to improve on is her defensive skills.

“My passing is not as good as my hitting. My hitting is really strong but for this season I want to get my passing up,” Pinkney said.

Pinkney’s biggest challenge on varsity is the competition in the league as well as playing with and against new people.

“I’m really hoping that (the team) will make section playoffs and maybe even going to state,” Pinkney said.

Pinkney practices hard for the high school every Monday,

Read the Granite Bay Gazette, the award-winning student-run newspaper.

Gazette photo /RACHAEL VASQUEZ

Wednesday and Friday. She hopes that these practices pay off every Tuesday and Thursday when they have games.

Pinkney keeps herself busy and in shape during the off-season by swimming for the varsity swim team.

Also during the off-season, Pinkney plays for the Northern California Volleyball Club (NCVC) where she continuously sharpens and strengthens her skills. Her club team last season finished second in the regional qualifier.

“My dad (is) a physical therapist so I sometimes do training with him (as well),” Pinkney said.

The greatest reward for Pinkney after all her hard work is when her effort and contributions lead the team to success.

“It’s really fun playing at a higher level of competition,” Pinkney said.

Friday, October 14, 2011

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Sports C5

TRIBE: New members set up for future seasons Continued from page C1

athletics,” Healy said.

Healy is incredibly proud of the success of The Tribe. He believes it adds a new energy to the school that was lacking before.

“I think that the level of energy (The Tribe) brings to sporting events makes the entire sporting event more enjoyable,” Healy said. “I’ve had parents come up to me and say how fun or crazy that game was, especially the energy from the Tribe.”

The Tribe’s success reached its pinnacle point last year, when the boys’ varsity basketball team faced off against McClymonds High School in the play off game at Arco Arena.

The Tribe showed up in large numbers for the team’s appearance at Arco Arena, totalling around 500 Tribe supporters.

“I like what The Tribe is doing for this school… it’s bringing all classes together,” Healy said. “Our school is notorious for being divided into cliques and The Tribe is trying to get past that.”

Last month, the soccer game against Jesuit High School-played at Capital Christian High School-drew a large crowd of Tribe members.

The Tribe even has its own Facebook fan page with over 600 followers.

“I thought it was a pretty cool idea (when I first heard about it). I thought getting a group of people together cheering would be good,” said senior Jake Neptune, who manages the Facebook fan page.

Senior Jordan Long, Harkin, Christian and Neptune, all are predominant members of The Tribe and put in the most work. They are the ones leading the chants at sporting events and other activities attended by The Tribe.

Once a game starts, Tribe leaders begin to lead the chants and make sure that everyone is participating. They also make

sure that the chants are appropriate and best support the athletes.

Christian and Harkin are noticing that the turnout for this year is an improvement from last year, but the noise level this year is not as loud as they would like.

“The only problem with the cheering of the Tribe is that some of the underclassmen aren’t getting as involved as they should,” Long said. “They should be louder and shouldn’t take up seats if they are not going to participate.”

With this year’s Tribe having such a great support from a majority of upperclassmen, many seniors wonder who the leaders will be next year.

“Will (Harkin) and Hunter (Christian) had the most input and spirit last year as juniors so all of that just transferred over to this year,” Long said.

It’s too early to tell who will step up next year.

“It’s not about who’s leading what,” Christian said. “It’s about getting as many people out to the games.”

Despite their success, the Tribe has experienced problems over the past two years.

During the football team’s opening home game against St. Mary’s High School this year, a group of students that were sitting on the edge of The Tribe’s section were standing up and cheering when a parent became frustrated that The Tribe section had been moved and the fans were blocking the parent’s view of her child playing in the game.

“She started swearing and yelling at us. I couldn’t believe that a parent would use such language towards us. I was shocked,” an anonymous Tribe member said.

Originally , the section that had been reserved for The Tribe was originally right next to the band. It was later moved closer to the entrance of the bleachers, a move that would upset some parents who had already been sitting there.

Gazette photo /Rachael Vasquez

Dominic Travato, Jerry Hansen, Carson Odegard and Jordan Long hold their hands over their hearts in the midst of their fellow Tribe members as the national anthem is sung at the first league game vs. Nevada Union game on Oct. 7

“(The parent) said that (The Tribe) was blocking her view and that we needed to move somewhere else,” the Tribe member said. “I went and talked to Student Government and the students said that what we were doing was fine.”

The student who was yelled at believes that in order to prevent further instances like this from happening, the Tribe’s section boundaries should be increased to decrease the occurrence of upset parents and to allow more Tribe members to join the section.

BAUMGARTEN: Golfer enjoys success Continued from page C1

fairway.

From there, Baumgarten mishit the ball into a bunker, and his troubles began.

Baumgarten got the ball out of the bunker, only for it to roll into another bunker. These unfortunate mistakes left Baumgarten with a double-bogey on the hole and his chance first place slipped away.

Baumgarten feels his ability to maintain his composure helps set him apart as an elite golfer.

On the sixth hole, which had a steep fairway, one could not see the green; Baumgarten chipped a seemingly good shot until the wind carried it into the rough.

Instead of getting angry or frustrated, Baumgarten just laughed it off and prepared himself to do better on the next hole.

“Although he (Baumgarten) may be small, he has a powerful swing and (he) is composed and full of confidence,” Romuk said.

Baumgarten’s skill is recognized not only by his peers and coaches, but professionals as well.

At the First Tee Open, professional golfer Brad Bryant said Baumgarten was the best junior he has

seen since he played the tournament himself.

“It was an amazing experience to catch a glimpse of the life of a professional golfer” Baumgarten said.

On July 23-25, Baumgarten played in the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

This tournament hosted the best golfers from around the entire world, with competitors traveling from countries such as Germany, Indonesia and Thailand.

In the boys’ 14-15 age group, Baumgarten managed to place tenth out of the 108 competitors.

Baumgarten mentioned he has started the process of contacting Division 1 coaches and later it would be his dream to turn his passion into a professional career.

As the summer season came to a close, Baumgarten has resumed practicing an average of five days a week at the Granite Bay Golf Course. In addition, he plays on the weekends when he can.

He looks forward to the spring, when the competition will be cranked up for the high school season and hopes to continue to be an elite golfer.

“This year we will have a really good high school team and we are going to win state” Baumgarten said.

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Tanner Thompson

BY RACHAEL VASQUEZ rvasquez.gazette@gmail.

Despite having a younger brother on the field with him, junior Tanner Thompson is making his own mark on the Granite Bay High School’s boys’ varsity soccer team.

Being on varsity for his second season, Thompson understands and reads the game well. This is because he has been surrounded by soccer his whole life.

“My dad played professional soccer so having him (assist my brothers and me) keeps us determined to try to move on to the next level,” Thompson said. “My family and I are involved with soccer every day, whether it’s just watching it or playing it.”

As the center mid fielder, Thompson is a part of all the action as he distributes the ball to his fellow teammates. However, last year Thompson wasn’t able to play center midfield as much because he was asked to play outside midfielder.

Although he was able to regain his normal position as a junior, adjusting to the new season has been difficult. At the end of last year, the team lost a substantial amount of seniors and starters.

This year, his senior brother Ty Thompson was no longer allowed to play high school soccer due to conflicts with his club team. Also, his younger Gazette photo /RACHAEL VASQUEZ brother sophomore Tommy Thompson has been Tanner Thompson runs up the field for a goal injured for a majority of this season as well. “(The team) hit a rough spot,” Thompson said. mood and hard work with humor.

“But we’re starting to come back, starting to earn “Tanner (should) concentrate and focus a little bit the wins and starting to move up the rankings more but he always has something funny to say and again.” something funny to do,” Fischer said.

The family may all be enamored with soccer, but “Sometimes it’s a distraction but it’s hard to quesThompson is nothing like his brothers. tion his ability or the quality of his play.”

“Of the three brothers, Tanner is probably the Still, senior Will Harkin believes that Thompson most explosive,” said boys’ varsity soccer coach is bound to be a key component to the team next Steve Fischer. “All of a sudden he will crack a shot year as a senior. out of nowhere and it will knuckle and dive into the “He’s a really talent kid and he carries our team a back of the net before the (opponent’s goal) keeper lot of the time,” Harkin said. “I think he’ll become even realizes that Tanner shot it.” more serious next year because he is already beThompson isn’t the most focused player, despite coming a leader this year.” his game performance. He enjoys lightening up the

At last year’s first home football game, Tribe members dressed up as Native Indians, which included headpieces, body paint and Indian feathers.

The community didn’t find the costumes as positive as the Tribe leaders had intended. The result was the prohibition of Native American attire from future events.

During the first 2011 football home game, the Tribe offered any supporter free body paint.

“Someone in Student Government

bought a type of body paint that didn’t come off easily after most people got home,” Neptune said. “It stayed on for a couple of days after the Friday game.”

Although it has suffered through some rough patches, the spirit of the Tribe can not be set back by any problems it has had.

“One of the things I love most about the Tribe is that it is so open and accepting,” Long said. “It’s a (group) where anyone with school spirit can come to cheer on their fellow classmen.”

SOCCER: Club forces top players to quit GBHS school boys’ soccer team Continued from page C1 also were playing on their high school team.

Perez said that this was a violation of the rules and the team would be shut down if any players continued to play on their high school team.

“It was all from the U.S. Soccer Association, not from our coach,” Thompson said.

The announcement came as a shock to Giddings and Thompson.

“They told us we had a night to decide whether to play with the Academy, or for the high school,” Giddings said.

Both Giddings and Thompson believe that the rule isn’t totally malicious.

“It is an effort to protect the players,” Giddings said, “the chance of a player getting injured is twice as much if they are playing twice a day.”

Still, Giddings is frustrated with the ruling of Perez and U.S. soccer.

“It was completely unfair for them to make us quit” Giddings said. “We made a commitment and they told us we couldn’t follow through with it” GBHS wasn’t the only local high school to be affected by this new rule.

“All but two of the players were playing on their high school team,” Giddings said. “Guys from

Jesuit, Bella Vista, Visto Del Lago.”

Austin Ketchersid, a varsity soccer player at GBHS believes that this rule was a huge loss. “They were two senior leaders for our team,” Ketchersid said.

Both Thompson and Giddings had a great time on the GBHS team but the Academy was more to their preference.

“High school soccer is only a couple months long, while Academy runs for ten months,” Thompson said.

This extended season gives the boys more playing time in front of scouts.

“At all of the showcases for Academy, there are hundreds of college scouts watching.” Gidding said.

Both players are hoping to get college scholarships through soccer and they believe the Academy is the best way to help them.

“The Academy is just a higher level of play than high school soccer. It’s the best of the best,” Thompson said.

Even without the two senior leaders, the GBHS team is still striving to finish the season strong.

“Without them, we are still a nationally ranked team,” Ketchersid said. “We still are the best team in our section and have the most talent around”

TRANSFERS: Athletes come to GBHS for supposedly academic reasons Continued from page C1 competitive and GBHS’ water polo program, run by John Macleane, was the top option as a replacement. “(GBHS) has probably the best coach in the area for high school water polo,” Dendell said.

He also feels that his game has improved drastically since he transitioned to a Grizzly.

Dendell has helped the team achieve a perfect league record of 6-0, which included the defeating the Rocklin Thunder 16-3.

“I’m almost positive that (Rocklin High School) hasn’t won very many games,” he said. “If I had gone to Rocklin (High School), I don’t think I would have improved and I feel like I would be frustrated because I hate losing.”

Dendell believes that GBHS regularly produces winning teams because of the large percentage of boys’ water polo players who play club as well as

for the school.

Almost all the varsity soccer players also play on a competitive team, the best volleyball players play club as well as for GBHS and the top swimmers are on a year-round swim team.

Graduate Jerra Hagans, who swam for the GBHS’s girls’ team, was an intradistric transfer.

She swam for the Sugarbears and Granite Bay Gators for years under the coaching of John Sherman.

When it came to going to high school, she and her parents chose to go GBHS, instead of Rocklin High School to stay with Sherman.

“I felt that I wanted to continue (being coached by Sherman), as did my parents,” Hagans said.

She didn’t want to swim for the Rocklin Thunder, because she wanted to be led by, in her opinion, a better coach and attend a school that is known to compete better and be more successful.

The transfer to GBHS didn’t affect her in regards to her events in swim meets, but she did feel that being coached by Sherman allowed her to grow as a swimmer.

Sherman has been coaching for 17 years, and was a swimmer for 15. Hagans felt confident in his ability to coach and guide a winning team, having led GBHS to 32 league championships and 5 section championships during his 8 years as a head coach at GBHS. The success of the GBHS teams and coaches is often taken for granted by athletes who have grown up in the program. This is not the case with students from different schools Many try to transfer to GBHS to better themselves for their sport, as well as academically, because of the reputation GBHS has earned.

Simply put, Hagans said, “(GBHS) is known to compete better.”

Your athletes.

Your games.

Granite Bay Gazette Sports

C6 Sports

Friday, October 14, 2011

w The Granite Bay Gazette

AT A GLANCE

Stats at a Glance Football Upcoming Games: w10/14 vs. Woodcreek w10/21 @ Del Oro w10/28 vs. Rocklin Record as of 10/7/11: 5-1

Girls’ Water Polo Upcoming Games: w10/18 vs. Roseville w10/20 vs. Bear River “We are currently in third. We will hopefully be in second soon,” Sara Northam said.

Record as of 10/7/11: 3-5

Boys’ Water Polo

Junior Sam Perry, left, serves the ball to Rocklin High School while her teammate junior Kristin Kupershoek focuses on defense on Oct. 6. Above, senior quaterback Brendan Keeney prepares to pass during Oct. 7 game against Nevada Union High School. Senior Will Lewis, below, reachers to grip the ball and pass to a team member in a game against Rocklin High School on Oct. 6. Arriving first to the ball, senior Brady Nations, far below left, defends the ball from a Rocklin High School opponent during an Oct. 5 game before passing the ball up the field. Streaching to reach the ball, junior Sara Northam, far below right, save the ball from going into the net on an Oct. 5 game against Rocklin High School.

Upcoming Games: w10/18 vs. Roseville w10/20 vs. Bear River Record as of 10/7/11: 5-2

Boys’ Soccer Upcoming Games: w10/14 @ Woodcreek w10/19 vs. Del Oro w10/21 @ Rocklin Record as of 10/7/11: 13-3-3 “Our season is going well.

We only lost once when at St. Louis,” Felipe Zagarra said.

Girls’ Volleyball Upcoming Games: w10/18 @ Nevada Union w10/20 @ Woodcreek w10/25 vs. Del Oro Record as of 10/7/11: 12-5

Girls’ Tennis Upcoming Matches: w10/18 vs. Rocklin w10/20 vs. Roseville w10/24 SFL Singles w10/27 SFL Doubles Gazette photos /Rachael vasquez

Record as of 10/7/11

Cross Country Upcoming Meets: w10/28 League Championship “We do pretty well when (Frosh/JV) boys move up and race for varisty,” Trent Brendel said.

Girls’ Golf

Upcoming Matches: 10/17 SFL Finals Record as of 10/7/11: 7-0

green screen.

Pottermore Have you gotten your owl yet?

Page 13

Google + The new Facebook? Or just another social network failure?

Page 7

Oh, the horror

8

best horror movies of all time Pages 10 & 11

The Gazette’s art and entertainment guide October 2011

Page 2

October 2011

Preview.

In this issue...

Gum Review

Sp

Pa

ge

Page 17

ot 5

ify

y a l P l l Fa view Re Page 12 Fall TV Preview Page 16

October 2011

SUNDAY

Page 3

Calendar.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

SATURDAY

FRIDAY

October 12

Columbus Day

18

PSAT at

GBHS

13 and 14

BONFIRE

one lunch

31

hug a water polo player day

21

HOMECOMING WEEK HALLOWEEN

15

MIDTERMS

Football vs.

Rocklin

November

5

SAT at GBHS

Rediscovering Neverland

Gazette illustrations/HAYLEY MCAVOY

Netflix helps to reconnect with the lost childhood memories With all the shows like (Jersey Shore, The Office and Tosh.0) on every night of the week, it’s hard to remember a time when just Saturday morning cartoons were enough. My favorite was always Rugrats.

Sadly, over the years I have lost interest in the adventures with Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil, and, of course, Angelica.

However, I am not alone.

I have not seen Rugrats on TV on a regular schedule, since I was a tyke myself. In fact, I don’t believe it’s ever on at all.

Lately, I’ve been rekindling my love for those babies and their wild imaginations through Netflix.

While watching, I’m filled with nostalgia for the days when the biggest issue was who you were going to play with.

With so many big choices in sight that will affect the rest of my life, it’s calming to think back to a simpler time.

Their problems seem insignificant compared to the oncoming pressures of midterms, sports, college, SAT’s, etc, but non-the-less, they captivated me for that half an hour.

I believe that’s because I so desperately wish that my biggest issue in the world, right now, was finding my

Commentary

hayley mcavoy

hmcavoy.gazette@gmail.com

lost screwdriver.

In those days, Tommy was my idol. His bravery and spontaneity inspired me in my own childhood life.

My cousins and I would watch the episodes, then try to play out the entire plot in my backyard, living our lives through Tommy and the gang.

The imaginative stories of him and his friends, whether it was overthrowing the tyrant Angelica or helping Reptar save the city, are permanently engraved in my brain.

Even now when I watch the episodes, I can automatically recall what happens next or how it ends There were other shows around when I was little that also left their mark on me such as Blues Clues and Spongebob Squarepants. But none in the way Rugrats did.

Rugrats instilled the spirit of youth adventure and wonder inside of me forever.

To me, Tommy was the Peter Pan of my life. After starting school and going through elementary school, I would still resort to Tommy and the gang to renew the baby spirit inside of me.

But, unlike the movies, everyone must grow up (even in cartoons).

In Tommy’s case it was in the run off show, All Grown Up. This ended my fascination of my youthful spirit, and like everyone else I longed to grow up.

The magic of Tommy and his friends came about because of their baby adventures, so once they grew up the magic was lost.

Now that I’ve found my lost youthful spirit, I’ve been reliving my childhood through Tommy and the gang.

However, just like Tommy, I will have to grow up too.

Page 4

Blink 182 Neighborhoods

BY JOEY PUHALA

A

jpuhala.gazette@gmail.com

fter separating for five years, Blink-182 released their first album since 2004. Their new album, Neighborhoods, features 14 long-awaited tracks.

Their opening song, “Ghost on the Dance Floor,” gets the album off to a rough start. The rhythm was slightly fast paced for the lyrics, and it was nothing more than average. The chorus was somewhat catchy, but that didn’t make up for the lack of creativity in the rest of the song.

The next few tracks, “Natives”, “Up All Night” and “After Midnight,” were terribly disappointing. From awful musical leads to a sad attempt at catchy choruses, these tracks were downright terrible, seeming to lack that distinctive sound that

B

DBPM RECORDS

The Whole Love was released on Sep. 27

Skip to: Born Alone

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brought them popularity in their early years.

The remaining tracks are a big improvement from the first part of the album.

“Snake Charmer” is the first song to show any promise. Being the first quality song of the album, this tune is incredibly catchy.

“Heart’s All Gone” features a two-minute long instrumental introduction. This song provides a nice change from the rest of the album.

The next track, “Wishing Well,” is even more reminiscent of the band’s past. With a catchier chorus and a less “produced” sound, this track is one of the better ones from the album.

“Kaleidoscope,” the next track, has a promising musical foundation, but the vocals just don’t cut it; they have an auto-tuned sound to them.

The next few tracks, “This is Home” and “Mh

4.18.2011” both give off very produced and flat sound, consisting of very little variation from anything else they’ve done.

Following those, the songs “Love is Dangerous,” and “Fighting the Gravity,” are possibly the only two unique songs to come from this album.

They have a more spacy feel to them, providing a nice change in pace from their other songs.

The ending song, “Even if She Falls,” is probably the best track on their album.

With promising lyrics and great vocals, this is a solid song to wrap up their album.

INTERSCOPE RECORDS

Neighborhoods was released on Sept. 27

Skip to: Even if She Falls

Wilco The Whole Love

BY CHASE EVANS

chevans.gazette@gmail.com

ilco’s indie rock feel and strange arrangements of music makes The Whole Love something refreshingly different and smooth.

The album opens up with a seven minute long soft acoustic rock song called “The Art of Almost,” which is very characteristically like Wilco’s previous albums.

Wilco typically plays a blend of acoustic indie rock with lyrics that walk the line between random phrases and deep philosophical thoughts.

After the seven-minute song complete with synth and a bongo drum, the band transfers into a slower more dreary tone with songs like “Sunloathe” and “I Might” which talk about sad days and things lead singer Jeff Tweedy thinks of at night.

The band writes their lyrics for certain songs by having one band member type a line on a typewriter, followed by another member adding

on to it while only reading the most recent line written. This makes for some interesting lyrics, as you might imagine.

The frequency at which Wilco transfers from upbeat almost pop-like music to sad dreary tunes is simply amazing. There is a slight astronomical theme to their music with songs like “Sunloathe,” “Dawned on Me,” and “Black Moon.”

My favorite song on this track is “Born Alone” which is a musically brilliant piece with a catchy guitar riff, good meaningful lyrics and a fantastic overall tone. It’s catchy without being shallow and pointless.

Wilco continues switching back and forth between melancholic songs and happy upbeat tunes until they close with the twelve-minutelong epic “One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend).” I didn’t think that a song could entertain me for twelve minutes but this

The Devil Wears Prada Dead Throne

BY BECKY MASSIL

rmassil.gazette@gmail.com

L

October 2011

C

Music.

ike all of their albums, The Devil Wears Prada’s September release “Dead Throne” isn’t perfect, or by any means, the best by this metal-core band, but it is certainly a giant step forward.

This album, although not as instrumentally brutal as their others, seems to hold structure and concept well enough to be an enjoyable album.

There is an sufficient amount of singing in this album, and the songs are more structured.

Some of the best songs from The Devil Wears Prada’s distant past use to not have a definite chorus, but there were only a couple of songs like that on this album.

Although that is part of the reason why oldtime TDWP fans adored their music and the band stood out, the change isn’t necessarily bad. The vocals are still hard-hitting and this

album has an ambiance that suits it pretty well.

Once again, the lyrical focus is anti-idolatry – it’s a thematic favorite. The lyrics are generally less poetic than they used to be and don’t stand out much compared to the instruments, but they are still powerful.

Possibly the best part of the album is the ambiance in relation to the concept. For example, the album begins really well with amazing sound effects on the beginning track of this album.

The two songs named after American states/ cities, “Kansas” and “Chicago”, are the most refreshing and atmospheric on the album. None of the other songs sound anything like them, and that’s truly an asset.

The song that most people would probably enjoy the most on this album was “Pretenders”. It’s one of the most hardcore tracks with lots of heavy riffs and some prominent drums.

The drums haven’t been getting much limelight since some of the first TDWP albums, so this

song erased my doubts. The song was long but not for the sake of being long. It has another catchy guitar part and a very folk song feel, while still being new and interesting. I never felt like they were stretching the song out or that it was boring.

The album as a whole was a solid overall album with a lot of character and musical talent.

Wilco has always interested me and while being known for being pretty out-there and indie, they produced a very listener-friendly album that keeps their old feel intact.

They made the necessary transition from being different for the sake of being different to being cool while still balancing keeping their identity. This album was very strong overall.

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was a strong reminder of the percussionist’s capabilities.

The guitars really stood out on this album, but I used to love TDWP for their drum elements. I would have been happier had I heard more of those throughout the album and not just in “Pretenders” and “Kansas”.

A problem with this album was that a lot of times the song would go into a captivating bridge and come out of it in an unimpressive FERRET RECORDS way, basically not doing justice to the bridge.

Also, a lot of the songs’ endings were awkward Dead Throne was released on Sept. 13 and abrupt and only sounded appropriate in very few instances.

You might not like this album much if you Skip to: aren’t into hearing a lot of singing in screamo music or if you preferred the old irregular Lauren’s structure some of this band’s songs used to Song follow.

However, Dead Throne remains a phenomenal release. It’s not my favorite album, but overall it’s pretty clean-cut and really entertaining.

October 2011

More Music.

Page 5

...even more new music technology New music site, Spotify, flourishes in the entertainment world

BY CROSBY ALLISON

callison.gazette@gmail.com

A

nother revolution in the music streaming industry has come, and its name is Spotify.

In 2008, the streaming service was developed to allow access to millions of songs, from music labels such as Universal, Sony, EMI and Warner.

Spotify began in Sweden and was started by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzen. The site quickly drew users throughout Europe, and was eventually made for use in the United States.

One of the many reasons for the creation of Spotify, besides the desire for the ability to stream millions of songs, was to make an alternative to the rampant illegal downloading that music listeners engage in.

Spotify does not infringe on copyright laws.

Unlike Pandora, Spotify allows users to choose the song they want, and unlike iTunes, full songs are available rather than minute-long sample.

Granite Bay High School junior Megan Hansen, a proponent of Spotify, gets annoyed by the advertising of the different services.

“Ads randomly pop up, which is annoying, but not as annoying as Pandora’s,” Hansen said.

“But Spotify is worth it overall.”

A premium version of the Spotify program is available for $9.99 per month, and an “unlimited” version for $4.99 per month. The system eliminates the ads that free users have to deal with. While the premium version has this feature and more, it provides better sound quality and access to exclusive content like album pre-releases, and it allows paying users to use Spotify on their mobile phone.

GBHS junior Chris Noia, a user of Spotify, gave his view on the free version of Spotify said,“I think the main service is really the same whether you pay or not, and the benefits for paying monthly aren’t enough to convince most people to get premium.”

Although many other new features are available for a monthly fee, many prefer to retain the fettered version.

Not only does Spotify provide its own range of files, but users can add their own, lesser-known local music to the library so it can be enjoyed along with the rest.

The site also allows independent artists to submit their tracks so they can be added, providing profit for the starving musician, although the compensation may not make anyone affluent.

Spotify gives more control to the listener than Pandora or similar music-streaming programs in that vein.

Although Pandora has become a preferred tool in finding new music, Spotify can be of use, as well, in ways similar to iTunes’ Similar Artists.

For several weeks, Spotify was only available by invite, but now can be used for free for six months.

The decision to open the site to the public was made because the creators believe that music should be enjoyed socially.

Social networking and Spotify have become inextricably linked; an account with Facebook is required to create a login for the service. Such a model has been both exalted and derided by users, since it has exponentially increased the number of Spotify members and made it more difficult for non-social media users to enjoy the application.

The link to Facebook also allows users to share songs and see what friends are listening to at that moment. “Tweeters” can introduce a gratifying track to their followers.

Austin Redfern, a junior at GBHS who does not use Spotify and had not yet heard of it, said, “It sounds pretty cool and I’d like to check it out sometime… I probably wouldn’t become a member, though.”

Spotify may sound like a Mecca for music aficionados, but it still has some drawbacks.

Non-paying users are limited to a 20-hour-permonth streaming limit, purposely to reserve Gazette illustration/HAYLEY MCAVOY bandwidth.

Rdio, an even more current streaming service from a founder of Skype Technologies SA, has also begun to garner interest in the absence of advertisements for free users.

The world of music streaming has been transformed by Spotify.

Page 6

Sleeping

Tunes.

October 2011

“Deadweight on Velveteen” by Jose Gonzalez This one is for indie music-lovers. Jose Gonzalez perfectly balances his guitar rhythms with his slightly monotone voice to leave listeners with a slightly sad and sleepy feeling.

“Stay Golden” by Au Revoir Simone Just like having a choir lightly singing their gentle lyrics in the listener’s ear before they go to bed, this is the perfect song for falling asleep. The abstract subjects will leave the listener wondering in light thought as they begin to drift off.

“Delicate” by Damien Rice The opening guitar instrumentals alone will leave the listener snoozing within the first 45 seconds. Damien Rice’s voice complements his guitar in a wave of gentle expression through a mellow song of love.

“Porcelain” by Moby This is a song an individual probably would hear in their art class. The imaginary lyrics and background music will send the listener on a journey of dreams and wonder before even falling asleep.

Mixtape Gazette writer Ari Black compiles a playlist perfect for relaxation.

Artist of the Month: Alexis Rae Snyder COMPILED BY CROSBY ALLISON callison.gazette@gmail.com

Age: 17 Grade: Junior Instrument: Guitar

“All Around Me Acoustic” by Flyleaf Flyleaf is often stereotyped to be a skater-girl emo band that only offers songs with screaming and angry lyrics, yet Flyleaf’s acoustic session has allowed her a whole new chapter of music. In this song, the music fades away as the beautiful vocals of the song flourish and ring above any other components.

“Skinny Love” by Bon Iver Simply a classic, Bon Iver never lacks in his ability to leave the listener sleepy and relaxed. His lyrics are not complex and don’t leave any need to digest the ideas.

“Aqueous Transmission” by Incubus Finally, a mellow song from Incubus. Not only is the song closed with real recordings of crickets chirping, but the whole song is filled with music by the Pipa, a Chinese instrument that gives off soothing sounds.

Q: When did you first start playing guitar?

A: Eighth grade.

Q: How much time do you devote to music?

A: About an hour or two every day.

Q: What do you usually write your songs about?

A: Personal matters. Just stuff that happens. Stuff that I find impacts me.

Q: How do you write your songs?

A: I write the guitar part first, and then I find a melody that goes along with it, or notes that I can sing with it. And then I write the words.

Q: Who are your influences?

A: Laura Marling, First Aid Kit, and Neil Young.

Q: How would you describe your genre?

A: Well, other people have described it as folk, acoustic and indie.

Gazette photo/OLIVIA CORNELL

Read green screen.

Your guide to GBHS entertainment.

October 2011

A

Page 7

Technology.

BY BECKY MASSIL

rmassil.gazette@gmail.com

fter dominating the Internet with its maps, search engine, internet browser and email, Google has released its new social networking site: Google Plus.

After many months of being limited to users with invites, Google Plus is now open to anyone age 18 or older.

Granite Bay High School senior Sahil Khosla was one of the beta users of Google Plus before it was open to the general public.

“I was invited early on, but I never really got into it that much,” Khosla said.

When Google Plus was just starting out, usage was low because of how few people were members.

“I had to check it out because I like Google so much,” said senior Calvin Cartano. “I figured if Google released a social networking site, it would be better than Facebook.”

“Not many people were on at the time,” Khosla said. “On Facebook you maybe had about 600-800 friends, but on Google Plus... four or five of your friends were... on.”

However, Google Plus has been picking up quickly during its free-for-all stage because it has functions and layouts that are different from other social networking sites.

Distinct features of Google Plus are its “circles” and “hangouts,” which are main reasons that senior Andrew Pascua joined.

“I wanted a video chat where I could group chat with a lot of people instead of just one,” Pascua said.

Biology teacher Chet Dickson also likes features of Google Plus, particularly the circles.

“It lets me keep in contact with certain people without getting too busy” Dickson said.

Many people at GBHS have jumped on the Google Plus bandwagon.

“The beauty of it is that you can check your social networking, you can jump over to your email, you can check your docs, and then you can search the Internet,” Cartano said. “Everything’s connected through

Google.”

However, the possibility of Google Plus overtaking Facebook in popularity is questionable.

“If it gets a little more advanced, perhaps in the future a lot more people would start using it,” junior Vamsi Chekuri said. “But for right now, the people who are really into technology would be the only ones using it.”

“It’s coming along – there are still a few more updates that they could do to make it better than Facebook overall,” Pascua said.

However, others believe the chances of Google Plus surpassing Facebook are slim.

“It’s going to be hard to get people to join in masses,” Khosla said.

“I don’t think (students) will switch to (Google Plus) until Facebook gets into a waste-line,” Cartano said.

“Unless Facebook makes a big mistake and people get turned off by it,” Dickson said, “I’d have a hard time thinking another social network will overtake it.”

Family

Friends

Acquaintances

* T re n d I N G *

Gazette illustrations/ JESSICA REESE

A look at this month’s newest trend: StumbleUpon

BY JOEY PUHALA

E

jpuhala.gazette@gmail.com

veryone’s heard it at some point or another: the Internet provides access to an unlimited assortment of content. And to harness the Internet's allegedly endless supply of relevant material, there is StumbleUpon.

Exploding in popularity, StumbleUpon is a website that uses the hobbies and interests of the user to direct them to relevant links.

With over 500 topics to choose from, the results range from websites and blogs to pictures and poetry.

A possible reason for the site’s sudden growth in popularity is that it makes it easier to share the user’s online experience with their friends because StumbleUpon has also started connecting with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

With features like these, it becomes much more than just a tool for exploring the internet, positioning itself somewhere in between web browser, search engine and social networking site. This makes it appealing to many people, especially high school and college students.

The company’s popularity spike seems to be in part due to the fact that they recently released an iPhone application. Now, the application has been downloaded

over one million times, and roughly 40 percent of the website’s overall traffic is being driven to the site by the mobile version.

Another key feature of StumbleUpon is that it gets better and more tailored to the user with each use.

Every time it directs the user to a web page that they ‘like,’ it takes it into account and suggests more sites related to it. Over a few browsing sessions, this feature creates a set of pages personalized to the user.

When a user is browsing the web, StumbleUpon provides endless content chosen specifically for them. As a result, people all over the nation are jumping on to this new trend.

Page 8

October 2011

Eat.

Mama Mia!

Gazette staffers sample local Italian restaurants

Pasta Village

BY BRAD WONG

W

bwong.gazette@gmail.com

hile Pasta Village in the Wal-Mart shopping center is no mini-Italy, their food is on point.

I was greeted warmly by the cook/cashier and ordered the shrimp scampi.

My food was ready in a quick six minutes and I was greeted by a generous portion of steaming linguine with shrimp, tomato sauce, some basil, and a piece of bread.

Having traveled to Italy, I noticed the tastiest dishes surprisingly were the simplest and highlighted the few ingredients they had.

The shrimp scampi I ordered seemed to imitate this principle and altogether was very successful in being simple, yet very tasty.

The shrimp were lightly seasoned in the tomato sauce which tied the whole dish together. Toasted pine nuts

added texture to the dish and an extra crunch which cut the smooth texture of the noodles. With the zesty tomato sauce, crunchy pine nuts, and pockets of flavor from the shrimp, all these elements combined to create a delicious Italian replication.

The cold piece of plain bread, however, sat awkwardly on the side of the dish and felt like an afterthought slapped on the plate.

While it was a hearty portion, it did cost ten dollars which seemed a little pricy for a quick meal. But if you don’t mind the extra cost, it certainly is worth it.

If you don’t want to spend that much money, there are plenty of other options such as soups, salads, or sandwiches to enjoy for a lower cost.

Pasta Village had a very welcoming and fresh environment. Everything was very modern with an inventive ceiling of exposed air ducts and unique hanging lights.

The leather couch seats, dim lights and cool colors gave

the seating area a relaxed ambiance.

Another nice feature of Pasta Village is a station that consists of lemon, cheese, salt, pepper and red chili flakes.

This was a nice touch since you can add a little something that is just to your liking - maybe some spice to your pasta, some lemons to your water, or some cheese to a meal to make it extra cheesy.

Overall, I would go back to Pasta Village for the friendly service, relaxed environment, and the many options of tasty dishes.

Even for the price, the quality of the food and service was worth it. And, while it wasn’t reminiscent of homemade Italian pasta, it was a simple, hearty, good plate of pasta.

So, for those looking for a nice plate of pasta, or some relatively Italian food, Pasta Village might be worth checking out in the near future.

Macaroni Grill

BY ARI BLACK

ablack.gazette@gmail.com

A

ren’t the classics always the best?

The Macaroni Grill in the Rocky Ridge Center has been around for years and never seems to falter from its position as one of the best Italian restaurants in our area.

Not only are the main dishes delectable, but every other element of the meal is delicious as well.

With an antique-like building, the classic Italian decorations offer a homey feeling to the building.

Immediately after walking into Macaroni Grill, your nostrils will be filled with the sensational scent of Italian delicacies.

On top of the environment, the service is outstanding.

Upon walking in the front door, servers immediately seat you, or bring you to a comfortable waiting area.

The environment is suitable for anyone from a group of kids before Winter Ball to a family birthday dinner.

Upon being seated, a warm loaf of Rosemary bread is brought to the table, accompanied with olive oil and vinegar, a perfect starter to any good Italian meal.

The bread is delicious, but make sure to only have a few pieces and to resist the temptation to gorge.

Macaroni Grill has mastered their classic entrée dishes, particularly their Pasta Milano.

The Pasta Milano contains a mix of bowtie pasta, lean grilled chicken and sun dried tomatoes drenched in a garlic cream sauce, a treat for the taste buds.

The small size of the bowties makes it easy to eat the dish gracefully, making it a perfect option for dates and

dances.

On a lighter note, Macaroni Grill’s salads are also an option for a satisfying meal.

The classic Caesar salad, which contains fresh Romaine lettuce topped with parmesan and garlic croutons, is a delicious and simple meal option.

Last but not least: Macaroni Grill’s Margherita pizza.

The refreshing combination of vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil make for an authentic kind of Italian pizza, and creates the sensation that one is sitting in a real pizza shop in Italy.

From the beginning bread to whatever main dish one eventually chooses, Macaroni Grill offers an elegant environment with food that will never leave you disappointed.

The Old Spaghetti Factory

BY RILEY MAC MILLAN rmacmillan.gazette@gmail.

S

ince I was a young girl, I have been going to the Spaghetti Factory, mostly because I got to eat at tables in the caboose that sits in the center of the restaurant.

The warm lighting, the comfy chairs and the homey Italian setting really make for a fun experience.

Many years since my childhood visits to the Spaghetti Factory, I find myself once again visiting one of my favorite restaurants.

At the entrance to the restaurant there is a fountain that trickles water. Walking through the oversized doors I found large couches and chairs, available space for people who were waiting to be seated.

I was seated right away in my favorite spot, the ca-

boose. It’s the center of attention. From there I saw old couples on double dates, children slurping up spaghetti and parents calmly talking on their night out.

A waitress came to our table immediately and took our drink order. I appreciated the speedy service I received throughout the night.

The selection of entrées was not incredibly long, but the choices they did have sounded incredibly delicious.

From the list, I chose to order the lasagna vegetariano, a delicious meat-free pasta dish that has mushrooms, squash, and eggplant.

While waiting for my meal, bread was brought to eat. It was warm and fresh and had butter on the side.

This mini loaf of bread was one of the highlights of my meal. The smooth buttery taste left me wanting more.

Soon after consuming the entire loaf, my main dish came, along with a side of garlic bread and marinara

sauce.

Upon arrival, my mouth started watering. It looked scrumptious, and it tasted absolutely delicious. I had to concentrate on slowing my pace of consumption because it tasted so good.

After finishing my meal, the check came. The total cost for a two-person meal, which included cheese and spinach ravioli, vegetarian lasagna, garlic bread and two drinks, was only $32.45. I found this to be reasonably priced because the portions had been generous.

Something special about the Spaghetti Factory is that they offer a gluten free menu. Not many restaurants I have visited have gluten-free menus that are available for every table. For people who are gluten-free, eating out can be a challenge. Knowing this, I will definitely bring my friends who eat gluten-free to the Spaghetti Factory for a special night out.

October 2011

Eat.

Page 9

Vaiano Trattoria

BY SYDNEY KAHMANN skahmann.gazette@gmail.

A

Gazette photo /RACHAEL VASQUEZ

s a serious pasta fan, I can assure that Vaiano Trattoria does not disappoint.

Located off Douglas Boulevard at the corner of Auburn Folsom (right behind Bank of America) this restaurant serves great Italian food in a relaxed, family setting.

As soon as one walks in, it’s obvious that Vaiano Trattoria is a cozy, intimate place to eat some soon-to-be favorite Italian food.

Their menu has a range of homemade dishes, from seafood pizzas to vegetarian lasagnas and everything in between. All were reasonably priced, especially considering the portions were large enough for leftovers.

With Italian music playing softly in the background, inviting indoor and outdoor seating, Tuscan décor and photos of classic Italy on the walls, Vaiano Trattoria’s atmosphere shows they are proud to serve Italian food.

And they definitely have reason to be.

The service was excellent. Our waitress was perfectly attentive and helpful without being annoying.

Almost immediately after being seated, a basket of crunchy bread was brought out with a bowl of interesting sauce loaded with lots of garlic.

Unfortunately, there was not enough sauce for the large amount of bread.

The ranch on the salad we ordered wasn’t just typical ranch, it was a tangy vinaigrette that coated the springy greens with its tartness. I highly recommend this Insalata Mista salad.

For the main course, the group I was dining with ended up ordering the Penne Salsiccia e Rucola, the Vitello and the Tortellini alla Boscaiola.

The penne pasta was flavored with lots of sausage and arugula (a type of lettuce-like plant), a tasty blend of meat and veggies.

The Vitello was a veal dish in a white wine, garlic mushroom sauce that was surprisingly delicious. This sauce had a smooth flavor that worked well with the veal and was enjoyed by our entire party. Even the lactose-intolerant of the bunch was a huge fan of the Vitello, and personally it was my second-favorite dish of the three sampled.

The Vitello, though, was overshadowed by the incredible tortellini. The tortellini was so good, I find it hard to describe. It had small pieces of ham spread throughout and was topped with creamy sauce. Absolutely amazing!

The dessert menu had options like cannoli, but I chose the Cioccolato Lampone. When it came, it was so beautifully arranged, I almost didn’t want to eat it.

The Cioccolato Lampone was a decently sized chocolate truffle mousse with raspberry marmalade and more chocolate on the outer glaze. For customers who are incurable chocolate freaks, like me, they’ll love this glorious chocolate masterpiece.

If you’re looking for Italian food, try something new and fantastic at Vaiano Trattoria in Granite Bay. This family friendly restaurant is good for all ages, a delicious restaurant for all tastes. It is a place where cheese, Italian and chocolate lovers unite, and then fight over the fabulous food.

Il Fornaio

BY JESSICA REESE

jreese.gazette@gmail.com

L

ocated in the Galleria Shopping Center, Il Fornaio’s low-lit dining room provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of the

mall.

My mom and I went on a Tuesday evening and were surprised to find the restaurant bustling. We were quickly shown to a table tucked back in the indoor patio off the main floor.

After we sat down, the bus boy quickly brought us a large basket of fresh-baked bread and some dipping oil. Of the three varieties, my favorite was the rosemary bread, with its thick crust and soft center. I easily could have made a meal out of the endless bread.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to. It would have been a shame to miss out on the Insalada del Fornaio. Unlike most salads, this was not the standard iceberg lettuce coated in thick dressing.

The spring mix and light citrus vinaigrette was a welcome change.

For our entrees, my mom and I both chose dishes off the specials menu. Mine was a risotto with mozzarella, beef tips, mushrooms and a myriad of vegetables. The creamy texture of the rice was lovely, especially with the rich melted

cheese. I especially liked how the beef complemented this. When I first ordered the dish, I was wary of the beef-mozzarella mix. But, upon taking my first bite, I was pleasantly surprised. The two flavors melded together wonderfully.

Unfortunately, my mom was not so lucky with her entrée – a seafood pasta with shrimp, salmon and scallops. Though the dish that arrived at our table looked delectable, we quickly realized that the dish was not what she had ordered. Rather than salmon and scallops, the pasta was mixed with clams and mussels.

At first, the wait staff was defensive, insisting that my mother had simply misread the menu and was thus at fault. However, upon consulting the specials list and realizing their error, they quickly recovered. The manager even came over to apologize and waive the fee.

If that wasn’t enough to make up for the mixup, the desert did the trick. Warm apple crepes with caramel sauce and vanilla gelato in pastry custard – I was in dessert heaven.

Minor problems aside, I was pleased with my experience at Il Fornaio. I was impressed by the wide selection and quality of the dishes. The ambiance and large price tag, though, make Il Fornaio more suitable for date night than a quick lunch between shops.

Gazette photo illustration/SAMANTHA SPARGO

Pages 10 and 11

October 2011

Scream.

Movie images courtesy of: Twisted Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Brothers, Six Entertainment, Brandywine Productions, Orion Pictures, 20th Century Fox

Saw (series)

The Gazette’s Haley Massara reviews 8 horror movies to watch this Halloween season.

The Thing

S

ay what you will, but no selfrespecting gore fan can let the Saw series films go unnoticed.

I don’t think it will come as a surprise to anyone when I say plot is fairly secondary in Saw. So I’ll sum it up in a few sentences: A crazy guy called Jigsaw finds ‘bad’ people and places them in horrifically dangerous traps. Most of them die in interesting ways. Occasionally, one survives, but more often than not they go on to replace the current Jigsaw when he invariably bites the bullet. Multiply this by seven and you have the Saw series.

Most of any given Saw consists of Jigsaw’s victims’ usually unsuccessful attempts to survive his traps. I find it’s a lot like watching a really, really intense game show. No matter how unlikable you find a given victim, you find yourself anxious to see what they’ll do to survive. Or, alternately, how they’ll meet their inevitable, gory demise.

Despite the often laughably contrived plots and ludicrous dialogue, the films offer moments of poignancy when victims of traps are pitted against one another. Saw is, in essence, half snuff film and half sociological study. The group dynamics of the characters can, in better Saw movies like Saw VI and Saw V, be almost as interesting as the traps.

Ultimately, though, that’s why the films are worth watching. The level of detail put into the traps – no, all the special effects – is staggering. The Saw series is one of the goriest horror franchises of recent history (indie and foreign films excluded), and its notoriety is well-earned.

If you have a weak stomach, this is not the series for you. But for those of us who find the sight of a man digging a key out of his own skull with a scalpel downright awesome, you’d be hard pressed to find a better guilty pleasure.

Thing by using CGI instead of puppets and blood. CGI just looks too polished, I find; “real” monsters have the surreal, almost fake-looking strangeness of real life. To some, they might seem dated and unconvincing, but I find them so much scarier.

And the The Thing is a horrific example. Be ready to have nightmares about your dog shooting tentacles out of its head and eating you alive.

you glued to your seat.

28 Days Later is a solid, smart piece of work and a perfect starting place for someone unfamiliar with the zombie flick genre.

The Human Centipede

28 Days Later

a horror film, it strangely leaves you satisfied.

The Human Centipede, I almost regret to say, is worth watching, if for nothing more than all the pop-culture references it has inspired, and for a few cheap laughs. We’ll be telling our kids about this one.

Silence of the Lambs

it somehow manages to be both disturbing and completely realistic – and that realism is part of what’s so unnerving about it.

Silence of the Lambs is one of the few films that can successfully straddle the line between horror and crime drama, and fans of either genre are sure to love it. It’s one of the least violent films on my list, but certainly one of the most unforgettable.

A

T

he token “disease” zombie apocalypse movie of recent years, 28 Days Later helped to jump-start the zombie craze of the last decade and is still considered one of the best films of its kind.

Set in London after England is overrun by a “rage” virus, the film follows a group of survivors as they search for refuge. It’s the formulaic zombie plot we’ve all come to know and love – but with enough twists to keep even a seasoned apocalyptic survivalist entertained.

28 Days Later definitely has bite (literally at times). As far as zombies go, these are pretty terrifying. But just as scary are the power struggles that evolve between the survivors and the way the characters react to a desperate situation.

The characters are likable and intelligent, the blood is plentiful (but not gratuitous), and the fast pace will keep

W

hen I first heard about this movie, I knew I had to see it. And virtually every rumor about it is true. But, if only for the sheer gruesomeness of the titular idea, The Human Centipede has, I believe, become a modern cult classic.

The first thing you need to know is that it gets amazingly low marks in the gore category. This was an extremely low-budget movie, and, as such, audiences only get glimpses of the centipede-creating surgery.

But that’s also the brilliance of it – we don’t need to see it to be grossed out.

It’s hard to imagine anything worse than being sewn to someone else’s orifices.

Nonetheless, the crazed German doctor in the film is just so creepy that I found myself more interested in him and his plans for his pet than his hapless, obnoxious victims.

The acting (with the exception of the doctor) isn’t great, the cinematography is awful, and the film should, by all accounts, be a bomb, relegated to the discount bins at Wal-Mart. And yet, as

T

hough not even necessarily a “horror” movie, per se, Silence of the Lambs is just too good to

miss.

This crime thriller pits two of the creepiest serial killers of all time against each other: “Buffalo Bill,” a crazed, sexually disturbed murderer who skins his victims; and Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lector, a former psychologist enlisted by the FBI to catch Bill.

Through her work on the case, the film’s protagonist, an FBI trainee, is forced to confront her own, equally dark inner demons.

Gripping from beginning to end, with memorable, multidimensional characters and decadent writing, Silence of the Lambs is the perfect horror movie for people who don’t like horror movies.

Rather than relying on cheap scares and blood and gore, the film uses insights into the twisted minds of Lector and Bill to terrify audiences.

A masterpiece of psychological horror,

Alien

The Shining

I

only recently saw The Thing, but already I consider it one of my favorites – and, certainly, one of the scariest films I’ve ever seen.

In the film, a team of Antarctic explorers encounters the titular monster after it takes the shape of one of their sled dogs. Realizing quickly that the creature can also infect humans, the men begin to distrust one another and are picked off one by one – by both human and the Thing.

Few films can strike that precarious balance between suspense and violence so well. There’s never a dull moment; the characters are either being chased by a horrific monster or fighting with one another over their apparent humanity.

The Thing lacks characters who are stupid or take unnecessary risk. There are no cringe-inducing “guess I should go see if the alien is dead” moments.

Rather, as appropriate for world-class scientists, the explorers use experiments to see who is human – and the results are anything but predictable.

That’s probably the scariest part – you, the viewer, are just as unsure about who’s real and who isn’t as the characters are.

But the best aspect of The Thing is, by far, the special effects. I’m all for the latest and greatest when it comes to technology, but you just cannot get the level of realism you can achieve in The

The Exorcist (1973)

N

ot every film adaptation of a Stephen King book is good. In fact, some are pretty awful.

But this film is perfection, a classic in every sense of the word. It’s scary, wellacted, and gripping from beginning to end – all without guts and gore.

Jack Nicholson plays an author who, along with his family and decidedly creepy young son, takes a job as the offseason tenant of a ski resort. In typically convincing Jack Nicholson fashion, he goes completely nuts.

This is one of those movies you’ll probably need to see a few times to really wrap your brain around. Was a given scene real or all in his head? Is the hotel haunted, or is it all just cabin fever? You might not ever really know, but it’ll certainly keep you thinking.

A visual treat, The Shining is perfect for those who’d like to peer into the disturbing parts of the human psyche – without getting too grossed out.

sk your parents about this one, and you might just see them shudder.

The film’s plot focuses on Reagan, a little girl who starts having violent seizures. Her mother takes her to see doctor after doctor, convinced there is something physically wrong.

After a series of gruesome medical procedures the girl’s condition only worsens, and it becomes clear she isn’t just sick. After enlisting the help of a trained exorcist and a local priest, Regan’s mother has her daughter exorcised, and the three come face-to-face with Satan himself.

Though one of the longer movies on my list, and certainly one of the slowest to build, some scenes of The Exorcist are unforgettably horrific.

I’m willing to bet that every exorcism you’ve ever seen has been, in some way, based on this movie. It’s that good.

The film’s special effects are occasionally a bit hokey (especially in scenes where things levitate). But Linda Blair’s acting, makeup and costuming is absolutely spot on; when the possession is in full swing, she looks truly nightmarish.

There’s a reason this film is so revered – and why it’s widely considered to be one of the scariest ever made.

The power of Christ compels you to watch.

T

hough inferior to The Thing in terms of sheer terror, Alien is a solid horror film, with decent scares and well-done cinematography.

When a mining ship receives a distress call from an alien planet, its crew goes to investigate. A parasitic “facehugger” attaches to one unfortunate astronaut, and, unbeknownst to the crew, impregnates him with an alien larva. The Alien thus wreaks havoc on the ship, picking off its crew one by one.

By far the best part of this film is its titular monster. It’s just so cool, so brilliantly designed and plausible. And it’s so very menacing. Alien is intelligent, terrifying, and oh, that little tonguemouth thing… It’s a scary movie, make no mistake.

The fun of watching it lies not in seeing what will happen to the helpless humans – it’s so well-known, even if you’ve never seen it you can probably guess what happens – but rather, how the Alien inevitably gets them.

Though the film’s special effects range from extremely dated-looking (particularly at the end) to nightmarishly realistic, no single moment of corniness manages to ruin it.

An oldie but a goody, Alien is a fantastic monster movie, scary enough to thrill hardcore fans but generally tame enough to keep the uninitiated from turning green.

Page 12

October 2011

Drama.

‘What I Want to Say, but Never Will’ Newest production from Granite Bay High School drama department premieres

BY BROOKLYN KLEPL bklepl.gazette@gmail.com

What I Want to Say, but Never Will was a unique performance that hit everyone who saw it with its raw emotions.

There were no defined acts or scenes like a traditionalstyle play, but instead it was made up of heartfelt monologues, intense dialogues, an interpretive dance and a unique song.

The monologues ranged from teens talking about divorce and parental problems to much more light-hearted ones about topics such as being short.

“One of my monologues was about being a pacifist against the war,” said freshman Madi Marzinzik.

She says she really is a pacifist, so this helped her connect more with the emotion of the character. However, she says she doesn’t know anyone who has actually been in the war.

The dialogues were very dramatic and included real-life situations that teens face while growing up. One, starring senior Samantha Webb, was about a boy telling his parents that he was gay.

“I play a guy, but I’m not dressed up like a guy. I’m obviously a girl,” Webb said. She also said that this was kind of hard for the audience to grasp.

The dance and song performances were nice ways to break up the heavy emotions of the monologues.

The dance was performed beautifully and represented the pain of being misunderstood.

The song, written and performed by senior Sharon Vaupen, flowed beautifully together with the strum of her guitar.

Vaupen really made this song connect with the audience and she drew emotion from the crowd.

The narrator, Alan, was played by both Coco Nakase, a senior, and Tomasina Tallerico, a junior. After every few performances Alan came out to explain or redefine things to the audience and sometimes interact with the characters who were having difficulty expressing what they wanted to say.

“We didn’t really have costumes [because] we are actors who play actors,” said freshman Kelli McTague.

This caused some confusion for the audience because it appeared as though the actors were just normal people boldly walking up on stage and saying what they would

never say anywhere else. However, the play was actually supposed to be the representation of real letters sent in by regular teens.

Another aspect that made this play unique was that the audience actually sat up on the stage around a smaller black box stage.

Some viewers thought that it was too close, but the actors said that it made the emotions more real and it let them interact with the audience more.

What I Want to Say, but Never Will gave viewers the inspiration to live life to the fullest and take the lead in their own life, uniting the community in a new and inspirational way.

My overall opinion of the play was that it probably took a lot of memorization to learn all of those monologues and the emotion in this piece was indescribable, but the presentation needed to be a bit more put together and cleaned up a little. There were some lines forgotten and some overlapping of dialogue that was clearly not supposed to happen.

I give What I Want to Say, but Never Will a B+ because of the charisma on stage and the fabulous performance.

Cast members of the new GBHS play, Sharon Vaupen and Hadley Rood, left to right, practice their performance at dress rehearsal.

Gazette photos/OLIVIA CORNELL

October 2011

Page 13

Stupefy.

Pottermore

The online Harry Potter experience where fans are sorted into a house Gryffindor

Hufflepuff

Ravenclaw

Slytherin

Gazette illustration/HAYLEY MCAVOY

BY DORIEN JOHNK

djohnk.gazette@gmail.com

For all of those Harry Potter fans who think their magical adventures ended with the last book and movie, think again.

Created by J. K. Rowling, Pottermore is the ultimate dream of a Harry Potter fan: the website continues the story of the young wizard.

Jenny Gilbert, a junior, has been a Harry Potter fan her whole life. “(The character has) been a companion to my childhood and I fell in love with the characters,” Gilbert said.

But will Pottermore live up to the expectations of such life long fans?

The site was launched through Rowling’s You Tube on July 31, the birth date of both Rowling and Harry Potter.

The occasion started the early access period in which one million of the first fans could complete “The Magical Quill” challenge and register to the site.

In the new Harry Potter world, all seven novels will be available for purchase as e-books or audio books in several different languages.

It will also include over 18,000 words of new Harry Potter content, including background detail and settings that Rowling had kept from her fans for years.

Breanna Bolton, a sophomore and president of the Granite Bay High School Harry Potter Club, was one of the countless Harry Potter fans who registered for early access to the website.

“I’m expecting it to be kind of like reading the books, but with more information,” Bolton said.

Other than learning more information about the Harry Potter books, Pottermore also offers a unique experience that sorts its registered fans into the four different Hogwarts houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw,

expectations for Pottermore.

“Even if it’s not popular at our school in particular, Harry Potter is (popular) world wide,” Bolton said.

She believes that the large Harry Potter fan base will cause the website to be very successful.

Pottermore is not designed to be game-like.

Instead, fans should expect a more illustrated, story book environment based on specific parts in the novels.

Willow Wood, a sophomore in the Harry Potter club, was one of the one million fans chosen to participate in the site before it opened to the public. “(To be accepted) you had to solve clues and then you would get your acceptance letter,” Wood said. “First you get to a welcome page and it’s basically a map of everything that you are doing.”

Wood said that the site will contain information from every book, but as of right now only the first book has been developed.

When a user enters the site for the first time, they are able to experience the most important Gazette illustration/HAYLEY MCAVOY moments from each book.

“In each of the moments and Slytherin. you have certain items you need to collect along the “They have a sorting quiz and J. K. Rowling designed way that help you later on in the story,” Wood said. it herself, so it’s very true to the book,” said Bolton.

“They’re basically images that are extremely detailed.”

“They have a lot of different questions they can ask you Wood thinks that it will be a popular site for all ages so no two people’s quizzes are the same.” of Harry Potter fans to enjoy. “You are experiencing The fans who were unlucky and didn’t get chosen to be everything through what would be Harry’s point of a part of the early opening of the website still have high view.”

Page 14

October 2011

Boo.

From Haunted Houses The Corbett’s House of Horror When: Oct. 7 - Oct. 31 7pm Where: 1120 Galleria Blvd, Roseville, CA 95661 How much: $10 for 1 haunt, $20 for 4 haunts. Cash only.

For more information: sacramentohaunt.com

Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm Where: 1415 Pumpkin Lane, Wheatland, CA 95692 When: 9am - 7pm daily For more information: (530) 633-2568

The Callson Manor When: 7:30pm- 10pm Where: Placer County Fairgrounds Roseville, CA How much: $7-$30 For more information: callsonmanor.com

Fright Planet When: Wednesday-Sunday beginning at 7 pm, also the 31st Where: CAL EXPO 1600 Exposition Blvd. GATE #9 off Ethan Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95815 How much: $20-$35 For more information: frightplanet.com

Fright Fest When: Oct. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 28-30 Where: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo, CA How much: $49.99 For more information: frightfest. sixflags.com/discoverykingdom

Rickey Ranch Vineyards & Pumpkin Farm Where: 6950 Cavitt Stallman Road, Granite Bay, CA 95746 When: 10am - dark daily For more information: (916) 797-2089

The Pumpkin Farm Where: 7736 Old Auburn Rd., Citrus Heights, CA 95610 When: 9am - 6pm daily For more information: pumpkinfarm.net

October 2011

Page 15

Boo.

to Pumpkin Patches The guide to finding the perfect scare... or pumpkin for halloween this year.

Apple Hill Where: 2461 Larsen Dr, Camino, CA 95709 For more information: applehill.com

Finding the Trick in ‘Trick or Treat

BY OLIVIA CORNELL ocornell.gazette@gmail.com

It’s time, once again, to celebrate Halloween and the festivities have begun.

It just so happens that there are four haunted houses occurring nearby.

Kyle Corbett, a Granite Bay High School junior, is part of his family’s haunted house: The Corbett’s House of Horror. His parents have been doing the haunted house since he was born.

“They do it because my dad is obsessed with Halloween” Corbett said.

This year, the Corbetts are trying something a little different.

They have always had the haunted house in their own home, but this year they built it near the Galleria, next to REI. So, it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.

“We have a vortex tunnel that is freakin’ cool,” Corbett said.

To get supplies for the haunted house, Kyle’s parents go to garage sales and Craigslist and then build the rest of it.

Last year around 1,000 people came to the haunted house at their house; so this year, they are expecting an even greater crowd.

“It’s gonna be insane!” Corbett said, “tell all your friends and come today!”

Chasteena Determan, a senior a GBHS, has been going to the Corbett’s haunted house for the past 6 years.

“I think it’s thrilling and every year it changes which makes it even more exciting to go to,” she said.

Another local haunted house is the Callson Manor, located at the Placer County Fairgrounds, run by Bryan Patterson.

“We do it because we’re crazy, we love

Halloween and haunted houses,” he said. “We have eight different attractions (this year). The fact that we have so much is the biggest appeal.” “(We buy things from) everywhere, online, home depot; we don’t generally buy stuff from typical Halloween stores,” Patterson said.

Around 10,000 people come to the event and volunteers work in it, mostly high school drama students.

There are many different reactions to the haunted house.

“Some people are laughing others are screaming and occasionally someone will pee their pants,” Patterson said.

This year there are some new enhancements to the Callson Manor. “We have a new zombie raid and new (attraction) called plant,” he said.

Other local haunted houses are Fright Planet and Fright Fest at Six Flags.

Page 16

October 2011

TV.

Fall TV Preview Find out what this season has in store for viewers

O

Desperate Housewives

nce again, the housewives are back with even more drama. The premiere alone opened up a season of secrets and lies.

After Gabi Solis’ (Eva Longoria) step father shows up at her house after abusing her in her childhood, Gabi’s husband murders the man as Gabi’s friends are walking into the house for a dinner party.

The group of friends will now struggle with the task of hiding a murder from their loved ones in order to protect their friend.

As the secret continues to be held, the housewives will begin to grow distant from their husbands, children, and friends.

Aside from the murder, the housewives’ love scene is becoming anything but simple.

Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman) and her husband are now separated and struggling to maintain a healthy relationship for their children.

Susan Delfino (Teri Hatcher) has spent every episode aimlessly wandering around the town, trying to be scolded for any crime she commits. Her guilt continues to build up from not receiving the justice she believes she deserves for hiding the murder.

Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross) receives an anonymous note, telling her that someone knows about the secret the women have kept about the murder.

When her detective husband becomes a suspect of writing the note, Brie realizes she must not reveal that she has any knowledge of what is going on.

It seems as time progresses on the show, the women dig themselves into even deeper holes flooded with scandal, love, secrets and regret.

– Ariahna Black

F

Revenge

inally, a refreshing and innovative TV show.

Originally starred on ABC’s Brothers and Sisters, Emily Van Camp has now branched off into a show in which she plays the dominant role of a young, wealthy woman living in the Hamptons.

As the weeks continue to progress, the story unravels to reveal a whole secret motive of why Amanda Clarke (VanCamp) chooses to live in this town, overflowing with drama, rumors, and charity functions.

The show first opened with a flash-forward of Amanda marrying the son of her neighbor, the “queen of the Hamptons.” As the show flashes back into normal time, Amanda is just starting her move into the environment of her desired motives.

In the premiere, Amanda decides to rent out a house that sits on a Hampton beach.

Immediately, questioning arises of how such a young woman could be so wealthy, why such a beautiful woman is alone, and why this lonely woman seeks out the attention and company of neighbors whose only intentions are centered on sweeping her out of the neighborhood.

As each week brings upon another episode, not only are Amanda’s motives becoming more and more clear, but also her background and history.

The show is overall centered around attempting to get revenge on those who killed and set up her father when she was just a toddler.

Amanda picks out and finds each individual that in some way contributed to the death of her only close loved one. Amanda’s mother has remained absent in her life in the flashbacks and present scenes of the show.

Basically, the show is a constant guessing game of what she will do next. It makes you begin to question how far an individual will go for the ones they love.

Aside from the main theme of revenge, the show also contains many other aspects to it, such as competition, wealth and human nature.

Revenge is a show for those who enjoy interpreting psychological aspects of why people do the things they do.

At last, Revenge offers a show to television that is not centered on a love story.

– Ariahna Black

T

The Office

he eighth season of this comedy classic is back and stronger than ever.

This season, The Office has a whole new feel to it, which can most likely be chalked up to the fact that Steve Carell (Michael Scott) has officially left the show.

With the overly-charismatic office manager gone, some fans are provided with a breath of fresh air; and others with a reason to stop watching the show altogether.

The show replaced Carell with James Spader (Robert California). As a result, the plots are slightly darker than in previous years.

This is probably due to the fact that in previous seasons, Carell played somewhat of a goofy protagonist, whereas the new office manager plays a much more serious role, boasting a slew of enigmatic qualities.

This, in turn, causes the office workers to fall into an inevitable state of panic, as they can’t readily predict what the new boss thinks of them, giving way to a few of the most creative plots this show has had to offer, giving season eight of The Office a slight edge over its previous seasons.

Another possible reason for having such a serious character is because if the show tried to get another character like Michael Scott, they wouldn’t have the talent and ability to live up to what Office fans remember.

Still, regardless of the cast change and the shows revamped feel, it maintains its hold on its unique style of sarcastic humor that its fans have grown to love.

With jokes in nearly every scene, there is still certainly enough to keep the followers entertained.

Overall, the plots are great, the jokes are hilarious, and the cast change provides a fresh change of pace to the same old show.

–Joey Puhala

I

Modern Family

t is the third season of ABC’s Modern Family, and it is full of all the qualities that make up a great T.V. show. With its unique style, it wasn’t long until this Grammy award-winning show started collecting quite a wide fan base.

The directors manage to create a series of separate plots, usually three or four, that all hold equal value to the viewer. Instead of having a main story with one or two sub-plots, it has three or four sub-plots that all feel like main stories, keeping its viewers just as interested in one story as the rest.

What’s more impressive is that the stories inadvertently coincide with each other at the end of each episode, forming a life lesson that everyone can relate to.

Another key feature of the show is its ability to appeal to a wide variety of people.

This is, at least partially, because the show tones its humor down enough to where it is appropriate for children. Surprisingly, this doesn’t take away from the quality of the jokes; they’re still hilarious.

The comedy in this show is simple, yet extremely comedic. The style of the humor is along the lines of sarcasm, but in reality is mainly due to the fact that they excel at poking fun at everyday “modern” family situations, making it very easy to relate to the characters.

Aside from the comedy, the show brings in many controversial issues of our time.

The show contains characters such as a typical “cougar” (older women/men that are in a relationship with someone drastically younger than them), and a gay couple.

The show offers a perfect balance with the issues, avoiding insult or formation of a biased opinion on any content included in the show.

The season so far is looking good, but they’ve got quite a reputation to maintain.

Last year, the show’s season two premier gathered 12.6 million viewers. This season, the show has the 16th highest revenue earning. With five Emmy’s under their belt, the pressure is on to keep their top position as one of the most followed shows on television.

This show, as a whole, is fantastic. The plots, the style of humor, and its ability to be enjoyed by almost anyone makes this a truly amazing show.

–Joey Puhala

October 2011

Enjoy.

Chews-ing the right

Page 17

gum

A Gazette staffer explores the various flavors to find the best

BY JOEY PUHALA

jpuhala.gazette@gmail.com

Trident Vitality TRIDENT GUM

This is a nice, long lasting mint gum with a slight twist: it has ginseng in it.

At first the flavor doesn’t come off too strong, but the ginseng gives it a more mellow flavor which actually complements the peppermint.

The texture of the gum is pretty average. It comes in hard pellets, and then gets softer as you chew it.

This gum would be only decent, but the added ginseng gives it a much-needed edge over traditional gum.

Overall, it’s a pretty good choice to go for if you want a less-intense peppermint flavored gum.

UP2U Mentos

This gum has got some serious strength. With its breath-freshening, nasal-clearing power, this gum is sure to blow anyone away.

Right off the bat, this comes off as a truly minty gum. The packaging claims to have filled the pellets with a tea extract, but the peppermint flavor overwhelms the tea, making it difficult to detect.

The strength of the gum only lasts for a few minutes. After that, it leaves you with barely any flavor at all.

The texture feels almost like candy, but in a gum form. When chewed, the outer shell breaks open releasing all of its wonderful flavors into your mouth.

Although it only lasts for a few minutes, this gum is definitely a must have for strong mint lovers.

DENTYNE COMPANY

Ice Breakers Ice Cubes With its cubic shape, this gum definitely puts a creative spin on traditional gum.

The flavors are similar to a typical peppermint, but slightly sweeter tasting. The flavor also lasts for a very long time compared to many other types of gum.

The real selling point here, though, is the texture. This minty gum is in the form of soft cubes, which release a wonderfully mouth-watering sensation that really makes this delicious.

Overall, this gum is just simply amazing and full of the essential components of a good gum: long lasting, great tasting, and fun to chew.

ICE BREAKERS GUM

Feed The Hungry Gum This is a gum you can feel good about buying: for every tray they sell, the company has 10 fruit trees planted.

Focusing on the gum itself, the flavor is pretty standard. The mint comes off fairly strong at the beginning, slowly getting less and less apparent until it is almost obsolete.

As far as the texture goes, this gum comes in small pellets, small enough to where it is almost necessary to chew two pieces to really be satisfied. It also has a hard minty shell around the gum, which gives a somewhat rough texture to it.

Aside from the fact that you can help plant trees by purchasing this gum, it’s pretty sub-par. The flavor and texture is only mediocre compared to some other gums out there.

Extra Dessert Delights

EXTRA GUM

PROJECT 7

Well, they’ve finally done it. This gum actually tastes like an apple pie, and a good apple pie at that.

At first, the taste comes off very strong, full of all the wonderful flavors associated with actual apple pie. Unfortunately, however, the flavor doesn’t last very long. After five or six minutes, the initial burst of flavor dwindles away, leaving you with only a very mild hint of what once was.

The texture is another set back, because it feels like ordinary gum. This wouldn’t normally be an issue, but it makes it feel like the flavors of pie shouldn’t be coming from a stick of gum.

Still, Extra’s Dessert Delights Apple Pie is just about as close to the real deal as you can get, making a great substitute for someone who is lacking a real apple pie, or even if they’re watching their calories.

Summit entertainment

50/50: A

By: Chris Pei cpei.gazette@gmail.com

SONY PICTURES

dreamworks

I went into Real Steel expecting to see a movie with plenty of action, with a good but not great plot and plenty of predictable scenes. That is almost exactly what I got.

The story opens with a mildly entertaining fight between an enormous bull and a fighting robot controlled by the main character, a former boxer, played by Hugh Jackman.

Before the fight even began it was obvious that the robot was going to lose.

Not because of the actual match-up, but because the main character, Charlie Kenton, placed a cocky bet on his robot , which was more than he could pay. So of course he was going to lose and go into debt to give him the opportunity of redemption early on in the movie.

From there, the story moved forward to a point when Kenton finds out that an old girlfriend died leaving behind his son, Max. Of course, Kenton doesn’t want the kid, so he signs away custody to the aunt and uncle.

But there is one catch: he has to take care of Max for two months while the aunt and uncle are on a trip, which he agreed to for a payment in cash by the uncle.

Jackman admirably plays the gruff, unwilling supervisor of his offspring, but in my opinion the situation has been used too many times before to bring anything truly great or innovative to the movie.

From then on Max spends his time traveling with his Kenton, explaining to him at every stage what mistakes he is making while the father continues to take stupid risks that never pay off.

Much of the rest of the movie is spent with Max and Kenton teaming up to move their robot slowly upward in the world of robot fighting, from backyard bouts to arena clashes until they are finally admitted to a big time event.

Going along with the cliché plot, Max and Kenton get one their one, last hurrah and a chance at the world title, but, surprisingly, avoided the cliché ending.

Fans of action movies who like a decent plot will enjoy this movie, but those who insist on a story that constantly surprises them or leaves behind an overall message will not be overly impressed.

Rated: PG-13 By: Kyle Pawlak kpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

real steel: B

O

ne wouldn’t typically associate actor and comedian Seth Rogen with a compelling, heartfelt film about the struggles of cancer.

However, 50/50 managed to strike a chord in me, utterly captivating me through its endearing characters.

Throughout the film, there is a contrast between the two sides of life, one being full of suffering and hopelessness, and the other being of humor and high-spirited relationships.

Despite the somber nature of the subject matter, the film manages to incorporate plenty of humor through the characters’ lovable personalities and witty dialogue.

Early on in the film, the main protagonist Adam Lerner, portrayed by actor Joseph Gordon Levitt, becomes aware of his condition, and is notified by his doctor that he roughly has a “50/50” chance of living.

From there, the viewer is thrown into the character’s everyday routine dealing with cancer, as he slowly realizes the missed opportunities and unappreciated relationships that he has in his life.

Seth Rogen takes the stage as the main character’s best friend, who consistently urges him to enjoy the remainder of his short days in bouts of debauchery.

The growth of their friendship is at the foreground throughout most of the film, providing much of the comic relief.

However, Adam’s relationship with his mother and his psychiatrist/love interest are also well-portrayed, both with a fair share of funny moments.

As for the plot line, the film’s scenes are very well put together, and the transition between events all flow quite naturally. The viewer is never left bored or confused as to what’s happening.

For the most part, 50/50 remained sensitive to the tragedy of cancer, while still depicting the funny, charming aspects of life that we sometimes take for granted.

Once in a while, people need a little reminder for them to see the good in their lives, and this film does just that.

After watching this poignant film, I was left with a hovering sense of appreciation for the relationships in my own life, and the fact that I’m still indeed healthy and alive.

Rated: R

October 2011

Film.

B

rad Pitt’s hair isn’t the only amazing thing about this movie.

I came into the movie theater expecting to be mildly entertained by another sports movie.

After the recent surge of boxing and fighting movies depicting a struggle to be great and having an obvious endings, I thought the same would follow for Moneyball.

Boy was I wrong.

The movie focused on a variety of different ways to scout and recruit new baseball players to the MLB along with how Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), the general manager for the Oakland Athletics’, along with the help of his assistant general manager Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) revolutionized that idea with an out-of-the box process focused to player statistics and produced the best possible team allotted in there financial capability.

Moneyball, for the most part, was a quiet film with its focus around the dialogue, the exception being the stadium crowd along with Beane’s occasional frustration that would result in the smashing of the nearest thing he could swing a bat at.

I enjoyed the film not having large amounts of noise or any action scenes (then again…it was a film based on baseball, not much action could happen except the game itself). But that in no way took away the gravity of the situation.

Moneyball had the same intensity as the latest Transformer’s movie (which had too many explosions to count), it was just more understated.

Another unique thing about Moneyball was how everything anyone did or said, there was always an underlying sense of urgency that could be felt. In other words, the characters in the film, while although appearing calm and collected, were actually very stressed out about everything and their expectations they had to meet.

For character as a whole, I thought that Moneyball had a wide range of different characters, each with a personality that contributed to the overall plot.

One thing I noticed about the two main characters was just that. It wasn’t a main and minor character. I, for the most part, felt that Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill were equal in character development and importance to the film.

Overall, this movie was quite enjoyable, perhaps a bit to long for my taste, but will please any sports’ movie fan or sports wonks who go and venture to see this movie.

Rated: R

By Austin Downs adowns.gazette@gmail.com

moneyball: B+

Page 18

October 2011

Sony Pictures

D

20th CENTURY FOX

wilight’s favorite werewolf strikes again in this poorly displayed action drama.

The conflict in the September released film Abduction begins when Nathan Harper, a senior boxer and wrestler at his local high school, is put on a project with his childhood sweetheart, Karen and begins to have the same reoccurring dream.

While doing research, the two stumble upon a missing child website that has a picture of Nathan, who was about four years old at the time.

From here, Nathan realizes that the life he thought he knew so well wasn’t quite what it seemed. After confronting his parents, he learns that his real parents sent him to live with them because their life was not safe enough for their boy.

Soon afterwards the CIA is in Nathan Harper’s house, and his adoptive parents are dead. His life is now in the hands of himself, his girlfriend and his therapist, who was assigned by his biological parents to watch over him.

Most of the movie is about young Nathan Harper and the newfound love of his life Karen running from the CIA. They are after him because of a list that Nathan’s biological father had left without his knowing.

Painfully predictable, Abduction’s plot never quite picks up. Nathan’s wrestling and boxing hobbies are learned to have been training techniques that he is able to use to fight off his enemies and protect Karen.

Regardless of the movie’s anticipated ending, it is hard to take most Taylor Lautner films too seriously, and was slightly enjoyable if you weren’t looking to criticize.

irected by Mark Mylod What’s Your Number, starring Anna Faris and Chris Evans, puts a unique twist on a classic tale of boy-meets-girl.

This movie is about Ally Darling (Faris) struggling to find love before it is too late.

Ally meets her neighbor, Colin Shea (Evans), when he storms her apartment looking for an escape from the girl in his apartment.

They strike a deal: Ally will help Colin escape his exes if he helps her find hers.

Another thing is that Ally has to find love soon because she wants to have a date to her sister’s wedding.

Based on the novel by Karyn Bosnak, 20 Times a Lady this romantic comedy had me laughing well after I walked out of the theatre.

I think that the author’s original work was portrayed very well by Faris, Evans and Mylod.

The acting done in this film was an amazing mix of comedic timing and intense girl drama.

For example, when Ally goes to a fancy dinner trying to impress one of her exes, she accidentally gets her hair put on fire with a Baked Alaska.

There were not that many action scenes in this chick flick, but there were a few nearly nude scenes.

Don’t worry, there were doubles standing in for those shots.

This is definitely not something to see with parents, it would just turn awkward really fast.

Overall, it was a great movie that I intend to watch again in the near future.

There was a great plot line that had me laughing so hard I cried. I think this movie has great girl power and also gives a great romantic touch.

My overall grade for this movie is an A- for its laugh-so-hard-you-cry moments.

Rated: PG-13

Rated: R

By: Mary Haney mhaney.gazette@gmail.com

By: Brooklyn Klepl bklepl.gazette@gmail.com

what’s your number?: A-

dream house: C

By: Crosby Allison callison.gazette@gmail.com

T

LIONSGATE

abduction: C-

W

ith a Metascore of 38 out of 100, “Dream House” may not be the film to see on a Friday night.. The movie has not been popular with other critics either, and has only grossed over $9 million thus far, leaving the producers with a $46 million deficit.

With a cast of A-list stars, including Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive), Rachel Weisz (Bourne Trilogy) and Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace, Casino Royale), the movie makes a promise it cannot keep.

The direction of the film is decent, with several awkward moments during scenes.

The cinematography, however, is very well done. The images create a better sense of enthrallment than the music, script or the plot.

Although this film is a textbook thriller, the exciting scenes are few and far apart, and the story line doesn’t create enough suspense.

Startling moments are easily foreseen, and generally unsatisfying.

The basis of the movie is the mystery surrounding the Atenton family’s new home.

The narrative becomes overly-convoluted and predictable, and imitative of other films.

While watching the story unfold, the impression that the writer tried to differentiate the plot from other films in the genre is not evident.

Like a multitude of recent thrillers and horror movies, the events of the film are precipitated by a family’s moving into a new residence.

Such a hackneyed exposition was also used in “Insidious,” “Paranormal Activity” and “The Shining.”

Still, the movie is interesting in its own ways.

It provokes a feeling of perplexity in the more thoughtful viewers, and is faintly Lynchian in style, possibly just because of the casting of Naomi Watts.

Those who enjoy movies like “Shutter Island” will not be entirely disappointed by “Dream House,” as many similar devices are employed.

Waiting for it to become available on Netflix, or watching it through another streaming-video provider is recommended to those determined to watch “Dream House.

Rated: PG-13

Page 19

Film.

Page 20

October 2011

Movies.

SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

50/50

A

DREAMWORKS

Real Steel

B

Sony pictures

Moneyball

In Theat ers

C

Dream House

SONY PICTURES

C-

Abduction

LIONSGATE

A-

B+

What’s Your Number?

20TH CENTURY FOX