High Tide
Redondo Beach, CA Redondo Union High School September 11, 2014 Vol. XCV Edition 2
Unsung heroes Take a closer look at the lives of the secretaries and assistants who work in the front office and this year’s new teachers
2. 1.
3.
Jennifer Cartegena
Principal Secretary
4. PHOTOS BY CARLA MACAR AND CHANDLER ROSS
Untold stories. 1. Administrative Assistant Patty Ulrich works as an as-
sistant to Assistant Principal Jens Brant. 2. Administrative Assistant John Islas helps out Assistant Principals Corcoran and Bridi. 3. Athletic Secretary Kathy Burling deals with athletic clearances and helps Athletic Director Andy Salzman. 4. Chemistry teacher Sarah Bottalico is one of RUHS’s new teachers and also coaches Dance Guard.
Working as an administrative assistant, Jennifer Cartagena balances her life at work with her life as a mother. Having been with the school district for six years, Cartagena feels that she and the students are “lucky” to attend such a “beautiful” school. “It’s a beautiful campus. We are so lucky and so blessed. Every time people come here, whether I’m working one of the football games or volleyball or basketball, the visitors that come here cannot believe what an amazing school we have,” Cartagena said. “The students outside are like, ‘your students are so lucky, I want to go to here. How can I come here?” They are just really excited.” Prior to working in the office, Cartagena worked at the district office at the middle school and elementary school in Lawndale School District. When she was offered a job at the high school, she felt “nervous.”
[continued on p. 8]
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High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
news
Photos of the Week Swing Dolls
Football Rally
Get into the swing of things.
The Swing Dolls preformed Sept. 9 in the RUHS auditorium. “We thought the Swing Dolls were very appealing,” Board of Directors for the South Bay Community Concert Association Howard Korman said. “They do music from the 40’s through the 70’s... I thought it was excellent.” 1. PHOTOS BY RAQUEL TAHVILDARI
Pumping up the people. 1. The band was
PHOTOS BY CHANDLER ROSS
the soundtrack at the rally for the first home football game. 2. Outside the Student Union, cheer and dance guard hyped up the crowd 2. for the night’s game.
Speaker leaves a mark by Shaniya Markalanda
While touring around the country, motivational speaker Scott Backovich stopped at RUHS on so he could spread his message. According to Backovich, motivation serves as a reminder to individuals. “I think we all have a purpose and we all know what that purpose is, that or we are actively seeking it out. I think motivation is just a reminder to get after that purpose,” Backovich said. Aiming to help “as many people who will listen,” Backovich hopes that students become a “catalyst”. “If they were to pick up one thing, my goal is that people be that catalyst, like we talked about,” Backovich said. “I just want people to give whatever they have to give, even if that’s honestly just friendship towards someone.” As a “catalyst”, an individual who makes the decision to change what is going on, Backovich feels that a person does not have to change his or her own life, but instead change the life of someone else. According to Backovich, one way to improve another individual’s life is to give, because by “giving what people what you have,” an individual is, “in reality, giving people hope.” “I think that my shirt kind of says it best: complain less, give more,” Backovich said. “We’re in a world that focuses too much on the things that we don’t have, opposed to the things that we do. If we focus on giving what we have, I think life would be a lot better.” Sophomore Stacey Manos agrees, believing that Backovich’s words “inspired” her. “He definitely made me feel inspired and made me think about making a difference in a way that I haven’t before,” Manos said. “I thought the giving message was the most important because I think kids these days are
so worried about themselves that they forget that we’re all going through something, and we could all use a friend.” One thing that Backovich hopes to give students is a voice. “I think that, unfortunately, with the way society is, students don’t have enough of a voice. So, if I can give them that I’ve done a good job,” Backovich said. Junior Cricket Childs feels that Backovich’s message is a “crucial” one. “It was nice to hear that giving what we have doesn’t always mean tangible items, but sometimes just being there for one another,” Childs said. When it comes to giving, Backovich emphasizes the two choices that students have. “I think students can put these things to use every single day. I think in every situation, you can choose to complain, or to give, and I think it’s a choice every single time, every single day,” Backovich said. Like Backovich, Sophomore Matthew Yonemura feels that his message is something students can use every day. “The motivational speaker made me feel like every action we make can have an influence on someone else, so it made me think more about my actions,” Yonemura said. Backovich believes that by responding to every action in a compassionate way, we will help achieve a comfortable environment for everyone. “I know that if every single person decides to respond to that action, not action fueled by anger or hatred or mistrust, that action fueled by a sense of kindness and compassion for people, we could have a place where students are comfortable expressing themselves and being themselves,” Backovich said. Backovich’s final question from his
PHOTO BY TED CAVUS
Motivated. Scott Backovich delivers his message about friendship, being kind and being a “catalyst”, while showing off the Elmo backpack that reminds him of better times. speech resonates the message he hopes to send to his listeners. “What’s stopping you from leaving here and making today more than just an average assembly day, from just stepping out of your friendship zone, but more importantly your comfort zone to help people who need
it? What’s stopping you from taking campus nobody’s and turning them into campus heroes? Because, listen, what you do at the assembly means nothing; what you do when you leave the assembly means everything,” Backovich said. “What’s stopping you from being a catalyst?”
High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
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news
ASB to start intramural sports league by Jason Rochlin
ASB designed and is implementing an intramural sports league for students to get involved in during lunch. Junior Daniel Ferradas, an ASB Athletic Commissioner, is in charge of planning the first sports league and getting it put together. “I’m basically in charge of the whole thing. I plan everything, write down all the materials I think we’ll need, and even book the gym with Mr. Saltsman, the Athletics Director,” Ferradas said. “I believe this kind of program is implemented in colleges, but I’m not sure about other high schools.” Students of all grades and skill levels are encouraged to come either check out the games or to play with their friends. “We want to get the RUHS students that don’t play any sports or aren’t on any teams
to be able to do something,” Ferradas said. The first sport of the intramural league will be basketball. It will last for eight weeks, with four teams playing each week in a double-elimination style tournament held in the small gym. ASB Director Brooke Mata is hopeful that people will come out and either see or participate in the tournament. “I think it’s a really great opportunity for kids to get involved in other things at lunch and have something to do besides just eating or going early to their classroom,” Mata said. “It can also give people an outlet to let out some energy during the lunch period.” If the basketball tournament is deemed successful, there are plans to try other intramural sports during the winter and spring. “The idea is to eventually do every sport
for eight weeks,” Ferradas said. “If we do another sport like kickball, it will be eight weeks of that, eight weeks of dodgeball, so on and so forth.” ASB hopes that the league will provide useful insight from both players and observers that can help improve the program for the future. “Basically we want to see who signs up, how many teams we can get to sign up, how many people show up to the actual games, and really just the general feedback,” Ferradas said. Mata agrees, and believes that this year will help pave the way for improved programs in the future. “This is really a first time trial run for us,” Mata said. “We can work out all the kinks and errors so that in the winter and spring
we can introduce new intramurals and potentially get even more kids involved if basketball isn’t their sport.” With the informational meeting soon, Mata wants students to sign up while they have the chance. “I hope a lot of kids will sign up for the tournament,” Mata said. “I think it’s a great opportunity that I hope people take advantage of.” The meeting where students can find out more about the league will be held on Sept. 17, but the tournament itself doesn’t start until Sept. 24. “I would love if everyone joined,” Ferradas said. “I think the idea of the whole thing is really just to get everyone more involved with school, so if we had students from all grades, I think it would just be amazing.”
Spanish Department feels a more immerSpanish changes curriculum The sive program is the best way to learn a language by Vaidehi Gandhi
Changes have been implemented in this year’s Spanish 3 curriculum, centralizing the focus of the course to culture, novels, and encouraging literacy. Teacher Diana Muñoz believes in “full language immersion” as a means of promoting spontaneous speech and communication. “I think that Level Three is the perfect time to try this because different from the other levels, these students seem to be more driven and more motivated to learn the language,” Muñoz said. “I like to think that level three students either enjoy the language or are good at the language.” Similarly, teacher Sergio Navarro also agrees that this immersion is the key to foreign language acquisition.
“I think we need to see Spanish from a top-down approach, looking at all the objectives the AP exam has and then working towards those goals,” Navarro said. “Immersing them in the language is a practical skill that students will be able to use for the rest of their lives.” Muñoz finds that making changes is necessary in order to keep up with the changing times and curriculum. “We want to promote literacy and we try to read novels, but I find that they are very rushed. We need to dedicate the time and take advantage of all the things a novel can offer,” Muñoz said. Navarro agrees and believes that focusing on the books is a good approach towards
learning the language. “A student can use the book as a reference tool more than just your main tool to teach language,” Navarro said. “I think Spanish needs to be taught in more practical ways like reading as well as participating in cultural projects.” Their goal is to not only promote literacy and hone their speaking skills, but to prepare students for their future as Spanish speakers. “I’m excited for the Level Threes. I think of it as my opportunity to try and get the kids to those higher level AP Spanish classes and get their Seals of Biliteracy,” Muñoz said. Navarro’s AP Spanish Language class had a one-hundred percent pass rate on the AP
exam, and the teachers’ goal is to maintain that success rate. “There are a lot of comparisons in the AP exam and we’re trying to get our Level Three students to think like that. We want students to try and be successful. We will be adding oral presentations to the cultural projects (CPR) to help students with their speech as well,” Muñoz said. Muñoz wishes to spread her love of the Spanish language and culture to her students to help them succeed. “I love the culture and I love the language. I want the students to continue taking Spanish and maybe even study abroad and become world learners,” Muñoz said. “That would be my goal.”
Yellow Ribbon Week ~ September 7 to September 13 This year is the 19th annual Yellow Ribbon Week, an event meant to raise awareness for teen suicide.
. . . . . Four
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults between the ages of
10 and 24.
5,400 suicide attempts on average by kids in grades 7 through 12. A youth suicide (between ages 15 and 24) occurs every 100 minutes . Since 1980, thee has been a 128% increase in the amount of suicides for adolescents between the ages of 10 and 14. out of Five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs. Every day in the United States, there are over
If you feel you or a friend needs help, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s number is 1-800-273-8255 INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE JASON FOUNDATION AND SUICIDE.ORG
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High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
opinion
student enrollment is a trend Around Editorial: Isthatrising cannot be allowed to continue? Redondo
What’s your opinion of the motivational speaker? compiled by Cody Williams and Dan Green
“
I was able to relate to his stories and I really want to chanange people’s lives.
”
Carlin Lang, 11
“
“
I though he brought his message across very well.
”
“
Erin Czulewicz, 12
“
He was terrible and unrealistic. He should have focused on relieving stress from the first week.
” “
Raymone Radi, 11
He had great enthusiasm. His story about his son named Simba was the best.
”
Jadyln Jamie, 9
“
He was incredibly funny; it would be cool to see talk again.
” “
I really loved him. I have a pic of us together. He really wanted to help people.
”
Cammy Gonzalez, 12
He was hilarious. The fact that I was laughing the whole time made it worth it. Aria Blurfrushah, 9
”
ILLUSTRATION BY STEVEN BELL-NIXON
in classrooms. Some say that it’s a good problem to have. More students means louder football games, more classes, and more jobs for teachers. There is some merit to that argument. Increasing the student body means more student variety as well, resulting in more clubs and likely new classes to accommodate any growing sect of students. Ultimately, however, something must be done. 3000 kids is a shocking number for a reason. Such a student body would create more problems than it does opportunities, and curtailing the growth of the student body of not only RUHS but the district as a whole is imperative going into the future.
Total Change in Student Enrollment 2014-2015 School Current Enrollment Change
Cailey Purkey, 11
“
RUHS is essentially at capacity. We see - and bump into - more students than ever before crowding halls and packing classrooms like sardines. This problem will not stop on its own. Total student enrollment in RBUSD schools increased by 257 students from last year; it is most evident at RUHS, where the student body has followed the trend of rapid growth, with an addition of 74 Sea Hawks. And these aren’t all native Redondo Beach students. RUHS’s reputation as the best high school in the South Bay has spread to parents, who are moving their families from all over the state and country into Redondo Beach so that their children may be able to pursue a “top quality” education as Sea Hawks. With the rising reputation of RUHS, more and more students will flock to the school, prompting a projected student enrollment for RUHS to near or top 3000 in the next 5-10 years. While class sizes are capped at a certain number, RUHS does have a limited amount of classrooms. More teachers will be forced by lack of space to share classrooms, as in the case of Mrs. Akhavan and Mrs. Valentekovich. Eventually, being the only high school in RBUSD will force some kind of resolution; it is imperative that a plan to slow the inflation of the balloon is drawn up as soon as possible - before RUHS starts bursting at the seams. By law, RUHS is required to enroll any student who lives within the district. In the past, students have come to RUHS from other cities and districts; however, this year zero new students were enrolled on permit from another area. It’s a problem that, admittedly, has no easy solution. These kids exist, and they need to go to high school somewhere. However, students and teachers both should not be subject to overpopulation on campus and
Alta Vista Beryl Birney Jefferson Lincoln Madison Tulita Washington Adams Parras RUHS Redondo Shores Total Enrollment
645 478 448 653 580 454 527 729 983 1098 2635 68 9298
+15 +14 +3 +14 +6 +2 +33 +40 +48 +22 +74 -14 +257
Editorial Board vote Is the growing student population a problem?
agree disagree
7 2
Correction Last issue a column was published under “Chris’ Corner” erroneously describing the changes made in the English Department this year. The English Department is not getting rid of the 1-9 scale. Everything that is graded will be converted to a 1-5 scale, and bigger assignments will be more heavily weighted. For example, if a student receives a 7 on an essay, that is an A. English teachers will then convert that A into a score out of 5. Not only essays but small quizzes will be given values out of 5 on Infinite Campus. This remains a newspaper committed to upholding its high standards of excellence and nationwide reputation, and we apologize for the error.
High Tide | Sept.11, 2014
Letters to the Editor
If you have an opinion about one of the articles, letters can be sent to the editor at hightideonline@gmail.com. We reserve the right to edit them for content, grammar, and space constraints. Letters must be signed and are not guaranteed to be printed.
High Tide
staff
Editor in Chief: Allegra Peelor
Managing Editor: Alejandro Quevedo News Editor: Jason Rochlin Opinion Editor: Christopher Paludi Features Editors: Yasmeen El-Hasan; Vaidehi Gandhi; Caterina Hyneman; Shawn Mallen; Shaniya Markalanda; Amanda Shaw
Sports Editors: Nina Gomez; Sophie Maguy
Writing Editors: Stella Gianoukakis; Kayla Nicholls; Grace Zoerner
Photo Editors: Ted Cavus; Chandler Ross
Copy Editors: Joseph Blakely; Kira Bowen
Online Editors: Vivian Lam; Romy Moreno
Photographers: Dinah Aiad; Samantha
Bendall; Jennifer Blanco; Madison Brooks; Erin Czulewicz; Daniel Green; Janelle Howe; Lexi Kleen; Carla Macar; Masha Pescheryakova; Laua’e Schweitzer; Tyler Wunderli; Adam Yorke
Illustrators: Steven Bell-Nixon; Luma Wegman
Staff Writers: Dinah Aiad; Gianna
Aquilina; Samantha Bendall; Jennifer Blanco; Madison Brooks; Malek Chamas; Jason Clebowicz; Isabella Cordero; Erin Czulewicz; Kelly Dickinson; Micah Ezzes; Lizzie Fauver; Yasamin Fazeli; Jason Fong; Camille Gerson; Daniel Green; Ilene Guerrero; Zach Hatakeyama; Kayla Hiken; Jessica Johnson; Massa Kassab; Brittany Ketting; Jon Mallen; Marie Ona; Kaita Pannor; Sadie Pearson; Masha Pescheryakova; Samaya Rubio; Laua’e Schweitzer; Parker Scott; Mylene Silver; Ava Uema; Simrun Ursani; Tyler Wunderli; Adam Yorke High Tide dedicates itself to producing a high-quality publication that both informs and entertains the entire student body. This is a wholly student-managed, designed, and written newspaper that focuses on school and community events. High Tide is published by the journalism class at Redondo Union High School, One Sea Hawk Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Signed commentaries and editorial cartoons represent the opinions of the staff writer or cartoonist and in no way reflect the opinions of the other members of the staff.
opinion
Are motivational speakers effective? Pro: Con: Brining in a motivational speaker sets the tone for the year, inspiring students moving forward.
by Cody Williams After an extensive summer break, filled with relaxation and absolute elation from the freedom of the constraints known as high school, it can be difficult, often times depressing, to readjust to the cyclical monotony of school life. Entering the school year with downtrodden spirits can be detrimental to a student’s work ethic and potentially lead to more serious academic and emotional problems later in the year. Because of the abnormal amount of stress students are burdened with at the beginning of the year, it is absolutely necessary to provide a gateway to stability. Inviting a motivational speaker to come to RUHS during the first week of school is an effective way to provide relief from the nauseating beginning of the year stress and set the tone for a successful year. The ability to influence people through the spoken word has forever been a cherished virtue. As futile as it may seem, Inspiration of high schooler’s through the spoken word is possible when when delivered with emotion and a degree of realism. Powerful messages, delivered by an experienced professional, have the potential to change the outlook of students and an ability to make campus a welcoming home instead of a dreaded hamster wheel. If generals are able to send their troops to a perilous death with a little bit of oratorical genius, why can’t students be be propelled into a promising future by the same means? In previous years, students listened to the sorrowful and often times shocking life stories of other hired motivational speakers. Although the messages brought across in these speeches were genuine and with good intent, they set a more depressing tone on the afternoon. This year, It was a privilege to witness the theatrical and comedic performance by Scott Backovich. His hilarious stories, such as the “YAAAS!” Incident, combined with unique interactions with students in the audience made him a more relatable and overall enjoyable character. By following a laughable life experience immediately with a serious issue more sharp in tone, subject matter and delivery, Scott Backovich was able to give his themes hefty meaning. Motivational speakers are useful tools in providing relief and inspiration to students after the liberation of summer break. The repeated moral principles of selflessness and positive change set the tone for the year ahead. After the marvelous performance by Scott Backovich, having a yearly motivational speaker at RUHS should be solidified as a school tradition.
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The speaker is ultimately ineffective, but still plays an imporant role for the students to start the year. by Chris Paludi
PHOTOS BY TED CAVUS
Changing your life takes more than someone telling you to do so. People cannot be expected to change their behavior with one day of laughs and anecdotes; they must undertake an equal role in consciously modifying their behavior, not just for the day following a speech but for weeks following it. In high school, this is not the case. Students amble down the hill and enter the packed auditorium in gleeful, chattery droves. They are excited, but not to hear a speech - not to be motivated. These liberated students don’t so much enter the auditorium as they flee the classroom, which is to say that students see this ‘Motivation Day’ every year as their chance to escape classtime. On ‘Motivation Day,’ “A” schedule’s already short class lengths are cut further, and therefore most students come to school that morning with the expectation of doing nothing all day. And it’s hard to argue that much gets done. With such significantly reduced class periods, teachers cannot adequately teach a lesson, and are generally reduced to reviewing. So with students’ “free day” attitude and teachers’ handicaps, the only way to redeem the day would be to asssert: ‘the long-term benefits of today’s speaker will outweigh a lost educational day.’ However, that is unfortunately not true. It would be interesting to see how many students would go if the speech was after school - in other words, how many students want to be motivated and want to change their lives. I’m guessing it’s more than a few, but much less than 2,600. Also, even students who fall under the ‘maybe this motivates me’ category, the ones who leave changed, only stay motivated and keep that positive attitude for a few days, maybe a few weeks. Conscientiously changing your behavior is hard even when that’s a primary goal - for example, dieting or a workout routine. For high school students, the list of worries is long, but most students prioritize a combination of the same things: romantic and platonic social relationships, grades, Netflix and the Internet. With so many other things to worry about, any speaker’s advice will generally fall by the wayside, even if the student leaves the auditorium with the intention of taking the motivational advice to heart. Nevertheless, the event is important for the school. Students may only get excited because they get to skip class, but at least students are excited. That’s administration’s goal: Kick off the start of the year with a popular event. A speaker may not be able to accomplish his goal, but administration certainly does.
Motivational Tweeters Students took to Twitter among other social media sites to thank and playfully commnicate with Scott Backovich
TWEETS COURTESY OF NOELANI MONTAS, MADDY BACON AND JESSICA JOHNSON
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In a Barbie world by Roxanne Labat
She watches the scalpel pierce through the patient’s layers of flesh and fat, exposing blood and bodily tissue. She is witnessing live plastic surgery for the first time. Last August, junior Katie McCarthy saw what it was like to operate on those willing to change their physical appearance when she interned at Marina Plastic Surgery for a week in Marina del Rey. “I got to meet all the doctors and see all aspects of plastic surgery,” McCarthy said. “When I wasn’t in the operating room observing what was going on, I would help move lights and pass them things. If I ever had any questions, they would answer. They were really good about informing me about everything they were doing and using.” McCarthy knew before interning that she wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. “I wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to see surgery to make sure I could handle it. I don’t want to be one of those people who wants to grow up to be a doctor but passes out at the first sight of blood,” McCarthy said. Her experience at Marina has helped her decide what branch of medical science she would like to study. “Now I want to be a surgeon, although I don’t know what type yet,” McCarthy said. “I’ve always thought of myself as someone who would go travel and help little kids in Africa or something. I love people and I would love to be able to help others with something like surgery. I feel that plastic surgery is a little limiting in that.” On the other hand, McCarthy enjoys certain aspects of plastic surgery.
features
High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
Junior Katie McCarthy interned at Marina Plastic Surgery this past summer
“Plastic surgery is still an option. I especially like the environment, since there are no emergencies and everything is really chill and enjoyable,” McCarthy said. McCarthy also expressed that those who are interested in something “need to go out and try it.” “I tried and it was such a great experience,” McCarthy said. “I learned what an abdominoplasty looks like, which is basically a tummy tuck. I never really knew how that happened. I just thought surgeons pulled out your stomach and cut it and sewed it but it was way more intense than that. You get a whole new bellybutton, pretty much. It’s so weird.” She also learned about the preparation that takes place before surgical procedures, such as surgeon sanitation and the use of iodine. “The first time I walked into the operating room, the patient was orange,” McCarthy said. “I was wondering if they were sick or dying, but it was the stuff that surgeons use to sterilize patients.” Although McCarthy has witnessed live surgery, she is more interested in human anatomy than her family and friends are. “My friends and family say that they can’t handle watching surgery, but you don’t really know until you go see it,” McCarthy said. “My parents are proud, I guess. They’re happy that I’m actually getting out there and doing it. My internship has opened more opportunities; other internships will arise because people
know I can do it. I’m professional and I can handle it.” McCarthy’s twin brother Erik has heard stories from McCarthy about her trips to Marina Plastic Surgery. “My sister loves learning about the human body, but I still think surgery is gross,” Erik said. Although surgery does not appeal to Erik, he still supports his sister. “It has helped her understand more about what kind of career she wants to pursue,” Erik said. McCarthy has plans for the future that involve more medical practice. “I’m doing a ride-along with my friend’s dad who does emergency medicine,” McCarthy said. “I’m going to be in an ambulance for a day. It should be pretty interesting.” Overall, McCarthy’s internship has given her perspective on her opinion of plastic surgery. “I think that if getting plastic surgery is going to make you happier, then you should do it. There is pain involved, though,” McCarthy said. “If you want to get some kind of surgery, you should watch an operation to see what the surgeons are doing so that you’re actually comfortable with it. I know that it’s all controlled, but it’s still crazy; you’re subjecting yourself to getting cut open. You definitely have to be aware of the recovery time and the pain.”
Robinson lived in Panama for nine months
Twofaced. McCarthy poses in her clinic’s scrubs. “I want to be a surgeon, but I don’t know what type yet,” McCarthy said. “I would love to help thers with something like surgery.” PHOTO BY CHANDLER ROSS
by Amanda Shaw
Nine months away from home. Nine months immersed in a new culture. Nine months educating people on a tropical Caribbean island. For nine months, teacher Sarah Robinson fulfilled her dream of living in Panamá. “I studied abroad in Spain for three months in college, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do again, but things got in the way,” Robinson said. “I got to a point where I thought, ‘I should do this now, I don’t know why I’m waiting.’ I really like central America, so I chose to go to Panamá.” Robinson was compelled to move to
A whole new world. 1. Robinson traveled to Panamá and taught English and Spanish. “One of the things I missed the most was how easy day-to-day tasks are here,” Robinson said. Photos courtesy of Sarah Robinson.
Panamá when tragedy struck, reminding her that life is fragile. “I had a student I was really close to pass away the year before I went. That made me think, ‘What am I waiting for? You don’t know what could happen,” Robinson said. Taking a leap of faith and moving to a new country, Robinson worked as a Spanish teacher for people from across the globe on the island. “They would come there and take classes. I helped them with scheduling, figuring out which type of class was best for them, and help them set up tours and activities for
them,” Robinson said. Teaching both English and Spanish, Robinson helped people utilize their new language skills in real-life situations. “We had a big volunteer program and I would set up volunteer stuff for them in places like schools, or elderly homes,” Robinson said. Working with these people was something Robinson had always wanted to do, but she missed the ease of life in Redondo. “You go down to the store, and get whatever you want--even going to the bank. The island I was on had one bank and if the ATM wasn’t working, there was no money until it was fixed. I missed how easy things are here that we take advantage of,” Robinson said. During her experience, Robinson met many different people. “The people there were great. Where I lived was like an indigenous community. It was all different people living together and I really liked that,” Robinson said. According to Robinson, during her stay, trash was a huge problem. “Living on a tropical island is really great about 75% of the time. They don’t have any facilities to deal with trash on the island, so sometimes the government will just stop picking it up. It was tough when everything
was so beautiful on the island, and then you see a pile full of rotting trash. That wasn’t too great,” Robinson said. Despite the trash problems, Robinson plans on returning over Christmas break and has come back with a new appreciation for life here. “I helped out in some schools there where they didn’t have electricity, and kids would have to take boats to school. Sometimes if it was bad weather, they couldn’t go to school. It made me realize how lucky we are here to have such a great school with so many things,” Robinson said. Robinson also learned how to put things into perspective, and not stress about the little things in life. “It is a really small town in the Caribbean. There was a really relaxed atmosphere, and sometimes here, in the fast paced environment of school and work, you get stressed. The pace there was so relaxed and it gives you time to enjoy stuff, to realize how beautiful it is to live by the beach, and to really get to know people, and say, ‘Wow, I have a lot of students, but I can take the time to get to know them and to enjoy doing fun activities.” Robinson said. “That was something I really brought back with me: to enjoy life. Relax and do what you can.”
High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
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features
Transgender Terminology
Transgender: people who identify
themselves as genders different from their inherent ones (ie male or female) Transgender Male: a transgender who was a female at birth but identifies as a male Transgender Female: a transgender who was male at birth but identifies as a female Transsexual: a person who has undergone a ‘“sex change” surgery in order to biologically change their gender
Queer: term referring to lesbian,
gay and transgender people Genderqueer: term used for people who are not entirely male or female Pansexual: people who are “genderblind,” attracted to males and females and are also known as “omnisexual” Agender: a person who needs no gender Androgyne: a person who is both genders at the same time
transgenders, transsexuals, agenders
information courtesy of http://transequality.org/Resources/TransTerminology_2014.pdf
Emerging Identity by Vivian Lam
He passes by the mirror and glances at his reflection. He sees his long hair, his chest and cringes at the feminine features. He is inherently addressed as a female, but feels no connection to the gender. Freshman David L. is transgender, meaning that he was born a girl, but identifies as a boy. “I feel like gender isn’t on your genitilia or on your chest. It’s on how you view and carry yourself,” he said. “No one can really know your biological gender unless they look in your pants.” He prefers to be truthful about his identity to other people around him. “I’d rather people reject me and know me for who I am rather than be friends with who I am not,” David said. Because he is at a new school and starting a new school year, David has to clarify his name and gender to the teachers and students. “In the locker room, there are only two people who accept me out of all the guys,” he said. “I change in a different row than them but some of the guys I know from middle school are weirded out.” When he was younger, he would cringe whenever he looked in the mirror. “I didn’t like the image of myself. I hated what was on my chest and what was in my pants, and female pronouns always upset me for some reason,” David said. “The person in the mirror wasn’t me. I didn’t even want people to call me by my birth name, Leia, because it is pretty feminine.” David discovered the term “transgender”
Freshman David L. comes out as a transgender male and learns to overcome offensive comments
in seventh grade. “I found what I could identify myself as. I’ve known I was transgender for a while, I just didn’t know what it was called until then,” he said. When he first came out in middle school to a group of people, they rejected him. “They hated me; they called me names; they made fun of me. They called me ‘garbage,’ ‘worthless,’ and ‘demon,’” David said. “Coming out then was really rough for me personally but it’s always tough when you come out with something new.”
just hurts “toareItknow there so many
hateful people in the world.
”
He learned not to care about the negative things that are said about him. He believes that coming out is “like a test” for his friends. “When you’re revealing something, you have to remember that the negative things people say aren’t who you are and aren’t going to represent you for the rest of your life,” David said. “When you’re coming out to your friends, those that stay with you and accept you are your true friends. It picks out the weeds from the garden.” Freshman Elizabeth N. was the first person to accept David for who he is. “I was shocked. It’s the typical reaction, but I said, ‘If you’re transgender, then that’s awesome.’ I didn’t care if he told me that he was an alien because he’s my best friend. Of
course I would accept him.” Elizabeth said. “I was always a shoulder to cry on and a friend that was always by his side when he needed it.” According to David, his classmates in middle school eventually “came to terms with it” after he came out. “People started realizing that I like girls and guys and that I did not dress like a ‘normal’ female,’” he said. “They eventually came to terms with it, knowing that I wouldn’t respond to them if they used my birth name.” However, there was some negative feedback after he declared his male identity. “Some of them, mostly guys, are weirded out and think I’m a freak. I really just ignore them,” David said. “They might make a comment about me with a head motion towards me as they are passing by. I would walk up to them and say ‘Oh, you want to tell that to my face.’ They make a lot of comments, just not to my face. They have no guts.” Although David confronts the people who make fun of him, the teasing still upsets him. “I’m pretty good at hiding my emotions, but when people reject me, make fun of me, or call me by my first name, it just really hurts me,” he said. “Even the thought of it makes my chest hurt. It just hurts to know that there are so many hateful people in the world.” However, David found confidence believing that this is his life, not anyone else’s. “I learned not to care about what people think. You just have to stay confident and be yourself,” he said. “I’m David and I’m a boy.”
asexual
female attracted to female
intersex: both male and female
attraction to both genders ILLUSTRATIONS BY STEVEN BELL-NIXON
page 8
center Jennifer Cartagena
Principal’s Secretary [cont. from cover] “I wasn’t sure about older teenagers-I liked middle school, but I was very nervous about high school. I thought, ‘What if they don’t like me? Or what if I don’t like them?’ So I tried it and I love it. I realized teenagers are actually the best age group that I‘ve worked with so far, since I’ve worked with all three,” Cartagena said. Part of the reason Cartagena enjoys working with teenagers is because she enjoys seeing them grow up. “I love seeing them grow and maturing, and then eventually seeing them graduate and go to college, and just leaving that nest (like Ms. Rodriguez talked about),” Cartagena said. “Just seeing them succeed that way and what they do— it’s amazing.” As a secretary to the principal and vice principals, Cartagena believes what makes the students “amazing” is their involvement in a variety of different activities. “We have some amazing kids here that do, not only amazing in school, but outside of school. They’re involved in so many different things; I’m like really proud of all of them. I am, and I love it. That’s what keeps me going, what keeps me working. I never want to leave the high school,” Cartagena said. Among the students at the high school are Cartagena’s two children. “A perk I get from working here is that my two kids are here now, so I love seeing them here. One of them never comes in, the other one always comes in. So that’s a perk that I
get to have—I get to see them all the time, they get to come with me to work. That’s definitely a good perk,” Cartagena said. Outside of school, Cartagena enjoys Zumba. “I love Zumba. I Zumba a lot. That’s something I’ve been doing this year and I’ve lost over thirty pounds because of it, but it’s fun. I spend time with my friends and I make new friends. I think that might be a surprise to most; not all of them know that I do that. I don’t really do anything else, but that, hang out, and be a mom,” Cartagena said. Cartagena believes that she makes an impact on the student’s lives. “I think I’ve made an impact on student’s lives. I treat every student to remember that this is their high school, this is their experience, and when they come in, like all of us in the office, all the administration, even teachers I think, we all want them to feel like we’re helping them with whatever question they have, with whatever they need, and helping them to succeed. So, when students come in, we try to help them as quickly as we can, as respectful as we can,” she said. Cartagena aims to help students in anything they need. “Some of the goals I have for me, being here, is just always trying to see how I can help kids continue to succeed, helping them in anything they need, even if it’s just a small question, or even if it’s just ‘I’m having a bad day, I just need someone to talk to,’ or can I just call my mom, can I just sit in here for a minute. Just trying to be there as much as possible,” Cartagena said.
Patty Ulrich
Administrative Assistant Before she was the Administrative Assistant to Assistant Principal Jens Brandt, Patty Ulrich worked at Washington Elementary for 7 years. “It’s neat seeing all the kids that I knew in elementary school who are more grown up coming here and becoming young adults. It’s a different kind of environment,” Ulrich said. “In elementary school, you’re dealing with the kids and their parents, but here you’re dealing more one on one with the students as they’re maturing.” Ulrich enjoys the different experiences
her job brings. “There’s different things that happen, different events going on, and there’s always mini-dramas everywhere,” Ulrich said. Ulrich graduated from Redondo herself in 1984, and observes that the school has progressed immensely. “It’s just such a great school, I thought it was a great school back then. With our admin team here and everything, you guys (students) are really lucky with the great teachers and facilities that are amazing,” Ulrich said.
High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
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center
Redondo:
Behind the scenes
compiled by Kira Bowen, Reema Saad, Marie Ona, Yasmeen El Hasan, Vivian Lam, Nina Gomez, and Shaniya Markalanda
Staff and new teachers their unique experiences at RUHS
3.
5.
Big women on campus.
New teachers get familiar with new students and rooms. 1. Yvonne Bamberger, 2. Jessica Sigler, 3. Arami Yoon, 4. Sara Bottalico, and 5. Christina Merz become accustomed to their new teaching environment.
1.
4. PHOTOS BY TED CAVUS AND CHANDLER ROSS
2.
John Islas
Administrative Assistant John Islas is the Administrative Assistant to Assistant Principals Corcoran and Bridi. He’s been with the district for 8 years and previously worked at Washington Elementary. This is his first year at Redondo. “It’s been very pleasant. Everyone has been very nice from the students to the parents and to the staff. It’s been great so far,” Islas said. From a relatively small elementary school to the huge campus of the high school, an overwhelmed Islas claims to be a “deer in the headlights.” “There’s a lot more activities and programs here versus the elementary sight. It’s a wonderful place for me to get to learn and grow as an employee. I love the fast pace; it feels like a college campus in a way,” Islas said. “It’s all brand new to me so I’m trying to process everything at once, but hopefully
with time that’ll change.” He enjoys the new responsibilities that accompany his new role at the high school. “I have the opportunity to work some of the football games which is nice because I’ve always been a spectator but now being part of the staff, it’s actually nice to see what the other side looks like,” Islas said. “It’s nice to greet the families. You get to see a lot of new faces and meet new people.” Islas likes to have fun with his job. “I love to have a good time making people laugh. I’m sort of a jokester,” Islas said. “Sometimes with this position you have to be serious at times but I also do have my fun side too.”
New Kids on the Block
Fresh teachers share a little about themselves Sara Bottalico Jessica Sigler Marvin Brown
Q:
Why did you become a teacher?
I became a teacher to carry on the legacy of my high school chemistry teacher who was one of the most engaging and inspiring teachers I ever had (sadly, he passed away in 2003). I have a strong passion for science that I want to share with all of my students and have always been one to help others succeed.
Arami Yoon
Q:
What were your previous jobs?
I initially wanted to become a doctor, but I wanted to take a break after graduating college and do something else before starting medical school, which is why I decided to try teaching. I ended up falling in love with this job!
Q:
What inspires your teaching?
I wanted to become a teacher because when I was in school there were a few teachers who I connected with and really made me love to learn. My hope is that I might have that impact on a few of my students.
Christina Merz
did you know what Q: When career path you wanted to take?
I started teaching in outdoor environmental education programs up in the mountains and from that point on I knew teaching was what I wanted to do.
influenced your Q: What decision to become a teacher?
I wanted a fulfilling profession, where I could give back and have flexibility to be on my children’s schedules, if I ever have them. Initially, I wanted to teach because I liked sports and coaching. I coached basketball and football for the first five years of my teaching career. Now, I feel like I needs to help students who need second chances.
Megan Kunert
has your experience Q: How been so far? It’s generally been pretty positive, and the staff has been really welcoming, willing to help, and are constantly checking on me and seeing how I’m doing.
Victoria Vasquez
are you looking Q: What forward to?
I’m excited to go to sporting events and other events on campus, whether it be plays or anything else. We have such amazing facilities here and it’s fun to go to a basketball game if you’re facilities are beautiful and everyone goes to the games
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features
Curtain Call: Macbeth
High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
The fall play, Macbeth, will take place on November 13-14 compiled by Vivian Lam and Allegra Peelor
Vaughn Cook as Malcom
Ryan Wadhams as Macbeth
PHOTO BY CHANDLER ROSS
His character: “I start off as an incredibly
Serenity Robb as Lady Macbeth
His character: “He is the prince of
successful general. I get a prophecy from witches who tell me I’m going to become the king and that Banquo’s kids will be kings. I decide that if I’m going to be king I need to kill the current king, so I murder my king and go power-hungry. I start to lose my mind as the play goes on. I get more and more crazy, killing off anyone I think is going to be an issue, including my friends.”
Scotland and after some incidents, he flees to the east and comes back to fight for Scotland with an army. I think he’s interesting. Personally, I don’t think he’s psychologically all there in the head, but he should be fun to play. He has a pure reason for his actions, but the way he does it is pretty gory.”
How he has prepared: “Days and days of summer were spent at a desk with a packet of highlighters and pencils. It’s a lot of work, but worth it.”
Why he auditioned: “In Advanced
Drama we spent the second semester studying Shakespeare, and for the bigger parts Mr. B. wanted us to try out to see if we could actually act well enough to be in the play. I did it because I’ve never really acted before and at first I felt obligated to do it. I haven’t been in anything, but Mr. B. thought I did well enough to be the lead.”
What he’s excited for: “I’m most
excited for my death scene. Also, the postapocalyptic theme and stage combat sounds super fun. I know everyone in the cast, so it’s really exciting to work with them.”
Why he likes acting: “I like acting
because getting to be someone outside of yourself is really fun. It’s an outlet for anything.”
PHOTO BY CHANDLER ROSS
What he’s excited for: “I’m exPHOTO BY CHANDLER ROSS
Her character: “I am very ambitious and I am very focused on power
and success. I convince my husband to kill Duncan and I am a lot of the reason why he excels the way he does. I push him to kill a lot of people. In the end, the guilt finally catches up to me because before I was very unfeeling about it, but I go crazy and hallucinate and eventually kill myself.”
Why she auditioned: “I love Shakespeare with all my heart. It’s one of my favorite things ever, and Lady Macbeth has been one of my dream roles since seventh grade. I was very excited to audition and be a part of the show in even a small way, but then I got my dream role.”
What she’s excited about: “I’m really excited for the rehearsal
process and being able to see where our concept of a post-apocalyptic Macbeth goes.”
Why she likes acting: “It’s so interesting to be able to put yourself in another person’s shoes and another person’s mindset especially when the character is as crazy as Lady Macbeth. You transform yourself into a different person and I think it’s so cool to be able to figure out people that way.”
cited to work with my friends because a lot of them got in and I’m excited for stage combat.”
Why he likes acting: “I like
that you can be anyone you want. There’s really no set parameters and every show has its own set rules of the universe so it’s cool to be acting something that’s inappropriate in your world, but it’s normal in another world. I would love to act professionally. I would prefer screen acting because everyone wants to be a movie star, but I also love stage acting.”
Why he auditioned: “I decided to
audition because I love to act. Also, I love the play and have wanted to do it.”
How he prepared: “I prepared for
my audition by memorizing my monologue and preforming it constantly in front of my family and friends.”
High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
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features
Brenden Barley as Duncan Duke Robinson as Banquo
PHOTO BY CHANDLER ROSS
His character: “I’m the king of Scot-
Joe Perlot as Macduff
PHOTO BY CHANDLER ROSS
His character: “I’m Macbeth’s best friend who
later gets his throat slit by his best friend. I watch Macbeth rise to power and I eventually start to question his motives.”
How he has prepared: “I’ve probably done over
Why he auditioned: “I was in Advanced Drama so
What he’s excited for: “The cast I
What he’s excited about: “Dying onstage and
Why he likes acting: “I like the fact
His character: “He is one of the people who plans
What he’s excited about: “I’m mainly excited
and I thought it would be fun. A bunch of my friends are doing it, too.”
basically know everyone and we all get along, so it’s gonna be a good show.”
that you can make someone in the audience feel emotions. You can make them sad or happy. Making someone laugh while on stage is just a good feeling.”
Lenessa Age as Lady Macduff
for the battle sequences. It’s going to be really cool. We’re going to be working on a lot of stage combat. The theme is post-apocalyptic. Instead of the normal oldtime knights and stuff, we’re completely ditching that and making it post-apocalyptic weapons, like lead pipes and chains instead of swords. It’s going to look real. You won’t ever see anything like this on stage before.”
Her character: “She’s a loving character. She’s like
the polar opposite of Lady Macbeth and I think that’s why she’s there, because she’s a foil to Lady Macbeth. Lady Macduff emphasizes how Lady Macbeth isn’t loving. I like her. I usually play villains, so I like how I get to play a nice person this time. I like her loving aspect with her son and she shows how caring she is in the scene with her son. She’s also emotional with her husband when he leaves her.”
Why he likes acting: “It allows you to completely create your own world. It also allows you to create bonds with other people because you’re taking people from your real life and you’re creating this whole other world with them as new people. It’s really something I can’t compare to anything else.”
What she’s excited for: “I’m excited for the post-
apocalyptic theme going on and how it’s going to effect the set, costume, and make-up. I like the spins Mr. B puts on every production. It makes it unique.”
Why he wants to act: “I’m really serious about
acting. This is really what I want to do with my life.I really feel like acting on stage is kinda my calling. I wouldn’t oppose to acting on screen, but acting on stage is my preference.”
and reading more Shakespeare, going through the script, and seeing how kings and royalty would do things; seeing how a king would act.”
Why he auditioned: “I like acting
coming back as a ghost.”
to overthrow Macbeth because he and many other people feel that Macbeth is a tyrant and is destroying the country. So he plans with others to take the power back.”
How he has prepared: “Watching
a day of paperwork, going through lines, writing them in normal English, highlighting enjambments, verbs, punctuation, memorizing lines, writing about what I’m trying to get in the scene-- my objectives.”
we were learning about Shakespeare second semester and I’ve always done the plays.” PHOTO BY CHANDLER ROSS
land and I have two sons, Malcom and Donalbain. I’m the ruler until Macbeth, who wants power, decides to kill me. I’m the just, nice king for the most part and everyone likes me.”
PHOTO BY CHANDLER ROSS
Why she likes acting: “I like expressing myself through different characters.”
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High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
sports
athlete of the issue: Perry Corkos
Corkos leads water polo under new coach by Sophie Maguy
PHOTOS BY LINDSEY PANNOR
Oh Captain my Captain. Senior Perry Corkos is confident about how the team will do this season and in his own future in water polo in college.
Senior Perry Corkos’ leadership in the pool has already improved the boys water polo team’s performance, according to teammates and coaches. “What Perry adds to the team is his leadership,” coach Chris Murin said. “He is doing a good job of being a captain of this team. He leads by example both in the water and out of the water. In practice he motivates the guys to do better on the swim sets. He is kind of a player-coach where he is starting to learn my system [of plays]. He is doing a
good job of moving that down to the other players.” Players agree that Corkos has been and will be a quality leader for the remainder of his time at RUHS. “I think Perry’s been a really great captain this year,” junior August Brookwell said. “He’s really knowledgeable about the game and he has that leadership aspect that makes him a very important part of the team.” Corkos wants to become the best captain and player possible to lead the team to suc-
cess throughout CIF and Bay League games. “A captain should be good enough to command the respect of his teammates and to lead by example,” he said. “I try to be a good leader by pushing my teammates to work his hardest to get better, and to support them when things don’t always work out.” Murin believes that Corkos’ encouragement and supportiveness will help the team improve each practice “He is going to motivate the team and get
them pumped up, whether it is practice or games,” Murin said. “He does a good job of telling individuals what they are doing well and what they are not doing well, which is good for the team.” With high standards set for himself, Corkos wants to do his best to set himself up to play water polo in college. “I intend to score 100 goals and shut down the top players on the other team, as well as set up plays and the fast break counter,” Corkos said. “I’m looking to play at Stanford, Columbia, or UC San Diego. My coach has a connection to Stanford’s coach and I have the grades to potentially get in.” Murin also has expectations for his offensive captain, and is amazed at his rapid rate of improving. “I expect him to lead the team on offense,” Murin said. “We just announced our other captain- our goalie- to be the captain of the defense. Perry’s new job is going to be to be the captain of the offense. He is a good player, but he is improving every day, so I expect him to be a great player by the end of the year.” Corkos concludes that above all the other perks he’s experienced at Redondo, his favorite aspect above all else was “getting to play the sport love with my best friends”. “He is a good player, but he is improving every day, so I expect him to be a great player by the end of the year,” Murin saiid.
Girls volleyball positive despite tournament loss by Caterina Hyneman
PHOTO BY DANIEL ZIEGLER
Over and out. Senior Kristen Hamlin spikes the ball past opponents in a game last season against Mater Dei. The team is optimistic for this season considering how well they did last year.
After losing the finals of their tournament on Tuesday, girls volleyball is “feeling ready” to dominate their game on Thursday against Mater Dei. “We started off kind of rocky, our passing wasn’t great in the beginning. But in the second game Abril got subbed in and that helped a lot” said senior Hayes Honea. “We got some some momentum back and we won the third game. We kinda blew them out of their game and we barely lost the last one.” Despite their loss, the team started their season “strong” and is practicing hard before their next match. “I think we need to focus on serving and passing and coming out with a lot of energy and being aggressive no matter what the circumstances are,” senior Abril Bustamente said. Honea is proud of the team for working to improve their strengths as well as weaknesses on the court. “Our team is strong in our next play focus, power in the front row, and our ability to serve tough and pass well,” Honea said. “We are going to keep getting better at all those
skills as well as working on our defense.” Despite Tuesday’s loss, the team is aiming to improve and is“optimistic” for the rest of the season. “We’re excited to keep getting better as the season goes on. We’re going to add more players. We still need Yaazie Bedart-Ghanie to come back, that’s going to be a huge addition to our team, said Bustamente. “She’s insane, and she’s a really good player. I think once we get the whole group and we start building chemistry as a unit and everything goes as planned, I think we can win.” As the team spends more time playing and working together, the sense of comradery has grown and the atmosphere is different on the court. “In order for our team to be effective, we have to trust each other and have good chemistry. So, between games we have a lot of fun with each other. We get along well and always support each other,” Honea said. Overall the team is “excited” and ready to do well in the coming season. “We have been working hard, and if we continue to work this hard, we have a good shot at winning it all,” Honea said.
High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
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sports
Girls tennis confident after beating Lynwood by Amanda Shaw
Kicking off the season with a victory, the girls’ tennis team triumphed over Lynwood high school, 17-1. “They weren’t really a tough competition, so I think we played pretty well comparatively,” junior Alina Bieschke said. Although, Lynwood wasn’t the toughest competition, the girls were very concentrated in winning. “Everyone was very focused especially for the first game. We all supported and cheered each other on,” senior Cammy Gonzalez said. With all of their efforts directed towards preparation for the first game of the season, the girls have had countless hours of “challenging” practice.. “For the last three weeks we’ve been practicing very hard inside and outside of school hours,” senior Katherine Chang said. Through many summer practices, the new players have become a part of the team, and the girls have learned how to work together. “The team has improved from last year by working hard over the summer and lot of new freshmen, sophomores, and juniors joining the team. A lot of the doubles
teams are very compatible with each other so teamwork has been especially important this year,” Gonzalez said. With one win behind them, the team has started the season on a strong note, and are satisfied with the performance of new players and returning players alike. “Since it’s the beginning of the season, we still don’t really know the weaknesses in our team. The freshmen played very well and I’m very proud of our team starting off the season well,” Chang said.
2. PHOTOS BY RAQUEL ZAK
Let’s go down to the tennis court. 1. Sophomore Jana Jones 1.
hits a forehand against her opponent in the match against Lynwood last Monday. 2. Junior Alyssa Grijalva wins her match against Lynwood.
Boys XC starts season with new faces by Micah Ezzes Senior Carlos Suarez, sophomore Ethan Comeaux, and junior Nick Elias led the boys cross country team to a fourth-place finish at the Great Cow Run to start off the season last saturday. Suarez ran the 5 kilometer race in 14 minutes and 46 seconds, earning him a thirdplace finish as well as the fastest time ever recorded at the race in RUHS history. Suarez
PHOTO BY JUSTIN LEE
Unstoppable. Senior Sergio Rodriguez runs varisty in a meet last season. Rodriguez is the one of the few returning varsity runners and is positive about how he’ll do this season.
and Elias both credit their success to their summer training. “We had morning practices every day, and every other day we had workouts with six milers,” Elias said. “It was really to get us mentally prepared for racing, and give us some confidence as a team, which I think worked very well.” The race was an all-around strong performance for the team, according to Elias. Five of the top seven RUHS runners finished the course in under 16 minutes. “Carlos and Ethan were simply fantastic and really went for it,” Elias said. “On top of that, our fifth and sixth runners were very consistent as well. It was really good to see all of us break sixteen.” Elias believes that the shadow cast by the successes of last year’s team has created a no-expectation environment which allows each individual to excel. “People don’t expect much from us, which takes off the pressure from outside,” he said. “Of course, we have our own expectations for ourselves, and the coaches hold us to high expectations. We all ran great races, but there’s always room for improvement, and hopefully our improvement shows through our training to our next race.” Elias also thinks that the opposition’s lack of knowledge on the team’s new faces gives them an advantage. “We try to keep it silent,” he said. “We don’t want everyone else to know how well
and quickly we are progressing, and that, plus our potential, gives us a lot of advantage, and it’s already starting to show.” Both Suarez and Elias agree that meeting their own expectations will require a lot of improvement. With only two returning varsity runners, Suarez and fellow senior Sergio Rodriguez, the Great Cow Run was the first varsity-level race for five of the seven runners. “This was our first race and I know that a lot of our guys are still adjusting to racing in varsity races, so I am not concerned about the 4th place finish at all,” Suarez said. “With a few adjustments I know that we can reach the next level and be competitive in CIF during the post-season, but there is still a lot of work to be done.” Up next for the team is a meet at Woodbridge on Saturday, Sept. 20. With a completely new course that the team has never run before, Suarez believes that the playing field has been leveled. “Virtually no one knows the course, and this definitely will play into our favor because experience is not going to be a factor,” he said. “It’s going to come down to simply racing. The only thing that really needs to change is our mentality going into the race. As soon as the team is able to commit fully to the race and be 100% confident, we will be much better.” Elias thinks that the team needs to continue to improve in these non conference
PHOTO BY JUSTIN LEE
Running man. Senior Carlos Suarez runs in a meet last season. During the Great Cow Run, Suarez earned a Redondo record in the 5 kilometer race by finishing in 14 minutes and 46 seconds.
races in order to be fully prepared for Bay League, and even further. “All of these races don’t necessarily matter, but they are a reflection of what the team is going to be like going into Bay League,” he said. “We are such a young team and have so much room for improvement, that if we meet our potential, this could really be the year for us to make it to the top.”
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High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
sports
Boys Water Polo preparing for a comeback by Nina Gomez After having two of their main players kicked out of the rest of the game, the boys water polo team lost to Santa Monica on Wednesday, 9-3. New coach Chris Murin thinks the game revealed that the team needs to work on a lot tactically in practice before their game against Chadwick on Thursday. “We work on a lot of things in practice that they didn’t do in the game today,” he said. “In my mind the kids beat themselves.”
1.
PHOTO BY TED CAVUS
Murin believes that Santa Monica did not deserve to win the game and what led to their defeat were the many mistakes made during the game due to the team’s inexperience. “I don’t have one player this year that has any starting experience from last year which is a big obstacle to overcome,” Murin said. “And frankly these guys didn’t play one single water polo game this summer which is a huge obstacle to overcome, so we’re doing the best we can and try to learn something new everyday.” Senior Jay Furusho, one of the players who was ejected during the game, agrees that a lot needs to be worked on to be prepared for future league games. “I think we really need to work on our defense and work a lot on working as team to be able to do better next game,” Furusho said. Although Murin thinks the boys have about 2 to 3 years of learning to do tactically, he says he sees potential in the team. “The talent is there but it’s more of the mental part of the game that they need to understand. You need to train them the proper way so that they become great players and a great team, which I’ve been able to do before in my career,” he said. “These guys just need a little more time together as a unit to step up their learning.” The team’s captain, senior Perry Corkos,
PHOTO BY CHANDLER ROSS
2. PHOTO BY TED CAVUS
Set-ting up for success. 1. Junior Chris Kirchner prepares to pass the ball to teammate. 2. Senior JR Beck shoots the ball past Santa Monica defender on Tuesday
who was also ejected during the Santa Monica game, agrees with Murin about learning how to play as a team and training harder. “We really need to understand our individual strengths and weaknesses as well as those of our teammates,” Corkos said. As a new coach, Murin is unfamiliar with Chadwick and is more concerned with how they perform as a team instead of whether
they win or lose. “It’s important that we get all the mistakes taken care of before league starts so we can have a direction,” he said. “I’m changing the old Redondo way of water polo and trying to implement high level water polo that’s completely new to these guys so it’s gonna take time.”
Setting the bar, under par Girls Golf continues to win and they hope to continue the winning streak tonight against the South Torrance Spartans by Stella Gianoukakis and Chandler Ross Girls golf beat South Torrance 231 to 250 yesterday. They hope to bring the same energy to their next game against South Torrance tonight. “Basically, we just stayed together and put up with the long match and finished with a good note,” Junior Carlin Liang said. Despite the win, she believes that there are some elements of the game they need to improve on and some things that could have gone smoother during yesterday’s game. “The day went by really slowly and it dragged on so we lost quite a bit concentration in the middle of the game. I think I could improve on my patience because golfing really tests our nerves and once we lose our focus or drives it’s really hard to gain it back,” Liang said. Senior Mamika Toyoshima believes that it was the course that gave the team some difficulty.
“The course itself definitely gave us a hard time due to the awkwardly slanted greens. Of course the golf course is not something to blame. I struggled a lot with putting and chipping which added up to my total score,” Toyoshima said. According to Toyoshima, the team needs a score of 220 or less eight times to qualify for CIF. Even though they won yesterday, they couldn’t get in that score range. Therefore, they plan on earning that team score today so they can gradually make their way to CIF this year. Yesterday’s game was a “confidence booster” for the girls as they will go into today’s game with a positive attitude. “Our team is going to take it easy today and not stress out but still be engaged so we can secure our win. As long as we perform as we usually do we can win the match,” Liang said.
PHOTO BY TED CAVUS
Chip it in. 1. Senior Robynn Ree chips the ball at a tournament last season with a smile on her face
High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
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sports
No runner-ups
After a recent second place finish, Girls Cross Country strives to improve in order to beat the competition next Saturday by Romy Moreno
PHOTO BY TED CAVUS
One leg after another. 1. Senior Anevay Hiehle runs in a Bay League meet at Redondo last season
In The Great Cow Run last Saturday, girls cross country came in second behind Saugus High School. “Saugus has quality runners, and their strategy is working very hard the last mile,” senior Amber Gore said. “Unfortunately, we were caught off guard and three of their runners passed three of our runners so they scored a lot less points than us.” Some of the runners expressed the importance of practicing their reactions when opposing runners pass them. “I think it’s important because each person kind of represents points,” senior Nicole Pederson said. “So you definitely want to be the one passing other people rather than the opposite.” According to the girls, they met their
expectations by the end of the meet. “We went into it really prepared in our training and pretty realistic about our expectations,” Pederson said. “We knew that we had what it took to do well at that meet so now we’re just looking to improve from there.” Going into their upcoming meet, The Woodbridge Classic on Sept. 20, the girls know exactly what they need to work on. “Although our packing up skills are getting better,” Gore said. “We still need to work on moving up in the race as a pack.” Some of the other girls have other ideas on what they need to work on. “We need to focus on mental strength and working together,” Pederson said. The girls are also looking for some “payback” in their upcoming meet. “Saugus has always been a very tough
competitor for us,” Gore said. “But even our coach says that this is the year we have the strongest team, and best chance of beating them at the state meet, so we want to practice racing them now, so when it comes time for our championship season, we will be prepared to come in first.” According to the team, this last meet served as a “checkpoint” for them and is helping them move on to upcoming meets. “The meet definitely is giving us the confidence that we can do even better,” Pederson said. With the next meet approaching, the girls are anxious to compete and see where they will place. “I think we’re going to do well as a team and It’s a night meet with a new course so we’re excited,” Pederson said.
Picking up the pieces Football team works to bounce back after game against Upland last Friday by Jason Fong Struggling to find a deep lineup, the boys football team has been forced to restructure their offense, lineup, and practices after last Friday’s loss. The team has changed up the structure of their offense, allowing them to add a full back and tightend, while getting rid of two receivers. Additionally, the team has switched quarterbacks from sophomore Jordon Lacey to junior Preston Faecher. According to Junior Marcel Myers, Faecher is expected to do a better job of “following the ball and getting it to receivers” than Lacey. The team has also just added a couple of new plays in their arsenal, the fly sleep and open option, which allow them to make their run and pass game more versatile. According to Sophomore Marcel Myers, the team is “pretty young”, but still expects the team to do well this season. “Although we are a pretty young team, most of us have the necessary varsity experience and playing time to handle whatever the other teams throw at us.” Myers said. Myers claims that the team, along with its new additions, have quickly “gelled” and formed a bond “The new players are fitting in really well. We consider all of our team members of a tight brotherhood. The whole team does everything together, and we spend a lot of time together outside of school as well.
1. PHOTO BY TED CAVUS
Push ‘em back! 1. Redondo tackles the quaterback in their game against Upland last week 2. Redondo defenders stop an Upland player in their attmept to score
We’re always willing to help each other out when one of us needs it.” Myers said. Myers acknowledges that the team is still adjusting to each others style of play, while also struggling to play cohesively on the field. “We are still having some troubles working together as a unit. So we’ve been watching a lot of game film and reviewing and tweaking our plays to really get everything down pat.” Myers said. According to Myers, the team is using last Friday’s loss to Upland High School, ranked 17th in the nation, as a stepping stone in order to “help us see our flaws and work out
the kinks in our game plan”. “Although the score made it seem otherwise, we actually kept up with them on some aspects, as the game was only 16-0 at half-time. Because of our lack of depth in the lineup, our conditioning is more important, and that’s something we really need to work on.” Myers said. According to Junior Preston Faecher, the team has been concentrating on increasing their intensity and conditioning. “We focus a lot more on energy and competition in practice. It has to be a little harder than[practice] for most teams in order to really build our strength and stamina. Because
2. PHOTO BY TED CAVUS
of this, the lack of players doesn’t affect us as much in games, especially in the 4th quarter when other teams start to get tired and fade. It’ll really become a factor then, especially because we’re in really good shape and have many good players.” Faecher said. According Myers, this year will be more of a “rebuilding year” as the team struggles to field a full lineup. “This year will definitely be tough, especially since a large number of last year’s varsity starters graduated. Also, we had a really low turnout all around in the number of kids who tried out for the team, which doesn’t really help.” Myers said.
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High Tide | Sept. 11, 2014
features
Lecture at home, application in class AP US History teacher Phil Comito is adding more technology into the flipped classroom by Vivian Lam and Allegra Peelor
Many teachers have tried to incorporate more technology into their curriculum, especially now that every student will be receiving a Chromebook. AP US History teacher Phil Comito is taking advantage of new technology in his classroom by posting quizzes and videos of lectures on a website called ED Puzzle. Comito’s style of having a “flipped” classroom means that students learn information at home so that the next day in class they can analyze it and have more time for in-depth discussions and debates. “It’s something that a lot of the history teachers do and have been doing for years,” Comito said. “The idea behind the flipped classroom is that you put more responsibility on the students to do the reading, to get the facts, to allow the lower level learning at home and then class time is used for applying that knowledge, in discussions, in debates, in philosophical chair assignments, and in student presentations.” So far the new system is still in its early stages, but according to junior Gwyneth Oikawa, the video is already making learning easier for her. “I think this new method will help me learn the material because having a 10-15
minute video giving me all the major points that I need to know is a lot nicer than having to listen to a long lecture,” Oikawa said. “Then being able to go in the classroom and analyze the different aspects of them with the Mr. Comito is very helpful.”
Although Comito and other teachers have used the flipped classroom format for a long time, Comito is introducing the new element of technology this year. “I’ve been trying to use technology for at-home lectures,” he said, “whether it’s a
lecture I’ve recorded or a lecture from John Green and his Crash Course US History series.” Comito is also using a program called ED Puzzle to track students’ progress and make sure they are utilizing the online lectures and quizzes he posts. “I won’t just be flipping the classroom by having students read at home,” he said. “They’ll also be getting lectures at home, taking quizzes at home, and I can check for understanding when they’re at American Colonization home just by seeing the results on Quiz that simple true/false quizzes I give Where did the them.” Pilgrims settle? Oikawa appreciates the combination of a traditional classroom a. Plymouth setting with a modern twist. b. Jamestown “In the traditional classroom c. Maryland setting one can get different perd. Philadelphia spectives and ideas, but with the independent system I can learn at my own pace,” Oikawa said. “Overall I feel like this is a good switch.” “I’ve been hesitant to do it because I like to control the learning,” he said, “but it’s a good thing for everybody, especially AP students PHOTO BY TED CAVUS, ILLUSTRATION BY STEVEN BELL-NIXON who are almost all college-bound, because they start learning how to be reCrash course. AP US History teacher Phil Comito is incorporating more technology into his teaching by posting videos and quizzes on a website called ED Puzzle that students have to complete sponsible for their own learning and focus at home. “I want them to learn how to learn independently,” Comito said. “I’ve allowed students in on application and debate, more higher-levthe past to get the information in class, which is important, but my hope is the students will get the el stuff in class.” information independently at home and then class just be able to apply it.”
Reminder apps ease communication Teachers have started using the Remind 101 application to send text reminders to their students about upcoming tests and other assignments by Kayla Nicholls
PHOTO BY TED CAVUS
Reminder. Activities Director and AP Psychology teacher Brooke Mata uses the Remind 101 application as a way to effectively communicate with her students by providing quick reminders about upcoming assignments, quizzes and tests.
RUHS is becoming more technology-based than ever before, with online registration to Chromebooks to a new system designed to alert students of important events through a reminder app. Several teachers, including Brooke Mata and Karin DeCollibus, now use the Remind app to contact their students more easily as well as notify them of any important tidbits. “It’s great for reminding students about homework or about an upcoming test or quiz,” DeCollibus said. “It was extremely helpful this past weekend because I had to postpone a quiz and was able to contact most students immediately. It also works great as a reminder for club meetings.” DeCollibus thinks that the new app is “better” for reminding the students than text messages are. “It’s better because all the phone
numbers are private. I don’t have the student’s numbers and they don’t have mine,” DeCollibus said. To sign up, people must text a certain message to a certain number and the teachers are then able to send out one message to everyone who signed up, without any group texts or the accompanying drawbacks. “It is a free app that I download onto my phone,” Mata said. “Then it allows me to make a contact list with a certain phone number for the class. Then all I have to do is send a message through the app, and it pushes it through to all of the students that have signed up to be on the list to receive notifications from me. It’s great because it has a limit on the length of the text, and you cannot return messages, so there’s no group chat.” DeCollibus also finds that the app can be a tool in order to create dia-
logue between students and their parents if parents also sign up for the app. “I hope that more parents will sign up for the reminders. That way they could be more involved with the day to day activities and due dates for my classes. I’m looking forward to hearing about the dialogue it creates between the students and their parents,” she said. The “best” part of the app is the speed and ease of the communication between the teachers and their students. “My goal is simply to have another way to conveniently communicate with my students,” Mata said. “I think email is great, as well as making sure students are writing down their assignments, but having access to push notifications to students in regards to your class is so helpful on both my end and the students’.”