For and by the students of Foothill High School since 1999
March 2012 | Volume 13, Issue 5
Hillside Happenings Jasmine Terry (left) and Makaila Montgomery Photo by Haley Scott
Gino Alvarez Photo by Haley Scott
Students at “Be Kind” assembly Photo by Bill Tobler
Varsity Dance Team performs at the “Be Kind” assembly. Photo by Chad Roback
Jasmine Terry Photo by Haley Scott
Vicky Nyamuswa Photo by Chad Roback
By Kylie Braver Co-editor-in-chief
I
n the past couple of months FHS clubs hosted many school activities during both lunches and at assemblies. During February, the Multicultural and Interact clubs helped celebrate Black History Month with different games and even dancing. The jump rope game, double dutch, was a big hit, and DJs played fun music for stu-
dents to dance and sing along to. They even had a few performances from break dancers and from students who just jumped in to show their talents. Carnival-type games included the bean bag toss and the the classic knock-overthe-cans game. They also had different foods that were a welcome change from the cafeteria menu, including chicken and even ribs.
In March, Student Council hosted “Be Kind” spirit week which, culminated in a special assembly where “Be Kind” founder and father of Josh Stevens, Drew Stevens talked about his son’s tragic death and then explained why the Josh Stevens Foundation was created. Mr. Stevens explained how his son was one of the kindest people he had ever known, and that was exactly why he had created the Josh Stevens Foundation.
Jahlani Miller and company dance at lunch.
Amorese McCoy and Rylee Strehlow at the “Be Kind”
Photo by Sidney Bull
Assembly! Photo by Chad Roback
The “Be Kind” assembly was obviously a touching assembly, as many wiped away tears during. It was Steven’s hope that those who attended would make more of an effort to be kinder to each other and realize how fragile life can be. - For more on the “Be Kind” assembly, see page 7.
Joshua Gomez knocks down some cans at lunch during Black History Month. Photo by Haley Scott
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News/Feature
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March 2012
Class of 2012 will be the first to hold their graduation on Foothill’s own football field
Info graphic by Ryanne Bailey Illustration Editor
Benefits include earlier grad time, better view and new traditions By Armando Gasca Cub Reporter
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or the first time in Foothill history, graduation will be held on the FHS football field. This change will allow several options that weren’t available previously. Unlike at The Orleans, graduation won’t be rushed, and there will be time to really enjoy graduation. “It’s been about four years in the works, believe it or not,” Principal Jeanne Donadio said. “We’ve been researching this with parent advisory groups. About four years ago, we kind of toyed with the idea of hosting our own, and then we researched it, and then that kind of went away, but this year the district seemed a little bit more serious about anyone who wanted to host their own gradua-
tion, so with my parent group, we researched it again, looked into the pros and cons and decided to move forward with it, and we are really going to host our own.” “I am excited about the graduation of 2012!” said English teacher Geoff Walker. “I think it will be the best one we ever have!” Another benefit of a local graduation is that parents will be able to see their graduate get their diploma instead of watching them on a TV at The Orleans, and they won’t have to sit so far away, and afterward, they can come out on the field and celebrate with hugs and pictures surrounded by all their friends. “At the Orleans, we were given two hours,” said Donadio. “That’s it. You have to come in, get it done
and get out. Here, I have unlimited time. We don’t have to rush. After the ceremony, the graduates will assemble on the field for a group picture in the form of a 2012. They could then throw their caps and get a picture with the caps thrown up because we’re on our own campus and not at The Orleans or the Thomas and Mack. “It will be better than ever,” Mitchal Chase said. “We will enjoy it without being rushed.” “I think it’s a phenomenal opportunity to share with your friends and family,” Trina Morgan said. Donadio already has experience with home town graduations. “When I was principal at Boulder City, we did graduations on the football field,” said Donadio. “Everybody could stay around
taking pictures, so I got to take pictures with kids and parents and congratulated them afterward, but at The Orleans, I had to go out the back door, while kids went out the tunnel to the front. I never got to see the kids again, and it was kind of short and sad.” In addition, Foothill gets to pick the date and time instead of the district picking it for them. “Last year, we were really late,” Donadio said, “and this year it would have been June 20 at 2 p.m. We get out of school June 8, so students who would have gone to college will now be able to come because it’s not two weeks later.” It just seems fitting that graduation will take place on the same field where football games were won and lost, where the track
team trained and where the marching band performed. It’s our home, and having graduation on campus puts a capstone on four years of memories where all the memories were made. Students can also help plan the graduation. “I want to meet with the entire senior class in April to find out how to make this THEIR graduation,” said Mrs. Donadio. “Being the first class ever to do this, they’re setting up this new tradition. What can we do to make it the graduation they have dreamt of? I don’t want to disappoint seniors. I’m hoping that we’re so successful that we become the model program for schools who want to do it, that we become very successful and do it again.”
POLICY
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Kylie Braver & Haley Scott ASSISTANT EDITORs: Greta Chiocchetti / Rebecka Holmes ILLUSTRATION EDITOR: Ryanne Bailey COPY EDITOR: Chelsea Shehan SPORTS EDITOR: Thomas Jara-
millo, Brian Marshall PHOTOGRAPHER: SPORTS LAYOUT EDITOR: Brian Marshall STAFF WRITERS: Kayleigh Swartzlander ADVISER: Bill Tobler PRINCIPAL: Jeanne Donadio
The opinions expressed in the Hillside Hotwire are the author’s and do not represent the opinions of the administration, faculty, staff or students of Foothill High School. Letters to the editor should be signed and sent to: The Hillside Hotwire, 800 College Drive, Henderson, NV 89015 Letters may also be dropped off at the Hillside Hotwire office in room 741. Home Delivery of the Hillside Hotwire
is available at a prepaid cost of $20 per year. Issues are mailed monthly upon publication. The staff reserves the right to reject any advertisement deemed inappropriate. Letters to the editor may be edited for content and brevity. EMAIL: EDITOR@HILLHOT.COM WEB: WWW.HILLHOT.COM
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Feature
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March 2012
Horticulture class helps students discover their green thumbs By Daniel Brennan Cub Reporter
F
igs, lilies and broccoli are just some of the plants the horticulture class, taught by Mrs. Maureen Macintyre, planted this spring because it allowed students life experience in planting and caring for many types of plants. The class provides an escape from the typical classroom environment.
“Horticulture is fun,” Daisy Alvarez said. “You never sit, and you go out and work hands-on.” Beyond traditional gardening, horticulture includes other activities like centerpieces and corsages for prom or homecoming. The class also made Valentine’s Day floral arrangements. In addition, the class plants, waters and nur-
tures the foliage in the quad. Finally, students learn how to make plants “germinate,” which is the method used to start the plant and help it sprout into an adult that gives off seeds.
“Mrs. Mac is awesome,” said Chris O’Dell.” I would go into any class taught by her.” Nathan Mazzao agrees. “If I could take one class over and over again, it would be horticulture,”
he said. “I learned so much and didn’t even know I was learning. It was just a whole year of fun.”
What is Horticulture? Horticulture is the practice of growing, processing, and marketing fruits and vegetables as a career. The class also learns about floriculture, which is the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants. HORTICULTURE! Cody Harris (striped shirt) waters his plants during horticulture class. Justin Bemus Elijah Smith Photos by Chad Roback and Dan Brennan
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Opinion
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March 2012
Kobe vs. LeBron: It’s obvious who the better player is on the court By Haley Scott Co-Editor-in-Chief
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hen you hear about Los Angeles Laker’s Kobe Bryant and Miami Heat’s LeBron James, you think of all the arguments about who’s the better all around player. If you watch their games and look at their championship wins, the answer is clear. Kobe joined the NBA right out of high school in 1996 when he was drafted by the Hornets as a 13th pick. He’s a serious player and hates to lose. The amount of drive Kobe has is phenomenal. All he cares about is winning. He’s not worried about hurting his teammate’s feelings. He’s not worried about his public image. He’s not worried about his money and endorsements, so when his team is down, he really steps up and shows that
he means business and makes plays happen. That’s why Bryant is currently the leading scorer in the NBA with an average of 29.4 points per game and has made 28,601 shots in his career.
While LeBron joined the NBA in 2003 as a first draft pick for the Cavs, he changed teams and currently plays for the Miami Heat. LeBron seems to put public image, fame and money above win-
ning. When his back is against the wall, he doesn’t pull himself or even his team well enough together to help his team try to win. He doesn’t seem to realize that championships aren’t just going to be given to him because of his talent and prior success. LeBron is still an incredible basketball player, and you can’t take that away from him. A triple-double in an NBA finals game is nothing to forget. Conversely, Kobe strives for championships and greatness. That‘s why he has five championship wins, three of which were back-to-back wins, while LeBron hasn’t won a championship. Kobe’s got the strongest will of anyone since Jordan. Kobe hates to lose while LeBron only dislikes losing. It’s a huge difference, and you can
see it in their games. When LeBron gets some rings on those fingers from championships, then we can start to consider him being great like Kobe. But until then, we all know who the better allaround player is: Kobe Bryant.
Miami VS. Lakers 3-4-12 Kobe: 33 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist LeBron: 25 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assistLET THE COMPETITION BEGIN! LeBron grabs Kobe in the second half of the NBA Allstar Game at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, Sunday, February, 26,2012. The West Allstars beat the East Allstars 152-149. Photo: Robert Gauthier/Los Angles Times/MCT
Donating your time to community service projects is a rewarding feeling By Kylie Braver Co-Editor-in-Chief
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ey, I’m Kylie and I will be your tutor for today. What can I help you with?” “I need help with my math homework,” said Johnny. “We learned division today, and I don’t get it.” “Alright, let’s take a look at the worksheet. I’m sure you just need some practice, and you’ll get it. You’re a smart kid, Johnny!” After only doing a few problems, Johnny understood his division homework. He had a smile on his face that went ear to ear! He gave me a big hug and told me ‘Thank you’ numerous times! That feeling of helping someone with something and then them getting that excited is a great feeling. It felt as if I had saved the world because he was so excited! Doing the littlest things can make the biggest difference in someone else’s life. I have worked with many charities, but the most rewarding was the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, where I tutored kids after school. In December, I helped with their Christmas party. Santa was there, and all the kids sat on Santa’s lap and received a present out of Santa’s red bag. The kids didn’t
care what they got. They were just so thankful to receive something. They were all excited to receive a basketball or jump rope. “I wish I could do more community service,” said Jason Finnegan. “My girlfriend always comes home from a charity event and tells me all about it, and I just wish I could do something to help someone out and get the same feeling she does. I want to start going with her to these service projects. They seem fun!” Once a month, I go to a warehouse and clean books for Spread the Word. They receive books from all over the valley, and once they are cleaned, the books are donated to schools that don’t have a lot of money to buy new books, or the books are given to children who have a hard time learning to read. It gives them the opportunity to receive free books to practice their reading.
While cleaning the books, some pretty interesting conversations come up. Sometimes I find old fa-
vorites or a book that I hated, and that creates a conversation. The first time I read a Junie B. Jones book, I was in the third grade. I loved that book because it was just easy to read, and I thought that it was funny because Junie
was always getting in trouble. When I saw Junie B. Jones arrive in the pile, it reminded me of how much I loved those books, and I knew when a little girl received that book, she would love it just as much as I did!
There are several local places teens can volunteer to get in the spirit of giving. Hope Link is a non-profit organization that helps families who can’t afford to buy their children new school clothes or school supplies. They accept gently-used or new clothing. Central Christian Church collects backpacks and school supplies every July and donates them to Hope Link to distribute to the Children. Wal-Mart is also a big sponsor of this event.
Working with Hope Link over the summer was one of the best experiences I have ever had. We worked hard all week. It’s kind of like a full time job. I am at the office for eight or nine hours a day, and it feels like the days never end, especially because I work there after I have already had a three-hour dance practice. The sorting room is stuffed with back packs and school supplies, and the piles of clothes go on and on. But at the end of the week, when I get to distribute all of the new clothes and backpacks full of supplies to the kids, their smiles make all the hard work worthwhile. I do all of this charity work with my mom as part of a group called the National Charity League. This is how I got involved with all my community service projects. I love doing all this work with my mom. It creates a special bond between the two of us while we are doing good for our community. Getting those great feelings when doing these projects is something I wish everyone could experience just once. Graphic by Ryanne Bailey
Warmer weather causes spike in dress code violations with tanks and shorts By Courtney Kirwan Cub Reporter
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aley O’Brien walks cautiously down the stairs in the courtyard wearing a skirt that might be considered too short and a purple, flowing tank top whose straps just might be less than three inches wide. Like many students, she tries sneak by the hall monitors as she arrives on campus so as not to get caught and dress-coded. Now that the weather is warming up, kids are getting dress-coded more often says the Dean’s Office. It’s not unusual to see a girl wearing something too short or too skimpy. Starting in late October, dress
code violations decrease because of the chilly, fall air. They start increasing in mid February when the warmer afternoons have students shedding their hoodies and wanting to wear spaghetti straps to show off their spray tans. “I don’t like the dress code,” says sophomore Sabrina Shaw. “It can become such a hassle in the morning getting ready. I want to look cute, but I don’t want to waste my time and get in trouble by getting dress-coded DRESS CODED! A student is sent to the dean’s office for wearing a tank top that isn’t three inches in width and is then forced to wear a P.E dress code shirt. Photo by Courtney Kirwan
either. If I wear a skirt, I always make sure it’s finger-tip length, and I wait to wear tank tops and short shirts for the weekends.” “At least the dress code isn’t like it was in middle school!” said freshman Dani Morris. “They were way too strict, and you weren’t allowed to wear flip flops, which became a big issue for me because I’m not a big tennis shoe girl. So I’m thankful for the way dress code is in high school!” she laughs as she remembers the middle school days. With only about three months of school left, students have to keep those bodies covered up for just a little longer between the hours of 7:05 and 1:16.
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March 2012
The amount of texters in class is only getting worse year by year By Devan Carrington Cub Reporter
Texting has drastically increased over the last five years, and this generation is the most addicted yet, with most teens constantly texting multiple people simultaneously while trying to perform other tasks as well. According to technology.msnbc.msn.com, “on average, a teenager between 13 and 17 sends 3,339 texts monthly, which is more than 200 messages daily!” Texting has increased to become the most common way of communication. In school, phones are supposed to be off while in class and are only allowed before or after school, during passing periods and at the designated lunch hour. However, students continually break the rules and lose
their phones daily. “We’ve taken away 654 phones in the last semester,” said Dean Stephanie Chapman. “I honestly think it is just common courtesy. If I go out to dinner, and I see a family of five, and four of them are texting, it aggravates me! It’s family time. I mean, if everyone’s texting each other because it’s their only way of communicating, then fine, but I think it is a sign of disrespect.” Texting in class cannot be fully stopped, but teachers manage the problem to the best of their abilities. Some teachers think the rules should be even stricter. For example, some out-of-state schools keep confiscated phones till the end of the semester. At Foothill, for the first offense, students can get their phone back even without a parent coming in
to pick it up. Some students think the rules are too harsh and believe teachers should give them more freedom to have the choice of paying attention or zoning out face first into their phones. “It’s our education,” Nichole Mack said. “If I don’t want to pay attention, I shouldn’t have to.” There are only 55 minutes each class, and many teachers ask why
students can’t wait to reply until the end of the class, since they didn’t even have texting when they were in high school. “If we aren’t doing anything in class, like after a test or when we are done with a worksheet, I don’t see the problem in us just sitting in class quietly using them!” Mack said. “Students are here to learn, so the rules are there for a reason,”
Ms. Amanda Ruth said. Some teachers allow texting when work has been completed, but other teachers will instantly take the phone away without a warning. “There needs to be a blanket policy,” Dean Chapman said. “Either students are allowed to have the free will of using any electronics while in class, or if the electronics are seen, then they will be taken.” Although texting and phone use is a big classroom distraction, it appears that it will ultimately be up to the student to use good manners and common sense to keep their phones out of the Dean’s Office. BUSTED! Texting is becoming a big problem in classes. Photo by Devan Carrington
Girls get creative in asking boys to the “Born to be Wild” Sadies dance The more relaxed and casual atmosphere allowed students to feel like they could let loose and have fun. One thing girls struggle with is finding the perfect way to ask a guy to Sadie’s. “It took me a long time to think of a creative way to ask him,” said Parrales. “I wanted to do the most original, creative way I could think of. I finally decided I would make a big sign with matching Build-ABears. I dressed them in jeans, black Converse and matching red sweaters that said ‘Hugs.’ The only thing I did differently to mine was put red bows on her ears.” Ideas like this are definitely more on the expensive side. “I
By Ashley Parriot Cub Reporter
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anessa Parrales sets up the finishing touches on Nivaldo Viega’s desk. The large glittery sign, the two matching teddy bears, and the tickets. Everything is set up perfectly to ask him to Sadie’s. “He’s coming,” whispers a student by the door. Nivaldo walks in… Sadie’s is the one dance guy’s love for many reasons. They don’t do anything but say, “Yes.” Girls ask the guys, pay for tickets, dinner, matching clothes and whatever else the couple does. Sadie’s is a more casual dance and allows the couple to be relaxed and have fun without dressing too formal and feeling too uptight. “The theme this year was Born to be Wild,” said cheer adviser Alexia Mair. “This year we did things a little differently.” Sadie’s had been cancelled in the past
because many couples went out but didn’t buy tickets to the dance. “This year, we changed two things,” said Mair. “We made the dance start earlier so
couples didn’t have to decide between a show and the dance, and we gave the dance a partytype feel with the fancy clothes and heels.”
GET CREATIVE! Girls are getting creative when asking that perfect boy to the Sadie’s dance. Nicole Senespleda blows up balloons to put on Troy Cox’s desk in his first period class. Photo by Bill Tobler
think it cost me a total of $60, but it was worth it.” There’s less expensive more common ways to ask as well. Many girls make a sign with common interests on it and post it in a prominent location. “We’ve been friends since last year,” said July Epler, who asked Chad Roback. “I knew he was a photographer and loves taking pictures, so I incorporated that into his sign. It took me a good two days to make it. Then I called some friends, and we got to school really early and hung up the sign where he walks every day on his way to first hour. I know he loves it, and it was great because it only cost me around $15.” While dance attendance was still low, those who went on the dates returned with stories of paintballing, shows on the strip, miniature golfing and party bus mishaps that made the creative asking worth all the effort.
When insects attack! Students share desks with pests during winter months By Kaleigh Swartzlander Staff Writer
S
eated in a rough blue chair in a cramped classroom, Alainya Funk is in deep thought during her third hour, concentrating on a single subject: ants. How could they be so
miniscule and yet so impossible to kill? Why do they always arrive in the thousands? This is what she thinks about as she slowly squishes them to death, one by one, at her table in yearbook class. Joe Staples is having a similar problem. He’s in the portables listening to his music and obliviANTS EVERYWHERE! Ants infested the classrooms during the cold winter months, searching for any type of sugary food. Crums left on desks were a big favorite, as was gum that students had stuck under desks. Some students said the bugs distracted them because they were afraid of them crawling around their assignments. Graphic by Ryanne Bailey
ous to the world. He glances up from his homework to see the room in a state of chaos. Girls are screaming, some are on top of their desks, and boys are taking off their sneakers. It takes Staples a moment to figure out what the catalyst of this commotion is; and then he locates the bee buzzing around the classroom. Meanwhile, sitting on the bench in the girl’s P.E. locker room, Corey Fink notices a brown dot. She doesn’t think twice about it until she sees that it is moving. She looks closer and realizes that it is a cockroach. “I had only two options,” said Fink. “I could yell ‘COCKROACH!’ or I could just kill it quietly with my shoe right then.” Fink puts her tennis shoe on her left foot, ties the laces so they are out of harm’s way, and smashes down on the mobile brown dot. The last sound it makes before it transforms from a bug to a pulpy
puddle of green entrails is a loud “POP.” Bugs have been crawling around the earth for 300 million years and most have adapted to survival. Cockroaches can survive a nuclear explosion, scorpions can live a year without eating and scientists have even proved cockroaches and honeybees have democratic systems (they make collective decisions and use voting to decide where to build their new habitat). Some are even venomous, like fire ants and certain spiders. Worse than the actual bugs, according to Funk, are the reactions to the bugs. “I hate when people squeal and act like they’re going to die. It’s not that big a deal. It’s gross, but it’s not life threatening,” said Funk. For some people though, like Anthony Collins, it is a matter of life and death. “I’m scared of bees,” said Collins, “because I’m
allergic to bee stings.” So what is our school doing to protect us from having to deal with the pests? Teachers aren’t allowed to bring in their own bug pesticides, like Raid, in case somebody has an allergic reaction to it. In addition to the district’s personnel coming out to spray pesticide periodically, the answer to the bug problem is the one we all hate; there should be no food in the classroom. Even the sugary gums that students stick underneath their desks attract creepy crawlers like ants, bees, cockroaches and spiders. “Bugs distract me from learning,” said Hanna Noorda. “It’s hard to do your math homework when you feel your pencil squishing the bugs underneath your paper.” If you don’t want bugs, eat at lunch in the cafeteria and throw your wrappers away.
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How to be a March 2012
by Thomas Jaramillo Sports Editor
Manhood. It’s what our dad’s have achieved. It’s a quality that we are sure that we, as young men, want, but we’re maybe unsure of how to get there. Since there’s not really a guidebook on how to be a man, we asked some of the FHS ladies: what should a YOUNG MAN be able to do by this age? Their replies revealed a want for classic manliness, which generally meant that men could act in a certain way and do certain tasks. Here’s a sample of their responses. Manners:
man
A youn g man’s Primer
Knowing how to act when out to dinner with your date is important. There is nothing more unattractive then burping and acting like a fool. It doesn’t make you look cool, and any woman with self-respect won’t stick around too long if you have poor behavior. “Manners are so important. You don’t want to be embarrassed by your man when he meets your family,” said Deanna Hickman. Open a Door: A man who opens doors for women opens the door of opportunity. It shows his chivalry to the world in a positive way. In a world where people think that chivalry is dead, fewer and fewer men are opening doors for girls. “I feel that opening the door for a lady can open the door to a second date,” said Hannah Russo. Hygiene: A man needs to look good, fresh and clean, (I mean, why would Outkast write a song about it if it weren’t true?). A man with bad hygiene is not truly a man. With bad hygiene, he shows potential mates that he doesn’t care about himself, and if he doesn’t care about himself, then he can’t care about others. “If you smell bad, you can’t get good -looking girls, a long-time goal of the man,” said Gregg Zoine. “The man is only hurting himself when he doesn’t take care of himself.” Know How to Dance: Young men who can’t dance may think they are too cool to dance but being able to dance can be a real help with the ladies. When she asks you to dance, instead of giving her a plate of disappointment, give her the fun of dancing. This gives a man a chance to show that he isn’t a stiff but is willing to try things that he isn’t necessarily good at. “If you can’t lead a lady in a dance, some other no-good-tippy-toe dude will snatch her on the dance floor while you watch on the sidelines,” said Demi White. Be good at something: Whether it’s being able to mow his own lawn or adjust the carburetor on his ‘76 Charger or being able to make a bookshelf out of lumber and bricks, a man needs to know how to do stuff. He has to have something that he enjoys doing and something that gives him joy in the world. A man has to want to do things. He can’t just be happy being lazy and playing World of Warcraft every day. Even Bruno Mars was only lazy one day! “A true man needs to be good at something in his life. Otherwise, he is a failure. What kind of man can live with himself being a failure at life?” said Daniel Brady.
Desola Balogun Talk to girls: Of course a man must be able to communicate with the opposite sex. A man cannot act like women are a different species. He
should be able to have a good time, and if he can’t talk to women, then he limits himself with whom he can have fun with.
Cook: A true man cannot solely rely on fast food and restaurants or MOM to feed him; he must be able to take care of himself. Being able to support himself tells the world he needs nobody else to take care of him. Also, I have heard that women find that a man who can cook is a sexy man. “The man needs to show his woman that she doesn’t have all of the power,” said Daniel Brady. “He needs to send a message that if she leaves tomorrow, he will still be able to take care of himself.” Sense of Humor Some girls feel that this is the most important thing a man can have. A man cannot be serious all the time. Nobody wants to talk to somebody who is boring. He needs to see the humor in life and enjoy it. You also can’t be cracking jokes all the time, especially in serious situations. Humor is something a man needs the perfect amount of. “A true man has a sense of humor. He needs to be able to make any woman smile, even when she’s having the worst day,” said Rileigh Sorenson. Control Emotions Nobody wants to be “that guy” who is strange in the group because he is over-sensitive and gets angry easily when people are joking around. It is a major turnoff for a man to make everyone feel awkward and draw negative attention to himself. “Girls are emotional enough, so there’s nothing attractive about a guy who can’t control his emotions,” said Kierstyn Cash.
“Girls are a lot of fun to have around,” said Zoine. “The man can also get girls to do what he wants them to do if he is able to talk to them.” Independent: The man cannot be clingy to his mates and friends because it makes people think he has nothing in his life. If they think that, then they feel pity for the man. Pity is something a man can never accept. He must show everyone he takes care of himself. “A true man has independence,” said Austin Gruettner. Otherwise the women will take control of his life.” Know when to shut up: A man needs to learn when he needs to put his pride aside and not continue to talk over others. A man doesn’t have to be the loudest in the room to be the most important person. “I think that an important trait for a man is the wisdom of knowing when to shut his mouth,” said Carson Walker.
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Feature
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March 2012
Foothill is now supporting the Josh Stevens, “Be Kind” foundation
Many Foothill students represented “Be Kind” week by wearing “Be Kind” shirts around campus By Greta Chiocchetti Assistant Editor
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hursday, March 1, students filed into the gym and passed through the corridor that was decorated with inspirational quotes about kindness. There was a distinctive feeling about this particular assembly; there was a lack of the usual lighthearted and fun feel. Students quietly sat and waited and expectantly for the assembly to begin. After student body president David Winward said a few words, the varsity dance team sprung up and performed to Katy Perry’s “Part of Me.” The girls’ big red bows swished with their twists and turns, the colors matching those of the Josh Stevens foundation: Be Kind. Breathless, the girls accepted the applause and returned to their spots. A professionallydressed man whose solemn expression could be seen through his smile took center stage. “It’s hard for me to speak at
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high schools,” said Mr. Drew Stevens, who launched the Be Kind foundation. “My little boy Josh would have been a sophomore at Coronado right now.” His voice is strained, the tone of a father with a broken heart. Mr. Stevens explains what his foundation strives to achieve: the simple act of being kind. “Josh was a genuinely kind young man. I remember he would hold the door open for 50-60 people at once. He would be so excited when ten or fifteen people would say thank you, especially when an elderly man patted him on the head and said, ‘You made my day, young man,’” Stevens recalls
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fondly. “That’s what inspired this foundation. Josh’s main goal in life was to spread kindness. I wanted his legacy to stand the test of time, so I created Be Kind.” Josh Stevens passed away in a tragic golf cart accident in 2008, thirty days away from his thirteenth birthday. His father holds the haunting memory with him forever and takes complete responsibility for the accident. “I have been so blessed to have the gift of my children, and that is the most intense love someone can have. We knew almost instantly after Josh passed that this is what we needed to do to honor him; the foundation just became our way
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of making him live on forever.” Not many eyes were dry by the end of the assembly. Mr. Stevens stressed his only goal: for us to be kind. “I knew Josh Stevens personally,” said Rebecca Vivas, a student at Foothill. “I was best friends with his sister. We found out the morning after that he had passed away. Our pastor made the announcement at our church service. It was a big deal, and everyone was really upset about it. I bawled at the assembly.” “Your words are powerful,” continued Stevens, letting his own words resonate with the audience, “more than you real-
ize sometimes.” That’s why it’s so important to make it count, he emphasizes. “Your legacy will live on long after you. Do you want your old teachers, for example, to wish you would come back, or do you want them to be glad you’re someone else’s problem? We need to be kind.” Students and teachers alike were touched as Mr. Stevens concluded his speech. The message rang long after Mr. Stevens finished: through being kind, a young boy’s legacy will live on. “I think the assembly was a success, people should be kind and be happy that they’re here, instead of hurting others,” said Vivas.
1. Drew Stevens, the founder of “Be Kind,” spoke about his son, Josh, and how he was always kind to others. 2. Ms. Carolyn Ferrell sings “I’ll Stand by You” to end the assembly. 3. The audience gives a standing ovation to Mr. Drew Stevens. 4. The audience becomes emotional as Mr. Drew Stevens talks about what happened to his son. 5. Varsity dance sits in the stands after performing a jazz routine to Katy Perry’s “Part of Me” Photo’s by Chad Roback
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By Ambe Cassandra Stauffer, Kelsie Thornton, Heather Bosheth and Tasialynn Good perform a cheer routine.
Anthony Gomez asks Kelsie Thornton out on a date to a scary movie. Her answer? “Yes!”
Anthony Gomez, Quentin Martinez and Tyler Okomoto perform the song, “Hey Kendra.” The song became an instant hit among the student body and could be heard in the halls and classrooms for weeks after.
Boys Cast: Kyle Dugan as Evan Ryan Conti as Archie Anthony Gomez as Brett KJ Sahni as Rabbi Chorus Mark Harris as Rabbi Chorus and NYC Kids/ Chorus Chase Odgers as NYC Kids/ Chorus and Rabbi Chorus Tyler Okamoto as Rabbi, Malcolm and NYC Kids/ Chorus Laurence Hoshino as Simon, Rabbi Chorus, NYC Kids/ Chorus Quentin Martinez as Eddie, Rabbi Chorus and NYC Kids/ Chorus Connor Thornton as Richie, Rabbi Chorus and NYC Kids/ Chorus
K
Cub Report
atie Peters, clad in black, scu wing. She jokes with several waiting for the curtain to op their turn to sing and dance. The cur the few actors on stage begin. “Backstage is busy, but fun,” Pete said. “It’s hard only if you’re not into “Backstage, or up in the booth, us nervousness,” Robert Wilson said. “ lot you have to do at once. But it’s always supporting each other backs While Shannon Berry sings onstage behind the traveller. Many of the ac have to gather up supplies for the till a scene change, and Kyle Dugan the time ticking down, and Amber find the prop. The traveler opens, ta chairs and props, and Dugan is amon “It’s totally hectic,” Samantha Mur a really fun kind of energy. It’s craz what we’re doing and being with ou just keep trying, and you get used to A scene change begins, and Ryan school clothes to a suit and tie. Nat got in this mess. “My friend Megan talked me into with a laugh. “She wanted to try i her.” The final curtain closes, and whe they’re all crying. Many of them are their last major production. “I would love for people to join the Murphy said. “I want more people who are ser added.
een
ehind the scenes of
ticed to create a flawless show
er Huppert
ter
The cast sings, “A Brand New You” during the finale number.
urries across the stage to the right l friends before quieting down and pen. Actors mill around waiting for rtain opens, and everyone watches
ers, a theater techie for two years, o it.” sually has this air of excitement but “Theater is hard because there is a always fun and exciting, and we’re tage.” e, the crew runs from wing to wing ctors can’t see in the gloom but still next scene. It’s less than a minute can’t find his props! Everyone feels Huppert runs to the other wing to ables go out followed by actors with ng them! rphy said with a laugh, “but it’s like y, but we’re so excited to be doing ur friends. It is hard at first, but you o it, and you get better and better.” n Conti scrambles to change from te Whitehead asks himself how he
Quentin Martinez, Ryan Conti, Kelsie Thornton, Anthony Gomez, Savannah Sailer and Shannon Berry take their final bow after performing a matinee for the English classes during the day.
signing up for theater,” Peters said it out and dragged me along with
ether someone’s a techie or actor, seniors, and they have just finished
eater because theater is awesome,”
rious about theater to join,” Peters Savannah Sailer thrust aside after she tries to stall Anthony Gomez’s plan to ask Kelsie Thornton on a date. Kyle Dugan received instruction about his upcoming Bar Mitzvah by some rabbis. Thirteen-yearold boys read from the sacred Torah and perform other rituals as part of becoming a man.
Girls Cast: Shannon Berry as Patrice Savannah Sailer as Lucy Kelsie Thornton as Kendra Heather Boseth as Cassie Tasia Good as Charlotte Cassie Stauffer as Molly Lindsey Yates as NYC Kids/ Chorus Sam Murphy as NYC Kids/ Chorus Savannah Delaria as NYC Kids/ Chorus Destiny Sampley as NYC Kids/ Chorus Aleeza Gonzalez as NYC Kids/ Chorus Joceline Pedrosa as NYC Kids/ Chorus
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March 2012
Local scouts go back in time at Mountain Man Rendezvous
From hiking to archery, these boys survived the wild on their own 1 By Armando Gasca Cub Reporter
Dressed in full Boy Scout uniform with his sun hat shading his face and neck, Robert Rossmiller, stands perfectly still with the bow in his left hand and his right hand pulling back on the arrow with his sight on the target a few feet away. He holds his breath as he releases the arrow with a swish of the arrow and the arrow sinks into the target, plunging close to the center of the second ring. Rossmiller smiles and adds up his score. It’s not enough to place, but a goal nonetheless. Archery was one of many activities at the Mountain Man Rendezvous at the Moapa Indian reservation on February 11. Over a hundred Boy Scout troops attended and participated in traditional mountain man activities like log throwing, hatchet throwing, trading, and stick pull. While some dressed like traditional mountain men, in fur and leather most of the scouts simply wore traditional uniforms. At the hatchet range, Michael Smith stands at the line with a few other scouts as the instructor explains the rules and safety precautions. Once all the rules are explained and the boys agree to follow them, they are allowed to pick up one of the three hatchets that lie next to their feet. Smith takes the handle of the hatchet and holds the blade away from him as he looks toward the wooden target a few feet away and gets ready to throw. He launches the hatchet with a quick flick. It spins, and with a loud thunk, hits the wooden target. “I love coming here every year,” said Rossmiller. “We will never get a chance like this to throw sharp objects
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4 at something until next year.” After many activities such as log toss, bullwhip, black powder rifles, knife throw and atlatl, the boys go to the much-desired Trader’s Row. They pair off to the many large tents set up with things to buy. Rossmiller and Smith get in line for the much-
favored root beer tent. “I love the root beer!” said Smith. “The home made root beer is made in cool old-fashioned long-necked bottles and I collect the bottles!” Smith buys the biggest bottle they have filled to the brim with root beer and capped up with a cork. He joins some of his fellow
scouts at a table, each with their own unique shaped and colored bottles filled with one of three flavors of root beers and enjoy a cool beverage and chat about the next activity they would go to next. Rossmiller taking a cool said “I’m coming here next year. My friends and I all are.”
A DAY AS A MOUNTAIN MAN 1. Mountain men learned the ancient, Native American hunting technique of atlatl throwing. 2. The scouts use their strength in the Log Toss, a traditional mountain man contest that originated in Scotland 3. A scout attempts to hit the target with a hatchet 4. Michael Smith and Robert Rossmiller join the others for some homemade root beer. 5. Some boys from the troop raise a flag pole that they made from lashing poles together. Photos by Armando Gasca
Chewing gum may be the answer you’ve been looking for Students who chewed while studying recalled more during test By Rebecka Holmes Assistant Editor
I
t’s kind of funny how your brain remembers things from years ago but can’t remember what you studied the night before, leaving your mind fried trying to remember how to solve a simple equation on your exams. There may be a helpful and simple way to enhance your recall. A recent study found that 3% of
students did better on their math and science exams after chewing gum. Chewing mint gum while studying helped some improve test scores, but how? “Insulin mops up glucose in the bloodstream, and chewing causes the release of insulin because the body is expecting food,” said scientist Andrew Scholey. “If insulin receptors in the brain are involved in memory, we may have an insulin-mediated mechanism explaining our findings – but that is very, very speculative.” Chewing gum while studying improves mental function and also reduces stress,which helps increase concentration,leading to better academic success. .
Gum is also proven to increase alertness, improve performance and relieve anxiety, which means that chewing gum before a test helps some students. However, chewing gum during a test distracts you from the work, and your brain is focused on chewing the gum and not what is on the test.
Gum: Stimulating Memory Studies have proven that chewing gum while studying can actually improve your test score.
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March 2012
Boys’ track and field seeks regional title
This team could be the one to put up the first ever banner By Brian Marshall Sports Editor
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wo years ago the Men’s Track and Field “freshmansophomore” team made a strong run at the city championship. The team, which went on to finish a close second to Green Valley, showed some of the strongest promis e in Foothill history. Now, two years later, the once underclass prospects have blossomed into the core varsity members of the team. Foothill has been in the running for the regional championship for the past half decade, but never has been able to piece together a “complete” enough team to get the task done. This year might be different. Foothill fields arguably it’s most well rounded team ever, and has plenty of depth to compliment its potential individual champions. For the past two years the class of 2013 has been carrying the load in sprints. Led by the dynamic duo of James Henderson and Dale Hinton, both top ranked quarter-milers, sprinting is looking to bring in loads of points at the regional championship. “It’s pretty rare that you can get two talents like James and Dale on the same team,” says Sprints
Coach Tim Simones. “Any coach would be lucky to have either of them, and having them both is a huge advantage for our program.” Other sprinters expected to contribute are returning region qualifiers, Jeremy Purdie, a junior, and Amod Turner, a sophomore. The Foothill distance team took a shot last year when they lost the double state qualifier Carl Greene. Among those called to fill his shoes are returners Kyler Campbell, Brian Marshall, and Arie Dennis. “Losing Carl is big, but honestly we have more than enough talent that is rising up to take his place,” says Distance Coach Natalie Thomas. “I’m excited to see what we can do this season.” Although none of them were state qualifiers last year, all are looking to qualify this year; Campbell, a senior, in the half mile and mile, Dennis, a junior, in the mile, and Marshall, a junior, in the mile and two mile. The Hurdling program also suffered some big time losses. Aside from losing record breaking hurdler Miles Killebrew and Region Qualifier Dakota Yamka, they also lost their coach. However jumping coach Lynette Greenough has stepped in to coach hurdles as well, and plans to continue the success of the program. “To
Fly like a Falcon Thomas Jaramillo leads his opponents in the hurdles during the meet against Basic. Photo by Bill Tobler
me the hurdling crew is just as solid as it was last year. We have plenty of talent and leadership to step up and I’m thrilled to be taking over as hurdling coach.” The top returning hurdlers are Junior Jordan Wagner, Senior Andreis Castronova, and Senior Marc Harris. Wagner and Castronova both had a strong 2011 season but had their success was cut short by injuries towards the end of the
season. If they can stay healthy both should be among the top contenders for the region title. The jumping program, involving long jump, triple jump, and high jump, expects to see some success itself. The top returner from last year is Senior Darren Buckles who placed fifth in the high jump. After the sunrise region champ transferred to Bishop Gorman and graduation of the other three
who placed ahead of Darren, Buckles is the high jump favorite heading into the season. “Darren’s a great talent,” says Coach Richards. “Along with (Greg) Cox, and (Jeremy) Purdie, we honestly are in line to have one of our best jumping seasons ever.” Foothill Pole Vaulting has undergone undoubtedly the biggest turnaround of any program at Foothill. A program that was practically nonexistent just a few years ago is now one of the most prominent in the region. The rise in Foothill Pole Vaulting can likely be attributed to the addition of Coach Mark Rivero. The most distinguished vaulter on the team is Alex Martin, who placed tenth last year at regionals as just a sophomore, and plans on breaking the top 3 this year. The throwing team also has undergone a coaching change and top returners Darrion Jerster and David WInward are dtriving to put points on the borad at the championship. Men’s track has come very close, including a second place finish last year, but has never sealed the deal on a regional championship. This year, with all of the pieces of the puzzle starting to fit, this may be the year for Men’s Track and Field.
Foothill swim has some of Boy’s volleyball gets set to impress the fastest swimmers yet With a deep bench, the boys are ready for a serious season By Jake Jesperson Layout Editor The crowd falls silent. Holding their breath they helplessly watch as their fellow teammates hit the water and come up swinging. After another minute or so, the crowd that was just barley silent is now jumping up and down hooting and hollering as they attempt to motivate the exhausted swimmer through his last lap. The swim team’s season is already underway and with a promising start at the annual relay meet swimmers are more excited than ever. “This season is going to be interesting,” said junior Jake Ozuna. “I personally didn’t think we were going to be too good this year. But once our team had hit the blocks I was
surprised at what I had seen and with the times we had pulled.” Foothill has never earned a 4th or higher place position but to coach Forney, this is a very possible finishing rank. “A few of the club swimmers this year including myself are extremely excited for regionals. We have worked harder at this sport than almost anything else in our lives, and earning a respected position is at a minimum all of our expectations,” says junior Daniel Vaughn. “Swimming is a culture, a lot of people don’t know that,” says Captain Jerry Crosby. “When I try and tell my friends about swim they just can’t comprehend, and most of the first year swimmers take a long time to
By Shianne Freebairne Sports Reporter
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s the setter lightly drives the ball thrown at him to the hitters, all the boys are waiting to show everyone else what they’ve got. “It’s going to be a lot better than last year,” said junior Kendell Andrews. “There’s a lot more talent this season and I think the attitude of the team in general is going to be a lot more upbeat.” The guy’s have been having intramurals for a few weeks now, and said they can already see a huge improvement in the team. “Coach Chris Sisson is working with the varsity players in hopes of changing the whole philosophy of the team to get better,” said Antonio Nunez. Sisson brings new ideas and philosophies. “With how we plan to run defense and offense, we’ll be more
get used to this family but once they’re in, there is no going back.” For first year swimmer Alec Fischmann he feels as though Water Slide Daniel Crosby exits the water, taking in deep breaths of air. He carefully raises his arms to do the butterfly stroke. Photo by Janel Gozum
effective and educated on the game itself,” explained Coach Sisson. “We want to build a culture of positive popularity of the sport of volleyball at Foothill.” This season the boy’s will be working on a lot of out of system balls to effectively try and get them to move their feet quicker and think on their feet. “Pretty much everything has changed,” explained Kendell Andrews. “It’s a lot harder in a way, but I think it’s better and what we need to do. We need to be pushed to be the best we can be.” They have a few tournaments coming up, and the boy’s are eager to see how they do as a new team. “The boys have potential to make it a good season, and if they buy into it, it’ll be great,” said Sisson. “In my mind, if this team works together in the right ways, it could be the best foothill has ever had.”
he is already part of the family and is ready to show his stuff. Some of the falcons have already shown their stuff this season however. Daniel Vaughn, Karl Martinez, Jake Ozuna, Zach Jones and Marcos Martinez have all broken two of the previous school records in just one meet.
Airborn Junior Caleb Hutchinson jumps and reaches to his maximum height get that spike. Courtesy by Bernhard and Williams
“When the record was broken my entire swimming career finally felt worth it,” said senior, Zach Jones. “The sport of swimming is the so draining and almost impossible to stay motivated in, but when you do something that monumental it becomes worth it, I love swimming!”
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March 2012
Men’s Basketball reaches regional finals Only a win away from the state tournament, Foothill loses a heartbreaker to Green Valley By Thomas Jaramillo Sports Editor
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he boys’ regular season concluded with the Falcons ending with a 15-11 (11-3 in division) record. The team clinched the southeast division title on the last day of the regular season. “I think we have become a lot better as a team,” said Coach Kevin Soares. “We learned a lot from the teams we played in,
“We definitely thought we could have won the game, especially because we had already beaten them twice already this year,” said Cresanto. “We had too many fouls as a team, and we also weren’t able to execute effectively.” Scoring leaders included Cresanto, averaging 12.5 points per game, Greg Cox with 11.1 and Darren Buckles with 8.9 per game. Rebounding leaders were Tyler Morris with 5.1 rebounds
NIAA Tournament Games Foothill 80 Foothill 56 Desert Pines
62 Canyon 48 Springs
what I think, was the toughest schedule in the state of Nevada.” In the regional title game against Green Valley the Falcons lost 70-63. Brannon Cresanto had 15 points, which led the team, Tyler Roberts had 11 and Darren Buckles had 9. The game was tight going into the third quarter 49-48 and then Green Valley answered with a 7-0 run and gave them control of the game.
Foothill 63 Green Valley
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per game, Taylor Montgomery with 4.3 and Darren Buckles with 4.1 per game. The assist leaders were Cresanto with 3.5, Elijah Smith with 2.1 per game and Cox with 2.1 per game. “We, as a team, have matured a lot during the season, which has allowed us to accomplish our goals so far,” said Coach Soares. In the season finale against Silverado, the Falcons won the game
Dribbling Skills! Brannon Cresanto leaves his Valley opponent in the dust thanks to his ball-handling skills. The team clinched the southeast division title on the last day of the regular season. Photo by Thomas Jaramillo
74-53. During the game, Cresanto had 22 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists while Cox had 13 points, Buckles had 11 and 8 rebounds and Smith had 8 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals. “I just told the guys it was going to be tough,” said Coach Soares. “We needed to win by at least 15 to win the one seed, and the team stepped up and got the job done.” In the opening playoff game against Desert Pines, the Falcons cruised into victory 80-62. Cresanto led the team with 22 points and 9 assists while Buckles had 14, Cox had 11, Austin Starr had 10 and Montgomery snagged 15 rebounds. The boys used a 22-8 third quarter to take control of the game and run away with the victory. At the semi-finals the boys were able to defeat Canyon Springs 56-48. Cox led the team with 16 points while Smith grabbed 9 rebounds and Cresanto scored 10. The Falcons were able to rally from a 19-12 deficit at halftime behind a big half by Cox who scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half Despite being let down in the final game of the season, Foothill still exceeded expectations.
Women’s basketball wins their first regional title
The team came through in the clutch against Liberty and advanced to state for the first time
By Thomas Jaramillo Sports Editor
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he girls ended their regular season 17-5 (14-0 in division) and secured the regional title from the one seed in the regional playoffs, where they earned a spot in the state playoffs where they lost to Reed High School. In the game at state against Reed, the girls lost 59-45. In their first appearance at state, the team made 18 of 65 shots from the field and committed 20 turnovers. Julie Harless led the team with 11 points, Christina Nash had 10, Bri Higgins had 9 and 10 rebounds and Tanjii Ajeto had 8 with 10 rebounds. “During the game we had trouble hitting the shots that were given to us,” said Christina Nash. “But the team still had a lot of heart all the way until the very end of the game.” In the regional title game, the Falcons defeated Liberty 51-50. Harless had 14 points and 10 rebounds, leading the balanced attack of the girls. Bri Higgins had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Tanjii Ajeto added 10 points. “This game meant so much to everybody on the team because we knew that it was our chance to get our school’s first banner for girls’ basketball,” said Nash
The teams’ scoring leaders were Bre Higgins, averaging 13.7 points per game, Christina Nash with 9.2 and Julie Harless with 8.2. Assist leaders were Tanjii Ajeto with 5.4 per game, Nash with 4.8 and Higgins with 2.9. Top rebounders were Higgins with 10.7, Kalani Killebrew with 6.3 and Nash with 5.0 per game. “We are a very well balanced group, and we try to distribute that ball to the people who are
game,” said Morris. “It was our senior night, and we wanted to make it an experience to remember.” The girls’ clinched the division title in a win over the Liberty Patriots 51-49. Harless led the girls in this game with 15 points and Higgins had eight. They pulled off the win despite only making 17 of 32 free-throws. “Winning the one seed was very important to us,” said Morris.
plenty of talent remains, and they look to be just a strong next year. “I’m really glad we were able to win the regional championship,” says Christina Nash. “This
season was perfect, and it was something I have dreamed of since the first time I walked into the gym my freshman year. It is a experience that we will remember forever!”
NIAA Tournament Games Foothill
80 Foothill
56 Foothill 63
Desert Pines
62 Canyon Springs
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open during the game,” said Danielle Morris. In their final game of the regular season, the girls remained undefeated by trouncing Silverado 81-44. Nash led with five double-figure scores with 16 points, Higgins had 12 points and 12 rebounds; Kimmie Sandusky had 10 points and 10 rebounds; 12 points were earned by Danielle Morris and Emily Cox had 10 points. “We really wanted to win this
Green Valley
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“Now we need to show everyone in the playoffs that we deserve the one seed and get to state.” Against Coronado, the girls were able to clinch their one seed by winning 53-43. The team was led by Higgins and Harless who each had 15 points. “As a team we have much more chemistry than we did at the beginning, and that is why we are playing so well,” said Sandusky. The girls are going to lose a majority of their key players. Still,
One-handed Tangi Ajeto takes it to the hoop with an explosion of vigor against Liberty. Photo by Chad Roback\Peregrine
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March 2012
Journalism’s MVP picks for winter sports As Foothill’s winter sports came to a close, the sports staff handed out awards
Boys’ Girls’ Wrestling Basketball Basketball
Girls’ Soccer
Most Inspirational Greg Cox
Skyler Bench
Christina Nash
Mackenzie Potter
Taylor Montgomery
Angelo Lance
Dani Morris
Jilian Vigil
Brannon Cresanto
Scott Stigger
Breanna Higgins
Kimberly Callen
Foothill Guard Brannon Cresanto led Foothill to one of its more memorable seasons. A team led by its strong junior class, Cresanto rose above expectations and distinguished himself as the team leader. He led with 12.5 points per game and 3.5 assists per game.
Foothill Wrestler Scott Stigger closed out his senior year in style. The four- year senior left his heart on the mat this year, and it showed with his third place finish in region and being a huge part of the reason why Foothill climbed into the top 8 at region.
Foothill forward Bre Higgins came out with a mission this year. It was her senior year, and she knew it was her final chance to leave it on the court and give it her all. She did nothing short of that, and she averaged 13.7 points and an amazing 10.7 rebounds a game and led the Falcons to a regional championship.
Foothill goalie Kimberly Callen had a truly remarkable season for the, helping lead them to a fifth place finish, one point away from a playoff bid. Callen individually had six shutouts, which set the Falcon record. “Kim is a great example of a dedicated and committed student here at FHS. She has been my vessel in communicating to the team,” said coach Cynthia Guzman.
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March 2012
Meet this season’s top 4 golfers
A Q & A with the best of the best for Foothill’s golf team By Jake Jesperson Layout Editor
Nicholas Rea
Q: When did you get into golf?
A: When I was 13. My dad
By Alec Fischmann
Connor Bodin
Sports Reporterr
Q: Who’s your inspiration?
A: Tiger Woods! ... and Taylor Montgomery too.
started working at Legacy golf Q: What’s your favorite part of golf? course, so everything was free, A: Most definitely when I beat Taylor! and there was no reason not Q: What are your goals for this seato golf.
Q: What have you won in golf?
A: A bunch of bets. Including $60 and 2 pizzas.
son? A: I really want to do well in state and maybe even beat Taylor.
Taylor Montgomery
Q: What do people not understand about golf?
A: It’s really fun, and I play for money, so winning is especially cool.
Nick Grinder
Q: How often do you hit the course?
A: Every day. My dad usually drags me off my longboard and to the course at least six days a week.
Q: Why did you start golf?
A: I saw it on TV and wanted to give
Q: How much do your clubs cost?
A: For me, nothing. I have a sponsorship with TaylorMade, and they supply me with all my gear.
it a shot.
Softball knows what they want
Our Lady Falcons want it all, and they are prepared to get it By Thomas Jaramillo Sports Editor
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he girls have started the season 6-2 (1-0) and hope to ride this early season momentum to the playoffs and a regional title. “Our start to the season so far has been very strong,” said Hannah Russo. “We had a rough preseason, but that just made us closer as a team. We are a very strong team, on and off the field, and I don’t think we have ever been more of a family than we are right now. I’m very excited to watch us grow both as a family and a team.” In their opening division game, the girls routed Del Sol 17-0, ending the game in five innings. Hannah Stevens went 3 for 5 with a double, triple and four runs scored. Rhiana Balaun went 4 for 5 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored, while Lauren Penksa went 3 for 3 with a triple and Hannah Russo went 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs for the Falcons. “Our win over Del Sol was honestly a good life lesson,” said Russo. “It taught us to be humble. Yes, we won big, but you will not see us bragging about it. When you win, you say nothing. When you lose, you say less.” In Bullhead City the team was able to defeat Yucaipa (Calif.)
1-0. Aricia Dami had a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth inning, which knocked in Gabby Canibeyaz to score the winning run. “I feel like we came together during this tournament,” said Dami. “We learned to not just play for ourselves but for the teammate next to us. Once we learned that, we were able to find success as a team.” At Bullhead City, the Falcons were able to defeat Mingus (Ariz.) 10-7. Dami went 2 for 4 with a three-run home run and a double to help lead the Falcons to victory. Chelsi Stewart also added a double for the girls. The Falcons defeated Mohave (AZ) 3-0 as Alex Petrolia pitched a one hitter for the Falcons and Lauren Penksa went 3 for 4 with two doubles. The girls also defeated Desert Oasis 5-0 in Bullhead City. Stewart went 3 for 4, and Petrolia, with Jordyn Derflinger, pitched a two-hitter for the Falcons. This year the team has been training hard since November and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “Intramurals have been going on since November, and they were fun,” said Hannah Russo. “We have a lot of girls who want to make a difference on this team, and it’s great to have a ros-
ter filled with returning players.” The team has a lot of returners and experience, which should help them in their attempt to capture the regional crown. “We only lost one senior from last year’s team,” said Pamela Sakuma. “So everyone’s back, along with some new players.” Last season saw a state contending team bow out in the final round. “Compared to last
Is our locker room safe?
year, there’s a lot of heart for this season,” said Alex Petrolia. “We did great last year and only lost one game, so we’re excited for what this year will bring.” “Our main goal for this season is team bonding, commitment and dedication,” said Jordyn Derflinger. “We definitely want to make it to state like we did last year, but this time we hope to take first place.”
Just try to get to first girl! Chelsi Stewart fields a grounder and attempts to pick off a runner at first while playing an Oregon team in a scrimmage match on March 26. Photo by Robert Vendettoli
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n the boy’s locker room, a different stench arises every day from the trash that litters every row of lockers, both on the floor and in the lockers, and everywhere except for the trash cans. Food wrappers, pizza boxes, and half-eaten food piles decay in empty lockers. In the worst cases, kids leave unopened milk cartons in unoccupied lockers for up to a week, and when the milk is perfectly curdled and rotten, they open it and fling it across the room in hopes of making a large, putrid-smelling mess. “I don’t see how it can be funny to make the locker room smell as bad as it does,” says Dylan Sipple. “Not only do I have to suffer in there, but boys who come in and out of the locker room in every period do. It is just disgusting!” Not only does the state of the locker rooms cause distress, but when it gets too bad, the locker room becomes unsafe. A few times, the room has even been cleared out to remove the
“I don’t see how it can be funny to make the locker room smell as bad as it does,” says Dylan Sipple. growth of mold. Coaches can only do so much to stop this atrociousness, and they do their part by warning and scolding, but it is up to the students to learn to respect their school and throw away their trash. There are two trash cans in the bathroom and at least two in the locker room itself. “The trash is disgusting, and it just shows irresponsibility on the part of some of our students to keep things clean and leave it as they found it,” said Coach Redmond. Nobody seems to like the condition of the locker room, yet the filth continues to flourish daily. Nobody’s locker is safe from an infestation of the ants that feed on the filth. No one person is responsible for the conditions, but a combination of everyone making a little mess, or spitting on the floor, or leaving a single piece of garbage contributes to the mess. Compared to the girls’ locker room, the boys’ looks like a pig pen. “The girls’ locker room seems disgusting, but I’ve had to be in the boy’s, and after that, the girls’ smelt like flowery rainbows,” said Ryanne Bailey. “People should pick up after themselves,” said Tyler Van Stone. “They need to quit being lazy, plain and simple and learn to throw away their thrash. Maybe then we can have a decent looking locker room.”
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Review
March 2012
Sci-Fi thriller Chronicle brings a new twist to an old story Story of three teens who acquire super powers while one uses them for evil By Greta Chiocchetti Assistant Editor
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he Sci-fi thriller Chronicle, directed by Josh Trank, plays off of the same plot that we see in plenty of movies where normal teenagers acquire super powers. This one, however, has a different kind of flair that makes it truly memorable. The movie is captured on a series of different personal cameras, which gives it a kind of diary feel that makes it easier to relate to the teens. However, the beginning is very predictable. The movie focuses on three main characters, all teens in high school: Andrew, (Dane DeHaan), Matt (Alex Russell) and Steve (Michael B. Jordan). It does fit a cliché as all of the boys are unpopular and bullied, which all changes when they discover their superpowers. However, the movie doesn’t follow the same mold after that. What starts off as an innocent novelty quickly spirals into something very dark. The famil-
iar phrase, “With great power comes great responsibility” actually takes on meaning. Instead of being valiant and selfless, Andrew begins using his powers for darker purposes as he learns that his power becomes stronger with use.
The plot really is more of a horror story, which is displayed in one of the best action sequences I’ve experienced. The first part of the movie was so-so, but it was worth sitting through for an ending that resonated. The movie ended in a spot that could defi-
nitely be expanded in sequels, but at the same time, you sort of hope that it will be left alone. The mystery is dizzying and much more pleasing than having everything explained. The movie is worth a watch, but viewers should be prepared
for not-your-average superhero movie. The cinematography is breathtaking. Believable and real characters, great footage, and a unique story line all await in the “found footage” phenomenon Chronicle.
Chronicle The first week, Chronicle made $22 million. -Chronicle was a great movie! I recommend seeing it. Rating: A
Woman in Black is a thriller This Means War was not a hit in theaters
Audiences and critics like the new Daniel Radcliff scare-fest as he searches for clues to an old murder
This movie lacks romance, comedy, and action
By Skyler Kowalski
By Chelsea Shehan Copy Editor
Cub Reporter
he Woman in Black starring Daniel Radcliffe was released into theaters on February 3. Just by the commercials, this movie looked like a hit. The film begins with a flashback with Daniel Radcliffe’s character, Arthur Kipps and his deceased wife on their wedding day. The film then flashes black to present time with Arthur and his son. Arthur is a lawyer who must travel to a remote mansion to settle his recent decease’s estate. Arthur leaves his son in the care of his nanny, and is off to the small town where the mansion is located. Upon arriving to the mansion, strange things begin to happen to Arthur. Arthur begins to see a woman around the home. The more the woman is seen, more and more children begin to die. The town’s people beg Arthur to leave before more children die, but is determined to figure out with the woman wants. The horror begins as Arthur digs into the history of the woman in black. Legend says the woman in black will not rest until she finds her son who went missing before she died. Arthur searches the town and finds the son’s bones in a pit of mud. Arthur then buries her son next to her tombstone. With a surprise twist ending, this movie is a great scare and will leave you with chills
acking in romance, comedy and action, This Means War is barely plausible to be considered as all three, let alone a “five-star movie,” as the trailer says. As I agonizingly sat in the theater, the only thought that went through my mind was: can I get a refund? McG, the director of the film, has filmed many great movies before, such as the Terminator series, but he seems to have lost his ability to actually direct a film. He thought of a promising movie idea but turned it into a complete loss with unneeded scenes and not enough flair.
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RECENT RELEASES
ACT OF VALOR Starring: Roselyn Sanchez Alex Veadov Nestor Serrano Rated R
LORAX Starring: Danny DeVito Taylor Swift Zac Efron Rated PG
The two main characters, FDR (Chris Pine) and Tuck (Tom Hardy) are fighting about a woman, Lauren Scott (Reese Witherspoon) who they both become interested in. The childhood friends, who both work for the same spy agency, realize that Lauren is the same Lauren as the other friend’s. Instead of agreeing to both forget about her, they decide to have her choose who she wants to be with on her own time while trying to ruin the other one’s chances. Pine, Hardy and Witherspoon all portray their characters as well as expected, but they need more emotion. Although Witherspoon seems troubled with her decision, that is as far as it gets. The movie doesn’t show how she struggles or how this struggle affects her life. Mcg has her say she is troubled and talk somewhat about it, but the movie doesn’t really touch on the subject much. Other than the occasional joke,
there is nothing funny in this film. Apparently, crude remarks count as hilarious statements because that was all there was. The movie was on the borderline of being rated R with inappropriate language and conversations between the characters. With nothing else to talk about, the writers filled the movie with useless blabber that did not relate to the scene or story line. The movie could have been cut in half if they just got straight to the point. Once they finally reached the high point of the movie, it took a total of ten minutes to sum up everything that happens afterwards. The credits rolled onto the screen as I thought of how those two precious hours could’ve been used to accomplish something more useful such as memorizing the names of bones in Russian. The film put a damper on my life and all of the participants’ careers.
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March 2012
Entertainment
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