Gazette combined december 2015

New Year’s events Students head to SnowGlobe fest

Winter sports

Pleasure Reading?

G10-11

B1

School has reduced joy from books

C1

Skiing and snowboarding

The Granite Bay Gazette GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL w 1 GRIZZLY WAY w GRANITE BAY, CA w 95746 w VOLUME 19 w ISSUE 4 w THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015

COMMENTARY

savitri asokan sasokan.gazette@gmail.com

In many ways, life imitates art

You can’t

...racial tension

IGNORE

L

ast December, I visited the Albertina museum in Vienna, which holds my favorite work of art: Albrecht Durer’s “Great Piece of Turf.”

As sophomores, we all read Plato’s Allegory of the Cave: the inexorable light and goodness of truth, the necessity, for all humans, to “learn by degrees … to turn round to the true day of being.” He saw a world beyond the feeble, limited constructs of reality which we assure ourselves is indubitably correct.

But it was only in my AP Art History class that I first encountered the “Great Piece of Turf.” that I was abruptly struck with the full import of Plato’s words.

Tracing the gracefully curving stems – dandelions, daisies, speedwell, yarrow, plantain – I drew an intake of breath: Oh, this is what he meant.

It was a watercolor, but unbelievably photorealistic – thousands of clear strokes forming this lifelike image. It was incredible.

Durer is considered one of history’s greatest painters, and for very good reason. In the watercolor “Turf,” he meticulously renders, with scientific precision, a small patch of watery earth along with the plants which inhabit it.

It’s both astonishing and wholly unprecedented for a sixteenthcentury artist, and the effect is not lost on modern viewers.

One of my most inviolable beliefs is that genius exists: in uncompromising dedication to the truth, in refusing to accept the simpler story. And just as Plato said, anyone can achieve this state of being where awareness is inextricably bound up with existence.

It’s the reason why, to so many of my peers’ bewilderment, I actually relish the concomitant pains of perfectionism. Why I’m not ashamed of coffee-stained hands and permanent shadows under my eyes. Even, to some extent, why I chose to undertake the notoriously rigorous IB pathway.

There’s something beyond just intellectual potential to be experienced – complete presence and complete awareness. It’s that which I perceived to be reflected in Durer’s brushstrokes and pen marks.

The painting has been called a work of realism; but to me, it was truer than reality.

But that afternoon in Vienna, pressing my nose against the glass, I saw the gaps between the strokes. I saw the droplets of color, the soft blurring and the faint scratches of pen on paper.

The clarity faded; Durer was naked. Here, finally, were the vulnerabilities I had convinced myself he didn’t have.

It was as if I had uncovered some terrible secret. I always wonder whether artists actually give out their best work, and Durer was admitting he wasn’t.

It constituted a betrayal of sorts, but it was the only honest thing to do. I suppose he still had a lot left to learn. For most of my life, I’ve trusted that the uncompromising pursuit of greatness is not only possible but compulsory.

But it was too easy to neglect the minor treacheries.

In the meantime, I think, staying at the threshold has its own beauty. *** Savitri Asokan, a senior, is a Gazette co-editor-in-chief.

Model /RYAN JOY

Gazette photoillustration/TROY PAWLAK

Race-related protests have increased recently after racially charged incidents at highly-regarded colleges and universities across the nation occurred.

Race relations on campuses lead to discussions on tension

BY HANNAH HOLZER

C

hholzer.gazette@gmail.com

olleges across the nation have felt the backlash of a growing movement of people – young people in particular – who will no longer stand for racial intolerance.

At schools such as Yale (where racially insensitive events involved fraternities), the University of Missouri (where students protested multiple racial incidents and one student engaged in a week-long hunger strike) and Claremont McKenna College (where racial tensions came to a head after questionable Halloween costumes were worn by students at the college and the staff’s response was unsatisfactory), students were demanding action on events they believed were not properly addressed.

At Claremont McKenna, racially insensitive Halloween costumes were worn just a day after students at the college sent a message of solidarity to Yale and the University

‘Bang Bang You’re Dead’ focuses on school shootings

of Missouri with an organized protest in response to those schools’ own bouts with racially fueled controversy.

“It all started when a couple of girls

dressed up in stereotypical Mexican attire for Halloween (and were photographed with) our junior class president – who was not dressed like they were,” Granite Bay High graduate Sydney Talmi, who attends Claremont McKenna, said in an electronic interview. “This created uproar, because prior to Halloween there were a bunch of posters and emails stating ‘Our culture is not your costume’ and (expressing) that it (is) wrong to wear (essentially) what the girls wore.

“This picture then circled Facebook and was pretty much the tipping point for many students of color. Now that they had the administration’s attention, they were able to declare the other wrongs done to them and work toward a solution. During the week or so of protests, tensions were high for everybody.”

Following the protests prompted by the picture, dean of students Mary Spellman and Claremont McKenna’s junior class president resigned.

skhurana.gazette@gmail.com

Nearly 300 mass shootings have occurred in the United States in 2015, more than 40 of which took place at schools.

Feeling a need to send a mes-

See RACE, page A7

Hidden IB cheating culture?

Members of school program do not always adhere to rules of conduct

BY ANJALI SHRIVASTAVA

ashrivastava.gazette@gmail.com

Among the traits delineated in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Learner Profile is “principled,” which is defined as “(acting) with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect … (and taking) responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.”

Although this description is accurate for most of the students in the program, a small – yet significant – portion of the students have been participating in unprincipled behaviors.

The IB program has a certain amount of notoriety when it comes to cheating; several students have reported activities such as taking a smartphone to the bathroom while taking a test in order to look up an

Gazette photo /MADELINE WILLIAMS

GBHS drama students perform in front of their peers on Dec. 10.

Production shown to students followed by a discussion

BY SURINA KHURANA

GBHS senior Brandon Miyashiro, who is applying to Claremont McKenna, said he knows nothing of the events which have recently taken place and that these events would not affect his decision to attend if he’s accepted. However, Miyashiro said he does think student relations are an essential aspect of college life and necessary “when building a strong college community.”

Sabrina McCord, a GBHS senior, said the events which have occurred on the campus at the University of Missouri, or “Mizzou,” might affect her decision to attend the college if she’s accepted. At Missouri, racial tensions came to a head when threats to shoot black students were made on the social media app, Yik Yak. After the university’s football team backed the protest and threatened not to play, both the president and chancellor of the university announced their resignations.

“I’ve been seeing a lot of stuff in the news

sage to the student body of Granite Bay High School about this growing issue, a group of students – seniors Erica Lucia, Nick Martinez and Mira Pexa – decided to direct a play about the haunting effects of shootings. The produc-

inside the Gazette news

tion, titled “Bang Bang You’re Dead,” follows a high school student named Josh, played by senior Mark Kostyuk.

“The play starts in (Josh’s) jail See BANG, page A6

English teacher says some IB guidelines are less than clear

See CHEATING, page A6

Emerald Brigade breaks records

Teens reevaluate their daily diets

GBHS marching band places first and then fifth at WBA Championship

For some, what they put into their bodies is becoming more important

A2

Jody Van Dusen

voices 9

A4

Time is merely a man-made concept We shouldn’t worry about time because it is just made up by us

A10

News

A2

Granite Bay Gazette

Thursday w December 17, 2015

NAMES IN THE NEWS

surina khurana skhurana.gazette@gmail.com

Girls’ Volleyball upsets Rocklin in a 3-0 section title upset Girls volleyball won the Division II Sac-Joaquin Section Championships! They received not only the title of champions, but also incredibly fashionable hats! *** Freshman Chloe Clark went to Junior Nationals for swim.

She is ranked first in the nation in several events for her age group. It’s no big deal. *** You have survived the first day of finals. There is only one more day until complete, utter relaxation. *** Several GBHS students were selected to be part of CMEA Capital Section Honor Band.

Ba-dum-ch. *** Winter Ball was this past Saturday and was James Bond themed. Winter Ball commissioners Brigid Bell, Matt O’Malley and Andrea Hagener did a great job. *** The winter solstice falls on Dec. 22 this year. May your winter solstice be jolly and bright. *** Advanced Placement Calculus and International Baccalaureate Mathematics teacher Scott Becker got a new, stainless steel fridge and is very excited about it. *** We do not have school Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. Enjoy your last day of cocoa and cookies. *** The beginning, intermediate and advanced dance classes put on an incredible dance show the week of Nov. 30. Not one dancer fell while dancing in heels. *** Nineteen senior athletes signed their national letters of intent on Nov. 22. A huge congratulations goes out to that dedicated group! *** GBHS students sported ugly Christmas sweaters on Dec. 11.

That was a sight for sore eyes. *** The Winter Concert took place on Dec. 11. Hopefully you heard those sleigh bells jingling and ring-ting-tingling too. *** Construction Technology teacher Steve Dolan received a $1000 grant for his ACE Mentor program, which encourages students to pursue careers in the construction industry. Bob the builder. Can we fix it? Bob the builder. Yes we can! *** Surina Khurana, a junior, is a Gazette news editor.

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

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

Special to the Gazette /BONNIE BOONE

Special to the Gazette /BONNIE BOONE

Left , the bands competing at the Western Band Association Championship, right the wind and percussion sections showcase their musical talent.

Emerald Brigade marches to first-place win GBHS band achieves highest score ever in competition to date

BY HANNAH HOLZER

hholzer.gazette@gmail.com

The Emerald Brigade, one of the most highly decorated organizations on the Granite Bay High School campus, has finished off its marching season on a high note – on Nov. 21 at the Western Band Association Class Championship, after competing alongside 20 other similarly sized bands, the Emerald Brigade took first place. The group then went on to a second day of competition, where their score improved at the WBA Grand Championship. On Nov. 22, the Emerald Brigade finished in fifth out of the 16 top-scoring bands from the previous day’s competition, the highest score ever given to GBHS. The roughly 130-member band competed at the Fresno State Bulldog Stadium that Saturday in the 4A, Class Championship, where divisions are determined according to a band’s population – in 4A band sizes range from 90 to 140 members. Sunday, at the Grand Championship, the 16 highestscoring bands from all five divisions competed again – regardless of size – where scores were recalculated in the chance that the performance improves, and, in the Emerald Brigade’s case, it did.

“Sunday, we rehearsed ... in the morning

(and) performed again so (that) they can reevaluate and see if maybe you did better, and we did even better the second day score-wise and beat the bands we wanted to (beat),” senior, tuba player, freshman representative, unofficial tuba section leader and four-year Emerald Brigade member Sara Fassler said.

“We took fifth, which Granite Bay (High School) has never done. Getting first (on Saturday) is just a shock to us, I still can’t believe it. Every single year I’ve marched, we go and we get like fourth, third maybe, if we’re lucky, one time we got second, but we’ve never come out (being) the best band in a division.”

The admirable win and rank was accomplished at the end of a nearly four month marching season. The road to victory is time-consuming and strenuous, but according to Fassler, the commitment is “so worth it” having finished so successfully.

Starting not at the beginning of the school year, but during the last few weeks of summer, freshmen and new members are taught about commands, starting with the left foot while marching, pointing their toes up when moving forward and other tips and tricks necessary for marching cohesively. The last week of summer is All-Member Band Camp, where the entire Emerald Brigade begins their marching season.

Freshman trumpet player Sam Roberts said

Students feel need to protect each other Most teens refrain from reporting

BY AMANDA NIST

anist.gazette@gmail.com

It’s safe to say that in the last few years, campus security and monitoring of students and their information has been revamped, however, even with more threats on campus in recent years some students at Granite Bay High School still believe that “snitching” is unacceptable.

Jessup McGregor, a Granite Bay High School assistant principal, said that when there’s a safety concern on campus, whether it be a weapon or anything else, there are a various number of ways it can come to the attention of the administration, most of the time being that a student reports it. He said it can also come to attention if he or other staff hear a lot of talk around

campus, or if they receive an anonymous call.

“The first thing that we do is assess the credibility of the threat; we’re always going to assume that it’s real,” McGregor said. “We’re going to assume that it’s a safety issue because it’s better that way.

(We will) not assume that someone is doing something wrong but we are going to assume we need to put it to our full attention.”

McGregor said if, for example, there was a report of a weapon on campus, the administration would very quickly move to talk to the student or go to the area where that concern is and assess the safety of that situation. Once the threat has been secured, their next step is to figure out why the safety concern happened.

“So if this person brought something to school that he shouldn’t have, then why, are you scared for your safety?” McGregor said.

“Once we secure the threat, it’s like, what can we do to support

it was a little stressful to learn how to march because marching is the opposite of how your body has been trained to move, so it feels unnatural. After the camps, before the start of school, however, he said he felt “a lot better” about his marching abilities.

Taking time from their summer breaks is just one of many time commitments required by members of the Emerald Brigade.

“Every day except Wednesdays, we have zero period rehearsal, where we have to be ready for practice on the field at 6:45 in the morning, and we practice until school starts,” said senior and Head Drum Major Emalyn Atkins. “Monday nights we start at 6:30 p.m. and practice until 9 p.m. and we also practice every day during second period. The percussion and color guard have additional practices on Wednesday night and Thursday night, respectively. Overall, (starting) from band camp, the wind members practiced 16,775 minutes, not including individual practices or sectionals, and percussion and guard practiced 18,395.”

Band members have “Super Saturdays” every Saturday that is not a competition day.

On those days, practice starts at 9 a.m. and ends at either 9 p.m. or 6 p.m.. On Saturdays where the band has a competition, rehearsals beforehand can take as long as four hours, followed by a transportation to the school and then a two-hour warm up, finished, fi–

nally, by the band’s actual performance.

During first period, the color guard and percussion members practice on the field, and during second period the rest of the instrumental sections practice.

The three groups which make up the Emerald Brigade are the winds, the color guard and the percussion. In the winds, there are around 10 instrumental groups, which include the flute, clarinet, double reeds – oboe and bassoon – saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone, tuba and percussion. Percussion is split into two sections: the drumline, which marches, and the pit, which remains standing throughout the performance at the front.

Additionally, peasants who were used in this year’s performance, were volunteers from around the school who offered their time to attend practices and perform in competitions.

Furthermore, different versions of instruments are used depending on the season. For example, during the marching season, the sousaphone is played, which wraps around the player’s waist, while during concert season, the tuba – which is technically the same instrument – is played instead.

While the student’s time investment is large, there are many behind-the-scene activities that sometimes go unrecognized.

Lynn Lewis, GBHS’ Band Director, works See WIN, page A7

or it could cause a safety concern where it’s malicious intent – it’s usually a personal issue with that student, and we want to support that kid so they can get back to a normal sense of life that they feel comfortable with.”

GBHS senior Tanvi Mehta said snitching does have a bad connotation, especially in high school “People don’t want to be that person, the one who complains about their friends, because they’re friends for a reason,” Mehta said.

“There are some people who will not snitch whatsoever, you know, bomb threat or not.”

Gazette photo illustration / MEAGAN TALLMAN Mehta said she thinks that in general, ratting out a friend depends on Nationwide, there is a culture among teens over hearing no evil, not only the situation, but also the seeing no evil and speaking no evil when it comes to “snitching” person.

“There are some people that I you and get you back to where you administration is going to “roll the would go to hell and back to save, don’t feel like you need a weapon reporter under the bus,” but in realbut at the same time if they were a anymore? What do we need to ity the administration works hard change, if anything, in terms of the to protect the confidentiality of its threat to me or anyone around them or themselves I think I would reporters. policies?”

“If you see something, say some- come forward and do something McGregor said that both at GBHS and elsewhere, there have thing,” McGregor said. “Even if about it,” Mehta said. “At the end been threats on campus that a lot you’re not sure, say something to of the day I’d rather be a snitch then of people knew about, yet only one somebody so we can make sure someone who has lost a friend.”

Mehta said that if it ever came person said something, which is that person is getting what they down to her having to report a concerning. McGregor also said he need, because very rarely does thinks people are afraid of break- somebody do something like that See REPORTING page A7 ing trust because they think the where it’s threatening behavior

Asexuality mostly unheard of on campus

LGBT+ education not taught at GBHS

BY CONNOR HINSON

chinson.gazette@gmail.com

Despite the culture trending toward being more accepting and tolerant of the LGBT+ community, there is a lack of understanding of it at Granite Bay High School.

This partially stems from the absence of LGBT+ sex education in high schools. The debate on whether or not to implement it into high school curriculum has been going on for more than a decade– seemingly without progress in either direction– even though 73 percent of parents of high school students think that LGBT+ issues should be taught in schools according to the Center

for American Progress. awareness may be including this In fact, only nine of the 22 as part of the health class curricuStudents should states that require sex educalum.” know at least tion in schools have a positive This addition could also lead to some of the gen- a deeper understanding of parts of unit on LGBT+ sex education. eral terms and Another three of the 22 require the LGBT+ spectrum which are have an underthat LGBT+ sex education is generally less well known or not standing of what portrayed only negatively. often talked about. For instance, it means to be California is not one of those it is known that roughly one LGBT+ 22 states, and by extension, percent of the world’s population – Marty LGBT+ sex education is absent is asexual, or lacking any sexual Kantola,GSA from Granite Bay High School. attraction. With asexuality being Club president Its omission has not gone unsuch a small part of the populanoticed, however. tion, some students don’t underGBHS GSA club president Marty Kantola stand what it is, and some don’t trust its is one person who is in favor of adding legitimacy at all.

LGBT+ education to health and safety.

Amanda Ramos, a Granite Bay High “Students should know at least some School graduate, identifies as asexual. of the general terms and have an under“I don’t feel sexual attraction. People get really confused and seem to not be able standing of what it means to be LGBT+,” Kantola said. “One possibility for increased to wrap their heads around that, because

sexual desire seems to be such a natural, common part of people,” Ramos said.“I’ve never looked at anyone at wanted to have sex with them. I’ve never wanted to have sex with anyone. It doesn’t mean that I can’t feel romantic attraction, it just means that when I feel attracted to someone, the sexual component of it is not there.”

Not educating students on this topic can lead to LGBT+ youth feeling unrepresented and alienated among their peers.

Drama teacher Kyle Holmes stressed the resources GBHS currently has for LGBT+ students.

“We have a really great GSA Club with very insightful and accepting students,” Holmes said, “it is a great resource for anyone that wants to learn more about the LGBT+ community See ASEXUALITY, page A5

News A6

Thursday, December 17, 2014

w The Granite Bay Gazette

News

Thursday, December 17, 2015 w The Granite Bay Gazette

A4

Students’ diets tend to be high in processed, sugary foods Sugar intake should remain below 10 percent of calories

BY CARISSA LEWIS

clewis.gazette@gmail.com

In July 2015, the Food and Drug Administration advocated for sugar to be included in the percent daily value on nutrition labels.

This recommendation was based off of a study from the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which indicated sugar should not be more than 10 percent of a person’s diet.

“FDA considered the evidence that the DGAC used,” said FDA press officer Lauren Kotwicki, “which showed that it is difficult to meet nutrient needs while staying within calorie (range) if one exceeds 10 percent of total calories from added sugar.”

Including a recommendation for the Dietary Reference Value (DRV) of sugar was first suggested in March 2014. Considering the given information at that point, the FDA decided it could not label a quantitative value to sugar intake.

However, according to Kotwicki, the reports from March 2014 “supported the establishment of a DRV for added sugars and suggested that the mandatory declaration of a percent DV on the label is needed to assist consumers in putting the amount of added sugars in a serving of food in the context of (their) total daily diet.”

Overconsumption of sugar is linked to an increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Eating large amounts of sugar also lowers HDL (good) cholesterol levels, which can lead up to heart disease.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005-2010, about 16 percent of the diet of an American child or adolescent consists of added sugars.

“Teenagers and Americans in general consume way too much sugar,” junior Kendall Smith said. “There is sugar in every processed thing we eat.”

As stated in the MyPlate recommendations, the average 14- to 18-year-old boy should consume two cups of fruit, three cups of vegetables, eight-ounce equivalent of grain, six-and-a-half ounce equivalent of protein, three cups of dairy and six teaspoons of oils. A 14- to

18-year-old girl should consume one-and-a-half cups of fruit, two-and-a-half cups of vegetables, six ounce equivalent grain, five-ounce equivalent protein, three cups of dairy and five teaspoons of oils.

“The average caloric intake for Americans,” health teacher Kathie Sinor said, “is about 2,000 calories.”

This is the number that percent daily values are based upon.

Tracking dietary habits has become an increasing trend. While some physically write out the foods they are eating, others maintain digital records to determine and regulate their nutritional needs.

Each term, Sinor assigns her students a nutrition project in which the students log their meals and snacks over a period of three days onto Supertracker, a website that calculates nutritional deficiencies.

After reviewing her students’ results, Sinor said “teenagers are typically getting enough protein in their diet, but they’re lacking overall on calories.”

These conclusions, Sinor said, usually surprise her students. Most expect they are overeating or consuming just the right amount. But with a high emphasis on sports at Granite Bay High School, many students work off their intake of calories.

“Fifteen percent of our population probably doesn’t have any breakfast whatsoever,” Sinor said. “So if they have second lunch, their brain has not had any nourishment since the night before and that can be upwards of 16, 17 hours without food. So their brains are lacking the proper nourishment.”

In addition to not consuming enough, teenagers are exposed to unhealthy food. In between class periods and during lunch, students are able to purchase snacks such as Pop Tarts, muffins, Chex Mix, chips and Powerade from vending machines.

While some teachers allow snacks within their classroom, others prohibit food and drinks. Others are particular about the types of food allowed in the classroom. Sinor, wanting to encourage healthy diets, only permits fresh fruits and vegetables.

Though the processed foods found in vending machines consist of processed sugars which lack the vita-

Gazette photo illustration /MADDIE WILLIAMS

Processed foods tend to have many added sugars, which can be detrimental to one’s health if consumed too much. Experts recommend people monitor their caloric intake from sugar. mins and minerals that are essential for maintaining a healthy diet, not all sugars are detrimental to the body.

Complex sugars, including sucrose and lactose, break down into simple sugars, such as glucose. Without the need to be broken down further, simple sugars are processed in the body much faster.

“I use the analogy of having a good-quality fuel versus a cheap fuel,” Sinor said. “You want to have

Students have access to community colleges

Students attend political seminar Upperclassmen register to vote in the next election

New bill encourages teens to take college classes

BY KAYOMI KAYOSHI

BY SABINA MAHAVNI

kkayoshi.gazette@gmail.com

smahavni.gazette@gmail.com

In less than one year from now, most seniors at Granite Bay High will be able to vote in the 2016 presidential election.

To help be prepared for their future as voters, students in College Preparatory and Advanced Placement Government and Economics classes had the opportunity to hear from speakers of various political parties.

Following the presentations, students were able to register to vote.

Representatives from the Democratic, Republican and Libertarian parties presented their political views, hoping to spark a common interest in the young adults at GBHS. “(The presentations) give (the students) a better understanding of the different parties,” AP Government teacher Jarrod Westberg said. “We talk about them in class, but they actually got to see it live.”

Each representative had five minutes to present their case before proceeding to the Question and Answer portion of the talks. “(The politicians) were very informative,” said Sarah Jolly, a GBHS senior. “We learned mostly about the key issues in politics right now.”

In the news, the most-discussed two parties are the Democratic and Republican parties. However, these students received the opportunity to hear from a lesser known party, the Libertarian party, represented by Robert Page.

“I loved the Libertarian,” junior Tobi Ayo-

good-quality fuel in your system to where your body can break it down for a steady period of time, and that’s going to be through the complex carbohydrates, which are the starches.”

Despite the GBHS requirement to take a health class freshman year, many lose interest in their nutritional needs.

“Teenagers know what’s healthy,” Smith said.

“They’re just too lazy to do anything about it.”

Gazette photo /MADDIE WILLIAMS

Placer County supervisor Kirk Uhler introduces the political speakers.

Ajibola said. “He was very outgoing (and) had an interesting view on politics about improving the whole government system.”

However, the Libertarian speaker received mixed reactions from different students.

“I never expected to vote for the Libertarian party,” senior Rawan Khalili said. “He was entertaining but his political ideology conflicted with mine.”

Although the representatives’ goal was to bring out shared views in the students, some students felt unaided by the presentations.

“I didn’t agree with any of the parties in depth, unfortunately,” Khalili said. “I was hoping that after Friday I would know who I am voting for (in the presidential election).”

Since each of the presentations were limited to five minutes, the politicians left some students wanting more.

“I wanted to know more about how they

NEWS BRIEFS

got involved in what they were doing,” AyoAjibola said.

Khalili said that she wanted more heat and debate. Being a debater herself, she would have liked to have been more entertained.

After the presentations, all of Westberg’s students who will be 18 years or older on Election Day received the opportunity to register to vote.

“My favorite part was the idea of me getting to vote,” Khalili said. “It feels more interactive, like you’re playing a part in your government.”

The goal of this registration event was to encourage students to voice their opinions and realize that their voice does ultimately matter in politics.

“Studies show that if you’re registered, See REGISTRATION, page A8

-By Caroline Palmer, Hannah Holzer and Savitri Asokan

See COLLEGE, page A8

ASB UPDATE

Assistant principal Sybil Healy plans to relocate

Granite Bay High School assistant principal Sybil Healy announced her intent to leave her position and relocate to Adelante High School and eventually open her own charter school to the staff on Nov. 20. Healy, who has worked for several years in the Roseville Joint Union High School District and is a founding member of GBHS, has been serving as an assistant principal since July 2013. She will be leaving after the fall semester of the 2015-2016 school year.

Healy has had plans of leaving and opening her own charter school for sometime and now plans to pursue it.

Healy is planning on working at Adelante, a continuation school in the Roseville Joint Union School District and while she does, she will transition into starting her charter school.

“We hope (the charter school) will open in the fall of 2016,” Healy said. “It’s basically my dream (to open) an international, global-focused and project-based high school and there’s a lot of support for students (and) mentorships – things that will hopefully have the students be very successful there.

The charter school will focus on a more hands on learning approach, allowing students a different experience than traditional public schools offer.

“The big piece is the global perspective piece,” Healy said. “Some of the things we’re looking at is 21st century skills, global studies, international connections and every student has their own, individual learning plan so that you are tracked on your emotional and social progress in school, as well as your academic progress through school (during) all four years.”

Recently Assembly Bill 288 was passed in the state of California. This new legislation allows more students to have easier access to community college classes.

AB 288, signed by Governor Jerry Brown in October, will be implemented on Jan 1, 2016. Students will be allowed to enroll in college classes, without a fee, and can take classes with a maximum of 15 units of coursework.

The legislation allows students, regardless of their financial background, to be able to enroll in community college classes while in high school.

Although this won’t have a huge impact on Granite Bay High School, the bill will help inner-city students with their education.

Elise Ramos, a senior, can relate to this because she has been to an innercity school, so she has an understanding as to how this will affect students.

“We live in Granite Bay, but a lot of people forget because we live in a bubble, that there are actually a lot of inner-city schools that don’t have access for these things until legislation appears for them,” Ramos said. “It’s a big step forward for all of California.”

The legislation is aimed at students who are underrepresented in higher education, and it will allow these students

to have the same resources as others students have.

Students at GBHS and other schools in the local area have had access to Sierra College classes and Folsom Lake College classes for awhile now. This legislation is now evening the playing field.

Like Ramos said, this is a step forward for California, but there are still many underlying problems that factor into struggling students getting a decent education.

“This still doesn’t account for the application fees for college or college tuition, which students from affluent backgrounds also struggle with,” Ramos said.

Jarrod Westberg, Advanced Placement Government teacher at GBHS, agreed that this new legislation will be beneficial for students in California by giving all students an equal opportunity to community college courses.

“This new piece of legislation will even the playing field for students in California, but only if students utilize their resources,” Westberg said. “If students really wanted to go to college then they would have already been doing whatever they could to try to achieve their goals.”

While this piece of legislation is intended to give more students a greater

ASB discusses the upcoming spirit events at GBHS The Gazette talked to senior Emily Gallegos about the spring spirit events and rallies

Gazette: What spirit events are coming up in the spring?

Gallegos: We have a lot of events that are class spirit related like Sportso-Rama, Powderpuff, (and other) spirit events.

(We) have rallies, (one) in February that has a theme to be determined, the Powderpuff rally and the Senior Goodbye Rally.

Gazette Photo/ FRANCES STRNAD

Assistant principal Sybil Healy will leave GBHS to work at Adelante High as she transitions to opening a charter school.

Gazette: How will the rallies differ from the ones in the fall?

Gallegos: Sam (Northam)

Q A &

and I want to MC the rallies and make them really funny. We feel like sometimes MCs get lost in the noise and the crowd. We want to include the lowerclassmen more because a lot of rallies are all about the juniors and seniors.

We also want to do a Gazette photo /Natalie Erickson Spirit co-comissioner Emily theme for the February Gallegos talks about upcoming rally that has never been events. done before. there will be prizes for that.

Also, we really want to get Gazette: How can stustudents who don’t always dents be more involved participate in the games to at rallies? participate. We really want to include everybody.

Gallegos: We really want students to wear their –Compiled by Savanna class colors and maybe Thompson

Thursday, December 17, 2015

w The Granite Bay Gazette

News

A5

School computers regulate online accessibility Certain social media websites are restricted by the RJUHSD

BY PARKER MATHESON

pmatheson.gazette@gmail.com

Despite the belief that students’ rights are being violated by internet filters, they really aren’t.

Since the installation of schoolwide internet, the access to certain websites has been prohibited for the safety of students.

Schools can do this because of the Child Internet Protection Act, or CIPA, passed in 2000.

The CIPA was enacted in order to keep students from accessing inappropriate or harmful material and to protect them during online communications.

Often students wonder if the reasons for blocking these sites is for security or safety, or simply to prevent distractions.

While many banned sites offer explicit material, many are simply social media services or apps that don’t work.

Junior Christian Conway said there are loopholes in the current system.

Despite these, the “average person” can not gain access to the blocked websites, according to Conway.

While he said he doesn’t believe the district is doing an inadequate job of ensuring websites are blocked, Conway suggests that, no matter what, those who desire to access these site will find a way, but those who do not care – the majority

of students – won’t.

“You can always bypass restriction,” Conway said.

Sophomore Andy Pham said he believes the internet on campus is censored for protection purposes, but he also said he doesn’t believe these sites are difficult to access. Pham said the system is not very advanced, and accessing blocked sites can be as simple as editing a URL to gain access.

Pham also said he believes many students on campus are aware of these tricks, and some even find them quite easy.

Senior Kelsey Ashworth acknowledged the importance of many of these filters or blocks on websites. Ashworth, who previously attended Oak Ridge High and a high school in Utah before transferring to Granite Bay High School, said many of the same sites are blocked.

“Oak Ridge administration was really involved with students,” Ashworth said.

This perceived lack of trust with students and administrators at GBHS may lead students to viewing the internet filters as a form of a punishment.

Ashworth said the internet filters never get in the way of school-related activities.

“It can depend on your project,” Ashworth says, “but it’s never been a problem for me.”

She also said she believes the purpose of

Gazette file photo /HANNAH HOLZER

Facebook is one site restricted from student use while using school computers at Granite Bay High.

blocking some social media sites is pointless, since many of the sites already filter inappropriate material themselves.

However, blocking these websites might be in a student’s best interest.

According to the CIPA, schools must have internet filters in place to receive

REPORTING: Examining cultures which condone ‘snitching’ on peers Continued from page A2 potentially dangerous situation, she would only tell an authority figure if she thought someone was in immediate harm to themselves or other people.

Mehta said she believes high school students are old enough to be able to judge a situation thoroughly and figure out if it’s a big deal or not.

“It comes down to whether it’s a threat or not and if it is going to harm someone,” Mehta said. “I think there are some times when it’s unnecessary and I think there are some times where it’s completely necessary – you have to be mindful.”

Natalie Elkin, Advanced Placement Psychology and Peer Counseling teacher, said she believes there are several reasons for peers not wanting to rat out their friends. One reason she said is that no one wants to be the one to tattle on their friends, and it’s part of the culture of the American teen to not tattle on friends.

“If you are concerned about someone, if you worry that they’re going to hurt themselves or if they’re taking drugs or if they’re doing something that makes you worry, there’s just this huge rule that you just do not take any of that information to an authority,” Elkin said. “It’s a violation. It’s a betrayal. There is this sense of a kind of code and it’s unwritten, it’s unspoken; it’s really part of the culture.”

GBHS senior Tanner Smith said he believes there is definitely a level of camaraderie between teenagers.

“There’s like an unwritten code,” Smith said. “You don’t snitch on your friends, right? I’d say that for me personally, if it’s actually serious, that’s when I think it’d be too much and I’d probably tell somebody.”

The most reasonable time to tell somebody, Smith said, would be if someone is going to get hurt or if somebody is in danger of something, even if it risked breaking a friend’s trust.

“If it’s going to save somebody’s life, then yeah, I would take that risk,” Smith said. “But for like smaller things, like making fun of someone – that wouldn’t be something I’d go tell on. I’m not going to give somebody up, that’s not what I want to do.”

Smith said he thinks the reason snitching on friends is so stigmatized is because the person is viewed as the weak one who gave in, and no one wants to be viewed that way.

“It’s also a good thing that they’re starting to do the anonymous thing where the person doesn’t actually know who told whoever so it can save the friendship,” Smith said.

If two people are truly friends, Smith said, one will be able to tell if the other is going to express concern about them.

“You have to judge the situation for what it is – there’s no rule, like a ground rule or anything like that,” Smith said. “You kind of just do what you feel is right and you should be fine with that.”

The second reason for not snitching, Elkin said, is related to the bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility. The bystander effect is a phenomenon which occurs when people are less willing to help someone because others are also around, and they feel the situation will be taken care of by someone else. This makes them feel less responsible for a situ-

ation.

“I think a lot of times kids don’t know what to do and it doesn’t occur to them to go to someone,” Elkin said. “It takes a lot of conscious effort .... and initiation to not just even think the thought ‘Hey, I should tell someone,’ but to take it to the next level and seek someone out.”

Elkin said she thinks people are reluctant to seek people out because they don’t know who exactly to go to, where they would talk to them and how they would approach the situation.

The final reason teens do not snitch on their friends, according to Elkin, is people do not want to be the person who overreacts and makes a big deal out of something that isn’t a big deal.

Elkin also said that unfortunately, no matter the situation – whether it be something as small as cheating on a test or something as huge as wanting to hurt themselves – she thinks people will respond in the same way.

“People respond in the same way, which is, ‘My friend would want me to keep this secret and so therefore I am a secret keeper and it doesn’t really matter so much the secret, I cannot violate it,’” Elkin said. “Plus, you know, let’s be honest, if we have a friend who tells us that they’re suicidal, there’s a part of us that doesn’t really want to believe it.”

Elkin said she believes we play games with ourselves because it’s really overwhelming to hear something potentially harmful about a friend. She said we like to rationalize with ourselves and make excuses that our friends wouldn’t actually follow through with it because that idea is so anxiety – provoking ... that we figure out a way to minimize it.

“So that, I think, coupled with not wanting to violate their trust in you, makes us keep the silence just as much as if our friend just cheated on a test,” Elkin said.

Elkin also said she believes we need to develop more of a pervasive, widespread system for teaching (young people) very specific ways to react to situations – if your friend says this, this is what you need to do, this is what you need to say and if you know your friend brings a weapon, this is what you need to do, and this is what you need to say.

“If kids hear it multiple times, then we’re all in the same boat, we’re all in agreement,” Elkin said.

“Or we can remind each other of what we need to do and we can buddy up and figure out what we need to do together. I definitely think something needs to be done in terms of helping kids be more proactive.”

Elkin said she thinks people won’t be able to get over the fear of ratting their friends out because we like to consider ourselves reliable, trustworthy people, but maybe instead of viewing snitching as a negative thing, it can be changed and viewed as something liberating.

“I do think the culture can be changed where kids can feel empowered in knowing they can change a life, they can save a life, they can help a friend and that they’re consciously willing to pay the price,” Elkin said. “I would rather have you alive than like me – that’s sort of the bottom line.”

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internet discounts. Although, this doesn’t necessarily mean that a district is able to run wild with restrictions.

A few years ago, the Roseville Joint Union High School District attempted to implement a policy that would have limited the ability of students to run advertise-

ments on school websites. This plan was unable to be passed because it limited the abilities of student journalists.

The ability of a school district to limit their students’ abilities to access material, while often necessary and certainly legal, might always be controversial.

ASEXUALITY: Varying support and intolerance for orientation Continued from page A1 and acceptance in general.”

However, while discrimination is not always purposeful, it is still present on the GBHS campus.

“I have noticed a slight decrease (in LGBT+ bullying) from past years, and I think that stems from more people being vocal about how derogatory terms actually hurt people, however, the problem does continue to exist and thrive on our campus,” Kantola said.

Ramos, the GBHS graduate, spoke about her experience at Granite Bay.

“I was never bullied about my sexual orientation because I only told people I could really trust. Also the people who did know about my asexuality were more confused than discriminatory,” Ramos said.

“I do know of many people who felt uncomfortable sharing their sexual orientation because they felt that others would not be accepting,” Ramos said. “I would tell them to please stay strong.

There are always going to be kind people out there who will be glad to support you. Don’t let people make you feel ashamed of your identity, because your identity – no matter what it may be – is such an incredible, powerful part of you.”

Read to your own beat

Thursday, December 17, 2015

News

w The Granite Bay Gazette

BANG: Play brings attention to a touchy subject by performing and discussing with students

Continued from page A1

cell and you find out later that he has murdered five of his classmates and his parents,” Pexa said. “The play … shows him coming to terms with what he did, how he acts and the effects that (his actions have) on the community and the people around him.”

The play communicates all that changes and all that is lost when actions like Josh’s occur.

“It focuses on the deceased,” Pexa said. “(Throughout) the whole play, (the deceased) are haunting (Josh).”

The play also presents the perspective of Josh and how bullying affects him and ultimately the lives of five others.

“I thought (the play) was really, really touching,” junior Alex Dillabaugh said.

“You don’t really think about (the shooter’s) emotions through (a shooting, but the play) really showed the shooter’s point of view of an event like this. It put a light on all the people that are affected and all the situations that contribute to an event like that.”

Kostyuk’s role as Josh required much deliberation and research on his part in order to accurately depict the character and effectively convey a message.

“One of our directors, Erica, sent me a link to this one website with all this information on all these different shooters, their

history, their diary pages, their family, how they shot up their school (and) what they did,” Kostyuk said. “I was able to read that and kind of immerse myself and hop into the mindset.”

To Kostyuk, one of the important things to take away from “Bang Bang You’re Dead” was how reasoning for shootings exist.

“I feel like this was important to show that these (shooters) are not pure evil,” Kostyuk said. “This happens because people are bullied. This happens because people are pushed, and they just crack under pressure.”

Kostyuk said performing the play in front of an audience really helped him to perform at the best of his abilities.

“Once the audience is there, you see the people crying in the audience, you see their reactions, you hear the gasps and you really want to give it your all because (you realize) you’re doing this for a cause,” Kostyuk said. “You’re doing this not to leave smiles on people’s faces, but so people will be affected by it.”

Initially, the Professional Drama students and a group of peer counselors were planning on touring to three different schools and performing “Bang Bang You’re Dead.” Due to scheduling and facility conflicts, however, they were not able to perform the play at other schools. Also, Kyle Holmes, the Theater Arts Director, told

students who attended the play that those schools felt the play would be inappropriate due to the proximity in timing after the San Bernardino shooting, which left 14 people dead.

Rather than not perform it at all, Holmes and the Professional Drama students decided to do the play at GBHS during all four periods on Thursday, Dec. 10, and invited classes to come watch it. More than 700 students came to watch the play, throughout the day. “(The play) made me think twice of what I say to someone before I go ahead and say it because it can really affect the person deeply and make it a life or death situation,” said junior Diana Garcia, a member of the audience. “It also made me think of all that I would miss if I died (in) a mass shooting and I instantly thought about my loved ones and how much I’d miss them and how much I’d miss just being happy and laughing all the time.”

After each performance, peer counselors led a discussion about the play and school shootings in general.

“The second part of this (production) was just as important as the first part,” student director and peer counselor Erica Lucia said. “We didn’t just want to send people out. We wanted to be able to debrief with them.”

Natalie Elkin, who teaches Advanced Placement Psychology and Peer Counsel-

ing, said talking about the issue of school shootings is incredibly valuable.

“The directors of the play were really passionate about the subject matter of the play and wanted to bring something that’s so relevant to our culture right now to the stage,” Elkin said. “They wanted to have a particular impact on the audience members and … one of the ways to help do that is to get them involved in a conversation about the subject.”

Students who went to see the play had the opportunity to not just watch and react to an important play, but also share their feelings and reactions with their peers.

Those in the peer counseling course have been trained for facilitating group discussions and prepared for leading the discussions that followed the play. “(We) prepared (by creating) questions that are related to the subject matter to be able to create a safe environment and get kids actually talking about the play after they see it,” Elkin said.

Though some were hesitant to contribute to the discussions, they respected those who wanted to express their thoughts.

“A few students really thought seriously about some of the discussion questions we talked about because they had such great responses,” senior and peer counselor Adam Kahan said. “We had some really well-organized discussions.”

Junior Ann-Marie Seidel said that as peer counselors, they were present to help people “dig a little deeper into their thoughts.”

“We hoped that we could … spark up conversation among other students who just came to watch, (and) make people stop and reflect,” Seidel said.

Every year the drama department puts on one student-directed show. This year, however, they decided to produce two.

The second student-directed play, “12 Angry Jurors,” will not start until late January.

“We had the opportunity to do this (play) for our fourth–period Professional Drama class,” senior student-director Nick Martinez said. “We decided to utilize the time we have during class time during the (last few) weeks (of the semester) and contribute it to the show.”

The play deeply affected its large audience during the day, and many students took away important messages.

“We need to be aware that (school shootings) can happen anywhere and it doesn’t necessarily have to be places that are socioeconomically lower than us because the places where (school shootings) have happened have been nice, suburban places where nothing (normally) happens,” Garcia said. “We all need to stop bullying one another even if it’s just a ‘joke’ because we don’t know what the other person is going through or if this ‘joke’ will affect them or not.”

“Bang Bang You’re Dead” ultimately prompted its audience to think about how the school must come together to ensure that each and every student knows they are needed in the community.

“The culture of this school is that we strive for excellence,” Lucia said. “We put the focus on positive achievements and everyone has to excel. And if you don’t, or if you’re struggling in some way, then you’re cast off to the side. We need to let people know that people need to be accepted, they need to be heard, they need to be seen.”

CHEATING: IB program’s hyper-competitive environment might contribute to cheating Continued from page A1 -swers, looking at other students’ answers, copying statements from websites for original written works and skipping class in order to either study more and/ or wait for friends to report the material on the test.

The Individual Oral Presentation, an assignment required in the IB English HL-1 class, accounts for 15 percent of a student’s final grade. One portion of the presentation involves an impromptu period of time in which the class is allowed to ask questions of the student presenting about their selected topic.

Elise Ramos, a senior in the IB program, shared one account of a cheating incident which allegedly occurred during one such presentation.

“They asked people in the class to come up with preset questions so they didn’t have to think about it,” Ramos said. “So when they were giving their presentation, they actually called on somebody who they realized they had not given a question to. They asked a valid question … and the person who was cheating stood there ... and could not answer it.”

One senior boy who asked to remain anonymous suspected the same person of plagiarism for this project.

“After re-looking at one of (their) IOP presentations, (I found that they had) actually directly copied statements off of websites and plagiarized this huge presentation,” he said.

Unclear guidlines causing confusion The plagiarizing student has yet to be reported for cheating and is still a candidate for the IB diploma.

“I don’t think that it’s actually anywhere in the IOP guidelines that they couldn’t have a list of questions,” said English teacher Jody Van Dusen, who was unaware of the student’s misbehavior at the time it occurred. “If that actually happened ... I would talk to administrators about it, because it’s IB ... and we work as a team. We would (have to) problem-solve together, because (there) is a gray area (and) there is no place in the IB (policy) that says you can not give a list of questions to your peers.”

On the IB Honor Code, which all IB students are required to sign, it reads “1st Offense: Recommendation for dismissal from the IB Program.” But despite this, in the history of Granite Bay’s IB program, no student has ever been dismissed for cheating.

The anonymous senior said he thinks teachers and administrators are hesitant to punish students for cheating because it becomes too big of an ordeal, with the threat of parents getting involved.

IB students rarely severely punished for cheating However, IB coordinator Duane Blomquist offered a different reason as to why students often get off the hook for academic misconduct. Because the recommended consequence is harsh, students are often given a second chance to prove they understand why what they did was wrong.

In the event there is a repeated instance of cheating, the lengthy process of removing a student from the program is supposed to be put into motion.

It begins by convening the academic integrity panel – comprised of an odd number of teachers and adults that includes Blomquist – who can vote to remove a student from the IB program. The rec-

ommendation then goes to the principal – the last step of the process.

“I’d say (if) it happened a second time, we convened the panel, we vetted through the entire process, and we are in agreement that Johnny should be reprimanded and kicked out of the program, the principal can still say (they’re) going to give Johnny one more try,” Blomquist said. “We’ve had some kids do some things that were ethically questionable, and it came down to (former principal Mike McGuire), and he caved, as we would say, he graciously let the kids off.”

Recently, three IB juniors submitted assignments which were copied verbatim from another source to Damien Lawrence in his IB Biology SL-1 class. The students, being new to the program and the demands of IB, received a zero on the assignment, but no other tangible consequences.

“It wasn’t quite clear what to do, (or) what not to do, so this was referenced as a mistake on their part,” Blomquist said.

“There’s a record, there’s a footprint of three kids that were told, ‘You did it wrong.’ (It was a) learning moment.”

IB staff placed in unique situation Teachers find themselves having to take extra measures in order to prevent cheating in their classes. Most teachers utilize turnitin.com, which checks 88 million different sources for plagiarism, and creates different versions of tests.

Some take extra precautions, such as IB English and World Religions teacher David Tastor, who has his students mark their papers in specific ways to ensure originality and had them write an honesty statement on top of their first essay.

But across the board, teachers make it very clear what the consequences are for cheating on day one. “(By) having those discussions from the very beginning, I think most kids know early that there’s an expectation that the work is their own,” Tastor said.

“The way I explain it to my students is that when you take someone else’s ideas, you’ve stolen their intellectual property.

Period. So cite the source. I don’t care if you go to some other source ... but tell me where you got the information, because it’s not yours.”

However, according to Lawrence, problems can arise not out of disregard for the consequences but confusion on what actually constitutes cheating.

Preventing cheating before it occurs In order to combat this, Blomquist and other authorities are working in collaboration with librarian Julianna Hedstrom to teach students how to correctly cite sources in order to prevent unintentional plagiarism.

“Whether students summarize, paraphrase or directly quote another source of information, they must know how to give credit to that source unless it is common knowledge,” Hedstrom said. “How to avoid plagiarism is a skill that every student must know, in high school, college, the workplace and beyond.”

Still, when it comes to the consequences of cheating, the fact that many IB students are apparently unfamiliar with potential ramifications for cheating might contribute to the abundance of deceit in the program.

“I hear different things and have never heard anything from an adult or some really obvious source of authority,” IB senior Ibrahim Hajar said. “(I’ve only heard) about being placed on the aca-

demic dishonesty list ... and honestly, that’s something I’ve only heard from my peers. I wouldn’t really know exactly what being placed on the academic dishonesty list even means because whatever I’ve heard about, I’ve heard from my friends.”

Last year, according to multiple IB students, a junior (who is still in the IB program this year as a senior) was caught for a serious act of cheating – but there were not any significant consequences. “(The cheater) would erase answers and change them, and show them to the teacher to get points,” said a senior boy who reported the cheating. “There was a lot of suspicious activity. (IB Biology teacher Kimberly Bergcollins) believed the test that wasn’t graded by her was stolen and brought into the chemistry classroom, and (the student then) copied her grading scheme and gave themselves a really high score.”

The effects of an IB reputation Ramos said teachers trust IB students, and that perhaps that naive level of trust contributed to the cheating culture last year.

“As IB students, we were allowed in (the storage room) ... so we could grab beakers if we needed to,” she said. “Now it’s off limits because this thing happened. In the back, there’s a printer, and (the cheater) stole the test bank answers and (the senior boy who reported the incident) saw (it) because (he was) in the same room.”

Because he was accused of spreading untrue rumors about the person who had cheated, the anonymous senior unwillingly divulged what had happened to school authorities. He eventually dropped out of the program – at least in part because of the stress of being involved as a whistle-blower in this particular situation. “(The cheater is) still there, and I still have to see (the person) every day and interact with them and pretend that it’s all cool (and) that I didn’t just have one of my friends drop out of IB,” Ramos said. “I don’t think anything’s really happened, they get a slap on the wrists and then they get sent on their way and they still get to do the same thing over and over again.”

For students who do their academic work with integrity, it can be frustrating to see their peers get the same grades or even better with fewer hours spent, and “ruin the reputation (of the program),” according to Hajar – especially in cases where the student had cheated more than once.

“It’s irritating that some kids not (only) get the grades that they do, but ... don’t feel any remorse,” said Tanvi Mehta, an IB senior. “It is kind of sad, because I know that faculty and students on this campus look at the IB program differently because of this, and they think most of us (cheat when) only a few of us have.”

For Ramos, it is especially ironic considering IB’s core values. “(IB is about) learning an entire curriculum based on the ideas of holding up moral principles,” Ramos said. “It’s less about grades and more about the actual good a person can contribute to the world with what they’ve learned. (It’s like you’ve) taken … two years of that, and you think to yourself, ‘You know what I should do? Absolutely the opposite of all that.’

“You spend all this time learning about morality, and then you just don’t apply it.”

A6

Taking shots at the big stories

The Gazette

Thursday, December 17, 2015

w The Granite Bay Gazette

A7 News Emalyn Atkins, the Emerald Brigade’s Head Drum Major, left, directs the Marching Band, with the color guard in back, winds in middle and percussion in front, right, Band Director Lynn Lewis, far right, poses with members of the Emerald Brigade after receiving first place for the WBA 4A Class Championship.

WIN: Marching band takes first place in their class and fifth overall Special to the Gazette /BONNIE BOONE

Continued from page A2

Lynn Lewis, the GBHS band director, works with other staff members to select the composer, theme, music, choreography and set design of the performance.

“We have a really great staff that helps out a lot,” Lewis said. “We have a staff that writes the drum music, we have a staff that writes the (color guard choreography, so) it’s a big, big, big process. We listen to the music. Soft, pretty music (will) change what we write – we’re not going to (choreograph) harsh lines or angles for something that’s soft and pretty, we’ll write something that’s really flowy so that it adds to the music. It’s one of the only art forms that has visual and audio at the same time.”

This year’s performance was based on the Russian Revolution of 1905, or “Bloody Sunday.” Parents constructed a 35 foot replica of the historic Alexander Column, which stood above the square in St. Peters-

burg where the massacre occurred.

“I don’t know too much about the design or creation of our shows because the process is largely kept a secret,” Atkins said. “From what I understand, Mrs. Lewis starts planning in the spring semester with the rest of our staff and they brainstorm on how to make us look our best the next year.

Generally, they have a sort of storyline behind them. This year, our show was about the Russian Revolution of 1905, and the music was by Russian composer Shostakovich, with a few pieces from the movie Anastasia and another by Eric Whitacre.”

In addition to the band’s supervision under Lewis and help from many others, the Emerald Brigade receives guidance from students in Leadership. As president, senior trombone player Trey Armstrong said his responsibilities range from leading the class on days when Lewis is absent to leading the Leadership meetings. “(Leadership is) the driving force in keeping things (and) the atmosphere posi-

tive in the program,” Lewis said. “They set the example, so how hard they work sets the example for how hard everybody else works. If we don’t do as well, then they help people deal with that, (and decide) how to approach (a situation). They’re leading the other kids, and it’s a really, really important group of kids and they’ve done a great job this year so far.”

At one competition, a new one which the Emerald Brigade had not ever performed at, the Emerald Brigade didn’t place.

Fassler said that competition served as a wake-up call and reality check, which motivated them to practice even harder.

Perhaps it was this competition which instilled a determination in the group, reflecting its future victory.

“From where they started in August, with a lot of freshmen coming in and … not being able to do anything, to being as good as they were on that weekend … is incredible,” Lewis said. “They peaked at exactly the right time and everybody was

in sync together. I think I am more proud of these kids than any other year because of where they started. Everybody worked really hard.

“These kids really did work hard, and it probably (is noteworthy) that their experience was different because a lot of the other bands go and stay in a motel, (but) we stayed on a gym floor. The school we were at didn’t have hot water and it was really cold at night (because) the heater didn’t work in the gym. (But) they didn’t complain, we just (said), ‘OK, this is something else we have to overcome.’ They had a really good weekend and it paid off.”

The weekend of the WBA Championships was unique for both Fassler and Roberts, the former who had a torn ACL and the latter who had a torn ACL and MCL. Fassler was able to perform in the majority of the show, sitting out only for a small part which she could not do with her injury.

Roberts acted as a peasant in the show, and said the experience was an enjoyable one.

“I want to see, in the years that I’m here, if we can place higher,” Roberts said. “I want to work a lot harder at the shows we’re doing. That’s one of my goals, to place better or just as well as we did (again).”

The collaborative dedication, determination and commitment of the entire Emerald Brigade truly paid off.

“I loved championships,” freshman color guard member Kristina Rodriguez said. “It was super fun and exciting, but there was also a sense of melancholy in the air. This was our last weekend in the season, our last performance of this show (and) the seniors’ very last show. When we won first in our division, everything was chaotic. People were crying or screaming or cheering.

“Nobody calmed down for a while. What we had done was big, and after a season of many ups and downs, we were proud to be able to say that we won first. The medals were just made of material, but the best part was being able to say that WE did it,

by OURSELVES.”

RACE: Lack of ethnic awareness on campus causing apparent effects

Continued from page A1

about (the events), and it’s a little worrisome to me,” McCord said. “I want to be on a college campus that values equality, and I don’t want to be in a place where people are (intolerant, so) it might affect my decision.”

Racial tensions at GBHS The racial tensions at colleges across the country have served, to some extent, as a period of reflection for GBHS. Rahul Bavirisetty, a sophomore at GBHS, said he does not believe racial tensions exist on the school’s campus. However, many students do believe racial awareness is hugely absent and thus racial intolerance and ignorance is – perhaps unknowingly – abundant.

Senior Alex Gavia, who is of Hispanic descent, said that while instances of intolerance exist, it is never to a severe or extreme level, and it hasn’t involved things being pointedly said to him having to do with his race. Racial intolerance exists at GBHS, he said, because students often do not understand the weight or meaning of what they’re saying.

“It’s not desired to be intolerant here, (but) because there’s no one playing in your backyard who you have to be tolerant with, there’s no recognition of that,” assistant principal Sybil Healy said. “You could say, ‘I’m not racist, I’m not prejudiced,’ and there’s not many people who are racist, but there are people who are prejudiced. Every single one (of us is), because those are our beliefs, values, how we’re brought up and our culture. But that could lead to racism.”

Effects of lack of diversity Kasey Yean, a sophomore who is of mixed-race African American and Asian heritage, said she has never experienced racial tensions at school, but she remembers being racially insulted at a young age.

“When I was around 9 years old, I went outside to play with another group of kids who I’m sure were my neighbors,” Yean said. “I’ve never talked to them before, but when I approached, one of the kids said, ‘We don’t play with black people,’ and then I walked home.

“That’s the only time I remember where I was racially insulted to my face. But ... even today I hear endless black-people jokes, but I hear jokes every day about all races. I know people don’t do it to be mean, and it’s rare when people take it too far, but it doesn’t even have to be (an offensive) joke (to be) offensive.

“Sometimes people say to me, ‘You don’t act black’ or, because I am also of Asian descent, ‘You don’t look THAT black,’ as if they are giving me a compliment. It’s not a compliment. It is rude and it’s insulting to my African American family, friends, my race and me.

You don’t act black means ‘you act proper, like a white person, and ‘you don’t look THAT black is another way of saying, ‘Hey, you’re actually kind of good looking for a black person!’ Some may not see it that way, but that’s how I see it.”

This lack of racial awareness – especially when it comes to those things said in one way that can be taken as meaning something else – might be a contributing factor to the perceived lack of diversity at GBHS. Senior Sam Northam said that, because GBHS isn’t a diverse school, students don’t experience the same problems that other morediverse schools have. Additionally, students at GBHS are at least naive – if not ignorant – because students believe that what they see is what every other school experiences, Northam said.

Disregarding history?

According to Healy, schools in the Roseville Joint Union High School District, which includes Granite Bay High, rarely pay attention to cultural or world events. Yean said one way to promote diversity with a non-diverse population is for a school to address Black History Month and educate students on African American history, even if it’s brief. Disregarding these kinds of historical and cultural events might foster increased ignorance, Healy said.

“Our district (was) disappointing when Nelson Mandela died, nothing was said about that,” Healy said. “A few years ago when Coretta Scott King died, (nothing was done). Our district doesn’t acknowledge those types of things, but (they were) huge icons in terms of civil rights.

“Those things are important to me, and if you go to other districts, they recognize that (and) acknowledge that. With ... issues like Black Lives Matter, you don’t hear anyone talk about that here – it’s like it doesn’t exist. We had a recent breaking news story (about the) shooting of another African American male ... and again a police officer (was involved), and we’re not paying attention (to) this whole tragedy. (There are) comments about Syrian refugees, well how many Syrians do we have here? Do we pay attention? I would say not so much.”

Racial awareness, or the lack of it, is perhaps at the root of the problems for many colleges experiencing the kind of racial tension that has wracked Claremont McKenna, Missouri and Yale. Experts say the ability to understand the points of views of others, specifically views from racial or ethnic minorities, is what it means to be racially aware.

According to the California Department of Education, ethnic minorities made up approximately 33 percent of the GBHS population in 2014-15. About 66 percent of the GBHS population was caucasian.

The disparity in diversity is much

greater when it comes to the GBHS staff – 83 percent of certificated staff (teachers and administrators) were caucasian in 2014-15, 85 out of 102.

Student body’s ethnic groups There are no 2014-15 certificated staff members who are American Indian, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander or Filipino. When assistant principal Sybil Healy leaves GBHS for Adelante High after the end of the fall semester, there will be no certificated African American staff members on campus. This means beginning in January, roughly 4.5 percent of minority students on campus will not be able to find a single certificated staff member on campus who shares their minority designation.

“One of the issues we have in this district … is (that) our staff has never reflected our student population,” Healy said. “I came here in ’96 and (recognized that) it wasn’t diverse. I was the first black teacher in the district. A couple others joined later, but it was still not reflective of the student population.

When I became an administrator over 10 years ago, I was one of three black administrators in all of Placer County.”

According to Healy, conversations between students or parents and school staff are much different when the staff member shares the ethnicity of the family.

“Although I’m not their (assigned) AP, parents or students will want to talk to me,” Healy said.

“When I talk to them, we talk a little bit differently about how to play school and make things work for (their) child, because it’s different.

The effect of minority faculty “We do discuss that, because that’s how the world is. The world is racist, it’s hateful and of course there’s great things, but we all have to navigate it differently based on our background, our culture, our ethnicity (and) our race because that’s what society is a mixture of, fair or not fair that’s what happens.

“Even when I was (working) at Oakmont (High), students would come to me and ask me, ‘Can I talk to you?’ whether or not I was their AP because they had to share things they could not share with their AP. I speak Spanish, so the Spanish parents would come and talk to me. It’s (comforting if) you have a voice and someone understands your story.”

When reflecting on encounters with students who have talked with her instead of their designated assistant principal, Healy shared a particularly memorable experience.

“I had one student, a male junior (at Oakmont, who was) very, very sad come to me and (say), ‘Mrs. Healy I can’t do this anymore’ and I said, ‘Do what?’ and he said, ‘I can’t be black anymore, I can’t be a black male – it’s too hard,’” Healy said. “That was in 2009. That’s aw-

ful. We had a long conversation, but would he tell someone else?

No. That’s why you need to have different staff, so the students will think (someone) understands their story and where they’re coming from.”

Yean said that while she will miss Healy, she doesn’t think much can be done about providing students with a more diverse staff. Yean said she does think the staff can work to ensure that students feel comfortable around those who work here and to reach out to students to see if and where discrimination exists.

Northam and McCord, both seniors, said the hiring process for new staff members should be colorblind. Or, in other words, the hirees should not account for the applicant’s race or ethnicity in any way, and the person who is most qualified should be the one who receives the position.

Racial awareness at school Healy said that, while colorblind hiring might be a good idea, it would be nearly impossible to put into effect because people make judgements automatically based on outward appearance. Furthermore, Healy said her friends who work in education have told her they are not interested in working in the district because, they say, it “is not an inviting place at all for minorities,” and it would help if the district made it clear it’s a welcoming place for employees of all ethnicities.

There are other issues that sometimes are overlooked when it comes to the community’s lack of racial awareness.

A few years back, a local Native American tribe took offense with GBHS students wearing traditional cultural headdresses, warpaint and using the name “the Tribe” for the student cheering section at school sporting events.

According to Healy, this was one of many examples of a lack of racial unawareness at GBHS – in the case of the Tribe, the purpose of using another culture at school was unclear and the usage was inappropriate.

“I agree with (Healy), we are culturally unaware and we don’t really see our student section being called ‘the Tribe’ as having any relation to (anything) cultural,” said senior Tribe leader Charlie Tooley. “We like the name because (the) name ‘the Tribe’ in general has a feeling behind it of being a family, (a) team and having unity.”

One act of unintended racial division and separation involves a traditional school event – dances. The music played at dances is usually not a conflict of interest, but for some students, the music played can feel exclusionary.

“What people might not know is that a few black students (at GBHS), when they go to dances, (will) stand aside and what they’ll say to me … when I walk by (and ask them is), ‘We’re waiting for them to play our music,’” Healy

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said. “They say that all the time, and people don’t realize that. Latino students will say the same thing. Those are things we don’t think about, and it’s not being racist, but it’s not being aware, so it’s ignorance. You’re not meeting the desires and/or needs of everyone.

Not just academically, but socially and emotionally, it’s not happening.”

Ethnic groups in Granite Bay One unique program at GBHS is the speech and debate team, where ethnic minorities account for the majority of members. According to senior Ryan Joy, who is among four caucasian students out of 40 members, the students separate themselves by race.

“I see that all of these kids, (who are mostly) people of Indian and Asian origin, separate into their own subgroups,” Joy said. “All of them would fit great into other social groups, but they don’t reach out. Everyone ... sticks to their own ethnic group. It’s not that they can’t reach out or they don’t have the ability to, because they are the funniest and most fun-loving group of kids ever. They would fit into hundreds of other social groups in this school, but at the same time, you can see that social groups (at GBHS) are kind of dictated by race.

“I have never seen one white student reach out to a speech and debate kid. When I’m walking down the halls (with one of them), I don’t see any of my friends or people who are white say, ‘Oh hey, what’s up, man.’ They just keep to their own. It’s not because they don’t accept them, but they don’t necessarily think of them as a friend or (give them) as much consideration.”

Bavirisetty, the sophomore who is of Indian descent and is a member of the speech and debate team, said students segregate themselves because of family connections.

Students aren’t as close outside of school, but they form tight-knit groups in class, he said.

Joy, however, compared his observation of the groups inside the program to the larger state of cultural segregation which exists in the community. “(Some) of these kids are firstgeneration Americans, so you can see them trying to assimilate, but at the same time, you can see that … they like to stick to their own,” Joy said. “We grew up in white communities, and we don’t see our community as an Indian community even though … we are an Indian and Asian and Filipino community. But we don’t see that, because our family doesn’t intermix with (them). I never noticed, until I joined the speech and debate team, how many different cultures are in Granite Bay.” Hard to pop the bubble The idea of the “Granite Bay Bubble” has been mentioned by many students as a factor that contributes to the community’s general state of cultural unawareness. Outside of the community, issues involving heightened racial tensions certainly exist, as exhibited by colleges around the nation combating the effects of such, but this does not necessarily mean that race relations are perfect here, inside the bubble.

The result of not paying attention – the result of a lack of racial awareness – is significant, Healy said.

“We’re an (International Baccalaureate) school, so we should truly be an IB school,” Healy said.

“There is nothing really international about us, except for the student body that comes here. If you came on campus … you’d have no idea that we’re an IB (school). …

You want to be very careful, pay attention. Know who your clientele is and how you’re perceived outside our nice, comfortable bubble.”

A Licensed Home Bakery www. bakeboxus. com bakeboxus @gmail. com ROSEVILLE, CA

Thursday, December 17, 2015

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COLLEGE: AB REGISTRATION: 288 encourages Teens sign up to vote more education Continued from page A4

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number of opportunities, it’s the student’s responsibility to take action.

Senior Jesse Damos said this legislation will be beneficial, but he also thinks this will make applying to colleges more competitive.

“At GBHS, because we have access to AP, IB and college–level classes, we have an academic advantage,” Damos said. “In the future, other kids who normally wouldn’t have the academic resources that we have may have resumes similar to ours.”

While this is a step forward towards bettering the educational system in California, it still completely relies upon the student to take the initiative and take these college–level courses.

you are more likely to vote,” Westberg said.

Even students who were too young to register felt the impact that comes from having the ability to vote.

This registration process secured the bond between young voters and politi-

cal issues. When they vote, they now know they will have an impact in the 2016 presidential election.

“It (became) really surreal because we’re almost adults,” Ayo-Ajibola said, “and we are already at that point in life where we have to start thinking about politics.”

Throwing stories your way. The Gazette.

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GAZETTE Racial superiority arises from minimal diversity The Granite Bay

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

Editors-in-Chief: Savitri Asokan Hannah Holzer Troy Pawlak News Editors: Surina Khurana Caroline Palmer Voices Editors: Amanda Nist Anjali Shrivastava Lifestyle Editors: Carissa Lewis Garbhita Shah Hannah Xu Green Screen Editors: Olivia Heppell Blake Panter Amanda Prather Epsa Sharma Sports Editors: Maggie Bell Jordan Holt Cole Kahmann Matthew Ontiveros Jacqueline Romero Online Editors: Natasha Chanda Clair Kasel Jill Kurpershoek Ali Lemos Isabella Tkachuk Illustrators: Natasha Chanda Olivia Heppell Blake Panter Troy Pawlak Photo Editor: Madeline Williams Staff Writers/ Photographers: Paige Erickson Sonia Garcha Kassidy Henson Connor Hinson Kayomi Kayoshi Sabina Mahavni Parker Matheson Frances Strnad Meagan Tallman Jenny Tarbell Savanna Thompson Adviser: Karl Grubaugh The Gazette is published eight times per academic year by students in the advanced journalism class at Granite Bay High School.

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

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

Signed editorials and columns reflect the views of the writer.

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

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

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

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

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ecent protests at esteemed colleges across the nation have sparked an important discussion surrounding racial discrimination on school campuses.

At the University of Missouri, the protests were incurred by frequent acts of race-based intimidation which went unaddressed by university administrators.

Some of these intimidations included the scattering of cotton balls in front of the black culture center, the yelling of racial slurs at black students and even the smearing of feces in the halls of a residence hall in the shape of a swastika.

At Claremont McKenna College, protests have been rooted in similar issues, but recent catalysts have been much less severe than those at Mizzou.

As a selective school, which some might consider to be full of privileged white kids, Claremont McKenna has plenty of students who willfully appropriate other

EDITORIAL The voice of the Granite Bay Gazette

people’s cultures for their Halloween costumes. Granted, they are well within their legal rights to do so, but minority students are upset not just by these students’ ignorance, but by their deliberate provocation.

Of the two colleges, Granite Bay High School’s racial tensions are more analogous to the situation at Claremont McKenna.

Although ordinarily unseen, prejudiced undertones on Granite Bay’s campus are a presence sensed by minority students.

The ignorance that breeds from our population’s lack of diversity is expressed through misunderstanding and dismissal

of cultures.

Failure to recognize others’ observances, unfamiliarity with others’ cuisines and questioning faces from those outside of one’s culture create an environment which supports feelings of ostracism and alienation.

Several students bring traditional meals from home for lunch, and are met with faces of disgust or curiosity from their peers.

Multiple classrooms are decorated with regalia in anticipation of Christmas. However, the beginning of Hanukkah recently passed, and other than a brief mention on the GBHS calendar, no other efforts were taken to recognize the holiday, which many on our campus celebrate.

The only way to combat such racial gaps is to not present such cultural superiority. Many students share the same culture and faith at our school. And while perhaps unintentional, the existence of a

dominant belief minimizes the validity of others’ beliefs.

The “Granite Bay Bubble” phenomenon, which is often laughed at, does not only convey a feeling of security, it also conveys an ignorance of minority’s lifestyles.

By taking the effort to learn about these cultures, and not presenting the dominant culture as a known fact, the current racial dynamic can evolve.

As a high-achieving high school in Placer County, there are plenty of privileged white kids, just like Claremont McKenna.

And just like Claremont McKenna, racism goes unaddressed until a controversial event begs the discussion.

We here at the Gazette plea that before this event happens, we talk about racial tensions on our campus and strive to create a more welcoming and comforting campus for all students.

We should not be constrained by the concept of time Being punctual is not as important as most people think

COMMENTARY

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rowing up in a society that values time more strictly than I do has been trying.

Einstein’s Theory of Relativity tells me I am not alone in my thoughts – that time is not equal and to hold it to such is unfair.

Einstein hypothesized that what we interpret as gravity is actually the curvature of space and time, and space and time are the same, thus proving that time can be warped and someday may be even reversed.

This belief gave rise to Einstein’s idea of “space-time” – the two flow together to form a single continuum.

To put this into layman’s terms, Einstein had a brilliant example: “When you sit with a pretty girl for two hours you think it’s only a minute, but when you sit on a hot stove for a minute you think it’s two hours. That’s relativity.”

With these principles in mind, I have to wonder, why do we wait till “January” to reflect on how society is doing and what “the year” brought us? The media goes over the significant tribulations and triumphs every year, like a year is supposed to hold some utmost meaning because it’s been 12 months.

In reality – sometimes a day can be more significant than an entire year of someone’s life.

Abiding by the patterns of time that other members of society engulf themselves in scares me. I never want to become so numb in my thinking that I run on autopilot and let deadlines and holidays and obligations control me; I would regret if I lived my whole life and died without ever really examining why we operate the way we do.

Being exact in time is not needed nor is it realistic, not even nature is exact. The sun rarely ever rises or sets at the same time it did the night before. We don’t even hold the sun to such constraints – so why do we do it to ourselves?

I have never understood why people get mad at me for being 10 minutes late to an

caroline palmer cpalmer.gazette@gmail.com

event. I get that certain events you should not be late for because it is not respectful to waste someone’s “time,” but what is 10 minutes really?

Will 10 minutes wasted really defile someone’s day? Well, maybe if the 10 minutes had moments of significance enclosed in them – which brings me to my point: keeping time is ok, but it’s not the time that really matters, it’s the moments in which that time was spent.

Furthermore, people expect certain lengths of time to produce success or progress. But even though I woke up on my 18th birthday as a legal adult, no profound knowledge flooded into my brain just because I had lived 6,570 days.

The cliche time is money, actually holds some ground in my argument.

If someone never lives in the present and is always thinking of the next day or 10 years from now and waits to feel happiness, they might never feel happiness. It’s scary, but true.

A person can never remove joy from their life just to meet a goal – especially not a goal that involves money or superficial items.

Once they get that item or net worth, all their time, all their hard work and really some of their spirituality, is bound in that money.

Some people think that money isn’t spiritual.

Now – look past your opinion of consumerism on this, since we already live in a society that values money highly, and realize that people work very hard to get this

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expecting to feel those emotions in their G full magnitude later on, one should aim to be aware of their spirit as it fluctuates. Time and deadlines aid people in silencing their emotions.

I’m not saying that people shouldn’t live by deadlines – if you’re more comfortable that way, then I support your decision. People can have their deadlines, get a perfect attendance award and carry a pocket book calendar around if they so may please, however, it wouldn’t be extremely detrimental if every once in awhile they missed a deadline or threw that calendar out the window and just closed their eyes, breathed and tried to feel the essence of the Earth and themselves. They need to understand they are the product of millions of years of progress and that some of the same atoms ingrained in the Earth are in them too.

Realizing that I am going to die very soon, before I even notice, has been the most important epiphany in my life thus far. *** Caroline Palmer, a senior, is a Gazette News editor. e ett

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and money is essentially what enables humanity to survive.

Obviously if we took away the concept of money and the economy some people would still survive off their resources, but the fact that money and survival are intertwined plays with some people’s psyche.

It is a common practice to hold off real satisfaction until you are older. We go to school for 16 years and then spend X amount of years working and then finally, hopefully, die wealthy and fulfilled. A lot of times people don’t even pick jobs for their self-satisfaction. Some do, but a lot of people are trying to find jobs to make them the wealthiest.

Why do we have to wait until we are older to feel gratitude for our actions?

I am not saying we shouldn’t work hard, but I think that if we give time and milestones less power, we can start feeling the full range of emotions.

Instead of repressing certain emotions and

Art should not be judged based on its creator

Artwork should neither be criticized nor glorified based on artists’ actions

I

t is interesting to me that people are willing to dismiss the work of artists (of any medium) based on actions outside of their art. Disdain toward a particular artist is often extended into disdain for that individual’s body of work, or, more often, a refusal to consume said work at all.

In June of 1968, director Roman Polanski released his iconic film “Rosemary’s Baby.” Nine years later, in March of 1977, Polanski was charged with the rape of 13-year-old Samantha Gailey. Although he fled to Europe before he was convicted, it was clear he committed the crime.

The backlash against Polanski was just; his actions were vile. What was not just, however, was the ensuing hate for his films – or maybe hate is the wrong word.

Both “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby” consistently show up on “Top 100 Films of All Time” lists, so they are definitely still recognized. It just seems like every time a film of his is mentioned, it is punctuated by a remark about his scandal.

While it’s important that his actions are not ignored when talking about him as a person, they should be ignored when speaking about his films. He is a rapist, his films

COMMENTARY

connor hinson chinson.gazette@gmail.com

are not.

That being said, I understand the counterargument to this. Art is often a reflection of the artist, and if Polanski’s films were created to glorify his actions, or had undertones that suggested what he did was ok, I too would abstain from viewing his work.

So in that regard, maybe this issue should be taken on a case-by-case basis.

Someone like Lars von Trier, who makes extremely personal films about his personal

struggles with depression, is an example should also be separated from each other. of someone who creates art that reflects Artists grow through their medium and him as a person. But to refuse to watch an therefore their art will change with time. important film solely based on how you To love a song or film by a certain person feel about its director is a is not a marriage to all bit silly. future pieces of content This fallacy is not they might produce.

To refuse to only present in the film Unfaltering loyalty to industry. Music producer an artist, also know as watch an imporand hip-hop artist Kanye being a “fanboy/fangirl” tant film solely West is famous for being of something, leads to extremely narcissistic and a poor representation of based on how egotistical, but the posithe true quality of their you feel about a tive impact he has had on art. M. Night Shyamalan, the industry is undeniably director of the critically director is a bit great. acclaimed films “Signs” silly.

His personality is clearand “The Sixth Sense” ly not reflective of his art, also happens to be the so why do people who director of what is arguenjoy his music always ably the worst adaptation feel the need to justify of all time, “The Last themselves? Saying that Airbender.”

“College Dropout” is one of your favorite Art is its own entity. It should not be records does not mean that Kanye is one of brought down by its creator or its creator’s your favorite people, or even one of your other art. favorite artists. *** Which brings me to my next point – Connor Hinson, a junior, is a Gazette which is that pieces art from the same artist staff writer.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

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The Granite Bay Gazette

HEARD on the BAY What is your opinion of the racial diversity at GBHS?

“It’s very good. The (students) are very diverse.”

freshman

Avisha Shah

CHAI me a river

Controversy over new, red Starbucks cups is petty and juvenile

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tarbucks? More like Star-bonkers! Put down your peppermint mochas because Starbucks just dropped the biggest shocker known to coffee cup history: a red cup. What some are calling “a red cup that holds coffee,” other are calling “the biggest tragedy to Christians since the death of Jesus Christ.”

This year, in order to really piss off the Christians, Starbucks decided to do things a little bit differently, purely out of the Christmas spirit.

Instead of designing its iconic holiday cups with clearly Christian-based Christmas design, they decided that the color red would suffice.

Starbucks simply wanted to be sure to recognize the existence of all holiday traditions.

But of course, those conservatives obsessed with preserving their Christian values in every detail of their life, even down to their coffee cups, threw a fit.

I can totally imagine a man fuming with anger while walking out of church while saying, “You just can’t trust anyone anymore to uphold my own

Voices A10

beliefs. This is a Christian country, damn it, and I want my coffee to be Christian!” He continues rambling for another 10 minutes about his favorite large-magazine machine gun and his deep devotion for Ben Carson.

God forbid one recognizes the bpanter.gazette@gmail.com existence of other holiday traditions.

Literally, look in the Bible; it’s the 11th commandment.

Santa Claus, on the other hand, had difficulty seeing what the big fuss was all about.

“I just want to spread some holiday cheer to my favorite Starbucks-going ho ho hos,” Santa said.

“How am I supposed to do this if they’re being all pissy about a cup? I think that means they’re going on the naughty list! Guess I can’t bring them Bibles and a whole bunch of other incredibly materialistic things.”

“I was not aware of the anarchy a simple red cup would create,” said the new Starbucks cup designer, who is quite noticeably a Jew. “This year we just wanted to go with a revolutionary de-

COMMENTARY

blake panter

God forbid one recognizes the existence of other holiday traditions. Literally, look in the Bible; it’s the eleventh commandment. sign – a solid red cup. Who would have expected that this would call for nationwide dissent?”

Many Christians opted for a compromise: why not just make the coffee cup out of the Eucharist itself? That way they are able to consume the Body of Christ while enjoying their morning brew.

Donald Trump called for a boycott on Starbucks, and you know, as appealing as this is, one really just cannot resist a little coffee once in awhile, even if it means drinking out of a red cup.

Next year, Starbucks plans on designing their cups with a Hanukkah theme.

Clearly, Starbucks hates Jesus and wants all Christians to suffer. They just want to take the Christ out of Christmas. *** Blake Panter, a senior, is a Gazette Green Screen editor.

Winter Ball asking causes unnecessary anxieties People pressured to say yes to a date, regardless of true feelings

“Most people are white.”

COMMENTARY

sophomore

jill kurpershoek jkurpershoek.gazette@gmail.com

Sienna Lyford “I think it’s great that we have a lot of diversity here.”

junior

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s Winter Ball introduces the formal dance season, Granite Bay High School students begin to feel the stress of planning and finding a date.

Although going with friends is a definite option, I’ve always preferred to go with a date as it is part of the “experience” of a formal dance.

However, there appears to be a stigma in these events in which no matter who is asking you, saying “yes” is a must. This is because saying no to someone you may just not want to attend the dance with is seen as coldhearted.

There shouldn’t be a social trap forcing one to provide consent for a date, intimacy or anything as a matter of fact.

While I agree that it takes courage to put yourself out there and ask someone with the risk of getting rejected, that is no excuse for someone to feel obligated to be put their self in a situation that could cause discomfort or awkwardness.

Ever since my freshman year and the involvement of an ice sculpture, females specifically have been chastised for turning down a potential date for the simple reason of not wanting to go with that person.

At the risk of being grandiose, this parallels the consent debate. Is it really a ‘yes’ if we feel there is an obligation to agree?

Although agreeing to intimacy and

agreeing to a date for Winter Ball contrast extremely, they hold the same principle of social pressure – pressures that can cause you to act against what you truly want.

It has even come to the circumstance in which people find themselves telling their friends to tell potential dates not bother asking because they know that they already don’t want to go with that person, and they don’t want to have to reject the person themselves.

With that being said, I still can’t understand why politely declining someone is so taboo to

GBHS students, and to people in general.

There shouldn’t be a social trap forcing one to provide consent for a date, intimacy or anything as a matter of fact. It’s so important in this day and age especially to know your comfort zone and act in relevance to it.

As to those who do decide to go with someone they wouldn’t have

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if it hadn’t been for the asking: be sure to be clear about your desires and intentions rather than following the obligatory trend and going with the flow.

And to everyone else: it’s not a crime to reject someone, nor should it be taken to heart if you are the one getting rejected. *** Jill Kurpershoek, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Many express outrage before understanding cause

Gaurav Hedge “In the four years that I have been here, I have definitely seen more diversity compared to in my freshman year.”

Jumping on bandwagons without reason does not further the aim

truly is.

Similarly, it’s not uncommon for me to hear someone rant on and on about the refugee crisis yet know none of the facts.

015 was not exactly a COMMENTARY Regardless if it’s for a good year of good luck. There cause or not – it’s always best to were mass shootings and have a reason for feeling your terrorist attacks aplenty; there anger. If there’s no reason, then was police brutality and racism why are you fighting? rampaging in institutions we Unfortunately, social media consider to be equal. does nothing but contribute to There was a lot, to put it this. It’s simply not enough to be simply. a “social justice warrior” if the Millions were angered. Milonly pointers you’re taking are lions demanded for things to those splashed over every post change. Millions screamed and on Tumblr or Instagram. protested and fought for things Social media simply does not to get better. highlight over all the facts of a But there were millions who situation. hxu.gazette@gmail.com did nothing.

This spills into daily life when There were millions who someone starts spouting the stood by and relished in their anger. There were same half-researched and borderline ignorant nonmillions getting angry for the sake of simply fitting sense. This kind of carelessness equates to nothing in. but hypocrisy.

This anger is a good thing because once people For example, just the other day I sat in a conversee something as unfit, they move to change the sation in which a girl was talking about clothing situation. However, this rage is as pointless when companies such as Urban Outfitters and Abercrompeople don’t understand why they are getting mad. bie.

Feeling the brunt of social injustice is not a trend.

When I contributed to the conversation and said I Too often I hear people fight in the name of don’t shop at those stores because they romanticize feminism without even knowing what feminism mental illness or fail to support body positivity, the

2

senior

hannah xu

Jason Mazure “I don’t think you need a specific racial or ethnic makeup to make a thing good or bad. It has to do with how well people can work together.”

staff

Dale Mortensen Compiled by Sabina Mahavni

Happy Holidays from The Gazette!

girl was outraged at the conduct of those retailers.

And yet, the Monday after Black Friday, she was wearing a new Urban Outfitters shirt. I can’t but think that if she was truly outraged, she wouldn’t have bought that shirt.

And alas, it seems as though she was only “angry” in order to appease me. It seems as though she only cared to be mad when she thought she had to be.

This type of hypocrisy is detrimental to any cause. In psychology, I learned that a minority group will more likely be heard and listened to when their opinions are consistent and strong.

The wavering opinions of a single person is enough to make a revolution seem weak.

Unfortunately, this girl had no reason to be angry in her mind. The faux-anger she exhibited did nothing but detract from the end-goal.

If you see others get angry over an injustice, educate yourself on the situation and then make your decision on how you want to feel.

Don’t just become angry because you think you have an obligation to feel as furious as the other person. Anger isn’t something that is just passed on. It isn’t like the flu, it can’t be passed just by being near another person.

Your fury isn’t going to get anyone anywhere unless there is something you know you want to fight for. *** Hannah Xu, a junior, is a Gazette Lifestyle editor.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

The Granite Bay Gazette

Voices A11

Proudly diverse country ironically discriminates w

Religious persecution of minorities is hypocritical and violates our ideals

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e are quickly approaching 2016 and the United States’ 240th birthday. And in 240 years, we have overcome many racial diversities in our country. But now look where we are?

Nowhere. Many ethnic groups, such as African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos and Muslims. have faced discrimination in their own home country. Despite being natural-born citizens, they face hatred for the color of their skin or the origin of their faith.

America has gone from priding itself in 1791 with the First Amendment that ensures freedom of religion to 2015 where presidential candidates promise to keep an entire faith out of the country. I’ll see you all at the #TrumpisDisqualifiedParty.

Despite many seeing Trump’s injustice towards other cultures, there’s still a percentage that remains loyal to Trump, and that is due to lack of religious education.

I remember telling my little cousin

people. They shouldn’t be classified as ism and more. Many African American, Muslim, Caucasian people might be COMMENTARY or anything else. hesitant to take the When a shooting first occurs, everyclass as it is an IB course, but it’s open one questions the race of the shooter as to everyone and is a if it gives away their motives. great opIt’s quite sad when you realize that the portunity how she’ll enjoy connotation of the word to learn 7th grade history We should learn “terrorist” will only more and learning about about the Christianity, Judaism, about those beliefs ever be associated with And African world.

Islam and more. She not only to further Muslims.

Americans are referred It responded by saying our education, but to as “thugs.” should that she “enjoys her be made religion and sees no also out of respect Yet, mental illness sgarcha.gazette@gmail.com will be used as an exclear that reason to learn about to those religions. cuse for all other cases. although others.”

We then must look at Religion shouldn’t be taught with the the world is made up of infinite religions, this does the real cause of mass intention of converting students, but not define who they are. shootings: gun violence rather informing them in a respectful Karan Johar’s 2010 film, “My Name or mental illness? manner of other beliefs besides their is Khan” showcases how there are only Guns are unlikely to get banned beown. two types of people in the world – good cause this is America and what would Countries such as England, France, and bad. That’s the only difference.

America be without our right to keep Japan, Lebanon and many more have A person’s religion, appearance and and bear arms. And mental illness isn’t mandatory religious education that financial status does not make them looked at as a serious issue because must be completed. The U.S. has no who they are. I recommend this film to you can’t physically see someone’s required curriculum, although classes everyone who finds an opportunity to depression. such as International Baccalaureate watch it.

Religious studies can be beneficial in World Religions on our own campus With the amount of shootings that teaching students to look at different are available options. took place this year (355, as of San perspectives.

We should teach them The class is taught by David Tastor Bernardino, to be exact), it should be that the motives of an attacker are not and covers nine religions, including made clear that those shooters are bad based on their beliefs. There’s much Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hindu-

sonia garcha

more to the story than their appearance.

A country that boasted its independence and showed off its diversity is now facing a crisis against its worst enemy. Itself.

It’s this country’s diversity that makes us proud to be citizens. So why should we show hatred toward our classmates, co-workers and neighbors for not sharing the same beliefs as we do?

We should learn about those beliefs not only to further our education, but also out of respect to those religions.

Many will argue that the study of religions will influence students to interpret their own beliefs differently, however, this will only allow them to further embrace their own spirituality.

There is no harm in adopting beliefs of another faith as it allows you to exercise your rights of freedom of religion and freedom of expression.

America will become completely unconstitutional if we allow ourselves to believe that other ethnicities are the enemy.

It’s about time that America starts to learn about America and all the religions that unite us as one. *** Sonia Garcha, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer.

The Holy Qur’an Bhagavad Gita The Torah

Holy Bible Gazette illustration/NATASHA CHANDA

Branching out leads to new experiences

The thing is, many of the friends I’ve that’s what made it so special. We all valued writing, made would not be so special to me if I expressing our thoughts and hadn’t given myself the chance to engage engaging in our school and community. Commonalities in the school surrounding me. new and just wanted to like these make for instant get through high school, bonding opportunities. It earn good grades and didn’t take long for me to fall high school experience and allow you to look back on move on. in love with my journo fam High school has too and make memories I know I will cherish far more memories once it’s over.

As I finish my last couple weeks here at GBHS bemany opportunities to beyond my high school career. fore heading to the southeast for college, I can’t help go through it with that My advice to you is to reach out. Force mentality. yourself to step outside your personal bubble but reminisce on the happiness my friends in high school have brought to my life.

As this semester draws and follow your passion.

The thing is, many of the friends I’ve made would to a close, I really want If you’re a student who is into art, take not be so special to me if I hadn’t given myself the students to think about art. If you’re into music, look into band or jholt.gazette@gmail.com their classes and plans for choir. If you’re interested in robotics, join the chance to engage in the school surrounding me.

With that said, take the risk. Give yourself the the spring and beyond. robotics club. If you want to give baseball or chance to walk in the light and discover more about Are you taking a class or joining a club or team that softball a try, do it. yourself. It’s worth it. Don’t let high school get away you’ll really enjoy? Or are you just going through the Don’t let the fear of being judged or making a misfrom you, even though many of us may want to get motions? take hold you back from doing what you want. You away from it.

You have four years on this campus, whether you don’t have the time to fulfill other people’s plans for Why wait around until you stumble upon an activity like it or not. If you aren’t making the most of your you. that fits you? Take initiative and establish your own 720 days as a Grizzly, think about changing your Trust me when I say four years go by fast. path. mindset.

I understand high school is stressful with Advanced It’s a time in your life that you will never get back, When I finally joined the school newspaper staff in Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, so for your own good, enjoy it. the spring of my junior year, I felt like I finally had a family and personal expectations and balancing your *** purpose in the school, and had found my niche. schedule outside of the green gates.

Jordan Holt, a senior, is a Gazette Sports editor.

It wasn’t a class made up of my typical friends, but But finding your place on campus will enhance your

Stepping out of comfort zone now may be benefecial down the road

W

alking through Granite Bay High School’s main gates as a freshman, I thought everything would fall into place. I had the unrealistic image of the cliques being easily distinguishable and easy to navigate through.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Over the past three and a half years, I’ve continued to traverse through different friend groups. Yes, like many people, I have my core group considered to be my best friends, and I’m so thankful to have had their support since grade school.

But what has made my time here at GBHS so memorable are the moments I reached outside of my comfort zone and tried something new.

The extracurricular activities GBHS has to offer are not just electives, or sports or clubs. They’re opportunities to discover yourself and your passion.

I’m not saying you’re going to leave high school and know exactly what your place in the world is, but while you’re here, you might as well try something that interests you.

My biggest regret as a senior, is not having the courage to join The Granite Bay Gazette earlier than I did.

As an underclassman, I was terrified to try something

COMMENTARY

jordan holt

Read our tales.

Read The Gazette.

Second look

A12 News

Thursday, December 17,

The Granite Bay Gazette

Winter Fesitvities

Special to the Gazette /GABRIELLE THOMPSON

GBHS advanced drama class, center, performs in “Bang Bang You’re Dead,” a play about school shootings. Sophomores, Paige Tattersall and Rian Lombardo, top right, participate in Santa’s Helpers at Kingswood Elementary. A Kingswood Elementary first grader, top left, shows off a craft she made with her Santa’s Helpers buddy.

Senior girls, above right and left, pose for photos with their corsages on the night of Winter Ball. Maya Murphy-Cook, left, acts as a lead role in “Bang Bang You’re Dead.”

Gazette photos by Madeline Williams

Special to the Gazette /SCOTT ARFSTEN

Lifestyle

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uddling next to a fireplace with a piping mug of hot chocolate and a good ol’ book – this defines the perfect day for some.

However, as students start entering high school, this dream of getting to spend spare time for some simple reading is less likely to become a reality.

A national study conducted by Common Sense Media in 2014 shows that at 17 years old, 45 percent of students admit to only reading once or twice a year out of the sheer pleasure of reading.

The number for those who read every day for fun is even lower at 19 percent.

This has been the common trend for many past years, as high school proves to be busier and doesn’t include enough free time to read. However, the numbers have decreased in rapid numbers within recent years.

Since 1984, the number of teens that said they don’t read much throughout the year has tripled, going from nine percent to 27 percent.

This decrease in numbers could be the result of many factors: students not having as much time due to the increase in homework and extracurricular activities, social media or the disinterest in reading due to such tasks like annotating.

However, those loyal to reading for enjoyment see that some of the problems lie in the way reading is taught to students.

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Carissa Lewis, a junior, is a Lifestyle editor.

pleasure reading

BY HANNAH XU

Perfectionism is not an unachievable ideal

***

XU

Books are no longer enjoyable pastimes

clewis.gazette@gmail.com

horough.

It’s a compliment, surely. Who would ever be provoked by their own precision? Who would not aspire to see through observant eyes, to notice slight inaccuracies in order to correct them?

Meticulous.

It is not quite so flattering, but neither is it reproachful. It is merely a trait that some people have and others do not, and either is satisfactory.

Fastidious.

Fastidious? No, not me. Detailed, perhaps, but I would never be nitpicky nor critical, and certainly I would never be fastidious.

This is the mindset when it comes to perfectionism. It is viewed as an achievement, an ideological ambition, but quickly, and without much hesitation, it transforms into an unfortunate folly.

Perfectionism is exalted most often throughout youth, but as people age they grow accustomed to the familiar saying “nobody is perfect” and thus conclude perfectionism is a false portrayal of reality.

A complete utopia. This is true, utter perfection, and by this definition, perfectionism matches the claim of an unattainable phenomenon. However, perfection and perfectionism cannot be merged into a single diagnosis.

While perfection is the impractical achievement of a flawless action, object or character, perfectionism is the desire to eliminate flaws. These definitions may seem identical, but the major difference comes in that perfectionists, while wishing and perhaps even aspiring to fix every fault, do not have the expectation of it.

Does this make perfectionism ideal? Certainly not. Whether a perfectionist mindset is obvious in an individual or a hidden burden, it is painstaking for the individual.

For a perfectionist, when it comes to focusing on an assignment or task, details become incredibly distracting. The simple tilt of a pencil or a water bottle cap that is not screwed on all the way can interrupt a perfectionist’s concentration.

Call me a perfectionist. It is neither a compliment nor an insult, but nevertheless it remains true.

For example, I have often been told that I have nice handwriting.

This compliment, however, is frequently undermined when people claim that I care too much about the appearance of my handwriting.

What these people don’t realize is that it remains ‘neat’ because of the extensive irritation I feel when ‘o’s do not complete a perfect loop or when ‘s’s are not curved properly.

Silly as it may sound, these slight incongruities pester me.

However, perfectionism cannot be defined solely by what bothers one individual because what provokes one person may go unnoticed by someone else.

December 17, 2015

The death of

carissa lewis

B Section

Many complain that the fun of reading is taken out when forced to annotate or look for specifics. Many enjoy reading simply for the sake of plot and connecting with characters.

“The fact that when you read you … create a scene in your own mind is entertaining,” said sophomore Divya Shetty.

However, Shetty said that when told to annotate she feels sad because the focus is shifted to no longer enjoying the book, but rather trying to get a good grade.

Similarly, senior Shannon McIntyre, said the kids who don’t enjoy reading aren’t going to like it more when it becomes an assignment. Because of this, she said, if schools want students to enjoy reading, it’s pivotal for them to take a different approach.

This has drawn a want for reading for pleasure to be prioritised amongst teachers and the student body.

“I do (wish pleasure reading is emphasized more) because I think it’s important to read for fun,” Lexi Luong. “If you have fun reading, you’ll read more and (therefore) learn more.”

Another common complaint is that the requirements to get into college, specifically doing extracurricular activities and maintaining a high GPA, inhibits many from being able to relax and read. “(Since entering high school) I’m so focused on studying that I no longer have time for myself and for reading,” Shetty said. “It’s sad because I see my friend … who checked out five books from the library and I’m not able to do that (due to lack of time).”

See READING, page B4

The credit card thieves are coming to town Holiday season remains a prime time for electronic financial robberies

BY JENNY TARBELL

jtarbell.gazette@gmail.com

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uring the holiday season, credit card fraud is no stranger to frequent shoppers.

In fact, fraud happens more often than what might be commonly known. Recently, Jill Kurpershoek, a senior at Granite Bay High School, had $3000 stolen from her account.

“One morning I checked my account and $3000 was gone,” said Kurpershoek. “A man in Florida had added himself to my online bill pay, in which he paid $3000 to himself.”

Kurpershoek mentioned that since she shops online often, she checks her bank account regularly.

It is extremely important to keep tabs on your bank account because often, a culprit will take out a small amount, maybe a dollar or two, to see if you notice it missing.

Then, they go in for the bigger amounts.

Melissa Cook, also a senior at GBHS experienced a similar situation.

“Someone had made a purchase at a Victoria’s Secret in Las Vegas and I was in Granite Bay at the time,” Cook said.

Cook said that her bank had noticed the purchase and contacted her right away to confirm or deny the purchase. All she had to do was cancel the card and get a new one.

Kurpershoek on the other hand had a much more difficult endeavor.

“It took three weeks and I had to spend five or more hours at the bank going through interviews to investigate the fraud,” Kurpershoek said.

Luckily, she did end up getting her money back but she said that the overall experience was very time consuming.

Melissa Crowther, manager at PacSun in the Roseville Galleria, commented that credit card fraud is common around the holidays when people get desperate.

A couple signs of credit card fraud involve “grabbing lots of merchandise with no regard for price or whether it will fit, buying multiples of items and buying only high ticket items again with

no regard for how much their spending.”

Unfortunately, there is nothing that retailers can do to prevent the fraud from occurring.

According to Crowther, if the card does not swipe they can refuse the purchase, but the numbers can be inputted manually.

“We cannot hold the card. We can turn away if it doesn’t swipe but otherwise cannot out of concern for discrimination lawsuits,” Crowther said.

Even checking their ID would not help, because they generally put their name on someone else’s card number.

Crowther said a common tactic for these culprits is to purchase a gift card of a large amount, usually hundreds of dollars, because even if the credit cards get shut down, the gift card will still work.

Credit Card fraud happens at all times during the year, but it spikes tremendously during the holiday season, so it’s important to verify that all purchases running through your account are your own.

Gazette illustration/TROY PAWLAK

inside lifestyle Top 10 B2 SAT tips

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Random club

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Every Fifteen Minutes Students reflect upon event and simulation

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Santa’s Helpers Students participate in annual event to help community children

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Winter Break Students share much anticipated travel plans for upcoming holidays

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Thursday, December 17, 2015 w The Granite Bay Gazette

B2 Lifestyle

TOP

New Year’s Resolutions Go to more concerts or events.

Drink more water.

Travel more.

Get more sleep.

Make new friends.

Every 15 Minutes still impacting lives Program continues to be influential

BY SAVANNA THOMPSON sthompson.gazette@gmail.com

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outh Placer Fire stand by for a vehicle accident.”

“Placer County 16 engine arrived. We have a two man vehicle accident. One Northbound lane is blocked. We will be checking for injuries.”

A year has passed, but memories of the Every 15 Minutes program remain strong in the heads of participants, family members and the student who witnessed at Granite Bay High School.

Since the last event, three GBHS graduates passed away in a car accident as a result of drunk driving, but current students have not endured this tragedy in regards to current classmates.

Every 15 Minutes, a program devoted to spreading awareness of distracted driving to teenagers, may be partially influential in the decline in deaths due to drunk driving. Now, one death happens every 51 minutes from these accidents, rather than the one every 15 minutes in 1995.

The decrease in deaths caused by drunk driving could also be accredited to alternative services helping cater to those who are intoxicated.

Students today have access to services like Uber, a transportation service that provides rides much like a taxi would. Students are less likely to drive under the influence or get in the car with an intoxicated driver when Uber is readily available.

Even if underage individuals have been drinking, Uber will provide them service, allowing students to keep their behaviors secret from parents or to compensate for engaging in this risky behavior.

Many students also assign designated drivers or offer to drive friends and family who are under the influence rather than risking the life of themselves or their loved ones.

One year after its occurrence, the program is still very relevant in the Granite Bay community, and will again

KAT MCGRAIL/ Gazette file photo, 2014

In 2014, past seniors witnessed a simulation crash that had police and firemen reenact the events that could take place when a crash occurs.

Students are taught journalism tips and tricks fstrnad.gazette@gmail.com

Improve your GPA.

midpoint as GBHS hosts the Every 15 Minutes program every two years.

For students who simply observed the car crash simulation and subsequent funeral, the program may be less memorable, suggesting that an annual program would be a quick solution. However, limited funding makes this possibility unlikely as well as a less effective way of spreading the message.

“If you experience it twice, you already are going to know what happens,” Kindelt said, “but if you experience it once, it is much more dramatic and has a much larger impact on everyone.”

One year after its occurrence, the program is still very relevant in the Granite Bay community, and will hopefully still prove to be effective.

Intro class instills skills in those involved

BY FRANCES STRNAD

Spend time with your family.

be impactful in 2016 for GBHS’ upperclassman.

The tragedy of drunk driving becomes very real to many students every time the event is put on.

Senior Elise Ramos’ sister was a member of the Living Dead, a group of pre-picked students who were removed from their classes every 15 minutes to represent the results of drunk driving accidents. These students spend the night at a hotel without any means of communication with both friends and family.

“It was kinda jarring that she actually hid it from everybody. Everyone was surprised when she didn’t come home that day,” said Ramos. “We brought home the eulogy paper, and my nieces and nephews were staying over, giving us an opportunity to talk to them about more serious issues.”

Ramos said the program heightened her fear of drunk driving, built from stories she heard from her parents who frequently witness these tragedies as emergency room nurses.

“I think I am always going to feel very strongly about this sort of thing,” Ramos said. “I have a … strong moral sense of responsibility toward how my actions affect other people, so it has always been weird to me to know that people will do reckless things and not care about the consequences.”

It’s been a year, and although Ramos still cares about the issue, she said that many people may not.

Freshman at the time, sophomore Makena Blackburn did not personally witness the accident that figuratively killed her sister, but she said she is now more aware of the people she spends her time with and makes sure that she’s not making bad decisions.

Blackburn said she believes that younger generations act more irresponsibly than previous classes, and these generations would greatly benefit from an annual Every 15 Minutes Program.

For senior Drew Kindelt, who drove the car that was “hit” by the drunk driver in the accident simulation, Every 15 Minutes provides an everyday re-

minder to be cautious on the road.

“Every time I see an ambulance, a police officer or something along those lines, my mind takes me back to that program,” Kindelt said.

For Kindelt, the program was extremely significant, making him more aware about his own decisions and the decisions of others.

“When I see high schoolers or anyone else drinking, I always offer to drive them home because I don’t want anything bad to happen.” Kindelt said. “(The memory of Every 15 Minutes) is something that will never go away.”

Kindelt said he is now much more appreciative of law enforcement and those in any field of emergency medicine.

This December marks the program’s

I

nterviewing, writing and planning are just a few of the skills that students learn in Adam McLearan’s Introduction to Journalism class.

The course is intended to teach students about journalism and the news industry.

It also serves as preparation for the Advanced Journalism class, should they wish to take it.

“We start off by learning how to write a good news article. Then, we go through the other types of articles like opinion, sports and reviews,” freshman Faith Harrison said.

“Next, we do ‘free articles’ which is when we each pitch a topic and write an article on it.”

Of course, there are many other reasons for taking the class besides the motive of joining Advanced Journalism.

For senior Matt Lauth, increasing his writing spectrum was his primary intention for entering the class.

“I’m usually a fictional writer and I write very creatively,” Lauth said. “Journalism was really out of my element because it’s mostly the facts and nothing but the facts. It has increased my range and style in which I can write.”

Making the most of his four

months in America, Iranian foreign exchange student and senior Daniel Bazargun had a different purpose for taking the Intro course.

“I’m an English learner, and I want to practice my writing skills and get better,” Bazargun said. “The class taught me how to write more serious, reporting articles.”

The Intro to Journalism class created an insert for the December edition of The Granite Bay Gazette. This project gave the class a sense of what it’s like to be in Advanced Journalism.

Additionally, the insert allows the class to collaborate and combine their skills to

complete an entire multi-page insert with intriguing visuals and articles.

“The whole class kind of came together,” Harrison said. “We were all helping each other out to get information that was needed for our articles.”

Creating the mini-newspaper and writing articles, the class was full of valuable learning experiences for the Intro to Journalism students.

“I never interviewed somebody before the class,” Bazargun said. “The course makes me better prepared for the advanced class because we practice all of the different types of articles and writing.”

The skills they learned are essential for continuing in journalism.

“We learned how a newspaper is put together and we learned the basic skills needed to become a part of that sort of industry,” Lauth said. “I have especially learned the importance of due dates, due dates, due dates.”

However, to many students, the class was more than just learning the key components of writing, how to layer information into an article, or the best techniques for interviewing.

“I could finally walk up to someone I hadn’t talked to before, and get a good interview,” Harrison said. “Being able to build up from simple questions to more complex ones helped me build up the confidence to interview people I don’t know.”

Deciding majors might come too soon Having to make lifelong decisions before high school ends proves stressful

- Compiled by Jill Kurpershoek

IS LEW SA RIS CA

Spend less time on social media.

While high school curriculum and electives have elicited students’ interests in a range of majors, not all students have been so inspired. Many are already considering changing their major once at college and exposed to new classes, but some students do not have a desired starting point and have entered undeclared on their college applications as a result.

rati on/

Do not procrastinate.

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he end of December usually means the season of college applications is drawing to a close.

Of all the stressors involved in the application process, deciding a major can be the most nerve-racking for Granite Bay High School students because in some cases, they are determining their futures.

For senior Carly Arfsten, Cal Poly’s application was the most difficult to complete because the college prohibits students from applying as undeclared.

“I don’t really have a set career path that I want to pursue, so I want the option to change and learn more about each major before I commit to one,” said Arfsten, who has applied to various schools as undeclared in the school of science or the school of business.

Cal Poly requires students to undergo an extensive process to change their major and, sometimes, re-apply to the school.

“There are things I for sure don’t want to do,” Arfsten said. “I’m interested in science, but I don’t know what exactly.”

There is also a misconception that it can be easy to change a major once accepted to a college or after a few years of attendance; however, it is extremely difficult for students to switch from a so-called major to a more difficult one.

Yet, students are forced to select their

always wanted to be doing something entertainmentwise for the masses, and I’d say that high school definitely cultivated that.”

Some schools do not offer the specific major of which students are interested. For Avni Suri, a senior interested in attending medical school, biology is the best substitute for a premed major.

“I know I want to be a doctor, and I think I want to do something in women’s health or pediatrics,” Suri said.

“What I am going for right now is (obstetrics and gynaecology) because they do both: they take care of the baby and the mother.”

In high school, Suri became fascinated with a mother’s bond with her child, inspiring her interest in becoming an OB GYN because she wants to witness that connection every day.

llus t

Make money or get a job.

major or future career based on their interests and sentiments at age eighteen.

Students have yet to encounter many subjects or classes because they are only offered in college educations.

Students who are undecided may then select undeclared to test the waters of potential areas of interest before devoting themselves to a particular area of study.

However, past experiences or classes in high school have pushed many GBHS students in a particular direction, inspiring their interest in a variety of career paths.

GBHS senior Carlin Isaacson has selected education as her desired area of study, basing her decision on her previous teachers that were influential to her development as a student.

“I want to make a difference in kids’ lives, and I really like working with people or kids in general,” Isaacson said.

Isaacson wants to eventually teach elementary school because expertise is not required in any particular subject matter and because those years are critical to a student’s intellectual development.

Drama classes at GBHS have influenced senior Cameron Erickson to pursue theater as a major, although he considered majors in English or music. “(My decision) definitely is a mixture of both (childhood influence and high school experience),” said Erickson. “I

te i

sthompson.gazette@gmail.com

Ga zet

BY SAVANNA THOMPSON

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Lifestyle B3

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Teaching English to non-native speakers Tutors volunteer for Dos Lenguas Una Voz to guide learners through a language

BY SONIA MATHEUS

A

Special to the Gazette

lmost every day after school, a group of Granite Bay High School students engage in activities that excite young minds and help to alleviate academic struggles for elementary second language learners. In a unique one-onone tutoring program called Dos Lenguas Una Voz, GBHS sophomore and founder Raymond Forbes, and his company of 11 student volunteers, provide cross-age, English language instruction to elementary school students whose first language is Spanish.

Forbes’ passion and dedication in creating this organization has not only helped numerous young children in their everyday learning, but has also opened the minds of his fellow volunteers to a world quite unlike their own.

The organization Dos Lenguas Una Voz is a program as symbolic as it is effective.

Meaning “Two Languages One Voice” in English, this organization employs the voices and time of high school aged volunteers to help non-native English speakers – primary native Spanish speakers – or beginning language learners with homework and reading fluency.

Cross-age tutoring is different from youth-to-youth tutoring because it employs the wide age gap as an advantage – the young children look up to the high

schoolers, which can alleviate the shyness they may have with teachers, according to Pauline Traina, coordinator of the Kaseberg program.

Dos Lenguas was officially created in October of 2014 and started the tutoring at Kaseberg, Woodbridge and Cirby elementary schools in Roseville this fall.

Forbes was first inspired to create this organization when he was in middle school.

“While I was in eighth grade at Cavitt Junior High School, I took the year long Spanish one course,” Forbes said. “In an attempt to find something that I could do over the summer that would allow me to use my Spanish speaking skills in practical application, I contacted my Spanish teacher, Señora Hervas (for advice). She informed me that there was a seventh grader at Olympus Junior High School who had recently come from Mexico and was struggling in English. My family contacted him to set up times during the summer when I could tutor him in English, and in turn I would be able to practice Spanish speaking skills.”

Forbes described how, while his intentions were honorable, the student’s mother accepted the invitation, but later declined thinking her son was uncomfortable with the idea. He said this experience truly impacted him because it was a cultural shock – he even questioned what else he could do to help the student reach their

full potential and make their learning helped me to come out of my shell. At the experience positive. time, I was realizing how much I enjoyed “I think the main reason why I never got the Spanish language (and) the encouragea response is because the boy felt embarment from my parents ... really pushed me rassed with someone so close in age,” to become more involved in the commuForbes said. “This helped me and my nity and to grow as a person.” parents realize that targeting younger age Forbes’ positive energy and excitement groups for his was a passion better is evident idea.” among his Forbes colleagues. also said “Rayhe was mond is so further orgamoved nized and by helpful,” watchsenior and ing Dos Lennews guas tutor reports Carmela about Flores thousaid. sands of “Despite children setbacks from and delays Latin Gazette photo /JENNIFER MORRIS ... he can America Raymond Forbes helps younger students with English always who were find ways entering into the U.S. without educational to make sure all the tutors can help.” help. Forbes said “(his) family encouraged Similarly, junior and fellow tutor Iris (him) to think that (he) could help (those) Chan further described how professional kids learn English as well.”

Forbes’ ideas were to her, and how his Entering as a freshman in high school, work has opened her eyes to unknown he already had a mission statement and hardships in the community. goal for his organization in mind.

“It’s so great that our school can now “(Dos Lenguas Una Voz) was officially reach out to other communities,” Chan incorporated in Oct., 2014,” Forbes said. said.

“I immediately began making several conShe realized that “because (she) lives nections in the community and contacted in the ‘Granite Bay Bubble,’ it is hard to several elementary schools. The creation make an impact. But coming out to these

Lights, sites and winter delights

Winter Wonderland takes the stage in Sacramento and Tulare

BY PAIGE ERICKSON

perickson.gazette@gmail.com

G

lobal Winter Wonderland is a festival that celebrates different holidays and seasons. When entering the festival, participants immediately spot the abundance of bright, colorful and dazzling lights.

“Global Winter Wonderland has our extraordinary illuminated displays,” said Lauren Guevara, marketing assistant. “They have been created into a magical land where you can experience the Magic of the Seasons.”

Although the festival has been celebrated in different locations throughout its production, this is the first year it will be held in two

locations: Sacramento and Tulare.

Global Winter Wonderland will be open from November 14 through January 3.

Kaley Dover, a junior, recently attended Winter Wonderland.

“I mostly just walked around with my friends and looked at the displays,” Dover said. “I (also) watched some of the different shows.”

The festival’s lights are categorized into themes.

While walking through the displays, participants are able to venture into winter, spring, summer or fall.

“You can walk through the different seasons and different blow up (objects),” Dover said.

Winter Wonderland offers as-

Jack Frost nipping at November

Holidays come a few months in advance

BY EPSA SHARMA

S

esharma.gazette@gmail.com

tores in the mall, grocery outlets and TV ads began advertising the festive season even before the end of October. The halls were surely decked with boughs of holly, but the ordainment came as early as Halloween.

With the rush of excitement that comes with the holiday season, it can be difficult to resist getting involved sooner than planned.

But when is the socially appropriate time to showcase the Christmas decorations from the attic and start transforming your home?

Many people believe December is the most

sorted entertainment, delicious cuisine, carnival rides and holiday shopping.

Greek food, ‘Do it Yourself ’ pizza and French beignets are all available as food choices.

Rides include options of both thrill rides and family rides, including the Zipper, Starship 2000, Super Slides and a merrygo-round.

One live form of entertainment, which is a crowd favorite, is the Global Winter Wonderland Circus of Light show. The show is now featuring Acrobats on Ice for the first time.

“The stunts they can do would be more than impressive on land,” Guevara said. “But having the added ice factor creates for a truly

appropriate and reasonable time to trim up, but there are still others who enjoy celebrating the holiday season at the beginning of November.

Senior Claire Raney is adamant about the holiday decorations starting up during the actual month of the festivities.

“Personally I’m not a fan of decorations … during the holiday season,” Raney said.

“People get way too into it. It’s just one day and people spend months prepping for it.”

But for senior Sabrina McCord, it’s never too early to spread holiday cheer.

“I started prepping for the holidays before Thanksgiving,” McCord said. “I was listening to Christmas music and everyone was judging me … The holiday seasons make me feel so happy inside.”

Yet even those who appreciate the early winter holiday decor find it reasonable not to overshadow Halloween and Thanksgiving.

“Even though I enjoy an early start to Christmas-esque activities, I believe the month of October is a little too early,” McCord said.

“You have to respect and give time to the other holidays, but right after Thanksgiving is where my Christmas spirit is at an all-time high.”

Christmas is a big money maker for the business and retail market. 80 percent of a store’s profit comes from the three months of holiday sales.

Most look to December as being the main ‘holiday’ month, but in the retail world October, November and December are when the

amazing show.”

The acrobatic presentation has been extremely popular so far and is free for anyone with an admission price ticket.

Standing apart from the rest of the crowd, Santa can be found in Winter Wonderland, bringing along with him souvenir options.

Consumers can purchase ornaments, Christmas cards or mugs adorned with their pictures of Santa.

Another crowd favorite is the ice skating rink, where people can skate with their family and friends on the large, frosty surface.

“My favorite is the magical lights,” Guevara said. “It truly makes you feel like you are in another world.”

The un-

sales are through the roof.

As an avid shopper, senior Robyn Pan noted how holiday advertising at the Westfield Galleria mall has started earlier and earlier each year.

“It’s just odd seeing them out before the actual season,” Pan said. “I think it’s wrong.

It’s not the right season – stores shouldn’t be rushing it.”

Previous Granite Bay High School, student Noel Larson spent her freshman and sophomore student government years advocating holiday cheer in the midst of midterms.

Larson has a Christmas countdown in her twitter bio to take advantage of the main holiday month and build up the excitement of the holidays. She takes on the responsibility of unearthing festivity on social media.

“I started prepping for the holiday season around October, which is when I began listening to Christmas music,” Larson said. “November and December go by too fast (so) that I can’t fully enjoy the holidays.”

The start of the holiday spirit at home influences attitudes towards decorative outlets.

Either appreciation for the early start in stores is due to the early start at home, or vice versa.

“I really get into decorating around Dec. 5,” Pan said. “It takes time for me to get into the spirit of another holiday … I want to appreciate the holidays and give them their time, so I like to focus on Thanksgiving for a while before I head into Christmas.”

schools have really made a difference (in the children’s education).”

For Flores, Forbes’ mission statement hit home.

“I can relate (to the kids) because English was hard for me to learn when I was younger,” Flores said. “I wasn’t born in America, ... I want to be their stepping stone so they can excel in school.”

The dedication of Forbes and his volunteers have not only inspired the children, but also amazed the adults.

“Raymond is very organized, communicat​es​efficiently and has the volunteers scheduled two weeks i​n advance at three different elementary schools,” said Traina.

“All the volunteers are responsible, respectful and very helpful to our program.

It is wonderful working with the DLUV​ high school students and getting to know them, their future endeavors and supporting them in any way that I can.”

As for Forbes’ future, he hopes to continue fueling his passion and promote Dos Lenguas so it is able to expand.

“I do hope to set up a large base of tutors at Granite Bay and eventually expand to other schools in the area,” Forbes said.

“I definitely think that ending it as soon as I graduate would be a disservice to both the tutors and the kids (because) both can benefit so much from work like this.

There is a large need for our services in the Roseville community, (so) I would like to see the program grow. Being a new organization, it has so much potential.”

Sonia Matheus is currently enrolled in Intro to Journalism. Reach her at sonia_matheus@outlook.com.

CollegeBoard SAT

practice

Official SAT tip This Issue’s Expert:

Gazette photo /FRANCES STRNAD

Rawan Khalili is a senior at Granite Bay High School.

Get started: Start early and allocate a specific amount of time each day to SAT prep.

Try to increase that daily amount of prep time as you get closer to the day of the test.

Take tests: Take a lot of full length practice tests.

They will give you a good feel of how the actual test will be.

Stay calm:

Don’t stress out too much on the day of the test. Overthinking will lead you to choosing the wrong answer, and it will do more harm than good.

- Compiled by Frances Strnad

If you really knew me,

you would know...

- Compiled by Clair Kasel

Lyllian Franco

If you really knew me, you would know that I speak both Vietnamese and English.

Olivia Epperson

If you really knew me, you would know that I am an only child.

Nikki Tafoya

If you really knew me, you would know that I have a guinea pig name after Blake Shelton.

Lifestyle B4

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Students enjoy the gift of giving

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Santa’s Helpers brings the community together

BY MCKENNA ARAM

maram.gazette@gmail.com

T

he annual Granite Bay High School Santa’s Helpers event took place this December at Kingswood Elementary School.

Peer Helping is a class on campus that students can enroll in to help benefit GBHS and the surrounding community. One way they do so is by organizing Santa’s Helpers.

Every year, GBHS students are given this opportunity to receive a younger, underprivileged student assigned to be their ‘buddy’.

GBHS students purchase a gift on their buddy’s presented Christmas wish list of reasonable price and present it to Gazette photo /MADELINE WILLIAMS them on the visitation date.

“The purpose of Santa's Helpers is to A first grader poses for the camera with her recently gifted help children who live in lower income presents. households to at least get one present,” just to get out of school. But at junior Peer Helper Alexis Hazelett said. the least it’s helping out kids The ages of the children range from in need and making their day,” kindergarten through fifth grade, and junior Alex Hartmann said.

The purpose of GBHS students have the ability to The abandoned buddies are Santa’s Helpers select the age and gender preferences of typically paired with another their buddy. group, and usually there ends is to help children “Myself along with Jill Jacobs, Olivia up being one GBHS student who live in lower Salazar, and Tori Ahmad organized paired to two Kingswood Santa's Helpers this year. It is our onincome students. campus project for peer helping and The teacher of the younger households to at Gazette photo /MADELINE WILLIAMS (has been) a lot of work,” Hazelett said. children provides their Christ- Senior Camilla Griggs interacts with child as he marvels at his new gift: an electronic toy car.

Over 200 students participated this least get one mas wish lists, and GBHS year. An event that occurs during students typically select one of the ideal present school from the middle of first period gifts to purchase as long as it does not through second lunch, it is debated exceed fifty dollars. whether GBHS students sign up be– Alexis Hazelett, junior “I participated in Santa’s Helpers last cause they genuinely want to help out Peer Helper year and my buddy asked me for Dr. impecunious children or because they Dre Beats, an ipod, and an electric mini jump at the chance to be exempt from toy car,” said Hartmann. school for half of a day.

It’s quite often that a younger “I think students participate because buddy’s wishes tend to be quite questhey want to either leave school and tionable. go do something fun, or they actually buddy received a gift.

“My buddy this year wanted a lot of want to help the children at the school,” “We always are prepared and raise expensive things. She asked for a lapHazelett said. money to have the extra gift fees for top, a puppy, a Nintendo DS, and video “I did Santa’s Helpers last year and the kids whose buddies either ditch or games. I just ended up getting her a participated again this year,” sophodon’t show up,” Ahmad said. bunch of generic stuff like nail polish,” more Rian Lombardo said.

Peer helping was well prepared and Lombardo said.

Sophomore peer helper Tori Ahmad saved over 300 dollars worth of money “It’s hard to deal with situations like claims that may be a possible reason that was put toward the childrens’ gifts that, but I think my buddy (was) happy why students ditch at the last minute: whose GBHS student buddies abanwith what she (got) (and) I really do their hearts weren’t really in the ‘givGazette photo /MADELINE WILLIAMS doned ship. love gifting the kids (presents),” Loming Christmas spirit,’ and they didn’t A GBHS student smiles with young boy as they open presents.

“I know of a lot of people that go bardo said. care enough as to whether or not their

Local water conservation efforts for drought Students awaken to a desperate situation

BY FRANCES STRNAD

W

fstrnad.gazette@gmail.com

hile we turn off faucets and shorten showers, hundreds of thousands of gallons of water are spent on livestock in the agriculture industry. In short, we might just be causing our own drought.“Five percent of water consumed in the US is by private homes. Fifty-five percent of water consumed in the US is for animal agriculture,” said Michael F. Jacobson from the Center for Science in the Public Interest in his Six Arguments for a Greener Diet.

Data from Jacobson’s study supports a reduction in livestock production for the meat industry.

Senior Colette Curran of the Go Green Club currently conserves water by growing droughtresistant plants and participating in community gardens.

“Getting information to people about how to get involved is important,” Curran said. “In the Go

Green Club, we discuss conservation and what we can do to help.”

After hearing the facts, Curran decided to make a conscious effort to help alleviate the drought by adjusting her consumption of meat.

“I’ll look for organic options or ones that are grown in sustainable conditions,” Curran said.

“Also, eating foods that don’t use a lot of water and eating less animal products are ways that people can save a great amount of water.”

Another issue with the immense water consumption for agricultural use is the inefficiency of the process.

“It takes 2500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef, and 1000 gallons of water to produce one gallon of milk,” reports a study conducted by Dr. Georg Borgstrom of Michigan State University and the Water Footprint Network.

Junior Michaela Warady, also a member of the Go Green Club, currently saves water by using the sprinklers less often, and using a high efficiency water heater.

“I definitely want to cut back on my beef and milk consumption, after hearing this information.

Especially because [cow farming] is already so harmful due to its emissions,” Warady said.

Warady hopes to make changes in her lifestyle, but remains doubtful of any change in the community.

“The community should change, but I don’t think we actually will. It is difficult breaking habits and going out of your way to make a change,” Warady said.

The sheer amount of water that is used in our agricultural system makes it evident why we are in a drought.

“Animal agriculture water consumption ranges from 34 to 76 trillion gallons annually,” reports N.L. Barber in a factsheet for the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Senior Arthi Bobbala was prompted to change her actions as a result of hearing this information.

“I’m going to think about supporting local farms that have more sustainable practices, instead of supporting corporate farms,” Bobbala said.

In effect, the solution to our drought starts with us.

“We should become more aware of the water issue and our plan for conserving water in the future,” Bobbala said. “The lack of preparation for this drought has been pretty devastating.”

College applications bring up questions Counselors offer guidance

BY MEAGAN TALLMAN

mtallman.gazette@gmail.com

W

hen it comes to college applications, everyone wants to put their best foot forward. Students spend the entirety of their high school careers hunched over their books in order to achieve the best grades and accumulating additional classroom hours in SAT prep classes.

Alhough this work does substantially helps, applications loom as a daunting presence for students and will often require assistance.

The need for assistance is what created the industry

‘College Counseling’. The sole job of these counselors is to make your application stand apart, and to tell you tips and tricks of how to work through the uncharted territories that is applying for college. With a knowledgeable and connected professional guiding you through, the process can be significantly less confusing and assure that your application is as close to perfect as it can be.

But this assistance comes at a cost; some of these counselors charge $100 per hour for their services.

With that hefty price tag, not everyone will wield their

services. But that leaves the question- are those who don’t invest in a college counselor at a disadvantage?

To answer this one must examine the other resources available to students-resources that don’t come with such a fee.

There are a number of opportunities for students presented by the faculty.

Guidance counselor Lisa Orchard explained that the junior/senior meetings, held in the beginning of fall terms each year, aim to unveil the help offered to students such as Naviance and a powerpoint presentation that guides them through the process. “”We also offer CSU/UC workshops once in October

during both lunches and twice in November during lunches and after school.” said Orchard.

If students have more individual and personalized questions or want someone to thoroughly review their application, they can submit a request to meet with their counselor or do so in an email.

Parents can also access the counseling department and the counselors with work with them on understanding the process.

Underwood runs the College & Career Center on campus and says “We have a number of handouts and handbooks on “writing your personal state-

ment. If a student has questions on a specific college, they can come to the College & Career Center and we may have the contact e-mail of the Admissions Counselor for that particular college” Though these resources are almost identical to those offered by a paid college counselor, Orchard feels students aren’t taking as big of an advantage of them as they could.

“At times it doesn’t appear that students access the resources as much as they could. Rather they come in to see us asking questions that we addressed in the presentation or that are answered in the Advising Guides,” Orchard said.

READING: Leisure time activity lost to other commitments Continued from page B1 Consequently, despite being told about the importance of reading as a kid, a large number of students are forced to have to choose doing other “more productive” activities over settling down with a good book.

“When you’re in high school, and things get a lot more stressful, doing fun (activities) seems almost like a waste of time,” Luong said. “When you

think something is a waste of time, it detracts from the enjoyment.”

Additionally, technology has definitely taken its toll on the book industry. However, students have been able to branch out and seek different forms of reading whether it be through creative writing, blogs or online articles.

“There are political applications and stuff like Daily Mail on Snapchat that has opened up more easily accessible reading,” McIntyre said. “How-

ever, I feel like if people want to really enjoy a book, then they should turn off their phones.”

Shetty agrees and says that reading upon one’s leisure has a great impact upon the intellectual development of the individual.

“People should read more for their own entertainment,” Shetty said. “Books teach you about so much – society, morals and emotions that we deal with.”

Student

Spotlight

Student shares passion for film

Gazette photo /OLIVIA HEPPELL

Jack Kennedy Gazette: How are you involved on campus?

Kennedy: I participate in the film class at GBHS. I’m their teacher intern so I do a lot of teaching, making tests, talking to people and helping people learn film.

Gazette: Why are you so interested in film?

Kennedy: I like the people for one and I like being creative and different and try to do something new every single day rather than coming to a class that is repetitive and you do the same thing. I just like the topic. I like being able to teach people about stuff that they don’t know but that they want to learn to get into the industry.

Gazette: How has media impacted you as a student?

Kennedy: It took me from someone who didn’t really know what he wanted to do later on in life; I definitely decided through the classes I have taken here that I want to do it in college and as a profession.

-Compiled by Cole Kahmann

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Lifestyle

w The Granite Bay Gazette

B5

Participation in annual Winter Ball evolves over time Formal dance expectations change between classes

BY NATASHA CHANDA

nchanda.gazette@gmail.com

W

inter Ball – the two words that could bring either pure excitement or utter dread to a Granite Bay High School student’s mind.

It might be the classic case of questioning date plans for the night.

Regardless, it seems as though the expectations for formal dances change dramatically as students progress from freshman to senior year.

Freshman hopefuls arrive either hand in hand with their dates or huddled in a group of friends, bearing high expectations, ready to face their first formal dance.

Many seniors, on the other hand, have seen their fair share of formal dances, having attended many proms and Winter Balls as the years passed.

“Freshman year I thought formal dances were way more of a bigger deal than I do now only because it was a first-time thing,” senior Neha Prakash said. “Now that I have gone to so many (formal dances), it’s not the same excitement that I had as a freshman.”

Though many continue to attend Winter Ball, as students progress through high school, the dance itself seems to become of less and less importance.

In many students’ opinions, freshman are usually the ones who end up staying for the whole dance in order to experience Winter Ball to its entirety.

“I stayed for the whole dance my freshman year. As the years went on, I found myself leaving earlier and earlier (from) the dance,” Prakash said. “We (planned) on going on a party bus after stopping by the dance (this year).”

Though many may assume that this is still the case, the current freshman of GBHS seem to have learned a lot about Winter Ball from the upperclassmen.

“We (did) not stay the entire time,” freshman Pooja Jadhav said. “We (didn’t) come until (around) 8.”

Freshman Stephanie Anne Samson agrees.

“I (was) certain (it was) going to be nearly empty by the middle of the dance because of everyone leaving early,” Samson said. “I (expected) it to be filled with underclassmen.”

While freshman have learned that leaving the dance early is what everyone seems to do, they have also realized that Winter Ball may not be as great as they were expecting it to be, based on what the older students told them.

“I (expected) it to be different than the usual dances, but I’m not too high on the expectation range like most of the freshman,” Jadhav said.

Aside from the dance itself, Winter Ball planning always seems to come with a side of drama, especially amongst the girls at GBHS, according to junior Natalie Hatch.

Hatch said the drama that comes along with Winter Ball is her least favorite part.

“It’s kind of inevitable – it just happens,” Hatch said. “As hard as you try to have it not happen, it does anyways.”

Whether it be finding a date for your friend, deciding on “after party activities” or finding a place for pictures, something always comes up. Some students find this hiccup to be inevitable.

“From a girl’s perspective, I think the amount of planning that goes into Winter Ball is quite a lot considering (we have) to find a plan that accommodates everyone’s needs and wants,” Prakash said.

In many cases, party sizes have proven to be one of the main issues while planning.

“I think when you throw too many opinions into one group it makes everything a lot harder,” Hatch said “It (was) really hard to get everyone to agree on the same thing and coordinate food and transportation.”

In the middle of the planning and the drama, surprisingly, dates seem to be the least worrying on the agenda, for both freshman and seniors.

“I really wasn’t that nervous,” Jadhav said. “It wouldn’t have been a big issue if I wasn’t asked.”

In many cases, simply going with friends is just as fun,

Prakash said.

“I don’t think having a date matters all that much, because you can easily have fun with a group of friends,” she said.

For those who are keen on having a date, relying on a friend to set them up seems to work out more times than none.

“I was never too nervous about getting a date,” Prakash said. “I’ve always had a close set of friends who would always ensure that everyone in our group would go with a date.”

While playing matchmaker seems fun, it was important to them to make sure everyone was content with their dates.

“I don’t think you should force anyone into going with someone if they’re not comfortable (with it),” Hatch said. “You just have to be really careful of who you try to set people up with and make sure it’s not interfering with other people’s plans.”

Making sure everyone has a good time always seems to be the top priority.

In the end, all of the drama and differences ultimately leads to a memorable night for most everybody: freshman, seniors and all of those in between. For those that went to the dance, they ended the night with one goal: to have fun.

“My favorite part about Winter Ball (was) getting to spend time with my friends and having a fun time while doing it,” Samson said. “It (was) a bonding experience.”

Some bid farewell to the old and say hello to new experiences Seniors graduate early to pursue interests despite fears of leaving

BY OLIVIA HEPPELL oheppell.gazette@gmail.

W

hile the end of the fall semester marks the beginning of the end for most seniors, some are getting ready to leave Granite Bay High School for good.

Whether it be for an adventure, collegiate sports or personal goals, seniors have decided to graduate early and get a head start on life after high school.

Jordan Holt, a senior, has decided to graduate early to play soccer at the University of Kentucky.

Although the season doesn’t start until fall,

she said she decided to start a semester early to adjust to the drastic change of going away to school.

“I really just want to get there, get used to life as a collegiate athlete, get a start on my credits and get used to life on my own,” Holt said. “I just see it as a great opportunity to get ahead in school and in my soccer career also.”

Chalyse Thompson, another senior, said her decision to graduate early was made so she could pursue her academic goals.

“My plans are to move to Michigan for college and go to community college there so I can be a resident and then transfer to Michigan State University,” Thompson

Random...

Facts

said.

Both Holt and Thompson said they were excited to be starting a new chapter in their life, but still hold anxieties for what the future might hold.

“I have a little bit of fear for the unknown, just because I have no idea really what I’m getting into, especially after senior year and having a bit of a lighter schedule,” Holt said. “I know I’m going to be jumping into college courses and it’s going to be a very different kind of lifestyle for me, so my only fear is learning how to adjust to that lifestyle, but I think I can handle it.”

Thompson, on the other hand, said that what she feared most was seeing her friends

less than usual because she would no longer be in the same place as them all day long.

While seniors like Holt and Thompson chose to follow a standard path after completing their K-12 education, others decided to take risks.

Oakmont High School senior Katie Conley is challenging traditional post-high school ideals to hike the Pacific Crest trail alone from Mexico to Canada.

Conley said she has always known that she wanted to graduate early.

“I have been planning to graduate early since my freshman year, mostly because I have been eager to get out of high school ever since I started due to the fact I have never been interested in the high school experience,” Conley said.

She also said that although she enjoys the academic aspects of high school, she is uninterested in the social elements, making her decision to leave easy.

Although Conley said she is both relieved and excited to be finishing high school, she still has some apprehensions.

“The only fear I have about graduating early is my tendency to have a lack of motivation,” Conley said. “However, there are many things that I want to accomplish so I hope it does not obstruct my sense of ambition significantly.”

Despite any reservations, seniors graduating early are excited above anything else.

“Right now, I’m just super excited about it,” Holt said. “I can’t get wait to get started.”

Club Club Name: Habitat for Humanity President: Tanvi Mehta

What is the purpose of your club?

The purpose of the club is to help the Habitat for Humanity organization in Roseville in any way that we can.

Student Sara Fassler Gazette photo /ALI LEMOS

1. The birthstone of December is turquoise.

How many people are in your club?

So far we have about 15 people in the club.

Gazette: What are the two main activities you do at school?

2. December is National Read a New Book Month.

Why did you decide to start this club?

I decided to start it after I went to Nicaragua with Habitat for Humanity on a building trip.

Gazette: How much time do you spend at school?

3. On Dec. 3, 1967, the first heart transplant was completed.

4. On Dec. 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers made their first flight.

5. On Dec. 14, 1791, the Bill of Rights was passed.

When does the club meet?

We don’t have a set meeting time yet. Most of the club members are in IB with me so we just talk about it during class.

What should people do if they want to join your club?

If someone wants to join they should email me at tmm0606@gmail.com.

- Compiled by Troy Pawlak

BY MCKENNA ARAM

T

maram.gazette@gmail.com

he afterschool tutoring program held at Granite Bay High School’s Learning Center entails a multitude of benefits that are unfamiliar to many students.

The program occurs Monday through Thursday from the minute school ends until 4:00 p.m. And get this: it’s free.

There are many tutors that help students in virtually any subject, yet the program still seems to not be taken advantage of.

“There are students who struggle, but I don’t believe a majority of them are motivated enough to seek help,” said sophomore Angikaar Chana, who is a tutor involved in the program.

Chana can already assist others in College Prep English 9, Spanish 1 to 3, CP Biology, any math up to Algebra 2 and will be able to tutor Physiology in the spring.

“We have tutors who have a very large area of expertise and we ultimately are able to work together to help people who are struggling or who just need some assistance,” Chana said.

From Honors Spanish to Advanced Placement History, there’s essentially a tutor for every class on campus thanks to librarian Julianna Hedstrom who currently manages the program.

All students have to do is walk into the library, sign into a laptop and look to the front desk for assistance of a tutor.

“Some students may work at a slower pace or struggle to understand a subject,” said sophomore tutor Jake Criscione. “I enjoy helping those students succeed.”

The program has been around for nearly six years. Previously, it was a third period tutoring class that was taught by GBHS teacher David Tastor.

Later, Tastor and Hedstrom realized that transforming the third period class to an afterschool program would be more convenient for students.

The helpful peer tutors assist students voluntarily, with a few paid position exceptions.

In the past, the program has worked in alliance with media students to promote bulletin advertisements and have recently posted fliers around campus.

Sara: I spend more time at school than at home.

Gazette: What’s your typical schedule?

Sara: I’m at school from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Gazette: Do you prefer band or volleyball?

Sara: I love playing volleyball more, but marching band is a super cool hobby to have.

Gazette: How long have you been doing both?

Sara: I’ve done both since fifth grade.

- Compiled by Jacqueline Romero

Afterschool tutoring provides help

There are many benefits to on-campus service

Sara: Volleyball and band.

“We’ve also had tutors go into classrooms and introduce themselves and say ‘hey, we’re here to help after school,’” Hedstrom said.

Freshman Lauren Roush is a frequent user of the program who typically seeks out help for Integrated Math 2 – a Common Core course that tutors tend to assist in.

“In math class I actually understand what we’re talking about and I think it’s really helping a lot,” Roush said. “I wasn’t doing my best in math and then I went in and gave it a shot and it worked out pretty well.”

Math is typically the most prominent subject students seek help in, especially the newly implemented Integrated math classes.

“I would recommend the program to other students because it really helped me, so other students should go in,” Roush said.

Seven out of the 10 tutors involved in the program are available to teach various math classes.

For many, going to the Learning Center for tutoring is a cost-efficient and easy way of getting their desired grade.

“The best students aren’t the ones who get everything right away,” Hedstrom said.

“They’re the ones who go and get help when they need it.”

- Compiled by Ali Lemos

How To:

Hide a Christmas present from a nosy family member.

1.) Think of a place they never go to.

Try a place that they are afraid of (the attic, the back of a closet.)

2.) Disguise your present as best as you can. For example, if your hiding place is the closet, throw some shirts or scarves around the gift and shove it into the back corner.

3.) Enjoy the surprised look on their face as they open the gift for the first time on Christmas.

- Compiled by Sabina Mahavni

Thursday, December 17, 2015

B6 Lifestyle

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Winter Wandering Students spend the holidays vacationing to new locations

BY KAYOMI KAYOSHI

kkayoshi.gazette@gmail.com

W

Southern California to visit her time visiting Texas, and she’ll sister and friends. be there for six days.

“When I go down there, I Pattnaik not only wants to go want to be relieved of all of the to all the major cities in Texas, IB stress and … just hang out but she said she also wants to with my friends,” Lyu said. see how much Texas is like While in Southern California, other southern states.

Lyu plans to dine at Coco’s, Although traveling outside her favorite place to get boba of Granite Bay can be a lovely drinks. and great cultural experience For many students, Winter for students to partake in, the break is a majority of students great opare staying home portunity for the break. to unwind, Traveling away I’m really excited especially from home may to go to India after finals make it impossible and enjoy the for families to celbecause the ebrate their usual two weeks wedding is four holiday traditions. off. During Junior Emily these weeks, days long, and Franklin intends on students everything has to staying home and won’t be be perfect. relaxing this break burdened by instead of travelthe threat of – Tanvi Mehta, ling. upcoming GBHS senior Franklin said tests, missing she’s going to enjoy assignments break by hanging or borderout with her friends line grades. and family, who she only visits Instead, they can use these two weeks to celebrate the holidays. with during breaks.

“I actually prefer staying Senior Ivy Liu is going to home because I get to see my Las Vegas, Nevada for the first time over break and is spending family, and I won’t be spending all of my money on souvenirs,” Christmas there.

Franklin said. “I’m also able to Las Vegas is known for having spectacular shows because celebrate Christmas and New of its emphasis on entertainYear’s with my family, which I ment, which Liu is looking wouldn’t be able to do if I were forward to seeing. traveling.”

Liu said she’s most excited to Traveling far can definitely see Le Reve, a water show, and be enjoyable, but staying home that it will be a great opportualso has its perks. The furthest nity to take photos.

Franklin is traveling is to Rocklin.

Liu also said she’s excited “I would rather travel someto go to Las Vegas, Nevada where over summer vacation, because the cheerful, lively atmosphere will help her unwind when I had a longer amount and de-stress. of time, than to just spend less Over winter break, Aishwarya than two weeks in a new place,” Pattnaik, a senior, is headed to Franklin said. “You can’t fully Texas to visit her family and admire the destination you’re friends. traveling to in such a short This will be Pattnaik’s first amount of time.”

Gazette illustration/HANNAH XU

Gazette illustrations/CARISSA LEWIS

ith two weeks away from school during Winter Break, many students at Granite Bay High School spend their vacation traveling without pressure to turn in assignments or worrying about their grades.

While many seniors wrap up their college applications, the majority of students at GBHS will have completed finals and all academic work until they reconvene for new classes.

With a full two weeks of relaxation ahead of them, many Granite Bay families have made plans to vacation away from Placer County.

Tanvi Mehta, a GBHS senior, is planning on sending in her final college applications. After that’s out of the way, she’s going to India with her family to attend her cousin’s wedding.

“I’m really excited to go to India because the wedding is four days long, and everything has to be perfect,” Mehta said. “Since I’m from America, I have to make sure that I don’t break any customs.”

Mehta said this wedding is extremely important to her and has several outfits planned for the occasion.

“Some of my outfits are in India because they were made in India for me,” Mehta said.

“There’s also outfits I bought here that I’ve been fitted for.”

Mehta is spending one and a half weeks in India. She will be visiting Goa and Mumbai.

Mehta said she’s most excited for going to Goa and describes it as being the “Southern California of India” with its beautiful beaches.

Although venturing beyond the country is often preferred to staying within the United States, there are plenty of vacation spots within California.

Senior Grace Lyu is going to

Sports

Granite Bay Gazette

Sports C1

Thursday w December 17, 2015

COMMENTARY

matt ontiveros montiveros.gazette@gmail.com

What leads fans to watch a sport is rarely universal

T

he difference in the amount of fans at football and basketball games is undeniably present.

Even groups of middle school kids are seen running behind the bleachers every friday night when there is a home football game. The exact opposite of this is true for most other sports though. Especially on the high school level, what actually motivates some students to go watch their peers play one sport but not another is not clearly defined.

For one though, its obvious the day of the week plays a major role in this – students are always looking for a popular event to go to on a friday night.

More so there seems to be an outstanding tradition where students have always gone to football games and always will. I for one am all for this. What is perplexing however is why some other sports don’t even get close to the same number of fans.

So many kids on this campus have played FIFA yet fan turnout at our high school soccer games is still extremely low. I’m not critical of high school kids for only supporting certain sports, but more curious of why this happens. People clearly enjoy playing the sport in some Preferably form or anpeople start other - FIFA going to more wouldn’t have such high school support games because otherwise. So what motithey actually vates students enjoy watching to not go the sport watch a high school game?

Another major aspect of people going to games is really to socialize. Football games especially are really a social event for most students.

The underclassmen especially are not really interested in the game but the fun of hanging out with friends.

Basketball also suffers from this problem of having games on school nightsits hard to expect big student sections when everyone has school the next day.

Especially when there are multiple basketball games in a week it is hard to expect students to consistently go to games. This really explains why students will really only come out for rivalries and playoff games.

Its also clear that there is a snowball effect that happens and creates such a difference between a large crowd turnout and a dismal one. Many people will go to a big football game because “everyone else is going”.

Preferably people will start going to more high school games because they actually enjoy watching the sport. If nothing else its always nice to go support friends and peers who are competing.

It’s undisputed that a lot of athletes play harder and want to win more when they have a crowd behind them. However it’s also very likely this sports culture on our campus won’t change much anytime soon. And there doesn’t appear to be one major reason why. *** Matthew Ontiveros, a senior, is a Gazette sports editor.

Special to the Gazette/ELLIE WILSON

Ellie Wilson races down the slopes as she prepares to pivot and turn in one of her competitions

Athletes take advantage of snow fall

GBHS students go north to participate in skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports

A

BY MADELINE WILLIAMS mwilliams.gazette@gmail.com

s winter approaches once again, Northern California awaits the stubborn precipitation that has been anything but punctual these past couple years. Due to the lack of snowfall in the sierra mountains, the foothills have been in an extreme drought for about three years now according to CBS news.

The lack of snow has been distressing to many who rely on it for various sports such as skiing and snowboarding. With all the talk about “El Nino”, the colossal storm that is supposedly going to end the drought, skiers and snow boarders anticipate a much better season in terms of snow conditions in Tahoe.

“I’m expecting a lot more snow this season than last just because it has already rained more this year,” Granite Bay High School senior Jordan Armstrong said.

While many students, like Armstrong, prefer leisurely snowboarding runs, others might enjoy a more competitive take on such snow sports.

GBHS freshman, Ellie Wilson was a part of a ski race team last winter in which she would go up to Tahoe every weekend to practice and compete.

“I like the competition and the speed of it,” Wilson said.

Racers like Wilson need the snow as much as any swimmer needs a pool. She predicts that the conditions will be better this year compared to last year.

GBHS senior Davis Hiller agrees and hopes that it keeps snowing throughout the season.

“We should get a lot more snow than last year and really need it to get out of the drought,” Hiller said.

Concussion frequency leads to a change in sports culture

The number of concussion-related deaths increases as more teenagers play sports

BY JORDAN HOLT

jholt.gazette@gmail.com

‘Using your head’ in sports is taking on a very literal meaning in the recent years, especially on the high school stage.

No matter how much protection is worn during competition, or how strict the rules are, the risk of suffering a head injury is becoming a very real concern for students at Granite Bay High School.

Since September, eight high school football players in the U.S. have died of brain injuries inflicted on the football field, the most recent death having taken place on Nov. 5.

These brain injuries are caused by violent impact directly or indirectly to the head, leading to concussions. The symptoms of concussions vary from case to case according to the Sports Concussion Institute, a concussion

research program.

Concussions have the ability to affect people physically, emotionally, cognitively and change sleeping patterns.

What does this mean for GBHS athletics?

For GBHS football parent, Dave Cusano, it means being more aware of players’ health on the field.

When it comes to football, Cusano’s focus are his sons, Sam Cusano, I wouldn’t let who just completed his my sons play senior year of GBHS football, and Frankie Cusano, football after two who plays for Junior Grizconcussions... zlies football as a fourth it’s just way too grader.

“I wouldn’t let my sons dangerous play football after two concussions” Cusano said.

– Dave Cusano, “It’s just way too dangerous.” father of GBHS Since the late 1980’s football athlete when Cusano played college football at the The number of high University of Oregon, the school athlete concusrules regarding head to sions and concussion head contact have changed related deaths are soaring for the better. compared to collegiate “When I played in coland professional athlete lege, concussions weren’t statistics. This is due to really considered an injury, the much larger multitude but more of an inconveof participants at the high nience,” Cusano said. school level.

See CONCUSSION , page C3

Many students will purchase season passes to resorts if they plan go often. One popular mountain is Boreal, whose season ticket rate for teens is $449.

Since a regular day pass is $54, one would have to go at least 9 times to earn the value of the season pass, which is not difficult for avid skiers and snowboarders.

“I have not missed a weekend yet since opening day at Boreal and purchased a season pass…and plan on getting a season pass to Northstar as well,” Armstrong said.

Boreal is popular due to it’s convenience, however some of the taller mountains attract many skiers and snowboarders when conditions are ideal.

“I have a pass to Boreal because it’s so close and cheap but I also like to go to Squaw or Northstar,” Hiller said.

Ideal conditions generally means that there is fresh snowfall, no ice and powdery snow.

The more commercial resorts such as Alpine Meadows and Northstar are further away than Boreal and might be less of a spontaneous excursion, however when conditions are good, students say it is worth it.

“My absolute favorite place to snow-

Grant faces major tragedy

GBHS plays against Pacers in wake of drive-by death

BY CONNOR HINSON

chinson.gazette@gmail.com

It was the final quarter of what could have been Granite Bay High School’s final football match of the season. After scoring only 3 points to undefeated Grant High School’s 21 points, any attempt at a comeback seemed futile.

At the same time however, students at Grant High School as well as members of their community were fighting a different type of battle. Just one week prior, unbelievable tragedy struck.

Jaulon Clavo, Grant High School’s star cornerback, was out with a few of his friends getting food before his game that

board is Northstar because there are so many lifts and it’s a pretty big mountain,” Armstrong said.

While competitive skier Wilson goes to Squaw Valley occasionally, she goes to Alpine most often.

“I kind of grew up there since my parents taught me to ski the day I could walk,” Wilson said.

Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley offers a conjoined “Super Pass” along with Sierra at Tahoe and Sugar Bowl.

This pass provides unlimited lift tickets to Alpine and Squaw without blackout dates, discounted lift tickets for family and friends and four day tickets to Sierra at Tahoe and Sugar Bowl.

This year, Wilson is focusing on lacrosse instead of competitive skiing but plans to go every other weekend just for fun.

“I will probably do a lot more skiing with my friends than with my team,” Wilson said.

Like Wilson, Armstrong predicts that she will snowboard with friends a lot.

“I am most excited about (going) up with friends because it is our senior year and last chance to go up a lot,” Armstrong said.

Special to the Gazette/BEV RATZLAFF, PRESS TRIBUNE

The GBHS football team captains meet at midfield before the section playoff game for the coin flip.

night. On their way back to school, a location only a mile away from where they ate, the car was shot at by an unknown assailant, killing Clavo and injuring fellow team-mate, Malik Johnson.

Unofficial team pastor Rev. Tommie Williams spoke to a Sacramento Bee reporter about the tragedy.

“It’s so sad because these were not troubled kids, they’re good kids who went to get something to eat off campus and this happens,” Williams said.

This sentiment seemed to be shared throughout the community. That night, a sidewalk memorial was made with candles in memory of Clavo.

Back at the game against Grant, Granite Bay High School football players

and coaches did what they could to support Grant.

Granite Bay High School football coach Jeffrey Evans spoke about the support.

“We had #5 stickers in Grant’s colors made to honor the young man that was killed and wore them on our helmets,” Evans said. “Our coaches and fans wore yellow and blue ribbons and the community made a sign.”

As a high school football coach, Evans was deeply affected by the tragedy.

“Situations like this are heartbreaking,” Evan said. “A young man lost his life. A mother lost her son. Friends lost a friend.

The football team lost a teammate.”

See GRANT, page C3

inside sports Fan of the month

C2

Grizz Quiz

C3

For the record

C6

Winter sports update GBHS winter athletes continue their newly started seasons

C2

Egill Oktosson New athlete from Iceland comes to GB and competes on the boys’ basketball team

C4

What’s next for football players?

Senior athletes decide what to do with their free time

C5

Thursday, December 17 2015

Sports C2

w The Granite Bay Gazette

GBHS sports teams prepare for their upcoming seasons Athletes begin training for the start of winter sports

throughout all 27 games.

Jason Sitterud is the coach of the boys’ basketball smahavni.gazette@gmail.com team.

“Our goal every year is to hopefully just get 20 The winter sports season has just begun, and each wins, compete for league title and advance to the team has high expectations. playoffs,” Sitterud said.

The winter sports at Granite Bay High School inJust like the girls, the boys’ basketball team played clude boys basketball, girls basketball, and wrestling. very well in their first game against Oakmont High Angel Delgadillo is the coach of the varsity girls’ School. basketball team. He has high hopes for his new play“I’m optimistic. It’s always a fun time of year,” ers this season.

“This is the first year where we’ve had a significant Sitterud said. “(I’m) always excited to see what happens.” number of players come out,” DelgaThe third winter sport is dillo said. “Each team has 13 playwrestling, coached by Robert ers(...)we are very pleased with the Cooley. turnout.”

“We want to win the diviAdrienne Russell is a sophomore This is the first year sion,” Cooley said. “We think on the varsity basketball team. we’ve had a significant we can win league, and we “My personal goal is to have a high number of players come definitely want to move up stat line,” Adrienne Russell said. something bigger as a A good start to the season was a out. Each team has 13 toward team.” certain confidence booster. So far, players... we are very The goals of each player on the girls have won against Roseville the team varies dramatically High School, Whitney High School pleased with the turnout. based on experience. and Oakmont High School, losing to “We have some individual Christian Brothers High School, El – Angel Delgadillo, girls varsity guys whose goals are to Dorado Hills High School and Del Gazette photo /JENNY TARBELL medal at state,” Cooley said.

Campo High School. basketball coach “And some want to win at “Our goal is to be as competitive as Sophomore Adrienne Russell dribbles away from her opponent during a pre-season girls varsity state.” possible,” Delgadillo said. basketball game against River Valley High School.

Wrestling is unique from A competitive edge will certainly basketball because it is a nohave (junior varsity), varsity, and our freshmen, of help in the difficult league the girls are coach shows confidence in their team and looks forcut, no-tryout sport. However, Cooley and the other course.” now competing in. ward to a successful season. wrestling coaches do have a “death chart” in which The wrestling team is also off to a strong start, plac“We are in the toughest league in the area,” Delga“I don’t have any worries,” Sitterud said. “Our they place the athletes according to their skill level. ing well in their first tournament and scrimmage. dillo said. league is pretty challenging, and we are excited to “We get an idea of where everybody stands in the The one common theme amongst the players and However, Delgadillo is very confident in his girls’ play against the best teams in the area and see what beginning of the season,” Cooley said. “And we do coaches of these winter sports is optimism. Every abilities and hopes to continue the winning streak happens.”

BY SABINA MAHAVNI

Fan of the Month

Even though Kashtiban has been playing soccer for multiple years in and out of school, she enjoys being a part of the crowd too, watching and rooting for other popular sports.

With so much enthusiasm, Kashtiban decided to GBHS sophomore shows her school spirit in the Tribe share her energy with others by joining the Tribe.

“Being part of the Tribe feels like your whole school (is) united,”

BY PAIGE ERICKSON perickson.gazette@gmail.com Kashtiban said. “The leaders always do a great job getting everyone hyped up.”

Granite Bay High School Sophomore Sarah Kashtiban expresses Many other students also engage in the games, which adds to the her passion for soccer through hard work, determination, and team powerful energy given off by the crowd and the overall fun atmospirit. sphere.

On top of rooting for her own team during practice and competi“It’s a great experience,” Kashtiban said. “Also, other schools get tions, Kashtiban also attends other sports games to cheer on her to see that we have a ton of school spirit.” classmates and friends.

Ever since Kashtiban started going to the games her freshman “I love cheering for teams,” Kashtiban said. “It gets players hyped year, she always tries to dress for the occasion. up and excited to play.”

A Tribe shirt, multiple black necklaces and green face paint are a few things Kashtiban loves to wear and show off while cheering in the rowdy Tribe section.

She said that she supports her school every chance she gets, sharing her positive attitude and spirit.

“Sports games are a lot of fun,” Kashtiban said. “They just add to the whole high school experience.”

Sarah Kashtiban

Kashtiban plays on the soccer team at GBHS and actively participates in the Tribe to cheer on other sports teams

Athletes begin off-season training to prepare for next year GBHS students utilize different techniques to stay in shape for their sport year round

BY KASSIDY HENSON

khensen.gazette@gmail.com

One might argue that off-season training is the most important factor in any sport. Allowing athletes to keep up their fitness in the off-season, this training style also provides variance from the sport they have been rehearsing for the past few months.

Different training patterns allow for athletes to recover both psychologically and physically. It also can aid in equalizing the regularly used muscle groups with the neglected muscle groups.

A well adapted off-season training program will address these imbalances in hopes of preventing long-term and acute injury.

The off-season differs from the preseason in that the off season usually lasts about a month after the season has ended.

Whereas the pre-season might go for a few months before the next competitive season begins.

Pre-season training may be with the team, while the off-season is typically individualistic. However this can vary depending on the sport and team requirements.

Soccer players may focus on an armheavy training regimen to balance out their leg-driven sport. Water polo players could choose to try out a more cardio

based aerobic training. Off-season training routines all depend on the individual and what they seek to improve during their time off.

Many athletes at Granite Bay High School have taken advantage of off-season training.

Senior Noah Glover is one of these athletes. He is a member of the Granite Bay varsity basketball team which begins in late December, finishing up later in the winter.

“I lift weights and go to the gym,” Glover said when asked about his off-season training.

Like other sports, the varsity team has pre-season practices which begin before the season starts. The pre-season can also include pre-season games to allow the team some competitive practice before the season starts.

While in the off-season, it is not necessary to maintain peak fitness, but rather to maintain about 50-60 percent of it. The key is to find a balance between maintenance of fitness and active recovery.

This is exactly what Granite Bay senior Mitch Montbriand aims to do.

Montbriand plays for the GBHS varsity soccer team as well as for his own club soccer team. While his club team practices mostly year round, the high school season is from August to October.

“I usually go to the gym or ride my bike

Gazette Photo /MADELINE WILLIAMS

Senior Mitch Montbriand collides with a defender during a GBHS pre-season boys varsity soccer game in preparation for the 2015 season. to stay in shape,” Montbriand said. of the exercise during the off-season in the opportunity for athletes to reach their Biking riding is an isolated, muscle order to alleviate stiffness and regenerate full potential. specific workout that may vary in difmuscle groups.

Taking advantage of off-season trainficulty and endurance requirements. This The off-season allows athletes to get ing programs gives modern day athletes makes it an ideal off season training for ahead because it allows them more time to an advantage which past athletes did not football, soccer and rugby players who focus on getting stronger, and less time on have. Not only does strengthening of spend a majority of their time on their feet playing their sport. neglected muscle groups allow the athlete or in motion.

This break between competition seasons to dominate the competition, it prevents An exercise that is beneficial to every allows for building up a base on which injury. athlete is flexibility training. skill will be added when practices start This information allows athletes to be Many athletes whose sport does not again. more knowledge and successful than ever require much flexibility take advantage Modern day training programs provide before.

Your names.

Your faces.

The Gazette.

Thursday, December 17 2015

Grizz Quiz

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Compiled by Paige Erickson

Grace Crandall Soccer

Sports C3

Aya Atassi Basketball

Nina Jones Water Polo

Bobby Soran Baseball

Jake Redmon Basketball

I scored in the last few seconds, which led our team to a win.

A game against Rocklin.

The Woodcreek game because I went against a really aggressive player.

My third game against Rocklin High School.

Every game gives me great memories.

I’m looking to build up the team by sharing my faith.

I’m looking to grow as a person.

I want to be good enough to teach others how to play.

I am looking to become the best player.

I’m looking to accomplish having fun.

It depends if I want to go abroad or stay in the U.S.

I would love to but I’d rather focus on the career I want to pursue.

Yes because I’m excited to go against bigger and better teams.

I can be. Yes because it is a goal of mine and would be a lot of fun.

No but I would if I could.

What’s one bad experience you’ve had during a game?

Some girls would constantly scream at other players.

I busted my elbow and was out for a few weeks.

I got in a fight with a girl and I was left with a concussion.

I broke the scaphoid bone in my right wrist.

My worst experience is breaking my clavicle.

What is your routine before a game?

Eat a small snack and focus my attention on the game.

None, it just depends on whether I’m nervous or not.

I watch the other team to see if their cocky.

Eating a snack, stretching, and throwing.

My routine is getting hyped baby.

What has been your most memorable game?

What are you looking to accomplish from this sport?

Do you plan on playing in college?

Why or why not?

Senior finishes golf and gears up for basketball season

BY AMANDA NIST

anist.gazette@gmail.com

Kanami Kayoshi, a sophomore at Granite Bay High School, has been playing basketball since she was in the eighth grade. She currently plays for GBHS’ junior varsity team.

“I felt like I should be on the team because I thought I was pretty good,” Kayoshi said.

Kayoshi said her dad inspired her to start playing basketball because as a child her, her dad and her siblings would all play together and she always had a good time.

Kayoshi said she’s never played any other

sports besides basketball, mainly because her dad only wants her to play basketball.

“I’ve played football with my brothers but ‘girls can’t play football’ so I had to stay in basketball,” Kayoshi said.

Kayoshi said she has wanted to pursue other sports, she just hasn’t gotten around to it.

“I’ve wanted to try other sports – like soccer,” Kayoshi said. “But, at the same time there’s a lot of running and I don’t really like to run.”

Kayoshi wears jersey number 32. She said she chose her jersey number because her sister, who is currently in college was the same number

when she played in high school “I thought I’d just carry on the legacy of number 32,” Kayoshi said.

Kayoshi said she is really glad that it’s basketball season. She said she’s made a lot of friends playing basketball and she is close friends with most of the team.

In order to have a successful team, teammates must be able to cooperate and work together in all aspects of their sport. Kayoshi said her teammates are probably her favorite part about playing basketball.

“I’m really close with most of (the players),” Kayoshi said. “It’s fun to talk and joke around and then play with each other on the court.”

CONCUSSION: Head injuries changing sports Continued from page C1

“Most players thought they needed to ‘tough it out’ and get back in the game.”

According to Cusano, that was not only the mentality of the players, but also of the coaches.

Today, if a player even possibly suffers a minor concussion, the athletes are given a sideline concussion test to evaluate their health-and not just in football.

Football players have a 75 percent chance of receiving a concussion according to the Sports Concussion Institute, followed by girls soccer with a 50 percent chance. Boy’s ice hockey and lacrosse don’t trail far behind.

Concussion prevention efforts are in full swing as the numbers of head injuries continue to rise.

University of California, Davis Associate Physician and Codirector of the Sports Medicine Program, Dr. Jeffrey Tanji, is an expert in the concussion field. “ I think there is better public awareness of concussion related deaths,” Tanji said.

“Without the internet, these (past) deaths were not publicized, but did occur.”

As involved as Tanji is in the sports medicine field, he makes an effort to track the recovery of concussed high school athletes as they begin their futures.

“The worst concussion injury I dealt with was for a young Del Oro High School football player who had sustained four concussions in the previous year,” Tanji said. “He was having trouble in school, with moods and balance.”

After setting up a special academic

program to fit this player (a 504 plan), retiring him from football, and making calls to the SAT testing board to allow him to take extra time on the test, the DO student was able to recover fully.

The recovery process took two years. For some, it never ends.

The new sports drama hitting theaters on Dec. 25, Concussion, follows the true story of a forensic pathologist who publishes the truth about the dangers of multiple head injuries.

The danger is Chronic Special to the Gazette /ED VASCONCELLOS Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degeneraJunior Gemma Rizzuto collides with her opponent as they go for a ball in the air during a GBHS varisty soccer game last spring. tive brain disease caused by a history of head trauma such Service (NATS), Pass knows the seriousall practices and games,” Pass said. twelve to fourteen, heading is limited to as concussive blows, typically found in ness of increased numbers of concussions This could be a challenge for GBHS only in games. athletes or retired athletes. and concussion related deaths in young athletics participants, being that California Unfortunately, it’s taken a countless The motion picture will spread the athletes. is the only state that does not require the amount of head injury victims to get to already growing awareness of concussion “It’s my opinion that concussion related licensure of a certified athletic trainer. the point we stand today. issues. deaths are, for the most part, preventable,” With all other 49 states on board, the With the nature of athletics constantly Off the screen and in the community, Pass said. “Many (deaths or permanent rules might soon evolve as many continue evolving and the games ramping up the high school athlete head injuries are bedisabilities) are a result of Second Impact to do so. competition, the importance of player coming all too familiar.

Syndrome (SIS), a condition where an The NFL is now fining players who safety cannot be stressed enough.

ROP instructor at DO for Sports Mediathlete sustains a second concussion beprompt head-to-head collisions. There is The research continues along with cine Careers, Tommy Pass, sees improvefore the first has healed.” also a neutral certified athletic trainer at efforts to protect sports’ culture and ments in the head injury field, especially In some cases, SIS can be a result of not all games to ensure the safety of players, participants. in high school football all the way up to having a certified athletic trainer present with the authority to remove possibly High school athletes are learning as the NFL. to give a thorough evaluation, according injured players from competition. well, about their personal health and the As Head Athletic Trainer with the United to Pass.

In the soccer world, the US Youth Soccer security of their futures.

States Youth Soccer Association and “One very important thing players can Association has banned heading the ball This is in hopes a head injury today does Director of National Athletic Training do is advocate for athletic trainers to be at for all players under twelve. From ages not risk altering their lives’ tomorrow.

GRANT: GBHS defeats grieving Pacers Continued from page C1

Evans continued, “ For us, as coaches, we love our players like they are our own children and we spend more time with them than our actual families during the season.”

Sadly, this isn’t the first time Evans has experienced this type of loss.

“I was shaken from this ordeal because I have dealt with something similar losing a teammate in high school due to a car wreck.

This situation conjured up those unwanted memories, for sure. All in all, situations like this make you reflect on what we have,” Evans said.

Granite Bay High School

Junior and wide-receiver Brad Jones was also impacted.

“It’s kind of like a wake up call. You form a brothership with everyone on your team because you all practice together, and you are all together for several hundreds of hours over the course of the year,” Jones said. “To think of someone dying on our team that we all love, we can’t even imagine that.”

Despite the tragedy, both teams still had a football game to play. After scoring only 3 points in the first 3 quarters of the game, Granite Bay managed an in-

credible comeback, ending 24-21 and bringing them to the section semi-finals.

This comeback was not through blind luck however. Senior fullback and linebacker Ryan MacIntosh was very proud of the team.

“We’ve worked extremely hard this whole season and we weren’t ready to give up at that point. We kept fighting because we knew we could win the game,” MacIntosh said. “Our game was a perfect reason why people should never give up. Even when the situation is tough, keep working hard to persevere.”

Although they lost their next game to Del Oro, the massive comeback

was enough to make the season more than substantial enough for the Granite Bay High School football program.

Reflecting on the season, Coach Evans was ultimately proud of his athletes.

“We had one goal as a coaching staff to start this season and it had nothing to do with wins and losses.

We set out to recapture what has made this football program great and this school great since the day it opened,” Evans said. “We wanted to be able to look back on our season and say that our guys personified the ideal of Grizzly Pride.

They did that and we are so proud.”

Your names.

Your faces.

The Gazette.

Sports C4

Thursday, December 17, 2015 w

The Granite Bay Gazette

Athletes expected to maintain their GPAs Grades impacting GBHS students’ eligibility

BY CLAIR KASEL and ALI LEMOS ckasel.gazette@gmail.com

With the pressure of performing at such a high level in Granite Bay, many athletes have a hard time balancing sports and grades.

Granite Bay High School has such a competitive and demanding environment in both sports and school, it is difficult for them to excel in both.

Most have physically and mentally draining practices nearly everyday if they don’t have a game or tournament.

Students are ineligible to participate in their sport if they have below a 2.5 grade point average, and have already used their one exemption from the program.

GBHS Senior Nikki Tafoya received a head injury during a girls’ varsity volleyball game.

“I was hit in the back of the head with a volleyball,” Tafoya said.

Tafoya suffered a concussion, and as a result stayed at home from school to recover for the next few days.

When Tafoya returned to school, despite her high grades, she had missing assignments that were entered into the grade book and dropped her grades significantly.

She made up her work but was concerned that her grades may not be entered in time to maintain her player eligibility.

“I was worried my teachers may not put in my late work in the grade book in time,” Tafoya said.

After having been recovering from her sustained injury and being released to play, her academic standing became an unwanted obstacle and burden.

Not only did her absence from school affect her grades but the cause of her absence was directly related to the sport

she plays.

The injuries from sports paired with the fast pace of GBHS’s block schedule system does not make it easy for studentathletes.

Often, students want to play their sport in college but they have a hard time keeping their grades at the same caliber as the schools they wish to attend.

John MacLeane, a GBHS health and safety teacher and water polo coach, doesn’t understand why people don’t use their one exemption when they need it.

MacLeane has heard people tell an ineligible junior varsity player not to take their one probation, that they should save it for when they are on varsity.

“I think that is poor planning, that if you’ve gone ineligible once and it happens to you again then you have issues,” MacLeane said. “You probably shouldn’t be playing sports and should concentrate on schoolwork.”

Coming from both a teacher and coach’s perspective, MacLeane stresses the need for athletes to focus on their schoolwork.

Water polo has eight practices a week and has typically four games, which doesn’t leave much time for school.

This has made MacLeane willing to allow his students to miss part of a practice if they are making up school work they missed while at a game.

“We are going to help you out because grades are the most important,” MacLeane said.

For most athletes, balancing one sport with school is already a lot to handle.

It can be even harder for student athletes who are participating in more than one sport.

It sounds like something that many people would avoid but, for the extra ambitious GBHS kids it seems like a

Gazette photo/JORDAN HOLT

Students struggle to mantain GPA’s because of challenging schedules, game conflicts and injuries that occur during sports. manageable feat.

Junior Sara Ribota made the decision to balance both cheer and band along with a rigorous academic schedule.

For the past three years she’s had practice right after school until nine, going from cheer to band. After that she had to spend a couple hours completing her homework for school the next day.

Ribota has been able to adjust and establish a routine that helps her succeed in all her activities, including school.

“Between homework, band, cheer, and training the Junior Grizzly cheerleaders, I don’t have much time to relax,” Ribota said. “I’m okay with that (most of the time) because I like to keep busy,” Ribota said.

Even though her schedule has calmed down a little bit because she does not have to go to Friday night football games, preparing for finals and managing her classes

has replaced that time.

When a student like Ribota is trying to do more than one sport or extracurricular activity, some teachers and coaches try accommodate them to the best of their ability.

It’s a balance between being considerate and giving special treatment that is unfair to the rest of their students and athletes.

“I don’t tolerate kids not keeping up with their schoolwork (. . .) as a coach and a teacher. I don’t accept that stuff very well, MacLeane said. “But there are those magic words, ‘coach I need to get help from a teacher’ or ‘coach I need to make up a test’,” MacLeane said.

For Ribota, the hardest part was having away football games she had to attend and then having band competitions the next day. Neither allowed her to get home until late hours into the night.

“While there are many different factors

that are hard, (the weekends) definitely took a toll on me,” Ribota said. “Red Bull became my best friend.”

Staying busy and navigating through challenges is the only way for multi-sport athletes to get through their academic, athletic and social schedules.

A positive side of this, their busy lifestyles prepare them for their futures, which are also likely to be hectic and stressful at times.

“I just push through because I like to think I’m preparing myself for what’s to come after college,” Ribota said.

Ribota and other student-athletes have chosen this busy way of life, and find it in themselves to manage their time and strive for success while simultaneously adapting to their personal schedules.

“Even though I get less sleep, I don’t regret (participating in band and cheerleading),” Ribota said. “They have made me who I am today.”

Icelandic transfer debuts for GBHS basketball program

beginning of December. They faced off against a challenging St. Mary’s team on December 8th.

“The St. Mary’s game was a great test Another noticeable difference for the new athlete is to our character as a team because we were the crowd presence. Oktosson said in Iceland he was down by 17 in the second half accustomed to very small crowds and we came back and won,” sometimes less than 10 people.

Tooley said.

“In (GB) you have the Tribe and An ability to recover from over a 100 people so that’s definitely deficits is an important ata new experience for me,” Oktosson tribute of successful teams in said. “For sure there’s pressure, (but) basketball. it will definitely be fun.”

“Throughout the whole Oktosson is not completely foreign game we didn’t really panic to big crowds. He played in front of like we (used to),” Tooley large audiences when he was selected said. ”We had a calmness and for the Icelandic national team. knew we were going to win.”

“I was on the under 15 and 16 The game against St. Mary’s (Icelandic) national team. We went won’t be the only challenge to Denmark, Sweden, and then we the boys’ basketball team played in the B group for the world faces though. championship,” Oktosson said.

“For the rest of the seaThe dynamic of a new player on a son we have a very tough team can also offer a fresh perspecschedule, probably one of tive to existing teammates. the toughest schedules in the “It has taught me that there seems SFL,” Tooley said. to be a different style of play be“We want a tough schedtween cultures and that Europeans ule. It will be good for us to (really) have some nice moves,” play some good teams that senior Kovey Palmaer said. will build us up for league,” Besides the culture difference, OkSpecial to The Gazette/EGILL OKTOSSON Tooley said. tosson also contributes to everyone’s – Egill Oktosson, GBHS Playing a lot of tough teams success by just being a competitive Egill Oktosson poses with his coach after a game. junior potentially presents a problem player.

“Having such a good schedule will cause more for playoffs.

“He’s really good at driving losses but they will take that into perspective and The varsity team has had trouble baseline and looking to make a play maybe seed us a little higher than our record shows,” breaking past the first few rounds of while he’s there,” Palmaer said.

Tooley said. “Having a good schedule will prepare playoffs in the last few years due to The boys’ basketball team has been us for playoffs too.” receiving 8th or 9th seeds. playing preliminary games since the

Boys’ varsity team welcomes Egill Oktosson for upcoming season

BY MATT ONTIVEROS

montiveros.gazette@gmail.com

From Iceland to California, a distance of over 4000 miles has led Egill Oktosson to Granite Bay High School.

Oktosson is a current junior who moved to GBHS three months ago. He is currently playing on the boys’ basketball team as a shooting guard.

“Everything is different (compared to Iceland).

GBHS is outdoors and the campus is way bigger,” Oktosson said.

The differences on the court are just as noticeable, however.

“In the U.S. (basketball) is much more physical and the plays are a lot more athletic,” Oktosson said. “In my opinion, we play more strategically in Europe.”

Senior team captain Charlie Tooley also recognizes the difference in play style between the two countries.

“Weight training helps him a lot (...) I’m sure in Europe they don’t do as much of that because basketball isn’t as physical there as it is here,” Tooley said. “For him (it’s) building up strength and getting that competitive side in him that needs to come out in games; he’ll do fine.”

Tooley has also had to change his leadership style slightly. As a team captain he has had to lead a more diverse group now with Oktosson on the team.

“It’s certainly different (leading someone from a different country),” Tooley said. “I had to take a different approach of kind of easing him into it and not being so harsh on him as I am with my other teammates.”

I was on the under 15 and 16 (Icelandic) national team. We went to Denmark, Sweden, and then we played in the B group for the world championship

We got your back.

The Gazette.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

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The Granite Bay Gazette

Sports C5

Knee injuries hinder the future of many athletes GBHS players face extensive recovery times after suffering ACL damage at young ages

BY MAGGIE BELL

mbell.gazette@gmail.com

Tearing an ACL is every competitive athlete’s worst nightmare – unfortunately for some, that nightmare becomes a reality. Mostly occurring in teen athletes, there are between 100,000 and 200,000 ACL tears every year in the U.S. – a number higher than the country has ever seen.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four major ligaments holding together the knee and is constantly put under pressure when people partake in high impact activities such as skiing or running. This makes athletes especially vulnerable to the injury compared to the less physically active public.

Granite Bay High School girls’ soccer coach Mark Broers said that in his 20 years of coaching he has seen around 25 different players experience the injury while competing.

“I’ve probably had about 20 ACL tears in female players,” Broers said. “I’ve maybe seen four or five in boys ages 15-18 so it’s been much more prevalent with the girls teams.”

This is a common theme as girls are eight times more likely to tear their ACL than boys regardless of the sports they partake in.

The medical world has theories, on what causes girls to struggle more with this injury, relating to body dynamic and different rates of growth than boys but there is no clear cause of the injury.

Dr. James Bailey, a chiropractor who works with patients out of the Roseville area, said that despite there not being a definite answer, he thinks it is partially due to the way that “men’s knees are bent inward in comparison to women’s” causing a different alignment between joints which causes

stress in different places of the body.

Sport’s impact level is also a major factor in determining the susceptibility of an ACL tear.

Ones requiring quicker changes of pace and planting movements such as soccer, football and basketball have the highest number of injuries.

Dr. Bailey said he sees it occur “mostly with your running sports that have quick sudden movements” while it is rare in a sport like volleyball which doesn’t require long distance running.

Out of all the cases, approximately 80 percent of ACL tears come from non contact incidents, while a mere 20 percent are from contact or collisions with another player.

However, in the case of senior varsity basketball player Daeja Black, she was part of the 20 percent, being knocked in the air and forced to land askew by an opponent during a game.

Gazette photo/MADELINE WILLIAMS “I drove baseline and had turned mid-jump to  Senior Daeja Black is back on the court; after suffering an ACL injury last year she takes on River Valley High in a recent game. pass it to an open teammate and a girl on the other team disrupted my landing just enough for me to cracks and pops similar to when the chiropractor tively, except with the universal truth that everyone’s come down on it differently,” Black said. cracks your back.” body is different.

This injury occurred in the second half of Black’s In both Homen’s and Black’s cases, swelling was One theory that experts believe contribute to an injunior season which resulted in cutting her season immediate and extensive. However, Homen was crease in these types of injuries is children having to short and embarking her on a long recuperation proable to walk off the field while Black was unable to focus on single sports at a younger and younger age. cess that she is still overcoming today. even stand due to the excruciating pain. At one point “When you play different sports your muscles are “It’s still in the (recovery) process and has been Homen said he even thought it “wasn’t that bad” and evolved more,” Dr. Bailey said. about eight months, but will continue until my leg is “hoped it could just be a bad sprain”.

Broers agreed saying it’s sad that people make their strong enough to protect my knee,” Black said.

Homen then experienced a 11 month recovery kids specialize in a single sport earlier and earlier Unlike Black who tore her ACL at age 17, fellow period and he said, “after I was cleared my leg was rather than play multiple sports a year. senior athlete, Reed Homen, tore his ACL when he weaker than the other and couldn’t bend as much.”

“As a youth even in my generation I had a chance was in only 8th grade at the age of 14. Homen’s inDespite both injuries being complete tears of the to play multiple sports in the same year up until jury was obtained during a football game in which he ligaments, the recovery period length varied signifi(around) 14 I think,” Broers said. “Now you see was tackled by two players causing his leg to twist. cantly between the two athletes – another puzzlement young kids having to make those decisions at age 9 or When he was hit, Homen said he heard, “a couple the medical field has been unable to answer defini10 because of year round competitive sports.”

GBHS senior football players decide their next moves Since their final season is over, athletes focus on what to pursue in college

BY KASSIDY HENSON

khenson.gazette@gmail.com

As high school football season comes to a close, many Granite Bay High School football players reminisce on the past four years and discuss their plans for the future.

Looking back at the season there is no doubt that we have an successful football team. A group of students based on teamwork, efficiency and success. Having those qualities instilled in them for the past four years, GBHS senior football players feel sufficiently prepared for their future.

While high school football provides

student-athletes with some of the tools they need to succeed in many aspects of life, it generally does not produce NFL bound athletes.

Senior Cameron Lawson, who has been on the football team all four years at Granite Bay, said, “The best part of the season was coming back to beat Grant High School.”

He later explained that he does not wish to pursue football in the future, but aspires to attend UC Santa Barbara and attain a degree in Business Marketing.

Although Lawson’s final football season is over, he is still planning to participate in high school athletics by joining the track and field team in the spring.

Sophomore commits to play at Pepperdine Lewis’ dedication to soccer has brought her opportunities

Granite Bay senior, Hunter Loomis, is using the end of football season as a mark to start focusing on his launch into his college career.

“I won’t be participating in football [in college] because I’ll be playing soccer at West Point and unfortunately will not have any time,” Loomis said.

This past season was Loomis’ third and final year on the football team.

“The best part of the season was probably the first game against Jesuit,” Loomis said.

Now that the season is over, he plans to focus on soccer and school work as he recently signed his Letter of Intent to West Point Academy.

Christian Fisher is another graduating football player at Granite Bay High School.

Similarly to teammate Cameron Lawson, Fisher believes that the best part of

opportunity to know each other as both teammates and friends.

From the Tribe to homecoming to senior night, Granite Bay High School greatly admires and supports the varsity football team. Watching the current seniors leave will be difficult not only for the athletes, but all of the fans who have grown with them as well.

Many seniors of the football team believe that football has helped them find their niche in high school and prepared them for their future in the real world.

Several members of the football team seek to pursue some sort of degree in college and continue to grow academically as well as athletically.

Though it will be hard to see them go, our Granite Bay High School senior football players are destined to attain every goal they have set for themselves in the future.

Nicolette Lewis Sophomore started loving Pepperdine as a young child when she would frequently visit the campus.

BY MCKENNA ARAM

maram.gazette@gmail.com

As only a sophomore, Nicolette Lewis officially committed to play collegiate level soccer at Pepperdine University.

“I officially committed November 5th,” Lewis said. “I was almost in tears because I was so proud that Pepperdine chose me and that I chose my dream school.”

Lewis currently plays the positions of holding midfield as well as center back on three different soccer teams.

“My coach, Ronald Benjamin, is my club coach at Placer United and he’s the most amazing coach,” Lewis said. “I’ve grown so much as a leader and as a player just from him and he helped so much with the college process.”

She currently plays on Placer United which is a club team, Norcal Region 4 ODP 99 and Norcal region 6 PDP which are an interregional teams.

“I slowly started talking to (Pepperdine) until I started getting pressure from other colleges to make a decision,” Lewis said. “I then narrowed down my top schools: Pepperdine, UC Irvine, Cal Poly and a few others.”

According to Lewis, many sophomore players on her team have also committed to play soccer at the collegiate level.

Sophomore Emily Talmi committed to play at Cal Poly, Sydney Shultz committed to Loyola Marymount University and Abena Aidoo committed to Cal Berkeley.

“It’s getting more common that girls commit their sophomore year,” Lewis said. “But I would still say that I was really early to commit.”

Her rigorous practice schedule entails one to two hours of practice, three to four days a week.

Even after nine years of participating in the sport, her drive never falters.

On her off days, she goes running to maintain her fitness and she practices foot skills with her teammates.

the high school season was beating Grant High School in the second round of the Division II CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

Fisher is unsure of his future playing football, but aspires to attend either the University of Arizona or the University of Oregon to possibly get a degree in Sports Medicine.

Finishing up his final season of football, Fisher now plans to prepare for rugby season.

Senior Brad Fina seeks to keep football in his life as he continues on to college.

“I will probably just play in intramurals,” Fina said.

Now that he has completed his fourth year of high school football, he aspires to maintain his fitness by possibly joining the baseball or the golf team.

Several of these football players have grown up together and been given the

“I think Pepperdine chose me because of my work rate and leadership,” Lewis said. “They told me that they could see me playing and growing there tremendously. They liked my personality and I loved theirs.”

Lewis was accepted onto Granite Bay High School’s varsity soccer team as a freshman.

She is currently unsure as to whether or not she will compete at the high school level again. Lewis remains wary of injury risk and is focused on centering her attention on fitness for her future career.

“I did have other offers and I’m very appreciative of (them) but at the end of the day it’s all about where you fit in and where you will be the happiest,” Lewis said.

Her fondness for Pepperdine blossomed when she was just a child. She had visited the campus sporadically and fell in love with it along with its atmosphere.

“I’m super excited to go to Pepperdine and create a successful future of my own,” Lewis said.

“My parents have always supported me and I’ll miss them, but I’m excited to start a new life for myself and hopefully find an occupation that will help me move towards my highest goals in life.”

Support the winning team

Read the Gazette

C6

Thursday, December 17, 2015

w The Granite Bay Gazette

SECOND LOOK

For the Record -As of December 17, 2015

Girls’ Volleyball 11/10 Section playoffs vs Vintage(3-0) 11/12 Section Quarterfinals vs St. Francis(3-2) 11/17 Section Semifinals vs Bella Vista(3-0) 11/21 Section Finals vs Rocklin(3-0) 11/24 NorCal Quarterfinals vs Pleasant Valley(3-2) 11/28 Norcal Semifinals vs Archbishop Mitty(0-3)

Girls’ Golf 11/9 NorCal Tourney(8th of 11)

Gazette photo /JENNY TARBELL

Gazette photo/FRANCES STRNAD

Football 11/13 Section Playoffs @ Downey (42-31) 11/21 Section Quarterfinals @ Grant (24-21) 11/27 Section Semifinals @ Del Oro (17-25)

Girls’ Golf 10/26 Gold Divisionals 11/2 Section Tournament (1st of 8) 11/9 NorCal Tourney 11/17 Golf State

Boys’ Basketball 12/1 vs Oakmont (68-46) 12/7 @ St. Mary’s (71-64) 12/10 vs Pleasant Grove 12/11 vs Freedom 12/12 @ Monterey Trail 12/19 vs Hawthorne 12/28 vs Davis 1/2 vs Franklin 1/8 @ Folsom 1/12 @ Rocklin 1/15 @ Del Oro 1/19 vs Woodcreek 1/22 vs Oak Ridge 1/26 @ Hobart 1/29 vs Folsom 2/3 @ Nevada Union 2/5 vs Rocklin

Girls’ Basketball 12/1 @ Roseville (53-47) 12/3 vs Christian Brothers (50-79) 12/4 vs Del Campo (47-59) 12/5 vs El Dorado (49-59) 12/8 vs Oakmont (45-35) 12/10 vs River Valley 12/14 @ Del Campo 12/15 @ Vista Del Lago 12/17 vs Bear River 1/8 @ Folsom 1/9 vs Nevada Union 1/13 @ Rocklin 1/15 @ Del Oro 1/20 vs Woodcreek 1/22 vs Oak Ridge 1/29 vs Folsom 2/2 @ Nevada Union 2/5 vs Rocklin

Gazette photo /FRANCES STRNAD

Gazette photo /FRANCES STRNAD

Special to the Gazette/Carly Anne

Special to the Gazette/Carly Anne

Special to the Gazette/Carly Anne

wSophomore Adrienne Russel, top left, handles the ball before driving down the court. Scott Henrichs, top right, runs a route at the Del Oro playoff game. Hunter Loomis, big middle, lays out to make a tackle. Senior quarterback Kyle Kraft, middle left, makes a pass down field. The girls’ volleyball team, middle right, celebrates as they win the section championships against Rocklin.

Senior Melisa Cook, second up from bottom left, jumps up to make a block. Deja Black, bottom left, focuses to make a free throw. Junior Taylor Garcia, bottom right, makes a diving one-handed dig.

Wrestling (12/9) Folsom Wrestling Tournament (12/22-23) Liberty Wrestling Tournament (12/29-30) Sierra Nevada Classic Gazette photo /JENNY TARBELL

GS The Gazette’s arts and entertainment guide.

December 2015

GREEN SCREEN Snow Globe provides a musical experience on New Years.

PAGES

1 0 & 11

Special to theGazette photo /BRENNA MYERS

Page 2

December 2015

sneak peek.

Special to the Gazette/BRENNA MYERS

wSee pages 10&11 for a look at the best New Year’s activities

Gazette illustration/TROY PAWLAK

wSee page 13 for a look at the new Star Wars movie.

Political correctness should aim to educate, not incriminate

Gazette photo AMANDA PRATHER

wSee page 20 for the Gazette staff’s Gingerbread bake-off

Upcoming Opinions often times are ridiculed and shut down on social media GBHS he more time I spend scrolling through my Twitter feed To make matters worse, those who are committed to being or browsing on Tumblr, the more I feel as if everything I politically correct often take extreme views on issues, polarizing say or do must be examined closely, and then reexamined, and discrediting themselves.

Events for to be absolutely sure it won’t be misconstrued or condemned as Social media adds a huge barrier to communication, which politically incorrect. often times encourages users to step out December My generation has become obsessed with of bounds and to say things to complete COMME NTARY political correctness – you must be constantly strangers that they would never say in real and on watch to make sure what you say won’t life. offend someone, no matter how benign you If you wouldn’t confront a 20 something intended your comments to be. year old in public for saying something January To be frank, it’s exhausting. Instead of seepolitically incorrect, why would you do so

T

ing positive messages, social media is filled online? It’s important to know boundaries with people lashing out against one another both online and in the real world, and these for mistakes they may have recently or even in are often overstepped on social media. years past.

While I admire those who do become Attacking those who say something that impassioned by a cause or idea, I find that could be viewed as offensive is not the solupeople my age can’t find a good way to tion – it will only make things worse – a fact speak for their cause. that seems to make little impact on social As a result, their frustrations and sentijustice crusaders. ments are unloaded onto social media oheppell.gazette@gmail.com Is no one allowed to accidentally say the – creating an environment that is hyperwrong thing? And even so, is it really anypolitically correct and often times toxic as one’s business but their own what they choose to tweet or coma result. ment?

Instead of looking for trouble via social media, time and energy You can’t change someone’s opinion by angrily tweeting at is better spent trying to promote ideals in ways that are positive them, and no one can be politically correct every second of the and will actually create an impact. day.

Join a peaceful rally, start an organization, or run a campaign at Generally, people who are outed on social media for saying school, because you can’t, and won’t, make a difference sitting something that is wrong won’t react the way you might want behind a screen with a 140 word limit. them to.

Swap out the bitter tweets and posts aimed at someone who They’ll just get angrier and completely shut out anyone trying won’t care about what you have to say for something that will acto reason with them, making any efforts trying to talk to them tually spread change, because there is a world beyond your twitter futile. feed that might just listen to what you have to say.

olivia heppell

Guide to Green Screen

Page 3 Movie reviews

Page 8 Winter Fashion

Page 13

Page 4 Holiday traditions

Page 9 New Year’s Resolutions

Page 14 GBHS’ Top Tweets

Page 5 Artist of the Month

Page 10/11 New years activities

Page 6/7 Food reviews

Page 12 Senior trips

Newest on Star Wars

Page 15 Holiday Music Page 16 Winterball alternatives

December 17-18 Finals December 22-January 4 Winter Break

January 1 New Year’s Page 17 Holiday movies Page 18/19 Music reviews Page 20 Gingerbread bake off

December 2015

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film.

LIONSGATE

H

WARNER BROS. PICTURES

A

CBS FILMS

Rated: PG-13

Rated: PG-13

Rated: PG-13

By: McKenna Aram maram.gazette@gmail.com

By: Connor Hinson chinson.gazette@gmail.com

By: Amanda Nist anist.gazette@gmail.com

love the coopers: C+

round this time of year, my mom always records about a million different holiday movies. Although I’m not too keen about the winter holidays, I am a sucker for a pleasantlythemed movie. There’s just something about the cute, cheerful endings and overwhelmingly predictable plots that draws me in.

That being said, I’ll basically watch any movie regardless of the plot. Love the Coopers follows a large, dysfunctional family as they prepare for Christmas Eve dinner together.

John Goodman and Diane Keaton star as Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, whose marriage is falling apart, unbeknownst to their children. Goodman accuses Keaton of being too uptight and losing passion about all the things she used to care for. Enter their grown children, Ed Helms and Olivia Wilde, a cynical playwright and an out of work divorcée. Also featuring a wise grandfather, family dog and a crazy, alcoholhappy aunt, this movie covers all the stereotypical characters.

The movie jumps from plot to plot, character to character, similar to films like Love Actually and Valentine’s Day. Most of the storylines were forgettable and time-consuming, however I did enjoy Wilde and the wise grandfather’s stories.

Wilde plays a sarcastic woman who’d rather be anywhere but with her parents on the holidays. She evades them by spending her day drinking in the airport bar where she runs into a soldier who is traveling home for the holidays. They spark a genuine connection, and their playful banter was probably the most entertaining part of the movie. Wilde somehow convinces the soldier to act as her fake fiancé to bring home to her family.

The other more interesting plot was the one featuring Keaton’s father (Wilde’s grandfather), played

by Alan Arkin. Arkin befriends Amanda Seyfried, a young waitress with a troubled past. In spite of their large age gap, the two share borderline romantic but mostly platonic relationship. Their relationship is slightly confusing, but they share a strong bond nonetheless.

When Seyfried admits she is moving away to pursue a half hearted childhood dream, Arkin is hurt because he was the last person to be told. Drama ensues, they reconcile and Seyfried is invited to dinner, where all side plots collide into the main plot.

For such a cliché and uninteresting plot, the cast is phenomenal. Ultimately, Love the Coopers is the typical family friendly holiday movie.

krampus: B

e sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been contributing to the commercialization of Christmas and is visibly displeased. I am speaking, of course, not of jolly ‘ole coca-cola red Saint Nick, but of his German speaking polar-opposite, Krampus.

A creature of Austrian folktale origin, Krampus is akin to what would come of a cross between Santa, the Devil and your grandmother who will not stop complaining about how much better the holidays were back in her day. He even comes complete with presents, goat hooves and questionable Christmas cookies.

However, unlike your grandmother, this holiday season the story of Krampus has been adapted into a Christmas-themed horror-comedy flick aptly titled Krampus.

Krampus stars Adam Scott (of Parks and Rec fame) as the father of a family that has lost their Christmas spirit. It’s directed by Michael Dougherty, who previously directed the Halloween themed horror film, Trick ‘r Treat.

If there is one thing Dougherty nails, it’s the tone.

From its first shot, Krampus presents itself as a loving homage to Christmas movies of the 80s and 90s.

Simultaneously, it is an homage to horror-comedies of the same era, specifically Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead 2.

Nearly every creature in the film was created using practical effects, which only adds to their already terrifying design. It’s nice to see a director opt to use puppetry and make-up instead of the CGI, which is so common in modern films.

Certain scenes of the film were chosen to be filmed on a hand-held, which leads to a surprisingly unique look and overall feel for the movie.

Disappointingly, the film is made weaker by the child actors. The main boy, played by Emjay Anthony, was bearable at best, often leading to humor in moments which were trying too hard to be serious.

The film also falls into the trap that many horror films do, which is making most of the characters so unbelievably annoying and despicable that you don’t care when they are eventually killed off.

This is only made worse by the fact that the entire first part of the film is set up in order to make you despise the majority of the cast. The monsters you came to see don’t appear until the halfway point, which is okay for a horror film which takes itself seriously, but Krampus is clearly not that film.

Krampus is a wonderfully original horror-comedy which doesn’t try to be anything more than it is. It is campy, funny and genuinely unlike anything I have ever seen.

mockingjay part 2: B

hether you’re an avid fan of the literary side of the renowned Hunger Games series or just a moviegoer, you probably won’t come back for more.

The second Mockingjay chapter of the Hunger Games mixed mine, along with many others’ feelings into a hodgepodge of emotional turmoil.

I do have to commend the film’s cinematography which was beyond well done with the plethora of special effects, but the movie certainly did not meet the richer scale of excitement that the preceding Hunger Games movies.

The entire movie was virtually a prolonged, 142 minute struggle of the characters attempting to break into the notorious Panem. It dragged on way too long, which I found frustrating.

The movie itself wasn’t terrible, but it will probably be disappointing for the majority of Hunger Games fans in comparison to the other films.

Although not crucial, the producers bleached out various enthralling details of the book, leaving the movie to be somewhat bleak.

The novel-critiquing side of me gets upset at even the littlest differences between book and film replica, yet that surprisingly did not come to frequent portrayal for this movie.

The main events and ending remained the same in both book and movie, and I have to give Gary Ross kudos.

The famed makeup of Effie Trinket remains intact although, sadly, not as exotic as it usually is.

I have to say though, the makeup artists certainly fulfilled their job with the other characters.

The first scene of the movie leads off with the introduction of the brain-washed Peeta Mellark.

His emaciated look is accentuated – his face is significantly thinner and his eyeballs appear to be protruding out of his eye sockets.

Josh Hutcherson and, of course, Jennifer Lawrence, shine and carry out their roles nicely, but not nearly as well as they have in the past movies.

I was both somewhat content and disappointed.

I was glad the director did decide to implement the important scenes that were a part of the novel into the film, but because of this some scenes weren’t dramatic, exciting, climactic or even slightly engrossing.

Indeed, it was a production well done, it just doesn’t compare to the preceding movies of the series.

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fa la la la latke.

December 2015

HO HO HANNUKAH GBHS students explore different holiday traditions

BY AMANDA PRATHER aprather.gazette@gmail.com

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, are you really the only thing we can sing about and dance around this holiday season?

Those who celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or no holiday at all – let’s think about them as well.

Different beliefs and different viewpoints all come together to celebrate this time of year.

Whether religious or not, these celebrations are special to many all around the world, and here on the Granite Bay High School campus as well.

Hanukkah, being the most widespread holiday other than Christmas in the U.S., is an eight-day-long celebration in the Jewish culture, marked by the successive lighting of eight candles.

Sara Fassler, a GBHS senior, who celebrates Hanukkah, said she loves lighting the menorah with her family. “(Hanukkah) connects me to people all around the world, and reminds me why I believe what I do,” Fassler said.

Some other Hanukkah traditions that Fassler explained included dressing up in silly outfits during the holiday with her family.

As for Christmas, Granite Bay is certainly not short of Santa and Frosty the Snowman fans.

Genna Kozlowski, a GBHS junior, celebrates Christmas with her family and said the lights, decorations and baking are just a few of her favorite holiday traditions.

“Spending Christmas Eve with my neighbors and making fudge with my mom are some of the best parts about the Christmas

season,” Kozlowski said.

For teenagers, Christmas time makes some feel like a young kid again.

“Christmas makes me feel like a little kid waiting for Santa again,” Kozlowski said.

Kozlowski also said that this holiday is special to her because of her beliefs.

“Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ and I love my family all coming together to celebrate,” Kozlowski said.

Christmas, although a religious holiday, is not always celebrated in a religious sense.

Junior Nate Moudakis said he celebrates Christmas, but doesn’t necessarily tie religion to the holiday.

“I love being able to have a relaxed day with my family where we don’t have much planned,” Moudakis said.

Some, like Moudakis, stay at home on Christmas morning or Christmas Eve instead of attending a Christmas mass at church.

“Christmas isn’t usually a very special holiday for my family – my dad and brother are usually gone until the next day,” Moudakis said.

Santa Claus may be coming to town for some, while others spend their winter holiday spinning a dreidel.

Whether one ties religious beliefs to these holidays also varies, however these traditions continue to be cherished regardless.

“The holidays can be a time to reflect on one’s religious beliefs,” Moudakis said. “But they can also just be about reconnecting with family and enjoying yourself.”

Gazette illustrations/OLIVIA HEPPELL

December 2015

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current.

Mixtape - Christmas Classics

Artist of the Month Elizabeth Sciascia 1. How long have you been painting?

For a really long time. I started seriously painting when I got into the art department, which was in my sophomore year … so around three years.

2. Where do you get your inspiration for your art from?

I get the inspiration from just things going on in my life and the people in my life.

BY KAYOMI KAYOSHI

kkayoshi.gazette@gmail.com

1. Last Christmas – Wham!

This pop Christmas song by Wham! is definitely a must have on this list. Not only will it get you off of your feet and dancing to the beat, but it screams classic 80’s pop music, which is always an advantage.

2. All I Want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey This song was bound to make the list because Mariah Carey’s vocals are unlike any other and the notes she hits are life-changing. Carey, after emerging in 1988, has not faded away, and this song has proven Mariah Carey’s timelessness.

3. White Christmas – Michael Bublé Michael Buble’s voice was made to sing Christmas songs, and his album Christmas supports this. This is the ideal song to listen to when you’re snuggling up in a blanket while drinking hot cocoa in front of the fireplace.

4. Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid 1984 This song is not only catchy and mellow, but it also supports a great cause.

This song, performed by famous singers, donated all profits to famine relief. It carries a great message to remember to be thankful.

Follow @markz.16 for a fresh and inspiring flair to your feed.

Follow Friday

Instagram

Compiled by Savanna Thompson

Special to the Gazette /SARA FASSLER

3. Who is your favorite artist?

Probably Alexander Jansson.

4. What is your favorite part of painting?

I love that it just takes a really long time and at the end of it you just see your results and how all the hard work has paid off.

5. How has the art program at GBHS bettered your art?

It’s bettered my art tremendously. All the teachers that I have had have helped me in numerous different ways and they’re just all super cool.

6. Do you plan to continue to paint in college?

Yes, I definitely think I will be painting in college.

Compiled by Natasha Chanda

FRESHMAN 2019 vs .

2 VS. SENIOR 016 If you could create your own music festival, what three artists would you choose to perform?

Max : “Bon Jovi, Jonas Brothers and Paul McCartney”

Max Schwartz, GBHS freshman

Adam Kahan, GBHS senior

Adam: “Chance the rapper, Cage the Elephant and Childish Gambino.”

What is the college of your dreams?

Max: “USC.” Adam: “UCLA. ”

Gazette photo /EPSA SHARMA

Gazette photo /EPSA SHARMA

Compiled by Epsa Sharma

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December 2015

soup-er.

Get the inside soup...

Pho Hang

BY KAYOMI KAYOSHI

kkayoshi.gazette@gmail.com

Being raised in California definitely has its perks, but the one aspect I’m most thankful for is being exposed to multiple different cultures.

Because of this, I’ve been exposed to an array of foods, and the pho at Pho Hang is, by far, one of the best pho dishes I have ever tried.

Pho is a Vietnamese dish that includes noodles and a meat-based broth, which are the bare essentials but you can also add meat, basil, lime and vegetables.

When I tried the pho at Pho Hang I ordered the beef combination soup, and it was absolutely delicious.

Because I am a busy high school student, I ordered the pho to go, and I actually prefer doing this rather than sitting and eating.

When I got my food, everything from the meat, vegetables and broth had its own container, which I appreciated.

I prefer doing this because I like being able to pick and choose what I put into the soup and the amount of it.

The contents of this particular pho included two paste-like sauces – one was for spiciness and the other was for savoriness – two types of beef, a lime, jalapenos, noodles, beef broth, sprouts and basil.

Initially, when trying the pho I got a mild sweet flavor, but that soon turned into a more savory one and then, towards the end, evolved into a more spicy one.

I loved this because it’s rare for food to

The Gazette stew-dents chow down on soup-erb soups, chowders and stews.

La Bou capture all of these tastes, so I was in awe.

The portion of food was more than enough. Pho Hang has a small portion or a larger portion when ordering. What I didn’t like was that, when ordering out, they only offer one size, which is the large.

Because of this I didn’t finish all of the pho, and it had nothing to do with the taste of the dish, it was just because the portion was, in my opinion, a lot for one person to eat in one sitting.

Other than that small critique, the pho was absolutely incredible, and I definitely recommend Pho Hang. Pho Hang offers a wide variety of Vietnamese soup dishes that allows the customers to add how much flavor they want.

Gazette photo /KAYOMI KAYOSHI

BY CARONLINE PALMER cpalmer.gazette@gmail.com

La Bou. Full of warm, cozy overtones, bread and dill and, most importantly, soup.

The establishment has been a favorite of mine for years. I alternate between the spicy Thai chicken and the tomato soup.

On this particular day, the forecast was cloudy, rain seemed to fall in free — flowing mists splashing up on my face ever so slightly. I concluded it was an excellent day for soup.

La Bou has a drive through for the convenience-seeker and a homely inside that is really the epitome of the cafe aesthetic. The two beautiful, brown benches that one can sit in while waiting for their order to come and the bar with lemons and various types of tea really capture the feel of the place. There is also outdoor seating just for the thrill of it if one is feeling adventurous.

Since I had some time, I decided to enter La Bou for a sit-down meal.

La Bou always seems to be adequately staffed – every time I’ve gone into the cafe, my order has been taken as soon as I was ready. Also, the food comes out pretty fast, usually anywhere between 10 to 15 minutes.

This time, I opted for the spicy Thai chicken soup, in part to hopefully clear my sinuses (that dang winter cold huh?) and a half turkey sandwich on sourdough.

I ordered a mango tea as well which I

got myself on the sidebar. Their mango tea is immaculate, I could drink that tea everyday for the rest of my life.

I waited patiently for about 12 minutes until my name was finally called. I eagerly jumped up to grab my soup.

The first aspect of the spicy Thai soup that I notice each time is the flavor.

While indeed spicy, it is also infused with so many other zesty tangs that I relish in the spiciness, where, with other foods, I usually don’t.

To be honest medium salsa has my face sweating sometimes. However, I push aside my slight intolerance for spice and focus on the taste when eating this soup. Plus, as already mentioned before, the spiciness is key for clearing stuffy sinuses.

The spices are probably the best part of the soup – these include lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal and cilantro.

The soup also has chicken broth, lime juice, coconut milk, Thai chillies and chicken breast.

My turkey sandwich is always satisfactory, but never anything special that I couldn’t get anywhere else, the real buzz of La Bou comes from their soup.

La Bou offers premium soups that help clear the sinuses.

Gazette photo /CAROLINE PALMER

Panera Bread

BY AMANDA NIST

anist.gazette@gmail.com

I’m not very passionate about a lot of things. I always jump from interest to interest, going through phases where I’m overly obsessed with one thing and the next month I can’t stand it. But one thing I am passionate about, and probably always will be passionate about, is soup. I love soup. Campbell’s, Progresso and generic grocery store brands – I cannot get enough of it.

Soup is just one of those things that never fails to be great. You can literally put any ingredient or food into soup and it will be amazing. There’s no going wrong with it.

I was feeling particularly soup-y one night, so I traveled over to Panera Bread. Panera is great in which you order your food at the counter and seat yourself; I love not feeling like a nuisance to waiters and waitresses.

Panera has this deal where you can order two of the following: sandwich, pasta, salad or soup. I, being an adamant lover of all soups, of course ordered two different types of soup, the broccoli cheddar and chicken and wild rice.

Now, ordering these two types of soup was pretty risky. My favorite kind of soup ever is the Creamy Roasted Chicken & Wild Rice soup made by Progresso.

Because of this, I had extremely high expectations for Panera’s version of my beloved soup.

Thankfully, Panera did not let me down. Although different, the creamy chicken soup was still delicious. It was thicker than Progresso’s and therefore more filling.

I can’t say whether I enjoy Panera’s version or Progresso’s version more, but I can say that the Panera version is amazing and I’d definitely go back there for the sole purpose of ordering it again.

Moving on to the broccoli cheddar soup – I didn’t really have expectations, besides it would be delicious.

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever tried a broccoli cheddar soup I haven’t liked. So when I tasted that thick, creamy, warm, cheesy broth, I wasn’t surprised but rather completely content. It was fantastic.

Honestly, the only thing about the entire trip to Panera Bread I’d like to not repeat is that the store ran out of baguettes. I’m as much of a bread person as I am a soup person, so I was utterly crushed when they said they’d run out.

They must have sensed my defeat – so instead of a baguette, they gave me a slice of sourdough bread. A single slice. I appreciate their effort, but nothing is as good as their baguettes, even if they did give me my favorite bread.

Regardless of the baguette mishap, going to Panera that day is still one of the best decisions of my life. I recommend their soup to anybody and everybody – you will not regret your decision to eat there.

Gazette photo /AMANDA NIST

Panera Bread is acclaimed for their soups and salads and their iconic You Pick Two option.

December 2015

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soup-er.

Boudin

BY HANNAH HOLZER

hholzer.gazette@gmail.com

Like peanut butter and jelly or butter and bread, grilled cheese and tomato soup is a prominent and popular pairing. The appeal might be in the dipping factor – the ability to create a gooey mouthful by plunging the grilled cheese in the tomato soup – or perhaps it is because both grilled cheese and tomato soup are genius dishes on their own, and, together, why would they not be brilliant?

So take the idea of the pairing – combine every factor that makes grilled cheese and tomato soup grand – and imagine that level of superbness in a soup. I’m not just talking about a tomato soup, I’m talking about Boudin’s creamy garlic tomato soup served in one of their renowned sourdough bread bowls. It’s so good, that it’s only served on Saturdays.

The deconstructed grilled cheese aspect, if you will, is embodied with the bowl itself and cheesy flavor of the soup. And of course the tomato soup aspect is accounted for. One bite and you’re set.

The Boudin in the Fountains is usually crowded, but

they’re always very efficient. I can’t say I’ve ever had bad service there, and I have never waited more than 15 minutes for my food.

On this particular evening, Boudin was especially busy, and my family and I were left to eat outside – in their outdoor patio – but the particularly cold evening did not faze me, as I was too preoccupied thinking about the soup that would soon arrive.

While I think one soup bread bowl is satisfying enough, one can order it accompanied with a side salad or half sandwich – if one big bread round isn’t sourdough-satisfying enough.

The soup-filled bread bowl is accompanied by the hollowed-out top, which I use, of course, to dip in the soup. A bubbling layer of Parmesan cheese tops the soup, along with soft-but-crunchy, crusty sourdough croutons.

My idea of true food bliss would have to be a perfect spoonful of half soup and half the insides of the soupsoaked bread bowl. I have friends who don’t like soup, but one bite of that and you’re sure to turn into a Boudin fan for life.

While incredibly creamy, the soup’s heavy density is cut through with the acidity and tanginess of the tomato

Little Buddah

BY SONIA GARCHA

sgarcha.gazette@gmail.com

Winter is quickly approaching in the 916 so good soup is a must for this season. I went to Little Buddha Thai Bistro which is located in Rancho Cordova.

It’s not as convenient as Roseville or Folsom, but I wanted to know if their soup was worth the 30 minute drive.

It was not. Now let me start by saying that this a restaurant that my family loves every other dish on their menu with the exception of soup.

My parents (unwillingly) suggested that I try the soup, thinking that it was going to be as delicious as other dishes.

To make matters worse, my father tipped off the waitress that I was writing a food review, so he basically ruined my identity as an undercover food critic.

Thanks Dad. This was a Thai Bistro so I figured that they would have more than a few soups.

I was thoroughly disappointed when I found that they only had two options for soup.

I chose the lesser of two evils and went for the Spicy Chicken Coconut Soup because it sounded relatively similar to the Spicy Thai Chicken at La Bou, which is delightful.

My first thoughts when receiving the dish was that it was a pretty big bowl which I was happy about because it was freezing outside and I craved nothing more than a nice bowl of soup.

That was my last good thought on the dish. I then noticed the lemon smell that was quite strong. It smelt remotely similar to airplane food. Strike one.

For the next five minutes, I would put my spoon in and the only thing that would come out was onions. And no, not one here and one there. There were

flavor. Chunky vegetables, including sun-dried tomato bits and carrot pieces, add to the fresh flavor. Of course, the taste of a dunked crouton is pretty unbeatable.

You really can’t go wrong with this meal. And the element of fun is eating the bowl itself, like that scene in Willy Wonka where Gene Wilder sips out of the sugar teacup and then eats it.

The present chilly season is made bearable with warm foods. I highly recommend Boudin’s garlic tomato soup – but only on Saturdays! Boudin dishes out fantastic soups alongside their legendary sourdough bread.

Gazette photo /HANNAH HOLZER

Safeway

onions everywhere.

I have a pretty strong hatred for onions, but I know that even the average person would be turned off by the amount of onions sitting in my bowl. Strike two.

I then decided that I would only be able to enjoy this meal by taking out the onions. I did this for the next 10 minutes.

By then my soup had gone cold and that airplane food smell had returned. Strike three.

My mother then offered me half of her Pad Thai, which was delicious, and I couldn’t have been more pleased.

The service was great, the restaurant was nice and it was fairly priced. I looked at everyone else’s plates and their mouthwatering dishes, but when I looked at my soup I felt nauseous.

If you’re looking for good Thai food, look no further. This place is amazing!

But if you’re looking for good soup, there are much better options. Don’t waste your Thai-m on this place for good soup. It’s just as bad as my jokes.

Little Buddah Thai Bistro has some great food, just not their soup.

Gazette photo /SONIA GARCHA

BY KASSIDY HENSON

khenson.gazette@gmail.com

There are few things I enjoy more than food. Among the foods that I find particularly satisfying, soup was never very high on my list. That was until I discovered Safeway’s daily production of delectable soups.

Now I have to say, I was quite skeptical to purchase a product from a store that I usually make at home. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and freshness of the Safeway soups.

Upon entering the store, the soup selection is precisely displayed near the rotisserie chickens and other hot-andready dinner items.

Soup options for that night included loaded mashed potato, chicken and rice and minestrone. The question then presented itself: Do I want a rich, hearty soup or a light, savory soup?

Going with the former, I ladled myself a small cup of loaded mashed potato soup.

Along with my cup of soup, I decided to purchase a rotisserie chicken to go with my soup so that I would not leave unsatisfied if the soup were to disappoint.

I took a seat, spoon in hand, prepared for whatever was in store. As I opened the lid, steam rolled off of the brim of the cup. Instantly, I knew that the soup was too hot for me to eat at that moment.

After ten minutes, the possibility of a burnt tongue seemed no longer plausible, so I decided once again to try my soup.

My first spoonful lacked potatoes but was rich in flavor. It was a thick yet creamy consistency, which was unlike any other soup I have consumed.

A few minutes in, I was already about halfway done and extremely content. By this time, I had the chance to taste all of the potatoes, cheese, chives, onion, garlic, dill and bacon. Each flavor different from the next, but completely complementing each other – much better than an actual loaded mashed potato.

It only took me ten minutes to finish my small cup of soup, and I am not a speedy eater. I wish my soup could’ve lasted me the rest of the night. Eating Safeway’s loaded mashed potato soup made me believe that soup could satisfy me just as much as solid food and gives me hope for the different soups I hope to try in the future.

I highly recommend Safeway’s freshly made soups to anyone seeking a surprisingly satisfying meal without the expense of a sit-down restaurant. Safeway is not a place one would expect to find a delicious mashed potato soup.

Gazette photo /KASSIDY HENSON

winter fashion.

Page 8

December 2015

Hall decking & turtle necking GBHS students discuss new winter fashion trends

BY JENNY TARBELL

jtarbell.gazette@gmail.com

A

new season means new fashion, and this winter promises just that, of course with the exception of the returning trends we all know and love.

According to www.fashionisers. com, this winter will bring back the seventies vibe with velvet, fringe and flared pants as seen on the runways. Fur and turtlenecks also seem to be making their inevitable circle back around for this winter.

“I think a really cool style coming in this winter is fur vests,” said Carly Arfsten, a senior at Granite Bay High School. “I see a lot of people wearing them and I think they add a cool edgy vibe to any simple outfit.”

Arfsten did add that she feels people should be wearing faux fur, as real fur coats are cruel and unnecessary.

Tiffanie Nguyen, a senior at GBHS, added that she also thinks fur coats are coming in style, as well as ankle boots, all black outfits and distressed jean jackets.

“I want to get a distressed jean jacket to wear with a casual outfit to make it look a little bit more dressier and stylish,” Nguyen said.

The distressed trend – that has our grandparents all offering to buy us clothes with no holes – is still a relevant style this year, as it follows the trends from past decades like the 90’s rocker vibe and the 70’s bohemian chic.

“This season I’ll be wearing lots of ripped jeans and booties,” Arfsten said. “I think it’s such a cute combination and adds extra

I think a really cool style coming in this winter is fur vests – Carly Arfsten, GBHS senior depth and interest to an outfit, especially when paired with layered jewelry.”

Oversized clothing can be expected this winter as well with sweaters, long coats and much more.

“I also like the look of oversized sweaters with distressed jeans either with riding boots or cuffed with sneakers,” Nguyen said. “It’s not too dressy but still a really cute outfit.”

Short boots, or booties, are a staple this winter, especially when paired with sweaters and flannels.

“I’ll probably just wear boots, leg warmers, sweaters and flannels,” senior at GBHS, Krista Wischmann sa.

Flannels have been a trend for the past couple years, and they’re not going anywhere this winter.

They come from the laid back 90’s style, much like the fashion that is arising this winter from past decades, like the 70’s bohemian and 90’s rocker.

Overall, we can be expected to see a lot of trends from past decades coming back, as well as styles that will continue from the past couple years.

Julia Huss, a junior at GBHS shows off her winter fashion looks, which include a sweater, skirt, tights. and a pair of boots.

Gazette photo /OLIVIA HEPPELL

December 2015

Page 9

year right.

New Year,Same you

Students discuss whether New Year’s resolutions are successful

BY JACQUELINE ROMERO

W

jromero.gazette@gmail.com

ith the new year brings new hope, fresh starts and the desire for change.

According to a study done by Statistic Brain, about 45 percent of people make New Year’s resolutions. However only about 8 percent of people are successful in achieving them.

Senior Sammi Tafoya said that while she herself does not typically make New Year’s resolutions, she understands the reasoning behind them.

“I feel like people make New Year’s resolutions because it gives them hope for the new year,” Tafoya said. “It allows them to get a fresh start and make changes in their life.”

While senior Michaela Setiawan sees the appeal of making a New Year’s resolution in order to gain motivation to improve your life, she thinks it is more effective to not wait for the new year to set goals.

“I don’t usually make them,” Setiawan said, “because if I want to do something, or if I have a goal in mind, I will just do it.”

“Waiting for New Year’s is pointless and is just an excuse. If you don’t accomplish what you want to accomplish, you’ll end up feeling guilty.”

Setiawan said.

Tafoya agreed that New Year’s resolutions and new goals for oneself should be made throughout the whole year and not be saved for just the start of the new year.

“My mom makes New Year’s resolutions throughout the entire year,” Tafoya said. “She will randomly start trying to make our family eat a lot healthier and it works out better than waiting only for the new year to try to improve what we eat.”

Setiawan added that she personally doesn’t like the idea of New Year’s resolutions.

“I don’t see how you have to change yourself entirely once the new year

Expectation

Special to the Gazette /ANU KHURANA

starts,” Setiawan said. “It’s ridiculous for me, and I don’t see why people should have to wait to try something new.”

Freshman Matthew Handy said he most commonly hears about New Year’s resolutions that involve improving people’s health.

“A lot of people use them to get on a diet and to try to make a better person out of themself,” Handy said. “I think it’s pretty common for people to make a New Year’s resolution to go to the gym.”

Sophomore Amanda Bone also said she thinks that people most commonly make New Year’s resolutions involving exercise and diets.

“It falls right after the holidays when people typically eat pretty badly,” Bone said. “In general I think that people want to try to live a healthier lifestyle.”

According to another study done by Statistic Brain, about 47 percent of people make self improvement or education related resolutions.

The other 38 percent tend to make weight related resolutions for the new year.

Bone said she thinks the key to being successful with New Year’s resolutions is to take them seriously in order to elicit a higher success rate.

“I usually don’t make mine about something like not eating candy or not drinking soda but they still don’t last very long,” Bone said. “I think mine aren’t very effective because I don’t take them very seriously.”

Tafoya agreed that in order for her to be successful with her resolutions, it has to be something she has a strong desire to achieve.

“If it’s something I know I need to do for my health or to greatly improve my life then I tend to stick with it more,” Tafoya said. “If it’s something stupid then it won’t last more than a couple weeks.

Handy said that he knows someone who made a New Year’s resolution to better their life and ended up being very successful.

“He stuck to it and he’s doing a lot better now,” Handy said. “I think keeping your resolutions depends on what type of person you are.”

Gazette illustrations/TROY PAWLAK

Reality

Gazette photo /EPSA SHARMA

Gazette photo /AMANDA PRATHER Gazette illustrations/EPSA SHARMA

Whitney Knorp, a junior, ponders the New Year’s resolution of healthier eating.

Pages 10 and 11

December 2015

New Year’s activities.

Students stray away from typical New Year’s activities and explore the festivities at SnowGlobe Music Festival

BY JILL KURPERSHOEK

N

jkurpershoek.gazette@gmail.com

ew Year’s Eve festivities can be as extravagant as watching the ball drop in New York City’s Time Square, or can be as mundane as staying up until midnight and opening up a bottle of Martinelli’s on your living room couch.

As Granite Bay High School students prepare for the New Year, they must first welcome it with their own unique celebrations.

This year, students are expecting to go to friend’s or family’s parties, working or traveling but some will also be attending SnowGlobe music festival in Tahoe.

“I will most likely be working on New Year’s Eve and then hopefully hanging with friends,” Abby Rowe, a senior at GBHS, said.

Although Rowe said that she usually takes a trip to Tahoe for the holiday, her plans are still not definite.

“In the past I have gone to Tahoe with my family, but (I’m) trying to (get out of going) this year.”

Rowe said that the rest of her family will still be traveling to Tahoe, but most of her friends will be staying in the area, except for one of her friends who, she said, will be traveling to England.

Senior Allison Cooper also plans to stay nearby during New Year’s Eve, hoping to simply get together with friends and ring in the new year at one of their houses here in Granite Bay. “A fun activity you can do on New Year’s is to get a group of friends to count down and share your resolutions (with),” Cooper said, “My favorite New Year’s was at my house when my family hosted a party and we ate lots of food and shared our resolutions.”

Rowe said that her favorite New Year’s Eve celebration was also one spent with family.

“About six years ago my family went over to a family friend’s house and we played Just Dance all night and ate a ton of food,” Rowe said.

Senior Max Buzzard will be joining the other 10 to 15 GBHS

We watched the countdown together and got to run up and down the street popping bottles of Martinelli's apple cider, - Max Buzzard, senior

students at the SnowGlobe music festival in South Lake Tahoe.

“I normally hang out with all of myfamily at my grandma’s and we watch the countdown together and celebrate with poppers,” Buzzard said.

However this year, Buzzard plans to ring in the ,New Year with over 50 unique artists in snowy Lake Tahoe.

“My friends and I are going to SnowGlobe for New Year’s and my family will be in Tahoe (as well),” Buzzard said.

The music festival will feature many popular DJs such as Skrillex and Diplo, who will be performing together as Jack U. More mainstream artists such as G-Eazy will also be in attendance, making for an

array of music genres.

“Tahoe is the most fun place to be because of the snow,” Buzzard said, “it’s so beautiful (during) the holidays.”

Tahoe has proved to be a popular destination for the holiday season, drawing skiers and snowboarders as well as cabin-owners looking for a white Christmas.

So far, Buzzard said that his favorite New Year’s celebration would have to be last year’s.

“My whole extended family was together for the first time in a couple years,” Buzzard said. “We watched the countdown together and got to run up and down the street popping bottles of Martinelli’s apple cider and party poppers.”

As there are many options to welcome 2016, from music festivals to family vacations, be sure to grab a bottle of sparkling cider and count down with your loved ones.

The SnowGlobe Festival in Tahoe allows for a New Year full of music, lights. people and pure enjoyment.

Special to the Gazette photos /BRENNA MYERS

Page 12

senior trippin’ out.

December 2015

$enior trips GBHS’ senior trip costs more than what the initial pricetag states

T

BY PARKER MATHESON

pmatheson.gazette@gmail.com

he explicit costs are often the concern of many senior trips.

However, with the explicit costs come many hidden ones that are often unaccounted for.

It often comes down to the individual and their willingness to spend on miscellaneous items.

Cierra Barker attended the senior trip to Europe last year and said the students were all prepared for the possible costs.

“Dell’Orto did a really job of letting us know about how much we would be spending,” Barker said.

Often the additional costs spent were up to be decided by each student.

“It became a decision between what you needed and what you really wanted,” Barker said.

Many costs are avoidable if enough planning is done, according to Barker.

To avoid the numerous card processing fees, students would get euros out of the bank and use those as an alternative.

Barker also said she wanted to advocate that students on the trip shouldn’t make saving money their major priority.

“Take advantage of the art and history over there, even though sometimes it costs money,” Barker said.

Nick Wohlman, who also attended the senior trip last year, said budgeting can be an issue.

“At the start (budgeting) was an issue, but then I managed my money better towards the end,” Wohlman said.

He explained that exchanging currency wasn’t the biggest of his problems, as he only had trouble in a few countries.

Wohlman also added that it’s important to pick and choose where to spend money.

“Don’t just sit in a bar because it’s legal there,” Wohlman said.

Senior Daniel Smith will be a part of the 2016 trip and said he is aware of the other possible costs.

“We have to pay for lunch everyday,” Smith said. “Souvenirs and stuff like that aren’t covered in the payments.”

He also added that he has a friend saving babysitting money to use throughout the trip.

Smith said that at this stage in planning, they haven’t really gone over everything they’d be doing in the trip.

Smith still believes, however, that the trip is a great deal for what is covered.

“For trips across Europe, I’m pretty

sure it’s a great deal” Smith said.

Mike Valentine, Advanced Placement European history teacher, said there are other costs not included in the payments.

These fees can include tips for tour guides, optional trips and travel insurance.

“The optional trips and insurance are completely optional,” Valentine said. “It’s really important to go to your money ready to go.”

Also, he said it’s easy to take advantage of local ATMs across Europe that charge a similar fee to U.S. banks for foreign currency.

“The ultimate goal is to run out of money by the end of the trip,” Valentine said.

There can also be additional monetary punishments for misbehaving.

“Last year we told them stay out of each others’ rooms at night, and they wouldn’t, so they owed us five euros,” Valentine said.

He still highlighted the affordability of the trip.

Valentine also said it’s almost never too late to register for the trip.

“Last year we had a student register for the trip a week before we left,” Valentine said. “He used his graduation money.”

“For we what we do, it’s way cheaper,” Valentine said. “To do this trip independently it would be far more.”

Gazette illustration/OLIVIA HEPPELL

Special to the Gazette /COLLEEN VIVALDI

Special to the Gazette /COLLEEN VIVALDI Special to the Gazette /COLLEEN VIVALDI

Left, a castle in Switzerland is perched atop a hill. Top right, Riley Brown strolls around the grounds of Versailles. Bottom right, Kelsey Ito and Riley Brown pose for a picture in Venice, Italy.

December 2015

a new force awakens.

Page 13

Gazette illustration/TROY PAWLAK

Granite Bay High School fans await Star Wars: The Force Awakens happy.

BY BLAKE PANTER

bpanter.gazette@gmail.com

Star Wars fans of all ages have been given a new hope. With the upcoming release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, dedicated fans have expressed their excitement, expectations and apprehensions about the upcoming film.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens comes out to theaters on Dec.18. The franchise was created by George Lucas, but J.J. Abrams has taken over as the head director of the film.

Granite Bay High School senior Kendra Mullin has been a fan of the Star Wars films since before she could walk. Her dad played a heavy influence in her love of the franchise, and she has remained a loyal fan ever since.

“I just like the idea of having that type of world, (one with) sci fi, space battles, jedi and lightsabers,” Mullin said. “I think that’s my favorite part.”

When the trailer for the new movie was released, students were excited but left guessing as to what the plot of the new movie would entail. Another avid Star Wars fan, senior Emily Moss said the story line of the new movie is one of the most important aspects to keep fans

“With the trailers that are out, it doesn’t seem that there’s a lot of story line that they’ve revealed, so they’re either trying to keep it a secret or there isn’t one,” Moss said. “If there isn’t a really good story line, then the new movie could have all the special effects in the world and it wouldn’t make any of the Star Wars fans happy.”

After watching the trailer, Moss does not have any predictions as to what happened to Luke Skywalker, a large mystery for the new film.

“Personally, I’m just interested in if they bring in Leia’s children because there are so many possibilities there,” Moss said.

Mullin also was hesitant to make predictions on the new film.

“I could make up tons of theories but I think that whatever happens, I’m probably going to be shocked,” Mullin said.

The most recent films that have come before are Episode VII, Episodes I, II and III, the prequels to the original story, which commonly get a bad reputation among Star Wars fans. While they praise it for additional plot and story line, GBHS senior Josiah Luna criticizes them for poor character choice and develop-

ment.

“Here’s the reason why the first three films get a bad rep in three words: Jar Jar Binks,” Luna said. “They tried to add comic relief through him and it didn’t work for Star Wars as a franchise because it’s originally meant to be a serious type of storytelling. It’s meant for entertainment, but you can’t just add comic relief into a dramatic story. Otherwise, I praise (the three prequels) for their special effects.”

Luna is hoping that Jar Jar Binks doesn’t make an appearance in the new film. Mullin also agreed that the previous films could have benefited from having less Jar Jar. “I believe that they could have been better,” Mullin said. “I think that the older movies are always going to be the best and I think that kind of makes people think the newer ones aren’t as good.

I think there was a lot of missing story plot line that they could have answered for and maybe could have made characters deeper. I think the newer ones didn’t tarnish Star Wars; they could have been better but they didn’t ruin anything.”

Mullin said that if the movies were better, they could have attracted a larger audience, and more people her age would have liked the Star Wars franchise more.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is going with a new director: J.J. Abrams. Luna

thinks that it is good that this is a step in a good direction.

“George Lucas is getting to the point where he’s senile,” Luna said. “In terms of artwork, J.J. Abrams has been doing great, like in Lost, so I’m excited to see what he’s going to do with Star Wars.”

George Lucas was the creator of Star Wars, so when directors shift, it is possible that there will be an incoherent feel to the story.

“It kind of hurts because I love George Lucas,” Moss said. “He has done so much to create that world. I don’t know if J.J. Abrams will be able to live up (to) the expectations of all of Lucas’s fans.

He’s a good director but it’s very hard to transfer in a series.”

Despite the crashing of Fandango on the date the tickets were released to buy, Mullin was able to get tickets to see the movie twice within 24 hours.

“I think it’s good that they keep going,” Mullin said. “With the new technology we have now, it’s only going to make it bigger and better and I think it’s good because it’s reaching out to the younger audiences now. A lot of (them) don’t really know much about Star Wars and I have a ton of friends that don’t even know about Star Wars because it was our parents’ generation. So now this will be the kids’ generation so it will bring more people into the Star Wars world and

Page 14

September 2015

current.

Top Tweets

Spirited tweets by Granite Bay High School students

BY AMANDA PRATHER aprather.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette illustration/AMANDA PRATHER

Twitter

Who’s Hiring

BY MEAGAN TALLMAN

mtallman.gazette@gmail.com

So volleyball won today, band won, and football won...GB killin it like usual #content

Melissa Cook @MelissaMCook15

Chloe Miller @Chlo_miller

Mel’s American Diner 1804 Douglas Blvd, Roseville, CA 95661 (916) 783-6357 Mel’s is looking for dedicated individuals with a strong work ethic.

Applicants do not need previous restaurant experience and should be at least 16 years old.

natch @nataliehatchh

Recipe of the Month: Ingredients:

1. One ½ sticks of butter softened 2. ½ tsp salt 3. One ¼ cup packed brown sugar 4. One ½ cup flour 5. Three eggs 6. ½ tsp baking powder 7. two tablespoon minced crystallized ginger or one teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger 8. One ½ tsp vanilla extract 9. ¾ - one ½ cups dried cranberries (Craisins) 10. Four oz. white chocolate chips 11. Four oz. cream cheese 12. One tsp vanilla extract 13. Three cups powdered sugar 14. Four tsp lemon juice

59 Favorites

when i was little i was scared of the dark because i couldn’t see in front of me and now im scared of the future but for the same reason

Old Navy 1244 Galleria Blvd, Roseville, CA 95678 (916) 784-3757 Old Navy is looking for available and hardworking applicants. No previous experience required. Must be at least 16 years old.

Chipotle 3988 Douglas Blvd, #140 Roseville 95661 Restaurant Team Member – Crew Chipotle is looking for positive employees with great customer service who are willing to work as a team. Must be at least 16 years of age.

16 Retweets

45 Favorites

19 Retweets

sunday morning rain is falling (from my eyes bc calc)

0 Retweets

12 Favorites

Granite Bay after Christmas

Carly Wallace @_cwallace_

55 Retweets

182 Favorites

Cranberry Bliss Bars

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fehrenheit. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.

2. In a bowl, cream together brown sugar, salt and butter.

3. Add eggs and vanilla extract, one egg at a time creaming mixture in between.

4. Add grated ginger, flour and baking powder and stir everything together.

5. Add cranberries and white chocolate and fold them in.

6. Use wet hands or wet spatula to spread batter in pan.

7. Bake for 10 minutes, do not overbake. Allow to cool.

BY ISABELLA TKACHUK itkachuk.gazette@gmail.com

Frosting: 1. Add cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract to a bowl and beat items together until creamy, for about 4-5 minutes.

2. Place white chocolate chips in microwave and stir in between.

Gazette photo/ ISABELLA TKACHUK

December 2015

Page 15

holiday music.

TAKE NOTE...

AK

L AW YP

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ion

trat

A

fter the turkey has been eaten and the wishbone broken, it seems that almost immediately people are ready to jump to the next holiday.

Even before the turkey, people seem to be preparing for the magical December holiday, Christmas.

Starting in early November stores, radio stations and even friends begin to play some festive tunes to try to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

One can hear them anywhere whether it’s at a Starbucks, a Staples or simply your favorite radio station, the holiday jams are always blasting.

It seems a bit odd for all these venues to be playing the same genre of music for two months straight- do they consider listeners might go into Christmas music overload?

Senior Mira Pexa believes there is no such thing. A long time lover of the holiday, she begin the festivities right after Halloween by turning on her favorite Christmas carols.

“It’s so jolly and it always puts me in a good mood, you can’t be sad listening to Christmas music,” Pexa said.

She said she enjoys classics like “White Christmas” and “Santa Baby” and often can’t get into the new holiday melodies that pop up every year.

Pexa said that there are so many places that you will hear Christmas jams during the season that it can become a bit overwhelming for her.

“I hear it in restaurants, malls, department stores, coffee shops;

I enjoy (Christmas music) but the way these places do it comes across too cheesy for me.” Pexa said. “Like it’s everywhere when I’m trying to shop-and some songs I don’t even like so it gets to be a bit much.”

That being said, Pexa still adores her Christmas playlists and each year excitedly awaits the time she can sing along to the jolly tunes.

Not everyone shares the same embracing opinion of Christmas music as Pexa however.

Senior Hailey Dredge finds the holiday music is too overkilled by the excessive playing.

“I used to really like listening to festive musicand usually at the beginning of the season I still do.

But I hear it every single place I go and then it just puts me in an annoyed mood.” Dredge said.

She also finds it a bit of nuisance when her favorite radio stations flip over to all holiday tunes, all the time.

“Sometimes I’m just not in the mood (for Christmas music) and I want to listen to regular songs,” Dredge said. “ It’s so annoying when radio stations do that because they’re assuming everyone wants to hear all Christmas music and that’s just not the case!”

Though she finds outside venues play too much holiday music, Dredge does enjoy listening to it on her own time.

She says when she chooses to she has a few go to songs to get her in the Christmas spirit.

Each winter season it can be expected that some holiday jams will flow through your ears.

While everyone has their own opinion there’s no doubt that the tunes really get us thinking about getting in the holiday spirit.

llus

BY MEAGAN TALLMAN

mtallman.gazette@gmail.com

te i

zet

Ga

Holiday music elicits opinionated views from the GBHS student body

Page 16

Winterball(OUT).

December 2015

Have a ball without Winterball A look at some other ways people spent their December 12th

Special to the Gazette/LORNA SCHOFIELD

Gazette photo /SURINA KHURANA

Gazette illustrations/TROY PAWLAK

Special to the Gazette /LORENA GARCIA

BY SONIA GARCHA

sgarcha.gazette@gmail.com

1. Go out with friends.

Ditch the fancy clothes and opt for something more casual and comfortable. It may sound boring and overrated, but nothing beats spending time with your squad. Go out with your crew for some bonding time that may include dinner, a movie, bowling, etc.

2. Start the holiday season.

Thanksgiving may be over, but the holidays are quickly approaching. Get in the mood by decorating, drinking hot chocolate and watching holiday movies nonstop! ABC Family has already begun its ‘25 Day’s of Christmas’ special.

3. Slip into the ice skating season!

With the California sunshine slowly fading away, winter is almost here! Grab your squad and celebrate by heading to the ice! The Roseville Galleria has now opened their outdoor rink as well as Skatetown in Roseville. Head to their website to see the schedule for the public rink!

4. Start/Finish holiday shopping.

School, sports, work, etc. leaves us little to no time to go shopping for our loved ones or ourselves. Take this

Special to the Gazette/SARAH BRESNIKER

opportunity to check out different stores so you can get memories! a bang for your buck. Even if you don’t plan on buying 8. 12 Days of Netflix and Chill. anything, window shopping can sometimes take the You now have time to indulge into your must-see stress off of this very hectic time of year.

TV shows of the season, so catch up on what you’ve 5. The term isn’t over yet. been missing out! Streaming–services like Netflix and The thought of Winter Break approaching has been Hulu are also great for giving recommendations for in every student’s mind since we’ve come back from new shows. The only way to get rid of your addiction is Thanksgiving Break, but we’re still not quite there yet! to tell yourself ‘one more episode!’ at 2 a.m. Don’t let Before the terms ends and our grades become final Calculus keep you away from Scandal! And don’t tell us (yikes!), take this opportunity to makeup quizzes/tests, any spoilers! finish missing assignments and study for any finals! Its 9. Substitute your friends for food. never too late to get your grades up! And then you can This obviously applies to those who haven’t done so go back to fantasizing about break, we promise! yet. Practice some holiday recipes before your upcom6. Never too early to start the party! ing holiday party! This season is all about giving, so We’re still full from our Friendsgiving, but not too full give your appetite all those delicious goodies. Check to skip out on Friendsmas! Many students will be occu- out our Recipe of the Month for inspiration if you’re pied with their families during break, but don’t forget looking for something new to make! about your friends! Celebrate with one another whether 10. Chill out! you go out or stay in! Plan a Secret Santa amongst each We look forward to this time of year, but it does get other to put everyone in the giving/receiving mood! a little crazy at times! Give yourself a little preview to 7. Day-trips in December! break and just relax! We’ve put in so many stressful Get an early start with your friends and plan out a day hours this semester and it’s time to take a step back in a whole other area! Whether it’s a quick trip to Apple and breathe. Do something for yourself like watch TV, Hill or exploring the city of San Francisco, a day filled read a book, listen to music, or sleep. We know, school with adventure and laughter is far from boring. Look have taken a toll on you. You deserve it for all your hard for cool places to see, good places to eat, and make work these past months! Juniors Natalie Hatch and Emily Schofield, upper right, enjoy a day in San Francisco instead of Winterball; junior Katrina Bresniker, lower right, enjoys the winter holiday and juniors Megan Caulfield and Keegan Hoslett,lower left, enjoy ice skating.

Merry Krampus

December 2015

he’s comin’ to town.

Page 17

He sees you when you’re sleeping...

BY CAROLINE PALMER cpalmer.gazette@gmail.com

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree … just because you are present in many people’s homes doesn’t mean that the cinematic quality of movies has to drop.

I am no film connoisseur, in fact I rarely find the time to watch a movie these days. However I cannot even begin to describe the dread that floods into my body when the holiday movie commercials commence.

To start, the advertisements always seem to be a blaringly loud volume. I was laying on the couch, nodding off and then a commercial for Krampus came on and suddenly I was bolted awake, grandiosely pissed off and seething.

Upon being rudely awakened by an awful commercial, I watched it as a teenager in the 21st century would, and realized how incredibly awful Krampus looked.

It appears the basic plot line of the movie is family around the holidays and that something evil is lurking around the corner (Krampus) at peculiar times.

Krampus is essentially the opposite of Santa Claus. He punishes kids for their wrongdoings during the Christmas season. People who live in Alpine, German speaking towns are best acquainted with the idea of Krampus.

Europeans have been sending each other Christmas cards with Krampus on them since the 19th century.

That being said, after seeing the trailer for the movie, all I could think was “Why?” Why take an unoriginal folk story from Europe and obliterate it with an horrendous Americanized pseudo horror Christmas movie? The answer is beyond me.

Safe to say, I will not be seeing Krampus. I considered going on a $5

dollar movie day, however I couldn’t even bring myself to spend that much money on a production that seems just so awful.

Holiday movies lack plot, theme variation and overall artistic legitimacy.

Before I get called a Grinch, I’ll make clear, classic holiday movies, like The Peanuts and a Christmas Story, are stellar and I have a good chuckle and cheer each time I watch them.

However the run off movie, about the ice princess in distress, or the villain trying to steal Christmas with 2005 Hilary Duff songs and the entire Twilight sing along cast is not my cup of x-mas cocoa.

These movies are not the magnum opus that Home Alone is. In fact they don’t even come close.

It’s almost as if filmmakers and screenwriters just get lazy when the holiday season comes hither.

As if, one creator to another goes, “Hm, Jim, I am out of ideas. Let’s just do a film about a chaotic family on the holidays thrown in with a few predictable plot twists.”

The amount of movies just about families on the holidays is revolting.

Mainstream movies overall seem to lack originality these days but holiday movies are on a whole other level of mediocre.

Because people like holidays and are generally in a better mood around these periods of time, filmmakers and directors feel that they can just throw sentimental “feel good” movie into the arena and expect results they’re not deserving of.

You will likely find me in my house reading a good book Christmas night trying to block out all the obnoxious Christmas movies that will likely be playing in my house down the stairs.

Gazette illustration/BLAKE PANTER

Page 18

December 2015

tune in.

Coldplay A Head Full of Dreams

BY KASSIDY HENSON

C

khenson.gazette@gmail.com

oldplay’s formulaic strategies of songwriting have allowed them to play it safe once again.

A Head Full of Dreams seems to be no different. This album provides little distinction from the previous seven.

An emotional introduction which bleeds into the metaphorical rise of the chorus continually placed on top of chords that work to resolve any present dissonance.

The picture and intention of the artist is clearly painted for you, leaving little to no room for assumption and further application.

They give you satisfying answers to the posed questions, which may not be the most appealing to a generation founded on change.

Amongst the rising popularity of EDM and

electronic music, I have to say this album does illustrate the band’s conformity based evolution.

Coldplay has adopted themes of psychedelia, funk and pop. Also adhering to modern day trends, are their overuse of synthesizers and repetitive beats.

The songs that truly allowed us to connect with Coldplay, like “The Scientist” or “Fix You” are not available on this album, which I believe has eluded to the idea of this band losing who they are.

That’s not to say that the album lacks any good tracks.

My personal favorite is “Hymn for the Weekend” featuring Beyoncé. Living up to its name, this song presents a very YOLO type feel without being too in-your-face.

Though this seems to be a new sound for Coldplay, the undertones for the transition

have been present for a while.

When Mylo Xyloto came out, a few songs featured the synthesizer and heavy beats that are heavy in their new album. As the band has transitioned in their artistry, the aesthetic hasn’t necessarily been in their favor.

The style of A Head Full of Dreams appears to be turning many dedicated Coldplay fans against them.

Though the sound may be a little varied from their previous albums, it still maintains little variance. Initially lifting up the listener with the climb of the song, it leaves them on a slow plateau to resolution.

For anyone looking for a good album to do homework or sleep to, I would recommend this album.

However, for anyone seeking a variety of new music from classic artists, A Head Full of Dreams falls short of the standard.

Parlaphone Records

A Head Full of Dreams was released on Dec. 4, 2015.

C+ Skip to:

“Hymn for the weekend”

Troye Blue Neighbourhood (Deluxe Edition) HunterSivan Hayes Storyline

BY HANNAH XU

Y

Universal Music

Blue Neighbourhood was released on Dec. 4, 2015.

A

Skip to : “Blue”

hxu.gazette@gmail.com

ouTube star Troye Sivan may seem like a nobody when compared to popstar powerhouses like Taylor Swift or Adele.

However, he has been making videos for over eight years, posting videos of his singing. His account now has close to four million subscribers, loyally supporting him and his music.

As his videos caught ground, opportunities opened, and at the age of 18, Sivan was able to snag a record deal with EMI Australia.

Shortly after he signed his contract deal, he released a five song EP, named TRXYE, which made its way to number one in 55 countries.

A year after, in 2015, he released Wild – a six song EP that introduced the new music yet to come.And at long last, on Dec. 4, Troye Sivan released Blue Neighbourhood.

His album offers a new sound to the pop atmosphere. With Alex Hope by his side as producer, Sivan’s electro-pop sound adds another dimension to the listening experience.

Compared to his previous music, Blue Neighbourhood. is filled with maturity beyond the years of a 20 year old. The music grows, exhibiting a complexity that overshadows TRXYE. His album begins with the six songs from Wild.

All offer synth-heavy beats and production that almost borders messiness but has a unique chaos to it that melds perfectly.

Following, the first single off the album, “Talk Me Down”, breaks up the intensely electronic sound with a soul-crushing ballad.

Sivan translates so easily the feeling of loneliness and want.

The remaining songs on the album grace the listener with favorites that will inevitably play on repeat for the weeks to come.

“Blue” collaborates Sivan’s wispy and soft voice with that of Hope, who also helped write the song.

“Blue” captures the desperation and the willingness to sacrifice felt in a crumbling relationship.

On the other hand, “Cool” and “For Him” remind listeners of old-timey vignettes and laid-back summers. One of the biggest accomplishments on this album is Sivan’s ability to combine many themes into one fluid string of songs.

“Heaven” for example, showcases the dilemma Sivan is presented with when he finally faces his sexual identity.

However, the album is able to make a complete 180 and convey nostalgia with “Suburbia” without interrupting the general sound this album strives for.

In its entirety, Sivan’s Blue Neighbourhood achieves what so few can on their first album – a perfect blend of catchy yet heartfelt music that’ll leave the listener enchanted.

Logic The Incredible True Story

BY PARKER MATHESON

I

pmatheson.gazette@gmail.com

n case anyone hasn’t noticed Logic can rap, quite well actually. In his sophomore album, Logic delivers quite a fair amount of quality music.

Some may challenge his originality, as many tracks draw comparisons to contemporaries such as Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

However to start the album,“Contact” introduces a drumline beat and gospel-like background vocal that offer a unique sound different from much of hip-hop.

Throughout the album, Logic scatters skits of future interstellar travelers.

These skits introduce an introspective yet somewhat arrogant approach to his album.

As they travel through space, they refer to this album as “the album that changed everything.”

He even critiques other rappers in some of the skits, mocking the fans of rappers.

Logic’s flows seem similar to the status quo as his premiere album Under Pressure.

While the meaning to many of his lyrics are often fairly direct and don’t reach the depth of rappers like Kendrick Lamar, he still impresses with rapid flow.

This album still doesn’t lack diversity though.

Logic also begins to sing many of his own hooks in the album.

While many may accuse him of copying Drake by doing this, it may elude that Logic is exploring his possibilities as an artist.

Additionally on the track is, “Young Jesus” where Logic explores his struggles or angers within his rapping career.

He offers interpretation into his struggles growing up in a rough urban neighborhood.

Towards the middle of the album, Logic offers a slower, melodious track.

“Intermission” offers a heartfelt approach, with soft female vocals from Lucy Rose.

It apologizes for his lack of presence in his family and acknowledges his blessing in his music career.

He immediately follows that with an upbeat track to keep him from boring listeners.

The track “I am the Greatest” offers an upbeat tempo with heavy baselines, that could populate workout playlists for years to come.

Despite the hardcore nature of this track the album still appears fairly positive in nature.

“Lord Willin” offers insight into his rap career as he believes he may finally escape the scrutiny of critics who accuse him of being unoriginal.

This album offers new approaches to his music and with this comes progress in his musical approach.

For this, Logic doesn’t apologize for any of the content on the album. It is even rumored that there were no tracks thrown away from production suggesting he’s proud of all his efforts.

Def Jam Records

 The Incredible True Story was released on Nov. 13, 2015.

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“Stainless”

Page 19

December 2015

tune in.

One Direction Made in the A.M.

BY JENNY TARBELL

F

jtarbell.gazette@gmail.com

ive years of pop albums that keep the fangirls screaming, One Direction has mastered what it means to be in the top charts.

Their most recent album Made In the A.M., hit number one in the U.K. and according to Entertainment Weekly, reached 402,000 purchases in just one week.This made it the fastest selling album of the year.

The quartet even managed to win the most prestigious American Music Award “artist of the year,” and “Favorite Pop/Rock Duo/ Group.”

Made in the A.M., was leaked online before the release date, but the album still managed to make the top charts.

In fact, the album was so anticipated that fans even raised money to buy the album to

gift those who couldn’t afford it.

This album is the last to be released before their 18 month break from their career. The group announced their plans to take a break on Dec. 13th.

As one of the most recent One direction albums that will be available for quite some time, this collection of songs will definitely suffice.

The quality of this album surpasses that of their previous albums, advancing in vocal range and reaching beyond their typical upbeat pop songs.

Their sound has followed the growth of their audience, as this new album has a more mature melody than their previous albums.

There is no shortage of their signature pop tracks, but overall the harmony of the album is more calm and collected.

Tracks like “End of the Day,” and “A.M.,” have a bit of a John Mayer feel mixed in with

good amount of pop flare.

The album has a little bit of everything, it satisfies a variety of music tastes.

Even those who aren’t the biggest One Direction fans would enjoy this album.

Lyrics in the album explore aspects of their personal lives, which is especially relevant in songs like “Perfect,” which portrays what it’s like to have a relationship in the public eye and the abnormalities of having to sneak around instead of living a normal life.

Tracks like “Olivia,” “What a feeling,” and “I want to write you a song,” resemble more of a love ballad.

The majority of the album has a focus on love and relationships. “History,” could also fit into the love ballad category, but it has more of a pop flare than the rest.

I highly recommend this album for anyone, it has to be one of the best One Direction albums to date.

Alessia Cara Know-it-All Hunter Hayes Storyline

BY MADELINE WILLIAMS

M

Def Jam Recordings

Know it all was released Nov. 13, 2015.

B+

Skip to : “Here”

mwilliams.gazette@gmail.

aking her debut with the hit song “Here”, Alessia Cara is quickly gaining popularity. Her unique impassioned voice and expressive R&B style have created an album full of diverse yet catchy compositions.

Her album Know It All, was released on Nov. 13, 2015 and has received many positive reactions. She has made a successful first impression, and critics say she has a lot of potential. I have an appreciation for music that has a message.

Whether I can relate to it or not, I love finding meanings in song lyrics. This album, while it has some cliché love songs, has a few songs with clever and meaningful lyrics.

One that particularly stands out to me is the previously mentioned hit called “Here” which is currently trending on the radio.

Contrasting with popular songs on the radio that are typically about partying, drinking, smoking, etcetera, Alessia Cara tells a story in which she is disinterested in all of that and emphasizes how out of place she feels in the party environment.

My favorite song on the album is “Scars To Your Beautiful” because the lyrics are so inspirational.

I admire when artists takes advantage of their popularity to spread an important message.

Cara articulates the idea that beauty comes from within which is something many people tend to forget.

The lyrics are rather repetitive, however, it is possible that this was intended to get the point across more clearly.

There is an ideal balance in the approach to each tune. While Cara successfully reveals her disaffected, rebellious side in songs such as “Four Pink Walls” and “Here,” she then

Simco Limited

Made in the A.M was released on Nov. 13 , 2015.

B+ Skip to:

“End of the Day”

contrasts it with more subtle, innocent ballads such as “Stone” and “Stars.”

I recently got to see Alessia Cara live at 107.9 The End’s Jingle Ball held at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.

I was impressed by the quality of her voice and how closely it resembled her recordings.

Her appearance surprised many of the audience members. At five-foot three and only 19 years old, Cara confidently strutted the stage, rocking a ponytail and oversized t-shirt.

In between numbers, she would explain the meaning to the following songs, many of which had a message of self-acceptance and confidence.

While I’m not typically a fan of catchy pop music, Cara’s unique voice added character to her more upbeat, predictable rhythms. Overall, I admire Alessia Cara’s approach to R&B and alternative pop and I recommend her album Know It All.

Justin Bieber Purpose

BY MEAGAN TALLMAN

mtallman.gazette@gmail.com

I

f you’ve followed Justin Bieber over the course of the last few years, you’re well aware of his tainted image.

The long haired, baby – faced boy who captured hearts with the tracks “One Time” and “One Less Lonely Girl,” turned into a delinquent adult. with a rap sheet full of vandalism, speeding, drug use, DUI’s and even assault.

In the past few years Bieber’s become more famous for his bad boy behavior than for his musical talent.

However the Biebs made a comeback this past Nov. with the release of Purpose his first album in nearly two years.

Bieber fans must have been long awaiting this album, for in its first week the album sold 522,000 copies – surpassing all of his previous album first week sales.

It’s really no surprise that Purpose has resonated so much success.

Each of the 19 songs on the albums tell an emotional story.

When listened to as a whole, the album carries a theme of remorse and redemption perhaps as a message of apology from Bieber.

Purpose kicks off with the soft melody Mark My Words – which seems to set the tone for the rest of the album- in which he promises to “give it all he’s got”.

The following song I’ll Show You gives off an identical message.

The album then launches into the song “What Do You Mean” which was the first song released from the album.

The upbeat-electronic track is one of few on the album, so adding it to the record was definitely a good decision.

“Sorry,” “Been You,” “Company” and “Where are U Now” are the only other songs I’d put into the upbeat category – so if you’re

looking for an energetic album to dance to, “Purpose” will not be your go to.

One thing the Biebs heavily revealed in this album is his dedication to his faith.

Though he has always been religious, Bieber takes it to the next level, preaching about God several times throughout the album.

Perhaps he is looking for redemption – but personally I found the monologue about salvation in the title track “Purpose” a bit insincere considering all his run ins with the law.

However you can’t fault the guy for trying to put some positive messages out there and I give him props for having the confidence to try and reinvent himself.

In conclusion, some may choose to skip this album simply because it’s a product of pop star bad boy Justin Bieber, but that’s really their loss.

With Purpose, Bieber proves himself as a newly motivated musician who’s unafraid to push the boundries of the pop music genre.

Def Jam Recordings

 Purpose was released on Nov. 13, 2015.

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Page 20

December 2015

gingerbrawl!

Deco-RATE my Gingerbread

Gazette editors battle it out in the kitchen in a holiday treat decorating competition

BY ISABELLA TKACHUK

D

itkachuk.gazette@gmail.com

ecorating has always been my specialty, and I am very competitive. What’s better than a gingerbread baking competition between two Gazette staff members?

Cole Kahmann and I decided to undergo this rivalry to determine which gingerbread house appeals to the eyes of fellow peers.

Two weeks prior to the decorating competition, Cole was non-stop smack talk. I do have to admit that I had said a few words myself, but overall nothing too harsh was said between the both of us. We were both looking to win.

Fast forward to Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 1:32 p.m., also known as the official competition meet-up time.

This decorate-off took place at Cole’s house. We were accompanied by fellow Gazette staffers Amanda Prather, Surina Khurana, Ali Lemos and special guest judge Sydnee Greer.

The rivalry began shortly after 1:32 p.m.

It began with both Cole and I unwrapping our gingerbread pieces, laying them out,

and beginning to frost our items.

As I began to frost the edges of my gingerbread, Cole seemed to already begin building the structure of his house.

I felt rushed, and anxious, like I wasn’t going to finish even though we were only about 10 minutes in.

While building the base of my house, I was already catching up to Cole. We were working hard, when suddenly, one side of my house had fallen off while trying to hold both parts of the roof together, I was nervous, but I couldn’t give up.

So I quickly fixed the side and continued to work.

Once I thought my house was stable enough to leave alone, I decided to start frosting the house, but I made sure I was careful, for this frosting was a bit messy.

I used intricate detailing and utilized the candy that was provided. I was so proud of my house when it got to the end.

I looked at Cole’s house, sweat rolling down my face, and he looked at mine, wiping the

sweat off his forehead. We were ready to be judged.

“No, I forgot the chimney!” I thought to myself. I thought this would be the end. Luckily, the judges hadn’t seemed to notice until after the houses were judged, and I won.

Yes, that is correct. I won. I am the reigning champion of the gingerbread house decorating

competition.

I had to give it to my opponent: his house was very creative. I guess it just came down to overall neatness and appeal, and mine seemed to fit both of those categories. Juniors, Cole Kahmann, below, and Isabella Tkachuk, left, battle in a Gingerbread House competition.

Gazette illustration/ OLIVIA HEPPEL

Gazette photos/ AMANDA PRATHER

BY COLE KAHMANN

ckhaman.gazette@gmail.com

G

oing into the gingerbread competition, I was really hoping for a big win.

Before we participated in the competition, Isabella and I set up a poll on Twitter to see who voters thought would win.

After the day long poll, the results showed that 80 percent of the voters favored her.

This immediately fueled my motivation to win.

After a couple weeks of trash talking and convincing each other that they stood no chance against the other, competition day came.

The rules were that we had one hour to decorate and the judges wouldn’t see who made which house, making the results unbiased.

Once the timer started ticking, I came out of the gates on fire.

Within minutes, I had my entire gingerbread house up and ready for decorating.

To be entirely honest, I didn’t know where to begin.

At first, I just had a couple ideas for decorating that would look good, like icicles and a gumdrop roof, but it really didn’t occur to me that it mattered what order I put them on.

What happened was I rushed to my best idea, the icicles, and then after making them nice, realized I couldn’t get to my windows without accidentally destroying the icicles.

After I finally figured out the windows and icicles, I moved on to the roof.

Trying to be original, unlike my competition who made a roof that nearly mirrored the set pattern of cuttings. I decided to be different and spread icing on the roof to give it the appearance of snow.

When I started smearing it on the first side of the roof, it was looking great and I even threw some sprinkles on it to give it a little color. However, once I started the second roof, I mixed the sprinkles into the icing making it nearly impossible to spread, causing a slightly patchy roof which ended up costing me the competition.

While I should have picked up on the cues of both our photographer and my mom, who very nicely said that my roof was ‘unique’, and that it didn’t look the best, I decided to make it my own and stick with it since it was hardened anyway.

As all my problems were occurring, Isabella was calmly making her house with a face of determination. By the end of the time, I really felt I had the upperhand and did a good job. I must say I was proud of myself for not being way outperformed in the first place and also for being in a good position to win.

When the judges began to judge the gingerbread houses, I had some serious butterflies partly because I wanted to win and prove to everyone that a male could win the competition and that moving away from mainstream designs would pay off.

Finally, the judges brought out the awards, and we opened them at the same time. Once I saw the result, my face dropped.

I lost.

Eventually, I snapped out of my bad mood and realized how fun the competition was, and while my gingerbread house still needed work, I was actually really proud of the work I had done.

Both gingerbread houses ended up looking great and even though I lost, I was proud of my valiant effort and was pleased I proved to everyone I could compete strongly against the

GII Gazette II “Cub Edition” A Journalism 1 Print Media Production

NEWS

Fall 2015

A guide to surviving the Spring Semester

by Katie Cologna & Mackenzie Brown

As the new semester approaches, students have the opportunity to reinvent themselves. No one has to struggle nor repeat mistakes of the past so suse this guide to start of the spring semester on the right foot.

Ask teachers quetions Often in a class full of students with only one teacher, students can get confused when with directions, important assignment details, and/or simply just not understanding the lesson. If this happens to a student, visit the teacher before or after school.

Some students may be on edge about meeting with their teacher, but be assured that most teachers will be glad to clarify anything you are confused about.

Attend study sessions After school study sessions and tutoring are a great free resource.

It is a great way for students to complete their homework before they get home or receive help from peers. Many students may

PHOTO/Shelby Khatami

be exhausted at the end of a long school day and avoid staying any longer but sometimes it’s best to hear what your peers have to say or what they can do to help to benefit you the most.

Form a study group If you’re uncomfortable with seeking help in the library or from a teacher, the next best option would be a study group with classmates or friends. Discussing topics with peers, you can gain

insight that you wouldn’t have thought of before. Also, if you’re confused on topics friends can expand on their knowledge of the topic and help you to the best of their ability.

Balance responsibilities by scheduling Many GBHS students have a lot of homework on top of many responsibilities. participate Juggling so much at once, sometimes stu-

Cheers to 20 years

by Emily Schofield

As this school year marks the twentieth anniversary of the opening of Granite Bay High School, the dance program, headed by Desiree Milburn, felt something special should be incorporated into the Winter Dance Show. First and foremost, a theme was created to center around the idea-- “Cheers to 20 Years”.

A significant amount of love and pride is felt by many toward the dance program’s previous successes and developments, so Mrs. Milburn felt it appropriate to highlight some of the well-loved and widely known dances from previous years. Dances such as “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” and “Grease Mashup” are being reprised from dance shows from 2-4 years ago to serve as fun memories from dance programs in the past.

Table of Contents/ Contributors

@

Another key point being emphasized is the inclusion of music from the past century, but primarily the last 10-20 years. Energetic choreography to songs such as “Jump and Jive” are featured, giving the show a retro, 50’s vibe.

The costumes were also selected in accordance to these factors, with “Grease”’s costumes including poodle skirts and “Jump and Jive”’s costumes consisting of swing dancing outfits. More recent songs were also incorporated, such as “To Build a Home” and “Kiss Kiss” from 2007. All this was planned in preparation to correspond to the show’s special theme.

“This show is pretty exciting to be in for me, because I get to perform in the Grease dance, which was done in years past, so it’s like I’m continuing a legacy,” Junior, Beginning Dancer Genna Kozlowski said. Intermediate Dancer

dents overbook themselves resulting in high levels of stress. A really simple tip that many students seem to overlook is scheduling all of their activities in a calendar or planner. When it comes to big assignments and projects that you are given a good amount of time on, it is best to give yourself a little bit of time each day to work on your project, so that you don’t get too stressed as the due date approaches. Another way is just to finish the whole assignment early on not having to worry about it at all.

Put away or turn off any distractions In this generation, our society is run by electronics. Almost every kid at Granite Bay High School either has social media or has heard of it. With all of these electronics and social media, it often causes distractions to student. Whenever a student does homework, it is helpful to turn off these electronics and put them away, therefore students won’t have anything interfering with their homework. best for you.

Page 2

News Briefs -Sorry to tell you, but winter break is over and it is time to get back to business. The good thing is there are only about 90 days until school is back out for summer.

-The Santa’s Helpers program saw a dramatic drop in participation this year with only approximately 200 students compared to last year’s over 500 students.

-Back to School Night for the spring semester will be held Monday, January 11 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. This is the night of year where parents and guardians can get that crucial “face time” with your teachers.

-Get a bright start to the new semester at the Neon Dance on Friday, January 29. Grab those neon clothes out of the closet and wash your whites so you can shine under the blacklights.

-Winter sports will be in full swing. The Basketball season begins with boys’ varsity basketball on January 2, freshman boys’ and junior varsity boys’ January 7, and girls’ varsity January 8.

PHOTO/Janelle Cruz

Dance show numbers pay tribute to 20 years of Granite Bay High School.

-The annual GBHS student directed winter play premieres on selected days starting February 4 and ending February 13. Come out and support students pursuing the performing arts.

Alexis Hazelett, “I always love being in the dance show, but it’s really cool to be in this one since it marks GBHS being open for 20 years. It seems like a huge milestone, and I’m glad to represent a part of it.”

The show has been very well received so far. “It is so amazing that this school has accomplished as much as it has within a mere 20 years,” Lorna Schofield said. “This

show is a wonderful celebration and example of that.”

The drama department is also being incorporated, as advanced drama students Erica Lucia and Evan McGuire help fufill light and sound technical aspects of the show.

“I thought it was really well done, and it makes me proud to be a Grizzly,” senior Max Buzzard said.

Page 3 Sports

Page 4-5 Feature

Page 6 Opinion

Page 7 Entertainment

News/Sports team

Feature team

Adviser

Ray Lavrador Cailin Lopez-Cousineau Devin Manzo Ariana Martin Tessa Oushan Tatum Rice Fernando Santos Emily Schofield Danielle Shannon Kylie Shimada Kristin Thompson

Katie Cologna Mackenzie Brown Faith Harrison

Front/Back Shelby Khatami

Art/Photo editor Daniel Bazargun

Sydney Larson Sonia Matheus Matt Lauth

Opinion/Entertainment team Huda Ajaz Victoria Da Conceicao Kendra Mullin

Adam McLearan

Writers

William Anderson Max Buzard Kiana Evans Milan French McKenzie Gerbitz Kristina Grodz Isha Khullar

-Student Government will be kicking it off with a rally to celebrate the spring term February 19.

Compiled by Katie Cologna, Mackenzie Brown, Max Buzzard, Isha Khullar, Milan French, and Victoria Da Conceicao

SPORTS

Fall 2015 Volleyball Girls’ Varsity

Scores :

Water Polo Boys’ Varsity

Tennis Girls’ Varsity

Overall: 32-11 League: 8-4 3rd of 7 in league

4

Page 3

Overall: 21-7 League: 5-0 1st of 6 in league

Overall: 10-6 League: 6-6 3rd of 7 in league

Soccer Boys’ Varsity

Football Boys’ Varsity

Overall: 5-9-4 League: 4-5-3 4th of 7 in league

Golf Girls’ Varsity

Finished 8th of 11 at CIF Nor-Cal Championship

Girls’ Varsity Overall: 10-8 League: 2-2 3rd of 6 in league

Overall: 7-6 League: 2-4 5th of 7 in league

Score compiled by Fernando Santos

Granite Bay High School learns a new stunt

Cross Country GBHS is introduced to the new sport stunt for the following term goes to state

by Kylie Shimada

s the new year rolls around, so does a new sport at Granite Bay High School. Members of the cheer squad will be a part of the school’s first Stunt team.

Coached by Anahid Tatosian, cheer’s current head coach provides this year’s Stunt team with a big advantage. Tatosian has participated in the sport on top of being a judge for past Stunt games, and is excited to bring the sport to GBHS. “I have been involved with Stunt from many different angles.

My first experience was as the Head All-Girl cheerleading coach at Sacramento State University. I started the first ever Stunt team at the university. We went undefeated our first year and played against four different colleges and universities. Last season, I was a judge at various games in our section”, Tatosian said.

Stunt includes elements from various sports . There are four quarters and two halves, and teams compete in “games” like many other sports do. The uniforms look extremely similar to those worn in volleyball and each athlete has a number on their jersey, which even further differentiates the new sport from cheerleading. Stunt is overall a broken down traditional cheer routine that includes tumbling, jumps, pyramid, and individual stunts. The sport focuses on perfecting every aspect of cheer, whether it is as precise as sticking the landing of a jump, to hitting a team pyramid with mastery. Stunt pushes individuals to

drill their skills until they reach a flawless execution.

During a round of Stunt, two schools competing at the same level will perform the same choreographed section side by side simultaneously. “The crowd gets really involved with the outcomes of each round. You can tell when they agree or disagree with the referee or judges calls. It’s also very fast paced”, Tatosian said. Judges are looking for what are known as “major” and “minor” mistakes, and whichever team executes the section with the best technique and least amount of mistakes wins the match.

Stunt takes the “girliness” out of cheer and replaces it with competition and technicality.

These new aspects spark an interest to the current cheerleaders at GBHS. “I can’t wait to be a part of an athletic sport. If the team is successful we have the chance to travel and hopefully make it to State, which is something I never thought cheer could do on our own. It’s cool that my class will be the first Stunt team at Granite Bay”, senior cheerleader Cailin Lopez said. The new team will be lead not only by head coach Tatosian, but also two captains. “This is exciting because they could be different from our four current var-

sity captains. It gives others a chance to be a leader this year, and I’m looking forward to see who Anahid picks”, Lopez said.

Although the cheer team performs at football and basketball games, there’s never been a chance for them to compete against another team. Stunt gives athletes the opportunity to actually strive for a win at what they practice nine hours a week for. It also lets spectators view the sport from a new perspective. “I hope once the season starts the Tribe will come out and support us. We’re excited to compete and want our peers to be there cheering us on”, Lopez said.

Last season, Rocklin High School Stunt Team defeated Antelope and won the State Champion title. The senior class on the current cheer team accompanied football in 2012 when they traveled to Long Beach Poly in Los Angeles and came out on top with a score of 21-20. “Being there was unforgettable. There was so much energy from the crowd and once we got the one point lead I couldn’t believe it. That win was a memory I will never forget”, senior cheerleader Kaitlyn Blake said. The cheerleaders who join the Stunt team this year have their own chance to get that State Championship victory. “I’ve seen

Rocklin’s technique and I honestly think we have a good chance of making it that far. We have great stunters and strong tumbling, so I have high hopes for our Stunt season”, Blake said.

Although many college universities have cheer teams who support the other school sports, Stunt provides athletes the chance to increase the caliber of cheer at the collegiate level. The Title IX federal law gives female athletes protection against gender discrimination in sports. Stunt meets the Title IX requirements to be a college sport, which opens the door to female athletes who want to utilize their skills and compete competitively against other teams. “I want to cheer at the University of Oregon next fall. Oregon doesn’t have a Stunt team yet since the sport is on the newer side, but if they make one I’d maybe be interested in being apart of that. I’m most excited for the football games especially because Oregon is a big football school”, Lopez says. For those who are intrigued by the ambitious competition of cheer, Stunt at the collegiate level is a new way to be apart of a sport at universities.

Coach Tatosian is ready to start the season and excited to see what is in store for the athletes. “It is the true “sport” for cheerleading and is very different than traditional sideline cheer. It provides an opportunity to female studentathletes to pursue additional scholarships in college” Tatosian said.

The team will begin practicing at the end of December, and from there the first Stunt athletes from Granite Bay will start their season.

by Will Anderson

For the first time in nearly eight years Granite Bay High School sent both boys’ and girls’ cross country teams to the California State Championships. Lead coaches Carla Kehoe and Angela Pozzi the boys’ team placed 21st and the girls’ 15th at the State meet On November 28 in Fresno.

Focused and dedicated training is what helped lead to the team’s success in the 2015 season. “We run six days a week,” Physical Education Teacher Angela Pozzi says.

And it isn’t just the runners that are ecstatic about the team’s success. “When we qualified for State it was the best thing ever. The coaches were going crazy”, sophomore Josh Grahame said.

Unfortunately, not all runners placed as well as they wanted. “It wasn’t a good race for me because I had a sports related asthma attack during the race”, said junior Trevon Lockwood. This restrained Lockwood from performing as well as he had hoped.

The circumstances were similar for the girls’ runners. “Personally, I did not do very well. My times were not as good as they were in some other races,” said freshman Marina Soares. Regardless of Soares top five finish, individually Soares did not have a race that exceeded her normal times or expectations.

As of now, the runners are taking a two week break period. After that they will begin conditioning for the 2016 spring track season as well as start summer training following the track season.

Baskets of fun

by Max Buzzard

1. If you had a walk up song, what would it be?

2. If one of your teammates was a spongebob character, which one would they be? Why?

Charlie Tooley

Chris Hurley

-“Oh my, it would for sure be ‘Teardrops On My Guitar’ by T Swift”

-“My walk up would be the Darth Vader theme song”

-“ ‘Where the Party At’ by Jagged Edge”

-“The song I would walk up to would be ‘Trophies’ by Drake”

-“Noah Glover would be Squidward because of how lengthy and awkward he is”

-“Darren would be Larry the Lobster for obvious reasons”

-“Zach would be Gary because he is not the most outspoken of the

-“Charlie would be Sandy because of the way he is determined to get something done”

Sean Boyle

group”

Darren Nelson

Zach Jayousi -“My walk up song would be ‘I’m Awesome’ by Ryan Michael Peters because I am awesome” -“Kovey would be Patrick because he is always saying ‘uhhhhh’ ”

FEAT

Page 4

Burstin Granit Bub

Re-entering the Bubble

by Cailin Lopez

Katiana Garrett has experienced life outside the “Granite Bay Bubble” and is thankful for her growth now that she has returned.

Garrett grew up in the Granite Bay community as a child, but when she was in junior high her family decided to move to San Diego. “We moved from GB the summer of eighth grade and lived there until the end of sophomore year. We went for my mom, she wanted to move there and I was fine with leaving at the time.” Katie wasn't alone in her move. She had her twin brother, mom, and younger brother right beside her to make her more comfortable with the transition.

Thinking through all her experiences in different cities and schools, Katie Garrett has been backed by her family throughout it all. They helped her through transitions and hardships they faced when thrusted into a new environment. With her twin and younger brother, she has felt more confident in her life.

“San Diego was different because the people there were more hippy like and they wore really expensive brands” says high school junior, Katie Garrett. Many students at GB have been here their whole lives, grown up in an environment with the same people and have never been exposed to a change in scenery.

Garrett has an advantage in some ways. She has leaned how to adjust to new crowds and different types of people. It shaped her into the person she is today; being more accepting of everyone. “Also, of course the ocean was four minutes away so the beach was a big part of everyone's lives” Garrett says.

Being able thrown into a new environment showed her how different the atmosphere was when in reality Granite Bay and San Diego are only hours away.

Garrett came back to Granite Bay with a new perspective. “My experience made me more cultured as a person to experience different lifestyles and I also learned how to start fresh and gain new friends” Garrett said since she has moved back. Since her move several months ago, and finally coming back to GB her junior year, Garrett feels that as she has grown to understand more about people outside of Granite Bay, she is seeing Granite Bay through new eyes.“It shelters you from negative influences compared to the city that has more negative influences that you can be involved with” says Garrett, recalling the different perspectives in her large San Diego high school. However, Garrett also understands that some people are “close minded to different elements outside of Granite Bay.” Her perspective on the popularly used term ‘Granite Bay Bubble’ is simply just that the community is so close knit that it shelters students from other cultures, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It can protect them from harsh influences.

Recalling her high school memories in San Diego she mentions the freedom she felt she obtained in her trips to the beach and off campus lunches.

However, making her transition has been easier with the help of all her old friends and the tight community environment of Granite Bay.

Elminating the Boudaries

by Huda Ajaz

The Gold Ribbon Childhood Cancer is a club here at Granite Bay High School that promotes awareness about cancer and the difficulties that come with the illness. This club raises money for cancer research, hosts St.Baldrick’s day and makes blankets for the children who have to spend the holidays stuck in hospitals. These activities give students a chance to understand the serious problems people are constantly going through and lets them reflect it back to their own life.

The club was founded by Anina Hanlon in 2012, but is now being run by her sister sophomore Michelina Hanlon. Anina Hanlon had overcome cancer herself and wanted to spread awareness about the reality of having cancer and the many obstacles that follow suit. She expressed how she thought childhood cancer was less known than adult cancer and she strove to make a difference in that knowledge gap.

The Gold Ribbon Childhood Cancer club is currently run by Michelina Hanlon, sophomore Bella Matthews, and sophomore Candice Leung. These leaders coordinate all of the meetings and activities. “It feels good being a leader of the club, because I feel like I am being active and making a difference,” sophomore Candice Leung said.

This club attracts many people, for it offers an opportunity for students to give back to the childhood cancer community. “I have a cousin who is five.... she has leukemia. I joined to raise awareness and to make children happy and smile,” sophomore Samantha Manalo said.

“I joined to learn more about cancer and kids and how I can help them,” sophomore Amy Hung said. Gold Ribbon Childhood Cancer allows high school students to learn and understand how many children have cancer and force them to face the challenges every day.

Members of the club help out by making posters strive to raise awareness and raise money for cancer research by doing fundraisers such as the the Habit fundraiser. They are also in the progress of making blankets for kids who are not able to go home for the holidays.

The club offers a unique experience as it allows students to see the reality of what living with an illness is like. They visit childrens hospitals and bring the blankets along with joy to the children. The experience is meant to open students’ minds and lets them observe the conditions the kids are living in. The time and effort they put into their work pays off when they are in the moment and see that they made a difference in a child’s life. Not many clubs offers a hands-on experience with a positive effect on another person’s life, which gives this club a unique aspect.

The leaders and members of the club meet twice a month in room 924 after school at 2:45 p.m. to discuss ideas for new fundraisers and events.

Their advisor is Mrs. Badaracco who lets the club use her room as a place to meet.

TURE

Fall 2015

ng the te Bay bble Gender Bursting Gamer Girl

by Kendra Mullin

When someone says the word “Gamer”, they usually imagine a guy playing Call of Duty on a couch at home. However, the world of gamers is not only limited to guys, there are many “Gamer Girls” in it as well.

One such gamer girl is Granite Bay High School senior Sam Robertson.

She has been playing video games since she was able to hold a controller. As a young Gamer Girl, Robertson would play with her father and her friends on her PlayStation 2 and her original Xbox console. From playing the original Star Wars: Battlefront to games like Viva Pinata, Robertson has diverse gaming preferences. However, the one thing that stood Robertson out of the gamer crowd is that she is a girl.

Robertson is one of the many girls who enjoy such type of video games.

Some of her favorite video games are the GTA Series, Bloodborne, League of Legends, and the Arkham Video Game Series, many of which are seen as more male oriented games.

When asked why she thinks that there aren’t as many gamer girls in the world compared to guys, Robertson said that she believes “ because of the preconceived notion set up by society that videogames are just for males, or if a nerd plays a video game it makes her ‘nerdy’ and ‘undesired’ ” She also thinks that another reason is because” gamer (girls)... (have the) fear of being called out or harassed while playing online”. Overall, society just makes it seem like it’s unusual in the first place and therefore it’s making girls hesitant to join in the world of gaming.

Today, girls are usually thought to only play games like the Sims series or Civilization, but that is not the case. According to Variety Magazine, thirty percent of women play violent video games popular with males. Out of the thirty percent of women, twenty percent play games like Call of Duty and the other fifteen percent plays Grand Theft Auto. Usually these types of video games are thought of as male video games because of the violence and over sexualized female characters.Nonetheless, girls can still enjoy the violent action-packed video games.

Some gamers take their gaming abilities so seriously that they sign up for contests around the world to win money and gain fame from the gamer world. Many of the participants are male, but there are also quite a few females with the skill to beat some of the best male players in the world.

According to the online magazine TheRichest, the world’s top earning female pro gamer is Katherine “Mystique” Gunn. After coming in second and third place in many gaming competitions, she was able to to steal the win and defeat her male opponents to become a world champion at Halo: Reach. Over her career as a pro gamer, Gunn was able to make $122,000 in award winnings.

Overall, in the world of gamers there is a male majority but there are quite a few talented female players as well. There are more and more gamer girls joining the community every year, and soon they might even be able to equal or overcome the male gamer population.

The Bubble’s Generations

by Kristina Grodz

In 2015 American culture, communication and socializing has undeniably become dominated by the ease and efficiency provided by electronical devices. Technology has inevitably shifted personal interaction with fabricated friendships, making it increasingly simple to keep in contact with our friends and loved ones. But that has not always been the case.

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Eileen Bonomo is a mother to a senior at Roseville High School, whose experience of growing up was abundant in genuine, face to face relationships based upon the principle of family.

“We never had phones, so spending time together was our form of communication. My friends and I saw each other every day at school, we would meet after.” Bonomo said.

Since those days lacked modern communication, friend groups tended to be extremely close-knit, hardly ever straying from familiar faces.

Bonomo also feels that the mass popularity of social media is critical in the extreme social shift in society. “We all spent a lot of time with familiar faces,” Bonomo recalls, “so knowing about the daily lives of others didn’t really interest anyone.”

Bonomo doesn’t consider social media to be a fundamental component of her daily life, for her experience within the online world is very limited.

“I’ve always been huge on family,” Bonomo said, “but social media has undoubtedly overwhelmed society, and I don’t ever want my kids to forget the most important and rewarding aspect of life--family.”

As the mother of a Granite Bay student, Mindy Patterson believes the difference in social interaction between generations can be greatly attributed to the rise of social media.

“Kids hardly talk anymore,” Patterson said. “If I even bring up the idea of putting away phones, the most genuine reaction I get is a laugh.”

“Now, you can miss someone and be on the phone talking to them within a minute. Back then, missing someone meant you could sit and patiently wait until you could see their face again.”

This contrast is seen easily amongst today’s generation. Although she attends school every day, Francesca Bonomo, daughter of Eileen, rarely spends time with her friends on campus. “I can message my friends when it’s convenient for us to meet up...and all of the faces I’ve seen on social media does make me a lot more open to meeting new people.”

Bonomo feels that cell phones extinguish relationships. “You can eat at dinner, but everyone will be eating separately,” she said. “If they’re not on their phones, they’ll want to be. It’s a new world.”

When comparing the social interaction between two generations, a bubble of familiarity seems to constantly surround us. A few decades ago, interaction was limited to familiar faces and genuine exchanges, but we now are surrounded by limitless opportunities to branch out and exercise our technological advancements. Although technology hinders direct interpersonal relationships, the Granite Bay community enable close, face-to-face relations to remain intact.

OPINION

Fall 2015

GPA vs.

Standarized Testing

by Cailin Lopez

Standardized testing and total GPAs are the way all students are evaluated. However, testing has become the main way students are judged on their education, making it unreliable in comparison to a student’s GPA. Standardized testing has been constant in our school lives. It started when we were in elementary school and took STAR tests that evaluated how we were learning in our everyday subjects. As we grew and began high school, we completed the new Common Core Tests. They were meant to evaluate how we, as a whole, comprehend the knowledge given to us. However, there are faults in the evaluations. Standardized tests don’t account for each individual and their circumstances.

All students test differently. Some panic,

A Regressing Nation

by Sonia Matheus

To be a “nuclear family” in the United States in the 1950s meant that a household consisted of a husband, wife, and two children. The man had to be a working father, the wife a stay-at-home mother, and the children loving and obedient. Conformity to look like the stereotype of white Americans was underscored by an intense anxiety; revolutions in Russia and waves of powerful Fascist majorities in Germany proved how destructive rebellion or radial thought could be. Cold War beliefs are now bubbling to the surface once more as Americans continue to revert to the harsh partialities of xenophobia and WASP political values.

After the attacks of Sept. 11th, the nation’s psyche closed in on itself and became insular and ethnocentric. Fourteen years later, as struggling Syrian refugees seek asylum from a war-torn region, Americans and their politicians are hesitant to accept

Gender Inequality

by Kristin Thompson

Gender inequality in sports has been an issue existing for decades. Stereotypes have developed throughout the years with male, female and mixed gender sports team.

Women’s sports are less publicized and women have experienced major differences in pay compared to male figures in the same sport.

One of the most watched sports in America is the male dominated sport, baseball. During baseball season, there are several channels showing professional football games. However, if you were trying to find a softball game, the search would be much more difficult. Softball is less publicized resulting in fewer tickets sold and a decrease in salaries. The average professional women’s softball salary is around six thousand dollars. The average professional men’s baseball salary can be from up in

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some need more than the time allotted for them, while others thrive under pressure. Few have the advantage to succeed through the stress. These tests don’t take into account the fact that the student could happen to be having a bad day, which will hinder their ability to focus. It would be more accurate to evaluate a student’s GPA through the years to see their true potential.

A GPA shows administrators and teachers how a student works and the effort they put into their classes. On the other hand, testing only reports what a student was able to answer correctly, whether they actually knew it or guessed.

Additionally, the SAT is completely dissimilar to the way we learn in school.

The College Board, the creators of the test, forms the questions in unique ways. They have the intention of wanting students to figure out what the question is asking and

then see how quickly they can correctly answer all questions. These tests don’t examine what students have learned but only how they test. That is why more students are leaning towards taking the ACTs, that are more geared toward school-based knowledge.

Common Core testing has been implemented into our school system, testing English and math performance. This is guided by a standard goal for each grade level “so they can be prepared to succeed in college, career, and life” as stated on corestandards.org. However, not every student sets the same goals for themselves. Some feel it is necessary to take AP Calculus and AP Statistics before they graduate, while others think managing to pass Algebra 2 is all they need to do. No decision is right or wrong, but those students should not be tested the same way. They don’t have the

same values and may hold different goal for themselves then what California says is the standard for life, college, and a career.

I don’t think it is right for colleges and PHOTO/Milan French school administrators to base a student’s ability on how they were able to perform during a test. I think that teachers know the best ways to test their students knowledge on material they have all covered in class. GPAs should become more useful when evaluating a student’s ability rather than standardized testing.

Middle-Easterners due to the fear that terrorists lurk among their numbers. Parallel beliefs hatched among society in the 1950s, for fear of communists sparked the “Red Scare” and politicians like Joseph McCarthy created a “witch hunt” for the dissenters, who were mostly of immigrant background.

Both mentalities, present and past, exist of pure xenophobic reactions: a fear or hatred of people from other countries.

Although the U.S. strives to be country based on democratic ideals, we are frightened by extremism in the world and see any relative form of such as a threat.

Because ISIS poses such threat, people have reactionary, irrational biases towards the disparate beliefs within their ideologies. Demagogue Donald Trump and presidential candidate Mike

Huckabee have proclaimed through their nativist beliefs that it is unsafe for America to accept Syrian refugees because “a bad nut” hides among them, and that “only Christian Syrians” can be trusted. It is exclusive, prejudicial, and irrational, all which are human errors that are caused by pervasive anxiety. This anxiety is detrimental to our idealistic, progressive tendencies as a nation. Blind nationalism, the ignorant belief that one’s country is flawless without proper assessment of its flaws, is the belief that can bring the downfall of intelligence. Politicians that entice Americans by latching PHOTO/Sonia Matheus onto this myopic nationalism and xenophobic beliefs are encouraging a mentality that was thought to have been erased long ago. It is necessary to comprehend that emotion must be extracted from

the greater picture and politicians, teachers, and students must not react with fervent hatred and paranoia as we did in the 1950s, but with an open mind.

Sociological cycles are created by the shifting mentalities in American society.

During the Reconstruction era after the Civil War, big banks and corruption ravaged economics, but then Teddy Roosevelt and the Progressives enforced an era of refurbishment that reduced the decadence and raised moral standards. After the Progressive era then came an extreme opulent decade of the 1920s, which sought to balance out the stringent moral values of the years before of lavish parties and corporate monopolies. This sociological see-saw is a real force and if aware of it we can learn from our past and plot where we are heading. Our current regression to nativist, conservative ideologies prominent in the 1950s can be considered another part of our sociological cycle. But, we must assess the adverse, prejudicial aspects of our conservatism so that civil liberties, rights, and feelings are not objectified.

the early one million to four million. This extreme pay difference for baseball and softball players is caused by baseball being more publicized.

Football players and cheerleaders are the classic example of stereotypes with males on the field with the cheerleaders on the side rooting for the players. Men’s professional football is a serious game with over millions of fans watching each year. Women’s football exists but it’s taken less serious than men’s football. Women’s football league involves ladies dressed up in lingerie to make them look more ‘sexy’ with small shoulder pads to “protect” them even though they are practically bare skinned. There are more serious versions of women’s football teams out there but most women who participate on those teams are taken less seriously than the lingerie teams because the women players are ‘too manly.’

Female UFC fighter’s face many of the same difficulties as women football players. The UFC was originated in 1993 for

men only. It took nearly nineteen years for women to be allowed to participate in the UFC, ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey being the first female fighter to be in the Octagon in 2012.

Women’s martial arts skyrocketed and allowed more women to participate in mixed martial arts, but still are not able to be taken as serious as male fighters. They are taken either as “weak” or “too muscular.”

Women are not the only people who have experienced sports inequality. Males in cheerleading or ballet are stereotyped as ‘homosexual’ or ‘too girly’ because they do a sport that is dominated by females. There has not been one male cheerleader for the NFL but there are hundreds of female cheerleaders cheering at many NFL games.

These sports themselves have the incorrect reputation for being ‘easy’ and not requiring much effort or time, when in reality they spend as much time or more as other athletes do too.

Men and women both face difficulties socially in gender biased sports. These

If a varsity boys and a varsity girls basketball game were happening at the same time, which game would you attend?

thoughts of discrimination can lower parents, players and coaches expectations without experiencing the sport. The stereotypical reputations that belong to each sport are slowly disappearing, and can be achieved if sport communities work directly for gender equality in every sport. Overtime, sports inequality will hopefully fade out, but it can only be done by taking action and allowing equal rights to each gender and game.

Fall 2015

Made in the A.M.

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REVIEW

Chef’s Table

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by Ray Lavrador

by Tatum Rice

One Direction released their long awaited fifth album “Made in the A.M.” on November 13, 2015. This is their first album released after band member Zayn left in March. All other four albums released by the boys were made with touring in mind but. Now these boys had the chance to build an album that they were making just for listening. No big tour will be happening following this album because the boys will be leaving on a one year break.

Many albums released these days have an electronic mix in the background giving somewhat of a futuristic feel. One Direction instead focuses on more of an ‘authentic’ feel by adding violins and acoustic guitars within. While listening to the album, I kept relating it back to the Beatles, for it made me feel like I was with the boys in the recording studio just having a good time. One song that would not get out of my head was “Wolves.” Each of the boy’s vocals is presented wonderfully throughout the song, and they are all equally strong.

“Hands down ‘If I Could Fly’ is my all time favorite and I loved how the slow song differed from the other more upbeat songs on the album,” senior Jennah Qunell said. “If I Could Fly” contains only the boys singing and a slow piano melody in the background. It gives you a feeling that you are all alone with the boys, and they are singing a love song to you. It is a song that

Fallout 4

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is completely deconstructed and bare of all the loud noises you would usually hear in a modern love song. “I am happy that this is the album the boys are leaving with,” senior Makenna Johnson said. This album’s message is a way to tell the fans not to worry about them taking a break giving reassurance that they plan to come back to make more music.

For the past five years these boys have been on an endless working journey. Now they will finally be able to take some time off for themselves, but they don’t want the fans to think they are leaving for good.

Each song gives an an inside look into the boys’ thought process behind the album, and how they want it to be perceived.

This album is a way for the boys to show the world their true talent and capabilities.

It showcases the mature side of One Direction, and allows everyone to get excited for when they return from their break. It is obvious that these boys put everything they have into their music and are here for their fans. Made in the A.M. was the fifth and definitely most outstanding album from One Direction.

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It’s dark out- and a dusty thunderstorm is booming in the distance, full of radiation from the atmosphere. A deathclaw is slowly lumbering coming closer, it’s devilish horns casting a shadow through the lightning.

This is just the beginning of what happens in the new Fallout 4 video game. There are many new features for this game, such as a new perk and leveling system, which was well received by the consumers. Despite the particular glitches in the script that create problems for playthroughs, the new game has fans of the series frenzied to buy their own copies soon.

One of the new features which is one of the most notable changes that players love it is base building. This massive new addition has changed the gameplay; now manage your own settlement and assign settlers jobs, such as farming or guarding a given area. One of my favorite new features is that you can upgrade weaponry and your apparel. For example, a baseball can be used to defend yourself or be upgraded to do more damage by putting chains on it.

For armor, a vault dweller jumpsuit can be worn or have added leather shoulderpads to increase its defense ranking. Over the development of the franchise, there have been changes to the series’ toughest enemy: the Deathclaw. They appear to be more agile than previous ones. Before, they were more hunchbacked, while they now seem

SPECTRE

by Victoria Da Conceicao

by Shelby Khatami

Most of my restaurant encounters result in disappointment when it comes to the food, presentation, or service. Recently, however I found a restaurant that was able to meet all my standards of perfection.

Chef ’s Table is a small restaurant in Rocklin that serves gourmet, alternative American food at a fair price. While the menu changes daily, there are a few staple items that remain on the menu due to popularity.

The food presentation was beautiful and delicate, and the impeccable taste was not sacrificed in this pursuit. The meal began with a side of beer battered french fries, coated in pesto sauce and swiss cheese.

When ordering this dish, I was a bit worried that the pesto would be too overwhelming.

However, when I tried the fries, I realized that I was far from the case. The fries had a texture that was just right and they didn’t have too much salt- something that many restaurants are guilty of. There was a slight hint of pesto sauce that left me wanting to eat more fries. The swiss cheese drizzled on top was a perfect touch to the dish as it gave the fries a richer feel.

Next, I had pan seared scallops which paired with citrus braised chioggia beets, red wine braised beets, navel oranges, and blood orange syrup. Prior to this, I had only eaten scallops once and I was not a fan.

Although I was reluctant to order them, everything about the dish was amazing.

The presentation was neat, and the flavors paired perfectly together. I am a fairly picky

On November 6, the the 24th installment of the James Bond series, Spectre, was released. Loved by audiences, the movie has all the trademark features of a Bond movie: guns, car chases and women. However, while Spectre may have been visually entertaining, the newest addition of the Bond series was fairly predictable, and by sticking to the “Bond” formula, Spectre falls into the same rudimentary stereotype for action moives.

Spectre begins where Skyfall left off, secret agent James Bond (Daniel Craig)is on a mission in Mexico City, where he kills two men planning to bomb a stadium, as well as an assassin, Marco Sciarra where he steals Sciarra’s ring. Bond goes to Sciarra’s funeral, despite being told not to by M, (Ralph Fiennes) the head of the MI6. At Sciarra’s funeral, Sciarra’s widow, Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci) tells Bond of a Criminal organization known as Spectre, and that her husband belonged to this syndicate. Bond then travels to Rome.

Spectre has a sleek, sexy style about it, like that of Skyfall- the clothes, cars, and women all added to the dark and brooding nature of this film. Disregarding the fact that this film was a run-of-the-mill action movie, Spectre had elements that exceed the previous Bond movies, such as the impeccable acting from Daniel Craig who convincely portrays the slow descent into a cutthroat, cold-blooded spy that James Bond is supposed to be, as well as Lea Sey-

eater, so I do not like beets. However, the beets in this dish were great! The way that they were braised in red wine provided a special taste that left me wondering why I always refused to eat beets in the past.

After this, I tried the lobster mac and cheese- which was, by far, the best mac and cheese that I had ever tried. I really appreciated how the chefs took a basic dish like mac and cheese and gave it their own special flare. The dish contained sun dried tomatoes, jalapeños, and crumbled potato chips on top. The jalapeños were a great addition to the dish because with every spoonful came a kick of spice that really enhanced the flavor. This ingredient is what took it from basic mac and cheese to an decacdent dish with an explosion of flavors.

To finish off I had their signature bacon brownie sundae. This sundae, a permanent menu item, was served as a warm chocolate brownie and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top with drizzled caramel.

However, this brownie was not typical. In fact, it featured the most subtle taste of bacon. The bacon factor made it so much more exciting.

All in all, the food served at Chef ’s Table is of the most superior quality and I would highly recommend it for those who want a delicious meal for a fair price.

more upright in stature, and much larger and reptilian-like.

Some people who have already bought the game have unfortunately experienced glitches, but aren’t game-breaking. For instance, the game would crash when trying to start it up on PC and consoles, such as the PS4. The way to fix this would be having to update the software and the game files, which is a tedious task.

One part about the game has riled up some gamers. The parts that Bethesda, a video game publisher, developed actually annoys certain players. What Bethesda did was improve the combat AI for the enemies, giving them more common sense, such as finding cover during a fight. Yet, improving a small part about the game, makes players angered Fallout 4 was well received by the public, most of whom enjoy the improvements since seven years ago. Fans have already started to think about the new locations that a Fallout 5 should take place. First Southern California, then Oregon and Washington D.C., then Las Vegas, and finally to Boston, but now where else?

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doux, who stunningly plays Dr. Swan with grace, and further deviated a little further from the typical Bond girls of the 23 films that came before Spectre. Furthermore, the plot was undeniably entertaining, Director Sam Mendes composes an equally mysterious and engaging plot that skillfully intertwined some of the previous Bond movies.

However, while the acting and plot was executed skillfully, Mendes failed to part from the redundant stereotype of a typical action movie. While the stereotypical aspects of these movies such as the car chases, fights, exotic landscapes, and stunningly beautiful Bond girls, obviously satisfied audiences, these elements are simply overused. It has have just become plainly annoying to watch again and again the repetitive action movie tropes.

And while Spectre may be, for the most part, just another stereotypical action movie, Spectre brings exceptional elements to the table such as a sleek, sophisticated style, an engrossing and mysterious plot, and, impeccable acting. These elements propel Spectre to outshine its predecessors, making this a film definitely worth seeing.

FEATURE

Holiday events near you

Local festivities to celebrate the holiday season

BY TESSA OUSHAN and SONIA MATHEUS

I

f you find yourself not knowing what to do during the holidays, fear not. This December, a plethora of holiday events are taking place in the Sacramento region.

Each lively celebration offers cheer and spirit for the whole family--a much needed respite from everyday life.

Christmas Is in the Air Santa will be at the center of the Roseville Galleria near JCPenney Nov. 14 through Dec. 24. Young kids can sit on his lap, tell them their wish list, and even get their picture taken with him. Right next to the Galleria, merely a block away, the Hyatt Hotel is hosting a seasonal promotion. Families can ice skate and warm up with a swig

of hot chocolate with a one night stay at the Hyatt for only $99. If you don’t want to stay at the Hyatt, but you want to ice skate, you just need to pay for ice skating separately. The promotion runs from Dec.5 through Dec. 31.

Feeding the Needy Loaves and Fishes, a private charity and program that bathes, feeds, and provides shelter for the homeless, is also involved in the giving spirit. Families can visit and deliver supplies to the shelter, located on Richard Blvd at 1351 North C St. in Sacramento, every Thursday in the morning. One can deliver diapers, jackets, sleeping bags, food, strollers, and even give gift cards to the less fortunate. Anyone can stop by their Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. to make donations. In addition to regular donations, people can participate in their “Adopt a Family” program--a program in which privileged families can provide an overabundance of basic needs and shelter for families in vulnerable situations on for the Christmas holiday.

Sweat Off the Sweets Folsom will host their second annual Christmas Classic 5K and 10K walk/run through the beautiful courses along the Humbug and Willow Creek Trails on Dec. 19. The race starts at Lembi Park, 1302 Riley Street, Folsom, CA. Each participant receives a t-shirt, can participate in a raffle and win prizes. All money raised funds the Keaton Raphael Memorial in support of cancer research.

It’s Time to Light the Lights Old Sacramento has also decided to join in on Holiday fun with the Macy’s Theater of Lights. There you can go see the 58 foot Christ-

mas tree being lit up as the Macy’s Christmas parade marches by along with a light show and decorations on the balconies of the Old Sacramento businesses. The showtimes for the upcoming parade are Friday, December 18 through Sunday, December 27 at 6:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., and a special showing on December. 31 at 7:00p.m. and 8:30p.m. Performers will even be there to read “twas the night before christmas”.

Brighten the Night

A spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks show in Old Sacramento is taking place on the last night of the year. There will be children’s and street entertainment, live music, vendors and refreshments, plus a renowned fireworks display starting at 9 p.m. and ending on midnight. The fun begins at 6 p.m. Front Street, Old Sacramento.

FRONT/BACK PHOTOS/Shelby Khatami