Ever Wonder What Touring is Like?
Ocampo’s Goodbye to MHS Page 4
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February 2012
Teachers strut their stuff! Page 5 Page 2
Manzano High School
Volume LII Issue IV
Making the Grade:
APS’s new school grading system and how Manzano fared Sean Cairns 2012 By now, most teachers, students, and parents are probably familiar with the new evaluation system that is being used by the state to judge the performance of schools. For those who aren’t familiar, schools are now given a letter grade, “A”-“F”, that is based on standardized criteria. Seems like a good idea at first glance, right? Here are the problems: there are far too many questions about how the evaluation is conducted, there are obvious discrepancies among the different categories of the evaluation, and then, of course, there is the human element, without which the entire education system would be pointless. Another problem so far is that there has been no constructive criticism coming out of any of the evaluations, and many high school students and staff members are left to wonder why they earned the grade they did. Furthermore, some of the categories that are being evaluated are extremely vague, like “Current Standing,” which is supposed to judge the current year’s students based on test scores; but the document does not say which test scores, which students are being evaluated, or if only the top or bottom of a class are being factored in. Assistant principal Ken Tuley stressed the importance of having a reliable grading system that gives students and staff a concise report of what needs to be improved in the school. More Questions Than Answers As of now, schools have more questions than answers about why they got the grades that they did. What is troubling is the appearance of major discrepancies in the data among schools. For example, Manzano got a “B” overall, and Albuquerque High got an “A”. One would probably jump to the conclusion of, “There must be things that they do better than we do,” but it’s not that simple. Looking at the numeric portion of the grades that schools got, there are some troubling curves that appear in more than one category. Manzano got a “B” in the category of “Current Standing,” but the numeric score reads as a 15.3 out of 30, which is roughly a 50%. 50% at any school, at least in New Mexico, is an “F”. Why that counted as a “B” is unknown. What’s more baffling is that looking at the category of “Graduation,” which is something that is much more easily qualified. Manzano received a “D” in this category, and oddly, when the math is done, the average numeric score comes out to be a “D”. The question here is why does one category have such a huge curve on it? These aren’t the only questions either. Albuquerque High did match Manzano in its “Current Standing,” grade, but received an “F” in graduation. The question here is why did Albuquerque High receive an overall “A” when it failed one of its categories and Manzano passed all of its criteria? The short answer is Continued on page 4
The article on the left explains the picture above. The article below explains Mrs. Carroll’s thoughts on the state of our school. Photo courtesy of Billy Huntsman.
State of the School:
beginning of 2012?
How is Manzano doing at the
Meadow Butler 2013 The Paw Print recently spoke with Manzano Principal Therese Carroll concerning how the school was doing entering 2012. PP:What are some major changes students have not three but four ensure that all students graduate you plan on incorporating into the credits of math completed, with from high school prepared to school this year? Algebra II being the minimum enroll in college. The trouble TC: I’ve been focused for the level completed over four years. with waiting until senior year past five years on changes the New And a third new requirement is to take an AP, Honors, or Dual Mexico State Legislature put into a that students complete one credit Credit course for the first time is law called the High School Redesign in either an Honors, Advanced that many students didn’t take the Act. This law requires all high school Placement, Dual Credit, or preparatory courses leading up to students who graduate from 2013 and Distance Education course. these more rigorous options. beyond to have completed a more I’ve been a little worried about So, my main focus for change rigorous course load than ever before. this third requirement for several this year has been to develop I’ve been working with counselors, reasons. At the beginning of this Distance Education courses that teachers, parents, and our Class of school year, less than half of our we can offer students at Manzano 2013 to ensure we’re all doing what juniors had already completed or to meet this requirement and we can to graduate these juniors on were successfully enrolled in one graduate on time. time. One of the new requirements of these courses. I also noticed Distance Education classes are is that students complete one career that the students who tended to just as rigorous as the first three readiness credit in either a Career enroll in Honors, AP, or Dual options because they require Technical Education class, a Modern Credit classes at CNM or UNM time management, organizational & Classical Languages class, or a tended to be the same students skills, and self-discipline for Practical Arts class. I’m happy to say taking all three kinds of classes independent learning. I’m very that all members of the Class of 2013 traditionally considered “college- happy that I’ve been able to have already met this requirement or bound”. The truth is that this High recruit teachers from our faculty are enrolled in one of these classes School Redesign law was passed who were willing to attend a 10now. A second new requirement is that by the New Mexico Legislature to week class that APS designed for Continued on page 5
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Extremely Passionate and Disappointing
Billy Huntsman 2012 There is a saying for when you lose a loved one, that you never get over it; you simply find a new norm. And that’s what Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is about, despite other movie reviews proclaiming that the film is about trying to overshadow the tragedy of September 11th with a feel-good story. That’s false, because that’s impossible; it’s the greatest tragedy to ever befall this nation. On the surface the film depicts the journey of nine-year-old Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn), who finds a key Billy is the Paw Print’s in a vase that belonged to film critic his father, Thomas (Tom Hanks, “Forrest Gump”), a victim of September 11th. So, in the spirit of keeping his father’s memory alive, neurotic little Oskar sets about scavenging the five boroughs of New York City, searching for whatever the key may open. And while on this trek, Oskar comes across a multitude of characters who could only exist in a movie based in New York. These include Viola Davis (Doubt), my boy John Goodman (The Big Lebowski), and Max von Sydow (The Exorcist), who portrays a character known only as The Renter, a mute who communicates via “yes” and “no” written on his palms, as well as
Critics’ Corner
with a small notepad and a Sharpie. That’s the superficial story. Underneath, however, is where the meat of the story lies. Oskar’s mother, Linda (my favorite actress Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side), is rocked by her husband’s death, but instead of falling into her own grief, she attempts to help Oskar work through his emotions, because he was much closer to his father than with his mother. Despite her efforts, Oskar keeps her at a distance, obviously angry that she’s alive and his father isn’t, and this only encourages Linda’s survivor’s guilt. Even more deeply, the film is about the other people Oskar meets; people who despite their eccentricities, all share a commonality in 9/11. And that’s where the real story lies. To quote Doubt, “‘Your bond with your fellow being was your despair.’” Because in tragedies like 9/11—like JFK’s assassination, like Pearl Harbor—we as a nation, as a people, can come together and comfort each other. That’s truly what the film is about— the observation, the acceptance, and the convalescence of a society by coming together. Now was it a good film? No, in all honesty. And truthfully there wasn’t one particular thing that crippled the film; it’s a number of things. However, most prominently in my mind
May the Odds Always Be in Your Favor
Amanda Sims 2012 Could you imagine living in a world without freedom? A land in which the reigning government has to prove its power by forcing innocent children to kill each other off until there is only one survivor? A land in which such an activity is mere entertainment for people? What about being picked to be one of those contestants? Or worse--the sister you love more than anything gets picked instead of you? Katniss Everdeen is rapidly becoming the definition of hardcore. She is a rebel in a land of complete tyranny. District 12—the mining section of Panem—is a little lax on their rules, however. This, and the lack of electricity running through their surrounding fences allow Katniss to hunt with her Amanda is the Paw best friend, Gale. Hunting is a Print’s book critic skill her father taught her before he died. Her only focus since his passing has been keeping food on the table for her mother and sister. She has no idea what is in store for her. The Hunger Games are held every year as a reminder that the Capitol--the government of the land--is in absolute control of everything; they can even force children to slaughter each other. A boy and a girl are chosen from each of the 12 Districts. When Katniss’ sister, Prim, is selected to participate in the Hunger Games, Katniss sees no other way—she volunteers to take Prim’s place. In one moment, Katniss’ entire life flips upside down. But even she can’t imagine the impact her life will have on the future of Panem. Personally, I love The Hunger Games Series. It is everything I have been looking for in a novel since “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”. This is the kind of novel teenagers should be reading, not junk like Twilight. Suzanne Collins is a brilliant author. The story is exquisitely paced. Rather than running through Katniss’ past at the beginning, Collins takes the reader on a journey that slowly unfolds Katniss until the reader understands, or believes to understand her. For example, the mockingjay pin that is
This year, the Paw Print’s critics are using an “A+ -- F” grading scale
C-
are two: one, Horn in the lead role; and, two, the writing. I’m not going to drop a hate-bomb on Thomas Horn—seeing as he’s only 15 and that this was his first venture into any type of acting, and clearly we all have to start somewhere, right?—but he quite frankly just doesn’t have the experience, skill, or charisma to handle the lead part of a twohour feature film. But I did get the idea that he’s a very enthusiastic actor, and that gives me hope that he’ll get better. The poor writing, however, came as a shock to me. Screenwriter Eric Roth also penned the screenplay for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and won an Oscar for his Forrest Gump screenplay. So how could he have fallen so short with Extremely Loud? I think the error lies within the very story-matter itself. Based on Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel of the same name, the story seems shallow in its concept of Oskar looking for what the key fits, and seems too indifferent to its much deeper idea that in times of tragedy people band together for strength. Now let me make myself clear: when I say this film isn’t good, I think some of that is my own fault. Because when I first saw the trailer for the film, hearing U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” in the background, seeing Sandra Bullock and John Goodman and Viola Davis, I was inspired, and I instantly developed high hopes for this film. So in the respect that the film did not live
A+
given to her by Madge, a childhood acquaintance, sparks the memory of times when her father took her hunting. “Whenever my father sang, all the birds in the area would fall silent and listen. His voice was that beautiful, high and clear and so filled with life it made you want to laugh and cry at the same time,” (page 43). Not to mention the amazing main character, Katniss Everdeen. She is everything a girl strives to be—tough, pretty, and able to hold her own ten times over in a fight to the death. Collins surprises the reader at every turn and, while I have found that any experienced reader can predict how a novel or series will end, I don’t think anybody could have seen this one coming. I give her an A+ for an incredible series that blew me off my feet. Now, to address The Hunger Games film, the trailer appears promising. They seem to have done a good job casting Katniss and Suzanne Collins is writing the screenplay, hence the familiar lines we hear in the trailer. Favorite quote: “I keep wishing I could think of a way to… to show the Capitol they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their Games,” (page 142). If you have an idea for a story, would like to see more of a certain section, or if you would like to place an ad, please see Mr. Kraus in room K-212 or email the Paw Print at manzanopawprint@yahoo.com
To the right in bold are Billy’s predicted Oscar winners; these are who he wants to win, not who he thinks will win. They’re probably all wrong. The ceremony is on Sunday, February 26th.
up to my expectations, it’s bad. But it’s a Stephen Daldry film, how couldn’t I have had high hopes? Daldry; who directed Billy Elliott and The Hours and The Reader, all three phenomenal films, of course I had high hopes! And that’s not to say that blame should be put on the director; quite the opposite. It’s a very ambitious film, and anyone can tell that tremendous effort was put into the production, and there is passion in every line and every expression; and maybe this is why Max von Sydow, whose character doesn’t have one line of spoken dialogue, and who is probably the film’s most intriguing but most unfulfilled and insubstantial character, received a Best Supporting Actor nomination; and in addition the film has received a Best Picture nomination at the 84th Oscars. But despite this, the film just doesn’t work. Of course, that didn’t stop everyone around me in the theater from crying. I didn’t cry— some people think I’m a sociopath, whatever— but I can certainly see why other people cried, particularly if they personally lost someone in 9/11. Almost every character in the film cries at some point or another, how couldn’t you cry? But I need more from a movie than for it just to induce tears from those around me; I need substance; and I think you do as well. Billy’s must-see film of the month: Steve McQueen’s Hunger
Major Oscar Nominations Best Picture: The Artist The Descendants Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close The Help Hugo Midnight in Paris Moneyball The Tree of Life War Horse
Best Actor: Demián Bichir, A Better Life George Clooney, The Descendants Jean Dujardin, The Artist Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Brad Pitt, Moneyball Best Actress: Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs Viola Davis, The Help Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn Best Director: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life Alexander Payne, The Descendants Martin Scorsese, Hugo Best Supporting Actor: Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn Jonah Hill, Moneyball Nick Nolte, Warrior Christopher Plummer, Beginners Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Best Supporting Actress: Bérénice Bejo, The Artist Jessica Chastain, The Help Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs Octavia Spencer, The Help
Critics’ Corner An Inside Joke
D
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Sandy Nguyen 2014 The one thing I hate about horror movies is how almost all of them show all the good parts in the previews. Because of that, you, the viewing audience as well as I, can get the jist of an hour and a half movie in little more than thirty seconds. The Devil Inside, directed by William Brent Bell, is a diabolic faux documentary about a woman named Maria Rossi (Susan Crowley) who murdered three people, but who claims she was possessed by a demon at the time. Twenty years later after the murders, Maria’s daughter, Isabella (Fernanda Andrade), visits her mother in a Catholic psychiatric hospital in Rome to find out about her mother’s possession by filming her. After meeting two priests, Ben (Simon Quarterman) and David (Evan Helmuth), they help Isabella perform an exorcism on her mother. All horror movies are very similar these days: one of the main characters gets possessed, the other character films the supernatural activity, there’s a priest trying to make peace, and possibly a dog barking, the whole enchilada! It’s not scary at all, and, plus, it’s as formulaic as exorcism movies go. Let’s just have a little girl twist her head all the way around, vomit some mucousy substance across her bedroom, and then crawl down the stairs like a crab, I’ll get in touch with William Peter Blatty and see if he wants to pen the novelization of the film. To say the least, Devil Inside isn’t going to Sandy is the Paw Print’s junior film critic make you wet your pants. It’s basically another version of The Last Exorcism and Paranormal Activity, all in one film. The second the movie ends, you will instantly start to pray that there won’t be a sequel to this movie, knowing that the case of the Rossi family hasn’t been solved yet. The Devil Inside is not a scary movie; it is possessed by wretchedness. It literally makes you forget how to scream. The film was horrible, the storyline was supposed to be focused on the Rossi family but instead it drifted off to a horrible ending. The film industry should have a mandate that bad movies at least have a decent ending before being released to theaters. The acting was bad and not convincing at all. The producers tried too hard to make it look real--an eight-year-old could’ve done so much better. The ending won’t leave you speechless; it leaves a foul taste in your mouth, and that’s because of all the feces the film forces down your gullet for an hour and a half. For all of you who saw this movie, I’m sorry this review didn’t come out earlier to discourage you from wasting your money; but if you have seen it, I’m sure you fully agree with me. To conclude, The Devil Inside is a terrible effort produced by amateurish filmmakers, enabled by stupid producers and financiers, and brought to a grueling realization by terrible actors.
B
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Halo for a New Generation
Bree Vargas 2013 Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is the remastered version of the first ever Halo game, released November 15, 2011, to celebrate its ten-year anniversary, created by 343 Industries and Certain Affinity. This synopsis is for the very few individuals out there who have no idea what Halo is about: a cybernetic super-soldier known as Master Chief is the last of his kind who have been awoken from their cryogenic slumber to defend the world from the Covenant, an alliance of aliens sent from hell to destroy all of humanity. Since the game is a refurbished version of the first Halo, some things have been changed up a bit, but nothing big. The maps have gone through a slight update; Master Chief still looks fancy; favorite weapons have been brought back; the graphics have been touched up and now are on-par with modern-day graphics; and the campaign now offers a co-op mode. Halo campaigns have never disappointed, but in this version the level designs lack their attention-grabbing effects, which has the player adjusting to the new levels Bree is the Paw Print’s video game critic when they begin their journey. The story can be a bit frustrating because you’re constantly running through corridors that look alike, and the player will often find himself retracing his steps due to the repetitive layout of the levels. If you’re an enthusiast of Halo enough to play this edition, the developers at 343 Industries clearly want to reward you as much as possible. To make the game different from the one ten years ago, they’ve hidden a game-altering skull and backstory-revealing (which could possibly be a Halo 4 teaser) terminal in every mission. This made the game more interesting. Even though every level is structured the same way, every weapon functions the same, all the vehicles are handled alike, and every enemy behaves the same way, the game still reaches its max potential. With this modern game, I found myself far less into the role of Master Chief due to several gaps caused by an uncooperative movement system. The laggy gameplay, constant jumping, and terrible Kinect voice commands were the few downfalls in this game. An FPS (first-person shooter) should have nothing to do with Kinect voice command. I find nothing appealing about sitting on my couch shouting “Grenade!” or “Pause/play” at my Kinect system across my room when I could easily move my finger to do such simple tasks. Halo: CEA is well-designed, and just a great game to sit down and play for hours and just relax. The game is so realistic it really gives you the idea of what an alien invasion would be like.
On the Road Again David Jio 2013 A walk downtown is a journey that can be a vivid bombardment of art and culture; from the booming nightclubs and those inebriated sidewalk dancers smiling in ecstasy to the tile murals and building-side wall art, the amount of color and abstract splendor that accompany the very existence of nightlife is undeniably presented in an effort to promote a “good time”. Another facet that influences the lives of many, perhaps without their realization, is the endless cascade of concert flyers plastered across the windows and walls of venues, restaurants, and clubs announcing musicians on tour, when they’ll be performing somewhere, and where to buy tickets. These simple, stylized sheets of paper appear as gateways to distant shows; emissaries of a fun night to look forward to. Little do many know about the importance of the dates printed on that small flyer, the otherworldly amount of work that provides a backstory to the flyer, and the unique yet difficult lifestyles that those performing at each of those dates lead and face. Enter the world of touring. While the common perception of touring is filled with the arena rock image of lavish hedonism and classic ’80s debauchery, it can actually be a tireless effort by struggling musicians to push themselves forward and do what they love. “The touring experience can be glitzy and lavish, but it’s rare,” said Michael Wieclaw, who has toured with various bands, including his current band, David is the Paw Print’s Music Is The Enemy. Wieclaw has done marketing on the recent electronic tour Identity Fest, as well as working on every Vans Warped Tour to date since ’03. music critic “Touring is what you make of it,” said Wieclaw. “You can be like some artists who have rules to where you can’t get on the bus or in the van without taking a shower and brushed teeth, or you can be like bands whose vans smell and look like the inside of a rotting animal. All of which depends on how much money you make.” Matt Whittet, UK electronic music producer and label owner who’s spent 10 years of his life on various DJing tours, said that the biggest misconception he comes across with being a touring DJ is the idea of “24/7 partying”. “I’m a realist,” Whittet said. “Yes, I DJ at [parties], but that’s my job; I keep everyone having a good night.” The definition of what constitutes a music tour is varied; it can be anything from a multi-platinum musician living a lavish, excessive lifestyle, to an unknown local band doing their best to bring their music to the ears of those across the country. Although many small touring bands can “miss the point”, there is a common purpose for touring: pushing the music as a brand/product to increase its popularity. “Bands tour in order to sell their product,” said Wieclaw. “Not hang out, do nothing, and play shows in the hopes that something magical or fairytale-like will happen.” The names that appear on those flyers littering the walls of coffeeshops often tell a story; a tale of hopes and dreams, tested out on the road with the stark simultaneous contrast of an unseen business side. “The biggest issue with touring is money,” said John Luzietti, vocalist of deathcore band The Scarlet Ruse., with which he’s played three tours both supporting and headlining. “Bring enough cash to cover yourself and to help with gas. If you don’t do this, your tour will be cut short and you will have to drive home early. It happens all the time to a lot of bands that I know. Unfortunately, talent doesn’t fill your gas tank and your stomach.” The struggle is compounded with the fact that a touring musician is essentially promoting their product. “It’s truly a balance between profit and loss, working 24 hours a day, and pushing your business/product forward,” said Wieclaw. Struggle and hard work often go unseen to the average concert-goer, but even for those musicians for whom it pays off, the lifestyle can have its existential downsides. “It’s funny how humble you become when you aren’t in your own area and are relying on people to watch your band in order to eat that night. You really begin to look at the whole picture,” said Luzietti. The force that drives musicians to turn their life into a travelling business venture full of stress and uncertainty, though, is powerful enough to justify it and make it ultimately well worth it; not only financially, but philosophically and spiritually. For many musicians, the love of music is what compels them to continue to persevere, and the lifestyle can ultimately be seen as a life’s calling to the artists that embark on it unapologetically and happily. “I think that it helps people realize what they love and why they do what they do,” said Luzietti. “When you’re in a band, you are constantly judged and accused of being a slacker, but nothing is more exhilarating than being on a stage with your best friends. That is what it’s all about.”
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School News
Continued from page one “Grade” that some categories weigh heavier than others do; but why is anyone’s guess. Only the legislators who passed this new grading system know that information. Despite some confusion, the one tidbit of information that has been revealed is the group of students being compared. Demographics and Discrepancies The State Legislation did release that it compares schools by population. (In this case, demographics, not the number of students.) Unfortunately, there are certain assumptions that are associated with certain racial and socioeconomic demographics. Case in point, a school in a more affluent neighborhood will probably be better off cosmetically and there would most likely be an increased sense of pride in the students and staff; whereas a school in a poorer neighborhood would be more likely to have decreased morale and not be as cosmetically maintained as the other. This is where Manzano is at both an advantage and a disadvantage: Manzano has enormous amounts of interactions between races on its campus, which promotes a positive morale; but Manzano has a much more consistent population of children from middle-class families who are not poor, but who are not wealthy. “We don’t have a lot of affluence here,” said Therese Carroll, Manzano Principal. This lack of private sector
affluence in Manzano’s district may account for some of the curves in the grading scale. All or Nothing The class of 2012 is probably more than happy that the SBA is behind them, and the class of 2013 is probably dreading its approach. The SBA is now a graduation requirement, but at the same time is also supposed to measure growth. “Everything is tied to that test,” said Mr. Tuley. When Mr. Tuley says “everything,” he means everything. There is an entire category on the new grading scale for the performance of the junior class on the SBA. Not that the entire junior class is included--the description of that part of the evaluation very specifically says, “the top performing 11th graders.” From a grading standard, this means two things: 1) the scores of the 11th graders are supposed to speak for the growth of the entire school and 2), that not even 100% of the 11th graders are even being included in that statistic. This fact has many concerned due to the “No Child Left Behind” Act, which mandates that all students be proficient by 2014. Take a second to think about what that means: all students, including students in Special Education, students who are homeless, and students who
just don’t care. The Few Who Lead the Many There is a trend in sociology that in a large group of humans, there is a small minority group that leads the majority, and is more importantly responsible for the reputation of the whole. When asked if he saw this trend, Dustin Luettgen, Manzano junior, replied, “Absolutely.” Other students agree with Luettgen, that there is a definite social minority that leads the majority, and that this minority has a tendency to define the entire student body. “A relatively small group consumes more resources than they should,” said Mr. Tuley. This trend is disturbing, especially since it does not give an accurate reflection of the student body. Most of the resources are spent on roughly 30% of students--the top 10% and the bottom 20%. That still leaves the middle 70% who are usually not factored into any statistics. One common complaint among high school students is that while so many factors are taken into consideration by the surveyors, the one thing they do not take into account is what students think. Power to the People While no student thinks that Manzano
Manzano Loses a Winner Heather Fisk 2013 After 12 years of coaching Manzano High School’s football team, head coach Aaron Ocampo will be leaving. Ocampo will be transferring to Los cruces in order to coach the brand new Centennial High School football team there. The hardest part for the coach was breaking the news to his players, “especially the ones who are going to be seniors next year.” Ocampo remarked that they were the ones who made the decision tough but he has to do what’s best for his two children. He went on to say he is not worried about the outcome of next years season because of the amount of talent he knows is on the team. Ocampo said he just spoke “from the heart” when informing his team that he would be leaving at the Coach Ocampo talks with Skyler Walker. Photo courtesy of Manzano Varsity football. end of the year. “It’s a bummer for him to leave but I understand because it is better for his family,” commented junior process, he explains how Manzano has been advertising the position for and Varsity football player Skyler Walker. the past five weeks as required. He is receiving multiple applications, The town is smaller and provides more opportunities some of which are from Texas and out of the city. The cut-off date for for the family to be tighter-knit. Mrs. Ocampo’s parents applications was February 15th; then out of all the applicants five were also live in Las Cruces, giving the kids a chance to grow chosen for review by Briggs and Principal Therese Carroll. Interviews are up around their grandparents. being conducted starting February 21st. Leaving on good terms according to athletic director Among the applicants is Manzano’s own assistant coach Chad Adcox. Jim Briggs, Manzano is left in the position of looking “It would be a dream of mine to become the person in charge of the for a new head coach, who needs to be integrated into program I’ve helped build for the last nine years,” said Adcox. the system as soon as possible to maximize potential for With high hopes for the future, Coach Ocampo said the best thing he’s the upcoming season. taking away is looking back and remembering all of the kids who went In charge of the search is Briggs. Describing the through his program, improving along the way and then seeing them later
Mr. Clark gives a Valentine’s shout-out
is perfect, most of them agree that the education that is offered is at the very least adequate. “There is remarkable opportunity for achievement, regardless of race, class, or gender,” said Luettgen. The average grade that students gave the school was a high “B” to low “A” range. “I don’t see why we couldn’t have gotten an ‘A’,” said Anthony Jaramillo, Manzano senior. “Our traditions and school spirit will match anybody’s.” The biggest question now is why students’ opinions are almost never factored into the overall performance of a school. Student morale is an important thing, especially when trying to promote coercion among students. Unfortunately, in today’s world of standardized data, students are looked upon more as statistics on charts than they are living people. This is an issue that is more complicated to solve, and would involve not only a change in the thinking of adults, but a more outspoken youth than what exists today.
in life only involved in bigger and better things. “He was a good coach, putting the team before himself. Definitely one of the best coaches I’ve ever played for,” reflected senior Antonio Gutierrez, who has played for Ocampo for all four years. As the new season approaches, there is a feeling of excitement despite the remorse of Ocampo’s leaving. “Of course it will be different but I’ll still be there to support them,” said junior Kirstie Lopez, capturing the general feeling.
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“Being ignorant is not a sin; but choosing to be ignorant is the greatest sin of all.” -Shane Esposito
to his 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th period classes!
School News
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February 2012
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Continued from page one “State” certifying online instructors. Two of those teachers, Mr. Cook and Ms. Huynh, agreed to pilot courses for me after school to help some of these Jrs. get ahead on their credits. Mr. Cook is teaching Spanish I and Ms. Huynh is teaching English 11. They’re also learning for themselves and teaching me what it takes to provide effective Distance Ed. There will be more DE classes offered next year, during the day and in areas the Class of 2013 will need, like English 12. PP: What advice can you give to the graduating Class of 2012? TC: At last year’s graduation I told the Class of 2011 to stay in school. I know we’ve typically heard that advice given to high school students about staying in high school, not dropping out, and earning their diplomas. But the truth is that most good jobs will require post-secondary education of some kind: university degrees, community college programs, or professional certification. The Class of 2012 is our 50th graduating class from Manzano. With the courses completed for their diploma, they’ll have earned the credits most colleges require for admission anyway. The Lottery Scholarship program is a wonderful opportunity too good to pass up. If 2012 seniors haven’t yet responded to Mr. Hansen’s call for FAFSA completion or learning about area colleges and universities from recruiters, it’s not too late. Take advantage of the education you’ve already completed. Build on that foundation and make a plan for higher education. You’ve got what it takes! PP: What are some things you want to do to become more involved with the student body on a personal level? TC: Every year I’m here I meet students who are really special and great kids to get to know. I like to attend the games and concerts and celebrations to cheer on our leading efforts and do my part for Monarch pride. But many of the efforts we can take pride in are quiet and go unnoticed. I’d like to find ways for fewer students to be overlooked. We’ve got great club and activity sponsors who work with students from diverse backgrounds and help them feel like they’ve an extended family here at Manzano. But I talk to students every day who sit alone at a table in the cafeteria or stand by themselves in the hallway during snack break. I’m more of an introvert myself, so I wouldn’t want to impose too much attention if it’s not comfortable for students. But I try to get to know students with quiet conversation, because that feels comfortable to me. I like learning about their families and their favorite teachers and what they’re looking forward to doing in the coming term. I especially enjoy speaking with students while observing a teacher’s class. They help me see the instruction from the learner’s perspective, and they point out some of the strategies which have helped them learn best. PP:Why did you want to become the principal at Manzano? TC: There were two main attractions for me to this principalship. First, I loved working here for the five years I served as an assistant principal while Mr. Whalen was principal. I loved the way students, staff, and community members all pulled together to promote and sustain our Monarch traditions. And, of course, I’d come to love the color purple. I had a closet full of it--where else could I go? Secondly, I came back to Manzano as principal after spending a year working at APS headquarters, because I missed working in a school and wanted to see the results of my work in living and practical form. There are very hard working and necessary individuals in district offices. I appreciate them now more than ever. But I’m so glad to be back in a school, and proud to serve as a Monarch. PP: How do you feel about the students and the teachers at Manzano? TC: They’re the finest. I say that from experience. I began my first year in APS teaching at La Cueva, then taught for seven years at Cibola, then served five years as an assistant principal at Highland. Then after my year at the district, I’ve now a total of ten years at Manzano. Our staff members support one another here and they look out for our students. The staff doesn’t turn over here like it does everywhere else. When parents have a concern here they respectfully ask for information or resolution, then roll up their sleeves to work things out with us. When I see students in the hall I get a “Good morning, Mrs. Carroll. How are you today?” These may seem like ordinary expectations for members of any school community, but Manzano is complimented by visitors all the time for having a more positive environment than any other school in the city.
Do Teenage Romances Last? Taty Amaro 2013
Eighty percent of American adolescents are involved in a romantic relationship before the age of 18, according to “Teen Cosmo”. To many high school students, this is no surprise. But do these relationships last? Many teenagers agree that lasting relationships consist of communication, respect, support, honesty, trust, and affection. The average teen relationship lasts five to seven months, according to “Teen Cosmo”. “It depends on the people in the relationship,” said McKenna Kassetas, MHS junior. Kassetas and her boyfriend, Chris Martinez, also a junior at MHS, have been dating for a year and two months. This couple has surpassed the average calculated teen relationship. “I think love means always having someone there for you and having that comfort,” said Kassetas. Unlike Kassetas and Martinez, who have a relationship while attending the same school, Samantha Marrufo, MHS senior, and Matthew Carillo are involved in a long-distance relationship and have been dating for a year. Marrufo is waiting to graduate this year, but Carillo already graduated last year and joined the Marine Corps. Currently Carillo is stationed in Japan while Marrufo is here in Albuquerque. “I think it’s something good for him to accomplish but it does get hard because I never get to see him,” said Marrufo. Most long-distance relationships occur on Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace, all popular social networks. Marrufo believes that her relationship has lasted because of their friendship before it. They first got together Marrufo’s sophomore year and dated for a month. They then broke up but stayed friends and were still really close. Carillo joined the Marines after graduating high school and when he returned, he and Marrufo started dating again her junior year. Long-term relationships are affected in many ways. Parental influence can be a factor to whether or not a relationship lasts. Parents who can be strict with their children can apply rules that may seem ridiculous to teens. Soon, the strict curfews and limited time to talk on the phone with the boyfriend/girlfriend can cause the teens in the relationship to become frustrated, annoyed, or angry. This
McKenna Kassetas and Chris Martinez. Photo courtesy of McKenna Kassetas. can lead to the couple deciding that the best thing to do is to break up, because if they can’t make their own decisions in their own relationship, there’s no point. Or the parents may simply just not like their son/daughter’s boyfriend/ girlfriend. “If the parents don’t like the relationship, then they aren’t going to support it. It’ll be difficult for the couple,” said Kassetas. But while being in a relationship, much good can come out of it. All relationships have positives and negatives, ups and downs, that help the relationship grow. “You learn to trust more, you gain a friendship, you have someone there for you, and you get more experience for a later-on-in-life relationship,” said Marrufo. At the same time, relationships can come with arguments, disagreements, and fighting. It will affect the status of the
couple negatively. It can also affect the individual. Studies at Bowling Green State University, made by Doctors Peggy Giordano and Monica Longmore, have said that boys can be emotionally shallow and girls have feelings that can be fragile, becoming vulnerable, which causes breakups. Yet, teens still get into relationships and when they do it seems like everything in that teen’s life changes. “I think that at this age seeing someone for a few weeks takes over your whole life. They feel completed and feeling that someone likes you makes you feel important,” said Lisa Pennington, a world and US history teacher at MHS. Adults seem to look at teenage relationships and assume that there is no chance that they will last. ‘Three months, that’s it,’ is what most adults think teen couples will last. But some high school sweethearts do make it. Ask around, find out which adults you know were high school sweethearts. The timing is perfect for Valentine’s Day.
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February 2012
School News
Ms. 1000: MHS junior soon to make State history Taty Amaro 2013 Being an athlete can be rewarding in many ways: they are seen as role models because of their tremendous talents; they are cheered on and supported at games; and, in Manzano’s case, they make our school proud along with family, friends, and coaches. One particular Monarch is doing just that. Caroline Lantor is a junior at MHS and has been playing on the girls Varsity basketball team for three years as a starting forward. Lantor is only 68 points shy from reaching 1,000 shooting points all throughout her career. “I’ll try to not make such a big deal out of her about to make 1,000 points,” said De’ Mone Curry, MHS girls basketball coach. “I never really planned on reaching 1,000 points, especially my junior year. However, half way through the season, Photo courtesy of Caroline Lantor. when I was looking at my previous stats, I realized I was only a couple hundred points away. This really encouraged me to do well the rest of the season,” said Lantor. In the New Mexico State High School Association, there is a state record book that contains the names of an elite group of athletes. Included soon with these names will be Lantor, who is getting ready to take her 932 total current points to 1,000 in the six remaining games. This will be a great accomplishment for Lantor, but she has already made many others. Currently, Lantor is ranked as one of the top ten players in the state of New Mexico. Competing against over a thousand girls who play basketball in the state, Lantor comes in at eighth, with the majority of the girls ranked above her being seniors.
Creative Expression Skylar Griego 2014
Elective Day is coming up, and it’s not just for classes. This is the time of year for students to start considering new groups to join next year. An option to consider is the MHS Creative Writing Club, sponspored by Steve Pinzone, MHS English teacher, in room K-208. “The only requirement is that you want to be here, and that you’re positive. Willingness matters more than ability,” said Mr. Pinzone. CWC, the members’ personal nickname for Creative Writing Club, meets every Monday and Wednesday, along with every other Friday at lunch. At these meetings, students get together and share ideas and criticism for their work. “It’s for people who want to hear creative ideas and learn interesting things all the time. There’s never a boring conversation,” said Miranda Chambellan, MHS sophomore. Students in CWC write individual stories as well as create prompts as a group. Some members of the club are currently writing and sharing novels in CWC. Mr. Pinzone collects the works written by the members as a group, and usually participates in writing with the students. “My short-term goal is to put together pieces of writing and to put out a
“She is very competitive, she’s highly focused, and extremely coachable. In a nutshell, she’s a coach’s dream,” said Curry. The Albuquerque Journal has even recognized the mark Lantor has made in the high school sports scene. In the Journal article, Lantor was mentioned as one of the top ten players to watch, saying, “...one of the best players in the metro area… Lantor is one of the metro area’s most underrated players, and she led Manzano in scoring in each of her first two seasons...” Lantor is also known for her determination, notably from last year. Last year, at a basketball tournament in Clovis during Christmas break, Lantor received a gash above her eye from being elbowed in the face in the first two minutes of the game. She cleaned up and was put right back in the game five minutes later. That day, Lantor scored 26 points, allowing her to make the All-Tournament Team. “They said I probably shouldn’t have gone back in, but I wanted to. That was my best game all season,” said Lantor, smiling. Out of all the eight teams competing, and of all the girls who played at that tournament, Lantor was voted as one of the top five players by all head coaches. Lantor’s talent, determination, hard work, and love for basketball have earned her many awards throughout her high school years. As a freshman, Lantor received an honorable mention All-Metro, was on second team AllDistrict, and was the team offensive player of the year. Her sophomore year, she was on first team All-District, third team All-Metro, had an honorable mention All-State, and made offensive team MVP. “She’s progressed a lot. Her sophomore year,
she had better shot selection. Now, her junior year, she’s more aggressive and a lot more confident,” said Curry. Coach Curry had heard about Lantor before she even entered Manzano. A coach from Grant Middle School told Curry that there was a freshman coming in who had the potential to start. From the first day of try-outs to the present, she has never disappointed her coaches or her teammates. Lantor’s athletic abilities have already gotten her recognized as a talented basketball player. Curry believes that she will go to college on a scholarship. “She’s going to be successful in anything she chooses. It comes from her determination, drive, and self-confidence,” said Curry. Lantor has been playing basketball since she was in the fifth grade. Considering that her dad played basketball himself in high school, he had always encouraged her to play the sport, and pushed her to do the best she could. Lantor’s mom has also influenced her career by being her biggest supporter. Bonding with teammates, going on road trips, and having team dinners are Lantor’s best memories being on the team. “I love the adrenaline of basketball; it’s really addicting, but my favorite part is getting a block or a steal,” said Lantor. Manzano High School, the city of Albuquerque, and the state of New Mexico are all well aware of Lantor’s talent. From the Albuquerque Journal, to the Manzano Paw Print, Caroline Lantor is a stand-out athlete, and it is likely she will only become more so.
publication,” said Mr. Pinzone. Mr. Pinzone has been operating CWC for four years now. “I really enjoy writing and hearing other people criticize work because then I can apply it to my writing,” said Jasmyne Frost, MHS sophomore and CWC member. All types of writing are shared in CWC. Some genres students are currently working on include horror, science fiction, fantasy, and comedy. One member, Anthony Gonzales, sophomore, is currently working on a comedy play. Another piece of work, known as “The Shifter Story” among members, is a science fiction currently being written by all 19 club members. These meetings also include book discussions and suggested reading lists. Usually, they start with Mr. Pinzone asking members to share what they’ve recently written with the group. Often
Creative Writing Club in all their glory. Photo courtesy of Hayne Arismendi.
this ends with members recommending and loaning books to each other. All students are welcome to attend meetings. Students interested can contact Mr. Pinzone or any club member. “The purpose of Creative Writing Club is to allow likeminded students to write and get constructive feedback in a positive environment that fosters creativity,” said Mr. Pinzone. “It’s not just for writers; it’s for readers, too,” said sophomore Victoria Blythe. “If you love words, join!”
Editorials
PAW
February 2012
Arizona Book Ban
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Dustin Leuttgen 2013
Recently the Tucson Unified School District issued a ban on several books and the ethnic studies program within their district. The ban includes A People’s History of the United States, A House on Mango Street, and Civil Disobedience, three literary works that specifically deal with oppression and ethnicity as central themes. This unconstitutional ban is nothing less than a massive attempt at racial discrimination directed specifically toward Hispanic students in Tucson. This ban is a poor political decision that was made rashly and without just cause. Recently the Arizona legislature has passed many extremely harsh immigration laws that even permit police officers to use racial profiling for probable cause. This law has and will continue to do little to improve the issues with immigration in Arizona and is just a
ruthless means of retaliation toward the entire Hispanic race in response to a few illegal immigrants. Though this ban claims to be targeting any work of literature that “promotes the overthrow of the United States government and resentment toward a race or class of people” or any work that deals with “race, ethnicity, and oppression” among the central themes, it is clearly biased against Hispanic culture, based on the works of literature banned or confiscated under this law. Among the works confiscated are Chicano! The History of the Mexican Civil Rights Movement, 500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures, and Message to Aztlan, all of which are at the core of Chicano literature and history. Since 60% of the students in the school district are Hispanic, this law
that targets Hispanic is literally trying to suppress the cultural heritage of the majority of the student population. What a poor and altogether undemocratic political decision! A work of literature is important in many ways: it is an idea immortalized, a piece of history, a part of a culture and by extension part of a whole people. As such, the banning of works of literature is a heinous thing as it is nothing less than an attempt to erase a whole culture from history. That the state legislature has advocated for this massive suppression of the entire Hispanic race by signing it into law is an insult to the entire Hispanic population of Arizona. Their own government has very literally and very publically debased their culture through this new law. This law is an attempt to discriminate against an entire race because of frustration with the issue of illegal immigration. It
Waste of Time and Money
is unconstitutional in that it is an act specifically targeting Hispanic students through a book ban. The banning of literature and the ethnic studies program is a violation of the First Amendment’s freedom of speech clause and the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause. This unconstitutional and immoral law hides behind patriotism as its rationale, but how can something that discriminates against American citizens be patriotic in any way? As citizens, if we allow the government to suppress pieces of history and entire cultures, how long will it be until the government becomes a revisionist of history and tries to remove other aspects of society that government disagrees with altogether?
Edward Ramirez 2012 Instead of wasting money and resources on war, the country should focus more on its own internal problems, like hunger and poverty. There are resources that are being used and wasted that can be used for others who are in need. Every day I see the number of homeless people increase here in Albuquerque and it makes me wonder how the people in less fortunate towns and villages fare against their own economic problems. Also, in the little time I watch TV I see numerous commercials that show other countries’ struggles against poverty and hunger. Every year 15 million children die of hunger. The money used for one missile can feed a school full of children for 5 years. Also, in Asian, African, and Latin American countries, well over 500 million people are living in what World Bank has called “ absolute poverty”. More than 100 million children die from illness and starvation. For what the military spends in two days these deaths can be prevented. Yes, war brings a raise in economic wealth, due to the fact that jobs are made to create military equipment for war, but those jobs are being rapidly replaced thanks to the advancements in technology. Thus, resources are being used and the number of people actually getting paid is dwindling. So now the cost for war outweighs the benefits for the economy. Something that could help with this dilemma would be to reduce military funds to a certain percent, enough to where the military can use it for defensive purposes only. Only under critical circumstances should the military turn to their offensive methods. The money saved should then be used to helping the unfortunate. The military isn’t the only organization whose cost could be reduced, but it’s one of the major things in which part of the funds they receive can be redirected to help with poverty and hunger around the world.
Simple Pleasures
Tyler Gallegos 2012
A small gesture can go a long way, even though we may not realize how this can make or break others’ day. We as a society should use manners more often than we do. A long time ago, back when the world was mysterious and magical, while we still were playing on swing-sets and being read Dr. Suess stories, that is where it all started. Manners were taught to us at a young age; and as we age it seems that we little by little lose those habits. Manners have so many effects on our everyday lives, both short-term and long-term. They are the very essence of society, and are not only there to help individuals but also to better the society. Each day we do without this simple staple of civilized mankind hurt us, and eventually will damage us irreparably. What do I mean by manners? I mean the small pleasantries--“Hi,” “How are you?”--plus the many more simple expressions--“Thank you,” “You’re welcome,”--which we should use not only to our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, but even the strangers you meet in the street. I know some of you might say, “I have so much on my mind right now, how can I remember something like that?” or, “I have too many important things to do right now.” And, yes, that’s understandable; we do have important tasks that we need to do on a daily basis, but you might as well wave the white flag and surrender to Ultron, Voldemort, or Sauron--whoever the great nemesis of today’s culture is--if you cannot muster up the enthusiasm to say “Thank you” when someone holds a door open for you. Manners don’t exist just to be annoying; they exist for your use as well as others. People shoving their way into line in the cafeteria; cutting you off when you’re driving; it’s annoying, but you can’t expect people to have manners and be courteous to you if you aren’t courteous to them.
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February 2012
Athletes
Monarchs Jessica Pinto
Staff
Becca Ebbens
(Senior)
(Basketball)
Favorite Teacher at MHS? Mr. Shanley because he has the ability to make the whole class laugh. Favorite thing about Manzano? The teachers because most of them are nice and very understanding.
Dylan Brave (Senior)
Students and Staff
(Social Studies )
How long have you been playing this sport? For 7 years. Favorite team or athlete? I like the Bulls. What have you achieved from playing this sport? I have learned how to be disciplined and have made a lot of friends.
Naveed Jafari Favorite Teacher at MHS? DannenbaumZufall because she is very intelligent. Favorite thing about Manzano? That there is no bullying.
Mary Butler
(Swimming)
Favorite thing about MHS? The kids. Favorite High School class? Spanish, it was my hardest class. Free time? I babysit my granddaughter.
Versa Clark
How long have you been playing this sport? 6 or 7 years. Favorite team or athlete? Michael Phelps What have you achieved from playing this sport? I’ve made it to State.
(Social Studies )
Favorite thing about MHS? The Purple Pride. Favorite High School class? English. Free time? I golf and write poetry.
Who Knows Christian Better? * Indicates correct
Contact Information Advisor: Matt Kraus Editors-In-Chief: Cheyanne Herrera; Billy Huntsman
Junior Editors-in-Chief:
Ethan Parks
(The Boyfriend )
Christian Granger Tanya Carillo (The Best friend)
Cloie Logan; Meadow Butler; Heather Fisk
Copy Editor: Billy Huntsman
Layout Design: Cheyanne Herrera
School News Editor/Head Writer: Sean Cairns
Editorial Editor/Lead Writer: Tyler Gallegos *Favorite genre of movie? Romantic Comedy. *Middle Name: Annet. Favorite Candy? Twix. *Pet Peeve? I don’t know; she has so many.
Favorite genre of movie? Love Stories. Middle Name: Annette. Favorite Candy? Reese’s. Pet Peeve? I don’t know; I have a lot; probably when people post their personal lives on Facebook.
Winner: It’s a draw!
Ad/Business Manager: *Favorite genre of movie? Nicholas Sparks/Romantic. *Middle Name: Annette. Favorite Candy? Kit-Kat. *Pet Peeve? She has a lot; mean people.
Sean Cairns; Shelby-Lynne Lujan
Phone: 559-5904 E-mail: manzanopawprint@ yahoo.com