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Class of 2015
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pantherprowler.org
PANTHER PROWLER Friday June 5, 2015
Issue IX
Newbury Park High School
456 N. Reino Rd., Newbury Park, CA 91320
Board of Education recognizes 24 valedictorians Lindsay Filgas Staff Writer Adrianna Robakowski Copy Editor At its meeting on June 2, the Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Board of Education recognized 24 students as the valedictorians of the NPHS Class of 2015. The title of valedictorian traditionally goes to one student who has the highest Grade Point Average (GPA). According to Joshua Eby, principal, “our district has chosen to take a different stance on that.” Following CVUSD’s guidelines, students must earn an indexed GPA of 4.65 or higher to become valedictorian, which often leads to multiple valedictorians from the same school. Indexed GPA is calculated by taking a student’s scholastic GPA (which includes all academic classes), and adding 0.2 for an A in an honors, AP, or IB class or 0.1 for a B. This means that valedictorians must take a minimum of 33 semesters of honors, AP, or IB classes to earn the title. “At the end of last year, I was told that I was really close (to the required GPA), so it was like ‘why not just go for it?’” Maddy Fischer, senior, said. Fischer was able to complete the necessary amount of classes to become a valedictorian, despite taking some CP classes her freshman year. “There’s other people that have taken even more honors, IB, (and) AP classes.” Fischer said. “Because they take more, they can get B’s.” Jared Simmons, senior, wanted to be a valedictorian since freshman year. “I didn’t really know if it would be attainable or not,” Simmons said. “I was always just trying to do my best, and then it worked out.”
CLASS OF 2015 VALEDICTORIANS
4.65 and above - 18 out of the 24 class of 2015 valedictorians pose with their plaques alongside Principal Joshua Eby at the district office on June 2. Adrianna Robakowski/Prowler
On June 2, the valedictorians from NPHS and Thousand Oaks High School gathered at the district office to be acknowledged for their academic achievement. Students received a plaque and shook hands with the school board members and the outgoing superintendent, Dr. Baarstad. Eby read the valedictorians’ plans for college, extracurricular achievements, and advice that the valedictorians had for their peers. “It was nice … hearing how many of them wanted to give back to society as they move on, which really shows the kind of people they are,”
Eby said. For the valedictorians, the title was about much more than their high GPA. Fischer explained that she valued the experiences she gained from her classes as well as the award. “You don’t do it just for the recognition,” Fischer said. “For yourself personally it’s the greatest feeling. All of my hard work after four years has paid off and it’s really exciting. I feel proud of myself.” “All the effort in the last four years has been worth it,” Simmons added.
Monica Boedigheimer Courtney Brousseau Makenna Brown Matthew Chow Tam Doan Madison Fischer Katie Gould Jacob Green Alexa Hairabedian Henry Horita Jackson Nagamoto Grace O’Toole Katie Owens Christina Pham Meera Rao Joelle Saute Eric Shechter Miranda Seixas Jared Simmons Michelle Siros Diana Tai Andy Wang Elizabeth Zhang Eric Zhou
Yearbooks sell out on first day
Monica Boedigheimer Copy Editor Adrianna Robakowski Copy Editor
One of a kind - The 2014-2015 yearbook pre-order distribution began on May 28. The remaining 22 yearbooks sold out minutes after the student store opened at 7 a.m. on June 1. Samantha Meyer/Prowler
For students who neglected to pre-order one, yearbooks were a hot commodity this year. Even though order numbers were similar to last year, pre-orders left only 22 yearbooks available for general sale. Joshua Eby, principal, and the administration decided to sell the extra yearbooks on the morning of Monday, June 1, until they sell out and then take a waiting list in case any pre-ordered yearbooks were not picked up. On the evening of June 3, the 248 students who had still not picked up their pre-order were informed through an all-call that if they did not pick up their yearbook by the end of Friday, June 5, their money would be refunded and their books sold to someone on the waiting list. Last year, the Pawprint ordered about 1,300 yearbooks. In the end, 52 were left over, which amounts to $5,200. Based on these numbers, as well as the early pre-orders for this year, the publication ordered 1,250 yearbooks for the 2014-2015 yearbook. “We knew we had so many left over (last year) and that was a huge blow in the yearbook’s budget,” said Camila Wise, junior and incoming yearbook Co-Editor-in-Chief. “We wanted to make sure we didn’t have that same problem again.”
The total order of yearbooks must be submitted to the publisher at the end of November, when the covers are printed. Unfortunately, large numbers of late preorders in December and January meant that many students who didn’t pre-order were left without one, since more orders cannot be added after November. Freshman Matthew Duenas was among those who didn’t receive one. “I was really looking forward to having a big book that I can look back on to see all of my freshman year memories,” said Duenas. Some were more upset than others, with many seniors extremely disappointed that they were not able to have their last high school yearbook. “I sold (my yearbook to) my friend who is a senior … because I felt bad,” said Julia Bagan, junior. “I didn’t really care that much because I am a junior, but I think it is worth it if you are a senior because it’s your last year.” This isn’t the first time that yearbooks have run out. “We’ve run out of yearbooks before,” said Susan Boxberger, school bookkeeper. ”Whenever you run out of yearbooks, it’s going to cause anger because people are disappointed. Usually when this happens, the following year, people are much more diligent about purchasing them early.”
Eby said that the administration as well as the yearbook staff have been trying their best to respond to the many complaints that they have received. The Pawprint has considered ordering more, but it would cost about $14,500 (not including shipping, handling, and tax) for 100 since the yearbook takes five months to print, and is printed in four parts. “We don’t have the money to front that,” Michelle Saremi, yearbook adviser, said. The order would have to be paid upfront, requiring 100 people to commit. Furthermore, they would not be available until the end of September, even on a rush order. “We’ve tried to work with Josten’s on some alternative options like getting a new print, but we know that that’s going to be really costly to parents and they’re also going to have to get their book really late,” Eby said. Eby urges students and parents to be patient and to pre-order in the future. “We’re just trying to problem solve and work the best we can, but we go back to the fact that preordering is the best way to go,” said Eby. “It is the cheapest price and it’s the way to ensure that you are going to get a book. We do feel bad for those who didn’t get it, but at some point we can’t have 200 books lying around.”