THE
BUZZ
Tell me something I don’t already know APRIL 4, 2017 3400 W. GONZALES ROAD, OXNARD, CA. 93036 Vol. X No. V
READ MORE INSIDE FINAL ALUMNI
“The new one was out in the boonies with nothing around us” Full Story on page 2
PROM DO’S & DONT’S
“Here are some tips to tackle Prom like a pro.” Full Story on page 3
STUDENTS COMMITTING
“[To play professionally is] always something I’m striving towards to accomplish.” Full Story on page 4
Super Campus Supervisors
A look into the work and lives of Oxnard High School’s Campus Supervisors Andrew Kelley Reporter
Oxnard High School’s Campus Supervisors. Photo Credit: Andrew Kelley
Every day, campus supervisors are seen by hundreds of students, yet few know about these hard-working individuals. Campus supervisor Rose Lapointe began her job by subbing for her husband, and has worked at Oxnard High School for almost 25
years. She has risen to become an essential part of the school’s community. Creating lasting relationships with students and seeing them achieve their goals are things Lapointe greatly enjoys. She said, “I am very proud of the spirit that we have on the
campus right now, especially with basketball, and then of course our girls in soccer are proud that they won the [California Interscholastic Federation Championship] last year.” Throughout his life, campus supervisor Mark Jensen has worked in construction, sales, youth groups, and churches. At this point in his career, he enjoys “seeing our next generation and [guiding] them in the right direction.” Keeping people safe, stopping arguments from escalating into fights, and helping students make better decisions have been a part of Jensen’s job during his three years at OHS . Campus Supervisor Tony Vazquez, or as he likes to go by, “Coach Tony,” has worked in the district for 25 years. Three of those years he has spent at OHS. Besides being a campus supervisor, Vazquez has coached football alongside coach Mark Beckham. “I think Oxnard is a great place not only to develop in sports, but to be a great person,” said Vazquez. Their hard work is compensated by the impact they have in the lives of the many students. “We’re here for the kids,” added Vazquez.
Solving the Math Problem
Teachers and students continue to adjust to the new curriculum Anjanette Tadiaman Reporter During the ‘50s and ‘60s, California was ranked in top ten nationwide in mathematics. Now, the state of California is ranked near the bottom of a nationwide list in math according to an article in The Mercury News. In efforts to eradicate this problem, departments of education, professional educators, and members of the public have researched the key to finding a “common denominator” for all mathematic standards. And thus, Common Core was born. According to the Common Core website, “The Common Core concentrates on a clear set of math skills and concepts. [...] The standards encourage students to solve real-world problems.” Math teacher Ms. Nicole Schmitz said, “I really do support this change in every way. I think it’s helping the students to think on their own.” Oxnard High School’s previously used program, No Child Left Behind, focused more on students learning procedural skills such as memorizing formulas and plugging in numbers. “With Common Core, we dive deeper into why we do something so that we can make a connection,” said math teacher Ms. Allison Halstead.
While math teachers have accepted and adjusted to this new curriculum, some OHS students have shown concern with the change. Senior Jennifer Ruiz said that she enjoyed the curriculum before Common Core because “it just flowed easily.” Freshman Lance Piscasio said, “Sometimes we take too much time trying to discover something rather than actually learning it.” This is one of many problems that students have with Common Core. Some students understand issues that the math department faces. “[Teachers] had to learn how to teach a new curriculum, and I understand if it takes them time to adjust,” said junior Gaby Soto. On the other hand, there are also some students who view Common Core as a positive change. “Teachers are good and Common Core works out well, but it’s on the students if they actually want to learn,” said junior Yessenia Ceja. Despite the negativity shown towards it, this program is living up to its own expectations by helping students work through real life situations. Piscasio said, “[Common Core] does help with real life applications.” Overall, students who dislike the change to Common Core may just be uninformed about its purpose and its standards. Senior Ruby Lyn Lucin said, “When people bring up Common Core, people don’t really get what
Oxnard High School math teacher, Mr. Krieger, in teaching mode. Photo Credit: Anjanette Tadiaman
it is. It seemed more like we were trying to find somewhere to point fingers on why we hated the math department [...] and how we won’t use this math in real life.” To shine a positive light on the situation, the change to Common Core should eventually help to raise our state’s status back up to the top. “The goal of Common Core is to get students to think rather than do,” said OHS math director Mr. Vance Claycamp. In the future, the math department hopes that students’ interest and attitude towards mathematics will change for the better.