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THE
Pets, Not Pests “I’m going to miss him
BUZZ
so much, more than my own family.” Full Story on page 3
One Less Tradition
“We wear cardinal and gold for sports, band, clubs and other extracurricular activities, why can’t we show that pride at graduation?”
Tell me something I don’t already know
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Every Second Counts “We prepared
June 6, 2018
by putting in long and hard hours at practice and making sure we were pushing each other past our limits.”
3400 W. GONZALES ROAD, OXNARD, CA. 93036 Vol. XI No. V
April Ramirez Reporter
Full Story on page 8
One Less Tradition
Cap and gown changes have been made to promote inclusivity in OUHSD
their school colors. Early in the school year, regulations changed and from now on, all students will be wearing one solid school color at graduation. This change is primarily due to some students feeling that they were being misrepresented wearing a certain color. With many issues concerning inclusivity in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning LGBTQ+ community arising, Student wearing her cap and gown for her senior the OUHSD believed that rephoto shoot. Photo credit Arturo Medina quiring all graduates to wear the same cap and gown color For years, on graduation was the best protocol concerning day in the Oxnard Union High the issue. This ensures that students School District, seniors from all schools show their school colors by are equally represented and not afraid to prove something to other having the females wear one solid color, and the males another school classmates, family, and friends. Oxnard High School Princolor. This would not only look aes- cipal Richard Urias said, “We feel thetically pleasing, but it would exlike with one color it doesn’t really hibit school pride by representing affect the ceremony, [...] If it makes
A Page Turns
Mr. Page leaves The Buzz in good hands I was petrified on The Buzz returned to Oxthat July day in 2005 when nard High School in the fall I approached principal Mr. of 2006. Edwards and asked, “What After twelve years of would you think of returnservice, it is gratifying to see ing the newspaper to OHS?” that the future looks very After having solid with our no campus own Ms. Bonewspaper tello in charge for a few of the presses. years, I was She brings a expecting a UC Berkeley very gradegree in print cious, “Not journalism, this year, seven years of Buzz adviser Mr. Page in one of his better moods but let’s teaching Photo credit Emily Tapia bounce experiit ence, and around in the future.” three years of advising an Much to my delight, award-winning yearbook at at the end of an hour, he Temple City High School. shook my hand and said, Thank you, Ms. “Good luck with The Buzz. I Botello, for bringing your know you’ll do a great job.” knowledge and expertise to After one year of re- the program. Also, thank cruiting students, ordering you, faculty and staff, for computers, making contacts supporting our students with printers, and multiple these past twelve years. fundraising opportunities,
six or seven students feel more comfortable, then we’re okay with it.” Another reason for the sudden change for graduation gowns was the new perspectives on the OUHSD Board of Trustees. Mr. Urias said that the superintendent of the board and Dr. McCoy were being questioned about the traditional graduation attire. “People were asking why we have the two colors separating the boys and the girls,” said Mr. Urias. Other districts have only one solid color, and this brought the idea to create inclusivity by switching OUHSD tradition of two colors for graduation gowns to only one color. OHS senior Jose Jalteco said, “I don’t agree that we should switch to one color, but if it makes people feel more comfortable then I think that’s okay.” Despite the positivity that
Alyssa Vega Managing Editor
the district believes this will bring, OHS students feel they should be able to wear the two colors for graduation. On a recent Twitter poll, 86% of students voted yes to wear two separate colors while 14% voted on only wearing cardinal. OHS senior Daniel Rivera said, “I would much rather prefer having two colors because with one color it’s too plain. Graduation is supposed to be festive because we’re celebrating four years of hard work. We wear cardinal and gold for sports, band, clubs and other extracurricular activities, why can’t we show that pride at graduation?” This change at Oxnard High is the beginning of a new tradition. Although this won’t fulfill everyone’s expectations, it is the start of an inclusive environment.
Count on Counselors
OHS students discuss their point of view concerning the counselor change For the upcoming year at Oxnard High School, there will be new changes to the counseling system. Next year, counselors will be assigned to students according to grade levels, rather than split up by what academy a student is involved in or by a student’s last name. With counselors in charge of assigned grade levels, it enables them to address specific needs and interventions for each grade level, according to OHS counselor Mr. Cordova. Some students at OHS think that the counselor change may not be helpful to them because of the relationship they have already established with their current counselor. OHS senior Oswi Alferes agreed and said, “It may
be tough for juniors and sophomores that have already developed a relationship with their counselors to have to start over with opening up to new counselors; and it might be difficult.” “The point of having a counselor is to have a bond with [them]; to have an understanding with each other,” said Gavin Hammon. Hammon believes that being able to bond with your counselor is what is helpful to OHS students when they have problems with school or even in their personal lives. Despite only having known his counselor for one year, OHS freshman Rafael Apodaca said that getting the chance to have one-on-one time with counselors is important. He said, “The counselor
wouldn’t be able to know the students because they would have to help out so many kids within a grade level. We would just be another number to the counselor.” Although some students think that they will become just another number to the counselors they are assigned to, the counselors see things differently. OHS counselor Mr. Cordova said, “We are trying to improve our services to the students as well as the parents; and change will enable us to become experts in specific fields.” The counselors and Mr. Urias hope that this change will improve the communication between students and counselors next year.