February 13, 2014
OXNARD HIGH SCHOOL, 3400 W. GONZALES ROAD, OXNARD, CA. 93036
Retirement Beckons Beckham
[involve] two things -- I had two knee replacement surgeries in the last two years and I never took any time to really rehab and take the time to do the things I needed to do. I had the surgery, and a month later I was back at practice.
I haven’t been able to take care of [myself],” he said. Even with the distraction of Coach Beckham’s surgery, varsity football cornerback Joshua Cervantes said, “[Coach Beckham] came out to practice with
Volume 8 Issue 3
the attitude that we were going to dominate.” Head varsity football coach Mr. Mark Beckham retires Coach Beckham said, “The By Juan Quero other thing is [that] my wife retired in June. She has gone withReferring to himself as a “When I came here sixteen out me for a long time -- I’m years ago, my plan and goal was “blue collar kind of guy,” Coach never around because of football. to build a program and compete Beckham said, “My It’s not like I am getting in league and in the playoffs,” goals as a coach on younger, so I need to do said recently-retired Oxnard the field and off the some things to take care High School head varsity football field were to build of [myself] so we can have young men and if coach Mark Beckham. a good quality of life after With a total of thirty-six I built the young my teaching career.” years of athletic coaching, he men and they grew Varsity football playspent sixteen of those years ded- as people, then they er Blake Kilgore said, “As icated to the Oxnard football pro- can be successful.” we saw in the paper, he gram. “Really, my highlight in Aside from building said ‘first you are going to everything here at Oxnard High great character and hate me, then you are goSchool has been the students and work ethic in his ing to understand me, then the players...because they are my players, his main foyou’ll forgive me.’ It hurts cus was ensuring his kind of players.” to lose him [to retirement], The feeling is mutual, as ev- students made their but we understand.” idenced by the players’ apprecia- education a priority. Coach Beckham said, He said, “A lot tion of the man who led them to “I love being a Yellowthe playoffs this past season. De- of guys can start but jacket. My sixteen years spite his winning record during not many people were awesome. I wouldn’t the 2014 campaign, the players can finish sometrade it for anything in the appreciate him even more for his times, and it’s not world. I left it better than always about the contribution to them as people. I found it...I am a better Varsity football player Rico person who finishes person because of all the Telles said, “Coach Beckham is first that’s importexperiences I have had a very special coach. There aren’t ant. It’s just finish with the young people of very many coaches like him. He -- period. So if you Oxnard. They have made isn’t all about winning. He cares build a person, then my life better and they becomes a lot about his players and he football have touched my life and, doesn’t just make great players easy to teach.” Photo by Juan Quero hopefully, I have touched “The main rea- Recently retired coach Mark Beckham speaking to next years’ varsity football players. out of his team -- he makes great theirs.” sons that I am retiring people out of them.”
Hello, Hola, Bonjour
Oxnard Union High School District offers a Seal of Biliteracy to high school students By Stephanie Chavez
For those students who can cient in English and another lan- cia said. other than English by “passing Such test must be certified by the speak a language other than En- guage...The OUHSD promotes Additionally, students must a foreign language Advanced school district to make sure that glish, the Seal of Biliteracy, is a [it] because it is a way to prepare demonstrate mastery in English Placement exam, including the test shows the “rigor of a fourrecognition worth obtaining. students with the necessary 21st by scoring proficient on the American Sign Language, with year high school course of study “The State Seal of Biliteracy Century skills to be successful in CAHSEE or receiving a 500 or 22 a score of three or higher…[or] in that foreign language,” Ms. is an award granted to high school life,” she said. on the SAT critical reading sec- successfully completing a four- Calderón-Garcia said. seniors upon graduation certifyThe eligibility requirements tion or ACT tests. Also, if those year high school course of study For those whose primaing attainment of mastery of two for those whose first language examinations do not apply, they in a foreign language and attain ry language is not English, Ms. or more languages, Calderón-Garcia said one of which is Enthey must “achieve glish,” said English Early Advanced proLearner Learning Deficiency level on the sign Coach Ms. VaCalifornia English nessa Calderón-GarLanguage Developcia. ment Test (CELDT), Getting such seal which may be adminis a great opportunity istered an additional for students to show time, as necessary.” their mastery of two Even so, they can also languages. The word apply if they meet any biliterate can someof the criteria for those times be confused students whose first with the word bilinlanguage is English. gual. However, “beThere are several ing bilingual means advantages for those to have the ability students who receive to speak in two or the Seal of Biliteracy. more languages, beMs. Calderón-Garcia ing biliterate means said, “First, a student Graph provided by Ms. Vanessa Calderón-Garcia no longer has to take a to have the ability to read, write, and speak The graph shows the number of awards given to students of different high schools in the past four years. world language course academically in two at the college level or more languages,” said Ms. is English include that “students can still qualify if they pass any an overall GPA of 3.0 or above in because he or she already fulCalderón-Garcia. must have completed all English– AP English exam, or if they score that course of study.” filled that requirement. Once the “The Oxnard Union High language arts requirements for college ready in the exam. If for any reason there are student is looking for a job, they School District awards the State graduation with an overall grade Ms. Calderón-Garcia also no other tests offered to confirm have greater advantages on atSeal of Biliteracy to students who point average of 2.0 or above in said that students must demon- their proficiency, then the student taining the job and higher salary can demonstrate they are profi- those classes,” Ms. Calderón-Gar- strate proficiency in a language must take an “off-the-shelf” test. because they are biliterate.”
The Buzz Staff
“Anything is Good If It’s Made of Chocolate” Favorite chocolate brands on Valentine’s Day By Stephany Garcia
Editors-In-Chief Stephanie Chavez Juan Quero Managing Editor Yadira Vico Copy Editor Tammera Magaña Alizé Saldana Layout Editors Patty Casimiro Chase Perez Photojournalism Editor Mayra Sanchez Entertainment Editor Kim Valerio
Graph by Stephany Garcia When compared to the entire nation, Snickers is America’s favorite chocolate. However, Oxnard High School students seem to prefer another chocolate brand.
Sports Editor Esteban Leon
Editorial: When Qualities Do Not Qualify Liking a person might not always turn out the way it is expected By Kim Valerio When you first meet somebody you like, you are infatuated with them. They seem like someone right out of a romance novel -- you build up a mental picture of how they are perfect. How they walk, talk, speak, or dress, no matter what they do, it seems Photo by Kim Valerio flawless to you. Natasha Flores and Keith Young spending time At first, ev- together. erything is amazYou slowly see the things ing. All you see is them. It is about them that irkes you. like having heaven on earth. Ranging from many differYou go out on a couple of ent things, from the way they dates, and everything is fine. act to your pet peeves. You It seems like all that matters is might not like how they bite them. However, you start realtheir nails, click on their pens izing that they are losing that repeatedly, or how they chew wow factor every time you are with their mouth wide open. with them. Maybe the way they act is
Website Editor Denis O’Leary
not how you expected them to behave. They can have a loud personality and you might not be interested in that type of person. They can be a wallflower, a person who usually fades into the background, that does not care if they are alone or not, and are
shy. Also, you might realize that you like someone who is more spontaneous than predictable. No matter the situation, anyone can find their other half. Whether you like someone who bites their nails or someone who would rather go out than stay in. Even though someone might stop liking you, nothing is wrong with it. There is someone for e v e r y b o d y. You will eventually find somebody who loves all of you from head to toe, Photo by Kim Valerio flaw for flaw.
Natasha Flores and Keith Young not paying much attention to each other.
Once Upon a Relationship
OHS students share the differences between cliched romances and reality By Tatyana Sharpe and Janine Tadiaman you off your feet... “Dating your best friend is per[In reality a relation- fect and being able to laugh and ship should consist be comfortable around them... of] growing as a cou- You should be able to talk about ple, learning about anything with them and be youreach other, and nev- self.” In a perfect relationship, er giving up on each everything tends to flow well. other,” said Oxnard Everything goes right in an High School junior ideal relationship by “having that Karen Rodriguez. perfect boyfriend and just the Many people perfect story,” said Rodriguez. dream of having a Although some want perfect flawless relationship. relationships, others do not end According to junior as perfect as expected, “I see that Mateo Juarez, the [a relationship] has lots of fights, Photo by Tatyana Sharpe epitome of a perfect tears, pain, and jealousy,” said relationship is “mutu- Rodriguez. Juniors Sammie Velasquez and Joshua al respect between the Problems can cause the couGaray spending quality time together. two of us, [and] that ple to stray away from what they “I think a perfect relationwe both love being expected a relationship to be. “At ship is when you find your Prince together.” first they’re happy, then things Charming that comes and sweeps Junior Tayler Caffee said, come up, and problems start,”
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Business Manager Daniela Peña Reporters Berenise Alfaro Luis Arevalo Aime Cano Brandon Cardilino Melissa Cuevas Janette Delgadillo Lynette Estrada Victor Galicia Edith Gallardo Stephany Garcia Vitaliy Kostylov Devin Lohse Zaira Miranda Yesenia Monje Stephanie Quero Mark Ramos Imani Roberts Nicholas Robles Tatyana Sharpe Andrew Smith Jaime Tadiaman Janine Tadiaman Jason Toledo Jazmine Toledo
said junior Cynthia Faculty Advisor Nava. However, with Mr. David Page the right person, comes a solution to every obstacle. It not only takes the right significant other to find solutions, but it also takes being the right person for them. Senior Brianna Lucero said, “[Couples] have their problems, but they work through them together and get through it.” The ideal relationship may not exist. However, junior Antonio Vasquez said, “Any relaPhoto by Janine Tadiaman tionship can be perfect if Sophomores Brianna Ramos and Cedric Lim hanging out at lunch. you work on it.”
Just Gaming On My Smart Phone
You Have Got a Pizza my Heart
OHS students talk about their phone gaming addiction
Opinions on romance and food
By Imani Roberts and Daniela Vacio Peña
By Alize Saldaña
Photo by Imani Roberts An OHS English class plays Clash of Clans on their cell-phones
“There’s this game called Clash of Clans, and when I would play, I would play non-stop during class, up until one in the morning,” said Oxnard High School junior Bryan Muñoz. As a phone gamer, Muñoz plays “everywhere and anywhere...Anywhere I could pull my phone and have internet, I’ll play it.” He purchases items from his favorite mobile game, Clash of Clans. However, he does not pay for it himself, his frienddoes it for him. Muñoz said, “My friend has spent 800 bucks on [the game]. Imagine all the other people spending money
on it.” “It’s simple to waste five bucks, and you say ‘oh, five bucks [is] nothing’ [and] then [you pay] again and again. The next thing you know, you’ve spent 100 dollars,” said Muñoz. Muñoz’ interest in the game grew to the extent where it started to spread to his classmates. Muñoz said, “It’s my fault because I got into the game…and I convinced my friend to get it. Then I convinced other people to get it.” OHS junior Dakota Ayala enjoys playing strategic games. He said, “The games I play don’t have an end, so how could they not be fun?” Senior Alexander Pierce,* an iPhone user, prefers mobile games such as Evil Apple, or others “that are more action [packed].” Pierce said, “I think [phone games] are interesting, and they keep your mind into a place of non-reality.” A recent poll showed that 55.7% out of 214 OHS students find Apple’s iPhone as the most popular operating device for gaming. The poll also showed that adventure games are the most addictive genre played on a smart phone. However, casual and family game genres are found to be the least interesting. Muñoz said, “When people say ‘It’s just a game, you won’t get addicted,’ it’s not just a game. It turns bad -- it goes really bad.” *A name has been changed in order to protect their identity.
“I think someone making you food is romantic, because it’s a kind of gesture that shows they care about you. Unless they give you bad food,” said senior Associated Student Body (ASB) President Reyna Brown. Some students at Oxnard High School said that it is not the food itself that is romantic, but the way in which it is presented. Freshman Kelleryn Pallasigui said, “The most romantic food to eat, is any kind of food. It’s just what they make out of it. I think what makes a specific food romantic is the cliché dinner dates, like in the movie Lady and the Tramp.” Junior Brianna Campbell said, “I personally think what makes food romantic, is whether it was presented in a romantic way. I don’t really eat food and then feel all fuzzy inside.” Other students feel that some foods may be considered romantic, such as chocolate covered strawberries. Brown said, “Strawberries are my favorite, and I’m chocolate, so that’s hot.” While there are foods that are considered romantic, or are presented in a romantic way, there are also foods that are considered to be unromantic. “Onions are not romantic because they smell bad. If you think onions are hot and romantic, you probably smell bad and won’t get a Valentine,” said Brown. She also finds hot wings to be unromantic, because she does not like them much. Pallasigui said, “Well, I think onions are used to make the sauce for spaghetti,
and without sauce it will be plain. Spaghetti is pretty romantic.” Campbell said that anything “messy or gross” would be considered unromantic. “I don’t think you can try to act romantic while having food all over your face.” It appears that most people have different views as to what a romantic food might look like. “[Romance] can be a little overdone and cheesy, but when done at the right time and the ay, [it] can be exceptionally cute,” said Campbell.
An Eye for Entertainment
That is So Underrated
OHS junior Ramon Acevedo and his team
Underrated movies and TV shows
By Victor Galicia and Nicholas Robles
By Jason Toledo
man year,” said Aguilar. Vintage Productions produces different genres of videos. “We’ve made remakes of parodies and other short films that Ramon comes up with,” said Luis. Acevedo, who was greatly inspired by Charlie Chaplin, said, “For now, [our videos are] just comedy. We’re teenagers, and we like to have fun. Nothing serious yet but we will later on.” As of now, Vintage Productions currently has over fifteen short films uploaded to their Youtube channel with “Purge 3 The Search” being their most popular video at over 1,000 views. Although the Vintage Productions crew works hard, they also share laughs on set. “It’s fun every time we shoot because the people around us...we’re all Photo by Vintage Productions good friends,” said Aguilar. Working Vintage Productions crew using their equipment alongside each other has also created new to film a video. friendships for the Vintage Productions team. What started as a small group of “In the beginning, some of us didn’t friends and an idea, has grown into an upget along, but we talked and talked, and coming film production company. now we’re all really close friends,” said In the summer going into his sophCarranza. omore year, Oxnard High School junior “We’re like a family now,” said SaRamon Acevedo established Vintage Protumba. ductions, a small-time video production The film crew has goals they want to company. Along with juniors Abraham fulfill. “My goal with Vintage [ProducAguilar, Rodrigo Carranza, Hayley Luis, tions] is to entertain as many people as and Michael Satumba. Acevedo and his possible...and to work with big time comteam strive to make it into the film induspanies like Warner Brothers and Nickeltry. odeon,” said Carranza. At an early age, Acevedo already had “My goal is to have the whole Vinaspirations to become involved in film tage [Productions] team go far together or animation. “I started making videos and meet new businesses... and come out when I was in the fifth grade...I started off in future movies,” said Aguilar. making small animations,” said AceveAs of now, Vintage Productions updo. However, it was not until high school loads their short films and projects to when Acevedo put his idea into motion. their Youtube channel that has over 9,000 “In the summer of sophomore year, I views. started taking it seriously...I gathered a With their close work alongside Pelsmall group of friends, and we’ve been ican House Productions, their dreams of making videos ever since,” he said. becoming famous actors and film produc“He had been planning it since freshers are within reach.
was an underrated movie. “ [The movie] A number of films today are considwent from the source, which not a lot of ered to be underrated or overrated, but it comics or video games do...it went in line can sometimes be difficult to measure the with the boyfriends [and] the hair colors.” quality of a movie or TV show. Some crit“Sometimes there may be this moics rate movies either too high or too low ment that is better executed in the movie which contrasts the viewers’ opinions. or TV show than in the books,” said SanSome films and shows that might be chez. considered good entertainment are not A film or show’s ranking is defined well-known because they may be foreign, by the popularity and rating of the critics. which leads to cultural barriers. Oxnard Junior Jonathan Hall said that SuperHigh School junior Emanuel Garrett said natural is considered to be an underrated that some movies are not as popular beTV show “because people say it’s borcause it originates in a different country. ing.” “It’s all in a [foreign language] -- there are However, Hall enjoys watching English subtitles, and you’d have to read it because “a lot of people die in it and that…[people] don’t like reading subtiturn into angels, demons, leviathans, and tles, so they will just stay away from it.” [monsters]...it has a good backstory beFreshman Bryan Sanchez said that tween Sam and Dean.” Fans such as Hall anime is not watched by many “because show appreciation by continuing to watch people like to watch things made here in despite how the critics may judge. America. [Americans are] different from Whether they be good or bad, the fact the Japanese.” that there will always be critics judging Providers such as Netflix have been movies and TV shows continues to be a able to introduce viewers to new and undetermining factor in the viewers’ perknown TV series and movies. “Netflix spectives of them. However, one should can widen your variety of movies and TV maintain an open mind and refrain from shows that you watch because it shows judging “underrated” content without witthings that they recommend for you based nessing them firsthand themselves. on your interests,” said sophomore Leonardo Telles. Junior Soleil Zamora said that Netflix has made watching new motion pictures and shows more prominent, “but it doesn’t have recent movies... it’s not up to date so they might be behind.” The original works for the inspiration of a number of screenplays and TV shows affects Photo by Mark Roberts the audience’s opinion OHS students uses Netflix to watch TV shows and movies. by comparing them. Sanchez said that Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
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Beyond the High School Soccer Field Multiple soccer girls receive scholarships to play in college By Patty Casimiro ever your team needs you to do in order to win...Always es,” said Schröder. have the same positive attitude whether you’re a starter Schröder also said, “I think it’s amazor you only get a few minutes every game, do whatever ing, and I feel blessed because a lot of peothey need with a smile on your face,” said Morehead. ple don’t get to continue playing their sport Being offered a full ride scholarship to a school in with a friend. It’s awesome knowing that even Arkansas, Garcia considered that due to the distance, for though I’m so far from Southern California, I her parents and she, she would remain in California. She still have someone from home coming along would be homesick, and her parents would have to travel with me in this next chapter of my life.” too far to watch her play. Garcia has since committed to Daisy is also very excited to continue to California State University Fullerton. play with Schröder while attending the same These athletes have created a bond that has only college. Together, they will venture out of demonstrated what a strong team they are. “Every time high school to their new home in Oregon. we win, I fall in love with my team all over again and Cervantes said, “It feels great and comforting really just admire the great group of girls I get to play knowing that one of my best friends and I will with,” said Garcia. be going through the same journey together.” “In order to be a team player, you need to be cogni“I committed to Southern Oregon Unizant of the fact that your team is like your other family versity because the school itself was great, Photo by Patty Casimiro who you need to back up and protect,” said Schröder. and it [is] just like home,” said Cervantes. Her Seniors Dasiy Cervantes, Jannelle Garcia, Kailee Morehead, and Simone brother’s motivation influenced her to push Schröder on game day. herself to be able to play soccer at a collegiate level. “He always tells me how proud he is for me, which really pushes and motivates me to After high school graduation, seniors Daisy Cerbe better and never let him down,” said Cervantes. vantes, Jannelle Garcia, Kailee Morehead, and Simone “I was introduced to the sport by one of my longSchröder will continue their soccer careers in college. time classmate, Kailee Morehead, in the second grade. Such accomplishments will be possible through scholShe was so into the sport and talked so fondly about it, arships they received for their advancement in soccer that I soon became interested,” said Schröder. throughout their high school careers. The soccer field is where these student-athletes Being a student-athlete means that an individual show how much they appreciate the sport. “Every time I has to not only have the talent to play the sport, but the step onto the field I feel like I’m home, and it feels right. player must also have the grades to earn a scholarship. Like I belong there,” said Cervantes. “Be committed to schoolwork and your sport and always “The atmosphere of the school and the location was have great work ethic for both academics and the sport,” just what I was looking for,” said Morehead, who will said Garcia. be attending Lesley University in Cambridge, MassachuIn the next fall, Cervantes and Schröder will continsetts. “I’m definitely scared because I’ll be away from ue their education at Southern Oregon University in AshPhoto by Patty Casimiro my family and all of my friends but I think it’s cool to be land. “I found it to have all the things I had been looking Oxnard Girls’ Varsity Soccer player Daisy Cervantes returning able to start over and meet new people, so I can learn to for in a university. It is located in a cute little town with the ball to continue the game. be on my own,” said Morehead. lots of outdoor attractions. It is also pretty cool that I’ll “Being a team player means to be able to do whatbe going with my friend and teammate, Daisy Cervant-
“A Bond That Can’t be Broken” OHS student-athletes explain their team qualities By Esteban Leon “We are with each other all the time, as a more. It helps us [have] greater heights of work team we rely on and trust each other to be there. ethic we never knew we had.” Some of us even put our lives in their hands Adon said that the girls basketball teams are trusting them to catch us, like siblings we almotivated to be successful this season due to the ways have each others back and are always havreputation they have had previous seasons. She ing fun,” said senior varsity cheer Captain Alissa said, “We’re always hearing ‘our girls basketball Carmona, who explained what it is like to be on team sucks’.” The team wants to show everyone the cheer squad here at Oxnard High School. that they are not the same program as they were There are differences in all teams here at before. She added that the team is better and will OHS, one similarity, however, is the bond that continue to improve. each team has with their teammates. Being a part of a team allows athletes to be Successful or not, teammates are there for part of an environment where experiences help one another. Sophomore varsity basketball playand teammates are there for you. Holl said, “We er Diana Adon said, “When one of us is having are very inexperienced compared to the past... a bad day at practice or a game. We all try to We don’t hold a lot of talent, but we do have encourage them that they are better than what better work ethic and want to play our best every they are thinking at the time. In all, we just make time we step onto the court.” each other better as a whole.” Those who are on teams find themselves resembling their relationship as they would with a family. Senior varsity volleyball Captain Nick Holl said, “They have been by my side since we first touched a volleyball, so I consider most of them brothers.” Adon said, “Although off the court we don’t talk 24/7, no matter what, we have a bond that can’t be broken.” As a group, they learn how to deal with Photo by Esteban Leon the previous season failure that may have ocOxnard Boys’ Varsity Soccer team doing their precurred. Holl said, “The past years of just losing game chant. has made us want to perfect our game so much
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