the
Precedent
NOVEMBER 2015|| VOL. IX ISSUE III
PERRY HIGH SCHOOL || GILBERT, AZ
STRANDED
AzMERIT Update
in a foreign Ariz. AG: It is country
Daniel Shin stuck in S. Korea after fall trip
illegal to opt out of standardized tests By Sarah Campbell the precedent
By Molly Ogden
T
EMERY MILLER BEAR DRIVE Bear Drive gives to hospital patients as an act of kindness PAGE 2
the precedent
hree months of no responsibilities would seem like three months of heaven to most people. For junior Daniel Shin, the next few months looks more like a three-month sentence than paradise. Shin had the opportunity to visit his extended family in South Korea over fall break, but due to an unexpected turn of events, he was unable to return home, leaving him stuck in South Korea until further notice. Via Skype, Shin spoke with members of The Precedent staff, commenting that: “I came here on a travel document. When I was at the airport, I just showed them my travel document to come back into the country, but when the lady checked it, she said it was expired and so I was basically stuck here.” Shin was not the only one affected. His mother, Ann Kim, said the family was shocked when they learned that Daniel was stranded more than six thousand miles away from his Arizona home. “I was shocked when Daniel called me from the airport,” she said. “It’s horrible not being able to see your son.” Prior to fall break, Shin was a part of the STEM program, was enrolled in six Advanced Placement courses and participated in Perry’s top Chamber Orchestra. Due to the district’s absence policy as well as the rules of the STEM program, Shin was unfortunately dropped from the program. Shin explained, “I’ve been talking to my counselor, but he basically said that since I am going to be out of the country and none of my classes are offered online, that he doesn’t have a definite solution for me.” STEM counselor Fred Mann commented that “although there
see SHIN, page 3
photo used with permission by Daniel Shin
Daniel Shin looks out of the window at his grandparen’ts home in Bundang, South Korea. The junior STEM student has been stranded in his family’s home country since fall break, when his travel documents expired.
Students will do everything they can to get out of a standardized test, and last year it was as easy as telling a waiter “no thanks” at the diner table. The alleged option to opt out of the AzMERIT standardized test led to a high number of students failing to take the test statewide with their parent’s permission. This year, that will not be an option. In a letter to schools, Attorney General Mark Brnovich explained that the idea of an opt out of state-mandated exams is illegal. “There is no right to opt out of statewide assessments,” the letter says, “children who attend school during the testing windows are required to take assessments as scheduled.” Chandler Superintendent Camille Casteel confirmed that there was not an opt out option and a failure to take the test is essentially illegal. “The law hasn’t changed from last year,” she said, “we have a ‘duty to administer’ the test and the law doesn’t provide for opt-out and never did.” The only reason students got out of the test last year was because of their absence, not due to an opt out option, although some students elected to sit and do nothing during the testing period. Those students failed the exams. “No matter what school you go to, there’s going to be some sort of state testing,” assistant principal Heather Patterson said. Now that the law is clearer, students can expect to be required to take the test. Though the test scores will not determine their ability to graduate, it will affect the school as a whole. “Our biggest challenge comes when the state grades our schools/teachers using the test scores; and our students don’t take the test seriously,” Casteel said. “Our teachers, schools and the district suffer the consequences.” Patterson agrees the scores are significant, but it relies on a student’s motivation. “[Students] have to decide what’s important and what’s not. I think every student would want to do their personal best, no matter what they were doing,” Patterson said. Although testing was certainly controversial, PHS received some of the highest scores in the state. “In English, we were number one in the district,” principal Dan Serrano said. “Our scores were higher than the district average, higher than the state average; we did really well.”
Doyle makes major stride in recovery from stroke By Valerie Burgess the precedent
Nearly one year since enduring a stroke which left her partially paralyzed, Hope Doyle climbed back in the saddle again. Last November she fell ill with an extreme fever, which caused her to suffer a stroke. Since that time she has gone through a lengthy recovery that has included physical therapy to regain movement. Last month was a landmark event for Doyle: the former soccer player and equestrian had a chance to barrel race with her horse for the first time since the stroke. Not only did Doyle and her horse, Solye, reunite, but the duo placed in two of her four events. Father Mike Doyle tells how
while horseback riding she can become equal with all others, because no effects of the stroke are inhibitive to her movements. “There is no amount of therapy that can amount to the therapy when she goes horseback riding.” This December, Hope’s story is being spread to an even wider audience on Dec. 12 for the Ignite Hope Walk (IHW) at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The walk is an effort to raise awareness for patients and raise funds for the hospital. “Ignite Hope was inspired by a 15-year-old cancer patient [named Katie] whose friends held a candlelight vigil outside her hospital window right before Christmas in 2011 [while she was receiving cancer treatment],”
according to the IHW campaign. New purpose is found for the simple action of walking as a united body. “All of the dollars raised go towards the Hospital’s Hope Fund,” IHW coordinator Sandy Garcia continues, “which helps to finance innovative research, cutting-edge technology [and] child-friendly programs and services.” Mike Doyle explains the unique nature of September’s story as it presents itself to a new audience. “There have been many stories about Hope, but it is from the perspective [of ] a peer to a peer.” A community of supportive friends and family have been strengthened by Hope and her story of perseverance.
News 1-3 • Opinions 4-5 • Veterans Day 6-7 • A & E 8-9 • Sports 10-12 Golf goes to state
Golf qualifies for state because of hardwork. Page 12
photo used with permission by the Doyle family
Freshman Hope Doyle races with her horse, Solye last month.
CUSD Production
CUSD wins an Emmy with Prothro as the narrator. Page 8
www.phsprecedent.com Veterans Day
Many options for students to serve in the military. Pages 6-7