RAVEN REPORT SEQUOIA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSMAGAZINE VOLUME XII, NO. 1 // NOVEMBER 2018
Seniors get to work, pg. 12
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 NEWS
The Drowsy Chaperone Seniors $ SAFE Funding
7 FEATURE
Social Media and Relationships Cultural Differences at Sequoia Thrift Shopping: Clout on a Budget Challenges of IB
12 COVER STORY
12th Grade Workload: How six seniors navigate
19 OPINION
Kavanaugh’s actions Harmful attitudes about college Accountable Body cameras
22 SPORTS
College recruitment pressure Boys Volleyball Funding cuts cut Dance Team
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Letter from the Editors The New Raven Report The last time Sequoia had no newspaper, it was 2009; the seniors were watching “Avatar” and the freshmen were learning to count. Now, again, there won’t be a paper, but rather this newsmagazine. We have moved the Raven Report publication from the newspaper staple of Sequoia culture to a newsmagazine format that we hope will occupy a similar, yet unique place in our unaliyi. We made this decision with sustainability in mind to allow for more thorough, long-form stories to provide quality information to our community. First, it’s important to note that our publication comes from students. We not only have a responsibility to tell our community’s stories but also to allow our staff to find a balance between the Raven Report and other commitments— extracurricular and academic. There is also a shift in the journalism industry from one evening hour on T.V. and a daily paper to several 24-hour channels and countless, constantly-updating websites. We will bridge by printing a more versatile newsmagazine to slow the pace of
publishing issues to find the better stories, write the better articles and print the better publication. In addition, this pace will allow us to spend more time making our work more visually appealing. What we will comparatively lack for in quantity, we will more than make up for in quality. Without adapting to the changing times, we will sail far away from the expectation of thorough, visual and quality content we owe you, Sequoia, as we represent your stories, your name, and your mascot. We owe you the best publication—and the healthiest staff—we can give you. So we present to you: the Raven Report, official newsmagazine of Sequoia High School, established 2018.
Raven Report // 18-19 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Beatrice Bugos Benjy Jude MANAGING EDITORS Brighid Bugos Rio Popper COPY EDITOR Shannon Coan NEWS EDITOR Taylor Gayner FEATURE EDITOR Ysabelle Punzal SPORTS EDITOR Jay Tipirneni MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Aviva Futornick STAFF REPORTERS
Sami Alaee Madeline Carpinelli Jake Carroll Alyssa De Leon Laniah Dickinson Zoe Dufner Ray Evans Kelsie Garay Sophie Harris Andrew Mancini Collin Mavrinac Lex Navarra Thao Nguyen Mia Padilla Tino Pohahau David Ramirez Maddie Reynolds Caitlin Sorensen Jacob Walker ADVISER Kim Vinh
ABOUT
The Raven Report is a Sequoia High School student publication produced in the journalism class through the efforts and decisions of the staff and the publication’s editors and adviser. The Raven Report is a public forum for students, staff, parents and community members. The Raven Report strives to provide Sequoia High School with informative, engaging and relevant news. The staff will exercise integrity and adaptability while promoting justice and transparency through professional reporting about the school, the community and the world.
CONTACT
The Raven Report staff welcomes signed letters to the editor so that readers might share in the opportunities of the scholastic free press in open forum. The written views of students, parents or community members must be responsible, in good taste and free from libel, slander or obscenity. Letters may be edited for grammar or content if necessary; furthermore, editors will not guarantee that letters will be published. 1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062 www.ravenreport.org ravenreport17@gmail.com
Printing and web posting funded by
A Dramatic Victory RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
‘Drowsy Chaperone’ wakes up confidence, teamwork
Photos by Aviva Futornick
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Photos by Aviva Futornick
RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
BY ZOE DUFNER Staff Reporter The Sequoia Players fall production of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” a musical about American musical comedy in the 1920s, opened Saturday, Nov. 10 in Carrington Hall giving students vital and beneficial experience in the many aspects of show production. “I’ve improved my public speaking skills, made friends, and gained confidence,” sophomore Jacob Crosby said. “If you’re considering drama, do it, try out, you may think you won’t make it but you never know until you audition.” Crosby plays the role of Feldzieg, a producer. He has been involved in Sequoia’s drama program since his freshman year. But this show, in particular, has taught him acting and working as a team. Being a part of the play has made Crosby and other actors more aware of the importance of communication when working on a play or with any large group. Everyone needs to be working as a unit with a clear goal in order to pull off the production. “The Sequoia drama program is really welcoming,” junior Nurcan Sumbul said. “It’s a lot of fun and it doesn’t take that much to get good at it. It boosts your self-confidence, your talent, and it’s a great community.” However, it does take a large amount of commitment. “A big part of the production of a play is commitment, there are lots of rehearsals and you have to be focused during them,” Sumbul said, “You also need the confidence to push yourself because that’s what
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makes your acting great.” With rehearsals lasting over two months, participating takes not only commitment, but time. Regular rehearsals lasted from 3:50 p.m. to 6 p.m. while dress rehearsals lasted from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. “You learn something new with every play. With this play, I learned about working with an ensemble because we have a particularly big cast in this show,” Sumbul said, “it’s just a different type of show.”
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
BY BEATRICE BUGOS Editor-in-Chief
Less money, more problems Seniors strive to raise money after past fundraising failings BY ALYSSA DE LEON Staff Reporter On Nov. 2, many seniors came to school at 6:30 a.m., ate doughnuts, sipped hot chocolate and watched the sunrise—all for a $5 per person entry charge. The event was to fundraise for senior events. Funds are used to lower prom ticket prices and pay for Grad Night, among other expenses. The senior class started this year off with $230, nowhere near the initial goal of $2,000 laid out to every class. “We started with $230, and now, with Senior Assassins, we’ve made almost $1,000,” senior class president Julia Banfield said. What most helped the class was the outsideof-school game the seniors played called Senior Assassins. Seniors each paid $10 to play and then tried to get their ‘targets’ out with water guns. Essentially, it’s a game of tag. Funds not only came from the first participation charge, but also from the revival fee. If a player was ‘tagged,’ that player could revive him or herself once for a $10 fee. But even with recent funding successes, many seniors wish fundraising had been handled differently throughout high school. “It’s all very chaotic,” senior class secretary Landon Pierce said. “[We] probably should talk to adults because it’s really helpful to talk through your ideas with someone else who’s not involved directly.”
The $250,000 grant from the 21st Century ASSETs Program will no longer fund the next five years of the SAFE Program, which offered afternoon tutorials and enrichment activities to Sequoia for the past 10 years. The Sequoia High School Education Foundation (SHSEF) is now funding the four essential SAFE programs: the Learning Center, math tutorial, Power & Speed (open gym) and Driver’s Ed. at a cost of $50,000. “[Finding out about the loss of the grant] was a little heartbreaking because hundreds of Sequoia kids really need [SAFE]and yet we lost all of that funding,” SHSEF President Jennifer Webb said. The cut this year has included the tutorials for subjects other than math, a culinary arts class, as well as a few other programs, have been cut. “For a lot of [the students], it was a way to socialize with their little group of friends or meet other students,” said Claudia Rendon, the Health Aid and former SAFE culinary class advisor. The SAFE, Sequoia After-school Focused Enrichment Program is an enrichment program to give students opportunities for academic support, to learn new skills and to have fun. For those who are on free or reduced lunch, SAFE funded before and after school food. The original grant was intended as seed money to kick-start the program that would later be funded by the school or community. “The criteria for getting the grant is generally [based on] the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch,” Webb said. “Just over half of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch, but this year the schools that received the grant have over 70 percent [of their students in this category].” Sequoia was told at the beginning of the summer that they did not receive the grant. “I was relieved that we had managed to scrape enough money so the timing was just right,” Webb said. “If it was two years ago, we wouldn’t have been able to save the day.” The SHSEF efforts to fundraise increase every year as the donation pool grows. “Our biggest knob we are turning is the business sponsorship program because, in addition to those organizations providing money, they’re providing internships, scholarships and shadowing programs,” Webb said. Despite the funding efforts of the SHSEF, there is not enough money for afterschool meals that at Sequoia. Instead, students are picked up on James St at either 3:50 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. on a bus funded by the Sequoia Union High School District to go to the Redwood City Boys and Girls Club. “We give free food every day. Our chef makes an amazing meal every day at six o’clock for all the students. It’s always a full meal with salad and fresh fruit,” said Boys and Girls Club academic advisor and tutor Natalia Bautista. “We lost that funding and that was a big blow... but we’re bouncing back in a positive way,” Administrative Vice Principal Gary Gooch said. “There are a lot of people coming out of the woodwork to help secure funding or to apply for grants. When you’re in a tough spot, it’s when you really realize the strength of your community.”
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Social media plugs into relationships BY MADELINE CARPINELLI AND LANIAH DICKINSON Staff Reporters
with a healthy and equal amount of affection, it can result in a more secure connection. Facebook can also help boost one’s confidence in a relationship by acknowledging the relationship on social media. Whether it’s Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat, teens are connected to “Sometimes when we are together I’ll post a photo or on special their phones at the hip. When teen relationships begin to depend on occasions. Not randomly though,” Perrone said. social media, it becomes more of a topic of discussion. Although social media allows teen couples to communicate regularly, Text is a favorite way for teens to communicate, romantically sometimes it be difficult to recognize sarcasm or jokes online, which can or platonically. According to the Pew lead to one getting offended. Research Center, 72 percent of teens with “It can get miscommunicated what relationship experience communicate we’re trying to say,” Morales said. with a significant other over text. Some Youth Development Coordinator teens also communicate over social media Whitney Fitzgerald believes that I just don’t think that [talking through Snapchat and Instagram direct communication plays a large part in the messages. connection between teens in romantic over social media] is a real “If we go on vacation, I can see how relationships and that social media takes [my boyfriend is] doing [through text],” away from that. substitute for that person to said freshman Taryn Lawas Morales, who “The more connections we think person connection. has been with her boyfriend for over a year. we have via social media, the less we’re According to The Greatist Newsletter, truly experiencing a human connection,” Whitney Fitzgerald, the more selfies posted on platforms Fitzgerald said. Youth Development Coordinator like Instagram, the higher likelihood of According to studies, in most relationship conflicts. Around 42 percent situations, 55 percent of communication is of couples reported that they are distracted body language, 38 percent is tone of voice, by social media while being with their and 7 percent is the words spoken. That significant other, 18 percent argue in person means over text, you are only getting 7 about how much time they spend on social percent of what the other person is saying. media and 8 percent have conflicts about “You will be able to pick up on some of what their partner does online. those really subtle things like certain body “Sometimes people use social media to language things, or the ways in which they get validation. They also don’t have other use tone or the way in which they react or people to get validation from so they’re respond to different things that you may asking the whole media,” Morales said. say [in real life]. So you’re missing out on Although teens use social media to meet a really big part of communication that is and get to know each other, 85 percent of not there online and in texting,” Fitzgerald teens say that funny material like memes said. is the most common information shared Fitzgerald says that being with your Art by Claire Tom online, as stated by Adolescent Counseling partner over text all day can weaken a Services. relationship in that way. Seniors Serena Perrone and Jordan Barnes have been dating for nine “[I wouldn’t] tell them every little piece of my day and send him months, and social media has been positively affecting them. pictures or snaps or something,” Fitzgerald said. “Then at the end [of the “We get to show people we are dating, and we can post cute pictures. day] when you go and see them, it’s like, ‘How was your day?’ You were Social media gives us the room to do that,” Perrone said. along for the entire ride.” According to the Inquiries Journal, social networking can positively “Overall, [social media is] a really cool way to share your thoughts,” affect a romantic relationship if both partners post photos or updates Morales said. “But it just depends on how [you] communicate.”
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Four Continents, Five Sequoians
From across the country to across the world, Sequoia’s diverse population unites students and faculty from all around.
BY KELSIE GARAY AND THAO NGUYEN Staff Reporters
Art teacher Clare Szydlowski is from a small town in Buffalo, New York. Due to her father’s new job, she moved to Orange County, California in eighth grade and encountered many cultural differences. “I would say people in Orange County talked a lot slower, and they have different lingo like ‘gnarly’ and ‘awesome,’” Szydlowski said. “I got made fun of for my accent as well. People would mock my accent all the time in a playful way.” Different states have their unique cultures and sets of rules, and Szydlowski experienced this first-hand when she moved. The way she talked, which was normal to her growing up, was something to be laughed at 3,000 miles away. “I think [moving] is an opportunity to branch out and see different perspectives in the world and learn more about yourself and have your identity challenged,” Szydlowski said. Although she dealt with teasing, moving allowed her to step out of her comfort zone. She and her family had to acclimate to the environment, make new friends and reinvent themselves.
Photo by Thao Nguyen
Clare Szydlowski
Senior Teiji Koyano is from Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica. He is of Japanese and Jamaican heritage, and he moved to California due to his father’s job in the Japanese embassy. Being mixed race provides a challenge for Koyano when travelling between Japan and Jamaica. “In Japan, it’s very homogenous,” Koyano said. “When I go to Japan, I’m considered just black. When I go to Jamaica, on the other hand, I’m considered more Asian than Black.” Koyano feels as though he is denied the cultures of Japan and Jamaica to a certain extent when he visits either of the two countries due to his mixed-raced background, but he has come to accept that he is a blend of both his ethnicities and not just half of each. “It gives me a different perspective because I’m not entirely supporting this one culture regardless of its bad qualities or its flaws. I can see and accept the flaws from both cultures, which makes me a better person because I can see the good parts and learn from the bad parts,” Koyano said.
Photo by Kelsie Garay
Teiji Koyano
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Photo Courtesy of Joan Fuertes
RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Sophomore Joan Fuertes is from Manila, the capital of the Philippines. She and her family moved to the United States in 2012 for new opportunities. “My dad told me about how I’m lucky to have piano classes for free [in the U.S.]. In the Philippines, it’ll take 1,000 [Philippine pesos] to take piano lessons,” Fuertes said. 1,000 Philippine pesos is approximately $20 in the U.S. The high price can stop people from pursuing the arts and other passions because they can’t afford it. Now that she is in the U.S., she has more opportunities to pursue different interests. “One of my favorite things about Sequoia is definitely the Digital Arts [Academy] because I couldn’t have discovered it myself in the Philippines,” Fuertes said. Fuertes remembers thinking some of her old creations were great, but once she saw foreign films she saw how much room she had for improvement. She strives to learn more about the digital arts now that she has access to those classes.
Photo by Thao Nguyen
Belén Álvarez Spanish teacher Belén Álvarez is from Gijón, a city located in the northwest region of Spain. In August of 2000, when she was in college, she travelled abroad to America for a teaching program at East Palo Alto elementary school and found herself falling in love with the country. “I kept thinking, ‘I’m just going to stay another year,’ then after seven or eight years I decided to stay permanently,” Álvarez said. While in her teaching program, Álvarez discovered she had a passion for teaching, but she had already majored in law. “In Spain, it’s very difficult to switch careers,” Álvarez said. In America, on the other hand, job opportunities were flexible. “One of the things I really liked was the opportunity to do what I wanted to do,” Álvarez said. Due to her passion for teaching, changing her career wasn’t hard. However, to this day, she still struggles with the distance between her and her family. Annual trips back to Spain and cooking traditional dishes allow her to stay connected to her home country while maintaining her career in America.
Photo by Kelsie Garay
Te Ton-Tho Chemistry teacher Te Ton-Tho is from Gò Dầu, a southeastern district of Vietnam. He came to America in 1980, seeking refuge from communists in the government because they didn’t respect people in education. “In Vietnam, they treat a doctor and a teacher in the same rank in terms of society’s respect, because doctors save lives and teachers teach children,” Ton-Tho said. Ton-Tho explained that teachers are seen as “school-parents” who raise children to succeed in school, and as a result, in life. When Ton-Tho first came to America, he was caught off-guard by the cultural differences, but he has come to embrace them. He even considers himself more American than Vietnamese because he has spent more time living in America. “In [America], education is not the goal of our life in terms of success. As long as you’re happy, you should be fine,” Ton-Tho said. Despite this, he still maintains his Vietnamese culture by combining different aspects of American and Vietnamese culture. For example, when teaching, he explains topics to students to increase their understanding, but he also wants them to be able to memorize facts and information.
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Clout on a budget Sequoia High School students examine the culture around recycled fashion and style on campus
BY SOPHIE HARRIS AND JAKE CARROLL Staff Reporters With many quickly changing fashion trends and retail prices rising, a thrift shop is aSequoia student’s new best friend. “If you can find a really cool piece for a low amount,” senior Kate Loveland said. “That’s the dream come true for someone with no money.” Thrift shops are secondary vendors, meaning they don’t produce or alter the products that they sell. Every piece of clothing at thrift stores are donated by the public, washed, and then displayed for purchase, ranging from your dad’s Wranglers to your
little sister’s tiara. Thrift shop prices are known to be extremely low: about 75-90 percent off the original retail price. “I got a pair of true religions at Savers for $13.99,” senior Jesse Carthy said. True Religion jeans are notorious for being on the expensive side, upward of $100. “[It’s a] good way to get clothes without spending a lot of money,” Carthy said. Along with the price, many, including Carthy, prefer thrifting over retail when shopping for clothes because of the quantity that thrift stores allow you to pick up. “I would pick quantity over quality,” Carthy said. “I can get more things, different variations.”
On top of the quantity that thrift stores offer, you can get creative with customizations of clothes of your own choice, widening the options for just one piece of clothing. This gives thrifters the opportunity to “crop” clothes that are too big for them or transform it into a completely different piece. “I’ll crop shirts, ripped jeans, etc.,” senior Kemmer Peeples said. “I’ve made plenty of jeans into shorts.” However, to some, the unpredictable nature of thrift shopping can be unappealing. Some students prefer to purchase more trendy or on brand clothing from retail stores. For senior Robert McAniff, whose favorite clothing item is a Burberry flannel, second hand stores are
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018 not his preference. what they bought because it is a symbol for “It’s fun to go into [retail] stores and see the hard work and dedication. clean selection,” McAniff said. “[There’s] no better sensation than the McAniff enjoys the easy to navigate stores feeling of a Burberry dress shirt,”McAniff said. and the aesthetic which comes with a retail or Thrift shops, when compared to retail, designer price tag. He enjoys saving up for an have a beaten-in-like-a-catcher’s-mitt feel, but expensive piece, and finally being able to take everyone’s definition of quality is different. it home for the store and show it off. “ I value clothing that can be comfortable “It motivates me and last a long time,” to work 7+ hour shifts Peeples said. multiple days a week,” Shopping retail McAniff said. “It feels compared to thrifting so good walking into has more security Stanford Mall with because there is a set hella money that I got I got a pair of True Religions at catalogue that does for working too many not change within Savers for $13.99. hours—it gives me days like thrift shops. Jesse Carthy, senior purpose at work.” One has more of an For people like idea of what they will McAniff, working hard buy before they walk in order to make a into a retail store, special purchase adds emotional connection while with thrift shops, it’s a gamble. to their clothing. They are proud to show off The process of thrift shopping may take a
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while, sifting through the clothing. However, it’s a process that many enjoy, and results in finding affordable and unique pieces. “I enjoy this process,” Loveland said. “I have developed my own process and I have an open mind.” Senior Kate Loveland gets into her routine by setting aside a good amount of time before thrifting. She recommends going shopping when the thrift store restocks in order to be the first to pick over the new batch of clothing. Loveland starts shifting through, and grabs the clothing pieces that call to her. After seeing how the pieces fit in the changing room, Loveland decides what to buy and checks out. “I think that there’s a definite misconception about thrift shopping; that it’s only for the people who don’t have money,” Loveland said. “Thrifting has been becoming more popular to more than the demographic that can only afford thrift prices but at the end of the day, thrifting goes hand in hand with saving money.”
THRIFTED vs. RETAILED Ralph Lauren polo $100 retail Ben Davis shirt $3.99 thrifted $20 retail Topshop oversized denim jacket $90 retail
Dickies pants $14.99 thrifted $28 retail
$27.97 total
Nike Air Force 1 shoes $90 retail
$320 total
Photo by Jake Carroll
Vans shoes $8.99 thrifted $50 retail
Photo by Sophie Harris
Brandy Melville jeans $40 retail
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Work Like a Senior by SHANNON COAN and BENJY JUDE Copy Editor and Editor-in-Chief
Photos by Shannon Coan and Benjy Jude
There is no doubt that seniors have work. The question is: how much? Workload varies by student and the academic path taken. These five seniors represent the most commonly taken paths: the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, IB certificate, all college prep classes, the Health Careers Academy (HCA) and the Digital Arts Academy (DAA). It is important to remember these five do not represent all seniors, like the many taking Limited English Proficiency (LEP) or special education classes. In addition, the time spent on the same homework varies greatly. Lastly, each have unique home lives and extracurricular activities contributing to their total workload.
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Miriam Quiroz, IB Diploma Candidate “There’s a really big, competitive student culture,” senior Miriam Quiroz said. “It’s like: Who can sleep less? Who can get the higher grades?” Quiroz is an IB Diploma Candidate taking seven IB classes. Despite the rigorous workload, Quiroz realizes that many teachers understand her workload. “This year, teachers [have a] more comprehensive [understanding] of what’s going on in our schedule [like] college apps … and our last community service hours,” Quiroz said. Along with support from teachers, Quiroz is aware of all of the resources and tools she has at her disposal, including the College and Career Center, along with the English Department in regards to college applications and Peer Mediators at the Teen Resource Center. “If you ever need to talk to people or vent, Peer Mediators is a really good resource,” Quiroz said. And, to Quiroz, that’s a resource more people should take advantage of. “People are super stressed. This is a big [year]; this basically decides what you’re going to do for the rest of your life.”
AP/IB Calculus IB English Y2 Human Bio Other HW
1 1/2 hours 3/4 hour 1/2 hour 1/2 hour
Average HW Per Night
3 hours
Applying to Historically Black Colleges and Universities Volleyball, youth ministry Average Sleep
6 hours
IB English Y2 HL
1 hour
IB Math Studies SL 3/4 hour IB Biology Y2 HL 1/2 hour Other ~2 hours Average HW Per Night 2-3 hours Applying to in-state and outof-state public universities Peer Mediators, work at Teaquation Average Sleep 6 hours
Nyah Herbert, Half IB, Half College Prep “[Senior year] is a lot of work,” senior Nyah Herbert said. “There will be some periods where there’s not a lot of work and then all of your classes give a lot.” Herbert will receive IB Certificates, as she is three IB classes. She recognizes that the majority of senior stress comes from two main sources. “I think it’s [both] outside and school factors,” she said. “The fact that we have to do college applications [while teachers] are giving us all this work doesn’t help.” Herbert also believes there is a lack of interdepartmental communication with deadlines and a severe lack of time management among students. However, she values and appreciates the supportive presence of teachers at Sequoia. “Teachers are very supportive here. That’s one thing,” she said. “[In Human Bio] we will have a session where [the teacher] talks to us and relates to us. He’ll tell us his problems so we’re able to relate to him. That shows that he’s able to support us because he knows what we’re going through.” Herbert still believes something can be done to help out seniors’ workloads a little, especially during college application season. “Just focusing more on classwork so that we don’t have that much homework,” she said. “Keep doing the same things, but just [having us] start homework in class so when the time comes to do homework we have less.”
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Aiyana Singh, Health Careers Academy “Senior year is actually really good [because] I don’t have that much work to do,” senior Aiyana Singh said. “Teachers don’t really care that much [yet] they realize how much they can stress us out.” Aiyana Singh is part of the HCA, as two of her classes are HCA courses. She joined because she wants to pursue a career in nursing. However, she recognizes not everyone in the HCA wants to pursue a health career and thinks there is some disconnect. “We really don’t get anything in the HCA, homework wise,” Singh said. “If you get behind, you’re really behind.” This lack of homework in the HCA is not to say that it does not prepare those who are looking at a career in health. In fact, Singh believes the HCA was the most effective option for her future plans. “You actually get to go visit these schools that offer [health courses], and then you get to meet those teachers,” she said. “They really bring you more into what you would actually be doing and not just the education side of it.” At the end of the day, however, it is the HCA teachers that contribute to the success of the students. And for her, though they may stress some out, that’s not a problem. “They’re good people. They want us to succeed.”
IB ESS
2 hours
IB History IB HCA English
Goes biking on weekends Average Sleep
6 hours
1/2 hour
Average Nightly HW
3-4 hours Applying to UCs, CSUs, privates and out-of-state publics Played soccer Average Sleep
total seniors
Plans on going to a community college in Stockton
1 hour
Other HW
SENIORS : 490 By the numbers Rene Aguilar, Digital Arts Academy
1 1/2 hours
7 hours
in at least
1 ib class
61%
“My classes are chill,” senior Rene Aguilar said. “I was expecting to do more work, but I like my teachers and the classes I have so far.” Aguilar joined the DAA in his sophomore year after hearing how the class sizes were smaller and they would get more help from teachers. He has noticed, in the DAA this increased help coincides with less work out of school. They’re pretty chill with the work,” Aguilar said. “But when they do, I don’t mind doing it because they don’t give you homework every class.” Aguilar, like Herbert, Quiroz, and Singh, also recognizes that, whether it’s the work they get in school or something unrelated, the teachers are very helpful. “They support me. Definitely,” he said. “If I talk to them
ss
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Tyler Christiansen, College Prep Classes
English IV
“It’s a lot of work so far, but it seems more relaxed than other years,” senior Tyler Christiansen said. “I feel like last year was more of a push to get into senior year. [This year] is mainly just trying to stay focused on what I have to do” Christiansen started off the year in IB English, but after realizing that the class wasn’t for him, he opted to switch into college preparatory English. He now takes all college prep classes and plans on going to Cañada College next year. “I don’t really know what I wanna do, so it’s nice having Cañada where I can just go there and figure it out. It’s a money saver,” Christiansen said. He thinks that Sequoia—from its classes to the many meetings required for students—has helped prepared him well to succeed in college. “In my English class we had the College-and-Career-Center people come in,” Christiansen said. “We worked on our resumes and looked at our transcripts, which is nice because I wouldn’t have any clue how to do that otherwise.” Mostly, he thinks that the key to surviving senior year comes down to two things. “Have good time management and know what you’re doing.”
12%
pursuing ib diploma
gpa over
about [my future], they’re like, ‘You should do this or that.’ They’ll probably help me to look at other schools, too.” But for Aguilar, it’s not just the community he has at school that supports him in his endeavors, from mountain biking to becoming a diesel mechanic, but his mother as well. “My mom, she supports me in everything I do. No matter what, she’s there for me.” Aguilar believes his family, at home and at school, supporting him throughout his academic and extracurricular work, has helped him grow as a person as well as a student. “I remember in Freshman year, I was very shy. I wouldn’t talk to that many people. And now, now that I look back at it, I’m like, ‘Why didn’t I talk to that many people?!’ Now as a senior, I’m just more outgoing; I just like to meet new people and everything.”
Algebra II
1/2 hour
Physics
1/3 hour
Rarely other homework Average Nightly HW
1.5 hours Plans on going to Cañada College Few extracurriculars
Average Sleep
5.5-6 hours
97%
3.8
22%
1/2 hours
class of ‘18 at college
Algebra II IB Spanish HL
2/3 hours 1/3 hour
Rarely other homework Average Nightly HW
1hour
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RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
High stress, lack of time pose challenge to potential IB students BY MIA PADILLA AND ANDREW MANCINI Staff Reporters From the #WeAreIB posters in the hallways to the conversations about various acronyms unknown to underclassmen, the International Baccalaureate (IB) program is undeniably a major part of our school’s identity. In fact, approximately 64 percent of juniors and 61 percent of seniors are involved in the program this year. Students at Sequoia can sample 19 different IB classes during junior and senior year to be awarded an IB certificate at the end of senior year. Alternatively, to receive the full diploma, students must take a class in each of the six IB subjects, plus the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) class; write the Extended Essay (EE); and complete required Creativity Activity Service (CAS) hours. The school’s goal is to enroll every junior and senior in at least one IB class. With such a goal, one ponders the perspectives of students involved in the program. Why do they take IB classes? Why do they reach for the diploma? What obstacles stand in their way?
TO IB, OR TO NOT IB Every student has unique reasons which influence their course selections. “I don’t think the IB Diploma itself is ... for every single student,” said College and Career Center Coordinator Teresa Ignaitis. “If the diploma is going to cause you stress, I wouldn’t do it.” However, some students seek the rigor of the program, accepting the resulting stress as the inevitable. IB curriculum requires students to go deeper into analyzing and discussing topics. “For me personally, [IB has] been fun and challenging,” said senior IB Diploma Candidate Ximena Sanchez. “And I say fun because I love learning. ” Colleges consider whether students took advantage of all the available opportunities in high school more than whether an individual simply “did IB.” “For many institutions, they are evaluating students in the context of their high school,” IB
coordinator Lisa McCahon said. “The question becomes, ‘What opportunities were given to each student, and did they take advantage of them?’” Senior Noah Schembri considered how taking IB classes helps students in college. “[Taking IB] wouldn’t be to look better on a résumé [but to] prepare you [for] what classes you’ll take in college,” Schembri said. Senior Edward De Jesus Vazquez took several IB classes during junior year, but didn’t continue due to the high stress and large workload. “I’m planning to graduate and go to a community college. After that, I’ll go to a 4-year. I don’t want to stress out,” Vazquez said. “I can take [IB] classes now and stress out, or take them in college.” EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL IMPACT With classes, extracurricular activities, planning for college, and pursuing a social life, students are busy. For students taking IB classes, the workload and rigor go up, often resulting in increased stress. Senior Kira Coan took classes during her freshman and sophomore year to get her ready for IB. Ultimately, in sophomore year, it was natural for her to say “yes” to the diploma. “I have always been a really good student, and I decided to do the diploma because I thought, logically, that’s where I should be going. And then I entered the program, and I flopped. I was struggling, I was unhappy with myself academically and as a person and I eventually was like, ‘It’s not worth it to me to keep doing this and to give up everything that I really do enjoy,’” said Coan, who dances, sings, and does Taekwondo. There’s not much that can help with reducing the amount of work, but how and when you do that work—another useful skill in college, according to McCahon—can help
PAGE 17 // FEATURE
Photo by Mia Padilla
RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
An IB Learner Profile poster hangs on the wall next to the door of a math classroom. The learner profile outlines the traits and skills of IB students. to lower the overall pressure.) “Time management, not waiting until the last minute to finish everything, is important,” said junior Irene Katakis, a diploma candidate and year-round swimmer. Katakis signed up for the diploma because she was interested in attending an international university. However, she has friends who did not sign up for the diploma because of CAS hours, a diploma requirement of a combined 150 hours spent doing creativity, activity, or service actions junior and senior year. But there are ways, Schembri said, to adapt pre-existing hobbies and extracurricular activities to fit the CAS hours requirement. “I had no clue what I was doing to fulfill the creativity requirement, so I decided to take piano because I wanted to do it anyways,” Schembri said. IB PROGRAM STRIVES TO INVOLVE ALL STUDENTS “We have a kind of ‘open enrollment’ policy [into IB at Sequoia]. Our teachers
make [the program] accessible, as opposed the characteristics on the [IB] Learner Profile,” to shutting the doors,” Ignaitis said. “Here, we McCahon said. “When you bring multiple have a situation where we care more about the perspectives in, it enriches the discussion ... students in IB because everybody deserves to because you’re not just hearing from the same community, [but] a variety.” get that experience.” And for that, it Two years is important to have ago, Sequoia was everyone feel like selected as one of they fit in IB. five nationwide IB “When students schools to receive And then I entered the program, and I start an IB class, the IB Equity flopped. I was struggling, I was unhappy some students Grant, a fund that helps each with myself academically and as a might at the very beginning feel school recruit person and I eventually was like, ‘It’s not [they] don’t belong more low-income worth it to me to keep doing this and to here,” McCahon students into the IB Program. Since give up everything that I really do enjoy. said. “But they do and we want to then, Sequoia has Kira Coan, senior make sure they worked to inform don’t run away all students about the program, and modified freshman- and without first understanding that, yes, you do sophomore-year curriculum to better prepare belong here. And yes, you do bring a valuable perspective.” students for IB. “[IB is open to] multiple perspectives, values, people who can be open-minded: one of
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PAGE 18 // OPINION
RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Repeating history, taking action BY TAYLOR GAYNER News Editor “Are you a scorned woman?” asked Senator Howell Heflin to Anita Hill. She responded: “No. I am not.” Hill testified she was sexually harassed by Justice Clarence Thomas while clerking for him. He was later given a lifetime seat on our Supreme Court. More recently, Christine Blasey Ford shared a similar story. “With what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you?” asked Senator Dick Durbin to Ford. She responded: “100 percent.” Ford pleaded she was sexually assaulted by Justice Kavanaugh in high school. He has a lifetime seat on our Supreme Court. Ford and Hill are two strong women who told their truth to a Judiciary Committee of primarily white men. Both times, these men had a set agenda; they knew what they wanted and how they were going to get it. Although President Donald Trump described it as “a difficult time for young men,” in reality, it is a difficult time for women. In part, this is due to the non-reflective nature of our political system overall. If we young Americans hope to change our future politics, we need to act and educate now. To do so, we are left with one way to act: attentively. Educating ourselves on all political perspectives will give us the ability to shape future policy discussions that will include everyone. “It’s important for all of us to not just understand the right or left, but to understand politics as a whole in order to set out a better future,” said senior Jackson Feely, founder and president of Sequoia’s Political Union. The allegations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh and Thomas should have thinned their chances of getting on the Court,
or even nonexistent. For one to be implicated with these claims should, at least, have their nomination questioned, and in some cases, rule them out as potential candidates entirely. This is the only way for change to come. Both women tried to instigate change. They spoke for our country’s justice, yet it was no surprise that in these ‘he said-she said’ situations the man was ultimately trusted. “I’m not a lawyer, but from what I heard on the radio, Dr. Ford’s allegations and stories were credible, persuasive, and powerful,” history teacher Danny Bliss said. Many people educated on the hearings could overlook gender and race, and decipher for themselves what could or could not be justified. Because of their strong-willed public statements, many Americans stuck by these men. Contrary to popular belief, many believed they deserved their Supreme Court seat. Many saw red flags in the women’s stories and found it easier to believe the men. Regardless of who you believed, what’s important is to pay attention. If you don’t feel you are represented in politics, don’t sit around. We can use collective movements and our individual voices to change the standards for our future. More recently, thousands of Americans went out to make change by voting. We saw our first Native American congresswoman, Muslim congress woman, openly gay governor, and many first-time female senators in various states, we are still left with an overly white and republican congress. Despite the slow progression, I, for one, still feel extremely misrepresented. I would like my readers to remember one thing: use your voice and put your rights to use. Individual votes may not directly impact stories like Ford’s and Hill’s, but they can decide our congressional representatives and our presidential administration. I pledge to help with the change, and continue the progression of our country. And, I hope you will too. Pay attention. And when the time comes, vote.
PAGE 19 // OPINION
Art by Claire Tom
RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Body-worn cameras: a first step towards improving police-community relations
BY JAY TIPIRNENI AND NICK ABRAHAM Sports Editor and Opinion Editor Over the years, instances of police brutality have been amplified in the media and public. The question is, why now? The simple answer is these instances are being recorded -- but by civilians, and there is still a lot of information
and perspective missing. Some recordings, like the one of Philando Castile’s death, only captured certain parts of an incident. Other cases, like that of Michael Brown, were not recorded at all, putting a focus on testimony and an officer’s account of the event. Dwilding national trust, maintenance of local support A Gallup poll from June revealed 54 percent of Americans have confidence in the institution. Among minorities, confidence in the institution is lower. A Gallup report from 2016 showed that only 29 percent of Black Americans showed confidence in police. In Redwood City, support for police is more steadfast. This is partly thanks to various community programs implemented by the department over the years. “The Redwood City relationship with the community is stellar,” Deputy Chief Gary Kirby said. “I think the way that the uniform division is included in community meetings, coffee with cops, [and our] adoptive school program [contributes to this].” With this positive relationship comes an accountability to the community. Body cameras are an essential part of maintaining this relationship and they would give the public transparency and insight in the case of an incident occurring between an officer and a civilian.
Body cameras could show the steps an officer takes when assessing a dangerous situation. Body camera footage could be used to examine the conditions an officer was using force under, and whether such force was necessary for self-defense. Training and set up costs hinder camera implementation Unfortunately, body cameras are much harder to implement than one may suspect. RCPD has a hundred officers, so it takes a lot of work to have each officer learn to use a body camera and store hours of footage. Police departments would also need to hire workers to review footage. According to Kirby’s estimation, RCPD would need at least one new employee for this. Kirby has been pushing for the use of body cameras, along with dash cameras on police vehicles, for several years. “About a year and a half, maybe two years ago, [officers didn’t] want to hear about [body cams]. Now, attitudes have turned 180 degrees,” Kirby said. While other cities such as San Mateo have secured funding to provide the cameras to officers, RCPD is still waiting on this funding, and is hoping to receive it by January’s local budget adjustments. A band-aid for a systematic lack of accountability Despite the potential solutions body cameras could provide, they would not be a complete or immediate solution to police brutality. A study of body cameras on officers in Washington, D.C. in 2017 found that the cameras “had no detectable, meaningful effect on documented uses of force.” This is because the law, the justice system and the people that are meant to hold officers accountable for any wrongdoing are ultimately the institutions that will protect them from any consequences. Jason Stockley, a St. Louis policeman, was still acquitted of murder after shooting and killing Anthony Lamar Smith, a 24 year-old black man, despite wearing a body cam Body cameras are a first step, not an outright solution to the disparities between America’s law enforcement and communities.
PAGE 20 // OPINION
RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Post Secondary Plans of the Class of 2018
Of the 51% attending a 4-year...
Collegiate pressure forms harmful attitudes about college BY MADDIE REYNOLDS Staff Reporter In terms of sending its students to 4 year just as deserving of support from the people around us as students universities, Sequoia has set a high standard for applying to a 4 year receive. the district. But in terms of ensuring a healthy I watched firsthand as my friends applied to 4-year colleges and attitude about college in general, Sequoia’s universities last year, and the stress of the entire process had taken a students are left with an unrealistic attitude significant toll on them and their personal lives, despite all of the help about college; the attitude that a 4 year college that Sequoia gave them. The precise polishing of their essays, college is the only option, and that there is no excuse visits and competition between friends became all the more stressful to not go to one. when combined with senior year homework, Internal Assessments, Sequoia has a history of sending students off extracurriculars, and the multiple jobs several of them had—not to to high achieving universities. In fact, Sequoia mention the financial stress and toll on their families once they got was founded as a preparatory school for Stanford University, according accepted. Seeing the turmoil my friends went through last year made to the school website. We have had, especially as me think to myself: “How much do I really want of recently, high IB exam scores across all subjects this? Do I even need it?” offered at Sequoia. All the while, students have to The whole college process, including and juggle a job, extracurriculars, family life, volunteer especially the 4-year application process, is stressful How much do I really work, and other activities that could guarantee enough. But what makes this process even more want this? Do I even them the 4-year college of their choice. But for stressful, for all students, is the competitive attitude need it? people like myself, despite all of the achievements that most people intrinsically have about college. we have under our belt, the trophies on our shelves I see students losing sleep every night over their and the plaques on our walls, a 4-year university UC applications, their Common App essays and just isn’t right. everything else they have to get together for their application process. I have an alternative college plan that doesn’t fall within the norms That stress, while worth it for some, is by no means necessary for a of a post-secondary education. When I tell people I’m not applying to valuable and enjoyable college experience. an on-campus 4-year, they get confused. My grades are good, I have If any of what you’ve read sounds like it applies to you, and volunteered my time often, my extracurriculars are consistent; I’m more you haven’t begun the application process, don’t feel like you aren’t than qualified to make it into a 4-year if I wanted. But that’s exactly “living up to potential”. Your potential is whatever you decide it is. Don’t it; I don’t. I’ve been told I haven’t been living up to my potential, and let the standards other people set for you determine the decisions you that I’ve given up. That sentiment demoralizes people like me all around make about your own life. There are enough hoops to jump through as Sequoia. My choice shouldn’t be a taboo one, and students like me are it is.
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PAGE 21 // SPORTS
RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
When ball is life, all else comes second Exhausted by hours of practice and increasing pressure, having college recruiters watching their every move is a lot to handle. But for athletes planning to play in college, they have devoted their lives to these sports. “I have been playing soccer pretty much my whole life. [Playing in college] has always been a dream,” said senior Bridget Carbonneau, who was recruited by Cal Poly Pomona to play soccer. Carbonneau currently plays for Sequoia’s girls varsity soccer team as well as a club team. “It was crazy to hear the words come out of [the coach’s] mouth,” Carbonneau said. “It was amazing because it has been such a crazy year. Telling my parents and having them say ‘I’m so proud of you!’ was awesome.” Getting recruited is not as easy as it seems. Athletic Director and girls soccer coach Melissa Schmidt notes that the most important step is student outreach. “Usually, the kids are really working on reaching out to colleges, and inviting those colleges [to see them play],” Schmidt said. Sophomore Caitlin Dulsky, currently shooting guard for Sequoia’s girls varsity basketball team, is not even close to having to worry about college. Yet she is already communicat-
ing with coaches since playing basketball in want to play in college. I realized I had to put my main focus on baseball, so I quit basketcollege is her goal. “It wasn’t until my freshman year where I ball,” Mirkia said. Senior Joe Adams also made the decision to was like ‘I can actually do this. I have to start planning ahead and getting ready for recruit- sacrifice other sports, shifting all of his time into soccer. ing,’” Dulsky said. “I enjoyed playing water polo and lacrosse Commitment is key when one hopes to con[for the schoo, but] for me to get to the next tinue playing in college. “During the season, [I play] everyday except level [I needed to be] fully focused on soccer,” for Sundays,” Dulsky said. “On the weekends, I Adams said. Adams currently plays for have tournaments and then Sequoia’s boys varsity soccer in the summer, it’s everyday team and on a club team. of the week. Then, a bunch Pressure comes from of travel tournaments.” coaches encouraging them Some athletes sacrifice Having coaches scream to work harder. activities so they focus on at you and seeing [col“We have multiple tourtheir sport. They have little leges] from the sidelines naments where basically 200 time to breathe or spend is very nerve-wracking. colleges come,” Carbonneau most of their time on the Bridget Carbonneau, senior said. “Having your coaches court or field. scream at you and seeing “I missed prom last year,” [colleges] from the sidelines Carbonneau said. “I had is very nerve-wracking.” two games in San Diego, Within the college recruitment process, ath[so] I felt like I could sacrifice prom [to have a coach] see my games. I [also] miss birthdays letes must look into what level they hope to and multiple different events [because] soccer play at and what programs are offered for that sport. is always the number one priority.” “The most important thing for kids to think Similarly, junior Kian Mirkia, who is on the boys varsity baseball team, had to make sacri- about is what’s important to them,” Schmidt said. “Finding the best fit for them [is key].” fices to get better for college. “This year was when I first decided that I
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Photo Courtesy of Nancy Perez
BY YSABELLE PUNZAL Feature Editor
PAGE 22 // SPORTS
Photo by Collin Mavrnac
RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Boys set up for first spike in school history BY COLLIN MAVRINAC Staff Reporter
Since 1977, Picchi has coached women’s volleyball and basketball among others, but this will be his first season ever in boys volleyball. “What’s appealing to me is starting a new program and getting it For the first time in Sequoia’s history there will be a boys’ volleyball off to a good start, and just getting a really positive foundation going,” Picchi said. “I’m gonna push [the team] hard, but team, to start their season this spring. In the past, due I’m gonna make it fun.” to lack of gym space, funding and interested players, Picchi wants to go into this season as an Sequoia has never formed a team. organized team. The first season will only be holding one varsity Tryouts will be in late January, and if students team, and they will be in the Peninsula Athletic What’s appealing to did not attend the meeting, there will be more League (PAL) division. me is starting a new held by Picchi in the future. “The gym space issue hasn’t really changed, we’ve program and getting it “I plan to have a meeting in mid-November just decided to get creative, practicing late until off to a good start... and I’ll probably have another in early or midbasketball season ends and using gym three at first, Coach Steve Picchi december to make sure everyone knows what’s instead of the main gym.” Athletic Director Melissa expected.” Picchi said. “I’ll run a few open gyms, Schmidt said. “It also felt like this particular group of probably beginning in December, to get an idea of kids were really motivated and willing to help make how the team will be.” this all work.” Picchi expects male athletes in other sports Schmidt held a meeting on September 18 to get hope to bring some of their alternative skill into an idea of how popular the team would be to boys at the tryouts. Sequoia. Junior Sam Schult has played basketball “The meeting was really to gauge interest. We had a during his entire time as a Cherokee, but played great turnout, so we’re going to proceed with having a It’s a good fit for volleyball briefly in middle school. team,” Schmidt said. “I think it’s pretty cool that we get the first ones [Sequoia] because it’s Sophomore Jack Pedrotti, who is interested in to be able to try [out boys volleyball].” Schult said. very diverse. playing for Sequoia, has played club volleyball for Bay “I play basketball, so hand-eye coordination will to Bay in San Jose since before high school. Jack Pedrotti, sophomore help me [if I get to play].” He pitched the idea to Schmidt, saying he wants to No teams are official yet. be able to represent the school in sports. Everyone has to try out for a spot, then it will “I wanted to bring [volleyball] to this school be up to Picchi and his assistant coach to organize because I feel like it’s a good fit for [Sequoia] because the players in the way they feel best. it’s very diverse,” Pedrotti said. “I feel like people could find something “There might be 12 to 14 spots, give or take.” Picchi said. “It’s gonna that they like.” One of the bigger conflicts was finding a coach while bringing the be the kids that show the most potential.” idea together, but Schmidt overcame that obstacle, having basketball coach Steve Picchi agree to coach boys volleyball.
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PAGE 23 // SPORTS
RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
Photo by Aviva Futornick
When the music stops
Dance team disbands as SAFE funding ends, finds other outlets BY LEX NAVARRA AND DAVID RAMIREZ Staff Reporters
Dance Teams have been recurring throughout backgrounds. Sequoia’s history. “They’re pretty technically advanced,” “We’ve had dance teams on and off for White said. Sequoia’s Dance Team disbanded for the many years [...] but the current dance team has However, most of the dancers were left in 2018-2019 school year after they experienced been here for about the last 8 or 9 years, and the dark when the news came out. a loss of funding from it was started by a former “We didn’t react how we would have if we the SAFE program. student,” Taylor White said, knew how bad the situation was,” Hughes said. “A big chunk of SAFE one of the teachers within “We never really knew that it was ending. [Our programs were cut,” Sequoia’s dance program. coach] had said ‘We’re applying for a grant, senior Serena Stephens Overall, the team had don’t worry,’ and she never really said that ‘it’s We were a close-knit said, an active member a really close atmosphere, over’. We never really had that closure, and we group, and we considered of dance team since her paired with a hard-working still don’t.” ourselves a family. freshman year. dynamic. Many of the dancers were devastated when Tyler Madsen, senior Because budget “We were a close-knit they found out the news. cuts were made to the group, and we considered “My mom was on a dance team [when she program, SAFE now ourselves a family,” senior was in high school], and I wanted to continue only has the ability Tyler Madsen said, another the legacy and then have my little sister be on to fund certain aftermember of Dance Team the dance team [in the future],” Hughes said. school educational programs. SAFE, the since his freshman year. “I was just disappointed.” Sequoia After-School Focused Enrichment “I think that The dancers continue Program, made Dance Team an after-school everyone had a general to dance both within organization, but without funding for their connection,” sophomore Sequoia and outside designated program, they cannot meet. Nicolette Cruz said, of it as well. They We never really knew that “We applied for a grant right before the who joined Dance team have also considered it was ending. We never year ended, [and] it didn’t go through” junior as a freshman in the creating a lunch club to Grace Hughes said, a previous member of 2017-2018 school year. replace the team, which really had that closure, Dance Team. “There was overall a nice might be able to have and we still don’t. Dance Team was a group of dancers that atmosphere.” the same performance Grace Hughes, junior performed at rallies, football and basketball The team also had opportunities but would games. Because their team was a part of the professionality and require a teacher advisor. SAFE program, it was not an official Sequoia passion that made them “[Dance Team] was sport. Although this recent era of Dance stand out in their performances. Most, if not something that I used to be so passionate about Team was started within the last decade, all, of the dancers came from copious dancing and I wanted to continue it,” Madsen said.
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Sequoia this past month... PAGE 24 // SPORTS
...prepared to battle the San Mateo Bears, Oct 19.
...sported the sticker proving they exercised their right to vote, Nov 6, like English teacher Nichole Vaughan
RAVEN REPORT // NOV. 2018
...was sweetened by Freshman Tracy Gomez dressed as a strawberry on Halloween.
...saw some teachers in their animalistic onesies, run on and steal the show at the Fall rally, Oct 5.
Photos by Mia Padilla, Aviva Futornick, Lex Navarra
...the crowd at the Fall Rally watched as senior Leslie Buenrostro wins one of the bubblier games, Oct 5.