The Raven Report Issue 8 (2017-2018)

Raven Report Sequoia High School

Volume XI, Issue 8

1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062

Media Center renovations aim to maximize space, improve efficiency

By BEATRICE BUGOS News Editor

Starting June 1, the Media Center will be being remodeled to better meet the student body’s needs. The project is a part of Measure A, a bond passed in 2014 to fund construction projects across the Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD) and will cost about $4.5 million in total. The project is expected to finish Nov. 21, but it could finish as late as the end of the first semester of the 2018 – 19 school year.

“This is a move towards learning commons with more collaborative space where people come to work on projects, rather than to just be quiet and look at books,” media consultant Elizabeth Snow said. “We’re going to hopefully improve the efficiency of the space for students and teachers.”

The process for this project started three years ago with the idea of making the Media Center a more collaborative place for students.

“What we noticed about that [Media Center] is there were kids having conversations about academics and doing a Socratic dialogue on their own because it is a very pleasant place to be,” Administrative Vice Principal Gary Gooch said.

Sequoia is on the National Register of Historic Properties so no walls can be moved. The plan is to use the cur-

May 30, 2018

“Chicago” returns for Rita Moreno Awards

By LAUREN STEVENS Staff Reporter

Photo by Beatrice Bugos

Media specialist Elizabeth Snow checks out books to incoming International Baccalaureate Environmental Systems and Societies students.

rent space more efficiently. Juniors and Sequoia’s stock pile of cameras, voice Media Center student representatives recorders and other devices. These are Cassidy Flynn and Maurice Jakoby available for students to check out and created a survey that will be emphasized asks students what “This is moving towards more. they want to see in the learning commons with more “I think it’ll be difrenovation. collaborative space where ficult for both stu“People have said people come to work on the dents and teachers to they want a more project to get inspiration for accommodate and get comfortable setting,” projects, rather than to just used to the new enviFlynn said. “They be quiet and look at books,” ronment,” Flynn said.

—Elizabeth Snow, “But I do think it will want more technology media consultant be worth it.” to be able to take out.”

Half of the Fireside During the first Room will stay a quiet space while the semester of the 2018-19 school year, other half will be a computer lab with See MEDIA CENTER, page 6 updated equipment. Snow has built up

Political unrest puts Global Glimpse trips to rest a scale not seen in the country since the civil war in the 1980s and 1990s.

“It was really awful, and Global Glimpse pulled the plug on it so that noThe annual Global Glimpse trips to body got hurt,” said Physical Education Nicaragua have been rerouted to differ- teacher and Global Glimpse Coordinaent countries because of growing politi- tor Stephanie Weden. “It was a really cal and social unrest in hard decision to make, the country.

“It wasn’t your cut and dry but everybody agreed After Nicaraguan attack, it was really awful, and that this is not a good President Daniel Orte- Global Glimpse pulled the plug time to go.” ga announced higher on it so that nobody got hurt,” Global Glimpse is a taxes and cuts to soprogram that takes over

—Stephanie Weden, cial security, massive Physical Education teacher 2,000 students on trips protests ensued. These and Global Glimpse to various Latin Ameriprotests quickly turned Coordinator can countries to assist violent, with governin community projects ment retaliation, relike farming and English sulting in more than 50 deaths. The cur- tutoring, with 22 Sequoia students parrent political situation has escalated to ticipating. It has been running for over

By NICK ABRAHAM and MACKENZIE CLARKE Opinion Editor and Managing Editor

Special feature: They grow up so fast: class of 2018 college map

Page 4-5

10 years.

“They are really dedicated to meeting with the people and finding out what they want, and asking ‘what do you need, how can we help’ instead of going in with a vision of what they think the people need,” junior Ben Redlawsk said.

Because of the cancellations, most students have been rerouted onto trips to Ecuador or the Dominican Republic.

The organization is in contact with enough hostels and hotels to get all of the rerouted students a place to stay near the communities they’ll be serving, but despite the ease of rerouting the trip from a practical standpoint, students that were originally going to Nicaragua have already taken courses in their Glob-

Both the fall musical, “Chicago”, and junior Nicky Dovydaitis were nominated for awards at the Rita Moreno California High School Musical Honors. Despite the two nominations, Sequoia did not bring home any awards.

“I wasn’t anticipating to win.

I tried my best and I didn’t win,” Dovydaitis said. “I didn’t want to win for multiple reasons, one of which is that I’m not going into acting so I don’t want to take this award away from someone who could use it to benefit their career.”

The cast of “Chicago” went to perform at the Rita Moreno award show at the San Jose Center of Performing Arts May 21.

“The San Jose Center of Performing Arts is beautiful. It’s where professionals perform, and I performed there. I wanted to cry of happiness,” sophomore Alex Lanham said.

Sequoia was the lone public school nominated in a pool of private or performing art schools.

This was the first year that director Danny Broome applied for a nomination for the award.

“We sent in an application and they sent a judge to come and watch the performance, and that’s 75 percent of the eligibility, and we submitted a video and that was 25 percent of the nomination.”

Broome said, “I didn’t want to apply until they changed the rules so that someone watched it live.”

Although they did not win, Dovydaitis feels proud that he and “Chicago” were nominated for such a prestigious award.

“It was an honor to be nominated and it was fantastic to perform at the awards,” Dovydaitis said. “I was very happy to be there, and I think everyone else was very happy to be there.”

See GLOBAL GLIMPSE, page 6

25

By the Numbers: The number, in thousands of dollars, that Sequoia has to pay each time the fire department is called.

2

Feature

May 30, 2018

Panel of students addresses anxiety’s classroom impact Know your rights: A guide to students’ rights at school

By HANNAH KLONINGER-STEVER Staff Reporter Four students shared their experiences on a May 10 panel, focusing on how teachers can assist students struggling with anxiety. They aimed to raise awareness of the effects of anxiety on students’ academics, social life and overall mental health.

These panels involved student speakers but are only open to teachers and administration to provide confidentiality for students sharing their personal experiences with sensitive subjects. Several other panels this past year focused on topics like DACA and student homelessness, which have been organized by Shari Schussel, who moved to working in the Teen Resource Center after being a counselor at Sequoia for three years. In working with students, she found that anxiety was a bigger problem than teachers may think.

“My goal with these panels, but specifically with anxiety, is to help the adults on campus who have so much influence and so much access to our students be aware of what could be going on in their classroom,” Schussel said. “[I want to] make teachers aware that what we think might be going on in the class might be something different, and it’s probably way worse than they think. Also with these panels, I want the teachers to feel like they have the tools so that they can handle the stuff in the class.”

Originally, Schussel was going to bring in a panel of experts to talk to teachers,

—Compiled by SHANNON COAN

but found that teachers already have similar workshops through district programs.

Instead, she formed a panel of students to speak.

“It is important to have student panels because that way teachers can actually see into the perspective of students, and a lot of times it’s hard to put yourself in the perspective of other people,” said an anonymous student who spoke on the panel. “That’s just something that a lot of people don’t really try to do.”

For senior Justine Efcavitch, this is the first student panel she has been to or spoken on, and she found that there was a very positive reaction from the teachers that attended. Despite having little time at the end of the panel to receive comments or feedback, Efcavitch received an email

from one of her previous teachers who expressed how valuable it was to hear from students. “[The panel] is trying to help teachers understand that their students are real people, not just small robots,” Efcavitch said. “A lot of the time when students are finding out that they suffer from a mental illness or anything like that, they don’t know what’s going on or how to self-advocate as well as the teachers probably should.”

There are already plans in the works for a follow up panel and screening of the film Angst next fall in order to continue raising awareness about anxiety.

Schussel hopes to continue the momentum with the panels into years to come.

“I want it to be a movement of students who are dealing with anxiety and how we can support them as adults,” Schussel said.

Grades: Students cannot be failed without them or their parents being notified, either with a progress report or with a written notification. To check progress report grades, go to Infinite Campus. If a student is failed without warning, the grade must be changed to a D- or higher. This applies to classes taken in previous years.

Freedom of Speech: Students’ First Amendment rights are protected but are subject to “reasonable time, place and manner regulations”. This means that the school can affect where and when certain types of speech happen, but not whether or not it is said. These rules must be uniform no matter what is being said. The exception to this is threats and harassment, which are not protected.

Searching: Students cannot legally be searched on campus without reasonable suspicion of breakage of school rules or the law. However, Sequoia administration will not search you without your permission.

Clothing: You may wear any item of clothing with a political message so long as it does not promote a” substantial disruption” of school activities, encourage violence or contain obscene messages. A “substantial disruption” means something more than just a mess or rumor and gossip.

Gubernatorial election divides California Under the last seven years of Gov. Jerry Brown’s leadership, the $27 billion deficit became a $6.1 billion budget surplus, landmark climate change legislation passed and marijuana became legal. Meanwhile, in his fight against California, Trump has attempted to overturn sanctuary city laws and has challenged a state auto emissions reduction program. Whichever candidate wins must not only live up to Brown’s legacy and popularity but also stand up to Trump’s efforts to combat the most populous state in his country.

Both candidates share the experience of serving as mayors of major cities—Newsom in San Francisco and Villaraigosa in Los Angeles. Prior, Villaraigosa served on the Los Angeles City Council and was an Assembly speaker.

However, Newsom has the added experience of serving as lieutenant governor since 2011.

Newsom has a penchant for ambitious and bold proposals.

Though he is sometimes criticized for his loftiness, he often points out that it pays off. In 2004, as mayor, against federal law and his party’s wishes, he sanctioned same-sex marriage. Villaraigosa has a more pragmatic and restrained style. While Newsom calls for Trump’s impeachment and is very combative towards the administration, Villaraigosa is less interested in confrontation, dismissing current chances of impeachment. Instead, he believes improving California is the best way to fight Trump. Newsom’s policies also tend to line up more with the liberal platform, but Villaraigosa gears his policy more towards mitigating income inequality and supporting minorities and the poor.

Education: Both aim to make education more accessible, placing an emphasis on early childhood. Villaraigosa focuses more on helping poor and minority students in and out of the classroom. Newsom focuses on making the first two years of community college free in addition to amping up STEM programs and introducing “computer science for all.”

Economic Development: Though prosperous, California also houses one of the country’s highest poverty rates. In criticism of the ‘one-size-fits all’ economic policy, Villaraigosa proposes establishing different ‘zones,’ each with their own autonomy and local funds. Villaraigosa argues that the regulations for Silicon Valley are not appropriate for

Sources: Villaraigosa’s and Newsom’s campaign sites, The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Los Angeles Times

that of the Central Valley. The distinctness of these two economies merits their own policies.

While Newsom supports this regional development, he considers education to be the crux of a good economy.

Healthcare: One of the cornerstones of Newsom’s policy is his proposal for single-payer healthcare. The $400 billion plan will likely require waivers from the Trump administration to receive Medicare pay-

Gavin Newsom

—Compiled by RIO POPPER and LAUREN STEVENS Regardless of party, two winners of the June 5 primary proceed to Nov. 6 general election.

ments along Whichwith subfor it unever candidate stantial tax til they realize—whoa. wins must not only live increases.

The cost.” up to Brown’s legacy and Villaraigo“It’s a jaw-dropping popularity but also stand up sa, though thing: to say you supto Trump’s efforts to combat he support something but it the most populous state in ports the can’t be done,” Newsom his country. single-payer said in the same New York model, believes Times article. “Who the the plan is too hell is interested in ‘it can’t be lofty. done’? We wouldn’t have mar“He’s arguing with bold riage equality if I had listened to leadership...even though he ‘it can’t be done.’” knows you need Trump’s Who will win: The election waivers to do it,” Vil- has become a battle between laraigosa said in a New north and south. Most southern York Times interview. Californians support Villaraigosa “They are not going to while most northerners prefer give us the waivers for Newsom. Northern candidates that. Think about this: typically win due to higher voter You ready to double turnout even though the south is your tax- more populous. Senators Dianne es? No- Feinstein, Kamala Harris, Brown body is and Newsom are all from the Bay going to Area. However, if Villaraigosa do that. wins, he would be the first Latino Ev e r y - governor since 1875. one Newsom and Villaraigosa are i s not the only candidates in the field. Regardless of who wins, the office will demand much, as it governs the most populous state in the country and one of the largest economies in the world.

Antonio Villaraigosa —Compiled by MADDIE PEI

opinion/Feature

May 30, 2018

Peace out girl scouts: a senior editor farewell

Well, seniors, if you’re reading this, it is too late. Too late to turn things around and make sure that “this year is your year.”

Too late to follow through on your selfassuring promises that you would pull straight As or make it to class everyday on time. Too late even to snark at an underclassmen for stopping in the middle of the hallway one last time. It’s all too late because at this point only one thing is certain: the end is crawling toward us faster than the rats through the air ducts.

As the music is cued and the curtains begin to close on the four year marathonic love-affair that was high school, we decided it was time to look back on this cringey and awkward yet undeniably enthralling and once-in-a-lifetime experiment in preparing teenagers like us for the real world.

In 2014, we began our high school expe- became frustrated by our continued unrience through our wide-eyed and bushy- derclassmen status, the move away from tailed alter egos—yes, our freshmen selves. the Schaffer Paragraph method and our For many of us, this year consisted of regu- growing angst levels; we thus proceeded lar verbal harassment from upperclassmen, to take out our anger on the only beings “finding our peeps” and pipe dreams about lower than us in the school hierarchy: a place where school spirit actually existed. the hallway-clogging freshmen. Best case: Though academic rigor was a light shower we escaped sophomore year with only a compared to the monfew bumps, bruises and soon that was to come, late nights spent readThis introductory year of high this introductory year ing Sparknotes; worst school could still most closely be of high school could case: the subject of our compared to a Sequoia Flowater still most closely be daily headspace travels machine: entering with great hype compared to a Sequoia changed from “Where and promise, but leaving perhaps Flowater machine: enhave I cried on campus?” more than a little banged up. tering with great hype to “Where haven’t I cried and promise, but leavon campus?” ing perhaps more than a little banged up.

In 2016, the fabled junior year became The year 2015 hosted the high school our reality. As notorious for claiming lives honeymoon phase. Armed with friends as Genghis Khan at the height of the Monfrom the previous year, severely inflated golian empire, junior year certainly lived egos and maybe even a driver’s license, up to expectations and proved to be a certhere is no question that we were ready to tifiable trainwreck. Characterized by no run the show in our sophomore campaign more than two hours of sleep on any given (sidenote: we weren’t). Fully expecting night, rising social expectations, the introto pass Go and collect $200, we quickly duction of caffeine and the excessive pro-

at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the prospect of making it to second semester seemed the only silver lining.

And then, at last, we arrived. We walked eagerly up the marble steps and opened the pearly, white gates of second semester only to be trampled by a stampede of IB tests, final projects and existential-crisis-provoking college decisions. Seriously, the conspiracy that second semester senior year is easy is a true masterpiece of deceit. But after the dust had cleared and we picked ourselves up, it seemed that the storm had passed, and we had finally fulfilled Drake’s 2013 prophecy: we had started from the bottom, but the whole team was still here.

Now, before you decide to press ‘upgrade’ and leave high school, we invite you photo by Maddie Reynolds to take a moment to look back and reflect crastination of studying for the SATs, the on the past four years. We invite you to ACTs, the IBs and the ABCs, junior year remember that this experience, regardwas a lot like a contemporary rendition of less of its ups and downs, armed you with David and Goliath (except in our version, tools integral to your future success. Most Dave takes a serious L). But in the face of of all, we invite you to rethink your notion off-the-charts stress levels, a never ending that high school was just high school, and stream of assessments and frequent con- perhaps that it was an experience that, for siderations of dropping out and making better or for worse, made you who you are a career out of selling today. our white blood cells, So if you’re graduatWe had finally fulfilled Drake’s we ultimately managed 2013 prophecy: we had started ing in June, we applaud to overcome, now im- from the bottom, but the whole you; you worked hard patiently awaiting the team was still here. for this and should be arrival of our lord and proud of your achievesavior: senior year (upment. And if you’re not, date: (s)he showed up, but just pointed we not only wish you luck in your future and laughed). escapades as a Sequoian, but we also sugFinally, it was 2017—the year of lasts. gest that you do your absolute best to make The last rally, the last collaboration Mon- the most of the one hell of a roller coaster day, the last lie to our teachers about Tur- ride that is your high school experience. nitin.com glitching at 11:59. First semes- Everyone says this but we’ll say it anyway: ter consisted of doubt, fatigue and being you only get one high school experience, forced to finally learn our social security and it’s on you to make it sick. numbers. As we nervously submitted our

It’s been real, first college applications, tensions ran Mackenzie Clarke, Trevor Crowell, higher than Khrushchev’s blood pressure Maddie Pei & Zack Rosenblatt

SUMMER 2018 Monday

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Friday

-Compiled by Taylor Gayner

Saturday

If you missed “The Greatest Showman” in theaters, you can see it at Central Park in Santa Clara June 26. They will provide free pizza for those who attend.

If you want to make some money, Twin Pines Aquatic Center in Belmont is looking for lifeguards this summer.

Go watch the SF Giants play against Philadelphia June 2 for San Carlos night.

Event provides discounted tickets.

Become one of the SPCA’s newest volunteer members to help local stray animals by signing up on their website.

Head over to the Courthouse Square with your blanket and chair to see an amazing 3D mapping lantern show, put together by world-renowned ligh show artist, Bart Kresa. The show is happening every Tuesday night at 8:30 pm.

Sunday If your totally sick of Redwood City, go online and buy a “Go San Francisco Card,” so you can head up to San Francisco when ever you want to participate in discounted activities provided by the card. It also includes free bus rides to get from place to place.

If you cook, make sure to join Redwood City’s salsa competition. Submit recipe by Aug. 31 to win the $750 prize.

Or, if you want to go to a more well known, popular concert, join other Bay Area teens at Shoreline Amphitheater for Post Malone’s concert June 24.

He will be performing new songs, with support from SOB x RBE and 21 Savage.

For those of you who are under 18, you can get into the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art at any time, for free!

In honor of National Doughnut Day, decorate your own doughnut at the Redwood City Library from 4:00-5:00 pm for free!

Wednesday nights, spend time at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and afterwards watch a movie on the beach.

3

Join one of Redwood City’s most treasured nights of summer, and go rock out to local bands every Friday night of summer 6:00 pm at the Courthouse Square. Bring your friends along for a super fun night, for a great price.

If you are playing any fall sport at Sequoia, make sure to check the website for your summer practice schedule.

San Carlos Children’s Theater teens are gearing up to perform “Sister Act,” a classic American comedy, the week of July 20 – 29.

Special

4 University of Washington Zach Bene • Nora Fossenier • Ryan Reed • Portland State

Whitman College Clara Epelman • Amanda Lowenstern • Shasta Sholes •

University Josh Woodward •

Oregon State University Emily Dornik • Maddi Giles • Cale Hallamasek •

Lewis and Clark College Josh Crosby • Justine Efcavitch •

Willamette University Aubrey Maciaszek •

University of Oregon Gavin Bradley • JD Paul • Zoe Clark • Xander Posten • Taylor Funk • Henry Robertson • Elena Minkey • Zack Rosenblatt

•

Linn–Benton Community College Humboldt State Ryan Janowitz • University Leslie Munguia • Sonoma State Nery Alvarado • Samuel Reynaga • Mario Grajeda • Cassandra Rojas Barrios • Antonio Prieto Hurtado • Gianna Raiti • Daniela Ramirez • Yadira Vazquez • Ruby Danielle Garcia • Sacramento State UC Davis Darien Daly • Trevor Crowell • Brittany Maier • Karsen Culverhouse • Yuri Ramirez • Kai Sase Ebens • Josselynne Rodriguez • Maya Mangini • Jacky Rojas • Angela Khov • University of the Pacific Julianna Porter • Violeta Evans • Charles Ringham • Samantha Stafford • Joseph Venegas • Megumi Swarthout • CSU Stanislaus

Washington State University Christian Brown • Tessa Sungail • Joely Langford • Isabella Yee •

University of Puget Sound Zoe Eichen •

CSU Chico Wendy Barron-Munguia • Karl Godinez • Natasha Iniguez • Layne Stanley • Maddy Waddell •

The College of Idaho Marcia Garcia Palacios •

Canada Community College Jacob Adams • Angel Castaneda Jesus Alvarez • Raelyn Hunter • Patricia Alvienne Lava • Joanna Janeth Rivas • Rebecca Anderson • Ivan Josue Rodriguez • Angelica Garnica • Capri Kleinow • Brenda Guillen • Gabriela Lynn Reyes • Leo Hernandez • Bryan Mejia • Steven Diaz Hernandez • Benjamin Mendoza-Coria • University of San Francisco Julie Ahmed • C.J. Talain •

University of Redlands Ashley Gonzalez Contreras •

Regis University Sophia Cipriani • University of Denver Taylor Barvich •

University of Colorado, Boulder Gracie Hanson • Macey Haslam • Alexander Hernacki • Nate Otterby • Julia Scott • Grace Weber •

Texas A&M University Samantha Caswell •

International Bound

Notre Dame de Namur Rita Abdek-Malek • Felicitas Etu • Amanda Iedo • UC Berkeley

University of Edinburgh, Scotland Jasleen Pelia-Lutzker •

Zoji Boyma • Grayson Haaga • Nate Burrill • Ellis Spickermann • Eva Gillet • Sienna Smith •

Mills College Sarai Angel • Saint Mary’s College of California Michael Yu •

Bay Area

UC Santa Cruz Lauren Cresta • Owen Mylod Yee •

University of Arizona Dylan Goode • Jenna Smith • David Vazquez •

Lesly Reyes Mijangos • Eric Mora • Jose Maldonado Nava • Citlaly Perez Suarez • Daniela Ramirez Limon • Miguel Solorio Rodriguez • Sarah Stanghellini •

San Francisco State University Brianna Benitez • PJ Lopez • Sebastian Esquivel • Wagner Molina • Peter Newson • Cailey Horan • Mariella Topete • Carla Jasso •

•

Boise State University Delaney Watkins •

UC Merced Mayra Garcia • Douglas Alexander Rodriguez • Estela Gonzalez • Elsy Guzman • Karen Mendoza-Flores • Yajaira Orozco • University of Utah Jessica Palomino • Serena DeTata • Leandro Paredes • Melissa Paulino-Romero • David Pech Cardos • Yohana Ramirez • University of Nevada, Las Colorado Mesa Vegas University Jeremiah Hargraves • Nicole Finn •

Sara Osorio • San Juaquin Delta College UC Riverside Cal Poly, Pomona Marlene Buitron • Cal Poly, SLO Gonzalo Paredes • Ziggy Lauese • Alexander Berkaloff • Travis Mathieu • Sammie Ellard • Jake Henige • Scripps College Sajan Johal • Katelyn Westland • Pomona College Izzy Kelly • Jared Mejia • Simon Montrose • Alix Richardson •

College of San Mateo Roberto Eduardo Palacios • Rosa Ana Mora • Hugo Tapia • Zack Martin • Oscar Rodriguez Reyes • Zoe Bravo • Ame Tupoufutuna • Nic Sanon • Kaitlyn Walton • Christina Stratos • Emily Nguyen • Elijah Rollins • Yesenia Hernandez Munguia • Calvin Torres • Danielle Amaya • Ussiel Ramirez • Ashley Rios

Macalester Colleg Mackenzie Clarke Annika Krueger •

Santa Clara University Jane Cotter •

UCLA Maya Metro • Massimo Peccei • Alejandra Sanchez-Castro • Kriti Shukla • CSU Dominguez Hills Cristian Navarro •

Menlo College Brandon Ardwan • Jabari Griffie • Isidro Rodriguez Trinidad • Stanford University Zach Lo • Clara MacAvoy • Maddie Pei • Jake Restaino • San Jose State University Karina Lara • Freddy Mineta • Jonathan Guzman • Ivana Rodriguez • Ale Perez Pizarro • Pedram Attari • Aida Perez • Michelle Bejarano • Yareli Solis •

Mission College Roger Kyle Soriano •

CSU Long Beach Joseline Lazo •

Southern Californ Coast

Feature

5 We collected 239 survey entries from Sequoia Seniors.

ge

•

Grinnell College Sunaina Butler • Martin Pollack •

University of Massachusets, Amherst Isaac Collibee •

University of Wisconsin–Madison Corinne Cole • Alex Sehl •

Colored dots correspond to each student’s intended major

University of Rochester Duncan Stewart •

University of Michigan Alex Strehlow • Ohio State University Morgan Taradash •

Humanities 3.5% Northeastern University Martina Silberman • Tufts University Karen Dooley •

Oberlin College Mia Woo •

Mount Holyoke College Katie Benway • Bard College at Simon's Rock Lauren Stevens •

Kent State University Kyle Tarzon •

Drew University Bryanna Gould • University of Maryland, College Park Ben Elliot •

Indiana University, Bloomington Julia Ford • Emma Licko •

College of William and Mary Saxon Hart •

Emory University Hannah Marcus •

24.9%

University of Georgia Katie Uthman •

Formal Sciences - 2.4%

Arts

5.2%

Undecided

11.9% Engineering

13.5%

percent of first generation high school graduates

Professional

36.2%

15.2%

percent of first generation college bound students Army Waynesville, Missouri Jocelyn Castaneda

Xavier University of Louisiana Jada Herbert • Tulane University Jacob Masur • Sarah Wray • UC Santa Barbara Gabriela Luna-Victoria • Robbie Rosenmiller •

n nia

8.56

average number of colleges to which each student applied

One percent of students are taking a gap year

Natural Sciences 23.9%

Occidental College Michela Imperiale •

University of Southern California Jonathan Heist • Erik Huisman • UC Irvine Jose Corpus • Eli Rodriguez • Megumi Yokoi • Chapman University Brandon Ah Tye • Lauren Lynam • Noah Masur • Geneva Schroeder • Nathaniel Valverde • UC San Diego Jarrod Blau • Jack Zhong •

$4,584,145 total scholarship money awarded

San Diego State University Julia Nemeroff •

—Compiled by Shannon Coan, Aviva Futornick and Zack Rosenblatt

Social Sciences 24.4%

6

Opinion/Feature

MAY 30, 2018

Getting raw and real with healthy food trends Pressed Juice Freeze Strawberry

Vitality Bowl

$11.49

Avocado & Egg Toast

Basically a smoothie you eat with a spoon, vitality bowls are adorned with a colorful array of fruits and toppings that are very appealing to the eye. Consisting of a blend of frozen fruit, berry juice and flax seeds, your fruit cravings will be met. The price tag may not be ideal for the average broke high schooler, but if you’re willing to drop a few Lincolns, this fruity treat will surely fill you up.

$6.00 Famous for its artsy pictures, this simple dish is quite the talk of the day. Its well seasoned hard boiled egg, thick slice of fluffy Acme bread, and creamy layer of mashed avocado makes for a delicious bite. Unfortunately, its phenomenal taste is not ideal for those planning on losing weight as it’s packed with monounsaturated fat and calories; however, if you’re looking for a healthier substitute to a sandwich or burger, this is right up your alley.

MEDIA CENTER from page 1 students with free periods will be moved to Room 128, a room currently used for meetings and testing, which will be equipped with comput-

from page 1 bal Glimpse meetings to learn about the country.

“We had done all of our classes and training before the change. It’s detrimental because, during this whole process, I learned pretty much solely about Nicaragua. I don’t really know a lot about what I’m going to be going in to, which is going to be a challenge,” Redlawsk said.

The trip remains an opportunity to experience hands-on learning and understanding of international cultures. Along the 16-day journey, participants create a community action project to immerse themselves in teamwork, critical thinking, organization and empathy and make a tangible impact on the community where they live and learn.

“The experiential education one gains from traveling abroad not just to developing nations, but also developed nations is invaluable because it changes your perspective on your own backyard.” Weden said. “Once [the students] saw someone who just didn’t have clean water, it seemed like their issues with their personal problems diminished.”

Pressed Juice Wellness Shot

Vegans, this one’s for you. At 220 calories and 26g of sugar, this icy swirl of mixed fruits, veggies, and nuts is a perfect healthier alternative to traditional frozen yogurt. The consistency is less smooth and airy, but is made up for by its surprisingly rich flavor. Despite its modest serving size for its rather hefty price, this frozen treat is worth the hype.

$2.95

This 2 fl oz bottle of fire and utter pain packs quite the punch. Consisting of only lemon, ginger and cayenne, this will surely wake you up, begging for water. Though it is intended to boost your immune system, the result is an immediate feeling of excruciating pain, with your insides up in flames. Depending on your tolerance for pain, I would give this —Compiled by YSABELLE PUNZAL trend a hard pass.

ers, a printer and books. The Media Center is closed the last two weeks because of textbook returns, so students with free periods will not be effected during this Finals Week. This year, Snow is returning books in the classrooms by scanning them in.

Department heads have been

GLOBAL GLIMPSE

$5.50 without toppings, $6.50 with toppings

asked to store the textbooks while the remaining books will be in Room 128 or a storage unit.

The archival materials in the side room are being digitized so the materials students aren’t using can be moved to a new home. No archival material will

be discarded. Some of it will be put on display after the renovation. The old textbooks will be consolidated and if they’re deemed unused, they will be sent to SUHSD. “I’m super glad that they are doing it because I feel like Sequoia is a place where every-

Summer programs diversify student learning opportunities

By SARAH FAZIO Staff Reporter

Summer offers an opportunity for students to rest and take a break from the daily grind of high school, and it also offers the chance to try something new.

Numerous colleges offer pre-college programs that give high school students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a field of their choice, live in college dorms and take university courses for college credit.

“It gave [me] an idea of what university would actually be like if you were in that program because you stay in the dorms and there were some days when we spent ten hours in the studio just working on our projects,” said junior Adam Griffin, who went to an architecture program at the University of Notre Dame.

These programs can also foster a positive learning environment.

“The program makes things that you are considering studying more accessible,” said sophomore Michaël Dooley, who attended a summer architecture program at USC. “The social life was great. You meet people who are determined and have creative energy about them or they have self-drive.

I met some really great architects, and I had a really good professor.”

While there is often financial aid available, many summer programs at universities can cost families thousands of dollars for only a few weeks.

Additionally, admission to these programs can be competitive.

Some students hope that their participation in these summer programs will give them advantage in college admissions, with college admissions being more competitive than ever before. However, some say this view can be detrimental.

“If you’re going into it with the idea that, ‘Well I’m going to do this program and therefore I’m going to be a more competitive candidate,’ I think it can contribute to the mania,” college counselor Beth Heaton said to PBS. “I did not place much value on them when I was at Penn and reading files,” Heaton said.

Eric Furda, Dean of Admission at the University of Pennsylvania, told Business Insider that the real value from the programs comes from their influence on students “academically, socially, physically, mentally.”

“It should be about fueling your passion for a certain subject or field of study,” Dooley said.

thing’s always advancing and we’re always [making] improvements to help students,” Flynn said. “I think having the [Media Center], which is the main work spot when you’re not in class, be as good as it can possibly be for everyone [is optimal].”

Sequoia High School Raven Report 2017-2018 Executive Editors Trevor Crowell Maddie Pei Zack Rosenblatt Copy Editor Rio Popper

Managing Editor Mackenzie Clarke

News Editors Beatrice Bugos Benjy Jude

Feature Editor Shannon Coan

Sports Editor Brighid Bugos

Online Editor Aviva Futornick

Opinion Editor Nick Abraham Social Media Editor Madeleine Reynolds Entertainment Editor Dario McCarty

Staff Reporters Soana Afu, Edward Aguayo, Sam Brook, Simon Clarke, Sarah Fazio, Taylor Gayner, Jonathan Guzman, Hannah KloningerStever, Christian Pardo, Ysabelle Punzal, Lauren Stevens, Jay Tipirneni, Sione Tuiaki, Krista Weaver Adviser Minu Dave Send letters to the editor at ravenreport17@gmail.com

Masthead by Darian Daly

7

Opinion

May 30, 2018

Post Malone his dad, who worked for When Post Malone the Dallas Cowboys, in exploded onto the scene a wealthy, Texas suburb. in 2015 with his 4x Plat- Thus, it’s fair to say a little inum single “White Iver- suspension of disbelief is son”, it was still unclear necessary on both the part whether or not the R&B of the listener and Malone artist would be here to himself when he shamestay, or whether he would lessly belts out lines like soon fade into obscu- “When my homies pull up rity as a one-hit-wonder. on your block / They make Nearly three years and a that thing go gra-ta-ta-ta.” littering of Billboard Top Throughout this al100 Songs later, we have bum, it’s never quite clear our definitive, resound- if Malone is in on the joke ing answer: like it or not, himself or if he truly takes Post Malone will be a himself as seriously as it appermanent fixture in the pears he does. It’s reassurmusical industry for the ing to see him lean towards foreseeable future. this more zany and outA pertinent question there style we’ve grown to still remains though: love from him on songs is Malone conlike “Zack and scious that C o d e i n e ,” All his persona a play on in all, Malone’s is a charthe mid new album definitely acter, or 2000s has its highlights, but, does he Disney as far as listening to the actually Chanwhole album as a complete believe nel hit, experience goes, it can be he is the “ T h e a long and arduous caricature Suite Life listen. he paints of Zack himself as? It’s a and Cody.” question that seems trivOther times, Malone ial at first, but upon fur- strays too close to this selfther reflection heavily in- anointed ‘hard’ persona fluences your listening of on tracks like “Paranoid” beerbongs and bentleys. which ultimately knocks Allow me to explain: his ethos down a peg or Post Malone—born Aus- two. tin Post—grew up with The album seemingly

bleeds together, with each song sounding like a slightly different variation on the same idea.

It's almost like Malone has a checklist he fills out with every song: a bass heavy beat, reference to his diamonds in some way and intermittent dream-like bars of singing. In some instances this works to Malone's advantage; if you do a song slightly differently enough times, eventually you’ll get it just right.

Songs like “Rich and Sad” and “‘92 Explorer” create the perfect balance between Malone’s melancholic musings and explosive chorus riffs, and are an incredibly satisfying listen.

All in all, Malone’s new album definitely has its highlights, but, as far as listening to the whole album as a complete experience goes, it can be a long and arduous listen.

While Malone mixes it up on a few tracks like “Otherside”, ultimately, his repetitive style is the downfall of this album.

The best approach to this album is to pick and choose your favorites rather than listening to the album in its entirety.

J. Cole Four years ago, J. Cole’s “2014 Forest Hills Drive” launched the artist into superstardom with the album forever sealing J. Cole's place in the annals of history courtesy of the fact that it led J. Cole to be the first artist in 25 years to go Double Platinum without any features. Ever since then, everything Cole has released has been subject to the comparison of arguably one of the best albums of all time.

Today’s rap game is dominated by artists who deliver rhymes without reason. Artists pack songs with substanceless filler about their racks of money and their Louis Vuitton paraphernalia to no other purpose but the sound of the music.

And yet, rhyme schemes are unessential without a connection to the words and J Cole’s ability to pair rhyme and meaning is fundamental to his work.

On his newest album, K.O.D., J. Cole parades the purity of his poetry yet again, delivering a sound flow coupled with an impactful and meaningful subject matter.

According to J. Cole,

the title of the album can fying and unique sound, one be received in 3 different that is distinct to J. Cole's ways: “ KOD [has] 3 mean- style. Other times, the desire ings: Kids on Drugs, King to be unique overtakes the Overdosed and Kill Our song’s listenability. On “MoDemons. The rest of the tiv8”, the choppiness album I leave to and voice distorOn your interpretions tagged his newest tation.” along with album, K.O.D., J. Given creepy, inCole parades the purity of this, much terjecting his poetry yet again, deliverof his intervals ing a sound flow coupled work in of “I’m with an impactful and this album feeling is based alive,” ultimeaningful subject on the topic mately bring matter. of the pains of down the appeal not just drug adof the song. diction, but all addiction.

In conclusion, J. Cole’s For instance, “Photograph” new album definitely sags on provides an in-depth social certain songs, but, as a comcommentary in which J. plete listen, his ability to take Cole’s hypnotic verses com- risks creatively and deliver a pare social media to a drug, quality, impactful sound ulone where he constantly ob- timately shines through. At sesses over “finessing” a girl the end of the day, K.O.D is over social media. much like many other Cole As a whole, J. Cole’s al- albums. Cole puts a lot of bum flows easily, and pro- heart and effort in attemptvides a complete experience ing to sway the rap world's with several different styles fascination with materialisof songs that are bold and tic posessions. The end rewilling to try something sult is an album that strives artistically different. On to find an unqiue vibe, and “ATM” J. Cole’s rejects typi- whilst at times misses the cal hip hop conventions by mark, ultimately is a pleaspairing a slow, pleasing vo- ant, complete experience. cal with abruptly explosive verses over the sound of —Compiled by SIMON an ATM-machine-turnedCLARKE and reverberating-beat. The end DARIO McCARTY result is a surprisingly satis-

False fire alarms fuel confusion, disrupt class functionality

By SAM BROOK Staff Reporter The alarm is pulled, the fire station is alerted immediately, a light illuminates on the panel next to the gym location, a radio message is sent to all staff with a walkie talkie on campus, teachers start to shuffle their students out of their classrooms, firefighters at the station suit up and prepare to come to Sequoia, administration run to the central location waiting for a response telling them they can shut off the alarm, no fire in the gym, a call is made to the fire department and the alarm is turned off, annoyed teachers and students make their way back to their classes and the firefighters take off their coats and helmets. One day later a student is suspended; caught on camera laughing as they pulled the alarm.

Since February the fire alarms have been going off constantly and falsely

interrupting classes throughout the school All “system malfunctions” aside, the day and after school hours while extracur- main cause of us having to hesitantly get riculars take place on campus. The cause? up from our seats in the middle of a chemNot a fire and rarely smoke alarms being istry test to all meet on the field only to set off, but mainly students pulling the be told to go back to our classes is due to alarms and accidental set offs during the students “joking around” and pulling the Sound and Signal company working on alarms themselves. our system.

Let’s say you really just don't want to Currently this company is working to go to math class today so you all the sudmerge the older system den get this great idea from our main buildto pull the fire alarm to Rarely is the cause smoke get out of class right? ing to the newer system in the A Wing. Because alarms being set off but main- It'll be hilarious, you of the high electric- ly students pulling the alarms will get to see all your ity that controls our and accidental set offs during friends and you won't fire alarm systems, in the Sound and Signal company have to solve any pya couple instances this working on our system. thagorean theorems. process has caused reSo you pull the alarm peated false alarms, up but as all the students to 10 in a row, to go off after school hours are filing out of their classes little Tommy while extracurriculars are taking place on trips don't the stairs in all the trauma and campus. Most of this work is aimed to be now Tommy has a broken leg. Not only finished over this summer. did you get caught doing it by a teacher

and probably a camera too but now you’re liable for Tommy’s broken leg. Luckily the alarm was determined as false before the fire department got to Sequoia or else you would also be responsible for the $25,000 check that the school now owes the Redwood City Fire Department.

Pulling the fire alarm lasted only fifteen minutes and effectively did not get you out of math class but instead got you suspended. If you pull the fire alarm you are almost positively going to get caught and it’s definitely not going to be super funny.

So if you’re tired of getting your class interrupted next time you see something that looks suspicious, like someone loitering around one of the pull stations, tell someone.

“We’re more aware of the saying ‘If you see something say something,’” Administrative Vice Principal Gary Gooch said, “I really want that to be in place here and we need students to help with that.”

8

Feature

May 30, 2018

Athletes pay hefty price in order to compete

School sports are something that many students wish to take part in; however, for some, the economics of playing a school sport become a determining factor. By researching the differences in cost of different sports, we hoped to highlight the hardships these costs can cause. While there is gear that costs outside these ranges, we used the most common brands and their prices. Totals excluded any gear, such as uniforms, that Sequoia is required to provide.

Baseball: *Bat- $300 Cup- $10-20 Cleats- $50-100 *Balls- $6 for 1 *Glove:- $300 TOTAL- $666-726

SEQ uoia

Softball: *Bat- $200 *Balls- $6 for 1 Cleats- $50-100 *Glove- $50-100 TOTAL- $306-406

Boys Lacrosse: Mouth guard-$10-20 Cleats- $50-100 *Helmets- $80-100 *Pads- $50-100 *Stick- $100-150 TOTAL - $290-470

Track: Running Trainers- $50-120 Spikes- $50-100 Flats- $25-50 TOTAL- $125-270

Girls Lacrosse: Mouth guard- $10-20 Cleats- $80-100 *Goggles $25-50 *Stick- $75-150 *Balls- $10 for 3 TOTAL - $200-330

UOIA

SEQUOIA

SEQUOIA Track and Field

BADMINTON

Boys Golf: *Balls- $10-20 for 15 *Clubs- $500 Shoes- $50-100 Playing fee- $250 TOTAL- $810-870

Boys Swim: Practice Suit- $25-50 Goggles- $15-20 Racing Suits- $60 Towel - $10-15 TOTAL- $110-145

SEQUOIA TENNIS

Boys Tennis: Tennis Shoes- $60-100 Racquet- $25-50 *Balls- $3 for 3 TOTAL- $88-153

Badminton: *Racquet- $25-50 *Birdies- $3 for 6 Shoes- $30-50 TOTAL- $58-103

*Gear that athletes can obtain from Sequoia if needed

Spring Sports Wrap-Up

Girls Lacrosse

—Compiled by BRIGHID BUGOS and KRISTA WEAVER

Boys Tennis

Varsity (6-3) JV (0-4)

Varsity (1-0)

“One of the most memorable moments from this season is before every game we would huddle up and “stir the pot” with our sticks to signify the amount of work we were about to put into the game and shout TRIBE or CHEROKEES to get us all pumped up!”

—Daisy Nava, senior

Girls Swim: Practice Suit- $40-60 Cap- $10 Goggles- $15-20 Racing suit- $95 Towel - $10-15 TOTAL- $170-185

“I feel that as a team, we were very resilient because we played through the roughest conditions, overcoming all doubts. As an individual, I feel like I have had some significant progress because of the coaching staff as well as the support from my team.”

Boys Golf Varsity (1-9)

“Although we did not win a lot of matches since we were a young team, we always had a strong mindset heading into the matches. After we’d lose a game, we would just reflect on our mistakes and move on to the next match.’’

—Zachary Doyle, senior

Badminton

Varsity (12-2) JV (4-2-1) “As a team, I think that we’ve made significant progress, winning more games even though we moved down a division.’’

—Jacob Givens, junior

—Andy Giles, junior

Boys Lacrosse

Varsity (7-5) JV (2-3-1) “This season was unique to me because there was this idea of T.R.I.B.E (Team, Respect, IQ, Ball, Effort).

It was a sort of rally cry that united the team as we prepare for battle. It was a very different experience that I had than any other sports that I’ve been involved with at Sequoia.”

—PJ Lopez, senior

Softball

Baseball

Photo courtesy of Pamela Beard

Varsity (2-12) JV (5-6)

Varsity (0-16) JV (0-5)

“My most memorable event was in Selma with the whole team, just bonding, away from the city.’’

“The teams strengths off the field was our bond on the field some days it would be hitting others it would be fielding but we had at least good hitting or fielding during the game.”

—Katea Felikeatau, senior

Track

—Paul Garcia, senior

Varsity Girls (4-1) Boys (5-0) “If I could describe the season in one word it would be ‘grit’. Historically, Sequoia has not done very well in track, and, over these 4 years, with an amazing coaching staff and so, so much grit, we have blossomed into a successful team, beating the odds.’’

Swim

Varsity (0-7) JV (4-2-1) “Something that I’m going to takeaway from this season is the amount of chemistry and relationships built with one another, even after sports. It was that type of bonding.”

—Taylor Smith, junior

Photo courtesy of Greg DesBrisay

—Owen Mylod-Yee, senior Photo by of Aviva Futornick

—Compiled by SIONE TUIAKI