Raven Report Sequoia High School
Volume vi, Issue 3
1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062
November 20, 2012
Cap & Gown choice more gender-friendly By HANNA BOLAÑOS Editor-in-Chief
Photo by Anna Dagum
The DREAM Club event has become an annual fundraiser, attendance growing each year. Back in 2009, it was a small, informal event with “Being called brutal names; immigrant, 35 students listening to a panel of speakers disalien, wet back, beaner can truly affect a cuss undocumented youth in the community. 5 year old girl who does not have a clue.” In 2010, the DREAM Club became affiliated Rossmeri Ramirez was among the six students with Redwood 2020, a partnership that brings who shared their stories to a crowd of roughly community organizations together. Under Red200 on Thursday Nov. 15 at the annual DREAM wood 2020, Sequoia’s DREAM Club partnered Club dinner, which raised over $5000 for schol- with the Immigrant Youth Action Team which arships. Other students who spoke were Alejan- provides opportunities and resources to immidra Soto, Andrea Lara, Jay Hebbert, Aureliano grant youth in the Redwood City community. Davila and Sandra Arelleno. “Our resources in The event cost just $5 to “Day by day challenges make terms of outreach grew attend and all of the monimmensely,” said DREAM my identities strong and just as ey that the DREAM Club Club adviser Jane Slater. raises goes to scholarships. a puzzle, they make up a great In 2010, the fundraiser Last year, the club awarded piece: me.” drew a crowd of 175 people. — Senior Rossmeri Ramirez over $10,000 in scholarThe following year, ship money to undocuthe San Francisco Founmented members of the club. dation sponsored the Favianna Rodriguez, an Oakland-based paint- event, presenting a digital media grant to er and emerging Latina leader, was the keynote the Immigrant Youth Action Team to fund speaker at the event. She explores the theme of a media project for students to tell their immigration in her artwork, and as a child of two personal anecdotes about struggles of beimmigrant parents, Rodriguez illuminates the ing an immigrant youth in our community. struggles of undocumented youth in America. This year, in addition to the speeches, the “When students come out with personal stories, Behavioral Health and Recovery Service of San that’s the best way to humanize the immigration Mateo funded an opportunity for students to act,” Rodriguez said. “It gives a face to the issue.” take photos of places they felt safe around the The DREAM club presented their anecdotes community. Photos of the Redwood City Public and helped spread awareness that night, and while Library, The Boys and Girls Club, and a local basimmigration was a common thread throughout the ketball court were among the places in Redwood stories, the idea of belonging and safety prevailed. City where students felt safe and free of troubles. “I wanted somewhere I felt welcome and This method of visual storytelling, in addiequal. The DREAM club provided me with that tion to a speech given by the mayor of Redwood opportunity,” sophomore Karla Delgado said. See DREAM, page 2
By ANNA DAGUM News Editor
Opinion:
Sports:
No soy esto ni lo otro
Athletes face injuries
Page 5
Page 7
Starting in the fall of 2013, seniors will be able to choose which color cap and gown they wear instead of being assigned a color based on their gender. Seniors Sabina Jacobs and Aureliano Davila met with Bonnie Hansen to propose that gown colors be more gender neutral. In the past, boys have worn purple robes and girls have worn white. “I wanted to make sure people weren’t excluded with picking something as silly and arbitrary as a color choice for your robes,” Jacobs said. “I’m glad it turned out the way it did.” Until now, Sequoia was the only school in the district that still assigned a cap and gown color to a gender. Upon learning this, Jacobs, Davila and the rest of Sequoia’s GSA, started their campaign against the gender binary. “With students identifying more freely and more openly about themselves it would be difficult to have a gender-segregated ceremony because [it would] exclude students who identify as gender non-conforming and transgender,” Davila said. This year, the cap and gown order forms asked students to check a box to indicate their gender. Next year, they will
ask students to check a box indicating purple or white. Now that students need only select a color, graduation ceremonies could possibly become monochromatic. Davila is not concerned about this, however. “It’s more about giving everyone the option to pick their color no matter what and to eliminate the idea that a color is assigned to a gender,” Davila said. “It doesn’t matter whether someone likes purple more or [if ] someone likes white [more] because everyone has the option.” However, if there was an opportunity to break out of the purple and white standards, Jacobs would take it. “I was thinking that if [Ms. Hansen] would let me, or if I had the means to, I would just take a white robe and dye it lavender,” said Jacobs, who identifies as genderqueer. “That way I could have it inbetween white and purple.” The Gay Straight Alliance club is hoping to continue their quest for gender equality by installing gender-neutral bathrooms and further training staff on how to handle homophobia and transphobia. “We’ve given staff members talks about combatting See CAP & GOWN, page 2
Mini-grants fund 24 activities and programs By ANNA DAGUM News Editor Roughly $5,000 was distributed throughout the Sequoia community thanks to the mini-grants provided by the PTSA. The Sequoia PTSA offers mini-grants biannually to support Sequoia students and staff. PTSA members can apply for a mini-grant of $50 to 400 to benefit a specific program or cause that he or she is affiliated with. In past years, the mini-
grants have funded programs such as Special Education, and extracurricular activities such as robotics tournaments. This Fall, because of a surplus of generous donations from Sequoia families, the PTSA was able to award 24 applicants with financial aid for a myriad of different opportunities. There will likely be another mini-grant opportunity this spring where PTSA members can apply online to receive funds for a wealth of various activities.
By the Numbers Students absent on the day of the Giants’ Parade:
Upperclassmen: 333 Lowerclassmen: 249
Total: 582
2
News
Cyberbullying increases and intensifies
As technology evolves, school districts act to prevent online harassment
By CARLOS GARCIA and PAUL KIRALY Staff Reporters The Sequoia Union High School District has taken steps to prevent cyberbullying by creating stronger consequences, such as expulsion or long suspension for students who harass other people online. Based on a recent national survey of teens ranging from 10-17 years of age, in the last several years, cyberbullying has doubled. “I’ve seen bullying and cyberbullying, and I think cyberbullying has become a serious issue today because it leads to people losing self-esteem and self-confidence,” sophomore Gray Lara said. An example of this is the recent suicide of 15-yearold Amanda Todd. When she was 12, Todd flashed a 32-year-old man her breasts in an online chatroom. One year later, the man found Todd on Facebook and blackmailed her for more photos. When Todd did not comply, the man sent the photo of her breasts to everyone Todd knew. As a result, Todd began to face bullying both on the internet and
from her peers. She was physically beaten at school and constantly threatened. All of this harassment eventually lead Todd to commit suicide in early October. Although cyberbullying may not be the sole cause of teen suicide, the SUHSD and other school districts have taken steps to prevent it. The SUHSD created a policy that states if a student is caught cyberbullying another student, serious action will be taken. The California Education Code oversees this and lists guidelines that students should follow. In section 48900 r, it states that if you bully another person, you are eligible for suspension or expulsion depending on how serious the problem is. Many people believe that it is easier to cyberbully than to physically bully someone because the aggressor can hide behind a screen. “I believe that cyberbullies are the ones who are afraid, not the other person,” junior William Escobar said. “Since they’re not showing their face it’s easier for them to pick on [others].” Other organizations, such as stopbullying.gov, have
Dance attendance drops By JENNA PALIUGHI and LORNA WAKE Staff Reporters Sequoia students arrived on Nov. 3 in the Big Gym for the ‘Party in the Galaxy’ homecoming dance, to celebrate the varsity football team victory against King’s Academy. Only 153 students showed up at the dance this year, compared to last year when 213 came. “I loved hanging out and dancing with my friends,” freshman Alyssa Chamberlain said. This year’s homecoming winners were fresh-
men Lucia Abela and Jasper DesBrisay, sophomores Zachary Jagannathan and Natalie Dubbel, juniors Jamie Starlet Becher and Galdino Bravo, and seniors Lilly Nelson and Anahi Hernandez. However, others didn’t have the experience they wanted. Some students did not go because their friends weren’t going. Others didn’t because they were not sure what to expect. “It’s not really my thing,” freshman Breana Houston said. “[The school] made a bigger deal about it than it really was,” freshman Alice Mylod-Vargas said.
CAP & GOWN, from page 1
homophobia, but we never focused on transphobia and issues of gender identity,” Davila said. “I think once we [do that] it’ll be a much more inclusive environment.” Even if new bathrooms are not introduced this year, all members of the GSA consider the change in robe selection a step forward and are eager to continue. “This is such a small thing but I feel like it matters,” Jacobs said. “I hope
Cartoon by Carlos Garcia
Cyberbullying is a new focus of the SUHSD. also tried to put an end to cyberbullying by creating awareness. According to this site, parental awareness of their child’s online activity is a good way to prevent cyberbullying. It is also important that schools takes steps to put an end to bullying. “The impact that bullying has is the same whether it’s physical or cyber,” an administrator of the SUSHD, Don Milhaupt said.
it’s a stepping stone to bigger things so that we can make our school more inclusive of all genders and make people more comfortable. There’s always more we can do.”
DREAM, from page 1
City, reiterated the fact that the community is involved and proactive in providing safe and comforting places where students can seek refuge. “When I first joined [DREAM club], it was about me,” sophomore Alondra Soto
said. “But when I was working in it, I began to get the idea that I wanted to help others too.” Though the DREAM club focuses on undocumented students, it welcomes everybody. “I tell everyone to join,” said Soto. “It’s not just for undocumented students.” “The school is separated, in a way,” said senior DREAM Club member Beatriz Andrade. “and all the students coming together to support these undocumented students would really help the school.”
Correction: The names of students in the article on Deferred Action in Issue 2 were changed.
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3
Feature
Sophomore star shines in spotlight
to attend an open call audition in SF. “My friend sent me an email to go to this audition, so I went and I sang a couple songs,” Norgaard said. “There She has released a single on iTunes, were tons of girls all my age there, so it there are 53,000 views on her music was really nerve-racking. They called me video, and she’s only the next day and a sophomore. [asked] me to go Nicolette Norinto the studio.” gaard transferred to Patrice Wilson, Sequoia this year who invited Norfrom St. Francis gaard to record, is High School and part of Pato Music has been performWorld (PMW), an ing since the age of organization that six. provides opportuHer interest in nities for indepenacting began after dent artists to purher mother took her sue their music. to an audition for Norgaard had an the play “A Christoriginal song ready mas Carol.” Since to record, but bethen, she has percause this was her formed in over 30 first single, PMW plays. wanted her to sing Norgaard also something that has musical experiwould appeal to a Photo courtesy of Nicolette Norgaard ence. Her single, Norgaard also had a photo shoot wider audience. “Nothing Stays the alongside production of her music “[Wilson] wantSame,” was released ed me to do a more video. Photos are on her Facebook. on iTunes Sept. 19. mainstream, uniThe accompanying versal song for my music video was released Oct. 5. first single,” Norgaard said. “I hadn’t This opportunity came unexpectedly really written a pop-sounding song bewhen a friend of Norgaard invited her fore, so that was the hard part. It took
By ERICK CASTRO and DALIA JUDE Page Editor and Staff Reporter
me a month to write [it].” Same”]. My friends and I were listening Norgaard began her musical career to it and then it got stuck in our head so by covering songs and rearranging them, we knew it had to be good,” said sophchanging instruments and keys. omore Marijke Silberman, who plays R e c o rdBruim Hilda ing the muin Cabaret. sic video for It has her single also caught provided on with her Norg aard classmates. with a new “ O n c e experience. people talk “[ V ide o about the is] a lot song and smaller. On others are stage, you exposed to have to be it, it could Photo by Erick Castro bigger becatch on and cause the Norgaard and senior Rudy Sajuan, who plays an become a hit people are so American novelist in Germany, star in Cabaret. through Sefar away and quoia,” sophso you have to have bigger facial expres- omore Alex Kurland said. sions and bigger movements. With film, Despite her single’s success, Norgaard because it’s so close, you can make really says she prefers to perform live subtle movements,” Norgaard said. “Both [recording and performing] PMW covered the cost of the mu- are really different. I like performing live sic video in additition to releasing her better, I’m more used [it],” Norgaard single. said. More recently, Norgaard starred as Norgaard plans to pursue both singSally Bowles in Sequoia’s production of ing and acting as future careers and alCabaret Nov. 16, 17 and 18, adding to ready has the support of those who surthe 30 productions she has starred in. round her. Norgaard’s single has been received “She should do whatever makes her well by many of her cast members. happy, and I know [performing] makes “I really like [“Nothing Stays the her happy,” Kurland said.
Despite disability, Stephen Langi can’t be stopped By TY DEWES and SIMON GREENHILL Page Editor and Staff Reporter Whether he’s on stage, anticipating the starting gun, hearing the audience’s applause or the crowd’s roar, senior Stephen Langi doesn’t let his disability stop him from pursuing his interests. Langi was born with cerebral palsy, which impedes the function of his brain and nervous system. He is forced to use a walker to move around. Despite this obstacle, Langi is involved in leadership, track and field and recently starred in the production of Cabaret. “Leadership and track are two of my main things, and drama just came to me this year,” Langi said. “My personality is that I like to get involved in things, I figured, ‘why not? You’re only in high school once, might as well enjoy it while you can.’” In the play, Langi plays the part of a disabled night club owner. He loses his girlfriend to an American novelist who is visiting Germany. Overall, acting in Cabert has been a great experience for him. “Being part of this production has made me feel like I’m
really a part of something,” Langi said. “You get to do different things, you get to sing, act. Singing makes you feel like you are expressing how you feel, at least for me.” Although Langi admits that he has difficulty with some of the subtleties of acting, Daniel Broome, the show’s director, has no qualms about having Langi in the cast. “When this role came up and I needed an actor for it, I specifically thought of him. I’ve been trying to get him in a show for a couple of years, just because he is such a nice guy and a good person to work with. I know that other people will see him on stage and say, ‘Hey, he can do it, I can do it,’” Broome said. Even though Langi sometimes has a difficult time mastering the nuances of acting, he has the strong support of all cast members. “I can’t think of anybody [in the cast] who isn’t making sure that he’s ok,” Broome said. Despite the confidence others have in him, Langi still gets nervous before he performs on stage. Cabert is his first experience with acting and he is not yet used to the pressure that comes with performing. However, he always finds a way to
Photos by Erick Castro
Above: Langi listens as actress Nicolette Norgaard, who plays the role of his girlfriend, sings at rehearsal. Left: Langi’s character is the owner of the Kit Kat Klub in Cabaret, which was performed last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. overcome his fears. “I tell myself to come on, it’s only a performance,” Langi said. “It’s not the end of the world if I make a mistake, that mistakes are what makes us human.” Langi will participate in track and field for his third year in a row, but he will miss being a part of the play.
“I would like [to do more plays], but I run track during the spring,” Langi said. “I plan to set personal records like last year.” Throughout his life, Langi has striven to live just like anyone else. He has been able to get involved with many of the activities teenagers generally participate in.
“One of the things I love about Stephen is that nobody is telling him what he can’t do. There’s a lot of leadership in him,” Broome said. Langi is excited to continue working with his disability in his final year of high school. “If you see something don’t hesitate,” Langi said. “If you like it, go after it.”
4
feature
Bravo launches website from behind home plate
The first in a series of features starring student entrepreneurs
By LILY HARTZELL Feature Editor One week after junior Johnathan Bravo launched his website, Stump the Ump (stumptheump.com), it received 383 hits and five to ten questions each day. Several months later the site is still going strong and Bravo has answered hundreds of questions about baseball umpiring from people who live as far away as the Dutch West Indies. “I thought it would start slow, and I would have to plug away at it, but it took off,” Bravo said. “For a new site, it’s unbelievable.” He created the site to pursue his love for baseball and understand the rule book better. Bravo, who played baseball for eight years, spends an average of one to one and a half hours a night maintaining the site. He also tries to put out a weekly newsletter, and update both the site’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, which have 33 likes and 50 followers. “I make sure to answer the questions in a timely manner and email people to direct them
Photo by Lily Hartzell
Bravo switches between the baseball diamond and his computer to run his website.
Photo by frank bravo
to answers if they’re already on the site,” Bravo said. Junior Henry Zatarain, one of Bravo’s friends, used the site to ask a question about fan in-
terference in a play. “I think it’s better if a student’s doing [the site] because a student will answer questions in a way that if a professional
did, it would be all the jargon,” Zatarian said. “[Bravo’s] not just some kid, but it’s good that he’s young because he has more time to develop [the site].” So far, the Stump the Ump seems to be doing a good job of opening doors for Bravo. He has met Ed Montague, a National Baseball League umpire, and he was featured in the San Carlos Patch. Bravo umpires for the San Carlos Little League and the Peninsula Parishes/Schools League. He also coordinates the AAA umpires for the San Carlos League. Bravo hopes to continue
umpiring in the future. “I’ve done umpiring for three years, and I’m interested in pursuing it as a career,” Bravo said. Bravo’s dad helped put the site together, and it is funded by adveretisements. Most of the money goes to promoting the site on Google AdWords and paying for the domain. Bravo himself gets almost none of the proceeds, but it doesn’t matter to him. “Honestly, the knowledge I’m gaining from it is more valuable than the money,” Bravo said.
AVID program fuels dreams for college success By CLAIRE BUGOS and SABRINA VILLANUEVA Staff Reporters For students who struggle to find a supportive community, Sequoia’s Advancement Via Individual Determination program (AVID) provides a space where teachers can connect with students and help them grow. The AVID program plays a large role in helping students navigate high school to get into college. “AVID’s really helping me mature with subjects I have,” sophomore Samuel Medrano said. “[It] gives [students] confidence to do better in school.” AVID students get the academic support they need by working with other students, learning important study skills and attending tutoring sessions. “Nobody in my family has gone to college. I wanted to be the first one,” freshman Chelsea Araujo said. Math teacher Melissa Schmidt’s AVID class graduated last June and she is very proud to have been a part of their success. “I feel like there’s a lot of kids here who are really amazing, but come from a background that’s not privileged like mine was, so I was really passionate about helping them get to college,” Schmidt said. AVID is a nation-wide program that focuses on preparing students for college by increasing their overall academic performance. Students must attend tutoring sessions with their teachers if their GPA is lower than a 2.5. “We use that as a way for them to show us that they want to stay in the program,” AVID teacher Daniel Bliss said. “I would
call it tough love.” Teachers dedicate their own time and effort to tutor students or help them with their college applications. “I really believe that being an AVID teacher means that you will do [anything] for those kids,” Schmidt said. The eight staff members that teach AVID stay with their students until they graduate “When you start them out as freshman and go all the way to senior year, you get a pretty rich understanding of who they are, but also know their strengths and weaknesses,” said History teacher and AVID coordinator Teresa Yeager. The AVID classes are often referred to as the “AVID family,” because of the tight relationships between the students. The older students mentor the younger ones and the classes are all “cousins” of each other. “I know new people that I never knew and I [have] people to talk to,” Medrano said. Every Friday is “Family Fun Day,” where the eight AVID classeses do teambuilding activities, listen to guest speakers from colleges or play games specifically geared for college. “I had a few friends there, now I know everybody,” said freshman Paola Arellano. “It’s really fun.” AVID is very popular among students seeking help or support. “People should know what AVID is because some people think of AVID as a boring program, but it’s not. It’s a very helpful program,” said Medrano. Over the years, the AVID class has doubled from one class per grade level, to two.
Photo by Matvari Maharaj
AVID students travel to multiple colleges to get a sense of campus life. “AVID is a family and the bigger the better. I don’t think it’s so big that it’s lost it’s intimacy,” said Schmidt. “This isn’t about Cornell notes. This isn’t about ex-
tra work. It isn’t about being forced to stay after school. It’s about going to college and learning how to be successful in college.”
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5
Feature Olas de español e inglés viajan por el aire. La mesa durante el Día de Acción de Gracias está cubierta con carne asada recién sacada de la parrilla, pastel de manzana hecho a mano y albóndigas cuidadosamente cocinadas llamadas kebapcheta. Un atrapa pesadillas gigantesca cubierta de cuentas coloradas y plumas grandes que me regaló mi tío, antes de que se mudara a un tribu de indios en Nueva York, me protege de mis pesadillas. “¿Qué eres de todos modos?” En una escuela en donde las razas principales son de América Latina o simplemente caucásicos, yo estoy abandonada en un océano de aislamiento.
{
El español fue mi primer idioma y yo me acuerdo a los tres años de edad traduciendo para mi abuelito que únicamente hablaba inglés. Yo le dije que estuvo lloviendo como si no lo pudiera ver por la ventana llena de gotas de agua. Lentamente, mi idioma se fue dejando de mí, y ahora siento que fue robado. “Ay Cheli, just stick to English okay?” dijo una niña con una sonrisa sintética. En la escuela primaria eso era todo lo que tomó. Me robaron la confianza y yo aprendí rápidamente que no pertenecía al grupo de chicas que hablaban español la mayoría del tiempo. Yo me volteé hacia mis otras raíces sola-
mente para enfrentarme a la realidad que yo no me veo blanca. La gente me mira y escogen una raza subconscientemente. La comunidad en cual debería pertenecer es escogida por mí. Las puertas de aceptación se cierran. Yo soy demasiada blanca para hablar español cómodamente porque aún mis amigos me juzgan. Sin embargo, soy clasificada por tener ”latina spice” cuando entro al ‘otro lado’ de Sequoia. Obsesionada con el fútbol y por siempre expresarme cándidamente al estar apasionada, yo quepo en el estereotipo perfectamente. Entonces, ¿a dónde voy para sentirme
aceptada? Como adolescente, éso es lo único que queremos; tener un lugar donde podemos ser lo que somos completamente. He aprendido a aceptar que nunca voy a tener un momento de aprobación auténtica. En cambio de eso tengo muchas conexiones superficiales con la población de Sequoia. Al mismo tiempo, puedo flotar desde el frente de la escuela hacia el quad sin tener miedo. Tengo la mente abierta y estoy dispuesta a dar una oportunidad a todos. Ahora cuando la gente me pregunta que soy, les dejo decidir por sí mismos. No soy ésto ni lo otro, demasiado o muy poco, pero si sé quien soy y lo que piensen los demás no me debería importar.
}
Growing up bi-racial challenges identity Through the process of exploring race, I discovered more about how society perceives me and other people in general. Race is more personal than we treat it, and jokes can easily be taken too far. As a whole, society has come to accept everyone for who they are. For the people stuck in the —Written and compiled by middle, finding an identity is difficult enough without having Araceli Efigenio, Feature Editor to deal with others judgements, subconscious or not.
Waves of Spanish and English travel through the air. The table at Thanksgiving is covered with carne asada right off the grill, homemade apple pie and carefully crafted meatballs called kebapcheta. A giant dreamcatcher covered in colorful beads and large feathers, given to me by my uncle before he moved in with a Native American tribe in New York, protects me from nightmares. “What are you anyway?” In a school where the primary races are from Latin America or purely Caucasian, I’m left in a sea of isolation.
Spanish was my first language, and I remember at three years old translating for my English-speaking grandpa. I would tell him that it was raining as if he couldn’t see for himself through the droplet covered window. Slowly my language was taken away from me. “Oh Cheli, just stick to English, okay?” said a girl with a plastered smile. In elementary school, that was all it took. My confidence was stolen away from me; I learned I did not belong with the girls who primarily spoke Spanish. I turned to my other roots only to
face the reality that I did not look white. People look at me and pick a side subconsciously. The gates of acceptance are closed. I am too white to speak Spanish comfortably because even friends judge, yet I am labeled as the girl with “Latina spice” when I enter the ‘other side’ of Sequoia. Obsessed with soccer and a temper when I’m passionate, I fit into the stereotype well. So where do I turn to feel accepted? As a teenager, that’s all we want; to have a place where we feel we can be ourselves.
I have grown to accept that I will never have that moment of true approval. Instead I trade it in for many shallow connections with the Sequoia population. At the same time however, I can drift from the front of the school to the quad without fear. I am more open minded, and I am willing to give everyone a chance. Now when people ask me what I am, I let them decide for themselves. I am neither this nor that, too little or too much, but as long as I know who I am what others perceive me as should not matter.
Other bi-racial Sequoia community members say: Damon Frazier, Senior “Hey, you can’t go in there you’re black. You’re probably going to steal something.” In his first year of high school, Damon Frazier’s new friends were cracking jokes he had never dealt with before. Little did they know he was also half Japanese. Enough was enough, he thought. “So just ‘cause of my race I can’t go into a store? Nah it doesn’t happen like that,” he said. Past the stunned expressions, Frazier walked in.
Ben Canning, Physics Teacher “In high school one of my best friends would call me a white boy with a tan. Most of the time I would laugh it off. On a bad day it kind of hit home more.”
Italian student flips for warm welcome By JAMIE GUASPARI Staff Reporter Lorenzo Bruni, a 17-year-old Italian exchange student, has been continuing his gymnastics career here in America with the Sequoia cheer team as well as meeting new people and learning new customs. Bruni seems to be having a smooth transition into life in America, and his adventures thus far have been a positive experience for him. “Here everybody is friendly. And everything is bigger too. The roads are huge. The school is huge. The first time I went to this school I was like where am I? I will not be able to turn around and find myself. I will get lost,” Bruni said. Bruni’s smooth transition to life in America may be due to his joining the cheer team which has allowed him to continue his passion for gymnastics. Bruni has been doing gymnastics since he was six-years-old, and he still loves it. “I like it very much so I’ve continued for 11 years,” Bruni said. Bruni came to America in August through a foreign exchange program and will be here until late July. Bruni is staying with Sherry Sanders, a senior, who traveled to Italy last year and stayed with Bruni’s family for
Helena Larsen, Junior “When I go to Denmark I don’t really fit in. When I go to the Philippines, no one thinks my mom is my mother. It’s not like I really fit into a certain category.“
Sequoia Says
If you could be any shoe, what would you be and why? “One with artificial intelligence built in with an internet connection and good batteries.” —Arthur Hardy, Sophomore
Photo by Erick Castro
Lorenzo Bruni completes series of flips during the fall rally on Nov. 2 while cheerleaders performs. six months. Once the Sanders learned Bruni wanted to visit America they invited him stay with them. Bruni is very happy with his host family, and the Sanders are equally excited to have him. “I’ve never had a brother so it’s really cool having him around,” said Sonoma Sanders, Sherry’s younger sister. Bruni and his gymnastics team have won regional competitions, and two years ago they placed fifth in a national Italian competition. ”From when you’re warming up to the final stretching, [the whole gymnastic experience] is awesome!” Bruni said.
“Combat boots, they make me feel like I can tumble out of a helicopter and rescue James Bond.” —Alex Croft, Sophomore “I would be a shoe from an astronaut because you would get to go to outer space and they’re one of a kind because no one has them.” —Michael Sandoval, Composed By Sophomore Glenn Billman and Araceli Efigenio
6
Opinion Staff Editorial
Think before you post: the dangers of social media The Internet is the trash can of mankind. It has turned us into heartless cyborgs who sit alone at keyboards pouring our thoughts, emotions and insecurities into an eternal, bottomless pit. When we publish to the Internet we do not think about consequences. We simply hit send, post or comment and watch helplessly as a small part of ourselves is published to an exponential world. The Internet seems like your friend until you learn that Ms. Hansen has seen the photo of you in your bra holding a bottle of Skyy Vodka. Or that Mr. Kuliga saw you called someone a “faggot” in a comment on a Facebook post. One irresponsible click of a button could ruin your entire future. No photos or comments you post online are private to you — even if you make them so. It’s easy to forget about things you post online because social networking sites have become outlets for human expression. The problem with this is that moods and feelings come and go — the Internet is forever. We’re all really happy you had such a great time at that party last week. But if you’re going to post photos of yourself drinking, doing drugs or wearing little to no clothing,
you better be prepared to share them with everyone and their mother. Maybe you became angry after watching an online video and posted a hateful comment. Your anger may have passed moments later, but you already carved that emotion in stone. Now everyone will know for years to come that stupid thing you said when you were angry for a mere few seconds on November 10, 2012 at 8:38 p.m. Even if you delete a photo or a post it will continue to sit in the empty abyss known as the World Wide Web — just waiting to be discovered or shared again. There are consequences for all Internet participants. The Internet is not written in pencil, it’s written in ink. As a high school student, you could be suspended or expelled for anything you post or do online. Your chances of getting a job when you’re 30 could be jeopardized by a slutty photo or a hateful comment you posted in the seventh grade. You could be arrested if those bottles of Smirnoff keep showing up in your profile pictures. Your life is no longer yours on the Internet, it is an open book for the entire world to read and share. Would you want your grandchildren to see the death threat you posted on a YouTube video when you were 13? Yeah, we wouldn’t either.
Too much Christmas before Christmas kills Christmas By ANTHONY DUFOUR Staff Reporter When it smells like hot chocolate, cinnamon rolls and Christmas cookies, you can be sure that it is Christmas time. But is September too early to buy Christmas decorations? “Why would you want to put the product when it’s not even the season? It’s silly,” sophomore Sebastian Castrillo said. “It just doesn’t feel right because there’s Halloween stuff on the next rail.” Christmas decorations appear earlier each year to share the stores’ window space with Halloween decorations. You can already start your Christmas shopping in stores such as Costco and Walmart in
AVID classmates have become brothers and sisters over time Playful fights and inside jokes create a family.
By MATVARI MAHARAJ Staff Reporter
ing family. AVID is my home and support system to get to college. Being first generation American born, going to college is not only extremely important but also an honor and a privilege. It’s a hard reality knowing that you have to find your own way to get a better education than your immigrant parents have. Two years ago, I was amongst many who wanted to drop AVID on the first day. It seemed like it was useless and a waste of my time. I mean, who wanted to do weekly Cornell notes for 50 percent of your grade or have tutorials twice a week with your classmates? Just seeing the word ‘Cornell’ made me cringe in pain and tutorials seemed pointless. AVID didn’t seem like a good fit for me. However, I decided to give it a shot. After seeing my sister benefit from the program I thought that maybe I could too. Coming back sophomore
September, even if your costume and jack-o-lantern are not yet ready for Halloween. That annoys some people and dampens their Christmas spirit. Some stores in London have even made this early marketing a tradition. By the end of July, Harrod’s is proud to let its customers discover the store’s new Christmas department. Maybe too much Christmas is killing Christmas. The end of November would be a better time because to start selling Christmas decorations because people are starting to get into the Christmas feeling and are motivated to set up their decorations. The good side is that people have more time to think about how they are going to set up their lights, guaranteeing beautiful nights and wonderful holidays.
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Thirty brothers and sisters. Eight aunts and uncles. One grow-
year, I realized that not only on my feet when I was already did I have this class again, but failing. But being in AVID this time, my classmates weren’t changed everything. There is just students anymore. They someone who truly believes were my brothers and sisters. that I can make it to college, We weren’t learning how to an- and there is a classroom full of alyze a piece of text or plugging students who believe that they can make it too. in numbers to an equation. With grade check-ins and We were learning how to advocate for ourselves and how to mandatory tutorials, I am bebecome leaders together. These ing pushed to do my best and people made my bad days, get through the year with betgood. Everyone created some ter results. It was extremely diftype of bond with each other. ficult but a lesson was learned We’re all going through some- in the process. Now as a junior, I am passionate about AVID. thing together. We are a family. The AVID Without this program, my grades would Family. Sophomore There is someone who truly not be where are year I had believes that I can make it to they some hard- college and there is a classroom right now. ships and I full of students who believe I wouldn’t have learned was struggling that they can make it too. how to comin and outside municate of school but it was AVID that kept me go- with my teacher when I was ing. One of my biggest fears struggling. And most of all, I was socializing. I didn’t know wouldn’t be able to be around how to do it because for 6 years a group of people who actually at my middle school, I never enjoy my presence. People may stuck with the same group. think that AVID is a program Being a victim of bullying at where the teacher holds our a young age made it hard for hand every step of the way, but me to believe that high school to us, it’s students who take would be different. To be told what the teachers are giving us that I wasn’t going to make it to and making something out of college by a teacher at a young it. Go to AVID, page 7 age made it hard to get back up
Sequoia High School
Raven Report 2012-2013
Editor-in-Chief Hanna Bolaños Online Editor Caroline Lempert Sports Editor Laurel Dearborn Feature Editors Lily Hartzell Araceli Efigenio News Editor Anna Dagum Page Editors Jarrett Crowell Ty Dewes Staff Reporters Angie Calderón Anthony Dufour Becca Melmon Brianna Escobedo Cam Rebosio Carlos Garcia Carmen Vescia Claire Bugos Dalia Jude Glenn Billman Jamie Guaspari Jenna Paliughi Kyle Shea Lorna Wake Matvari Maharaj Nayeli Garcia Paul Kiraly Sabrina Villanueva-Avalos Simon Greenhill Adviser Kim Vinh Mission Statement 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. Letters to the Editor The Raven Report welcomes letters to the editor from students, parents, or community members, sent to Room 308 or by email to ravenreport09@gmail.com. Letters must include the writer’s full name and ID number, and the staff reserves the right to edit for space and style.
7
Sports
Growing numbers of serious injuries sideline athletes By GLENN BILLMAN and CARMEN VESCIA Staff Reporters Sprinting down the field, she gasps for air and sweat trickles down her face. All that matters is reaching the ball. She can hear the thud of footsteps quickly approaching. Suddenly, the wind is knocked out of her as she collides with an opponent. She loses her footing and crashes to the ground. Her foot is pinned underneath the other player. Her leg is held fast as her torso twists. SNAP! A sharp pain shoots up her leg. She tries to stand, but falls. Her face contorts as a wave of pain floods her body. It’s over. One faulty step, misjudged tackle or swift kick is all it takes for an athlete to tear a ligament, break a bone or even rupture an organ. Sophomore soccer player Carly Aozasa was forced to watch from the sidelines as her teammates prepared for the upcoming season because she tore her medial collateral ligament (MCL) at a soccer tournament, but continued to play, further damaging it. “You’re in a mindset where you don’t care about anything else but the game,” Aozasa said. “You put soccer before
Photo by Glenn Billman
“It kills me every second I’m not out there with them,” sophomore Abby Mejia said. Mejia has been forced to watch soccer team from afar, due to a torn ACL. your body.” Many athletes have become accustomed to the sometimes dangerous physicality of sports. “Probably about half the people [on the team] have been injured at one point or another,” sophomore soccer player Phoebe Hopp said. “I think it’s more demanding than people realize. There are no pads. A couple of weeks ago I got kicked in the face, but you’ve
just got to roll with it.” Varsity girls soccer coach Melissa Schmidt knows how difficult an injury can be. Her soccer career ended early, at the age of 19, when she blew out her knee playing in Sweden. “If you’re really competitive, you don’t want to quit,” Schmidt said. “It was hard to lose the sport.” Soccer players are not the only athletes who have experienced injury this
fall. Freshman wide receiver Anthony Escobedo was confined to a wheelchair after he cracked his spleen as a result of a hard hit during a football game this past September. He spent a week in the hospital, and then two and a half weeks at home before he returned to school. “When I‘m in a wheelchair, you know, I can’t do a lot of things I used to. I have to take it easy,” Escobedo said. Freshman Sisihangale Haunga, a running back and line backer, cracked his tibia and fractured his fibula during a tackling drill on Oct. 8. “When I went in to the hospital, they said they would put screws in my legs and then [shape] it back to place,” Haunga said. “[The doctor] said my leg [was] too fragile to go to school. He [didn’t] want it to hit things and shift inside.” On Nov. 15, Haunga got his cast off, and returned to school after over a month of absence. However, his leg will not be completely recovered for another four to six months. Despite the setbacks of being injured, Haunga, Escobedo and Aozasa all maintain the hope of playing next year. “I don’t think [my injury] will affect my future,” Aozasa said. “If anything, I’ll go harder.”
Giants sweep fans off their feet victory. said. “They became a never say In the weeks following the die ball club, they fought for win, several factors have over- each other, and kept the same shadowed the Giant’s triumph. goal throughout the postseaRioters in San Francisco over- son: win today.” turned and set fire to a Muni Instead of getting caught up Forget the rioting in San bus, which cost the city thou- in the controversy, some fans Francisco after a World Series sands of are simply victory. Forget the controversy dollars in relising in the What the team accomplished on surrounding All-Star outfielder repairs. World Series the field is what we as fans should victory. Melky Cabrera when he was For some convicted of using perfor- fans, the celebrate “The Gi—Senior Connor Grossman ants should mance enhancing drugs. For- world series get last season’s failure to reach victory albe rememthe postseason. Forget all of ready seems bered for the bandwagon fans the Gi- to be in the rear-view mirror, coming back and being the ants have and this most devoted team in MLB,” acquire d arise of sophomore Jenette Masarie over the chaos is said. past few their main Grossman agrees that fans years. f o c u s . should only focus on the game. R e While “What the team accommember this is plished on the field is what instead definitely we as fans should celebrate,” the resila promi- Grossman said. ience of nent issue, “Rioters weren’t Giants fans, your Gisome fans they were just looking for a reaants and b e l i e v e son to go crazy, and unfortutheir reit should nately that became the World fusal to not cloud Series win,” Grossman said. give up. over the Again and again, the Giants Rememvictory. resilient attitude and unwillber the “ What ingness to give in lead them savory should be to a World Series victory. The smell of r e m e m - Giants encaptured many stuPhoto courtesy of Albert Smith garlic fries Fans celebrated the World Series win bered is how dents and faculty at Sequoia as you at the parade on Oct. 31. such a differ- as well with their camaraderie, walked up ent, unique teamwork, and overall persothe steps group of guys came together na. of AT&T park. And remember when it really mattered and “It inspired me because I your joy when Sergio Romo developed chemistry at the end play softball and it showed me struck out Miguel Cabrera to of the season and then the play- that you can still come back afclinch the 2012 World Series offs,” senior Conor Grossman ter bad games,” said Masarie.
By JARRETT CROWELL and DALIA JUDE Page Editor and Staff Reporter
Overall, the Giants had a magical season, and the fact that they won in such dramatic fashion should be enough for fans. “I think we all know and believe that if you think some-
AVID from page 6
The percentage of AVID students who are accepted to a four-year college has now increased to 100 percent. It is not easy being an AVID
thing is achievable as long as you are willing to work hard enough for it and believe it can happen you can get it done,” Giants catcher Buster Posey said during his speech at the 2012 World Series parade in San Francisco. student. We have to fight for what we want. It takes dedication and hard work. We make sure our voices are heard, loud and clear. And it’s something I am extremely proud of.
8
Sports
Nelson set to swim for Division 1 college team
By LAUREL DEARBORN Sports Editor While seniors everywhere are freaking out over college apps and SAT scores, Lilly Nelson can sit back, relax and take a deep breath because she’s already commited. In fact, schools have been vying for her attention since her sophomore year, but only now has she officially been able to say yes. Nelson gave her verbal commitment Oct. 8 to swim and attend Duquense University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — a Division 1 school for her sport. Nelson has been swimming competitively since before the age of five, and can finally say that all her hard work is paying off. “I have gotten discouraged more [times] than I can count on one hand,” Nelson said. “My mom told me that I should stick with it, and I’m so glad that I did. After going through the recruiting process and [being able to] choose a
Photo courtesy of Martin Bittner
Lilly Nelson will become a Duquense Duke next year, contributing especially with her skills in breaststroke. college through swimming, arrives at school just in time to co-captain very well. it’s such a rewarding experi- slip into her zero period class “Lilly is in her fourth year ence. I can’t even describe it.” before the 7:30 bell rings. in my group. In that time she When her alarm fires at “Sometimes I take a nap be- has grown from a shy little 4:20 in the morning three fore I come in,” Nelson said. girl to one of our captains this days a week, Nelson knows it’s After school she swims for year,” Batis said. “Lilly is willjust the start of another long an additional three hours and ing to play many roles in the swimming day. She pulls up for another two hours onSat- program: a leader for our seto the pool at 4:45 to join her urdays. With all that time at niors as well as an older swimteammates. An hour and a half the pool, Nelson’s coach Tony mer working with a lot of our later she quickly showers and Batis has gotten to know the younger swimmers in other
groups at our pool. She cares about the entire team and it shows.” Even after all the long hours in the pool and the struggles she has faced, Nelson always can fall back on one thing: the fact that she loves swimming. “I love it for the teammates, I love it for the atmosphere, I love it for the coach, I love it for the rush,” Nelson said. “There’s certain meets that I do really well in and you remember that that’s why you do this.” For Sequoia, she has been able to final in four of the six personal events she participated in at CCS and has helped lead the girls team in the Bay Division over her three years on the team. “If you don't love what you do, it’s okay to forget it sometimes. That happens,” Nelson said. “But you need to be able to come back to it and if you don't have anything to come back to, don't do it. It’s not worth your time. You have to do it because you love it.”
Girls basketball dribbles, Senior girls win, 28-14 drives and dunks to win By BECCA MELMON Staff Reporter The girls basketball program hopes to continue their success as interest grows, resulting in the addition of the first freshmen girls basketball team. “It’s really great to see so much interest in the sport,” sophomore Nani Friedman said, who was on the JV basketball team last winter and will be again this season. “I think the more people the better, because there will be more talent.” Both the JV and varsity won the league division last season, and the JV team only lost one game. Friedman hopes to continue their hard work and have another great season this year, but it will be a challenge. Both teams are changing divisions and five varsity players graduated last year. “It will be difficult to replace their abilities, but it leaves room for kids from JV to be pulled up to varsity, so that’s exciting,” sophomore Jasmine Simmons said, who played for JV last year and will be on varsity this season. “It’s going to be different, but new girls will come up from JV to contribute, so we have a good chance of being successful this year” senior and fouryear varsity player Alaina Woo said. There is a lot of competition to make the team this year but varsity coach, Steven Picchi has made the decision to add a freshmen team this year because many girls wanted to play.
Photo By Claire Bugos
Sydney Albin dribbles past Jasmine Simmons to prepare for the season.
“It’s a good idea to add a third team. The more girls you can give the opportunity to play, the stronger the program will be as a whole,” Woo said. “It’s cool that Picchi and [ JV coach Corey] Uhalde are giving so many girls the ability to play.” Although the addition of a third team will result in fewer cuts, players still get nervous when trying out for the team. “Just show up with a good attitude and ready to work as hard as you can. If you give it your all there are lots of opportunities for you,” Woo said. “Play with confidence and try your best, you will have nothing to worry about,” Simmons said.
(above) Seniors celebrate after winning the Powderpuff game Nov. 1. (right) Juniors unite after making their final touchdown of the game. (below) Junior Kate Elliott runs the ball for a first down.
Photos by Erick Castro and Simon Greenhill