Raven Report Sequoia High School
Volume vi, Issue 4
1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062
december 19, 2012
Two winter concerts go out on a high note By PAUL KIRALY Santa’s Helper For the first time, the Winter Concert was split into two days; Dec. 5 and 6. “I think it was necessary to extend the concert to two days because of how long they are,” said advanced band member and sophomore Ryan Willet. “Having advanced band, normal band, jazz band, orchestra, and choir perform on one night is too much. Sometimes they last from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.” With the concert being so long in the past, performers found it difficult to fit homework and other exrtacurriculars into their schedules. Two separate concerts allowed all the performances to have more time on stage. “Having separate concerts [meant] we could play many pieces that we wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to play otherwise,” first stand violinist Garreth Wang said. The increase in time also allowed the performers to play a larger variety of music from Christmas carols to songs like “The Invasion of the Rosin Eating Zombies.” “I’ve really liked being able to play a large variety of music from classical to contemporary because it has really helped our orchestra expand our playing style,” Wang said. In addition, the separate groups also played one piece together at the end of each concert. The orchestra played and choir sang three Christmas carols and the bands played several Christmas tunes including “Frosty the Snowman.” All the groups are happy that each performance was alloted extra time. Some people may think musicians get nervous before playing a concert, but some are calm under pressure. “I don’t get nervous. I play music for the enjoyment of music and not just for the show,” Willet said.
Photo by Claire Bugos
Oyie’s water project was inspired by his mother whom he would often watch carry a water jug for miles.
Maasai Elder visits Africause By JARRETT CROWELL Party Planner
Elder of the Maasai tribe from Kenya, Sabore Ole Oyie, visited Sequoia on Dec. 3 to speak about his water conservation and education projects, as well as daily life in Kenya. Oyie’s water project is meant to improve life in his village, which does not have running water. “Sometimes I didn’t even have any water to wash my face, let alone bathe before school,” Oyie said. Oyie’s childhood in Kenya was vastly different from that of a typical American child. As a young teen, Oyie began training to become a warrior. His preparation included hunting lions in the wild as well as enduring great pain, such as getting his ears pierced. “You learn the direction of the wind, animal footprints and sounds of birds,” Oyie said. “It is not like waking up here and seeing people drive around.” The attendees of the presentation were greatly affected by Oyie’s description of daily life, particularly Africause president Marijke Silberman. “It made me realize how fortunate we are,” Silberman
said. “It is easy to take school or a ride for granted. Seeing Sabore, it suddenly hit me, I am in a really good place right now.” Being the oldest of 17 children, Oyie stressed the importance of education to students and advised them to stay in school. “School is a chance to be able to go to learn, building for the future generation that is coming. It is better for you and it is better for your future,” Oyie said. Silberman is grateful for Oyie’s visit because it gave students the opportunity to experience what Africause raises awareness about. “I am so glad he came because there is only so much we can teach from what we read from the internet and the library,” Silberman said. “Having someone here that has experienced life in Kenya, it makes people listen.” In his presentation, Oyie also discussed the effects that Western culture has on both his tribe. “Western culture is coming to Kenya in so many ways,” Oyie said. “Church, education, when I was a kid, it was different than now.” Despite the influences Western culture has brought to Kenya, Oyie still enjoys traveling to the United States. “I like a cheeseburger, it’s my favorite,” Oyie said.
School reconsiders cell phone and electronics use policy By JAMIE GUASPARI and BECCA MELMON Santa’s Helpers You reach slyly into your backpack, desperate to check your phone before the bell rings. Without realizing how long you’ve been texting for, you see someone standing over you. “Hand it over,” he says. You’ve just been caught by the cell phone police. Teachers, students and community members have recently been thinking
Opinion: opinion: I hate Christmas
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about changing Sequoia’s cell phone pol- lowed to use their cell phones during icy. brunch and lunch because it’s their break One idea is to start lettime and it’s their time ting students to use cell that they can spend dophones during lunch, “In businesses now, in meeting whatever they want,” brunch and passing pe- ings, you have your laptops sophomore Emmalee and your phone, so you need to riods. This would allow Holmes said. students to text, Tweet, learn to deal with technology As of the 2012and Instagram without in a professional environment.” 2013 school year, Se—Junior Ellen Singer quoia’s Electronic Policy constantly having to check over their shoulstates that electronic ders for faculty. devices are to be off and hidden between “I think that students should be al- the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. If
Sports: Feature: Sequoia Bucket List
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you are caught using your phone between these hours, your device will be confiscated with no exceptions. Some faculty members are against changing the cell phone policy because it could decrease students’ ability to focus during class. Many students, however refute this claim. “We know when we need to pay attention; it’s a generalization to think that cell phones would be a greater distraction than they already are,” senior Logan Billman said. Go to CELL PHONE, page 3
By the Numbers
1,038
Number of finals given during finals week