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
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Feature
Summer Search offers worldwide trips, support to low-income teens
By GLENN BILLMAN Santa’s Helper Over the summer, senior Alex Valencia served refugees in Haiti while classmate Kristal Padilla replaced dirt floors in Mexico—all thanks to Summer Search, which provides students with support, adventures, and a chance to give back. “What I learned is to step up. Be a leader,” said Valencia, who received the opportunity after going through the rigorous selection process. “That’s all Summer Search program is. It is where I have to step up and do a lot,” Valencia said. Summer Search sends its student members all around the United States on service trips during the summer before their junior year. The next year, Summer Searchers either embark on a worldwide service adventure or attend a preparatory school for academic aid. To be a part of the program, students must qualify for free or reduced lunch and be nominated their sophomore year by a teacher. Then students must attend an informational meeting, fill out an application and complete an interview. There are meetings every three months, but students mainly communicate with their assigned mentor at weekly check-ins. “Once a week we just call them and they talk to us, personal stuff too. How things are going- school, life. It’s kinda hard at times. You get tired of it,” said junior Saul Ramirez, also a Summer Searcher. “You have to call every week and spend one or two hours on the phone with them. But it feels kinda good because you get to open up to them. Some of the things I say to my mentor I don’t talk to my friends about. She’s always there.” The phone calls and the program as a whole supply Summer Searchers with a vital support base through high school and beyond. The change that Summer Search brings to its members is most obvious to ELL and AVID teacher Jane Slater, who leads the Summer Search nominating process here.
Outdoor
Ed. sprouts leaders By CAM REBOSIO Santa’s Helper
Photo courtesy of Damian Ortellado
Padilla embraces one of her English students during their elementary graduation. “I’ve sat now in tons of the initial meet- people. ings, and you watch the sophomores come “There’s a billion people that live on in--they’re afraid to come in the door and less than a dollar a day. I only see that acting like they don’t care or putting their on pages of the internet or on paper, but heads down, and not even showing up. what really starts me is to actually see that And then when the seniors and juniors in person and experience what it is like. come in to do the presentation and they There were children that could not even are really self-confiafford clothes or dent and they’re redrinking water,” Va“When I came into Summer Search it ally positive, it’s really lencia said. was really hard and I was really intimiclear that they’ve deFor Valencia, dated, but after Summer Search, I’m veloped a lot of inner not so shy. It teaches you how to be a Summer Search isn’t strength,” Slater said. just about support young adult and how to navigate.” Through Summer —Senior Kristal Padilla and adventure. It’s Search’s support sysabout giving back tem, the odds of their and striving to make a members graduating rises from 50 percent difference in the world. to 99 percent according to their site. The “When I went to the Haitian refugee likelihood of them completing college camp, it was basically people that have no within six years increases from 11 percent identity. I felt very sorry for them. I want to 85 percent. to help them so they can have a better fuAlong with leadership, charity is an- ture. Basically, that changed my perspecother component of Summer Search, tive of how I see the world now. I want to taught with first hand experience and give more so the people who are not lucky, angled towards world problems. Valencia who are born with poverty, I want them went to a Haitian refugee camp to volun- to have a better future. Not just myself, teer, and felt what poverty really means to but others.”
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Many students remember the camp that pushed them outside of their comfort zones back in fifth grade, Outdoor Education. On Jan. 7, a group of students will return to this camp, this time as counselors. Junior Nikki Shintaku participated in the counselor program last year and had a great experience. “You get a bond with [the kids] and the teachers too. You kind of find yourself,” Shintaku said. “I went because I had a fun time at Outdoor Ed. and I really wanted to give the other kids a fun time too.” Students like Shintaku live at Jones Gulch camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains and spend a week supervising elementary school students. They are in charge of 12 to 16 children, ranging from the ages of 10 to 12, for 14 hours a day. “They need to set an example and be a role model for the fifth graders,” said Lauren Reibstein, Leadership teacher and cabin leader coordinator. Students who work at the camp find the skills and knowledge they gain to be very beneficial. “You get a lot of leadership skills, pick up things really fast and you get really good at being in charge,” said junior Julia Kirincic, who also worked as a counselor last year. However, not all parts of this trip are fun. Everyone is required to hike despite what the weather may be. Also, there is no cell service and only one hour of free time per day. For any students planning to be counselors for the first time, Kirincic has some advice: “[You should be prepared for] putting the campers before every personal need,” Kirincic said. “You [also] get no sleep at all.”
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Feature
Overworked students caught between conflicting realms By SIMON GREENHILL Santa’s Helper “I get tired, really bad. I go home, I take a shower, and go to sleep. I don’t even think about homework anymore.” Everyday after school, sometimes until after midnight, senior Martin Osuna goes to work at Taco Bell. He often works upwards of 30 hours a week. Pressure from managers to work longer hours, particularly during the holiday season, forces students to prioritize work over school and leaves some without any time to complete homework or to simply relax. Despite labor laws that stop minors from spending more than fours hours at Photo by Simon Greenhill work on school days or staying on the job past 10 p.m. on school nights, some stu- Senior Karla Aviles works 35 to 40 hours at Five Guys weekly while balancing dents frequently find themselves closing homework. stores well after the cutoff time, working “You have to deal with two different sonal expenses. as much as they can in order to support “I needed to start paying for myself, I things: the stress from your boss and the themselves and their families. had to stop depend- stress of school,” said junior Chelsea Lol“I do understand ing on my mom cause lar, who wakes up at 4:30 a.m. on Saturthat school comes “I do understand that school comes I don’t want to both- day mornings to work at Starbucks. first, but I need the first, but I need the job. School is not er her with money Denise Pope, who teaches at Stanjob. School is not paying for my phone bill, my car in- when I can provide ford University’s School of Education paying for my phone surance, all the stuff I need. I’m aware for myself,” senior and conducts research on the stress bill, my car insurance, of [the laws], but I need the money” Karla Aviles, who levels of high school students, has also all the stuff I need. —Senior Martin Osuna works at Five Guys, found that finding a balance is the greatI’m aware of [the est challenge for students. said. laws], but I need the “Jobs can be great in high school... For many, the hardmoney,” Osuna said. est part about having a job is trying to there’s a lot of benefits to jobs, but at Regardless of the laws, some students keep a healthy balance between work and a certain point if you’re working a 40are forced to work to pay for their perhour work week, that can be a really big school.
BUILD lays the foundation for a successful future in business By CARLOS GARCIA Santa’s Helper BUILD is the first program at Sequoia to offer academic advice and allow students to make a product and make money off of it. Sequoia students in BUILD are committed and have a wide range of unique products to sell, ranging from bookmarks that never fall out, to shoelaces that don’t untie. BUILD allows students to make a product to solve a common problem or just to express themselves. Sophomores and Juniors in BUILD are now making their products. They have two important events, one on Dec 5 and one on May 11. This is where they sell and make money. BUILD is one of the few college bound programs that allows you to make actual money. A team from Sequoia called LaceLastic sell laces that never untie. They come in glow in the dark and in different colors. They are one of the most successful teams in BUILD in revenue. “The key to our success is hard work, effort, and cooperation with each other,” junior Deanna Reyes said. Many teams are confident that they are going to dominate the battlefield. Klean Kickz, another team from Sequoia that sells a shoe cleaning kit, are confident that they will make it big. “I am confident because I already know what to say to people and its easy for me,” junior Miguel Fregoso said. “I am prepared.” BUILD helps one create a business, but it also prepares one for college. 99 percent of students in BUILD make it to college They also visit colleges like UC Santa Cruz, University of the Pacific, and Sonoma State. Some students didn’t want to go to college, until they found BUILD. “To be honest I didn’t want to go to college, but now that
Photo by Carlos Garcia
BUILD student Miguel Fregoso demonstrates his product to some potential customers.
I am in BUILD I do want to go,” Fregoso said. BUILD also helps seniors in the program apply to college and reach college success. They spend many nights at BUILD to research college and apply. BUILD also pays for application fees. “I’ve applied to the National Hispanic University, and two other community colleges,” senior Steve Campos said. “Thanks to BUILD, I was able to.” Students in their second and third year of BUILD go to Incubator. Incubator is a session where students can do homework and meet with their business teams. Academics are very important to BUILD. BUILD offers academic mentors that help students with their homework. BUILD is a unique college-bound program that can help people reach success throughout college. “I thank BUILD and every mentor that has helped me reach my goals,” senior Steve Campos said.
cause of stress. It’s really hard to balance, especially when you don’t know what’s coming [at school],” Pope said. Junior Sarah Swanson, who worked at Stacks from June 2011 to early November 2012, ultimately quit her job because she couldn’t balance it with rigorous IB coursework. “I was at work for 8 hours [on weekends], and after working I would have to do my homework and I didn’t have time for a social life,” she said. Some students, however, don’t have the option of quitting their job. “Ever since I got a job, my grades have been dropping, I’ve been slacking off, I’ve been coming really late to school, but I can’t quit now,” Osuna said. Unfortunately, stress and pressure are often the only things that keep overworked students moving. “If I didn’t have the pressure, I wouldn’t keep going and keep doing what I’m doing,” Lollar said. Even so, students like Osuna find that their only option is to prioritize work over everything else. “I don’t have time for homework, don’t have time for friends. I don’t have time like I used to. Now it’s just school, work. School, work,” Osuna said. Yet even for people like Osuna, having a job can occasionally have a sweet side. “It’s a job, nobody likes to work, but I need that money. It’s a great accomplishment when you get that check.”
CELL PHONE (continued from page 1)
However, some teachers are embracing the possibilities of cell phone use. Billman uses his phone during physics with permission from his teacher to text survey answers. The answers are then displayed on the SmartBoard so the whole class can see the results. Spanish teacher Evelyn Nadeau allows her students to use their phones to look up words that are not in the spanish dictionary. “As long as they ask me and say ‘Senora Nadeau can I use my phone to look up this word?’ then I’m okay with that,” Nadeau said. “I just don’t want kids to get distracted by always checking their phone or answering texts because it causes class disruption.” Some think that school is only for learning, however it is also where students learn skills they can use in the professional world. “In businesses now, in meetings, you have your laptops and your phone, so you need to learn to deal with technology in a professional environment,” junior Ellen Signer said. The final decision regarding the cell phone policy has not yet been decided, but it will continue to be discussed throughout the year.
Correction: In Issue 3, the Giants info graphic was created by Kyle Shea.
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Special
Christmahanukwanzawintersolstice The holiday season is upon us, and the Raven Report staff is divided-some blast carols while they work, others grumble bitterly about finals. Whether you’d like to save a few bucks or sympathize with the Raven Report’s very own Ebenezer Scrooge, we hope you’ll enjoy the holidays and come back refreshed and ready for the spring semester.
‘Tis the season to be jolly ‘Tis the season to leave me alone
this punishment? Does my life need to be interrupted every winter by ghastly, merry occurrences? I do hope everyone will soon realI woke up this morn- ize the error of their ways and leave me ing to some alone. I do not care for the National g o d - a w f u l Foundation to do Absolutely Nothsound com- ing Helpful and its attempts to coning from vince me that any donation will betsomewhere ter the world. Shut up with the talk in my house, that everyone should be happy during corrupting Christmas. If it really was important my morning with the shrill tones of a and worthy of my attention, I would have noticed already. haphazardly-composed melody. Don’t ask me what I love most “Silent Night”? Well, no more. When I went to the store yester- about the holiday season, don’t ask day, I was blatantly harassed by two me what I will be getting for you. Ask self-proclaimed charity nuts. They one more time and I will not hesitate to take necessary shouted at me, dephysical action. And manding that I, with This entire revolting society I swear, if you ask me all the money that has become obsessed with for a raise again you’re I may or may not insignificant things like going to have to pick have, give back to kindness and charity. up your belongings those who need it. from the curb. This abuse continAll I ask is to be left alone. I just ued for several minutes, and during this, not a single individual saved me; want to sit at home on Christmas Eve, they were all too preoccupied with undisturbed. I do not want any carolbuying the most hideous gifts for their ers knocking at my door. I certainly do appalling family members. These men not want any invitations to that rat’s continued to heckle me until I spoke nest you call a home where I would a few choice words about where they be forced to sit in your cheap chairs, eat with your cheap utensils, and force should place their bells. I suppose that this eloquent com- disgusting food you “meticulously” ment caused a dirty, begging boy to prepared down my throat. If you attempt to convince me to throw a rotten vegetable at me. Do not fear for me, dear reader, as I happen to be charitable, if you want me to smile know the boy’s father and concluded when you wish me a “Merry Christthat his sudden resignation from my mas,” if you try to spread your cheer, office was the appropriate punishment if you try to get me to join in on your repulsive holiday, I will have one thing for the situation. The boy’s tears caused me to real- to say: Bah, humbug. ize something: this entire revolting society has become obsessed with insignificant things like kindness and charity . They attempt to hammer Soon after finishing this article, Ertheir way into my skull with their cacophonous songs. They burn my eyes ick Castro was visited by three mystewith unsightly sweaters and obese old rious ghosts, who showed him his past, men who kidnap children and place present and future Christmases. He them on their laps while their parents remained unconvinced of the magic of Christmas, so the ghosts proceeded to watch. Why must I constantly endure this teach him a lesson. R.I.P. you wondertorture? What have I done to deserve ful, wonderful man.
By ERICK CASTRO Party Planner
The scrooge
By BRIANNA ESCOBEDO and JENNA PALIUGHI Santa’s Helpers A warm fuzzy feeling erupts in your heart as you hand a present to your lovely old grandmother. A smile spreads across your face as you pass all those wonderfully decorated houses on Eu c a l y p t us Street. You become teary eyed while singing Christmas carols with your best friends. This, you think to yourself, this is Christmas. We love Christmas. We love everything about it. We fancy it when we’re on our way to the grocery store and when we turn on the radio and it’s playing those wonderful Christmas songs. “Jingle Bell Rock,” “White Christmas”... they’re all amazing. We also love the way everyone dresses so festively during the holiday season. All the sweaters, santa hats and red attire. We love it. It brings a smile to our faces as we’re walking through the mall and see hundreds of people decked out in Christmas gear from head to toe. We look forward to every December. Everything is so much prettier during the Christmas season. Every store you pass has Santas and snowflakes displayed proudly in the windows. Every house is decorated with millions of little lights put together so perfectly. Inside every house is a bright green tree,
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loaded with glittering ornaments. There are stockings hung delicately above fireplaces, awaiting Ol’ Saint Nick’s arrival. Everyone is so much happier during the holidays. We love the feeling of handing a gift to someone, and seeing their face light up with joy. It just brings us happiness. And when someone gets you a gift, you feel so loved. Giving back to others who are less fortunate during the holidays is also one of the best feelings one can ever experience. When we were younger our families delivered turkeys to families in need on Christmas. We’ll never forget the look on the families’ faces when they saw us approach their houses with the food. They looked so greatful. We had never before realized that some people can’t afford to make a nice Christmas meal. After delivering all the food, we felt amazing. We felt like we had really, truly helped others have a great Christmas. Every Christmas we get to see all of our family. It’s such a wonderful time, seeing people you haven’t seen in ages and catching up about what’s happened since you last saw each other. We adore Christmas traditions. Every family has them. Whether it’s putting the star on the tree or going to church on Christmas Eve, traditions make Christmas feel even more exciting. Every year our families opens one present on Christmas Eve in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. It feels so special, keeping that tradition every single year. Christmas is the epitome of joy. All of the lights, family and presents truly make Christmas the happiest time of the year.
The Gamer
The IB Art
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Feature
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Finals burn holiday spirit By DALIA JUDE Santa’s Helper
‘Tis the holiday season and we all know what that means: lots of laughter, food, family and... studying? This year Hanukkah and Dead Week overlapped, forcing many of the Jewish students to put the latkes aside and break out the textbooks. Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday misconceived as the equivalent of Christmas. Hanukkah and Christmas are both familyoriented holidays where you receive presents; however, the reason giving presents during Hanukkah started was because of its influence at this time of year. Simple differences between the two are much easier to spot; for example, Christmas is the same day every year while the eight days of Hanukkah follow the Jewish year based on the lunar calendar, making them different every year. This year, Hanukkah began on Dec. 8 and ended on Dec. 16; the week before finals. Dead Week is when you cram as much knowledge into
your brain, and try to remember everything you have learned for the past four months. If your grade is on the border then your final test is your make-it or break-it chance. Studying every night isn’t a choice, it becomes your routine. If you celebrate Hanukkah then you have to find somewhere in your schedule to pencil in lighting candles, opening presents and seeing relatives. Some students become very stressed at this time, others treat it as just another week with a few tests here and there. Unfortunately, we don’t all have the luxury of being able to approach finals without at least one anxiety-filled moment. If you have never asked “when did we learn this?”, “why is any of this even important?”, “why do I always procrastinate?” or “why don’t I have more time?” then consider yourself lucky, but keep in mind there is a first time for everything. I find that when I am stressed about homework or tests, especially around the time of the holidays, all I need to do is take a step back and think about what will matter to me in retrospect. For me, when I think about this time of year I know I won’t remember every grade I ever got on Math tests or Chemistry labs; but I will remember celebrating Hanukkah with my family and our closest friends every single year since I
Redefining Santa: the joys of being a cheapskate By ANNA DAGUM and LAUREL DEARBORN North Pole News Editor and Elf Athletics Manager moved here when I was 4. Being a good and committed student is one thing, while letting your studies get the better of you is another. If you think that you sometimes lean more towards the stressful side of things, remember that it’s just high school. Yes, it is important to be focused on the future and getting the grades you need to get into your dream school; but it is also important to slow your life down and live in the present, not in the future. Don’t feel “gelty” for taking breaks to be with your family, because before long you might not have that option when you’ll be countless miles away at college. It’s a bummer that Hanukkah didn’t fall over winter break this year but it did fall over two weekends and I hope those of you who enjoy celebrating it took a break from studying and filled it with lots of laughter, food and presents.
Calculus carolers serenade students By CARMEN VESCIA Santa’s Helper “On the twelfth day of Christmas my calculus teacher gave to me 12 homework hours, 11 gigantic graphs, 10 terrible tests, nine difficult differentiations...” This holiday season, the joyful sound of carolers once again filled classes of Sequoia. Although the carols they sang were set to wellknown melodies, the lyrics they sang were distinctly different. They had re-
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placed many of the words Night,” “O Christmas in traditional carols with Tree” and “The Twelve Day of Christmas.” calculus terms. For the last six or seven Some of them even h a v e years, calrules culus teachinteer Joshua Calculus Class grated Ye z e r s k i into the and his Calculus class, calculus class Teacher’s cruel lyrics. students Hate the Chain Rule Find the prime of f of g “The have been It’s supposed to fill us with glee Times dx of the outside p r odserenading By dx of the inside uct rule classes with is so their carols much about calfun, it’s one prime culus. The carols are set to two plus two prime the tunes of “Jingle Bells,” one.” Songs are usually “Deck the Halls,” “Silent catchy, making lyrics (sung to the tune of “Silent Night”)
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easy to remember. The carols made memorizing concepts more fun and manageable for some students. “I think when you sing them, eventually you’re like ‘oh I have this song memorized, I have this formula memorized,’” senior Christian Cruz said. Yezerski shared Cruz’s sentiments. “It’s good because they actually use the songs to memorize some concepts,” Yezerski said.
During the holiday season, walkingthrough the mall becomes an obstacle course of sales, miniature santas and warm chocolate chip cookies: a trap for A) stingy spenders B) tightwads and C) money hoarders. Who are we? D) All of the above. The fact is, as much as we wish we could, we cannot afford to spend a lot of money on gifts for friends. So, when the last day of the semester arrives and we’re showered with a surplus of presents, we feel guilty at our frugality* and anxiously try to save our friendships by making a “Merry Christmas-Love-You-So-Much” card in the middle of a history lecture. “Hey do you have any markers?” “Nope. Sorry.” “Okay, thanks. I guess I’ll just stick to these highlighters.” Even around the holidays, when we’re surrounded by “the spirit of giving” with blow-up santas waving on every street corner of suburbia, it seems we can’t bring ourselves to face the ever scary pocketbook of doom. It’s like some chain reaction of give and guilt. This can’t be what Christmas or the holiday season is all about.
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This year, we are going to make an effort to acknowledge our friends and family around the holidays. We like to be meaningful in our giftgiving and believe that the value of a gift should not depend on the material worth, instead of sentimentality. We want you to be able to tell that we put thought and time into our gifts for you. So these are our plans: Laurel: After learning the difference between flour and sugar, I plan to hit the kitchen and bake brownies and other yummy goodies for my friends. Friendly for those who have a limited income, baking is something that everybody loves. Have a friend with dietary restrictions? Google some gluten free recipes. It’s that simple. Finals got you restricted to your room? No worries! Swing by Safeway on your way to school in the morning. A dozen cupcakes will take care of 12 of your closest friends and will only cost you $5.25... a measly price for a no-guilt holiday season. Anna: Use your resources. I’m broke, but I have a car. This Christmas, instead of getting my friends expensive gifts, I will be taking them on adventures. There are dozen of inexpensive trips in the bay area: Hiking at Skyline, picnicking at the beach, going for a walk along Land’s End in Golden Gate park. All these are fun and inexpensive ways to celebrate the holiday with your friends. *to be a cheapskate
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Opinion Staff Editorial
Give us a break, homework!
Ah, it’s break. Time to sleep in, relax and get your tan on, while also dreading a 1000 word essay, a three-hour problem set for Math and a chapter in the Science book, all due, not the Monday, but the Tuesday after break. In November, the Site Council adopted a philosophy for little to no homework over long breaks: “Sequoia High School would like to encourage that, wherever possible, staff not assign homework over Thanksgiving, winter or spring breaks. While we want to maintain high expectations for students, we also want to teach them the importance of taking breaks from the rigors of high school.” The philosophy is the best course of action, as long as teachers adhere to it. Breaks are for relaxing and figuring out when you’re going to take the SAT and where you want to go to college, and for spending time with extended family and friends you don’t usually get to see, not for overdosing on homework. Teachers should realize that students need time to breathe without suffocating in homework, and they should reduce homework to what is absolutely necessary to finishing that class so we can sleep in. Although students may have wanted the Site Council to ban homework over breaks, this would be too prohibitive for teachers. For those who have chosen rigorous IB courses, breaks can be used to study for IB tests right around the corner. If ESL Students went two weeks without practicing Eng-
lish they would have serious backslide when they return. “I just think it’s a case by case basis,” said Sequoia Leadership Team co-leader and History teacher Danny Bliss. “There were so many unique situations, that an overarching, prohibitive policy just didn’t work.” Teachers would simply push more homework to be due before and after break if not given the option to assign homework over break. The weekend before the break would be filled with homework that would crush the jubilation of that last bell, and the looming thought of homework will haunt your sleep schedule. Another factor in the Site Council’s decision to go with a philosophy over a policy was that many people felt it is important to trust teachers’ professionalism, and allow them to assign homework when they feel it is necessary. The philosophy concerns a normal night’s assignment over break, and not new or longstanding projects. Writing an entire essay over break is not the best use of time, as teacher support and feedback is an essential part of the writing process, and they are not as easily accessible over breaks. We support the Site Council’s philosophy, and hope that they consider a similar policy concerning Summer homework. As a staff we strongly encourage teachers to cut back on the homework over break, so we can either stress about things other than homework, or kick-back, relax, and do nothing all day long.
Sequoia High School
Raven Report 2012-2013
Northwestern-bound Northpolian Dictator Hanna Bolaños Ornament Editor Caroline Lempert Elf Athletics Manager Laurel Dearborn Fruitcake Editors Lily Hartzell Araceli Efigenio North Pole News Editor Anna Dagum Party Planners Erick Castro Jarrett Crowell Ty Dewes Santa’s Helpers Angie Calderón 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 Mrs. Claus Kim Vinh Mistletoe 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.
Sequoia says
What is the best gift you have given or recieved? “A modded controller, it’s blue and shiny. My grandpa bought it for me since he’s a gamer too. He’s retired now since he served in the navy.” —Erick Valdivia, Junior “I’m usually Santa Clause and buy my little brothers and sisters gifts.” — Yesenia Santiago, Senior “A headlight; it’s really convenient. I got it a couple years ago, and I still use it to this day.” — Dominic Grimsby, Junior —Compiled by Araceli Efigenio, Fruitcake Editor
The Bucket List:
Things to do before you leave Sequoia Give Rudy the Raven a high-five. If you get a bottom locker, steal your friend’s. Get Mr. Ton-Tho to give you a nickname. See cheerleading coach Stacy Morell’s life size Justin Bieber cutout. In the Language wing, freeze until you cannot feel your hands. Then, endure the blazing heat in the Math wing that clenches your soul. Witness a touchdown at Terremere Field. Attempt to look like you know where you’re going in the hallways when you are actually pathetically lost. Watch a dance off in the quad. Then push your friend into the circle. When it’s raining, hangout under the off-white benches next to the LL rooms. Go to any sport’s Sequoia vs. Woodside game, and cheer on the Cherokee nation. Find the secret bunker. Yes, we have one. Stand on stage at Carrington Hall, and say hello to the elusive Papabear. Get shushed by Shasky in the library. Be a part of Relay for Life and take a walk around the candle-lit path to commemorate the many who have lost their lives. Take a dip in Sequoia’s pool. Congratulate your teachers on their awesome dance moves during the fall rally. Get chocolate from Ms. Gordon. Go to Mr. Kobrick’s yoga class and attempt the bird of paradise. Wear purple from head to toe on a Friday. Better yet, paint your body purple. Try out for the school play, band or sport. Attend a sport event that you have never seen before. Challenge yourself by taking an IB class. Take a walk outside under the bright yellow Gingko trees in the fall on your way to the Tea Garden. Hear Mr. Y say, “There’s more than one way to get to San Francisco,” or be introduced to a wide selection of strange songs during his Friday Pandora sessions. Pet Ms. Reibstein’s dog named Emi, the unofficial mascot of the ASB. As a scholar, buzz with your partner in Ms. Davison’s class. Use a hashtag in an essay. Talk with Ms.Woodman long enough for her to say “robust.” Get yelled at by Ms. Chung. Try not to cry. Beat Mr. Wong at chess. Good luck. Donate cans of vegetables that have been sitting in your pantry dangerously long to the food drive. Run at the one minute bell to avoid a tardy. Complain about having a 7th period, and thank the Sequoia Gods if you don’t. Go off-campus for lunch. Debate which science teacher is the most attractive, then cringe at how awkward the conversation becomes. Get dolled up for prom and take tons of pictures.
Park in the senior parking lot... as a senior. Trip on a staircase, and act like it never happened. Read the Raven Report cover to cover. Bike to school, and lock it in the new bike racks. Watch a cat video with Ms. Berry. Observe Ms. Chin do a backflip. Get quoted in the Raven Report for Sequoia Says. Watch a badminton game. Look for a drop shot. Use a bathroom pass to go get some Cheetos from the vending machine. Text a teacher a selfie. Be a student of the day. Spend lots of time with Ms. Ignaitis, and clear up any of your looming college worries. Get dangerously close to stepping on the Sequoia seal, then don’t. Overuse the phrases “YOLO” and “swag.” Play the Nintendo64 in the Teen Resource Center. Take a look inside Sequoia’s dance studio and bust a move. Peer into the copy rooms and teachers’ lounge to spy on teachers. Contemplate the meaning of the art in the art gallery. Welcome 8th grade shadows to the school. Ask a cross country or track runner how many miles they run a week and attempt a small fraction of it when you’ve mustered up the strength. Hide behind the bleachers while running a timed mile. Drool at the sweet, sweet, gracious smell that wafts from the cooking room everyday as it calls your name. Don’t let Ms. Z hammer your ceramics project. Have a conversation with a student from another country. Have Mr.Robinson as a sub, and get him to make his “Family Guy” voices. Maneuver around the giant lake that forms in the senior lot. Break the dress code; wear pajamas. Witness a slam dunk in the new gym. Make countless Facebook statuses about the painful process of writing college applications. Hear Oliver say “We got a birthday over here!” Mooch off of your friend’s food when they least expect it. Talk to lowerclassmen and incoming freshmen about what a magical place Sequoia is. Ask for help before you drown in a pool of confusing math problems and essays. Give your favorite teacher your senior portrait or prom picture to put on their wall. Catch Senioritis. Be careful, it’s contagious. Get a high-five from Ms. Hansen at graduation.
—Compiled by Araceli Efigenio, Fruitcake Editor
7
FEATURE
Shear Genius: Buenrostro offers a close shave By HANNA BOLAÑOS and MATVARI MAHARAJ Northpolian Dictator and Santa’s Helper Most students work their first jobs as a barista, a cashier or a waiter—not as a self-employed business owner. Junior Trinidad Buenrostro was inspired to start cutting hair by one of his friends, which gave him the idea to start his own business in his backyard last summer. “One day my brother needed a haircut and I just kinda nominated myself to cut it for him Photo Courtesy of Trinidad Buenrostro and it came out pretty good,” Buenrostro and his little brother with their new matching hair-dos Buenrostro said. Buenrostro’s business has one of Buenrostro’s first clients home from school, he has about taken off since then. In one week and admires his attention to de- an hour to rest and eat before he he cuts hair for around 15 peo- tail. starts cutting hair. He stops seeple; 25-30 if the week is really “The thing about [Trinidad] ing clients around 7 p.m. and busy. His dad, who encouraged is that he’s a perfectionist. He then proceeds to do all of his him to start the business, built has high expectations for him- homework. He finishes much Buenrostro his own shop, which self,” Esquivel said. “If it’s barely later on his busiest days. includes a real barber chair, a off and not even noticeable, he’ll “I’ll have so many people that mirror and space for all his tools. go back and redo it.” I’ll finish cutting hair around 9 Buenrostro Buenrostro or 10,” Buenrostro said. “After started by “I like that when I’m cutting only cuts men’s that I’m so tired I don’t wanna cutting the hair I get so into it and so focused hair as of now, do anything, I just wanna sleep, hair of his that everything just disappears but he is learn- but I still gotta do what I have to little broth- from my head and I just enjoy it” ing to cut do.” ers, but his Buenrostro wants to attend —Junior Trinidad Buenrostro women’s hair clientele has from his moth- barber school in addition to now expander. According college so he can have cut hair ed to his friends and the general to Buenrostro, the techniques as a backup. For now, however, public. are completely different. Buenrostro is happy to have hair “I started by telling my friends “You have to be more careful cutting as a hobby. about it and then my friends [with girls’ hair],” Buenrostro “I like that when I’m cutting started getting haircuts. People said. “You have to know how hair I get so into it and so foliked them and they’d ask where to use scissors correctly, other- cused that everything just disapthey got it and they’d just spread wise you’ll mess it up. I don’t pears from my head and I just enthe word around,” Buenrostro want girls to be yelling at me and joy it,” Buenrostro said. “I enjoy said. “I’d walk around with my crying because I cut their hair the peace and quiet. When I’m friends sometimes and people wrong.” in the backyard cutting hair my out in public ask, ‘oh who cut As Buenrostro’s business has brothers can’t annoy me, my paryour hair’ and they’re like, ‘oh, become more popular, it has also ents don’t tell me to do anything. he did’.” made it more difficult to balance It’s just me, the machines and the Junior Johnny Esquivel was his school work. When he comes hair.”
Opportunity arises as artists emerge 18 Sequoia students entered the PTSA’s Reflections Art Contest, which gives students an opportunity to share their artwork in the theme of “Magic of a Moment”, and art was submitted in the form of dance choreography, a film or video, music composition, photography, and visual arts. The contest is part of the National PTA Reflections Program, which provides students with the oppor-
tunity to competitively express themselves at the local, state, and national levels. If Claire Spickermann, Simon Greenhill and Skye Picker win the contest at Sequoia, they will advance to the district, state, and national competitions. — CAROLINE LEMPERT Ornament Editor
Christmas comes early at Dickens Fair in Daly City By CLAIRE BUGOS and KYLE SHEA Santa’s Helpers The sound of British accents echoing off walls. Busy shopkeepers hustling about in their colorful hoop skirts. Stages alive with vibrant scenes of christmas caroling, intense drama or light-hearted comedy. Sequoia students help set the scene of England in the Victorian era and get in the Christmas mood long before their peers. “[The Dickens fair is] sort of a unique thing...There isn’t anything like it in this area, I think in the world,” said junior Franny Vescia who plays Martha Cratchit (from “A Christmas Carol”) in the fair and is a fourth year participant. Every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Cow Palace in Daly City hosts the Dickens Fair, which celebrates Charles Dickens and other English authors of the 1850s. People take part in many festive activities like dancing, shopping for top hats and grand skirts, drinking tea and eating crumpets, and talking in British accents. There are four Sequoia students volunteering in the fair this year, and several teachers that plan on attending. “I’m an anglophile, which means...I love all things British, especially British literature,” said English teacher Katie Karlin. “For an English teacher...it’s so fun for me to be immersed in the books that I love.” “It’s fun watching the shows like Oliver Twist because all of the [actors] are in character and it’s like you’re
stepping back in time,” said junior Claire Harkola. She has been a volunteer at the Dickens Fair for five years, “It gets me in the Christmas spirit, it’s a lot of fun.” Vescia said, “[I like to tell people], ‘you get Christmas for a day and I get it for almost two months.’” The Dickens Fair lasts from Nov. 23 to Dec. 23., and including the rehearsals, the volunteers are in the Christmas mindset for more than a month before their peers. “We’re there early in the morning and it’s cold and it’s wet. [But] I’m willing to sacrifice sleeping in for almost two months to do it.” When walking through the London scene, a visitor to the fair might come across a couple strolling down the lane or a few chimney sweeps relaxing in the bar. “If you like acting and improv. and even if you don’t have any experience, it’s kind of a gateway into acting,” said Harkola. “[It’s great] getting to sort of know the people and know their character, and having the freedom to create scenes that aren’t necessarily from a book but from our heads,” said Vescia. “You really get to experience as close to what we have to experience of Victorian London, it’s about as accurate as something like this can be with the limitations of needing modern technology.” In preparation, volunteers buy clothing, search through thrift stores, commision seamstresses or make by hand their own costumes. It is also quite normal for visitors to partake in the festivities by dressing up.
First Place, Photography: “Impact” by Claire Spickermann
Second Place, Photography: “Monarch and Marigold” by Simon Greenhill First Place, Visual Arts: “Exhilaration” by Skye Picker
8
Sports
Girls take on wrestling along with the boys By SABRINA VILLANUEVA joined because they wanted to AND LORNA WAKE Santa’s Helpers
Following in the footsteps of Francesca Lampert and Brianna Carroll, 12 girls have joined the new Sequoia wrestling team, giving them the opportunity to try an aggressive, unexpected sport. “[People] think it’s a gross sport and awkward, but you need to get over the awkwardness,” freshman wrestler Itzel Bravo said. The team is still growing, and Vice Principal Michael Kuliga’s goal is to eventually reach 25-30 students. Previously, only two girls have joined the boys wrestling team. Many girls on the team
gym, they practice with the boys. gain confidence in themselves This throws some of the boys off. and to try something new. “At first I was like, do I have “[I want it to teach them] to wrestle girls? I’m a guy.. not to be afraid of anything, to that’s kinda weird,” sophomore have self confidence, the value wrestler Chris Aquino said. of hard work Students and dedicawrestle people tion, and to “It gives [them] an outlet to within their keep trying learn how to properly let out weight limit, when things that emotion, those fears and so girls may go are difficult,” the anger. That’s what [wresagainst boys. Kuliga said. tling] will give to a student that Because Even peo- a book won’t.” wrestling ple not assoconsid—Secretary Lisa Picchi is ciated with ered a male the sport sport, there see the change in the players. were lots of misconceptions. “It teaches them the difference “[People] think it’s kind of between friendship and compe- weird and gross to be so close tition,” Secretary Lisa Picchi said. with someone else. You’re litWhen the girls head to the erally hugging the person that
Photo Courtesy of Coach John Peavler
Vivian Rivera goes up against a Half Moon Bay wrestler at 46th Peninsula Invitational Wrestling Tournament. you barely knew 5 seconds ago,” sophomore Catalina Mares said. According to the wrestlers on the team, the sport is unlike any other. “Wrestling is a team sport, but then again, it’s just you and the other per-
son on the mat,” Mares said. “The team will always be there to support you and help you anyway they can, but you’re gonna be on the mat and you’re gonna have to use everything you’ve learned to get that person down, and to win.”
Bertero tackles college through football recruiting By ARACELI EFIGENO Fruitcake Editor
Yale and Harvard are just some of the schools that have been keeping an eye on senior Julian Bertero’s high school football and basketball careers. Bertero, who was approached by 30 to 50 schools including UC Davis, Sacramento State, and UC Berkeley last spring, was taken aback by the attention. “I was really surprised because my junior year I felt like I wasn’t better only bigger,” Bertero said. Even though he has a large variety of
schools approaching him, Bertero maintains modesty. “He doesn’t really talk about it, but he has stacks of letters from all of these colleges. I mean he has boxes,” said junior Jonathan Padilla, who played varsity basketball with Bertero for three years. With a 4.17 GPA, he has more to offer a school besides his sharp tackle. “I don’t want to sacrifice an education for football, but I also don’t want to play football for an education,” Bertero said. Balancing school and sports has been a challenge, but Bertero, who starts as an offensive and defensive lineman, found a
foolproof way to a well-rounded life. schools with resumes, game film, and “There’s not enough time in a day to letters. focus on homework and sports,” Bertero “There’s nothing stopping you from said. “It’s a planned procrastination.” picking up the phone,” Bertero said. Although finish“You have to be proactive, ing homework may “I don’t want to sacrifice an you can’t wait for them to be painful, football education for football, but I also talk to you.” don’t want to sacrifice football for provides another Looking past his 6-footan education.” element of pain. 6-inch, 270 pound build, —Senior football player “With football, Bertero has left more than a Julian Bertero after playing a game first impression. you feel broken. It “I’m gonna cry when he comes with the game,” Bertero said. leaves. He looks intimidating, but he’s a Learning how to power through a big soft teddy bear,” Padilla said. game helped Bertero contact around 40