Issue 1 2015-16

Raven Report Sequoia High School

Volume IX, Issue 1

1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062

September 9, 2015

App-solutely modern mobile design class just a tap away

By PHILIP TYSON Copy Editor The latest update in technology on campus this year is the implementation of a mobile app designing class, created for students of all grade levels with any level of prior coding knowledge. Two different periods are taught by technology teacher Cameron Dodge and history teacher Victoria Mitchell, who both have experience teaching technology classes.

Last September, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg encouraged Sequoia students to explore STEM-related careers in a special assembly. Senior Rosie Valencia’s interview with Zuckerberg highlighted how the company would fund this new class.

“The goal is to capture what is happening currently in technology and to make things that are useful for students,” Mitchell said.“It’s exciting going through something for the first time.”

Equipped with a set of Android tablets and computers, students are learning how to build and design their own apps. Watching online tutorials is the beginning of app construction. Next, students use a program called App Inventor, which was created

by Google, but picked up

New statue a reminder of rich Sequoia history

By ZACK ROSENBLATT Page Editor

Photo By Philip Tyson

Freshman Hassler Molina and sophomore Ryan Leggett test out their prototype soundboard apps and learn the basics of mobile design.

by Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2012.

The vitality of the class to Sequoia lies in the pervasiveness of mobile app design. It is a universal ability.

“Technological literacy is increasingly important, no matter what type of field you go into after Sequoia,” Mitchell said. “It’s also relevant for school, personal interests and the way you communicate and interact with the world.”

One of the most distinct features of Sequoia is the diversity of its student body. In the mo-

bile app designing class, everyone has varying degrees of tech background—some are learning how to use computers for the first time and others already have coding experience—and this only serves to build up our school’s tech department.

“The beauty of this course is that its mission is to make it accessible to anyone at Sequoia,” Mitchell said. “I have a very wide range of skills in the class right now, and the class is already working as a group to support each other.”

One of the draws to Se-

quoia, and to this class, is this diversity.

“Creative projects will be what makes the course both interesting and powerful,” Mitchell said. “All types of people use apps, so it makes sense for all types of people to create them.”

Freshman Brayan Lopez Ramos is one student who didn’t have the opportunity to learn what he’s discovering in the class until now. Even

See MOBILE, page 2

New for this year, students are greeted by a 3-foot statue every morning in the front of the main hall. The statue is of the Cherokee scholar Sequoyah, the person Sequoia High School is named after.

The statue, created by the award-winning sculptor and Cherokee citizen Daniel HorseChief, was gifted to Sequoia by the Sequoia Alumni Association. The Alumni Association hopes that the statue, which cost $14,000, will remind students of the important historical significance this school’s name has. Seventy donors raised the money in order to commission the statue. “[Sequoyah] is the only known person in history to have single handedly created a writing system,” said Sequoia Alumni Association President Ken Rolandelli. “He’s a symbol to Sequoians in terms of persevering, keeping on and getting an education.”

Sequoyah, who lived during the 18th century, was the first person to develop an alphabet

See STATUE, page 2

National teacher shortage impacts English department

By CARMEN VESCIA Executive Editor Squinting at his schedule, the freshman thinks there must be a mistake: there’s a blank space where his English teacher’s name should be. But it’s not a mistake, it’s simply a symptom of the regional, statewide and even nationwide teacher shortage.

The English Department is still trying to fill two positions—one is full time and one is a first-semester position—and is awaiting the arrival of a teacher who will fill the third opening.

News:

Colleges drop SAT/ACT

Page 2

Other positions in the science and math departments were filled less than a week before school.

“When we showed up, we had a sub and we didn’t really know what to do,” said sophomore Jacky Vargas, who has had two English substitutes this year and is unsure of when her permanent teacher will arrive. “I thought we weren’t going to do anything because we didn’t have a permanent teacher, and now there’s nothing in the grade book, so it’s the only class I don’t have a grade for.”

Until the positions are permanently filled, returning teachers will continue

Special:

What’s in your backpack?

Page 4-5

to support substitutes with lesson plans and general guidance.

“We’re in the process of looking for a strong teacher, and in the meantime, [English teacher Jose] Rosario is working very hard to make sure that the students in the ICAP sections that are not his are getting the best curriculum possible,” English Department Chair Jonathan Hoffman said.

Although this year is somewhat of an anomaly, new classes and teachers often need to be added with short notice, due to regular teacher turnover and the fluctuation of student numbers and budget

that occurs leading up to start of the year.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle and National Public Radio, filling positions can be a challenge when teachers are unable to find affordable housing. Data on Zillow shows that the median home price in Redwood City is upwards of $1 million, and the median rent is $4,200 per month, while the firstyear annual teacher salary in the Sequoia Union High School District is $59,722.

In comparison, the first-year salary for a

See SHORTAGE, page 2

By the numbers

$14,000

Price of the statue of Sequoyah

2

Feature

September 9, 2015

Relief for seniors as some colleges eliminate standardized test requirement dollar company. There’s a lot of unknown variables that can affect the final and PHILIP TYSON [test] score—it doesn’t really showcase Staff Reporter and Copy Editor what a student’s full potential is.”

Erskine prepared for the ACT SAT and ACT are among the scariwith the school’s est letters in a high BUILD program, schooler’s vocabulary.

Experts say... who provided her This year, however, “A student’s high school with a study guide some Sequoia seniors and tutor. Alapplying to college academic record, regardless can breathe sighs of of what school she attended, though she had a positive experience, relief. Over 800 ac- is a far better predictor of she still isn’t a big credited colleges, including the recent college success than the SAT fan of the test itself.

Still, Sequoia addition of George or ACT.” Washington Univer—National Public Radio will administer the sity, have eliminated (NPR) study, PSAT to all sophomores and juniors their requirement for February 2014 on Oct. 14 on a standardized tests. Sespecial class schednior Cambria Erskine ule, where freshis encouraged by this men and seniors, who don’t have to take change to apply to more colleges. “[The tests] are not the best judge- the test, arrive in the afternoon. Though ment of what a student can do and what the SAT and ACT aren’t graduation rea student can accomplish,” Erskine said. quirements, Sequoia believes…. “[Researchers] have done studies “You hear a lot of stories of successful businessmen who drop out [of high where they say that overall [the SAT and school] early and start a multimillion ACT] are accurate predictors of success

By MADDIE PEI

in college,” said College and Career things for getting into college,” sophoCounselor Terri Ignaitis. “You can be more Nate Burrill said. “What college successful without having that test, but you get into can affect your entire future.

If this trend continues, colleges will be it’s just another indicator.”

However, more and more schools are forced to look more at what the people have actually done beginning to drop and recommendaExperts say... the test.

George Wash“I have to question why tions, rather than a test score.” ington University’s having less information to justIgnaitis also Dean of Admissions make a decision is a good pointed out a bigger Karen Stroud Felton thing. To me, for a good part of this optionsaid in a Washington Post article from July decision, you want as much al SAT/ACT trend: 2015, “Although we information as possible.” college rankings.

Colleges gain fundhave long employed —ACT president ing and in general a holistic application Jon L. Erickson work to get their review process, we needs met through a had concerns that competitive ranking students who could be successful at GW felt discouraged system that involves GPA and test scores. from applying if their scores were not as If they get student applicants who don’t strong as their high school performance,” test well to not have to send their scores, This isn’t a completely brand new the college’s overall average SAT or ACT idea. Bowdoin College dropped the re- score can go up.

“It’s not about students [as much as] quirements in 1969 and Bates College in it’s about rankings,” Ignaitis said. “What 1984.

“I’ve always thought of [the SAT it started out to be and what it turned or ACT] as one of the most important out to be are two different things.”

Old SAT Scoring 600-2400 Timing 3 hours, 45 minutes Sections critical reading, writing, math, essay 1/4 point penalty for incorrect answers Guessing Penalty Format print In Use until spring 2016

from MOBILE, page 1 though he has little experience with tech design, the class for him serves as a means of empowerment.

“When I was in middle school people said stuff like, ‘You’re too little. You can’t do anything.’ Now I feel like I’m hella smart, and I can do this.”

Senior Mya Castro is another student enrolled in mobile app design. The class resonates with her particular passion for psychology.

“When I initially walked into the class, I felt worried. Computers and I don’t get along—I knew nothing about coding,” Castro said. “[But] there’s psychology that goes into apps.

Companies hire psychologists when building an app, so there’s a [career] possibility.”

Castro noted that the class has only started building simple apps, such as soundboards, where a set of a on-screen buttons can be tapped to make distinct sounds. She, however, is looking forward to creating

more complex ones and applying the coding to the technology she uses daily.

“I use my phone for everything, so its really important for me to have all the things that I need on my phone,” Castro said. “There’s so many apps I use for school; our whole education is based around technology.”

from SHORTAGE, page 1 teacher in San Francisco Unified High School District is $47,629, while it is $71,293 in the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District.

There’s also been a nationwide drop in the number of teacher credentials being issued each year, and while, according to the New York Times, the national drop has been 30 percent, the decrease in California has been 55 percent. The state needs to fill 21,500 positions, but only around 15,000 teachers get their credentials in California each year.

“Given that teaching credential programs cost be-

New SAT

400-1600 3 hours (50 minute optional essay) evidence-based reading and writing, math no penalty for incorrect answers print or computer after spring 2016

tween $10,000 and $20,000 [or more], that you invest two years of your life (one year you have to teach for free as a student teacher), you can see that you’re making it hard for somebody to go through a teaching credential program unless they really want to,” said math teacher Subathra Ramanathan, who came to Sequoia this year and found out that she would be teaching Algebra I and Algebra Support classes the day before school started.

Summer hires are not out of the ordinary, but not all departments were hit as hard as English, and according to Science Department Chair Mitch Weathers, his department had little trouble filling positions this year.

However, it remains to be seen how the teacher shortage will affect the school in years to come.

“This year has been the hardest,” Hoffman said. “There are fewer candidates at the same time that there are more positions and it’s become harder to find high-quality applicants to fill our positions.”

from STATUE, page 1 for the Cherokee people. The alphabet was based on syllables, called syllabary. This finally created a way for the Cherokee to communicate with each other through writing.

“He went through a lot of hardship to sell his own people on his idea. He was scorned and he was ridiculed. People thought he was crazy but he persevered,” said Rolandelli, who graduated from Sequoia in 1963.

Sequoyah is presently

thought of as a hero by the Cherokee as the written language he invented is still being taught and used by their people.

Though there has been some modifying of the language, 85 out of the original 86 symbols are still in use.

The Alumni Association will put on a dedication ceremony before the JV game on homecoming night, Oct. 23. The ceremony will include a reading of the plaques being placed on the pedestal, information about HorseChief, and some words from Rolandelli as well as Principal Sean Priest.

The Raven Report is underwritten by the Sequoia High School Education Foundation

3

Feature

September 9, 2015

Global Glimpse travelers gain new perspective

By CARMEN VESCIA

Executive Editor

Fifteen seniors. Two teachers. Three countries. Over 113,240 miles travelled in total. One summer.

These 15 seniors, as well as English teachers Jose Rosario and Justine Rutigliano, travelled to Ecuador, Nicaragua or the Dominican Republic, and each spent between two and three weeks doing sustainable service work and experiencing a new way of life with the program Global Glimpse.

Senior Miguel Gallegos traveled to Bonao in the Dominican Republic.

“Going into it I thought ‘well I’m going to be really rich in experiences and stories,’ and I was very excited to work with the people,” Gallegos said. “It was rewarding because even though we come from different worlds, we’re still the same, we’re all people. It sounds cliché and all that, but the fact that we could share that humanity aspect of it all was really important to me as an individual and I know for a lot of my peers.”

Students participated in a variety of education days that centered around topics including global business, indigenous cultures, politics and poverty. For the educational day focused on poverty, students visited a local dump and interacted with the people who scavenge there for a living.

“They told us ‘We’re about to go and

Photos courtesy of Justine Rutigliano (above) and Jordan Sandoval (below)

Fifteen seniors went to Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic or Ecuador this summer. Along with English teachers Jose Rosario and Justine Rutigliano, they traveled over 113,240 miles in total. see people in a place you’d never imagine people live, and we don’t want you to dehumanize them, we don’t want you to pity them and we certainly don’t

Sequoia Dice:

¿Si pudieras tener a alguien famoso como profesor, quien querrías y por qué?

“Me gustaría tener a Stephen King como profesor porque me gustan mucho sus libros y sería un muy buen profesor.”

—Victor Frutas, senior

want you to walk out thinking you’re responsible for this. This isn’t about guilt and this is not about pity. This is about awareness,’ and I thought that was really

really powerful,” said Rosario. “I thought I had an understanding of privilege.”

Participants also taught English classes and did service projects that ranged from refurbishing a preschool to creating a rabbit sanctuary and garden and were meant to directly address the community’s needs and have a lasting positive impact.

Some seniors plan to apply to become Global Glimpse ambassadors and support the next wave of travelers.

This was Sequoia’s first year partnering with Global Glimpse, and Rosario hopes to see the program continue in years to come.

“I want this to be contagious, this feeling of appreciation and this feeling of responsibility to change your habits,” said Rosario. “My hope is that this not only becomes a permanent staple of the Sequoia experience that 11th graders hope to be a part of, but I also want this to be something people talk about.”

The program costs from $500 to $3,500 depending on financial need, and fundraising takes place throughout the school year leading before the trip.

“There’s ways to fundraise if it’s the money that’s holding you back,” Gallegos said. “Opportunities are out there, and this is a great one. You just got to take advantage of those opportunities because if you don’t they just slip on by and you miss it. Don’t be the person who missed it.”

El Niño, explained

What is El Niño?

According to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), El Niño is a weather pattern that occurs when the Pacific Ocean is abnormally warm near the equator. The elevated temperature alters the usual storm pattern, which causes some southern states and Latin American countries to have stronger winter storms while Australia receives less rain.

When will it happen?

The NOAA released images over the summer that showed ocean conditions similar to the 1997 “super” El Niño conditions. The NOAA also reported that trade winds are slowing down, which makes it more likely that El Niño will happen this winter. However, last year meteorologists predicted El Niño would come, and only the Los Angeles area had increased rainfall. Either way, most El Niño years begin to affect Northern California in January and February. In short, lots of rain. Or none at all.

So can the drought be fixed?

“Me gustaría regresar a la época medieval por Cristóbal Colón. Me gustaría saber que es lo que hizo y como fue el conquisto a norteamérica. Por eso me gustaría tener él como profesor. ” —Katerine Rivas, junior

“Para un profesor yo querría tener Shakespeare porque él es muy famoso y sabe como escribir cosas y yo quiero aprender escribir como él.”

—Joel Bravo, freshman

—Compiled by CARMEN VESCIA

Optimistic climatologists say that an extreme El Niño could bring California to regular water levels. However, NBC reported that there is as only a 50/50 chance of more rain in Northern California this winter. California’s water shortage will most likely not be solved in just a year: Lake Shasta, California’s biggest reservoir, has a 50 percent chance of extra rain, according to the NOAA. NBC reported that other water sources, like underground aquifers, might not be restored for up to 100 years. Furthermore, an article in the San Francisco Chronicle stated that the warm weather that creates El Niño can also decrease the size of snowpacks, which California relies on for water in the summer.

Thus, water rationing and conservation are still necessary, and the possibility of an El Niño year doesn’t give Californians reason to stop rationing water.

How does this affect Sequoia and Redwood City?

The weather conditions indicate it might be an El Niño year, but nothing is certain. To prepare for the possibility of heavy rain, the drainage system around the Tea Garden is being redone, according to Administrative Vice Principal Gary Gooch. And in the case of another dry winter, Sequoia will continue to ration water by not watering the grounds. Last year, a large storm shut down many local schools, but not Sequoia. For school to close this year, the administration will have to be certain that storm conditions would endanger students, Gooch said.

— GLENN BILLMAN

Special

4

New year, new teachers Ava Javid

would describe herself as passionate (especially about science),

understanding, and sincere.

Gregory Schmid

His dream job is to be a musician b day, and he has served in the Army

S

Subjects: Biology and IB Biology

W to a a u k re a y

Enjoys: Indie girl bands like Haim and The Xx First impression of Sequoia: “It’s exactly what I thought it would be. All the groups can interact in a nice way, everyone seems to feel valued here—it’s not like some people think they’re better than others—they all seem to accept everyone. And the staff—all the teachers are really nice. Everyone genuinely, sincerely cares.”

Re What’s in your backpack?

To meet more of Sequoia’s new teachers, go to www.ravenreport.org

The building is 25 to 50 percent more efficient than the rest of the campus and features tinted windows.

Meet the

A new building is coming to Sequoia next year. Construction will the loud construction is scheduled for before or after school, and a struction noise begins to interrupt class, teachers will be outfi The quad will include two science laboratories, eight regular classrooms, bathrooms and two collaborative rooms.

Indigenous, drough will be used in th

Some student suggestions for the new building, like indoor and outdoor hangout spaces, were included in the draft.

Feature

5 Nancy Ku

enjoys dancing, cooking and exploring the outdoors.

by night and a dad by y.

Subjects: Health Academy and Human Biology

Subjects: Geometry and Algebra I Previous jobs: English teacher in Japan, cruise ship interpreter, Japanese TV producer

Why does she love teaching? “I love meeting new What shoe would he be? “As a teacher, you have people, so it’s so nice to see all these new faces that o be on your feet and you have to be comfortI know I will get to know over the year. I love the able. So, there’s that aspect of needing a comfortcreativity of designing each lesson, and ‘how do I able shoe, a supportive shoe. I like to be a little design it so it’s engaging and people will understand unpredictable so like a polka dot rainboot just to it.’ Honestly, this job is a really good fit for me.” kind of throw it out there, but at the same time elaxed. So could you be one polka dot rain boot and a flip flop or something? You know, how do you balance all that out?”

— Compiled by CLAIRE BUGOS AND EMILY DUCKER

eady, set, school

— Compiled by ABIGAIL WANG

A-Quad

l start in November, according to Principal Sean Priest. Most of barrier will be built between the site and the portables. If confitted with microphones. Read more to find out the details.

Each classroom will have a 35 chromebooks, a SMART board and an advanced audio system.

All classrooms will have heating and air conditioning.

The $13 million building is being paid for by a district-wide bond, created to fund expansion related projects.

ht tolerant plants he landscaping.

— Compiled by GLENN BILLMAN Digital renderings courtesy of Gary Gooch

6

Feature

September 9, 2015

Is Howie’s dough worth your dough?

By CLAIRE BUGOS and ABIGAIL WANG Executive Editor and Opinion Editor If you’re a crust-lover, you will absolutely be a Howie’s lover. With its light and elegant pizza creations and array of meal options such as burgers, salads, sandwiches and breakfast items, the newly-opened Howie’s Artisan Pizza is well-equipped to serve a truly quality American meal.

On our latest mission to uncover the best new restaurants in Redwood City, the Raven Report decided to put Howie’s to the test.

The first Howie’s was founded in Palo Alto by Howard Bulka, and the second Photo by Claire Bugos restaurant was opened on Jefferson Ave., Howie’s Baked Potato and Prosciutto Arugula pizzas were light and fresh. “You nestled between the post office and a should be able to eat half a Howie’s pizza and not feel like a bomb just blew up tanning salon in Redwood City. Howie’s in your stomach,” said Howard Bulka, owner and chef at Howie’s Pizza. seems to be situated in a location particularly vulnerable to noisy traffic and brellas and an overhang to protect din- crispy potatoes seasoned with herbs and annoying pedestrians. Once we were ers from the elements while enjoying salt, and garnished with bacon pieces. It seated in the outdoor the warm California was just as visually appealing as it was in courtyard, however, taste (feel free to foodgram—we did). climate. we noticed that the If you are the person who feeds Because we didn’t The earthy potatoes were just crunchy semi-enclosed feeling the crust to your dog, you must think we could possi- enough and allowed for the herbs and of the seating area not give Howie’s crust a try. bly eat more than one cheese to come through to create a balonly kept the cars out pizza together, we or- ance of flavors. of view but also restricted the noise to dered a half-Baked Potato and half-ProMaybe the heavenly taste of the baked whatever was produced by the banter of sciutto and Arugula pie. This is a great potato pizza simply set the standard too the many families and friends that filled option if your party is small and you high because the Prosciutto and Arugula the restaurant. The decor was clean and want to try more than one kind.

Pizza ($23) pizza was not the winner. The simple and the space was softly-lit and The Baked Potato Pizza ($19) was arugula had a fresh and zesty taste and well-equipped with space heaters, um- topped with a creamy white sauce, there was just enough of it to satisfy each

Q&A with Howard Bulka,

bite, but the pizza lacked something to counter its slightly bitter flavor. The prosciutto was delicious but the pieces were huge and had to be eaten more or less in one bite, making eating look slightly barbaric. Definitely not a good choice for date night. However, we still enjoyed this pizza because of the freshness and quality of the ingredients which left us feeling satisfied but not bloated.

The real star of the show in both pizzas, however, was the crust. If you are the person who feeds the crust to your dog, you must give Howie’s crust a try. It harmoniously balances soft and fresh with satisfyingly crunchy. Crust-shunners, move over.

Overall, our adventure to Howie’s was worth the while. The service was great— the hosts and waiters were friendly and prompt. The biggest complaint of ours came from our wallets. The cheapest pizza option (tomatoes and cheese) costs $16 and most of the sandwiches are priced upwards of $11. As soon as we saw that carrot and celery sticks cost $4, we knew that this is the kind of restaurant you beg your parents to take you to (and pay for).

Howie’s is a family-oriented restaurant, and caters to this with family-style seating and simple, well-done food.

Whether it’s your weekly pizza run with friends, a family night out, or to quit your crustless life, Howie’s is the place to be, so start saving.

owner and chef

How did Howie’s end up in Redwood City?

“Even though the menu has grown and expanded here in Redwood City, the heart of the restaurant is still the pizza and we’re good at it. We’ve been [making pizza] for a long time so we kind of worked out the bugs in Palo Alto six years ago and we are able to just bring it forward here without too much commotion.”

What makes Howie’s unique?

“What I respect about food is simple things done impeccably well. That is kind of the banner I’ve carried into battle all these years when I’ve been a cook and a chef. I’ve lived in the world of more complicated food, more contemporary food, more avant-garde food and I can do that...but my heart and my passion is that simple things are better than more complicated things done well.

Every dish, every plate of food is a meditation on that product so if it’s pizza, a hamburger, or a martini I begin by asking myself basic questions; ‘What is it that makes a great pizza?’...Pizza is such a loved

food...most people eat pizza at least once a week, it’s almost like a hamburger, it’s such a popular American food and the question is why?...It’s freshly baked bread, melted cheese, it’s a fabulous variety of textures There are strong flavors, there are subtle flavors and tart flavors and sweet flavors and all of it has to come together in a way that’s really harmonious.”

Photo by Claire Bugos

What is the process to make a pizza?

“We worked on [the pizza dough] for a whole year—it began with a natural sourdough starter on my countertop in my home kitchen. I was making two pounds at a time and now we make dough 300 pounds at a time.”

uct. Overtime, chain pizza places really took over the world.”

“One thing I discovered is less is more, a pizza is really about balance, it is a delicate thing. You should be able to eat half a Howie’s pizza and not feel like a bomb just blew up in your stomach. Every bite should lead you to the next one.”

How did you become involved in the pizza business?

“When I was your age every neighborhood had a pizzeria.

The neighborhood pizza is really where artisan pizza was born.

It was somebody making pizza from scratch everyday, somebody who really cared about their customers, and cared about the quality of the prod-

What advice do you have for aspiring chefs?

“To be a really good chef, to get into [this] world you really have to spend a decade working. For me it was the best time I ever spent...when I really reflect on it, everyday I was in whites with a knife in my hand or a sauté pan in my hand, I was happy.”

Howie’s at a glance Food Ambiance Price Location Variety Service Pizza Any Way You Like It Pizza Margherita Salmon Burger Prosciutto Benedict

Wedge O’ Salad

Fresh pastries on weekends

$16.00 $18.00 $13.00 $13.50 $11.00 $3.50

Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Dinner 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

837 Jefferson Ave, Redwood City

7

Feature

September 9, 2015

Freshman loses $2,000 in stock market turbulence At one point over the summer, freshman Andrew Nibbi owned Amazon shares that were worth more than $530 a piece, and he has made thou-

sands of dollars in just four years of investing. However, when the market fell the week of Aug 24, he lost $2,000.

“Last week my shares went down

like $2,000, but then they came right back up. This morning I probably lost $500,” Nibbi said.

“There’re always good days and bad

What is the stock market and what does it do?

Businesses who need money to expand can borrow small amounts of money from large numbers of people instead of borrowing from banks and paying interest, according to How Stuff Works. Nibbi is one of the millions of people invested in the stock market: he has owned Amazon stock since 2011.

Like all investors, when he bought his shares for around $180 each, he was essentially buying a small piece of the company. When Amazon did well over the next four years, the price of his shares went up because Amazon stock became more desirable; the day after a favorable quarter earnings report was released, his shares went up $100 each. If the company’s earnings reports was not favorable, his stocks would have lost their value and he would have lost money.

Essentially, the stock market is “an expensive roller coaster,” according to Nibbi.

Why has it been in the news?

The Associated Press (AP) reported that stock markets around the world fell Monday August 24. The value of China’s stock market, the Shanghai composite, fell first and lost 8.5 percent. The world market reacted, and the U.S. stock market’s value fell almost 4 percent in one day. The Chinese stock market kept losing value throughout the week, and the world stock market was very turbulent.

What caused the fluctuation?

Vox reported that two separate events have caused stock turbulance: China’s economy and what’s known as a correction. China, the world’s second largest

days, but it always evens out. And generally, it ends up going up because our economy is going up.”

economy, has been growing by 7 to 10 percent annually for 25 years (compared to the U.S. economy’s 2 to 3 percent each year). As Chinese companies fail to do as well as expected, stock prices fall. Their crash on Monday shook global confidence in stocks, and the fall spread to other countries. The other piece of the American market crash was caused by a correction, or a fall of more than 10 percent in value from a recent high, according to the AP. Around every 18 months, the market usually has a correction. The US hasn’t had one since 2011, so the correlation with the Chinese turbulence is just unfortunate.

How does this effect Sequoia and Redwood City?

The most recent crash temporarily decreased the value of stocks owned by a number of people on campus, including Nibbi.

“The thing that’s kind of irritating about the stock market is that it’s all over the place; it does what it feels like because people freak out,” Nibbi said.

“But unless you also freak out and sell all your stuff, it doesn’t really matter because it's all paper losses. When you have companies as big as Apple and Amazon, they’re not going to go anywhere, so it doesn’t really matter what they do, they’re always going to rebound, which is what they did.”

Despite the uncertainty, Nibbi would still advise other students to invest.

“For a lot of students it’s an interesting way to make money. I just like observing how people react to things, because it's all based on what else is happening in the world.

— GLENN BILLMAN

Election 2016

Sequoia High School

Raven Report

What to know and what to look forward to As of September 2015, 17 Republicans and five Democrats have announced they are running for their party’s nomination, according to the New York Times. Here we offer a sampling of the most popular candidates at the moment, as well as a hint as to where they stand on hot topics.

—EMILY DUCKER

Republican

Ben Carson Ted Cruz Scott Walker

Hot topics pro con

immigration gun control Obamacare abortion choice

Sept. 16 on CNN

Copy Editor Philip Tyson

Hillary Clinton Bernie Sanders James Webb Martin O’Malley

Important Dates Next Democratic debate:

Oct. 13 on CNN

Opinion Editor Abigail Wang

Sports Editor Trevor Crowell

Lincoln Chafee

Carly Fiorina

Next Republican debate:

Executive Editors Glenn Billman Claire Bugos Carmen Vescia

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8

Sports

September 9, 2015

Summer workouts and fundraising efforts earn smooth kickoff, football travel game

By MARS SVEC-BURDICK Page Editor

By TREVOR CROWELL Sports Editor

The Sequoia Cherokee football team is headed far away from Terremere Field this fall, going all the way to Washington to play a standalone game against a team from Vancouver.

In order to cover plane fare, hotel lodgings and food expenses for 50 players in the Pacific Northwest for three days starting Sept. 24, the team has been fundraising since March to meet the $10,000 total cost.

Every year, the varsity team plays a travel game. In the past, they’ve been to Utah and San Diego. This time around, they’re flying to the suburbs outside Seattle to meet the Vancouver Prep team at a neutral field the Vancouver team has travelled to in the past.

“We started a tradition six years ago, doing one out-of-area trip for the team, the idea being that 99 percent of kids aren’t going on to college sports, to give them an experience that they wouldn’t normally get,” Coach Rob Poulos said. “This way, the varsity team gets one taste of what college football is like, where they constantly go on these kind of trips.”

Senior James Delgado, who plays receiver and has been on the varsity team for two years,

Lifting weights. Doing squats. Improving agility. Getting in shape. Although summer was a time for relaxation and recuperation for some, many football players found themselves working in the gym preparing for the upcoming season long before the first scrimmage Friday, Aug. 28.

“In September, [football is] exciting and it’s right in front of you. But if you were not working out in the summer, then you are not going to gain strength and a player will not be able to perform at [his] highest potential,” varsity head coach Rob Poulos said.

One advantage of beginning practices so early is that all the players, of all ages from freshmen to seniors, are able to develop team chemistry long before the season actually starts.

“You get to know your teammates much quicker, who you can depend on to be there and to constantly work to get better,” junior quarterback Nick De Marco said. “You learn how they act way before you have to play in games.”

How many times a player attends workout sessions can factor into how early a player can play.

Attending workouts during the offseason earns four points per hour. Other ways to earn points include maintaining a certain GPA or doing community service such as tutoring elementary students. Varsity players are expected to reach a goal of 700 points and JV players are expected to reach 600 points.

“You are not only getting better athletically, but you can just hang out with your friends so your points accumulate quickly.

It’s not hard to get them,” sophomore junior varsity quarterback Duncan Stewart said.

Players who accumulate the most points in the program receive other benefits, too.

“Whoever has the most points gets first pick on helmets or jerseys. We try to prioritize the people who put the most time and effort into the program,” Poulos said.

Summer practices remain a key aspect of the Sequoia football program.

Sequoia’s first home regular season game will be Friday Sept.

12, against Harbor.

Photo by Xavi Boluña

The golden tickets to a travel game and the upcoming season: hard work and fundraising through Blitz cards. has fond memories the 2014 trip to San Diego. Even off the field, the Cherokees were included in the home team’s game day celebrations, contributing to the atmosphere of good sportsmanship.

“Last year, we were there for [the other school’s] homecoming, so we went to their pep rally and we ate lunch with the other team,” Delgado said.

“That night was the game, and we also went to their homecoming dance.”

To pay for this trip, the players have been selling Blitz cards with coupons for local businesses, for $20 each. Everything except $100 plane fare per player, which the families contribute,

is covered by their fundraising efforts.

The team will be accompanied by seven adult chaperones, five of whom are assistant coaches.

“We go around the whole city in different squads [to fundraise],” Delgado said. He explained that every player sells a minimum of five cards, but he’s way over that, already having sold 20.

Once they get there, the team will do a bit of practice to get used to the new surroundings, attempt to beat Vancouver Prep, then head back home.

“When you walk around with your jersey you have a sense of family,” Delgado said. “It feels really good to have that connection with other people.”

Ravens take flight for the summer 44%

participated in programs, camps or internships

32% worked

Where we went

76% 29% 21%

—Compiled by CLAIRE BUGOS Graphic made on Piktochart.com