Raven Report Sequoia High School
Volume vii, Issue 1
1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062
September 11, 2013
Chromebooks digitize physics curriculum In addition, the Chromebooks have helped reduce the estimated 5 million pieces of From using pens and paper paper, or 594 trees, that our to programs and passwords, student body alone uses each the Physics Department has year. adopted its curriculum to “It was never our intention match modern technology. to have a more eco-friendly Physics teachers Allison classroom, but it has been a Stafford and Ben Canning nice bonus,” Canning said. began the second full year of With the Internet full of using Chromebooks instead distractions far more appealof notebooks this fall. ing than physics worksheets, “We started not knowing teachers have to be wary of what it would look like and students being on task much what kids would do,” said more than normal. physics teacher Ben Canning. “It started to [become a Under pressure from phys- problem] in the beginning, ics teacher and then Jack West, “[Using Chromebooks] was a we got the c u r r e n t l y good way to organize my work Hapara Reon leave to because it was all on labeled mote Condocuments in labeled folders, work at a trol up and startup, the and it was cool because I could r u n n i n g , Physics De- access it at home or at school, which alpartment has without having to carry all lows us to transformed my work with me” see what a —Junior Jasmine Simmons student is teaching strategies to doing and modernize their classrooms. what tabs they have open. Each day, every student From that point, most stuis given a Chromebook, to dents were fairly on task,” watch online lecture videos, Canning said. type notes on Google DocuStill, anytime a teacher was ments and view all worksheets not actively monitoring studigitally. dents from their computer, The hope for going paper- the open door to YouTube, less was that students could games and social media drew work at their own pace in class in students rapidly, causing inand would be more organized creased time off task. in a paperless setting. “I know all my friends got “It was a good way to or- distracted, I’m not gonna lie, ganize my work because it I did too,” senior Nick Chang was all on labeled documents said. in labeled folders, and it was Others, however, utilized cool because I could access it the Internet to increase proat home or at school, without ductivity. having to carry all my work “Sometimes I would put with me,” junior Jasmine Sim- on a Pandora station and lismons said, referring to her ten to music while I typed time in physics last year. notes or did problems, but it Chromebooks have also actually made me work more made note-taking faster, in- effectively,” Simmons said. creasing students’ productivity. See PHYSICS, page 2
By GLENN BILLMAN Staff Reporter
Photo By Carmen Vescia
Counselors began accommodating schedule change requests on the third day of school. Over 200 students lined up to have their schedules modified on that day.
Counselors work to start year right
By CLAIRE BUGOS and CARMEN VESCIA Photo and Feature Editors Amid the hype of choosing first day outfits, reuniting with friends and receiving the first homework assignments of the year loomed the inevitable mass of over 200 stressed students that mobbed the Guidance Office on the first day of schedule changes. Although the line snaked almost all the way to Carrington Hall, counselors saw every last student, though it meant staying until 6 p.m. “We know that what your schedule looks like can make a difference in your joy that year,” said head counselor Guadalupe Navarrete. The guidance office worked 13 hours straight the first day of schedule changes. Creating ideal schedules can be complicated and tedious, but
counselors do what they can to provide students with all the classes they desire. However, limited space and a tight school budget can get in the way of reaching that goal. “We’re happy when we’re able to give you exactly what you need and want,” Navarrete said. “It’s very hard to say no, but we have to uphold rules for the whole of the body.” Although students may think a counselor’s job ends after classes are finalized, their schedules last far longer than seven periods. They continue to work throughout the year, writing letters of recommendation for college-bound seniors, offering crisis and career counseling and presenting to classes about graduation requirements. “I would hope a student would feel comfortable coming to us with anything at all,” counselor Joni Gordon said.
Despite how busy the guidance department can be, getting help doesn’t have to be a challenge. Some counselors have an ‘open-door policy’ which allows students to stop in and chat with their guidance counselor at any time. Additionally, email is a fast, easy way to get a response. “I love email,” Gordon said. “I try to have all my emails answered by the end of the day.” Responding to emails daily is one of the many ways that counselors show their dedication. They work hard throughout the year for the benefit of the student body. However, Gordon, like many others in the Guidance department, doesn’t mind working hard for the students’ benefit. “I’ve been in this district for 27 years, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Gordon said. “It’s a beautiful way to connect with youth.”
Our Voice program launched By CLAIRE HARKOLA Staff Reporter Our Voice, a program for students of color taking IB classes, held its first meeting Sept. 4 with a turnout of seven teachers and 11 students. Senior Matvari Maharaj created the program to give students tools to feel more comfortable and successful in their IB classes, as students of color are more likely to drop honors and IB
Feature:
courses than their peers. “People need to be informed; it’s not just the 10 of us that feel intimidated in our IB courses,” senior Esperanza Jimenez, a meeting attendee, said. The purpose of the first meeting was to create a safe space to start the conversation about how race affects the performance of students of color in their honors classes.
Editorial:
Maestros inmigrantes We need bike safety Page 6 Page 3
By the Numbers
Number of football players and coaches:
Varsity 78 Frosh 35 Junior Varsity 42
Total 153