Issue 5

Raven Report Sequoia High School

Volume vii, Issue 5

1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062

February 5, 2014

Spirit of Uganda electrifies sold-out Carrington

By CARMEN VESCIA Feature Editor The room pulses with energy and vibrates with the pounding of drums. Bright blurs of color leap and whirl across the stage.

Voices and instruments seamlessly blend together and fill the auditorium, where not a single seat is empty. The audience watches, spellbound.

Then, in a second, it’s over.

The room fills with the sound of clapping and cheering as the crowd rises in a standing ovation.

“You are going to see what we call ‘power of joy.’ On stage we’ll just inspire you,” said 20-year-old performer Brian Odong.

Twenty-one performers, aged 12 to 21 years, from the Spirit of Uganda dance and music troupe lit up the stage at Carrington Hall Friday Jan. 17.

“I was surprised by how much energy they had. They never faltered, [and] they were always Photo by Simon Greenhill smiling,” said senior Gareth Performers are from 12 to 21 years old and are on a three-month tour of the United States.

Wang who attended the show and mingled with the Ugandans and made over $13,600. she personally contacted Alexis boring countries in East Africa. at a post-performance dinner.

Africause first learned of Em- Hefley, the President and Co- During sixth period on the same “It was really amazing that we power African Children and Founder of Empower African day, a teaser was put on for classes who attended. shared so many of the same ex- Spirit of Uganda from junior Children, to share her idea.

The performers also worked periences. . . yet our lives were so Nani Friedman, a club member “She was determined to make different. I’m really glad I got to who saw the group perform at it happen, and she rallied the with Sequoia’s Advanced Dance spend time with people whose her middle school. troops, and we just did it. It was class and held a drumming jam lives were so interesting and had “The fact that people were so a beautiful collective effort,” said session. “[The Spirit of Uganda helps] so much to offer.” excited about it, and [how] peo- English teacher and Africause people realize. . . how rich and It cost Sequoia’s Africause ple—especially once they met adviser Justine Rutigliano.

Club $10,000—raised from the kids—were so passionate was The show ran from 7 to 9:15 diverse [the culture] is, and even ticket and merchandise sales—to great to see,” Friedman said. p.m. and featured 16 differ- though there is a lot of suffering, host the tour created by the nonFriedman first proposed that ent performances that included especially in Uganda, there are profit Empower African Chil- the Spirit of Uganda come at various dances, songs and instru- beautiful cultures flourishing,” dren; the club surpassed its goal the beginning of last year, and ments from Uganda and neigh- Africause member junior Mari-

jke Silberman said.

The show was the first of the troupe’s 12 performances of its three-month-long U.S. tour. The youth who perform with Spirit of Uganda all come from vulnerable situations—some have been affected by wars in Northern Uganda, while others have parents with AIDS—but with the help of Empower African Children, they have been supported and able receive high-quality educations.

“Our payment is just the education that we get. We don’t really get payments like salaries, but the tuition, the care we get, the health care, the insurance— we believe that’s the payment,” 18-year-old performer Sharon Kyomugisha said. “Also, we’ve never felt like we need to be paid . . . because we love what we do, and we also want to preserve our culture and come and show you guys what we have in Africa.”

Ticket prices ranged from $5 to $25. These prices were negotiated down by Africause— tickets at other venues can cost upwards of $50 each— and the show sold out thanks to the lowered prices.

“I didn’t realize how magnificent and how intense [it would be,]” Rutigliano said. “The culture is so rich and so beautiful, and I think the Empower African Children raising money piece was important, but it was more to share the culture of the Ugandans with Sequoia.”

Additional reporting by Abigail Wang

Robotics Team to compete in world championships

By SIMON GREENHILL Editor-in-Chief For up to 25 hours a week, about a dozen students tinker away in a workshop that used to be a computer lab. The room is typically covered with tools and unused pieces of metal and buzzes with the students’ passionate energy. They brainstorm, build, deconstruct, rebuild, test, code—and then break something, and do it all over again.

The Sequoia Robotics Team, hot off its December win in Hawaii and quali-

fication for World Championships in St. Louis, is a small community of hardworking, uncommonly persistent individuals.

“Everyone likes playing with Legos; I wanted to take that to the next level,” said senior Dylan Roof, one of the team’s leaders. Roof, like several of his teammates, sometimes stays at school until 10 p.m. or later working on the team’s robot.

“All the students who [are] on Robotics have quite a lot of perseverance and are willing to make mistakes and try things,” said Laura Larkin, the team’s adviser.

The Robotics Team is mostly unknown

feature:

opinion:

Day in the Life: Crutches

Perspectives on Valentine’s Day

Page 5

on Sequoia’s campus. Other than its appearances at Club Day and occasional community outreach activities, the team keeps to itself, quietly but relentlessly engineering a robot of shocking complexity.

“I’ve always been interested in mechanical design and how things work; robotics is kind of an extension of that,” said senior Eli Vigdorchik, another team leader.

Sequoia’s robotics team is a member of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), a competition series that assigns teams all over the world the same chal-

lenge each year, and then hosts qualifier, regional, super regional and world championship competitions.

This year, the robots’ task is to move small plastic blocks into a series of crates, which are balanced on a crossbar in the middle of the court. Points are awarded for each block that makes it into a crate, and additional points are awarded if all the crates are balanced at the end of the 2 ½-minute game. In addition, there is a 30-second autonomous period at the beginning of each round, during which the Go to ROBOTICS, page 3

By the Numbers

Page 7

$7,500

Total cost of the Winter Formal

304

Tickets sold

2

News

February 5, 2014

Senior best friends lead in winter play

By LAUREL DEARBORN Managing Editor Cassidy Thompson and Zoe KrieglerWenk are doubling as the two murderous old ladies Abby and Martha Brewster in the winter comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace,” giving the two real life best friends the chance to be evil sisters with extra padding and white wigs.

“When I was younger, all of my friends wanted to be the lead in the show and I would always be like, ‘What are you talking about? The evil witch is so much more fun!’” Kriegler-Wenk said.

The show runs Feb. 21-23, and rehearsals began after auditions in the first week after winter break.

This comedy follows Mortimer Brewster, who is debating whether or not to take his relationship to the next level.

Meanwhile, his crazy family is engaged in numerous questionable activities, which includes his aunts poisoning lonely gentlemen callers.

Thompson’s last role was in Sequoia’s “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” in which she played Mrs. Meers, a character who also poisoned people. But that doesn’t necessarily make this role any easier for her.

Photo by Claire Harkola

Seniors Cassidy Thompson and Zoe Kriegler-Wenk star in Sequoia’s winter comedy.

“It’s hard to be in rehearsal and be want a cookie?’” Kriegler-Wenk said. thinking about what their reactions to But being friends in real life is what things would be because if someone talks really is going to make this play special about killing someone, they won’t be hor- not only for the two of them, but also rified like a normal person,” Thompson for the audience. said. “They get excited about it.”

“If you’re familiar with the person Director Daniel Broome has offered you’re acting with, it’s easier to play off some advice on how to play the role of the of them,” Kriegler-Wenk said. aunts.

“When we first got the parts I texted “Mr. Broome told us that every line Cassidy and said ‘I see so many Instawe say is like saying to someone, ‘Do you gram posts in our future.’”

Master sergeant speaks to English classes about flight Former Senior Master Sergeant Walter Suggs spoke to English teacher Justine Rutigliano’s classes on Monday, Jan. 27 about the Tuskegee Airmen and his own life experiences.

Suggs, whose granddaughter Jade is a senior here, often speaks at schools. In the 1940s, the Tuskegee Airmen became the first African-American pilots in the military. His pictures and stories made students realize that not everything makes it into the history books.

“Sometimes history books marginalize important and monumental events into small paragraphs that don’t give them justice,” senior Neil Chan said.

Born in North Carolina in 1939, Walter Suggs joined the Air Force in 1958.

He was not an original Tuskegee Airman, but was in the Air Force for over 24 years until he retired in 1982.

“Historically, [the Tuskegee Airmen] did great things for America,” Suggs said. “They were significant because they ended segregation in the United States Military.”

—EVAN ISENSTEIN-BRAND

California goes dry: worst drought since 1977

By CLAIRE HARKOLA and EMMA PEYTON Staff Reporters 2013 was California’s driest year since 1977. Although Redwood City’s primary reservoir, Hetch Hetchy (located in the Yosemite Valley), is still at 70 percent capacity, other cities in California aren’t as lucky. Folsom, a city just south-east of Sacramento, is forced to reduce its total water consumption by 50 percent because its reservoir is currently at 58 percent capacity. As the dry weather continues, it’s crucial for us to consider how we can combat the increasing drought epidemic.

“We’re all sharing a very limited supply of fresh water, even if we’re not necessarily feeling the effects on a daily basis,” said IB Environmental Systems and Societies teacher Catherine Lemmi.

It is often hard to grasp the severity of droughts because of their discrete and gradual nature. But unless cutbacks on water are implemented, California will undoubtedly feel the effects of the drought.

The Earth’s surface is 70 percent water, yet less than one percent is available freshwater. Water becomes even scarcer when there is no rain or snowmelt to supply our reservoirs.

Governor Jerry Brown publicly addressed the issue on Jan. 17 when he presented a speech establishing that California is in a drought—and a bad one. The declaration encouraged California residents to cut their water usage by 20 percent.

For Gardening Club founder, senior Claire Spickerhappening more frequently than they did previman, Governor Brown’s declaration should not have ously,” Newman said. been the first call for water conservation.

2013’s dryness is no mere coincidence. It is “You should save water even when there is no clear that rising global temperatures have a drought,” Spickermann said. clear impact on the the lack of snowpack Ways Spickermann plans to pursue a career in agriand rain that is causing this drought. to culture, but her future is threatened by compli“That is something people don’t alConserve: cations that the drought may bring. Because ways understand. It’s not just neces65 percent of California’s farmland is irsarily warming all over, it’s more •Water plants in the rigated, severe drought—62 percent extreme variation from the evening: Water your garden of California’s land is currently unnorm,” Newman said. at night so they absorb more water der acute drought conditions— Regardless of whethbefore the sun evaporates it. poses serious problems for the er or not we receive •Run full loads of dishes and laundry state’s agricultural industry. rain, awareness •Cut your shower time by half: Some However, the Californeeds to be raised showers use up to 7 gallons of water per minute. nia water shortage doesn’t and California’s currently concern Spickwater use habits •Plug the sink when you’re doing dishes ermann, who only fears need to be im•Be conscious of your everyday purchases: So it will become a probproved. much water goes into the food we eat, the clothes we buy, lem if the state doesn’t and pretty much everything else.

“Even if it receive rain in the next •Replace your lawns with drought resistant seems like a few months. small differplants: Average lawns can use between 3-10 gallons of For others, like IB ence to one water per minute so planting California native plants or Biology teacher Sarah person it can astroturf can make a big difference.

Newman, the problem make a big dif•If it’s yellow, let it mellow: gross, but effecis something that needs ference to Calitive. Toilets can use up to 6 gallons per flush! to be addressed now. fornia’s water sup•Don’t wash your car at home: car“Droughts happen, that’s ply,” Lemmi said. washes recycle water, you don’t! a normal thing, but. . . they’re

The Raven Report is supported by a generous grant from the SHSEF.

Enter the 4th Annual Peninsula Young Writers Writing Contest for High School Students Deadline: February 28, 2014 Visit www.pwlp.org for details.

3

Feature

February 5, 2014

Technology director had start in Sequoia classroom

By ANNA DAGUM Layout Editor

Photo by Simon Greenhill

The Robotics Team spends as many as 25 hours weekly on its robots.

Robotics from page 1

robot must operate without being directly controlled by a team member.

Sequoia’s robot can run independently, carry up to four blocks at once and lift its own weight on the court’s pull-up bar for bonus points.

Each of these functions took hours to design, build and program.

So far this year, the Robotics Team has competed locally, winning competitions throughout the Bay Area, and in Hawaii, where the team qualified for the World Championship. Before going to St. Louis, the team will compete in a Northern California regional tournament, where it will be able to test its robot against more competitive teams.

From April 23 to 25, the Robotics Team will travel to St. Louis, where they will compete with teams from all over the world for a shot at a world championship title.

“We have no idea how good our team is. Only two or three teams can win, out of the two or three hundred,” Roof said. “I have no idea how we compare to other robots.”

Whereas most high school students give up on challenging problems after an hour or less, these students work tirelessly, sketching, building and testing for months on end.

“They are so incredibly self-motivated. Sometimes on a Friday night, and

it’s six o’clock and I’d rather go home, they’re working,” Larkin said.

The team spends hours perfecting its robot’s most minute functions and takes great pride in its work.

When a team member fires the robot up to test a new function, the team gathers round and gleeful, irrepressible smiles spread across every face.

“I like getting a problem, coming up with a solution [and] making the solution better,” Roof said. “The whole process is fun.”

Robotics is a gateway to the vast engineering community that exists in the Silicon Valley and the world. Many Robotics Team members, including Vigdorchik, Roof and senior Daniel Bishop, plan to go into engineering, from aerospace to mechanical to electrical.

Many robotics competitions are attended by engineering company executives.

“All the head honchos from these big [companies] like Google are paying attention to you,” Bishop said. “You can go say something to them, and they won’t ignore you.”

Sequoia’s Robotics Team is a geeky, quirky group of teenagers who are so passionate about robotics that they’re willing to nearly double the time they spend at school in order to perfect their work.

Though Robotics may be Sequoia’s least-recognized team, it’s also one of the very few good enough to make it to

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It was 1987 when Robert Fishtrom first entered Rod Linear’s U.S. History class, Room 129, at Sequoia High School, when students clad in shoulder pads and voluminous perms were the norm. “[Mr. Linear] was so energetic and engaging from day one, I knew right then I wanted to be a teacher,” Fishtrom said.

Fishtrom went on to pursue his undergraduate degree, a BA in History, at San Francisco State University, and then earned his teaching credential at Notre Dame de Namur University. Fishtrom returned to Sequoia a decade later to teach at his former high school, with a goal of bringing technology into the realm of traditional education.

“Just knowing what resources are out there for teachers to expand lessons and give students more

opportunities is what re- tremendously since Fishally gave me an interest in trom and Salvatore’s pilot technology,” he said. program, but due to a lack After teaching for al- of funding, the district’s most five years, Fishtrom position of Director of changed paths to pilot Instructional Technology Sequoia’s first ever web was retired. With the new design class with current Common Core standards, Spanish teacher Edith Sal- however, the position was vatore in 1999. recently reinstated and “I’ve always liked using Fishtrom was offered the technology. I’ve always job in July after spending been really interested in the previous 6 years as the it,” said Fishtrom, who vice principal of Carlmont. was first introduced to the “There is now technical an enorworld at “I think technology is really cool m o u s S e q u o i a but not the answer to every- r e l i a n c e H i g h thing,” on techSchool in —Robert Fishtrom, nology in a Mac lab District Technology the disequipped Director trict with with LC these new 475s, the OG of apple standards, and it’s my job products. now to help teachers access “I had lots of ideas of primary resource materihow technology can be als and other technology used in instruction to en- to help teach those stanhance learning,” Fishtrom dards,” Fishstrom said. said. “Not to substitute a “I want to see a day teacher but to really en- when the teacher isn’t the hance teaching.” center of the class, where Sequoia’s technology the students are, and the department has grown teacher is guiding.”

10 Tips

If you haven’t figured these out by now, let us give you a hand for this semester and all the rest.

for Second Semester

1. Mr. Yezerski + Tuesday

Math Tutorials = recipe for success

2. Spirit week is only fun if you

3. The Teen

dress up. Wearing head-to-toe purple won’t qualify as a dress cut.

Resource Center has a microwave for anyone to use.

4. Smile at Shasky and have

5.The B-Quad

your ID out, it’s that simple.

bathrooms are the best… that doesn’t mean they are good, just better than all the rest; the old ones have the most mirrors, but the new ones have working hand driers.

6.

If you have a locker behind a door, you don’t want it anymore.

Suggestion: persuade someone to switch with you —beg or don’t tell them it’s behind a door, just say it’s a top locker and it will be more convenient for their classes.

7. Hallways: don’t stop

in them, don’t block them, don’t slow them.

9. IB memes Facebook page

8. IB: sleep, social life, and

good grades—choose two.

helps ease the pain, and is a great way to procrastinate.

10. The Raven Report has other

interesting articles on the new website! Check it out at ravenreport.org #shamelessplug

4

Opinion

February 5, 2014

Strict rules seem sassy Rumor has it Woodside’s but make us classy got it better than we do

By DALIA JUDE News Editor No cell phones, no freaking, no cheeks. Sequoia is clearly better than the three other schools in our district and it’s not that far-fetched to say we get our classiness from having the strictest rules compared to other schools.

All four schools in the district have to abide by state and a few district-wide rules, but for the most part, each school’s administration has a lot of leeway in what its policies will be and how they are enforced.

While many students often complain about the struggle being too real when it’s 90 degrees and they don’t want to risk getting a dress cut with their cute-but-crossing-the-blurred-line shorts, few students actually stop to think that maybe Sequoia is a better school than its neighbors because of its rules.

“I would rather be that one school that’s kind of prudish and actually follows rules than be the school that’s just out of control and [students] can do whatever they want,” ASB President Samantha Peyton said. “I know tons of kids at our school are upset about what we’re not allowed to do, but I think we’re a classier school for it.”

Though our outfit-limiting dress code comes with the most severe consequences of all the schools in the district, there is something to be said for our uniquely positive campus environment and how the two might be linked. Many people, including myself, agree that Sequoia truly embodies our motto of Unaliyi, a place of friends.

The fact that girls don’t wear revealing clothes and actually put effort into dressing limits the opportunity for shameless name-calling and objectification that would happen if girls were allowed to show cheek and cleavage.

It goes both ways; if guys were allowed to sag excessively, rep solid colors or wear hats indoors, there would be negative stereotypes and discrimination in our overly fluorescent hallways.

The same logic applies to dances; while freaking may be fun, it opens the door to inappropriate and unnecessary judgement. However, as with the dress code, the consequences can seem rough for a student who was just trying to have a good time or wear what seemed to be a good choice considering the day’s weather report. It’s even harder to wrap your head around five detentions or being sent home from prom when you know for certain that would not be your punishment if you got caught at a different school.

And finally, onto cell phones: every other school gets to use them during breaks, why can’t we? Simply put, one of the greatest lessons our school teaches us is how to socialize with our peers. One day, in the near or distant future, you will need to carry a conversation with someone important without relying on your phone. In that moment, you will thank Ms. Hansen.

Every school has students that will rebel against the rules, it comes with the “teenager” title—but unlike other schools, Sequoia’s students are classy and we have our rules to thank for it.

By LAUREL DEARBORN Managing Editor Woodside students fill our Instagram and Facebook feeds with photos of them wearing dresses and shorts that wouldn’t fly at Sequoia. After dances, rumors buzz around the halls that students from other schools can do whatever they want, while it seems half of Sequoia’s students were threatened with suspensions.

However, the policies are very similar on paper. In fact, the other schools in the district have stricter rules.

Carlmont’s dress code policy states: “No exposed breasts, bellies or bottoms.

No Halter tops or tube tops. No skirts or shorts shorter than mid-thigh.”

Woodside’s requires shoes, covered chests, no midriffs, bare backs, bathing suits or see-through clothing. Exposed underclothing is not allowed, nor are garments that bring undue attention.

Sequoia’s states: “No shorts or skirts

Us vs. Them Dress code: No shorts or skirts that might reveal cheek. If shorts are questionable, we will assign a detention and require a clothing change.

Cell phones: Cell phones are not allowed to be heard, seen or used at anytime during school hours.

Carlmont No exposed breasts, bellies or bottoms.

(The 3 Bs) No Halter or tube tops. No skirts or shorts shorter than mid-thigh.

Woodside Bare feet, bare chests, midriffs, bare backs, bathing suits, see-through clothing, strapless and tube tops are not acceptable. All skirts and shorts must not bring any undue attention.

Carlmont Cell phones are allowed to be used during brunch, lunch and after the last scheduled class.

Woodside Cell phones are allowed during noninstructional times.

that might, under any circumstances, reveal cheek … No midriff blouses which expose more than 3 inches of the midriff.”

So Sequoia is the only one of these three to allow midriff. Unexpected.

Still, all of these rules seem self-explanatory and logical. Do not show underwear.

Check. Please wear a shirt. Check. We get that. But it’s what isn’t written down that we are curious about.

We can’t claim that one school enforces the rules more strictly because we only attend Sequoia. But we know Sequoia and we know what our friends say. True, as the story is told over and over, the shorts probably get shorter and shorter, but there have to be some truths that caused this talk to start in the first place.

When someone comes to lunch in their anything-but-hipster PE shorts handed to them by the AVP office, the conversation starts off with the classic line of “It’s not fair,” which turns into, “I know my shorts were mid-thigh” and finishing off with my favorite, “If I went to a different school, these shorts would be totally fine.”

Somehow, it has infiltrated the minds of Sequoia girls that other schools have it better. They can wear whatever they want, and they will not get caught.

I asked a couple of my friends from other schools in the district what they thought. Their answers of “It depends on who you walk by” rang a bell.

The cell phone policies are a little more concrete, however; Sequoia is the only school that does not let students use phones during brunch or lunch.

“Woodside and Carlmont have Instagram contests where students will submit pictures of themselves using hashtags,” ASB president Samantha Peyton said.

“But we could never do that because we aren’t allowed phones on campus.”

No matter what, all of the schools can’t be the same. That’s what makes each of them unique. But still, sometimes differences in things like the rules can give students a reason to complain—but maybe if complaining is the worst thing we do, that isn't so bad.

Additional reporting by Matvari Maharaj

Teams inspired by volunteer coaches

By JARRETT CROWELL and SIMON GREENHILL Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief

The locker room quiets, minutes away from tip-off. Volunteer assistant varsity boys basketball coach Eric Barrett stands on a chair, preparing his pregame speech. He pauses.

“Michael Jordan once said: ‘Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.’ Gentlemen, to win this game we must come out with intensity, play smart, and play together!”

On game days, Barrett shares a quote to give players something to consider before walking out of the locker room. The quotes vary from famous athletes to former

presidents to acclaimed poets.

Volunteer coaches—parents, alumni or community members—often assist with drills, warm-ups and workouts. For the past three seasons, parents Glen Arvin and John Groff have volunteered to help girls soccer; this year, Barrett is working with varsity boys basketball after having volunteered for junior varsity basketball and football before.

“Everyone really likes [Groff ], so it’s fun to have him around and have my friends joke with him,” said Ella Groff, John’s daughter, an outside defender on the varsity girls soccer team.

John developed the warm-up routine last year and now leads warm-ups before games. He also works as an assistant coach at the

junior varsity level. Volunteer coaches do not typically attend all practices, joining their teams as often as their schedules allow.

Several are experienced coaches who don’t have time to be head coaches; others want to gain experience at the high school level.

“I get as much back from coaching as I give to the players. [Coaching] is like therapy for me,” Barrett said. “No matter what kind of day I’ve had, good, bad or ugly, I come out here and I refresh and rejuvenate my soul.”

Volunteer coaches provide players with additional support, both in the game and out.

“I said, listen, if you guys ever get into a jam, you’re like my family,” Barrett said. “I want them to know that I have their

Photo by Emma Peyton

Volunteer coach Glen Arvin attends several varsity girls soccer practices weekly, and goes to all the team’s games. back 24/7, and if I get a call at 2 a.m. and they’re at a party needing to get picked up, I’m there.”

And when the volunteer coaches are present, they are indispensable aides to players and head coaches alike. “[Barrett] is a key part of our success on and off the court with his positive attitude,” senior guard Jonathan Padilla said. “He

constantly demands the best and supports us.”

For many of the coaches, it’s a passion and commitment to a community they love. “[Coaching is] an opportunity to give back . . . and get involved in my local community,” Barrett said. “I’m not here just to build better basketball players, I’m here to build better people.”

5

Feature

February 5, 2014

Crushed by CRUTCHES:

A (voluntary) journey with the cruel contraptions

By EMILY DUCKER Staff Reporter

You’re speeding through the halls, trying to get to your next class on time, when all of a sudden you’re dramatically slowed down by the person on crutches who chose to walk right in front of you. We’ve all been there—but significantly fewer of us have experienced what it’s like to be the person on crutches. I spent a week on crutches— by choice, for this article—and let me tell you, it was not easy.

I woke up on the first day and was overly optimistic about how my weeklong endeavor on crutches would go. I kept telling myself that it wouldn’t be that bad. That, however, was not the case.

I hobbled into my first class and was instantly bombarded by questions.

After I explained that I wasn’t actually hurt, class carried on as usual. Well, at least for everyone else.

I realized I needed constant vigilance to make sure that my crutches weren’t falling into the lap of the poor, unsuspecting student in front of me.

After the first time the deadly contraptions crashed to the floor, I vowed to not let it happen again.

My second class presented me with a new challenge: maneuvering around

Photo by Simon Greenhill

The everyday activity of walking through the halls becomes a difficult task for a student on crutches. I did it for a week. the room to participate in group work.

After five minutes of struggling to get to the clump of desks in the back corner of the room, I decided that the setup of the room was anything but safe, and I prayed to the great crutch beings above that the school wouldn’t spontaneously combust.

Lunch gave me the most annoying challenge of the day: all of my friends were determined to “try out” my crutches. Please, if you have a friend on

crutches, don’t do this. It’s extremely annoying and frustrating, and when you finally give in and let your friend steal your crutches, you’re left stranded at a picnic table wondering if they’ll ever come back. Not fun.

Day two: my arms were incredibly sore, and the seemingly-simple task of getting dressed became a drawnout battle between my arms and my clothes.

I was late to my first class, and I’m

pretty sure I lost a friend during class; you can only expect someone to be okay with crutches falling on them so many times.

At the end of the day, I was heading into my house with my head hung low, when I dropped my phone. I couldn’t see where it was and I started maneuvering to find it. I heard a loud crunch, and my crutch flew out from under my arm. I had crutched my phone, and the screen was shattered. Needless to say, I was less than encouraged to continue.

On day three, I became an immoral person. I realized that because I wasn’t actually hurt, I could cheat. I tried as hard as I could, but full disclosure: when no one was looking, I was definitely walking on both feet. I realize that people who are injured can’t do this, and you should too.

The rest of the week was similar to the first few days, and it was as difficult as ever. During this weeklong experiment, I learned just how hard it is to be on crutches, without the added difficulty of actually being injured. It was a week full of sore arms, annoyed friends, and awkward explanations.

So next time you get slowed down on your way to class, think of how much harder it is to actually be on crutches before you start your mumbling and grumbling.

New intruder drill ensures campus safety

By CLAIRE BUGOS Photo Editor

A School Zone is 1,000 feet around the edge of campus in which no person may carry a firearm except:

Columbine, Virginia Tech, • If in a private residence, business or Sandy Hook Elementary private property School. Violence is constantly • Lawfully and securely transported on the rise in the U.S. Could in a locked trunk or vehicle Sequoia be added to the list of •Peace officers (both current and devastated school communities honorably retired) and security guards rocked by the grief of a school • A person who reasonably fears that shooting? The efforts of Setheir life is in “grave danger” quoia’s administration and the • Specific persons who are authoconstant reminder of others’ rized to carry concealed weapons tragedies keep this school safe such as those engaged in the business of selling or manufacturing and far from likely to be the firearms, and those who are guards, next victim.

Protocol for an intruder drill: carriers or messengers for banks or 1. A lockdown is announced over the “When I was your age, we other financial institutions. intercom. were going under our desks — Penal code 626.9 PC 2. Proceed to the nearest secure location for earthquake safety; that was and lock the doors and close window our primary concern. Now it’s shades. guns on campus,” School Re3. Barricade classroom doors with heavy source Officer John Cowart objects. said. “Things have changed, and 4. Hide away from doors and windows. that’s just the world we live in 5. Remain quiet. today.”

Graphic by Claire Bugos The administration and CowOfficial California law prohibits guns from being within 1000 feet of a school campus, within 60 art have scheduled an all-school minutes of school or school-related activity. intruder drill for Feb. 6. The est high schools in the Sequoia ports students who are having drill—formerly called a lock- throw items at the intruder. down—is A c - Union High School District. difficulties or feel detached similar to “When I was your age, we were going un- c o r d i n g In a survey administered by the from their peers. In addition, p r e v i o u s der our desks for earthquake safety; that to Cow- Teen Resource Center of the school rules are strictly enproto col , was our primary concern. Now it’s guns art, the 2012-2013 school year, a sam- forced, especially those perexcept in- on campus.” work of pling of 917 students answered taining to weapons. Bringing stead of —School Resource Officer John Cow- the ad- the question “do you feel safe at an imitation gun to school is an simply art ministra- school?” Ninety percent of stu- expellable offense. hiding un“Little things like sweeption and dents replied ‘yes.’

To ensure that students feel ing people up after lunch and der desks, students will be ex- campus aides has ensured that pected to barricade doors and Sequoia remains one of the saf- secure, the administration sup- brunch and giving them deten-

tions, or taking away their cell phones seem like petty things, but what that does is it shows everybody on campus that the rules apply to everybody,” Administrative Vice Principal Michael Kuliga said.

Campus aides and teachers interact with students on a more individual scale and act as eyes and ears for the administration.

“I think that working with a staff that is so caring and sees safety for students as a top priority is extremely valuable,” Administrative Vice Principal Sophia Olliver said. “That first line of safety is through the teachers.”

Several Bay Area schools, including Monta Vista High School, Burlingame High School and Aragon High School, have been targeted by unsuccessful threats, inciting a constant review of Sequoia’s safety protocol to prevent similar situations.

“For us, it’s a constant reminder that we need to continue to have the drills and be aware of process and protocol when it comes to emergencies,” Olliver said. “Every time something comes up in the news, it’s a reminder that we need to be ready.”

6

Opinion

February 5, 2014

Staff Editorial

Uniform rule enforcement: Students need to speak up An administrator pulls one girl out of a crowd to give her a dress cut for her skirt being too short, ignoring another showing more than enough cleavage.

It seems to be common knowledge among students that rules at Sequoia are not evenly enforced. Whether along the lines of race, gender or grade level, the perception is that rules like the dress code and closed campus are enforced unfairly among groups.

It is certainly not the administration’s intention to target anyone at school. We sat down with Principal Bonnie Hansen to discuss her approach to rule enforcement. She stressed her intention that all rules be enforced evenly, and that students understand the purpose of campus policies.

We respect this intention, but unfortunately that is not how the student body perceives it. Regardless of how Hansen and other administrators hope rules are enforced, they need to be aware that students do feel targeted.

Part of the problem is that administrators are unaware of how students feel the rules are being enforced. It’s not appropriate for a student being cited for wearing a hat to point out that it’s unfair because his best friend is also

wearing one, but students shouldn’t be afraid to speak up. Whether it’s letting an administrator know that you felt unfairly targeted after the fact or alerting a teacher to a trend you notice, it’s your responsibility to inform the administration that its intentions aren’t what’s actually happening. The administration has plenty of opportunities to give students feedback about our behavior, but we have no forum to voice our concerns to the administration.

We discussed with Hansen, having a suggestion box where students could anonymously submit concerns or suggestions about issues like rule enforcement. It is important that students and administrators take these suggested improvements seriously to better the way rules are enforced at Sequoia.

The administration isn’t trying to profile students, it is trying to enforce rules fairly. It doesn’t always feel like that to the students, however, and administrators need to be conscious of students’ perception of rule enforcement. A suggestion box coupled with student-initiated conversations are key in making sure students don’t feel that their skin color, gender, or age affect their likelihood of getting a dress cut.

Cartoon courtesy of William Escobar

Don’t blindly obey the rules

By CARLOS GARCIA Staff Reporter Most of our days consist of listening to teachers, administrators and campus aides telling us what to do. We blindly listen to what they say.

Most of us don’t even question them. Deep down inside your heart, you’re afraid of them.

I can remember the first time I got sent to the principal’s office in third grade. I was a good boy who never did anything wrong, so I was scared out of my mind. This fear no longer resides within me, but it does for most students. Many of us are afraid of suspensions and detentions, forcing us to follow the rules. Instead of trying to be friendly, the administrators make us fear them. To me, that’s kind of a dictatorship.

I once got pulled over by a teacher after swearing in the hallway. He threatened me with detention, and told me that he was going to tell the principal to give students who swear during school detention.

There are more serious things to punish me for, like being late to class or punching a kid in the face. Instead, precious time is being spent on a student who swears and most likely didn’t mean any harm.

Sometimes I feel like this school is, to an extent, a prison.

We can’t leave and so many strict rules are shoved down our throats. For example, a detention and a call home for being late to class. That is a little extreme.

Most of us aren’t offenders, we’re kids trying to get an education, but the environment here at school says otherwise. The locked gates and the closed-campus policy make school feel like a penitentiary. If high schools really were trying to prepare us for college, they’d make the school feel like a college filled with freedom instead.

We should question authority.

In New Orleans, a school named Carver Collegiate Academy staged a walkout in protest against its authorities on Nov. 20, 2013. 100 students participated. They felt like it was a prison because of its strict disciplinary rules. It resulted in parents withdrawing

their kids from the school and reopening the debate of how discipline should be dealt with.

These students were courageous and stood against what they thought was unjust.

Another protest was in Seattle. It was conducted by students of Eastside Catholic School on Dec. 19, 2013.

What they were protesting was the forced resignation of a vice principal who was forced to resign because he married someone of the same sex. Many students were involved.

The results were significant.

The head of the school resigned because of the firing. This was made possible because of the students who questioned their administrator’s actions, and then took action against the unjust.

Why can’t students at Sequoia question the ones in charge of their education if they think they are being unfair? Many sit in silence at their desks and do nothing to rise up against unreasonable rules.

We have voices and we have to make them heard. Don’t be a conformist.

Like Henry David Thoreau once said, “Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.”

The typical Sequoia student’s brain Awkward lobule

Vines

Homework

focus center

How to maneuver through the hallways

Social media

Rebellion against parents

Fast food apreciation location

How to spell “Unaliyi”

Selfies system

College fears

Trashy reality TV

Cherokee Spirit

Ability to genuinely be a good person

Ravens Sassy comebacks Love for sleep

—ARACELI EFIGENIO Sequoia High School

Raven Report 2013-2014

Editor-in-Chief Simon Greenhill Managing Editors Laurel Dearborn Lily Hartzell News Editor Dalia Jude Feature Editors Araceli Efigenio Carmen Vescia Opinion Editor Matvari Maharaj Sports Editor Jarrett Crowell Photo Editor Claire Bugos Online Editor Caroline Lempert Layout Editor Anna Smith Dagum Staff Reporters Xavi Boluña Julio Cortez Emily Ducker Lily Friebel Carlos Garcia Claire Harkola Evan Isenstein-Brand Emma Peyton Cam Rebosio Sabrina Villanueva Avalos Abigail Wang Adviser Kim Vinh

Opinion

February 5, 2014

Valentine’s Day, the holiday designed to let couples be all cute and couple-y, is right around the corner. But let’s look at what that means now: red roses (cliché), stuffed bears bigger than me (where do I even put one of those?), and boxes upon boxes of chocolates (gone within five minutes flat, I guarantee it). It’s really oh-so-romantic.

Valentine’s Day is a chance to show real thought. Whether you’re just friends, “just friends” or a couple, wouldn’t finding someone’s favorite flower mean more than a red rose? Or a card you wrote yourself instead of a cheesy store-bought one?

One friend of mine makes a good example. She bought me a chocolate rose. Delicious, right? But she painted it orange just because she knew that orange roses are my favorite. That’s enough to secure it a permanent position on display. It wasn’t expensive, but it meant something.

What does the person you’re getting a gift for like? What’s his favorite candy, sport, show or team? Use that.

I don’t need an expensive restaurant; I don’t need a bouquet of red roses. I don’t need a heart-shaped anything. I just need something thoughtful. I’m definitely not anti-romance—feel free to confess your undying love for me at any time. I’m just saying that you should put in some thought on Valentine’s day instead of doing something that has simply lost its meaning.

The great

By Cam Rebosio Staff Reporter

7

We’re a modern society (kind of ), and Cupid’s heart-shaped arrows just aren’t a hit anymore. Sure, we can celebrate love, but do we need to have an entire day dedicated to it?

The media plays the Valentine’s Day card far too much. Believe it or not, confessing true love in the moonlight whilst Morgan Freeman sings “Ave Maria” in Latin doesn’t automatically bond your souls together. Just because you saw it in a movie doesn’t mean it’s true.

Furthermore, many people seem to think it’s a good time to show their undying love for their partner to the world. PLEASE, I repeat, PLEASE keep it to yourself.

As much as you may enjoy it, we don’t appreciate it when you’re running around the halls with your lips glued together. It’s even worse if you block the halls, forcing everyone to awkwardly squeeze by your tangled mess of PDA. Feb. 14, from now on, should be Singles Awareness Day (SAD), rather than an overly exaggerated exhibition of “love.” This year, don’t wear fifty shades of red. Instead, wear green, and support your unclaimed brethren. Better yet, spend your Friday doing something you enjoy, be it with or without your beloved. If you need me, I’ll be playing videogames in a dark room celebrating the creation of lightly salted potato chips.

By Xavi Boluña Staff Reporter

We say this for all the males who have too much testosterone to say it: we love Valentine’s Day. As men with extreme amounts of experience in the art of love, we have sadly noticed that with each passing Valentine’s Day, the love has begun to fade.

Where is the passion that moves mountains and parts seas, the love that makes you stalk someone on Instagram even though you only know them as thuggrunna13, the love that lets you float on a raft to survive (even though there was obviously room for two)?

So what does it mean to love someone? Well it means doing something for someone else because you want to, not because you have to. It means putting someone else’s feelings ahead of your own sometimes. You don’t have to be in a relationship to love someone.

We just have to get back to the A B C’s and love the little things about people, like the kindergartener in you. Back then it wasn’t about just showing that significant other that you cared about them, it was about showing everyone a little bit of love.

So whether you are out buying roses, chocolate, or the movie “The Notebook” (for yourself, of course), slip those Pokémon Valentine’s into your shopping bag to put in your friend’s locker.

Remember it’s the little things that mean the most.

By Peter Bugos and Ty Dewes We choose you to be our valentine, Guest Reporters Sequoia. #swagout.

Valentine’s debate

We offer three viewpoints on the upcoming holiday: should we embrace it, change it or abandon it?

The chosen Juan: the first Latino bachelor sparks controversy

By ARACELI EFIGENIO Feature Editor The power of the rose was given to Juan Pablo in this 17th season of “The Bachelor” for a reason, and, unlike past seasons, the reason was not to simply take his shirt off. As the first Latino bachelor in the 11-year series, ABC wanted to silence the growing criticisms of its primarily

white cast.

However, a Venezuelan with blonde hair and blue eyes may have been the wrong choice to make a profound statement about race and equality.

“There’s been a marked lack of diversity in the entire show,” history teacher and avid “Bachelor” fan Danny Bliss said. “I don’t know how many Latino Americans would relate to a blonde-hair-blue-eyes club promoter, but it doesn’t take anything away from him.”

Many question if Juan Pablo was chosen by the producers so they could have their chocolate-covered strawberries and eat them too. In other words, the criticism about racism would stop and strategic salsa music that

referenced Latino culture could be used. Above all, the bachelor would still look very similar to past contestants (hot and one-dimensional).

“ABC is smart enough to [not] have a date where they have a piñata contest, but they will highlight his race,” Bliss said.

As if the Juan puns were not enough to incite some eye rolling ( Juan-in-a-million, Who will be the Juan?, I Juant You to Juant Me), not a single bachelorette out of the 27 contestants is Latina or speaks fluent Spanish. Either “The Bachelor” is in support of interracial marriages or they feared that they would have to use subtitles to translate a real language instead of the slurred words of drunk participants.

Nonetheless, ABC producers maybe should have focused on finding a participant who was pro-gay and wellspoken in front of press.

On Jan. 21, TIME Magazine reported that Juan Pablo made statements that gay people are “more pervert in a sense” and that he doesn’t think “it is a good example for kids to watch that on TV.” I understand that mental Spanish to English translation could have played a role, but I feel what he said is not a good example of acceptance and tolerance for his 5-year-old daughter, Camila.

At the start of the season, the President and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, Alex Nogales,

expressed his feelings about “The Bachelor” producers in a National Public Radio online article.

“They gotta include everybody, African Americans as well as Latinos of every coloration. And forget their b--s--- of ‘We can’t find any!’ They’re there!” Nogales said.

In this ever-changing society, it is only natural that reality TV would eventually reflect real-life couples. It is about time ABC steps up and lets people of color find superficial love that millions of Americans watch on a weekly basis until all of their favorites are eliminated. Everyone knows that the love lasts until the reunion show, but this is America, where equality should be valued.

And as a side note, the reason the gay community has not been featured on the show thus far is probably because they have the ability to find meaningful relationships without having cameras around or silly challenges that make jokes out of real sports like soccer.

Better luck next season, ABC.

8

Sports

February 5, 2014

Dribbling on the court not same as on the field

Photos By Emma Peyton

By JARRETT CROWELL Sports Editor As I laced up my ostentatious purple cleats before varsity girls soccer practice, I looked around and quickly realized a few things. First, I was the tallest, fastest and strongest player there. Second, I had no idea how to play soccer. Third, I was the worst player on the field.

The last time I played soccer competitively, there were no such things as positions or set pieces. Every player just chaotically ran around chasing the ball, and if you happened to be in front of the goal, you took a shot. Apparently that isn’t how it works at the high school level.

I survived the first part of practice without much humiliation, though it was only stretching. When we start-

It’s not possible to fully comprehend a sport by just sitting on the sidelines.

Thus, the Raven Report is practicing with sports teams to experience firsthand what it is like to be a Sequoia athlete.

In this third installment of our Day in the Life series, a varsity basketball and baseball player went to girls soccer practice.

Read what happened.

ed kicking the balls around, I got into trouble. Let me with two forwards running towards the net. Finally I was explain: in a warm-up drill, you stand about ten yards able to use the one advantage that I had over everyone from a teammate. Your teammate proceeds to rocket a else: my height. I even got one past the keeper, though pass to you, and you are expected not only to settle the I must admit I had no idea where my shot was going. pass but also return the ball accurately—with just one Later, I chanced a bicycle kick from the edge of the box touch. which flew about 30 feet wide; I’m pretty sure this illYeah, pretty much impossible. advised attempt was the reason I woke up the next mornMy first few passes were about five feet wide, and ing with a sore neck. drew pitying giggles from the other players. Twenty (On another note about pain: when a soccer player passes later, I finally got the hang of it (sort of ). tells you to wear shin guards to practice, just do it.)

By then, the team had already The last drill at practice was a six“Though I was the tallest player moved on to the next drill: give and on-six scrimmage. Still having no idea go’s. Honestly, I still don’t know how there, most of the soccer jargon what my skills (or lack thereof ) were, went right over my head.” these work.

I jumped at the opportunity to play The only thing I can remember from forward. It was during the scrimmage the huddle that followed is a vague notion about wall that I allegedly executed a wall pass, though what I was passes. Though I was the tallest player there, most of the really doing was trying to get rid of the ball before it got soccer jargon went right over my head. I volunteered stolen. Scrimmaging righted the preconceptions that I to play defense so I wasn’t responsible for controlling had about soccer only taking athleticism and speed. Socor passing the ball. For the sparing moments that I did cer demands technical ability, which is something I just play offense, I clumsily kicked the ball too far in front of don’t have. where I intended it to go: precisely in the other group’s Although I somehow managed to turn the beautiful way. game into the not-so-beautiful game, for two hours on a As the drill moved on, it turned into a four-on-three Friday afternoon, I was. . . Sequoia girls soccer.

Mid-season report: Winter sports off to good start Wrestling

Girls Basketball

Boys Basketball

“I feel like as a team we’ve gotten closer this year. . . it’s just been amazing and really fun. . . our team has good chemistry.”

—Senior Natalia Tatola, Varsity Captain Record: 4-14 Division: South Must-see game: Senior Night vs. Woodside Friday, Feb. 7

“Our team always goes out and does team dinners, we always try and represent the school wherever we go.”

—Senior Jonathan Padilla, Varsity Captain Record: 9-5 Division: South Must-see game: Senior Night vs.

Woodside Friday, Feb. 7

“Meets when the other schools come we all just huddle up and cheer each other on, that’s the best memory.”

—Senior Vivian Rivera

“What makes the team good is how everyone helps each other out. They give each other tips on how to be a better wrestler.”

—Senior Luis Calderon

Division: Bay Must-see meet: PAL Wrestling Finals Feb. 22

Photo by Abigail Wang

Girls Soccer “Most of us felt good about how we played even though the score [of the Woodside game] didn’t turn out how we wanted [the Woodside Game] to go.”

—Junior Sarah Huber, Varsity co-captain Record: 1-1-6 Division: Bay Must-see game: Senior Game vs. Carlmont Feb. 20 Photo by Araceli Efigenio

—CAM REBOSIO AND ABIGAIL WANG *Records updated as of 1/30/14

Photo by Lily Friebel

Photo by Emily Ducker

Boys Soccer “We’re playing better and more as a team. I feel like we will beat [Woodside].”

—Senior Jonny Esquivel, Varsity Captain Record: 2-1-4 Division: Bay Must-see game: Vs. Woodside Friday, Feb. 7 Photo by Claire Bugos