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Fast Food Nation
What went wrong with the Giants ?
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The Highlander page 15
Carlmont High School Newspaper Volume III, Issue 1, September 2011 See us online at http://scotscoop.com
Biotech building construction delayed New year,
new policies
By Steven Tsujisaka Online Editor
By the time August came and students were checking-in and returning from vacation, the biotechnology building that was expected to be complete was still not finished. The biotechnology building, which was approved by voters in the $165 million Measure J bond in 2008, is expected to be complete by the Fall of 2011. Even though the Sequoia Union High School District lost $4 million due to the bankruptcy of Lehman Bros, the district was able to make up for the lost money. Because most science teachers were hoping the new building would be open by the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, teachers began to pack their equipment too early in the year. For “We’ve been trying to do students who are an eighteen month job currently in nine during one of the taking heaviest winter’s we’ve biotechhad in a while” nology at Carlmont, classes are not able to complete as many labs and assignments as usual. “We haven’t been able to do many labs because Mr. Raffa is trying to get the new classroom ready,” replied Noe Zane, a current biotechnology student. The soon-to-be new classrooms located behind S- and T-wing are reportedly much larger than the current classrooms located in C-hall. “Our class is really overcrowded,” Zane noted. “[The] building is delayed because most construction projects run into hurdles. Time lines are always adjusted because you are
By Erica Valbusa Fun Stuff Editor
Photo by Steven Tsujisaka
building an enormous place,” commented Dan Raffa, a Carlmont biotechnology teacher, “everyday district people are over there trying to get things done.” Because the new 13,000 sq. ft. building contains elevators, the science teachers have been waiting for inspectors to approve the new building for student access. “We’ve been trying to do an eighteen
month job in nine during one of the heaviest winter’s we’ve had in a while,” stated one of the construction workers building the biotechnology building. When the biotechnology building is complete sometime in the near future, more students will be able to enroll in AP biology, biotechnology and biology and take advantage of the new, high tech equipment.
Senior parking lot costs too much By Dana Bloom Editor-in-Chief
Incoming seniors look forward to parking in the senior parking lot even though the price of permits has increased to $100 for this school year. The senior parking lot is located between the tennis courts and softball fields. It has 109 spots and this year, and after four days of permit sales, they were all distributed. Multiple seniors rushed to the treasurers office the morning they went on sale to ensure they would get a permit. “I wanted a permit so that I could be late and still get a parking spot,” senior Maxine Ansaldo commented, “It was annoying to have to pay $100 though.” Many seniors opted not to pay for a permit and instead decided they would park on the street, even though it is first come first serve. Senior Kristen Crawford stated, “It is too expensive and chaotic to get in and out of,” referring to the senior parking lot. Out of the schools in the Sequoia Union High School District, Carlmont charges the most for a parking permit. The difference in price between Carlmont
and other schools in our district is dramatic. For instance, Sequoia charges just five dollars for a parking permit, a 95 dollar difference. When asked why the permits were so expensive, administrative vice principal Ralph Crame said, “They aren’t expensive,”
he quickly added, “all the money goes back to the students.” Where does the money from the permits go? And how is it given back to the students? The 1,900 dollars in profit from the permits this year goes towards ASB (associated stu-
dent body) and they use it for school events throughout the entire year. Activities director Jim Kelly stated, “Because ASB is a non-profit organization, all the money we earn and make is spent. It all goes back to the students for extracurricular activities.” Kelly agreed that the parking permits are a revenue generator, but was on the same page as Crame when discussing the price. “Related to anywhere in the world, they are cheap,” Kelly commented, “and when you break it down for the year it is not expensive. It comes down to 50 cents per day and 11 dollars per month.” Because the population of Carlmont is so big and multiple students drive, parking is very scarce and is a major reason why permits are able to sell, even at such a high cost. Carlmont administration has looked for new parking opportunities as they know parking can be an issue. “We are always looking to see how we can improve parking because we know it is not the ideal situation,” Crame said,” with all continued on page 13
At the start of the new school year Carlmont High School’s administration made multiple modifications to traditional school policies. The teachers were instructed to make sure that their students were aware of the new changes. “I knew about the new policies because all of my teachers read them to the class” commented sophomore Dominique Berrios. However, some students did not understand the changes or did not know about them at all. “I did not know that any of the policies changed because none of my teachers let us know about them. I eventually found out what they were from my friends,” added sophomore Charlotte Jackman. The tardy policy has been altered once again. Instead of automatically receiving a detention from being tardy one time, the punishment is up to the discretion of the teacher. On the third tardy, however, the teacher will write a referral to the Administrative Vice Principal in addition to receiving a detention. Detentions will now be tracked on Infinite Campus instead of on eBehavior. Cell phones and electronic devices continued on page 13
Naviance support comes to Carlmont By Jenna Chambers Editor-in-Chief
As college application seasons rapidly approaches, seniors are suddenly faced with the overwhelming tasks of searching for universities to apply to as well as completing college applications that are due within the next few months. Lucky for this years graduating senior class, searching and applying to schools may be a simpler process now with the help of Naviance Succeed. Naviance Succeed is described as an “online resource for planning and advising students.” Furthermore, the program allows for students and parents alike to research college, scholarships and careers. Hard at work putting together the program is College Counselor Connie Dominguez who said, “[Naviance Succeed] will help the guidance counselors help the seniors with their college applications.” Through Naviance Succeed, students will be able to search for colleges, compare schools and begin building a college list among other things. But perhaps one of the sites most important features for college bound seniors is being able to request teacher and counselor recommendation letters. continued on page 13