Stagg Line
Home of the Delta Kings
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
1621 Brookside Rd
Free meals available across district Yalie CEESAY
Mathew Sinogui enjoys eating breakfast. The freshman loves to eat sausage and biscuits because it gives him vitality. “It holds me off in the morning until lunch and it gives me plenty of energy for P.E.” Having P.E. first thing in the morning can be a hassle, especially when you are running the mile on an empty stomach. They might not have the energy and stamina needed to perform their best. “If we had to pay for school breakfast, I would not be eating as much. I would only eat if it was at an affordable price,” he explains.
Sinogui and others don’t have to worry. Now, Stockton Unified School District serves free breakfast for K-12 students. The program is called the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows low income school districts to provide free meals to students without collecting household applications. Students who access breakfast before school starts are more likely to be more attentive in first period, as opposed to a groggy student who has not had anything to kick start their day. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, providing a kickstart to your daily activities. Now that breakfast is free of charge, students are more likely to use that benefit.
Stockton, CA 95207
Cafeteria Manager Nancy Silva said, “If we did not serve free breakfast it would impact several students, because they would not be able to think in the morning.’’ Not being attentive in class because you are hungry can be very stressful for students. Students would not be as lively as they would be if they had a nutritious breakfast to start of their day. Silva comparescurrent breakfast versus breakfast from when she was in school. “Years ago when I was growing up there was too much fat in the
COMMUNITY SPEAKS UP
“
It was very insightful. There are a lot of things that our community does that I did not know about.
Carlos FELIPE senior
”
PHOTO BY KENYON PIERCE
Chavez High School’s Brandon Leake, freshman English teacher, shares his personal experiences of growing up in the southside of Stockton. He spoke about the importance of uniting communities to create safer enviroments for the youth.
Town hall allows youth to raise key issues ranging from violence to voter registration
Nicholas ROSETE
“T
he only way that we will be able to move forward as a community and as a city is if we unite together as one.” These words echoed throughout the auditorium of Cesar Chavez High School. A long, intense pause followed, allowing freshman English teacher Brandon Leake’s words to sink in. Like many other parEvents like these give ticipants of the Youth and Community Town Hall, Leake believes that the key to change for our city is already here. It is the youth. a voice to people in
“
our community who feel as though they don’t have one.
Ebony GONZALEZ Stagg Alumna
”
“
Funerals should be abnormal for high school students. It’s not natural for folks to die by gun violence.
Michael TUBBS Stockton Mayor
What’s happening?
”
Parade today Check out the graphic on the back page for details about the this afternoon’s homecoming parade.
On Saturday, Aug. 18, Stockton Speaks and Cleveland School Remembers came together to host a Youth and Community Town Hall Meeting. The first of many to come, this meeting gave Stockton’s youth a place to express their opinions and ideas about their city. Seniors Carlos Felipe and Richard Valles both attended and learned how to become involved in the community. “It was very insightful,” Felipe said. “There are a lot of things that our community does that I do not know about.” While Felipe was able to gain new information, Valles was inspired to learn even more about what was happening in Stockton. “Before this, I was never really interested in local politics,” he said. “But the event encouraged me to focus more on what’s happening in our local community.” Florentino Silva, an 18-year-old who organized the event, sees the town hall as a place for young people to ask questions and get involved in their community. “In Stockton, I see that we have a lot of potential in our youth,” he said. “We just don’t know how to utilize that potential or how to express our voices.” A Stockton native himself, Silva grew up in Conway Homes. Living with his grandmother in a studio apartment, his community was plagued with gun violence while crime rates were at a constant high. Luckily, thanks to his father, he was able to escape from those surroundings. “I was able to get out of that place because my father was involved with the police department,” Silva said. “But the thing is, not every kid has a way out or a get out of jail free card. I was lucky enough to have one.” In order to see change, Silva believes that we must highlight the stories of the individuals who have been impacted by such environments and also get involved in the events that occur within our community. He says that it’s the only way to get the idea into the heads of the policymakers. “At the end of the day, getting involved in events such as these is the power that the youth does have,” Silva said. In addition to community involvement and safety, an-
Homecoming game & dance JV football plays today at 5 p.m at home followed by varsity at 7:15 p.m. Tomorrow the dance is 7-10 p.m. in the big gym.
other main topic of the meeting was gun violence prevention. On Jan.17, 1989, Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton was devastated by gun violence when a gunman entered the campus and opened fire, killing five students and wounding another 30. Julia Schardt, member of Cleveland School Remembers, was teaching there on that tragic day. “We need to remember that when something like this happens, we aren’t helpless,” she said. “There are things that we can do in our communities to fight against these issues.” When Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was attacked in February of this year, Schardt was amazed by the reaction of young people across the nation. “They knew how to be articulate and form their message,” Schardt said. “They were heartbroken and angry and they knew exactly how to direct their emotions by telling Congress that there needed to be change.” Schardt was excited to see that Stockton’s youth wanted to be involved in changing our country. “What the students in Parkland did really opened up the doors for other students across the country to use their voice and try to make a change,” Schardt said. With a common goal of community safety, unity and gun violence prevention in mind, Silva and Schardt teamed up to host the Youth and Community Town Hall. The pair agree that all of the paperwork and obstacles are worth it in the end. “In Stockton, there aren’t really any events happening like this, but if the community is provided a platform where they can have a say, we will be able to move forward,” Silva said. Silva plans on reaching out directly to Stockton’s youth, the communities that they live in, and the schools that they attend. Schardt has welcomed the idea of holding meetings within Stockton Unified School District’s schools. “For a long time, the understanding has been that since we’re adults, we know what’s best,” Schardt said. “But when you ask a kid if they feel safe in their town or if they have enough to do, the prescription shouldn’t be written by an adult. Young people should be a part of the discussion.”
Keep updated at our website staggonline.net — Click on the QR code to get there.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter @staggonline @stagg_sports
Volume 62 Issue 1
09.07.18
Students get breakfast on a regular basis, especially because it is free of charge. PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
school meals and it would make me lazy. I enjoy serving the current breakfast to students, because I know they will be nourished through the day.”
Cyber High expansion may help grad rates
Cevina CALDERON Not enough credits? The administration is refusing to accept excuses. Those who don’t quite have a straight shot at walking across the stage are in need of extra credits and the school recognizes that. Wanting nothing but success, literally, this year the school is now offering Cyber High after school and during school as well. The course High School Success allows students who’ve made previous mistakes in their grades to recover as many credits as possible. “I had one senior who completed five classes in three weeks!” guidance chair Laura Rodriguez said. That was, however, during the summer when the class was offered four hours a day. Cyber High last year was only offered after school. However, some students who’ve failed multiple classes need more than just a seventh period to recover. Since High School Success is now an official course the students are given an extra push to finish their work in class every day. This year, the amount of impacted junior U.S. History classes and senior classes are some of the main contributors behind the existence of this course. “We have a lot of juniors and seniors that need to catch up on their credits,” Rodriguez said. The tight space in classes doesn’t guarantee a spot to the students who need to retake a course, especially the upperclassmen who need to take freshman or sophomore classes again. The High School Success class can in some circumstances provide a spot to these students. With a total of 155 students enrolled in the five courses offered right now, students are given a second chance to get back on track. Last year’s plummeting graduation rate of 75.8 percent across the district may potentially benefit from this increase of credit recovery. High School Success teacher Randall Pombo thinks of the course very positively. “More than half of the students in the class take it seriously,” Pombo said. Regardless of the effort students put forth the opportunity is in their hands. Juliette Littleton thinks High School Success is a great opportunity. The junior enjoys the new availability of this course. “I prefer it during school because after school I have things to do like catch the bus.”
ART BY SERINA SIENG
Follow us on Instagram @staggonline
Follow us on Snapchat @staggonline
Subscribe for more videos on YouTube at Stagg Line
2
Opinion
The Stagg Line
EDITORIAL
09.07.18
No excuse to fail, thanks to Cyber High Not being able to attend classes after school. Not knowing how to get enrolled in Cyber High. Having too many failed classes. All of these excuses and more for not earning the credits to graduate have become a thing of the past. Now, there is no valid excuse not to graduate. This year, students who have failed multiple classes have a shot at getting back all of their required credits. These students are put into a credit recovery class called High School Success. Through this class, students are able to make up one failed class in a matter of weeks. In order to make up these classes, students go through an online version of the class they failed. The unit is separated into activities, just as it would be taught in a classroom. They learn and review the material, then at the end
of each section they are given a test. Once students pass, then they can move on to another class they have failed, or they get transferred into another class. In the past, if a student were to fail a class, they would have to enroll in a credit recovery program after school called Cyber High. At the time, this was the only option for students. Because Cyber High was ultimately optional, not everyone took advantage of the opportunity to make up their missing credits. A problem with this system was the lack of space in these classes. Seniors and juniors took priority in these classes because of the lack of space. Underclassmen were often put on a waiting list to get into the class. This system worked, but it wasn’t to everyone’s benefit. Now that Cyber High is here, those
Does The Spot actually have some potential?
T
he Spot, hot or not? As of this year, the Associated Student Body has decided to change the nearly vacant library into a student lounge, The Spot. Class and club cubbies (try saying that five times fast) that display information have been added along with new furniture, and ping pong tables. These are projects ASB has already fulfilled, but what will the future hold for The Spot? ASB President Marissa Pimentel offered insight to the possible future of The Spot including gaming systems and projector screens donated by staff and students. While some students appreciate this change, others are left wondering why we didn’t use this opportunity to restore the library. Many students rely on the Homework Center for computer access and a quiet place to study, held in the same building as The Spot. At first I imagined a ping pong ball whizzing by a student trying to write an essay. However after some questioning I learned the two will not overlap. Seeing as the Homework Center is a fundamental asset many students take advantage of, its absence would hurt rather than help our student body. The introduction of new gaming systems leaves us with a foggy view of what to expect. Many popular games are rated M for mature, which leads me to believe that ASB will have to set criteria to decide what games are and aren’t appropriate. There is scarce advertisement
for the lounge around campus as well as a relative lack of food regulations. Students are not allowed to eat near school computers. Seemingly the idea of The Spot is still in the early stages. Upon speaking to Pimentel she revealed to me that it is a possibility The Spot will have a No-Go list. She also believes that if the lounge becomes as popular as the Student Store there will
Jennifer Rico (right) focuses on online activities that she is required to finish in order for her to make up missing credits. Marcellus Jones (left), junior, is reviewing World History material before taking a test for World History. PHOTO BY CARLOS DAVALOS
with missing credits now have a better chance of making up classes. Since it is also available during the day, teachers are able to monitor students and make
sure they’re working on task. Now that this resource has been introduced, there are no excuses not to graduate.
Raising grad requirements could help students, school
“
I Marissa Gonzales
be a student check in to regulate capacity. If The Spot is going to be hot, some questions need to be answered and some decisions need to be made.
’m a junior. In the year 2020 I will have a minimum of 210, possibly more credits, to be walking the stage at graduation. As of this school year, Stockton Unified School District is exploring the possibility that our credit requirement for graduation may go from 210 to 230, but they’re still undecided. With such short notice it would be ridiculous to give juniors and seniors this new requirement before graduation. Fine Finau Overall, the plan will probably be present to the class of 2022, our freshmen. This gives them more time to look at their credits, know what to do, and meet the requirement. This 2020. The message that was sent to us was too higher number is something the district has done unclear. Nothing else was explained, just that the before already, they’re just possibly bringing it credits would be raised, and because of that the back. class of 2020, including myself thought we were Last year, seniors were able to walk the stage going to need 230 credits by the end of senior with 200-205 credits, but they wouldn’t be getting year. their diploma. If they wanted their diploma, they The number of credits now seems too would have to make it up during the summer. short. Increasing the credits would improve the This year that may no longer be an option. It’s reputation Stagg and the other high schools. It either you have your 210 credits or you don’t. No would encourage students to work harder. This exceptions. would give them a more reasonable reason to push It makes sense that seniors last year were able themselves and reach a higher limit. My concern to walk with fewer credits. That's what they were is that I’m not sure whether or not the freshmen told and they still were not receiving a diploma. know about this plan. Communication is the most important thing. If I could go back to my freshman year, I This makes it easier for me to know that would definitely do it. Reaching for a higher I have almost completed the requirements. accomplishment should always be your mindset. During our welcome back assembly for the This mindset could impact more students if the juniors, Assistant Principal Gurvinder Chauhan credits were higher by just giving them a more mentioned the possible increase in our credits. I stable look of the higher expectations throughout was in shock because I knew I’m short on credits high school and just life in general. and I need to make up classes from my freshmen Knowing that you can’t graduate because year. Even though this credit increase won’t be you didn’t reach the credit requirement would be required for me, it was still nice to know. devastating to hear. But at the end of the day, it For students generally, this is a good change. could be beneficial for students, the future leaders But that may also mean that teachers would have of the world. With that being said, it would be to deal with full classes due to students wanting to easier to just go for the limit and set the bar high take that class for a credit, such as electives. because aiming for a smaller portion won’t get you What wasn’t told during the assembly was much. whether this plan was in fact not for the Class of
Increasing the credits would improve the reputation of Stagg and the other high schools. It would encourage students to work harder.
”
PHOTO BY SOLOMON JUAREZ
Freshmen Emmanuel Lopez and Xavier Marquez enjoy a friendly game of ping pong during lunch at The Spot. They make sure to take advantage of this oppurtunity at least once a week.
Who’s on staff?
STAGG LINE Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207 The Stagg Line is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, whose awards include the following: ff All-American: 22 times ff Hall of Fame ff First Place, Best of Show: 6 times ff National Newspaper Pacemaker: 7 times Stagg Line journalists over the years have won many awards and scholarships, including California Journalist of the Year, National Story of the Year and National Photo of the Year.
The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and distributed free to students and staff members. Our website staggonline.net is updated regularly with online exclusives. The Stagg Line is a long-standing open forum for free student expression. That means, student editors and reporters make content and style decisions with the adviser offering guidance and all students on campus are encouraged to volunteer ideas. The staff editorial, which appears at the top of this page, reflects the opinion of the entire staff and therefore is not signed. A personal column is signed and reflects the point of view of the writer, not the paper. Readers are welcome to submit letters for publication regarding any story published or any school issue. We will make every effort to publish any letter that is not libelous, obscene or inflammatory. Letters longer than 250 words may be edited for length. Letters may be given to any staff member, delivered to A8 or emailed to dbott@stocktonusd.net
Current and older issue PDFs are available at issuu.com/staggline
EDITORS
REPORTERS
Maria Castillo & Kevin Gutierrez editors-in-chief / features
Shannon Bradberry
Brianna Rodriguez news
Yalie Ceesay
Oleedia Harris opinion Donavin Collins entertainment
Cevina Calderon Fine Finau Marissa Gonzales Solomon Juarez
Niko Rosete sports
Camila Kendall
Aidan Danforth web
Jake Marcelino
Carlos Davalos photo Serina Sieng graphics Don Bott adviser
Monze Martinez Krystena Meza Kenyon Pierce Angel Vasquez
Opinion
09.07.18
Women should not be viewed as caretakers B y the time I was 10 years old I knew how to wash dishes, do my own laundry, and clean my own room. I wasn’t just a daughter to my parents. I was also a babysitter and a source for cleaning up messes that weren’t made by me. I was discouraged from talking to boys and was always told to dress appropriately when going outside. I was groomed to meet the expectations of a woman long before I was even of age to be a woman. By the time my 6 year old brother is 10, he will not know how to wash dishes, wash his own clothes, or clean up his own room. He will be my parents’ son who is a “momma’s boy,” and who is “just like his dad.” He will be catered to, and will be allowed to relax while my sister who is a few years older will be doing the household chores. He won’t be discouraged from talking to girls; in fact, he will be encouraged to talk to them and praised if he is popular among them. He won’t be discouraged from wearing whatever he wants. My brother will be raised to be taken care of by a woman. My experience growing up may seem unique to some, but for many, it is all too familiar. Girls are groomed from a young age to follow what a woman should look like, act like, and dress like. It is in this day and age of gradual acceptance and comfortability within one’s self that women are starting to speak up about the ways they were raised in comparison to their male counterparts. The differences are being brought up and talked about in most social media platforms. It seems as if men are the ones holding onto this traditional way of upbringing because the status quo caters to them. Whenever this topic is brought up on social media or in discussions, it’s noticeable that men are quick to defend this way of upbringing. Often, men will excuse it by saying statements along the lines of “that’s just how people have been raised,” or even “women should know how to take care of a man.” It seems as if men are the majority of the crowd defending this behavior because it’s in their best interest. Of course, someone would want to
The Stagg Line
3
Angel Vasquez
“
Of course things have changed for women; but things just aren’t as progressive as we’d like them to be.
”
have a relaxed way of living. It’s a no brainer for them to support this way of raising children. Whether it be a conscious choice to support this tradition, or a subconscious decision because this way of upbringing has been instilled in their minds, too many men are desperately grasping onto this tradition. This desperation is noticeable especially in social media. Several different times, I have read posts from men that were complaining about their girlfriends or wives not cooking or cleaning for them. Men seem to have a preset mindset of women being responsible for taking care of them, and for them to think this way is disappointing. Men need to change their outlook and become aware of the problems with the mindset surrounding this tradition. Of course things have changed for women; but things just aren’t as progressive as we’d like them to be. In order to continue this flow of positive change that has been happening over the years, the small aspects of everyday life for women need to change for the
ART BY SERINA SIENG & JAKE MARCELINO
better. In this case, one of the small aspects being the way they are being raised. A big question that seems to be brought up towards this topic is why are women being raised this way? Well, the answer is simple. Women have always been expected to stay at home and be the perfect housewife. In the past they were told to stay at home and take care of the domestic issues. Women were raised with the mindset of marriage as the ultimate goal, and that they should be able to serve their husbands the best that they could. Expectations for women have changed quite a bit since then. Because women are encouraged to be more independent and take on a career, they are not so much expected to take care of the household chores anymore. Nevertheless, in some households, girls are still being raised to fit this persona of a “perfect woman” that has been created by the deep misogyny and sexism instilled in most
men’s minds. While women are being raised to be the housekeeper and caretaker, men are being raised to be taken care of. Boys are still being coddled and catered to. This behavior that has been inscribed in the minds of parents needs to stop. Parents need to take a step back and think of the way they are raising their children. They need to understand that boys shouldn’t be raised to be taken care of by a woman, and girls shouldn’t be raised to be the sole caretaker of their families. Treating women as a source of housekeeping is wrong and unfair. It’s unfair that because of the way men are being raised women have to accommodate. It’s unfair that women are told to dress appropriately whilst men are neglected to be told not to rape. It’s unfair that girls are forced to grow into women early while “boys will always be boys.”
People need to be mindful CSU Stockton would bring the change our city needs about what they post
“
Laughter is the best medicine. That’s why I laugh at people with AIDS,” Former Guardians of the Galaxies director James Gunn. “It’s kind of sick how much joy I get out of being cruel to old white men,” New York Times editorial board member Sarah Jeong. Social media now catalogues inappropriate comments and stores them forever. People are starting to weaponize these offensive comments. They attempt to get celebrities fired because of their cruelty. For former Guardians of the Galaxies director James Gunn, his past remarks has cost him his job. Making harsh jokes with obscure sarcasm created his first lines in comedy. Disney’s strict family friendly environment has no need for Gunn’s past mistakes. It was hard for Gunn to defend himself agaisnt comments about rape and pedophila. In 2008 Gunn was a struggling director trying to make it. His satire gained him attention. Gunn’s early attempt to humor is very disappointing. He should
have understood his level of professionalism and been more careful about his actions. Similarly New York Times journalist Sarah Jeong was caught as well. Before joining the editorial board, people began to attack her because of her political stance. Her online presence caused deep retaliation and backlash from other journalists.
Aidan Danforth
Despite her efforts to explain the reasoning behind her tweets, she lost her credibility. Her reasoning behind the piece was to create attention because of the foolishness of white culture trying to be marginalized. She was targeted because of her political beliefs. Jeong could have elaborated more on her movement. Jokes and comments that are offensive will have a gruelling effect. It’s important to explain yourself deeper when making a bold statement. A company does have the right to fire someone if their ideas don’t reflect the company. I understand Disney’s stance on the situation. Individuals should see their past mistakes and learn from them or better yet: Try to never make the mistakes in the first place.
ART BY SERINA SIENG
E
arlier this year, Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman announced that a California State University could soon be coming to Stockton. Funded by the Higher Education Facilities Bond Act of 2018, there would be enough money left over after maintenances of California’s 23 CSU campuses to pay for three new campuses. This is where CSU Stockton comes in. Compared to all of the current routes of higher education available, a state university in Stockton would be an ideal addition to a developing city. One option is University of the Pacific. Pacific is a four-year private university that boasts some wonderful educational programs, but costs a whopping $40,000, or more, for tuition alone. The second option is San Joaquin Delta College. Delta is a community college that costs just over $1,000 for tuition, but offers only two-year degrees and certificates. This makes the gap in cost and value in terms of education seem very drastic. While both schools are solid educational institutions, both are at least 45 minutes away from the nearest CSU or UC school. Of the 15 largest cities in California, Stockton is three times farther from a CSU or UC school than any other city, and also the largest metropolitan area in California without its own standalone campus. Straight out of high school,
Nicholas Rosete
you may not be able to afford Pacific, but you also may not want to spend two years at Delta before transferring. With this dilemma, you risk commuting 45 minutes to and from Stockton everyday or having to pay room and board costs at whichever school you would like to attend. I have heard many of my peers mentioning the fact that they aren’t planning on furthering their education past Delta, whether it’s due to the cost of living on a campus elsewhere, affording Pacific’s tuition, or being too far away from home. What would be the perfect middle ground to avoid this hindrance and inspire Stockton’s high school and Delta graduates to pursue higher education? CSU Stockton. Having a CSU here would bring massive benefits not only to Stockton, but San Joaquin County as a whole. Of the other six cities that make up San Joaquin county, Escalon,
Lathrop, Lodi, Manteca, Ripon, Tracy, and Modesto, not one of them has a four-year university to call its own. CSU Stockton would not only would it bring hope to Stockton’s high school graduates, but also the graduates of our neighboring cities. These cities have a combined population of over 600,000 with four-year universities almost inaccessible if the student wishes to stay close to home. For residents of those cities, the commute to CSU Stockton would be much less grueling than one to UC Merced, CSU Sacramento, or UC Davis. Outside of just high school graduates, consider the students fresh out of their two years at Delta. What are they supposed to do when they have their degree from Delta? What if they can’t go out of town for school, but also can’t afford to attend UOP. Being able to further their education in the same city that they have gone to school in for the past two years would make their transition from a community college to a fouryear university a lot smoother than it would be if they were to be attending any other four-year school in California. This state university is not set in stone, and a lot more work is necessary for the idea to find its way onto the statewide ballot in November, but after the bill won bipartisan approval earlier this year, I think that the future of this university is bright.
4
The Stagg Line
Features
09.07.18
From classroom to curriculum office
Sherman, Walter hope to make a difference working as K-12 specialists Maria CASTILLO
With his father being a chemistry professor and his mother a nurse, Marcus Sherman knew he would always want to be surrounded by science. After 20 years at Stagg, he is now in charge of the K-12 science curriculum in Stockton Unified School District. In his new job, Sherman really needs to focus on building the program for K-8, being that there is no set curriculum. “How much science did you have in eighth grade?” he asked. “Once a day? Twice a week? Not at all? That’s the problem.” Students not getting enough science education can put them behind in their future science classes. “It’s important for kids to start their science and math early. Not only because they will be testing fifth and eighth
“
grade, but also because a lot of jobs are dependent upon that now.” Other than helping the students and the district gain a curriculum, Sherman also wants to be a mentor for other teachers. Right now, Sherman is focusing on arranging teacher trainings at the County Office of Education. “I want to help teachers not just do a better job, but make their jobs easier so they, and the students, can be successful,” he said. He also wants to “support the new teachers and answer any questions they have.” The journey at Stagg has ended, but Sherman will still hold his memories dear to his heart. “I stayed here for 20 years because I liked it. But it got to a point where the district needed to do things for all the kids, not just for Stagg, and it wasn’t happening. It was a hard decision, but I hope it’s an opportunity to get better
If I feel like I’m making a difference and I can see a change, then it’d be worth to do full time.
Andrew WALTER math teacher
”
science.” Reflecting on how he started, he had to laugh. “My first year was rough. I had no classroom so I had to go from room to room to room. It was a bit hectic, but I enjoyed the students. That’s why I stayed.” One of Sherman’s main goals throughout his time here was to provide the students with all kinds of support, not just for classwork. He said, “I really wanted to give them the opportunity a lot of people don’t think about.” Sherman was able to have some students visit Lawrence Livermore Lab and for some to work there a week in the summer. He also started the Homework Center and the new Computer Science class. Along with science teacher Bill Lorentz, he encouraged students to do Project SEED. Sherman said, “I think the best part about teaching is seeing you guys become successful.” PHOTO BY CEVINA CALDERON Sherman isn’t the only Science Curriculum Specialist Marcus Sherman explains a lab he created to help students understand Newton’s important teacher to be moving second law, the Magnus Effect. It consists of two cups taped together at the end and they are launched with a on this year. Also helping out the rubber band. They spin backards, making the air under spin faster, lifting the cups up. district, math teacher Andrew Walter got the position of K-12 see a change, then it’d be worth advisor and that’s where some Walter believes that teaching math curriculum specialist. Walter is only giving up his to do a full time.” Like Sherman, of his sweetest memories come should be dedicated to bettering afternoon periods this year, but leaving the classroom was no easy from. “Going to Nationals with students’ futures. He said, depending on how things go, next choice. “I feel bad just for leaving MESA and seeing those kids be “Figuring out how to get them year he might leave permanently. two periods because I already feel the underdogs to taking No. 1 to realize that they could be more was amazing. Winning changed than what they possibly imagined He said, “If I feel like I’m actually like they’re connected to me.” they could be.” making a difference and I can Walter was also the MESA their paths drastically.”
Last-minute job opportunity does not intimidate new science teacher Donavin COLLINS
PHOTO BY KRYSTENA MEZA
Darrien Guertin, new science teacher, leads a lecture for his fifth period Advanced Placement Biology class. His PowerPoint presentation focuses on the structures of lipids and proteins.
Two weeks before school started, Marcus Sherman was still set to teach Advanced Placement Biology and the rest of his regular classes. A promotion was offered to him and everything changed. With the A/P Biology class dropped temporarily, students were in a panic until new teacher Darrien Guertin was hired to take over. Employed only three days before school started, Guertin does admit he felt “underprepared,” but he also knew that he was very capable of getting the job done. With such rigorous classes to teach, he isn’t intimidated even if it’s his first year ever teaching. “Considering I majored in biology, I’m excited that I can bring the concepts that I learned from just two years ago.” Guertin also has support accessible from Sherman. “I meet with Sherman probably once a week to talk about labs and curriculum which he gave me a lot of from past years,” Guertin said. That, and having Sherman’s number listed in his contacts, gives him the reassurance that is needed. “Other than giving me resources and his classroom to use, I’m using my own lesson plans.” The change in teachers did confuse some students, but many have actually already grown used to Guertin. “He is doing a good job at taking over and is making sure we understand the concepts just as Sherman would,” said senior Jacob Lloyd. Going from University of Washington straight to Stagg High School, becoming a teacher wasn’t always the career path Guertin wanted to follow. He, like others, didn’t have a career plan firmly set for himself during high school. It wasn’t until his college years that he became conscious of the fact that he wanted to be a teacher.
“During my junior year of college, I realized that I wouldn’t have been in the situation I was in, including even today, without the teachers I had in high school,” he said. Inspired by his past teachers, he wanted to follow their footsteps. “I want to have the same impact on students that teachers had on me.” Through an organization called Teach For America, Guertin was offered an opportunity to teach for Stagg. “They work with Stockton Unified School District, so when this position opened up I was able to be interviewed,” he said. It wasn’t until his third or fourth interview with the district that landed him his current teaching position. Being his first ever permanent teaching position, he has certainly been learning something new everyday. “I’ve realized quickly to basically expect the unexpected. It won’t ever go as expected but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.” As of this year Guertin teaches a total of three courses, all of which he enjoys to a great extent. Those courses include A/P Biology, Biology, and Anatomy and Physiology. It may be a shift for Guertin since he doesn’t have too much experience, but that doesn’t stop him from always having a positive mindset. Even if he doesn’t have all of his lessons set in stone yet, he knows he will in the near future. “I definitely feel like I will pick up a rhythm of teaching, which is why I want to continue teaching.” Pleased by what he has experienced so far, Guertin wishes to continue teaching for Stagg. “As long as Stagg will keep me, I want to stay here for sure.” Especially since A/P Chemistry will be offered instead of A/P Biology due to the switch between classes every year, he would like to “teach a Biology Honors class in the near future.”
The newest teachers describe their first month in one word.
Clancy Casteel Social Science
Valerie Graham Special Education
Daniel Barrett Science/FFA
Tami Hurst Special Education
Fast
Fantastic
Entertaining
Exhilarating
Kaitlin Davidson Special Education
Iisak Niemela Performing Arts
Linda McDougall English
Darrien Guertin Science
Monica Messimore English
Robert Hardwick English
Exciting
Hectic
Insightful
Fast
Invigorating
Electrifying
GRAPHIC BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ AND SOLOMON JUAREZ
NEW STAFF
Features
09.07.18
The Stagg Line
Motivated by music
5
Dillon Herrera finds inspiration from previous generations of musicians Krystena MEZA People may value getting their looks from their mom or their height from their dad, but for senior Dillon Herrera he loves having his musical talents passed down to him. Music has always been a part of Herrera’s life for as long as he can remember. He has expanded his options of learning new instruments, techniques, and songs. “I have such a big passion for music, when it comes to music I like learning about different genres and specific rhythms.” Every night he plays the piano and practices scales and other different styles of techniques. The types of music he typically enjoys and performs is classical music. He wants to go on as a musician and compose his own music and be able to teach others the techniques he has learned. “I play a lot of modern-day music but my favorite is classical music.” Herrera said. The reason he has kept music going for so long is because he started his passion at a very young age. “My grandmother was a pianist as well.” He says how he has had musicians in his family that inspired his meaning of music. “The majority of my inspiration came from my great-grandfather who was a singer and also was involved in many bands when he was younger which influenced me greatly.” He started playing the piano because of his grandmother and along with his other inspirations including Frank Sinatra and Dave Brubeck. Herrera also said each instrument he has been taught how to play. “I play piano, xylophone, shaker, drums, cow-
bell, guitar, ukulele, and violin.” Herrera added that he would love to explore different sets of instruments and expand his learning skills with different types of instruments. “I would love to learn how to play the trumpet or saxophone because learning how to play a brass instrument would be fascinating because it is different from what I know and what I’ve been taught.” Herrera came from Stockton Collegiate International School where he attended jazz band classes and has also made his musical experience stronger. Although he chose that school because of its music program, he decided to leave because his music teacher was leaving the school. “I enjoyed my fellow peers and musicians and it was such a pleasure playing with them.” Even though he loves his small community at the school he had a very strong connection with the music teacher. Herrera has been accepted to Boston University and has had his eyes on many different colleges that have exceptional music programs that he knows will make him stronger as a musician to exceed his skills in each instrument he has incorporated to play however mostly his love for piano. “Boston University does offer many opportunities that are beneficial for me. But not all my fields of interest. They do have a music program and jazz band but I feel there are more colleges that offer more advanced classes for me. I am interested in San Francisco Conservatory of Music.” His level of confidence when performing is not as strong as it could be. He feels as if his level of confidence will be a bump in the road for him but will overcome his fear as time passes.
HERRERA’S INSTRUMENTS
piano shaker cowbell ukulele xylophone drums guitar violin
Freshman Fears Jason KITCHENS freshman “It’s uncomfortable being around people. It’s my biggest fear of high school”
PHOTO BY CAMILA KENDALL
Senior Dillion Herrera was playing a variety of songs. One of the songs he played was “Fur Elise” by Beethoven. He was practicing his finger movement from key to key with intense concentration.
Senior finds comfort from harsh reality through writing Camila KENDALL
Marcus NORIEGA senior
“I don’t care about how people view me, I’ma just do me.”
Oriana COSGROVE freshman “I wondered if people would accept me for who I am.” Alustra DOMINGUEZ senior
“I don’t really care anymore. There was stuff in the past that I questioned but grew out of.”
Nicholas SANDOVAL freshman “The hardest thing for me would be the work. I thought it would be easier.” Ma VANG senior
“It depends on the class. If you take easier classes, it’s an easier grade.”
What’s on your mind?
ANXIETY
Ten percent of teens suffer from anxiety on a daily basis, especially with the start of a new school year. They live in constant fear and panic throughout their usual day. Most teens live unaware that they have this illness and most that do know don’t know where to get help from.
“
It’s something that I take to the heart, so if I’m going to be writing poetry for the rest of my life it’s going to be serious. Miyah SIMS senior
Symptoms
• Feeling nervous, restless, or tired • Always in panic • Hyperventilation • Sweating or trembling • Hard to concentrate • Tend to isolate yourself
”
At a young age, senior Miyah Sims had already been exposed to life’s harsh truths. Through the art of writing novels, lyrics, and poetry she found a way to express her frustrations, thoughts, and emotions. She found her escape. “We’ve been homeless before and we’ve lived in a shelter, we lived in a motel; lots of things had happened in my life,” she said. Life had been a continuous struggle. “I’ve been to 50 different schools, moved to 25 to 26 different cities.” Even though Sims have moved quite frequently she managed to push through. Her life seemed to face more hardships especially when it came to witnessing her mother being abused. “With my mom, I’ve seen her hit. She’s been in an abusive relationship with my big sister’s father, and seeing that growing up it was not cool.” But viewing how her mother had grown from these situations really inspired and strengthened her. “If it wasn’t for her or God some of these things wouldn’t be happening,” she said. Through everything that had been happening, Sims remained strong due to the constant love and support from her mother. Through all these tragedies she found a way to reflect all that she had gone through with her art. Her mom being one of her biggest inspirations. At the age of 7, Sims had been exposed to various poets’ works. When in the fourth grade she had been placed in a
Treatments
• Self care: staying active and social • Seek professional help from a therapist or a doctor • Stay away from drugs, alcohol, and caffeine
program called “Girls Inc” for five years where she would recite poems. She recited a poem by the name of “Maya Angelou: Still I Rise,” a poem close to the poet’s heart. This was the first time she has recited a poem in front of a large crowd. This is what caused the spark of interest in poetry. To this day it brings tears to Sims’ eyes, bringing her back to her days of childhood. As her passion began to grow she attended summer camp as a mentor, and the counselors had asked for ideas on what to do as an activity. Puzzled as to what the activity should be, Sim’s suggested that the kids create poems and paint images that would correspond to each poem. Pleased with the work they had created, they decided to bring their work to be published. Sims continues to write and is soon to create her very own novel. She also hopes to share her love for poetry through starting a club for the community. A club where she can show others a way to expand their voice and freely express their own thoughts and feelings through poetry in hope to help better the community. When asked if she plans to pursue her passions into a career, Sims shares that her attention is caught by psychology. Although with her mother’s backing of her becoming a novelist, she still considers going after her passion. “I really love poetry. It’s something that I take to heart, so if I’m going to be writing poetry for the rest of my life it’s going to be serious.”
Resources
• You can always go see certified therapist • 1-800-855-4673 (Teen Help Line) • 1-800-950-6264 (NAMI) • Healthy Start is always available to students SOURCE: MAYOCLINIC.ORG AND MENTALHEALH.NET
6The Stagg Line
Entertainment
UNIQUE
GRAPHIC BY SERINA SIENG & SOLOMON JUAREZ
Stephanie Salazar freshman I like to dress colorful because it’s who I am.
Blanca Arias senior
“
09.07.18
“
I dress how I feel. It shows my vibe.
”
”
Kenoye Stroman sophomore
“
I keep working hard to look clean.
‘Sharknado’ takes its final bite as a movie franchise Oleedia HARRIS “The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time” is the sixth and final movie of its franchise. The movie once again finds Fin Shepard, the protagonist of all six movies, in a quest to get rid of their shark problem. This time he’s aiming to solve the issue at the place where it all started. Back in the very first “Sharknado,” the plot was simple and didn’t include anything extra. There was just a gigantic tornado that went along the ocean while sharks spiraled out of it. The film series has turned into quite the opposite, and not for the better. The first movie gave the audience a sense of hope for the franchise. The props were better, the acting was less dramatic, and the plot made it way
The franchise was able to keep its original cast, but fell victim to overdramatic acting and a plot that couldn’t sell. What’s new in entertainment? Movies “The Nun” (Horror) - Sept. 7 “Peppermint” (Drama) - Sept. 7 “The Predator” (Action) - Sept. 14 “A Simple Favor” (Drama) - Sept. 14 “A Star Is Born” (Romance) - Oct. 5 “Venom” (Science Fiction) - Oct. 5
easier to follow along. Yes, the first movie was a bit predictable, but it still kept the audience engaged. The suspense that used to be there is now gone because the movies have now become way too predictable. It seems to me that the movies have just gotten worse overtime. In the sixth movie, Fin begins his hunt by reviving his family using a sharknado-turned-time-machine to try and stop the first ever sharknado. Through the different eras in time, Fin faces battles against everything from dinosaurs to medieval nights to the expected sharks. This movie puts the entire franchise into perspective. It sets all the characters back to the beginning of the series, with the same predictable plot. The scenes in the movie seem to be too roughly mashed together with overly dramatic props and an even more unimpressive soundtrack. Even if this weren’t considered your typical award-winning movie from the time it first aired, it was able to pull in a large audience. Now with all of these changes and complications, the decline in an audience shows where these decisions have landed the franchise. Let’s be honest, the purpose of watching any one of these movies has never been for a great plot and exquisite acting. The cheesy acting and terrible CGI isn’t what’s pulling in viewers. People watch “Sharknado” not because they think it’s going to be a good movie, but because they simply can’t turn away. The actors seemed overdramatic throughout the whole movie. That has been the case in all of the previous movies too, but this time it was way over the top. The excessive amount of this makes it hard for the audience to concentrate on the plot. It’s long overdue for this film series to come to an end. There never fails to be an outrageous premise and cringe humor in this series. The screenplay has so many unnecessary references and jokes that makes it close to unbearable. Despite all the distracting noises, horrible soundtrack, and what seems to be charity work acting, the film is just bottom line boring. The time traveling aspect, however, did give the audience something to enjoy. Unfortunately, not even that saved the rest of the tacky production values and the one key plot development. I highly doubt there will be too many people out there that are worked up and angry about the “Sharknado” franchise coming to an end. It really is about time it’s the end of this sci-fi mess.
TV Premieres “Iron Fist” (Season 2) - Sept. 7 “Shameless” (Season 9) - Sept. 9 “Emmy Awards” - Sept. 17 “The Voice” (Season 15) - Sept. 24 “Empire” (Season 5) - Sept. 26 “Criminal Minds” (Season 14) - Oct. 3
”
Recycled games defy odds EA Sports releases video games every year, with each one adding new features to sell out Aidan DANFORTH Professional sports play a huge part in everyday entertainment. Fans are dedicated to the game, following their favorite team. With such a huge fan base, fans want more one-onone action with the team or player. Watching them can only bring so much excitement. Fans can now play as their favorite players or teams, creating a deeper connection with the team. Video game companies have created that outlet. With so many sports and seasons, more and more games are added. Business have cataloged the statistics and rosters of each team, creating games with updated performance. They introduce updated graphics that go along with each gaming system. However, it seems that sports games only updating the title, giving the idea that the new games make minimal changes, keeping the game easy to remake. But not all students see it that way. Freshman Kenmara White has a selection of seasons from
“
The new controls make the game feel better. I play twice a week for hours, typically four games. Paul SANUT senior
”
ART BY SERINA SIENG & JAKE MARCELINO
the video game “NBA2K,” specifically 13, 16, and 18. She explains how each new game is worth her mass spending spree. She studies the new moves that are added with each new game “I just try it in real life and yeah I mess up but I want to try it again,” White said. She believes that sports games teach her moves like the crossover. She purchased the improved game because she enjoys playing with different teams. However, she appreciates the older versions. “The colors stand out and look way better,” she said. With customizable options that player is able to select different variants of the players jersey. She still enjoys the older looks of older years. Senior Paul Sanut is also an active buyer in the sports game genre. Sanut has over six games of the famous football title
Nearby Concerts BTS KPOP, Oakland - Sept. 12 Doja Cat, San Francisco - Sept. 24 Beyonce, Santa Clara - Sept. 29 Chief Keef, Chico - Sept. 30 Donald Glover, San Jose - Oct. 2 5 S.O.S, San Jose - Oct. 3
“Madden.” His desire for the newer games are because of the controls. “The game wouldn’t be the same,” Sanut said. Electronic Arts, the company behind the success. Created new mechanics like the “hit stick” in the updated games. Sanut likes the additions. “The new controls make the game feel better.” Sanut spends hours playing with his friends. “I play twice a week for hours, typically four games.” There is a mode that he participates often. In competitive mode he is able to grind for in-game currency. Players can purchase athletes or jerseys with this currency. With his friends, Sanut plays to attain his favorite athletes. However, he highlights how the mode can get the best of him. “When it’s one of those days I just quit and turn it off,” he said.
Trending News “Big Bang Theory” comes to an end after a runtime of almost 11 years. Nicki Minaj feuds with Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner over album sales. YouTube beauty guru community struggles to get back on track after many racist tweets have resurfaced.
Sports
09.07.18
The Stagg Line
Getting ‘inside water’ to lead
Recommended coach sees bright future for water polo program
7
Early start causes mixed emotions Monzerrath MARTINEZ
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS ROSETE
Coach Michael Bria demonstrates the concept of “setting a block” to his players to show them how to prevent their opponent from getting a shot off.
Shannon BRADBERRY & Angel VASQUEZ At the beginning of the school year, water polo players had no idea what the future would hold. The long-time coach had left, and there was no guarantee of a new coach taking the spot. Uncertainty plagued the players; they worried that the sport they loved would come to an end. Fortunately for them, after three anxious weeks of waiting, departing coach Marcus Sherman recommended Michael Bria to take over his position. With the new coach previously helping a Big Valley Water Polo-Academy and Delta College team, he is used to intense training. Junior Amanda Pesetti believes his new techniques will help the girls win league. “He exercises us way more,” Pesetti said. “He gets in the water with us and takes time to thoroughly explain a concept.” When he’s in the water, Bria takes time to thoroughly go over important throwing and blocking techniques. On days when the team works hard, he likes to have fun and race with some of the members of the team. Because of the long wait, the team suffered a
“
I see so much potential with them. We’re going to have a very good team Michael Bria water polo coach
”
major setback. Every other school in the league was already practicing — this put the team at a huge disadvantage. “We should have started conditioning a week before school started,” said junior Brookelyn Sigle. “And that’s at the latest.” Having a late start was just one obstacle the team had to overcome. This year, the boys team suffered a major loss of players due to the majority of them graduating. They were left with one return-
NATIONAL GOLF MONTH Dannie Offield golf coach
Griffin Boller sophomore
Q: How does golf make you feel? A: I feel like I’m being challenged but I just get lost in the fun of the game.
Q: What inspired you to play golf? A: My dad played for a long time and introduced me to the sport.
Q: What life lessons has the sport taught you? A: There’s so many things golf has taught me like patience, discipline, and etiquette.
Q: What has golf taught you? A: It taught me judgment, perseverance, and responsibility.
Q: Would you recommend golf to others? A: Yes of course, it’s a great sport and you can learn so much about life.
Q: How often do you play golf? A: I play every weekend and as much as I can during the week.
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS ROSETE
ing player, and they are currently building from the ground up. Sophomore Joseph Mallett said, “Right now we’re learning how to eggbeat (a technique used to stay above water) in the water.” Mallet describes the learning process as fun, but frustrating at times. Despite the entire boys team being new to high school water polo, Bria believes that they will do great. “I see so much potential with them,” he said. “We’re going to have a very good team.” For the girls team, the situation is quite the opposite. The team has 14 players, the majority of them being returners. Last year, they had a record of 3-2. This year, the girls team feels as if they have a shot at taking league. “I know we can do it if we just work hard,” senior Hailey Edwards said. “As cliche as it sounds, we just need to believe in ourselves.” If the team doesn’t win league, they hope to at least win against their longtime rivals on the McNair team. “Last year we came so close to beating them, we only lost by one point,” said senior Malia Christiano. “This year, since we have so many players and experience, we’ll surely win.”
The fall sports season started a week early this year. In previous years it had been an option discussed by the California Interscholastic Federation. Last year it arose once Hung Nguyen again and this athletic director time the committee voted for it to be put in place. Now, players are having to adjust to the shift in schedule. For three years, senior Enekeyo Sakata had grown used to the previous schedule. This year he was surprised when he heard about the change. The change has made him consider the pros and cons of this new rule. “The early start to the sports and all sporting events that are going to take place motivates athletes to keep their grades up at an early point of the year,” he said. This gives athletes a bigger motivation to start the year off with good grades since they don’t want to be cut from the team. He also said that conditioning earlier exhausts his body. Sakata is not the only one with mixed emotions on the early start. Senior Hailey Edwards, a water polo player, said that when you’re new to a sport, you need all of the help you can get. “Starting earlier (reduces) the amount of practice you get because you’re getting thrown into a game right away,” Edwards said. Although this is her second year on the water polo team, she is able to empathize with the newcomers. Some student-athletes, however, seem to be unbothered by the change such as senior Angel Ortega. “Football players and cheerleaders practice a lot during the summer,” she said. “I know that it’s mandatory for the cheerleaders to practice during the summer so it’s not that different for them.” Athletic Director Hung Nguyen further explained the reasoning for the change. “It changed for the logistics for the calendar to match everybody up the same way with the whole state” Nguyen said. Acknowledging the downside of the change, he hopes that “as far as playing a sport skill-level wise, athletes will catch up soon enough.”
Juniors can now play JV Brianna RODRIGUEZ Team rosters will be slightly different starting this year. Whether one is new to the sport or not fully equipped for varsity level play, juniors are now able to play on junior varsity for another year. The California Interscholastic Federation put this rule into effect this school year within the Sac-Joaquin Section. While this change may seem surprising, it is common among other sections in California. “Other sections have allowed 11th graders to play on JV,” Athletic Director Hung Nguyen said. “Our section was never intact with that rule, but now they made a whole state change on allowing juniors to play on JV.” This rule has been around for 20-plus years in other sections throughout California while the SJS is one of the last sections to make the transition. Having this new dynamic of athletes playing at the JV level gives all levels of teams the opportunity to improve. Upperclassmen are able to help the teams at the lower division as well as gain more experience for their senior year when they play at the varsity level. For junior Isaiah Martinez playing football for the first time, being on junior varsity was more ideal for him. “I get more playing time.” Not having
the same skill and experience as others his age, playing on the JV team gives him the ability to grow as an athlete. “I want to learn more, I’m not ready for varsity yet. I still need to learn a lot more plays.” Special teams and defensive coach Anthony Lee is in favor of this change. “Sometimes a junior will come up and they will have a senior in front of them that is a really talented player and they don’t get that opportunity to play behind them,” Lee said. “So it kind of turns into a wasted junior year.” Every year the JV team has the smallest numbers due to incoming sophomores recovering from injuries and the inability to make grades. “The main reason for this rule is because a lot of JV teams are getting hit hard when it comes to team size,” Nguyen said. “By adding the juniors it saves our JV teams as well as our freshman teams. A lot of freshmen play up so we lose the numbers at the lower level.” Lee added, “if you allow the juniors who aren’t going to play so much on the varsity game to come down there, it could supplement the JV numbers and help get their team bigger without having to pull up the freshmen.” With this rule, teams of all levels will be given the opportunity to grow as well as the team’s individuals. Athletes will be able to compete at a level that fits their personal abilities.
Who’s coming to our house?
Football
Girls Tennis
Water Polo
Girls Golf
Cross Country
Girls Volleyball
Tonight vs. Lodi High 5:00 / 7:00 PM
Thursday, Sept. 13 vs. Franklin High 3:30 PM
Tuesday, Sept. 25 vs. Edison High 3:30 / 4:30 PM
Tuesday, Sept. 11 vs. Edison High 3:00 PM
Thursday, Oct. 18 SJAA Center Meet #3 3:30 PM
Tuesday, Sept. 18 vs. Edison High 4:00 PM
8
News
The Stagg Line
09.07.18
Bringing back old traditions
Today’s homecoming parade hopes to lift spirit Brianna RODRIGUEZ One of the most talked about events in high school is homecoming. The loud cheers of the crowd under the Friday night lights, the new heels you bought for the dance, and the spirit days are just some of what students look forward to. But what can make this day more eventful? A parade. Absent for seven years, the tradition of the parade has returned. The parade isn’t just showcasing the homecoming nominees and seeing cars with decorations drive down a street. It’s much more than that. This event is an embodiment of what school spirit and unity is. “We have been preparing for this since the beginning of summer,” Associate Student Body President Marissa Pimentel said. ASB has spent hours
of planning and organizing in hopes to have a successful parade. Getting cars ready and creating performances, many clubs are scrambling to create the best show possible. “A lot of people are excited for this so they’re trying to go all out,” Pimentel said. Besides the cool cars, band, and cheer performances, there’s another major component, the Stagg Alumni Association. ASB Director Ryan Berg says the alumni play a big part in bringing the parade back to our school. “Every time I talked about the parade with alumni they always talked about how it was a source of pride for the school.” ASB as well as the alumni hope this parade will set a spark in student spirit. “We’re trying to find ways to increase school spirit this year and I said let’s try it,” Berg said.
HOMECOMING PARADE
Stagg High will be having a homecoming parade. At the parade the nominees and clubs will be featured, along with the new Stockton Kings.
Datey Toda
. Time:00 p.m -2 1:30
tion Loca le Mile c Mira
PHOTO BY KENYON PIERCE
Freshman Josie Russell showcases her dancing skills even after participating in an exhausting push-up contest at the Back to School rally in dance competetion held by the Stockton Kings.
For senior class treasurer Enekyo Sakata the parade is a representation of his class. “I’m excited about getting to represent our senior class. We get to represent who we are by decorating our car.” He stresses the amount of time that has been put into making this whole thing happen. With help from Chase Chevrolet, the Stockton Kings, Boosters, and the Alumni Association, the student body has been working to make their vision into reality. “The Stagg parade has been a thing since my uncle went to Stagg,” Sakata said. “Our class having the
opportunity to bring it back is exciting.” With this parade Berg hopes to make homecoming more than what people make it out to be. “Homecoming in some high schools has become just a football game,” Berg said. “I wanted to try and make it a bigger event with the alumni. Make it not just another football game, make it a special event with the football game in the center of it.” With this parade our school will set itself apart. “It’s unique to Stagg. No one else can say they do this around here.”
Drivers must get permit New counselors, more help to park on campus Shannon BRADBERRY
This year, upperclassmen were taken by surprise by a new requirement that many can’t meet. Students who drive to school and use the Rosemarie parking lot need to have an official parking permit on their windshield. The permit is proof that they have insurance and registration for their vehicle, as well as a valid license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. This caused questions and controversy but as students they must abide by this rule despite any personal feelings. Although many students who drive to school do not meet these requirements, driving to school by themselves is their only form of transportation,
STAGG STAGG HIGH HIGH
PARKING PARKING PERMIT PERMIT
Students and staff are both required to get a parking permit to be able to park on campus. They need a valid drivers license and proof of insurance to get one. For more information report to the office.
Driver License
Insurance
STUDENTS
STUDENTS
Driver License
Insurance
STAFF
STAFF GRAPHIC BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
they say. One senior feels very strongly about this because if this privilege were to be taken away from her, it would affect her morning routine as well as that of her siblings. “My parents usually work in the morning,” she said. “They leave the car for me so I can take myself to school as well as my little brothers.” She questions why this rule is just now being enforced when it wasn’t a problem last year. “So far, they haven’t told me anything about parking, but I don’t want to wait for the day they do.” One junior admits that this idea is amazing. “This makes our campus more safe,” he said. “I would get my license, but the cost of the classes are too expensive for me.” Cost seems to be the biggest obstacle for students who don’t have their license. Principal Andre Philips feels that this will ensure safety among our campus. “We just want to make sure that everyone coming into our parking lot has an actual reason to be here,” he said. “Last year we had a bunch of complications with students parking wrong.” With the permits, it makes things easier to find students who are not following proper procedures rather than announcing it over the intercom. Philips explained that these permits will have codes on them specifying who the car belongs to and other basic information. Cars that don’t have a sticker will get their license plates run and the owner of the vehicle will be called. “We didn’t do this last year because the permits we got were too flimsy,” Philips said. “This year everything works out, and Pacific Law Academy is getting permits as well so Stagg students must park in our designated spot.”
What’s online?
WeeklyGallery Check out our website for weekly galleries featuring senior sunrise, back to school night performances and the new school year.
Donavin COLLINS Hoards of students rushing to the counseling office only to find the waiting area has no room for them. Counselors stressed by the amount of paperwork on their desk because it complicates their chance at helping every student to the best of their ability. That problem would have extended into this year if it weren’t for the district’s decision to hire more counselors. District-wide there are now six counselors per high school, an increase of two from last year. The new faces around campus are Angelica Esparza and Andrew Guillot. Both say they are excited for what the year has in store for them. This counseling position is special for Esparza. “This is my alma mater so it feels like I am at home,” she said. Previously an elementary school counselor, she made the switch because she often relates to teens more. “Because I can relate to my students, I think having open and real conversations with you guys is definitely going to help.” Hoping to do his best at helping students be career and college ready, Guillot has set goals for himself. “I want to push students even if they already know what they want to do because how important their futures are,”
he said. “I want them to be open to trying new things.” Guidance chair Laura Rodriguez has already seen improvements from this addition to the counseling staff. “We started classroom presentations earlier this year, and as of now we’re already finished. We also had a higher caseload, but that has now lowered substantially.” She also admires the district’s decision because Stagg can now “give individuals more one-on-one interactions with their counselors.” But the big question is where did the money going towards these new counselors come from? According to Rodriguez, previous funding for the district was renewed this year. “The Local Control Accountability Plan, which the state renewed for us this year, gave the district the opportunity to hire new counselors.” The district wanted to focus more on student needs with this funding. “With all the meetings that were done with parents, our highest need was to hire new counselors to help the students,” Rodriguez said. The district also hopes to help students emotionally rather than in just academics. “We are also in the process of hiring mental health clinicians for students who need the emotional support.”
Angelica Esparza, “It’s a very interesting connection I make with my students. I want to make sure that I give everyone the knowledge they need to be college and career ready.”
Andrew Guillot, “I definitely want to be more knowledgeable in what a school counselor needs to know so that I have it all at the top of my tongue whenever any student need any help.”
15 Seconds of Fame
Watch how senior Julian Verelas explains the accidental switch in his schedule that turned out to be not so bad.
Weekly Sports Focus Visit our website to see James Fenner talk about water polo.
Read about how Amya Thavixay transitions from dance to cheer.