Stagg Line
Home of the Delta Kings
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
1621 Brookside Rd
I AM app helps provide safe space Aidan DANFORTH
Five years ago, a meeting filled with counselors helped start the process for LGBT youth to be part of a more accessible safe space. On Feb. 22, on International Say No to Bullying Day, the Pride Center introduced the “I Am” app on Stagg’s campus. The “I Am” app is funded by the California Reducing Disparities Pilot Project grant and is managed by California’s office of Health Equity. The app is believed to be the first social media app for LGBT students. San Joaquin Pride Center and San Joaquin Cultivating Acceptance Program helped develop and create a resource for Stagg, Edison, and East Union students to communicate through a school monitored service. Stagg alumnus and executive director for the “I Am” app Nicholas Hatten described his plans for the app. “It’s a way to help provide resources and to share local information,” he said. “LGBT youth are at a more increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.” The app is only accessible to certain schools, but Hatten hopes it will connect students for other campuses and decrease the number of
suicidal thoughts that LGBT youth face. “The app is needed in the community.” During the announcement, Mayor Michael Tubbs accompanied Hatten and spoke a couple of words about the app. “It’s a good first step,” Tubbs said. “It shows that Stockton is a warm and accepting community.” Tubbs was also part of the meeting that took place five years ago and has been monitoring the apps process. Students who want to access and download the app have to go through the San Joaquin Pride Center website. Although the website requires users to provide their student information, this security measure allows moderators to inform schools of inappropriate behavior. All cases of bullying or harassment go through the Pride Center and can be enforced by the proper school disciplinary department. Hatten emphasizes that account information is completely private to the user, creating a comforting resource for closeted students. Stagg’s Gay Straight Alliance President Alustra Dominguez-Meyer likes how the app is monitored. “Kids and teenagers can be mean,” she said. “I think students are still scared about coming out.” She hopes that the Pride Center will continue to add counseling resources and update the app with their events.
DATE SAVED
Parent complaints force district to return graduation back to its original date
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SERINA SIENG
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ENA TORRES HAS always been excited to graduate, but now she is ecstatic she will actually be able to attend the ceremony. “I planned a vacation to Mexico with my cousins who are also graduating,” the senior said. “Now I don’t have to cancel my trip. This means a lot to me.”
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We just got to roll with the punches and make it the best graduation we can for the seniors. They deserve it. Ryan BERG ASB Advisor
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Advisor Ryan Berg announced at a senior assembly. Confusion, anger, and disbelief filled the room when the students realized this annual ceremony was being altered. “That’s not okay,” senior Arianna Perez said. “This is our big day. My parents have planned their day to be there on the 28th, not the 30th.” For many, it was the change in time that frustrated them most. “My mom works Thursdays. She doesn’t get off of work until 5 p.m.,” senior Jaeden Bowen said. “It’s very hard for her to request days off of work.” With many concerns, students wanted answers as to why graduation was being moved. Stockton Unified School District wanted to maximize attendance revenue. “The district wanted to make sure all of our students are in class all the way through the last day of school,” Principal Andre Phillips said. With months of coordinating graduation dates among all the SUSD public high schools a consensus was reached. Three of the four high schools had to graduate on the same day somehow. Trying to make sure every high school met that schedule, three of the high schools would have had to share the arena on May 30 at separate times, but that is no longer the case. The seniors were not the only ones upset with this sudden reschedule. A number of Stagg
parents took the matter into their own hands and took a trip down to the district office. Parent Michelle DeVille was one who voiced her opinion. “I thought it was kind of frustrating that the school put out a date at the beginning of the year and kind of last minute changed it,” she said. “I reserve the arena a year in advance,” Phillips said. “The day after we graduate we call the arena we ask to reserve the last Tuesday of May. It’s always kind of been that way.” Typically the seniors get to have their last celebration before getting their diplomas the previous Friday with a senior picnic and have their rehearsal the morning of graduation. “I felt it was important to let this Class of 2019 to have the same experience as all the classes that came before them,” DeVille said. “To change it to Thursday would have messed with the tradition with graduation at Stagg.” After many parents advocated for graduation being changed back to the original date, their concerns were addressed and solved. “I was told yesterday at the principals’ meeting that we’re going back to our original date,” Phillips said last week. When students caught wind of the big news there was a mix of emotions. For senior Gene Lewis the change wasn’t a big deal. “The date didn’t really matter to me, as
03.01.19
PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
Executive director Nicholas Hatten announces the Pride Center’s newly developed “I Am” app. People who attended the presentation wore pink attire to show their support for International Say No to Buyling Day. Hatten hopes the app will bring a more comfortable environment for the youth LGBTQ community.
Sex ed finds way into curriculum Maria CASTILLO & Kevin GUTIERREZ
Brianna RODRIGUEZ
Flash back to Feb. 8 and the Class of 2019 was in an uproar. “Graduation will be May 30 at 2 p.m. at the Stockton Arena,” ASB
Stockton, CA 95207
Volume 62 Issue 6
long as my parents and grandparents were there to see me graduate,” he said. “My family is pretty much off work by 2 p.m. so it wasn’t going to be an issue.” Senior Keith Smith is glad he can enjoy the day he has waited for since freshman year. “This is our big day,” he said. “Having the proper setting and time would be good for all of us.” To make sure the attendance issue is still resolved, seniors will have to return to school the next day after graduation. To make sure these seniors return, they will not be issued their diplomas the day of graduation. “You’ll get your diploma at the end of the (last) school day,” Phillips said. While she is excited that she gets to go to Mexico, Torres doesn’t agree with the district’s decision to make seniors attend the last day of school. “Our class attendance already is terrible,” she said. “I’ve never seen so many absences in all my years of being here.” She doesn’t see the issue with seniors missing the last day of school. “Attendance has been an ongoing problem throughout the whole school year,” she said. “What’s one day going to do?” Perez, on the other hand, is unbothered by the decision. “I don’t mind coming to school the next day,” Perez said. “As long as the day is changed and my family can make it to my graduation.”
As adolescents mature, desires become more potent, while curiosity begins to spark. For teenagers, that curiosity is sex. “Teenagers want to know about sex and sexual education,” Curriculum Specialist Marcus Sherman said. This year, after spring break, students taking biology will be a part of a two-week course dedicated to sex education. The students will learn about sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS and HIV, contraception, pregnancy, safe sex, and sexuality. “It would be beneficial for students to understand more about sexual health and the importance of it,” biology teacher Darrien Guertin said. Next year, it will be mandatory for freshmen to take biology so all ninth graders will experience the course. The purpose, according to the California Healthy Youth Act, “is to provide every student with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect their sexual and reproductive health,” making sure that schools follow the law and provide students with correct and unbiased information about the topic of sex. San Joaquin County has the third-highest rate of 15-18 year olds with chlamydia in the state. Because of this, according to Sherman, Stockton Unified School District decided to enforce this act more heavily than they have in previous years. Ever since the district eliminated health as a graduation requirement about five years ago, students in physical education have been shown a two-hour video that covers the material that should be learned in two weeks. “It’s kind of like they force it all in at once, which makes it harder for the students to actually process it,” freshman Cecelia Villa said. “That’s probably why some students take it as a joke.” Villa also remembers taking the Family Life course in the fifth grade. She said, “It’s been so long that all the information is a bit blurry. Students need a constant reminder of what can happen if precautions aren’t taken.” Comprehensive sexual health education will now be introduced not only to just fifth and ninth graders, but also seventh graders. Sherman said, “The hope is that throughout three cycles, students will retain the information and become mature enough about the subject.” Elementary students will be presented with Puberty Talk while high school freshman will take the two week course in the Teen Talk curriculum. For the fifth graders this will be optional, but for the “older” students, it is mandatory. If they choose to opt-out, they must have their parent talk to their biology teacher in person and request their be withdrawn for the class for the time being. Junior Aliyah Santillan believes it is important for not only students to be aware sexual health, but it’s also necessary for teachers and parents to be open about the subject. She said, “People have sex at young ages, and sometimes adults try to ignore that fact.” The district is also considering bringing back the health class later. If the class is brought back, students would be able to learn about other health issues other than sexual ones, like nutrition, for example. “It’s something that needs to happen for a lot of reasons,” Sherman said, “and it is going to now.”
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It would be beneficial for students to understand more about sexual health and the importance of it. Darrien GUERTIN biology teacher
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Opinion
The Stagg Line
EDITORIAL
03.01.19
Students will benefit from sex education
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s bodies begin to change and develop, questions will form. Young adults will have questions about their bodies, what they’re going through, and whether what they’re going through is normal. In elementary school students in the fifth grade were offered a sexual education course that covered only the surface of what students need to know. In high school, the mandatory two-day lesson for ninth graders went into more detail by giving lessons and showing more documentaries. These lessons ultimately still fell short in terms of covering everything students need to know. Now a law is calling for a more indepth and an extensive plan through a two lesson. The new plan will allow students to feel comfortable with their knowledge of what their bodies are going through, and the new urges and feeling they will start to
experience. Sexual behaviors among high The new law will be school students (9-12), 2015 a great and important Female Percent of high school students who report 29% addition to the curriculum. they have ever had sexual intercourse Male 36% Over two weeks in California United States biology, students will explore topics related to the Male 36% 43% LGBT community, human trafficking, in-depth topics Female 29% 39% surrounding HIV, abortion and parenting, as well as many other important issues that have previously been left in the dark in the past. Mini health courses will be enforced through the curriculum unlike in the alternate years is much better, and it allows past. In addition to this, the students to be reminded of the content classes will be continuously taught every they are learning, in turn helping them other year, starting from the fifth grade retain the information. and ending in the ninth. This addition to the curriculum is a This way of hitting the subject in
INFOGRAPHIC BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
SOURCE: www.hhs.gov
turning point in education. It shows that school officials are taking notice of what needs to be taught to students in order to help them later on in life. Soon students with questions will have their answers.
People of color deserve Humboldt’s homeless issue input in corporate choices requires greater attention
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ecently Gucci released a face mask that was interpreted by many as “black face.” The mask was all black, and it only covered the bottom half of the face. The mask did not become a problem until people pointed out how the mask’s depiction of big red lips was racist, especially on black fabric. The controversy evoked the question why this was even released, and why did not anyone find anything wrong with such a product. This is not the first time something like this has happened. Companies have released products that were
Angel Vasquez mocking or insensitive to people of color in the past, and it seems as though they think they can get away with it by releasing public statements expressing their regrets.
ART BY JAKE MARCELINO
One step Prada, another company guilty of releasing a black face lookalike product, has taken is announce the creation of a diversity and inclusion advisory council. This council will be co-chaired by film director and woman of color Ava DuVernay. The recruiting and hiring of people of color in the workplace seems to be moving at a slow pace. It also seems to be that change is only being ignited once something bad happens to a companie. These changes are important, but they become ingenuine when the reason behind it is obvious. The lack of diverse representation and input in companies is causing problems. When companies release these offensive looking products it shows that they don’t care. According to CNN, “Among the 495 members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, only 17 identify as black.” This lack of representation is obviously starting to show in the releases of products by these big businesses. The responses to these products show audiences that industry leaders are trying to improve their companies representations. But as these offensive designs continue to get released it shows that they are not trying hard enough. If you have a sufficiently diverse workplace that could spot a problem before it ever goes public, these mistakes aren’t as likely to occur.
Niko Rosete
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crolling through Twitter the other day, I came across a report that shocked me. An account called “NowThisNews” posted a video about Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA. This video explained that 1 in 5 students at the university was homeless. This statistic blew my mind. I didn’t want to immediately jump to a conclusion, though. So I decided to see if these reports were true. I reached out to Noah Tilander, a sophomore at Humboldt, and asked him if
the homeless situation at his school truly was as bad as it was made out to be. “I can positively say that every student at Humboldt knows at least one or two students at the school who are living in their car or homeless,” he said. Tilander attributes this issue to the cost of housing on Humboldt’s campus. According to HSU’s website, food and housing fees add up to a total of $12,870 per year, almost twice the cost of tuition. “It’s outrageously expensive,” Tilander said. “And even for the students who can afford housing on campus, it isn’t first-come, first-served. Everyone is put into a lottery and they’re randomly selected for who does and doesn’t get housing.” On top of this, Tilander says that off-campus housing is sparse and usually gets taken very quickly. So if you fail to receive or can’t afford on-campus or off-
campus housing, you “purchase a tent to protect yourself from the cold weather and 46 inches of annual average rainfall or live in your car”. Tilander says that these issues lead to poor hygiene among Humboldt’s student body. “Because of their circumstances, a lot of students wear the same clothes for days or have to take showers in the locker rooms,” Tilander said. As an educational institution, it is a wonderful school, especially for students pursuing a degree in the field of science. However, getting a degree from Humboldt isn’t worth it if you have to be homeless to earn it. While it is a fantastic place to go to for the sightseeing, scenery, and solitude, Humboldt is simply not an appropriate school to attend given the countless problems with their living conditions. Tents were set up in the quad area at Humboldt State in efforts to display how drastic the homeless population has increased more over the years. PHOTO COURTESY OF DIEGO LINARES
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
Serina Sieng graphics Don Bott adviser
Monze Martinez Krystena Meza Kenyon Pierce Angel Vasquez
Opinion
03.01.19
Your parents’ success doesn’t determine yours
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The Stagg Line
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Shannon Bradberry become so comfortable in the position they hold in society that they are scared to improve. They are scared of failure and rejection so they limit thoughts of bigger goals and prosperity. The motivation children need in school isn’t really presented when parental figures never made it that far themselves, they don’t know how to manifest the goal oriented mindset. Everyone has ambition. It’s just a little harder to set examples for yourself with no reassurance. Your parents’ success should not play a factor in your life. We are not obligated to repeat those choices, they are there to show you outcomes of certain alternatives.Your future should be up to you and you’re own decisions. ART BY SERINA SIENG
uccess breeds success. I’ve heard this phrase throughout my life. As a child I thought this meant my parents’ success would inevitably foreshadow mine with no exceptions. With that being said, I’ve never noticed the opportunities I actually have to guide my future in the direction I want. As a kid I thought everyone worked a job they hated from 9 to 5. I thought life was nothing more than anticipating the next paycheck. I thought everyone settled for minimum wage. I’ve witnessed generations before me adapt to the habits of older relatives and continue this cycle of working for minimum wage. It’s not their fault because as humans we psychologically cling to the familiarity of patterns and routine so much that change scares us. The habits that are adopted by our caretakers are all we seek sometimes in life because it’s all we know. Some kids never witnessed first-hand college degrees or financial stability and it really shows during the time of adulthood. How can we break the cycle if we don’t know where to start? Most kids who are supported by parents who are already implanted with a successful mindset will do better. They see success every day and they know how much power a college degree holds. They didn’t necessarily settle for minimum wage. I saw how much my parents hated their jobs but how little they did to change anything. I always asked myself why didn’t they want a easier life? I feel like they’ve
ART BY SERINA SIENG
As more foolish challenges spread across social media, more lives are being put in danger for unnecessary reasons
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atching people burn their skin ‒ crash and is now facing charges. millions of views. People choking So who is really at fault here? The people who ‒ millions of views. People eating are willingly doing foolish stuff that puts their chemicals ‒ millions of views. life at risk for views or the people who laugh Individuals in front of a camera puts and encourage them to keep on doing these themselves through pain while on the other side of activities? the screen, we laugh. Have we made it normal to YouTubers can be very influential with the laugh at other people’s pain? decisions viewers make and sometimes it seems Have we lost our empathy for others just like they don’t realize that. because we don’t know them? Have we accepted They disregard what effect they can have or Maria Castillo the fact that we’ll do anything for views? Even if sometimes if they know it, it gets to their head that means setting yourself on fire, risking your life and they crave more views and likes. They’ll do for a stupid challenge? whatever it takes. YouTube began in 2005 to give an outlet to A prime example of this is 23 year old people to connect across the world for various purposes. However, YouTuber Logan Paul. Paul started his “career” by uploading silly soon enough YouTube began to take a slight turn. videos to Vine. Soon enough he started gaining a bigger platform In 2012, challenges like the salt and ice and the cinnamon and moved to YouTube. As his views grew so did his insanity. challenges, as I’m sure you remember, began to become popular. The YouTube star hurt his own friends, did extreme stunts, and These challenges seemed harmless. degraded people just for laughs. How could someone hurt themselves just by trying to swallow He didn’t stop there, though. cinnamon? In reality, cinnamon can potentially… kill. It can cause Paul visited the suicide forest in Japan where he filmed a dead choking, collapsed lungs, or even pneumonia. body and proceeded to joke about the matter. This is unbelievably The salt and ice challenge causes frostbite and can potentially disrespectful and, of course, after this people thought he had crossed lead to second and third degree burns. More dangerous challenges the line. But why did we let it get to that point? are the pepper eating, car surfing, and the most recent bird box If people would’ve never encouraged Paul to keep on acting challenge. In this challenge, people blindfold themselves while doing foolishly, maybe he would have never caused such disruption. People regular activities. yearn for the attention, no matter the cost. A teenager from Salt Lake City, Utah, participated in this People are sick to laugh at behavior like this. People are stupid challenge by blindfolding herself while driving. As you can imagine, to take part in challenges that put your life at risk. Yes, a good laugh this caused a lot of chaos on the road. The teen caused a major car is good, but there is a limit when your life’s on the line.
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hese days it’s not easy being young and Republican. Many assume that just because they don’t agree with the right’s ideas on immigration, abortion, or even with President Trump that Republicans should be villainized. The truth is that politics isn’t just black or white and that students don’t have to agree with everything from one side of the political spectrum. No matter what party a student claims, all can agree that you have to be informed before you can make any decisions. Often times this is not the case. Students hear something on the news or from their parents and peers, assume it’s right and adopt that mindset. However, paying attention in classes and some simple research on current events and core beliefs of each side might
allow a student to expand their mindset. I began getting into politics about three years ago and I found that I agreed with the way Republicans handle money and that America and its people come first. \ For this reason I chose to register to vote as a Republican. Although I feel that this is the most ideal party many of the people around me don’t agree and they make their disagreement well known. Sometimes this difference keeps me from sharing my opinions in class because political debate can go from friendly to offensive very quickly. This is because politics affects our everyday lives and many feel a personal connection to the problems happening nationally. I do understand why many students,
Marissa Gonzales likely an overwhelming majority, would identify as a Democrat. There are students here at Stagg that live in a household that relies on financial support from the government. This definitely helps the people who need it, but Republicans believe that America needs to limit who can get it for sake of saving these programs from being abused by those who don’t necessarily qualify. As my mind ruminates more on these thoughts I pose this question. Are
these opinions really so outlandish? Many times when I get into a debate in a class people start by arguing with the ideas I have but eventually we come to a middle ground. One thing that young students don’t understand is that one politician does not fully represent a party. President Donald Trump does not represent the entire Republican party the same way that President Barack Obama did not represent all of the Democratic party. Personally I am prochoice and support gay marriage. Although historically Republicans oppose these ideas, supporting them doesn’t make me any less of a Republican. The only way true change will be able to happen is if we as people can find a middle ground and see the situation from the eyes of the other side.
ART BY JAKE MARCELINO
Republicans on campus are often judged, demonized
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The Stagg Line
SPEAKING UP Junior Jonathan Sanchez and senior Dezmond Rodriguez discuss the assignment during their third period Spanish class. Sanchez usually helps his fellow classmates understand the work and language.
GROWING UP
Features
5
03.01.19
MOVING IN:
Teen girls without a place to stay find support with boyfriends’ families
PHOTO BY MONZERRATH MARTINEZ
Teens have to translate for parents Monzerrath MARTINEZ For the average 5 to 10 year olds, we think of their responsibilities of being simple like cleaning up their toys, brushing their teeth, or eating their vegetables. For many it’s obvious that adults are the ones who do the more complex tasks like making an appointment, speaking to the bank teller or paying a bill. However, some children take on greater responsibilities than cleaning up toys. Juniors Jonathan Sanchez and Isabel Collazo were children helping their parents in the scary world of adulting. Because of a language barrier that their parents face they’ve had to be translators starting at a young age. Collazo said, “I feel like I started helping them ever since I could talk, but it was probably around when I was 7 or 8. It’s kind of influenced into you if you speak more than one language and your parents don’t.” She helped with translating work papers for her father, attending doctor’s appointments, and even buying movie tickets. Recently she helped her family in a more
important matter. “I was transferring my step-sisters to their schools and since they only speak Spanish I had to go to the office and enroll them into their school since there was no bilingual assistance provided.” Collazo is not a daughter who minds assisting her parents or others when it comes to translating. “I actually enjoy it because I like helping people, not only my parents. I also help some students in my class who don’t speak English.” Sanchez finds himself in the same situation with his mother. “I began translating for her when I was about 7. I remember at times when I had trouble translating words, I still do but I still try.” Perhaps his most important role of a translator was fulfilled two years ago when he helped her prepare for the citizenship test. “All the questions were in English so I had to translate to her what they meant in Spanish and had to tell her how to respond in English.” Both Sanchez and his mom were relieved when they received the news that she had passed.
Becoming an adult sounds like a time to enjoy being independent. But for some teens, they are realizing what it really means to face adult responsibilities at a young age. PHOTO ILUSTRATION BY SERINA SIENG
HOLDING ON
Older family members look after the well-being of their younger relatives Donavin COLLINS & Cevina CALDERON
STEPPING UP
Working long hours allows senior to help family here and in Mexico Monzerrath MARTINEZ A driver license is what many teenagers look forward to because it can symbolize freedom. For senior Carlos Davalos it has meant more than that. Davalos has needed to assume adult responsibilities before many of his peers. “I feel like my adult responsibilities started once I got my driver’s license, which was the summer between my sophomore and junior year,” he said. Since August of 2017, Davalos decided to commence and commit to the endless cycle of working up until he retires, but his reasons for doing so are noble. “My grandma is legally blind so I take her to a lot of her doctor’s appointments.” Because of this situation, Davalos also had to make a class schedule change. He decided to only take five classes a day in order to come home early and accompany his grandma at home. Not only did his grandmother’s disability encourage him to get a job but also his stepfather’s state. “He’s really fragile to the weather and has a lot of back Senior Carlos Davalos starts with early mornings and ends it with late nights. He works long shifts at Chick-fil-A and is quickly moving up the ranks from a rookie to a kitchen team manager because of his hard work and dedication. He still manages to find time for not only school, but for his family and friends as well. PHOTO BY KENYON PIERCE
problems.” For the senior, running errands for his family has become a normal task. Davalos doesn’t only spend his time dealing with adult responsibilities but he also does it economically. “I help at home with paying the bills like rent, my cell phone, and financing my own car and at the same time getting ready to graduate.” With his job Davalos has been able to help his family that is far away as well. “My grandpa in Mexico was diagnosed with cancer and my uncle’s premature daughter has to attend physical therapy sessions so my mother and I were sending a lot of money over for them.” Thankfully for Davalos, his work ethic and maturity have paid off. “I am the kitchen manager for Chick-fil A.” Such a position brings him a few extra dollars to his checks. Although at times juggling school, work, and adult responsibilities can be difficult for him, Davalos does not regret it. “I do think I matured faster than most of the kids my age because I took on these responsibilities without thinking about it twice, and I would do it again.”
PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
Freshman Elijah Ali drops his little cousin off every morning at Tyler Skills Elementary before going to Stagg. His cousin needs to sit on the handle bars of the bike in order to have room for both of them.
While others may think they’re being harshly tasked with the responsibilities of an adult too soon, these teens don’t even look to them as duties. Instead, their family bonds are enough to give them the perspective that it’s not a duty but rather an act of love. From ever since he could remember, senior Gavin Hawk has always helped care for his younger siblings. Whether that’s watching over his younger sister who’s three years younger or his youngest brother who’s 17 years younger, Hawk has always thought of this as strengthening their relationships. “It builds that loving bond with my younger brothers and sister,” Hawk said. Taking on the role of a third parent to his siblings, he’s been there to watch the growth of all of his siblings. “Especially since my brothers are a lot younger than me, it’s crazy to see how fast they’ve grown from since they were babies.” Currently, Hawk primarily watches over his two brothers while his parents are out at work. “I change diapers, feed them, and make sure they don’t get into any type of trouble,” he said. Just from carrying these duties, Hawk has learned important, needed life skills. “I know how to do everything with babies,” he said. With these newly obtained skills, he hopes to someday apply them when he has a family of his own. “I’m going to be the best dad ever. It’s like I’ve been given a head start.”
MOVING OUT: Aidan DANFORTH & Shannon BRADBERRY From a young age, senior Nico Perez has never felt the need to depend on anyone. Watching his mother battle addiction, and being abandoned by his father, Perez had to comfort himself during his lonely journey through foster homes and shelters. However, a pit in his stomach started to form when he realized that his age restricted him from finding work and helping his mother. When Perez was 13, he came into contact with his father, who recognized the troubling path his son was facing and offered to take him into custody. He hoped that his home could provide some aid. But joining his father was a confusing and unpredictable choice. “I didn’t even know him,” Perez said. If he took his father’s offer, he would have to share his privacy with several newly discovered siblings even as he still doubted the consistency of his father’s presence. Feeling he had no other choice, Perez took his offer and began his new life. Although life seemed better, it was impossible to ignore his long childhood resentment towards his father. “He had a new family and I just didn’t see where I would fit,” he said. This attitude led to many arguments. As time passed, the constant fights started to weigh down Perez. He began to work at a local pizza establishment, attempting to save enough money for his own place. Perez’s decision led him to reconsider his senior year and the
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In addition, freshman Elijah Ali has similar motives when it comes to taking his cousin to school every morning. Ali starts off his morning like any other high school student. He wakes up and gets ready by 7 in the morning. By that time, he leaves to pick up his cousin from her home, but not by a car, by bike. “I sit her on the front of my bike,” Ali said. “Even if it’s dangerous, I still take the risks because we both have to get to school on time.” The convenience of the situation also gives him a better reason to take his cousin to school every day. “We live in the same apartment complex,” he said. It’s rare for his education to be affected negatively. “I’m always on time to first period.” If it wasn’t for him, his cousin’s attendance would be in jeopardy. “She gets to school earlier and on time because of me,” Ali said. “Her mom’s boyfriend would take her to school, but she would be late.” As a result, he is able to better her learning experience while also feeling content. “I feel good knowing I help her get to school on time.” On top of providing transportation for her, he also watches over her from time to time. “Overall, I feel like our relationship has improved. We’re basically always together, so I never lose that connection with her.” Despite the limitations that these responsibilities may pose, neither of them look at it as restricting. Instead, they both see it as a way to build stronger connections with their family members.
Told he has to move out midway into senior year, Perez continues a lonely journey of abandonment
luxuries that come with it. “I had to make a choice between a job or a sport,” he said. Football was his only distraction from his harsh upbringing but he had to sacrifice the time for hours at work. “It’s like I had to pause my personal interest,” he said. Without football there wasn’t anything left to distract Perez from the stress at home. With the most recent argument, Perez received news that he wasn’t expecting. “He kicked me out,” he said. However, he hasn’t fully moved yet. His school supplies and other belongings still stay at his father’s place. They came to an agreement, allowing Perez to store his supplies until the end of the school year. “I feel like it was a long time coming, but the timing was just terrible.” Perez now tries to find comfort like he did once before in his search for a stable home. He settles for couches from his closest friends, who respect and acknowledge his pursuit for a better life. Although Perez’s future looks cloudy, he hopes to get more hours at his job. “I have younger siblings who still depend on me.” He relives his past through the eyes of these siblings and hopes to give them an opportunity that he didn’t have. “They have a different father than me so it sucks that I can’t take them in.” Despite setbacks, Perez keeps a positive mindset, trying to set examples for his siblings. “You know it could always be worse,” he said. “I’m so grateful I’ve made it this far and realize what’s really important.”
I had to pause my personal interest... I have younger siblings who still depend on me. NICO PEREZ senior
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PHOTO COURTESY OF NICO PEREZ
Senior Nico Perez begins to pack his belongings. This won’t be the last time he stores away his clothes because of his temporary residency. He moves from friend to friend looking for a place.
PHOTO BY MARIA CASTILLO
Seniors Mariele Jones and Marcelo Sarcos contribute to their home by cleaning, washing dishes, and helping around. They figure that if they split the work they could have more free time to do other things such as watching movies or playing video games.
Camila KENDALL One of the most impactful moments in the life of a young person is when they finally leave the nest. Although some fly away sooner than others, seniors Mariele Jones and D’anna Gallon have both pushed themselves to grow up sooner than others. Mariele Jones moved in with her boyfriend last July. Before she was living with her boyfriend, she wasn’t living with her parents but living with her grandmother. “My dad passed away and my mom’s in school so she’s trying to work on herself as well.” Jones is the first generation of her mom’s side of the family to have grown up in America, so her mom being born in the Philippines and not understanding American culture, her grandmother took her in until she was too old for Jones to live with her anymore. “Since I don’t have my mom and dad around telling me to get
up in the morning to get ready, I have to do that on my own. One thing my mom taught me was how to be independent and I appreciate that.” Without living with her parents Jones has adapted to taking care of herself, and living with her boyfriend has allowed her to gain help so that she could
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I’ll help pay, for example, if we need new towels, new washcloths, laundry detergent ... I’ll pitch in. D’Anna GALLON senior
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focus on school, sports, and work. Gallon moved in with her boyfriend in August. “I met my boyfriend sophomore year during football season, I was the watergirl for Stagg so I was always out there. We became close friends and after a bit we started dating.” Thanks to that bond her boyfriend and his family decided to take her in during her time of need. “I don’t live with my actual parents. I had guardians and we had gotten into a really bad argument, and things weren’t going very well at the home anyways, so they pretty much asked me to leave.” Although being pushed out by her guardians when she was 16, an illegal act given that she was a minor at the time, Gallon had managed to find strength and happiness in her life. “The strength that I have comes from my past. My mom was a really bad drug addict so
I had to grow up sooner when I was younger and had to do things much faster, so I would just remind myself that it could always be worse.” Gallon had been surrounded by drug use, her mother being an addict, and her siblings smoking weed, but instead of falling into pattern she used those experiences to instruct her who she did not want to become. Moving in with her boyfriend had made such a positive impact in Gallon’s life. “I’ll help pay, for example, if we need new towels, new washcloths, laundry detergent, and soap for the kitchen; or if we want this for dinner or if I want something I’ll pitch in.” Gallon said she is blessed to be in the situation she has found herself in. “It’s not their responsibility to take care of me but even though she is I am thankful for it and I try to help out as much as I can.”
Senior does more than expected in order to prepare for the future
Yalie CEESAY Some students are worried about followers, fashion trends, or the newest iPhone. Senior Emily Watterson has bigger worries, starting off with bills. At the age of 13 she had to grow up. Her first job was at a law firm. Originally she was just there to file papers, but everything changed when the firm gave her a job, with benefits. “I was thankful enough to get my first job at Foley & Mansfield. The company knew my situation and they helped me as much as they could.” Her troubles were more than financial. They were mental and physical. Bruised skin, tears running from her eyes, the constant feeling of being neglected. Watterson is a survivor of domestic violence, at the tender age of 13. She would constantly be beaten and neglected. A victim ‒ taking all the pain just so her younger sister would never have to experience the agony she had to. Watterson looks like a spitting image of her father. This made her question whether her appearance ‒ a reminder to her mother of a failed marriage ‒ was the reason she was abused. “When I was 13 and 14 I hated the world, because I didn’t get to live as a child. I was forced to grow up. I just wanted to go to birthday parties.” But that wasn’t possible because all her money
PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
Senior Emily Watterson helps tutor her friend junior Jasmine Singh in math. She often helps college students with higher level math courses such as Calculus.
went towards food and clothes for her sister. In order to get away from the abuse Watterson had to start the emancipation process, which meant she could move away from her abusive household. The only problem with that was leaving her 2 year old sister behind and that was not an option for her. She would not be able to live with herself if everything that happened to her happened to her younger sister. Eventually Watterson was
forced to move from Oregon because Child Protective Services found out what was going on in her house. California became her new home, new possibilities and a fresh start. The thing is, moving meant living with a complete stranger ‒ her biological father. When moving in, she offered to pay rent. “I’m more of an adult than I am a child. I’ve lived an ‘adult’ lifestyle for too long to go back into a parent-child relationship,” she explains. Her father understood where she was
coming from. To keep up with her bills Watterson tutors. She is on the cheaper end of tutors only charging $10 per hour. This is how she pays for her basic needs. With the money saved she plans on helping her younger sister get away from the chaos in Oregon. In the future Watterson plans on joining the military “to feel like I am making a difference.” The military, she hopes, will bring her a sense of stability she has been seeking.
6The Stagg Line
Entertainment
Brianna RODRIGUEZ Every September, it never fails, millions of technology addicts expect to get their hands on the latest and greatest piece of technology. Apple consistently releases a new iPhone every year to keep up with the world’s technological advances and keep millions of consumers happy. Junior De’Bohray Harris is one of these consumers. With only having her iPhone 8 Plus for little under a year, the minute the iPhone X came out she was quick to trade her phone in. “My mom will ask me if I want it,” Harris said. “I upgrade every time a new iPhone comes out.” While she is aware her phone works perfectly fine she can’t help but like the new features the phone has. “The camera is better.” A few years back she recalls having an Android. “I like iPhones now,” Harris said. “Before I didn’t mind.” With switching over to “team iPhone” she says, “I can’t go back.” Only having the iPhone 8 for a year, junior Kobe Tei traded it in for the new iPhone XR. “I like not having a home button anymore,” he said. Animojis, better Face ID, and camera enchantments are some of the few features that enticed Tei. “Now I can use the animojis when I Facetime,” he said. “I can literally change into an emoji. That’s clean.” Tei admits he would quickly upgrade to the newest iPhone for new, useless features. “Even if my phone worked perfectly fine I’d still get the new phone.” Aside from cool features, following trends plays a big part of constant phone upgrades. “A lot of people get new phones just because of the hype,” Harris said. “You see everyone wanting airpods now just because they’re trendy,” Tei said. “It’s the same thing with the new iPhones.” Since the iPhone XS and iPhone XR were released, Apple has sold roughly 80 million phones. This translates to over five billion dollars being invested into the company.
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03.01.19
Donavin COLLINS
ART BY SERINA SIENG
Now I can use the animojis when I Facetime. I can literally change into an emoji. That’s clean. Kobe TEI junior
At the crack of dawn, thousands across the country waited in the cold outside of their local Apple store, restless and ready to get their hands on the new iPhone XR and iPhone XS. It was goodbye to the still relevant iPhone X’s and hello to a phone that only offered a few new features. While extreme fans were busy upgrading, their contrasting group was sleeping soundly quite satisfied with their slightly older phones. Whether it’s some Android that was released over five years ago or the iPhone 5, these owners believe their phone is good enough to get the job done while providing enough features. After three years, senior Sophia Peck still holds onto her LG phone with pride. Even after exposed to constant advertisements, she isn’t tempted to upgrade. Instead, she finds these upgrades very “redundant.” “If you have a working phone that’s good enough. You shouldn’t feel the need to upgrade,” Peck said. Although she doesn’t see the reasoning in someone upgrading from the iPhone X to the iPhone XR, she understands why someone in her clique would decide to do so. “The upgrades usually aren’t that big of a difference from the previous year’s phone.” In fact, compared to the iPhone X, the iPhone XR is only known for offering a wider range of colors and a slight boost in speed. As reasoning for students, senior Jacob Stillwell sees the entire phone upgrade craze as people trying to just fit in. “Phones, at least socially, classify you,” he said. “In the past, it used to be more about shoes, but now it’s extended to having the best phone.” Costing well over $1,000, he can’t grasp why someone would spend so much money annually. “It’s ridiculous because they waste so much money that can be put towards something more useful,” Stillwell said. Whether a fan or not of these annual upgrades, one thing’s for certain. Apple, the multi-billion dollar company, is No. 1 in the world for a reason.
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If you have a working phone that’s good enough. You shouldn’t feel the need to upgrade. Sophia PECK senior
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NEW APPLE iPHONES SELL
Almost every year, Apple releases a new iPhone. Exactly how many decide to buy in?
• 217.7 million iPhones were bought in 2018 • The $1249 iPhone XS costs $443 to make • Only 1.4 million iPhones were sold in 2007 SOURCE: NEW YORK POST, STATISTA
‘Kim Possible’ brings more than gadgets
Wrong figures worshipped
Cevina CALDERON
both Instagram and Facetime in different scenes to respond to fans. He live streams their first day of high school giving their fans insights into what their personal lives consist of. The villain Shego uses Instagram to post his “duck face selfies” with his evil lair and “meme” videos of Kim Possible trapped in a tank with electric eels. The overall message of the film contrasts greatly with the series. Kim goes through downfalls and jealousy and makes her life seem almost impossible but learns the true importance of trust in herself and her friendships.
“Nice guys finish last” has been a popular saying for a while now, thus glamorizing the so called “bad boy.” However, when do these “bad boy” characteristics begin to be too much? How do you draw the line between seeing the good in somebody vs the realization that they’re dangerous? What if they seem to be charming and charismatic? These are two things you normally wouldn’t connect with a criminal, let alone serial killer. However, charming and charismatic is exactly how many people saw the ghastly serial killer Ted Bundy. A movie preview along with a Netflix series based on Bundy’s life were released and now he’s back in the spotlight. The trailer released for “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” showed a dramatized version of his life. On the other hand, the Netflix series, “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes,” shows actual footage along with personal interviews from when Bundy was on death row. The series allows Bundy to tell his side of the story using his own words. The movie is trending, but not for him being a psychotic killer like one would think.
TV Premieres “Bob’s Burgers” (Season 9) - Mar. 3 “The Simpsons” (Season 30) - Mar. 3 “American Idol” (Season 2) - Mar. 3 “Queer Eye” (Season 3) - Mar. 15 “9-1-1” (Season 2) - Mar. 18 “Jane the Virgin” (Season 5) - Mar. 27
Nearby Concerts Tori Kelly, Oakland - Mar. 8 YG, San Francisco - Mar. 9 Justin Timberlake, Oakland - Mar. 15 Kodak Black, San Francisco - Mar. 23 Pink, San Jose - Apr. 17 Bad Bunny, San Jose - Apr. 20
The Disney Channel original movie “Kim Possible,” released last month, is a live-action film based off of the cartoon series that has mixed reviews. It’s centered around the protagonist Kim Possible and her best friend Ron Stoppable fighting against whatever evil villains come their way. Much like the series they follow similar plots, but there are major differences as well as modern touches in the film. In the original Kim Possible series Kim is a cheerleader in high school doing phenomenal things effortlessly. However, in the film, Kim readies herself for cheer and comes to find out they actually only have a soccer team. Adapting to the change Kim tries out for soccer and performs well yet she is rejected by the captain. Instead of Kim being the stereotypical head cheerleader who has a perfect school life she is an equipment manager, forced to clean all of the filthy soccer equipment. The film also shows the many different struggles Kim faces in high school being a freshman. For instance, she has a hard time getting to class on time, even while using her skills. The famous Kim Possible ringtone from the original series hardly makes an appearance in the film. Instead of having a cell phone Kim has a necklace that projects a holographic version of Wade, the behind-the-scenes tech genius who informs them of danger and helps them out on missions. Another form of modernization in film is the use of social media. Kim’s trusty sidekick Ron uses
Film studios make the mistake of romanticizing serial killers instead of telling the real story Oleedia HARRIS
Even though some scenes were cheesy, the modernized plot was able to suffice.
It’s rather for his good looks and normal appearing life. Similarly, the show “You” was released and social media went crazy. People started defending the gruesome actions of the main character even though he’s a stalker and murderer, all because he was supposedly doing it out of love. These criminals can be interesting and many people have expressed their interest in them, some even to the
extent of obsession. The realization that one can be sympathetic toward these criminals is apparent but where does one draw the line? There’s a difference between a “bad boy” and somebody that can be a dangerous criminal. Serial killers are psychotic murderers and they do not deserve to be depicted in a glamorous way along with getting the horror removed from their actions. ART BY SERINA SIENG & JAKE MARCELINO
What’s new in entertainment? Movies “Captain Marvel” (Fantasy) - Mar. 8 “Five Feet Apart” (Drama) - Mar. 15 “Us” (Thriller) - Mar. 22 “Dumbo” (Fantasy) - Mar. 29 “Pet Semetary” (Horror) - Apr. 5 “Shazam!” (Fantasy) - Apr. 5
Trending News R. Kelly’s sexual assault case carries on after he pleads not guilty. Kardashians left in turmoil after Jordyn Woods scandal ends in split. Winning the Oscar for best film, many are left outraged that “Green Book” won among the nominations.
Sports
03.01.19
LOOKING UP
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The Stagg Line
No longer just for girls, boys look forward to competing in the SJAA’s newest sport
Maria CASTILLO Volleyball can be thought as a “girl sport” but now this sport is breaking the gender barrier. “Sports aren’t just for one gender,” boys volleyball coach Jeremy Moua said. “Having it back at schools will give our boys and those from other schools the opportunity to play and see what it’s like.” Moua also played volleyball in high school, and since then he knew he would want to be a coach for the sport someday. “I have a passion for volleyball and I also really like working with kids,” he said. “Why not combine the two things into one?” Moua isn’t the only one that’s ecstatic to start the season. Senior Davon Turner is happy to have made the team and excited to see what’s to come. Last year, he had heard some talk around campus that a boys volleyball team was going to be added to the sports list, but he wasn’t too sure if that was true. “I thought that it would probably be put through next year, after I didn’t come here,” he said. To Turner’s surprise, the PHOTO BY SOLOMON JUAREZ rumors were true. “It feels pretty Coach Jeremy Moua shows his players how to strike the ball and explains the proper angles to take when the ball is making contact with good to be part of a team that’s their hands and explains the importance of following through with their strike. starting it all.” Turner was surprised again with her — so when he heard about the team, he sport is already transparent. when the sport didn’t turn out to be easy as he had should be in front of you as well as your hand. Moua said, “The senior guys wish (volleyball) thought it’d be. “Normally when you see other “Sometimes if the boys did another sport, knew he wanted to join. people play, it seems easy like ‘oh you just gotta hit the skills required for that sport come out on the “I enjoy everything about it. The intensity, how was available to them since the start of their high the ball,’ but actually there’s a lot more that goes court,” Moua said. “It’s a step-by-step process to get fast it goes, and the hitting or passing of the ball,” school career so they could have participated since the team to play correctly.” he said. The freshman also knows that timing can then.” into it,” he said. More than just teaching the young men vol The techniques in volleyball consist of know- For Turner, it was hard to have control over his determine the outcome of how things play out. ing the proper order -- bump, set, spike. Other power. He said, “The power has to be balanced be- “You need to know the right time of when to leyball techniques and skills, Muoa wants to create techniques involve proper form such as snapping tween your arms and your legs. If you use both with go for the ball. If not, it could all go wrong,” he a safe place for them on the court and encourage your wrist while spiking, keeping a flat arm plat- too much power, then you’ll have no control over said. “We’re just a couple of guys who don’t really them to always perform well academically. know the sport yet but are willing to do what it He said, “I want to promote life skills like hard form when passing, and knowing the correct way the ball.” Freshman David Gutierrez always saw his sister takes to play the game.” work, being patient, and facing new challenges. It’s to serve. The toss shouldn’t be too high and the ball play volleyball, and sometimes he would even play The boys’ enthusiasm and dedication for the going to be wonderful.”
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You need to know the right time of when to go for the ball. If not, it could all go wrong. David GUTIERREZ junior
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Youth gives hope to Delta Kings golf program
PHOTO BY MARIA CASTILLO
Sophomore Griffin Boller practices his putting technique. Before he begins he observes the distance between the ball and the hole.
Who are the award winners?
Marissa GONZALES Later this month nine Stagg boys will walk onto the golf course for their first match as a team. This year’s golf team has nine new players, not a single player returning from a previous season with Stagg or any competitive team. Being a team made up of all new players, two of whom have had lessons in the past, coach Dan Offield knows this season will be centered around learning the basics and developing proper technique. “Golf is a sport all about learning, and we’re all new out here” said Offield. So far the boys’ practices have started off slow with chipping, putting, and getting ready to learn how to drive — or hitting for distance. Offield purposely emphasizes the importance of mastering proper technique such as correct grip on the club and wrist motion. Sophomore Griffin Boller shared that he is excited for the competitive aspect of the game this season. Although he has outside experience with scrimmages and “First Tee” lessons, this will be his first season on a league team. Not only is Boller excited for the game itself but he looks forward to meeting new people and developing bonds with his teammates. “I haven’t played on an actual team before,” said Boller. “So I’m excited for that.” In previous seasons Offield did not have to worry about the number of returning players, this year however he has to focus on developing the foundation of the future golf program. “Golf is a game of reality, and we’re reconstructing” he said. Calling this the team’s “humbling season,” Offield knows that realistically the importance of developing the techniques properly will be more important than winning the matches. “The reward for me is seeing kids fall in love with the game” he said. Having a team with a lot of underclassmen excites the coach because this gives him more time to teach them how to be exceptional players over the years.
Pushing off the deep end
New coach Michael Bria hopes to change the culture of Delta Kings and Queens swimming Sophomore Joseph Mallett pushes off the wall to begin practicing his 50 meter breast stroke lap. Mallet gained experience from his water polo season. PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
Krystena MEZA While it may be the same sport with a similar group, this year’s swim team has a new person in charge. With new boys coach Michael Bria, there has been an emphasis on building strength. Right from the start, Bria has had the mindset of pushing and improving all of the swimmers to be better than ever. “Focusing on stroke technique, I see strong dedication in every student,” Bria said. “I feel we could win league based on the effort they bring.” Such exercises include 100 meter intervals of all the main strokes: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle. The swimmers have been working constantly, boosting their confidence for the upcoming season. Third-year Penelope Bowden thinks “the team will be better this year because of the new coaching. He
works with us more till we understand and because of the extension of practice we all get more individual help.” Another new technique has been implemented into their practices. Varsity girls swim coach Gina Ming has been working with the beginning swimmers to teach them the basics before they’re allowed to practice with Bria. “The eight laps is a solid workout for the (newer) swimmers,” Ming said. These practices usually focus on building strength and technique. As a first-year swimmer, Valencia Flores understands how each drill works to better her skills. “We do underwaters because that helps with holding our breath for a long period of time,” Flores said. Exercises like these help with training swimmers to limit the amount of breaths taken when swimming.
Boys Basketball
Boys Soccer
Wrestling
Girls Basketball
Girls Soccer
MVP
MVP
MVP GIRLS
MVP
DEF. PLAYER OF THE YEAR
MOST IMPROVED
MOST DEDICATED
MVP BOYS
DEFENSIVE MVP
MOST IMPROVED
RISING STAR
MOST DETERMINED
MOST INSPIRATIONAL
MOST IMPROVED
MOST INSPIRATIONAL
Kenyon PIERCE Phoenix SMITH Jason PHILLIPS
Ramses CHAVEZ Nicholas ROSETE Alonso TAPIA
Angel VASQUEZ Aidan DANFORTH Kevin GUTIERREZ
Cheyanne GAINES Janelle PHARMS
Esperanza SAING
Brianna LUGO
Norma ZARAGOZA Liliana CAMARGO
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News
The Stagg Line
03.01.19
Agricultural program starts to grow Cevina CALDERON
The newly born agriculture education program has flourished since last year. With the partially constructed building on campus almost ready to be used next year, students and staff are more than excited to dig deep in this new program. New ag teacher Daniel Barrett is more than happy to teach the classes. “I wanted the challenge not only to jump start an ag program but also to start a program in the heart of Stockton.” The program is categorized as a career technical education program. CTE programs have two pathways designed to direct students into potential career opportunities. On this campus the two pathways are the ag-earth science pathway and the ag-horticulture pathway. This year Barrett teaches ag-earth science, ag-biology, and ag-floriculture tackling nearly all aspects of agriculture. These classes not only consist of making flower arrangements but educating the students on the different types of flowers they are using. When making the Valentine’s Day grams the students learned about the actual plants they were using. Senior and president of the Ag Club Cheyanne Gaines spent the first semester discovering the different types of flowers. “We focused on what flowers were what, learning about plants like leather leaf and baby’s breath,” said Gaines. These were the plants paired with roses, put into arrangements, and prepped for delivery. The new green house building being constructed right now has great potential for the future of the program. Funded by the CTE Incentive Grant, the project on campus has quite the blueprint. “Here it’s funded almost a one acre school-farm learning facility, with a 40x60 greenhouse. There’s going to
be a half acre fruit trees and table grapes, almost a quarter of an acre of planter boxes, and there’s storage cooler for floral classes,” Barrett said. When the project is complete the possibilities of the ag program will sky rocket. “If it was here this year it’d be so much easier for us,” Gaines said. Valentine’s grams isn’t the only project for the program. Being a part of the program automatically makes students part of the ag-club. A requirement for being in the club/class is participating in Supervised ag Experience projects. These projects vary from making different flower arrangements to raising animals for competitions at the fair. Currently, Barrett said, “We have some students signed up to take rabbits to the San Joaquin County ag show where they can sell them.”
Senior Karina Tafolla stands beside Agriculture teacher Daniel Barrett while arranging roses for Valentine’s Day Grams. The students in Floriculture used techniques they’ve learned throughout the year to arrange the flowers in different shaped patterns. These bouquets were sold to staff and students. PHOTO BY MARIA CASTILLO
PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
Building of greenhouses will allow students to expand their resources for future agriculture and floriculture projects such as valentine grams. They also will provide students with the chance to work with animals for the San Joaquin County ag show.
MESA aims to prevail again Dancing, skits highlight unifying multicultural rally
Donavin COLLINS
Sady worked together to run the program, with Walter taking the lead. Since Walter’s been promot Whether it’s building a mousetrap car or a pros- ed to a position at district level, Sady’s found herself thetic arm, preparation and perfection has been all taking on more of the advisor responsibilities. that MESA students have focused their efforts on In a couple of words, she describes this change in order to succeed in the annual MESA Day com- as making her “life very interesting.” “Now, I’m takpetition. Tomorrow at the University of the Pacific, ing more of the lead and it has made me realize how Stagg’s MESA students will compete against other much work that man does to keep MESA going,” local teams with the hope of qualifying for the re- she said. gional competition. Even if it poses a challenge for her, Sady still However, the journey to this event has been full sticks around to get the job done. “He’s still around of twists and turns. To begin with, the MESA pro- and helps me out, but I’ve been trying to take on gram has experienced a major change in leadership. more of the stuff myself to release him to his own In past years, advisors Andrew Walter and Kathy duties.” Senior Jonathan Uribe recognizes this adjustment as a struggle that they’ve yet to fully overcome. “Sady is a good teacher and has been doing a good job at transitioning, but it’s more difficult with just one teacher and not two classes,” Uribe said. For the previous months, the focus of the class and club have been to work on their MESA Day projects. However, another challenge came across their path. “A lot of the projects are new this year, so that’s good and bad,” Sady said. While it helps to bring life into the program, it gives students nothing to build off of. Despite these challenges, the program hopes to continue their PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ winning legacy. “Last year, we Freshman Alex Light penetrates the support beams with pins in placed in a majority of the comorder to keep the structure together. He is attempting to make the petitions,” Uribe said. “Even if best civil structure bridge for the MESA Day Competition, which will we have fewer experienced membe held tomorrow at the University of the Pacific. bers, we’ll do our best to win.”
What’s online?
WeeklyGallery Check out our website for weekly galleries featuring boys tennis tryouts, the winter sports award banquet, and a presentation given by Native American speaker Terri Johnson.
Fine FINAU
Practice makes perfect. Now that is something often heard, especially for an important event. What’s rarely seen, however, is behind the scenes. With last Friday’s rally, which was largely
PHOTO BY SOLOMON JUAREZ
Senior Kania Banks was one of the majorette dancers to perform a dance routine in her dashiki.
student-run, communication among the participants made it difficult. Juniors Frances Cardenas, Chana Moeur, Anally Bautista, and Mia Rojas had so much to do to make this rally enjoyable for the school. “I wasn’t planning on putting myself in this position, but people backed out and I just had to step up and fill in the spot,” Cardenas said. Originally five clubs were supposed to perform, but because of lack of participation only four clubs performed. Moeur had some thoughts on their Korean dance. “It’s nerve wracking because I don’t think students will look at this as cultural but more of a hip hop thing.” The Black Student Union had difficulty coming up with an idea. The club started with very few ideas to represent people of color and what they tend to go through on a day-to-day basis. During their Wednesday meetings, club members discussed ideas to show their culture by an African dance to start off. They planned to have skits in between and end it with a step routine to finish off strong. “Through the skits our message is to tell everyone that we’re as equal as everyone else,” freshman Josie Russell said. Spanish Club also had some difficulties. “We were supposed to do two dances but not everyone could get it down in time so we’re doing one now,” senior Paola Zamora said. “Everyone knew how to do the El Caballo Dorado dance so we just went with that,” junior Karla Murillo said. As for the majorettes, they had some difficulties bringing their team together. “We started off with a lot of girls and ended up with six because a lot of drama,” senior Antwanette Adger said. There were technical difficulties during both rallies and clubs were furious but at the end of the day they came to realize that some equipment needs to be fixed.
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