StaggLine
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Players should ‘act like leaders’ — See page 3
15 periods +400 students 0 teachers
Students struggle to make grade in classes with long-term subs FeValencia
there has been no permanent teacher for the fifteen class periods. Phones are out, balled up papers are flying, and Andrew Walter, math department chair, stepped the constant chatter is like the background music to in and did what he could for the math classes. From a classroom. We all are familiar with these sounds lesson plans to after-school tutoring, he is trying to — a substitute teacher is in. make it fair for the students. “It’s like a jungle, like that scene from ‘Mean He is also in charge of grading the students for Girls,’” senior Paul Spaulding said. the time that the substitutes are in. He walks into what he calls his “crazy, discom- “(I’m) trying to grade the students, but (I’m) not bobulated” Algebra 3-4 class hoping to get through even in the room,” Walter said. the period without any confusion on a problem. Ninety percent of the students in Algebra 1-2 Spaulding knows as a senior he needs this class that have substitute teachers have a failing grade. to graduate. He knows that when he walks into the That class also had about 22 substitute teachers classroom, he won’t have the support he needs to this year. help him pass the class. “Unless you have a substitute that is knowledge Antoineaha Sims, junior, knows this too. able in the subject, you lose that day of instruction,” “He (math teacher) came in for two weeks, and Kathy Sady, math teacher, said. since then we’ve had so many subs,” Sims said, de- Administration says there is nothing that they scribing the teacher. She would finally get used to can do because they have to wait for the teacher to her new substitute and then three days pass and a retire until the district office can actually hire a new new face would greet them. Sims knew that there teacher. was no possible way to pass the class without a per- The Algebra 1-2 teacher, Barbara Rizzonelli and manent teacher. “I talked to my counselor to take now the placement of a new teacher is being prome out,” Sims said. “I was really sad and crying.” cessed. The condition of the Algebra 3-4 teacher Fifteen class periods, 400 students and no teach- Tuan Ton is still uncertain. ers to teach them. As the semester is coming to an end, an idea of a At the beginning of the year three out of the 10 solution will take place after break. The Algebra 3-4 math teachers and an English teacher required a class will be dismantled and students will be placed long-term substitute teacher to cover their classes. in other available seats in an Algebra 3-4 class on Weeks later, one of the math teachers came back. campus. The Algebra 1-2 and English classes will The other three teachers haven’t come back and get a permanent new teacher on campus.
photo by
Students get frustrated during class and drift off into their own studying in an attempt to learn the material the best way that they can. Pictured here is junior Robert Garcia in his second period Algebra 3-4 class.
Donations help many lives AngelGonzalez At St. Jude’s Hospital a nervous girl is about to get her first antibody IV. Years later that nervous girl still needs more. Where do the antibodies come from? Blood. Brianna Simpson, junior, was that nervous little girl. She needs these IVs every month. These life saving antibodies come from blood donated at blood banks all over the United States. “It takes two hours,” Simpson said. She describes the process like getting blood drawn, except they’re just putting antibodies in. The blood drive Stagg had in November put some much needed blood in the supply that California has. This was taken by phlebotomist technicians like Nora Hilda Hurtado-Gutierrez. Her position involves drawing blood and checking vitals to make sure people are healthy. One unit of blood can save three lives. Hurtado-Gutierrez said that it’s good for donors, too, because the
Fe Valencia
blood bank takes old blood, allowing the body to make more fresh blood. Red blood cells are used for people with iron deficiencies or just to replace blood that is lost. White blood cells are used for people who have low immune systems. Technicians take the white blood cells and put them into patients so the patient can fight off everyday germs, viruses and bacteria. Platelets help clot blood for people that have thrombocytopenia. These people do not bleed like healthy people. When healthy people get a cut they dab a cloth on it to stop the bleeding. People with thrombocytopenia get a cut and it does not stop. It keeps bleeding and bleeding until they get sewed up or get enough platelets to clot the opening. This means that a person with this condition can die from a cut about two or more inches long. Plasma is the hardest to explain because it is comprised of lots of things left over in the blood. One of these leftover components are antibodies, which Simpson needs.
Student benefits from blood drive
The antibodies are y-shaped cells that attach to viruses and other bacteria that can destroy many of our healthy cells if handled or put under control. The antibodies attach to the germs and do not allow it to spread. Then other cells come and take in the germs and antibodies and destroy them. When Simpson gets cells from donors, they help her fight her illnesses. These cells have already seen and fought off the germs before, which makes them better at fighting them now. Since they are fighting for Simpson’s health, she acquires the donor’s immunity. Hurtado-Gutierrez said that O-negative is the universal donor. This blood is needed very badly because if people are injured and they cannot tell the doctors what their blood type is, the doctors can just give them O-negative blood and they will be fine. Also, if children do not know their blood types, they just get O-negative. Hurtado-Gutierrez said they need blood, so come and bring a friend or relative. “We don’t bite.”
FROM A DONOR TO A PATIENT: HOW BLOOD TRAVELS
A qualified person donates blood.
Their blood is transported to the local Blood Bank.
the
BottomLine Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207
12.20.13
Vol. 57 No. 4
Then, it goes to a lab After, the blood is left where it is checked and in a freezer until a separated into three bags: person is in need of it. whole red cells, platelets and plasma.
When needed, it’s distributed to hospitals.
Service Week
Scholarship packet
The annual Stare-off will return on Friday, Jan. 17 while the traditional service week days will continue as well. Look forward to a walk-off, dance-off, quiz-off and the student star-off during the week of Jan. 14-17. Can donations are encouraged.
Seniors are to turn in their local scholarship packet on Friday, Jan. 10 into the counseling office. Two letters of recommendation are required. The packet offers a number of scholarships that are beneficial to all seniors interested in getting money for college.
A patient receives the necessary blood to save their life. Graphic by Araceli Valencia
Inside the issue Learn about Stockton’s history — See pages 4 and 5
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Opinion
12.20.13 STAFF EDITORIAL
StaggLine
the
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Absent teachers, failing students
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This picture shows the grades from one of the math classes that has a long-term substitute. photo by
Trisha Newman
enry Ford once said, “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off of your goal.” The common goal in high school is for all students to go on to college with the foundational knowledge of math, English, science, and history, with a hint of electives to round things out. This goal is met by equal effort from both student and teacher with the help of administration. This collaboration has been rocky for many students because of absences. On whose part? Strangely, it’s teachers. It is rare for teachers to miss class, but when it happens, it is cause for celebration. However, as hundreds of students are suffering from the extended absences of three core teachers, the celebration is over. Students have had enough of the constant shuffling of substitutes and realize the significance of having a qualified teacher in class. It is unfair to students that two math teachers and one English teacher have
‘Jingle Bells’ parody Lyrics by Brian Walker and Veronica Vargo
Decked in brown and gold A school from down the bay Past the game truck we go DK rockin’ all the way (troptroptrop) Swope and choir sing Showing pride inside What joy it is to beat the green And dance at neon nights ayeeeeeee Jingle bells Edison smells Hittmann saved the day! Oh what fun It is to mosh at an LTA Friday! Yay! Jingle Bells give blood cells Next blood drive in May Oh what joy I laughed and cried In a PLUS Forum today...
been in and out of the classroom for years. And this problem isn’t affecting just students. Other teachers have had to make up for the gap, notably Math Department Chair Andrew Walter, who has taken a “self-appointed role” because, he says, “I feel bad because they don’t have a teacher.” Despite his sub plans, his grading students’ work and his offer to tutor, most students in the affected classes are still failing. We acknowledge that subs aren’t completely at fault. Neither are the teachers. Health has been an issue with all three. The flaw is in the system. When substitutes come in for one day, plans are already made for them. Their only task is to relay the information to students. But when subs are there for four to five days, they have to come up with the lesson plans themselves. Rather than alternating one-day subs to save the district money, qualified substitutes should get to teach as long as possible to benefit the students.
Considering most teachers have different methods of teaching, it’s hard to adjust to constant change. The solution now is the students in Algebra 1-2 will get a new teacher while the students in higher level math classes will be put into either Kathy Sady’s or Julie Backster’s classes. The question remains: How will these students recover from months of butchered foundational math lessons? Although a solution has been proposed, these students have already suffered. Math is like a staircase, and removing one step prevents you from reaching the next level. Without the basic building blocks there is no way students can move up. The damage is done. Because of the frugality of the district, these students will have to strain every muscle to gain the basic knowledge that should’ve been taught to them. The focus of the district is on saving money— the obstacle. We need to shift focus to the goal of graduating students with appropriate knowledge.
Holidays are to give and not always to receive
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his time of year is all about of the 25 percent limit and still giving, right? Well, what brought in 50 cans. “I knew is the meaning of giving if Arianna the credit was there, but it was you always receive? important for me to give,” she Smith Everything given should be said. “I knew I was going to have genuine, and not just because you something to eat and I wanted to are getting something in return. make sure someone else did, too.” While there is nothing wrong Those who are offering incentives with receiving, one should be mean well. satisfied just knowing that they However, I believe that if from a made someone happy or helped young age we are taught we will them in their time of need. always receive, our society will always expect that Ever since we were really young we have been and in the long run we will become selfish. taught that there always needs to be the chain I remember a lot of times at school when reaction of “we give, we get.” teachers would ask for pennies or box tops for a When there are all these opportunities to cause that the school was supporting and would receive, between school and clothing stores, reward the class that brought in the most with a I’ll admit it is hard for us not to fall into the pizza party or homework passes. temptation of wanting something in return. At the time I never thought anything was These clothing stores are wrong with that and that was offering discounts for those who what had to happen. bring in coats and sweatshirts It wasn’t until I have gotten older during the cold seasons. And that I realize there doesn’t always while I can see the store’s point have to be a reward. This chain of view, I feel like the discount is reaction has continued to follow unnecessary. us. Some believe that people need Right now Stagg Key Club is this incentive when they’re young, offering Krispy Kreme donuts to so that they will eventually give the fourth period class that brings without expecting something in the most canned food items. every time. While the offer is extremely Science teacher Bill Lorentz tempting, you have to wonder reanna oyner whether it is appropriate to offer started his canned food drive at the beginning of November. For something in return for this every can a student brought in junior particular cause. Our society needs they would receive one point extra to break the chain reaction of “we credit. give, we get.” Lorentz offers the extra credit not only to What some seem to forget is that this is the motivate his students, but because he has hope season of giving, not receiving. that eventually they won’t need that motivation Next time a store or school asks you to donate and will voluntarily give. something, maybe we should have our mind made Breanna Joyner, a junior, appreciated the extra up whether or not we are going to participate credit offered in her history class. She was aware before we hear about any rewards.
knew I was “Igoing to have
FOR THE FULL SONG WITH AUDIO VISIT staggonline.net
Season of giving should be year of giving
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olly jolly Christmas. Time to bundle up, buy presents, and decorate your house. But most importantly, time to give. Ah, the wonderful season of giving. Every year during Christmas time there’s a barrage of advertisement about donating time and money to the less fortunate. Although that is a great and kind thing to do, shouldn’t people give no matter what time of year it is? Thousands of people go out every year during Thanksgiving and Christmas to volunteer and help feed families or wrap presents. Families are hungry year round.
Not just on Thanksgiving. Families need clothes year Dellanira round. Alcauter Not just on Christmas. I understand that in the holiday spirit and joy everyone has this inner fire burning, wanting to help people. But what happens once the holiday season is over? People carry on with their everyday lives. Going to work, picking up the kids, making dinner, so on and so forth. The inner fire is put out. There are people that give year round, but the only time of year that this topic seems to be popular is around the holidays. It’s beneficial that people do give, but some do it with the wrong motivation. We shouldn’t give because it’s “the season of giving” or because we feel guilty to help others since we are at a financial advantage. Giving time and money should come from the heart. We should be driven to help those in need no matter if it’s June 3 or Dec. 25. We shouldn’t let the inner fire be extinguished.
something to eat and I wanted to make sure someone else did, too.” B J
art by
Donations Donations
Adrianna Owens
Donations all graphics by
Alyssa Rojas
Opinion
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StaggLine
12.20.13
With age comes responsibilities
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Campus celebrities?
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Football players in need of wake up call
round 5 on a Friday night people pile at the gate of the stadium. They wait to see the challenge our competitors have brought. To see the star players score touchdowns. To see the Hail Mary pass in the last second of the game. To see the Delta Kings beat “the green team.” Everybody is always excited for a football game. I mean, why wouldn’t they? It’s a high school tradition and an all-American sport. It’s entertaining and makes for an overall good experience — at least, when the Delta Kings win. It seems like every year we have a new star player, or we are waiting for one to move up to varsity. At the same time, we’re watching the ones we admired for years leave to college on scholarship.
Veronica Vargo
We congratulate them and wish them the best of luck. Then we say the player was so good that they earned the scholarship, but now that I think about it… did they? How many of them do we see in the hallways when they are supposed to be in class? Or slapping their music with the phones that any other student would get taken away? Is it special treatment they receive? Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. But there should be no need to give them an easy way out of
punishment; they shouldn’t be acting out. The way I see it, if they are being awarded these scholarships, they should show they deserve them. The majority of the student body can say their school’s football team is the best and show off their pride. The younger generation of the high school world kind of look up to the varsity football players, especially when they have such a good season. It was almost perfect, some would say. But can we say the same about all of the players? You would think that making it to the first round of playoffs would motivate players to be on their best behavior because victory is just around the corner. Yet it was a shock when we learned that some of the star players the crowd was lining up for were not
going to play that night. It left everybody wondering why and the audience questioning, “Where are they?” The truth is they were behaving like children, getting into unnecessary trouble. That’s why they weren’t there, and there is no reason why it should be sugar coated like it always seems to be. It’s time athletes, notably the celebrity football players on campus, realize that the decisions they make have consequences. To recognize that they should act like campus leaders. That people are quick to judge, so don’t give them a reason to judge quickly.
inally I can make my own rules and do what I want. That is what most 18 year Baylin olds claim. Moran But is it true? Well, not necessarily unless they’ve moved out of their parent’s or family’s house, live on their own or possibly with friends, because otherwise rules still apply. Say somebody at the age of 18 gets in a fight, with different consequences such as being taken to court or given jail time to serve. Whereas somebody under the age of 18 may just get a slap on the wrist or their parents can deal with any further punishment. I have a friend who deserved a wake up call on growing up. He’s 19 and has the possibility of being kicked out from his parents’ house unless he can maintain his job, but then he was in a fight and risked his own success, spending the night in jail. Back when he was young, he would always fight and never spent the night in jail or had any harsh consequences. The night that he did end up in jail opened his eyes about how he needed to get his act together. Just hitting 18 does not make someone a successful and full adult. Becoming an adult is when a person begins to take on more responsibilities and acts accordingly. Now that we’ve come to the legal age of an adult, laws are beginning to affect differently. Some of these rules or laws include but are not limited to buying a car, going to jail, serving on a jury, paying taxes, and driving without restrictions. Some people with the age of 18 forget about these changes and the things tied to becoming an adult. Becoming 18 in the United States is a lot different than other countries due to certain laws concerning drinking and clubbing. Drinking laws in the United Kingdom is age 18 to purchase and age 16 to 17 to consume on a legal premise with the order of a meal. Just because they can drink at a younger age in a different country doesn’t necessarily mean that they can party or get drunk because of another law to help restrict that, which is the legal clubbing age. Clubbing laws in the United Kingdom start at age 18 with or without alcohol and here the age is 18 at clubs without alcohol and 21 at clubs that do serve. People need to realize that they have to take responsibility for their own actions and own up to their mistakes without being able to rely on their parents or their guardian to fall back on. Think of these age restrictions and how they allow us more time to be young and enjoy our youth. Yeah, 18 is a big step but at the same time it’s only a small portion of what’s to come. Just keep in mind the new rules and responsibilities while realizing there is more on the way and more to happen a few years from now. This is the age to show maturity and to finally begin the process of being a successful adult. We still have rules to follow and have to take more responsibilities, being 18 isn’t just a walk in the park.
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Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, Calif. 95207 209.933.7445 ext. 8487 The Stagg Line newspaper is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Awards and recognition include the following: ºº 20 consecutive All-American rankings ºº NSPA Hall of Fame, 2005 ºº NSPA First Place Best of Show five times ºº NSPA National Newspaper Pacemaker seven times ºº JEA Impact Award, 2002 Stagg Line student journalists have won many awards and scholarships over the years, including California Journalist of the Year, National Story of the Year and National Photo of the Year. Keep up with us ºº Facebook: Search “Stagg Line” ºº Twitter: Follow us @staggonline ºº Web: Check out staggonline.net ºº PDFs: Go to issuu.com/staggline
mited to replace private health care providers with a guaranteed health care plan for all citizens of California. While the ACA has made history for making health insurance available to citizens, it has failed to establish one national health care plan, and instead leaves the insurance companies in charge. Many politicians want to repeal the act, yet they want to keep certain aspects of it, such as the part that says a child can stay on their parents’ insurance until they are 26. A positive to the ACA is that insurance companies can’t turn someone down because of pre-existing conditions. In previous years, people would try to get insurance once they found out they needed it (when they developed cancer, or any number of illnesses) and the companies would turn them away. Now, however, the act is aimed at getting everyone on insurance before it becomes too late for them. For Jane, in “Mercy Killers,” it was too late. The cancer had spread before she had insurance. And once she was on a health plan, her rates were higher than most plans. Before seeing this play I wasn’t sure just what to think of the ACA, and I’m still not strong in my opinion on the matter. However, I do know that what the wife went through in this play was not fictional. As I was crying in the audience, I realized that this is real life. The need for health care is real.
EditorialPolicy The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and distributed free of charge to students and faculty. Our website is updated regularly with photo galleries, video and breaking news. Our newspaper is a long-standing open forum for free student expression. That means that it is student editors and reporters who make content and style decisions with the adviser offering the guidance. A staff editorial, which appears on the top left of the first opinion page, reflects the opinion of the entire staff and therefore is not signed. Opinion columns reflect the view of the writer. Readers are welcome to write letters to the editor in response to any story or to make a comment about an issue at school. We will make every effort to print any letter as long as it is not libelous. Letters longer than 250 may be edited. Unsigned letters will be printed only in unusual circumstances and only when we know who the writer is. Letters may be delivered to the Stagg Line newsroom, A-10. They may also be emailed to dbott@stockton.k12.ca.us
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them for himself as well. To make sense of what happened. Toward the end of the play, Joe Adrianna claims he had to put his wife out Owens of her misery. She had an allergic reaction to penicillin and she was suffering. I felt the tears welling up as I watched him reflect on the life that he once had — the life they had. He told a story of a motel they stayed in, and a nearby river they swam in. As he describes it, a smile crosses his face. Then he says, “It’s the little things.” And you see that he is struggling to hold on to the little things. The memories. The recollections that are slowly being boarded up. Buried under all of the pain he’s encountered. And then it hit me. This can happen to anyone. The Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, which aims to make health care affordable for everyone, requires citizens to have some form of health care. After the Ted Cruz filibuster, the nation laughed at the Republican Party and the Tea Party. However, they are now laughing at the Democratic Party, Obama in particular, for the miscommunication and the problems that have surfaced with the website. “Mercy Killers” is paired with Campaign for a Healthy California, an organization that is com-
Adrianna Owens
Lack of health care allows no mercy
alking into the theater, I didn’t know what to expect. I had never seen a one-man play. I’ve never seen a play on health care, for that matter. As the lights dimmed, Michael Milligan came onto the stage to perform “Mercy Killers.” With police sirens flashing, the audience sees the image of a man, torn and conflicted. The audience has no idea what’s going on. As a human, pity is felt, even though it is unclear what has happened to him. The play progresses with Joe in an interrogation room as he leads up to tell the story of his life spiraling down, until he eventually crashes.We learn that his wife Jane is a hippie. She eats organic and loves nature. We learn that he is a right-wing conservative who listens to Rush Limbaugh. He watches football, drinks beer, loves his country. His wife, fairly liberal, doesn’t mind, but they end up arguing from time to time about the foundation of the U.S. government. And then Jane is diagnosed with breast cancer. They think that they can handle anything thrown at them. But as the bills pile up, the couple struggles to find any hope. This story is told as if Joe is answering questions from a detective. But you can see that he isn’t just responding to the detective. He is trying to answer
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NewspaperStaff AdriannaOwens & FeValencia Co Editors in Chief
WilliamAlexander
JadaJohnson // News Editor
JessicaCervantes
VeronicaVargo // Opinion Editor
AngelGonzalez
DevinWickstrom // Features Editor
MarcellaHawkins
AlexusPlascencia // Entertainment Editor
YesicaIbarra
JessicaMangili // Sports Editor
BlancahMendoza
DellaniraAlcauter // Photo Editor
BaylinMoran
AlyssaRojas // Graphics Editor
TrishaNewman
MicheallaFoules // Web Editor
MarleenePheav
BrianWalker // Social Media Editor
RubiRico
NuviaCervantes // Copy Editor
ArrianaSmith
DonBott // Adviser
AraceliValencia
MichaelBishop
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Features
the
StaggLine
City offers more than meets eye DevinWickstrom
Some people recognize the high crime rate, the poverty, the foreclosures. No matter what, it usually has a negative reputation. But this is not fair to the inhabitants, the arduous workers, those who pursue their dreams despite hardships. It’s always the negatives that get more attention than the positives. However, those who see beyond the rough patches realize that...
STOCKTON is magnificent
Some only see the crime statistics. Some only hear the current reputation. Some only consider the negative. But there is much more to Stockton, California. Its history, full of culture and diversity, has played a key role in populating northern California. Let’s rewind back in time, to the California Gold Rush specifically.
Poor immigrants thirsty for gold came to San Francisco and then to either the northern or southern mines. To get to the latter, miners had to travel through the Delta until they reached Stockton, the farthest they could go by ship. So this city has been a transportation hub for decades, and since it was an industrial town, the population became really diverse. Cheap labor from Asia brought many people and many of them were forced into slavery. The biggest change they brought to Stockton was the literal physical change. They built levees, which transformed the city from a delta to an agricultural town by irrigating crops and rerouting the canals. Native Americans, tired of being persecuted by their European counterparts, integrated into the city and added to this diverse population soup. Also, African-American slaves were brought from the southern states by their masters. There weren’t many because it was easy for slaves to escape in the valley because of the Delta and foothills being so near, which served as fast transportation and easy hiding. However, emancipation affected the city greatly because when slaves became free, they populated the area. Finally, Filipinos played a huge role in the construction of the city. One can see today all of these races’ influence in the Chinese script on
street signs downtown and the Filipino Plaza. “Stockton was commonly known as ‘Little Manila’ because of its diversity,” said Chuck Bloch, who taught history when Stagg opened in 1958 and then later at Delta College. Being a transportation hub, there was bound to be success and the city has had its share of fame. For example, Benjamin Holt is much more than just a street name. Tractors at the time were extremely heavy, often weighing several thousand pounds, and they constantly sank into the rich soil of the valley. So, the business giant modified the tool and instead of conventional wheels, he put planks on the wheels and when the vehicle moved, the planks would move like a conveyer belt, or caterpillar, which it was soon nicknamed. This modification created jobs and put Stockton on the map of the world. Enough of old history, let’s fast forward a few decades. The Civil Rights movement was beginning, the young John Kennedy was a senator, and Stagg High was born. But, compared to now, the city was still young. The north side of Stockton was the Country Club neighborhood at the time, while now it is McNair High. And this is how to imagine Stockton in the 1950s and 60s. Near McNair, there is farmland and new
Haggin Museum
Civic Auditorium M
Built in 1928 and displays early Stockton history B
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Constructed in 1925 to honor fallen WWI soldiers
Ave.
Served Japanese community after 1918 influenza outbreak
First train arrives on the Western Pacific Line
days “Inwe’dthose go over to
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the schools to play because they weren’t locked down like now.” PamCurtin Special Education teacher
Arch Rd.
Sikh Temple
Bob Hope Theatre
Est. 1912, the first in the U.S.
Built in 1930, still holds showings
HISTORICAL treasures
Yesica Ibarra
1898
1906 Holt builds first gasoline-powered tractor engine
1927
For interviews, an interactive timeline, and more,
Many unappreciated landmarks throughout the city are worth visiting. Here are several locations.
City Hall merges with Stockton Civic Center
First railroad depot built
1869
B St.
First steamboat arrives
1854
Wy.
graphic by
Oldest firehouse in Stockton
known as ‘Little Manila’ because of its diversity.” ChuckBloch Retired Stagg High teacher
or t
1849
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As of 1933, the Port of Stockton became the first and largest inland seaport of California. It occupies an island in the San Joaquin Delta and connects to the San Francisco Bay, Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. This so-called “dirty creek” provides two-thirds of drinking water for California.
was “Stockton commonly
Airp
1848
Wy. r e ar t
Port of Stockton
First courthouse completed
Stockton founded
Ch
t. rnia S . Califo o St orad El D
Not only is this private university the first chartered college of California, but many big stars were produced here. Parts of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Flubber” were filmed on campus. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis and her mother Janet Leigh (“Psycho”) attended the school.
as an industrialized city, though for a time it was second to San Francisco.” TodRuhstaller Haggin Museum Historian
n.
Engine House No.3
Nippon Hospital
Benjamin Holt Drive and Benjamin Holt Also known as the Historic Fox Theatre, College Preparatory it is one of the two Academy are named in honor of the man movie palaces left in the Central Valley. who invented the crawler-type tread Stockton resident and billionaire Alex tractor known as the G. Spanos donated “Caterpillar.” Holt innovated his tractor, $500,000 and rehelping out farmquested to name ers on their heavy it after famous entertainer and friend duties. It has been used in other ways Bob Hope. Now such as military opthere are movies erations in World and live performances in the the- War I and road atre from celebrities building. such as comedian George Lopez.
don’t think “We of Stockton
First hospital estab. 1899
Ma in St.
Benjamin Holt
RICH history
Hammer Ln.
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Bob Hope Theatre
houses so that was how the city was like, but instead of McNair, it was Weberstown Mall. West of campus then was all farm land, much how McNair is today. Pershing Avenue ended at the Calaveras River, and there wasn’t a bridge constructed until Stagg came along. So the city expanded greatly in just a few decades. Now life without cell phones and video games seems inconceivable, but times were like that once. In the 1960s through 80s adolescents roamed the fields of March Lane and the streets of downtown with the alarm to come home being their mothers’ call or bell. “It was a small area then,” said Pam Curtin, special education teacher. “You can walk down the street and you knew everybody, and if you didn’t know them then you knew their cousin.” Curtin’s family has lived in Stockton for generations and she is a graduate of Stagg. The present city has seen better days, and it’s important to remember that. But it’s also important to keep this history alive. And though Stockton may be known as a second-rate city today, it’s possible to make it great again because it’s been done before. “It’s a really colorful town, Stockton,” Bloch said. “We have all these good people come out of here.”
St. Joseph’s Hospital
Did you know?
University of the Pacific
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12.20.13
graphic by
Fe Valencia, Veronica Vargo and Nuvia Cervantes
“Stockton is Magnificent” festival takes place
Stockton Civic Theatre founded
1933 First ship arrives in Port of Stockton
1951
Visit staggonline.net
1999 Stockton named “All American City”
2011
Taxes put more police officers on the force
2012
2013
Stockton files for Chapter 9 bankruptcy
Adrianna Owens William Alexander
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12.20.13
Entertainment
New habit easily broken
BlancahMendoza The Habit first opened in Santa Barbara. Shortly after that, 16-year-old Brent Richardson got his first job there. A few years later he and his brother Bruce decided to buy the place, not knowing what a buzz it would turn out to be. Their philosophy is to deliver high quality food and great service at reasonable prices.
Overall
The service was great and the environment was inviting but the burgers could have been better.
Tomatoes and pickles
Carmalized onions (Sauted onions)
Shredded lettuce
Choice of American or Swiss cheese
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or the quantity. Perhaps a person is just paying for the buzz, to say they are at The Habit, rather than paying for good quality food. Service at The Habit has an inviting atmosphere. The employees were kind, courteous, and very joyful. It seemed like a great hangout place. Maybe that is why people are always talking about it. Seeing pictures on Instagram and Twitter of The
Android SAMSUNG
Construction
ffAlthough they are both thin, iPhone has a small frame and screen, built for people with small palms. ffAndroid has a thicker and wider frame, more compatible for business people.
Apps
ff iPhone obtains big name apps (such as Instagram and Vine) quicker than Android. ff Android provides options to save persistent application data. One is able to choose where and if one wants to save data from apps.
Camera Quality
ffBoth cameras work fairly well in quality, but the iPhone is better, with its quick snap burst and its slow motion video features. ffAndroid has an automatic night mode filter, and it makes a great change in photo quality in dark lighting. Without that filter, photos usually come out really dark. graphic by
Dellanira Alcuater
Habit might convince someone it’s the best burger place in Stockton. However, if a person doesn’t taste it for himself, they will not know. It is a great place to go for milkshakes and fries, but they do not have a great tasting burger. Overall, the Habit is a very inviting burger grill. It is a three star restaurant with good qualities. It is unfortunate that the burgers aren’t that good.
Book ignites imagination and emotion
Which is better? iPhone
Sesame bread
Charbroiled meat
Well, one of those is true. The service is great and even though there is a long line, it goes by fast and they make your food with little or no waiting time. However, all the buzz about The Habit is not all it’s cracked up to be as far as the food is concerned. The burger was more greasier than normal and it was not cooked all the way. It tasted like a burger that was stored in the freezer and defrosted. The lettuce was shredded and wasn’t appealing to the eye or stomach. Not to mention, the buns weren’t as soft as they should have been, nor were they a bit warm. In addition, the burgers get soggy fast and they fall apart, easily causing your hand to get full of ketchup and mayonnaise. So where’s the hype coming from? Could it be that The Habit is just a new burger grill in Stockton with a well chosen location? Sitting outside, enjoying the pretty lights and driving cars definitely makes one feel like it is a happening place. The scenery and great service definitely make up for the lack of good taste the burgers have. That’s not to say The Habit is all bad food. The fries and the milkshakes are to die for. They did not have too much or too little salt, they were just right. The food on a scale from one to 10 is a seven, but overall the restaurant deserves an eight. The Habit also seems to be getting a lot of attention because it is so close to In-N-Out. However, the only thing they share in common is the production of burgers. The Habit has a lot more to offer since they have a larger variety of burgers. The prices do not match the quality of the food,
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Marleene Pheav
RubiRico “The City of Bones,” a mystical yet romantic novel entirely filled with twist and turns — and only one of many books in the series, “The Mortal Instruments.” When reading the book, expect the unexpected. “The City of Bones” is a magnificent book, keeping me interested at all times and wanting to read more. Clary, the main character in the story, ends up falling in love with Jace. Jace is a shadow hunter, a mystical warrior that is out to find and destroy all demons in the “underground world.” The underground world is a combat zone filled entirely with violence and “good” and “evil” characters. Clary is a human, or as the shadow hunters like to call humans, a mundane. Since Clary is not a shadow hunter she is not to fall in love with a one, and a shadow hunter is not to fall in love with her. Little do the shadow hunters know that Clary is one of them (a shadow hunter). Clary grew up without a father — her mother never spoke about her father nor did she have any pictures or memories with him. Her father turns out to be a shadow hunter. When Clary found out, she decided to move to the underground world and become a full on shadow hunter. In the end, Clary and Jace get together and live happily — but not for long. Clary and Jace separate and all hell breaks loose. The ending was definitely one
of the best I have ever read in my life. One minute you feel as though everything is going to end well and the next everything is mixed up and out of control. When reading “The City of Bones,” it makes you feel as though you are a character in the book. The detailing of the story makes it feel as though you are actually living the story. For example, “Fresh blood dripped out of the creature’s enormous mouth, its eyes bloodshot red, it was ready to kill.” The imagery in “The City of Bones” is brilliant. The book is based on many fictional and mystical characters — it gets your mind thinking in a more imaginative way. The emotion portrayed in the book is strong and very appealing. It made me feel the emotions the characters were feeling in the book. Take this quote from the book, “I hate him! I really do! I wish I could just rip his ugly little face off! I hope he burns in hell. I will taunt him for the rest of his life.” The language usage could have been a bit less Rated-R. Not only was that an issue, but the content said was in fact overrated. The book is aimed towards young kids ranging from the age of 12 and up — therefore 12-year-olds are exposed to inappropriate innuendo. “The City of Bones” is the best book I have read. I am looking forward to the rest of the series and the upcoming movie.
City of Bones
Overall:
It was a bizarre yet extremely amazing book — I never got tired of reading it, but it should be read at an older age regarding some of the content.
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Catchin’ waves
Family’s legacy brings student to Hawaii for annual surfing competition AdriannaOwens We’ve all seen it: the typical surfing picture. The photographer gets the shot of the surfer inside of the perfect wave. The sunset is coming in through the crystal clear water. The surfer’s hand is skimming the wall of ocean behind him, and the look on his face is accomplishment. However, when senior Alejandro Cruz is out on the water, he doesn’t always catch the “good” waves. “If you only see it in the magazines, they only show you the ‘good’ waves,” he said. “Sometimes you go out and only get the small waves.” He has been surfing since his uncle taught him to when he was 10. Because his uncle is a native in Hawaii, Cruz goes to Maui every year to surf. “We lived in Hawaii for the first two years of my life,” he said. Moving to California didn’t stop him from visiting his uncle on the island and learning how to surf. “My uncle introduced me to surfing when I was 10,” he said. “It’s just different.” His face lights up as he talks about the sport. For him, it’s not something that everyone will do. He notices that people don’t un-
derstand the sport, and that a lot of people will always think of it as something you see in that “perfect wave” picture. “Just being out there in the ocean, it’s different,” he said. “I feel peaceful, it’s very relaxing. You feel one with yourself and one with the ocean.” He takes pride in his accomplishments and recalls the first time that he rode inside of a wave and made it out successfully. “It was my biggest accomplishment.” Cruz practices in Santa Cruz, but he competes every year or two in Hawaii. Though he loves competing and winning the competitions, he said that nothing can compare to the feeling of coming out of a great wave and knowing that at one point he wasn’t able to do that. He takes pride in knowing that he is improving his technique. “Doing certain tricks or things you haven’t done is the best feeling ever,” he said. The sport also serves as a form of bonding between him and his family. Because he doesn’t see his uncle that often, surfing helps the two get closer. “When you’re out there on the water together it’s different than just going to the movies,” he said. “You’re learning from each other and teaching each other.” His father is currently learning how to surf, and while the two already have a strong relationship, Cruz is looking forward to bonding through surfing with his dad and uncle. “It’ll be the three of us out on the water together,” he said. He wants to continue to surf throughout his life. He was accepted into the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and if he decides to enroll there, he will make trips to the beach whenever he gets the chance. He admits that when he has children, he will continue on his uncle’s “legacy” and teach them how to surf. For Cruz, the sport is more than the glossy picture seen in the magazines. “When you surf, your physical body, your mental body, and the ocean have to be working together,” he said. “When you do succeed, it’s like every part of you is in balance with the earth and to me that’s an amazing feeling.”
Boxing provides gateway to the future BlancahMendoza
As sweat runs down his face, he stays focused and concentrated. Jab, jab, right uppercut and another right. Ector Madera, a junior, is a boxer at Los Gallos Boxing Club and has been boxing since the age of 10. He started when he was a little boy looking up to his brothers and cousins who were involved in boxing. It was then that a fire began to spark inside of him. This fire would lead him to become No. 3 in the nation in his weight division. He trains six days a week for three hours a day and runs five miles every day. His goal is to take the No. 1 title. Madera says the reason he is not No. 1 in the nation is because he has not run into No. 1. However, he will be fighting in Reno on Jan. 5 for five consecutive days for the title. In addition to competing to become No. 1 in the nation, he will also be placed on the 2016 Junior Olympics team if he keeps winning. He has one more tournament to qualify. With all the competition, Madera has no doubt he will do great. “I put up a good fight and I always fight my heart out.” With the burden of always competing placed on Madera’s shoulders, he has no plans on giving up. Boxing has become his therapy -- his outlet for aggression, his ticket to a better life. “Little kids try to fight like me and they want to be like me.” He has now become an inspiration to others which has helped him with his inspiration. Aside from the trophies and belts, it hasn’t always been a smooth ride for this athlete. In the eighth grade he faced family problems and decided to quit boxing. This took a toll on his life. “It broke my heart,” Madera said. “I would cry because I wasn’t able to fight no more.” Two years later he found himself a new coach, Gabriel Flores. “He is like my son and is a joy to have around,” Flores said. “I have no doubt Ector will be a world champion one day.” “Everyone has gift and this is mine,” Madera said. Since he resumed fighting, he has participated in various tournaments. Some include him fighting against people who are two times national champions with fights ranging in from 100 and above. With lack of experience, Madera doesn’t get frustrated but rather gains more confidence. Training with professional boxers, sparring against them and beating them, is all the confidence he needs. Yet there is much more to being a good boxer: discipline, structure, and persistence. All of these things have made this young athlete who he
is. At times he may not feel like waking up early to run or even go to the gym and train for hours and hours, but this doesn’t stop him. “He always comes and is always working hard,” Flores said. “With the power and speed he has, I know he will destroy the No. 1 in his division.”
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photos courtesy by
Alejandro Cruz
(Above) Senior Alejandro Cruz is balancing himself on his board after he caught a wave at the Egro/Hi-Tech Lopez Surfer Bash in Hawaii on Nov. 16. Cruz went on to place eighth in the open men’s category. (Left) Cruz waits patiently just past the shore for a wave to ride.
Reconstruction of program creates family DevinWickstrom
Alumni often return to their high school after some years for a football game or to see a former teacher. But there are few who return to give back to their alma mater, to continue the legacy they experienced, to teach current generations. Dao Tep is one of those few. The 32-year-old, who wrestled from 1995-1998 in the 103 and 112 weight classes, is now the head coach for the team. His predecessor, Andres Uyeda, coached him when he attended, and has coached until last year. “Dre (Uyeda) gave me a call last year and told me he was giving it up, so I came and became his assistant for the 2012-2013 season.” Tep competed in mixed martial arts for the past three years as both a coach and fighter and he took his three captains for this season to his gym over the summer. “We mostly conditioned,” he said. “We worked on cross training, losing weight, and basically just getting in shape for this year.” He said he would like to change the annual routine of the team. The plan is to teach moves and techniques over summer and then condition and drill as the school year starts and the season approaches. “We’re constantly working,” he said. “There is a dead period for a couple weeks after the season.
But after that, we’re back at it until the next season ends.” Kevin Culp, senior, was one of the captains to join Tep over the summer. “We got to wrestle with more advanced MMA fighters,” he said. “They were stronger than us and we were in a completely new environment. It was very motivational.” Culp also said that Tep is a great teacher. “He breaks the moves down into simple, clear steps. He tries to make it suitable for us.” He said Tep is a more technical teacher, one who focuses more on “winning the position” rather than pure strength. Besides goals for this season, the new coach has long-term ones to build the team. “Compared to other schools, we’re starting the season behind.” Tep said the key to improving is attending the summer practices. They are less intense, but the break from school gives students time to focus on the moves and techniques so they have them mastered by the start of the season. “I’d like to change the whole culture of this program.” One of his goals is to get the youth program more involved to build a stronger yearround team. “But it’s important to remember that we’re here to have fun and stay in shape,” Tep said. “We’re here to build a family.”
Blancah Mendoza
Junior Ector Madera works on his jabbing technique and foot work at Los Gallos Boxing Club. He also travels the country training at other gyms.
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Trisha Newman
Senior Alexander Rebultan pins his opponent while focusing on keeping his balance to avoid being rolled over in the Bear Creek Invitational on Saturday Dec. 14.
News
12.20.13
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Common Core comes into effect
MicheallaFoules The bubble-in method in testing is what students are accustomed to. The answer is either A, B, C, or D. If stuck, the other way out is eenie, meenie, miney, moe. However, students will no longer be able to use this method as a last resort. Next year, schools across the nation, including California, will be shifting to a new set of standards called Common Core. These standards will be applied from the start of kindergarten to the end of high school. These new standards have designed lessons in the core subjects — math, English, history, and science — to make students think more critically. As a result, the traditional scantron tests will no longer exist, and student summatives will be mostly free response that will be done on computers. Multiple-choice questions give students the chance to luckily pick the right answer, to guess without showing any work or process in aspects to
a math question. “I think the type of testing they’re going to use will ultimately be a good thing,” Kathy Sady, math teacher, said. She has already incorporated some of the new methods into her lessons. “I’ve been easing into it.” Sady’s tests are also free response type questions for students to show how formulas are used to get the answer. She says it is important that kids can apply math to real world situations. English teachers have also practiced some Common Core standards. Recently Victoria Marinelli’s class have completed a project where students were assigned a country to research. Another English teacher, Samuel Pope, had his students simulate a delegate of a country and help their country prosper. “The work we do isn’t necessarily harder,” sophomore Celine Lopez said. “It just requires you to think more and put more effort into your work.” Another drastic change brought by the Common
English teacher Sam Pope has assigned his students to do research on a third world country to give them knowledge of the outside world. Here, he helps sophomore Celine Lopez with her project. photo by
Dellanira Alcuater
Core standards is the replacement of the yearly California Standardized Test. In place of the CSTs, there will be a summative test taken in the 11th grade covering material from the beginning of freshman year. The test is designed by the Smarter Balanced Assess-
ment Consortium who are in charge of developing these “next-generation assessments” based off of the Common Core standards. For more information about this organization and their mission, visit smarterbalanced.org.
Federal cuts cause hunger, homelessness DellaniraAlcauter In 2012 the government made significant cuts in the food stamp program. That same year, senior Sarah Parker’s* family barely had enough money to put food on the table. Senior Ricky Chiprez’s family went hungry. And junior Hadiyah William’s family went homeless. Since the cuts began in 2008, the number of people depending on food stamps has exceedingly increased. Every year since then, Americans have suffered from any new cuts to the budget and fear for the next year, when even more, will be cut. Although the 47 million Americans on food stamps are suffering because of the cuts, seeing this problem hit home is even more devastating. Stu-
dents on campus are hurting because of the economic recession and there’s little they can do to fix it. But they do not lose hope. They maintain the zeal and perseverance that they need to get through their everyday lives. Williams lives in a two-bedroom apartment with her mother and younger brother. Her mother works as a specialed nurse for the Stockton Unified School District and isn’t earning enough money to support their family. They were supporting themselves with the help of food stamps, but when her mother got a $2 per hour raise, the aid was completely cut from their budget. For an average family of four, the maximum amount of money received is $632.
Ten people, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, one house. As Parker describes her crowded home, she has a look of frustration on her face. “We get annoyed very easily... and you get everyone’s opinion on something, even if you didn’t ask for it,” she said. The conditions of the economy caused Parker’s aunt and cousins to be evicted from their apartment. With nowhere else to go, her mom decided to take them in until they would be able to support themselves again. All 10 of them are living off of one single income. For Chiprez, the struggle was a source of inspiration. “My parents went to Mexico for two weeks (because our grandparents were really sick)
and so they lost those two weeks of work,” he said. Since the start of the recession, 8.8 million jobs have been lost. Among them, Chiprez’s mother’s. Their family was living on their father’s paycheck. “He only got paid two times a month and by the time he got his second check, (they) had to pay for rent and the money wasn’t enough.” Because of the hardship, his family had no other choice but to use food stamps. They received $400 in food stamps. That allowed them stability and a secure source of food. But when his mother got a job, the food stamp amount was cut in half. What most people don’t understand is that when someone gets a raise and their food stamps are cut, it’s as if the person did not get a raise at all because the extra money goes to food. I actually have to And as the government kept cutting their own budget, the aid work hard and Chiprez’s family was receiving get an educawas completely eliminated. With a look of distress, tion so that I explained how this situdon’t have to go Chiprez ation made him see that an education is necessary. through what “I actually have to work hard they are going and get an education so that I through. I know don’t have to go through what that if they’re do- they are going through. I know that if they’re doing it without ing it without (an (an education), then I can do it education), then I with (an education).” past November, 5.4 percan do it with (an centThis more was cut, meaning that education).” there will be $1 million less in money flowing into the local reicky hiprez tail economy. Williams’ family is senior feeling the intensity of this cut. Before, they were able to go to the food bank and get two bags
“ Senior Ricky Chiprez reveals what struggles he and his family faced after the cuts to the food stamps program.
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Alexus Plascencia
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0123 4567 8910 1234 Smith, John
Source: The Record
• Average family of four receives maximum $672 per month in food stamps • 47 million on food stamps are currently suffering from the cuts • 1 in every 7 Americans are enrolled in it • 1 in every 6 people in San Joaquin County are on food stamps
of food for the month, and now they’re limited to one. But she doesn’t let this downfall deter her dreams and aspirations. “I want to be an OBGYN (ever since I saw a video of someone giving birth). (I want) to be there… when life starts, to help a child be born. It’s something I’m passionate about and I can’t explain the feeling.” Parker’s career goals were also shaped by her hardships. “Since they lived with us (for eight years), I was always around kids, so I want to be an elementary school teacher and make sure the kids understand their work. I want to be the teacher that worries about everyone.” She knows what it is like to grow up without
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Mangili
much money, and that has motivated her to help others as well. “I’ll help someone no matter how hard it is on me.” When faced with adversity, all three of these students became experts in coping with their issues. In 2014, when there are more cuts to be made, Williams, Parker, and Chiprez all face the new year, braced in suspense as to what they will have to face next. Whatever it may be, they know that they will make it through. “I know I’m not the only one,” Williams said. “There are others going through this, too.” * Name has been changed.
Typhoon takes a toll from 8,000 miles away JessicaCervantes Roads blocked. Airports impaired. Heavy ships thrown inland. This is the destruction Typhoon Haiyan — the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record — caused on Nov. 8 to the island nation. Many cities and towns experienced widespread destruction, with as much as 90 per cent of housing destroyed in some areas. “I was wondering if the family’s okay,” Janelle Javier, a freshman, said when she first heard about the typhoon. Because she has an aunt and cousins living in the Philippines, it’s difficult for her to know if they are truly safe. Her grandmother, who has recently returned from the Philippines, brings a spark of hope to the family.
Not only did the typhoon have an impact with the Philippines, but it also hit China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. With a death toll passing 6,000 and nearly 1,800 people missing, survivors are struggling with the basic necessities such as food, water and shelter. Water and power supplies are cut. Much of the food stocks and other goods are also destroyed. Everyday about 20-30 people are found in the debris. Hospitals are either shutdown or working at partial capacity, leaving many of the injured without medical assistance. Today, temporary bunkhouses and emergency shelters are being constructed and residents are receiving money in exchange for work by hauling and packing re-
lief goods. Even with the bunkhouses that keep the survivors safe, many citizens are doing all they can to evacuate. Javier is one of the lucky ones, for few people are able to connect with their families out in the Philippines. At first, Javier was unable to reach her family when the typhoon struck. But “now we can connect with them. I’m feeling okay, since I know they’re safe,” she said. Many countries from around the world are sending cash donations and humanitarian aid/ supplies to the Philippines, with Canada at the highest donation of $40 million and the United States at $37 million. IKEA, Red Cross, and OCHA are a few out of many companies
that are fundraising. Even Stagg is working hard to make a difference. Key Club had a divisional council meeting where students decided to have a fundraiser for the Philippines. Yesterday they hosted a Lollicup social and toy drive, where 20 percent of the funds raised from Boba bought are going towards the Philippines. Serving their home, school, and community, Key Club strives to give back. Senior Maxine Contreras had an idea for ASB to fundraise as well for the Philippines. The maximum amount of money they wish to receive is about $1,000 where half the money will be funded. This will not be active until January.
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Alexus Plascencia
is about the kids. Why “This has it taken so long for the
district to do something about it?” RosslynHalekakis
physical education department chair
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