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the
Dances of the last decade — See page 6
headline art by
Alyssa Rojas
Department works through damaged supplies and instruments YesicaIbarra
Students walk into their art class and sit down to begin their class period. They choose among the handful of crayons and markers. Across campus, students walk into their music class. They prepare to play an instrument but have to share one. Some instruments students want are in need of repairs or not available. The art programs have had issues receiving the materials they have ordered through the district. For art teacher Jessica Raygoza, it’s becoming an issue. Raygoza’s 3-D art class hasn’t been able to learn what they’re supposed to. The smallest materials needed are affecting her teaching and the students’ learning. “Since the beginning of the year there hasn’t been enough tape,” said Raygoza. “So we’re just drawing for now.” Raygoza recycles and reuses materials so students can continue working with them since her materials come unexpectedly. Raygoza says she ordered art supplies from the district on August 12 but hasn’t receive them — until now. “We waited, kept checking on the order,” Raygoza said. “Turns out the order was never placed and we barely got them.” “Even if the process is ‘fast’ it takes months,” Raygoza said . Although his classes are smaller than Raygoza’s, art teacher Robert Aldrich has the same problem. He has even offered to order and pick up art supplies
(Right) Freshman Javier Nunez must play carefully on a bass due to an irreparable crack. The instrument has gone through a previous repare with a similar crack in the same region. (Far right) The pastels from art teacher Jessica Raygoza’s class have been ground to the bud making use difficult for students. photos by
Jessica Mangili (Right) and Dellanira Alcauter (Far right)
himself. “The process is messed up,” he said. “With the district warehouse, you have to jump through the hoops.” Raygoza and Aldrich agree that it’s not the district’s fault that art supplies don’t reach them. The problem is too many “middlemen” are involved to order, confirm and receive supplies because something may go wrong during the process. Aldrich says that he’s grateful, but one has to wait to get a full order. “Sometimes it comes,” Aldrich said. “Sometimes it never comes.” Band teacher Joseph Updegraff agrees with Raygoza and Aldrich. Instead of missing art supplies, instruments cannot be used due to their damages. “It’s not entirely the district’s fault,” Updegraff said. “It goes to
the state and federal level.” Updegraff says that there isn’t enough support and funding for the arts since Common Core is currently happening. “The majority of funding is going to Common Core,” said Updegraff. However, there is a difference, he said. “You can still use textbooks when they’re messed up,” said Updegraff. “On the other hand, instruments. Things get messed up to the point where you can’t use them anymore.” Updegraff has paid for some consumable supplies and minor “band-aid” repairs because of the little funding. “I don’t do these things for my benefit,” said Updegraff. “I do it because it’s what they deserve. They deserve to have quality music education.”
New state law promotes equal access
Transgender students can use restroom, join sports team, according to their gender identity AdriannaOwens
He walks through the hallway, passes the “boys” sign on the restroom, and heads to Healthy Start to use the facilities there. Because on their door, there’s no male or female classification. It’s just a bathroom. And even though Shawn Hightower identifies as a male, he makes this journey every time he goes to the restroom to avoid torment from his peers. He recalls a time when someone he knew said that “if they even saw me in the men’s bathroom again they would beat me up.” Hightower is transgender. Transgender means that a person classifies as another gender that doesn’t match their birth gender. Whereas most people classify themselves as they were born, male or female, a transgen-
der person can identify as one, both or none of the two. California law AB 1266 was signed in July by Governor Jerry Brown and this month, the socalled “bathroom law” was set in motion for all of California’s K-12 schools. The law entails that transgender students will be able to use whichever restroom or locker room that they feel more comfortable in, regardless of their birth gender. Furthermore, the law allows transgender students to join segregated sports teams. For students like Hightower, the law will give a chance at equality on campus. Smiling, he said that the law will “make (us) feel like a human rather than being an outcast or a freak.” Teachers have more to worry about, though, as they must
the
BottomLine Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207
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make sure all students are safe. Rosslyn Halekakis, physical education department chair, feels that while the law has good intentions, it’s difficult for the teachers to make sure that the transgender students will have an easy time transitioning. “We don’t watch every move in the locker room,” she said. “I don’t want anything to happen that shouldn’t happen.” Before this law, she would open up the bathrooms outside of the locker rooms “to accommodate them.” Now, however, it will be a struggle for teachers to make sure that the students aren’t being mistreated. Administration understands the fears that teachers have, but they are dedicated to abiding by the law to make transgender students feel as comfortable as pos-
InsidetheIssue It is okay to be confused, but we need to learn to understand and accept. See EDITORIAL, page 2
sible, even if this means dealing with students who don’t agree with the law. “We’re going to support those individuals that the law protects,” Principal Andre Phillips said. “I’m all for it. We may have to adjust with students who aren’t comfortable with it.” Though administration aims to fully support the law and the
rights of transgender students, they still hold similar fears as teachers. “I’m hoping that those individuals won’t get harmed,” Phillips said. “All it takes is one person.” He compares the law to the Civil Rights movement. “I’m sure there was a lot of bullying and push back then,” he said. “Over time it will dissipate.” According to CBS News, Carlos Alcala, spokesperson for the bill’s author, said that the students are “not interested in going into bathrooms and flaunting their physiology.” And while this law will be important to some students in order for them to blend in, rather than stick out, Hightower feels that “there’s always someone that ruins it for others.” “If you implement this law in
Winter Formal
Minimum days
FAFSA
The Sweet Hearts Formal is to be held Saturday, Feb. 15 in the gym. Tickets are on sale in the Students Activities Office. A single’s ticket is $25 and the couple’s tickets are $35. The tickets are presale only.
Next Tuesday and Wednesday, sophomores will take the CAHSEE. The freshmen, juniors, and seniors will have a regular Monday schedule day. School will let out at 12:19.
The deadline for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is Sunday, March 2. Some schools require it to be filled out early. Seniors are to fill it out online at fafsa.ed.gov.
you “Wouldn’t want to be
accepted, too?” ShawnHightower senior
everyday life, for the most part you’re not typically going to get a creepy guy walking into the girl’s bathroom,” he said. “High school is different, though.” There is no process that will confirm someone’s gender identity, so as of now, the teachers have to take it for face value. “By law, we have to allow it to happen,” Halekakis said. Phillips agrees with the law and said “I truly believe that individuals have to feel comfortable in their own skin.” Hightower sees it as a matter of not only being comfortable with himself, but blending in as well. “What if the roles were reversed?” he asks. “What if they told you that you were in the wrong bathroom? Wouldn’t you want to be accepted, too?” Find us on Facebook Search for “The Stagg Line” Follow us on Twitter @staggonline
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Opinion
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STAFF EDITORIAL
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New law comes with need for understanding
S
omeone right now is writing a letter, planning what they are going to say to their parents when they come out. Someone is being shoved out of the bathroom of their choice right now because their birth sex doesn’t match the sign on the door. Someone is crying right now because they feel like they don’t fit in, because society has pushed them out. Just because it’s not you doesn’t mean it’s not someone. And that someone may be closer than you think. In light of the recent “bathroom” law, all of California’s K-12 schools are required to allow transgender students to use the restroom or locker room that reflects their gender identity. We, as a society, are more accepting than we once were. We can accept that there are transgender people. With that being said, however, many of us are ignorant to the matter because it doesn’t directly affect us. The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community needs more recognition. Some people aren’t affected
by different sexualities and gender identifications so they simply don’t take the time to understand them. When people hear “transgender” or “pangender” for the first time they are confused. We are here to say that it’s okay to be confused at first. What’s not okay is to judge these classifications or question their legitimacy. Doing so contributes to the gender binary. Gender binarism is the outdated idea that there is only male and female, which discourages people from openly mixing, crossing genders. Gender, in reality, is a fluid concept that some people reject altogether. Just because gender identity isn’t something everyone struggles with doesn’t mean we have to be arrogant. So instead of saying “the opposite gender,” say “another gender,” and we can instantly be more accepting. Yes, as the law stands, transgender students have the right to use the school facilities they feel comfortable using. No, the law doesn’t erase homophobia
or transphobia or typical arrogance. Just as with the Civil Rights movement, statemandated desegregation did not get rid of racism. Often times, with social reform, people don’t want to accept that things are changing. Yet change is inevitable. Though the law passed, in theory, makes it easier for transgender students to use the restroom of their choice, it doesn’t make it any easier to live the rest of their lives. If we aren’t committed to having a general understanding of the LGBT community, we are making it more difficult for them to feel like they are a part of our society. We can’t continue to pretend that transgender people don’t exist. We need
art by
Marleene Pheav
to give these people, these humans, recognition. We need to swallow our judgement and open our hearts. For more on this subject go to http://www.hrc.org/
Better to be safe than sorry graphic by
Red light. Stop. Green light. Go. Yellow light. Hurry! Speed up to catch the light! Wait. That’s not right. Whatever happened to slowing down? It’s become a habit for people to floor the gas pedal when that cursed yellow light appears, nearly running a red light. When they’re too slow and the light turns to the oh-so dreaded red, they curse under their breath, blaming the “slow drivers” in front of them who are actually driving the speed limit.
Celine Lopez
It feels like almost every day this occurs with my parents behind the wheel, whether we’re running late or not. I admit, I used to not wear my seatbelt for every drive, but the reckless habits of a lot of drivers have given
me enough incentive to buckle up. This shouldn’t be a problem. I shouldn’t have anxiety when driving, especially if I’m not the one behind the wheel. I shouldn’t have to worry that some driver on the road will mess up and cause an accident. I shouldn’t be praying to God, asking to ensure us a safe trip if we’re only driving back home from school. I want to feel safe. I want to be able to have trust in others’ driving skills, and not have to tighten my seat belt or clutch
on the handle for dear life when a city freeway turns into a Daytona race track. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to petition everyone to drive exactly at or even under the speed limit. Then we would never make those lights. But zooming at 50-mph through a 35-mph zone shouldn’t be an acceptable occurrence. The dangers of speeding have found their way to into the lives of teen drivers. Earlier this month, 17-year old Joseph Rivera, a senior at Bear Creek High
School, died in a car crash credited to speeding. The female driver of the SUV, another 17-year old, lost control of the vehicle due to a “high rate of speeding,” causing the vehicle to flip over, says the California Highway Patrol. Rivera, who apparently was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, was ejected from the vehicle on impact of the crash. Last year, Paul Walker, lead actor in the “Fast & Furious” franchise, also died in a crash due to speeding. Walker and Roger Rodas, who was driving, were
Alyssa Rojas
reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. Rodas, the experienced racecar driver and enthusiast, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a light pole, causing the car to split almost in half. These observations have helped me realize that the “need for speed” isn’t a need at all. When I start driving, I hope I will be patient and take a break from our fast-paced society. For now, my experience in Mario Kart and my position as a backseat driver will be fine.
Photoshop makes it harder to see reality
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Before
graphic by
Fe Valencia
After Photoshop
Baylin Moran
ixel perfect is what celebrities should be defined as, thanks to the publishing industries. Perfect complexions, plump lips, prominent cheekbones and plenteous hair are all Photoshopped “perfections.” Sometimes when somebody looks at a magazine cover they find themselves believing that the photo in front of them is how that celebrity or model actually looks, but when it boils down to it these stars have flaws like the rest of us. Remember those “Get Abs in 10 Days” magazines with the dreamy men that had the “to die for” abs? Those rock hard abs and stainless steel biceps can be manipulated into something that is so far from reality that they might as well write an article of the easy steps to Photoshop. Need an example? Well, Andy Roddick, the tennis player, was on Men’s Fitness only to notice that his entire torso was switched out for some incredible “hunk.” Today’s sociocultural standards are shown all over the media and yet for most women it is impossible to reach such a look from a magazine or pictures on the Internet of these celebrities because of the manipulation that’s being done. Who came up with what the socioculture standards should be anyway? These publishing industries have taken the liberty to take photos that are true and that are the reality in which these celebrities look and alter them by either thinning body parts, adding to
a woman’s chest, changing skin complexion, or even making a woman’s hair full of unbelievable volume. Some of the celebrities have even come out and said that they were against the use of Photoshop on their images and the industries didn’t ask for consent. When the media industries go to such lengths to create an alternate reality to what these celebrities and models look like should we question whether or not there should be consequences? This might seem like a harmless edit to a “flaw” in a person but it’s changing the whole thing to something different and surreal and the long-term effects can cause so much more damage. According to studies by Kasey I. Serdar, who has a Ph.D. in mental health, women who are constantly exposed to thin models by the media become self conscious and can grow eating disorders. Some eating disorders include bulimia, anorexia and binge eating. Instead, the industries are having a negative impact. The ones becoming affected are the ones who have done nothing to deserve it. However, Photoshop isn’t necessarily evil. Like everything there are good and bad uses. With Photoshop somebody could put a shark getting eaten by a kitten and it would just be for jokes and giggles. It’s also a way to create cards for holidays and celebrations. Photo manipulation really depends on the person holding the mouse. Think of it as a power that in the wrong hands can do damage to a large mass of people and it actually slides by because nobody has noticed.
Opinion
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Using ‘ghetto’ shows lack of respect J
ewish families were corralled from their homes and forced to a designated area separate Jessica from the rest of society. Mangili Many had no idea what they would have to endure. They were packed into congested tenements with several other families. Orphans were forced to beg and steal on streets filled with human feces due to lack of public sanitation. Families were allowed to purchase only small amounts of bread, potatoes, and fat with the money they brought with their homes, but it was never enough. People were forced to trade smuggled valuables or steal food in order to feed their families. Guards forced young and old to partake in harsh manual labor. And any form of rebellion or question resulted in death. Many people resorted to suicide to relieve them from their hopeless prison. This is a ghetto. The term “ghetto” has become popular in modern slang to describe something that is low-income or a part of an undesirable life. As I walk down the halls, it is the one word I can constantly hear
“
I don’t think (Stagg) is ghetto, I think the people are. They try to act cool and it doesn’t work.” GageFerrier
over the chatter of merging conversations. At times I even find myself using it. “Look at the broken bench, that’s so ghetto.” “You know your school is ghetto when everyone twerks.” But is our school really ghetto? Compared to what Jewish people in Europe had to endure during WWII, our school doesn’t look too bad. Over the past four years our campus has been constantly updated, thanks to the Measure Q Grant. We now have top of the line sports facilities that other schools admire. Within the past three years since the football stadium was built, though, weeds have already started to grow up through the turf.
The metal bleachers have been graffitied on with sharpies. And gum is constantly being scraped from the turf and equipment. We simply do not have respect for what we have. And the reason why? Because we think our school is “ghetto.” A lot of it comes down to the mentality that we carry. We think our school is “ghetto” because we make it so. We are the ones who throw garbage on the ground when there is a garbage can five feet away. We are the ones who carve foul language into the bathroom doors for no reason other than boredom. And we are the only ones who can make a difference. We’ve all heard the“Stagg Pride Inside” chant on the intercom in the morning. And just like most of my fellow peers I tend to tune out at that point. Chanting “Stagg Pride” just doesn’t feel right. Yes, the saying is dorky, but the meaning behind it is there. According to an article from the Huffington Post, “when you are experiencing positive emotions like joy, contentment, and love, you see more possibilities in your life.” With great programs, teachers, sports teams, and facilities, we have these possibilities to be great. All we need is a change in mentality. And that starts with us.
photos by
Believing lies and not truths
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hey say 60 percent of people will believe whatever you say if you put a percentage in it… You probably believed that, huh? And the reason you may have believed that is because it is in print and published by a trustworthy news source. The hidden truth is simple: People are evil and they lie. They lie at home, they lie at school, they lie in court and the most shocking place that people lie is online. The Internet has become a conduit of not only information but a destructive device used to deceive those who are foolish enough to believe everything they read. In today’s age of viral cat videos and mysterious slender men it is hard to believe anything that is read on a screen. I consider myself a skeptical person. I stopped believing in Santa at the age of 7 and the Easter Bunny at the age of 10. I am not that easy to fool. If I can’t see it, I probably won’t believe it. For a while, however, I decided to give the Web a chance and be more open to believing that not everything has to be fake. There has to be at least one truthful fish in the sea of lies that is the World Wide Web. I just wanted to believe … in
Brian Walker
Make a difference regardless of obstacles
Students should dare to dream realistically and plan their future with hope in mind
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hen did we stop believing in ourselves? At what age did we lose faith that we could become anything we wanted to? mermaids. When we were 5, we wanted to be astronauts, I was flabbergasted when ballerinas, police officers, even the president of the I saw the documentary of life United States. under the sea and real life video And now, when it’s time to realistically decide of mermaids. what we want to do with our lives, we’re scared, This was a game changer. thinking we are not capable enough to pursue our Mythical creatures are real! It will only be days now until dreams, even if they still are realistic. I understand that not everyone will become an the hunts for unicorns and astronaut, and that there is only one president at bigfoots start, I thought. any given time. And then my bubble burst. But that doesn’t mean that we have to put I was sharing my amazement ourselves down or feel that we are not capable of with my table in class when my AVID teacher killed my dreams. achieving greatness. It is quite the opposite. “It was a hoax!” she said. “You Because only a few of those positions are didn’t see the disclaimer at the available, we should try harder, apply ourselves if end of the video saying ‘this is that is truly what we want. fake’?” And if not, then we need to use that same From that moment on I passion and drive elsewhere, open our minds to took a personal vow to only new majors, possibilities we never even knew scientifically accept information existed. There are so many career choices and paths given by the CNN, FOX News, to take in life. TMZ, People Magazine and We don’t all have to be actors, athletes, or singers to say we’ve BBC news networks. Not everything one reads can “made it big.” There are other ways to make a difference. be trusted. Society tends to glamorize positions like these, but that doesn’t It is up to the individual to decide what is credible and what mean that those are the only ones that matter. Do what makes you happy — what will bring satisfaction and meaning to your life. is not. Talking to several of my friends about this subject, I noticed that For all you know this story a hopeless attitude has grown. Maybe even a bit in myself, too. could be a lie and I’m just hoping you’re gullible enough to Applying for colleges has become increasingly competitive, which causes many of us to feel as if we are not good enough to be believe it. accepted.
the
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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
Veronica Vargo and Marcella Hawkins
I’ve even been told by some adults on campus Dellanira that I am not going to get accepted to certain Alcauter schools I’ve applied to. Hearing these comments brings me down, but I just tell myself that I have to work twice as hard as everyone else. Even if it means frustrating days and sleepdeprived nights, it’s within my reach. And maybe they are right. I probably won’t be going to an Ivy-league school, but that’s okay with me. Because it isn’t necessarily where you go, but rather what you do with where you go that counts. And I know that wherever I choose to go, I will make a difference in my own way, I will do whatever I can to contribute to the community that shaped who I am. Maybe not in the glamorous way. I know I will not find the cure to cancer or donate thousands of dollars, but I can certainly help plant a tree or tutor a student. Often times I hear students saying that they are not capable of being great because of where they come from, because they’re from Stockton. Just because Stagg doesn’t have tablets for every student or the newest textbooks doesn’t mean that we can’t be great. We can. We can achieve the same amount of greatness as the students in richer schools do. We shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves because we don’t have the money they do, but instead allow that to be our drive. Drive us to pursue our dreams. It’s going to feel amazing when we succeed and look back and think to ourselves, “Despite where we came from and all the hardships we had to endure, we made it.”
make “Iawill difference
in my own way, I will do whatever I can to contribute to the community that shaped who I am.”
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
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 DellaniraAlcauter // Photo Editor AlyssaRojas // Graphics Editor MicheallaFoules // Web Editor BrianWalker // Social Media Editor
MichaelBishop
CelineLopez BlancahMendoza BaylinMoran TrishaNewman MarleenePheav RubiRico
NuviaCervantes // Copy Editor
ArrianaSmith
DonBott // Adviser
AraceliValencia
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Providing a home for the homeless Junior Michaella Booth’s family helps children with troubled pasts DellaniraAlcauter
Thousands of foster children need homes, but only a few will take them in. Junior Michaella Booth’s family is one of them. About two years ago, her parents decided they wanted to open their home and take in foster children. They opened their home despite the complications they knew would come. When a family wants to take in a foster child, they must get information about the foster child program, attend an orientation and fill out an application. Once they fill out the application and it is approved, they have to attend an eight to 10 week Model Approach to Parenting Preparation training. Through this training, they improve their parenting skills. They are taught how to help the kids transition into a new home and learn about subsidies they will receive and their rights and responsibilities as a foster caregiver. “It’s a really long, stressful process,” Booth said. “We had to move and change our life.” Her family had to move to a bigger home and adapt their house so they would fit the necessary standards for foster homes. This included babyproofing their cabinets and drawers and putting up other safety measures. They get children of various ages. The first foster child they received was only a baby. At first, Booth wasn’t happy with the situation because she had to share her room. However, as the baby girl spent more time in the home, Booth felt closer to her. She shared a room with Booth for a year until
her mother was fit to take care of her.” Booth said, “I got really attached, I saw her like a little sister.” Now, the little girl comes to visit them. Their family is very close to her. “She came to our house for Thanksgiving.” But once a child leaves, another comes. Currently they have three foster children with them. The three children are brothers. “The youngest one was two weeks old when we got him,” Booth said. “His mom is a meth addict.” They keep the children until their parents get better or until they are 18 years old. Once they turn 18, her family can choose whether they want to adopt the child. Although her family is doing something great by helping these kids, it comes with a lot of responsibility and complications. For this to work out well, her father stays home and takes care of the kids, getting them ready for school and driving them where they need to go. Her mom kept her job as a school teacher. Every two weeks they get their home inspected by the social workers and have to fill out an extensive amount of paperwork. What frustrates Booth most is that “(They) don’t get to do a lot of family things because (the other kids) always have to come and it’s more money to go out.” Aside from not being able to go out as a family, Booth says that the kids are very troublesome. “It’s hard (to deal with them), but you have to make sacrifices. And you feel good because you’re helping them have a better life.”
New year’s resolutions aren’t impossible
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BlancahMendoza
It all starts with a desire for a change, followed by writing it down. Then you post it on a social media website to proclaim it to all who know you. Just before the new year, you see “New year, new me” almost everywhere. This seems to become everybody’s slogan when the new year comes. People commit to something such as dieting, exercising and other ways to better themselves. However, most of the time a new year’s resolution will only last for a couple of months. 92 percent of people who make a new year’s resolution don’t achieve their goal. Yet there’s still an 8 percent of people who do complete their goals (according to statistics brain). So how do they do it? They need to create a realistic goal. Then they need to remind themselves about it every day, stay focused and have dedication. The problem isn’t making the resolution, following through with it and completing it is. Mental toughness has a lot to do with it. Some people aren’t able to do something they put off for years. Other resolutions, like falling in love, are hard to complete. They just aren’t realistic. Such things should be handled by nature, not by your own will. Then there are other resolutions like health and wellness that are typically the most popular. Junior Angelique Fasion has made a resolution to become more physically fit. To ensure that she will complete her goal, Fasion recently purchased a gym membership to Planet Fitness. She attends three times a week and is “getting it in.” Other students, like senior Tony Taylor, don’t believe in new year’s resolutions. “Nobody follows them. Eventually they forget, it’s just a new year’s trend,” Taylor said. Trend or not, new year’s resolutions are slowly fading away. More and more people are starting to refrain themselves from doing them. 38 percent of people don’t make a new year’s resolution (according to statistic brain). There is no telling how long this tradition will last, but what is certain is the amount of attention it receives every year.
Top Resolutions 1. Lose weight 2. Stay healthy 3. Get organized 4. Save money 5. Enjoy life more 6. Learn something new 7. Fall in love 8. Quit smoking graphic by
Blancah Mendoza and Devin Wickstrom
photo by
Dellanira Alcauter
Junior Michaella Booth’s family has cared for foster children for about three years. She helps with the care of them everyday after school.
Struggles with English make it difficult in high school and beyond VeronicaVargo
After taking the placement test to enroll into Delta Community College, many students are offended when they hear about their Level 1 score. According to Delta counselor and professor Stacey Bagnasco, that is the feeling that most students get after getting placed in a remedial class, reading at the sixth grade reading level. These students are demonstrating the preparation that they received in high school. How many students are registered in exit-exam classes or Apex on this campus? The correct answer is that there are 37 students in an English exit-exam class and there are 24 students who enrolled in Apex for English this year. It could be that these individuals failed because of pure laziness or that they really just didn’t understand. If it was because the student was lazy then many would say that these are the consequences of their actions. Bagnasco says, “Some students don’t take the test seriously, just like they don’t take high school seriously.” But what if it was because the student did not understand the content of the class? Could a hand have been offered? Set aside the English learners and those in special education for a moment and take a look at the English dominant students. There are some who still struggle with multi-syllable words or chunks such as “ch” and “sh.” The Alliance For Excellent Education announced that “half of incoming ninth graders in urban, high-poverty schools read three years or more below grade level.” Exit Exam English teacher Tom Orosco said, “There are at
“
The problem of not knowing how to read clearly can cause problems down the road.”
least a few (in his classes) who don’t know the content, who don’t know grammar or sentence structure.” There are other students who maybe don’t have the confidence to speak out. There are probably more that go unnoticed; they copy their friends’ work or just don’t see education as something they can advance in. After high school, sophomore Elias Urias says, “I will probably just go to work.” For students in similar situations, coming to school isn’t a welcoming place. Urias says, “I get embarrassed not knowing the words and sometimes people laugh. I don’t ask for help because of that.” “My advice to students,” Bagnasco says,”is to read 20 to 30 minutes a day and keep a journal. They place Level 1 because they don’t know how to critically read. They may know how to read, but they can’t do it critically.” Take the English learners and special education students back into account. Even though these students may learn the basic concepts multiple times, they still struggle. English is recognized as one of the hardest languages in the world. Its rules and concepts are tricky, even to people native to the language. There are words that are spelled the same way and mean
completely different things. “Students take years of grammar, middle, and high school, but don’t realize how much it really affects them,” Bagnasco says. “They end up having to take a bunch of high school classes in college, that do not count toward their AA (degree).” The problem may start in elementary school, but high school is a place where teenagers are learning to take on the real world, college, and the rest of their life. The problem of not knowing how to read clearly can cause problems down the road. In an athlete’s case, for example, that get admitted to college on scholarship because of superb athleticism. According to a study conducted by CNN, there are a few of these athletes that don’t know how to read. After going through elementary school, high school, and the application process, they still cannot read. Some college students are illiterate. “Read the newspaper, so that they can remember what they read, and summarize,” Bagnasco says. Which is the reason why one athlete asked for help, according to a teacher quoted in CNN, so he could read the media about himself. In the formation of America, the new country said that as an act of progressivism, they would begin to teach immigrants how to read, write and speak English. At first it was because Americans wanted immigrants to use their vote wisely and be able to understand the candidates, but now it has turned into something more significant. Proficiency with the English language is required to exit high school.
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that you never really knew about.
With college being just around the corner for many students, here are a few cool majors to consider. Take note that a person is not guaranteed a career in any of the following majors.
ANTHROPOLOGY Anthropology majors study humans and their cultures throughout history. It is often divided into four different studies: archaeology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and cultural anthropology.
Boss Center provides more than a copy room AlexusPlascencia
The classroom filled with students that do nothing but copy papers all day-- thats what some students see them as. But the Boss Center isn’t just a class of “busy work.” With already 600,000 copies made this year, the Boss Center is a class for special needs students who are taught vocational skills. They show their potential and are able to feel comfortable while doing so. “I love it here, I don’t want to go,“ said Pat Jannay, the Boss Center teacher for 19 years. Because of mental disabilities the students aren’t able to graduate. But helping out teaches them to
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES Behavioral Sciences majors study a combination of psychology, biomedical science, and social science to examine complex problems of human growth and behavior.
COMPUTER FORENSICS Computer Forensics majors fight computer crime by collecting and analyzing digital data. This career includes being able to get through tough firewalls and encryption codes.
CRIMINOLOGY Criminology majors study nature, extent, causes, control, in order to prevent and or discover criminal behavior. It also includes finding the causes for the crime and involves a lot of criminal psychology.
NEUROSCIENCE
Neuroscience majors study the brain behavior relationships to understand roles in animal and human behavior. In addition students will learn the evolution of the brain, nervous system and both normal and abnormal behavior.
SPEECH PATHOLOGY Speech Pathology majors study speech, communication, voice, fluency, language, swallowing disorders, and the research of treatment for these.
URBAN PLANNING Urban Planning majors study the socio-economic conditions behind housing projects in the city. They also study the effect of public transportation in suburban areas. graphic by
Alyssa Rojas and Blancah Mendoza
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Junior Rosalind Carver files paper in the Boss Center. Students participate in many tasks from copying and printing papers to sharpening testing pencils.
be good employees and develop good working habits. If Jannay wanted anyone to know anything about the Boss Center, she’d want them to realize all the hard work they do and the effort they put into their job. She enjoys working with them and believes they deserve more credit than they get. “When we get a real job, we’re prepared for it,” senior Jeanette Ixta said. Ixta sees helping out as easy and fun. Fridays are her favorite days because the students are able to receive prizes from the rewards they earned from helping out. For junior Rosalind Carver, she enjoys hole punching and delivering papers to teachers. Occasionally, while working, Carver will get confused on knowing how to do certain things. But still, she keeps working. “I’m learning new stuff,” she said. “It’s a fun place here, and it helps if you want a job like this in the future.” Before Jannay took over the position of running the Boss Center, the previous teacher had the students doing activities. Now it’s a copy center. “It’s evolved,” Jannay said. Special Education Department Chair Pam Curtin says the Boss Center is an excellent class. “They do real jobs and they take pride in their work,” Curtin said. “They provide a great service for the school and their work will help them throughout their whole life to become successful adults .” Senior Hillary Scott is filled with happiness when she talks about her job at the Boss Center. “It’s very fun, and the benefits are good,” she said. Whether she’s filing papers, hole punching, or delivering, she has a good time doing it all. She loves her job. Teachers are some of the most grateful for the class. Social Studies Department Chair Audrey Weir-Graham appreciates all the effort the students put into their work. If she gives them something to get done, and doesn’t need it for a week, they’ll come in the same day with it ready, and finished. “The students are diligent,” Weir-Graham said. “They come with an attitude of service.” Jannay says she has some of the best kids in school; they work hard, and she’s happy to be there with them.
Behind the Curtin Teacher’s humble surface hides dedicated life
JadaJohnson Three siblings race up the mountain top, yards away from their vacation cabin. Two boys and a girl, one boy always trailing his brother and sister. “I admire my parents so much,” Special Education Department Chair Pamela Curtin said, “because they let him be a kid.” His heart was considered special. His life was considered to be a miracle. The surgery he was to endure was considered to be just that. “We knew anything could happen, that it could come at any time.” The day came when Curtin was only 6 years old. An experimental surgery -- one that got headline recognition -- failed to fix his heart defect. Her brother died. For a woman who claims she’s a boring person, she’s anything but. When Curtin was 21, she volunteered at the Hanot Foundation, where she worked with disabled adults. She had always known that she wanted to help people, but it was there that she found her calling. “When I was younger, my family always focused on helping others,” Curtin said. “We always made sure people had somewhere to be on Christmas.” When she lost her brother, she had the support of the neighborhood. Her childhood values echoed throughout her adulthood. Now, she works with both high school and college students with special needs. “I’ve worked with one of my students since he was in high school,” Curtin said. The student is now 62.
She recognizes the difference in kids today versus when she was in high school. “Students these days have greater needs,” she said. Because special needs go to public schools rather in special education facilities, students endure the high school experience the way their nondisabled peers do. Curtin believes this is a good thing. “They have just as many rights to access society the way everyone else does,” she said. However, she does feel that society today is more accepting to people with disabilities. There are
still some untouchables, Curtin said, but she hopes that it’ll get easier, socially, for everyone. In class, much of the time is spent preparing the students for the real world. They learn skills to benefit things like money management, similar to the course Economics for general education students. This will come in handy when the students must live on their own. Curtin has spent 36 years working with the disabled community. When she isn’t, she’s up in the mountains, just up the hill from her childhood memories.
photo by
Blancah Mendoza
Pam Curtin, Special Education Department Chair, has worked with special needs students for 36 years.
1.31.14
Entertainment ‘Lone Survivor’
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6
Dances
creates realistic emotions
of the last decade
Walk It Out 2006 (Dem Franchize Boys)
JessicaMangili
Lean Wit It 2006 (Dem Franchize Boys)
The Dougie 2007 The Jerk 2009 (Cali SwagDistrict) (New Boyz)
Cat Daddy 2011 (Rej3ctz)
Nae Nae 2014 (WeAreToonz)
I sat on the edge of my seat with my knees pulled into my chest. My partially covered eyes began to tear up as my heart dropped into my stomach. I could feel each blow the soldiers received as they tumbled down the rocky mountain side in my own gut. For two hours I was not in a movie theater but thousands of miles away in a foreign country fearing for my life. “Lone Survivor” is not your typical war movie. Often, war movies are criticized for glorifying war. And in a sense they do. The typical war movie has a hero that dies for their country. Every war movie has someone who defies the odds by enduring wounds inflicted by the enemy and survives. But like many movies from this century, it is more than just that. Through a carefully composed soundtrack, good acting, and a realistic plot line, director Peter Berg highlights the side of war that is unseen by the public. The soundtrack for the movie is primarily composed by Texas band Explosions in the Sky, most famously known for their hand in the movie “Friday Night Lights.” Their fully instrumental songs not only guide the viewer through the movie, but allow them to feel the emotion of the situation. Much of the beauty in this movie that makes it stand out from others comes through the adrenaline rush the viewer experiences along side the actors. At first I was skeptical because Mark Wahlberg portrays the main character, who traditionally plays a more comedic action filled role. I was reassured because his ability to capture the essence of a terrified soldier
Realistic plot lines and a killer soundtrack help show the complexity of war and is a must see for audiences who have the maturity to handle the content.
Visit staggonline.net Stagg Line staff
‘SNL’ expands cast Mainstream media lacks accurate representation of people
AdriannaOwens
When people watch satirical shows like “Saturday Night Live,” they laugh. But what’s not funny is the problem with diversity in shows and movies in mainstream media. While the shows are supposed to be a depiction of the real world, viewers are often left with an image that isn’t accurate. Jay Pharoah, now in his fourth season of SNL, was initially hired after his Obama
photo courtesy of
Creative Commons
impersonations went viral on YouTube. The African American comedian is now starring in films such as “Ride Along,” which is currently a box office favorite. His impressions are hilarious and his career is expanding. My point, though, is that he wasn’t known before the show. He was “YouTube famous,” yes, but he wasn’t on a highly rated television show. So for Kenan Thompson to say that they couldn’t find a female black comedian with enough experience is outrageous. Pharaoh wasn’t well known and had no
background in television before they found him. They could have just as easily found a female as they found him. Lacking a female African American cast member, the show has had Thompson play all of the black roles — including the female roles. While it is obviously funny to see him portray Whoopi Goldberg, it’s not right. The viewers notice immediately that SNL isn’t diverse. Lorne Michaels, producer of the show, was criticized for not having a female African American comedian on the show for six years. And now, after lacking diversity for so long, the show has cast Sasheer Zamata, who debuted on Jan. 18. So the story ends there, right? Wrong. Many critics responded by saying that she was hired just so the show didn’t have to be under fire anymore for their lack of a diverse cast. SNL should be diverse, but for the right reasons. And if their reasoning behind
‘Lone Survivor’ Overall
To see the mystery dancer
graphic by
that is trying to remain calm and strong for his troops was remarkable. The movie is also criticized for the exclusive use of variations of the f-word — over 200 times. Yes it is a bit excess of, but at the same time it makes the movie more realistic. If I was being shot at my ruthless al Qaeda soldiers, the f-word would probably slip out of my mouth a bit, too. War is often depicted as a black and white situation. We need to go into war or not go in war. The soldiers either killed someone or didn’t. “Lone Survivor’s” realistic plot shows the unseen struggle soldiers experience when trying to do the “right thing.” The group of Navy SEALS endured on their mission to capture al Qaeda leader Ahmad Shahd, while a family of mountain herders working for the al Qaeda discovers them. After the SEALS capture the family of two young boys and their father, they must decide how to take action. If they follow rules of engagement and don’t kill the captives they are putting their lives in danger of becoming captured themselves. And possibility being killed. On the other hand if they kill them they will be forced to be criticized by the American public and face time in prison. Much of the audience was actually rooting for the group to kill the herders and protect themselves. Yet, if we would hear about the situation on the news we would be horrified. While much of the plot line is given away in the title, “Lone Survivor” is a must see for all audiences to help understand the complexities of war.
hiring her was to please the people, to calm the waters, then it’s not right. The show is meant to portray the real world. And the stereotypical white (and generally good-looking) males that are cast on the show do not depict the country at large. The people need mainstream representation. Because SNL is about real people and real life events, they need this same diversity in their skits. They need to cast a diverse group of comedians to show their viewers that the world is made up of many different races — all of which can be funny. Zamata is a wonderful comedian. She hasn’t been on the show for long, so it’s hard to tell if she’s brought the rating up. She is, in my book, wellsuited for the show. Expanding the cast will make SNL funnier in the long run. Don’t get me wrong, the show is already funny, but there is room for improvement. A good first step is a more diverse cast.
examplesof
Diversity
Though many mainstream shows are lacking in diversity, here are some shows that depict the real world accurately. “Orange is the New Black” This Netflix original series brings different races, genders, sexualities, shapes, and sizes into a realistic show about all of life’s hardships, including prison.
“The Walking Dead”
This action-packed show clearly showcases every gender and various dialects. AMC brings the characters to life by giving them truthful back stories that many people can relate to, even in an apocalyptic setting. graphic by
Adrianna Owens
Sports
Shooting Player’s height boosting up team
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BlancahMendoza He’s the first one you notice on the court. He shoots, he scores. Sophomore Kenneth Wooten is a starting center on the boys varsity basketball team. He is 6’4” and weighs 185 pounds but is told that he will be 6’9” by the time he stops growing. Wooten averages about 7.5 points, eight rebounds and four blocks per game, but had a total of 16 points at his best game in Gregori High School. He is slowly leading his team to victory. They’re 2-2 in league right now. Wooten has been a big asset to the team, not just physically, but skillfully as well. He was awarded player of the game against Lincoln. “He’s one of the top rebounders and is pretty good at what he does,” coach Ryan Berg said. His goal for the season is to work with his team and make it to playoffs. photos by It all started in eighth Araceli grade when his parents Valencia pushed him to play basket-
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To see highlights from the season, Visit staggonline.net ball, because of his height. Wooten confesses to being terrible when he began. With hard work and dedication he became better. He has improved so much, making the varsity basketball team as a sophomore. This is a big privilege for him. “It is more than a sport and I take it very serious,” Wooten said. Recently Wooten has experienced some comparison from coaches and other players. He is being compared to the St. Mary’s senior Gabriel Vincent,
who averages 23 points, three assists, and nine rebounds per game. However, Wooten has different opinions about it. “I like to stay humble and I don’t think nothing of it.” Vincent has a similar opinion. “I don’t worry too much about comparisons, just try to play my game and win,” he said. The two athletes will play on two occasions and are both expected to give their best. Aside from the comparison and competition, Wooten plans to work even more to be able to play at a higher level. “It’s my ticket to college and it keeps me off the streets.” He plays for his parents and gets most of his inspiration from them. “They started me off and now I play for them.” Basketball is his second life. It helps him stay focused in school. He also has a lot of support from his team and coach. Teammate Anthony Wimmer, senior, says Wooten is “unselfish and does what’s needed for the team to win.” Although Wooten has become a key player, he often struggles as a center because of his weight. He is extremely tall and slim and he doesn’t have the body muscle to sustain his balance, so he gets pushed down easily. To gain muscle Wooten is focusing on post moves and weights. At first he didn’t think they were that important until he learned his potential. Now that he knows his potential Wooten feels good to know he will go somewhere. Playing basketball at the next level is his ultimate goal. His dream college is University of California Berkeley. After college ball he hopes to play for the Kings. “Kenny is a great person,” Berg said. “He comes in every day and does everything.”
Trading pom pons for boots ‘I treat my team AraceliValencia “I decided it’s time to do what I wanted to do She puts her poms pons away. This time she which is be in the Navy,” she said. picks up her black leather combat boots, lacing up On Feb. 10, she will depart to Sacramento to each hole one by one. The biggest day of her life is spend the night in a hotel. The next day she’ll leave almost here. Her bags are packed, her hair is cut to to Great Lakes, Ill. Jackson will spend six months her jawline, the time is counting down. She says over there: nine weeks at boot camp and the rest goodbye to cheer teams, but they know she’ll be at school, studying to be a machinist mate. A maback to visit. chinist mate is a person who controls and maintains “She was a good coach, I’m going to miss her,” the ships’ steam turbines and gears used to make it sophomore Mika Olacio said. “She pushed us a move forward. lot.” “I’m very excited,” Jackson said. “I’m so excited I Her duty now won’t be coaching young girls to have a countdown on my phone.” cheer — it will be to serve the country. At boot camp, she will have to adapt to her envi Cheer coach April Jackson is now getting ready ronment. She will be sharing a room, shower and to pursue something she’s been waiting to do her bathroom with 60 girls. whole life. Her workouts are six days a week and there will She signed up to be in the Navy. be constant yelling. Once she begins, she will be “I’m carrying on the family tradition,” she said. considered an E3 seaman, which explains that she photo by Araceli Valencia “Everybody but my dad and uncle were in the Navy.” Jackson was enlisted and her entry rank. The saddest part about leaving, she said, prom queen and played many sports such as cheerleading, which she will be leaving behind her autistic nephew, whom she has raised since did for 10 years. he was a baby. She fears that her departure will disrupt his schedule After graduating from Linden, she went to Delta College for three and that he will forget her. After she’s gone, the cheer teams will be left years. She was unsure and kept switching her major, which caused her in the hands of the varsity coach, Yvette Broderick. to take more classes and it became expensive. Then she realized she “(It’s) sad, because she got really close,” freshman Jordyn Garcia didn’t like college. said. “She’s like a mom to us.”
pinning down the points Have you ever sat at a wrestling match and wondered how they award the winner? The wrestler with the most points at the end of the match wins. Here are ways a wrestler could possibly score.
like my kids’ RubiRico
Shanon Markley— coach, teacher, and mother figure. Markley is the coach for the boys and girls tennis team as well as current JV girls basketball. But she is not your “everyday” coach. As told by the team, coach Markley isn’t exactly the “mean” coach you dread to see everyday at practice. “Coach Markley is cool and laid back but hard when she needs to be,” sophomore Charmaigne Gresham said. Markley consider the girls she coaches family to her — as are all her teams. “I have a close relationship with all of my players,” Markley said. “They are my kids.” The JV girls basketball team, definitely feels her love. “Coach Markley is a kind person,” sophomore Leslie Lopez said. “She really cares about all of us.” Markley likes to treat her team with respect. “I treat them the same way I would if they were my kids,” she said. “I never put them down.” Rather than yelling at the girls and making them feel worse — Markley’s motherly senses kick in and she comforts them by telling them, “keep trying, never give up.” Coach Markley is said by her team to be very supportive.
“Whenever I do something wrong in the game she doesn’t just start to yell at me, she gives me tips on what I can do better,” Gresham said. One may wonder why her coaching style isn’t like the typical aggressive coach. The answer is simple. “It is not all about winning,” Markley said. “It is about being a family and having a good time together.” She would rather have her team lose and have a tight bond rather than them win and not like one another. For Markley it isn’t that difficult to balance her “mom” and coach side. When on the court, she is their coach — Markley is there to help them out when they need advice during a game or practice. But if a player of hers is not exactly having the best day, that’s when she begins to play the mom role. Markley pulls them aside and figures out what’s wrong, and if there’s nothing wrong, she likes to sit down with all of her players and see what’s going on in their life anyway. “Coach Markley really is one of the best coaches,” sophomore Lupita Barbosa said. “We are so lucky to have her as our coach.’”
NEARFALL +1 - +3
You get near fall points when you almost but not quite get your opponent pinned.
ESCAPE +1 Scoring a point for getting away or getting to a neutral position when the opponent has them down on the mat
TAKEDOWN +2 Scoring points by taking down the opponent to the mat and controlling him/her
REVERSAL +2
Scoring points when the opponent has you down on the mat and you come from underneath and gain control of the opponent graphic by
Fe Valencia
photo by Jessica
Mangili
JV basketball and tennis coach Shannon Markley laughs at sophomore Leslei Lopez as she imitates her.
News
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Students help English learners to pass CAHSEE with tutoring WilliamAlexander Rapid Spanish is spoken from a few tables away. The sight is of eight people, three of them seem to be helping the rest. As you lean in for a closer look, you see practice CAHSEE tests.The five ,who are being tutored, are reading and writing with obvious enthusiasm. The tutors seem to have a little trouble, pulling out phones to use Google Translate or asking their tutees how to say a word. These three are tutoring the other five to pass the CAHSEE, a daunting exit exam that fails many students who don’t speak English primarily. Seniors Teresa Zacarias, Anamaria Bautista, Salvador Pasillas and Dellanira Alcauter go every Monday and Wednesday from 2:30 to 3:30, to the Homework Center to help. This tutoring has been going on for about 2 months .These tutors were recruited by biology teacher Marcus Sherman to give these students a fair chance to pass the CAHSEE, as many have already taken it once and failed. Homar Juarez, who teaches U.S. History and English Language Development, believes that this is a good thing. ”I think this is awesome. We should be doing this for all languages,” said Juarez,”There is a kid that knows Mandarin and is helping students that also speak Mandarin but not English.” Sherman has been trying to get students who speak other languages to tutor those who only
speak that language as well. These four seniors are dedicated to their tutees. They go over practice tests with them and try to help them with their reading and writing strategies. The tutors mostly work on writing strategies because the majority of the tutees understand what they are reading,but they aren’t as adept in writing. They struggle with poems and figurative language. Because the CAHSEE is only given in English, many students struggle. These students know not much english and struggle to grasp the nuances of it’s scripture. The tutors think that is fair to a certain extent, but think students who only know enough English to get by should be given a chance to take it in Spanish. There are four tutors for around eight students.The number of students and tutors fluctuate from session to session. “We would be glad to have more Spanish tutors come out and help so instead of taking two students each, we can work oneon-one,” said Zacarias. This last Wednesday during a tutor session, it was observed that these tutees feel very comfortable around their tutors. They seem to be relaxed and to have a good grasp of what their tutors are explaining. When their tutors asked for help with words in Spanish or pulled out a phone to translate Not all of these students need the same help. Brenda Murilla comes in every day and is said to
photo by
Senior Salvador Pasillas volunteers his afternoon to help one of the tutees with questions in a booklet compiled of practice CAHSEE questions. be making good progress by her tutors. Other students are less enthusiastic or confident. Even though these students really need this help, they don’t always show up. This worries Pasillas and the other tutors because they know if these students don’t come in they
will not pass the CAHSEE. Zacarias and the other tutors feel as though this challenges them sometimes. Their Spanish is a little rusty and require help from the tutees and Google Translate. Through this, though, they feel that they are sharpening their Spanish skills and expand-
ing the tutees’ knowledge of English and its nuances. The tutors do better than they think. During the session, they translated well and helped their tutees have a better understanding of the material. They are adequately explain-
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Recap
Senior Davon Gillum won first prize of $20 and Joshua Denny received the consolation $10 gift card to Cold Stone Creamery for the dance off.
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health office. This would allow them to both take part in mediations and be occupied for the full two hours. Many of this year’s mediators chose to not take that opportunity because they could not fit it into busy schedules. This also presented a problem because mediators were not able to be pulled out of class. “Since most of the conflict mediators take Advanced Placement classes it is hard to pull them out of their class for the mediations,” Rauzi said. Although the program has not been as proactive, mediators have still made an impact with the 35 mediations they have done this year so far. Senior Mitchell Woodbury is the only student who is a T.A. for the health office. He enjoys helping others and knowing he is making a difference, but being the main mediator and sometimes the only mediator he struggles. ”I may not be the best for someone, but maybe a girl mediator is,” Woodbury said. Rauzi hopes the program will expand and evolve into a class once again. She also hopes that more advertising will make students aware of this program. Rauzi has come to prove that no matter the program’s shortcomings, she is not going to give up. She is going to continue to help students in every way she possibly can. “I’m really missing what we had last year,” Rauzi said. “Hopefully next year, I’ll be able to have at least one class.”
The teachers won against the students in the Quiz Off and got a complimentary lunch from De Vinci’s.
ing the subjects, as shown by the looks of understanding that pass through the tutees eyes. The tutors feel as though they are making an impact.Zacarias also feels that every time a student comes in and gets help, that she helps them come closer to a good life.
Cla m
While the conflict mediation program has been successful in the past, this year it has not reached its full potential, according to Judy Rauzi, Healthy Start coordinator. This is due to the lack of a class, which prevents mediators from available to students for a certain period. Rauzi said there were more meditations last year than this year. The program was more successful because the students in the class were able to advertise their services. Being proactive allowed the student body to be aware of the program. “The team was more visible last year and was able to plan events that broadcasted the program,” Rauzi said. This year mediations are more based on a reference by administration after an altercation. The program is designed to resolve fights before things get out of hand or administration is forced to suspend or expel a student. However, a student can go to see a conflict mediator with any problem, personal or not. Rauzi chose to not have a class this year because she felt that she could not provide enough education to her students for a two hour block. Along with benefiting other students, she felt that the students in the class should receive some benefit as well. A lot of it comes down to the fact that she is not trained as a teacher - she is only a coordinator. But she did offer students a chance to T.A. for the
Dellanira Alcauter
Throughout the annual service week Key Club collected a total of 56 cans and $45.
Teacher Kathy Sady defended her title for the third consecutive year, and even beat out the student stare off winner senior Melvin Flax.
Senior Brian Walker wonthe walk off against Don Bott. They don’t call him Walker for nothing!
Angel Gonzalez Trisha Newman
graphic by and