the
StaggLine
Portrayed as safer than alcohol and marijuana, the drugs Syrup and Spice are rising in popularity among teens. Research reveals Syrup to be not such a fun cocktail while Spice has proven to have unexpected side effects after just one use. Is experimenting with these drugs worth the health risk?
BlancahMendoza
A simple solution of chemicals gives off an intense feeling in the mind, body, and spirit. Syrup, a toxic drink that contains promethazine and/ or codeine mixed with Sprite, is becoming as popular as it is accessible, according to student sources, who agreed to speak anonymously. Some hip hop artists, have confessed to using the drug in their songs. Since it is a liquid Syrup can be easier to sneak in places, even in school. One student said, “It helps me sleep, relax, and makes me feel good. It is not affecting someone else so it’s not as bad.” Another student who only just tried the drug once said, “People probably die from it. It’s bad for your body, and these rappers promote it?” The safety hazards of consuming this concoction vary from skill impairment, and dysfunction in consciousness. The higher the dosage of promethazine and codeine consumed elevates the danger. Codeine is a respiratory depressant and when large amounts of it are consumed it can cause the user to stop breathing. It takes anywhere from two to five minutes to kick in. Then the mind becomes a recluse from this world. Thirty minutes into the high, users say, hallucination occurs, and
Saying goodbye — See pages 4&5
it’s like walking in another setting, talking to people whom one has never seen, and then it all goes black. However Syrup is not the only drug students use to get high. Spice, or K2, is a synthetic type of cannabis, but like normal cannabis users smoke it and it to get an instant high. Spice is a homemade drug containing natural herbs and synthetic chemicals. When used, it creates psychoactive effects on its consumer In some cases Spice can be sold in common household items. In the case of the senior, the drug was given by a friend. “He probably knew it would hurt me but I was curious.” Another senior student sees it differently. “You just smoke it and its completely legal, you can buy it at smoke shops.” However spice should not be sold at smoke shops. It is an illegal drug due to its compounds of synthetic chemicals. One senior reflected that after passing out for an hour decided that it was a one time thing. He said he now knows what it is like to be a slave to the drug’s effects — off course and utterly high for a few minutes but detrimental to his health for the long term. His words were “I just wanted to try it. I didn’t know it could put holes in your stom-
ach.” Spice can cause irregular heartbeat, vomiting, tremors, elevated blood pressure, seizures, and other harmful feelings and actions. Principal Andre Phillips said he was not aware of Spice but had knowledge of Syrup. Currently there are no reported hallucinogens or use of Spice on campus. Yet there are Stagg students who admit to using Spice and Syrup routinely. But administration is not able to discipline students until it takes place on campus. In that case it would be treated as any illegal drug: three to five days of suspension and cited by the police if they wish to do so. It is a lot harder to enforce discipline on Syrup because students can come on campus with bottles from stores and home. However, If an administrator feels suspicion he or she can contact officers to test the substance. If a person is high in school or giving off suspicions of being high Healthy Start coordinator Judy Rauzi is trained to make an assessment to see if a student has consumed drugs. It is no doubt that these drugs contain chains of addiction. Whether it begins affecting the ratio of students who use it now or later, sacrifices will be made and prices will be paid.
Graphic by Jerry Garcia
READY, SET, APPLY:
photo by Jada Johnson
In addition to building racecars, students also had a workbook to fill out. The workbook contains problems related to building the professional car.
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BottomLine Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207
05.16.14
Vol. 57 No. 8
PhillicityUriarte-Jones Upon walking into classrooms K-9 and K-3, you will notice there is not a teacher addressing the class. This does not mean there is not any instruction given in these classes, nor does it signify a neglecting teacher. Small groups of students are scattered throughout the classroom, talking amongst themselves, working amongst themselves. As of next year, the amount of multiple choice tests will be greatly minimized. This eliminates the “plug-in” method that many students rely on to answer those seemingly impossible questions. No more crossing out the obviously wrong and picking the more likely of the answers you can not decide on. Common Core will be enforced and integrated into everything we do. Because of this huge step, teachers have begun preparing students for this new way of learning. Yet, math teachers have taken it a step further. This is the mousetrap project. Some classes are making their cars run a straight track and the others are working with a circular path. The cars are made of a mousetrap, planks of wood, disks
Students put Common Core skills to action by building racecars
“ As we modify
it, we have to change the math accordingly.” TiffaniZermeno
senior
for wheels and so on. Each group is given $10 for additional materials, but what they use is their choice. Kevin Johnson, sophomore, said, “Sometimes it’s stressing.” His group, like many other groups, has been working on ensuring his vehicle turns properly and the deceleration won’t leave the car stranded in the middle of the doughnut shaped track. Though the building is not the only thing they have to concern themselves with. Tiffani Zermeno, senior, said “As we modify it, we have to change the math accordingly.” Math must accompany the car to prove their alterations. This in itself becomes extremely complicated and many times few of the groups completely understand and find the correct answers. Though this is a competi-
photo by
Fe Valencia
Junior Celeste Barajas is winding up the car for a practice run on the track. The goal is to keep the car inside the track. tion, the students in each class are united in a way. Working together to make their cars better and the overall calm atmosphere within the classrooms has been observed by the teacher. “They don’t seem to be taking this as an aggressive competition,” said Kathy Sady, one of the teachers participating in the project. Students can be seen observing others’ cars to see how they can modify theirs and offering bits of advice to those who are making the same mistakes they
Solar panels
Minimum days
Graduation
The west parking lot will be closed on Monday, May 19, while solar panels are being added. The parking lot should reopen when the placement of the solar panels is finished.
May 28 and 29 are both minimum days. School will start at its regular time of 7:25 a.m. and end at 12:19 p.m.. The last week of school, June 2-4, are also minimum days.
The ceremony will take place June 3, at the Stockton Arena and will begin at 6. No balloons or blow horns are allowed in. Parking is $15 if parking in the garage.
had. However, they all treat it as a competition. They all want their car to be better. They all want to receive the best grade. They all want to win. To make the best model they can, they observe real race cars. Basing their models and building off of the most aerodynamic cars, they improve the functionality of their own. This is the main idea of Common Core, using what you learn in school in the real world. This is the start of something new, this is the start pistol in the race to achieve. Find us on Facebook Search for “The Stagg Line” Follow us on Twitter @staggonline
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Opinion
5.16.14
STAFF EDITORIAL
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Common Core prepares for real world
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Once you are at the point of filling the application out, you see many questions asking about your past experiences, career interests, and a little autobiography about yourself. Writing a job application requires an explanation and an understanding of what the business is asking. This is how Common Core can prepare students for real world applications in the future. Math classes including Kathy Sady’s, Julie Backster’s, and Andrew Walter’s are constructing a mousetrap car this month relevant to Common Core. This project is designed for students to dig below the surface by determining how to make the car move a certain distance. In this project, students must use their critical thinking skills if they wish to have a successful car that moves. Assembling a mousetrap car is a great idea to prepare for the new standard taking place this year. Some of the math embedded in the project includes calculating acceleration, distance, and revolutions per minute, Backster explains. It will give students an overview of what Common Core requires to carry to the next level of high school. Common Core will help many students with understanding concepts in math, English, science, and history. It will be a great benefit for students to use for job applications and careers.
he options when taking multiple choice tests are either A, B, C, or D. Luckily students have a 50 percent chance of getting the correct answer when eliminating two answers. Good or bad, students are acclimated to the bubble-in process since they entered the first grade. The new learning standard taking place this upcoming school year is Common Core, which will be hard to adjust to. Although Common Core prepares students for college, many students are disappointed with the prospect of this new standard bringing their grades down. We believe Common Core is a great standard to switch to because it may bring students’ progress up. There is a possibility of students failing tests because we are not trained and are used to our bubble-in system. In the case of taking a written response test, you must know how to explain the steps in a chronological order. A Common Core test allows for no guessing. Therefore, a way to avoid being clueless is taking the time to ask questions and focus in class. This will help those who are worried about the written response part of the test. Common Core can benefit students in the long run. For example, it can help us with real world applications such as applying for a job.
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Race doesn’t define character
hear it almost every day in the halls: the negative insults, the rude comments and the constant whispering and snickering behind my back, and all of this because of the color of my skin and not who I am as a person. More than three times a day, I’m asked “what” I am. And every time I hear the question, my stomach twists into a tight knot. Instead of pushing them away or simply ignoring them, I just mutter that I’m part Japanese, Mexican and Irish. This, in return, only brings about bouts of laughter as if my response is a joke. Just because my skin is neither tan nor white and my hair is coarse and frizzy instead of nice and straight, I’m known as an “outcast” or an “alien.” But in reality, I’m just like any other 15-year-old girl with dreams of hitting it big. If people could see behind the color of my skin, they would realize it. The act of targeting and/or belittling certain individuals because of their race, ethnicity and religion is called racial profiling and it can be found all over the world, not just in a school campus. Every day, according to the National Citizens study, millions of people ranging from different ages are victims of racial profiling. Since when did stereotypes and generalizations define our character? Most opinions of people today are based off what other people have told us and what we assume. But if we just take the time to actually get to know a person and what makes them so different, then we can truly know what type of person they really are. I understand that when something breaks
a set pattern that we are so accustomed to, we don’t know what to do. We tend to laugh to ease the tension or pretend that we didn’t notice. But Mariposa what most of us don’t know is Guerrero that ignoring it or making a joke can hurt others. So instead of doing the latter, we can welcome it. Sooner or later, our lives will change and morph due to differences and changes, but that’s a part of growing up. For me, growing up, the only family I knew was on my father’s side. But once my mother and father divorced, I suddenly found myself surrounded by my mother’s family members who said they loved me, but I had no idea who they were. I soon learned that between the two sides, there was turmoil. My mother came from a very protective Mexican-Japanese household, and when they learned she got pregnant with me by a Mexican-Irish man, they disowned her. It hurts me to know that my mother’s part of the family— full of cousins, aunts and uncles— was taken from me because they didn’t like the color of my father’s skin. What we need to understand as a whole is that America is a land full of unique people. Many people immigrated here for the hopes of having a better life, and because of this, we all come from different backgrounds. Instead of being ashamed of it, we need to embrace it. We are the outcome of this major event, and though we may all be different, that event binds us together.
tend to “We laugh to ease
the tension or pretend that we didn’t notice. But ignoring it or making a joke can hurt others.”
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Genders get judged by attire
t’s that time of the year when our bodies are thrown into the heat of summer. Slushies from the snack bar, complaints of no air conditioning, and the rays of scorching Marleene sunlight are all Pheav part of the season. It’s a time full of long days and (hopefully) cool nights. But God forbid your shorts are above your fingertips. If they are, some adult will hunt you down, ask you where your morality lies, and force you to put on P.E. shorts. Failure to do so results to in-school detention. Rules are set for legitimate reasons; it’s understandable. Dress codes are implemented for the safety and concern of our school faculty. Everyone should dress accordingly. But someone should not feel ashamed for what they are wearing. Even if it is against the rules, they shouldn’t be told to not wear certain clothing because “they don’t respect themselves.” A person can be naked and should still be respected. A person can be naked and still respect themselves. That’s not saying students should be running around campus nude. They should wear whatever they deem comfortable, whether it’s short shorts or long skirts. What genuinely disgusts me is when people say we cannot wear certain apparel because “it’s distracting.” Is a boy really going to jump out of his seat and be mesmerized by a girl’s visible bra strap? Or are girls really going to squeal and drool over a guy’s bare shoulders? Telling people to dress “appropriately” to not attract the attention of others is basically saying, “Look at what she’s wearing, how could we expect him to control himself?”
Let’s say a man is walking down the street with a bag filled to the brim with money. He’s just minding his own business, making his way towards the local bank. He isn’t asking anyone to steal his money. It’s what people perceive incorrectly and what causes them to do immoral acts. So if a woman is walking down the street in a tank top and shorts, is she asking anyone to flirt with her? No. Is she asking to be cat-called? No. If she is harassed and is uncomfortable, the man isn’t responsible, it’s her fault for dressing like that. This is what leads to and perpetuates rape culture. People should dress to their own standards, not to accommodate others. We should teach people to esteem others rather than teaching them to confine themselves behind the restrictions of the dress code. The rules are justifiable, but they should not be represented in a way that condemns one for their body. How are we expected to accept and love our bodies when we are punished because of them?
me on and being the voice to help me improve. But the miles we’ll be apart are just numbers. Phone calls, Facetime, or even the occasional SnapChat selfie will keep us together. She’ll be out in the real world pursuing her dreams and I’ll be here, creating a path for my brother to follow.
Art by Marleene Pheav
Following in her footsteps
he wakes up every day tired but gets ready for school because she knows there are people counting on her. She grabs her black glasses she’s had since freshman year, puts them on and smiles at her reflection. Then she looks at me and asks,“Do I look okay?” Everyone has that one person that inspires them. For me this person is my sister, Fe Valencia. I look up to her, not because she taller than me — although she is — but because she’s independent. She doesn’t let anyone bring her down. She never gives up. When I was younger, I was known as “Fe’s little sister,” or “Little Fe.” I’d just nod because I knew I’d always want to be like her. She has taught me so many things, from learning how to work a camera to curling my hair. As an athlete, she’s constantly telling me to try my best. During every game, over a crowd of screaming photo by Devin Wickstrom fans, I hear her holler something like set higher, Araceli Valencia escorts her sister at her dribble with my head up, or sprint the last lap. senior night, last volleyball season.
Like everyone, she has her faults. She isn’t Araceli perfect. In the Valencia morning she’s grouchy. She always dictates us around to do stuff for her. Yes, there are moments when we fight, argue, and scream at each other. But that’s what makes us sisters. All the good times overpower the bad. When she leaves in the fall to attend UC Irvine, it’ll be my turn to step up and fill all the footsteps she’s left. My brother will be a freshman next year and it’s my duty to guide him through everything like she did for me. She’ll no longer be in the room next door to me. All the photographs will be just a memory of how it was when she was here. I won’t have her to be at every game cheering
Courtesy of Araceli Valencia
Araceli has always had Fe by her side, blazing a trail for “Celi” to follow.
Opinion
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5.16.14
UNEXPECTED GOODBYES Three girls tell how the loss of a male figure inspired them to keep pushing on and overcome adversity
Parents’ divorce is ‘a good thing’
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fter all of this time, I still remember the day he left. April 6, 2006. This day brought a time of darkness in my life. I’d sit in isolation. I’d separate myself from the kids around me, the “normal” kids, because they didn’t have to go through what I was going through. They wouldn’t understand that my family had to make up for the lost space. We had to take on the responsibilities that a father normally would. They wouldn’t understand that I no longer had time to play tag or climb a jungle gym. I had to grow up at the age of 8. As a third grader, what I didn’t realize was that his leaving brought light. My mom has been both a mother and a father; she’s held her own and carried the weight of three children. It’s astonishing to see how far she’s pushed herself because of her children. We were her motivation. Not having another parent around the house forced me to grow up faster than most children, but it also gave me a deeper insight. I now know what kind of guy to look out for. When I was 10 years old I was doing chores, making dinner, and tucking my little brother into bed while my mom worked rigorous hours trying to make ends meet. It was stressful, but we managed. With all of the commoTrisha tion that was Newman going on in such a short span of time my brothers and I definitely became a lot closer. We became a unit, a team. My older brother, even without the sight of a father figure, still acted as our protector. It’s like he already knew what he was supposed to do. I’m no longer the kid who avoided the jungle gym. After much talking, personal reflection and finding my salvation, I have realized that holding onto my past isn’t good. It isn’t good for anyone. It’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to be sad, but it’s also okay to get over it. The thought of another man entering my life was totally out of the question at the time. I was happy with the little family I had but I had to realize that it was selfish. Just as I had moved on, so had my mother. She started going to the gym, playing with us, and being more associated with friends. Eventually, she came across a man who was willing to take in a single mom with three kids. That came as a shock to me, so I felt cautious about him. My family may not be conventional, but we are happy. That’s all that matters. I’ve come a long way since my dad left, placing myself in honors classes, taking on sports, and having a new outlook on life. Though at the time I wasn’t able to realize it, I am grateful that I got this experience to grow. I am prepared to excel in sports. I am prepared to excel in my AP classes next year. I am prepared to excel in making important decisions in life. I am ready to conquer any darkness that may come my way now because of the things I have been through.
finding my “After salvation, I have
realized that holding onto my past isn’t good.”
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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
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Granddaughter realizes faith brings comfort
’m shaking. The shampoo is slowly drying in It doesn’t make sense. Bang. Humans evolved over milmy hair. I didn’t have time to wash it out be Things are supposed to happen lions of years as the organism began fore letting my locked out sister in the house, for a reason, but why? to adapt to changing environments. as she was sobbing and talking about an ambuIt just doesn’t make sense. Logically it makes sense, but I lance. I automatically began to think the worst — At this moment I wasn’t even Jessica couldn’t settle for that explanato prepare myself. sure if there was a God. Mangili tion. I wanted more. I wanted Just as fast as I let the thoughts form in my I found myself pondering comfort. I found myself still head I pushed them out. There was no way my whether anything close to a believing in God even though he grandfather could be dead. greater being was even a possibildisappointed me. It isn’t that I’m As I entered the hospital, the realization washed ity. And if it was, why did It take my Papa away okay with losing my grandfather. I’ll never be okay over me when I watched my father break down from me? with it and I don’t think I will ever forgive God for and sob as he attempted to tell us. I found myself Scientifically, it isn’t. Earth started with the Big taking him away from me. reaching out to a greater being. But I was in search of someI have never been one to deem thing that provided me with myself as religious. that comfort. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe That sense that even though in God, but I only went to I had no control over my life, church for weddings and funersomebody was there to listen to als. Nor have I ever read the me and somebody had a greater Bible. plan for me in the future. It just didn’t seem right to God doesn’t have to be one place an adjective on myself definitive concept. In reality He, where I didn’t fit the mold. Yet, She, or It is different for each I often found myself consulting person. Him when no one was around. God provides me with someAsking him what to do — how one to talk to. Someone to to make sense of everything. provide me with reassurance. But when I witnessed my faSomeone to provide me with ther’s break down, the questions hope. I asked were different. It doesn’t matter what you God, are you there? It’s me, Jesbelieve in as long as that belief sica. If you’re so great, how could brings you happiness. And for you let this happen? How could Courtesy of Jessica Mangili me, believing in something you take my Papa’s last breath One of senior Jessica Mangili’s favorite moments was her grandfather greater does just that. before I could even say goodbye? supporting her at homecoming.
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Daughter pursues a dream for her father
he tears have come again, non stop rolling daughter anywhere he went. off my cheeks. I hold the pictures in my All of his friends knew me Dellanira hand and hear his voice once more, “Mi from head to toe, my favorite guera, tu puedes ser lo que quieras. Pero tu don es color, my favorite snack. Alcauter hablar por la gente. Yo se que un dia tu vas a ser la But most importantly they mejor abogada de los Estados Unidos.” knew that his beloved “guera” When my father passed away, these words were was going to be a lawyer. He was all that resounded within my mind. He was run the one that always pushed me to over, thrown off the side of the road by a careless do my best in school. Getting an driver. The driver wasn’t charged with murder, education was a priority since I disappeared. It didn’t matter that wasn’t even prosecuted. He’s alive, enjoying a could remember. my mom was angry he’d begin to drink again, it beautiful spring day as I sit here and mourn my Just like any father, though, he had faults. He didn’t matter that we didn’t have money to pay the father’s death. yelled and grounded me. He drank a bit too much mortgage, and it didn’t matter that his marriage Seeing these injustices strike not only the world, sometimes. He couldn’t hold a steady job. was failing. but myself, and angers me. My jaw tightens and Looking back, none of that mattered. He is my He’d pick me up from school every day and my fists clench as I think about how this man is father. He loved me more than life itself. If times take me to the liquor store. We’d get gummy bears, walking around freely while my dad is six feet were tough, he’d give me food before he even chips, and a Mucho Mango Arizona drink, then under. thought about himself. sit in the car and listen to his Mexican Rancheras. While I think of this, I realize that the When it was us two, the world’s problems I was his little girl and as long as world will not change unless I was with him, nothing could someone stands up and fights harm me. for lost causes. I want to be He wasn’t the perfect father that someone. I want to effect but he pushed me to make sure I change. was the perfect person. Though my current career Right after he passed, it broke choice is not law, I know I my soul to know I didn’t have can make a difference through the chance to thank him one last powerful writing. I want to use time, to say goodbye. my words to help those without I felt angry. I wouldn’t have a voice. To unmask the horrors anyone to walk me down the that go unnoticed. aisle, no one to share a father My career choice has been daughter dance with, no one to influenced by my father’s death, treat me like a princess. but I am not dwelling on the Now, that almost seems silly negative. I have continued to to me. He will always be with live my life and to remember my me. His words will continue to father’s. resound in my head as I write, as As I sat in the back of my I help the people. aunt’s van, collecting donations My white girl, you can be for my father’s funeral, she whatever you want. But your gift reminded me of the good times courtesy of Dellanira Alcauter is to speak for the people. I know I shared with him, like how he one day you will be the best lawyer Dellanira Alcauter enjoys a cherished moment with her father at age 2. used to brag about me being his in the United States.
world will “The not change
unless someone fights for lost causes.”
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 JadaJohnson & DevinWickstrom Co Editors in Chief MarcellaHawkins // News Editor MicheallaFoules // Opinion Editor AlexusPlascencia // Features Editor BaylinMoran // Entertainment Editor AraceliValencia // Sports Editor EsmeraldaMascorro // Photo Editor MarleenePheav // Graphics Editor VeronicaVargo // Web Editor NuviaCervantes // Copy Editor DonBott // Adviser
WilliamAlexander MatteoDanforth JeniferFlores SathinaFlores LouisFuentez JerryGarcia MariposaGuerrero CelineLopez TrishaNewman EstefanyNunez RubiRico VanessaSalcedo ArrianaSmith LuciTomas PhillicityUriarte-Jones
SeniorStaff DellaniraAlcauter MichaelBishop JessicaCervantes YesicaIbarra JessicaMangili AdriannaOwens AlyssaRojas FeValencia BrianWalker
5.16.14
Features
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Moving forward, the rest is history Stewart Jacoby sees retiring as the next part of his journey
DevinWickstrom He’s recognizable. The short ponytail with the intellectual, thin-framed glasses seem to contradict each other; his colorful collared shirts are complemented by his silly ties. When the tall professor leaves his classroom he strides confidently while his eyes roam curiously through his surroundings. You already know who he is. Stewart Jacoby graduated from Stagg, earned his doctorate in American history with a focus on the intellectual and social side, taught in college, and came back to his alma mater to teach history. He’s had an impressive record teaching and traveling (like going to West Africa with the Peace Corps) and he can tell you every bit of it — he likes to talk with people. Just ask him something. He said this last year has been a unique experience and it’s been an honor to teach at Stagg. But he’s ending on a good note; this has been one of his most successful years. For example, the Advanced Placement U.S. History class reviewed all the chapters at least once, which may not sound
like a huge success, but ask anyone in there and they’ll say it is. And yeah, he is a history teacher, but he’s not focused on the past. No, this guy has ideas, this guy has plans. Jacoby says he’s probably going to sleep in for a while once school lets out, maybe see some friends in Oregon, go hiking (he loves the mountains), work on some projects in his barn, and tend to his garden. As anyone can see, he likes staying active. And some may not know that he loves classical music. He played the french horn in Stagg’s band when he attended and he passed on the passion to his children — his son played in solo concerts with the Russian Orchestra when he was 9. He also founded the Cincinnati Brass Fellowship in 1994, who bring together amateur and professional musicians to play together. He’s worked with many musicians from major orchestras across the U.S. when he managed a musical instrument repair shop in Cincinnati. “(And now) I’m trying to recover my ‘horn lip’ so I can play the French horn in
Taylor Garcia, senior “I like to go into his class to hang out and I can easily vent to him because he really listens.” Monica Kunz, sophomore “I went through a lot this year, and he helped me through it all. He’s someone I can trust.”
photo courtesy of
Hiking has been a favorite hobby of Stewart Jacoby since he’s been a kid. He enjoys hiking with his wife.
John Steiner tells his last joke: Why does the teacher leave? VeronicaVargo
He’s leaving. Pack up your lab books. Take off your goggles. Put away the Bunsen burner. Drain the water from the beaker. Breathe in some oxygen. Forget what you know about molar mass. The famous Steiner stare will be no more; just like the years passed — in the blink of an eye. No more funny jokes that take you 10 minutes to get. No more playing with matches. Chemistry at Stagg just won’t be the same without him. John Steiner is leaving. But he is not retiring. The former Science Department Chair will be taking on the role of president for the Stockton Teachers Association after serving as the treasurer this past year. “It’s different,” Steiner says. “Nothing can ever be more important than teaching and I’ve been blessed to have such good students.” Born in Oakland, Steiner moved to Louisiana where he eventually graduated from the University of New Orleans, launching his teaching career. He has taught at Stagg for 28 years.
In order to further the possibilities, like he hopes to do as president by having “a school within a school,” Steiner wrote and got approved the AP Chemistry course that is currently offered. English teacher and former student of Steiner, Thongthip Duangsawat says, “Juan-UNO’s
photo by phllicity uriarte-jones
Steiner explains the correct procedures of a lab.
Stewart Jacoby
(John- University of New Orleans) class was very unique.” She goes on giggling as she remembers, “Now that we are colleagues his sense of humor has amplified and I appreciate it way more than when I was a kid.” Senior Sami Nand, inspired by Steiner, has been in his class a year and a half, but the experiences he lived will last more than that. “He guided me through this journey that is high school,” Nand says. “I’m excited (to leave),” Steiner says. “When you have done what I’ve done for so long, you see the student body changing; it’s more challenging.” Leaving doesn’t mean that no one will see Steiner again. He will still be around. In fact, you could catch him at a hardware store picking up supplies for his garden or at the gym for his evening workout, leaving behind his teaching persona to face the more mature you. No matter the ridiculous things you might have done while being his student, whether that was getting an F or accidently leaving the sink running, he won’t hold a grudge. But he might stare. John Steiner is leaving. His legacy isn’t.
ensembles around the area,” he said. But that’s not all of his plans. It’s good news for the students that are going to miss him because this won’t be the last time they’re going to see him. He’s not done yet; and if you know Jacoby, you know he’s never finished, even after the bell rings. “I want to be engaged in the community,” he said. “I don’t want to run things or be the boss, but just be a team player and help out.” And he’s already getting started. Stagg has been lacking a strong Alumni Association, but Jacobi’s worked with several oth-
ers to get it going. So far it has helped the yearbook program and paid for part of the AP exams, dropping the price from $80 to $56. Besides those things, he doesn’t have a definite set of plans. But he does have some ideas. “The first few months will be a rhythm: when the fruit comes in, I’m going to be canning. My wife has a couple of projects we’re going to work on together. (But) the world is out there.” And he plans to see it. Italy, Peru, snorkeling, scuba diving — the works. “I plan to be living for a long time,” he said. “And I’m going to see where my wife and I can go.” But don’t forget he’ll still be around. Stewart Jacoby is the social studies and psychology teacher, the father and grandfather, the friend and husband. He will be retiring, but it’s only another part of the journey. He may not be a teacher after this school year, but he will still be around. The bell didn’t stop him, and neither will retirement.
Through shared stories of pain, Sharron Clayton feels comfort CelineLopez She still finds humor in the story. She remembers trying to stifle a sneeze, but the wig bounced forward anyway. When they asked why her hair did that, she pulled off her wig, revealing a few thin strands of hair left. “It made me cry,” she says now. “My students told me, ‘You know, we would shave our heads for you.’ I said, ‘Don’t. Don’t do that, my hair will grow back.’ That made me feel really good.” Back then, Sharron Clayton was losing her hair from a medication prescribed to her for an illness, causing her to have to wear a wig. Her oncologist wasn’t sure if she had leukemia or another form of cancer, but within a year of treatment, it was gone. Clayton has been in remission for eight years, and now, after 20 years as an English teacher, she’s retiring. She says her students helped her through these tough times, even searching for the hospital she was admitted in when she became ill. Her childhood was rough. Growing up, she says her family struggled with money, food and other tools that most kids have now that she didn’t. “I wasn’t like the other kids; I had patches on my clothes,” she says. “But I had a few teachers who believed in me; they motivated me.” These teachers inspired Clayton to be her best, and she takes their philosophy into her own teaching now. Many of her students feel inclined to speak to Clayton about their problems, or even just for someone to converse with. “There was a stronger bond (with her) than any other teacher I had this year,” says senior TJ Blair.
photo by
Dellanira Alcauter
Clayton reviews a student’s accomplishments on a recent project. “She actually lets you into her personal life; she’s not afraid.” But the relationship between teacher and student isn’t a one-way street. Clayton’s openness has allowed her students to feel close enough to her that they can go to her with their own problems. “I would go to her sometimes — just advice on what to do,” says Savhannah Lopez, senior, who shares this relationship with Clayton. They both listen to each other’s problems. “She’s willing to talk to every single student,” Blair says. “She’ll go out her way to help them.” In her English classes, Clayton had her kids write for a prompt asking to nominate a teacher for a “Teacher of the Year” award. She gleams at the pile of essays she’s holding. “I never thought I’d get this many responses for me.” please see CLAYTON page 8
Robert Aldrich leaves classroom behind to embrace his own art AdriannaOwens
He holds a dry-erase marker to the whiteboard and maps out the last 30 years of his life. Scribbling numbers, he realizes that his “statistics” are remarkable. Twenty-eight years in leadership and being the department chair of art. Thirty years walking in the graduations and doing the artwork for each one. Thirty years teaching here, and he’s been in the same room since day one. Robert Aldrich is packing up his art supplies and leaving after this year in order to pursue his passion for creating. He recalled on the time in which he created several paintings for the Spanos family, and wants to continue to paint. He constantly encourages students to sell their artwork in their free time, even if they do not take on a career in art. Retiring this year, he will move to Santa Cruz, where he grew up and continue to create. “I wanted to do my own art,” he said. “I’m so busy taking care
of everybody else’s creative needs that I’ve put my own creative needs on hold. I’ve been too busy to create freely.” His teaching does not stop at just the high school level. He ran the art program at the Mary Graham Children’s Center for seven years. Working with students who were physically abused or neglected in other ways, Aldrich put his own needs aside as he helped soothe their minds with art. He views his teaching position as more than sitting in his classroom five days a week. Whenever someone (in his class or not) asks him for a card, poster, banner or any other piece of art, he offers his services. He believes that many of the students come from broken homes, without enough money to buy a card. “I take care of not only the visual needs of the students but of the faculty as well,” he said. “I did big banners for WASC and any time someone is sick, I do get-well cards. Anytime there is a birthday, anniversary, holiday, you can find me doing cards.”
Cheyenne Brinton, senior “He showed me companionship and I knew that he cared about my life in and out of school. I’ll miss all of his stories and life lessons.” Anthony Loera, senior “Not only is Mr. Aldrich a wonderful teacher but he’s also a wonderful friend and he will always be there for you.” Taking a second to count on his fingers, he said, “I did 27 willyou-go-to-prom-with-me signs (this year).” For senior Cheyenne Brinton, Aldrich was a role model figure. She is sad to see him go because “he won’t be able to pass on his art techniques to other students.” Reflecting on his teaching, she said he’s more than just a teacher. “He showed me companionship, and I knew that he cared about my life in and out of school,” she said. “I’ll miss all of his stories and life lessons. The
fact that he pushes me to go to art school and reach my full potential makes me care for him. Because of him I’m thinking about (going).” Though caring and willing to lend a hand to his students, he admits that sometimes the pressure gets to him and he has to respectfully decline their wants, even though this rarely happens. “I like doing that for the kids,” he said. “But there’s a saturation point. You help everyone and do as much as you can but it’s like a sponge and sometimes you can only take so much, only help so much.” However, the 68-year-old didn’t let the stress affect his teaching and was awarded with Art Educator of the Year in Stockton in 2010. This feat, he believes, is the sole purpose of his career — to be a great educator for his students. “I’d like to think that’s why I got into education,” he said. “I wanted to make an impact. I look at you guys as the future. I’d like to think that I’ve had something to do with it.”
photo by
Adrianna Owens
Art teacher Robert Aldrich teaches students how to draw simple still-life objects.
Features
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StaggLine
‘Embracing the magic’ Motivational speaker teaches students to see positive aspects of life
VanessaSalcedo With the focus of empowerment and leadership in mind, Eddie Slowikowski is the ultimate winner. Now known as a motivational speaker, he touches the hearts of many with his bubbly personality and energetic dance moves. On Tuesday, April 22, he performed in front of two audiences in the theatre with hopes to motivate students to lead their own lives and not let the past define them. At first looking forward to just getting out of class to yet another assembly, junior Victoria Saing said it was really unexpected because he did different things; he thought the way she did. “Finally someone understood.” Slowikowski was not always known as an international speaker/trainer. He used to be a worldclass runner. He represented the United States at the 1987 Pan Am games, the 1990 USA track and field team in London, as well as the 1992 Olympic trials. He was also inducted into Loyola Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. He welcomes everybody he speaks to into his life and his mind, providing the audience
with an insight on who he is with a mixture of heartbreaking and heartwarming stories of his childhood. He teaches the significance of everyone’s past in their daily life with the assurance that it does not define who we are. He goes on to explain that the pain in life can only make us better people. His goal is to take the audience on a roller coaster ride for the realization that, “It’s all about the journey on the way to your dreams.” “I was like, I get that!” junior Nancie Tapo said. “He was really relatable because no matter how bad it all seems everyone has something good in life.” He continues with the importance of love, demonstrating his version of a teenage love story in his own way. “It impacted me when he talked about high school relationships. It made me more mature to where little issues don’t bother me as much,” senior Anthony Nichols said. With the understanding of what it is like to really care how others see you, Slowikowski has said that people who are truly happy with themselves have no need to bring others down.
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End of the year causes attitudes to alter
passes from the district, “for those who really need it” to re It’s the end of the year when duce absences due to lack of that lackadaisical attitude is evi- transportation. dent in almost every class. Even teachers begin to feel the Students miss school because warm air and want to snooze. they were enjoying the light “By the end of the year,” Spancracking through their window ish teacher Raquel Chavez said, as they snoozed and when they “I am exhausted.” woke it was al She sympaready 9:25 a.m. thizes with stu There isn’t dents and even any point in goprogressively ing, especially adds “little since they’re albreaks” beready late and tween activities there’s only a for breathers. month left. An excep Junior Eric tion to those amela nderson who get caught Andrade describes it as junior in the spring spring fever. time sweep of “The end is so relaxation and near I just give lack of motivaup on school,” he said. tion for school would be junior “It is the spring season,” Chan Jamela Anderson, who will try Sam, the head counselor, said. anything to push herself even “It’s the hot weather, the feeling if it’s a summer class. “I’d do it that school is about to be over.” for the benefits and because my When it’s cold, he said, they try heart would tell me to.” to come to school and tend to “Some students will say ‘Oh, maintain grades. “They try to I’m going to change,’” Hayes band together, stay warm.” said. “Change is a process.” His The warm weather doesn’t tory teacher Roger Esparza alstop some. ways tells his students it takes six “I work until the end because week to break a habit. What hapI want to finish the school year pens when there aren’t six weeks out on a positive note,” Nathan left? Keosomphanh said. The fresh- With graduation inching closman keeps his work habit high as er, it is a motivation for some. he keeps sports scouts and even Take senior David Coffield, college recruiters in mind. for example. He said his first two This makes perfect sense, ac- years of high school were differcording to Sam. “Underclassmen ent times for him. are actually doing better,” he “I picked myself up junior said. “It’s the first semester that year,” he said. Senior year is trips them up.” coming to a close and he said he “You never know who’s watch- would be less motivated knowing ing you,” Keosomphanh said. graduation was not within arm’s “That summer vibe starts to kick reach. in,” he said, but he doesn’t want A junior who is consistently scouts to lose interest in him be- two questions shy of passing the cause of bad grades. CAHSEE says, “I would be more History teacher Tara Hayes motivated knowing I would be shared a story about one of her graduating next year.” students a few years ago. “He got Junior Armani Smalls said as into CSU San Francisco and got the year rolls on, the workload a D his second semester of senior should lessen considering the year,” she said. “He was told he third and fourth quarters are the no longer qualified for college designated “testing season.” and couldn’t go.” “Some students just get Truancy, according to Sam, is burned out,” Hayes said. “You crucial. wouldn’t run a marathon and “Attendance impacts grades,” give up at the last second, right?” he said. He even gets extra bus
JadaJohnson
do it for the “I’d benefits and
because my heart would tell me to.” J A
“Love is not something you fall in and out of,” Slowikowski said. “Love is a choice; you choose who you fall in love with.” Including yourself. Slowikowski explained how amazed he is by how much we hold ourselves back, and that sometimes magical things do
happen, not every day, but to embrace them when they do, and students understood this. “Don’t be stuck up, be more lively,” sophomore James Vanley said. “Take life lightly but still pursue your dreams.” The key, according to Slowikowski and many who saw him is: do you believe in you?
photos by
Matteo Danforth
(Top right) Eddie Slowikowski incorporates how students should believe in their own abilities by showing off his dance moves. (Above) Slowikowski expresses high school relationships through lip synching songs.
Highlights of 2013-14 First senior sunrise
Fe Valencia and TJ Blair win homecoming queen, king
First blood drive of the year
Girls varsity tennis team beats St. Mary’s in TCAL finals
New pool opens and swim team takes the first dive in
Salvador Pasillas, Denisha Hill win prom king, queen
August 28
September 27
November 19
February 22
March 25
May 3
Sophomore Jonathon Phillips breaks world record holding 167 pencils in his hair
Varsity football beats St. Mary’s for the first time since 1999
September 14
November 1
Kathy Sady takes home stare-off trophy for the third year in a row January 18
Stagg hosts its first annual breast cancer soccer tournament March 8
Seniors win 2014 Powder Puff game
April 18 graphic by
Rubi Rico
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6 5.16.14 ntertainment StaggLine ‘Divergent’ film disappoints Differences CelineLopez
One choice can transform you. One choice can destroy you. Once choice will define you. There are five choices. You only get one. And if you can’t pick, you’re as good as dead. You take a test to guide your decision. That makes life much easier, doesn’t it? No. There are some who don’t fit anywhere, and even fewer who fit everywhere. They call it “Divergent.” This dystopian novel was the debut for author Veronica Roth in 2011. Similar to “The Hunger Games,” the setting takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, where the civilians have created a new society to prevent wars by segregating five areas of living, called factions, based on the human characteristics of kindness, intelligence, honesty, selflessness, and bravery. Recently, the hit novel found its way into theatres, establishing its popularity among young adults. The story focuses on 16-year-old Tris, who has never felt like she belonged in her own faction, Abnegation, but always admired the bravery of the Dauntless. When it’s time for her to take her aptitude test before deciding where she’ll live for the rest of her life, she finds out she’s suitable for three factions instead of one. Uncommon, this is a trait of one called a Divergent. The Divergent are sought out by the government, because since they can’t be defined by just one disposition, they pose a threat to the “perfect” structure of society that was developed. Behind the action and romance scenes of the book, there are deeper themes that reflect tendencies in human nature, the struggles within a society, fears, and the searching for one’s identity at a young age. Tris, who ditches her plain name Beatrice after she leaves Abnegation for Dauntless, is portrayed as an insecure girl who doesn’t know her place in the world yet and needs to find answers, especially when she finds out she’s Divergent. She has lived her whole life in selflessness, sneaking glances at her reflection in spoons because her faction prohibits acts of vanity. Though she never felt like she could be completely selfless, she always marveled at the daring acts of the Dauntless. Sadly, the movie leaves out major scenes, and replaces them with disappointments. Although the movie brings to life the brutal fights, cool action scenes, and great actors to portray great characters, it was missing key elements that made the story worth the read. Tris’ insecurities were not made apparent in the film and this important part of the story line was disregarded. In one scene in the novel, Tris is being abducted by Peter, her rival, Drew, Peter’s friend, and, surprisingly, Al, one of her closest friends. Peter molests her, which heightens Tris’ insecurities, creating her fear of intimacy that appears in her final fear simulation. The movie completely skips over this part, and without first reading the book, the importance of this theme is not connected. Many times, these holes in the plot of the movie undermine the depth that the book provides. In the book, Al suffers from frequent nightmares
and Tris is kept up by his sobs. He develops a crush on Tris, and when Tris refuses his apology after his betrayal, his depression worsens. The next day, he’s found in the bottom of a chasm. While the movie keeps his betrayal, Tris’ refusal, and his suicide, Al’s continuing and worsening depression and his feelings for Tris aren’t made evident. The purpose of Al’s eventual downfall in the book gives you a glimpse of how horrible Dauntless initiation is and the pressure it puts on the initiates. If you can’t keep up, you’re cut. Once you’re cut, you’re factionless. And as Al’s name dwindled under the red line of initiate ranks, his depression consumed his rationality and amplified his fears. It’s the typical case for readers everywhere: the book overpowers the movie. I suggest for future readers to watch the movie first, because reading the book later will provide you with the depth that comes from Tris’ insight and clear up any ambiguities. If you’ve only seen the movie, do yourself a favor and read the book. You won’t be disappointed.
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make the hero ‘amazing’ DevinWickstrom
Why are there two different “Spider-Man” movies? There’s only one Spider-Man. Well, for a die-hard fan like me, there isn’t. There are actually quite a few differences between the two; and no, it’s not because one is amazing and the other isn’t. For those who haven’t read the comics, there may be some confusion around who this Gwen Stacy chick is. Like, what the heck, Peter? What happened to Mary Jane? Well, Gwen was Peter’s first love before MJ, but the 2002 trilogy “Spider-Man” went straight to the latter. The director didn’t make a mistake because there are different versions of the comics, and the director simply chose a different version than the original. In the original “The Amazing Spider-Man” comics, Gwen is Peter’s first true love, but then he strays towards Mary Jane, who is Gwen’s rival. Marc Webb, the director of “The Amazing SpiderMan,” focused a lot more on the emotional connection between Peter and Gwen, and this is especially true in the sequel. His counterpart Sam Raimi, the director of the “Spider-Man” trilogy, didn’t focus on the love as much. But enough about girls. What’s the difference in the webslinger himself? It’s hard to tell, actually. It depends whether it’s the comics or the movies being compared.
“Spider-Man”
Marleene Pheav
For timeliness, let’s stick with the movies. Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield both emphasize Peter’s different personalities. Maguire focuses on the nerdy, quiet side of his character and doesn’t really become confident until he is bitten. Garfield, on the other hand, already has that air of confidence with him, which is proven when he stands against the bully before he got the bite. There are even more obvious contrasts between the trilogy and duology. In “Spider-Man,” for example, Peter can naturally shoot webs out of his wrists, whereas in “The Amazing Spider-Man” he has to build his own web shooter, and this version follows the original comics. So neither director made a real mistake; the comics branch off in a hundred different ways and the wallcrawler is different almost every time. And it’s hard to actually decide which set of movies is better than the other because they both focus on different things. For example, the trilogy focuses a lot more on the relationship between the Osborn family and Peter while its counterpart emphasizes his love for Gwen. And that’s the awesome part about superheros, which is the real reason why there are so many different versions of one hero; they can change to be everyone’s friendly neighbor and more.
“The Amazing Spider-Man”
Fairy tales, cyborgs, magic make ‘Cinder’ work EstefanyNunez
The words science and fairy tale don’t usually go together in the same sentence, which makes this novel so unique and fascinating. “Cinder,” by Marissa Meyer, is a dystopian sci-fi retelling of the classic fable, Cinderella. The story begins with New Beijing’s best mechanic, the 16-yearold cyborg, Cinder, who Prince
Kai comes for help with his android. That’s where her problems begin. Cinder, the main character, is 36.28 percent machine, which makes her a cyborg. The author made it clear that she was riddled with flaws. She isn’t the same girl with beautiful blonde hair and etiquette as in the fable. Cinder has a temper and usually has grease stains on her face. That is why I found her character so admirable — she is realistic. Prince Kai is charming and has a great sense of humor. The friendship that Cinder and Kai establish becomes the nice relief to the dark theme. He’s the perfect guy that peo-
ple swoon over, the same dreamy prince from the fairy tales that everyone falls in love with. The story still has a fair share of antagonists. It seems their only purpose is to be horrid. Adri, the evil stepmother, Pearl, one of the two stepsisters, and Queen Levana all make the story deliciously aggravating. This far from typical children’s fairy tale is filled with the reality of cruel people, tragic events, stress, anxiety and heartbreak. Meyer does a great job tying in science by including the fatal plague, technology, an entire new species on the moon, androids and cyborgs. It’s appealing because it is
something we definitely haven’t read before. The book is never boring: the forbidden love, the deadly plague, the threat of an intergalactic war, the mystery of Cinder’s past, the politics, the science. The book is difficult to put down. The third person point of view allows readers to see perspectives other than Cinder’s. That helps readers keep up with the conflicts and learn more about the setting and plot. At times the story seems a bit dragged, making me say, “Get to the point!” while I read. Still, everything has some significance that would help solve the puzzle of mysteries by the end of the
book. Another flaw that irks me is how Meyer fails at being inconspicuous. The foreshadowing used makes one of the biggest plot twists predictable. Meyer does a fantastic job introducing readers to new characters and a dystopian world set in the far future. Overall, “Cinder” is a great read, especially since it’s Meyer’s debut novel, which excites me for the rest of the series. Meyer’s retelling of Cinderella does a fantastic job of tying in the whole storyline together perfectly with the cyborgs, androids and lunars. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.
summer blockbusters june 13 22 jump street may 16 godzilla may 23 x-men: days of future past june 27 transformers 4: age of extiction may 30 maleficent july 18 the purge: anarchy
Graphic by Alexus Plascencia, Fe Valencia and Jerry Garcia
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Sisters, best friends, teammates
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Seniors Tosha and Kacie Monroe play sports together these with the most endurance. This is the world of badminton, a world where senior Kacie Monroe thrives. Monroe enjoys being part of the No. 2 doubles team, as she is an excellent player. She remembers a time when it was not as such. “We were outcasts at first, but then we started p l a y i n g
I have “Everyone ever played against, win or lose, has helped me get here.” Kacie Monroe
and we bonded with the team,” Monroe said. She has played since freshman year alongside her sister, Tosha. They may fight often, but they complement each other when they play, becoming a winning combination. The team rarely loses a match or tournament and has won TCAL since its inception in 2005. Although the team is very competitive with its rivals, its members aren’t competitive unless they are trying to help each other improve themselves. “We are always trying to help one another because if each one of us improves, so does the whole team.” Monroe remembers a time when she was not a good player. She was in her freshman year and at the bottom of the totem pole just like all the freshmen who had no previous experience. She was brand new to the sport and needed lots of help with her technique and footwork. She has improved considerably since then, becoming much better and moving toward the top. “Everyone I have ever played against, win or lose, has helped me get here,” she said. She has worked hard throughout the years in school and sports. Monroe has a great appreciation for this who brought her here and the friends along the way. It has been a great experience overall for her. Monroe hopes she can continue badminton in college and waits to return to crush her fellow players in next year’s alumni tournament.
Injury challenges dedication to softball ArrianaSmith She shakes her head as she recalls the specific she fully recovered, she was able to finish the season moment. with her team. “I wasn’t really thinking. I was so into the play, I Sterni’s teammate, Mia Macias, played softball didn’t even notice.” alongside Tianna throughout this season. There was one out and senior Tianna Sterni was “Tianna’s always so positive and hard working,” playing second base, frantically waiting for the ball Macias said. “She never gives up on her team.” to meet her mitt, but when she glanced over, the While she has played this sport her whole life, runner was sliding legs first onto she was never really proud of what the base. she was doing. She only continued The next thing she knew she to play because her father liked the was on the ground. sport. “My leg was stinging, so “We went to a lot of college softcoach told me to walk it off. I ball games together,”said Sterni. knew something was wrong. It However, when she turned 5 and was scary.” joined a tee-ball team she started to T he other player’s cleats had appreciate and enjoy the sport. torn a gash two inches deep into Sterni’s dedication led her to play her body that required 12 stitchtravel ball outside of school. es. She had to wait four weeks to It is much faster than softball and tianna sterni she must travel to different cities. play again. “I really wanted to get back Throughout the years, Tianna out there,” she said. “I was litchanged her mind about how she erally going to the doctor every plans to follow her passion. week hoping he would say I could play sooner.” “When I was younger I wanted to play for a U.S. She has played with the softball team since her team,” Sterni said. “Now I just want to play for my freshman year so everyone is really close. Watching college even if it’s just at Delta.” them play without her was heartbreaking. When Sterni did not expect to fall in love with this sport. She feels that even if someone is uncertain of something they should give it a try. “You try to be confident so everything’s perfect before you get out on the field,” she said with a smile. “I’ve experienced a lot in my four years playing softball. It’s been incredible. I will never forget it.” Sterni didn’t bat often because she was a pitcher. However, she did help her team win four games. Even though Sterni just played her last season with the team, she certainly left her mark on the field and with her teammates. A smile widened across Macias’ face as she talks about her overall experience with Sterni. “She’s always so high-spirited photo by Blancah Mendoza After recovering from her leg injury, senior Tianna Sterni and determined to win the game no matter what.” pitches at her last home game against St. Mary’s.
try to be “You confident so
everything’s perfect before you get out on the field.”
SathinaFlores
Get ready and rally! The gym starts to fill itself with players, dividing the courts with every position. The battle to outwit their opponent begins. Everyone’s on their feet -- the repeated motion of feet constantly bouncing back and forth. The opponent makes a move. The serve. It could be used to their advantage -- a weapon. They hold the birdie and let it drop slightly in front of them. Whoosh. Sweat drizzles down her face as she prepares herself for a swing back to the birdie. She smashes it with maximum power and it strikes the floor. She scores. From freshman to senior year, Tosha Monroe has played badminton, and not a day goes by when she does not try her hardest to rank towards the top. Monroe enjoys the position of first double and does her best to make it into sections. Monroe plans to continue to play as she makes her way to college. She says, “One day I plan to come back and play in the alumni tournaments.” The tradition of alumni tournaments have been apart of badminton for years, where past players come back to the courts to teach the next generation. Monroe would like to be apart of that tradition with her sister. Kacie Monroe, her sister, has been Tosha’s partner since they began playing. Monroe says, “she’s not only my sister -- she’s like my best friend.” After playing for years, badminton has changed for Tosha. “We as a team have become one. Usually you don’t say ‘Hi’, you just walk by,” Monroe says, “but because we’ve become a
family we say ‘Hi’ and more.” Although simple gestures like “Hi” are being made to one another, they do more than just that. Both sisters have interacted with the team they now call a second family and hang out together at lunch. The Monroes not only play badminton, but volleyball as well. They have played volleyball since the sixth grade all the way to their senior year. But there is more to Monroe than just sports. Her love for animals drives her passion to be a zoologist. This career would allow Monroe to interact with her favorite animals: elephants and tigers. The youngest of her siblings, she craved the school life that her siblings had, but was not yet old enough to attend.
However, her grandmother held her sister Kacie back, so they could attend school together. They’ve been together for a long time; not just as sisters, but friends. “We’re always together,” said Tosha, “and you will always see us together.”
Grandfather and uncle spark his passion for golf 5golf LouisFuentez
As he approaches the tee, the only thing going through his mind is that he has to beat his opponent. From the loud screams of the court to the quiet sounds of nature, Eddie Balanon has to transition from two very different sports. “I just wanted another sport. It’s calm and relaxing and gets your mind off of things,” said Balanon when asked about the shift from basketball to golf. When his grandfather first took him to the course, he wasn’t hooked. Then his uncle started to teach him and that’s when he knew golf was going to be a big part of his life. Balanon started to play with his uncle when he was only 4 and that was when he knew he was interested and played until he was in the fifth grade. “At first it was intimidating, but you’re playing with people your age,” he said. As a freshman Balanon thought that not only was he ready for the sport but he was determined to try and be the best. With all the years of experience he has made a lot of friends, especially senior Paul Carranco. “(Once) we were at the par 3, he hit a ball high into the air and it hit the water,” Carranco said. “We went to go look for it and it hit a fish. He killed a fish.” This shows how much fun they have and shows that he is serious and lighthearted towards some of the younger players or even players that started when they were seniors. Carranco said if you ever have a bad game that he would come up to you and tell you to just keep your head up. “Tiger is my inspiration and I try and get as many tips from him while I watch him on T.V.,” said Balanon when describing the profession of a great golfer Tiger Woods. Recently, he has been awarded most valuable player for golf and has been to sections all his four years of high school. He plans on going to community college and playing golf and then move on to a four-year college. Balanon knew when he first went to the golf course with his grandfather and uncle that he would have fun but what he didn’t know is that he would play for life. “Basketball you have multiple opponents, in golf you have one..the course.”
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WilliamAlexander
The whistling followed by a hollow sounding thump is heard several times a minute throughout the gym. Back and forth over the net, a battle of will and skill plays out. This combat transpires over a span of mere minutes deciding who can move fastest, smash strongest, and who can do
1. You need to yell “fore” if your ball could possibly hit someone. 2. If you lose your ball, you hit a provisional ball. 3. You are not allowed to pick up your ball except to clean it on the putting green. 4. The lower number is better because its the least amount of swing you need to get your ball in the hole. 5. Two putts or less is best for the putting green. Graphic by Blancah Mendoza
photo by
Devin Wickstrom
Senior Edward Balanon on the putting green working on his short game.
05.16.14
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Going to the show New ASB director New English elective finishes out year incorporates books, movies MatteoDanforth
Monica Kunz, junior, describes a picture she recently saw on Facebook. “It was a book and someone had cut out the middle in the shape of a DVD,” she said. “It was trying to depict how a lot of the book is lost when the movie is made.” This then becomes what she assumes the main focus of the new class will be: seeing how a novel compares to its movie enactment. This new class will be Literacy through Film, taught by English teacher Alice Henderson. With a name like Literacy through Film, students can expect a number of possibilities. Reading classics and watching the renditions is the biggest assumption for Kunz, who looks forward to the interesting, buried classics from the 1900’s and early 2000’s. “I didn’t know it was possible,” she said after calling to mind all the budget cuts and the beaten up, worn out supplies in the art and band classes. After several informal principal meetings, the idea for the
class was conceived. The class promises to be better for those who have completed English 3-4 and have trouble keeping their head buried in a book. A cure might be the focusing on the transformation of a book into a movie. For some students, it’s more of a concern of “what” rather than “how.” Nick Garcia, junior, jokingly hopes that popular series like “Twilight” and “Game of Thrones” will stay off of the reading and watching lists. However, he says it’s “something different,” and is interested in how the class will go about reading a book and comparing it to the movie considering a lot of the main points that people would love to be put in a movie are cut from the script. Contrary to this, Henderson wants to focus on books and movies from the 1900’s and avoiding pieces students have already read. “Things would be boring if the class was based on (things) students (have) already seen,” she said. Like Kunz, junior Michealla
Booth wonders to what extent the class will go to meet its criteria. “Some really great books have excellent movies, but they are rated R and not PG-13,” she said. Yet, Kunz hopes the school pushes toward treating teenagers like young adults because “that’s how they want us to act and what better way than this.” Henderson plans on basing the criteria off of reading a book, whether it be a play or a novel, analyzing, and then comparing this to excerpts, and a few full length, from the adaptations of the writing. In spite of this, classes won’t be spent just reading. Lesson plans include analyzing the excerpts from the films and discussing how the characters and the plot develop over the course of the run time. The soundtrack and setting will also be decrypted in order to see if it represents the mood and captures the setting. Even though there is much planning to do, there are high expectations for its ability to engage students.
Alice Henderson will be teaching the new English elective, Literacy through Film, next year. photo by
Blancah Mendoza
TEXT BOOK TROUBLE Whether a book has been stolen, lost, or badly damaged, someone has to replace it. From elementry to high school, your book bill follows you everywhere. The amount also stacks up, so the prices can range.
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Stepping into the Student Activities office is like plunging into a world submerged in years’ worth of carefully crafted memories. Pictures and posters plaster the walls while various objects and materials clutter the room, telling a silent story of past Associated Student Body events. Sitting behind the desk is a face relatively new to the scene, Ryan Berg. Berg is currently a history teacher and the coach for the boys varsity basketball team. However, he has decided to help ASB finish up the school year by becoming the new ASB director. It is a new role Berg will carry out into the next school year, along with his other new positions as he takes over parts of Stewart Jacoby’s schedule. Berg said, “It wasn’t extra work piled onto me. I chose to do this.” Berg has four years of experience from when he worked at Chavez as their athletics director. “It was a good experience,” Berg said, “but I’m glad I moved on from it to join Stagg.” Berg said he had the extra time to fill in the position aside from his other work. “It’s a lot of time put to use, time during breaks, time during lunch, and time after school to work with ASB.” As director, Berg said he wanted to help ASB manage activities and events in place of Michelle Canfield, who left midyear to take another position. Junior Elizabeth Magana said, “I don’t think the way ASB advertised school events appealed to the students much.” She looks forward to ASB improving the way they announce events before they are held to give students a heads-up on what will be happening on campus. ASB member Zariah Gonzalez said she is already working with Berg and the rest of the staff to prepare for the upcoming year. She and the other members will be managing a calendar listing every activity they hope to help set up and turning in paperwork to approve events early. ASB is even going to buy a new printer so they can print posters instead of drawing them all out by hand. The purpose of this is to help improve the way events are advertised, which Gonzalez recognized as a problem this year. “We’re committed during the summer to spend time at school to work on our plans.” Gonzalez is also looking forward to working
photo by
Blancah Mendoza
Ryan Berg has already started helping out with the lunch time activities. He will also become the new psychology teacher. with Berg next year. “I know we’re going to have a great year with Mr. Berg because he has experience.” Berg stressed the importance of trying to connect to the student body during the upcoming school year to have more activities and events take place on campus. “We desperately need more student and staff involvement. We can create a better atmosphere the more (students) participate.” Jonathon Ivy, another junior, said, “I would like to see more activities happen next year, especially since I will be a senior then.” Berg says being a director for ASB is a different experience than just being a teacher. There is a more direct interaction with the students than just him assigning work and them completing it in class. “You get to see different sides of kids.” Berg and Gonzalez said they believe the school year is ending on a positive note and both of them will strive to open up the next year just the same.
Owes $150 before he graduates “I came in my locker room and they were gone. They ran out (of books) so I didn’t get another book until a week later.” - Cam Burnett, sophomore Owes $516 by May 28 “I went home and found all of them, thankfully. I didn’t really worry because I ended up finding them all, but I was scared at first.” - Maria Fonesca, senior
Graphic by Alex Qualls, Marleene Pheav, and Devin Wickstrom
CLAYTON: Continued from page 4 She admits, for a while, she felt most students these days were insensitive, making her want to “pull her hair out.” “With those letters there, I have to back up on that.” Clayton says that she has “thousands” of pictures with her students over the years, and she plans on creating a collage of them with the letters she has received and put up in her house. “It’s something to remember them by,” she smiles. Clayton doesn’t like the idea
of growing old and retiring, and thinks of it in a bad way, but she realizes she has to accept it as another part of life. “The hardest thing is growing old as a teacher and fading away.” Clayton wishes for all students to keep their dreams no matter what happens in life and continue to reach for the highest point in their dreams, and you’ll always be successful, she said. She definitely takes this message to heart, as she continues to dream and strive for her goals
even after retirement. “I’ve got all kinds of plans -whether or not they materialize.” She’s thinking of running for a political office position in Modesto, despite health issues, and wants to focus on her crafts. She also wants to write a book of her life and struggles. “I had people approach me to write my story,” she says, but turned down all offers because “I could do it just as well.” Mostly, though, she wants to spend time with her family,
the people who experienced her hardships alongside her. Her son, while taking care of his child, is in remission from leukemia now, ready to receive a bone marrow transplant from his brother, and her daughter is pregnant. Clayton is excited to spend time with her children and new grandchildren, and travel across the country with them in a motorhome. She says her students, “even the ones that drive her crazy,” are
what she’ll miss the most. “There was never a dull moment with these kids. They made me feel good when I was down … and I’m going to miss that.” Her students, she says, are the reason why she gets up in the morning, and are her motivation to live every day with a positive attitude. They were the ones who helped her cope when she was in the worst of times -- the ones who were there when she felt she had lost everybody.
Within a period of three years, her husband, brother and one of her daughters died, and one of her sons was diagnosed with leukemia the day of his son’s birth. To add to Clayton’s dismay that day, her car broke down, so she was unable to reach her son at the hospital or her new grandchild. She says when she was griefstricken, her students were the ones who gave her the courage to go on. “They fill that gap, they really do.”