Stagg Line 2014-15 Issue #2 by Stagg Line Newspaper

staggline

the Oct. 10, 2014 Vol. 58 Issue 2

st r a e Br nce a C Awareness October is the time to wear pink in support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this affects millions of lives across the globe. Some students support the movement on their own. Whether it’s by donating or participating in a fundraiser, students on campus show their support in their own way.

“

My aunt has breast cancer and I just want to support as much as I can by donating and wearing pink.”

Chris Castro sophomore

Flu vaccinations Students who are interested in getting the flu vaccination should check out Healthy Start for details. Fall Break There will be no school next week. School will resume Monday, Oct. 20. SAT Don’t forget that tomorrow is the SAT. Remember to bring admission tickets, photo identification, extra pencils, an eraser, and an acceptable calculator. College Applications CSU campuses started accepting admission applications Oct. 1. The deadline for these applications will be Nov. 30.

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A.A Stagg High 1621 Brookside Stockton, CA 95207

TAKING ACTION:

Teachers, district disagree over issues

baylinmoran

Sweat dripped off foreheads as they kept their brightly colored signs held high, and their voices shook as chants tired them out. Then there are those inside the building, gawking at the crowd of teachers expressing their discontentment about the current negotiation between the district and the teachers. The teachers gathered in front of the Stockton Unified School District building on Thursday, Oct. 2, to protest on the day a mediator, also known as a third party, was supposed to come to help the two parties work toward a settlement. However, due to illness, the mediator did not show up to help settle any dispute and find a middle ground for the Stockton Unified School District and Stockton Teachers Association. The teachers demonstrated their discontent anyway. STA and SUSD are in a dispute over the upcoming contract that will determine many issues, including pay and evaluation. The contract has been under negotiation for just about a year now. One of the concerns that teachers have with the contract is that the district is hoping to tie student test scores to the evaluations and performance of the teachers. “We don’t agree with

the idea of the student test scores defining whether a teacher is qualified but to see where it is the students are struggling,” said Edward Auerbach, a teacher from Health Careers Academy. Concerns about transferring have been explained in the bargaining update accessible on the Stockton Unified School District website. The site shows that they are proposing to remove the second round transfer. Second round transfer is when a teacher with the most experience can get the job even if the place hiring doesn’t necessarily want that teacher and would rather have a less experienced teacher. There are some teachers who claim that the district is doing this for an easier way to dismiss teachers but due to the 2012 California case of Doe v. Deasy, the issue of including student test data has been brought to the forefront. This case happened in Los Angeles and was started over concern that students were not getting proper education due to unqualified teachers. Doe v. Deasy helped remind people of the Stull Act, originally from 1971, which brings up students’ test data being included in evaluation. Some students are start-

Teachers and members of the union protested against their contract on Thursday Oct. 2. Among the protesters was Ron Tankersley, business skills teacher, who chanted “Fair contract!” as they walked up and down the street holding signs bearing their feelings. photos by baylin moran

ing to hear the whispers of a possible strike. John Steiner, president of the Stockton Teachers Association, insists that any possibility of a strike would be way down the road. Consequences of a strike would not only affect teachers and the district but the students as well. There would be substitutes and education could be put in danger. Dianne Barth, director of communications for the

district, has said that providing more information than what has already been provided from the link on the SUSD site would be considered trying to “negotiate in public,” and that isn’t allowed. Kathy Garcia, president of the Board of Education, also declined to give information and said, “Board members should not give out interviews,” for the same reason. Steiner and Auerbach

both brought up that the teachers are looking for more time to have collaboration. They feel that if the district wants to see positive results in school they need to allow the teachers and students to give their opinion about what needs to be changed and what processes work and do not work. One other thing teachers have been asking for is a two day period of parent teacher conferences. As for Principal Andre

Phillips, all he had to say on the subject was, “I’m supporting the kids, I don’t follow all the stuff going on between the teachers and the district. I keep my focus on the students.” During last week’s protest it was noticed that some of the district police were even wishing teachers good luck. One who wished to stay anonymous even said he was with the teachers in spirit.

Bringing down the house Policy aims Theater is still in need of repairs to teach punctuality jadajohnson

If all the world is indeed a stage, the students and faculty of the music department are tired of living in the shadows. The quest to repair the theater for Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair Mark Swope has been a long one, 12 years long to be exact. Last year, then-Superintendent Steve Lowder attended one of the shows Swope and his students put on. “He saw that we were using a garbage can to hold up our projector,” Swope said. Still, there was no word from the district. Junior Makayla Laneice, who looks forward to becoming a performer, said the theater looks “unprofessional” and is even “detrimental” to their performances. “Maybe there is a grand plan to fix the theater,” Swope said. “Maybe it’s merely a communication practice.” Area 7 Board Member Steve Smith said that communication could indeed be improved. “There are no work orders on file from the last year,” he said. “How can we do anything about it if we don’t know about it?” Band teacher Joseph Updegraff insists that both he and Swope have submitted countless work orders, but the submission process changes every year. “They could’ve easily been lost, missed, or put aside,” he said. The theater does have some working equipment, although sometimes it works when it is not need-

ed. Swope recalls standing in the auditorium with an electrician having turned off all of the lights, or so he thought. “Somehow, some of them remained on,” he said. When he asked the electrician how this was possible, the man was as puzzled as Swope. “I have no idea.” The wiring problem goes all the way down to the city’s main grid, according to what Swope was told. Because electricity is still flowing even after the building is believed to be shut down, “the wires are a potential fire hazard,” he said. The theater was on track to be renovated five years ago, along with the sports facilities, as part of the Measure C bond initiative approved by voters. Smith recalls this but said the reason it was not redone along with the other facilities is because “the funding for that project ran out before it reached the theater.” Smith, who says that the renovation of the theater is in his plans, questions what the district should be funding. “Do (we) fund classrooms or theaters?” “This is a class,” senior Show Choir student Jazlyn Stewart said. “This isn’t something we chose to do as an extracurricular activity.” “Our parents pay for us to get a good education,” senior band member Alycio Rodriguez said. “They are not just paying for textbooks (but also) elective activities like the arts program.” Smith said looking for alternative funding is the best option for Swope and the arts department. “Maybe it can be from people

louisfuentez

photo by jadajohnson

Senior Sarah Brakus counts money from a fundraiser for the music program. Sophomore Ruben Nuno feels this is the best way to raise money for the theater because he feels “greedy” asking for money from the district.

who are passionate for the art industry,” he said. “Look to the community.” Dance teacher Deborah Spector shakes her head at this suggestion. “The facility should be maintained,” she said. “That responsibility falls on the school district to provide a safe building, not the public.” Lighting is an issue not only because, as Laneice said, performers are “shadows if they are on the wrong side of the stage,” but also because of the lack of safety lights on the steps. “The stairs are the most immediate hazard,” Swope said. Spector has declared the theater “unsafe for dancers” as the stage floor invites injury. She and the dance club have even spent $5,000 on a portable floor. The bulk

of the money, according to Spector, came from a grant, but the rest of the money came from club members’ pockets. “Our parents don’t have enough money to come out of pocket for repairs the district is responsible for,” sophomore Show Choir student Asharri Powell said. “Fixing the curtains,” along with other small repairs, said Updegraff, “would be like putting tissue and tape on a wound that needs stitches.” So what is the hold up? Swope recalls his interview when first applying for the job here. “I was assured 12 years ago that the theater would be repaired,” he said. “Are we waiting another 12 years for something to be done?”

The late bell rings. The teacher locks the door and then you realize there is a tardy slip with your name on it. Literally. According to the new tardy policy, between second and sixth period, students who are tardy are to report to M-1 or the library and receive a pass to go back to class. Then the teacher is to collect the bottom half of the slip and the student is to proceed into the class. A student has three warnings. On the fourth, he or she has to serve a detention and any other after that is another detention as well. This is what happens when students are late from second to sixth period. Social Studies Department Chair Audrey Weir-Graham said, “I think we are sending the wrong message to our children, that first period is not worth being on time, and that is wrong.” For some teachers like Weir-Graham, the majority of their tardies comes from first period. However, there are some staff members who agree with the first period exception. “As a parent, I understand that I do make my children late and sometimes that is why I get some of the rules of not giving a tardy slip to kids,” Souphiep Kapule, a campus security monitor in charge of scanning and giving the students tickets, said. There are some staff members who can relate to the fact that kids are late because of family members. The numbers of students per period who are late between second and sixth is approximately 20 students every period. They are only about a minute or two late. This has some greater effect because students are just a little late, causing many tardy slips to be given to the students. This new tardy policy brings good and bad. For some of the students, it is an awakening. They will learn to be on time because, as Weir-Graham said, “On time is late and early is on time.” For some students, the “struggle” of going to class is no struggle at all. For junior Jose Renteria, there is no struggle. “All I do is walk and I know I do not have enough time to talk,” he said. Students are not always able toarrive to class on time because certain classes have higher expectations than others, as in the case of senior Alisha Hernandez. She has many Advanced Placement classes and is part of the associated student body. “I do try, but sometimes I just can’t make the bell and I have to go get a slip.”

2 A.A Stagg High 1621 Brookside Stockton, CA 95207 Editorial Policy The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and distributed free to students and staff members. Our website staggonline.net is updated regularly with online exclusives. The Stagg Line is a long-standing open forum for free student expression. That means, student editors and reporters make content and style decisions, with the adviser offering guidance. The staff editorial, which appears at the top of this page, reflects the opinion of the entire staff and therefore is not signed. A personal column is signed and reflects the writer’s point of view. Readers are welcome to submit letters for publication regarding a story published or any school issue. We will make every effort to print any letter that is not libelous. Letters longer than 250 words may be edited for length. Letters must be signed to be printed. Letters may be given to a staff member, delivered to A-10 or emailed to dbott@ stockton.k12.ca.us. Awards/Recognitions The Stagg Line is a member of National Scholastic Press Association, whose awards and recognitions include the following: ff 20 consecutive All American rankings. ff Hall of Fame ff First Place Best of Show five times ff National Newspaper Pacemaker Award seven times Stagg Line journalists over the years have won many awards and scholarships, including California Journalist of the Year, National Story of the Year and National Photo of the Year. Editors Jada Johnson Devin Wickstrom co editors in chief Veronica Vargo web editor Marcella Hawkins news editor Michealla Foules opinion editor Alexus Plascencia features editor Baylin Moran entertainment editor Araceli Valencia sports editor Esmeralda Mascorro photo editor Marleene Pheav graphics editor Angel Gonzalez video editor Nuvia Cervantes copy editor Reporters Matteo Danforth Jenifer Flores Sathina Flores Louis Fuentez Jerry Garcia Fernando Gonzalez Celine Lopez My’Kayla Moore Trisha Newman Estefany Nunez Vanessa Salcedo Arriana Smith Luci Tomas Phillicity Uriarte-Jones Follow us

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opinion

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Editorial

Oct. 10, 2014

Tardy policy benefits students

he new tardy policy gives students a detention after being tardy four times. We believe that this is a good policy that will lower bad punctuality. Some students think differently, that the policy wastes time. They may only be a few seconds late, but they still have to walk out of the class and get a tardy slip, which wastes more time than just letting them into class. This could be the point of the policy, to make students angry at the fact that they are getting detentions every week. If students waste the teachers’ instructional time, then in return, administration will take time from students. After enough detentions, maybe students will finally walk a little faster or cut their conversations shorter to make it to class on time. The tardy policy does not apply to first period because when students are late, it may be because of a late bus, parents who might not wake up on time, or their own fault. After the first period, students have no excuses for being late to their next classes, even if a class is across campus. Most students can walk from one end of the campus to the

other in six minutes. That’s why passing is as long as it is. Six minutes is one of the longest passing periods of all the high schools in Stockton. The other high schools have less. Franklin, Lincoln, Edison and Chavez all have passing periods that are five minutes long. Some students argue that they have to walk through people to get to class and not many students have the luxury of being able to walk directly to class. After a class period, students sometimes need to use the restroom and talk to other teachers before going to class. We believe that even though students may have to do things before class, they can still make it on time. Also, students don’t always have distractions between classes. So even if this happens, they have four chances before they get a detention. Even if every day between classes students do have to go to the restroom, if they just manage their time a little more wisely they will make it to class on time. Punctual students know because they are often in class two to three minutes ahead of schedule.

Most students know that there is a delay from the outside bells and the ones that go off in the classroom. Most teachers do allow students into the classroom if the second bell is still ringing or even echoing. So if students do hear the outside bell ring, just do a little speed to your walk to get into class and teachers can be reasonable about the situation. Even teachers can’t make exceptions all the time because if they are caught letting students into the classroom a while after the bell rings, they too receive a slap on the wrists. Administration has said that if they happen to catch teachers doing so, then they will talk to them privately. This policy should start motivating the students and hopefully they can see the good in it. High school is just a stepping stone to college or the workforce. In the workforce, bosses usually frown upon being late and may just fire you. In college, students that interrupt the class while the professor is lecturing may just be dropped from the class. Bad habits die hard so it is good to break them now. Taking direct paths to class and talking while you are walking can get you to class on time.

Celebrity stirs gender discussion Emma Watson addressed the issue of gender inequality in her speech last month at the United Nations. She not only encouraged women to embrace being a feminist but invited men to join the feminist movement with the #HeForShe campaign. CC BY-NC-ND UN Women and Simon Luethi

Genders roles do not define a person

hat dynamic leader is not recognized for her leadership qualities. Instead, she’s an annoying girl who’s a little bossy. And that artist is not passionate or creative. He’s a sissy. For so long our society has given us expectations on who we can be based on our gender. As girls, we’re told to keep to ourselves out of fear of disobeying our role in society. We are taught being submissive is the polite thing to do because it’s expected behavior of a woman. Boys are taught to always be the stronger one. Never cry. Don’t let others know you’re sad. Be the dominant one. Be a man. These expectations are dividing society into a system of gender-based roles. Instead of embracing what makes others unique, and what makes our society diverse, we have fallen into a routine of shaming those who stand out. When speaking at the United Nations Headquarters, Emma Watson, actress and

now UN Women Goodwill tions based on our biological Ambassador, insists that we gender. A man has as much stop focusing on what defies right to be sensitive and nurthe usual perception of norturing as a woman does. Likemal. She perfectly states that wise, a woman can be tough “it is time that we all perceive and hold authority without gender on a spectrum instead being considered “bossy.” The of as two opposing sets of terms “masculine” and “femideals.” Continuing to only inine” have long been turned consider two sets — traits that into negative descriptions define men, and traits that when used against the opposite define women — that are not sex. Men and women should celinelopez not be shamed into thinking they allowed to overlap forces us to view those who diverge from one to the are breaking the gender boundaries. other as deviating from what’s acceptable. There is no established set of rules for We should not be singled out for what being a man or woman, despite the gender makes us “different.” We should not feel roles rooted by societies and cultures. One that we are unacceptable. gender cannot define what the other can We should not be ashamed. be because our gender doesn’t completely Our minds and bodies are ours. What define who we are; it is only a small part of we do with them makes up our identities, our identity. Trying to please gender roles and anything that standardizes who we can limits ourselves and the growth of society. be violates our right to live freely. “If we stop defining each other by We are entitled to what makes us what we are not and start defining ourstand out from the catalog of ideal traits, selves by what we are — we can all be freer choosing not to satisfy society’s expectaand this is what HeForShe is about,” said

Watson. “It’s about freedom.” Freedom. The freedom to express ourselves and the way we view who we are. As a girl, I do not believe myself to be confined to the kitchen. My only weapon is not just a tube of red lipstick. I know that I can be a leader and make my own decisions as much as my male friends can. In the same light, I do not expect my male friends to always seem strong, to be the one in control, to suppress their emotion. Although I recognize how society is progressing, we have not yet reached gender equality. As much as we have legally given the same rights to men and women, equality for genders will not be obtainable until we see the entire spectrum and not just the two sets. We are free to stray from our confined gender roles into the other side of the spectrum. There’s a whole range of traits to who we can be, so why limit ourselves? There is no reason to hide our individuality. We must embrace who we are. We can’t live in shame anymore.

Men and women alike fight for gender inequality

re you a boy or a girl? As I walk through the halls during school, I encounter this question a

lot. I notice the puzzled glares from other students as they try to figure out my gender. I hear the exclaimed, “Oh, that’s a girl?” when somebody else gives them the answer. Yes, I am a girl. But does it matter? Last month, Emma Watson gave an influential speech on the issue of gender inequality at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. As UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, she launched the #HeforShe campaign to get 100,000 men to be advocates for gender equality. “And we don’t just want to talk about it,” she said, “but make sure it is tangible.” The words “feminist” or “feminism”

are often confused with misfeminist looked down upon, andry, which is the hatred of being associated with hating the male gender. Feminism men, and being given by is the belief that both men some the nickname “femiand women should be treated nazi.” fairly and have equal rights and Women should not be opportunities, thus creating a ashamed to uphold such a gender-equal mentality. meaningful title, and men Being a feminist does not should be more than willing only apply to women, but men to take part to shape an egaliare also encouraged to fight for tarian society. women’s rights. In traditional marleenepheav Women’s rights affect society, ideal women are seen as men’s rights by “natural consensitive and to be “housewife” material, sequence,” meaning that expecting women while men are supposed to be masculine to be submissive forces men to be macho and superior. and dominant. If women are allowed to be strong, So, men who are abused, emotionally then men should be allowed to be more or physically, are more likely to remain emotional. silent and be dismissed or outright laughed It is unfortunate to see the title of a at.

However, there is no support for male victims of domestic abuse, due to the fact that men are deemed as macho and indomitable. It is other men who enforce those standards on guys to be more powerful than women. “We want to end gender inequality — and to do that we need everyone to be involved,” Watson said. Our community and society as a whole cannot overcome the sexism and misogyny our world revolves around unless both sexes are involved in spreading egalitarianism, the belief in human equality. Feminism should not be misconceived as man-hating. Fight with women against unfair gender expectations and inequality. Become an advocate for gender equality.

opinion

Oct. 10, 2014

PRISONS vs. SCHOOLS

infographic by veronicavargo and phillicityuriate-jones

Terror becomes worldwide

ISIS Kidnappings strike fear in everyone

t creeps in when no one is looking, when no one is expecting it to happen, when we are unprepared to handle the outcomes provided by terror. What is terror? It is fear glaring into the eyes of mankind, ready to attack. What is fear? An unpleasant emotion caused by a belief that someone or something is dangerous and most likely to cause pain or threat. ISIS is that fear right now. ISIS is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. A terrorist group. They are known for killing dozens of people at a time, carrying out public executions, and conquering vast expansions of northern and western Iraq. Unfortunately, brutality is a norm among the Islamic State. Anyone who stands in their way is killed. Men in underwear had to march barefoot along the desert road before being executed. Teenagers who were captured by ISIS militants were tortured, beaten, and killed. Children’s bodies have been decapitated and their heads placed on spikes. Christians are being forced to accept Muslim

beliefs and refusal to convert to there were so many Yazidi heads Islam results in their death. that they would ask “Do you They view anybody who is know this one?” and laugh. not Islamic as an infidel, worthy Many have died for their of dying a horrific death. faith, and many more will con The Yazidi are infidels in tinue to fall under the hand of the eyes of the extremist group. ISIS. Yazidis are mem U.S. journalbers of a minority ists and aid workreligious group from ers have also been northern Iraq that killed in the past have been persecutfew months. ISIS ed for centuries for not only murdered its ancient beliefs. these innocent ISIS seized control people but filmed of dozens of Yazidi themselves doing it villages in the region and spread it online of Sinjar. for everyone to see: They executed James Foley, Steven thousands of men and sathinaflores Sotloff, John Cantile kidand U.K. napped citizen thousands David of women Haines. and chil About dren and 28,000 sold them pro-ISIS as slaves accounts or wives. were set Many up within of the 14 days women after the who were video sold were of the taunted beheadbecause ing of

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It is a fear glaring into the eyes of mankind, ready to attack.”

U.S. journalist James Foley went viral. Many accounts on Twitter have also been created supporting ISIS. Twitter has decided to suspend dozens of pro-ISIS Twitter accounts in the social networking sites of the latest purge of online extremists. They have suspended accounts for posting graphic imagery, or “calls to violent actions.” Just recently Peter Kissag was kidnapped by ISIS militants and is being held captive until further notice. Innocent blood is being spilt by their hands every moment of every day. If they were to attack here in America we wouldn’t know because they’d fade right into society. There is no true answer on how to stop them. You can’t persuade terror to just leave because it doesn’t. There is no pep talk we can give terror to make it walk out the doors and never return. It never leaves until it has done its job. In fact, it won’t ever leave because it will always be there in the background, in the midst of everything while fear stays in hearts of mankind, waiting for terror to fill their shoes again.

staggline

Music diversity should be respected

Imbalance of two systems is a reality

ou may have seen a commercial with students sitting in a small classroom, talking about what they want to be when they grow up. One student wants to become a police officer, another student wants to phillicityuriartebe a doctor, and so jones on. But then, the scene greys all and when and the small classroom turns the teacher into a plain jail cell with few showed him barred windows, and rather than his actual life the costumes signifying their expectancy, he aspirations, the students are was in shock. wearing orange jumpsuits. Sadly, this “There has been one UC is how many photo by micheallafoules university and 22 prisons built students think Located in south Stockton, the local San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office since 1980. How many will and is also a and Jail was built in 1849. there be when I grow up?” This cause of the ation decreases. The value of education shows up on the screen in front rising incarcer I could say that we need to shouldn’t be monetary and in of the sad children’s faces. ation statistics. have more schools and fewer a perfect world issues like this I can’t help but be affected Once students give up on prisons because, of course, that wouldn’t arise. by this emotionally. Witnessing furthering their education, they However, this isn’t a people struggling with finding think their main option is being makes sense, but it isn’t that easy. Having criminals walking perfect world and there is no the right school to further their a criminal. among friends and family mem- perfect solution, so we will stay education and stressing about It is almost a guarantee that bers doesn’t seem very appealing, ever-changing and hopefully the strict admittance rate into things will only go downhill but sometimes it comes to that. forever-improving. quality universities has taken its from there and the students are There are mass releases of So please, the next time toll on me. all hoping that they are one of prisoners and most of the time you see someone, young or old, What if I don’t get accepted the few who make it. those same people make it back struggling with their school into the colleges I apply for? For years, there has been within those cell walls eventuwork or feeling overwhelmed I am not from a place where a rumor going around that ally, so why release them in the with their situation, extend people commonly go to college, states and prison management first place? Kill them off, you yourself and let them know let alone one I want to attend, companies look at fourth grade say? you’re there for them academiand my grades aren’t amazing. test scores to determine prison No, that’s even more expen- cally and emotionally. So why bother? growth needs in the future. sive. It is a bit of a stalemate. Be the influence that en Last month, a teacher in Unfortunately, the case of What is more important: courages your peers to further Washington, D.C. was speaking the fourth grade boy in D.C. giving a child a great education their education and to do their with a fourth grade student who applies to many students in best. said by the age of 20 he would neighborhoods that are less than or keeping them alive and safe? There are too many variables You might be the one who either be dead or in jail. admirable. to consider and I find myself keeps them from becoming the The student did not expect It starts a chain reaction. As not being able to form many criminal or deadbeat that outsidto have a career or grow old at the incarceration rate rises in a neighborhood, the rate of gradu- opinions, but no solutions to the ers think Stocktonians are. issue come up at hand.

the

rom rappers to singers to your favorite rock band, music can be expressed in many forms and genres. A person’s musical taste can express who they are and the type of “crowd” they are in. The type of crowds people are often put into, though, come with their generalized stereotypes. If you are into common rappers like YG, 2 Chainz and Migos, you run into those who would dismiss you for liking “ignorant” or “ratchet” music, due to its jerrygarcia subject matter and repetitive lyrics. This often comes from the people that listen to other genres, such as rock and jazz. It could also come from listeners within the same genre, where they’ll penalize it for not being “lyrical” or not telling stories like rappers such as Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and MF DOOM. Another common genre that is often looked down upon is rock. Modern rock bands are often looked at as “emo” or “satanic,” when they aren’t even close to being related to either of those at all. Also, the whole music genre overall, from the viewpoints of others, are considered “too noisy” as well. Despite the stereotypes put on these genres, they all have their good purposes. Listening to YG and 2 Chainz is great when you’re with friends or at a party because the music is more hype and brightens up the mood. Same goes for listening to bands like Chelsea Grin, Attila and Breathe Carolina, where they could all fall into the category of music where it’s more about the feel of the music than the lyrics. One time, I ran into the stereotype for listening to a band I liked at the time. Someone came up to me asking what I was listening to. Of course I told them what it was and they responded with, “Are you emo?” I ran into a similar conflict not that long ago, too. This time, I was listening to one of my favorite rappers, Chief Keef. I was playing his music freely from my phone after school when a girl came up asking why I was playing it. She defined the music as “ghetto” and “uneducated” and said that I was ignorant. Senior Anthony Guerrero has a different approach towards music choice. “Just because they are not used to it, they believe it (a person’s preferred music preference) is weird.” For Guerrero, his favorite artist is Tyler the Creator, who is still viewed as a satanist over one song. When in reality, Tyler is nothing close to worshipping or getting involved in satanism. People’s music preferences, overall, shouldn’t be put down because the artist you think is not good might be the next person’s favorite artist. Music should let people express themselves and not put them into a defined box. Music lets us enjoy ourselves and makes us happy. Even if the lyrics are bad and demeaning, or the guitar is too noisy, music is music and should be expressed.

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Despite the stereotypes put on these genres, they all have their good purposes.”

graphic by jerrygarcia

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Culinary career lies ahead

lucitomas The aromatic smell of pork chops filled the kitchen, along with fried vegetables and yellow rice. This was a normal day for freshman Kendra Turner who began to cook at the age of 10. Turner’s mother, Nicole Burford, mentions that her daughter cooks really well, especially the fried chicken she makes. She cooks almost every day for her family. “I wanted to be a doctor because my mom was a medical assistant,” said Turner. Although becoming a doctor interested her, she has become more interested in cooking because it’s something she admires. She finds cooking enjoyable, however she feels frustrated at times when nobody wants to try her food. Entering her kitchen, Turner prepared with many ingredients. She started by washing the delicate pork chops, then adding a variety of seasoning. Looking at her kitchen there are many seasonings to choose from, including seasoning salt, accent salt, black pepper, garlic powder, chives, cilantro, and garlic. As she finished up, the meat was ready to be put in the skillet. Turner started chopping the onion and green pepper and soon it was added to the pork chops. She chopped the vegetables at a

steady pace, making them into small dense slices. Before she added the vegetables to the meat, she set the sliced up onion and pepper on a plate and waited until the meat was ready. Turner constantly flipped the meat over letting it cook on both sides. “You put the cap on the skillet and let the meat simmer and absorb the flavor,” Turner said. Next, she started making rice, which called for two and a half cups of water. The package of rice already included seasoning. Turner adds, “It’s good to have yellow rice with flavor.” One thing Turner likes is making yellow rice but mentions that she doesn’t like to make white rice because it takes longer to boil with the starch in it. “You don’t stir your rice because you’ll mess it up,” said Turner. “You let it cook all the way through.” Turner thinks the hardest part about cooking is putting the seasonings on the meat. At one time she put too much seasoning salt on her pork chops and realized that the meat tasted a little too salty. The easiest foods she has cooked are pre-packaged rice and frozen vegetables. “My greatest accomplishment in cooking is making filet mignon,” said Turner. “I have always wanted to learn

Cakes are more than sweetness veronicavargo She removes the cake from the oven, allowing it to cool as she blends a fresh batter of frosting to reach a whip-like consistency. Spilling from a tin container are instruments that the average person couldn’t name, but a baker wouldn’t dare mistake. The final product consists of a blanket of freshly sliced peaches, sitting between two layers of vanilla, whose juices flow down to create a moist bottom layer that has a melt-in-your-mouth sensation. That is junior Jazmin Herrera’s favorite type of cake. Tasting is just a treat; beyond the decadent flavor, Herrera loves to decorate the blank canvas layers of flavor she creates. Herrera bakes cakes for small family events, holidays, birthdays, and other occasions. Varying in flavor, these cakes range from being a decorative jack-olantern to a complex fondant birthday present. “I like the art aspect of it more,” she said. “I make my brother dinosaur cakes because he likes them, and they are really fun to make.” When creating a tasty cake with such fine detail in its appearance, Herrera has to consider many uncontrollable factors. “Sometimes the frosting gets too liquidy, and I can’t use it. I prefer buttercream because it is thicker and holds better,” she said as she filled a piping bag with bright pink frosting that she uses to make edible roses. Starting to really pick up the hobby her freshman year, Herrera said, “It’s a side thing; it’s not really what I want to do.” Herrera hopes to become a marine biologist, but her mother encourages her to continue making cakes for some extra cash on the side. “I don’t want to work at S-Mart, but if it was like Buddy (from “Cake Boss”) then yeah!” she said. She continues to learn from her aunt who works for a bakery and teaches Herrera when she goes over to visit. Other than the instruction from her aunt, Herrera enjoys watching “Cake Boss” because “it actually shows you how they make it, unlike most shows.” In some cases, she recognizes the tools and techniques they use. In others, she is struck with a ravenous, eager mind to learn more about the “pros.” Herrera identifies the next hurdle she wants to jump is fondant. “It’s like clay and it’s hard to work with,” she said, motioning her hands as if there was playdough between the tips of her fingers. Even though she has created a cake with it before with assistance, she wants to do it “all on (her) own.” “It’s fun!” is the best way the talented baker can put it into words.

how to make filet mignon, and the time I finally accomplished it was on Mother’s Day.” Turner mentions that her mother doesn’t have to tell her to cook, she just does it without being expected to. Cooking is not only her passion, but something she looks forward to pursuing later in life. Burford said, “My daughter wants to learn how to cook Southern food because I used to cook it.” Turner’s cooking skills are useful in life and will serve her well in the future. She plans to attend a university where she can major in culinary arts.

photos by devinwickstrom and lucitomas

With school, jobs, and sports on their plate there’s one thing that serves as their escape. Not only can they take the heat in the kitchen, they welcome it. Whether it is a hobby, a future career, or a job these five people share the passion of culinary arts.

(Top) Kendra Turner often cooks for her family out of pure enjoyment. (Bottom) Turner’s cooking is culturally suffused. Here, she prepares New Orleans style rice, green beans, and pork chops.

Initiating a desire for homecooked meals esmeraldamascorro At the age of 6 most children grab a car, toy or a little doll. But this peculiar child decided to grab a spatula and some eggs in an attempt to cook his very own meal. Franklin Reeves then proceeded to throw away the first meal he had ever cooked, scrambled eggs. “It didn’t taste how my mom and dad’s was,” he said with a smile.

Oct. 10, 2014

Today you can find Reeves, now a junior, in the kitchen cooking fluffy eggs. These eggs that don’t get thrown away and indeed taste like mom and dad’s food. The kitchen, however, is another story. “I make a mess… a lot.” With a heart to cook, but loathing to clean, Reeves finds himself with a pile of dirty dishes and a smoky kitchen. Multiple pots and pans are left on the stove counter.

photo by esmeraldamascorro

Franklin Reeves prepares his meals ahead of time due to his busy schedule. He eats healthy to stay fit for the sport he has dedicated his life to: football.

“Extra cheese! Extra cheese on everything!” he says as he sprinkles his favorite cheese on nearly everything he cooks. But taste and delight are only half the job. Reeves concentrates on making his platters art. Everything is homemade and carefully cooked to a moist to soft feel. For example, lasagna and pasta are critical meals, because of the intricate construction of these meals, Reeves worries a lot about perfecting it. He was motivated by his father to cook more than just school lunches. At the dinner table, the words called out used to be “Dad, can I have seconds?” Now they are “Tank, can I have seconds?” Reeves has brought homecooked lunch to school since second grade. At times his parents didn’t have time to cook or make him a lunch so now he makes his lunch for the week. The menu ranges from enchiladas, pasta, chicken, to even hamburgers, but his absolute favorite is the good ol’ “Tank mac and cheese,” which is his concoction of macaroni shells, crunchy tomato and extra cheese. Although, mac and cheese is the most simple to cook, it is the glue that holds the platter together. “Nothing has ever been hard (for me),” Reeves said. “An Italian restaurant anywhere is the dream.”

Student during the week, chef on the weekends

Starting off as dishwasher, senior Eric Andrade is promoted to chef to help financially support his family vanessasalcedo It is nothing unusual for a high school student to get a summer job at a place like Denny’s waiting tables. But as a full time chef?

That is a little unheard of. But it is not surprising, considering this is senior Eric Andrade. Andrade first applied for the job at Denny’s in the summer of 2013 as a dishwasher. Soon after, Andrade decided to continue working there, even when school started, and had his work hours changed to comply with his school hours. “I was working full time as a dishwasher but would randomly help out from time to time in the kitchen,” Andrade said. “That’s when I was asked to prep cook.” In January, after a lot of practice, Andrade got promoted as a chef. “They told me I just needed to get my certificate, which took me a couple hours online and I was done.” Andrade has applied these cooking skills in his daily life by now knowing how to make full meals such as pancakes, bacon, prime ribs, eggs, salmon and tilapias. “Now I know a lot about

photos by alexusplascencia

(Left) Eric Andrade stirs pancake mix as he starts his shift as head chef at Denny’s. (Top) Andrade took the job originally as a dishwasher for summer money to spend on his needs. His raise allows him to help his single mother with the bills.

cooking in general, other than just toast and Ramen noodles,” Andrade said. Other than being able to make himself a good breakfast, Andrade’s job has really helped his

family financially. In 2008, when Andrade was in the sixth grade, his family worked at the flea market selling jewelry, but when he got the job at Denny’s his mom did not have his

After she is done with one of her masterpieces, she washes her food color stained hands and begins to clean up, returning all her supplies to a single tin container in which she stores her materials. Then, they all eat cake.

photo by veronicavargo

Family tradition serves as a form of art alexusplascencia

Start some dedication. Mix in some creativity. Stir in some patience. And now we have Jimmy Pettis. help that she needed to maintain As a culinary teacher, Pettis has been finishing his remaining years before retirement. Before he took up her business and gave it up. With the original mentality this position, he was a special ed teacher and a coach. that Andrade’s pay was going to only be for him, he soon realized that it was only right for him to help out with the bills at home since his mom couldn’t keep up with her business on her own. At first, his mom denied his financial support. She did not want her son to worry about helping and sacrificing his own pay. But Andrade insisted on “taking pressure off (his) mom.” His realization not only has contributed to his family’s financial struggle, but has also impacted his character. He learned what it means to be considerate and more responsible. Although he agrees that cooking is a great skill to have, it is nothing under consideration for Andrade’s future. “I believe that this level (in cooking) where I’m at now is a photo by alexusplascencia good level that will stick with me Jimmy Pettis, despite the cut of the class, confor life,” Andrade said. tinues to teach special ed students culinary skills.

But as a child, his parents had their own restaurant where he helped out. As he grew older he was involved in a catering business alongside his brothers. Pettis has always cooked to fulfill someone else’s needs, whether it was for his catering business or family business. But despite having to follow common recipes, he sees cooking as a way to show his inner creativity. “Cooking is creating something that tastes good,” he said. “You don’t always have to follow a recipe. Try something you like.” Pettis enjoys improvising with the food he cooks by substituting the recipe ingredients with something he likes. Pettis also enjoys teaching what he knows about cooking. While he was involved in his brothers’ catering business, he taught cooking classes outside of school. He took up teaching culinary on campus five years ago. “The kids are in here because they like it,” he said. “It gives the students groundwork, something to put on their resumes.” Each week they plan out their menu, which can range from soft pasta to succulent ribs. Teachers will typically call in their orders or send an email. But just like most teachers, Pettis also takes his work home. Because his wife gets home late, and he has more time to prepare something to eat, he always has dinner ready for her. “Cooking is something I’ve always liked to do.” It’s the joy of being able to incorporate what one likes into their dish that gives Pettis’ culinary career meaning. It’s about building something one likes while being creative. After a long career of organizing and creating, Pettis wants to “finish out (his) years with something (he) enjoys.”

(Top) Jazmin Herrera prepares a cake resembling a basket with roses atop it. (Top left) She has made a dinasaur cake and for many other family occasion cakes including (bottom left) the fondant present. photo courtesy of Herrera family

the

stagg line

entertainment

Oct. 10, 2014

Newcomers’ guide to ‘Doctor Who’ mattdanforth

With the new eighth season of “Doctor Who,” passing a group of “Doctor Who” fans, or Whovians, is a bit more odd than usual. With their praises for the new Doctor, Peter Capaldi’s performance and ramblings on about the new episodes, you may be sucked into the idea of starting to watch the show. For any Netflix “binger,” sci-fi fan or die hard Whovian, they know what “Doctor Who” is. Some fall in love with the show, while others don’t follow much after the first few seasons on Netflix. However, there is still a large number of people who can’t get through the first grueling minutes of the pilot because it’s “confusing” and they’re “not into sci-fi.” “Doctor Who” is a science fiction series, but any Whovian can tell you it’s much more than that. The first question to ask is, “Well, what is ‘Doctor Who?’” The BBC original follows the adventures in time and space of the Doctor, an alien Time Lord with two hearts and the ability to cheat death, or regenerate, 12 times. With a new Doctor every two seasons or so, the show allows you to feel the heartbreak of losing your favorite Doctor and builds up your love for the new one all over again. No hero is complete without a sidekick, and the Doctor has had several over the years, including his own granddaughter. While he can travel anywhere in the universe, the Doctor’s travels tend to revolve around Earth, creating a certain responsibility to protect the planet and the human race that inhabits it. Sometimes saving people in need, the mystery and pure adrenaline induced by him causes many humans to accept his invitation to travel the stars.

Now, the storyline does get a bit befuddling, but if you know where to start off, you’re on your way to becoming a part of the “Doctor Who” fandom. The pilot episode of the 2005 first season is a bit confusing, not to mention the unrealistic special effects, which can get a bit difficult to pay attention to. In the words of the tenth Doctor, “Don’t blink. Blink and you’re dead.” The CGI does get better as the show progresses with more advanced computer technology, but don’t try to skip ahead unless you want to be extremely confused. If you can make the long haul through the first confusing minutes, you’re on your way to Whovian paradise. So what’s so special about “Doctor Who?” “Who” has been the longest running sci-fi in television history, surpassing “Star Trek” and “Stargate” with 50 years under its belt. It’s not just a nerdy sci-fi, though. “Doctor Who” offers viewers a mixture of adventure, romance, drama, and nail-biting suspense. Through his adventures and different regenerations, each Doctor allows for chilling treks on alien planets, or a heart wrenching romance between his clueless self and a love stricken companion. No Doctor is ever the same, and yet he is. Although they all have different personalities and offer different aspects to the show, he is the same Time Lord from the very first episode in 1963. The Doctor’s travels may seem a bit askew and question the viewer, but under all the rubble of confusion and the first few choppy special effects is a world where everything is possible. So say “Allons-y!” and give that 2005 pilot another go, or watch it for the first time.

‘Doctor Who’ Series Eight Capaldi’s first ride in the TARDIS

With the introduction of the new Doctor, Peter Capaldi, the new season had a bit of a difficult time starting up. After the first few episodes, the viewer grows closer to him and appreciates his performance more. The new story line direction is interesting and provides for a darker, more mysterious season than those prior to Series Eight.

For years, gaming companies have been updating and creating new gaming consoles, leaving fans wanting more. Most students have their favorite. Isaiah Austin, sophomore, enjoys playing on his PS4 the most. Since his parents have worked for gaming companies such as Sony and Sega, he has experienced many gaming consoles. His favorite is PlayStation because the graphics are “better,” but he also enjoys the exclusives and not having “to pay extra just to play online.” Game Cube is Anthony Keesee’s favorite Nintendo console to play on because of “the retro look and feel.” The sophomore says that platforms were easier to control and even though Nintendo came out with new consoles, Game Cube will always be a classic.

Senior Michaella Booth plays Xbox Live with her friends, which is her favorite feature. The diversity in the games and easy access online keep her playing her Xbox 360 even though they’ve updated. Booth grew up with Xbox in her home and learned to love it as it became more advanced. Graphics continue to improve and she continues to grow as a gamer.

graphic by jeniferflores

Oct. 10, 2014

The LIFE of an ATHLETIC TRAINER Round and round, the motion of her hands go as Christine Bolthouse, athletic trainer, carefully bandages a football player’s arm to provide support as the team prepares for practice. Here are 10 facts aout her:

1. Bolthouse has worked here

for six years.

2. She uses a system she calls

ABCSSS, which stands for what she checks ﬁrst: airway, breathing, circulation, spinal cord, severe bleeding and shock.

3. If game schedules conﬂict,

Bolthouse attends the most physically intense one.

4. Bolthouse has always had

an interest in medicine and sports, and is glad she found a career that combined both.

5. When Bolthouse leaps into

action, her mindset immediately switches to her system, checking quickly, but thoroughly, for life-threatening injuries. She stresses that in the case of a severe injury, she has to be the one to keep calm.

6. She has had to activate an

emergency and call an ambulance before.

7. As an athletic trainer, Bolt-

house not only prevents major injuries and helps care for them, but she: • provides immediate care for those in need • analyzes clinical evaluation diagnostics • rehabilitates injuries • is a healthcare administrator by looking over paperwork • stays up-to-date with the latest research • makes sure her medical decisions are supported by research

8. They rehearse the system,

so in the case of an emergency, they will be aware of what happens, allowing things to run smoother.

9. Bolthouse is very patient

with the healing process of injuries. sets up a ﬁrst aid 0. Bolthouse 1station at every game she attends.

graphic by arrianasmith and photo by trishanewman

sports

the

stagg line

‘It’s addicting’

Sellers learns to push through with running devinwickstrom

That’s it. He broke it. After months of straining his muscles, after running hundreds of miles, he did it. He saw the signs, but his aching legs didn’t stop him. Finally, he did it. He broke five minutes. Although there is a possibility of breaking a bone in cross country, that isn’t what Hunter Sellers broke at one of his dual meets. The junior was pushed by his friend to finish his varsity race strong, and to reach his goal of breaking five minutes with an average mile time of 4:57 over the course of three miles. He was in eighth grade when he realized he was good at running — a 5:42 mile time was a sign that “(he) might be good.” Sellers has had a lot of great moments in his running career, from running that mile in eighth grade to winning first place with the Stockton Saints in the Regional competition. But running isn’t full of accomplishments. Sellers has had his share of setbacks. Although he runs both cross country and track, Sellers enjoys cross country more because of the varying terrain; that combined with the packed groups of runners and dust kicked up by their shoes makes for an accident just waiting to happen. What comes next? “All I heard was my foot get knocked and then my feet got tangled,” and the runner knew he was going down. The worst part? This fall was at sub-section race. However, that wasn’t the end of it. Sellers fell again due to his previous injury. “Everybody that was behind me was now jumping over me, so I had to wait for my chance to get back up,” Sellers said. He also added that a fall crushes his spirit and can almost always ruin a race because then he must work his way back to the top. “At the end of the race my arms and legs were covered with blood,” but he said the adrenaline rush after the fall masked the pain. No matter how hard the fall or how great the accomplishment, Sellers continues to run. “It’s addicting, it’s painful, but it teaches you how to tough it out and finish strong,” he said. Running, he added, is all about the payoff at the end — his favorite part of a race — and the adrenaline starts to kick in and he must give it his all to finish strong. He also argues that cross country is a team sport, and the only way the team will win a meet is by pushing each other.

“We wouldn’t be able to get faster without each other’s help,” he said. Sellers is one of the top three varsity runners this year and relies on his teammates to do their job by giving their all. If they continue, they have a good chance of winning the league meet, and possibly going to sub-sections. “Oh, we’re definitely going to win league,” said Richard Johnson, cross country coach. “And we’re probably going to sub-sections.” No matter the outcome of this season, Sellers will continue to run. Anyone who takes a stroll on the levee in front of the school has a good chance of seeing him running — running with the determination to beat his time again and again. He probably won’t look at observers because he’ll be looking forward, looking at his target. The determination will push him throughout the course, and his favorite part will soon arrive — the finish. This is where the adrenaline kicks in and the addict has no plans on stopping, not even after he passes the finish line.

photo by devinwickstrom

Get to know the runners “(When) your legs are dead it feels like your entire calf is torn apart, and blisters are common. If you don’t have blisters you're not running.” Runs a total of 35 miles per week, not including races.

“I feel very sore, very tired, but accomplished at the end of the week.”

David Morales senior

Most of his miles are run on the levee, Pixie Woods, March Lane, and El Dorado Street. 50 miles max in a week.

Vincente Arburua senior

Runs a total of 35 miles per week, not including races. Most of his miles are run to the Marina and back, or on the levee. 45 miles max in a week.

graphic by esmeraldamascorro and aracelivalencia

Having the upper hand

McCullum maintains golf despite setbacks trishanewman

Every Saturday morning, Destynee McCullum, junior, rises out of bed at 8 a.m. to be at Van Buskirk Golf Course ready to practice within the next hour with her father. Monday through Friday she spends her time at Elk Horn Golf Club course with her team from 3 to 5 p.m. ready to put in just as much work as she has done since she was 9 years old. McCullum has three years of golf experience with First Tee, a junior golf program. They teach character-building and life skills while using golf as a gateway to express that to younger children. “It was frustrating,” she said. “I wanted to hit far but I realized you can’t do that off bat; It takes practice and First Tee showed me that.” With the background lessons from First Tee, McCullum has the upper hand on the course when it comes to keeping it cool and not showing too much emotion. “I’ve never lost it completely,” McCullum said. “Since I started young with First Tee they taught me if you do go off you’ll just have a bad time golfing.” Though golf is her first love, McCullum has participated in softball and cheerleading before transferring to Stagg from Brookside Christian, “I think there is more opportunity here than there is at Brookside,” McCullum said. “I’m really enjoying the experience to have the unity and encouragement from my teammates.” With golf as her main priority, McCullum still gets all of her school work done and maintains a 3.8 grade-point average. “I’m pretty disciplined when it comes to academics,” she said. Golf may be an individual sport, but she works well with a team. “She’s very respectful and coachable and that’s what is great about her,” Dannie Offield, head golf coach, said. “She shows potential.” McCullum’s mother passing in 2010 brought her extremely close with her father. “We have always been close, but that’s what made us even closer,” McCullum said. “He was there for my sister and I, no matter what emotions we were going through.” McCullum’s father has a lot to do with her passion for the sport.

photo by devinwickstrom

McCullum has been playing golf since she was little. Now, she still continues with that passion with help from her father.

He is the one that got her engaged and has dedicated his time to practicing with her and making her a better athlete all around. “I feel like my dad is my encouragement,” McCullum said. “He goes out on the course with me and takes time out of his day to get me where I need to go and makes sure I’m on top of my academics.” Offield can vouch for the help that McCullum’s father has put forth. “Her dad helps out with car rides,” Offield said. The van only carries nine girls and there are 14 on the team. “He’s been a parent that has really stepped up.” Her dad constantly tells her, “There’s always going to be people better than you, but you can’t let that affect you.”

the

stagg line

news

Oct. 10, 2014

Drama, film are new on the scene my’kaylamoore

Marc Glassberg traveled all around, acting in plays, movies and TV shows. It has always been his passion to be in the drama industry. The entertainment business isn’t easy to be accepted into, but he worked hard to fulfill his dreams. Students now know him as “Mr. Glassberg,” a drama teacher who began his career over 20 years ago. He says he enjoys it as much as he enjoyed being on stage. He explains that he has a specific way of helping students with their acting skills. “Explore,” he said. “If you keep doing the same thing you’ve been doing, you’ll only be familiar with that one thing. However, if you explore your options and try a bunch of different things, you’ll get to experiment with what you are and aren’t good at.” Being in the drama industry wasn’t just something he woke up and thought to do on a random day. “This is really something I’ve always wanted to do since I was in high school. The majority of my friends were theater kids,” he said. He has taught

students in New York and Los Angeles in the past, and now he’s here at Stagg, enlightening students to do their best. He also teaches regular English classes. Junior Luci Gomez takes both of his classes and says that Glassberg is “a good teacher who really does care about what the students want. He’s also really lenient but he does have his rules.” She also explains

photo by my’kaylamoore

Students take a break from singing and rehearsing lines for their upcoming play in December.

that she loves the drama class because she gets to learn more about acting skills and how to improve her own. He loves helping students reach their full potential, so he does whatever he can to do so. His noisy classroom can be a distraction while talking to other people, making him have to stop in the middle of sentences to tell kids to quiet down and focus on their work. When asked how the students at Stagg differ from those in New York and Los Angeles, he only replies, “There is no difference. Kids will be kids.” Although there are many students drawn to the entertainment industry, they don’t want to be an actor or actress. English teacher Alice Henderson has drifted into another style of teaching, starting a brand new class called Literature Through Film, where students have four different units, all involving watching a collection of movies specified to certain genres. “Many books, good and bad, are made into films, and what we do is discuss a variety of things, like if the actors are believable, if the movie follows the book, and if not, what changes were made,”

Henderson explains. Although they watch movies and discuss them, it’s still an English class. “We do watch movies in here,” Henderson said, “a lot, actually, but I try to mostly look on the English side of things.” The class takes notes and focuses on English, assessing what takes place throughout the story. Junior Pharoah Sabio says the class “really makes you think about the little things in the movie, like how they would have set up the scene before they started shooting and how the director came up with it and all that stuff.” While talking, Henderson walks to a table in front of her classroom. Underneath is a box containing a collection of movies and novels like “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” “Forrest Gump,” “Sahara,” and others that she has collected and purchased over the years. “I’ve searched for and bought all these myself, as the district won’t fund it.” “Believability and sound are one of the most important things regarding a movie,” she says. “If you turn off the sound and just watch, see if your reactions and emotions stay the same. If so, a good film was made.”

Volunteering is more than giving back estefanynunez

What people don’t realize is the amount of students stepping up to give back to the community. They sacrifice their own time. It’s many long hours of work, but throughout the whole event, they wear a kind, grateful smile. “They always say you give back to the community,” senior Yannet Avila, Interact Club treasurer, said. “But I see it as the opposite.” “It’s a way to make new connections,” she said. “Currently we’re working with YMCA to make a dream team here. It’s really cool (to see) who you might meet at community service events.” National Honors Society aims for excellence that is recognized by colleges, expecting members to complete a minimum of 10 hours of outside service as well as service provided by the club. Interact Club’s goal is to make a difference but still have a good time while helping the community.

Key Club pledges to give back to the community in the best way they can. Red Cross Club puts their skills and talents to work when contributing in Red Cross related servicing projects. Some teachers on campus require a specific number of hours of community service. Social Studies Department Chair Audrey Weir-Graham requires five hours of community service from her World History students every quarter. “I think community service is about realizing the real meaning of life comes from helping and serving others,” Weir-Graham said, “and I think working it into a requirement for students frame this direction in their aspiring careers.” Annual big community service events that are well known around campus are events such as Stockton Is Magnificent, Pow Wow, Coastal Cleanup, Kids In A Box, and the Greek Festival. Coastal Cleanup, hosted by Science Department Chair Marcus Sherman, is promoted not only

through clubs but everywhere around campus. Usually hosted around the beginning of the year, students meet in the school parking lot on a Saturday morning to pick up litter by the levee for three hours. Kids In A Box is hosted by New Haven Peace through high school Interact clubs. Students are to sleep in forts made out of cardboard boxes overnight on a high school football field to collect donations and raise awareness for the homeless shelter. Senior So Her said, “Kids In A Box was really fun — it’s where I really saw how lucky I am. I had to sleep in a box all night to see what homeless people went through.” Many popular small events happen around the holiday season. For example, canned-food drives and walk-a-thons occur around Thanksgiving. Also, there are toy drives, banquet halls and gift wrapping at Barnes & Noble around Christmas time. There’s always something going on whether you notice or not.

photo by marcella hawkins

Senior Red Cross Club member Jessica Gonzalez volunteers at Stockton is Magnificent. She helped out in various ways from painting hands for a hand mural to providing information to people.