the Stagg Line getting ready for “ Home of the Delta Kings
08.27.10
VOL. 54 NO. 1
No matter where we play we work hard. It’s having a field to call our own.”
ON THE WEB staggline.com
Stadium photo gallery
Don Norton
Stockton Unified Schools would receive a total of $464.5 million to fund renovations to classrooms and other facilities. Since the school has been built, a multi-purpose field Sweaty football players surround the area that has been has been the practice area for nearly all sports. But now under construction for about a year. Practice has nevthat field has been remodeled to accommodate a stadium, er seemed as intense as the new turf skins their legs on parking lot, and new baseball and softball field. impact. This multi-million dollar stadium has been well The new field is impacting freshmen as well. “I’m lucky worth the pain and wait. Coaches believe now that the this is my first year here and I get to play on the field,” player’s performance will demonstrate passion, dedication, freshman Romelo Perez said. and commitment. Students finally have a place to take pride in and a spe Loading a bus and lugging equipment to play a home cial place to call “home.” “People will be proud to say they game is no longer an issue. For more than 50 years every go to Stagg,” junior Sabrina Serrano, varsity cheerleader, said. Don Norton, varsity football head coach, hopes that with the new stadium the students will have a new perspective. “The attitude about sports and the athletic department will help build some school pride,” he said. Students have an expected excitement as they look forward to the opening game. Not only are the fans eager to watch their favorite teams play but the players of those teams are awaiting their chance to play on the new field. As football, soccer, and cheerleading prepare for their upcoming seasons they are also preparing to make history. “It takes hard work and sacrifice,” Mario Reyes, junior varsity football coach, said. Senior Francisco Ortigoza hopes their hard work will pay off and help them win the first home game. “We will have more fans, more of a rush, we will want it more.” But beyond football, the boys’ soccer team is proud to say that they too will make history. “For the first time people are going to watch us,” senior Oscar Vazquez said. “Not many students come and watch, but we’re honored to be out there.” Sophomore and JV football captain De’andre Isaac said, “It’s a big milestone, you look at the history of the school and you see winning seasons and losing seasons but when you look, the field remains photos by Erica Trevino the same. Until now, and we’re finally getMembers of the varsity football team watch the Bears. The Bears are a Pop Warner football team that played on Stagg’s new football field ting to change it in 2010.” to celebrate Brown and Gold Day on Aug. 14. Chelsea Collura and Annamarie Rodriguez
ON THE BLOG
staggline.blogspot.com
CLEARLY CLAIRE: “Flipped” is a great love story that will make anyone remember their first crush. THAT RELIGIOUS GUY finds that learning Spanish has given him a new appreciation for Fillipino traditions. INSIDE THE ISSUE Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelets
NEWS IN BRIEF SAT’s SIgn-ups for the SAT will be due Sept. 10. You can sign-up and get a fee waiver in the Career Center or register online. The test will take place Saturday, Oct. 9. Senior pictures Seniors who have yet to take their senior photos must do so ASAP. Call Flashbacks at 209-948-2748 to set up your appointment. Specify that you want a free senior photo or you will have to pay the $50 sitting fee. College Presentations CSU Fresno, CSU Eastbay, CSU Stanislaus, and UC Merced are having college presentations in September. Go to the Career Center for more information and to sign up. All presentations are only for seniors, except for CSU East Bay. Club Day Club Day will take place on Sept. 1 during lunch in the glade. Food will be sold and students will be able to sign up for the different clubs that day.
A member of the junior varsity team waits to get on the field to play at Brown and Gold Day. The players have been anticipating the opening of the new stadium.
game has been an away game. Playing in a new stadium for the first time will become the highlight of this year’s football and boys soccer season. “We have something to play for,” junior Joseph Farmer said. Students, teachers, and coaches are beginning to see the tremendous change in their spirit. Students will be able to show their spirit at the opening football game against Franklin on Sept. 10. “The football players will be more motivated,” said Christine Bolthouse, athletic trainer. “They don’t want to lose on their home field.” The Measure Q bond passed in 2008 certified that
Members of the junior varsity football team are getting in a stance formation. The team members played against each other to get ready for the new season.
“It’s some kind of symbol. It represents hard work.”
Christian Sanchez, Sophomore
“It’s fair since the football team never had a
NSPA Hall of Fame newspaper Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, Calif. 95207
Diana Cuevas, senior, practices her flying routine to prepare for the new season. Cuevas is new to the squad and has been designated as a flyer.
A large number of people came to Brown and Gold Day to see the new stadium. Many were seeing the stadium for the first time that day.
First home game scheduled for Sept. 10 What do you think about the new stadium?
the Stagg Line
HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
stadium, and they are getting better every year; they deserve it.” Marcus Barnett Armstrong, Junior
“It’s the best thing on campus because it’s so clean and new.”
Soda Vong, Senior
Tickets are sold on game day only! Prices Adults & Students without ID: $6 Students with ID: $4
Game times
Junior Varsity @ 5p.m. Varsity @ 7:15p.m. Ribbon cutting will be between the two games.
Stadium features Full snack bar equipped with food ranging from hot dogs, sodas, candy, etc. Home has full facility bathroom. Visitors have Porto-Potties
art by Harmony Evangelisti and Seyma Tap
Opinion the Stagg Line
2 EDITORIAL
08.27.10
Violence is never the answer
One. A powerful number. A powerful number that denotes how many things need to go wrong to make things worse. A powerful number that reveals the only empty seat in class. A powerful number that describes how many people are needed to bring change. It only takes one. The trouble is, nobody wants to be the one. The individual who acts, who rises to the challenge. It is much easier to be a part of the multitude gazing at situations from afar. But we do not have this luxury anymore. For just as it takes only one person to be the solution, it only takes one person to be the problem. Though we live in a community, we are far from being united. We are divided by race, religion, and opinion. We would rather remain in our respective neighborhoods, with people who talk like us, share the same beliefs, and love only our own. We dislike outsiders, those who trespass on our property. Like petty beasts, we mark our territory, divide our land. We perpetuate stereotypes. We form gangs. There’s really no one to be blamed. We are the problem. As the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, the whole community is as terrible as
its worst member. Our blindness to the many social problems plaguing our neighborhoods places us on the same level as the beggars, the dealers, and the gangs. Rather than face this truth, we hide and expect things to one day be different. Change, however, is not a random act of nature. Three students died over the summer. With the people responsible being held on trial, family and friends are struggling to cope with the loss. So as a community we remain at a crossroads. Will we continue the violence or strive to end the bloodshed? Will we label the students who have disappeared from campus as martyrs to prolong the fight or treat them as reasons to bring about change? They say that public schools cannot provide a valued education, that private institutions are better equipped to teach students morals. They, however, are wrong. They fail to see the discussions on ethics that take place in English classes. They fail to see the enforcement of school rules that teach respect and punctuality. They fail to see the numerous clubs on campus who function as centers of cooperation and camaraderie. They fail to see the new efforts to connect students together like
Art by Tiffany Pech
Link Crew. Ultimately, we, the students, fail to see the tools being given to us, the support systems meant to unite us. The fear of becoming active in school, of being the one who causes change, is strong. Following the flock is easier than being the shepherd. Therefore the rewards of being the one are all the greater since the prize is a united community. All these activities are designed to create bonds, to form friendships, to help the isolated become part of a larger family of students. One of the major causes of why some
students drop out of school is because they feel they do not have any reason to come back. They are often the ones who sit alone at lunch or who stay quiet during class. Their only other option besides dropping out is to join a negative network of support like gangs. Instead of increasing unity, however, gangs further divide us. The recent deaths have taught us that it only takes one person to disappear to affect the many. The recent deaths have also taught us that one person is needed to spark change. It only takes one.
Proposition 8 still stirs debate
Y
ou’re walking down the street and see a tall woman and a fairly short man, and you think to yourself: That’s normal. You’re in the grocery store and you see a Nicole Lawrence black man and a white woman getting items for their dinner, and you think to yourself: That’s normal. You’re at the mall, and you see two men holding hands, and, to some, you think: That’s unacceptable. This is how some American minds work. Many have come to the conclusion that marriage is between a man and a woman, relatively the same size, age and appearance. Now, as things have progressed, we see many different kinds of pairs, and some of us have learned to accept these couples in our society. If this progression is a change for the better, then why do so many Californians support Proposition 8? Prop 8 was passed in 2008, leaving only approximately 18,000 gay couples permitted to stay
“
This brings us to ask ourselves, what does truly distinguish gay couples from the “traditional” couples?”
married. Now the issue has stepped back into battle for the year 2010. Proposition 8, which was overturned as of August 18, 2010, has been removed from further discussion until December of this year. This was a step backwards for gay couples who were anxious to wed. It seems as though this constant clash will never end. “We too should be treated equally,” said Kristin M. Perry, as quoted from a New York Times article. “Our family is just as loving, just as real, and just as valid as anyone else’s.” This brings us to ask ourselves, what does truly distinguish gay couples from the “traditional” couples? Aside from gender, there is the inability to produce children, but some other couples have the same problems due to medical issues. Children of homosexual couples may not have both traditional mother and father figures in their lives, but not all
the Stagg Line Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 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 recognitions include the following: XX 16 consecutive NSPA All-American rankings XX NSPA Hall of Fame, 2005 XX NSPA First-Place Best of Show five times XX 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.
heterosexual families are wellrounded in that area either. Some fathers may not go out and play sports with their sons, and some mothers may not paint their nails with their daughters, and some, may only have one parent period. If you put aside the gender similarity, gay couples can be just as loving, and as valid, as any other couple. It is wrong to prohibit this percentage of homosexual Californian’s from marriage. Gay marriage is legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire, but this isn’t the case in the other 44 states. Think of this: how would you feel, if you couldn’t marry someone who had a different skin color than you? How would you feel if you were looked down upon because you were with someone a different size than you? Think of this, and you will be put in the shoes of every homosexual Californian that is unable to marry the person they love due to Proposition 8.
Chelsea Collura Editor-in-Chief
Lissette Rodriguez Don Bott
Editor-in-Chief
Adviser
The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and distributed free of charge to students and faculty. Our newspaper is a long-standing open forum for free student expression. Student editors and reporters make content and style decisions with the adviser offering guidance. Editorials reflect the view of the entire editorial board and therefore are unsigned. Opinion columns reflect the view of the writer. Readers are welcomed to write letters to the editor. We will make every effort to print any letter as long as it is not libelous. Letters longer than 250 words may be edited. Unsigned letters will be printed only in unusual circumstances, and only when we know who the writer is. Letters may be brought to the newspaper room, A-8, or emailed to dbott@stockton.k12.ca.us
photo courtesy of creative commons A woman protesting anti-gay marriage at a rally in New York in 2008, a battle that has carried on into 2010.
Claire Scheffer News Editor
Mikeala Axton
Annamarie Cunningham Harmony Evangelisti
Opinion Editor
Faith Harris
Missy Rae Magdalera
Damon Heine
Alisya Mora
Nicole Lawrence
Features Editor
Entertainment Editor
Taylor Hurles
Jera Machuca
Sports Editor
Gabriella Miller
Michelle Pheav
Tiffany Pech
Erica Trevino
Annamarie Rodriguez
Graphics Editor Photo Editor
Xe Xiong
Reanna Rodriguez
Web/Multimedia Editor
Seyma Tap
Kristin Acevedo
Chesiree Terry
Copy Editor
Jeremy Dela Cruz Blog Editor
Mia Torres
08.27.10
the Stagg Line
Opinion
3
Breast bracelets brew conflict Controversy sparks over new cause-driven trend
T
he world is a troubling place. Resources seem to be lacking and poverty seems to be increasing. The public at large seeks to find comfort in the hollow words of politicians who themselves are blind to the problems facing the nation. The young lose faith in established traditions and are beginning to rebel. Global conflicts threaten to drench nations in permanent bloodshed. It is 1965 and the world is a troubling place. Amid the strife and struggle, three teenagers take up a noble cause, attempting to salvage the remnants of hope for a better future. These students take a stand against an unpopular war by wearing black armbands, which symbolize the potential darkness ahead if the violence continues. For them, their fight is a silent one, a protest against death. Unfortunately, the three students are told to take off their armbands or face suspension. Rather than compromising their ideals, the young adults refuse to abandon their opinions and are sent home. Such is the fate of freedom in the face of suppression. Such was the world during the 1960s when the Vietnam War divided the country. Today, students around the nation are dealing with similar repressions of their beliefs. Sure, they may not be protesting a war like Christopher Eckhardt and John and Mary Beth Tinker, but their cause is just as noble. Breast cancer is the most com mon form of non-skin cancer affecting women globally. Teenagers have taken it upon themselves to combat a disease by joining a movement, one with a controversial name: Keep-A-Breast. At first glance, the organization’s name may be interpreted as obscene or too blunt. What some fail to realize, however, is that in addition to being a declaration against breast cancer, KeepA-Breast is a pun on the word “abreast,” which means to keep informed. Keep-A-Breast was founded by Shaney jo Darden and Mona Mukherjea-Gehrig to spread awareness of breast cancer prevention and early detection through merchandise and artistic events. Currently on their website, Darden and Mukherjea-Gehrig are giving five grants of $10,000 to “admirable organizations or individuals dedicated to putting an end to breast cancer through positive impact.” Keep-A-Breast empowers ev-
from advocating their beliefs because of the immaturity of others. Teenagers may have a repu-
tation for being immature, but sometimes we can rise above our own lives and think about other people. Keep-A-Breast understands this and so tried to cater to a new generation of advocates with an even newer phrase. Unfortunately, the administra-
Jeremy Dela Cruz eryone in general and teenagers in particular to have the “freedom to support causes that are important to you.” One way that certain students have chosen to support the fight against breast cancer is by wearing multicolored bracelets as part of the “I Love Boobies” Campaign. The bracelets feature the eyecatching campaign’s name and have drawn considerable attention from the disapproving gaze of administrators everywhere. At this school, administrators believe the words “I Love Boobies” are too offensive and wearing a bracelet with this phrase could be grounds for sexual harassment. They contend that most individuals don this wrist-wear simply for immature purposes and not for social activism. After all, adolescent boys rarely wear bracelets but suddenly choose to do so when such accessories depict a naughty phrase like “I Love Boobies.” Under the same logic, the administration should expand its inquisition of offensive objects not to be worn by students to include such items as rosaries, Che Guevara insignia, and “Twilight” clothing. I, along with many devoted Catholics, am extremely offended when I see someone wearing a rosary as a necklace, especially when the person is not Catholic and is clueless about how to actually pray the rosary. Guevara was a communist leader who executed people without due process and opposed many freedoms, making him not so politically correct. Let’s not forget that shirts supporting Team Edward are most definitely going to offend Team Jacob advocates. Sure, it is entirely possible that a majority of the “I Love Boobies” bracelet population is only riding the waves of a passing fashion trend, but that shouldn’t be cause for a direct ban on them. There are plenty of students who have felt the effects of breast cancer and so wear the bracelets with pride and awareness in mind. They should not be prevented
tors get flustered with the wording. Would it be more acceptable if the bracelets said “I Love Bosoms” or better yet “I Love Mammary Glands”? Most students are not parading their bracelets around in a taunting manner to give rise to sexual harassment. They wear them quietly and cannot help if others are insulted. The most illogical critique of the breast cancer bracelets involves their colors and their affiliation. The administrators erroneously believe that since this wrist-wear is available in a variety of colors it can be used by gangs to identify themselves. My answer? Don’t allow people to sport red or blue bracelets. The color argument also extends to the idea that only pink objects represent breast cancer. Just like how blue t-shirts can be used for
the Think Green movement, a bracelet coming in white or black doesn’t mean it cannot stand for breast cancer awareness. In both cases, the words of the message speak for themselves. The fact that Keep-A-Breast is the producer of these accessories makes administrators suspicious. After all, they reason that anything in support of breast cancer awareness must be connected to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. How else would they know if it’s legitimate? The obvious truth is that the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation does not hold a monopoly on everything breast cancer, in the same way that calling my business Jeremy’s Lemonade Stand does not make me the supreme authority on lemonade. Many organizations advocate for the same issue; there’s no single group in charge of rallying support for a particular cause. The Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines states that schools cannot forbid an expression of opinion, that “fear or apprehension of disturbance is not enough to overcome freedom of expression.” Ultimately, anything can offend, but none like the suppression of free speech.
How do you feel about the ‘Keep-A-Breast’ bracelets?
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The guys disrespect it, but for those who actually support it, it’s not sexual harassment.” Alexus Raquel
SOPHOMORE
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It’s not like I’m saying ‘I love your boobies.’” Esteban Aguilera
SENIOR
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My aunt has cancer, it’s not breast cancer, but I know what it’s like for someone to have in the family. That’s why I support it.”
photo by Erica Trevino Michael Contreras, senior, listens to music and sports one of the recently popular “Keep-A-Breast” bracelets after the Brown and Gold Day scrimmage game on Saturday, Aug. 14. “I wear it to support breast cancer awareness,” he said. “And because it’s cool.”
David Stewart SOPHOMORE
Stockton libraries may be purchased by private investor P
ublic libraries have always been a refuge for In order to save money, they would replace the those seeking knowledge. People of all ages, licensed librarians with people who are not as qualishapes, sizes, colors, religions, and political fied, according to William Maxwell, board member views have used libraries. at Friends of the Stockton Public Library bookstore. By definition, a public library is a nonprofit, They would take the very people who have devoted established for the use of, and maintained by, the their lives to libraries, and kick them to the curb. general public. They may also cut costs by buying books in smaller In my 15 short years of life, the public library quantities, and waiting for books to be printed in being sold to a private company is one of the worst paperback before buying them. Thus, by the time ideas I have ever heard. they come out in paperback, they’re already off the The county and city would sell the Stockton/ bestsellers list and out of people’s minds. San Joaquin public libraries to a company called the More than just books, one of the nicest things Library Systems & Services, Maryland. The reasonabout the library is all the free programs they offer: ing behind the county looking to sell the library is Preschool Story Time, Teen Movies, Free Computer understandable; it’s to cut costs. Annamarie Cunningham Training, and, of course, Yoga Class. The company’s website is full of people with Our libraries are home to many different programs blinding white smiles, perfect skin and expensive that people have taken advantage of. If the libraries looking clothes, as if having enough perfect people would justify buyare privatized, many of these programs may be cut or come at a cost. ing our libraries. Libraries are a vital part of our society, an especially important place The company has proposed things like expanding hours by 50 for people with no extra money to buy new books. percent and even reopening another branch. However, costs have to be The library is home to encyclopedias, history books, and books in cut somewhere. every other subject you could think of, but if owned by a private com Maybe the workers in the company could take a pay cut, but if they pany, things could change very drastically. did that, perhaps their teeth wouldn’t be nearly as white. We can only hope that if LSSI does buy our library that our future What a tragedy. will remain as bright as their teeth.
Art by Mikeala Axton
Features the Stagg Line
4
Aftermath of loss: to mind,” she said. “I’m not getting used to it at all; it just gets even more shocking.” It is that one seat--the one seat that now remains On the other hand, some students say they are empty. It is the one seat that Daniel Ausborne did not bothered that hearing about fellow student’s deaths return to in May for the last few days before his high is almost becoming normal. Sophomore Ana Touch school graduation. It is the one believes it’s going to take a long seat that could have been occupied time to get over the death of her by Aaron DeVora at the beginning close friend Ros, and she said that of his senior year. It is the one seat Shock & denial overall students’ attitudes about that Rin Ros occupied for only has changed. “I think peoUnwilling to face reality death two weeks of his sophomore year. ple are used to it now,” she said. in order to avoid pain – The absence of these students These seats remain cold and may last for weeks is felt by more than just their empty because death stole their inhabitants. friends. Bagnasco had trouble Pain & guilt With these students gone, understanding how students their friends are now dealing with Although unbearable, could be forced to have to deal the grief that these deaths have pain must be experiwith these situations. “No high brought. school should have to go through enced fully, not hidden Tim Gomez, senior, is just one what the kids here are going Anger & Bargaining through,” he said. of those students who had trouble Have self control over More than just feeling sadness coping with the shock upon hearing Ros was dead. frustration, good time to for the death of some of his stu The Monday after his death, Bagnasco recognizes that release bottled up anger dents, Gomez was faced with correcting these students could be his own tests for English teacher Martin Depression, children. Bagnasco’s class, a test on a short Reflection, Loneliness Principal Bill Parks faces simistory that was called “The Con- Isolation of one self to lar frustrations. “I resent opening tents of the Dead Man’s Pocket.” reflect and focus on the a paper every morning and seeing Gomez saw the name on the top 14, 15, and 16 year olds in shootof the paper, it belonged to Ros. past, having feelings of ings and drive-bys,” he said. “But “I didn’t want to correct it,” he emptiness or despair those problems are in the streets, said. “It belonged to someone who The Upward Turn not at Stagg High School.” wasn’t with us anymore.” Parks, along with other school Adjusting to life starts to programs, Students have had to endure are doing a number become a bit calmer; of things to help students cope multiple stages of grief because of depression lifts slightly with their grief. A couple of days three students’ deaths in a matter of four months. The stages of grief Reconstruction & after Ros’s death, Parks called 45 range from shock and denial to acstudents who lived in the same ceptance. “But not everyone goes Working Through apartment complex as Ros into through all the stages,” said Lor- The mind works again, the library to inform them of the raine Ramsey, marriage and family start to rebuild life withresources available at school. At therapist trainee for Healthy Start. out lost loved one the moment, Healthy Start has “Sometimes people get stuck in four marriage and family theraAcceptance & Hope pist trainees open to talk to stuone stage and never get out.” Able to accept the dents who can refer themselves Clinging to memorabilia helps students cope with their grief. reality of situations and or be referred by a teacher. Diana Cuevas, senior, carries on find a way forward When it comes to hearing or her lanyard a Hawaiian keychain, talking about student deaths, INFOBOX BY MICHELLE PHEAV a gift from DeVora. “This kind Bagnasco says that students, of stuff shouldn’t be happening,” SOURCE: RECOVER-FROM-GRIEF.COM teachers, and administrators can’t Cuevas said, as tears and mascara always be ready with the right inran down her cheeks. “I know it happened, but we formation or resources. “Nothing would prepare his still are at school and he’s not.” Other students re- family or anybody else for this,” Bagnasco said. member their deceased friends through recalling mo- He was less prepared when it came to telling his ments in the hallways. fifth period English class that Ros had died over the It is through the school’s hallways that senior weekend. He said his name, the students asked who, Nancy Ortigoza continually remembers walking and another student in the class pointed to the empty down the F-wing with DeVora. “He’ll always come seat. “The dude who sat there.”
08.27.10
School community grieves over deaths of students
Lissette Rodriguez
7 Stages of grief
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photo by Lissette Rodriguez English teacher Martin Bagnasco has tried getting students to move on from the death of their fifth period classmate. He says that the seat will most likely reamin empty for the rest of the year.
Scheduling problems upset AVID students Gabriella Miller
photo by Michelle Pheav Senior AVID students work in groups during tutorials where they receive assistance for certain subjects. As of now, there are only 15 students in the senior class, as opposed to the 64 students in the freshman class.
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My AVID teacher got me (to join) honors and AP because they’re almost as competitive as college.” Adnan Hashtam
SENIOR
Sixty-four freshmen, 12 sophomores, 17 juniors, and 15 seniors. Who are these people? They are the students of a once strong AVID. “Our numbers are declining because we’re competing with other programs that are just as beneficial,” said Thongthip Duangsawat, sophomore and junior AVID teacher. “We’re cannibalizing.” AVID is a program that helps students prepare themselves for college. “AVID is one of the first things college recruits look for,” senior AVID teacher Kyle Dei Rossi said. “It’s helped me with social skills, talking to people, writing better, and better study habits,” junior Juan Vega said. Activities like tutorials also help students in different subjects. “Students tutor themselves in groups in classes they need help in,” said Harold Brown, freshman AVID teacher. Although the program helps students get into college, they must also take initiative in paving their own pathways to success. “They have to want to do the work,” Dei Rossi said. “It’s too normal to ex-
“
AVID is a big part of why I want to go to college. It let’s you know what you need to be in college.” Amanda Geahry
JUNIOR
pect too little of yourself.” With all of these ideas promoted, it would seem that the numbers should be strong, but that is not the case. Some students have been dropped from the program without requesting to leave. This is due in part to a few miscommunications between students and their counselors. “The class was just gone from my schedule… I don’t know why,” Jeana Correa, junior, said. Correa was in AVID her freshman and sophomore year and when it wasn’t on her schedule this year she was disappointed. “AVID is really good for me so I’m going to try to get in second semester.” But schedule conflicts are the pitfalls. “AVID is only a certain period,” counselor Samantha Wirzberger said. “If a student needed a class for graduation or had to repeat a class, then we had to pull them out.” Junior Rachel Martinez is also no longer in AVID, but it’s possible that her problems are less from a miscommunication error and more about grades. “I didn’t have good grades and I had to retake a class this year,” she said. “I don’t think I’m going to join again because I
need other classes to graduate.” The students who remain say that AVID is crucial for their success. Vega has been in the program for the past two years and plans to stay for his remaining years. “It lets me know what I need to do to get and stay in college,” he said. “People who leave AVID are people who don’t know what they want to do in life, and I do.” Sophomore Edgar Perez-Chiche shares Vega’s beliefs. “I joined AVID for the better benefit of my future,” he said. “After freshman year I knew how much it would help.” Many freshmen have also been added to increase the numbers and to ensure fuller classes in later years. They were chosen based on their last year CST scores. “We increased an AVID class for freshmen; not all of them requested it,” Wirzberger said. “Our goal with AVID is to build it.” One freshman new to the program is Dallas Steadman. “I just got placed, but even if I didn’t I would still join to help myself,” he said. “Many people told me good reasons of why I should stay and it’s already keeping me on track with homework and classes.”
“
I’m proud to be in AVID because it makes my parents proud that I’m a great student.” Edgar PerezChiche SOPHOMORE
08.27.10
the Stagg Line
Features
5
Clayton’s abusive past influences bright future Kristin Acevedo The message of encouragement toward education is everywhere. It’s on massive billboards and hundreds of posters. It’s within an ever so famous quote of President Obama, “Dropping out of school… it’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country,” which is plastered in many classrooms including that of Sharron Clayton’s, English teacher. Clayton looks around her class and sees destroyed textbooks: covers ripped off, bindings torn apart, pages scribbled on. Books are lent to students, who are strongly encouraged to use them to expand their education. Seeing the careless damage to wide open learning opportunities makes Clayton uneasy. As she sees some brush the message off their shoulder, Clayton recalls living in a world where education was strictly off limits to her, a world where the population denied her to know anything beyond their own cruel state of mind, and this is what made her become an educator. From Illinois to Michigan to Indiana to California, her childhood was poor and nomadic. She had always been the “poor kid” in her classes. Clayton recalls her third
grade teacher Mrs. Hazards calling her up in front of the class to simply tease her about the saddle oxfords she wore on her feet because they were severely tattered and outgrown so much that they forced her to walk on her heels. They lived off of the neighborhood trailer park; their ideal field day was when their neighbor, a garbage man, brought his truck home and allowed her and her siblings to scope through the trash and keep whatever treasures they’d find. But at the age of 13, poverty had finally besieged Clayton’s family. Her mother sent her to live with her aunt in Emerald, TX, but after only two years, her aunt grew certain that she too was unable to provide Clayton with a suitable home. The same day Clayton had received an Honor Roll Award at school, her aunt handed her over to the courts of Texas. She was forced into a juvenile hall where she witnessed cruelty and abuse, verbal and physical, and the worst part of all, to Clayton, no school. Since she knew she wouldn’t be able to leave the hall until she turned 18, she sought an earlier escape through marriage. “I honestly didn’t care who it was, I’d do anything to get out,” she said. A friend of hers wanted to help.
Combined classes create conflict for students and teachers Lissette Rodriguez Students pull out their notebooks and begin taking notes on the concept of passé composé avec être, a subject that students in French 7-8 learned more than two years ago while French 3-4 students are seeing this for the first time. These students from different levels don’t have the benefit of sitting in separate classrooms, or even in separate periods. Instead, students who signed up for French 3-4 honors, French 5-6, French 5-6 honors, French 7-8 and French 7-8 honors all sit together learning the same curriculum. Classes such as this one, with multiple sections in the same room, have become necessary due to a combination of lack of signups and numerous budget cuts that don’t allow small classes for foreign languages to exist. French teacher Deborah Berg says combining all three levels of the language as well as honors is insanity. “It’s kind of like throwing a wrench into a machine,” she said. Berg has been challenged with teaching multiple course levels in the past, but that usually only involved teaching two courses one year apart such as French 5-6 and French 7-8. Even though teaching multiple courses has proven to be challenging to Berg, she has figured out a system to ensure students receive all the help they need, even if they have to receive the aid from students in a higher course. A system that teachers such as Berg and Spanish teacher Maria Cordova have adopted is splitting
the class into groups and having students of every level in those groups. “I think it benefits me more,” said Oscar Gomez, senior, a Spanish 3-4 student in Cordova’s class. “I can learn more from people in a high level.” Although students in higher levels such as French and Spanish 7-8 are spending some of their time helping students in less advanced levels, they still find themselves bored at times. “It’s kind of like seeing 1+1 in an Algebra 3-4 class,” said Itzel Bernal, senior. Students in the French 5-6 course find themselves doing more than just teaching. They also have to be able to learn and grasp new concepts that haven’t been introduced to them. “The 5-6 students are kind of like the middle child of a family,” said Alfredo Aguirre, junior. These students not only are looking up to 7-8 students, he said, but they have others who are looking up to them as well. Spanish teacher Raquel Chavez points out that there are some key differences when it comes to teaching different language courses. One of those is that the first two years of a language class are more focused on teaching the verbal part of the language, while the following two years consist more of teaching about the grammar of the language. Even though Berg is starting to get a handle on running her trilevel class she still views it as much more of a challenge than in past years. “Even with two levels it’s insanity,” she said.
His uncle was a judge and married them and, for a split second, Clayton thought this was a selfless gesture for her escape away from the hall. She couldn’t have been more wrong, she said. Clayton was petite, a mere 4’10 and her new husband was a six foot body builder on steroids who had no trouble “smacking her around.” He and his mother believed Clayton had no right or use for an education and abuse was the only way to make a wife listen. “He’d catch me with them (books) and would burn them and beat me,” Clayton said. Throughout the beatings, her thirst for literature and knowledge never went away. “Gone with the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz” were Clayton’s ways of temporary escape from it all. “Through books I could be anybody I wanted to be.” Finally at the age of 21, Clayton fled from her husband to California with her three children; she had been living in her husband’s world for so long that she had no idea of what was going on in the real world or how to begin a new life. She had grown up to fear society for not being accepted. But one thing she grasped quickly was the concept of the balance and ratio between respect and education.
“The only time you count is when you have respect,” Clayton said. “The only time you have respect is when you have an education.” With this life lesson, Clayton was quick to get her General Equivalency Diploma, but it still wasn’t enough. She graduated from Delta College in 1981 and moved on to the University of the Pacific where she took a passion in journalism. Education wasn’t an idea strongly imposed on Clayton, but somehow she found clarity through the putdowns and made her own way. According to Clayton, it is indeed a blessing to be surrounded by people who support and suggest the right choices in life. People are encouraged to take advantage of an education and build a better future. But there are those who don’t appreciate that little suggestion. There are those who mock the message. Unlike Clayton, they have no idea what it’s like to live in world where they are violently deprived of their education, where the only thing they could know is what their abuser wanted them to know, where everyone truly thinks they are simply nothing. “It (education) gave me respect, it gave me individuality, and it made me count in life.”
Photo by Kristin Acevedo Sharron Clayton, English teacher, presents her journalism portfolio which is filled with all her college work on the newspaper staff.
Working wonders New work experience coordinator brings life to declining program
Kristin Acevedo and Missy Rae Magdalera
photo by Kristin Acevedo Work Experience Coordinator, Dr. Deb Barbieri, has presented to approximately 700 students since the beginning of the school year in order to keep the program as a reliable resource for students on campus.
The average 16 year old will look forward to earning a driver’s license along with buying their first car, so it’s not surprising to see older teens hunting for a job outside of the school day. However, with the current economic crisis, fulfilling these expectations has become more of a struggle than ever. A teenager’s competition for a job no longer only consists of his or her peers but adults as well. Dr. Deb Barbieri, newly appointed coordinator of Work Experience Education, is here to coach students to be able to handle that competition. The program has not had much notice on campus in recent years. But now, despite a small enrollment in the class, Barbieri remains enthusiastic about what she has to offer to students. She has taken the initiative to speak to an average of 200 students a week about “Dr. Deb” and the WEE program. “I work for the students,” she said. Work permits, resume building, and interview etiquette, however, are merely the surface of what she intends to teach. As she guides teens through the job process, she admits that she’s introducing them to skills that will be usable in the future not only for job hunting, but for life as well. According to Barbieri, there are usually 300 students on campus with jobs and work permits in the beginning of the year; but as of right now, there are only 10. James McCollum, senior, the only student currently enrolled in WEE, strongly recommends students to the program. McCollum was unhappy with his
job and hours before he consulted with Barbieri. She asked “What are you interested in?” and soon enough McCollum was on his way to an interview for a job he actually wanted with a better resume Barbieri helped him assemble. “Job searching is looking at yourself and seeing what you have to offer,” she said. Disappointing students, for Barbieri, is simply not an option. Her anxiety about the program stems from it not being able to benefit the amount of students to its full capability. She admits that her motivation is “giving students a good start after high school,” and that’s what students can come to appreciate by attending her class every Wednesday. Barbieri says it herself – one has to be passionate about where they want to work, and many see that her passion lies with this program. “I’ve wanted this position for two years,” she said. However, many students were unaware of the program’s existence, let alone its benefits. Kayla Nelson, junior, was one of those students until Barbieri gave a presentation to her class. “I didn’t know about the program until she came,” Nelson said. She plans on meeting with Barbieri for assistance with her resume building and job searching. “I’m in the right job,” said Barbieri, and students agree. “She’s in contact with everyone,” McCollum said. “She’s definitely the person to go to.” But Barbieri simply believes that if one reaches for “what (they’re) good at, (they’ll) be fine.” With her enthusiasm and energy, however, the program will be more than fine; it will be successful.
Quick Questions: Job Searching
Graphic by Tiffany Pech
photo by Chelsea Collura Deborah Crane, associate director of career resources at University of the Pacific, speaks to students in the after school program about building resumes, an aspect involved with attending Work Experience Education.
5 questions to ask yourself before looking for a job What are you looking for in a job and why? What are your interests? What are your skills? How will the job affect your future? What are the real possibilities? SOURCE: ASHS-SUSD-CA.SCHOOLLOOP.COM/WEE
Entertainment the Stagg Line
6
Bam!
cRASH!
Damon Heine and Mikeala Axton
Some aren't truly a hero yet possess the essence to fight for justice. They're able to protect the weak from a corrupt society and at the same time stand tall with the chafing of their spandex. We take a look at some graphic novels and their movie adaptations. Armed with his wrinkled band T-shirts, his ultra-hip slacker friends, and his trusty bass guitar, Scott Pilgrim is ready (if not willing) to take on the world. And this epic battle is far better suited to play out on the big screen than in the panels of a graphic novel. Transitions in the novel are virtually non-existent, leaving you repeatedly thumbing to make sure the pages aren’t stuck together, for you’re certain you’ve missed something. The non-transitions in the movie, however, serve to help keep it fast-paced and edgy. The dialogue is also problematic in the book where most conversations are jumpy and difficult to follow on paper. The power of cinema, again, transforms this into
08.27.10
Comics!
sharp, quick banter even more nerdy-awkward and hilarious than in the book. Presentation-wise, the movie again delivers a K.O. punch to the book. As stylized as they are, the illustrations from the graphic novel are mediocre at best: the characters being stocky, flat, and ultimately strange looking. The movie swiftly morphs these odd, manga influenced doodles into slick, uber cool realistic characters. On the other hand, in pumping-up these personas, the film removes some of the main characters’ most enjoyable traits. Scott Pilgrim himself is made into a Michael Cera patent: sensitive and unsure, with no butt-kicking abilities right off the bat, the exact opposite of the Scott of the novel. Ultimately, the movie appears as a sort of comic-book movie hybrid, integrating text and visual onomatopoeias packed alongside eye-searing graphics to give epileptic kids nightmares. Overall, the movie and the graphic novel achieve the same effect: a geek-friendly handbook to life, love, and kicking villain butt, written in one of the most paradoxically apt metaphors for real life: fantasy.
WATCHMEN
Comic book (1986) Movie (2009)
It has been called the greatest comic book ever published, as well as one of the most difficult movie adaptations. But director Zack Snyder managed to faithfully transform Alan Moore’s 12-issue comic into an exceptional three-hour film. However, this film got mixed reviews from critics and never received the blessings of its creator; Moore wanted his name taken off all of his comic film adaptations. The film’s cast has relatively unknown actors. The two actors who truly embody their characters are Jeffrey Dean Morgan, as the sadistic Comedian, and Jackie Earle Haley, as the sociopath Rorschach. Other actors are a bit dull and do not contain the depth the graphic novel presents. Other characters that had important roles in the comic, such as the first Nite-Owl (Hollis Mason), are given smaller roles or cut out of the film altogether. There are many distracting scenes including a sex scene between NiteOwl (Patrick Wilson) and Silk Spectre (Malin Ackerman) in the Owl-Ship halfway through the movie. Strangely enough, almost every scene with Dr. Manhattan is portrayed in two ways: very blue and very naked. The entire final chapter is rewritten except for a few scenes. Ozymandias’ plot now involves Dr. Manhattan destroying New York, whereas in the graphic novel Ozymandias is diminishing a false alien invasion that he has devised. “Watchmen” is not a perfect film, but it’s not as lackluster as some critics described. For such a highly respected graphic novel, it is especially well done.
Epic comics coming to FILM: The Green Hornet (January 14 2011) Thor (May 6 2011)
Green Lantern (June 17 2011)
Captain America: The First Avenger (July 22 2011)
Why do you prefer the graphic novel over the movie?
V FOR VENDETTA
Comic Book (Between 1983-1989), Movie (2006)
Another graphic novel by the great Alan Moore is “‘V for Vendetta.” This graphic novel tells the story of a dark totalitarian England, which takes place in the near future, as well as the tale of V, who is a terrorist to some and a freedom fighter to others. Directed by the Wachowski brothers, who also directed “The Matrix,” the movie becomes a great fictional political thriller and emphasizes the immorality that dictatorship causes without trying to preach to viewers. V is played incredibly by Hugo Weaving and could be one of the best comic book character transitions from page to screen in a while. In a year that brought such dry comic book films like “Superman Returns” and “X-Men: the Last Stand”, “V” is relief from overly stylized action movies. There are many differences between the graphic novel and the movie, but surprisingly it does not hinder the viewing experience. People may notice at the movie’s end there is a peaceful overthrow of the government, while in the novel there is a violent struggle for freedom. And that the mantle of V is taken up briefly by main character Evey after the original V’s death. Despite the noticeable changes to the plot, the movie remains equally superb, which is unusual for a comic book film. The dark setting of the movie is definitely true to the original comic book. The emotional scenes are not overplayed and so the viewer feels genuine emotion. This film does not have an excess of violence, also unusual since most graphic novel adaptations have had incredible amounts of violence. Overall, “V for Vendetta” is the best out of all the film adaptations of Alan Moore’s works and deserves to be recognized as such.
Movie images courtesy of Creative Commons
"'Watchmen is very interesting because every time you read it you don't get the whole story." - Sean Ferguson, junior
"I prefer the novel because it can be informative and go into depth about the story a lot more than a movie." - David Knodt, senior
"I prefer to read than to watch a flashing screen" - Allison Keagy, sophomore
Graphics by Michelle Pheav
08.27.10
the Stagg Line
Entertainment
7
Summer movies bring less ACTION, more inspiration
Art by Tiffany Pech, Mia Torres, and Taylor Hurles
Lack of gory explosions kill audience's attention Claire Scheffer Let me start off by saying, this movie could have been great. It could have been awesome. It could have been epic. But it isn’t. It is boring, idiotic, and downright insulting. In the new action thriller, “The Expendables,” Sylvester Stallone plays an ex-special ops agent named Barney Ross who’s in charge of negotiating the safe return of hostages and performing the tasks the CIA won’t do. Ross and his gang (made up of action stars such as Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Dolph Lundgren) are suffering from personal life-altering issues when they’re pulled into an assassination job. They must go to South America to kill an evil dictator. Yet when the job is anything but what they were told, they go rogue and must save the dictator’s daughter as well as kill the real target, an evil ex-CIA agent consumed with greed and out for blood. The dialogue is so stupid and the writers tried so hard to be dramatic that it slightly insults my intelligence. I mean, yes, I understand that when I watch an action film I am not expecting an Oscar-winning screenplay, but this is just painful. The long stretches of dialogue would have been fine if the characters had been worth our interest, but they are not. I didn’t care what happened to these people and why should I? Stallone set up unlikable characters that try to be deep but end up just sounding trite and sad. By the end of the film I was rooting for the bad guy, just so Stallone would stop talking. Not only is the dialogue stupid, when Stallone is talking, the words are incomprehensible. It is hard to make out what is going on between the grumble and rumble of his syllables crashing together in an angry manner. I mean, don’t get me wrong. There are some funny lines. When Arnold Schwarzenegger walks into a scene and Stallone comments that he is too busy to take any jobs because he wants to be presi-
dent, I chuckled. But these funny lines are few and far between. Overall, the only reason I laughed at the lines were because it was so inconceivable that these actors were saying this dialogue. The plot is laughable too. It makes no sense and there are parts of the movie that are unnecessary yet are given tons of screen time. Statham’s relationship with his girlfriend (Charisma Carpenter) doesn’t go anywhere and is only there to set up a fight scene between his girl’s abuser and himself. I mean, granted, the scene is completely awesome, with Statham taking on an entire basketball team and throwing the abuser on the ground and popping his basketball with a giant knife. It is entertaining, but you could have seen that without the scene where he finds his girlfriend cheating on him. There isn’t enough action, though. If I am going to give up plot and dialogue, the filmmaker better blow me away with their special effects. There is way too much talking in this movie when they should be blowing things up. The filmmaker needs to stop trying to make me care. I don’t care, just kill someone. Statham and Stallone are a great pair when it comes to killing the bad guy and wrestling the henchmen, but I wanted to see more. Once the action gets going, though, it is so gory, it is hilarious. The movie starts off with a man being shot in half with his top half hitting the back wall and blood spurting all over the factory they are in. Sometimes the way to show death and destruction in a powerful way is to cut away and let the audience think with their imagination. The scenes show the audience all their cards and they had nothing. This movie is so not worth your time. It is idiotic at its best. I have never walked out of a film, no matter how bad, yet I seriously considered it in the middle of this film. Don’t see it. You have been warned.
Art by Tiffany Pech
Life-altering message hits audience hard Reanna Rodriguez Bold settings and an empowering theme could easily make “Eat Pray Love” one of the most inspirational films of the year. Its mature content may make it seem like it wouldn’t appeal to teens. However, in reality, the movie has a universal message that applies to anybody who has the same passion for life that’s present throughout the film. Ryan Murphy, director and producer of the successful television series “Glee,” takes this New York Times Bestseller by Elizabeth Gilbert and transfers the content into a film with a unique passion and plenty of substance. The film begins slowly with the main character, Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts), attending a party with her husband Stephen (Billy Crudup). The tension between the couple is quickly apparent. Witnessing awkward side glances and fake smiles, the audience can predict that their marriage is going to end soon. Right after the break up, Liz finds herself in yet another confusing relationship with David Piccolo (James Franco), who is the complete opposite of her ex. When their relationship goes south, Liz decides that it’s time that she focuses on herself rather than on her relationships. The movie takes a turn for the best when Liz packs her bags and
“
This film shows that it's normal to want a change in your life, but you can't just sit around and expect it to happen on its own.”
says goodbye to all that is familiar to her, including the brooding men in her life. She starts off in Italy, then heads to India, and ends her year in Bali. The message behind this film is amazing, but Roberts and her supporting cast are what make the story flow. There is some dialogue that is completely foreign to a young audience, but the moments where the laughter leaves the screen and absorbs the audience make up for them. “Eat Pray Love” has a new take on a common occurrence in society.
People all over the world discover that they don’t like who they have become. And then they get stuck floating through their hopeless lives in a bubble. This film shows that it’s normal to want a change in your life, but you can't just sit around and expect change to happen on its own. The message seems to be to channel your inner Liz and be able to go out and get what you want out of life. And also that it’s ok to be selfish sometimes. If you’re unhappy, then it’s important that you take a time out to find that happiness. Because without happiness, what do you have? This movie gives you a positive perspective on life. Once the movie has ended, you walk out of the theater and you can’t help but smile as you look at the world around. You're able to see all the possibilities for broadening your horizons. “Eat Pray Love” is an empowering story that is highly recommended to anyone that takes great pleasure out of life -- or wants to. The film may revolve around the life of a middle-aged woman, but the message behind the film is that you don’t have to wait and be unhappy before you start living the life you’ve always dreamed of. Start living now.
News the Stagg Line
8 Bus pass cuts leave students stranded
08.27.10
Online classes help students secure credits Xe Xiong
Chesiree Terry Waking up at 5 in the morning and walking two hours to school is now an everyday routine for sophomore Emiliano Hernandez. On the first day of school he said he eagerly waited in line to receive his free bus pass only to be told he didn’t live far enough. Budget cuts at the district level have had an impact on students. Free bus passes have been taken away from magnet students like the Health Career and Journalism Academy students and those who don’t live at least 3.1 miles away. Many students found out that they were no longer elligable for a free bus pass. In previous years, magnet students living outside of their designated school district were given a bus pass to get them to school. Students living 3.0 miles or farther also received a bus pass. Glenna Aguayo, who works in the main office and passes out bus passes after school, said, “It is hard to tell a student they can’t get a free bus pass when they are barely far away (from the limit).” She said she “feels for them.” Now that the distance has been extended, students who don’t receive a free pass from AP SECRETARY school have the opportunity of purchasing a bus pass from San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) for $40 or buy one from the school at a discount price of $35. This purchase can be made in the main office. Sophomore Anna Thongsee is another student who used to qualify for a bus pass. “I still ride the bus in the morning, but I get picked up after school,” she said. Although Thongsee no longer has a free bus pass, she always has transportation to and from school. Unfortunately Hernandez is in a different situation. In order to get to school and back home, his only transportation is his feet. Waking up at 5 in the morning and coming home at 5 in the afternoon is what he has to do in order to get to and from school. Hernandez lives one block away from his friend near Weber Institute, which is under the limit of miles, yet his friend still qualified to receive a free bus pass. Once while he was walking to school, Hernandez said he “almost got hit by a car” while walking across a street. “And I was wearing bright colors … The car stopped less than a foot away from me.” Senior Erica Heyne also walks home from school. Her house is about two miles away. But, she said, “It is not RTD’s responsibility to take us to school and the school should not be responsible for how you get here.” But not all students feel this way about the bus transportation cuts. Hernandez said that this year it is harder to get to school since his parents seem to always be at work and he was so used to riding the bus every day last year.
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It is hard to tell a student they can’t get a free bus pass when they are barely far away (from the limit). I feel for them.” Glenna Aguayo
After the last bell rings early on Thursday, the cafeteria is less chaotic than any other day of the week. One senior, Reuben Suchil, quickly eats his food and leaves his familiar lunch table. Seeing Suchil leave, one friend stops him and asks where he is going. “Apex,” Suchil says. “Okay,” his friend, Richard Estepp, a senior, said. “I’ll meet you there.” Suchil and Estepp are both enrolled in the Apex Learning Program. The online-based program is offered after school from 2:35-5:30 as credit recovery classes since there will not be summer school. Specific core classes such as math, English, science, and social studies photo by Erica Trevino are offered either on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday; Amber Crum, senior, takes a social studies course online in order to Thursday is an open day; stumake up credits. After school classes are available everyday. dents can go in for any course. Online courses can also be done at home but students must take all tests in the presence of a credentialed teacher, who’s available for every core class in the library. Ren Foshee, a math teacher Algebra/Geometry (Library): M who also monitors the math courses and testing on Mondays, Choir (T-2): M-T-W said the program is “still trying to work” and they’re still in the English (Library): T “working progress.” “Right now it’s small … Hopefully students Biology (Library): W learn about this (opportunity) and join.” Social Studies (Library): F To sign up for Apex, students Career Readiness (R-11): ALL need to get an application from the counseling office, complete Benchmark Cafe (R-1): M-T-W-F it, return it to their counselor and wait to be notified that they Ballet Folklorico/Salsa (Cafeteria): M-F are added on the teachers’ roster. Arthur Wilson, a senior who’s Ethnic Studies (S-13): M-W-F doing geometry online, said he is taking the course after school Art (S-13): T-Th because he doesn’t want to take El Joven Noble (S-9): ALL geometry for fifth period. After failing geometry last year be Lab (Library): Th cause of the benchmarks and doing review tests online under Auto (ROP): M-W the Apex Learning Program, he said, “(The course is) a lot easier, Recreational Activities (L-3): ALL in my opinion … (The test) was pretty easy.” SOURCE: LIBRARY “It’s a lot like independent
Available classes for credit recovery
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Right now, it’s small ... Hopefully students learn about this (opportunity) and join.” Ren Foshee
MATH TEACHER
study,” said senior Kyle KhortBlevins. “It’s just like school, but in a computer.” Senior Ross Scott, who is taking Apex for geometry, also prefers doing the class online as compared with in a classroom but he has a fear that students will start taking advantage of the online courses. “My fear is that if people fail, they won’t care. They figure they can make it up on the computer rather than passing the course.” Marcus Sherman, science teacher, agrees. “Students need to know that it is an alternative, not another way out.” Yet, the online course will benefit seniors who still need credits. This form of credit recovery greatly benefits senior Veronica Valencia, who also attends adult school. On a day where she must do her courses in the library and attend adult school, she usually returns home around 6. She admits to slacking off during her sophomore and junior years and suggests that underclassmen to “keep focus, it might be hard, but it’s worth it in the end.” Valencia doesn’t mind taking on extra courses after school and outside of school because she said, “It’s worth it because it helps me graduate.” Khort-Blevins agrees that the first priority as a senior is graduation. He said, “As long as I get my diploma, I don’t even care.”
Going for the gold
New coordinator introduces SLC Olympics
Erica Trevino
Small learning communities, new to campus last year, has a new coordinator this year. The previous SLC coordinator, Annie McDonald, retired last
photo by Erica Trevino Paulina Ambriz, freshman, eats a popsicle as a prize for being in the SLC with the best attendance.
school year but she will still be a part of the SLC program. McDonald is still “(donating) hours and hours of her time to this school,” said principal Bill Parks. “And will continue to donate hours and hours (of her time) to this school.” Elizabeth Lewis, a SLC lead teacher for the Environmental Science and Engineering SLC, will fill McDonald’s shoes and take over the responsibilities as the SLC’s coordinator. “I feel very confident that she will do a good job,” Parks said. Lewis spent last year and her summer with McDonald in meetings and getting familiar with duties she will soon be fulfilling. A project that was presented at the beginning of the year was supplying every student with a three-ring-binder that contained a notebook, pencil pouch, dividers, pen, pencil, and a cover sheet that would represent the SLC they are a part of. “This would help keep students more organized,” Lewis said, “and be more ready for school.” Currently, Lewis is a science teacher, but when a new science teacher is hired, according to Parks, Lewis “will be a mentor to the long term teacher” and that will allow her to take charge of her new responsibility and title as SLC coordinator. It is not known when that new science teacher will step in. SLC’s from last year will not be altered. It will be very similar to what students have been used to. “It is well organized, the number of programs have clear pathways and good electives,” Lewis said. “The teachers are also very well matched to their SLC’s.” Most of the way SLC’s are organized will be the same but, as the new SLC coordinator, Lewis hopes to make changes that will help students be more knowledgeable and excited about their SLC. “I would like to see students having a clear idea of what their SLC is,” she said. According to Lewis, to start off this year students should at least know their SLC’s theme and a career path within their SLC. The only SLC that does not have a theme would be Freshman Academy, because it is more about readiness and being prepared for obstacles that high school students face. To try to encourage students to start the school year off right Lewis is establishing an SLC Olympics. “We have different events where each SLC will compete to earn the most points,” Lewis said. “We will also be awarding prizes to the SLC that performs the best.” Last week all freshmen who presented their lanyard to the Campus Café were rewarded with a free popsicle, thanks to their SLC’s performance on attending back to school night Aug. 12. “I think that giving out free popsicles is a good way to get people
photo by Chelsea Collura Stephanie Maya, senior, lines up to get her SLC’s lanyard and binder. Lanyards were asked to be worn everyday as a part of the SLC Olympics.
involved with the school activities,” said Daelen Surrell, freshman. The changes that are happening are moving toward having a more efficient SLC program. Lewis will ultimately move out of the classroom to better the SLC program, and students will miss her. “It makes me upset,” said senior Gwen Alldrege. “She is a really good teacher.”