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01.27.12
VOL. 55 NO. 5 ON THE WEB
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Bus-riding students affected by raise in prices, elimination of certain passes ADRIANNAOWENS
ON THE BLOG
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CLEAR AND PRESENT DAMON: Counts down the 10 Cheesiest disaster films. JUST MISSED IT: We list the movies that didn’t make the cut in obvious movie titles in this issues Entertainment issue. INSIDE THE ISSUE Winter Formal
NEWS IN BRIEF FAFSA The deadline for the FAFSA is March 2. Some schools require for it to be turned in earlier so check with colleges to get the specific date. College and Financial Aid Fair The fair will be Sunday from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. It is open to all students and there will be workshops for them to attend. Assistance filling out the FAFSA will be provided for seniors. SATs Students who signed up for the SATs will take them tomorrow. The deadline to sign up for the next test date on March 10 is Feb. 10. CAHSEE Sophomores will take the CAHSEE on Feb. 7 and 8. Basketball game Tonight’s game will be at home against the Edison Vikings. Freshmen will play at 4:00, JV at 5:30, and varsity at 7:00 p.m.
After a fare study and various public hearings, San Joaquin Regional Transit District launched a new “simplified fare structure” at the beginning of the month. For many students this means paying more money to catch the bus or finding another way to get to where they need to go. This can cause problems for students who depend on the bus service to get to school. One major change is the elimination of most bus passes, leaving only a handful left for riders to purchase. “We knew that our fare structure was very complex,” Paul Rapp, RTD public information officer, said. “It did make sense to eliminate some of the fares.” The fares that were eliminated weren’t being used as much as they were expected to be. People typically pay on the bus or purchase one of the more common passes, hence the elimination of the less common ones. Riders are now limited to a choice of a one-ride pass, one-day pass, 31-day pass, or a 10-ride deviation pass, which is only used on Hopper buses. This causes issues for students who aren’t eligible to receive the free pass that the school hands out. “The total number of fare types we had was 31,” he said. Now, the number has diminished, and you can count the number of the remaining fares on one hand.
However, the complexity and budget issues weren’t the only reason for change. According to Rapp, people had been finding ways to abuse the bus fares, using them in ways that weren’t intended. Because of this, riders were taking away from RTD’s profit. “With the way our fare structure was set up, people were using transfers as a round trip,” he said. Among the other changes is how the fare boxes used for the Metro Express buses now operate. Similar to paying on the bus, they don’t issue change like they used to. The box change was due to what RTD calls fare box recovery. They discovered that they weren’t recovering a sufficient amount of profit from the boxes. Because change had to be made, they came up with the fare box recovery plan, hoping to receive a positive outcome and more profit. There were a few other problems that were encountered with the previous fare box structure as well, such as difficulty to maintain the boxes and high security costs. RTD is hoping that the small changes made will pay off. Also wrapped up in the new fare structure is the small change in the fare of one ride. Student riders now have to dig in their wallets in search of an extra quarter in order to catch the bus. Before, students took the bus for $1.25 and adults took it for $1.50. Now, everyone pays the same $1.50 price. While many rid-
FAST FACTS
`` Metro fare boxes no longer give change. `` All passes were eliminated except for one ride, one day, or 31 day. `` Customers can now order passes online. `` Bus fare raised from $1.25 to $1.50. `` New 700 bus series available on weekends.
MIKEALAAXTON “There is no wrong answer,” says English teacher Alison Lockheed, pacing the room. “That’s why I love this class.” Around her, the click-clacking of busy typing sets the soundtrack for the creative writing credit recovery class. Seventh and eighth periods began as a response to cut-
ting summer school, limiting possiblities for senior on the cusp of having enough credits to graduate. The credit recovery program is actually based on the summer school template, Principal Bill Parks said. Creative writing is one of the original after school classes, joined this semester by new credit recovery classes like Spanish and
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ers find this upsetting, sophomore Gilbert Garcia is optimistic about the change. He thinks that charging riders more is a great idea. “I can see why people are getting angry but I think that in the long run, charging people more money will help our economy,” he said. Not quite tied in with the fare changes is the addition of the 700 bus series, more commonly known as the weekend bus service. RTD stopped the regular bus routes from running on the weekend and in its place added new ones to cover the routes traveled on the weekends. Most riders have problems with this change because the 700 series doesn’t go to all of the areas that are traveled to on weekdays.
Unlike Garcia, some of the student riders find the changes an outrage, specifically the weekend service. “I used to take 80 on the weekends, but now, I have to figure out another way to get to where I want to go,” Megan Martin, a junior, said. Though there are mixed opinions among student riders, only time can tell if the “simplified fare structure” is going to benefit them or not.
“
I actually don’t take the bus anymore because I can’t afford to be paying $3 a day.” Derricka Wilson SOPHOMORE
Credit recovery classes help students
Stagg Line Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
Seyma Tap
Mikeala Axton Teacher Alison Lockheed advises a student in her creative writing class. The students were assigned to write a story promoting anti-bullying. photo by
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Independent Study English, which is the only class to be offered on Fridays. However, additional classes aren’t the only change for the credit recovery program this CHAN SAM head counselor semester. In years past, there were both seventh and eighth period classes running all five days of the week after school. Beginning this semes“I don’t sleep,” she joked. ter, the credit recovery classes are now of Mesa joined the class a few weeks late fered on Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/ but made up the work. However, there are Thursday schedules, with no eighth period some students who say they have similarly classes. Seventh period classes will run from joined the class late and been given credits, 2:20 to 4:20 p.m. without having had to make up the work. “The goal of the change was to give stu “I went in (to the class) about five weeks dents more of a selection,” said head counlate and they didn’t make me do any make selor Chan Sam. “Ideally, a student can up work. I still got my full credits,” said a make up 15 credits in a semester.” senior, who asked not to be named. Lockheed also stressed the importance “That shouldn’t happen,” Sam said. of the flexibility the changes will allow for “Teachers have to justify that the students students. But she says it’s not only about the completed all the work.” credits. “We make it fun, memorable,” she Which students like Julian Nevarez have. said. “We make it worthwhile because no Nevarez enrolled in the credit recovery one wants to have to stay after school.” classes late last semester but had help mak And some of the seniors pushing to grading up the work he missed. “There’s a lot of uate have certainly been putting in the extra one-on-one interaction,” he said. hours. Whether or not the credit recovery re “I was (at school) from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 structuring will prove more effective than p.m. every day,” said senior Cynthia Mesa. the old system remains to be seen. “Even on short days.” “It’s too early to tell,” Lockheed said. On her path to graduate, Mesa was en“But as far as I’m concerned, I’ll always rolled in seventh and eighth periods last sebe here for the kids, no matter what the mester, in addition to two APEX classes and change.” a community service class.
The goal of the change was to give students more of a selection. Ideally a student can make up 15 credits in a semester.”
Opinion the Stagg Line
2 EDITORIAL
01.27.12
ARE STUDENTS READY FOR THE TEST?
S
Odd jobs
ome teenagers think they’re untouchable. But the economy today is working hard at proving them wrong, affecting teenagers in direct ways – overcrowded classrooms, fare increases on the bus, and now, fees for Advanced Placement tests. For some, the AP test has always meant handing over the $79 fee. In the past, fee waivers have eased the financial blow for those that qualify, lowering the cost to $5 per test. This year, however, is a different story. Although there are people working behind the scenes to lower the cost of the test, the current predicament is that those who do not qualify for a fee waiver will pay $54 per test, and $32 for those who do qualify. So with these tests and fees looming only eight weeks away, here are some tips to help you corral some cash.
Every little bit helps
Part of saving money is consciousness of how you’re spending. Could you live without going to see that new movie in theaters, and wait for it to
T
Poke around a little among friends and family for some odd jobs that need doing – babysitting, weed-pulling, finally getting over to Grandma’s to clean out the garage, perhaps? (She may not want to pay you, but doesn’t it feel good to help out?) Or if you have a talent, see what options there are out there to capitalize on it, like selling your artwork or cutting hair.
Prioritize
go to Netflix? Do you have to go out to eat today? When you examine your choices and put your pocket change aside for you AP test fund, it can add up.
art by
Mikeala Axton
Maybe family members or friends (preferably ones not also taking the test) could donate a few dollars each. Anything and everything into your fund helps.
So you think you can’t afford the AP test – but how much are you planning on spending for prom? If you’re eyeing that $200 dollar dress, see if you can downgrade. It may be a big night, but it is only one night. Try to look at things with a “bigger picture” mentality. What you’re compelled to spend money on now may be simply less important in the long run. After all, the AP test could potentially be college credit, meaning college courses paid for. The fee now, however unreasonable it can seem, could save you a few thousand dollars later on.
Doomsday brings about different kind of profit
he year has finally arrived. 2012. The end of days has come at last. Now you can say to future generations that you made it out alive with specialty products that display all things Doomsday! Whatever preferences you like we have. T-shirts, coffee mugs, calendars are all in stock. We also have a plethora of books on everything Mayan. Learn about the culture and prophecies of the Mayan people in ways more reliable than DAMONHEINE Nostradamus himself might have predicted. While doing this you can also book a special last vacation to the Mayan ruins of Mexico. It all adds to the perfect end of the world experience! If none of this gets you incredibly excited, then perhaps the new Mega-Apocalypse pack can get your heart pumping. Now you can have your own specially equipped shelter. This shelter is designed with the capability to withstand earthquakes, flooding, radiation, and biological attacks for an entire year! All for the low, low price of $10 million for you and your family. Okay, if this is starting to sound a little odd, let’s go to where it all began. 2012 has itself become synonymous with the end of the Mayans (more formally Maya) calendar on Dec. 21 of this year. The end of the calendar is not necessarily a direct prophecy. However, it’s more like, as scholars have said, an end to the age that we are living in and the start of a new one. But in recent years, the end of a calendar has been blown out of proportion into a full blown prophecy of doom for all of mankind. When one thinks of the end of the world, making money isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But in the recent years building up to 2012, the Doomsday themed merchandise has doubled in production and sales. T-shirts, mugs, survival kits, and even its own mediocre disaster movie have come out of the Doomsday business. There is a menagerie of titles of books all new age themed and devoted to the end of the calendar. Their covers were interesting, but in
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 18 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.
terms of answers, they’re about as certain as getting heads in coin toss. All of these items seem more kitsch than they do actual survivalist material. For the hardcore believers of disaster on Dec. 21 there are other things to spend money on. As I said before, shelters are available for $10 million apiece and can house at least 200 people. The most prominent of the shelter salesman is Robert Vicino, an entrepreneur in Del Mar, Calif. His company “Vivos” charges the amount of $50,000 per adult and $25,000 per child. Pets are free. The shelters also come equipped with food, water, clothing and a medical facility. As if shelters weren’t incredible enough, Johan Huibers, a Dutch contractor, has built an ark. It’s a 100 yards long and four stories tall, after he dreamt of mass flooding in his home country of the Netherlands. The dream happened 20 years ago and he has just finished his ark this past year. As of this year Huibers plans to float his ark down the River Thames for this summer’s Olympic Games in London. I wonder if he’s charging for rides. As one can see, 2012 has become an effective marketing tool for about anyone. And maybe that’s OK for some products they’re selling. I see nothing wrong with selling harmless items like T-shirts and books. In time things like this will be seen as remnants of novelty and the Y2K of the 21st century. What’s worrisome is the fact the some people may be interested in buying things like shelters. And as a result , they’re spending their hard earned money on something that may never happen. Also, the shelters only guarantee the occupants a year of survival. By all means, it will take humanity probably more than a year to rebuild, whatever the disaster. For me, the risk is too great to take. And besides, $10 million? I’m better off waiting Doomsday out with some good movies and junk food. Because after all, it is the end of the world.
Mikeala Axton Editor-in-Chief
Taylor Hurles Don Bott Adviser
Editor-in-Chief
graphic by
Seyma Tap
Gabriella Miller
Sophia Davidson
Nicole Lawrence
Shelby Hightower
News Editor
Opinion Editor
The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and Kristin Acevedo Features Editor distributed free of charge to students and faculty. Our newspaper is a long-standing open forum for Annamarie Cunningham Entertainment Editor free student expression. Student editors and reporters Reanna Rodriguez make content and style decisions with the adviser Sports Editor offering guidance. Editorials reflect the view of the Seyma Tap entire editorial board and therefore are unsigned. Graphics Editor Opinion columns reflect the view of the writer. Harmony Evangelisti Readers are welcomed to write letters to the editor. Photo Editor We will make every effort to print any letter as long Faith Harris as it is not libelous. Letters longer than 250 words Web/Multimedia Editor may be edited. Unsigned letters will be printed only Damon Heine in unusual circumstances, and only when we know who Blog/Social Media Editor the writer is. Letters may be brought to the newspaper Emily Cornelison room, A-8, or emailed to dbott@stockton.k12.ca.us Copy Editor
Jessica Mangili Kentaley McCurdy Adrianna Owens Viena Palacio Annamarie Rodriguez Mia Torres Fe Valencia Brian Walker Chao Xiong
01.27.12
the Stagg Line
Opinion
3
Unrealistic resolutions lead to failure
I
t was during the lazy lull of Christmas vacation that my little brother was yet again playing “NBA 2K10,” a basketball video game. I happened to be walking by when I heard something that made me stop and think. The words emanating from the game were “It’s not about how many hours you put in, it’s about how much you put into the hours.” This closely resembled the cliched but oh so true saying “quality is better than quantity” EMILYCORNELISON and had struck hope in me that I might yet reach my fitness goals. For about the past five years, I’ve made some kind of fitness goal, and I’m probably not alone in this. I am also probably not alone in the fact that I failed every one of these goals. My question was always why can’t I lose weight? For others this answer may vary. For me, it was a combination of setting unrealistic goals, a misunderstanding of how exercise works and not realizing what constitutes good, healthy food. These reasons for failure pretty well lined up with what the experts had to say. Recently in my journalism class, I had an assignment to create a SMART goal. By merely saying that I wanted to lose weight, I was not making a smart goal. It was not measurable and since it was not measurable it could not be attainable. But even when creating a measurable goal, it needs to be realistic. For instance, one year I told myself I would lose 10 lbs. in a month. This was not at all realistic given the fact that I did not have enough time to consistently work out. I also refused to change my eating habits. I firmly believed that I could do a series of low impact exercises for about an hour a day and I would see significant results. But exercising often doesn’t mean a person is exercising better. Low impact exercise is good for strengthening the cardiovascular system, but it doesn’t quite have the benefit of high impact exercise.
During high impact exercise, more calories are burned, and after intense workouts the body continues to burn calories. A challenging workout is a good workout. Good form is also important. Doing a push-up wrong means working different muscles than one was originally intending to work. In addition to exercising, eating habits should be modified. The whole process of developing a healthier lifestyle is one of reprogramming, or learning to recognize what foods are actually healthy and what foods really aren’t. After having been assigned to read “Fast Food Nation,” by Eric Schlosser I’ve discovered how much the consumer has been tricked into believing the health benefits of certain foods. Companies will label their product’s ingredients as being made with natural flavors, when these “natural” flavors contain the same chemicals as the artificial ones. The only difference between the two is the method of harvesting the chemicals. Though I’ve been guilty of making weight loss resolutions, it’s clear to me now that a much better resolution is to be healthier in whatever way possible. Of course this new health resolution should be refined to fit the criteria of the SMART goal. To live with a new healthy lifestyle, it’s important to realize where your food comes from and to make better choices about what goes into your body. It’s also about being realistic and staying as consistent as possible with whatever fitness plan you can make. Whatever a person does to improve their health, they must train themselves mentally and physically to make this change. Whether it’s paying closer attention to food labels, or making better choices in their diet, they must be aware of the distinct changes that need to made. Workout to be healthy not to lose weight. Make a plan to do it right. Make the change.
art by
Sophia Davidson
New law allows government SOPA could strip Internet users to trample our rights of creativity and innovation
M
illions of people all over by Halliburton. These have been the world enjoyed their in existence since 2009. They New Year’s Eve in differcall them “residential centers.” ent ways, whether conversing with They have two to three layers of others at a party or merely sitting fencing around the perimeter, on their couch at home watching warehouses, playgrounds, unusu“Rockin’ New Year,” temporarily ally large furnaces, and atop the unaware of what was happening fences is barbed wire. Pointing in. outside of their holiday bubble. Not so much to keep people out, Little did they know while but to keep them in. Along the they were partaking in the joys of length of the fencing is a railroad welcoming the new year, President track. Army and government Barack Obama was signing into trains are commonly seen on it. law bill HR 1540, the National And outside of the FEMA camps Defense Authorization Act for is a notice board. One alarming fiscal year 2012. thing it said is “do not bring on SHELBYHIGHTOWER Many of you may be thinking the grounds any instrument that “who cares?” or “why does that matter to me?” How- may be used as an aid in attempting escape.” The ever, this act matters to everyone as an American word “escape” implies that people do not want to be citizen, and as a human being. there. Perhaps this is why they are often compared to The NDAA is a law that gives the government the the Nazi concentration camps. right to detain and torture American citizens if they Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, in his “pose a threat” to the government. This is supposed television show titled “The Conspiracy Theory,” exto be an act against terrorism, to protect the public plored these FEMA camps. What he saw, and what from the dangers we are supposedly fighting in AfI saw through the eye of the camera, was utterly ghanistan. This bill states that anyone “who was part shocking. Behind the double fences of the FEMA of or substantially supported al-Qaida, the Taliban, camps was a playground — with children already or associated forces that are engaged in hostilities using it. These camps are already in use. Not just for against the United States or its coalition partners” or fugitives, illegal aliens, or al-Qaida members. But for commits a “belligerent act” against the United States American women, children, and entire families. government can be held “without trial, until the end He also explored outside of the camp. He found of the hostilities authorized by the Authorization for an open field almost completely full of large plastic Use of Military Forces.” It’s included in the US Bill black boxes. They are called “casket liners,” but in of Rights that as Americans we have a right to trial. Nazi Germany they would stack three or four people “No punishment without due process of law.” The deep inside of them and send them to the crematory. government seems to have forgotten this. There were hundreds of thousands of these “casket Again, this doesn’t mean much to some people. liners” lying around. It seems that someone is preparSome may be thinking that since they don’t bad rap ing for a pandemic of some sort. the government they don’t have to worry. Well, this The NDAA was not a supported bill in the law permits the government to hold you without United States. Only 1 in 4 Americans supported the trial. Meaning they don’t have to prove that you did NDAA, yet Obama still passed it. Many senators anything. They can apprehend you for more reasons were actually paid hundreds of thousands of dollars than just being a part of al-Qaida. to pass the NDAA. Ohio senator, Robert Portman They are fully capable of detaining you for made not only voted in favor of it, but was paid $272,853 up reasons. They need no probable cause and no to do so. justification. The government has been doing this for years. This is not the first time the government has Eroding our rights slowly to make us conform to done something like this. The Federal Emergency their ideals. The NDAA is just another step in this Management Agency is building hundreds of camps direction. This is supposed to be America, land of all over the United States, a number of them run the free. So can we please be free now?
Y
ou get home from a chal– freedom? By censoring the lenging day at school, and Internet they are taking away our the first place you head to freedom to be creative and innois your laptop. Your fingers lightly vative through the one place that brush the keyboard to search for holds our attention in this digital ways to relieve stress. Google world. seems to be your best friend, but We are a world that relies on not lately. She has been hiding technology. When people link certain websites you usually use and share pictures with friends to find out what’s going on in the and family on websites like world. Facebook, they actually are helpFacebook, for example, is the ing some artists become more way you let out steam, whether popular. you post a song about your love Although this bill is aimed to life, or a picture of something help artists, some signed an onthat reminds you of your boyline open letter to protest SOPA. KENTALEYMCCURDY friend or girlfriend. Well, imagine Amanda Palmer, Nada Surf ’s that gone. Think of all the capaDaniel Lorca, The Lonely Island, bilities the Internet gives us. Aziz Ansari, and Zoe Keating, all signed the letter What about YouTube? It’s the website that allows against SOPA. In the letter they stated that even people to become Internet sensations in a matter though piracy is an issue, they were able to gain and of minutes. Can you imagine not hearing J.R.A connect with fans by sharing their music and art singing his version of Drake’s song “Hate Sleeping with others. They felt that this bill will stifle up and Alone,” or his take on Frank Ocean’s “Novacane”? coming artists creativity and innovation. Well, this could become a reality if Congress Not only will this bill take away our freedom but passes the Stop Online Piracy Act. This bill, a partit will give the federal government too much conner with the Protect IP Act, will cause the Internet trol. This bill allows the federal government to shut to change dramatically. down websites they think are infringing copyrighted SOPA was introduced to the U.S. Senate to work. By doing this they are censoring the web. stop piracy and intellectual theft, the property that But what about what the people want? So far musicians, artists, and movie-makers own, that is there have been over 13 million people that have being downloaded and reproduced illegally without signed petitions against SOPA. consent. With the recent protest actions of Google block This issue does need to be addressed. But aling their sign with a black box and Wikipedia and though this bill has good intentions, the way that Reedit shutting down their site for 24 hours, this they are trying to solve these problems seems drastic. issue has become a major concern. This problem afNow copyright owners reach out to websites fects large websites like Google, Wikipedia, Reedit, and request the removal of pirated videos. But with Mozilla, and Twitter. On many of these sites SOPA, copyright owners could go to any website people have been actively talking about this problem containing piracy and demand them to take down and the effects it will have on them as Internet users. their product. If the website resists, they could go to Because of the recent protests some lawmakers are court. now rethinking their decisions to support this bill. Smaller upcoming websites won’t have the chance They decided to postpone the voting for SOPA to to become huge websites like Facebook or YouTube Jan. 24. Lawmakers now understand that Internet because of the many restrictions they will have, like users weren’t going to let this bill get passed without being unable to post pictures or music that isn’t their input. theirs. When people stand up for something that is By taking the route to use this bill, SOPA, if vitally important in their lives, like the Internet, it passed, would cause a huge void in our Internet will be noticed and things will have to be changed freedom. Isn’t that what this country is all about or rethought to satisfy their wants.
art by
Mikeala Axton
Features the Stagg Line
4
01.27.12
STUDENTS THINK OUT OF THE DESKS
Two hour block schedule presents teachers with ability to study topics in further depth with their students SOPHIADAVIDSON
Last year, teachers had to make the most of the 56 minute class periods they were given each day. This year they are taking advantage of the extended amount of time they now have. Science teachers especially felt last year’s time crunch once labs came into play. This year’s block schedule has offered much benefit. “Now we can introduce a topic in one hour and do the lab in the next,” biology teacher Marcus Sherman said. Though science teachers are obligated to conduct labs in order to, according to Sherman,“reinforce
photos by
Harmony Evangelisti
In Thongtip Duangsawat’s English class, seniors Salomon LaraFlores and Kariana Jenkins role-played scenes from William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” They charged one another with the ambition to avenge the murder of their family as the character Macduff. Duangsawat emphasized the importance of facial expressions, especially in the eyes to tell a full story.
the material and concepts for studying,” students find them more as enjoyable learning strategies than as work. Chemistry teacher Bill Lorentz explains that some students become really interested while others avoid work. Whether or not an assignment is perceived as fun depends upon the lab and the student.“Some people are just visual,” junior Katie Estepp said.“Seeing the process helps you understand it.” It’s typical for science classes to get out of their seats and learn through interaction. But with a subject like English, it is expected
for students just press their noses into books and conduct discussions. That may be effective for some forms of literature, but for works such as Shakespeare’s plays, learning takes more than reading and discussion. “Have we eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner?” Most likely, someone who has hardly touched Shakespeare’s work would find this quote difficult to understand. But what if it were explained that this line is spoken by Banquo of the play “Macbeth” questioning three witches supposedly predicting his future? Recite it aloud in a skeptical tone. Now it should make more sense. When English teacher Thongthip Duangsawat visited The Globe Theatre in London, England, she realized that having her students simply read Shakespeare was not enough. “I just had an epiphany,” Duangsawat said.
Seeing students at The Globe so enthused, actually wanting to perform Shakespeare just made me think that this is the way to teach it.” Right after experiencing The Globe Theatre, Duangsawat brought what she learned to her classroom. “It took awhile for them to get used to the idea,” Duangsawat said. “They got participation points for it but hopefully they had fun as well.” Though it took some time for them to get comfortable with pretending to be fools and villains, students found getting out of their seats a fun activity. To reassure her students grasped the plot and emotion of “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” Duangsawat had them work with air broadswords to coincide with Act V in the main gym. As students were pressed to execute the lines of the play with full emotion, they charged one another in “battle.” Students afterwards were asked how they felt. “Some actually said that they forgot they were in the gym,” Duangsawat said. Students in Duangsawat’s class have even been assigned in groups to perform entire acts. Instead of dreading this assignment, the students look forward to their performances. “Shakespeare is the truth,” senior Kariana Jenkins said. “He’s got a way with words.”
Winter formal How were you asked?
Jazmin & Efrain
Jeana & Ralph
Anna & Patrick
Stephanie & Shawn
“He told my friend to write ‘Jazmin will go to formal with me - Efrain’ on the board in my sixth period. I was talking and then I looked up and saw it. I looked at my friend and thought it was a joke. I took a picture of it and sent it to him and asked if really meant it and he did. It was real and I was so excited!”
“My boyfriend asked for the keys to my car so he could put his jacket in my trunk for the day, so I gave him my keys. Then at lunch, I went to my car to drop off my books and opened my trunk to find two stuffed animals and a sign that said ‘I love you.’ There was also a note attached to the teddy bear so I opened it and it said ‘Will you be my date to formal?’ I said yes and what made it much cuter was that it was our anniversary that day.”
“I was walking to third period and everyone kept me distracted outside for a good minute. I walked in my class and everyone was staring at me. Then when I got to my desk, there were roses and a letter that said ‘Anna Touch will you go to formal with me? - Patrick Tomaszewski’ and boxes for me to check ‘yes’ or ‘no’. I checked yes and ran outside to hug him and bam! I became his formal date.”
“He put rose petals all over my desk in a heart shape with a note in the middle that said ‘Stephanie will you go to formal with me?’ and a white rose in the middle. It was so cute; I felt like crying. ”
Anna Touch, junior
“Stephanie and I have been together for a while now and we’ve known each other for eight years, so I wanted to surprise her with something sweet and memorable.”
Jazmin Manzo, senior “I really care about her and I just wanted to be thoughtful. I kept teling her I wanted to go alone just so I can catch her off guard. I didn’t want to be average or normal; it needed to be more meaningful than that.”
Efrain Flores, Edison senior
Jeana Correa, senior “I drew a picture of a heart with a rose on it and the date when we got together. I made a little note asking her to be my date. I got her a stuffed bear and a lemur.”
Ralph Enriquez, senior
“I grew up watching Korean dramas with my grandma and I got my inspiration to ask Anna out from them. Because when you really like someone, you want to make the way you ask them out special and memorable, as opposed to how it’d be like if you didn’t really like them. Also, it’s my senior year so I really wanted to make it something big, something special.”
Patrick Tomaszewski, senior
Stephanie Nguyen, junior
Shawn Quiruz, junior
01.27.12
the Stagg Line
staying
Features
5
EN POINTE
Senior balances activities, responsibilities, and a lifelong commitment to ballet ANNAMARIERODRIGUEZ
It started in preschool. She was just a little girl, but her interest was piqued. Little Learners, a preschool, was the place that sparked senior Sabina Griffen’s interest in ballet. She has been a part of ballet since her second year of preschool and continues to dance with the same instructor. While some may have not considered a sport such as ballet at such a young age, for Griffen, “it was just a thing you did.” Every sport requires time and dedication from the player. The coaches give their players set schedules for games and practices. But ballet is much different. “The process of getting to a show is a lot longer,” Griffen said.
“The anticipation to show off skills is nerve wrecking.” Going into high school with an obligation already established is hard for a freshman. This was especially true with Griffen because during her first two years she had practices on Fridays. So while her friends were out attending football games she was “missing out on high school life.” Balancing ballet and school gets tricky for Griffen, especially since she is a good student with many responsibilities, including yearbook editor. Even though she has late practices, she doesn’t have time beforehand to get school work done because she needs to rest. She wakes up early the next day to do homework.
So depending on how much homework she gets done the previous night, the earliest she wakes up in the morning is 3 a.m. Even after dancing for many years pointe, a type of practice for ballet, doesn’t stop hurting. It’s more of a challenge when she tries to look graceful. “The hardest part is to look elegant when your toes are screaming,” Griffen said. Most players from any team are encouraged by their coach to forget about their problems from the outside world and focus on the sport. This is also true for Griffen. While she is at practice the recurring stress for a senior — like what she is going to do after high school — doesn’t cross her mind. “I don’t have to think about my future. The only thing I have to think about is my next step, not anything else.” Ballet for Griffen is much more than just a type of dance. “It’s not like anything that I have ever done before,” she said. This shows through the strict aspect of the sport that some may not see. And like every sport, ballet requires a lot of practice. “It’s more about precision, you have to do it a certain way or it won’t look right,” Griffen said. Every sport one may start at a young age can teach life lessons. Griffen has learned “patience and to not give up, because when you learn a new dance move you won’t get it right away.” Therefore in order to do her best in ballet and life in general, she said, “you have to be ready for the next move.”
“The hardest part is to look elegant when your toes are screaming.” graphic by
Nicole Lawrence
photo courtesy of
Audrey Weir-Graham
World history teacher Audrey Weir-Graham, briefly wore the actual chains that were used in Nigeria during the slave trade to emotionally connect to her past.
Teacher shares outlook after recent trip to Nigeria JESSICAMANGILI
Traveling around the world has always been a passion for world history teacher Audrey Weir-Graham. She even has a goal of visiting every continent except Antarctica. So when her husband Dr. Ricardo Graham got invited to speak about spiritual reviving at a college in Nigeria over Thanksgiving break, they jumped at the opportunity to go. Weir-Graham, along with visiting classrooms at the college, also visited a local high school. Walking into a classroom at the high school, she initially began to look for a teacher. To her surprise she did not find one. It turned out that the teacher had left on maternity leave and the school had yet to find a replacement. To an even greater surprise she found that students were all sitting in their seats and working quietly on their studies. “The students were self motivated,” Weir-Graham said. “They wanted to be in school.” The students were curious as to what education is like in the United States. In response to their questions she explained that if the teacher was missing in an American classroom, most students would have left or wouldn’t have even bothered to show up in the first place. If, however, some came to class, very few would have actually stayed in the room and worked on their own. “They were appalled that American students were that way,” said Weir-Graham. As she continued her trip, the assimilation of Western culture became even more present. Women and girls chose to wear wigs and braids that resembled hairstyles in America. “Folks in Africa wanted to look like Americans,” she said. Not only did people in Nigeria want to wear American fashion and look like them, but many wanted a chance to be American. While her husband was there he offered over five hours of his own time for private counseling with himself and his wife.
Weir-Graham was able to recall a few students, but one young woman stood out in her memory. “There was a lovely young lady that wanted us to adopt her,” she said. “Everybody was trying to get to America.” Weir-Graham experienced encounters like this multiple times during her trip. When dealing with these situations she said that you just have to be careful and cautious. They even set up an email account so that they could stay in touch with the students. Weir-Graham proudly reported that several students are staying in touch, including a young man who named himself Prosper, whom she met while ironing her clothes in her room on campus. “I was ironing my clothes and a young man said, ‘Mum I would like to iron your clothes.’” She asked if he was being paid to do this. He wasn’t. He just wanted to help her. While he ironed her clothes they talked about his life and how he was going to school at another college, but often came to their room to read where it was quiet and air conditioned when it was unoccupied. When he finished she tried to give him 10 American dollars in return for his work, but he refused at first. After, he reconsidered because he was reminded that he is in school and needs the money so he reluctantly took it. Later on in the trip her husband became ill due to heat stroke, after speaking all day in a velvet robe, the traditional Nigerian clothing. “I was scared, because we were half way around the world,” said Weir-Graham. As soon as Prosper found out about this he assured her that everything would be taken care of. “He called us Mum and Dad and took care of everything,” Weir-Graham said thankfully. One of her most memorable moments of her trip was on Thanksgiving day when she walked the two miles on the Badagry slave route and connected with past ancestors. “Their strength is the reason why I’m here today,” she said. “Their love for life inspires my love for life.”
A long way from home
Assistant principal recollects journey from Egypt towards freedom and further education in America BRIANWALKER
photo courtesy of
Gamal Salama
A 20 year old Gamal Salama sits in front of the pyramid of Kharfe Giza during a trip with his fraternity.
Roaming the campus, the man with the peculiar accent and sunglasses is on the hunt. Students often see him on his cart at lunch busting down on snapback-wearing hoodlums. More than 7,500 miles from home, who really is this mysterious man who has found a spot in the school? The story starts in Port Said, a rather large city in Egypt surrounded by bodies of water. This is the birthplace of new assistant principal Gamal Salama. Growing up with a math teacher for a mother, Salama was heavily influenced to also become a teacher himself. “I was around her during not just the school year but summers and afternoons,” he said. “Being around her just gave me a passion to teach math.” Salama followed his passion to become a math teacher and went to Suez Canal University in Egypt.
“The classes were very hard; out of my beginning class of 125, only 18 went on to graduate.” He was one of those 18 and went on to become a teacher although his mother preferred him to become an engineer. After teaching junior high there for seven years, Salama was given what seems like an offer of a lifetime. He was offered a scholarship to come to America and attend the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He moved to America in August of 1998 to attend school to learn new teaching strategies. After finishing school he moved to New York for a year before he heard California had a high demand for math teachers, which is what brought him to Stockton. He moved from school to school until he found a place here on campus. “Moving was very difficult; I knew very little English.” He had
to take English classes and even more classes just to get his credential to teach here in the states. Coming to America also made him have to leave all in his family back in Egypt.
“They’re all there: my mother, sister, brother, cousins, uncles.” But the distance still hasn’t stopped him from communicating with them. “I call them every week, probably every single Saturday since I’ve been here.”
Salama’s last visit to Egypt was in the summer of 2006 when his family was able to finally meet his two children who are now 8 and 10. Over the past year many political events have erupted in his native country. Revolutions have taken place to overthrow the government. “It’s a great movement towards freedom,” he said. “I know it’s going to take time; it’s hard to turn a dictatorship into a new regime.” The past Egyptian dictatorship is almost the complete opposite of the democracy we have here in America. Of the 13 years he has lived in the states, the last election was the first he had participated in. His single vote gave him a true sense of freedom in his homeland. “I was happy to vote,” he said. “Freedom and an education were the main reasons I came to America.”
Entertainment the Stagg Line
6
01.27.12
HOLIDAY FILMS DEFY EXPECTATION TAYLORHURLES
Oh look, it’s Ashton Kutcher again. But that’s OK, he has great hair. Suddenly I have two movies to watch with Ashton Kutcher, along with a nice variety of extremely famous actors and actresses such as Hilary Swank, Robert De Niro, Zac Efron, Ludacris, Jessica Alba, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift and a handful of others. At first I wasn’t so excited about watching all of these people. Although these movies have people I absolutely love, it’s not exciting when a director throws a bunch of famous people into a movie with a story that has no validity and a few too many clichés. These were my premeditated feelings about “New Year’s Eve” and “Valentine’s Day,” two movies with the same director, Gary Marshall, and a similar cast.
But sometimes feelings change. The first movie I watched was “New Year’s Eve.” At the window while pulling the money out of my wallet I thought to myself I reeeaally don’t want to pay to watch this movie when I could be spending this on something more useful… a new item for my wardrobe perhaps. Then I watched it. To my surprise I liked it. Although there was a huge pool of famous, gorgeous faces, each main character had their own story and purpose. The one scenario that was probably my favorite was between Zac Efron, who plays Paul, and Michelle Pfeiffer, who plays Ingrid. Ingrid is a diligent worker who has been pushed to her limits. Her boss gives her meagre holiday bonus and she quits her job. Frustration and stress are just some of the things she is experiencing. Paul was the delivery man at her job who she
calls to help her achieve her New Year’s resolutions. These are things which seem impossible to do in one day, things such as going around the world, saving a life, etc. However, Ingrid encourages him to use his imagination to assist her in return for some concert tickets he wants.Despite some of the cheesy lines, each scenario has its own meaning. In this case I found the message to be sometimes people shouldn’t doubt themselves but allow their creativity to take over and help them be someone they usually aren’t, even if it’s just for one day. The same goes for “Valentine’s Day,” which is my preferred movie out of the two. Kutcher plays a character named Reed Bennett. Bennett proposes to his girlfriend Morely Clarkson, played by Jessica Alba, at the beginning of the movie. Right away I’m thinking here goes another cheesy romantic comedy, but once
again I was surprised. Along with many other stars in the movie, Bennett’s Valentine’s Day seems to turn out pretty horribly after Clarkson breaks off the engagement. This was a shocking turn for a movie I expected have a cute but disgustingly unsurprising happy ending with a nice wedding. Instead, most of the characters had bad holidays. But at the end despite all the dysfunction the message emerged: In life, certain situations may not meet one’s expectations, but it’s their perspective on the situation that determines their happiness. Both movies showed me something different than I expected and I liked it. At times some of the situations were easy to predict. However the messages were all valid and each different. I suppose that cliché phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover,” is true.
Art by Taylor Hurles
REANNARODRIGUEZ
GABRIELLAMILLER
Extremely touching and incredibly powerful MIKEALAAXTON
In the face of great tragedy, we are all children. Attempting to make sense of the nonsensical, cobbling together some explanation why the world seems to be falling apart. But Oskar Schell is literally a child, chasing after the memory of his father in “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” Oskar’s father, Thomas Schell (Tom Hanks), died in the World Trade Center. Prompted by a key found in his father’s closet in an envelope labeled “Black,” Oskar embarks on an expedition he believes his father designed for him ante-mortem. Thomas Horn (Oskar), delivers a deeply affecting performance, outshining even the big-name actors (Hanks, Sandra Bullock). Horn’s raw, nerve-fraying, emotional performance serves the film’s live-wire quality, crackling with the kind of power one would expect from a movie featuring 9/11. The tragedy is not glossed over, nor is it exploited. Rather, it is handled at a groundlevel, telling the story through the powerful lens of a 9-year-old. Oskar’s perspective offers a vulnerable, if tunneled, view of the world, zeroing in on the details of life and people that knit together humanity. But it seems as though with nearly everyone the socially-awkward Oskar encounters, a new tragedy is revealed, bringing him not closer to closure but deeper into his grief. “Loud” doesn’t follow the typical movie template, having one crescendo of an emotional moment. It instead leaves the audience’s tears to simmer nearly the whole way through. Director Stephen Daldry marries sound and striking graphics to pull the viewer into Oskar’s struggle to make sense of the things around him: the blurred photo of a man jumping from the Trade Center that could be his father but could be anyone. And perhaps most haunting of all, the answering machine that contains six progressively distressing messages from Oskar’s father, his calls from inside the tower during the attack. The messages, hidden from Oskar’s distant mother, prolong Oskar’s grief and shake the viewer. Where the movie is in part lacking is in character development.. The viewer is left wanting more from Oskar’s mother and ultimately from Bullock herself, who seems more worn-out than truly poignant. John Goodman as Stan-the-Doorman provides much needed comic relief but is sadly under-utilized, appearing so briefly that a less notable actor would have sufficed. Halfway through the story, we meet the mysterious Renter who lives with Oskar’s grandmother and may or may not be Oskar’s absent grandfather. Max Von Sydow as The Renter is superb, even without any lines as his character is mute. His story, however it may whet the audience’s curiosity, is left underdeveloped (although those that read the Jonathan Safran Foer’s book behind the adaptation know that he has a story worth telling). The book and its movie counterpart have been criticized for focus on the Twin Towers attacks, accused of being too soon after the event. Is 10 years is too soon? When exactly would it be an appropriate to discuss? There are movies dealing with the Holocaust still being released Good: Emphasis on sounds and striking imtoday that are powerful, shocking ages enhance performances from an all-star in their exploration of a subject cast. decades old but still atrocious. Not talking about what happened Bad: Some stories are underdeveloped, by treating it as “too soon” to leaving the viewer wanting more. discuss is impeding healing, not helping it. As Oskar struggles to overRating: Four out of five stars come, so are we. And “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” is a step in the right direction.
Graphic by Annamarie Cunningham
Sports the Stagg Line
01.27.12
making the right calls An inside look at the gestures of basketball
Have you ever had trouble figuring out what call was being made at a basketball game? Here’s a simple guide to assist you at games.
Traveling When a player is in possession of the ball and takes more than two steps without dribbling or passing it.
Wrestlers pin down struggles ANNAMARIERODRIGUEZ
Humiliation. Exhaustion. Pain. These are some of the struggles that wrestlers have to overcome everyday. Wrestling, like any sport, requires commitment and dedication. Not only does it take these two qualities but it also requires self-discipline. Depending on one’s weight, players are put into different weight classes. Players have to manage their own weight and watch carefully what they eat, because if they don’t manage wisely they are at risk of losing their spot in weight. “There is only one varsity spot for every weight,” senior Brantley Melvin said. A hot room full of athletes that are hungry for knowledge of the sport may encounter mental struggles. In order to cope with these struggles players are constantly reminded by a poster to “put doubt in its place
Double dribble When a player dribbles the ball with both hands. Or is dribbling the ball, then stops and continues to dribble again.
Time out
Personal Foul
When contact between players could result in injury to another player or provide one team with an unfair advantage.
NBA avg. 6'7"
Mangili
Annamarie Rodriguez
flat on its back.” Many posters like this are served for motivational purposes that should bring positive feelings. “When someone is physically breaking you down during a match you have to mentally work through that,” head coach Andre Uyeda said. School and wrestling may be hard to manage for some because of the intense workout and lifestyle that many choose in order to play this sport. “After practice you’re tired but in the back of your mind you have to do school work,” junior Christian Sanchez said. Another challenging aspect of the sport occurs during the holidays Senior Quid Khan drills take when players’ families eat a lot of downs with Pacific Law Acadfood that players may not be able to emy student Kino Kodner, consume because they have to meet senior. weight. “It’s hard at practice if you are like two pounds over weight, but you have to push through it,” junior Eduardo Vargas said. This is even more true during a match for Melvin when he feels as though he may not win his match. In order to push through this challenge he tells himself, “I want it more than the other guy,” he said. “And I will do whatever it takes to push through and get what I want.” With this mentality and drive to do better the team is determined to do well during season. “It takes grades, guts and ganas (desire) to wrestle,” Uyeda said.
Girls basketball stepping up game
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uals, according to senior Megan Gaitan. But this year, they play as Alone they can do little. Alone a cohesive team. they lack the skills to win the game. Everyone works harder in their But when they are brought togethpractice time to improve their best er, when each member of the girls skills. The individual team memvarsity basketball team puts 100 bers work to gain mastery of their percent of their individual talent finesse. Each girl works with othinto the game, that’s when they can ers so that everyone can get stronwin. ger. One of the seniors dribbles down ANGELIQUE “We talk more” junior Amanda the court. She is ready to shoot, but WILSON Clave said. Others on the team the ball is stolen by the other team. agree with her. “There's working A silent hope that one of her team- senior more as a team,” junior Destiny mates can get the ball back crosses Aho said. her mind. The rest of her team is This new personal dedication to thinking the same thing. One of the team is even reaching memthe juniors on the team manages to steal the ball back bers of the junior varsity team. “JV has potential. I and score.“We have younger players who have skills,” think they’ll improve more,” Wilson said. senior Angelique Wilson said. “Young talent.” Aho recognizes that the seniors are incredibly co Unlike previous years, the team now has a win- operative, and they work with the new members of ning streak. Wilson credits it to the natural talent of the team in order to help them improve. the younger members on the team. She notes that the In any team situation, not just basketball, there is team wouldn’t be what it is without the juniors. a need for the older and more experienced to pass on So far this season, the team has won five games their expertise to the newbies. which is a dramatic improvement from previous Wilson, along with the rest of the team, is confiyears. dent that next year when the current juniors lead the Before this year, the varsity team played as individ- team, their record will be even better. ANNAMARIECUNNINGHAM
When play is stopped for a minute by an official or a team in order to respond to an injured player or to come up with a strategy.
graphic by Jessica
photos by
Juniors Eduardo Vargas and Steven Roxas, wrestle each other in practice to work on their pinning techniques.
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We have younger players who have skills. Young talent.”
not so king sized Representing the shorter side of
photo by
Chao Xiong
Vivian Vasquez, junior, jumps up to take a shot in the game against Franklin. Stagg went on to win 53-16.
varsity basketball
Tallest: 5'11"
Shortest: 5'3"
Varsity avg. 5'7"
Tallest: 6'4"
Shortest: 5'7" WNBA avg. 5'11"
Varsity avg. 5'11" graphic by
Fe Valencia, Sophia Davidson, Gabriella Miller, Mia Torres and Reanna Rodriguez
News the Stagg Line
8
01.27.12
CAMPUS CAFE EXPANSION
Teacher and restaurant owner converge to create new culinary program FAITHHARRIS
Years ago, Stagg had a culinary arts program. However, due to budget cuts, it was no longer available for students. Two weeks before winter break, Principal Bill Parks was approached with the idea of bringing this elective back. “It was out of the blue that they decided to meet and talk about it,” Parks said. “For years, that classroom has sat empty just collecting dust.” A few weeks ago, part of the wall of the Campus Cafe was knocked down and a door was put in. It wasn’t put there just so the two teachers could eas-
New culinary teacher Barry Benigno hopes to have students prepared for workforce in the restaraunt business after participating in his class.
Scanners go live this week CHAOXIONG
This week students have seen campus security monitors with new equipment that helps reduce student tardiness. The school has purchased a new device from the Plasco Trac Company that specializes in tracking students on campus with ID scanners. According to Plasco Trac, the use of scanners has shown a reduction of 50 to 80 percent in tardiness. Stagg is not the only school using scanners. Edison High School and many other schools in California also use scanners. The scanners come in two different styles. There is one for the attendance office and there is the mobile one that is given to CSMs and assistant principals. The one for the attendance office has a scanner similar to the ones used for the lunch lines and it comes with a printer. The mobile scanner is similar to a cell phone and it comes with a small printer that is strapped to the user’s waist. Using a scanner is not difficult. It scans the student’s ID and then prints a pass that resembles a receipt. Even if the students don’t have their IDs on them, the CSMs can still punch in the ID number or their name into the scanner and a receipt will be printed. The contents of the pass contain information about the students ID number, their name, the time they were scanned, the date, and what violations they were scanned for. It states what disciplinary punishment they have to do. The first time they’re scanned, students get a warning. The second time they’re scanned, they get after-school detention in M-3. The third time they’re scanned, they have to report to Saturday school. To clear a student of the violation, they will have to do their disciplinary punishment and bring their pass to have it rescanned by the CSM. After it is scanned the information about the student and their violation record will be stored into the computer’s database. The system will be inputted with every single student’s information and whether they are on the “No-Go” list or not. And as it sounds, the pass can be used as a pass to get back to class and to get out of class. Students can be scanned for having an appointment with someone in the office and get a pass but not get any violations on their record for it. The ID scanner’s purposes are to reduce the tardy rates, to enforce the dress code, and to encourage students to bring their IDs. These scanners are going to make tracking student activities easier for the staff.
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ily walk into each other’s classrooms, but so they can work together. Jim Pettis, Campus Cafe culinary instructor along with a new culinary instructor, Barry Benigno, are working to create a successful program for stuJIM PETTIS dents. Campus Cafe Pettis is particularly hoping that advisor the successful program will remain available only to those that have met their requirements for graduation. “It’s in its early stages,” he said. “We’re kind of hitting the ground running.” Sophomore Leah Rivera is already impressed. “I think it’s really fun already, and a really good program because it helps you learn how to cook great things,” she said. Benigno is excited to get started and has high hopes for this program. And it isn’t all just cooking. The hope is that they will understand the business world, that they will be able to own her own business if they want to. “They’re going to learn obviously about preparing food. But also more difficult things like cost analysis,” he said. Parks said he wants the new culinary course to turn into a magnet program. “I now have the right teacher, the right curriculum, and the students have the right attitude,” he said. Parks anticipates student chef dinners, fundraisers with their food, and even field trips to hotels and restaurants. Benigno is all for these field trips and said that they will “help prepare kids for the work force.” Also, a big part of being prepared for the workforce is gaining experience. Benigno has owned a restaurant called Rocky’s Restaurant for 30 years and
We (Stagg) don’t have many electives anymore. This will give them another outlet.”
photos by Harmony Evangelisti Campus Cafe advisor Jim Pettis has been working to raise $6500 to buy a new commercial stove. With the addition of the new stove, the old one will be given to the new culinary program.
hopes to have some, if not all, of his students intern there. “The vision is to teach and give these kids the experience they need, he said.” Not only would they get to witness the making of excellent food, but they would also “be able to see how other restaurants look and how the presentation is,” Rivera said. Aside from these field trips, they also have other big plans. “As long as things go according to plan, we should be able to make this into a very successful magnet program,” said Parks. “Then they can get their certification and go straight to work.” Benigno said that this culinary program is going to be different because “there is now more of an
emphasis on it.” While any other elective could have been chosen, Benigno said that this was the most logical choice. “In this economy, the culinary industry is always going to have jobs. This whole course willl just give them the experience they need.” Parks, B enigno, Pettis, and the students are hoping that this program will take off and start doing some cool things pretty soon. Benigno is determined to use his experience to make the culinary program the best it can be. “I ran a successful program at Jane Frederick Continuation High School, and I hope to do the same here.”
AP teachers work to reduce cost of exam fees EMILYCORNELISON
This year students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses will be charged $54 for each AP test if they do not qualify for a fee waiver. For those who do qualify, the price will be $32. In past years, students who qualified for the fee waiver only had to pay $5, which was a combination of federal and state aid. Though the amounts for the test this year may not seem incredibly significant, for junior Wang Xiong, who is taking four AP classes and plans on taking those four tests, the costs add up. Although Xiong qualifies for a fee waiver, she will most likely rely on the support of her parents to meet the price requirement for each test. Junior Pa Her, who plans on taking at least one AP test, is in graphic by Gabriella Miller and Seyma Tap the same situa tion. With two “With fewer people to do the work, we have months before to get smarter about it and use technology to help the AP testing besupport the staff,” said Principal Bill Parks. gins, the gradual The scanners have been seen on campus since process of saving this Wednesday. And as students experience it evand putting aside eryday from now on it will become a regular thing. money, will be But just weeks before the scanners were put to much harder. use the CSMs had to go through a training process SAMANTHA to learn more about how the scanners worked. A For busy stuWANG certain system had to be installed in order to condents like Xiong nect with the scanners and the printer. All of the senior and Her who are CSMs learned how to use it and they finished ininvolved in sports stalling the system but there was one thing to do and do “not have time to work for money for the before the scanners were usable. AP exam,” there are few options to raise the funds Even though everything was done, without the for the test. student information the scanners would have no It has become the mission of two AP teachers, meaning to them, so Assistant Principal Gamal Stewart Jacoby and Erica Dei Rossi, to help aid the Salama spent his weekend inputting the informa- students hoping to take the AP tests in the spring. tion. According to Salama, future events such as Jacoby is currently working on getting funds the school dance can be used as a category in the from the Alumni Association and is confident that scanner and it’ll allow the CSMs to tell whether they will be able to raise a few thousand dollars for certain students are allowed at the event or not. Because the scanners can limit what a student the students’ use. Dei Rossi contacted Lynn Beck, does, there is a high possibility that students will dean of Benerd School of Education, to ask for dooppose the idea of having ID scanners around cam- nations. Beck agreed to donate a total of $1,250. pus without giving it a second thought. But chem- With this funding combined, the price of each test istry teacher John Steiner encourages students to will only be lowered by $25. “Give it a try” because, “they don’t know until they Dei Rossi is also working on getting other sponsors who could help with the fees. The job of fundtry it out.”
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What’s the point of being in an AP class if you can’t afford the test?”
ing the AP tests is frustrating because “we’ve had to The cost of one AP find a different test without any dissolution every counts would be $87. year,” Jacoby said. Schools normally There are a charge: $79 total of five AP classes offered Students who don’t on campus. qualify for fee Approximately waiver: $57 70 students are enrolled in Students who at least one AP qualify for a fee class. The purwaiver: $32 pose of the AP classes is to not only help students prepare for college but help to prepare students for the AP test. “It’s already second semester. What’s the point of being in an AP class if you can’t afford the test?” senior Samantha Wang said. However, although the cost may be high, Dei Rossi has an alternate test available for students to take if they cannot afford to take the AP test. “I feel as though I can’t make it mandatory given the expense of the test... Therefore, I feel the need to offer an alternative. Students will gain a similar experience taking a sample test in the class the day of the exam,” Dei Rossi said. Despite the intimidating fees the test can generate, Her says students should still take the class. “You don’t have to take the test,” she said. “You learn a lot from the AP classes. They prepare you for college.” She is thankful for the work being done to reduce the test fees. “That’s kind of the (teachers) to try to help the students,” Her said. According to the College Board, students who are enrolled in AP courses are more likely to graduate from college in four years. The benefit of passing the AP exam is that some colleges will give the student college credit which could save the student thousands of dollars. Taking AP courses and exams is an investment. Whatever the case may be, students who plan on taking the AP tests need to be aware that there will be significant costs involved. Head councilor Chan Sam says, “I recommend to start saving your money... plan ahead.”
AP EXAM FEES