home of the DELTA KINGS
04.09.12
VOL. 55 NO. 7 ON THE WEB
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Softball
Pacific interns encourage opening up through alternative therapy
CHECK US OUT ONLINE Keep looking at the Stagg Line’s Facebook page for extra pictures from games and events.
INSIDE THE ISSUE Standing STRONG
NEWS IN BRIEF Baseball There will be a home baseball game tomorrow against McNair. JV will start at 4 p.m and varsity will play at 6:30 p.m. Stagg Factor The talent show will be next Thursday from 6-8:00 p.m. in the theater. Tickets will be sold for $2 in advance or $4 at the door. Circle of Friends dance The dance will be on April 21 in the large gym from 4–7 p.m. It is semi-formal so no jeans or t-shirts will be allowed. CST testing CST testing will be held from April 17-20. Each testing day will be a minimum day with school ending at 11:25 a.m. Seniors have the same release time. Trivia Bee Congratulations to Angelo Robles, Carol Amaya, and Emily Cornelison for placing first in high schools at the trivia bee. The team, named Beeware the Deatheaters, showed knowledge in sci-fi/fantasy.
ANNAMARIERODRIGUEZ Singing is not the only form of therapy One intern beats the drum. Another during this session. The interns also incorbegins to play the keyboard. The students porate dancing as well. One therapy session start to sing. The sounds send a wave of mu- included dancing to multiple songs with sic through the P-wing. Walking into this scarves as a form of letting loose and releasclassroom, you are surrounded by laughter ing their stress. During this exercise, every and smiling faces. This is a normal Wednes- student was participating fully in every acday in P-1. tivity. All students seemed as though this University of the Pacific interns come was something they wanted to do. Another every Wednesday to direct a music therapy form of therapy is writing or drawing. session. This class offers a release for special- The interns try to make this experience education students who have issues at home as effective as possible. They do or at school. this by including every student Observing this class there BONUS VIDEO in the class, either by asking for would be no signs of students volunteers, greeting everyone, going through hardships. But or adding in every student’s as the class progresses they start thoughts. to talk about their issues. With At the end of the therapy problems like being teased, session, the interns ask for any staggonline.net breaking a remote control or suggestions from the students even a father dying, this music — what songs to add and what therapy class offers ways for teens to cope. they liked and disliked about the therapy Singing familiar songs and incorporatsession. ing their own lyrics is part of the therapy session. Talking to a teacher, adult, family Participating teachers say this session is member or friend is one of the solutions the effective for the students. “It improves people’s lives in an organized, systematic way, interns suggest. “Playing makes me believe in myself, through music,” said Pam Curtin, a special that I can play good,” sophomore Hillary day class teacher. Along with the improvement of the lives Scott said. Songs such as “Mirror” by Lil Wayne of students, participants say it creates an and Bruno Mars have meanings related to exciting learning environment. As the muthe lesson, which can offer therapy in a sty- sic arises, the singing and dancing makes listic way. This song was broken down to students look forward to the session. “I get observe and evaluate how the students live excited for music therapy,” junior Jordan Arndt said. “I don’t get to sing a lot.” their lives.
photos by Annamarie Rodriguez
Students start off their day in the music therapy class by singing good morning songs and playing music on a drum. Afterward they volunteer to share their thoughts and feelings.
Ugandan speaker helps localize KONY 2012 MIKEALAAXTON
Stagg Line NSPA Hall of Fame newspaper Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, Calif. 95207
Pacific mentors help students express emotions through the use of music. They also encourage them to write what they’re feeling down.
Annamarie Rodriguez Benjamin Otecks, who moved here from Uganda, spoke to a local church group about his experiences in the country. photo by
Childhood is thought of as a time of milestones: starting school, learning to ride a bike, joining a Little League team. This was not Benjamin Otecks’ experience. “We were trained as kids to defend our cows, shoot guns, and walk miles to school,” he said. Otecks is from Uganda and on his recent trip to America he made a stop at Stockton Covenent Church to share his story and what he calls “the truth behind Kony.” Otecks and his wife, whom he met through her missionary work in Uganda, came to the church March 26 at the request of youth director Cori Sinclair. Sinclair met Otecks in his homeland of Uganda while working in the same area where the KONY video was filmed. “They were here visiting from Uganda,” Sinclair said. “It was good timing with all the Kony stuff going on.” Otecks gave an account
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headline graphic by
Seyma Tap
I’ve seen teenagers at work before. Just one teenager can have an idea and everyone else gets into it.” JANNETHA THON, sophomore
of life in Uganda in the hostile environment of Kony’s attacks. Two of Otecks’ brothers and his sister were taken in the night by Kony’s forces. Otecks was spared by what he calls “the grace of God.” Otecks and his wife run Favor of God Ministries out of Gulu, Uganda. Their organization rehabilitates Kony’s child soldiers and assists their families, both difficult tasks complicated by the after-effects of war. It was not an uncommon thing to have an escaped child wake in the night and kill his parents, a lingering effect of their training.
According to Otecks, Kony is currently hiding in a forest between Congo and Northern Africa. In addition to this theory, Otecks also presented his belief that the now-infamous KONY video is “10 years late” – that is, Otecks says the war and resulting atrocities depicted in the video happened a decade ago. Senior Madison Sadler, however, has qualms with the entire KONY 2012 movement. “It’s more of a status update than anything else at this point,” she said. “No one (here) knows what’s actually going on (in Uganda) anyway.” Junior Carol Amaya appears to be of the same mind. “People really don’t know what to believe because there are a lot of contradictions.” After attending Otecks’
presentation, senior John Hart was struck by the possibly inaccuracies of the KONY video. “It’s like commercials,” he said. “They want to show you what they want to show you.” Regardless of the video’s legitimacy, there are some who see the overall value of the movement, considering the mass effects in the realms of social media. Sophomore Jannetha Thon noted the value it has had in getting youth involved in the world around them. “I’ve seen teenagers at work before,” she said. “Just one teenager can have an idea and everyone else gets into it.” Fellow sophomore Johnathon Edmonds seems to agree. “That’s what everybody needs – someone to change the world.”
Opinion the Stagg Line
2 EDITORIAL
04.09.12
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE EATING?
L
unch time has come. The almighty feeling of hunger falls over students as the lunch bell rings. For many students the typical fast food restaurant is the first place in mind. Why? Because it’s quick and cheap, and you can get back to school without being disciplined by the teacher. But for every ideal meal, there are unintended consequences. This issue we take a look at the habit of fast food eating and the harmful effects it brings. We all know that fast food is unhealthy and over time can do serious damage to a healthy lifestyle. However, students still go to fast food restaurants regularly. Why is this the case when the message of fast food being so terrible has been pushed into our heads from a young age? Sometimes it lies beyond the
veil of self-control. In a 2003 study by Dr. John Hoebel at Princeton University, the chemicals in fast food were tested on rats who were given a diet of 25 percent sugar. Then they took the sugar out of the food supply. The way the rats reacted after the sugar was removed was similar to the way a person reacts when nicotine or tobacco are withdrawn from them. This included symptoms of chattering teeth and shakes. Dr. Hoebel believed that the fast food stimulated opioids, or “pleasure chemicals” in the brain, similar to the ones that are released during tobacco, drug and alcohol use. “The implication is that some animals — and by extension some people — can become overly dependent on sweet food,” Hoebel said. These reports were later
supported by a study at the University of Wisconsin Medical School by neurologist Ann Kelly, who found
traits that fast food supposedly cause, may seem exaggerated. And maybe this kind of addiction isn’t as dangerous as that of drugs and alcohol, but it can do damage over time. For this reason, students must know that eating fast food almost every day is not healthy and self discipline must come into play. With more recent events in mind, the “pink slime” problem has brought a lot of attention to the kind of products that go into the beef at fast food restaurants. But for many, films like “Super Size Me” and books like “Fast Food Nation,” have already brought attention to cases identical to this. Why was this time so different? The main shocking Art by Viena Palacio factor was the amount of a link between the brain’s pink slime in the meat itself, pleasure chemicals and a over 70 percent across all of craving for this type of food. America’s supermarkets. To some, the addiction
‘They’re my super heroes’
Working with special needs students helps bring new perspective and friendships
campus, especially with bullying. Later that week I was asked by one of my friends what class I had next. I then mentioned T.A. for Swanson’s specialefore joining Jennifer Swanson’s class, I thought education class. That’s when I noticed the awkward “Don’t of A-4 as the room with the rabbit. And that those kids annoy you?” comments. positive feeling of a rabbit carried out into the These remarks, to me, didn’t deserve a response back. classroom the first time I walked in. staggonline.net Despite some of the weird looks I get, some of my friends It overwhelmed me with how welcoming and acceptare open to join me in the classroom. ing the students were. I had never experienced a class My best friend didn’t really think much about hanging out that seemed as though they were happy I was there without knowing with the students, but after some of the funny memories she wanted to me in any way. This was a moment of impact. I knew I was going to visit the classroom. love this class. This is when she shared my same love for their sense of humor and Within the first week I had a conversation with a freshman in this their welcoming presence. special-education classroom and asked her how her transition went These students have seriously been my superheroes. It may sound from being in middle school to high school. She mentioned that she cheesy, but it’s true because even on my bad days this group of friends didn’t like being teased. always greet me with a smile and a bunch of hugs. Before this conversation, I didn’t pay much attention to students Many funny, crazy days happen in this classroom. Fernando makes teasing others. This moment made me more aware of what happens on me laugh on a regular day basis. One of the funniest days I had with him was when he grabbed a box out of the trash can and tried to sit in it. Unfortunately it was a fail because the box split on all sides and he fell straight on his behind. Days like these make my days so much better. This is just one of the “normal” days we have in our classroom. But as the year ends and summer break approaches, I know that working with special-ed students is one of my passions. Being in this classroom has taught me life lessons such as being patient, accepting that everyone is different, and knowing that one person or one group can change one’s day or impact one’s life. When I started high school, I looked forward meeting new people and hopefully developing new friendships. I have met many new faces in high school but my relationship with my special-ed students is stronger than any of my other friendships. This is because they love me despite of my flaws and insecurities. They don’t pay attention to the superficial necessities that are a “must have” in high school. One of the best things about high school is finding treasures in photos by Reanna Rodriguez unexpected places. I found my treasure being a T.A. for a class where Junior Annamarie Rodriguez always stops to say hello to her I didn’t expect to fall in love with all the students. But this newfound fellow classmates from Jennifer Swanson’s class. She ran into friendship is one that I’m privileged to have found.
ANNAMARIERODRIGUEZ
The news had the ability to fall heavily into the public sector, and many fast food chains said they would no longer be purchasing the product. In this case the public outcry was strong and that made the difference. It was the knowledge of what they were eating that kept people from stuffing the near fully processed burger into their mouths. And that is the defining aspect of fast food as a choice and fast food as a need. Know what you are eating, and know that fast food won’t be the most healthy choice, even though it will likely always be around in some form or another. But with the right willpower, one can purchase it in moderation and learn to live with it properly. Remember, think with your heads, not your stomachs.
BONUS VIDEO
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freshman Yazmina Contrera at a recent track meet.
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.
Mikeala Axton Editor-in-Chief
Taylor Hurles Don Bott Adviser
Editor-in-Chief
photos by
Nicole Lawrence
While working as a teacher’s assistant Rodriguez also helps out with Physical Education. Here she is teaching freshman Vernice Figeroa how to hit a ball with a tennis racket.
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
04.09.12
the Stagg Line
Opinion
Teen hopes love for music will continue to college and beyond ANNAMARIECUNNINGHAM
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graphic by
Nicole Lawrence and Annamarie Cunningham
M
y whole body went numb. It felt like I was stuck in a horror movie and someone had hit pause. Not only was I unable to move, but my mind was blank. I couldn’t believe what just came out of her mouth. Not today, not yet. It couldn’t have happened yet. My mother wrapped me in a hug as she told me that my cousin passed away from leukemia. As you grow up you have people who shape who you are. In a very short period of time I lost my cousin, but my great grandmother as well. Each played a large role in shaping the person I am today. Having to deal with losing them made me reevaluate my outlook on life. Recently the Leadership class has placed Happy Meal boxes in classrooms, for a program known as “Pennies for Patients,” in hopes of raising money for families with leukemia that can’t afford treatment. I want to encourage you to donate, even if you just donate
I don’t know when exactly I decided to have a career in music, but I do know that she is a huge part of that decision. And I know it’s no overstatement to say that she has helped give my life meaning. Even fellow musicians regard music majors as something that could very well be a loss of money and time. And for a long time I was on the fence as to whether I should attempt it after all. But there is something alluring about music. About the way it feels to place my fingers on the keys and play. There’s something about playing a piece that was written by a dead guy hundreds of years ago. Something about finishing a piece and hearing the word “perfect” spring from my teacher’s mouth. Beyond that, maybe it’s in spite of the danger. In today’s tough times going, after a job that makes you not want to die seems risky as hell. Music has never been looked upon as a stable career, although it helps that I don’t aspire to be the world’s next GaGa. In a way, it’s almost humble, wanting to get a doctorate in music for not only myself, but as a bit of a homage to Mrs. Senderov, getting to teach others what she so lovingly taught me.
photos by
Mikeala Axton
Junior Annamarie Cunningham watches attentively as her piano instructor Andrea Senderov goes over the beat of a new piece of music.
Sister overshadowed by sibling’s legacy
Losing loved one gets students involved JESSICAMANGILI
ood morning, Cunningham!” is the peppy greeting my piano teacher, Andrea Senderov, calls out to me from her kitchen. It’s just after 6 in the morning and it’s all I can do to mumble back some incomprehensible response and a half smile. “Let me just get my coffee, and I’ll be right in,” she says. I slowly start to set out my music, delicately placing the books on the piano. It’s a Steinway grand, and even after eight years of playing this same piano nearly every week, I refuse to treat it with any less reverence than I did my first lesson. Well, I think. I’m here now. Might as well wake up. Welcome to my Wednesdays. It’s hard to be a classical musician. Especially when your lessons start and 6 in the morning. Every week. For eight years. And, the best and worst part of my love for classical music, especially the piano, is that it’s threatening to take over my life. Not that I really mind. It has lured me into an idealistic dream of becoming a music major. Except for the part where it’s not idealistic. Despite what I tell myself sometimes, I haven’t known what I wanted to do with my life since I was little. I went through the phases just like everyone else: archaeologist, vet, superhero. Eventually though, I had to figure out something to spend the rest of my life doing. I’ve been on sports teams, joined summer art classes, and completely destroyed many desserts in my attempts at being a pastry chef. My drawing skills are rivaled by those of a toddler, and knitting only results in a rather large tangle of yarn instead of a scarf or something. I don’t know quite how it happened, but somehow I was inspired to start taking piano lessons. However, not all beginnings are the happiest beginnings. When I first started my lessons, I had some pretty terrible teachers. They paid little attention to detail and refused to correct my mistakes. They didn’t instill a love of music in me. Eventually though, I fell into the hands of Mrs. Senderov, one of the most amazing women I have ever met. Mrs. Senderov has been a constant presence in my life for these past eight years. She is someone I know I can trust. Someone who pushes me to do my best even when I don’t feel like I can.
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CHAOXIONG
A photo courtesy of Jessica
Mangili
Jessica Mangili enjoys a Christmas with her cousins Drew Mangili (middle) and Michael Mangili (right) five years before he passed.
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I’d do anything to be able to have my cousin back for one more day. To be able to see his smile and to hear his laugh. And most of all to be able to hug him once more.”
a quarter or a couple of pennies you found in the bottom of your bag. The money that is being raised goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where it then is distributed towards research to finding a cure for all blood cancers and helping families afford medical treatment. Most people think that a quarter can’t really make that much of an impact. And a few years ago
I thought the same way. I would go to the grocery store and see multiple stands outside asking for money for different charities. On top of thinking that it wasn’t really going to change anything, I would wonder if that charity was even real. But the quarter is really going to make a difference. According to the Pennies for Patients website, millions of dollars have been raised by elementary, middle and high school students across the country since the organization was created in 1994. I’d do anything to be able to have my cousin back for one more day. To be able to see his smile and to hear his laugh. And most of all to be able to hug him once more. And that’s exactly what you’re giving when you donate that quarter. You’re giving that patient’s family a chance to spend one more day together. One more day filled with memories and laughs. One more day they have to say their goodbyes, an opportunity I wish I could have had.
s I walk around campus I hear a distant voice calling out my sister’s name. I look around to find her, but she is nowhere in sight. I keep on walking, listening to the conversation behind me. “That’s not her, it’s her sister.” Are we that similar? Do people just see that we’re a similar height, and have similar ponytails? Do they see the fact that we play the same sports and have good grades and simply assume we’re the same person? People didn’t notice that we were related until we said it out loud. Then they started to notice the similar qualities we have and began to remember me as “her sister.” And when they do, it sticks in their minds and becomes how they address me. There are people – some I’ve met once, some I’ve known my whole life – that can only remember me as “her sister.” Even my teachers, classmates, teammates, and friends who knew my sister, call out her name when looking for me. Being called my sister’s name angers me. It was okay when it was just a few times, but when it became more and more frequent by the same people, it started to irritate me more every time. Each time I hear people say it, I get the urge to scream back, “I’m not my sister so stop saying her name.” But I’d control the urge and pretend that it never happened. When they look at me they can only see my sister, like I’m invisible to their eyes. It’s as though I’m there but at the same time I‘m not. Being known as “her sister” makes me feel like an incomplete replacement of her because no matter how similar we are I don’t have her straightforward personality or her ability to befriend everyone she sees.
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I envy my sister for having so many people remember her even after she’s not there. It makes me want people to remember me.”
She is irreplaceable and I know that better than anyone else, but people should learn to see the person who’s in front of them, not who has come before them. I don’t like to be ignored or mistaken for someone else. No matter how similar we are, I am not my sister and I will never become my sister. But I do look up to my sister. She is smart, dependable, responsible, and easy to get along with. She aims for the best to help improve herself and helps to encourage me to aim for the harder classes to become better. I love my sister, but I still don’t like being compared to her. Her standards are too high for me to reach so being compared with her is just outrageous. Jealousy is probably the best way to describe this feeling. I envy my sister for having so many people remember her even after she’s not there. It makes me want people to remember me. For who I am, and who I will be.
graphic by
Annamarie Cunningham and Mikeala Axton
Features the Stagg Line
4
04.09.12
DEDICATED
To most of their peers, they are simply overachieving.
Very few know the details of their journey. Few understand that their daily routine is overcoming one obstacle after another. Their success is a silent retaliation against everything in life that tells them they simply can’t. Despite their struggles, these students refuse to be kept down. These students remain ...
ADRIANNAOWENS
STRONG s t a n d i n g
RESILIENT
Dellanira Alcauter supported her family when her mother couldn’t He told them they weren’t allowed to leave. He gathered all of the phones in the house so they couldn’t call for help. And then he stood in the doorway, blocking their exit. This was the moment sophomore Dellanira Alcauter said she knew she had to take care of her family. 10 years old at the time, Alcauter, her mother, and her younger sister had come home to find her father had returned after several days of unexplained absence. He launched into angry accusations that her mother was cheating on him. “He kept getting angrier,” Alcauter said. “My mom was just crying on the bed; she wouldn’t do anything.” Seeing that no one else was going to, Alcauter said she “had to be the one to take control of the situation.” With bravery beyond her years, Alcauter went up to her intoxicated father and took a phone from him, demanding he let them leave. Though she was afraid “that he was going to hit me,” Alcauter’s actions simply made sense to her. “In that moment, I saw that I had to be the one to protect us.” Carrying such heavy responsibility seemed normal to Alcauter, as she was born into expectations fostered by her mother’s missteps. Alcauter’s mother dropped out of school in Mexico as a sophomore. She was neglected by her mother and alcoholic father. At 14, she eloped and came to America, soon pregnant with Alcauter’s older sister. Alcauter’s mother warned against her making the same mistakes she had in youth, being strict and protective without being supportive of her daughter. But Alcauter was motivated nonetheless. “Seeing all the problems (my mom) faced I knew I couldn’t make those bad decisions.” Regardless of Alcauter’s decisions, an element of her mother’s family recurred in Alcauter’s life: her alcoholic, absentee father. Currently, her mother is remar- DELLANIRA ried, and Alcauter’s biological fa- sophomore ther resides in Mexico. She has not seen him in two years. “I think maybe sooner or later my dad would have realized ‘I’m not being a father,’” Alcauter said. “But he’s still my dad and I’ll love him no matter what.” Despite a less-than-stable home life, Alcauter has flourished in school. She has a challenging array of advanced classes, transitioning from regular courses to honors is a transition her teachers have called “seamless.” Academically, Alcauter has been entirely self-motivated. “(My parents) don’t care if I take honors or not,” Alcauter said. Her logic behind the decision to take a more challenging route through high school is sim-
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INDEPENDENT
History teacher Audrey WeirGraham has made sure that Nand was included in a University of the Pacific mentorship program because she knows of his aspirations. “He has an inquisitive mind,” Weir-Graham said. She then notes that he is the kind of student who doesn’t need “external motivation.” She said that Nand loves to learn, inside and out of the classroom. From the obvious trauma of his mother’s death, Nand found that it brought his family a little bit closer. They all learned to work together, despite the difficulties. “Growing up in a single-parent household is hard,” Nand said. “But because of that, me and my sisters get along very well.” The loss of his mother also created a barrier when asking for help. “She was really smart and now I can’t ask for her help on anything,” he said. However, he finds that he can help his two sisters and brother with their schoolwork. As well as the hardship of living in a singleparent household, Nand faces economic trouble. “We don’t live in a rich household,” he said, gesturing to his clothes, “I shop at the thrift store.” Fellow sophomore Miguel Gaitan said that he would have “never guessed” that Nand had been through as much as he had.
Sophomore Dellanira Alcauter comes home from school to spend time helping her siblings out with their homework every day.
photo by Jessica
Mangili
Junior Shai Lashley and her lab partner do an Acidic-Base lab in chemistry class.
Nand understands how cruel the world can be. He knows that life isn’t a walk in the park. That’s what makes him work that much harder. Though he has been through more than most people have, he doesn’t share his story often. He doesn’t like to be pitied so he keeps it all to himself. He doesn’t want people to re-
move their focus from what matters. “I want people to look at what I’ve accomplished, not what I’ve been through,” he said. With a sincere tone, he talks about his future. He said that he’s not like most kids. He’s not like the ones who don’t care. “I don’t want to be ‘could have been,’” he said. “I want to be.”
photo by
Mikeala Axton
Every week students such as sophomores Miguel Gaitan, Thuy Tran, and Anthony Nevarez seek assistance from Sami Nand at the Homework Center.
REANNARODRIGUEZ
She walks through the hall with a smile on her face and books in her hand. She looks like any other, happy, bright-eyed student. She looks like a student with a bright future ahead of her. Nobody would ever guess what she hides behind her smile. “You can never let them see you weak,” Anna Touch, junior, said. From the time she was a little girl she has been taught by her grandmother that the only way to succeed in life is to remain strong and not to make any excuses. Touch has lived by her grandmother’s words her entire life, but she didn’t always accept them the way she does now. “When I was little I used to think she didn’t love me,” Touch said regarding her grandmother. But now she sees that her grandmother is only trying to protect her. She says that her grandmother wants her to be strong and for that she sees her as the father she never had.
Shai Lashley remains isolated, motivated
When she walks into the house upon returning from school, junior Shai Lashley goes straight to her room. She passes by her sister and her sister’s father, keeping to herself and finishing homework and extra credit work. While falling asleep she thinks of the family that she feels excluded from. She pictures the relationship she had with her mother and wishes for it back. “I want to go back with my mom, but I can’t,” she said. She had to leave her mother at the beginning of sophomore year when her sister’s father was granted full custody of her. “I was with her a lot; we did everything together” Lashley said. “We’re best friends.” The connection she had with her mother was lost when she moved from Fresno to Stockton to live with her younger sister and her sister’s father. The move was hard on her because she had to adjust to a family she hardly knew. “It was hard to go from somebody I can relate to, to someone I hardly talk to.” Despite the drastic transition, Lashley hasn’t let it affect her performance in school. School is a getaway from her uncomfortable situation at home. “I use school as an escape because I don’t like being around them,” she said. “They have that fatherdaughter thing and I’m alone.”
Even though Lashley doesn’t rely on her family at home for support, she still manages to keep her grades up because of her motivation. She wants to succeed in life by graduating high school and getting accepted into college. To prepare for the rigorous college schedule Lashley is in Honors U.S. History this year, and her teacher Stewart Jacoby took note of her quiet determination. “She knows she’s going somewhere,” he said. “She’s not wasting time hanging out or being a kid.” Jacoby noticed that she was “on-task and serious” about her work which led him to recommend her for Girls State, a program where one girl from each school is chosen to spend a week working with girls from different parts of the state to create their own self-governed city. Even though Lashley wasn’t chosen to participate in the program she was still honored to be nominated. Although she accepts the distant relationship she has with her sister and sister’s father, sometimes she wishes she was comfortable around them. “Some days when I see them together, I wish I had that with him,” she said. “But it’s just easy to be by myself because we always argue.” Lashley doesn’t bring her home problems to school with her, and according to Jacoby, she takes care of business with pride. “She’s focused and capable and is an example of a outstanding Stagg student,” he said.
Lynzie Vang uses school to escape pressures KENTALEYMCCURDY
The routine of her life is a cycle that never ends. The busy schedule of sophomore Lynzie Vang is filled to the brink with things to do. She is a student maintaining a strong grade-point average, playing basketball and badminton, and serving as the president of the Hmong Club. Not only does this busy schedule keep her active but it keeps her away from one thing: home. Her bubbly personality and pleasant attitude are what you notice at first glance, but she, like many other students, deals with the hardships of her life at home.“I’m never home,” Vang said. Although her ideal place to be is school, she insists that family is very important to her. “My parents didn’t grow up with the best education,” she said. “I want to help my family out.” Vang’s independent attitude allows her to accomplish everything she wants but it also involves a lot of stress. After a long day in school, she heads to the Homework Center to try and get as much work done as possible. She then treks her way to practice which lasts for about four hours. “If I don’t play sports I feel like I have too much free time and I’ll keep away from homework,” Vang said. Then she goes to the place she avoids the most. When she does get home, she usually starts her homework at 9:00 p.m. “I take a break, then I wake myself up again at 3:00 a.m.” One altercation that she remembers is when her mother questioned why she was still up doing work. “It was a big argument,” she said. “She got mad because I stayed up and did my homework.” Screaming, Vang told her mother that, “‘You don’t understand. I have so many subjects that I can’t focus on one!’” Eventually her mother came to the conclusion that Vang can do it on her own. “Even though she can’t do much because she’s busy, she still is supportive,” Vang said. While Vang wants to be a role LYNZIE VANG model for her little brothers, her sophomore older brother is her inspiration. “I’m glad he is my older brother because he makes mistakes that I see. He is a big part of my life,” she said. While she struggled with some issues at home she still developed the independence to be successful in school.“It’s obvious the key to life is education, so I don’t know why people are so lazy.” By occupying herself at school Vang forgets about her struggles at home. “At home there is so much pressure on me. I take care of my brothers and do a lot of chores,” she said. Even though she deals with a lot of pressure and stress, she makes no excuses when it comes to her education. She said, “It’s challenging, but it’s a good challenge.” The dedication that she has is noticed by others. Math teacher Andrew Walter gives his opinion about Vang. “Lynzie is a very outgoing student. She acts goofy, but when she is in an academic situation she is an achiever.” He added, “She is dedicated and hardworking about projects. She is the well rounded type of student that colleges are looking for.” Even though Vang deals with the difficulties of concentrating in school and the stress from her home life, her friends encourage her. Vang explains the importance of her friends: “I break down, but I eventually pick myself back up. If I do need help they will always be there, and if I can’t do it by myself, they will.”
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Anna Touch refuses to let opposing forces stop her from pushing forward
GABRIELLAMILLER
In that moment, I saw that I had to be the one to protect us.”
“Everyone gravitates towards him when we study in the Homework Center,” he said. “Sami’s hecka smart.” In classrooms, he is known for his intelligence and strangely, this brings even more conflict to his life. “I have to work so much harder because I understand how hard it actually is in the world,” he said.
POSITIVE
“I remember I visited her one time sophomore year,” he said. “When I first saw her, she said we were going to spend time together in the summer and then shortly after she just died.” Although his mother’s death was a difficult time in his life he continued to excel in school and pursue his goals. photos by Kristin Acevedo “I plan to go to the army, so Part of senior Michael Nuci’s job at Lord’s Gym is to help gym (my father) doesn’t have to provide for me,” he said. “And when member Kenny Starks, a paraplegic, with his workout. I’m out I’ll go to school.” When talking about education, Nuci says English teacher Erica Dei Rossi has been instrumental to his The difficulties he experienced were a result of the success. “Every time I turn in good work she tells me lack of communication between him and his father I can do better and she wants to push me to my full- because he works so much. But although it’s difficult for him at home he est potential.” Some days are harder than others, Nuci said. Dur- doesn’t allow anything to disrupt his path to success ing his college application process he could barely get even on his most difficult and exhausting days. the information he needed to fill out financial aid “I look at my life and I always ask myself one question: ‘Do I want better?’” forms.
FOCUSED
Harmony Evangelisti
ple: “I’m trying to take advantage of the free education.” She understands the importance of education to her future. “I want to be able to pick any career I want,” she said. “And not have to struggle to support myself or my family.” Alcauter has witnessed this financial struggle first-hand. “(My mom) has always really struggled with maintaining a stable house,” she said. Before she remarried, her mother “was always at work,” leaving the responsibilities of cooking and cleaning on Alcauter and her older sister. ALCAUTER “It was a part of our life,” she said. “We didn’t see it as extra weight on our shoulders.” Nevertheless, Alcauter has always been a strong student, regardless of her struggles at home. Her Sophomore Honors English teacher Sam Pope has noticed her pursuit of academic excellence. “As a student, she works really hard and asks good questions,” Pope said. “She’s really insightful.” Despite her self-motivated effort to do well, Alcauter’s stepfather has had his issues with her academic performance, doubting her when she says she’s doing well. Alcauter doesn’t really mind. “I think ‘Okay, that’s fine, just let my report card prove it.’” And with A’s in nearly every class, and a set of unique struggles behind her, she certainly has.
Sami Nand hopes to be a pharmacist to finish the journey his mother started
Michael Nuci routinely manages work schedule, academics Every day he wakes up at 6 a.m. He catches the bus and arrives at school. Three days a week he works and those days are a little longer. One bus to school in the morning, two buses to work and one bus home. He comes home most of the time to an empty house, almost as if he lives alone. He is senior Michael Nuci. His dad is rarely home, he explains. The absence of his father is due to work. “When I get home I have to always make my own food because right when my dad gets home he goes to sleep,” Nuci said. “It’s like he avoids us or something.” In addition to the absence of his father, Nuci has other obstacles to overcome. On top of holding a part-time job, having little transportation, and basically taking care of himself he works diligently in school to get sufficient grades. However, success hasn’t come easy to Nuci. During his sophomore year his mother died of cirrhosis of the liver. She was rarely in Nuci and his brother’s life, he explains, because of her drug and alcohol addiction.
photo by
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DILIGENT
TAYLORHURLES
MIKEALAAXTON
Sami Nand is sitting at the back of a science classroom at lunch with his nose stuffed into one of the old biology books. He holds the binding that is falling off the side as he reads, no one can break his concentration. This is how he spent most of last year’s lunch periods, his mind far off in the wondrous world of cell division and homeostasis. The sophomore aspires to be a pharmacist. Nearly everyone who knows Nand knows of his future career plans. They know that he takes rigorous science and health classes to become a pharmacist, like he has always dreamed of. They know that he has the brains and mindset to become anything he wishes. What they don’t know is why he wants to be a pharmacist or why he is so dedicated to learning, while most could care less. They don’t know that his mother passed away when he was 8 years old. With a nervous smile on his face he pushes out, “She’s my inspiration.” His mother was studying to be a pharmacist when she passed away. He decided from that day on that he would pick up where she left off and finish her dream. He would take the path that she started to take, to finish her journey.
04.09.12
photo by
Annamarie Rodriguez
Anna Touch, junior, works on rhetorical analysis during group work in Advanced Placement Language and Composition.
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My goal in life is to be able to support my mom and grandma and give back to them what they gave to me.”
At home there is so much pressure on me; I take care of my brothers and I do a lot of chores.”
ANNA TOUCH junior
Touch’s father has never been a part of her life, having left her and her mother before she was born. She says that sometimes she feels like a piece of her is missing, but then she remembers that he left. That he made a choice, not thinking about how it would affect her. “You’re entitled to be a father, but you have to try to be a dad,” Touch said. As a result of her father’s absence, she has always been close to her mother. Not only because her father is out of the picture, but also because her mother is deaf and mute. “It’s like we have our own language,” Touch said. She’s able to understand her mom through certain facial expressions. Her mother is her backbone, the one person for whom she would do anything to make her smile. Despite certain situations in the past, Touch and her family continue to move forward. “My goal in life is to be able to support my mom and grandma and give back to them what they gave to me,” Touch said. Her family is what drives her to do so well in school. They’re the two people who gave her a foundation in life. The ones who pick her up when she needs it the most, despite the problems in their own lives. The people who taught her that education is the key to a successful future. “My grandma always tells me that education is the one thing people can’t take away from you,” Touch said. Knowing how important education is, Touch sees herself 10 years from now in graduate school working to become a bio engineer. She’ll be stable in life and working towards another big goal. She’s going to find a cure for cancer and rid the world of disease. In those days she’ll look back on her life, and smile at the people and the circumstances that gave her the strength to follow her dreams. And she’ll realize that the strength her mother and grandmother gave to her was the one thing that kept her going. The one thing that helped her succeed all her life.
photo by
Harmony Evangelisti
Along with basketball and tennis, sophomore Lynzie Vang uses badminton as a way to take herself to “another world.”
Entertainment the Stagg Line
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04.09.12
Movies making history March 15, 2012. The 40th anniversary of the original “Godfather.” We thought it was an unspeakable crime that we could find students who had not seen the pinnacle of American filmaking. So we put together movies spanning the genres that either are, or should be, classics. Enjoy! MIKEALAAXTON DAMONHEINE ANNAMARIECUNNINGHAM
MIATORRES
TAYLORHURLES
1) “Night of the Living Dead”
Black and white. Old. No special effects and a lack of gore. Also? Totally awesome. With an edge of social commentary and a chilling realism, “Night” is a must for classic movie fans period, and something of a holy grail for horror movie mavens, rightfully so. 2) “Ginger Snaps” 3) “Teeth” 4) “The Descent” 5) “Cabin Fever”
1) “We Bought A Zoo” 1) “The Godfather” (Parts 1 & 2)
The first two parts of “The Godfather” are notable because they not only have some of the best acting, but they also show the complexity of an immigrant family trying to make it in an American society. 2) “Angels with Dirty Faces” 3) “A Bronx Tale” 4) “Casino” 5) “Scarface” (Original 1932 version)
Art by Mikeala Axton
When Ben (Matt Damon) and his two children move into their new home, they find out that it is just not a home, but a zoo in need of renovation. The family and the zoo staff soon learn that you have to work as a team to gain success, and you should always keep an open mind about everything. 2) “The Lion King” 3) “The Goonies” 4) “Up” 5) “Despicable Me”
1) “Raiders of the Lost Ark” 1) “The Royal Tenenbaums” 1) “Casablanca”
Humphrey Bogart, who plays Rick Blaine, makes you want to watch his to-die-for facial expressions and handsome face. The passion and action packed twists and turns of the plot will have you saying “Here’s to looking at you kid” by the end of the movie. 2) “On the Waterfront” 3) “Ed Wood” 4) “City Lights” (Silent film) 5) “Lost Boundaries”
Dysfunctional family? Check. Former child prodigies? Check. Messenger hawk? Check. The Royal Tenenbaums, directed by Wes Anderson and filled with actors like the Wilson brothers, Ben Stiller, and Gwyneth Paltrow, is the story of a family whose lackluster lives are turned upside down when their estranged father makes a surprise appearance in their lives. 2) “SLC Punk” 3) “Ghost World” 4) “Donnie Darko” 5) “Garden State”
It’s No. 1 not because it’s a quintessential 80’s film, but because it embodies the blockbuster qualities that made the 80’s what they were in terms of film history. It also harkens back to the 40’s serial genre which gives the film a nostalgic feel. The climax, the opening of the ark, is still one of the best ever, not just for the “Indiana Jones” series, but for movies in general. It’s complete with cool special effects and the equally iconic face melting make-ups. 2) “Raging Bull” 3) “Blade Runner” 4) “Amadeus” 5) “A Nightmare on Elm Street”
‘Hunger Games’ satisfies audiences EMILYCORNELISON
Full of violence and twists, this film can appeal to a variety of audiences. From the soundtrack to the actors’ impassioned performances, this is one movie that is packed full of emotion. Throw in a strong female lead and the experience is complete. Expect to shed a tear or two as you follow Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) from her home in District 12 to the capital of Panem, where she must battle against 23 other teens, two from each of the 12 districts. For some characters the games are an overwhelming experience, except for a select few, known as careers, who train their whole lives to bring honor to their districts. The film shows a dystopian future in a broken former America, Panem. The games are the government’s way of controlling the masses who had once revolted. They must keep the people in check by containing whatever hope of revolution is still left, to little more than a spark. The games are a way of making sure that the disloyalty is never forgotten. If you’re not a fan of watching children kill each other then you may think that this film is not for you. But while the film centers around the violent competition it also conveys much larger themes. The magnetic quality of the film may be attributed to its portrayal of the frustrations of this decade. The desolate economy depicted in the film,
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The magnetic quality of the film may be attributed to its portrayal of the frustrations of this decade.”
with conditions reminiscent of the Great Depression, is one that audiences can relate to.The people of District 12 live in rundown houses with dust everywhere casting a gloom over the people’s existence. Food is scarce and Katniss and her friend Gale both struggle to feed their families. They barely make ends meet by hunting illegally outside the boundaries of their district and selling the meat on the black market. Their situation contrasts with the bright wealth of the Capitol. One can see the parallels to today’s current economic state with the 99 percent living in the 12 districts and the 1 percent in the capitol. And all the while the music in the background reflects the disparity of the economic situations with more rustic themes for the districts and grand marches for the Capitol.
The score’s folksy quality through all the fighting is a soothing lullaby that helps to amplify the emotions of the film. It makes the point that the competitors are just kids, scared and trying to survive; they just happened to be thrown into the middle of a bloodbath. While it may be hard to watch this aspect of the games, the message that the movie conveys is against violence as characters demonstrate humanity even amongst the killing. What makes this particularly apparent is the acting. Though the film features well known actors such as Woody Harrelson (“Zombieland”) and Elizabeth Banks (“30 Rock”), it is the younger cast members that really make an impression. Liam Hemsworth, who plays Gale, is especially expressive. Despite having little screen time, he conveys powerful emotions through his eyes and facial expressions in a very effective manner. Alexander Ludwig also gives a great performance causing the audience to feel empathetic for his villainous character, a career named Cato. In this way the characters all seem realistic, more three-dimensional. The acting and score help tie everything together and make this movie about more than just a violent competition. “The Hunger Games” is a film worth seeing.
Good: Supporting cast was strong and in some cases outpeformed main actors. Bad: For those who haven’t read the book, the plot may seem confusing and jumpy. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Sports the Stagg Line
04.09.12
So Her is the only freshman on the varsity squad and he has rightfully earned his place. He goes about the game with a serious outlook. With hard work and determination he has definitely made a name for himself.
the
ROOKIE BONUS VIDEO
best and win. Once the match starts all I’m focused on is my opponent and the birdie.”
The always successful badminton team is made up of players with unique characteristics. All of them contribute to making the team victorious. Here are just a few players who are ...
the
SECRET WEAPON
“My goal is to do my
staggonline.net
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– So Her
Quiet in the classroom, sophomore Diane Doan’s shy appearance often fools her competitors. Doan is not one to be underestimated. She is motivated to outwork and out-hustle everybody she faces.
“I’m more tranquil until I am aggravat-
ed by somebody slacking. I always put in more effort than everybody else.”
– Diane Doan
the
Dedicated to keeping the winning badminton tradition going, junior Bao Hoang (far left) refuses to lose. With the mindset that losing will let the team down, failure is not an option. Hoang gives her best effort in every match, which is why she succeeds.
STUDS
“During a match it is just me and my opponent. I must win, no matter what”
– Bao Hoang
putting the
BAD
Blazing up the court, senior Kao Vang describes his play as fire. Driven to win every match for the team, he goes into every match as if it were life and death.
“It’s just a competition to me. What really gets me
in badminton
pumped up, is a challenge.”
– Kao Vang
graphic by
Brian Walker and Others
Having big cleats to fill
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Girls soccer works to be successful with a young team SHELBYHIGHTOWER
photo by
Nicole Lawrence
Jazmin Carillo, junior, steals the ball from a Chavez player during a pre-season game. Stagg went on to lose 4-2.
Many freshmen and sophomore soccer players dream of playing on the varsity team. They dream of possibly being among the experienced juniors and seniors. But this year, those hopes of being among those more experienced soccer players, may seem like nothing more but a pipe dream. Because last year’s varsity team consisted of seniors and not as many juniors, the team had to bring in freshmen and junior varsity players to play on the team. “There’s not as much of a consistency,” says junior Jazmin Carrillo. “There’s always one or two players that don’t show up to practice.” For a slightly more experienced player, it can be frustrating to have to wait for the younger players to get a grasp of the plays and rules. And it can be hard at times for
those who are ready to play, when team captain, Vanessa Garcia, has to pull some team members aside to work with them individually. Garcia is especially familiar with the challenges of working with the newer players. “It’s difficult at times,” Garcia said. “The JV players just don’t understand the game yet.” To make matters worse, Garcia has had to sit out on the majority of the season due to an ankle injury. And it’s been hard for her to work with her players when she’s been sitting out on the bench. Garcia just got back on the field and played her first game three weeks ago. “It’s hard not to be as involved in the practices,” she said. “I show better leadership on the field.” Despite the challenges of working with younger players, Garcia still says they all work well together as a team. They all do the best they can
with what they have, and Garcia works with every freshman and sophomore that needs the help and advisement. One sophomore that she works with to improve her performances on the soccer field is Stephanie Silva. Silva had to be bumped up from the JV team this year to fill up one of the spaces left by one of the seniors from last year. “It’s more intimidating,” Silva said. “There’s more pressure to do well on the varsity team.” Silva says on the JV team, the games were slower than those on varsity. There’s more work involved in and out of practice to live up to the expectations. Even though there are struggles in working with the younger teammates, the varsity team is still sticking together, working through the problems they have. Coach Chris Viri sees his players’ efforts paying off. “It’s taken them a while to ad-
There’s more pressure to do well on the varsity team.” STEPHANIE SILVA sophomore
just,” he said. “But they’re playing much better now.” Viri said this year has been a struggle, but they’ve been working hard and want to build upon their success. This year they want to improve the league record and host a playoff game instead of travel to one. Although they have not been winning as many games as they would like, the players are staying positive and working towards their goal.
Swimming misfits form unique team MIKEALAAXTON
Like any sport, swimming has a whole handbook of rules. But the golden rule of Stagg swimming won’t be found in any manual: “Don’t embarrass the coach.” A violation of this rule can come in many forms, like wearing a nose plug, bringing pajamas to a meet, or heaven forbid, using a Pokemon towel. But among all of the possible infringements, being a slow swimmer isn’t one of them. “The stuff we have to work on is stuff you (usually) learn when you’re 6 or 7,” said coach Marcus Sherman. But the students on the team don’t have that training, he added. “If we did it by experience, we’d have two people on the team.” Although the team is largely made up of people new to the sport, there is a small group of swimmers who have been on the team before. One veteran is senior Samantha Wang, who has been on the team since her sophomore year.
Wang is busy year-round with sports, playing also for the basketball and volleyball teams, as well as an off-season swim team. Her experience with other teams, however, has been different from the focus swimming puts on individual improvement. “You can’t always rely on your team,” Wang said. “You have to really rely on yourself sometimes.” Senior Angelo Robles, a newcomer to the team, agrees. “You have to perfect yourself because your teammates can’t pick up your dead weight.” The team is larger than recent years, but unlike other coaches who look to cut players, Sherman opted not to regardless of skill levels. “It’s not a fault, it’s just a reality,” Sherman said. “The experience level has gone down, and that just adds to the challenge.” The result is a team with a mix of members from Stagg, Stockton Early College Academy, Pacific Law Academy and Weber Institute. He also kept some of the less experienced swimmers for the sheer amount of determination they showed. In the end, Sherman emphasized, the value
of swimming was each player’s progress. “Individually they always improve,” he said. “Always.” Among those most improved thus far is PLA junior Erin Clark. Her determination with swimming has improved not only her time, but also her health. But she jokes that she just wants “to not die.” One of the challenges for newcomers is the unique skill set swimming demands. Camille Zapata, a junior from Weber, noted the inherent lack of air as a radical difference from other sports. “It’s not like any other sport because with any other sport you can actually breathe,” she said. She also added that you have to learn to coordinate “every part of your body” to really do well. But perhaps the most radical difference with swimming is the disturbing amount of bodily fluids. “We pee in the pool!” said a senior who, upon reflection, asked not to be named. When interviewed, she said she had already urinated once and would probably do so “three more times,” a fact she announced proudly.
photo by
Harmony Evangelisti
Dewitt Bullock, senior, works on his freestyle during a practice swim meet.
BRING on the SPRING
With good weather on the horizon, spring sports are in full swing.
photo by
Annamarie Rodriguez
photo by
Annamarie Rodriguez
photo by Jessica
Mangili
News the Stagg Line
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EXCELLENCE ADRIANNAOWENS
Science teacher Marcus Sherman paces around his classroom while observing different pairs of students who are testing each other’s gag reflex. Many of them are reluctant to have their partner hit the
“punching bag” in their mouths with a stirring rod. Sherman goes around laughing and joking with certain students telling them that they are “broken” because their patellar reflex doesn’t work as it should. The students become defensive at first but then catch on to his jokes and laugh along.
04.09.12
Marcus Sherman earns award for motivating students inside and outside of the classroom
“He’s an amazing teacher,” sophomore Antonio Ledezma said. “He helps me understand stuff that I thought I never would, while making me laugh at the same time.” Sherman was awarded last month with the Cortopassi Family Foundation Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Awards award, which recognizes two “outstanding” science and math teachers in the county. “I was surprised when I was nominated, and even more so when I was contacted as a finalist,” Sherman said. The award includes $5,000 for AARON VEGA the department the senior teachers work and another $5,000 for the teacher. “I’m going to do some home repairs, pay some bills, and plan for a trip,” he said. Principal Bill Parks nominated Sherman and math teacher Andrew Walter for the award. While both teachers were finalists, Sherman was awarded with the title. The teachers are widely known throughout school in the minds of students. Senior Aaron Vega said that Sherman isn’t like most teachers. He said that a lot of teachers don’t take any interest in their students, or what’s going on in their lives. “As opposed to most teachers, Sherman actually cares,” he said. Vega also said that Sherman has a great teaching method that can really pull in the student and “keep them interested.” John Steiner, chemistry teacher and head of the science department said that he is happy that Sherman won. “He’s a real advocate for the honors program and he was a driving force in starting the Homework
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He has a good teaching method and can keep students interested.”
Mia Torres Marcus Sherman tests sophomore Antonio Ledezma’s gag reflex during a lab. Students also tested other reflexes such as the knee and the achilles. photo by
Center,” Steiner said. Former student Claire Scheffer wrote Sherman a letter of recommendation to help him win the award. “I think it’s nice for anyone to be recognized for the work they’ve done,” Sherman said. Despite being recognized, he still searches for ways in which he can improve his students’ learning environment, and his own teaching. “I always hope that I can be better,” he said. “If I don’t improve, how can you guys?” Walking around his classroom and making funny side comments about people’s reflexes, one can tell that he is comfortable interacting with his students and developing a different type of student-teacher relationship. He and his students can joke around with one another and have conversations that not only involve learning but their personal life. Sophomore Monique Maynard said, “He really knows how to make his students feel comfortable around him.”
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Pacific mentors stress college to students KENTALEYMCCURDY
After a 10 minute walk, they arrived. Past a levee that smells of sewage and the busy streets full of noise, students made a drastic transition to a peaceful campus full of opportunity. For many students the University of the Pacific is a school that hasn’t really piqued their interest because it’s located in Stockton. This realization by Pacific enabled them to make many efforts to try and interest students from the Stockton community. One effort is the Pacific Outreach for Youth Services and Education, Mentorship Day. Pacific reached out to Stagg to participate in its first mentorship day held March 7. Biology teacher Elizabeth Lewis made sure that students would participate in this event. “We wanted our students to see the college around them and the opportunities that exist. We also wanted them to experience the college environment and the benefits of mentors.” Freshmen, sophomores, and many others were able to go and experience what Pacific is really like through their mentor, a current Pacific student. After registration, students found their mentors and welcomed their guest speakers. Van Duong, cofounder of POYSE and mentorship coordinator, talked about why they started this program. “We saw a big gap between the Stockton community and the people from UOP.” Katerina Venderova, an assistant professor at Pacific, briefly spoke about the importance of an edu-
cation. “Education gives you power, and it opens the door for the rest of the world.” Likewise, Dean Phillip R. Oppenheimer, believes that education is a tool that allows students to build a foundation for their life. “There is no reason why a qualified student can’t come to Pacific. No matter what your financial situation is, we have programs for that,”he said. The mentor/mentee conversations soon followed with questions. Sophomore Alejandro Cruz said, “It was very inspirational and informational, learning how college is from people who go to college.” After getting to know their mentors, the students then broke off into three separate workshops. In the How to Succeed in College workshop, Kin Lam and Adaeze Oken talked about how to become a good student and prosper in a busy environment. Kin Lam gave advice and warnings he said, “The easiest thing to do in college: get behind.” Students realized how challenging college is. Freshman Veronica Vargo said, “It made you realize how difficult college is compared to high school.” The mentors shaped their ideas on what to expect from college and the benefits of going. Overall, the students walked away with a different understanding of higher education. “I like the fact that the mentors were really nicethey helped us understand more on how to do good in college,” said freshman Monica Kunz. “They helped us understand what college is really about.”
What’s in your food
In 2007, the Department of Health and Human Services worked with the Ad Council and the National Football League to launch a campaign called “Get up and play an hour a day.” Even First Lady Michelle Obama launched her own campaign called “Let’s move!” in 2010. These and other movements were created to encourage physical activity and better nutrition. The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common in U.S. kids and teens, especially in those who are overweight. So, when it comes to exercise and nutrition, are teens making the right decisions?
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Breakdown Senior Saudia Smith is well aware of the consequences of unhealthy eating. But when it comes to her own nutritional habits, she calls herself rather inattentive. Simply grabbing a Double Double cheeseburger and a Sprite from In-N-Out was more of a health issue than she thought. Combining the burger and soda, she consumed 913 calories, 41 grams of fat, 1,495 millegrams of sodium, “Though it’s not okay to eat unhealthy and 75 grams of sugar. That’s over half of fast food all the time, I think sometimes her daily recommended intake. it’s good to treat yourself.” — Smith
S n a c k
Breakdown
“Parents say it all the time: Healthy foods taste nasty, but they’re good for you.” — Ivy photo by Kentaley McCurdy Sophomore Andrea Carreno was among the many students who met with a mentor during the workshop. Anup Patel, a Pacific student, helps with understanding the importance of college.
Freshman Jonn Ivy jokingly scolds his friends for their unhealthy eating but is often seen with a bag of spicy chips. On this occasion, he had a 2 oz. bag of Flamin’ Hot Munchies. This contained 290 calories, 12 grams of fat, 419 milligrams of sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. Though it doesn’t seem like much, it’s recommended that a typical meal have between 650 and 700 calories. This small snack being already over half of that, could turn into a bigger health problem than Ivy thought. graphic by
Faith Harris and Adrianna Owens