Volume LVII, Issue VI
15325 East Los Robles Avenue, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745
April 13, 2018
Every Fifteen Minutes Program Stages Deadly Car Crash, Stunning Students By Brianna Arellano, Kessia Cisneros, Nicolás Hernández With rain pouring, blood splattered, and students seemingly dead, Los Robles Avenue was a scene of tragedy and horror. The program, Every Fifteen Minutes, staged a deadly car crash in front of the campus to alert students about the dangers of drunk driving. Every two years, AVID advisor Barbara Crowther and other selected teachers put together a simulation car crash with selected students to raise awareness for teenage drunk driving. This program involved the city fire station, county court and deputies, the local mortuary, paramedics, and the Pacific Palms Hotel. Before classes started on March 22, the people involved in the staged crash were already preparing. The Little Theatre was filled with students being given makeup to simulate bloody gashes, teachers, administrators, and police officers organizing the display, and a very tall man donning a Grim Reaper costume. Needless to say, those involved were incredibly busy that morning. Once second period began and students were in their classrooms, the grim reaper and a police officer were going to different
classrooms, knocking with incredible force on doors, and once inside, the Grim Reaper dismissed the pre selected students who had “died” from drunk driving. This process was repeated throughout several classes with many students confused as to what was happening, and the Reaper’s entrance even prompted one student to scream and run to the corner. The man behind the scythe, Anthony Martin, revealed his duties as the Grim Reaper, “We’ve been doing this program for about ten years now, as the Grim Reaper, going around to various schools throughout the district, LA County, and doing what I do, pulling kids out of their class, the dead kids, or the presumed to be dead kids and reading their obituaries to their class.” Martin continued, “It’s a very very fun event, as well as a very serious event, so we’re hoping that we make a lasting impression not only on the students involved, but also on the students that are watching the event unfold, or take place, in front of them.” Once all the “presumed to be dead” students were reaped from their classes, they were sent to the Little Theatre where makeup was put on them to give the appearance of ghosts, and they
stood in a line on Los Robles Avenue where they would appear behind the collision. Once they were in place, emergency services closed off traffic from Turnbull Canyon Road and Deerhaven Drive from entering Los Robles Avenue while they set up the crash site.
Two cars were organized with students who would be in the crash. These included: senior Jason Soohoo, senior Josie Osborn, senior Julio Guzman, junior Moana Fa’ola, senior Amber Fausto, senior Sophia Gomez, junior Rick Rodriguez, and senior Keith Anderson. Soohoo, who was the driver of the car that was crashed into by the drunk driver commented on his involvement and preparation, “It’s been crazy, it’s taken a lot of time and effort and it’s been an emotional roll-
ercoaster, but overall it has been a good experience. We’ve been preparing since December,” When asked about why he thinks it is important for the school to organize this program, Soohoo responded, “It’s important because drunk driving and driving under the influence in general is a major problem in the United States and it happens a lot with young high schoolers and college students, so it’s good to raise awareness about this issue.” Junior and senior students were then released to the front of the school so that they could witness the realistically gruesome display. Many were in awe from the realism granted by the scene due to detailed makeup, the graphic collision, law enforcement involvement, and incredible dedication and acting from the participating students. At the end of the display, the students involved were taken off school campus and headed to the Mortuary, where they learned about the cost and preparation for planning a funeral. Through the trip of the Mortuary, the students dealt with feeling the devastating effects of losing a loved one to drunk driving.
Continued on page 3
First responders inspect damages and casualties of the staged collision on Los Robles Avenue, with Grim Reaper and other “dead” students in the background.
Photo by Brianna Arellano
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Mission Statement The 2017-2018 Journalism team strives to provide the school and the community with reliable and factual information that encourages thoughtful conversations and discourse. On this diverse campus, we hope to report and respect the various viewpoints of all members of our community. We believe this to be an imperative role, as the students of Los Altos are going to be future leaders and deserve to be informed. We hold this duty with the utmost respect and responsibility and view ourselves as representatives of our campus.
Staff Editor-in-Chief: Nicolás Hernández 2018-2019 Editors-in-Chief: Brianna Arellano and Kessia Cisneros Managing Editor: Karla Galaviz Magazine Editor: Caley Asbee Online Editor: Damien Alvarado Adviser: Adriana Guzmán Student Journalists: Alexis Cardenas, Britney Cundiff, Bianca Flores, Jasmine Fuentes, Aaron Kim, Andrew Kodous, Douglas Lin, Briana Muñoz, Kaitlyn Orozco, Aaron Pimentel, Danielle Porras, Albert Sarkissian
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Crowing Rooster Perches Aloft B-Wing By Aaron Pimentel The past couple months as students past through the B-Wing, there has been a change that can be seen and especially heard. It is becoming part of the norm for students and staff of Los Altos to be greeted every morning by the notorious B-wing rooster. Some students even go as far as feeding and recording the rooster every time they pass by. There is much confusion as to what brought the rooster here in the first place, but it is clear that the constant nutrition and attention from Los Altos students have caused him to stay put. It turns out that the rooster has a name, given to him by security guard Arturo Meza. “I named the rooster after the famous chicken from the movie The Hangover. Carlos the chicken. I thought it was funny
so that’s his name,” Meza explained Not all reactions to Carlos are positive however. While the grand majority of students are fans of Carlos’ presence, some teachers do not feel the same way. However, English teachers Laurie Fuller and Todd Hedell have been taking care
of the rooster. Fuller provides food and water to the rooster each morning and Heddell also provides food. As students came back from spring break, a lot of them could not believe that the chicken was still there and believe that Carlos will be a long term addition to the Los Altos campus. Se-
Carlos the Rooster standing outside the gates near the B-wing.
nior Justin Gonzalez stated, “I heard the rooster goes back and forth from his house and was surprised that the rooster was still here. It will probably stay during summer school too. It has like a spell casted on him that makes him stay.”
Photo by Aaron Pimentel
Assistant Proffessor Bracho Presents Nonviolence Lecture By Briana Muñoz Christian Bracho is an assistant professor in the College of Education at the University of La Verne. From March 15 to the 18, he came and taught teacher Esteban Hernandez’s English class about nonviolence. His main goal was to teach middle school and high school teachers about certain topics that students should be more educated on. Assistant Professor Bracho stated, “I wanted the chance to work with some high school students again, and I knew Mr. Hernandez had discussed some elements of nonviolence when he was teaching Thoreau to his juniors.”
Bracho used both Gandhi, and Martin Luther King as examples of using nonviolence for a purpose. He explained, “Both leaders argued that nonviolence is a powerful force that relies on your own truth or love rather than on physical violence to fight against oppression or evil. Both Gandhi and King believed that nonviolence is not for cowards and actually requires a great amount of courage, since our society trains us to automatically respond to violence with more violence.” Hernandez and Bracho both took part in the nonviolence education institutes at California Polytechnic-Pomona. Bracho went to Hernandez’s English classes
and worked with students to deepen the analysis of nonviolence as a concept. This was a timely presentation because from January 30 to April 4 it is the International "Season for Nonviolence," 64 days acknowledging the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr (January 30, 1968) and Mohandas Gandhi (April 4, 1948). Both leaders led incredibly successful nonviolent campaigns for social justice and freedom. Junior Alexis Padilla remarked, “The times Mr. Bracho came to talk to my class was very eye opening because he really talked about what nonviolence is and how violence can be prevented.”
Mr. Bracho wanted to use the occasion of the Season for Nonviolence as a chance for students to learn about their beliefs and true life values. He really opened eyes to most of Mr. Hernandez students to use nonviolence properly when it needs to be used. Junior Adrian De La O added, “When I went to class and saw the topic we were going to talk about it really opened my eyes to see that nonviolence plays a huge role in today’s society.” Mr. Bracho definitely succeeded in his goal of teaching students the benefits of nonviolence, and to stay away from violent situations that may arise.
April 2018
NEWS
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Staged Car Crash & Emotional Assembly Combats Student Drunk Driving Continued from Front After leaving the Mortuary, the students all went to dine at Golden Corral before heading to stay overnight at Pacific Palms. When the fallout of the car accident occurred, every student was asked to give away their phone in order to live the experience of being dead and no longer communicating with friends or family. Crowther explained the activities that the students did while staying at Pacific Palms Hotel, “We held a retreat where they did some team-building exercises, while they had a guest speaker that talked about having her own brother being killed by a drunk driver.” Crowther continued, “She talked about how that affected her family and how they had to figure out a way
to forgive because revenge would harm you just as much and so her family needed to figure out how to come to terms with it.” After the guest speaker, each student was given a letter written by the students’ parents. Junior Rigo Valadez talks about his experience when given the letter, “Ms. Crowther gave us our letter from our parents that we didn’t know at the time, so it was a surprise to us. We read our letters and the people there gave us tissues because basically we all had started to cry when reading a letter written by one of our loved ones.” Once the event had ended, the students went up to their rooms and waited for the big assembly that would occur the very next day. The next day, junior and senior students were sent to an assembly to display
a video detailing the story leading up to the crash and to further reinforce the dangers of drunk driving. The whole assembly had an atmosphere of a funeral, with a large casket in full view of the students. Senior Ashley McCloud expressed, “During the assembly, students were invited to watch the video that we had filmed. Crowther also had some of us share our experiences, I sang Amazing Grace, and there were also guest speakers. The entire assembly moved everyone.” As the assembly continued on, students became aware of the dangers of driving under the influence, with the consequence of costing a life. Dance teacher Kelsey Brennan, who assisted Crowther with the preparation of the simulation explained, “There were also a
lot of behind the scenes that the entire school did not get to see. The video only showed very short clips, though it took many hours and lots of focus to perfect each scene.” Without a doubt, the most impactful part of the assembly was MMA fighter Marcus Kowal sharing the tragic story of his young son dying as a result of a drunk driving incident. Kowal’s story brought many to tears and demonstrated the reality of how much of an epidemic drunk driving truly is. With prom approaching, it should be a time of fun and levity for students. The Every Fifteen Minutes program, with its horrific display and heart wrenching assembly, instills a realistic perspective into student minds, preventing this time of celebration from becoming one of tragedy.
Photo by Nicolás Hernández
Photo by Kessia Cisneros
Photo by Nicolás Hernández
Senior Sophia Gomez lays on the hood of a car, already in position before students are realeased. Photo by Nicolás Hernández
Photo by Brianna Arellano
Journalism Unedited Exhibits Los Altos’ Students Creativity By Karla Galaviz
Tommorow’s Effect performing energetic songs at the event.
Photo by Andrew Kodous
Students bobbed their heads to the music while others admired the uniqueness of a few artists at school. To begin the month of March, the Journalism staff hosted its annual event, “Journalism Unedited.” Journalism Unedited was meant to showcase the different art forms found within the school. Thus, including musicians, singers, poets, actors and artists. Usually the event is set to take place within the Quad, however, due to the unscheduled showers, the event instead occurred in the Hacienda. Seats were set along the Hacienda where students were welcomed to come in and enjoy the performances and showcases Los Altos’ students put together for the event.
For those who attended, they were treated with music from choir students such as Aaron Kim and Amara Overmyer, who performed and gave a lovely duet. Other poets such as Isabel Ivy and Tanner Robinson gave enlightening poems. The night concluded with the local band “Tomorrow’s Effect” who were more than happy to play all afternoon. Junior, Sariah Mitchell exclaims, “My favorite part of the event was the performances. I really liked [the] Jazz Band.” During the event, people also had the treat of enjoying a short scene performed by two students from the drama team, Sariah Mitchell and Britney Cundiff. Though the crowd was loud, those who did see it explained that it was quite a breathtaking scene. Besides having a variety
of performances, the event also had tables for local artists to sell their work and an area to get their face painted. This year, Analise Pacheco returned with her well-known stickers and Caley Asbee led the facepainting station. Senior, Ulani Wells says, “My favorite part was the food trucks and the aesthetic of the lighting along with the really accepting atmosphere.” Wells exclaimed the event was a ten out of ten, “I liked the performances and the face-painting was really cool.” Furthermore, a raffle was held the day of the event, in which six gifts were raffled out into the audience, gifts which included coloring pencils, a set of pens, a tea basket, a coffee basket, and an apple pie from “Polly's Pies Restaurant & Bakery.”
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April 2018
NEWS
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Competitive Class Elections Revealed Future Class Presidents By Alexis Cardenas
Senior Blake Rozsa being crowned Mr. Conqueror 2018.
Photo by Nicolás Hernández
Mr. Conqueror Competition Entertains & Excites Students By Caley Asbee Mr. Conqueror is an ongoing tradition at Los Altos that is hosted by Los Altos High School Renaissance. One freshman, one junior, and five seniors competed fiercely in a variety of challenges to be crowned 2018’s Mr. Conqueror. The boys started practice a month before the competition. They practiced every Monday and Tuesday for about two hours in preparation. This practice consisted of choreography and talent competitions. Senior contestant Damian Hernandez says, “Practice was fun. The guys always made practice interesting and it was a blast getting to know every one of them.” The eight contestants were, freshman Noah Gonzalez, junior David Zaragoza, and seniors Damian Hernandez, Blake Rozsa, Raymond Gonzalez, Jacob Vasquez, Jordan Gonzales, and Ruben Franco. After guests filled the seats of the gym, the night was kicked off with a group dance. Hernandez commented, “My favorite part of the competition is the group dance because we all grew close to each other
and when it came down to the event we knew we could trust one another which I think is special.” After the lively dance came the time for the boys to come out in formal wear with an escort of their choice where they were formally introduced. This was followed by a swimwear competition where the participants dressed creatively as if they were going to the beach. The bulk of the competition consisted of each contestant’s talent demonstration. Freshman Noah Gonzales decided to do an entertaining and crowd pleasing cheer routine. Gonzales says, “I think the best part was getting to show off my talent because not a lot of people know what I do is actually really hard and takes a lot of effort.” Other talents on display consisted of singing and rapping from contestants, a captivating dance performance, and even a pizza speed eating. After an exhibition of these talents, three of the boys had to be eliminated so the top five could compete in a money run. The judges made the decision
to remove two students and the top five remaining consisted of Noah Gonzales, David Zaragoza, Blake Rozsa, Ruben Franco, and Jacob Vasquez. These five students then zigged and zagged through the crowd, collecting money from the audience that would be going towards Los Altos High School Alumni, Mireya Rojo, to help cover medical costs after a successful fight against cancer. In the span of a few short minutes, the contestants were able to raise over $400 for Rojo, something everyone could classify as a victory. The top three were then whittled down to Gonzales, Rozsa, and Franco who were the most successful in collecting money. After careful deliberation from the judges, who considered all the competitions throughout the night as well as the contestants’ answers to questions being asked throughout the competition, they decided to name Blake Rozsa the winner of the competition. Rozsa finalized on the competition and his victory, “The best part of it was the support from my family and my friends.”
This year’s elections for class president took place the week before Spring Break and showcased a strong competitive spirit between all the candidates. In the end however, only one student from each class would have the honor of being their class president for the 20182019 school year. The ballots displayed Nadine Alcantara running for Sophomore Class President, Chris Kissling and Madison Flores running for Junior Class President and Jasmine Pahimna and Lisa Vela running for Senior Class President. A meeting took place on Friday March 9, discussing all information about the elections and rules about it. One rule that was very important for the candidates to know is that they could not have begun campaigning on campus until March 19. While running for senior class president, Pahimna was excited and also nervous about Campaign Week but continued to work very hard keeping a very positive attitude. Pahimna stated, “I am actually really nervous because I have never ran for anything before. At the same time I’m really excited because anytime I get to express myself or be creative, I always go all out and give it
my all.” Vela is feeling great about the campaign and is happy to either win or lose. Vela explains, “I want the opportunity to give each and every student in my class the ability to feel that they are a part of this conqueror family. Communication is key in doing so. I want my class to feel that no matter how high school might have went, with its ups and downs, in the end it was all worth it” Vela has a very positive mindset about the overall campaign and is just excited to be involved. Vela expresses, “No matter how this campaign turns out, at the end of the day, being class president, isn’t just a title, it’s about giving your class insight on what’s happening at our school, bringing positive energy to every event, and uniting us to feel like the family we are.” While running for junior class president at the time, Kissling felt very excited about his campaign work and hopedit would all pay off. Kissling expresses, “I feel like I’d be great at this position because not only do I have many connections amongst my whole class but I also am a very open person and am willing to take all ideas, thoughts, and feedback into consideration throughout our junior year.” Flores seemed to be nervous
but was not uncomfortable with the environment. Flores ran for class president the past two years as well and is not going to stop until she succeeds. Sophomore Amara Overmeyer states, “I believe that Chris Kissling will win the junior class president election, but I applaud Maddy Flores for trying year after year to get what she wants. I think it is really brave of her to step up even after maybe not succeeding the first couple times, I think it is really cool.” Alcantara is the only freshman that is running for the sophomore class president and therfore won her election. She seems to be very confident and ready to take on this role as class president. Alcantara is also in the Freshman Leadership group and is learning different things about how to become a great leader as well. Freshman Reagan Hagerty states, “I have high hopes for her taking this position and am excited to see how she handles our class next year.” The elections resulted in Nadine Alcantara winning sophomore class president, Chris Kissling winning junior class president, and Jasmine Pahimna winning senior class president.
Student casting vote for upcoming class president in ballot box.
Photo by Danielle Porras
Conquerors Visit Newton Knights, Spread High School Knowledge By Bianca Flores Class sizes here on campus are reducing at a dramatic rate. Many Orange Grove and Newton students are deciding to go to other high schools, even though location wise, they are supposed to go to Los Altos. To introduce more eighth graders to the idea of attending LA, a group of students visited the Newton campus to share in-
formation on their personal experiences on campus. Late last month, a panel of current Los Altos students arrived at Newton Middle School to meet next year’s incoming freshmen. The topic that was mainly discussed was the differences between being a middle school student and a high school student, and the different set of expectations that come along with each.
Senior Carlos Zelaya commented, “We also talked about how we felt the same way when we were in their position.” The point of the visit was to prepare them for what was to come. Senior Damian Hernandez also spoke at the visit, and he stated, “The experience was very powerful for me because I got the opportunity to speak about topics that were not brought up
to me when I entered high school.” He talked to the eighth graders about how to find their passion and how to develop a good work ethic, whether it will be for academics, sports, or other extracurricular activities. By letting successful Los Altos students speak to the incoming class of 2022, they would be feel more welcomed and comfortable going to Los Altos. “They
needed to hear what it is like through the four years of high school and how to survive everything that is thrown at you,” Zelaya states. According to Hernandez, the students listened attentively and seemed to take in all the advice and information that was being given to them. They were also allowed to ask question to the panel and get true, genuine
responses back. Hernandez added, “I think it’s important for visits like this to happen more often because it gives younger students a perspective of someone who has been where they are. We connect to them and try to offer any advice for questions they may have, and I think that makes all the difference when they enter high school.”
April 2018
A&E
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Second Rise Up Poetry Night Leaves Audience Amazed By Karla Galaviz Those in attendance of Rise Up Poetry Night were left feeling inspired when they witnessed the powerful poems told by Los Altos students and even some teachers. Poetry Night was once again hosted by English teacher, Eric Contreras, who put much time and effort into preparing for the event by getting together a group of dedicated poets. The event allowed students to express their inner thoughts and creativity through words. Poems of all sorts of topics were recited, ranging from poems raising awareness of mental health issues, to poems about individuality, to awareness of culture, and acceptance of oneself. Senior and poet, Alizé Espinoza said, “I love how we were provided an environment to be vulnerable and we were followed with support.” Espinoza continued expressing her appreciation for Poetry Night, “As kids in
high school, we're obligated to feel that emotions are weak and we must show our strength through not caring. So an event like Poetry Night is so important to show kids that it's okay to have emotions, it's okay to have an opinion, it's such a beautiful thing.” Another of the many poets of the night was junior, Alexis Jacobo. Jacobo recited a beautiful poem, which she was nervous about presenting. In regard to her performance Jacobo said, “I was a little nervous, but I am glad I recited my poem because to me it’s something that I know all teenagers in high school go through.” In regard to her experience as a whole Espinoza says, “[Poetry Night] just expands your horizons and allows you to give the performer so much respect. As a performer it's definitely fearful because you don't know whether or not the audience will like your poem or not but in the end it just gives you so much more
Senior Gabriel Gonzales bravely reciting his poem to a large audience during the poetry night. Photo by Nicolas Hernandez confidence and the audience their poems.” Jacobo adds, reflection for many. It gives students to take the time is definitely supportive.” “I loved hearing about the them time to analyze their and participate because of Jacobo commented, “I performers past and how it thoughts and witness the the life changing experience liked that everyone was impacts them now.” creativity of other students. it can have. giving their true emotions in Poetry Night serves as a The poets encourage other
District Drama Festival Brings Actors Together, Performs Recent Work By Britney Cundiff
English teacher Geb Fisher admires the creative student artwork on display at the art show.
Photo by Nicolas Hernandez
not have been possible. Each art piece had its own touch of uniqueness that made it different from the rest. Senior, Intermediate art student, Francisco J. Hernández responded by saying, “I have a really unique art style that isn't come across a lot, it's original because it pops up in my head, and I am not restricted.” In regard to what inspired his pieces, Hernández responded, “What inspires my art is boredom, if I'm bored I’ll find something to draw. If I have nothing, I come up with something and add to it, add color…”
truly beautiful. As artists, each art work means something different to each person. In response to what makes them proud of their art work. Francisco J. Hernández responded, “What makes me proud of my art is when it's something that I really tried on. Though I might have not gotten full points on the piece but I really liked the outcome that makes me proud. If it's realistic, I really like it.” Mejia continued, “What makes me proud is my growth, before I couldn’t make my art look realistic and now I can.”
Art Show Displays Students’ Artistic Talent By Karla Galaviz Students crowded the Hacienda in admiration of the different pieces that decorated the walls. Both students and adults in awe at the creations of the artists on campus. The Art Show was held in the Hacienda to recognize student art throughout the year. The Art Show was held and made possible because of the organization of Bertha. Oseguera and Laura. Foster. Both worked hard, however, had if not been for the brilliant art pieces by the students, the Art Show would
Senior and AP Studio Art student, Victoria Mejia says “The uniqueness of my art comes from the bold colors that pop out.” Though the art show held a variety of art pieces, the art that particularly stood out was those pieces made by the students in AP Studio Art. The students are required to focus on one theme or topic and carry it out throughout their different pieces. Mejia elaborates, “My theme was a creepy circus, freak show... I pictured a girl with a clown, it was harder than anticipated but fun.” Different topics were reflected throughout the various pieces that were
Los Altos, Workman, La Puente, and Wilson drama programs came together at Wilson High School for this year’s Drama District Festival on March 26 to showcase what each school’s drama department has been working on. The coming together of these high schools from around the district resulted in an event filled with laughter and entertainment. Los Altos High School Advanced Drama has been practicing a unique set of scenes for the festival since February. Junior Sariah Mitchell expressed, “My favorite part in preparing for the festival was rehearsing my lines with one of my drama members, Karla Galaviz, and giving constructive criticism to one another so we can do the best performance, to the best of our abilities.” Los Altos, Wilson, and Workman all performed what they have been working on which included many comedic scenes like ones from Saturday Night Live. Junior Gabriela Guevara shared, “What I liked about my performance is that I got to do it with my friends and show other people what I can do; and get notes on
what I could do better in a positive environment.” Mitchell adds, “What I liked about my performance was I in the moment, I wasn’t Sariah anymore, I completely transformed into another character which is the whole point of acting.” The theatre was filled with laughter and cheers throughout the day, especially when everyone came together to play improv games. Mitchell reflected, “What I learned from the festival was not necessarily acting skills, but skills that I would actually need in the “real world.” Students typically think if another students comes from a different school, they are automatically enemies, but in reality everyone can get along, especially when they share the same passion for something.” Overall, the drama programs showed a lot of support for each other as Guevara explains, “Watching other schools perform was fun, seeing how they learn how to act and how they have different techniques in acting; and we showed them how we acted so I think it was great to share that information, how we differ in skill.”
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April 2018
REVIEW
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Solos, Duos, Squads; Fortnite Becomes Game for All
By Damien Alvarado Fortnite is a cooperative survival game developed by “Epic Games” and “People Can Fly.” Although the game features two game modes, “Save the World” and “Battle Royale,” which took the world by storm. Fortnite was released for multiple platforms including, Mac OS, Windows, PlayStation 4,
Xbox One, iOS phones, and coming soon to Android phones. The Battle Royal game mode was released in September 2017, and has boomed the past months. The mode involves a 100 player lobby, which can be played as a solo, duo, or a squad of four; in attempt to be the last team standing. Each player starts off with
a pickaxe after parachuting onto the map to start finding resources. Throughout the game, a storm is formed and a circle on the map dictates the safe zone. If a player is caught in the storm, the player’s health knocks off, which can eventually cause elimina-tion. The game also features airdrops, and chests which allow players
Every Day Brings Intrigue & Innovation to Romantic Comedies
By Kaitlyn Orozco Excitement was in the air, as the latest romantic drama known as Every Day came to theaters with an intriguing concept. This film was based on the New York Time Best Seller, Every Day by David Levithan. The major motion picture brings the novel’s 16 year old character, Rhiannon to life where she meets and eventually fall in love with a mysterious soul, by the name of A, who is constantly changing bodies. A inhibits new bodies every day, despite their gender or race and never stays in the same body twice. Complications occur along the way, as Rhiannon struggles to maintain a relationship with A since A is constant evolving. This enticing storyline caught the
attention of many young viewers. Many were excited to see the movie, and were not disappointed with the final product, after seeing multiple trailers before the movie premiered. “I’ve been waiting to see this movie with my friends and when I finally did, it met and exceeded all my expectations,” stated movie enthusiast, senior Anet Filatoff, “I really enjoyed the humorous, yet romantic aspects that were introduced in the film”. Others enjoyed the intensity and suspense that came with the complications between the characters. “I loved the plot line,” stated senior Camryn Verduzco, “The movie itself was thrilling and always kept you wondering about questions
like, “What’s going to happen next?” or “Who is A going to be today?”. For those skeptical about wanting to watch the movie, many have a number of great reviews and would recommend this movie to their peers. “This movie is unlike any other that I’ve seen before because of how unique the storyline is,” Filatoff stated, “I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone, especially those who enjoys romantic comedies. It’s, overall, a great film and worth the admission to watch.” The intriguing concept alone of the movie is worth watching as it brings a new layer to the romantic comedy genre. The film will be in theaters until sometime in May, for those who want to check it out.
to gain resources, and weapons. The resources are used to help build floors, walls, stairs, and much more. Senior Michael Sierra gave his feedback about the game, “It’s the best.” Many Twitch and YouTube Streamers along with the gaming community are addicted to Fortnite. In fact, students from Los Altos High School are in
love with the game. Junior Aaron Cortez commented on the game play, “It’s cool for all ages, and it’s very creative and free.” Cortez added on, talking about the features the game offers, “The skins and emotes make the game more creative and fun; as well as the building, it makes it more intense.” Junior Lizeth Guerrero commented about the game
being a distraction, yet a great game, “My boyfriend really likes Fortnite and now instead of texting back on a 5-10 minute range, it’s 20-30 unless he hides in a bush to text me back. I like the idea of the game though, it's competitive, and takes a lot of strategy. I encourage him to take a Victory Royale.”
April 2018
OPINION
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Unnecessary Competitiveness Detrimental to Students By Brianna Arellano Since the start of this decade, students of all ages are subjected to a greater amount of pressure with various aspects such as academic competition, mental stability, physical appearance, and social acceptance taking a toll on their lives. It is time that today’s society pays a greater amount of attention to the critical needs of adolescents and young adults all around. Violence, injustice, and bitterness has captured the focal point of the modern day. Academically, the competition to “be the best” is definitely much more meticulous than any time in the past. With four-year universities such as Stanford,
Harvard, The Juilliard School and more with less than a 7% acceptance rate to admission; the unsteadiness and survival for the fittest is top notch. Junior Advanced Placement student Tiffany Hsu remarks, “Even in high school there is such a competitive atmosphere constantly. There is ongoing wonder on who is ranked #1 in our graduating class, who takes the most rigorous courses, and even who gets accepted into the more prestigious school. It is evidentially affecting students mentally and socially.” According to 2018 statistics, there are more teenagers and young adults today completely blinded with the idea to be “perfect”
more than any past era. What plays a major role in the well-being of a human nowadays is the media world with nearly 3 billion users worldwide. Hsu continues, “The media plays a huge role in our everyday lives since it is an outlet allowing opinions, social statuses, and feelings to be let out. Yes there are the positives of having a social media account, but as of 2016 there has been [a lot of] hate and negativity.” There are many influencers out in the world as well, ones who many young people look up to. At such a young age everyone is discovering their purpose and what kind of person they dream to be; it is human nature to follow or be inspired by the doings of others.
Known by international award-winning artist, Beyoncé Knowles, her hit song “Pretty Hurts” became a moving piece for many young girls and boys around the world. Intending to acknowledge the beauty within every soul and incorporate the struggles and endeavors of being “beautiful”, Beyoncé touched the hearts of millions around the world. Senior leadership member Raina Lee expressed, “As leadership students our main goal is to create a positive environment for the conqueror family. With our best intentions we always place effort and dedication into the student body by rewarding recognition to those who have achieved through hard work, giving
back to the community, and placing priority to the critical needs of the students.” Along with dedicated students here at Los Altos, there are numerous amount of faculty members who care for the well-being of their students. Those who go out of their way to make the conqueror community the most wholehearted and safe are what keep students sane during their 6+ hour school day. “Loads of homework and projects, trying to please everyone and fitting into social norms, standing up to create change, all while trying to keep a positive attitude and a healthy state of mind can become very exhausting at such a young age” explains Lee. Therefore, the critical
needs of students all around, not just at LAHS, are crucial to keep a growing nation of strong, independent, and successful generations to come. This world consists of a growing nation of younger generations to come, not only adults. By assuring the safety, mental states, and opportunities for upcoming millennials the world will grow immensely despite economic and political differences. The first step to a healthy living environment is the single state of mind of one; which should be implemented into the minds of the young. All while caring and considering the critical sensibilities of one another.
Elite College Athletes Deserve Compensation By Douglas Lin
Pet ducks swim into the lives of their owners. Photo courtesy of Robert Porras
Ducks: The Unorthodox Yet Adorable New Pet Idea By Danielle Porras When considering a new pet people usually consider animals like dogs, cats, fishes, reptiles, maybe even guinea pigs. However, there is a pond dwelling bird that makes both a delightful and fun pet. Ducks, these animals do not seem to be like normal pets. They are seen in the wild and in nearby parks; basically, anywhere that has water available. They mainly are pets on farms, where they, like any other livestock on a farm are used for meat and egg harvesting. Despite being used as a source of food these animals are highly intelligent, within hours of
hatching it is easily shown. The way they see their mother and immediately follow her shows their intelligence is great, this is called imprinting and it is how these adorable, yellow, little hatchlings survive both in the wild or in an enclosed life. Not only are the animals sharp enough to recognize and follow their mother, they can also be taught tricks and respond to their names. Although it seems irrational to own a duck, students like sophomore Jasmine Portillo, have owned such an “exotic” animal before and she explains that when she was eight years old she obtained her first duck and fell in love with the
concept of having a duck as pet. When asked about pros and cons of owning a pet duck Portillo stated, “They are super cute and nice, plus they helped scare away other birds that would steal fruit off my mom’s fruit tree.” This pet was of great service to Portillo. Ducks are very smart, adorable and resourceful animals to have around the house. They are amazing animals and make a great addition, especially since they are not very aggressive. Portillo even suggests the animals for anyone interested as she jokingly suggested, “Buy a hundred ducks!”
Last month, Arizona University’s head basketball coach was indicted for paying 100,000 dollars to star player Deandre Ayton to ensure he signed with them, propelling the debated topic of whether college athletes should be paid for their commitment to college sport teams. Lakers guard Lonzo Ball was interviewed by NBC Los Angeles where he was quoted saying, “All the money they [NCAA] generate for the programs and stuff, it’s kind of an unfair system… Everybody knows everybody’s getting paid and that's how it is. Everybody is getting paid anyway. You might as well make it legal.” With such controversial speculation presented, the question then is put forth: Should college athletes be paid? It is no secret that all competitive college basketball teams play in The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules and regulations. The NCAA’s Official Amateurism Regulations: Bylaw 12 states, “Athletes are stripped of their amateur status and thus their right to participate within NCAA sporting
events if they receive payment for their athletic skills.” Cases such as the recent Louisville college’s top star recruit Brian Bowen saw controversy as the Bowen family was indicted with being paid 7,000 dollars in benefits. Coach John Calipari of the acclaimed Kentucky Wildcats was also recently under fire for allegedly paying, directly and indirectly, top high school athletes such as Kevin Knox and Bam Adebayo plus NBA player Nerlens Noel. Numerous cases and college indictments have brought forth cases against Ohio State, SMU, USC, Alabama, Florida, and of course Kentucky. When asked about such issues Junior Kevin Ku said, “I mean, college programs do earn a lot of money with the tickets and publicity, it just seems a little unfair that colleges keep all that money.” The NCAA athletic program has a 10.3 billion dollar deal with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting for rights to the Division 1 NCAA tournament most well known as “March Madness,” undeniably “the best part about March” according to junior Isaiah Barcelo
who is a starter in the Boys Varsity Basketball team. When asked whether college athletes should be paid, junior and Girls Varsity Basketball player Kiara Moreno said, “No, I believe college athletes should not be paid because they’re going to college with a paid-for education, they should not be paid extra to play for the school.” Whether college athletes should be paid or not, the undeniable fact remains that the entertainment industry, specifically in collegiate sports, can shape the way colleges operate in regards with its athletes and its students as there is a certain amount of students colleges can accept. With the “one-and-done” collegiate practice being debated, the rise of youth leagues paying athletes through Lavar Ball’s Junior Basketball Association (JBA). With ongoing investigations and multiple under-the-table deals being brought to light, college athletes deserve to be compensated in other ways whether it be guaranteeing a future career if professional aspirations do not work out or just outright paying them.
8
April 2018
SPORTS
the-conqueror.org
Track Team Speeds Past Preseason Competition By Kaitlyn Orozco For the past few months, the Los Altos Track and Field team has ran, jumped, and thrown their hardest against any school that they have come up against. On Thursday March 15 Los Altos held their first home meet against Whittier High School. Athletes from both teams were eager to compete, in hopes of placing and earning points for their teams. The meet began with a 4x1, then proceeded with various events such as: the 100 meters (m), the 200m, high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, the 100m hurdles, the 300m hurdles, the 1600m, the 800m and finished with the fat man relay. Unfortunately, the Conquerors fell short of a victory for both the boys and girls varsity teams, yet many individuals were happy with their performances. Sophomore Hurdler Barry Bozonier won first
place in the 100m hurdles, and second place for both high and long jump. “I plan to be running a 14.8 [seconds] on the hurdles and my overall goal for this year is to break the school record,” stated Bozonier, “I plan on high jumping 6’2” and long jumping 21 or 22 feet.” Senior Thrower Jonathan Cortez was pleased
with his results in shot put and discus. “I did good on the meet. I placed second in disc and got a new PR [personal record],” stated Crotez enthusiastically, “My accomplishments show that I can compete to the best of my abilities against anyone and that I know I can do continue to improve. I’m confident for this upcoming season
and I’m prepared to take on anyone and get to CIF.” Many student and parent volunteers helped to make the meet run quickly and efficiently by taking times, keeping score and communicating results to the scorekeepers. Bozonier stated, “I enjoy home meets, it sets a tone of pride and competitiveness. Wanting to uphold
the image of Los Altos track and field team helps me personally and quite possible the team to compete at a higher level and show other schools what we are all about.” This was the very final preseason meet, and many athletes were excited and eager to commence their season and win the league
championship title. Although the Conquerors competed with a great deal of effort and energy, they lost their first meet of the season against their rivals, Walnut, on Thursday, March 22. After losing, the ambitious athletes trained vigorously during the following week to better their athletic abilities for their upcoming match. On March 29, the athletes came out ready to compete and earned their first victory of the season against Charter Oak. Many individuals placed for their events by running the fastest time, throwing the farthest distance, and jumping the tallest length. “It was good to see people putting in the effort to win, even if it was against their own teammates,” stated Cortez, “That drive to win is there as long as long as everyone keeps pushing themselves to get better.”
Boys Varsity Golf Team Swings Into Success By Aaron Kim
Girls Varsity Swim Displays Teamwork Within Pool By Nicolás Hernández Everyday, before and after school, the pool is filled with the Varsity Girls Swim team, practicing earnestly to achieve success during their swim meets. The team is under new direction this year from Coach Britney DeValk. However, the cooperation and team spirit within the team is the same as always. Co-captain of the team Christine Castrellon commented on the team, “This year the team was presented with a new coach. Although it was a rough start for both the coach and the swimmers, we have been working
hard and striving to do our best each and every practice and meet.” On Wednesdays is when the team has their meets and where they are able to showcase all the work they put in during practice. They compete in several different races varying in distance and stroke. Sophomore Maggie Moreno who is currently in her second year on the team stated, “Our team this year has worked really hard and put in lots of time to prepare for races.” In addition, to the arrival of a new coach it was also the arrival of many new swimmers. Many young
students are in the team for the first time this year. “We started off new and a lot of us had never been in swim before so it was new. However, everyone tries their hardest and stays committed because as a team we continue to push forward.” Undoubtedly, the large amount of newcomers to the team can only improve from their rigorous practice and will therefore allow the team to succeed for years to come. The amount of practice and hard work that the team puts in during training is evidently shown during their meets where the girls strive to conquer the competition.
As the Boy’s Golf season has finally arrived, the Los Altos team has taken on multiple schools across the area in hopes of becoming league champions. Starting off the season with a scrimmage against rival team Wilson, the boys are now onto their fourth week of the season. At Whittier Narrows Golf Course, the Los Altos home course, the LA boys defeated Wilson’s team as they were disqualified for only having four members play that day. The minimum requirement for each team is five members, taking the five best scores and adding them together to see which team wins. The Los Altos Varsity Boy’s Golf Team features seven golfers varying in different grade levels. Senior Jason Chang, Senior Jonathan Chang, Sophomore David Banuelos,
and Sophomore Aaron Kim are a few of the members that are a part of the golf team this season. Freshmen Brandon Shih, Senior Christopher Forsythe and Senior Manuel Zataray are also new players representing this year’s golf team. When asked about why he joined the golf team this year, Zataray explains, “I joined golf this year to play a sport that I found very fun and relaxing. The scrimmage against Wilson was very competitive and it was an awesome game.” Shih adds, “The scrimmage was like a reality check for me because it showed me how much more I have to work to be on everyone’s level.” The boys have been working and practicing every Tuesdays and Thursdays, in hopes of having a great golf season. From practicing their putting skills, to playing practice matches on the course,
the boys are preparing themselves for their upcoming competition. During matches, teams face each other in a 9 hole course rather than usual 18 hole courses, with two members from each team playing two members from another team in a foursome match up. The Boy’s Golf Team has now played against Charter Oak, Chino hills, and West Covina, waiting to face off schools like Diamond Ranch, Walnut, and Rowland Heights soon. Los Altos this season has defeated Wilson, Charter Oak, and Chino Hills all at their home courts. Shih states, “My goal is to get better at golf and hopefully make new friends while I’m at it.” Zataray finishes stating, “I enjoy all the different courses we get to go to and playing against different schools. Our team has the competiveness to be a top team.”