The Conqueror | Volume XLVI, Issue XIII | Sep 2014 by The Conqueror Staff

Volume XLVI, Issue XIII

INSIDE THIS EDITION

September 19, 2014 HERO system saves the day

Club Rush and Wilson Week

Senior project redefined

Page 3 | NEWS

Page 5 | SNAPSHOTS

Page 6 | FEATURES

New system fights tardies and rewards good behavior Melissa Montes

Circulation 2000

Two festive weeks summarized in pictures

Changes make project easier on seniors

Los Altos conquers Wilson again

On Friday, September 12, the football team won 45-7 against Wilson High School in the annual battle for the wheel. BY CAROLINE TORRES

Jacob Kim After a decisive victory, the varsity football team poses triumphantly with the wheel. After a week of slowly building anticipation, a school in blue descended upon the Los Altos High School stadium on September 12 to eagerly watch the varsity football team’s unerring defeat of rival school Wilson High School. The team did not fail to shine, conquering the Wilson Wildcats and closing the night with a final score of 45-7. Claiming the wheel once more has given the team and the school the spirit and edge to enter the league season with high hopes for CIF.

The Los Altos team received a much-needed moral boost from their victory after a nail-biting loss against San Dimas on September 5. Though neither the Wilson game nor the San Dimas game count as league games, the scrimmages are aiding the boys in perfecting their technique. With 210 passed yards, senior quarterback Lorenzo Silva was able to demonstrate his adaptability, even as he himself rushed the last 13 yards of the

Connie Pung

field for a touchdown. Another standout player was Tyler Nevens, sophomore, who rushed over 100 yards and was responsible for one of the many touchdowns Los Altos achieved. Aided by the deafening cheers of the student section, the team’s defense was able to keep Wilson at bay throughout most of the game and keep the ball in the hands of the offense. Seniors Dee Valdez and Bryan Curiel snatched up interceptions, picking up a combined 60 yards between them. Many Los Altos sports fans who joked about the challenge the Wildcats would pose for the Conquerors were pleasantly surprised to see some fair

competition during the game. Instead of washing out with a half-jokingly predicted score of 0-63, a touchdown for every life of a cat, Wilson gritted out a touchdown and locked the Conqueror boys in at only six touchdowns and a field goal. The game, while certainly a jewel in what many hope will become a crown of a season, demonstrated both excellent playing and room for improvement. The team looks to refine their game even more prior to the start of season in hopes of advancing to CIF. The boys will play in two more scrimmages against Glendora today and against Monrovia on September 26 before the official season starts.

SGV Tribune challenges LA San Gabriel Valley Tribune journalist Fred Robledo took to twitter to announce his upcoming coverage of the Los Altos-Glendora game today. Having heard of the reknowned Conqueror Crazy spirit, Robledo issued a challenge to Los Altos students to meet, and even exceed, his expectations. The tailgate starts at 5:30 PM and the game starts at 7:00 PM. Conquerors, accept Robledo’s challenge and show your LA pride!

A school in blue amasses in the famed Conqueror Crazy section at the Wilson Game on September 12

2 Digest TABLE OF CONTENTS

News

Remembering Alexius Visaya: a moment of silence HERO saves the day

Dear readers:

Welcome back to another school year! You may have noticed that the newspaper looks different. With the addition of Ms. Guzman, our new advisor, and several new staff members, the journalism program itself has undergone quite a makeover. But not everything is new. We have returning members, and we still remember the lessons Mr. Rockwood, our previous advisor, taught us about responsibility and commitment. This year, we will integrate old and new to establish a quality newspaper that will be more visually appealing and more in-depth in its coverage than its predecessor. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to thank three groups of people: first, all the journalism staff members (weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proud of all of you!); second, the faculty, past and present, who help make the newspaper possible, including but not limited to Ms. Guzman, Ms. McReynolds, Ms. Patterson, Ms. Ortega, Ms. Higgins, Mr. Rockwood, Ms. Rodriguez, and Ms. Khan; and third, the readers of The Conqueror (you!). We hope you will enjoy this edition of The Conqueror.

Los Altos hosts district college fair

Snapshots Snap-

Letter from the editors

Sincerely, Hillary Hermawan, Evette Andraos, and Kimberly Wong

Conqueror count BY HILLARY HERMAWAN

Changes on campus Club Rush + Wilson Week

Features SnapFeatures

New on Turnbull How to survive freshman year Error 404: Life not found Freshmen vs. Seniors Senior project redefined Saved by the bell Featuring Andres Gonzalez

Sports Snapshots 8 Sports Scores and updates for fall season sports

Journalism Staff

Upcoming Events

Advisor: Adriana Guzman

Evette Andraos Hector Castellanos Marlene Fierros Gisselle Garcia Hillary Hermawan Christopher Juarez Helen Khuu Jacob Kim Jailene Michel Rebecca Nava Jessica Ochoa Bryce Olivas

September

20 College Fair @ LAHS 25 Parent conferences 5 PM-8 PM 26 Minimum day 29 Senior portrait make up day

October

1 Drama Improv Night 7 PM @ A-1 10 Homecoming 13 Pupil free day 15 PSAT in gym 8 AM - 12 PM

Lauren Orozco Damaris Osuna Laura Perez Connie Pung Crystal Rivas Melisa Rybaltowski Matthew Sandoval Alejandra Torres Caroline Torres Giovanna Vasquez Valeria Wang Kimberly Wong

News 3 Provided by the Visaya family

Remembering Alexius Visaya: a moment of silence BY KIMBERLY WONG

Alexius Visaya smiles in a school portrait picture. She was a beloved daughter, sister, and friend, and she will not be forgotten.

For just a moment, the hype and cheers of the Welcome Back assembly stilled. The entire student body fell into a minute of silence in honor of the one Conqueror who would not be rejoining us this year, Alexius Visaya. Some had their heads bowed, some had their eyes closed, but no matter if they knew Alexius or not, they all paid their respects to her memory. Alexius Visaya was supposed to be a senior this 2014-2015 school year. She was young, but not a single person who knew her would ever forget her. Almost as a testament to this, her Facebook wall is completely covered with parting messages and well wishes from friends. She was an inspiration and comfort to everyone she met. Senior Sarah Regan writes, “I miss you so much Alexius. I love you so much and if you can see this from heaven I want you to know what an amazing friend you were to me. Know how much I appreciated your advice and our long talks and all the laughs. You gave me confidence when I had none.” Genesis Acosta, senior, had much to say. “I had Alexius in Ms. Piner’s English class. If there is something I could

say about her, I would say that she was a very sweet person and never judgmental towards others. There was a joy in her that no one else had, and she was nice to everyone around her. I was very upset when I heard the news. I was at school at the time but it didn’t quite hit me until I was at her memorial. She was loved by a lot of people, many attending her memorial and funeral. I think about her every day, and I will always remember her. I feel sad when I remember her memory, but I know that she is resting in paradise.” “We would often swap books and work on projects together,” Gaby Cordova, senior, reminisces. “Our little brothers were on the same football team one year so we both cheered them on from the sidelines, walking and talking too. I still have one of her books and she had one of mine. We never finished swapping them, but now it’s one of my favorite reads.” “I love how you were nice to literally everyone,” senior Angela Valenzuela says, wishing that she could tell these words directly to her friend. “I know you’re in a better place now.” Once a Conqueror, always a Conqueror. Alexius Visaya will not be forgotten.

Los Altos hosts district college fair BY REBECCA NAVA

“Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? What college do you plan on applying to? Any idea what you want to major in?” This interrogation fest is common for high school students. When asked these same questions Hope Whitfield, senior, stated she still “wasn’t sure.” Whitfield isn’t alone; many others share the same sentiment, including junior Eric Liu, who confessed he was still “undecided” about his plans. This is where a college fair comes in handy. This year, Los Altos will be hosting the 57th Assembly District Annual College and Career Fair. The affair will be held on Saturday, September 20 in the gym from 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and will be free for students and parents alike. The fair will feature over 40 colleges, including UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, Biola University, and the University of Notre Dame. Along with the individual college booths are specialized workshops that cater toward the broader questions about college. Ever wondered what the advantages of attending community college are? There is a workshop for that. Questioning whether to take the SAT or ACT? There is a workshop for that. Have questions about financial aid? Guess what? There is a workshop just for that. Besides helping with future plans, there is an added bonus to attending the fair: seniors who participated in the district essay contest and are present at the college fair may be one of the three lucky winners of a $1,000 scholarship.

Melissa Montes Assistant principal Shawn Harrington observes as senior Gabriella Herrera scans her ID card through the HERO system.

HERO saves the day BY GIOVANNA VASQUEZ

This new school year will oversee the introduction of the brand new “HERO” system. This device will be used to help maintain good attendance records and to recognize and reward helpful, hardworking students. Now all tardies will be filtered through the HERO system. In order to enter their classes, tardy students will have to scan their IDs at the attendance office window, acquire a printed slip, and hand the slip to their teachers. Because the process is quick, it allows students to return to their classes as soon as their tardies are

recorded. The system keeps track of the amount of tardies each student receives. Thanks to HERO, attendance has already improved immensely. “Tardies have decreased by 50%,” exclaimed Jeffrey Hess, assistant principal. Keeping track of tardies is an important function of the HERO system, but according to Hess, “The main purpose for HERO is to reward our students.” One example of the award function of HERO is that of the welcome back rally shirt contest. Students who dressed up in their class

shirts for the rally were encouraged to go to the front office during lunch to receive points for their respective grades by scanning their IDs. The junior class ended up receiving the most points and was awarded ISI that week, before ISI officially started. Junior Alejandra Castro has positive feedback about this innovative system. “I believe the HERO system is a great idea!” she commented. “HERO helps reward students who do good things for others and the campus.” For tips on getting on HERO’s good side, see “Saved by the bell” on p. 7.

4 Snapshots 1

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Melisa Rybaltowski Helen Khuu 1: New teachers Esteban Hernandez, Peter Luna, Francisco Contreras, Felicia Melara, Daniell Tolmasoff, and Jeff Fahey pose in front of the “LEAD” mural. Not pictured on this page: Mindy Pomper-Johnson. 2: New teacher Ernest Archer, English, smiles at his desk. 3: Girls’ varsity tennis coach Andrew Giang leans against the gate, watching the team play against Wilson High School.

Changes on campus

The ever-changing faculty of Los Altos welcomes a new advisor, a new coach, and nine new teachers.

Alumna becomes new teacher

What does leadership mean to you?

BY BRYCE OLIVAS

This summer, Los Altos High School added nine new members to the Conqueror teaching staff. One new teacher that is especially excited about being newly hired is Hannah Cardenas, English. Cardenas is not exactly a new face to the Los Altos campus. She is actually an alumna! “I was ecstatic and honored to be hired because I was already long term subbing here in the spring and because of my alumna status,” remarked Cardenas. There are some aspects that have changed at Los Altos since Cardenas was last here as a student, such as the implementation of the block schedule in 2010. But Los Altos’ friendly aura, helpful students and faculty, and famous Conqueror pride is still the same. Cardenas said gratefully, “Everyone is very supportive and willing to help.” When the beginning of the school year winds down and the sprint of new classes turns into the steady stride of writing assignments and projects, this helping-others-mentality will hopefully stay in the minds of students and faculty alike. The addition of new teachers brings not only new helpers on campus but also new leaders. As the new teachers settle into their new home, they will be looked upon to lead the way.

New teachers for the 2014-2015 school year Cardenas, Hannah Contreras, Franscisco Fahey, Jeff

B1 B9 M1

English English Chorus

BY HILLARY HERMAWAN AND CONNIE PUNG Connie Pung

Hannah Cardenas, English, believes leaders should be listeners.

“I believe leadership is being able to take the initiative. Leaders are teachable. They’re not tyrants. They listen and they’re fair.” HANNAH CARDENAS, ENGLISH

“Leadership means willing to take responsibility for your own actions” ERNEST ARCHER, ENGLISH

Hernandez, Estbeban Luna, Peter Melara, Felicia

C4 C8 H3

Pomper-Johnson, Mindy C2 Tolmasoff, Daniell E5 Archer, Ernest F7

English Math 1 Spanish Video Geo/Alg2 Std English SDC

New coach for girls’ varsity tennis BY CAROLINE TORRES Monumental changes to the tennis program have fostered an excited and hopeful spirit on the team, not the least of which includes a new coach. The presence of the new coach promises an exciting season. Andrew Giang, math, came onto the courts this year as the varsity coach after the departure of previous coach Jay Lin. Giang, despite his status as a novice coach, is bringing with him years of experience as a player and fresh determination to see an improvement to the team.

New journalism advisor BY VALERIA WANG

Upon entering classroom H5, students are greeted with a new face. A tall and friendly gentleman no longer sits behind the computer. Although the previous advisor, William Rockwood, left big shoes to fill and big expectations to meet, Adriana Guzman, English, is more than qualified to take over the journalism program. As a fellow of the UCLA and California Writing Project, Guzman will no doubt lead this batch of reporters to success. Guzman’s ultimate plan is not to control the class, but to supervise and allow student’s creativity to thrive. Like Rockwood, who gave the journalism staff members opportunities to showcase their abilities, Guzman looks forward to seeing what this year’s class is capable of. She reasons, “These students are already motivated to get their voice on print.” Guzman comments, “I’m excited to work with such sophisticated students. They will certainly make the newspaper worthwhile to read.”

Snapshots 5 Club Rush and Wilson Week BY KIMBERLY WONG; PHOTOGRAPHER LAURA PEREZ

6 Features Melisa Rybaltowski

New on Turnbull BY MELISA RYBALTOWSKI

A brand new marquee announces Hacienda Heights’ community center on Turnbull Canyon. Its purpose? To benefit each Hacienda Heights resident.

The Hacienda Heights Community Center, once the home of Hillgrove Elementary School, is now stealing the spotlight on Turnbull Canyon. Those who drive or walk by the site of the new center can catch a glimpse of the 21,000 square foot multipurpose building. Surrounded by walking trails, fitness stations, and picnic areas, the community center will open this fall. Choir director Mr. Fahey plans on “performing both the holiday and spring concert” in the 539 seat auditorium. “The long-term plan is to perform all four major concerts there,” Fahey stated. This would include the fall, holiday, cabaret, and spring concerts. With a dining venue built to hold up to 400 people, the accommodations offered for cabaret have never been better. Women’s Ensemble vice president,

Stacy Delgadillo, junior, affirms the anticipation felt by the performing arts department, adding, “It looks really rad, and I’m excited to be able to use it.” As a community center, it contributes to more than just the performing arts department. It benefits each member of Los Altos High School and by extension each member of Hacienda Heights. The community center will provide exercise trails and training stations for the athletics department, halls for student dances and other social activities, jobs for Hacienda Heights residents, and, as mentioned before, auditoriums for dance recitals and concerts. The fall season has a lot in store for Hacienda Heights locals - pumpkin spice, cooling temperatures, and a new place to call home.

Editorial

How to survive freshman year BY MELISSA MONTES Los Altos High School opened its gates to a brand new school year on August 7, welcoming the new freshman class of 2018. Starting high school may seem intimidating, like being sent to a foreign island, but freshmen needn’t worry. This island’s inhabitants are friendly and willing to share a few words of wisdom. Senior Maharsh Patel suggests, “Try as hard as you can and don’t slack off. Make sure to get involved.” These next four years are to be taken seriously because high school grades are looked upon very closely by colleges. If a class is not passed, it will have to be made up in summer school. Shalom Montgomery, English, recommends, “Check Jupiter! Do your homework! Get involved!” Jupiter is a helpful tool that can be used to check grades constantly, email teachers, and see homework assignments.

“Respect your peers, your teachers, and yourself.” Kenneth Hirscht Senior

Kenneth Hirscht, senior, advises, “Respect your peers, your teachers, and yourself.” Keep that mantra in mind when making friends, which should be easy in such a diverse student body. Don’t stall in the restroom when there are friends to be made. High school can expose freshmen to unfamiliar situations where they need to be able to learn from any mistakes that come about from the choices made. After all, making the same mistakes will land a

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Valeria Wang

Two groups of freshmen friends, clearly surviving freshmen year so far, grin at the camera. On the left: Illiana Acosta, Nacala Mitchell, Elise Sivivisal, and Katelyn Sipos; on the right: Brandon Yo, Century Yang, Jasper Lin, Jonathan Chang, Joshua Chia, and Jeremy Chen

student in a chat with Jeff Hess, assistant principal in charge of discipline. Ignacio Hernandez, ROP, recommends, “Try to get involved in as many clubs, activities, and sports as possible. The more things you’re involved with, the more people you will meet and the more enjoyable high school will be.” There are many clubs and sports offered on campus. Attend meetings and be involved!

“The more things you’re involved with, the more people you will meet and the more enjoyable high school will be.” Ignacio Hernandez ROP

Freshmen, take a deep breath and exhale. Everything will be fine. Teachers and administers will always be there to help you with any questions. Remember to make friends and go to all the events you can. Make high school the best four years of your life, not the worst!

FEATURING ANDRES GONZALEZ Student artist Andres Gonzalez, senior, showcases his artwork. To see more of his artwork, check out the next edition of A LA Mode magazine.

Features 7 Senior project redefined BY LAURA PEREZ

It’s true! The senior project is changing its system. The changes introduced are designed to make the project easier on seniors. Normally, the students get to decide when they would like to begin writing their final essay. In the past, drafts of the essay would be required throughout the year, and the drafts would be turned in as a whole essay. Students hear procrastination horror stories regarding the senior project, but now those days of being tempted to wait until the last few days are over. The essay will now be separated into parts. Instead of each student being responsible for the pacing of the writing process for the essay, a specified amount will be due every few weeks. Eventually, the pages will accumulate and become a final draft of the essay. The pages given during the mini-deadlines do not make up a final draft, but they will help give guidance for the students. Having multiple deadlines prevents students from procrastinating the essay to a few days before the final due date at the end of the year.

“Now they are given a topic that they can either keep, or they can choose another which others have already helped research.” Eva Tseng Senior

To help the seniors pick a topic, they will first be randomly given a topic to do general research on and create a poster board on the topic. The boards will then be displayed in the Hacienda, so that seniors can observe and then decide on which topic interests them the most. Eva Tseng, senior, says, “This is a great idea because it’s something new, and the way they used to do it before, students did not know what to choose for their topics. Now they are given a topic that they can either keep, or they can choose another which

Jacob Kim

Seniors stroll through the Hacienda and inspect the results of their classmates’ hard work. others have already helped research.

“I feel that the senior project changes have lightened the load on seniors.” Veronica Castillo Senior

In addition to the changes, the project no longer requires a learned skill and has fewer community service hours. Senior Veronica Castillo says, “I feel that the senior project changes have lightened the load on seniors. It gives us more time to focus on the writing.” To add, Oralia Garcia-Hernandez, senior, says, “I think the changes to the senior project are way better. They are totally for our benefit.”