2008 november

Volume 57, Issue 3

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA

November 2008

Arcadia: California’s Haven

In this issue:

Photo by JENNIFER KU

PERFORMING ARTS pg.8 AFOB: Arcadia Festival of Bands took place on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Graphic by DAVID HERNANDEZ ARCADIA’S BEST: AHS is filled with great teachers as illustrated by Teacher of the Year Sra. Margarita Ortiz, stellar sports programs as exhibited by our Varsity Cross Country Team and strong academics as demonstrated by our 35 National Merit ® Semifinalists.

By CHRISTINE XU Copy Editor

Photo Courtesy of MONICA SHEI

FEATURES pg.10 Five Thanksgiving Myths Busted: Find out what is really cooking on this American holiday.

Photo by YENTL IP

CENTER SPREAD pgs.12-13 Letter of Thanks: Students reflect on their most inspiring teachers.

Parade Band scoring 197 out of 200 at the Mt. Carmel Tournament/Review. Varsity Boys Cross Country placing first at the Stanford Invitational.

AHS rising above expectations on the California Standardized Tests (CST) with an Academic Performance Index (API) of 859. These are but just a few of the achievements that can be attributed to Arcadia, where AHS is only one of its merits.

According to BusinessWeek, Arcadia has been rated “one of the best places to raise your kids” in America, topping the list for California’s ideal towns to live in. Several factors were weighed when narrowing down the choices, such as school performance, crime rates, family income, and diversity. Strong weight was also given to affordability, which was the controlling principle in organizing this list. This is reflected in the fact that Arcadia’s median home sale price is $753,720, making it the perfect candidate for middle-class citizens to live in. Also, AHS is a silver medal school, meaning that it has a high college readiness index. In addition to its reasonable residential prices, Arcadia is home to the Santa Anita Park and the Los Angeles County Park & Botanical Garden, cultural amenities that appeal to residents because “it’s great to live in a city that is just so rich in history and diversity. [It] really shows the care and respect Arcadia has for its past, [as it] continues to preserve and cherish its

heritage,” said junior Casey Young.

Not only is Arcadia a real estate agent’s dream, our very own high school has one of the nation’s most critically acclaimed music programs. AHS Marching Band is known for its prestigious Parade Band and award-winning parade and field shows. This year, Field Band received sweepstakes at the Band Review and Parade Band placed first at the Field Tournament at Mt. Carmel, beating out Rancho Bernardo High School, its rival for several years. They are set to perform at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, FL, and at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, during winter break. But Band isn’t the only group exemplifying AHS’ “tradition of excellence.” In 2007, Orchestra 3 traveled to San Jose to compete in the Heritage Festival, where they received awards for “Best Orchestra Program” and “Best Performance by an Orchestra.”

Aside from AHS’ excellent band and orchestra, our athletics program’s talent is unmatched, namely, Varsity Boys Cross Country’s. Cross Country has participated and has been ranked highly in a myriad of competitions: they won Stanford Invitational and placed fourth at Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational, both of which are national caliber meets; they also placed first at the 2008 Pacific League Finals, third at Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, and are currently the third best team in California. The boys have also made state finals in CIF League this year for the fourth consecutive year, a feat few teams can achieve.

But Coach Jim O’Brien isn’t worried: “We’ve built a very positive reputation for turning out top-flight

runners and sending them on to four-year colleges with scholarships. The trademark of our Boys [Cross Country] team is the foundation of the team: hard work inevitably brings success. And these guys are clearly willing to work hard in order to achieve success.”

Lastly, AHS’ academic achievements are endless. We have again surpassed the state’s expectations for the CST with flying colors: our score is 59 points above the ideal API score and is fairly high compared to the median of schools with similar demographics, and our English learners and students with disabilities have progressed greatly since last year, tacking on at least 20 more points to our overall score. This year, AHS is represented by 35 National Merit ® Semifinalists who scored at least 217 on the National Preliminary SAT (PSAT), an astounding 16 more students than last year’s number. Our administrators deserve praise, too—over half of the teachers hold Master’s Degrees or have had professional experience in their fields of practice, and our Counseling Department has been recognized by the Los Angeles County Office of Education every year. Sra. Margarita Ortiz was even commended as Arcadia Unified School District’s Teacher of the Year for her dedication to her students as a teacher and a mentor.

Through these achievements, it can be seen that “...the accolade is a validation of what we believe to be true about our schools and the city, and all of the hard work that is done by the school district staff,” said Joel Shaw, AUSD Superintendent.

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NEWS

theapachepowwow.com

November 2008

Yes We Did! Obama’s Sweeping Victory

News

BRIEFS

November

27-28 - Thanksgiving Day and holiday

December 1-12

- SMW’s White Christmas Drive

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- AHS PTSA Meeting (7 p.m.)

6

- Financial Aid Workshop (South Gym) - SAT & Subject Tests - Financial Aid: FAFSA (9:00 a.m. )

13

- ACT Test Date

17

- PLAN “Scoreback” Seminar/workshop (6:00pm)

22-31 - Winter Vacation!

By CONNIE GAO Guest Writer

The 22- month presidential campaign came to an end on Nov. 4, making way for a new era of politics and promising a change the nation overwhelmingly welcomes.

The race began with several candidates and included grueling primaries which broke several records in itself. On the right stood Senator John McCain, a proclaimed “maverick,” who supported many staple Conservative ideals, and on the left stood Senator Barack Obama, unorthodox in his appeal to the youth and vow of change.

This election, historic because it boasts so many “firsts,” including the first African-American to run for president and the first woman to be on the ticket for Vice President, seemed to finally place proof behind what America claims to embody—a country that represents equal opportunity.

Statistically, Obama led with 364 electoral votes to McCain’s 163 and held 53% of the vote to McCain’s 46%, but numbers cannot truly reflect the rigors of this presidential race. Among the SNL skits and spoofs on YouTube of Sarah Palin’s political (and mental) capacity was one of the longest campaigns in history, which dealt with political and personal attacks that both McCain and Obama handled professionally.

And although there had been questions raised on whether either candidate were qualified—if McCain could carry a quickly developing nation despite his seasoned age or if Obama had the experience to handle affairs he had had little contact with and if his promise for change was more than just mere words—it can be safely said that

Graphic by GAVIN FU

OBAMA The first minority President of the United States ever elected.. both men demonstrated great skill in a time of economic crisis and political turning point.

President-elect Obama’s victory was largely supported by the young people of America, 50% of whom voted in this past election. Over 24 million between the ages of 18-29 participated, which means almost 20% more of the youth took part in this election than that held 4 years ago. Many students at AHS are pleased with the

Creepin’ Costales Intrudes HerSpace

By JENNY LIN AND ELAINE TSUI Staff Writers

Taking cyber stalking to a whole new level, a Michigan man discovered on Nov. 5, 2008, that all unrequited relationships come with a hefty price—in his case, a possible prison sentence.

George Costales was arrested by the Ventura County authorities when he showed up at the home of a Thousand Oaks woman who he had been stalking on MySpace for more than a year. The woman, who did not want Costales’ attention at all, attempted to block his access to her MySpace profile, but he continued to send her messages, which became increasingly graphic, over the last year. Months before, Costales allegedly sent video clips of himself that included sexual comments and informed the woman that he intended to move to California to be with her.

According to Detective Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, his obsession “was very one-sided on his part.

She blocked him at least five different times, but he managed to get around that and continued to contact her. This was unwanted and unprovoked.”

A week before his arrival in California, Costales announced that he was selling his welding business and moving to California to be with the woman because he loved her and was convinced that she had the same feelings for him after reading poems on her MySpace page, which he believed she had written for him. He eventually showed up at the door of her Thousand Oaks home on Nov. 5, but the woman wasn’t there. Recognizing Costales from the photos he had posted on MySpace, the woman’s boyfriend, who was at her home at the time, wrote down Costales’ license plate

number as he drove off and contacted authorities. According to Buschow, investigators then “put messages on [Costales’] site to make him come back, and he did, roses in hand.” He was immediately taken into custody. Costales, who has a criminal record in Michigan, is being held

networking websites, especially students, who put their personal information make themselves vulnerable to online predators. Junior Raymond Tsai believes that “it is completely idiotic for people to put their most private information on the Internet because the risk of being victims of stalkers or molesters is just too high.” According to redandblack.com, limiting one’s information is imperative to prevent stalking from happening. Although some students post their private information to make it available specifically to their friends, the risk of giving confidential information to strangers still exists.

Nevertheless, there are still some users who continue to put their personal information online. “While I know the possible consequences, it’s just something that makes getting in touch with others easier,” said junior Andrew Chang, who puts his personal information on his profile. By taking advantage of the application that allows people to choose whether or not to put themselves on private, the risk of having strangers gain access to personal information and possibly use it to their own advantage decreases. “Privacy prevents anyone dangerGraphic by GAVIN FU ous from harming you. Plus, you get to decide MYSPACE TROUBLES Beware, the next who your friends [are],” said junior Anna Yu. Whatever the choice may be for the person you add as a friend may be as brave teenagers who set up accounts on the dangerous as him.

World Wide Web, the best way to prevent in the main Ventura County Jail and is facing a stalking or any other potential crimes from single count of felony stalking. happening is not having one at all. The maMySpace has been at the center of the con- jority of the student population log into their troversy over whether social networking web- MySpace or Facebook accounts once they resites are dangerous or not. Since the site was turn home from school each day. The majority first launched, MySpace has attracted more than of sex offenders and stalkers are also online 230,000 users per day and has been used as a each day, waiting for their next young victim. tool by stalkers and sex offenders, causing the site to become a breeding ground for crime in jlin@theapachepowwow.com recent years. etsui@theapachepowwow.com Photo Courtesy of KTLA.COM As a result, active users of these social

turnout. “I have gained my first ounce of faith in politics,” said senior Derek Ouyang. Many have also started to look past the “hype” created by the media to the future of the nation. “Our country needs new leadership,” commented senior Patricia Hsia, “And though I think Obama has good ideas on how to “fix” the U.S., we’ll have to see how things play out when he’s actually in office.”

We are all part of this historical event, regardless of who we supported. There is little use in dwelling on what could have been now that a new leader has risen who promises change.

It’s time for the lines of partisan politics to fade away to reveal a more unified nation.

And although President-elect Obama has considerably reaching expectations to meet, this election has brought out rallied support and concern for the nation that is an immense accomplishment in itself. “To those who seek peace and security: we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright: tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale or our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals–democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.” –Barack Obama, from his victory speech in Chicago.

Photo Courtesy of BRITANNICA.COM

SMW

White Christmas

By SABRINA SUN

Guest Writer

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling ring-ting-tinglin’, too! Yes, indeed, that special time of the year is just around the corner…

But as we begin to anticipate our new cardigan sweaters and Ugg boots, Senior Men and Women will be holding the White Christmas Drive from Dec. 1-12 to aid families less fortunate than ours and ardently wishes you to join this great cause.

SMW Treasurer Jennifer Chu captures the essence of the drive, “It is a great way for students to pass on the holiday spirit.

This holiday, instead of wanting, make it your goal to give back.” All students can contribute to the drive by bringing in readyto-eat canned food items—canned soups, stews, pasta, chili, and tuna fish, fruit cocktails and cup noodles—to their homerooms.

Boxed items or any items that must be cooked or prepared with additional ingredients are not needed, but financial donations can be made by sending a check to the Arcadia Welfare and Thrift Shop located at 323 N. First Avenue in Arcadia.

“The drive is a unique opportunity to give back to our community and make this Christmas a little warmer for those less fortunate than we are,” SMW Men’s President Jack Ching urges.

The White Christmas program has become a district-wide event, with all Arcadia schools rotating each month to supply canned foods for families in need. Be a part of a tradition that has lasted over seventy years and a legacy that hopefully will never end!

November 2008

NEWS

theapachepowwow.com

Arcadia: The Modern Garden of Eden

By EMILY LITVACK Staff Writer

It would seem that mankind has a way of twisting “off-limits” into “must get my hands on” no matter what the era, no matter how old. From infamous Eve and her wretched little apple to Angelica from “Rugrats” and that oh-sofar-away cookie jar of hers, temptation has been a looming problem for mankind and cartoon characters alike. To some, Arcadia seems removed from reality…but “some” were proven wrong when Dr. Monique Williams filed a guilty plea for writing illegal prescriptions near the end of last month.

Apparently she was no less tempted by money as her patients were by drugs, “[admitting] to selling prescription narcotics” for $25 a pill in her onecount plea agreement. The Arcadian physician was, ironically, an agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Yes, this is the same administration which sponsors Red Ribbon Week and works to keep traffickers off

the streets. Junior Wini Addanki called this “deceiving and double-sided” of Dr. Williams. She added, “This hurts younger kids, too. It hurts people who trust her.” Dr. Williams will appear in federal court during the coming weeks, but she is alleged to face a statutory sentence of up to 20 years in prison, causing controversy among students: Wini would like to see Dr. Williams sentenced to life in jail, seeing as “just because it seems better than murder, it isn’t right. Wrong is wrong. But it really depends on what the jury thinks, I guess.” Senior Jenna Mittman, on the other hand, thinks that “though she committed a serious crime, drug dealers off the street get less time than that. We need to focus on rehabilitation, not punishment.”

While the court process is sometimes prolonged, her California license to practice medicine and DEA registration have already been suspended. She had never examined the patients in question, causing her to lose her license on that account. However, she took it a step

further: not one of the patients had a “legitimate medical purpose” for possession of the potent drug. Her colleague at the DEA, Timothy Landrum, said, “It is unfortunate that someone would abuse her position of trust to prey on our communities and those who are vulnerable to the abuse of these drugs” especially because “non-medical use of addictive prescription drugs has been increasing throughout the United States at alarming rates.”

Rarely does temptation see a “happily ever after,” for we know what came to pass when Eve picked that apple, right? As for Angelica’s hot pursuit of the cookie jar, well, it only ends in reprimand. So for those waiting to see Dr. Williams locked up, the day will inevitably come. Until then, Arcadians can watch this developing story and steer clear of “serpents” who prey on the unsuspecting and the susceptible. elitvack@theapachepowwow.com Photo Courtesy of GOOGLE.COM

Proposition Eight —The Greight Debeight

By MICHELLE CHIEN Staff Writer

As the rest of the world watched civil rights take a momentous leap forward with Barack Obama’s landslide victory on Election Night, California still remains deeply divided on same-sex marriage with the passing of the controversial Proposition 8.

With smear campaigns as aggressive and intense as ever, Prop 8—a move to amend the California State Constitution to set the parameters of marriage as a union strictly between a man and woman—sparked controversy across the nation. Both sides were able to collect over $73 million from over 64,000 people to run its campaign with ads, public service announcements, and events—the whole shebang.

Supporting the proposition, junior Kevin Liu said, “I’m for gay rights, but just not gay marriage. I want gay people to receive the same benefits in a domestic partnership. I just don’t think it should be called a ‘marriage’ because I believe that marriage is something between a man and a woman.”

Sophomore Bryant Irawan added, “Isn’t it okay to acknowledge different nationalities as long as they have the same rights? I think gay people should be allowed to marry...just as long as it isn’t called a traditional marriage.

However, the fight against Prop 8 is far from over. Just days after the election, Democratic legislators have already begun rallying the support of the California Supreme Court to overturn the pro-

controversy and debate. Online networking sites and social blogs quickly urged people to boycott the restaurant, and as of right now, protesters are still standing outside the eatery harassing customers and disrupting business.

These efforts have no doubt quickly made their way into the hallways of AHS. On Friday, Nov. 7, multitudes of AHS students showed support either for or against the Proposition by wearing blue and red, respectively. What began as a simple form of protest, swept across the school as a way for students to speak their minds.

“I don’t understand why people who are basically unaffected by samesex marriage oppose it. The only people this is going to ultimately affect are the same-sex couples. It doesn’t take away from marriage at all. If they’re happy being with someone of PROTEST Opposers of the same sex, who are Prop 8 march down Spring Street we to prevent them?

Shouldn’t gays also before the City Hall in Los Angeles, CA. have the right to purriage will continue to fight and encour- sue happiness, even if it means marrying age the Supreme Court to overturn Prop someone who isn’t of the opposite sex?”

8. He tells CNN, “It’s unfortunate, obvi- said junior Tiffany Huang.

Whether it’s in the Capitol or at the ously, but it’s not the end...I think that we will again maybe undo that, if the court office or on the streets or even at school, is willing, and then move forward from the controversy doesn’t seem to show signs of stopping, and it probably won’t there.”

The controversy has leaked out be- anytime soon. But amid all the controyond the walls of the Capitol Building. versy and debate, people must rememOn Nov. 11, a Los Angeles Eatery, El ber the importance of the actual topic at Coyote Mexican Café has come under hand, not the petty differences that seem fire after a manager donated $100 to ban to divide our nation. same-sex marriage as one of the many mchien@theapachepowwow.com small business linked to Yes on Prop 8.

What came after was a windstorm of Photo Courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS posed amendment. Groups like the AntiDefamation League and the Asian Law Caucus have jumped in full-throttle to support the cause. Even Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who in the past had vetoed same-sex marriage, expressed hope that the backers of same-sex mar-

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t a f f s Editors Editors-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editors Opinion Editors Performing Arts Editors Student Life Editors Features Editors Sports Editor Academics Editor Center Spread Editor Calendar Editor Campus Focus Editor Advertisement Editor Executive Copy Editor Photography/Graphics Editors Webmasters Fundraising Chairs Publicity Chair

Lisa Chang and Laura Kelly Veronica Lim Iris Chen and Erica Win Andrés Delgado and Kayla Pang Kristen Shields and Daphne Tan Melissa Chen and Cora Ormseth Eleana Chiang and Emily Rueter Kristie Tom Tracy Lee Jennifer Hang Melanie Yuen Joanna Chuang Michael Chen Christine Xu Regina Fang, Ashley Johnson and Gregory Zajac Billy Cao and Yentl Ip Christine Howard and David Yao Aisha Elmasri

Writers News Staff Michelle Chien, Jenny Lin, Emily Litvack, Elaine Tsui Opinion Staff Richard Fu, Lauren Wong, Nuria Mathog, Christine Xu, Emily Yang, David Yao, Bill Zhou Performing Arts Staff Katherine Bay, Eileen Chow, Laureen Ma, Sammi Wong, Marissa Xing Student Life Staff Lena Kalemkiarian, Velinda Liao, Melissa Ma, Linda Wang, Christine Xu Features Staff Celeste Cheung, Amber Kakish, Alwyna Lau, Amy Leong, Gloria Liou, Joanna Shen Sports Staff Aisha Elmasri, Shawna Lim, Victoria Tran, Gregory Zajac Academics Staff Celeste Cheung, Sean Maroongroge, Joe Tian Calendar Staff David Hernandez, Lisa Hung, Katherine Bay Campus Focus Staff Angela Shen Advertisement Staff James Chung, Gavin Fu, David Hernandez, Lisa Hung, Stephanie Lee, Gloria Liou, Erik Stratton, David Yao, Ashley Young Photo Staff Regina Fang, Peter Huang, Yentl Ip Web Staff Jennifer Hang, Peter Huang, Ashley Johnson, Stephanie Lee, Amy Leong, Velinda Liao, Emily Litvack, Laureen Ma, Nuria Mathog, Angela Shen, Joe Tian, Victoria Tran, Melanie Yuen Adviser Mr. Johnny Lee

Publication Information: The Apache Pow Wow is a student publication distributed monthly throughout the school year. The paper has been continuously published since Arcadia High School opened in 1952. Unsigned articles appearing on the opinion page reflect the opinion of the Apache Pow Wow editorial board. Student’s work does not represent the views of Arcadia High School or the Arcadia Unified School District. Address letters to the editor to: AHS Apache Pow Wow, 180 W. Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. To place an advertisement in the newspaper, call (626) 821-8370. Advertisement rates vary from $30 for a business card advertisement to $380 for a full-page black and white advertisement, with quarter-page, half-page, and advertisement insert options available.

Photo Courtesy of www.scottymanmedia.com

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OPINION

Ask Dr. Hector Dear Dr. Hector, Anyone can define me as the typical overachieving kid—you know, the one with his back pretentiously bent double from lugging around heavy textbooks and SAT prep books. Flaunting this nerdy appearance, I always feel superior to my peers who carry around only five pound backpacks.

I’m proud to be Graphic by part of the wanDAVID HERNANDEZ nabe-generation: students strolling around campus with an odor of complacency, adorning an assortment of college sweatshirts. While I got the looks, I lack the substance since my grades are sinking faster than the Dow Jones! As the Destiny Child for all the Ivies, this is preposterous! And it’s not like I don’t try at school. I contemplated finally opening my textbooks, but I was too lazy to find them. I ventured to tutoring classes, but I fell asleep in them. I tried asking my teachers for help, but they never get around to answering my midnight e-mails. Woe is me when fate is obviously trying to keep me from salvaging my grades. This is clearly a state of emergency, 911 status—help me before I have to settle for Caltech!

-SOS Dear SOS, I see you are suffering from LIE—Loss in Efficiency, which causes students, through no fault of their own, to slack off in school and whine incessantly about their grades. They go through school daily contemplating their laziness and failures when, in actuality, LIE is instigating all their deficiencies. Luckily, I am here to provide the miracle cure: gradegrubbing. This intricate, difficult process requires both practice and natural skill, but it can be broken down into three steps.

Step 1: Suck up beyond belief to the teacher.

The most important key to grade-grubbing is to get on the good side of the teacher.

Now, don’t come off too strong; you must first comment on your teacher’s Venus-like appearance, follow up by bringing some “homemade” sweets, and seal the deal with the gift of a brand new BMW. Step 2: Look pitiful and pathetic like an abandoned child when you receive your tests or work back. If you know your teacher is passing back that Macbeth essay or semester final, come to school wearing raggedy clothes with dirt smeared on your face. Trust me—it will rack up the pity points.

Step 3: Go in for the kill. Still maintaining your Little Orphan Annie demeanor, approach your teacher and start dropping subtle hints (tears optional), such as “Hey, give me an A!” With these quick, easy, fun steps, you’ll be Ivy-bound in no time. Remember Confucius’ old adage: a point not grubbed is a point lost.

XOXO You know you love me, Dr. Hector drhector@theapachepowwow.com

theapachepowwow.com

November 2008

On Prop 8, Ignorance is Not Bliss

everyone to see and hear.

Whether I am for or against ProposiStaff Writer tion 8, I’m glad what happened, happened.

It doesn’t matter if it was passed or vetoed— When was the last time you and your what occurred that day would have produced friends talked about a topic of substance durthe same result among us students, regardless ing lunch? You walk down the hallways and of the verdict. I’m thankful that there was a hear snippets of conversations, like “I love controversial topic like this for us to your nail polish!” and “Ugh, I need to debate about, because I would have copy someone’s math homework…” gone through high school thinking Whether they’re complaints or just that I spent four years talking about random remarks, everything blends what was on TV every week, which into mindless chatter, and you wonteachers I really hated for giving der where our brains have gone. Up me so much homework, and which until Proposition 8 was passed, I person I was harboring a vendetta was sure high school conversation against for making an easily-miscouldn’t get any more inane and borinterpreted comment about me. ing.

It was almost like magic, how all Obviously, I was wrong. Some these students were suddenly talkpeople were raving about it the day ing about the real current events goafter, others were irate over its pasing in our country, and not whatever sage, and some just didn’t care. Bewas on MTV last night. For once, fore I knew it, the fifth of November we weren’t jabbering on about the had become a revolutionary day. commonplace things we talk about Two events on Facebook made a blip on the long list of requests I usually Graphic by LAUREN WONG daily—we were talking about something worth thinking about. delete: “WEAR BLUE ON FRIDAY POLITICAL NETWORKING On Nov. 5, students Now, notice how I was talkIF YOU LIKE PROP 8” and “WEAR voiced their opinions online and off. ing in the past tense? Yeah, that’s RED ON FRIDAY IF YOU HATE because I’m referring to something that hapPROP 8.” Heck, there was even a “Wear RED, The day after the fifth was astounding. A pened before, something I wish will happen WHITE, and BLUE if you support America” number of students were silently but flagrantly again. What happens when Proposition 8 is event for those who wanted to calm the growexpressing their opinions with their clothes. taken to the California Supreme Court? What ing tension between the two opposing factions.

Sure, the day was just another fleeting one, but happens then? All I can say is: our voices were I was so stunned by this. I never knew our I could feel sparks in the air and yes, I could heard. Let them be heard again. peers could be so passionate about something smell the teen spirit. It was a momentous day, like this—something that affects our families, knowing that students were coming together cxu@theapachepowwow.com our schools, and our communities. I figured, under their beliefs to voice their opinions for since this was something we couldn’t vote on, we’d just gripe about it and move on. Boy, was I wrong. The Facebook events went viral; almost a thousand people were attending them, and the Walls were flooded with posts, with people voicing their beliefs about Proposition 8.

By CHRISTINE XU

Please Don’t Hate, Cogitate spreading our personal beliefs like viruses, and misguided revolutionaries, willing to put down others for a worthy cause.

And that’s where the situation truly turns ugly. What begins as a harmless debate soon escalates into a full-fledged war, each side

the unyielding; when patience is pushed to the limit, retaliation feels like a necessity. The reStaff Writer maining lashouts are responses to the fear of failure, provoking the need to defend a nowI am the most tolerant person you will jeopardized pride at any cost. ever meet. I am very, very tolerant. I believe But even in warfare, there are rules. The that every opinion merits a fundamental reGeneva Conventions made sure of this, spect—especially when it belongs clearly defining unacceptable battle to me. I’m more than happy to listen conduct and ensuring a basic level of to what you have to say, provided human decency in military combat. that you aren’t an ignorant, closedAnd yet that civility, still present in minded bigot, which you must be if the worst of scenarios, doesn’t always we don’t see eye to eye. But I still extend to matters as simple as a minor appreciate your ideas! In fact, I’ll disagreement. We fight tooth and claw accept anybody’s views as long as to defend our beliefs, regardless of who they are more or less the same as gets hurt. A passion for personal values mine. And if you dare to contradict is admirable, certainly, but not when me, well, I guess that speaks for itit is channeled into anger and unjustiself. If you want to be a moron, go fied hatred. If we lose sight of personal ahead. Nobody’s stopping you. Accharacter, winning the argument won’t tually...no. I can’t let this go. Why change a thing; the battle is already don’t you just admit you’re wrong? lost.

Huh? Yeah, dummy, I’m talking to I think we could all learn a thing you! or two from the patient child, the one And thus ensues a typical diswho doesn’t scream and throw a fit to cussion on a controversial topic.

From not-so-civil discourse to Graphic by LAUREN WONG get his daily portion of milk and cookies. Name calling does not show matuthe minefield of online forums, I’M RIGHT! YOU’RE WRONG! This is so rity, moral superiority, or any positive it doesn’t take long for the verbal obvious that we shouldn’t even be arguing about it. quality we hope to impress upon our onslaught to begin. Nothing is offlaunching a volley of insults and harsh lanopposition; it only proves that we have a serilimits; affronts to religion (or lack of it), inguage, piercing arrows that quickly cut to the ous need for a time-out. There will always be sults to intelligence, and condescending pity core. No more polite disagreement, no more people who will refuse to budge on certain isare all fair game. Yes, we sure have a warped courteous rebuttals; the personal attack is the sues, remaining permanently resolute, and the sense of tolerance, a twisted notion that all of new weapon of choice. When even the most sooner we learn to accept that, the better. Even the offensive ideals belong exclusively to the logical argument fails to crush an opponent’s if their perspectives never waver for an instant, other side. Perhaps we’re under the impression stubborn defenses, straightforward nastiness is our dignity will still be intact—and surely that that the ingrained morals of our upbringing a sure way to find chinks in a seemingly imwill count for something. are the essential truth; those poor, uneducated penetrable wall. Part of it stems from aggravasouls who disagree with them must be taught tion, the frustration in attempting to persuade nmathog@theapachepowwow.com otherwise! We are propaganda missionaries,

By NURIA MATHOG

TCID:

November 2008

OPINION

theapachepowwow.com

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D-E-L-I-R-I-U-M

expresses the chaos to be found in the complex emotions in life, or rather, the way life should be.

Borrowing Kate Chopin’s philosophy, I pity the happy. I pity those who have ensconced themselves in a siege of perpetual delight because they cannot know the delirium of life that they are missing out on.

From an early Graphic by LAUREN WONG age, we are taught to HE LOOKS DELIRIOUS But, like the rest of us, he’s pursue happiness. Hapjust enjoying everything from happiness to sadness. piness, vague as it may be, has always been interpreted as the ultimate

By SEAN MAROONGROGE goal, or the purpose to life. However, I like to Guest Writer believe that the founding fathers of our nation who coined the phrase had more in mind than “She was moved by a kind of commiseraa nation full of ceaselessly happy citizens. I tion...a pity for that colorless existence like to believe that they set such a lofty goal which never uplifted its possessor beyond knowing that in our attempts to reach such the region of blind contentment, in which a paradise, we would invariably meet other no moment of anguish ever visited her emotions, such as fear, exasperation, and hope, soul, in which she would never have the along the way. After all, getting lost along the taste of life’s delirium.” path to happiness constitutes most of life’s -Kate Chopin’s The Awakening experiences, and we learn more from its wild bends than we do from its beaten roads. The “Delirium” in common usage indicates gift of life is strewn along the trail for us to a state of disorientation or hallucination. It

A Single Stone Creates A Thousand Cracks

By LAUREN WONG & EMILY YANG Staff Writers

One moment. In just one moment, years’ worth of bullying culminated in a tragedy that shocked Vasquez High School and the world around it. On Monday, Oct. 20, Jeremiah Lasater shot himself after deciding that the daily taunts and physical abuse he suffered were not worth enduring any longer.

A 6’5’’, 14-year-old boy on the JV football team, Lasater could have easily defended himself from any of his peers. At first, he did, but after years of getting in trouble, his feelings of defeat gradually escalated as he grew tired of fighting against the people who continued to put him down.

After Lasater’s tragic and unforeseen death, a few students that had been bullying another student apologized for their behavior. But why does it take something as dramatic and startling as a suicide for us to realize that bullying is wrong? At the time, the students who taunted, poked, and teased Lasater most likely did not understand the extent to which their petty comments and actions would affect him—and neither do we.

Surely, we realize deep, deep down that all of our negative little comments, when put together, have the ability to destroy. But this realization does not surface until something disquieting comes up and shakes our world, forcing us to actually see.

One of the more tragic elements of Lasater’s case was that hardly anybody knew about his suffering; much of the school personnel claimed not to have known about the bullying that had been going on. Containing the mental abuse inside his head, Lasater kept the awful secret to himself until it eventually magnified to a dangerous level that he

TCID:

could bear no longer. Like Lasater, we may keep cruel taunts and criticisms to ourselves in shame or defeat, or feel that an expression of our pain may not generate any results. But the pain only proliferates when we keep these secrets to ourselves and let them destroy us from within.

Likewise, every time we call someone a name or jokingly insult him or her, it still hurts. Things that we may consider trivial or easily dismissed may in fact sting, festering in the hearts of our victims. What we need to realize is that almost every taunt we make has some basis in truth—when we call someone stupid, that person must have done something at least somewhat unintelligent; when we ridicule someone’s outfit, there must be something about it that seems abnormal. We may not notice the bigger picture at the time when we are laughing at someone, but all of our trite comments have the potential to intensify in effect with time and frequency.

Why do we need to put others down to make ourselves feel better? “You purchased the jacket I wanted from Urban Outfitters; therefore, I’ll explain how disgusting it looks on you.” This temporary relief from our own pain when we bully others is just that—temporary. When we taunt or abuse others, even for the most “harmless” reasons, we don’t realize how much pain we can cause and instead focus on that one gratifying instant when we make others miserable for our own happiness. Bullying is like a drug, each high addicting us to further torments. We may think that our little taunts last for only one moment, but that is all it takes for a 14-yearold boy to take his life. One moment. lwong@theapachepowwow.com eyang@theapachepowwow.com

find, in its ups and downs and winding curves.

It is not, as many people believe, waiting at the destination.

We only truly live because of intermittent periods of distress. Of the several projects, tests and assignments meted out by your teachers, which ones stick out in your mind?

It is no coincidence that memories of the high scores that you received without much effort are loosely scattered in a sea of late nights caused by procrastination and seemingly endless group projects. From trying times, we learn and grow. From resting on our laurels, we languish.

Moreover, a life of bliss is an oxymoron in itself. Eternal optimists pride themselves in being able to find joy at every street corner, but if that’s so, then what distinguishes one street from any other? The days meld together into a warm fondue of ecstasy, but that’s just it. The only thing left is ecstasy. Rose-tinted spectacles blind people to the natural color that objects are meant to be. Suppressing harsh realities is not living—it is merely a deluded form of co-existing.

The reverse holds true as well. Those who bemoan their existence and curse their fate every morning, afternoon, and evening miss not only the variety of life, but even the consolation prize that is senseless bliss, which, although it may not sound like much, is still a bit better than senseless depression. Only a bit, though.

Granted life, whether by some omnipotent being or stroke of luck, humans are born with a range of emotions and feelings. From fervent love to heart-wrenching misery, man was given a chance to experience the world in its entirety, and people who relinquish their ability to feel pain (or pleasure) foolishly reject the variation and uncertainty that makes life worth living.

After all, what is happiness without sadness? Peace without distress? Light without darkness? Life consists of spectrums of feeling, and embracing emotions on one end allows you to reach farther along the other.

So experience each emotion to a dizzying degree. The combination of elation that rockets you to the heavens and the dejection that drags you back down is what makes a life worth having. Embrace your feelings to the fullest extent, so that you don’t miss the day which you try so desperately to seize.

Reacquaint yourself with the passions to which you have been numbed. Bring feeling back into your life, and let emotions sweep you into a land of tears, unicorns, green monsters, and singing angels. Let the commander Love and his captain Joy do battle against the gray goblins of Disappointment and the black beast of Hatred in your heart. Appreciate the entire range that you are capable of sensing, and in short, cherish the delirium that is life. smaroongroge@theapachepowwow.com

Cut the Angst. It’s Time to Give Thanks

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What am I thankful for? The fact that I W Wh live ivee in a community as great as Arcadia.

A single drive through a run-down urban s area makes my life seem like absolute paradise. I have all four limbs attached, a guaranteed meal every evening, and something better than a moldy cardboard box to sleep in at night. The things I take for granted are truly a privilege...and my gratitude is unparalleled.

-Nuria Mathog

Ahh yes, it’s that time of year again.

Time to honor the majestic bird that Benjamin Franklin wanted to be our national mascot. A scrappy fighter, a symbol of peace and prosperity, its magnificent call has awed Americans from the pilgrims to the present. Yes, let us all gather round to celebrate...the turkey?

Seems to me that poor Ben was struck by lightning one too many times.

-Andres Delgado

Thanksgiving is about families getting together to engage in heartwarming relationship-building activities. That’s why my family always participates in the time honored American tradition of buying everything in sight on Black Friday. We trade in saying grace at the dinner table for buying breakfast together at 5 a.m., and instead of reminiscing on heartfelt family experiences, my family lovingly recounts the scuffles and last-minute bargains we landed ourselves at the end of the day. Thanksgiving for my family isn’t about the traditional turkey-and-cornucopia feast; we channel our gratefulness through spending every penny we have with each other. I love my family...and my digital camera, my new laptop, my iPod...

-Christine Xu

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful one ful ul for on truly special person. Throughout the hee past 117 years, he is the one in my life who has shape shaped my growth and defined who I am today. today toda Though I don’t get to spend much time with him, every precious minute we have is always full of laughter and fun. Thank you very much, Santa Claus.

-Bill Zhou Spending time with family? Nah. ah. GetGe ting to cram tons of good food into my mouth mouth?

Maybe. But what I really love about ut Thanksgiving is that I get a beautiful four-day day week weekend to sleep in. Save the turkey and the stuffing for later; I need to get some shuteye ASAP. So, thanks, Pilgrims, for going through all your hardships in sixteen-whatever year you came to America, because now I get to have an extra twenty-four hours of quality time with my pillow.

-Emily Yang Korean Barbeque. Kimchi. Rice. ce. Some Sometimes, my Korean-American Thanksgiving nksgivin nksgiving dinner includes chicken to be thematic.

Yes, matic. c. Y Yes chicken, not turkey. Regardless of wha what we eat, I always enjoy a holiday that celebrates the overconsumption of food with the loosening of pants and regular visits to the bathroom scale to see how much weight can be gained from one meal.

-Kayla Pang

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The aabsolute best thing about Thanksgivspending time with family, especially ing is sp spe out-of-state relatives that pinch your those out cheeks aas though you were five years old and drool over how tall you’ve supposedly grown.

Even better is being able to babysit the children bouncing off the walls from too much pie, cranberry sauce, and turkey while the old folks chat endlessly about how great it is to see everyone at this truly celebratory time of year. I only look forward to the winter holidays, when we can all exerience this same joy and feeling of togetherness once more.

-Lauren Wong

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November 2008

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ADVERTISEMENTS 7 ATTENTION ALL WRITERS & ARTISTS

Submit your pieces to H6 for a chance to be published in the upcoming issues!

PERFORMING ARTS Got Talent? AFOB: Arcadia Represents

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By KATHERINE BAY

Staff Writer

November 2008

By EILEEN CHOW

Staff Writer

For those who are interested in flaunting their talent, the Advanced Drama Department (ADD) is hosting a talent show called Thursday Theatre. The idea of having a talent show was brought up at an ADD board meeting. As a result, Thursday Theatre debuted in the Little Theatre on Oct. 30.

All of ADD decided that Thursday Theatre would be an effective fundraiser while giving students a chance to perform their inimitable talents in front of their friends and peers. “Thursday Theatre is a great way for students to show their unique abilities,” said senior Torie Jee. Typically, the ADD officers, who are composed of seniors Shae Palic (president), Hanna Lee (vice president), Derek Tran (secretary), Iris Guo (treasurer), and Torie Jee (historian), hold auditions on the first Thursday of each month during lunch. On the second week of the month, the officers post the final cast list. The show itself is on the last Thursday of the month and usually consists of four well-prepared performers.

Senior Cara Failer said of last month’s talent show, “Because Thursday Theatre was such a new concept, we did not have such a big turnout, but it was not as disappointing as we thought it would be.” The drama department hopes to turn Thursday Theatre into a monthly tradition until the end of the year.

However, due to the recent production of “Fools,” the auditions for the talent show for the month of November were delayed, although Thursday Theatre’s monthly routine will resume for the month of December.

The purpose of Thursday Theatre is for students to show their unique talents to others and boost their confidence as well as to raise money for the drama department to help purchase and assemble new sets, costumes, props, and lights. The money accumulated from each show also goes towards the funding for future competitions and the three productions ADD presents each year.

The performances vary each month and can range from breakdancing from the Arcadia B-Boys to monologues and scenes from members of ADD and Theatre Arts 1 and 2 to diverse types of dancing, singing, or even instrument playing. “Last month, we had a boy genius who could tell [us] the exact day of the week when [someone] asked him a random date,” said Hanna. Torie added, “There are many talented students at AHS that are yet to be discovered and we’re hoping for them to perform on stage during Thursday Theatre.” Practically anyone with a unique talent is welcome to audition; the possibilities are endless.

As Thursday Theatre gets more wellknown, ADD hopes that the show will grow and more people will participate. “It’s great to see and appreciate different talents you usually don’t expect from people,” Hanna said. Thursday Theatre gives all of the aspiring actors, musicians, comedians, and dancers a new opportunity to break out of their shell and release their talent to their peers in an environment filled with people who want to enjoy a show. Who knows? They might be the next Brad Pitt or Keira Knightley.

The 55th annual Arcadia Festival of Bands (AFOB) paraded through the streets of Arcadia on Saturday, Nov. 22. Over 40 top marching bands from throughout Southern California participated in this invitation-only event. Bands from many different areas, including Mt. Carmel, San Diego, and Rancho Bernado, appeared in the procession. The band review portion of AFOB was held on Baldwin Avenue from 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Following the parade, the bands all gathered at the Salter Stadium at AHS for the awards ceremony and the percussion performances.

The day ended with a field show finale at Citrus College.

AFOB originally started out as a fundraiser for the Arcadia Music Club, reaching its 55th year this past weekend. Now, AFOB is a traditional event for the AHS Band and Colorguard as well as the district’s middle schools. Because AFOB is the invitational band review, “Our music directors invite or choose the marching bands that compete,” said Music Club second vice-president Lawrence Pang.

Preparing for AFOB demanded complete dedication and a whole lot of effort from its different performing groups. Colorguard captain senior Kritika Jinagouda said that their practices leading up to the event were “as usual, two days a week: Tuesdays from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. and [also] Wednesdays with the band.” Band also had demanding and laborious preparations, with members of Band at school by 7:40 a.m. to practice marching on the field. Afterwards, the “parade band [went] to [the] street to practice marching; [the] non-parade band [went] on [the] field to practice techniques,” said freshman Meagan Chang. The parade band also held practices from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. every Wednesday.

On the day of AFOB, members of Band, Colorguard, and Percussion marched along to the song “The Southerner” by Russell Alexander. Band and Colorguard performed the field show of “Hemispheres,” which “focus[ed] on the ideas of [the] left brain and right brain,” said band member freshman Alison Fu. Colorguard also skillfully executed their routine with flags, sabers, and rifles.

“It’s such a fun event to be in every year, and it’s also exciting to see other bands compete,” Alison said of AFOB. A mixture of emotions could be found in the different participating members of AFOB. Colorguard Captain junior Katherine Chin said that she enjoyed AFOB because “it [gave] Arcadia a chance to welcome schools from many different locations. It also allow[ed] AHS to have a chance to show its hard work and dedication in the music program.”

The effort that Colorguard, Band, and Percussion put into practicing for AFOB paid off, as the 55th annual parade and band review drew to a close.

Kritika was happy that AFOB went flawlessly, saying that “This year’s show [was] a lot of fun, and we worked really hard” for it to be a success.

kbay@theapachepowwow.com

echow@theapachepowwow.com

Photo by JESSICA CHEE

PERFECTLY IN TUNE Band and Colorguard

“AFOB was great. It’s such a satisfying feeling to know that all our hard work paid off.”

-Senior Roger Pan

both give a stunning performance.

Photo by JESSICA CHEE

DRUMMING TO THE BEAT The drumline marches in unison.

Photo by JESSICA CHEE

SMILING BRIGHTLY Senior Beverly Chiang tiptoes with grace.

“AFOB is a great experience for music-lovers and young kids because it contains the best Sounthern California bands. It’s a Photo by JESSICA CHEE place for fun and musical TWIRLING TOWARD THE SKY excellence.”

Members of Colorguard twirl their flags -Senior Nathan Wai flawlessly during the festival.

Photo by JESSICA CHEE

THE BAND GOES MARCHING ON The band keeps in tune during AFOB and marches throughout the streets.

Background by KHEE CHAN

November 2008

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PERFORMING ARTS

Torie Jee, In the Spotlight her emotions, and she simply lets go and feels free on stage when she performs. Torie said that Staff Writer “drama is sometimes a nice getaway from [her] Senior Torie Jee took an interest in acting ordinary life and can take away all [her] stress at a young age but started drama freshman year and responsibilities.”

Torie was elected historian and publicity when she enrolled in the Theatre manager in the Advanced Drama Council from Arts I class at AHS. She soon a small class election. As the publicity manfell in love with it and enager, she helps get the word out about all tered the Advanced Drathe ADD productions around the school. ma Department (ADD) As the historian, she helps ADD cast junior year. Since then, members record moments and memoshe has been featured ries for them to cherish for the years in two school producto come. tions and recently Torie’s greatest acting accomportrayed an elderly plishment has been making it into townsperson in this Advanced Drama. Ever since she was year’s production of a freshman, she strove to be chosen as “Fools.” She takes a member of ADD, so when she was acting very seriously accepted junior year, she was absoluteand focuses her efforts ly ecstatic. Torie said, “There was never on eventually becomanything in particular that got me intering an actress. ested in drama. I just am. I love the feeling Torie enjoys drama of performing in front of an audibecause “[she] ence, I love hearing the roars of Photo Courtesy of ANTHONY MASTERS can slip into someone else’s DRAMA QUEEN The aspiring actress the crowd and the cacophony of shoes—some- flashes a bright smile for the camera. their applause, I love pretending to live someone else’s life, one else’s life—and rid [her]self of any of [her] current is- love hearing the audience’s reaction—I just sues when [she’s] that character.” In drama, the love it all!”

While rehearsing for upcoming producactors have the ability to transform themselves into various characters who express emotions tions, Torie also takes on the task of juggling such as sadness, happiness, anger, and disgust. AP English, Speech and Debate, Chemistry, Torie has mastered the art of being attuned to AP Comparative Government and Politics, and

By LAUREEN MA

Staff Writer

Photo by DEREK TRAN

GRANDMA AT WORK Torie gets in character for the Fools production.

Calculus. She takes everything in stride: with her positive attitude, enthusiasm, and signature 100-watt smile. Torie said, “I love this year’s Advanced Drama’s cast and we’re all very much a family. I am proud to be in their cast as they’re all wonderful actors and people.” lma@theapachepowwow.com

and perform one or two of their dance numbers. The event lasts for two days. The members of Any student who comes to school before Orchesis perform on the second the bell rings surely knows that it is incredibly day.

Having been invited for hard to see an Orchesis member chatting with her friends or doing last minute homework in the past three years, Orchesis the morning. This is because of Orchesis’ con- dancers are familiar with the sistent morning rehearsals, which it holds not protocol. Using the event as a only for one semester but for the entire year. bonding experience, the dance The dancers’ dedicated hard work goes toward company attends the first day preparing for events such as the Charity Show, of the festival with no perforthe May Show, dance festivals, and competi- mances scheduled. The team as a whole watches the other tions.

On Dec. 5, Orchesis members have a very dance groups perform and, in special invitational that they are looking for- the process, become closer as ward to: the Santa Ana Dance Festival. Held a team.

Photo by SHIVANI REDDY On the second day, the at Santa Ana High School, the festival invites a FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT Orchesis myriad of high school dance companies to come members of Orchesis will perrehearses for the upcoming dance festival. form a dance previously groups’ choreography and style.” The returndebuted during the Homecom- ing seniors also feel grateful that they are once ing Assembly. Along with that again invited; senior Ashley Young cannot wait number, the Orchesis dancers to “demonstrate just how good the Arcadia Orwill also be debuting a student- chesis is this year.” choreographed routine.

Though the event is highly anticipated by This event also provides the Orchesis members and success is definite, Orchesis Dance Company with junior Katreina Layfield does have some conthe opportunity to rehearse for cerns. She said that it is difficult for them to the bigger show that it will be “transfer their double-sided routine into a perhosting this year. Being able to formance for a one-sided audience.” However, practice in front of real audi- she seems quite confident that a group of this ence will give the team a more talent will be able to pull it off with ease. realistic atmosphere to work Despite all the obstacles that will come in with. its way, Orchesis is ready to put in extra hours Junior Meghan Lim seems to perfect these routines with a very set goal in Photo by SHIVANI REDDY quite enthusiastic to perform at mind—to amaze the audience of the Santa Ana DANCE, DANCE Orchesis members perform the festival, stating that it is “a Dance Festival. good opportunity for [Orchesis] with attitude during a dance showing. to observe and learn from other swong@theapachepowwow.com Staff Writer

Orchestra’s New Concertmaster

By MARISSA XING

Orchesis Dances Its Way to Santa Ana

By SAMMI WONG

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As a junior, Jonathan Huang faces stress from AP classes, SATs, and late nights of studying, just like everyone else.

What sets him apart is his musical talent and responsibility as concertmaster for Orchestra 3. His experiences with participating in school orchestras since the fourth grade, as well as additional orchestras outside of school, have prepared him for the job. With not only his personal success but also the success of the 98 members of Orchestra depending on him, Jonathan still manages to stay calm and juggle all of his responsibilities with ease.

As concertmaster, Jonathan is responsible for tuning and warming up the orchestra every day. This might sound easy, but in reality, it takes a lot of patience and effort to coordinate all of the members of Orchestra 3. After the tuning and warming up, Jonathan carefully rearranges the details of the music “such as bowings and fingering so that [the] concerts accurately reflect the amount of hard work [that Orchestra 3] puts into [the] rehearsals.”

With Jonathan leading 98 people in a crowded room, all with their own agenda, there is bound to be problems. However, Jonathan said that “one of the main problems [he has] is trying to get everyone to be quiet when [they] tune.” While Jonathan takes suggestions about the music, there is no one else to assist him during the tuning and warming up; the finished product heard during concerts is the culmination of his hard work and the hard work of all of the orchestra members.

Aside from perfoming in concerts during the year, Jonathan and the members of Orchestra 3 also participate in “a week of music camp before school begins, a carwash, a benefit dinner...and a movie night.”

He also mentioned that “every four years, [Orchestra takes] a week-long ‘vacation’ during spring break; last year, Orchestra went to Florida.”

Before his position as concertmaster, Jonathan participated in other orchestras outside of school, including the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra (PYSO), Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO), and the All-Southern Orchestra. However, with his busy junior year schedule, he decided to not take part in these orchestras this year.

While Jonathan’s responsibilities as concertmaster may sound like hard work, he regards orchestra as “a period where [he] can relax, forget all about [his] AP stress… and concentrate on just playing music.” To Jonathan, the things he loves the most about orchestra are “the trips and activities that [they] have every year because [that’s when he gets] to hang out and do fun activities with [the] people [he] knows.”

Although Jonathan enjoys his role as concertmaster, he said that “it is not as easy as it seems.” mxing@theapachepowwow.com

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FEATURES

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Five Thanksgiving Myths Busted

By JOANNA SHEN Staff Writer

Thanksgiving: the day we can gather around enormous plates of turkey, stuffing and whatever mouth watering delights on the table, the day when your mom will let you have that second helping instead of prodding you to exercise, and the day we cherish our memories and exclaim how grateful we are to have our families. Hold it. Before we invoke any more happy memories and drool, the truth about Thanksgiving must be told. Since long before, we have always had the notion that Thanksgiving was about warmth and family, a holiday originating from the happy Pilgrims who landed on Plymouth Rock. The truth however, is far from it. Let us bust these myths before you y reach for that turkey leg.

The Pilgrims were the first to celT ebrate rat Thanksgiving. We have always given the credit of being able to gorge ourselves with he cred food to the Pilgrims, when in fact, Texans from Elizario held a similar celebration 23 years before them as a reward for their grueling trip of 350 miles. In addition, the Pilgrim Thanksgiving was held over a period of three days, while ours lasts for a mere night.

The T Pilgrims wore black and white Th suits with wit buckled hats and the Indians

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Turkey Trivia

wore loincloths. Since elementary school, we have always crafted our Pilgrims to wear black clothing and pointy hats with golden buckles attached. Contrary to popular belief, the Pilgrims wore green, beige, and gray most of the time. Indians were, shockingly, fully clothed

Photo Courtesy of kidsdomain.com

PILGRIMS The founders of Thanksgiving were not what we think.

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ass to br brave brav the snowy winters of Massachusetts. sett The Th Pilgrims ate turkey, triggering the endless endle tradition of turkey on Thanksgiving we w have today. They didn’t have po-

Staff Writer

Every year, when Thanksgiving rolls around, thoughts of Thanksgiving dinners and their main course—turkey—are common. But do you know which turkeys taste the best? What turkeys have to do with bowling? And what’s a snood, anyway? Here are some fun facts about Thanksgiving’s favorite bird: -Turkeys’ heads change color when they get excited.

-Turkey breeding has caused turkey breasts to grow so large that the turkeys fall over.

-Contrary to popular belief, the turkey on your table is not to blame for the drowsiness often felt after dinner; instead, studies show that the carbohydrate-rich dinner may be the culprit.

-About 250 years ago, turkeys were marched in herds to markets in England. They wore booties to protect their feet.

-The red-pink fleshy growth on a turkey’s upper neck and head is called the caruncle, while the long, red, fleshy area that grows from the base of the beak and over it is called a snood.

-Turkeys detect movement about 100 yards away and have a field of vision of almost 270°.

-In bowling, scoring three strikes in a row is called a turkey.

-Age determines the taste and texture of a turkey. Large, older males are ideal, as tom (young male) meat is stringy. However, older hens have tougher meat than younger ones.

-Only males gobble; females make a clicking noise.

-Turkeys are very curious—large groups of domesticated turkeys have been seen with their beaks pointed to the sky on rainy days. ccheung@theapachepowwow.com

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jshen@theapachepowwow.com

Can’t Make Meals? Check Out These Deals

By ALWYNA LAU

By CELESTE CHEUNG

tatoes, cranberries or stuffing, let alone turkey.

Their dishes were most likely filled with deer and whatever vegetables they had harvested.

After all,, it was the harvest they celebrated, nott the warmth of family. wa w Sweet potatoes are just starchy goodS Sw ness with no health value. Not only is the tantalizing ng sweet sw potato rich in antioxidants, but it is also filled with fiber and potassium. This is just one of the many Thanksgiving dishes that our blood pressures welcome.

A turkey dinner assures you a good night’s sleep.

Although it is true that turkey ssl contains tryptophan, an amino acid that is est sential to regulating sleep, all foods contain some level of tryptophan. Cheddar cheese, a popular dairy product, contains a higher level of tryptophan than turkey. The real culprits of the sleeping mystery are the massive amounts of stuffing, bread, potatoes, and pie we intake on Thanksgiving Day. A full stomach added on to a boisterous night is enough to make anyone sleep like a baby.

Although the Pilgrims’ importance may have diminished in our minds just a tad, it is still reassuring to know that Thanksgiving will always be a tradition in our country, regardless of its origin.

Staff Writer

It takes time, effort, and savvy cooking skills to whip up a Thanksgiving feast with all the savory trimmings. With our hectic and demanding schedules and tight budgets, we fear these obstacles will prevent us from being able to cook a lavish dinner for our families.

Have no fear because this year you can go to the following restaurants and markets to purchase Thanksgiving meals, complete with side dishes and dessert.

Restaurants: Marie Callender’s: This just-like-Grandma-used-to-make restaurant offers several types of Thanksgiving feasts. The Ultimate Turkey & Ham Feast includes a whole roasted turkey and honey glazed ham drizzled with pineapple sauce. Appetizing side dishes include apple-sage stuffing, roasted yams topped with cranberry streusel, mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, steamed vegetables, cornbread, Marie’s coffee, and a choice of a whole pumpkin or apple pie. This whole dinner needs to be reheated for only three hours. This giant feast is only $149.99 and can be ordered from their website or at the restaurant.

Marie Callender’s 820 S. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007 (626) 446-5229 Mimi’s Café: This cozy café located in Monrovia is another place where you can pick up a holiday meal. Their to-go meals include a whole turkey, mashed potatoes with Mimi’s home-made gravy, whipped sweet potatoes, cornbread stuffing, a fresh medley of vegetables, cranberry relish, Mimi’s signature bread basket, and a whole pumpkin pie. These convenient meals only need to be reheated for 45 minutes. Order them for $79.99 at their restaurant at: Mimi’s Cafe 500 W. Huntington Dr.

Monrovia, CA 91016 (626) 359-9191 The Boston Market: Contrary to the popular belief, Boston Market is not really a market but a chain of restaurants that offer premade Thanksgiving banquets. These banquets serve up to twelve people for very low prices.

The Whole Turkey Banquet includes an eleven-pound turkey, spinach-artichoke dip with crackers, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable stuffing, cranberry walnut relish, two cornbread loaves, and two pies (apple gallete and pumpkin). There are also spiral sliced ham and boneless turkey breast options. Boston Market also has a la carte pricing for all their banquet items. The meals require around two hours to reheat. This $84.99 banquet can be bought at: The Boston Market 3733 E. Foothill Blvd.

Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 351-1636 Markets: Gelson’s, The Super Market: Gelson’s offers a whole variety of appetizing holiday meals, such as roasted goose and boneless rib roast in addition to their Jumbo Turkey Dinner, which serves twelve. This huge gourmet dinner includes a roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, a vegetable medley, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and gingered yam soufflé. The meal requires two hours to reheat. They also have a additional a la carte items such as caramelized pumpkin trifle for sale.

Gelson’s, The Super Market 245 East Green St. Pasadena, CA 91101 (626)535-0190 With all these pre-made delicious feast options at your fingertips, you can pretend you slaved over the stove for hours and amaze your guests with your “cooking expertise.” alau@theapachepowwow.com

November 2008

What Happened to Turkey Day?

By GLORIA LIOU Staff Writer

When we were little we took Thanksgiving day as it was, a day to give thanks to those around us and everything we had.

There was nothing to distract us: no college applications, no project due after break, no shopping sales to go to, no Christmas gifts to buy. Holidays were simply times to enjoy in bliss, when we were thankful to have another day in the comforts of our own homes.

How has Thanksgiving seemed to lose its luster? Have our times changed without us realizing or are we simply living a separate life in Arcadia’s bubble? As it stands, we are a few days away from that fateful holiday that we used to savor, but it feels as though the day will never come. We’ve breezed past Halloween and moved into November with sunny weather and 80 degree temperatures.

Without autumn weather and the piles of red and orange leaves, does Thanksgiving really fit in our picture?

Even countrywide media reflects the nonchalant passing of Thanksgiving. Our television sets are lit with commercials advertising early Christmas shopping from stores trying to reel in those affected by our current economic distress. The mall is ridden with sales in every store. The message: forget Thanksgiving! Snatch this opportunity to buy cheap gifts and cross everyone off your list!

We now know of “Black Friday” and eat hurriedly on Thanksgiving to beat the rush at Fry’s or Best Buy. We stand in line all night for great deals on electronics because it’s just another opportunity to stretch our dollar and get more bang for our buck.

I wonder how the Pilgrims and Native Americans would feel to watch us plow straight through their beloved dinner of thanks. We no longer cut out paper cornucopias to color brown, or have parties in class to celebrate their stories and our lives.

We can revive that holiday spirit, however, and reignite that excitement we used to feel for a fantastic turkey dinner with family.

Do not allow Christmas to steal Thanksgiving’s thunder: take the time to thank everyone that has touched your life. The time is not just another four-day weekend; it is a day to cherish every moment and savor every bite. gliou@theapachepowwow.com

Photo Courtesy of momtomom.org

MIXED FEELINGS

Turkey Day just doesn’t feel the same anymore.

November 2008

FEATURES

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11

Twilight’s Little Known and Underrated Cousins

By MARISSA XING Staff Writer

The Twilight saga has been all the rage across the U.S., from being on Amazon.com’s Top 100 Customer Favorites and #1 on the American Library Association’s 2007 Teens’ Top Ten list to being a top seller in bookstores like Borders and Barnes & Nobles.

While Stephanie Meyer’s characters Bella and Edward bloomed in the reader’s mind, other authors grasped this vampire fantasy fad and developed their own stories as well. Here are a few others that have been popular among the teens, as well as a few that are comparable, but often overlooked.

The Blue Bloods novels by Melissa De La Cruz: Blue Bloods, Masquerade, and Revelations When Schuyler and Bliss find out they’re vampires, the reasons for the weird symptoms (blue veins and cravings for raw meat) are explained. Something is hunting the blue

bloods, and the Conclave isn’t going to expose it beyond the fact that the Silver Bloods are just a conspiracy. But when two of Schuyler’s classmates turn up dead, she, her best friend Oliver, and the charming blue blood Jack Force are determined to get to the bottom of it. From high-fashioned NYC to mysterious Venice, they trace clues to find out more about the Silver Bloods and how to stop them. De La Cruz spins a page-turning tale that will keep the reader guessing and craving for more.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr Rule #3 Don’t stare at invisible fairies.

Rule #2 Don’t speak to invisible fairies.

Rule #1 Don’t ever attract their attention.

After years of living by these rules, Aislynn finds herself thrown into a world she desperately avoids. The summer king, Keenan, has sought his queen for centuries without avail and without her, summer would perish.

When he determines that Aislynn is the true queen, he pursues her at all costs, regardless of her plans or desires. Now Aislynn must face

the world she strives to avoid, having her best friend, her freedom, and everything else on the line. Marr creates a love story entwined with fantasy into her 21st century fairy tale.

Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schreiber: Vampire Kisses, Kissing Coffins, Vampireville, Dance with a Vampire, and The Coffin Club Raven Madison, a Gothic outcast in the Dullsville high, meets her prince charming on Halloween night. But there’s something strange about him; he never goes out in sunlight, is repelled by garlic and has imported soil from Romania. Raven and her best friend, Becky, are determined to find out whether or not he is truly a vampire. But along the way, Raven falls in love with her prince charming, Alexander. Their love blinds all their differences in this girl meets boy, girl falls in love with boy tale. But there is a twist. A power thirsty vampire, Jager, struggles to reveal the vampire society hidden in the nearby town, Hipsterville, while Raven and Alexander put everything at risk to stop him.

Touch Those New Nintendo? Gamers Rejoice!

Touch Screens

By AMY LEONG

practically a mini Wii.” He is thrilled about the new console and is ready to beat high scores on new games and take pictures with Promising the most up-to-date technolthe camera. Freshman Andrew Gunawan ogy, Nintendo is coming out with the new commented, “It’s a fascinating game conDSi and possibly the Wii HD in the upcomsole,” and he is counting down until the new ing years. Announced at Nintendo’s early system is released in America. fall conference, they are expected to include Besides revolutionizing the DS, there some extraordinary features that were lackare also rumors that Nintendo has decided to ing in the old versions, ex- panding on upgrade the Wii system with some features from the DS brand new components. According Lite and original Wii. to analyst Collin Sebastian at LazFor you video gamers ard Capital Markets, the alleged out there, expect the Wii HD will include “faster prounexpected. cessing, DVD capability and greatThe new DSi feaer storage,” creating even more tures a double screen amazing game play. enlarged by 17% as However, the well as a sleeker look. company, seeking to Both screens have add even finer aspects, touch capability, a is still undecided on the built-in camera, as well arrival date of these new as a 1.3 MP exterior game consoles. News camera, and allow mufrom What They Play sic playback. What’s tells that the transition is more, these “audio ensimilar to “the shift from hancements” are just Game Boy to Game Boy the beginning.

Advance” and the develThe Nintendo opment of High Definition DSi also provides exvisuals is sure to take tra memory, including a slot for an SD Photo Courtesy of nintendo.com some time. Also, Nintendo claims that this card that allows pictures to be taken on DSi Nintendo’s new edition to its game will be the next “true the camera and then console family is sure to be popular generation,” and plans to achieve the goal in viewed on the Wii with fans. making over $103 milconsole. Based on lion since the last Wii console. the current hardware, the DSi will include With the DSi coming out and the Wii a photo editing system, as well as a brandHD rumored for release, we know what kids new online shop, where Nintendo points will want in the next few holiday seasons. are used to purchase games. There is also a These game consoles are just the beginning; built-in browser, allowing gamers to downsoon, we will be able to explore even more load games on the DSi for a fun and easy innovative new technologies. experience.

Hardcore video gamer, Scott Kelly believes, “The DSi is a big improvement! It’s aleong@theapachepowwow.com Staff Writer

By GLORIA LIOU Staff Writer

What is it with our need to touch everything nowadays? We have iTouches, HP TouchSmart computers, cellphones that are half touch screen, cellphones that are fully touch screen, etc. As little kids, we were new to the world and needed to touch everything to explore the world. Since then, that desire has yet to fade and our most recent technological trends reflect that undying youth and curiosity.

Our technology is constantly taking great leaps forward towards perfecting the use of our senses, starting with our most used: touch.

The touch screen feature seems to have now become a part of standard design when producing cell phones and other personal electronics. We are now able to move icons with our own fingers, play games by simply touching the screen, type letters on imaginary keys, and literally drag files into the recycle bin.

Computers such as HP’s newest TouchSmart PC allow you to “Touch the future now,” summing up the path that technology has made for us. At first, the Jetsons’ futuristic lifestyle seemed out of reach and completely fictional; now, with the invention of these touchable screens, that future may not be as far away as “impossible.”

Now that we have achieved the illusion of feeling an actual icon and an actual digital picture, where do we go from here? Of course, there are other senses to fulfill and stimulate when sitting in front of a computer for a day straight. Thus is the natural progression of technology in this sense.

Although our sense of smell and taste have yet to be indulged, it seems fair to guess that developers are working on such projects as we speak. Until they are able to produce a synthetic smell of fresh flowers from a photograph online, however, we must be content with the ability to affect our screen’s images. gliou@theapachepowwow.com

Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare: The City of Bones and The City of Ashes Everything in 15-year old Clary Fray’s life is normal until she meets Jace, a boy who looks like an angel but acts like a jerk with strange tattoos and bizarre weapons. Not long after, Clary is thrown into Jace’s world, a place with demons, shadow hunters, witches and werewolves. First, an exiled shadow hunter named Valentine kidnaps her mother. Then she is attacked by demons and soon after, her best friend, Simon, turns into a werewolf. Through her journey to find her mother, she unexpectedly falls for Jace, only to learn that they are somewhat related ‘experiments’ created by Valentine. Clare has created a witty series that will have the reader on a ride they never want to get off.

These books are easily found in bookstores like Borders and Barnes & Nobles. Take some time and pick up a few, after reading the addicting Twilight saga, of course. mxing@theapachepowwow.com

Fearless: Swiftly Climbing the Charts

By JOANNA SHEN Staff Writer

After flying off shelves on Nov. 11, it is clear that Taylor Swift’s new album, Fearless, is a big hit.

The 18-year-old country sensation has risen from obscurity to ultimate fame in a matter of months. Fearless is another representation of her talent in songwriting and success as a singer.

Popular hits in the catchy album include “Love Story,” a Romeo and Juliet inspired fairytale that seems to be picture perfect, “Change,” an upbeat motivational song first introduced as part of the 2008 Olympics soundtrack, and “Forever and Always,” the nostalgic song about the infamous Joe Jonas breakup. Like many of her previous songs, the songs on this album are a fusion of country and pop, but without the techno and sound effects.

Fearless is the perfect album to listen to in the car because of its feel-good quality and fun essence. Swift’s explains that being “fearless” is that “you’re afraid but you jump anyway.”

Swift’s songs are inspired by real life events, both exciting and solemn. Her optimistic nature and ability to turn sorrowful moments into hit songs serves as the foundation for her success. Despite being a country singing sensation, Swift still manages to maintain a modest perspective, admitting that “her biggest pet peeve is people who feel they’re entitled to success and fame.” Because of her ability to relate to her audience in a sentimental and understanding manner, her fame has skyrocketed.

Although some songs do tend to share similar tunes and lyrics, Fearless is an album worth buying. I would recommend it to girls of all ages who have been through rough patches and to the sensitive guys hidden amongst the population too socially conscious to even consider buying the album. After all, we must brave life’s obstacles and eventually become fearless. jshen@theapachepowwow.com

12 Thanksgiving Tribute

theapachepowwow.com

November 2008

Letters To Our Teachers a tribute to the people who always make a difference

BILL CITRIN

By MICHAEL CHEN and YENTl IP

Staff Writers

Suppose the journalist groups of AHS are superheroes. The Arcadian is Captain America, producing quality yearbooks that highlight the best of each school year; the Pow Wow is Iron Man, creating an outstanding newspaper using little more than office supplies and technology from 1999; the Apache News is SpiderMan, informing and entertaining students through video but often swinging past time constraints to finish each episode. These groups are helmed by teachers who deserve more recognition than they receive, so we’d like to acknowledge the member of Apache News who rarely appears on the air yet contributes a great deal to the show.

Introducing Mr. Citrin, the Uncle Ben of Apache News, who has truly done far more than required by his job description.

We can honestly say that Mr. Citrin is one of the most underappreciated

teachers at Arcadia High. APN loves him, every Thursday for 12 minutes of air time? no doubt, but we often forget to let him Jonathan describes Mr. Citrin as “lenient know that. Most to the point where people aren’t aware, you can do whatever but APN holds you want with your afterschool classes imagination, but some e v e r y Tu e s d a y people take it too far,” a n d T h u r s d a y. and it may have been According to senior our imagination, but Jonathan Cheung there was a muffled from APN, the “ Tu c k e r ” i n t h e classes may last cough following his untill “6:00 p.m. statement. When on Tuesdays” and asked for examples, “ 11 : 0 0 p . m o n Jonathan laughed, Thursdays.” And “none of them will be Photo By YENTL IP able to be published in guess who needs to stay behind with us A MAN OF HIGH TOLERANCE As the the Pow Wow without every week? Lesser “Uncle” of APN, Mr. Citrin’s dedica- teachers getting mad teachers would have tion to his students is unwavering. or Citrin getting the just walked away, but not Mr. Citrin. He heat.” Thankfully, Mr. Citrin “never holds does not give up on us because he has a a grudge,” says senior David Gutierrez, high sense of tolerance, indeed. How many a member of Apache News; “he usually teachers are willing to stay till 11:00 p.m. tries to help someone finish up their project

rather than scold them for not finishing.”

Let’s face it. APN students are perhaps the rowdiest on campus. We have those rare moments of magical teamwork when we produce things that are mildly amusing, but aside from that, it’s like trying to tame squirrels with ADD. David best sums up the class as “hectic, profanity filled, but so fun.” Only in APN is “shove off” synonymous with “I love you.”

What we’re trying to say is thanks, Mr. Citrin, from all of us in APN. Thanks for putting up with our shenanigans. Thanks for staying till 11:00 p.m. on Thursdays when you could be treating your wife to a nice dinner instead. Thanks for grabbing us some food when we forget our lunch.

It’s times like these when our vocabulary fails us, and we don’t have the right words to express our gratitude. Just think of something really poetic and pretend that we said it.

she teaches and in passing that zeal on.

Her enthusiasm is evident everyday in her lessons and concern for her students.

Former student, senior Cliff Wu reinforces this sentiment in recalling how Ms. Tucker was “especially persistent in improving our writing and preparing us for the AP exam.”

Alumnus Albert Sek has especially fond memories of Ms. Tucker and her class. He noted how Ms. Tucker gave as much as she demanded from her students and constantly rewrote her syllabus to fit individual student needs during his time in her class. Most importantly, Albert recalls how “she believed in each of us and our ability to succeed” and especially remembers “walking into the AP test that May, with clammy hands, butterflies in my stomach, and a lack of confidence in myself…Right before I entered the

test room, [Ms. Tucker] spotted me, and said, ‘Albert, I’ve been looking for you!

How’re you feeling?’…She said that I would do great, that I was a strong writer, and that I’ve worked hard this whole year for this. And smiled. I will always remember those words of encouragement.”

Ms. Tucker is more than a teacher to many of her students, past and present alike. Although students may not always voice their appreciation for teachers’ efforts, they do truly appreciate the time and effort teachers like Ms. Tucker put into helping students reach their full potential.

In addition to our appreciation for all she has done and continues to do, the Apache Pow Wow would also like to congratulate Ms. Tucker on her recent engagement!

NICOLE TUCKER

By VERONICA LIM

Staff Writer

Nicole Tucker spends most of her day inside of D-6 planting seeds of wisdom into young eleventh grade minds. Alongside her English classes (both college prep and AP), Ms. Tucker coordinates an online creative writing course and acts as advisor to Students Promoting Literacy (SPL).

Jack Ching, senior and president of SPL, cites Ms. Tucker’s support as “what really motivates [our club] to move forward.”

In addition to cranking out better writers, Ms. Tucker aims to make her students into “citizens of the world” by educating them not only in English, but also in current events. Current AP student, junior Jennifer Hang believes that Ms. Tucker is passionate about what

Photo Courtesy of LORSINE LAI

LEADING THE WAY Ms. Tucker’s students appreciate her efforts to help them reach their full potential.

mchen@theapachepowwow.com yip @theapachepowwow.com

vlim@theapachepowwow.com

November 2008

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Thanksgiving Tribute 13

G E R RY W A N G

By RICHARD FU Staff Writer

I love Mr. Wang, and I’m not embarrassed to admit it. He is the first person to make me want to grow up, to become someone who is not only liked but also respected. I’ve always been some sort of an energy bunny who never quite matured, but Mr. Wang, in his quiet, subtle way, introduced me to a world of trust and credibility, poise and self-control.

I remember it was only four weeks into September when I went to make up a test after school. Mr. Wang handed me the paper and said, “I have to go to a conference now, just leave the test on my desk when you finish.” He paused, looked at me for a moment, and continued, “Richard, I have no reasons to question your integrity. I trust that you will handle yourself with dignity.” With that, he left me alone to attend the meeting, with rows of textbooks in a room full of temptations.

A shot of adrenaline and warmth surged through me. Adrenaline for the big chance to impress him with my character, warmth because it was the first time a teacher had

ever given me so direct a nod of confidence.

That simple exchange motivated me in an indescribable way, as though a gauntlet had been thrown challenging me to live up to the unspoken expectations set for me.

Maybe it’s the soft demeanor, or the lack of a tyrannical presence, but something about Mr. Wang seems to command the respect of his students without the use of any force. I feel an urge to be more thoughtful, more composed around him, simply because his persona demands it. It was as senior Paul Chen had observed, “Mr. Wang’s keen awareness and willingness to help pushes us all to look deep within ourselves for self-improvement.”

Mr. Wang is the embodiment of an ideal teacher to many of us. He is patient and kind, staying long after school to hold extra study sessions for his students.

He is sensible and observant, with a direct teaching style and reasonable test questions. Senior Courtney Lee once told me, “I fell in love with history because of Mr. Wang. He made every lesson interesting and lighted up the classroom with his quirky sense of humor.” But what left the deepest impression on me is the way

CRAIG MONDEN

By ELEANA CHIANG Staff Writer

Devastated by a failing grade in AP Biology and angry with other less-thanspectacular aspects of my personal life, I sat idly in the classroom contemplating my options. Complete withdrawal from the involved lifestyle of APs and athletics seemed inviting. My trance was shattered, and I found a quiet class staring at me in anticipation. Mr. Monden mumbled some foreign question, a supposed reiteration of what had initiated the awkward silence. I stared back emptily, too preoccupied to care. He returned a look of disappointment that pierced through my stubbornness, prompting me to confess my distress.

Assigned only to educate in accordance with a standardized academic curriculum, teachers are not required to dedicate time after school to address academic or personal concerns. Nevertheless, fortunate individuals, including myself, have encountered a teacher whose evident passion for teaching and genuine care for his students have permanently impacted many. An instructor of biology, Mr. Monden has proven himself a teacher of not only the study of life, but life itself.

Reflecting upon her AP biology experience, junior Sharon Yik remarked, “Mr. Monden always believed in his students, and his positive outlook taught us the importance of hard work, confidence, and perseverance.” Combining

high expectations and unfaltering patience, Mr. Monden challenges his students to attain their maximum potentials and experience first-hand the triumphs rendered by the summation of his personal values: persistence,

Photo By ERICA WIN

BEYOND BIOLOGY Mr. Monden has proven himself a teacher of not only the life sciences, but life itself. compassion, and self-confidence.

Inspired by his optimistic attitude, junior Vicki Chiang stated, “Despite his battle with epilepsy, Mr. Monden maintains an effervescent personality and dedicates lots of extra time to assisting his students.”

Such additional efforts have established a comfortable relationship between student and teacher, as shown by Vicki’s comment that “being able to talk about casual topics to a teacher was something [she] had never

Melissa Wright “One of [Ms. Wright’s] most outstanding traits is her patience.”

- Hae Jin Kim, freshman “(Ms. Wright) created this fun, involving, creative atmosphere, while simultaneously maintaining a scholarly and appropriate classroom setting” - Andrew Lin, junior

Photo By LAUREN WONG

SUPPORT SYSTEM Mr. Wang is patient and kind, staying long after school to hold extra study sessions. he remained my biggest supporter without ever coddling me. Whether it’s consoling me on Constitution Team tryout results or helping me prepare for prom, Mr. Wang always gently prods me forward while putting the past in perspective. He never pities or flatters. He gives us hope, and the paths to achieving our dreams and visions. rfu@theapachepowwow.com

done until Mr. Monden came along.”

Junior Alex Wang supported this account with his personal viewpoint that “Mr. Monden has more of a kid in him than other teachers, so he can relate to us more.” Alex admits that, although he has many memories from Mr. Monden’s AP biology class, his favorite will always be from the end-of-the-year party. He also attributes his stellar test scores to Mr. Monden’s adept instruction.

More significant than any score, however, is the life lesson in devotion taught to senior Tiffany Lin. “Through observing Mr. Monden’s commitment, I was inspired to be more dedicated to the pursuit of my own passions,” she said, proudly declaring herself a transformed person.

Summing up the general belief, sophomore Celeste Cheung describes Mr. Monden’s class as “one big, happy family, whose shared experiences are undeniably difficult, but rewarding.”

While Mr. Monden’s approachability and skillful teaching are often regarded as his greatest traits, they remain, to me, mere complements to his truly remarkable heart. With a door forever open, Mr. Monden reminds students of his confidence in their potentials for both academic and personal success. This is thanks for every well-planned lesson, every pep talk, every second of voluntary time—for the faith that kept us all going. echiang@theapachepowwow.com

“Thank you, Ms. Wright, for opening our eyes to the bigger picture, for always flashing smiles at us, for just being there – and for telling me about my own individual worth. We will never forget how you have touched our lives.”

- Emily Yang, junior

Kerry King “Ms. King is so much fun – it’s so pleasant when a teacher can take a joke, but she knows when to be serious, too.”

- Tracy Lee, senior “(Ms. King) us always very helpful, holding extra tutoring sessions throughout the year, and she promotes a cooperative working environment among her students.”

- Sean Maroongroge, senior “Ms. King brings so much energy into the classroom that it’s impossible not to share in her enthusiasm for math.

- Andres Delgado, senior

Liza Tedford “(Ms. Tedford) has been an amazing role model, as a wise adult and passionate dancer.”

- Jasmine Chao, alumnus “Besides dance, Ms. Tedford has taught me life lessons. She has enforced the thought of not caring what (other) people think, because in the end, it won’t matter.She opens up the idea that you need to live your life for yourself, and do everything to your abilities, not just the abilities of others.”

- Felicite Shulkin, junior

John Panza “(Mr. Panza) creates an atmosphere of camaraderie and learning, avoiding monotonous droning and sleepy stupors.”

- Hannah Redberg, sophomore “With an eclectic teaching style, from assigning WWII radio projects to daily Socratic seminars, Mr. Panza would have an uncanny knack for attracting students to a stereotypically boring subject.”

- Kayla Pang, junior

14

ACADEMICS

theapachepowwow.com

November 2008

Academic Teams Ahoy! Travails of November The Start of Deca Dominance?

By JOE TIAN Staff Writer

Academic Decathlon competed in its first scrimmage this year on Nov. 15, placing 4th in a field of eight with five people in the top five of both honors and scholastic divisions. Cocaptain Charlie Tsouvalas placed 2nd, freshman Lynn Huang placed 4th, sophomore Jonathan Wang placed 5th, co-captain Michelle Lee placed 6th, junior Alison Hsieh placed 9th, and junior Lorsine Lai placed 10th. This scrimmage will be a deciding factor for the selection of A and B teams in the near future.

Pleased with the results of this scrimmage, co-captain Michelle Lee commented, “We took 5 of the top 10 scores and beat out both San Marino and Duarte, so this is a pretty big win for us.”

The scrimmage took place at Duarte High School, and lasted from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Every member took seven 30-minute tests, which included Art, Economy, History, Language and Literature, Math, Music, and

Science. Each test, worth 1000 points, is multiple-choice and has no penalty for guessing.

The team meets multiple times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and even weekends to cover materials that will appear in competition, and takes tests weekly to reinforce the materials learned and to better prepare for the upcoming competitions.

As proud members of the team, every member is under pressure to score well in each competition. Acknowledging the team’s disadvantage of not having a varsity team this year but confident about the its future, team member Lorsine Lai said, “although we did not have a varsity team, we were still able to place 4th, and I’m sure we’ll continue to do well in the incoming competitions.”

After this scrimmage, the team will surely be better prepared for the incoming competitions. The team will work harder to do well in the future competitions. Good luck to Academic Decathlon! jtian@theapachepowwow.com

Gov Team: Greater Heights Yet

By RICHARD FU Staff Writer

On Saturday, Nov. 15, the Arcadia Constitution Team participated in its first competition at Bishop Amat High School. Although it was only a district level event and served as a scrimmage, the event provided an excellent chance for the team to gauge its level of performance and to simulate the proceedings of an actual contest.

The Constitution Team is divided into six units, each specializing in a specific aspect of the Constitution. For example, Unit 1 focuses on the philosophical and historical foundations of the American political system, while Unit 6 examines the challenges facing the American democracy in the 21st century. The team prepared by studying everything from executive orders, court cases, NPR articles, to of course, the Constitution itself. As team member Vivy Tran brightly put it, “We’re at a point where we even have our own favorite Supreme Court justices.”

Former Constitution Team coaches, alumni, and attorneys judged the scrimmage, evaluating performances based on the team’s understanding, application, reasoning, supporting evidence, responsiveness, and participation. Each unit gave a four-minute response to one of three prepared topics, with an ensuing six-minute free response period.

No official scores were given at this stage, but team advisor Mr. Kevin Fox felt that the team was “slightly above where they’re expected to be relative to groups [he has] coached over the past ten years.” Although competitions are conducted behind closed doors and unseen by the general public, team members feel confident that they are are on the right track for their regional on Dec. 13, an event they must win to advance to state.

As team member Jenna Mittman put it, “This competition reinforced the team’s belief and faith in itself. We now know where we are and what we need to do to get to the next level.” rfu@theapachepowwow.com

Mathletes (Metaphorically) Get Busy

By SEAN MAROONGROGE Staff Writer

Photos Courtesy of MICHELLE LEE, MONICA SHEI, and KEVIN “G-MONEY” GONG

TOP LEFT Academic Decathlon takes a merry group photo after a rather surprisingly impressive victory at Duarte High.

TOP RIGHT The Constutition Team demonstates what true “Gov Love” is as they do a group flash of the “focus fox.”

BOTTOM The only two high schools at the collegiate ACF Fall tournament seem relaxed and confident, despite the odds.

Just Too Good for High School

By SEAN MAROONGROGE Staff Writer

Early in November, AHS Quiz Bowl competed in the ACF Fall competition at UC Irvine. On Nov. 8, they placed fourth and ninth with the A and B teams respectively, out of eleven teams. While this record may seem less than spectacular from our nationally ranked team, in context, it is quite an accomplishment.

The Academic Competition Federation (ACF), is a Quiz Bowl organization that generally runs tournaments for college students. Knowing this, the team decided to compete anyway, embracing the challenge as a chance to improve. Senior George Dewey, who competed on the unofficial B team, known as “Carnal Embrace” for this tournament, summed up the team’s sentiments well, remarking that “though the thought of playing collegiate themes was daunting, it was still a fun experience.” Junior Alex Hu, from the team which called itself “Germany First,”

added, “Despite being at half-strength and going up against mostly college teams, Arcadia acquitted itself fairly well, collecting six wins and four losses.”

The “bowlers” created colorful names for themselves because without an AHS faculty member, they could not compete officially under the name of AHS. Nevertheless, the members who traveled over an hour to compete demonstrated their devotion to the pursuit of knowledge, participating as a group of friends who happened to share the same interests rather than just a group of students.

The record was quite impressive, as “Germany First” managed to take on teams from Caltech, Brigham Young University, UCLA, and UCSD with some success.

Taking into consideration AHS’s difficulty putting together a full A-team, AHS has once again proven its tremendous depth as a competitive high school team that can perform well on a college circuit. smaroongroge@theapachepowwow.com

Math competitions mixed with a buzzer race? A new year means a new competition format attempted by the AHS Math Team, who competed at Pepperdine University in Malibu on Nov. 15. Unlike their usual written competitions, this event required much faster reflexes and calculations, so AHS Math Team sent a squad of nine of their quickest minds to match wits with schools from Southern California. Congratulations to sophomore David Ke, who tied for first place, and junior Jason Jong, who tied for third place, setting a strong precedent for the year to come.

Soon after, on Nov. 19, the team also competed at its first Bay Math League competition of the year. Team A finished with a score of 300 out of a possible 325, while San Marino just barely beat them with a score of 305. The success of the AHS team can be attributed to the combination of strong returning members and exceptionally bright young talent.

Each member competed in three mathematics subjects. Among the topics tested were geometry, absolute values, inequalities, limits, and integers. The team worked hard to master each of these subjects in order to perform as well as possible at competition.

It must’ve been hard to decide who would compete in which event, as the team had perfect scores from freshman James Cheng, sophomores David Ke, Kristi Kwon, and Justine Lee, juniors Amy Qiu and Emily Yang, and seniors Bryan Cheng, Jack Ching Fady Gharbawy, Derek Ouyang, and Cliff Wu. As returning League Champions, the AHS Math Team has a lot of pressure to contend with at each meet. Captains Bryan Cheng and Derek Ouyang are hopeful for the future, however, believing that it will spur the team on to greatness. About their strong performance at this meet, Bryan said “We were the champs last year. We need to defend our title, and we’re off to a great start.” smaroongroge@theapachepowwow.com

Fall, Yes. Novice, I Think Not.

By RICHARD FU Staff Writer

The first prepared speech competition began with the Fall Novice tournament on Nov. 22 at Gabrielino High School. Held exclusively for novice and junior varsity members, the tournament placed the AHS Speech and Debate team against schools across Los Angeles County. Judged by varsity members, the tournament was important not only for the way S&D upheld its high standards set at Fall Debate, but for the vital stage experience gained by new members of the team.

The competition was divided into two patterns, A and B. A included events such as Original Advocacy and Thematic Interpretation, while B ranged from expository speeches to duo interpretations. A judging system called “code out” was used, where a committee of S&D advisors participating in the event group judges (varsity members) with participants from different schools to maintain neutrality.

Contestants were judged for their de-

livery, poise, and speech writing. Varsity member Cameron Miller noted that “a good contestant makes even an uninteresting topic worth listening to, whereas a lack of practice will always show.”

Most events had three rounds of competition; to win a trophy contestants must place first in all three. The team earned five trophies, with senior Nina Castro, senior David Yao and junior Winston Chang, sophomore Enid Lee and senior Torie Jee winning the categories of Original Interpretation, Foreign Extemporaneous Speech, and Dramatic Interpretation, respectively. David reflected later that “regardless of the results, this tournament was a good learning experience as it was the first time most members competed in their events.”

Up next is Fall Varsity on Dec. 13, an event in which all members compete at the same level. Those who score high enough will gain automatic entry to State Championship, bypassing State Quals. rfu@theapachepowwow.com

November 2008

theapachepowwow.com

ACADEMICS

Thank You — for Being Nerdy or die trying,” the life of a nerd is no walk in cover—our secret fans must be keeping tabs on the park. Regardless, our every glorious thanks for giving us action. We’re flatStaff Writer & that first push. tered by your shy Guest Writer Thank you to and idolatrous attenWhat can I say? As nerds, we have got our teachers. We retions, and we know it going on, hunching about campus with our spect all the time and that at times we can pimp-spectacles, doing magic with our handy commitment you put be somewhat inTexas Instruments, and inspiring others with into our education. timidating, with our out portable chessboards. But we can’t take all We know that our bulging craniums the credit for our success. We know that there nerdiness is someand buns of steel (a are others who have aided our rise to the top of times a bit much to lesser-known facthe social food chain, and so some thanks are put up with. If we toid about nerds). in order: receive a paper with But please, BlushFirst, props to Dr. Seuss for creating the a B+ on it and our ing Betty and Fumterm “nerd.” Without the Doctor, I’m not sure eyes start twitching bling Fred, it’s about Photo Courtesy of KIMBERLY MAI-TON what we’d be called. Probably science crusad- when we look at you, time you show yourCOME, FANS! Don’t stay hidden in the backers, math-o-nauts, or something of the sort. please don’t take it selves. It’d do good ground...come forth in the open to worship us!

Thank you to our parents, of course. As personally. It’s an for our self-esteem, rebels, we don’t always get along with the folks, entirely involuntary reaction. And please be and might even draw in our sometimes overexbut deep down, we’re careful with those tended imaginations. tight. Mom and Dad, A-minuses—mixed And much gratitude to the admissions staff sorry for calling you signals are shady at universities across the land for the witty varityrants and Dracobusiness. ations on the standard “we want you” letter that nian slave drivers, And of course we get in the mail each day. We understand that among other things. we can’t forget our it takes a long time to change the header, sigI hope you know hordes of adoring nature, and “personalized” student ID from the that I didn’t mean it admirers.

That’s letter that you stole from another college, and when I threatened to right, we’re aware we appreciate your earnest interest in recruiting flunk my math class. of you devoted fol- us. We always enjoy fanmail, especially when We know you guys lowers who wor- nearly every letter is the same, considering the want the best for us, ship shrines adorned fact that standardization is one of the keystones but we already put with pictures of our of our time. Our commendations. enough pressure on bespectacled fac—And so we rush back to the beginning. ourselves to be the es. We calculated To parents, teachers, and friends again: Thank Photo Courtesy of RUSSELL IGARASHI best without any exthat somewhere— you all so much. Happy Thanksgiving.

VICTORY The nerd pose of triumph: one hand tra help from others. perched upon a tree pointing up, the other on a marine bio book.

From maintaining branch, crouched smaroongroge@theapachepowwow.com our geek cred to living by our motto, “get nerdy on a rooftop, peeking from beneath a manhole zaxatak+pw@gmail.com

By SEAN MAROONGROGE & ALAN XIE

10 Words: The Special Thanksgiving Edition etarian-to-poultritarian converts are discovered around Thanksgiving.

“Once Phyllis, who is a vegetarian, saw the turkey on the dining table, she immediately declared herself a poultritarian and hasn’t looked back since.”

By CELESTE CHEUNG Staff Writer

With the Thanksgiving weekend quickly approaching, eating and relaxing are all we can think about, and learning is probably the last thing on our growing to-do list. However, one of these words just might explain some Thanksgiving-related phenomenon that may happen to you or a beloved family member (who you are ever-so-thankful-for, of course).

7. Tryptophan – An excuse for laziness after Thanksgiving dinner.

“I’m sorry I can’t help you bring in the groceries, Mom; I OD’ed on tryptophan last night.”

1. Cyber Monday – Monday after Black Friday when Black Friday window shoppers order all their merchandise online.

“I can’t wait until Cyber Monday! There’s this jacket I’ve had my eye on for weeks, and I’m finally going to order it!”

2. Fat nap – The act of randomly falling asleep at inopportune times; may be an aftereffect of multiple Thanksgiving dinners.

“Ever since I indulged all those carbs on Nov. 27, I’ve been a victim of fat naps.”

3. Food baby – The result of overeating and causing one’s stomach to stick out more than usual.

“Last night, I ate a whole pumpkin pie plus five plates of mashed potatoes and gravy, and now I’m nursing a food baby.”

4. Food Nazi – One who insists on cataloging others based on what they eat, in an attempt to try and convert them to their choice of diet.

“The second Neil touched his fork to a piece of salmon, Jane “The Food Nazi” Smith yelled

Photo Courtesy of WIKIPEDIA

WHAT IS SHE NURSING? A food baby or a real baby? That’s the question. out in dismay, ‘You practice pescetarianism?!

Don’t you know that fish also feel pain? Convert to veganism!’”

5. Green Friday – A.K.A. Black Friday; an excuse for shoppers to throw away money on frivolous items, because of “major sale prices.”

“I’ve been saving up all year for Green Friday; I heard everything at my favorite store is 50 – 75% off.”

6. Poultritarian – A “vegetarian” who eats poultry, but not red meat or seafood; many veg-

8. Tryptophanatic – One who eats until they are bloated and overly full, only to stuff themselves even more.

“During the four-day weekend, I became a total tryptophanatic, managing to eat my way through half a turkey, two pies, and a loaf of cornbread; just when I felt like bursting, I managed to stuff down a casserole dish of Grandma’s candied yams, along with a bag of fresh popcorn to top it all off.”

15

College Profile: University of Georgia

By JOE TIAN Staff Writer

Founded in 1785, University of Georgia, located in Athens, Georgia, claims to be the oldest public university in the United States of America. The university ranks #58 among all national universities and #20 among national public universities in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges 2009.”

University of Georgia was incorporated on Jan. 27, 1785 by the Georgia General Assembly. It has a 615-acre campus in the Appalachian foothills about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta, and is adorned with many 19th century buildings including Old College, which opened in 1806, and the University Chapel, which opened in 1832.

The university offers a variety of majors, including Agriculture, Architecture, Art, Biomedical Sciences, Business and Marketing, Education, Engineering, Foreign Language and Literature, with the most popular one being Business and Marketing.

University of Georgia has a fairly selective admission. Other than high school GPA and standardized test scores, the university considers personal qualities, extracurricular activities, recommendations, volunteer work, and work experience as part of the admission process.

The University of Georgia offers more than 170 different academic programs. It has produced four Rhodes Scholars in the past six years. University of Georgia’s Honors Program has been compared to an Ivy League education at a fraction of the cost.

Grants, Federal Work-Study, loans, and a limited number of scholarships are available at the University of Georgia. The university also provides financial aid to those families whose incomes are $60,000 or less.

The University of Georgia’s varsity athletic teams participate in the NCAA’s Division I-A as a member of the Southeastern Conference. The University has won national championships in football, women’s gymnastics, baseball, tennis, golf, swimming, and diving.

The Gym Dogs, the University’s women’s gymnastics team, are the current defending NCAA champions, having placed first in the 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 seasons.

Admission Statistics (from College Board): SAT Scores: Critical Reading: 560 – 660 Writing: 560 – 640 Math: 570 – 660 ACT Composite Scores: 25 - 29 In-State Tuition for the Class of 2011: $6,031 Out-of-State Tuition for the Class of 2011: $22,343 % Applicants Accepted for the Class of 2011: 55% jtian@theapachepowwow.com

9. Turducken – A chicken, stuffed into a duck, which is in turn stuffed into a turkey and roasted.

“My turducken took so long to cook that by the time the chicken was cooked, the outside of the turkey was burnt black.”

10. Turkey coma – A feeling of lethargy often experienced after gorging on stuffing and pie on Thanksgiving.

“I was supposed to go see a movie today, but I was still in a turkey coma and missed out.” ccheung@theapachepowwow.com

Photo Courtesy of WIKIPEDIA

HERTY FIELD Where UGA wins all its home games for football and baseball.

16

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November 2008

November 2008

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STUDENT LIFE

theapachepowwow.com

November 2008

What Are You Thankful For?

By CHRISTINE XU Copy Editor

ident, Barack ly elected pres w ne r nt of ou r fo e 44th Preside I’m thankful the role of th n. on Ja ng on ki ts ta ar r which st Obama, fo ’ll His new job, he s. e te us ta S ca d be te e the Uni rtant on po im ry ve e a th be as 20, is going to ial issues, such —just ith many cruc ty w ri al cu de se to al ci ve ha rror, and so te on ng on ar ki w ta e r ma, fo economy, th you, Mr. Oba nk . ha nt T de . si w re fe P r next to name a sk of being ou ta ng ti un da this ong, junior —Andrew H

“I’m thankful for having tons of things to be thankful for. I’m also thankful for pumpkin pie because it means I have friends and family who think that I’m gross for loving it.”

—Leah Wong, junior

“Being grateful for what you have in life is hard at times when things get booger-y.

But, because of that, I’m extremely thankful to always have my wonderful family and friends by my side to pick them all out for me! ” —Anne Wu, sophomore

e use she’s the on r my mom beca e fo Sh ul . kf ng an hi th yt “I’m rough ever r s been there th he ha at t ho se w up on m rs pe en if I’ nds me and ev her. really understa and appreciate r he ve lo t bu lp he t n’ ef I still ca as much fort se who has put el e on my no s e’ Ther thankful she’s e, and I’m just m r fo s ha e sh as mom.” nior —Linda Luo, ju

I’m thankful for thick, fuz zy slippers when it’s cold. I’m thankful for evo lution and technology and the evolution of techno logy. I’m thankful for Lindor truffles, Asian sna cks, and jasmine green tea with mini boba and ma ngo stars!

—Mon-Shane Chou, sen ior

travfriends, who have I am thankful for my am I . me th wi ol journey eled this high scho omic on ec an is re though the thankful, that even have ll able to work and sti downturn, I am still food on my table. nior —Vincent Wang, se ily does for at your fam h w r fo l fu girlfriends/ “Be thank friends and r u o d y se au but in the en you, bec me and go, e co th ay l al m s et d n rg boyfrie Y, so fo IL M FA e n e o v e lo you only hav ou have with them and ay m ra d .” n id p ca u l st you stil them while phomore u Y —Ken , so

It’s cliché : family a nd fr ously, wit hout them iends! But seri, I would under the just die b without th urden of junior yea r. Heck, em, I wou ld go insa trusty com ne. Oh! M puter and y iP too. They connect m od keep me sane, e to the ou and will a tsid lways tak e my worr e world ies away.

—Sharon Yik, junio r I’m very thankful for my friends because they make me happy and are always there for me when I need them!

—Tesia Hwang, freshman

my computer and “I’m thankful for dI no idea how bore TV because I have .” t them would be withou sophomore g, on W er ph —Christo

“I am thankful to have people who are interested in me enough to listen.”

—Rainy Zhang, senior

“I’m thankful for the few frie nds I have when the goin g gets tough.”

—Nick Wang, senior

I’m thankful for my friends , even though they tell me I’m stupid if I do som ething wrong, make fun of me all the time when I em barrass myself, and laugh at me just because of the situations I get myself int o.

They’re still always there for me when I need them the most. Sometimes wh en life seems like it’s at its worst, they always bri ng me back and make me forget by making me lau gh hysterically and showin g me how great life can be.

—Nicolle Santillanes, sop homore

“I’m thankful for my laptop that is my source of entertainm ent and my loyal friend and supporter in my long nights of ‘WHAT DO I DO ?!’”

—Tiffany Huang, jun ior

“This Thanksgiving, I must say that I’m very thankful for the extra holes on belts... they give me room to actually move after that Thanksgiving smorgasbord.”

—Stephanie Youssef, sophomore

Being ing alive this long.

I am thankful for be a real en be s ha I want to able to live life how llest fu its to e lif e living joy. I hope to continu y. wa atever comes my with whoever and wh e phomor —Preston Chang, so

“I’m thank ful for what the world h me: friends, as given family, and a life to liv —Nathan W e.” ai, senior

cxu@theapachepowwow.com

All Hail the Un-Sung Hero

By MELISSA MA Staff Writer

Hands and feet moving like whirlwinds, junior Sung Kang takes dancing to a whole new level of complexity. Break dancers like him have taken the world by storm as they dance in a fresh style that captivates their audiences.

Sung has dedicated his life to this passion, ever since he began break dancing i n eighth grade.

H e practices e v eryday after school for two to three hours with other break dancers, or b-boys, as they are called.

Sung even puts in extra hours by himself at Arcadia Fitness. Sung manages to balance school and break dancing, though he has had to cut back on practicing for SAT

classes. “I’m doing pretty good in school and I’m trying to practice a lot and do good in school at the same time,” he says.

In addition to balancing school and break dancing, Sung plays the piano and violin, writes music lyrics, and admits he’s “pretty good at soccer, too.” But there is no doubt that b-boying comes first for Sung. With all those hours put into perfecting and improving his moves, it’s no wonder he has placed first in several competitions, or jams.

Some jams he has competed in before include the RedLands Jam, Temple City Jam, Leaders of the New School Jam, Rock City Jam, and third at the Max Out BPhotos B

y YENTL

IP

DANCING TO EXPRESS Sung Kang, the expressive b-boy, shows off a few of his crazy moves.

Boy Competition 1 vs. 1.

His most memorable moment is his victory at the RedLands Jam, which he says is “the first jam [he] won… it wasn’t a huge competition, but it was a war on the floor.”

When asked about any performances he would like to share, Sung says he has done many but confesses that he doesn’t like choreographing because “ t h e r e ’s not much feeling to it” since dancers just “memorize the dances moves; it’s like school work.”

Sung says that he was, for the most part, self-taught, though he got some help from b-boys before he moved to Arcadia. He says that “b-boying is more about yourself. You need your own thing, like your own style of how you dance,” and he thinks that the best way is to teach yourself.

He does not have a certain type of sig-

nature move, but would like to get better in all types of moves including power, trick, and style. However, Sung says that “most people in the b-boy community know me as a power plus trick b-boy, but wait until they see my new style!”

As for his future, Sung is “101% going to become a b-boy” and make his family proud. However, despite all his achievements, he says his parents have never seen him dance before. He might take up a side j o b after he finishes school, but ultimately he wants to “become one of the best b-boys.”

He sticks by his own motto: “Your effort never betrays you”—and the more well-known “dance to express, not to impress.” With those words, h e practices and trains as he tries to leave a mark in b-boy history. mma@theapachepowwow.com

November 2008

theapachepowwow.com

STUDENT LIFE

The New Clubs On The Block

By VELINDA LIAO & LINDA WANG Staff Writers

India Club meets on Wednesdays in J-27.

Members of India Club come together to learn about Indian heritage, traditions, and customs. During meetings, members discuss the language, dance, food, and holidays of India. The club welcomes people of all ethnicities to join and learn about the exotic culture of India. “[India Club] is really about getting to know other people from the same culture,” said senior Nida Sopariwala, one of the club’s presidents. There are many events coming up, including a Bollywood night where Indian movies will be shown.

Advisor Ms. Madeline Antilla thinks India Club is a “really great idea...

It allows a lot of these students to stay connected with their Indian culture.

Some of them were born here and they don’t speak Hindi or anything like that and so they’re exchanging a lot of information.” Ms. Antilla loves “everything to do with India,” from music to movies to the “great food.”

VEX Robotics Club meets from Mondays through Thursdays in B-5 at lunch. This club’s ultimate goal is to build VEX robotics kits to compete in VEX robotics competitions, while having fun.

During club meetings, students interested

ALUMNA U OF CHICAGO

By CRYSTAL TSOI

Guest Writer

The University of Chicago. “Where fun comes to die.” “Where the only thing that goes down on you is your GPA.” “Where the squirrels are prettier than the girls.” “If I wanted an A, I would have gone to Harvard.” “The circle of Hell that Dante forgot.” “If it were easy, it’d be your mom.” When perusing the corners of the quad on a typical day, it is likely that you would see at least 10 students adorned in t-shirts that eloquently convey their woes and sorrows at the University of Chicago.

Be it five-hour labs, three-hour long math recitations, two-hour humanities discussions on the ejaculatory position assumed by primates at zoos and how that is anthropologically significant to the progression of our current society, everyone here can bring up at least one repulsive aspect of this school that makes them want to regurgitate the horrendous dorm food from Pierce Dining Hall.

As appalling as this school may seem from what I’ve just said, there still exists some alluring nature to this school that prevents me from truly ever hating it. I would like to believe that it’s the fact that we can all unite through our

Students in the club enjoy building robots and appreciate the success of the end product.

Senior Derek Chou, president of the club, believes that “one of the best parts of robotics is when things start to come together and work.

It’s pretty cool to see an elaborate machine slowly start working after spending a lot of time on it.”

Though the VEX robotics club is newly chartered, the club is running smoothly without major problems. “This club is fairly successful. The club objectives are being met, and it’s running surprisingly well for the minimal organization the officers and I have given it.

Things kind of just fell in place; groups of people who wanted to work together got together and worked and had fun,” said Derek.

The new Sports Medicine Club meets on Thursdays at lunch in J-23. This club is designed to make students aware of sports injuries. Students can also learn various treatments so that they will know what to do in an actual injury. President Kyaw Naing said, “We started the club so students can be more in touch with the topic on sports.”

At meetings, members learn about all different types of taping, massaging, and wound treatment in case of injuries. Kyaw said, “The club is Photos

By VEL not just officers talking in front INDA L IAO of the class. It is more about IN THE CLUB (left to right) India Club, VEX Robotics Club, and Sports hands-on experience.” Students have opportuMedicine Club meet at lunch to explore nities to perform the treatments, giving them a better grasp of the materials. “The club meets their shared interests. every Thursday during lunch so if students are the club successfully build advanced robots and interested, they can come and check it out!” are looking forward to compete against other said Kyaw Naing. schools. The club will also be hosting competitions within the club as well as preparing for vliao@theapachepowwow.com future competition. lwang@theapachepowwow.com in the field of technology gather together to learn and experience the concept of building robots. Advisor Mr. Bill Chapman said this club “encourages students to study science, math, and technology fields, and to have fun!”

Through hard work and patience, members of

common struggle against the infamous Core Curriculum and the abrasive winter cold. Despite the fact that at one point in time we’ve each had three midterms and an essay due in the span of a week, we’ve all learned to embrace and appreciate the beauty of the struggle.

What’s so great about Chicago is that it’s a city filled with endless possibilities. A place

where after a long week, you can go downtown and decompress. You can take the CTA Bus #6 directly to Wacker Street, cross the Chicago River, and the Magnificent Mile. Or, if you just happen to be in Grant Park on Election Night, you can perhaps be part of history and witness the election of the first African American President in United States history.

Perhaps you need some fresh air after a whole day of studying chemistry? You can take a stroll down to the Obama residence three blocks down from your dorm and see the Secret Service surrounding it with armored cars. Maybe you don’t want to go too far. Walking through the UChicago quad is one of the most breathtaking scenes ever. The reddening foliage on the vines that are latched onto the gothic buildings can stop anyone in their tracks in order to take a moment to relish in the majesty of the UChicago campus.

Despite how cozy and comfortable Arcadia might be, getting out of Arcadia and out of California has been one of the best decisions that I’ve made. Even though I might periodically ask myself why I willingly subject myself to a form of legal torture known as the UChicago curriculum, the hypothetical questions Photo Courtesy of CRYSTAL TSOI are silenced when I walk outside and see AHS ALUMNA Crystal Tsoi is a freshman at snow fall against the crimson of the autumn leaves.

University of Chicago.

19

How Well Do You Know AHS?

By MELISSA MA Staff Writer

Questions: 1.What does ROP stand for?

2.Sing the Alma Mater.

3.Where is the dean’s office located?

Photo By MELISSA MA

Albert Hu, freshman C 1. Regional occupational program?

X 2. Hail, the Alma Mater Cardinal and the gold? I don’t know…

C 3. J 9-1/2 Score: 2/3

Photo By MELISSA MA

Carpus Tin, sophomore C 1. Regional…uh…occupational program?

X 2. Hail, Alma Mater, the land is free of slaves…I don’t know.

C 3. J 9-1/2 Score: 2/3

Photo By MELISSA MA

Esther Lin, junior C 1. Regional occupational program?

X 2. Hail, Alma Mater/The cardinal and the gold/We sing of thee Arcadia…/Far across the distance?/Our voices lalala/All hail, all hail...

X 3. I think it’s J 7-1/2 or something Score: 1/3

Photo By MELISSA MA

Youn Chang, senior X 1. Err…hmmm…I don’t know.

X 2. I don’t know…I read it off from the wall.

X 3. J 14?

Score: 0/3 mma@theapachepowwow.com

SPORTS

20 Football Concludes an Girls Tennis Aces Another Season Unfortunate Season theapachepowwow.com

November 2008

winning streak came to a halt when they had an unfortunate loss with a score of 8-10 at Burbank’s home course. But Staff Writer then they turned around and made up for the loss after they Nineteen. Nineteen total games. Fifteen. Fifteen total beat Upland, Hoover, and Glendale, all three with landslide wins. Do the math, and you can figure out the number of loss- scores. Then once again another 8-10 loss from Mayfield es. The Girls Varsity Tennis team has been breezing through High School. They made a comeback, beating John Burteams in the Pacific League like water flowing through your roughs High School, 12-6. They unfortunately lost twice to hands. No matter how hard you our rivals, Crescenta Valley, 6try to keep that water from going 12 and 8-10. But they learned through your fingers, you can’t. from their mistakes, and, fired It’s unstoppable; those tennis girls up, they smashed through their are unstoppable. last six games before CIF PreThe start of the season is the liminaries against Pasadena, time for sports teams to try their San Marino, Burbank, Hoover, hardest and make a great first imGlendale, and Burroughs. pression on the other teams in their Just recently the girls league. They try to get ahead in the played again Redlands High beginning, because then it will be School for the CIF Preliminaran easy ride from there through the ies. It was a close game with rest of the season. the score coming to be 77-76, The Girls Varsity Tennis and with Arcadia for the win. team showed their understanding The Girls Varsity Tenfor that concept by winning game nis team is a group of hardafter game, beating Polytechnic working girls, and it definitely High School and La Canada High shows in their overall season School. The girls did wonderfully, record: 15 wins, and only 4 beating their opponents by double losses. With their season not Photo by GREGORY ZAJAC yet quite over, we congratulate or more. Going from there and continuing their season, the tennis GIRLS TENNIS Sophomore Michelle Zhu them on their magnificent wins girls easily passed through their readies herself to smack the ball back over and wish them lots of luck for next three games against Temple the net in her match against Redlands. the future.

City, South Pasadena, and Pasadena victoriously, with slim@theapachepowwow.com scores of 14-4, 12-6, and 18-0, respectively. However, their

By SHAWNA LIM

By AISHA ELMASRI Staff Writer

“Towards the end of our season, the injuries piled up. We have a team of a mere 25 people; injuries make a big difference. In the Monrovia game, we showed what we could do when all of us were healthy,” said senior Todd Golper, reflecting upon what could have been an amazing season. As the season wrapped up, Arcadia suffered from the loss of valuable starters. This was portrayed through the negative outcomes of their season-ending games.

Our very own Apaches took on Burroughs on Friday, Oct. 31.

Unfortunately, they came up very short and left the game with a 569 loss. Just a minute after the first quarter began, Burroughs proved they were ready to play when they scored an 8-yard run. Later in that quarter, Burroughs scored once again on a 17 yard pass. With a little less than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Burroughs had an overwhelming lead of 42-3. Captain Todd Golper did all he could to help the team, running for 212 yards on 16 carries and giving a numerous amount of hard hits on defense. He also gave Arcadia the only touchdown they had on a 68-yard dash with 5 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Golper said, “We wore down. Football is so different than it used to be—people specialize in certain positions, but we were forced to play everywhere.” Overall, it was just a long night for the Apaches.

The following week, the Apaches played Burbank, and late in the second quarter, Golper was unfortunately injured. He said, “It was kind of funny, because we moved the ball consistently, but couldn’t score. We kept getting stopped in the red zone. We couldn’t sustain our drives, and our offensive line got destroyed.” However, even with the loss of their captain, the Apaches were in a favorable position to win the game until well into the fourth quarter. With 3:08 remaining in

Girls Volleyball Spikes Down Opponents

By VICTORIA TRAN

Photo Courtesy of LLOYD FUJIWARA

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Junior Garrett Tuck rolls out, attempting to complete yet another pass, while freshman Rodney Arnett and sophomore Alexander Rail block for him.

the fourth quarter, Arcadia quarterback junior Garett Tuck recovered a fumble on the 36-yard line from Burbank, he connected with receiver Brain Rambeau for a 21-yard score, lessening Burbank’s lead and making the score 21-20. Coach Jon Dimalante decided to attempt a two-point conversion in an attempt to secure the lead. Tuck carried out Dimalante’s decision successfully when he hit Michael Raspa in the end zone, giving Arcadia a 22-21 lead. Directly afterward, Burbank came out with a vengeance, and gained the lead in seven plays, finishing with a six-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs utilized a two-point conversion, ultimately giving themselves a comfortable seven-point lead over the Apaches. Arcadia was then intercepted by the Burbank line backer, crushing Arcadia’s hopes for a comeback. When Golper went out, Tuck had to take control of the offense, throwing for 322 yards on 19-of-42 passing, but with 4 interceptions. Tuck connected with senior Jay Ma, who had 168 yards on 10 receptions, for seven completions in the first half. The finishing score was a close 29-22 Burbank, However, Garett said, “No excuses, we should have won.”

During their rivalry game against Crescenta Valley, the Apaches put up a good fight during the first half, but Tuck unfortunately threw two interceptions, which CV took advantage of, and the game ending score was 59-31. The boys ended their season 4-6. aelmasri@theapachepowwow.com

with scores of 27-29 and 26-24, respectively. This was a disappointing loss for them, but their game against John Muir Staff Writer High School closed out the Apache season with an amazing victory.

If anyone could summarize this year’s Girls Varsity The Pacific League champions entered the first round of Volleyball team in one word, that person would, without a CIF against Eleanor Roosevelt High School on Nov. 11 with doubt, use the words “fantastic” or “amazing.” This season an overall record of 15-1 and league record of 13-1. They has been a great year for them, not only because they’ve won their match, but lost the second round match against had countless achievements, but South Hills High School. because they’ve come together as a The varsity team domifamily. The seniors and juniors connated the majority of their nect on an incomprehensible level games, winning each game with the young sophomores of the with a max of three sets, and team, a feat that most teams cannot winning each set with accuaccomplish. rate spikes, controlling sets, The Lady Apaches of the voland diving digs. The “defenleyball program continued Arcasive specialists,” senior Sarah dia’s prestigious legacy in athletics Molina and sophomore Jenby qualifying for CIF once again. nifer Estrada, provided the Coach Charles Freberg said, “I felt team with blocks after blocks, good about where we ended this which lead them to victory. season. We outplayed the competiSophomore Taylor DeGraaf tion in every single game.” and senior Ann Marie TanEver since the beginning of the gora, two of the best hitters on season, the Apaches have been unthe team, scored a countless stoppable. The team faced the Crenumber of points for the girls. senta Valley Falcons on Oct. 14 and Coach Freberg recogwon their first three sets, securing a nized the following star playquick victory. ers as being extremely vital Photo by GREGORY ZAJAC On Oct. 28, they conquered at to the team’s success: senior Sophomore Glendale High School, winning the GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Carin Benton, senior Christine first set 25-18, the second set 25- Taylor DeGraaf sends the ball over the net Howard, senior Brittany Reyn9, and the third set 25-7. The girls through the hands of her opponent’s block. olds, senior Monica Shei, and were offered no break, and had to junior Ashley Ethridge. The play two days after, against John Burroughs High School. team hasn’t won league in two years, so their victory this The Burroughs team proved themselves to be worthy oppo- year is extra sweet. nents, and the Apaches lost the first set 22-25, managed to win the second set 25-8, but then lost the third and fourth set vtran@theapachepowwow.com

November 2008

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SPORTS

21

Boys and Girls Cross Country Sprint to a Finish safe, including my own, including Renaud’s. Every spot is unsafe necks and times of 17:30 and 17:52. because every single guy on the team is ready to step up. They Two weeks later, they captured sixth place at the Kenny Staff Writer could beat you.”

Staub Invitational. AHS took the silver trophy home from On Nov. 15 AHS finished second in their heat at CIF Southern the Clovis Invitational’s course, but placed a disappointing Six thousand six hundred eighty five miles. The seven Section Division I Prelims and advanced to CIF-SS Finals, knowninth on Oct. 25 in the Mt. SAC Invitational, where Coach runners of AHS Varsity Boys Cross Country collectively ran ing that only the top seven teams in the race would from there Ray Mynster said, “knowing what it meant to us, they got this distance over 14 weeks during the summer. They studied qualify for the state meet. They a little intimidated by it the sport. They will take their final test at the State Champiqualified by a comfortable margin, and we stumbled a bit onships at Woodward park this Saturday, Nov. 29, in Fresno. beating the seventh place El Toro there.”

They are entering the race as the fourth seed out of the SouthHigh School 142 to 193, and placThe girls also covern Section Division I, their highest ever in their four years of ing fourth. Moussa finished 11th in ered a lot of ground on the competition at the state level.

15:11, Poizat 13th in 15:14, sopholeague circuit. McAlister Arcadia’s Varsity squadron first gained widespread atmore Allen Leung 29th in 15:34, won at Pacific League tention this season atop the podium at the 35th Stanford Invisophomore Eric Garibay 51st in Meet #2, finishing ahead tational, where they won with a score of 128 to second place 15:48, junior Charlie Johansen 77th of CV all stars Michelle Jackson High School’s 162 (scores are the finishing places of in 16:13, junior Nick Shar 79th in Callister and Carlotta a team’s first five runners added together, lowest score wins).

16:15, and junior Christos McClain Pham. At League Finals, The Apaches crossed the finish line of the hilly 3.1 mile 103rd in 16:45 for a cumulative McAlister ran 17:31, course with a team time (finish times of a team’s first five runteam time of 78:00. O’Brien said shattering a school reners added together) of 81 minutes and 14 seconds. seeing his boys qualify for state cord held since 1981 by The trophy awarded to the team the next week at Pepper“never gets old.”

Tina Pappas. The success dine Invitational may have been of silver stature, but Moussa With 13 meets under their Photo by GREGORY ZAJAC has also made its way had mined a more precious metal out of Malibu that day to belt and their most important race GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Senior Caitlin Kelly down to the lower levels drape around his own neck. The sophomore returned home around the corner, O’Brien has races past her Crescenta Valley rival during the Pacific of the team, with the SF with his first ever Varsity win and an entirely new outlook on been impressed by how his young- League meet. team setting a new school his own potential as a runner. He said, “I’ve gone from this est ever Varsity team has handled course record on every attitude of ‘try and keep these guys in my sight,’ to ‘maybe the expectations and pressure of racing under the spotlight. He course they ran this season, and the JV girls wrestling their I can actually run with these top guys in the State.’” Moussa said, “This team has run solid and high level in every big meet first league championship away from CV in over 10 years. is currently ranked eighth in the State Division I on Dyestat. they’ve run in all year long. They have not faltered once, so I Mynster teaches his girls to save their legs for the imcom, an internet database devoted to high school cross counwouldn’t expect them to do so up there. They’re like seasoned portant races of the season, when they really need them. He try, and is the only sophomore in the top ten. Senior Renaud veterans even though they’re so said, “when we had our big races they pulled out their trump Poizat is also on the list, in young. They’ve been through card out and ran the big race.” At the bottom of the deck was sixth place. all the wars all season long.”

CIF-SS Prelims and the Apaches were eager to return to Mt. The Apaches then enHe added, “I don’t think they’ve SAC and qualify for CIF-SS Finals for the first time in 28 tered their championship peaked yet,” and believes they years, and prove their last performance on the course was phase by crushing their have one more race left in them, only a fluke. AHS happened to be placed in the same heat Pacific League competiand expects it to be their best. as their league rivals CV, currently ranked third in the state, tors Nov. 6 with a course The AHS Girls Cross Counwhich, Mynster said, would work out in the Apaches’ favor record shattering team time try team has also had a historic “because the girls know exactly who to run with.” They put of 75:02 for the three mile year; they ended their season their mettle to the test in the literally uphill race, shortened course, an average of five in second place in the Pacific to two miles due to the hot weather and smoke from the fires minutes per mile per man.

League, behind Crescenta Valburning across the southland that weekend. Llamas finished Nearest rival John Burley. They had one of the greatest 15th in 13:17, McAllister 16th less than one second behind, roghs High School was eatfinishes ever, sixth place, in CIF Yee 38th in 13:49, senior Caitlin Kelly 39th in 13:50, junior ing Apache dust, two minSouthern Section Prelims DiviAlex Dreeves 43rd in 13:55, senior Tiffany Lin 66th in 14:37 utes, 29 seconds behind in Photo by GREGORY ZAJAC sion I heat two Saturday, Nov. 15 and junior Roudi Duan 71st in 14:45 for a final score of 148 team time. Due to the lower and team time of 68:08. CV won the heat and advanced to level of competition on the BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Senior Renaud Poizat at Mt. SAC. With a starting lineup showCIF-SS Finals. league scene this year com- dashes to the finish line once again at the Apache casing some very young talent, After hanging up the towel on one of their best seasons pared to years past, Moussa Invitational. the sophomore, four juniors and two seniors, rather than being in recent years, the AHS Girls Cross Country team has a said his team used the three league meets this season to “work extremely intimidated, are excited to flap their wings. Junior Velot to look forward to next year. Five of their seven Varsity on all the little details we need to work on for all the big inronica Yee said that when she and her teammates might seem nerrunners will be returning to the starting line next season, and vitationals.” vous before a big invitational, “we’re not really stressed out, per Mynster said, “we have four freshmen that can easily come They may be fast, but the Apaches are also deep. With se, we’re more excited about competition.” in” and be right where the two graduating members left off. a large reserve of qualified individuals in both the JV and The Apaches started to fly Sept. 20 when they grabbed a fifth Mynster reminds his girls that how far they go next season SF levels to draw from, the seven men Coach Jim O’Brien place finish at the Woodbridge Invitational with 163 points and a is entirely up to them, and that once the race starts a coach is decides to put on the Varsity starting line changes virtually team time of 92:05, a course record for AHS girls. Front Runners nothing but “a cheerleader who yells out splits.” every week. Moussa said, “the gap between number five and sophomore Catrina McAlister and junior Cassandra Llamas left number 11 on the team is really, really close [11 seconds at the three-mile course with 2nd and 7th place medals around their gzajac@theapachepowwow.com Pacific League Finals]. Everybody’s spot on the team is un-

By GREGORY ZAJAC

PROFILE

COACH MYLES

By VICTORIA TRAN Staff Writer

You’ve seen him riding around the campus in his golf cart, and now you’ll probably see him, after school, on the girls’ soccer field of Salter Stadium: school proctor Paul Myles has Photo by GREG ZAJAC now become coach

Paul Myles.

Coach Ashley Frandsen, Girls Varsity Soccer coach, asked her fellow high school friend, whom we all now know as Paul, to assist her in leading her team to victory while she is absent this season. Her temporary absence is caused by the fact that she is expecting twins in early May. Her doctor has advised her to step aside and refrain from coaching this year, because it adds extra strain. She unwillingly conceded, but congrats, Coach Frandsen! Coach Paul gladly accepted and agreed to coach her team during her pregnancy.

Coach Frandsen is still unsure whether or not she will be able to coach next year’s team, but said, “Well, this gives me more time now to be at the Frosh/Soph and JV games, so that’s a plus.”

Coach Paul has a lot of confidence in this year’s team and expects a lot of effort and determination from everyone; he predicts they will “go all the way [to CIF], but still improve game after game.” In order to do so, the team will practice everyday until five o’clock, and sometimes even five-thirty. They’ll be working hard for those three hours, attempting to perfect an already amazing team.

For a month now, coach Paul has gotten to see the team playing, and he said, “[the girls] each have a lot of talent, it’s going to be a good future for them.”

After coaching boys for several years at various schools and soccer clubs, including the Los Angeles Futbol Club, Coach Paul said, “coaching girls is a change of pace. It may be [easier], it may be not.” However, Frandsen says she will try to stay and assist

him as long as she possibly can.

Due to the fact that he first started playing soccer at the age of five, Coach Paul has been growing up playing and coaching soccer. In fact, he played for AHS while he was attending this very school. With his seasoned experience, the girls of this year’s team could be looking at yet another Pacific League Championship to add to their bookcases of trophies.

As Coach Paul once said, “Practice, practice, practice, baby.” And he’s right, practice does indeed make perfect.

And although he will be spending time with his new varsity team, don’t expect him to be missing in action in the hallways with a golf cart! vtran@theapachepowwow.com

26

CALENDAR

Solve the Sudoku

See theapachepowwow.com for answers

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November 2008

November Wordsearch See theapachepowwow.com for answers

CORN ELECTIONS FAMILY FEAST HARVEST PARADE PILGRIMS QUARTER FINALS THANKSGIVING TRADITION TURKEY VETERANS DAY

Courtesy of websudoku.com

Unscramble the

What You’re Most Thankful for

By David Hernandez

See theapachepowwow.com for answers

Courtesy of jumble.com

Mmm...Moffett’s!

By LISA HUNG Staff Writer

Located in the dark western corner of the CVS plaza on Naomi is a homely diner by the name of Moffett’s. Think you’ve seen it? It’s in the plaza located to the left of the CVS and the right of the Baskin Robins. Sound familiar? It looks a bit questionable in its reclusive little corner.

When I looked up at the old sign, it read “Chicken Pie Shoppe.” If they wanted to create a quaint old-fashioned impression, job well done; the extra “pe” on “shoppe” really does the trick. Fortunately, my mom told me to never judge a book by its cover and Mother does know best. I walked in to find an extraordinary ambiance; it was like walking into grandmother’s kitchen. The restaurant has a cozy environment and the service to complement it.

A waitress brought me the menu, and without taking a good look at it, I did what I always do at an unfamiliar restaurantask what’s good. She suggested with the utmost enthusiasm their delectable Chicken Pot Pie. I complied; after all, they do call themselves a “Chicken Pie Shoppe.” It was one of the most amazing pot pies I’ve ever tried, and I’ve had my

feel, where you find yourself going so much that the workers fair share—Marie Callendar’s, Coco’s, etc.—incomparable to will eventually greet you with, “the usual?”

Moffett’s.

Moffett’s also offers the pot pies frozen for take-out; it’s You can order their dinner combo of salad, pot pie, sides, easy and just as tasty. The pot pies come in white and dark meat and dessert for just $10. The pot pie comes in a delicious golden as well as all white meat, on top brown flaky crust of that they also have beef pot filled with warm, pies. Moffett’s provides a varimarinated, tender ety of foods, the same variety chunks of chickyou’d find in a small town dinen. The gravy was er, like Luke’s in Stars Hollow, seasoned to perah- the Gilmores, Moffett’s is fection, salty but truly comfort food at its best. not overwhelming. The restaurant and the pot Moffett’s pie in itself were Family Restaurant and Chicken beyond my exPie Shoppe pectations.

1409 S Baldwin Ave The scrumpArcadia, CA 91006 tious pies and the hometown décor give Moffett’s lhung@theapachepowwow.com that relaxing feel.

Photo Courtesy by google.com It is the kind of place that has the JUST LIKE HOME Moffet’s rustic and old fashioned exterior welcomes first name basis customers with warmth.

November 2008

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CALENDAR

Thank You Economy—Thanksgiving 2008

By Amy Qiu

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Photo Contest Winner: Scott Fairbanks

Adventures of Emily and Velinda

By Emily Litvack and Velinda Liao

The Rating Game

By Daniel Hsu

27

Though it’s a luxury, most of our country take for granted. In fact, clean drinking water is out of reach for over a billion people throughout the world. So from my garden hose to the Fiji water, I’m thankful that, no matter where I am, a sip of H2O is not out of reach.

24

CAMPUS FOCUS

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November 2008

Cookin’ up Some Love this Thanksgiving

By ANGELA SHEN

Leo Club Staff Writer

Food Science

Leo Club

As the holiday season draws near, several organizations at AHS are reaching out to the community to make a difference, while others simply enjoy the festivities and warmth of Thanksgiving. This year, Ms. Nancy Edwards’ Food Science classes, Hope Can Cure Cancer Club, Leo Club, and Students Promoting Literacy are participating in various activities and service events to welcome the spirit of the holidays.

this would be a good idea,” said Ms. Edwards. So come the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break, don’t be surprised to see overstuffed bellies walking out of G-3.

Thanksgiving, a holiday of warmth and comfort, does not always reach every individual. We often take for granted one of the most important gifts we have—our health and well-being. As an attempt to bring Thanksgiving to those who are sick, Hope Can Cure Cancer Club will be delivering handmade Thanksgiving cards to patients at the Methodist Hospital on Nov. 25. Many of the cards have fun jokes inside to cheer the patients up, and are

Hope Can Cure

Cancer Club Co-President Vivy Tran.

Students Promoting

blessed to have,” said Leo Club President Rachel Cheong.

Students Promoting Literacy (SPL) also decided to contribute this year, but through a unique and less conventional method—by holding a Winter Book Drive from Nov. 25 through Dec. 16. All of the books collected from each English classroom will be donated to the Arcadia Public Library. “We want to promote the spirit of giving this holiday season, through sharing the gift of knowledge,” said SPL President Jack Ching. Students Promoting Literacy is a club devoted to promoting the love of English, with events such as a spelling bee and a writing contest soon to follow after the book drive.

Food Science

ashen@theapachepowwow.com

Literacy Club PHOTOS by ANGELA SHEN, EMILY YANG, and their respective owners/PHOTO COURTESY OF pepperspollywogs.com, a7.vox.com, cityrentsparty.com, democratherald.com, pro.corbis.com, burntlumpia.typepad.com, auntbubbiesfakefood.com, jperkins.us, varnacrafts.com, and their respective owners.