February 2013

Volume 62, Issue 6

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA

February y 2013

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The Smiths: Brothers, Friends, Companions

By GOLDIE SHEN Staff Writer

Senior Stephen Smith has a hero: Nathan Smith, his older brother with autism. Overcoming communication challenges, Nathan has, among many other accomplishments, won an award for typing most effectively on his iPad and was named one of the top 50 student leaders by The Pasadena Foothill Magazine in 2012. With his extraordinary achievements and kindness, Nathan is a shining star to us all.

As the younger child, Stephen never officially “found out” that his brother had autism.

Stephen simply “grew into it.” When he was three or four, he asked his mother, “When am I going to stop talking like my brother?” Now that he is older and wiser, Stephen affirms that he has always accepted and admired his brother. According to Stephen, Nathan “brightens everybody’s day. Despite what you might expect, he is very easy to talk to.”

The brothers are literally fast friends. Ardent athletes, Nathan and Stephen spend summers playing ping-pong in the garage, countering each other’s hits at a breakneck pace.

Always a good sport, Nathan is also a strong supporter of the Boys Varsity Football team and an honorary member of the Boys Varsity Baseball team. With his brother as his coach, Nathan reigns over the basketball court in the Special Olympics as well.

Nathan has coached Stephen even more wisely. He has trained his brother to succeed in the greater game of life. From Nathan, Stephen has learned that “patience is key.” One particular memory leaps into mind, finishing off with a slam dunk. The brothers had been standing in line for hours at Sports Chalet, hoping for an autograph from the illustrious Earvin “Magic” Johnson. A wait that long would drive even the most die-hard sports fan to call it quits, but luckily, Nathan “never gets frustrated.” Finally, the moment of triumph arrived. Johnson not only signed for both brothers, but also took a photograph with Nathan.

The Smiths still have the shot immortalizing the meeting of the two heroes. Even without the photo, Stephen will “never forget the smile on Nathan’s face as he stood with his signed ball next to the basketball legend.”

There have been bad times as well as good times, but neither of the brothers have let others deter them. Always looking out for each other, Nathan and Stephen braved misunderstanding with unparalleled grace. Their battle has not been an easy one. “People didn’t believe in either of us, in the strength of our relationship,” said Stephen. Even people with good intentions fell victim to “talking down” to Nathan. They didn’t understand Nathan’s potential, whether it be his athletic talents or his phenomenal ideas. Stephen, on the other hand, would not change anything about his brother or trade his brotherhood with him for anything. Why would he? As Stephen said, they are “perfect” the way they are. Indeed, Nathan is a fantastic friend and anybody would be privileged to know him. People with special needs deserve “respect in a world that often forgets about them.”

This year, Stephen will have the honor of graduating with Nathan, who hopes to attend Biola University. Without a doubt, Nathan’s future holds many hopes and dreams.

For his senior project, Nathan has typed that he wants “to advocate for those who cannot represent themselves.” Stephen supports his brother, firmly believing that Nathan “can communicate through his typing, and the thoughts in his head can change the world.”

In fact, Nathan already has. His powerful tale of loyalty and courage inspires us to open our minds and hearts to all people. Dedication and optimism as strong as Nathan and Stephen’s is something we all should strive for. gshen@apachepowwow.com Photo by BEN GEISBERG

Inside this Issue Progressive Disney Princesses: Helplessness is a trademark of fairy tale princesses, but these Disney protagonists counter the stereotype, inspiring females everywhere.

IN FEATURES (PG. 9) Graphic courtesy of THENEXTGREATGENERATION.COM

Girls Basketball Balls So Hard: Making history, the Girls Varsity Basketball team beat out the competition and acquired the well-deserved title of League Champions.

IN SPORTS (PG. 21) FEATURES (PG. 8) Photo by WILSON LIN

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February 2013

Arcadia’s Citizens of the Year

By MATTHEW LEE Staff Writer

Arcadia is ranked as one of California’s top cities to live in due to its outstanding schools, living conditions, and safe environment. However, Arcadia would not have been ranked as one of the best if it had not been for its loyal citizens.

Such citizens include Jim and Shelly Romo, who have been named Citizens of the Year due to their outstanding volunteer service and leadership. The Romos have always gone beyond the call and are huge contributors to Arcadia’s social, religious, judicial, and charity organizations.

Although the Romos seem to have their hands full, education is a top priority for them mainly due to the fact that the Romos hold and have held key educational positions in the AUSD. According to Councilman Gary Kovacic, Mr. and Mrs. Romo “are never satisfied with just ‘putting in the time.’ They gladly accept important leadership positions that make a difference in our community. They always place the

Feb. Highlights

needs and concerns of our community ahead of their own.” Throughout the last ten years, Mr. Romo has been President of the AUSD Board of Education twice and President of the Arcadia Educational Foundation. He is currently the Vice President of the new Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation board of directors. Mrs. Romo has been President of Assistance League of Arcadia twice, President of the Sierra Madre Nursery School board of directors, and President of the PTA at Highland Oaks

Graphic courtesy of STRONGCITIESSTRONGSTATE.COM Photos courtesy of ARCADIASBEST.COM, ELLIOTT LEE, and HARRISON QUAN

CA Drops Algebra Requirements

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

War in Mali After a violent coup d’état in Mali, radical Islamic militants and separatist rebels took control of half of the country last March. This January, a military intervention led by France—Mali’s former colonial ruler—began. France has been successful so far, but it remains to be seen as to whether a French victory will mean stability for Mali.

Beijing Smog China’s air pollution levels have recently hit an all time high. Smog levels are 20 times over the World Health Organization’s recommended safety levels and visibility has been so heavily reduced that over a hundred flights have been cancelled.

North Korean Nuclear Test On Feb. 12, North Korea conducted its third successful nuclear device test, raising tensions worldwide. After a similar, successful long-range missile and rocket testing, North Korea could prove to be a serious international threat. Leaders around the world are planning to impose even stricter sanctions against North Korea.

Dorner Manhunt After a two-week long manhunt and four alleged victims, Christopher Dorner has been confirmed dead. A former cop and Navy officer, Dorner considered himself a victim of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD); the motive behind his actions was purportedly driven by his perceived corruption and racism within the LAPD.

In an attempt to allow students to learn math at their own pace, California’s new policy abolishes the 15-year procedure of the placement and proficiency of eighth grade students in the Algebra I course. The new state policy now allows students to enroll in Algebra I or an alternate course that teaches fewer algebraic concepts further in depth.

California is one of the last states to make this change, and as of now new standardized testing will focus more on the alternative course cal called alled the Common Core curr curriculum riculum which has been widely y ado adopted opted across the country.

“A lot of kids [a [are] are] pushed into alg algebra lgebra when they’re not ready,” ot read ady,” explained Quimby Qu Oak Middle School ool mat math ath teacher Mark k Stolan.

The new Common will on Core ccurriculum urriculum wil ill focus on fewer concepts pts durin during ng eighth grade, gr and will instead ad start w with ith Algebr Algebra bra I concepts during grade when g ninth gr rade whe en the students are better prepa prepared. pared.

The new policy slo slows lows down the amount nt of mater material riall learned over a period of tim time, me, e but it claims that at preparing g stuttime me will dents for a longerr period off tim positively factorr into thei their eir ev eventual ventual bra I. success in Algebra allo stu udents to The changee may allow students heir own pacee wi w ithout beingg learn math at their without

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was the unit coach for Unit 4 and volunteered his time to help us prepare for competitions, met with us on a weekly basis, attended our Monday night Chambers, and provided us with valuable resources.” Mrs. Romo taught at Glendale Unified School District and helped establish “Showcasing Arcadia High”, an event that showcases the accomplishments of AHS. Although the Romos received rewards and honors that were much deserved, the couple continues to contribute their efforts in making Arcadia better than ever. The City of Arcadia is grateful to have the Romos, but more importantly, our community is grateful that there are people willing to devote their time and effort in making the world a better place. mlee@apachepowwow.com

By ERIKA ZHENG

By VIVIAN WANG

Elementary, AHS, Foothills Middle School, and the Arcadia Council.

Though they are both highly recognized, the Romos like to connect with students in different school districts. Mr. Romo has served as an adviser and coach for the Constitution Team (Gov. Team) for 15 years up to the point where Gov. Team won the State and National championships.

According to Gov. Team member senior Regina Liu, “Mr. Romo provides tremendous support to Gov. Team. He

forced into learning anything above their level, but critics fear that the policy will stop schools from offering any additional rigorous courses for more academically advanced students.

The change is also a source of controversy with critics and opponents of the decision because the single best predictor of college graduation is success in Algebra I. Starting Algebra I in the ninth grade may help students who need to master math concepts taught in the Common Core curriculum beforehand, but it may also hinder them in the long run as they fall behind their peers.

Others disagree with the new change as well, saying that the new standards make it easier for school districts to neglect getting

low-income and minority students ready to go to college. “I think it’s a step back,” said Emmett Carson, Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, a source of funding for preparatory algebra courses for those who live in the area and which pushes students to achieve their utmost potential.

Some believe that the new Common Core curriculum is not synchronized with regular math courses that prepare college-prep students for taking calculus during senior year, a course that many colleg colleges expect their applicants to tak have already taken.

The slower, non-algebra Common Core m math track does not prepare stuint college and the predicament dents to enter into is instead left up to school districts to take care of themselves. followin other states and introducing By following the Common Cor Core curriculum, the State Board of Education is llooking to better the education of students who m may not be ready to learn Algegr bra I in eighth grade.

Whether or not this will hinder the eventual performance and the entrance of students that are bound for college can only be answered by how well California’s school districts implement this change and take it into stride for each individual student’s success in the future. ezheng@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of ALL-FREE-DOWNLOAD.COM, A IMAGESHACK.COM, and OPENCLIPART.ORG

February 2013

NEWS

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Flu Breakout Hits U.S. The government tallied that there were about 59 children who died due to fluStaff Writer related illnesses as of Feb. 1. With this year’s flu season labeled as moderately severe, the CDC reported that roughly Since last December, the circulation 24,000 Americans die each flu season, of the flu has affected many throughout with approximately 100 of them bethe nation. The early start of the flu seaing children, almost double son did not promise an earthe number of children who ly end to the flu epidemic, have fallen to this year’s flu with its prevalence stretchepidemic. ing into February. HowevSince the flu season er, the Centers for Disease consists of three main flu Control and Prevention strains circulating through(CDC) reported on Feb. out the nation, the CDC has 1 that the worst of the flu recommended anyone over appeared to be waning out, the age of six months to get with states such as Georgia immunized. The flu shot for and Alabama experiencing this year was made from an extreme decline in their three flu viruses, with the clinics’ visits from affected inclusion of a new virus in Americans. the vaccine shot. The CDC On Feb 1., the report stated that it is impossible to from the CDC stated that get the flu from the flu vacthe number of states reporting widespread geo- FLU SEASON This year’s moderately severe flu season cine despite the possibility graphical influenza activ- began in December and according to the Centers for Disease of minor side effects.

Control and Prevention, began to decline in February.

With the flu still affectity dropped from 48 to 42, including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, flu activity, while a couple of states cen- ing many in California, students and California, Colorado, Connecticut, Dela- tralized in the southeastern U.S. that were teachers alike should be aware and exware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, previously reporting widespread activity ercise precautions everywhere regardIowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, later reported regional and local influenza ing contact and exposure to the sick Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michi- activity, shifting the area affected by the and germs. gan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Ne- epidemic slightly west.

The season’s outbreak of the flu esbraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New lchen@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of CNBC.COM Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, pecially targeted the young and elderly.

Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Since the report in mid-January, California and Hawaii joined the rest of the nation in the flu epidemic with reports of high

By LILLIAN CHEN

Twitter Latest Site to be Hacked

By MICHELLE GU Staff Writer

The popular social networking site Twitter revealed to the public in a blog post that around 250,000 user accounts had been hacked on Feb. 1. This massive security breach resulted in the anonymous hackers gaining access to personal information such as the user names and email addresses of various Twitter accounts.

“We detected unusual access patterns that led to us identifying unauthorized access attempts to Twitter user data. We discovered one live attack and were able to shut it down in process moments later,” stated Director of Information Security Bob Lord. “However, our investigation has thus far indicated that the attackers may have had access to limited user information…for approximately 250,000 users.”

The first signs of an attack were detected in late January and further investigation led to the discovery of a larger breach. “This attack was not the work of amateurs, and we do not believe it was an isolated incident. The attackers were extremely sophisticated, and we believe other companies and organizations have also been recently similarly attacked,” said Lord. Luckily, the company man-

aged to identify the attack and thwart the attempts of the hackers fairly quickly.

Twitter has not yet revealed to the public how it was hacked, but in its blog post Twitter hinted that the hackers infiltrated the system through vulnerabilities in Oracle’s Java software. Java is a widely

rogramming language th used programming thatt iis iinstalled in millions of electronic devices but is often plagued by security issues. Despite the fact that Oracle had recently patched a security hole, the fix was not enough.

As a precautionary measure, Twitter reset passwords and revoked session tokens, a tool that allows the user to stay logged in without reentering a password, for all the affected accounts.

The company sent out emails notifying users of these changes and told them that they would not be allowed to immediately log into their accounts.

They would receive an email requesting them to reset their password.

The company advised all of its users to make sure that they had strong passwords and suggested that they not use the same password for different sites. Twitter also stated that it “hashed” ppasswords, meaning it co combined the original n password with a mathematical m algor rithm, and “salted” th them, meaning it added random numbers to the hhashed passwords to make them harder to decode.

A Although no specific group oor country has been named or suggested as a suspect for the attacks, the attack was preceded by major security breaches at the New N York Times and The Wall Street JJournal by Chinese hackers, h k which led many people to speculate whether or not they were responsible. Twitter is currently working with the government and federal law enforcement to determine the source of the attacks. mgu@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of IBTIMES.COM and TWITTER.COM

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

Stacey Ng and Melissa Song Anna Naran Katrina Chao and Regina Liu Kelly Ching and Vanessa Yu Courtney Hang and Sarah Quon Christopher Cho and Christine Sun Ashley Chi and Stanley Shaw Edward Chao and Allan Gao Evan Delgado and Amanda Huynh Mya Ho Phoebe Shen Josh Bay Brandon Pang and Rita Wang Wilson Lin Daniel Jenn and Helen Lee Jonathan Matsumoto Ariana Arzani and Belle Zheng

Writers News Staff

Opinion Staff

Performing Arts Staff

Student Life Staff

Features Staff

Sports Staff

Academics Staff

Calendar Staff

Campus Focus Staff Center Spread Staff Advertisement Staff Photo Staff Copy Editing Staff

Adviser

Ian Chan, Lillian Chen, Eric Cho, Sirej Dua, Michelle Gu, Michelle Huang, Matthew Lee, Lily Ling, Terri Shi, Justin Tang, Vivian Wang, Erika Zheng Lillian Chen, Ben Geisberg, Lauren Frank, Mary Guyer, Daniel Jenn, Lily Ling, Tiffany Liu, Goldie Shen, Wilson Tan, Khanh Tran, Zachary Yee, Victoria Yu, Erika Zheng Deedee Chuang, Michelle Gu, Megan Hong, Elisha Lee, Jonathan Lu, Victoria Nakaganeku, Terri Shi, Victoria Yu, Erika Zheng Ian Chan, Eric Cho, Michelle Gu, Michelle Huang, Allesandra Jasso, Elisha Lee, Lily Ling, Leanne Peres, Briana Shen, Terri Shi, Kristie Sun Yoko Chan, Elaine Chung, Allesandra Jasso, Amelia Jin, Rosemary Lee, Jonathan Matsumoto, Briana Shen, Goldie Shen, Belinda Shoung, Kristie Sun, Brendan Tran, Anna Wang, Victoria Yu Rena Chen, Sirej Dua, Lauren Frank, Amelia Jin, Daniel Jenn, Karina Laigo, Tiffany Liu, Jonathan Lu, Justin Tang, Lauren Tom, Brendan Tran, Shawn Xing, Zachary Yee Sirej Dua, Ben Geisberg, Michelle Gu, Daniel Jenn, Helen Lee, Tiffany Liu, Leanne Peres da Silva, Terri Shi, Wilson Tan, Khanh Tran Rena Chen, Elaine Chung, Dana Jee, Karina Laigo, Christina Liang, Goldie Shen, Belinda Shoung Kristie Sun Erika Zheng Ariana Arzani, Tiffany Chandra, Jacqueline Chu, Diana Kwok, Randy Lee, Shawn Xing Ben Geisberg, Deedee Chuang, Megan Hong, Dana Jee, Matthew Lee Katrina Chao, Rena Chen, Megan Hong, Elisha Lee, Lily Ling, Victoria Nakaganeku, Kristie Sun, Khanh Tran, Rosemary Lee, Erika Zheng 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. A student’s work does not represent the views of Arcadia High School or the Arcadia Unified School District. Address letters to the editor to: The Apache Pow Wow, 180 W. Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. To place an advertisement in the newspaper, email ads.powwow@gmail.com. Advertisement rates vary from $30 for a business card advertisement to $250 for a full-page black and white advertisement, with quarter-page, half-page, and advertisement insert options available.

Graphic courtesy of MYCUTEGRAPHICS.COM

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February 2013

Junk Food Ban at Schools School Cooking Contest

By TERRI SHI Staff Writer

A recent proposal has brought forth the idea that fatty foods, such as chips, nachos, and cheese sticks, should be taken out of school cafeterias and be replaced by healthful alternatives.

These rules have been suggested in an attempt to lower the obesity rate in children and teens.

This way, students can maintain a healthful diet y food choices. However, and limit unhealthy do all schools agree gree with tthis his new limitation on foods, ds, or will cconontroversies emergee from thiss new proposal?

The plan for fulhaving healthfulfoods starts with fat, ugar calorie, and sugar ugh restrictions. Though ood most cafeteria food eing is already being regulated by thee Agricul-nt, the gov verntural Department, government’s health unit unit, many schools offer foods like energy drinks or chips that are higher in calories and are typically unhealthy.

These foods generally have not been approved by the Agricultural Department and are becoming more and more of an issue.

Parents are usually the ones who have a conflict with the cafeteria’s menu. With the new suggestion, this won’t be nearly as big of a problem. “Parents and teachers work hard to instill healthy eating habits in our kids, and these

efforts should be supported when kids walk through the schoolhouse door,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Hoping to lessen parents’ complaints, the Agricultural Department wishes to carry out the plan soon.

If the proposal goes through, each school will have a new set of rules. For example, “elementary and middle schools [can] sell only water, low-fat milk or 100% fruit or vegetable juice.” Furthermore, the portions will be reduced and “most snacks sold in schools would have to have less than 200 calories.”

However, for now these regulations “wo “would not apply to inschool ffundraisers or bake sa sales [as well as] sc school games or theate events.” ater As the obesity rate am among children and tee continues to rise, teens th Agricultural Dethe partment is proposing these new ideas to control the growing problem With the problem. these new regulations, more nutritious foods will be served. However, these ideas don’t satisfy everyone. Major food and beverage companies have filed complaints in the past because these limitations burden their sales. As for whether or not the proposal will be passed, the health department will have to wait and see if it gets approved. tshi@apachepowwow.com Images courtesy of PHOTOBUCKET.COM

By LILY LING Staff Writer

With the intention of bringing healthful and more nutritional food to schools, a national cooking competition called the Cooking Up Change contest was started a few yyears ago g in sity crisis. light of the nationwide obesity Just last month, West Adams Preparatory High of the Los Angeles geles Unified School District (LAUSD) D) chose a team of three students that successfully ams within competed against other teams the district to go to the Cooking ooking up Change contest at the national ational level. The winning team was comprised of Jose Landaverde, verde, Maribel Sandoval, and Esther Segura, who now have the chance to represent their school in the next food revolution. ch After ridding its lunch kof junk food such as chicken nuggets and nachos, the LAUSD was confronted with ecting the problem of students rejecting the whole grains and fresh produce wards Looking that were introduced afterwards. for a solution, school officials decided to enter the contest in order to be able to hear the students’ ideas.

“What we’re trying to do is get kids to eat more healthfully and nutritionally but also have them learn how it impacts their health,” stated David Binkle, the district’s food services direc-

tor. “It all starts with kids helping us do that.”

Under the surveillance of TV cameras, the competition began and the rules were as follows: to create one main dish along with two side dishes with a total calorie count between 750 and 850, minimal sugar and salt usage, and specifi c amounts of vegetables, grains, and p meat. me eat. students cooked everything The stu tamales to fruit parfaits, but the from tamale Adams team ultimately preWest A vailed with their dish called “TexCorn Bread and Black Bean Mex C Mountain”, which consisted of simMountain mered ppears and cucumber topped vinaigrette. with a vi What the LAUSD decided to do Wha lunch program will continue to with its lun help sstudents alike; although AHS may not have had a food chalma lenge of its own, there are still le m many ways to bring about he healthful dietary options.

The potential popularity of the th contest may eventually spread to the state or federal government, both of which are already proposing prroposing laws law concerning students’ diets. We may want those greasy fries or salty cup noodles at first, but perhaps it’s time for AHS to follow in the LAUSD’s footsteps and start a food revolution ourselves! lling@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of FOCUSONMEXICO.COM

Unemployment Rate Rises

The Legacy of Hillary Clinton

By MICHELLE HUANG

By ERIC CHO Staff Writer

Last month, 157,000 new jobs were added to the job market by the U.S. government. However, even with 157,000 new jobs made available to the public, the unemployment rate still rose. According to the U.S. Labor Department, unemployment rates increased from 7.8% to 7.9% last month.

Still, unemployment has dropped significantly since Oct. 2009, when it was 10%.

Employers added roughly 180,000 jobs per month in 2011 and 2012, growing from the previous estimate of 150,000. Hiring was more common at the end of last year, averaging 200,000 new jobs in October, November, and December.

Even with the rising of unemployment rates, more than 84,000 jobs were added last year. However, President Barack Obama is still the president in office with the highest job loss amount of any president since Franklin Roosevelt. Analysts expect that the economy will grow again in the springtime, though not at an exponential rate.

The highest contributors to job opportunity growth are from contractors and the self-employed, according to Heidi Shierholz, an analyst at the Economic Policy Institute.

Unemployment is a serious issue for the U.S. economy. However, according to data released by officials, the U.S. economy is slowly on the rise. mhuang@apachepowwow.com

working, literally killing, herself for her country.” However, these efforts were not in vain, as her outreach made it possible to levy sanctions on Iran and North Korea, which otherwise would have been impossible. By adjusting the approach the U.S. takes in handling both international and national affairs, Clinton had suc-

and the confidence of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate,” President Obama confidently remarked when questioned.

After four years of masterfully carrying With a near-unanimous vote of 94 to 3, nuout the duties of a U.S. Secretary of State, Hillmerous members of the Senate glowingly comary Clinton shocked the nation with her offimended Senator Kerry, listing positive thoughts cial resignation shortly after President Barack in his qualifications. Senator Kerry also became Obama’s victory. While Clinton a trusted diplomatic envoy for President had her occasional negative reObama during his first term after negotimarks regarding the U.S.’ wellating with Pakistan on behalf of the U.S. being, she ultimately left with administration. “confidence about the direction As chairman of the Foreign Relations [that] had [been] set for the Committee during President Obama’s U.S.,” and in doing so, instilled first term, Senator Kerry was also a loyal a feeling of hope in the hearts ally of the White House and served as an of Americans as well as leavinterlocutor with numerous presidents of ing behind a legacy of having foreign countries. With even Clinton pre“dramatically changed U.S. dicting that her successor “would pursue foreign policies for the better,” numerous foreign conflicts” with hopes remarked President Obama. of resolving them, many continue to beHaving traveled to 112 lieve that his inauguration will ultimately countries—nearly a million benefit the U.S. “I think for John Kerry, miles and 401 days on the the best is yet to come,” Senator Charles road—to resolve numerous E. Schumer remarked shortly after Senadisputes, Clinton remains “the NEW ERA IN POLITICS Upon former Secretary of State tor Kerry’s victory. nation’s most potent politi- Hillary Clinton’s official resignation, Senator John Kerry has been While Clinton was undoubtedly an cal figure aside from President sworn in as the new Secretary of State with a near-unanimous vote. outstanding political figure, U.S. poliObama,” according to former Deputy Secretary cessfully bolstered the image and reputation of ticians and citizens alike approve of Senator of State Richard L. Armitage. the U.S. to astonishing heights.

Kerry. With only the future to reveal the efRanging from trips to Asia to Syria to AfIn effect to Clinton’s resignation, Senator fects of Senator Kerry’s inauguration, the naghanistan, Clinton, through incredibly intense John Kerry, a man who, according to Senator tion now watches U.S.’ political affairs with negotiations, has managed to quell a multitude Richard Blumenthal, “has had his whole life anticipation. of tensions that would have otherwise led to prepare him for the job,” will assume the powar. “She’s not a typical Secretary of State,” sition of U.S. Secretary of State. Throughout echo@apachepowwow.com Anne-Marie Slaughter, a former Clinton ad- his 28 years in the Senate, Senator Kerry “has Photos courtesy of NEWSDAY.COM and UPTOWNMAGAZINE.COM viser stated. “For the last four years she’s been earned the respect of leaders around the world Staff Writer

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February 2013

6

OPINION

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Good Teacher, Bad Teacher

By LILY LING Staff Writer

You just received your new schedule… now it’s time to either cheer or pout, and for most of us, it’s the latter.

Why? Well, each of the four years we spend in high school serves as deciding factors toward the kind of university or job that accepts us. And every new school year or semester, students hope not to be assigned to “bad” teachers—those who can’t teach and/or have tough standards. The film, Bad Teacher, provides a good example of what I mean. Although the situation would most likely be less extreme than the instructor sitting at a desk and showing her class un-educational films all day, students are still suffering. And while some may be pleased with their teachers, the other unlucky few will have already started to complain about their misfortunes after receiving a hard test or assignment. The grades that are recorded on our transcripts, however, do not reflect these differences as colleges and parents view our grades blindly.

The fact of the matter is, it’s just not fair that one student may have to work harder than the rest plainly due to the teacher he or she has. Sometimes, that extra work may not be enough if the teacher simply lacks the needed teaching skills. Students need someone who is able to connect with them, ex-

plain things clearly, and actually care about his or her classes. You may hear the complaints about a teacher doing this or a teacher not doing that.

At first thought, it may seem as if that certain student is just being overly dramatic, but in reality, that is not always the case. Between receiving an A in an easy class and getting a C in a hard one, of course the first choice looks better to everyone.

Although it’s almost impossible to hire entirely qualified teachers simply because everyone’s opinions will vary, there is a simple solution.

Instead of measuring all students in a certain subject, why not just scale all the grades only within their respective classes and teachers? That way, each student will have the grade that he or she deserves, and the long process of explaining a bad grade to our parents won’t be needed (hypothetically, of course). Most importantly, the scores that go on our transcripts will be seen equally by colleges and the chances of our futures being tarnished by bad luck would decrease.

Even after changing our traditions for grading, there will always be some who are still on the lower end of things. But this time, it will only be due to the student and the level of determination that proceeds. lling@apachepowwow.com

February 2013

Make Cyber Love, Not War

By KHANH TRAN Staff Writer

Beep. A new chat line appears. Ominous black text arises, shooting a wave of insults at the unfortunate teenager who clicks on it. That is all it takes to wreck someone’s confidence and self-esteem. Be it a Facebook update, a Tumblr post, or simply a private message, bullying has found its new platform: the Internet. As technology evolves, oldschool bullying transforms to accommodate the digital age. The anonymity of the world wide web makes cyberbullying virtually unalarming until it’s too late.

Unlike physical bullying, cyberbullying provides its users with two cowardly tools of operation: anonymity and publicity. Hiding behind a computer screen makes it easy for bullies to justify their actions since they believe no one would ever discover their identities. Not only that, but what they post is open wide to the public to spectate and comment on.

Pretending as if they were orchestrating a drama, bullies feed on the reactions of the observers, gaining sadistic gratifications as a result. To them, victims are nothing more than toys for them to abuse and torment.

The perpetrators might long for short bursts of popularity with Facebook statuses or Twitter updates. “I thought it was funny,” the attention-seekers would say.

They’re so consumed by the desire for some mere recognition that the potential disasters slip from their minds. True, they may not have malicious intent. But it is irresponsible to exploit someone’s social life to gain some Internet likes.

Moreover, the Internet has an infamous rule: “Once it’s on the Internet, it’s there forever”. That is the brutal reality of the online world. To think that you can simply erase what is online and walk away from the problem is a terrible misconception. What about the victims? Can they just ignore the fact that they’ve just been harassed online by anonymous jerks or someone they know?

The toxic consequences still linger, shattering the poor fellows’ self-esteems into pieces. Oftentimes, victims are too broken to seek any help as they lay vulnerable and helpless to more attacks, a reason for the increasing suicidal rate among teenagers.

Actions need to be taken. Schools ought to educate students about the disastrous effects of cyberbullying. The Internet may open the door to the modern life, but with it comes many challenges and problems. There is no such thing as privacy.

Either you tread diligently or fall victim to cyber threats.

Cyber or physical, bullying is bullying. The online consequences are as hard and painful as a punch in the jaw. ktran@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of CYBERBULLYINGPROTECTION.NET

The Olympic Games is famous for its diversity—athletes from across the globe, from every country, representing different ethnicities and races, are given an opportunity to compete alongside each other. Yet for some, are the odds already stacked against their favor due to reasons beyond their control? In certain events, some ethnicities seem to wholly dominate the competition while others fall behind. Does a person’s race or nationality give an advantage in sports? Or is hard work a larger factor for success?

“I think it is not necessarily a person’s race that gives him or her an advantage or disadvantage, but rather, it is the culture from which he or she comes from that plays a strong influence on his or her strengths and weaknesses. Basketball is popular among Americans, and therefore the U.S. received the most medals for basketball; likewise, gymnastics is popular in China, which received the most medals in that category. The U.S. and China place great emphasis on their respective sports, and athletes are pushed and inspired by the demands of their own society or culture. Though people from different races are built differently genetically, their success is not the product of their genes but from their own hard work, which are stems from the culture their countries assimilate.”—Joy Basinger, 10

status of the country varies. I believe that an athlete’s ability is sometimes determined by the resources they are given, but hard work and determination are the major factors on whether or not the athlete goes to the Olympic Games.”—Erika Zheng, 9

“No, I don’t think that it’s really ethnicity that has anything to do with athletic ability, but rather focus and drive. Yes, there are stereotypes associated with certain races, but that doesn’t make them true. I mean, look at people like Jeremy Lin, an Asian man in a sport that’s dominated by African Americans and Caucasians, yet he is still a successful basketball player. Some people just work at different paces in different ways, and with the hard work coming from it, one person can be just as successful in athletics as another, despite racial stereotypes.”—Ming Guo, 12

“Although most sports and events have a tendency to be dominated by certain countries, I don’t think it plays any part in the actual outcome. The crowd may be expecting the competition to go one way, but the athletes themselves are the only ones who have any say in what happens. Last year’s Olympics was filled with surprises: Great Britain did surprisingly well, China’s gold medal count disappointed many, and the U.S. gained control of the Games once again. What people anticipated did not always match the results, but that’s just how the Games work. If we already knew exactly what was going to happen, then what would be the point of watching? The only thing keeping us glued to the television is the element of surprise, which is always the best kind of victory. Some sports seem to be dominated by certain regions, but maybe that’s just a result of the environment the athletes are from. Having the resources to practice plays a big factor in someone’s skill.

Though one may have access to the necessary gear, it is purely the effort and determination an athlete embraces that affects the outcome of anything.”—Kathy Lee, 10

“In some cases, both apply. Depending on the athlete’s country of origin, the financial

“When it comes to athletics, I have to agree that a person’s race or nationality does

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give them a certain advantage because their build gives them advantage over another race or nationality. For example, an African-American may be physically larger than an Asian. In basketball, an African American would have the upper hand of being taller than an Asian.

But although race or nationality does give an advantage, hard work is a larger factor for success because what you are or what you are born as can only take you so far. With hard work, people can excel pass their limits and become better.”—Linh Duong, 11 “Though a race may come with genetic advantages such as enhanced endurance, blood cell capability of carrying blood, or any genetic mutation, they only serve as tools, and as with all tools, they are useless unless used properly.

Hard work and determination is needed to cultivate these abilities to create better athletes.

Certain countries have a national mentality to push themselves personally to achieve success for the nation, but potential alone can not bring these athletes to the Olympic status they are at.”—Lauren Frank, 11 “Your nationality can get you to a certain point in the aspect that some nations can provide more resources for that sport compared to others. Certain nations may have better coaches, training techniques, and training conditions compared to other nations. These advantages are often very helpful and useful especially to an athlete. However, if you aren’t willing to train as hard as you can, and dedicate yourself to the sport, then you won’t get as far, even

with all those advantages.”—Diana Lam, 9 “Individually, someone’s race doesn’t greatly affect the outcome of an event. Anyone that trains hard enough and has the heart to win can eventually reach their goal. When one nation’s athletes seem to dominate a particular event, it’s not necessarily their ethnicity that’s the advantage, rather their hard work and mindset that continue their legacy. The abundance of training facilities also can play a role in the success of a particular country in an event.”—Megan Acosta, 10 “A person’s race or nationality does give an advantage in sports, but that advantage is not enough to surpass hard work and natural talent.

Due to differences in culture, some sports are encouraged while others are not. However, a combination of hard work and natural talent is enough to pull anyone over the top, regardless of race or ethnicity.” —Wilson Tan, 11 “An athlete of a certain race or nationality might have an advantage over other athletes if they have better trainers and practicing facilities. However, anyone can have exceptional talent and work hard enough to earn a medal regardless of their origins. One sport may be more popular in certain countries, which also affects the number of people who participate in it. I think that some countries might seem to wholly dominate a sport, but I think a lot of this also comes from stereotypes, such as that all Africans are good at running.”—Priscilla Samadi, 11

OPINION

opinion@apachepowwow.com

February 2013

7

Five Carolers Set Standards For Selflessness

By LILLIAN CHEN Staff Writer

Work, laugh, cry, eat, sleep, and repeat. Some of us lead monotonous lives, going through the same motions day after day. Others might think of life as a generator of a new experience each and every day. Regardless of how we spend our time, we should acknowledge that our actions, no matter how seemingly insignificant they are, do have a tremendous effect on the lives of others.

Don’t believe this? Well, let’s ask our very own Apaches.

Edward Chai, Caryl Dann, Joshua Liao, Vivian Liu, and Anthony Ma are five AHS sophomores who went to the Arcadia Methodist Hospital on Christmas Eve to sing Christmas carols. Was this experience simply just a trade-off for a few hours of volunteer work? Not for these sophomores. “Before we actually went caroling, we just thought that it would be fun because we all love to sing and we wanted to do something nice for the patients,” Vivian shared. Giving their time and love to hospitalized patients, these five chose to dedicate part of their Christmas Eve solely to spreading joy and cheer. Although this act itself is commendable, to them it seemed like the fleeting heartwarming feelings they experienced were the extent of that day’s charitable work.

An email arrived a month later from the patient’s son, Mr. Richard Jue, whose father passed away on Jan. 2. He expressed his sentiments in the following note: “I wanted to express how much we appreciated that act of grace and kindness. All four of us thought it was an act of God that brought them to us. It gave us so much comfort during a very difficult time. I do not know who they are but I have an iPhone video of their short performance. I keep it as a treasured memory of my dad’s last few days. Thank you so much. Please let the school know it is a wonderful thing that they are doing.”

The few minutes shared between the Jue family and these five Apaches were minutes that had a deep and profound impact on the Jue family. This was such an important moment, causing Mr. Jue to seek out the students with just a description of what he remembered, with no clue as to who they were. His attempt at contacting those five students has also changed their lives forever.

“This is an experience that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life,” said Joshua. “I hope that I can be able to do the same in the future.” Edward added, “It feels really amazing to know that we were able to touch the hearts of a great family and just to be able to reach out to others. I’m glad we were able to be part of this.”

Despite still being high school students, these five have made a difference in another family’s life. They exhibited so much selflessness for others, believing that they can make a difference. This incident is concrete proof that they have changed a life with their actions, which are true from the heart.

The problem with many of us is that we do not spend our time on charity work to change the lives of others. Many of us do it for personal benefits, such as accumulating volunteer hours and leadership positions. This is not in the spirit of good will, and the number of hours you have is nothing to be proud of.

These five received the ultimate reward of heartfelt gratitude from this family without even asking for such sentiments. Let this particular incident be inspiration for all of us Apaches: to be giving without asking for anything in return, to know that your actions are important no matter how trivial you believe them to be, and to be kind to one another, no matter the occasion. lchen@apachepowwow.com

Photo courtesy of CARYL DANN

Bursting the Arcadia Bubble

By LAUREN FRANK Staff Writer

Living here for nearly 12 years, I’ve been spoiled with a variety of cultures. I’m not afraid to say that I love Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese food or that I celebrate Chinese New Year like many of my peers. I live in a wonderful city where all Asian things are generally accepted and known. Yet, when I visit my family in the Midwest, it’s as if I’ve traveled to a different country. There are no Chinese markets full of my favorite spices, no little pocket of places where another language is spoken, no knowledge of Korean dramas or anime. Though I don’t want to believe it, we live in a bubble of different cultures that aren’t predominantly apparent in the rest of the U.S. Out there, we’re the minority.

When we go out of Arcadia or many of the San Gabriel Valley cities, we may be shocked. There won’t be many of the aspects of life that we are so used to seeing and being around, a quick lead into culture shock, homesickness, frustration, and worst of all, food cravings. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to suffer from these maladies to a terrible degree. There are ways of adjusting your mentality in hopes of becoming an adaptable person.

One of the major ways of avoiding strong culture shock is, first, to become aware that most of the U.S. has a low percentage of Asians. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2011, the population of the U.S. was only 5% Asian. By understanding that the entire country is not filled with Asians, different viewpoints become a factor. A person who hasn’t experienced any Asian cultures before may only see the “oddities” and quirks we Asians come

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with, just as how some of us observe strange habits in those who aren’t Asian or just a different kind of Asian.

Once we gain this outside perspective, it’s important to remember that we can’t expect others to automatically see things as we do. It’s like teaching a child how to read: it takes time, patience, and many, many explanations. The only way to become better acclimated is to become comfortable, and that means learning from those around us just as we teach them the different parts of culture.

Another part of adjusting is being open to change. True, it can be hard, but that’s life. Especially if attending college is on your agenda, then changes in lifestyle are bound to come.

Breaking out of this Arcadia bubble isn’t all that hard if you open your mind up to possibility, take questions with understanding, ask questions yourself, and always bring instant noodles to satisfy your cravings for a taste of home! lfrank@apachepowwow.com

Graphic Gra aphi phicc by

by CHRISTINA CHRI H STI S NA ST A LIANG LIA ANG N

Arcadia: Intelligent, but Ignorant

By MARY GUYER Staff Writer

Arcadia is not perfect, and after going through seminars during Diversity Week and discussing what diversity means here in Arcadia, I’ve fully realized why it isn’t. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great place to live and raise your kids, but let’s face it: Arcadia is a sheltered and rather privileged community compared to other cities. The affluent atmosphere of Arcadia bars almost all social or financial problems that could possibly sweep another town. Even the crime rate in Arcadia is much lower than other cities in the area, and has been decreasing each year for the past ten years. The financial situations of a majority of the family households in Arcadia lean toward the wealthier side or upper middle class, with the average price of a house sold in Arcadia in 2012 set at over $800,000, letting children grow up in a prosperous neighborhood, knowing what it is to have money rather than how it is to not. A lot of the kids living here don’t even know the true

meaning of struggling, and not just financially.

Even at AHS, there is a very small amount of bullying, at least in comparison with some of the other high schools in the Southern California area. We attend a school where the people are nice, the academics are treated with the discipline of a private school, and there is actually a decent amount of long-existing school spirit that’s been nurtured since we were in elementary school with spirit days and pep assemblies, which you really don’t see at many other schools.

Although Arcadia has a picture perfect environment pretty much free of problems and full of opportunity, the limited amount of awareness spread around of what it is to struggle hurts kids more than it helps them.

It doesn’t prepare them for the real world, or even give them a more realistic view of it. It gives kids a more idealistic view of how the world works, setting them up for failure. The sort of ignorance filtering throughout the city is detrimental not only to the development of Arcadia itself, but also to the children being raised in it.

The answer to the problem? Spread the truth, both in and out of the home, about the hardships of the world and the people around you, and do not just focus on the good and happy parts of it all. Perhaps with a bit more understanding and awareness spreading throughout the area, there doesn’t have to be a sheltered atmosphere anymore and instead, a perspective that is more like what is needed to survive the outside world.

We can still have that good-feeling environment, but with a healthier base of reality. Maybe then, can we truly have the perfect place to live. mguyer@apachepowwow.com

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FEATURES

Not Just Literature By y BRIANA SHEN

Staff Writer

Remember that impossibly thick copy of Shakespeare you had to decipher? Or that summer reading book that you were discouraged from going on Sparknotes but did anyway?

Maybe those stories would have been more entertaining if they were presented in a unique manner. Similar to how teachers give higher grades to students with better graphics in a presentation, people welcome books with more visual enhancements.

Imagine if there were a perfect combination of eating and reading. This fantasy has turned into reality as Korefe, a German company, published The Real Cookbook. Like a regular cookbook, it has pages full of recipes.

However, the cover and pages of this book are not made of paper but pasta. After the reader digests all the knowledge he or she can remember, it is possible to plop the book into a pan and bake a cheesy delight—lasagna!

Maybe pasta isn’t as enlightening as the smell of candy and museums, so an art catalogue made of sugar was created to satisfy sweet tooth. Andres Pohancenik worked on Design Criminals, an exhibit displayed at the Vienna Museum of Applied Arts. He designed a catalogue that consists of a sugar slipcase and wafer pages printed with vegetable ink. Aside from attracting people, his unique creation allowed him to become the proud winner of a British Insurance Design Award.

The strong aroma of coffee streams in; however, this time it isn’t from a coffee pot, but from the book, Coffee Stains, by Martha Hayden. The graphics in the book are made with coffee washes, while coffee skins color the paper. Hayden’s fold book describes the positive effects of drinking coffee and is a one-of-akind, so getting a copy would be difficult since it is priced at a whopping $250.

Standing along the banks of the major rivers around the globe may be a costly venture, but Richard Long’s Nile (Papers of River Muds) uses mud from various rivers as materials for his book. The pages in his book are made from pulp, which contains mud from different rivers, creating various color tones.

Usually printing books chops more trees instead of planting them, but James Kaelan’s We’re Getting On became the first plantable book. Through five characters and an intricate storyline, the novel discusses technology’s impact on society today. Kaelan places his characters in a desert where they try to survive without using technology. Suitably, this book is eco-friendly. The cover consists of birch seed paper, so the reader can actually plant it. After a while, a birch tree may actually start growing!

Even if the content within these books is somewhat dry, their unique qualities make them more interesting. These books are eye-catching and some are even mouthwatering. Whichever the case may be, it definitely beats the school’s requirement of reading boring lore. bshen@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of AGBEAT.COM and WORDPRESS.COM

apachepowwow.com

February 2013

When Work Becomes a Workout

By y KRISTIE SUN Staff Writer

Once your bottom touches a chair in front of a computer, you instantly become lazy and lose the strength to get up and be active. Many parents try to encourage their kids to stay energetic and fit instead of worsening their eyesight by playing games all day, but that won’t be a problem for anyone anymore. Instead of getting up, do the exact opposite; just sit and relax. Normally, a person wouldn’t hear that from someone, but instead of going to a gym to workout, have a workout session right at your desk.

Working our way up, start with some toe raises.

It’s the simplest exercise one can possibly do; just lift your toes while keeping your heels on the ground. And make sure to alternate your feet. This will work your calf muscles which may allow you to jump higher. In no time, you’ll be bouncing as high as Tigger can!

To work the thighs

out, do hip flexions. Just lift your foot slightly off the ground and keep your leg at a 90 degree angle. Hold that position for as long as you can, then repeat the same steps with your other leg. If you aren’t satisfied with your leg workout, then feel free to do leg extensions. All you need to do is extend one leg out until it is at the same level as your hip.

From there, just hold it up as long as you can and then switch legs!

As funny as this may sound, you can even work out your tooshie! Butt squeezes are considered one of the easiest workouts to do in a chair. Just simply squeeze and release your buttocks several times. People have been told that this exercise will help prevent “office chair spread”, which is the flattening and spreading of your behind.

People mainly focus on toning their torso. One way of working your torso is the back twist. Make sure to sit straight up in your chair and place your right arm on your right hip.

Twist your whole body to the right and hold— don’t forget to switch sides! You can also do curls by crossing your arms over your chest, then tensing up your abdominal muscles and curling your shoulders down towards your hips.

If you are more interested in toning your arm muscles, do some shoulder raises. Raise one of your shoulders upward, hold it in that position, and then repeat. Another exercise would be the flapping wings. Similar to a bird, bring your arms back as far as they can go, then slowly bring them back to the front until they meet. Just keep repeating!

If you’re feeling sore the next day, it’s a sign that you’re doing it correctly! If you decide to follow these exercises when you’re doing nothing productive at your desk, you’ll have that beach body in no time! ksun@apachepowwow.com

EXERCISE FOR THE LAZY Get ready to tone your thighs, work those glutes, and pop that derriere! There are plenty of workouts to burn calories while reclining comfortably and browsing the Internet.

Photos by DANA JEE

The Future Is In Your Hands By y YOKO CHAN Staff Writer

You’re not such a smart cookie after all.

“Happy news is on its way,” you read aloud as you unroll the little sheet of paper in your fortune cookie. However, how true are these Confucius-inspired quotes, where do fortunes even come from, and how do fortune tellers predict fortunes? As you probably would have assumed, the fortunes in fortune cookies are not quite so reliable. They were first created after World War II in an attempt to cheer up people from the devastating war. Soon, Chinese-American restaurants began to use these inaccurate fortune-telling cookies to attract customers.

Let’s take a look at a more precise fortune-telling method. Chiromancy, or more commonly known as palmistry and palm reading, is the art of foretelling someone’s future by studying the lines of the palm. Although they focus on the lines of your palm, fortune tellers also need to examine your hand shape. There a r e four types of hand shapes: square, round, rectangle, and oblong, each shape representing different types of personalities. But a majority of gypsies say that the lines of your palms determine your fate.

“The deeper the lines are on your palms, the longer your life is going to last.”

Some common lines on people’s palms are: the life

line, head line and heart line.

Your life line is the line that starts directly under your index finger and arches down to your wrist. It represents a person’s general health and well being. The head line is the line that is above the life line and slants across the middle of your palm. Palmists interpret this line as a representation of your mind and the way it functions, including learning style, communication style, and intellectualism.

The hand is divided into seven segments called mounts. In order to interpret the lines and its effects on your relationships, it is essential to

have an understanding of the underlying mounts. Each mount relates to a corresponding planet with a specific portfolio. Some of the mounts are Luna, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Similar to the lines on your palms, each mount symbolizes a part of your personality.

Tarot cards are also frequently used ways of telling the future, but were not an intended way for fortune telling. Despite the change of purpose, a fortune teller would begin by asking you to shuffle a deck of cards while keeping what you want to know in mind. He or she then sets up the cards by laying them face down on a piece of cloth. Each card possesses a pictogram and title that represents a particular concept.

The belief of divinity associated with Tarot focuses on the prospect that whatever cards are dealt to the participant will be revelatory of his or her current psychological hardships.

Nevertheless, it is said that fortune tellers do not actually have the ability of fortune telling. They simply memorize each line of the palm and tarot card,while also adding their own thoughts and assumptions into how your future would turn out. After all, the readings that fortune tellers make only reveal about personality and not so much about future or fortune. So don’t fall for his or her conclusion of your own life, and don’t believe everything he or she says! ychan@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CAMPAIGNASIA.COM, JUST-EAT.COM, PHOTOBUCKET.COM, and SQUARESPACE.COM

February 2013

FEATURES

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9

Disney Damsels, Not in Distress

By y ELAINE CHUNG

Staff Writer

What makes Mulan a girl worth fighting for? Or Belle’s dream of having an adventure? Disney is certainly no amateur when it comes to churning out strong female leads. So what is it about these characters that makes them so endearing? Could it be that single musical score that wins us over? Or the fact that almost every single one of them has the uncanny ability to converse with animals?

Perhaps. In the end though, it is their individual strengths and defining traits that continue to inspire people of all ages today.

We witness her transition from a young woman who wishes to bring her family honor into the hero who saves all of China. Through her sheer selflessness and unmatched bravery, Mulan defies gender stereotypes, proving that she is as capable as any male soldier. Her initiative and willingness to risk her life for others’ sake makes her one of the most valiant Disney heroines. Never a damsel in distress, Mulan reminds us that a hero can come from the most humble of beginnings.

Always with her head in a book, Belle dreams of adventure and finds herself caught up with a beast-transformed-prince. Open-minded and curious, Belle establishes a romantic relationship with the prince instead of the narcissistic hunter, Gaston, reinforcing the idea that looks shouldn’t be the basis of a relationship. Her compassion and ability to see beyond physical appearances are traits that make her such a beloved Disney princess. Her love for the Beast makes Belle’s tale as old as time.

Tiana, a New Orleans waitress and aspiring restaurant owner, finally achieves her dream and finds her prince after enduring a series of hardships and mishaps, one being turned into a frog.

The embodiment of hard work and perseverance, Tiana works two jobs to accumulate enough money to start her own dream restaurant. Even at a young age as a budding chef, it is only with her determination that she is able to accomplish her vision. From an ambitious waitress to a self-made restaurateur, Tiana sets a perfect example that one can balance love and yet still achieve his or her dreams.

Daughter of Chief Powhatan, Pocahontas is the only member in a tribe who isn’t xenophobic and seeks to restore a peaceful relationship between her Native tribe and the settlers who have come to the “New World”. Despite the racial differences she encounters, she is accepting of the difference and sees people for who they are, not by the color of their skin. Greatly spiritual and unprejudiced, Pocahontas’ independent nature and free spirit shines through, making her worthy of being a chief’s daughter.

echung@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of FANPOP.COM, ROVRCOP.COM, STARSTILLS.COM, and WORDPRESS.COM

A Sweet Confection By y AMELIA JIN

Slithering Into A New Zodiac

By KRISTIE SUN

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Earning a sweet reputation as one of America’s favorite snacks, more than 90 million pounds of marshmallows are purchased every year in the U.S. However, when you chomp down on a S’more or daintily decapitate a Peep, do you ever stop to wonder where these puffy confections came from?

Dating back to 2000 B.C., the ancient Egyptians combined the sap from the marshmallow plant, Althaea Officinalis, with honey and grains, and then baked the mixture into cakes to be served to royalty. Modern marshmallows are direct descendants of medicinal confections made in France in 1850.

Ingesting the original Pate de Guimauve helped soothe sore throats and coughs. Confectioners casted and molded the candies by hand, thus creating both an expensive and limited batch. A man named Alex Doumak though, made marshmallows more affordable through the “extrusion process”, which involves pumping marshmallow candy goo through tubes and then cutting the results into similarly-sized pieces. This made production easier, but it removed the mallow plant sap and its medicinal properties.

Today, some very tasty uses of plain white marshmallows include: roasting them over a fire, using them as a topping for Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole, and putting teeny ones in hot cocoa. If you ever need something to satisfy your sweet tooth, just crack open a fresh bag of marshmallows.

As the year of the dragon leaves, the year of the snake joins us. Everyone has heard of zodiac signs, but not many know about the Chinese zodiac. Instead of having one for each month, the Chinese zodiac signs are assigned by year in a 12-year-cycle. And this year is the year of the snake!

However, the year of the snake didn’t actually begin until Feb. 10. The day of Chinese New Year is used to celebrate the Lunar New Year having a different zodiac animal, and it is usually celebrated on Feb. 10. Like any other year, the year of the snake is unique and interesting. The snake is the sixth position in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizing gracefulness, intelligence, and materialism.

The Chinese zodiac is a theory of balance between the five elements: fire, water, earth, metal, and wood. This snake year is the beginning of the fire cycle. As weird as it may sound, the snake is also called Little Dragon. There’s a saying that a dragon on the ground becomes a snake, and a big flying snake becomes a dragon. People say that the people who were born in the year of the snake have good luck during the dragon year.

There are many tales told during the snake year, including one of the popular stories “The White Snake Lady.” There were two snakes, one white and one green, that possessed magical powers. One year, they both transformed into humans and the

ajin@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of WEAREMILLER.COM

white snake fell in love with a man, Xu Xian.

Soon after, the green snake helped them get married. One day, a monk called Fa Hai tried to warn Xu Xian that his wife was a snake.

There was only one test that could prove if he was right or wrong. Xu Xian had to let his wife drink wine during the Dragon Boat Festival. When the white snake drank the wine, she couldn’t control herself and turned back into snake form. Xu Xian was literally scared to death.

The only way she could bring her husband back to life was to obtain the resurrection plant on the Kunlun Mountain. However, it was guarded by two immortals, and despite being weak from giving birth to a son, she attempted to steal it. In the end though, she was caught. The two immortals were moved by her true love so they allowed her to take a small amount back and Xu Xian’s life was restored.

Fa Hai later captured the white snake and imprisoned her. Her sister was very furious and fought Fa Hai until he was defeated. The white snake was later rescued and reunited with her husband and son.

Chinese zodiac fables teach many lessons and are very entertaining to read. The snake isn’t the only fascinating animal in the Chinese zodiacs! Don’t forget about the next 11 animals to come, each with a unique background history. ksun@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLIPARTIS.INFO, COLOURINGBOOK.ORG, LADYWHITESNAKE.COM, and TEDNGUYENUSA.COM

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February 2013

February 2013

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STUDENT LIFE

12 To Drive...

Staff Writer

While there are many different forms of transportation available to students, the one mode of transportation that allows the most freedom is the personal automobile.

Students who have cars are given more flexibility in creating their schedules, as personal cars do not run on pre-planned routes or times; instead, they cater to the unique transportation needs of the driver.

Automobiles increase the efficiency of getting from point A to point B, and students who drive will tell you that having a car not only gives them more freedom to go where they want, but also lessens the burden on parents to take them to places.

Student drivers claim that having a personal automobile helps them manage their time more efficiently and gives them more control over their lives.

For those students who are supporters of high school driving, the idea of having the freedom to go wherever they wish seems appealing. No longer do students have to rely on their parents to be their source of mobile movement. With access to cars, students need not bother their parents to drive them to any point of interest. Whether that point of interest is a tutoring center, a sports game, or a restaurant, the student now has the ability to create his or her own schedule based on what is most convenient for the student.

Junior Jimmy Dang claimed that “having a car allows [him] to not bother [his] parents, who work and cannot always drive [him] around.” As the statement from Jimmy implies, having a car makes his and his parents’ lives more efficient.

The personal freedom that comes with an automobile is the main reason that students who drive cars prefer it as the mode of transportation over the Metro line or the Arcadia Transit.

Ultimately, it is up to the student to decide whether or not to procure a driver’s license, and while there may be issues with p y, it is clear that having g cost and responsibility, a car allows more flexibility for the student.

ichan@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of AHS.AUSD.NET and FREELIBRARY.COM

February 2013

Thanks for the Compliment!

really do care and appreciate [her] as a friend and whoever it was they’ll probably be there Staff Writer for [her] whenever [she] needs it.” The page Among friends there are always the small also has versatility, with some comments becompliments like “nice shirt,” or “congratulaing love confessions and others being inside tions on passing the test.” These small comjokes between close friends. It’s being used as ments solidify friendships and make eva meeting point for people to say almost eryone feel just a little bit better. While anything. these small comments are fun to get and Students also agree that it’s more give, it’s difficult so say anything deep. It than just another Facebook page. They might feel strange to go up to someone, see the benefits that even the smallest even a close friend, and tell them how comment can bring. Freshman Nicholas you really feel.

Chi said the page could even go so far as On Jan. 10 Arcadia High School to “help [someone] through a rough time.

Compliments made its Facebook debut.

High schoolers seem to have insecurities This is a page dedicated to giving stuas they try to find their role in life.” dents a place where they can anonymousWhile the page continues to run full ly say nice things about other students. In force, some say that it might peter out the short amount of time that the page has eventually. Dana thinks “it’ll be a passbeen up, it has already gained 798 likes. ing fad, but still, every so often at least The page quickly spread on Faceone person will use it.” On the other hand book among AHS students and even Nicholas believes “it’s something we some alumni. Sophomore Dana Hsiang AHS COMPLIMENTS PAGE This recently will pass down to the oncoming classes “first found out about it when their posts formed student-run Facebook page has garnered because [he has] seen a few posts about kept popping up on [her] newsfeed. Also, almost 800 likes.

[AHS] graduates and it really is a creative people talked about it at school.” It has the output that seems to be able to stand the perfect audience; it’s full of students looking This page wouldn’t work if it wasn’t be- test of time.” for the right words to express themselves with ing used, but one quick look shows that isn’t a Whether the AHS Compliments Page is the luxury of writing it all down first. problem. Everyday students are using the page here to stay or not, it continues to bring the stuThe Internet gives people the anonymity to say nice things about others, even if they dents of AHS closer. they don’t have in real life. While that could be aren’t close. Jessica has “recieved three compliabused as people can anonymously leave rude ments and [she has] also given a compliment. ajasso@apachepowwow.com comments on other people’s Facebook pages, It feels really great because it shows that they Graphic courtesy of FREELIBRARY.COM

By ALLESANDRA JASSO

By IAN CHAN

apachepowwow.com

AHS Compliments takes anonymity and uses it for good. Junior Jessica Burk likes using the page because “the things that are said, whether its anonymous or not, can really make someone’s day and it’s nice receiving them because it makes you feel loved by whoever it is.”

A Passion for Ice Skating The anxiety diminishes, because they know that they can depend on each other.”

Staff Writer Nicole also admitted that “ice skating is a One foot on the smooth ice. Poised and lot more dangerous than most people would exready to snap into action. The music starts and pect. When people watch us skate, all they see they glide seamlessly, carving their passion for are the sparkling dresses, the graceful movetheir art into the ice with their skates. Surround- ments, the gentle smiles. What they don’t realize, though, is the hard ing her are 14 other girls, work it takes to get to that pulled into a tight formapoint. Every fall is a potion. This is the life of an tential injury just waiting ice skater on a skating to strike. With multiple team. people on the ice, team As an figure skater, skating in particular projunior Nicole Lum has vides an even greater risk “been ice skating for of hurting one another.” around nine years now, Apparently, not and officially joined the only do aspiring iceRose City Crystals Synskaters require plenty of chronized Skating team practice, but as she put six years ago.” Nicole it, “passion, along with was five when she first determination and hard stepped onto the ice, and work, are definitely some she recalled, “frantically of the most important holding onto the railing, traits an ice skater needs trying to keep [her] balin order to achieve his or ance.” From staring in her dream. Though talawe at other skaters when she was younger to com- SKATING TO NATIONALS ent can help make the peting at Nationals, Ni- Junior Nicole Lum explained the journey easier, a skater cole has definitely shown trials she has faced, all of which cannot truly be successwhat it means to pursue have culminated to her phenomenal ful unless they are moice skating performance this season. tivated by those three one’s dreams.

Although Nicole has been independently characteristics.”

Nicole concluded, “Skating in the future skating for three years, she also stated how “when a solo skater performs, the spotlight is depends on which college I attend, though I’d focused solely on them. They bear the conse- probably have to wake up early, I could imagquences of falling, the pressure of perfection, ine myself continuing to pursue my passion.” and the stress of winning all by themselves.

However, a team skater is able to rely on the bshen@apachepowwow.com people around them—both on and off the ice.

Photo by MATTHEW LEE

By BRIANA SHEN

“Intexticated” Tragedy

By ERIC CHO Staff Writer

With statistics showing that at least 23% of car accidents occur with the involvement of a cell phone, texting-while-driving incidents have become more than just an urban horror story to everyday citizens; it’s become reality.

On Feb. 4, senior Michael Martinez’s mother, cousin, and two sisters became the victims of a car crash in Riverside. “They made it more than halfway across the street when an individual driving at high speed turned the corner while texting, crashing into all four with varying impact,” Michael explained. The incident resulted in a traumatized family, three injured family members, and the death of Michael’s five-year-old sister. The Apache Pow Wow sends out its deepest condolences to the Martinez family, and hopes that they will find the strength to mend its wounds and find the resilience to carry on.

echo@apachepowwow.com @apachepo Graphic courtesy of FLOWERSIMPLY.COM SI

studentlife@apachepowwow.com

February 2013

STUDENT LIFE

Jokes to Crack for that Special Someone

By KRISTIE SUN Staff Writer

Even if Valentine’s Day is considered a serious day for couples, there’s always room for some laughter! These jokes are enough to make your eyes roll out of their sockets, which make them all the more hilarious!

13 ...Or Not To Drive

By LILY LING Staff Writer

Q. Do skunks celebrate Valentine’s Day? A. Sure, they’re very scent-imental!

e, a little the first tim r fo ng ide di wed hy is the br Attending a mother, “W r se he au to ec ed plied, “B girl whisper he mother re e T th ?” is te y hi w da dressed in ess, and to in pp ha of ou r colo ought ab t white is the The child th .” fe li e r he of o why is th happiest day en asked, “S th t, en om m this for a ng black?” groom weari

If you didn’t get this joke, skunks let out a very strong scent when they feel threatened.

This joke definately puts the “pun” in pungent!

Girl: “I tine f can’t be y or me our V alen dic Boy: al reasons .”

“Rea lly Girl: “Yeah ?” make , you sick!” me

Although no one would really Altho uusee this jo us joke toward someone unless they were really cruel, it’s comical!

It’s It’ so ironically i mean in ways.

The innocence of young children is just hilarious, although this does make a good point that no one has really questioned before: why does the groom wear black? This joke definitely lightens up my mood every time it’s read.

Knock, Knock, Who’s there?

Olive.

Olive who?

Olive you!

It’s not easy to find a funny knock knock jokes. Simply put, this joke is just sad. “Olive you” doesn’t sound a bit like “I love you”. Sad. Just sad.

Crackin’ jokes is a great way to lighten the mood in practically any scenario and perhaps even set the tone to ask out that special someone. While jokes aren’t particularly heart throbbing, I encourage you to add them to your arsenal of puns. ksun@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of 4SHARED.COM, HEARTS.COM, and TECHGENIE.COM

Thoughts for a Greener, Brighter Future

By ELISHA LEE Staff Writer

Attention all students of AHS! Each year, the effects of global warming worsens and trash slowy piles up on our planet. Judging from the current situation, it seems that the infamous “2012” may just have been moved over 2013, 2014, or 2015. But fear not, the world won’t end if we all go green and take care of Mother Earth. It is never too late to start, as long as you do start, that is. As Apaches, we should not only set a good example for ourselves, but also for other schools and places as well. We should all take a role to make our planet a better place.

In a school with almost 4,000 students, it would make a huge difference if every single one of us started planting trees, picking up trash by the beach, unplugging g a d g e t s from out-

puts and etc. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. It is okay to take baby steps. We can start with these three easy steps: reduce, reuse, and recycle. The three R’s of the environment can make a huge improvement to our world today.

Reducing the trash we generate is a really skillful way to save the environment. For example, do not let the water run when brushing your teeth or washing your face. Even though most of Earth is covered in water, only 0.1% of the water is fresh water. Also, instead of throwing away something you are done with, try reusing it, for it may benefit you too! Like when shopping for groceries, provide your instead of using the plastic o w n bag ins supermarkets provide. Your bags supe own bag can be reused ow multiple times, while m pplastic bags can only be used once. Student Sierra Club member Kelly Chang also offered to “try using both sides of your paper bo when doing homework even if it insignificant to our worldseems insig concern, but recycled paper wide conce can bbe turned into new paper [and it] helps save trees.”

Did you know that the average American throws avera away around 50 billion cans

of food and drinks, 27 billion bottles of glass and jars, and 65 million covers of plastic and metal jar and cans each year? Talk about wasteful! Instead of throwing them out, why not buy reusable jars and containers? And if you think that is inconvenient, than recycle. There are plenty of recycling bins around the school—not just schools— just waiting for your plastic and paper! Better yet, do the recycling yourself, and earn a little bit of money on the way! Each bottle you recycle is $0.05. We should all follow Student Sierra Club President senior Bianca Picasso’s example, as she explains that she is “very fond of recycling because it gives [her] the ability to use something, such as plastic, and be able to return it back.” She also added “the neat thing about the whole recycling process is when something gets old, it can be turned into something new and useful!”

Remember, it only takes one Apache to make a difference, so do not be afraid to start now and influence others on the way—joining a club can be very helpful. As Student Sierra Club officer senior Pamela Huynh explained, “Humans have much potential for greatness, [so we should all be] active and preserve our community, but that is not to say that we all have to be tree-loving hippies that live in the woods. We can do little things to help the environment such as printing on scratch paper.” But overall, when planning to save the planet, just remember: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

elee@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of ALABAMAGREEN.ORG and SMALLPLANTS.COM

While most upperclassmen of our school are old enough to drive, many of them either choose not to or are unable to because of unfortunate circumstances. But as a high school student, the need for transportation is guaranteed, so here are just some of the ways AHS students utilize in order to go from place to place.

For the teens that intend to start driving if allowed by parents and financial situations, they immediately start Driver’s Education in order to take the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) tests. For those under 18, they must have held a provisional permit for six months before getting licensed. Being one of the few eligible underclassmen, sophomore Greg Van Kirk “took his permit test as a freshman and got his license this year.” He may not be able to rent a parking permit, but there are still options available near the campus. “Before I would always have to ask my parents for rides, but now I just [have to] ask for gas money. I’m happy and they’re happy.”

According to the underclassmen who have yet to drive and those who are old enough but choose not to, finding ways to get around is easier than you’d think. “The Arcadia Transit is a really awesome way to go around in Arcadia. As long as it’s within city bounds, schedule a ride, pay $1, and go anywhere you wish,” senior Harrison Hsieh exclaimed. Sophomore Demi Cao is not old enough yet, so she finds other ways to travel. “Sometimes I use the bus, hitch rides, or if close enough, walk,” she said.

The life of a high school student may not seem too easy, and the constant worries of how to get around doesn’t make it any simpler. Although it may not be entirely needed, having a car will always be on a teen’s wish list. Some may not be fortunate enough, but with the right mindset, different solutions will always be at hand.

lling@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of PRLOG.ORG TECHGENIE.COM and US.TOSHIBA.COM

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EVERLASTING Shush, Mom might hear you.

Don’t say anything; be still.

The laughter we share in the dead of the night From night-bloggin’ owls and funny posts To GIFs of syrup on waffles To dancing cats and fandoms galore From the indignant cries of sinking ships Heartbreaking fanfics and cutesy AUs I know this is unorthodox but I must implore

apachepowwow.com

February 2013

“All you need is love, love.

Love is all you need.”

Me

February 2013

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s e i r o m

LOVE POEMS 15 We stand defiant in the rain i With hands held clasped by youth And shivering we let the wind Come fan the flames anew Of love like embers sparked ablaze Of love we never knew Our hands so soft in numbing warmth As gentle as the morning dew

Tumblr, dear, Will you be my valentine?

By ERIKA ZHENG Staff Writer

For all the things that have been said about love, there are still many left.

There’s room on billboards for proposals, there are diamonds left to sell, But that’s not enough for me, and it’s not enough for us.

Because the words I want to use to describe my love for you, well, They just haven’t been invented yet.

Poems by ERIKA ZHENG and courtesy of ALYSSA MAZER and FRANK FAN Photos courtesy of DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, ETSY.COM, and GRAPHICSSOFT.COM

The day of love has befallen us! Bring out the corny pick-up lines, flowers, balloons, and chocolate…

Grade-A wooing is about to occur along the halls of AHS. From red roses to blue violets, cheesy poems to sappy romantic antics, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate the people (or things) you love.

Love on this day is not only confined to the spheres of person to person, but is also found in many different forms. The love between two friends, the love you feel for a scrumptious delicacy that can only be found in the form of a food, and the love between an animal and a person, among others. It can be addicting, bittersweet, and amazing; love can be an emotion or a person. No matter in what form, love is something that we all can appreciate. Embrace this day in all of its forms; single or not, Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate everything that you appreciate and enjoy.

The singleton’s experience on Valentine’s Day may seem disproportionately lonely and somewhat depressing compared to that of lovey-dovey happy couples’ around campus, but it is important to remember that one does not need to be with the subject of his or her admiration to feel the love. This month, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, AHS students have written poems to convey their feelings for a multitude of people or things, which hopefully make this Valentine’s Day not only a day of love but a day for the appreciation of all things with value to us in our hearts. ezheng@apachepowwow.com

Corny C o r n y Cupid and sappy cards, Gullible girls caught off guard.

Newfound lovers holding hands, Girls still screaming at boy bands.

Heavy-hearted single me, Always alone I may be…

At least I still have 1D?

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PERFORMING ARTS Staff Writer

On Feb. 9, Orchesis Dance Company (ODC) spent a day teaching original dances to younger students ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade. The members spent a long time coming up with the choreography to share with the young dancers and were thrilled to teach them the routines.

To prepare for Dance Day, ODC members volunteered to choreograph routines for each age group. Dance Day is “one of our traditions,” ODC Treasurer senior Julia Peng said, “every year, we gather elementary and middle school kids to teach different grade levels diferent dances.” The dances that the members ferent put together were all originally choeographed and suited to fit each age reographed group. On Dance Day, the young dancers were divided into groups acording cording o grade to evel, level,

and each ODC member was assigned a buddy with whom they bonded and taught the routines to. At the end of the day, the participants were able to perform the dances they learned for the Arcadia Channel and showcased their talents to their family and friends.

Members of ODC had waited for this day with enthusiasm and anticipation. Julia, who had participated in this event before, “personally love[s] this day because [she] love[s] to see the smiles on the kids’ faces. Dance is truly a universal art that people of all ages can enjoy, and to give a child the dance experience is rewarding.” Sophomore Jessie Li looked forward to working “with the kindergartners. The choreography was so cute and age-appropriate!”

Many participants of Dance Day may become “futu “future ODC members,” sophomore Demi Cao said, and the current members were “excited to see their th future successors.” Julia couldn’t wait for Dance D Day because “some current ODC mem members and alumni were actually Dance Day par participants themselves when they were little!

O Overall, it was just a fun-filled day!”

While this event provided ODC membbers with the opportunity to be teachers for a day, it also offered young, aspiring dancer ers an enjoyable experience and fresh exposur sure to the art of dance.

DANCING WITH THE TOTS On Dance Day, Orchesis members junior Lulie Chin and senior Lauren Kime share the joy of dance.

February 2013

Prepping with Pep Squad

Orchesis Teaches Tots to Dance

By MEGAN HONG

apachepowwow.com

By ELISHA LEE Staff Writer

“Go big red!” Well, that sounds familiar.

Is it that group that is always cheery and peppy? Or is it that group of people that promotes school spirit and cheers for our school’s teams with excitement? Though they are very peppy, it seems more accurate to go with the latter. So, correct! It is Pep Squad! But now to the point, with thousands of pep squads in the nation, what makes AHS’ so special?

For those who don’t know, Pep Squad is considered a Performing Art and is split into three sections: Song, Cheer, and Flags. Even though the teams are different from one another, there are a f e w things they have nin common: enthusiasm, den, termination, and devotion.

With frequentt practic-d es and srehearsals, the bers members strivee to fect perfect all their

spins and leaps. “Being in Pep Squad is very time-consuming. We have practices every Monday to Thursday from the beginning of sixth period to 4:00 or 4:30 p.m. And Fridays are usually game days,” said Song member sophomore Kelly Li. During these practices, the members all work hard to correct their mistakes and polish their movements for a more exciting performance. The rehearsals are especially intense when they have an event coming up.

Kelly also mentioned that professionalism takes a big part in performing, “if [they] mess up a move or break formation, [they] have to correct it right away with a smile on [their] faces” explained Kelly. But it is easier said than done.

It is already difficult to think straight when paniicking, but imagine hundreds of people watching you while you try to continue the routine in flaw awlessly. The pressure the members feel must be significant, but kudos to them; they do a great job hiding their nervousness!

“I love dancing, and being in Pep S Squad is really fun, but it is also rea ally time-consuming. Sometimes when w I just want to go home and rest, I remember, ‘I still have to go r to practice’,” Kelly stated. Judgin by their performances, we can ing cconclude that it is all worth it! What m makes them special is that despite their th tiring preparations, they still manage m bright smiles on their faces.

K Keep it up Pep Squad!

mhong@apachepowwow.com

elee@apachepowwow.com

Photo courtesy of JASMINE CHEN

Photo by DANA JEE

PA Members’ Not-So-Secret Valentines

By VICTORIA YU Staff Writer

Roses are red, violets are blue, I truly love my Performing Arts (PA) group! Now that Valentine’s Day has already passed, secret admirers are revealing their true identities to those whom they appreciate and respect. These anonymous admirers also include PA members who not only admire their friends, but also their PA advisers and members. Here are some PA secret admirers who reveal their reasons why they admire and appreciate their PA valentine.

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“ I “The really adHarmonix member mire both the I really admire [is] President Band directors, Mr. Kevin senior Christy Tang. I admire Sherrill and Mr. Seth Murphy. Both her because she works really hard directors put so much dedication and time and tries to lead the group the best she can. into making Band [members] progress She has done a lot for Harmonix, from positively forward. They really help incleaning choreography to helping with dividuals learn how to play their instrumusical issues, but aside from that, she ments better as well as teach valuable also helps Harmonix [members] form life skills that are related to music bonds with each other by creating that you don’t learn in other many opportunities for Harmonix classes.” bonding events, [which help] —Michelle Huang, everyone grow closer to one 9, Band another.”

—Alyssa Hsiang, 12, S h er rill M r.

Harmonix, nd a Librarian Aly ss

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“I “Oradmire ad dmire Mr. chestra President senior Nicole Kim is Geoff Longo, my not-so-secret idol in both Orchestra and school one of Colorguard’s in general! Nicole was the first person I met at music advisers, because his high expectations camp two years ago and we quickly became good friends, which is how I found out that she is an amazing violinist who inspire us to become better performers. In practices all the time, yet still manages to be involved in a addition to choreographing a large portion of our shows, Mr. Longo also helps inditon of extracurricular activities while maintaining her exviduals improve their technique. His cartremely high GPA. She has been a role model and coning attitude and patience contribute to fidant for me, always encouraging me to practice the positive atmosphere present in or study more and sometimes giving great adColorguard this year.” vice. Nicole, I will miss you so much next —Vanessa Tse, 11, Colyear; good luck in college! You are orguard, Squad amazing and I love you!”

Leader o —Madeline Lee, 10, g on .L Orchestra g

e

viyu@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, MYCUTEGRAPHICS.COM, and SHININGMOM.COM Photos by DANA JEE, DEEDEE CHUANG, MEGAN HONG, MATTHEW LEE, and WILSON LIN

February 2013

arcadiaperformingarts@apachepowwow.com

PERFORMING ARTS

Orchestra’s Musical Justice

By ERIKA ZHENG Staff Writer

A night of great food and music, Orchestra hosted its annual Orchestra Benefit Dinner at the Arcadia Community Center on Feb. 23. An essential fundraising event for Orchestra’s success, this year’s theme was “Let Our Powers Combine...”, featuring superheroes. Every year, Orchestra organizes an amazing display of talent which showcases not only current Orchestra members, but also returning Performing Arts (PA) alumni.

The dinner is “Orchestra’s main way to raise money, and it’s one of the most important events of the year.

Everyone dresses up and gets a yummy meal and an exciting show of talented ensembles,” explained Orchestra Council Logistics Coordinator junior Roni Yamane. This year, the Orchestra Benefit Dinner was catered by Danielson Creations and surpassed all expectations.

The alumni performers present were part of a brass choir called The High Fidelity Quintet, which featured 1997 AHS alumus Fabio Spinella on the trumpet. Along with this talented group, AHS’ best musicians also performed. A “select few ensembles were picked

by Ms. [Pin] Chen and Mr. [Tom] Forbes during finals week based on the results of their performances,” remarked Orchestra Council Publicist junior Vincent Bai. The night started with a silent auction and guests were able to bid on items donated by parents and other organizations compiled by the Music Club, ranging “from certificates to electric guitars.” Entertainment by the selected few student ensembles also provided pre-dinner entertainment to the diners. All proceeds were directly funneled back into AHS’ successful Orchestra programming and “are used to help fund for equipment and other activities,” said Vincent.

Finally, after a filling meal and wonderful performances by current and past AHS students, the whole entirety of Orchestra’s 300 talented performers came together and played “various pieces of music by memory” as the grand finale of the super night, symbolizing the “unity and teamwork” of this hardworking PA group.

Without a doubt Orchestra’s fundraising was a definite success as both diners and performers ended the night on extremely high notes.

Staff Writer

Percussion season is here. With brand new shows, Percussion has yet to bring home another batch of amazing trophies to put alongside those won from previous years. One may ask, how does Percussion come up with such unique shows that awe the judges every year?

How are percussionists able to learn and perfect up to four minutes of memorized music in just a matter of weeks? Here are some players to tell you more.

Every year, World Line, Open Line, and A-Line are placed among the highest ranking Percussion in Southern California by the Southern California Percussion Alliance.

World Line is also placed among the top Percussion around the world as they compete in The Winter Guard International Percussion World Championships, which is held every year in Dayton, Ohio.

With amazing instructors, Mr. Kevin Sherrill, Mr. Daniel Lai, Mr. Tony Nunez, Mr. Nathan Ward, Mr. Jesus Alcantar, Mr. Jeff Doolittle, Mr. James Yoshizawa, and Mr. Kevin Shah, it is hard to not be placed among the top Percussion as each Percussion Lines’ show is personally arranged and written by the instructors. “It really shows how dedicated our staff is and how much the instructors really want us to succeed.

They write a custom new show every year,” said World Line member sophomore Greg Van Kirk. Open Line member sophomore Allison Kuo also commented, “The staff puts so much passion and dedication into the program that I

Finding Your Groove in PA

By TERRI SHI Staff Writer

Were you born a dancer, musician, actor, or a Performing Arts (PA) prodigy? Follow the boxes beginning from the clock picture and crack this mystery when you reach the numbers at the end. Each of these pictures contains a question regarding your talent or talents, so choose the appropriate answer in the boxes that suits you the best. Continue through and find out which PA group is best suited for you!

It’s five o’clock in the morning, and you can’t sleep. What is the first thing you do?

Pull out my iPod to listen to my all-time favorite songs.

Watch trailers for upcoming movies.

Instead of working on your homework, you lean towards distractions such as...?

How often do you listen to music?

Every once in a while.

Multiple times a day

Trying to find my favorite movie online for free.

If you were to audition for the upcoming play, you would be...?

How do you feel about music?

ezheng@apachepowwow.com Photo by DEEDEE CHUANG

A Drum Roll for Percussion

By DEEDEE CHUANG

17

can’t thank them enough. They also really strive to help us achieve our goals in becoming better musicians.”

With unique pieces like Percussion’s, perfecting and memorizing the music is not as easy as it seems. According to World Line member senior Cathy Chuang, “Percussion has practice during class, two times a week after school, sectionals arranged by the section leaders, and sometimes even practice on Saturdays.” These practices aren’t just any one to two hour practices, but three to eight hours of getting into shape, which is mainly for Battery and memorizing music and floor routines. “Pit usually starts with warm-ups such as singles, 16-note scales, or vertical strokes.

Battery, on the other hand, starts with a lap to warm up the members’ legs and abs and hand exercises to warm up their hands,” explained A-Line member junior Brandon Luu. World Line Bass section leader junior Jonathan Chianglin added, “Generally, we have sectionals to learn the show music or to learn the drill for Battery, and toward the middle, we gather the whole Percussion to put together all the parts.”

As these long intense practices and individually written pieces are condensed into an amazing four minute show, you would have to see it to believe how much effort and time Percussion has put into the program. Good job Percussion members for all the effort you put into the practices and shows to come.

Watching the newest episode of Dance Moms.

I love it!

It’s okay.

3

1

A minor character in the back.

4

You love...?

The leading character.

The dance scene with Nora and Tyler in Step Up.

5

Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games.

2

If you ended at 1: You were born to be a musician!

Music is your talent, and you love everything about it! You’re pulling out your iPod every chance you get to listen to your new favorite song. Musicians are unique and love different styles. Band, Percussion, and Orchestra are perfect for you!

If you ended at 2: You were born to be an actor!

You love acting, watching movies, and watching every trailer before the movie hits theaters!

However, that’s not all. You also have a talent for acting and work your best at it. Keep aiming high and sooner or later, you’ll become great at it! Luckily for you, AHS has a wonderful drama program, with Theater 1, Theater 2, and Advanced Drama Department!

If you ended at 3: You were born to be a dancer!

Dancing is not only your hobby but your passion as well. Keep working at it, and sooner or later, you’ll become a great dancer! You love watching dance shows and looking out for the dancing parts in movies as well. Beginning Dance, Intermediate Dance, and Orchesis Dance Company are perfect for you!

If you ended at 4: PA is not your biggest interest.

Music is fine from time to time, and watching movies isn’t really your thing. However, there are many other elective classes offered in AHS, and you will surely find what interests you soon!

If you ended at 5: You are a PA prodigy!

You love everything about PA. From violin classes to dance, you’re always involved in anything PA-related. Continue working hard and being passionate about PA, and soon you’ll achieve great things! tshi@apachepowwow.com

dchuang@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of RONALD LEE

Graphics courtesy of PHILLIPMARTIN.INFO, PHOTOBUCKET.COM, PICDN.NET, NOVA.EDU, and SWEETCLIPART.COM

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20

SPORTS

Balancing AP Tests and Sports

By AMELIA JIN Staff Writer

From intense practices to nerve-wrecking games, being on a sports team requires a lot of dedication and energy. Ask any athlete about how he or she manages his or her schedules. However, besides just worrying about improving their technique, athletes have to stress about school like every other student, and time is of the essence. Juggling academics and sports is certainly not an easy task to do. Throw in some AP classes and you can find yourself a student who sleeps very late at night. Nevertheless, it seems our fellow AHS athletes have found the perfect strategy to balance their AP schoolwork and training.

Taking AP Statistics, AP Biology, and AP Comparative Government, Boys Track and Field runner senior Ricky Kyaw is “thankful for having practices that are set at a regular time daily.” Having practices at consistent times helps many create a schedule that is easy to follow. Boys Swim team member sophomore Anthony Ma “tries to plan out his day and make the most of his time.” Since the Boys Swim team practices a lot, Anthony has a limited amount of time for homework, including his AP Biology assignments.

As the saying goes, “Time is money.”

Girls Swim team member sophomore Lauren Ung tries “to finish [her] AP Computer Science homework during free time in [her] classes.” Even if it’s just five minutes in one period and ten in another, every minute is important to an athlete in need of completing his or her homework and getting a good night’s sleep.

However, instead of being stressed out over AP classes, Boys Track and Field runner junior Bryan Ngo thinks the key to being successful is to “take [only] as many AP classes as you think you can handle.” While it seems tempting to rack up as many APs as possible, taking too many can be pretty intense.

Despite the immense amount of time training and games take up, playing a sport can actually benefit you as a student. Boys Golf team member sophomore William Oetojo commented that “sports actually help [him] concentrate on [his] AP Biology homework since [his] mind becomes clear after practices.” Though it seems normal to be tired after exercising, athletes tend to be more awake and refreshed enough to finish up their homework.

Whether they’re training or studying, athletes have it pretty tough—especially with AP’s. However, it is possible to achieve high grades and still win tournaments. By concentrating, and planning out their schedules, the athletes at AHS have improved their time management skills and have definitely perfected their schedules. ajin@apachepowwow.com

apachepowwow.com

Looking Ahead

By JONATHAN LU Staff Writer

Another season takes off in this new year.

The Boys Tennis team looks forward to the season with high hopes. After ending the season in the Pacific League Quarterfinals, the team began searching for another shot at being champions.

Many of the members of the Boys JV Tennis team are turning into better players as the season is about to begin through their hard work during the offseason. This year, the team is hoping to improve not only individually, but also as a group. Boys JV Tennis team member junior Andrew Chung explained, “This year, since we are trying to be better as a group, we began playing more repetitions against each other. The reps really help because they build up experience as well as keep us in shape for game day.” With the practice against each other, the team is getting better and better together.

After its undefeated season last year, the JV team looks forward to another successful season, but there is an opponent that stands in the way. “San Marino is a good school. They definitely have a top tier tennis team, so it’s go-

ing to be hard, but we’re going to try to beat them this year” commented Boys JV Tennis team member junior Darrell Cheung. This challenge may be tough, but the team has high hopes to fight for another undefeated season with a record of 19-0. The team not only practices at school with its coaches, but many of the members of the team have private lessons on their own personal time.

This enhances and sharpens the skills of all the tennis players.

During the private lessons, the athletes refine their specific skills rather than just practice with the team and try to get more playing time. With the extra practice on the side, the tennis team will definitely be able to dominate the court when the competition comes.

The delicate sport of tennis is a game of not only stamina and strength, but also accuracy and precision with the swings that are taken. The Boys Tennis teams show their athletic abilities and dedication to the sport with their season records. With the upcoming season, the practice will definitely pay off as they approach another successful season.

February 2013

Volleyball Beats the Competition

By JUSTIN TANG Staff Writer

Set. Bump. Spike. Inside each and every volleyball player’s brain, these three words are forever engraved into his or her conscience. Anyone who has played the sport before knows the basics of the game, but what makes AHS volleyball players so different?

Volleyball players develop team strategies that contribute to their win. They also learn to predict their opponents’ moves and communicate with their teammates almost telepathically. Volleyball is essentially like any other sport out there. Teamwork is vital for success. Without playing as a whole and in complete unison, the chance of losing the game is much higher because there isn’t be a sense of unity. Coach David Iosia for the Boys Varsity Volleyball team said that he and his team are “ready for the season and are looking forward to it.”

In the fall of 2012, the Girls Varsity Volleyball team was successfully able to make it to the semifinals of CIF. Whether or not the Boys Varsity Volleyball team succeeds will depend on the conditioning and work the members do during practices. The team’s first scrimmage of the season on Feb. 26 against South Pasadena did not turn out too well; however the team players are preparing for a strong season ahead.

jlu@apachepowwow.com Photo by MEGAN HONG

jtang@apachepowwow.com

Kicking Into High Gear for Off-Season

By SHAWN XING Staff Writer

The Boys Varsity Soccer team recently demolished Crescenta Valley’s (CV)—our rival school’s—35-game winning streak in League.

The day AHS ended CV’s streak was “a great day to be an Apache,” junior David Nugroho recalled. This and other crushing victories did not come without effort from the team, though.

The team invested countless hours and immense amounts of energy into improving its techniques and its teamwork. The boys’ workouts are rigorous and the coach has high hopes for them.

The soccer players practice from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. every w e e k d a y, as well as before games and even on holidays.

Since they spend most of their hours together, they consider themselves a second family, helping and encouraging one another. In order to prepare for practices and games, they engage in various drills for warm-up. David explained a drill used to improve the

team’s “touch on the ball.” Two teams stand inside a grid, with each team consisting of three players. There are two sides, and each consists of two players from the two opposing teams.

The objective of the drill is to pass the ball from side to side, knowing where you want to go before receiving the ball. Senior Matthew Harvey explained that another drill the boys practice is a five-station drill, in which every station focuses on a different pass, control, or movement, alternating their feet each time. “It works a lot of different aspects of our game,” Matthew added. Another drill, explained by junior Angel Cortés, is called “Keep Away”. This drill requires six or seven players to encircle one or two players with their bodies. If the players on the outside complete ten passes without the players in the middle touching the soccer ball, those players are able to continue the drill. In addition to practicing soccer, the team trains its endurance by running to the City Hall soccer field and running “perimeters”, which are sprints around the playing field. The boys must complete the sprint in under one minute, or else they must repeat the exercise. The team, although dedicated and hardworking, contributes most of its success to Coach Paul Miles.

Angel expressed that Coach Miles’

many philosophies about soccer are to “leave it all on the field, to set the pace of the game, and to work extremely hard.” He constantly endorses these principles about soccer through his workouts for the team. David believes that the most important strategy Coach Miles has taught the team is to conduct practices as if they were actual games. According to Co-Captain junior Jack Heer, Coach Miles ultimately views soccer as a tool to “shape [the boys] into men, preparing [them] for the world.”

“The team is not defined by individuals, but by the whole,” David explained firmly.

Each win this year has been a team effort, and every individual player is essential to the team. The boys work day in and day out to improve, tackling their weaknesses and enhancing their strengths.

Angel claimed that the team’s ultimate goal is to “make a name for soccer at AHS and to win games in front of supportive fans.” With such a strong team bond and an experienced coach, the boys’ goal is definitely within reach.

Confidences are high for the team’s success.

Good luck boys! sxing@apachepowwow.com Photos by MATTHEW LEE

February 2013

SPORTS

sports@apachepowwow.com

21

History Repeats Itself: Girls Basketball

By BRENDAN TRAN Staff Writer

AHS: the home of academic excellence and the best Boys Cross Country team in the nation. But what about basketball? Basketball at AHS has always been overlooked and ignored. The last League Championship that any AHS Basketball team won was back in 1979. 34 years later, the girls have finally done it again. After defeating Crescenta Valley High School 65-30, the Girls Varsity Basketball team won its second League Championship, the first of this decade. It took a long way to get there, but the blood, sweat, and tears finally paid off.

People don’t become champions overnight. It takes heart, determination, and perseverance. The Girls Varsity Basketball team’s journey to becoming champions began way before the season started. During the spring, summer, and fall of 2012,

the girls played two seasons that consisted of about 50 games. The extremely intense and highly competitive off-season prepared them for the 2012-2013 season as the team finished with an overall record of 22-4, going 12-2 in League.

The girls’ dominance was led by senior Melody Chang and sophomore Caira Benton. Melody averaged 22.3 points per game while Caira averaged 11.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 4 steals per game. A great team isn’t just made out of one or two good players though. The season takes a toll on both the girls’ stamina and energy and the team as a whole.

Since there were 26 games in the regular sea-

son, some meant more than others. thers.

Rival or key games meant a littlee more to the whole team than n common games, and when the he team was struggling, a victory ry significantly boosted the girls’’ morales. One specific game for the girls that motivated them when they were doubting themselves was “the Glendale game when [they] lost,”” said Caira. It “influenced and d motivated [them] as a team to start playing at the level [they] know [they] could play at.” That mentality led to a 20-point victory over Burbank High School which senior Marian Eskander believed truly “portrayed the skills, dedication, and hard work of each and every person on the team.”

After the historic regular season, the team

took on Summit High School on Feb. 16 in its first CIF Section 1AA playoff game. It dominated from start to finish and won 85-52, and they faced Troy High School in the second round of CIF. Regardless of how the season ended, next year Caira hopes “to win League and make a statement for the Girls Basketball team.” The team is also “anxious to see [its] 2013 up on the banner in the gym!” As students always parade in and out of the North Gym for pep assemblies and basketball and volleyball games, having this year up on the Girls Basketball banner will be a great reward, letting everyone in the entire school know that this year, the basketball team is not one to be overlooked.

Through the ups and downs of the season, the team has stuck together. Marian claimed that the girls “weren’t just a team; everything [they] had done during the summer and offseason made [them] closer to each other and more of a family than a team.” Combined with their dedication, talent, and camaraderie, the tradition of Girls Basketball is on its way to prominence.

A-TEAM From left to right: Sophomore Caira Benton and seniors Kerry Wang

btran@apachepowwow.com

and Claiborne Huynh contributed to Arcadia’s first League victory in 34 years.

Photos by WILSON LIN

Shooting for a Victory

By LAUREN TOM Staff Writer

By ZACHARY YEE Staff Writer

The game is won before the game starts.

Preparing physically and getting into the right mindset can have a major impact on the performance of an athlete. Each player has a different process he or she goes through to help him or her get ready for a game—everything, ranging from eating certain delightful sweets to playing addicting iPhone apps.

“Before a game, I always play an iPhone app named ‘Fun Run’ with some other teammates to try to stay relaxed and keep calm, which is always important if you don’t want to make mistakes.”

—Daren Sue, 11, Boys Varsity Basketball “On game day, I need to have my Sour Patch Watermelons and listen to my music constantly, which really pumps me up.”

—Caira Benton, 10, Girls Varsity Basketball “After we finish warm-ups, we all huddle together and say a prayer to ease our minds and focus on the goal at hand.”

—Jasmine Rosas, 11, Girls Varsity Soccer Whether it’s an unusual superstition or a sugary snack, athletes reach their competitive mentality through a routine that prepares them for a game. zyee@apachepowwow.com

The Boys Varsity Basketball team played its last game on Thursday, Feb. 7, against Crescenta Valley High School, AHS’ rival school in athletics. The teams’ overall season, with a record of 7-20, unfortunately hadn’t been going according to plan, and instead the team didn’t win enough games to qualify for playoffs; however, the players kept their heads up throughout the whole season and never once let up on their opponents. Its record for league is 2-12, yet the team has grown closer together with every game played, led by Coach Ben Cordiero.

Whether it won or lost a game, the players’ spirits never failed to help them develop as a team.

Unfortunately, the team did not advance to CIF in the Southern Section. It lost its last game of the season against CV, 47-78. The Apaches never relented even during the fourth quarter, when the score was 27-62. In just that one quarter, the team scored 20 points, demonstrating its winning spirit and never-ending persistence.

Though this was a difficult loss for both the team and the audience, these losses are what fueled an even stronger desire to win while perfecting the team’s congruity.

Co-Captain senior Brian Taylor had an average of 10.9 points per game in 23 games during the 2012-2013 season. Scoring a total of 250 points, Brian has the best shooting average and most points scored out of all of his teammates.

Closely following him in points per game is junior Ben Bowen, who scored an average of 10.1 points per game. Ben had a total of 232 points in the span of 23 games. All the credit cannot be allocated to individual players, though, because each one couldn’t have done it without the rest of the team. Other players on the court played a

vital role in scoring, as the majority of players played both defense and offense. Co-Captain senior Stephen Smith made the most threepointers, with 33 total, and maintained the 3rd best average points per game.

The team not only has seniors and juniors, but also sophomores. Sophomores Joe Haines, Brandon Wong, and Joseph Leonard contributed to the team effort and scored a combined total of 46 points during this season.

Joe played in 14 of all 26 games, and Joseph played in three games this season. Brandon played in 22 out of 26 games and scored an average of 2.8 points per game. In these 22 games, he scored 61 points. The seven seniors and two juniors that are on the team outnumber these underclassmen—nevertheless each and every member of the team contributes to the developing teamwork and bonding of the team.

Students, teachers, family, friends, and other supporters came out to watch the Boys Basketball team mature. The players performed to their greatest extent, putting forth lots of effort that has not gone unnoticed.

Even though the athletes couldn’t achieve their goal of becoming League Champions during the 2012-2013 season, there is much to look foward to. Hopefully their hard work and practice will lead them to victory next season.

During pre-season and postseason, this team worked and will continue to work hard

SLAM-DUNKING Junior Ben Bowen performs a yet another beautiful layup, putting one more ball into the basket. to prepare itself for the many games as well as opponents ahead in tough, upcoming seasons. Their perseverance and hard work will be sure to bring the players much success in future games. Best of luck next season, Boys Basketball! No Apaches Down!

ltom@apachepowwow.com Photos by BEN GEISBERG

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ACADEMICS

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February 2013

Are Controversial Topics Vital or Disruptive?

By WILSON TAN Staff Writer

By HELEN LEE Executive Copy Editor

It’s the school that presented Jesse W. Reno to the world, the inventor of the escalator, and the school that also brought forth Charles Marshall, the owner of the construction company that helped build the Golden Gate Bridge. Lehigh University, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, ranks 38th in U.S. News and Report’s ranking for the best National Universities. With approximately 4,700 undergraduate students and 2,000 courses to choose from, it is no wonder that the school’s acceptance rate was merely 33% in 2010.

Lehigh offers three colleges to undergraduate students: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Economics, and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. With an average class size of just 27 students, the school is perfect for those who need a more direct, one-on-one education. Just to get a glimpse of what the accepted students are like, the middle 50% of admitted students had a SAT range of 600-700 for verbal and 660-750 for math.

As for those who wish to pursue a career in the arts, Lehigh offers a vibrant array of art programs. From various departments that specialize in drama and music to a diverse and extensive art gallery, there is a little something for everyone. Also, Lehigh promotes community service, so the students actively volunteer and participate in activites such as park cleanups.

There is no better way to meet new people than with Lehigh’s various residential options. If you want to be around those who also share a love for music or those who care about technology, that option is always available. Lehigh promotes diverse opinions. open discussion, and univeral equality. The student body and administration actively advocate for many causes, involving women’s rights, racial equality, and equality for gays and lesbians.

For those people who love city life, Lehigh University does not dissapoint. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania was placed 88th by Money Magazine on the “Top 100 Best Place to Live” in 2006. The city’s crime rate is fairly low, and with a population of approximately 75,000, it is the perfect city for someone who likes a suburban city life. Lehigh is conveniently located in the midpoint of two major cities: New York City and Philadelphia, located 85 and 70 miles away, respectively.

To top it off, Lehigh also has an impressive sports program, ranked in the top 20 of U.S. News and Report, “America’s Best College Sport Program”. As far as athletics, 97% of Lehigh’s student-athletes graduate. Lehigh participates in 25 various NCAA Division I sports from basketball to wrestling. If you are looking for a school that offers an expansive assortment of academic and extracurricular options, Lehigh University is the place to go.

hlee@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of BNEWSINSIDER.COM

Controversy is a very dangerous topic to meddle with. It is divisive and intimidating, and controversial topics and issues polarize society into different factions, rallying for different goals and mindsets. They can potentially disturb the peace and stability of a healthy learning environment. Discussing controversial issues can set students against each other, forming grudges. Although we’d like to say that we are a little more open to change nowadays, certain topics still generate heated arguments and fiery debates.

When discussing these topics, some let their extreme bias get in the way of having an educational conversation. However, some topics may indeed be deemed too controversial to be discussed in school and should be avoided— but that doesn’t mean everything should be.

Diana E. Hess, a professor in the School of Education at the University of MadisonWisconsin, conducted a study in which three middle and high school social studies classes were monitored. They were checked for things like participation patterns and content of discussion, while the teachers communicated with Hess about their planning methods and materials used for executing their discussion on politically-based and controversial issues. What she discovered was that although discussion is different in

every distinct classroom, teachers can employ a set of common practices to keep conversation on controversy safe and engaging for all that are involved. The study also noted that successful discussion leaders believe that learning discussion skills is an important teaching goal in itself, not just for the sake of doing it as a requirement for education but also for real world application. As Hess puts it, “participation in discussions is a democratic good in its own right.” In these discussions, teachers acted as facilitators rather than full-blown participants, allowing students to articulate their opinions on a certain subject without being too forceful or subjective.

Controversy, in essence, defines who we are concerning social matters. It forces us to make decisions that will affect our character, helping to stimulate our critical thinking. Learning about controversial issues helps students become more informed and active

citizens. Also, we agree to disagree. Too many times in society, we have issues where people physically attack each other rather than the idea or viewpoint. When teaching controversial or divisive issues like politics, teachers want students to have background information available for them to make up their own mind and beliefs. Although these topics may be debatable, there is a fine print—a line that separates right and wrong in these cases. We should be at least semi-prepared for a discussion concerning both sides—we can’t invest too much into one side without looking at the other. In order to have a balanced discussion, the participants should know at least bits of pieces of both sides of the argument and be able to understand where people are coming from in their disposition.

Students should be able to defend their beliefs but also be taught to accept when they are wrong. Taking a stand on any issue is the right of a citizen in a democratic society, but teachers must be careful that conflicts between students don’t endanger a stable learning environment.

Likewise, students must also be cautious not to go too overboard as to completely ignore the opposition in defending their own beliefs. These are the values that democracy promotes, and something we should strive for without being too extreme. wtan@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of ECONINTERSECT.COM

The Benefit of Languages in Curriculum

By TIFFANY LIU Staff Writer

At AHS, students are required to take at least two years of a foreign language to get into a UC or CSU. However, wever, three years is recommended. It can be said that there are three types of students. There are those who have been studying the language nguage they plan to take since they were young so that they y can easily test into one of the higher levels of that language age and finish the recommended mended three years in only y one year. There are those who can fluently speak the language, but have no idea how to write te it.

And, of course, there here are those students who have no experience ce in any other languagee besides English.

Counselors advise students not to takee a science and world language at the same time during their freshman year, but for those who want to take an AP-level el language course, there are some schedule confl nflicts in the future without extra summer classes. ses.

Spanish, as well ell as Chinese, is a common choice because off its growing usefulness in society. However, languages like Japanese or French are completely tely different. Most students going into French or Japanese are completely new to it and require all four years of high school to get into the AP class of that language.

Students often choose their language by how useful and commonly used it is. However, it does not always have to be the practicality of

a language that makes a student want to learn it.

With learning a new language comes an entirely new culture, consisting of diverse literature, art, music, and food. Every country’s culture and ideals are unique, and learning a language brings a student one step closer to understanding these traditions.

Once a student learns the language, exploring a foreign culture becomes much, much easier. Although some may think that French and Japanese are not as commonly used or h e l p f u l in our current community compared to Spanish and Chinese, being able to explore that country’s culture is also a very big part of learning a language. Understanding a language allows a person to watch movies in that language without subtitles, read books originally written in

the language, and order food at restaurant in that country. If a student doesn’t know a language, he or she is often limited in understanding and relating to another country’s culture.

Being able to educate ourselves about people living in different countries is a wonderful ability, and it is only aided by learning that country’s language. Countries like Japan have a very diverse culture in food and in the arts that are popular in the U.S. But the reason for its fame in other countries besides Japan is because it is translated. Without this translation, people would be unable to enjoy Japan’s art and literature. Additionally, there may be things lost in translation, meaning that the original message that the author was trying to convey was not properly converted to English, or another language, most likely because there is no equivalent word.

Choosing between different languages has its pros and cons, but being able to truly have an interest in that culture is worth much more than learning for practicality. Spanish, Chinese, French, and Japanese are all languages unique in their own way, so if students have to spend at least two to three years studying one, why not learn the language spikes a genuine interest in that country’s culture? One is guaranteed to have a much more enjoyable time learning that language. tliu@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

February 2013

ACADEMICS

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23

Teaching With Portals: A New Use for Video Games

By DANIEL JENN Executive Copy Editor

It seems like Gabe Newell, co-founder and creator of Valve, has something new in mind for his hit game Portal 2. Making the announcement at the Games for Change Festival of 2012, Valve discussed all of the positive feedback that it received involving the education potential of the game, and how the original mechanics off the game made it possible to initiate the “Teach h with Portals” program.

As Valve’s first attempt into the education-al community, the Teach with Portals program m offers students an opportunity to learn via Portall 2 Puzzle Maker and Universe Sandbox free off charge so that it is accessible and easy to use forr the majority of students.

It was only last year that Newell discussed d the possibility of the educational potential for a game at the Games for Change Festival of 2011..

Fortunately, the idea was enough for Newell to o appoint a new team to be in charge of the proj-ect. Only one year later, the team created thee Teach with Portals initiative with lesson planss for subjects such as physics, math, chemistry,, game design, and language arts. Students na-tionwide from elementary schools to middlee schools are all already having firsthand experi-ence with this program. d Valve representative Leslie Redd talked m about how Valve is able to promote a program that reaps no profit. “Valve is always interested d in exploring new ways of thinking and doing..

What we are doing with the Portal 2 Puzzlee Maker education program is responding to a de-mand from our current community and perhapss g expanding that community further by sharing

the creativity and innovation we see emerging.

It’s the teachers who are creating the content and driving the direction,” she said.

In fact, teachers themselves are becoming worried that there are fewer and fewer teaching innovative teaching tools available. In an interview with Wired Magazine, Redd stated, “A teacher can use an aspect of the game for demonstration purposes or have students use it more

interac interactively.

The lesson plans on the website are cr ccreated e by educators and are aligned to Common Core and Next Generation Science C Comm Standa Standards. Teachers in the initial beta test have told us that they use the Puzzle Maker to introduce, support, and supplement their students’ lear arni ar n n Needless to say, the program has a lot learning.” off potential pot otee and support from various sources.

Quiz Bowl Qualifies

By BEN GEISBERG Staff Writer

Quiz Bowl (QB) is one of the most accomplished and successful academic teams on campus, a fact just further proven by its triplequalification for Nationals at its most recent tournament, Baby Anteater at UC Irvine. So, with this highly impressive achievement, how exactly does QB prepare?

It all starts with practices after school on Thursdays that usually last about an hour and 45 minutes. These Thursday meetings are usually the bulk of the team’s practice, because it is the only time when all the QB members are together. During this time, questions are answered, facts are checked, and packets are read as QB prepares for competition.

However, Thursday meetings aren’t the only practice sessions that QB members get.

Occasional meetings are held for specific subjects, such as History, Current Events, Literature, and Geography.

QB members continuously reap the winnings of their hard work; the team has gone to several competitions since the beginning of the season and, throughout these tournaments, QB qualified two teams for Nationals in one tournament and made a third team eligible in the most recent tournament.

QB’s presence in the local circuit has made it recognizable to many, and the team is ready to make a splash at Nationals. bgeisberg@apachepowwow.com Photo by BEN GEISBERG

TEAM SPIRIT These motivated and bright students have performed to their full potential, while simultaneously making a name for themselves, time and time again.

T Teach with Portals program has conThe tinued to grow since its initial idea back in 2011.

Now, with the game fully-integrated within several schools across the nation, students can en now enjoy a quality game without sacrificing the im importance of learning in school. Valve’s websit website on the subject, thinkwithportals.com, now in includes an original submission option for lesson plans, available to all educators, not just those eenlisted in their program.

B But still, in the light of all these positive and be beneficial points, some parents have questioned merging schoolwork with video games.

After aall, electronics seem to be the reason for lower grades. However, as technology continues to improve, and the current tools used by teacher teachers become outdated, mediums like Portal 2 aare only to be expected to become more pro omin prominent in the educational realm. Enriching di igital content is easy to access nowadays, it is digital oonly re reasonable to incorporate it into schools.

T The recent push for enhancing the educational eexperience for games can only be beneficial for gamers and students alike. Despite how promis promising the program sounds, its effectiveness has yet to be shared with the rest of the nation.

C Can games really offer more than just a mind-n mind-numbing session of restless clicking and pressin pressing of keys, or are they doomed to have a failed cohesion with the educational system?

Although its results have already been noted across several campuses, its permanent spot in school’s curriculum is still unclear. djenn@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of JIGGMIN.COM, THINKWITHPORTALS.COM, and THEPORTALWIKI.COM

Destination Imagination

By SIREJ DUA Staff Writer

Destination Imagination (DI) is an academic team that focuses on the more creative side of learning. Many teams from various high schools around the world compete to demonstrate their ingenuity through challenges based off of either building or acting. The competition has two events that the teams must compete in, the first being the main challenge. Here, the team members decide what challenge they would like to do that shows off their talents and skills, and this is what they spend most of their time preparing for. The second event that everyone must do is the instant challenge. The teams are given a few minutes of preparation time to either act out a skit or build something quickly. The judges give them points for creativity and how well they accomplished certain goals.

Sophomore Ryan Ong has been in DI since eighth grade and he really enjoys it. “In our first year of doing DI, my group members really had a lot of fun with what we were doing, [which] was an improvisational challenge. At [the state competition], our instant challenge was to build

a maze with marbles, and no one in our team was able to figure it out!” This year, he’s doing an event called “Change in RealiTEE”, which requires the team members to be silent while they act out their task. The members must use decorated t-shirts to convey their message as well. To prepare for the regional competition, which will be held at beginning of March, they are given a guide with many different practice scenarios which they will use this to improve their skills.

Sophomore Andrew Wu is competing in a building event in which teams must build a small vehicle that can accurately travel certain distances and mimic real-life safety. The teams must also present a story about the dangers of vehicles told from the viewpoint of a vehicle. Andrew said, “My team and I have been working pretty hard for this event, but we just started building the solar car, so I hope we do well [at] the regional competition.” In the competition, all of the individual teams within DI can choose an event that displays their strengths, an advantage that boosts the team’s overall score.

All of DI’s sub-teams made it to the regional competition this year, so wish them luck! sdua@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of CREATIVETHINKING.NET

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CALENDAR

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February 2013

The Reel Deal: March Movies

By GOLDIE SHEN Staff Writer

1) Jack the Giant Slayer Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Adventure Rating: PG-13 Release Date: Mar. 1 Once upon a time, the evil giants of terrorized helpless humans. Luckily, the giants were imprisoned and never heard from for centuries. Then, disaster strikes when a farmhand opens a portal and the ancient world collides with the modern world. An altered, contemporary fairy tale in the vein of Snow White and the Huntsman, Jack the Giant Slayer twists the tale of the beanstalk, carrying it to new heights.

Nicholas Hoult plays Jack, who must rescue a princess, a kingdom, and the entire human race. Jack the Giant Slayer promises great visuals, and will be released in both 2D and 3D.

3) The ABC’s of Death Genre: Horror, Anthology Rating: Unrated Release Date: Mar. 8 Here are some ABC’s you would not want a toddler to learn. Hailed as “Sesame Street for psychopaths” by Paper Magazine, The ABC’s of Death consists of 26 short films, each a morbid word for every letter of the alphabet. The films come from an extensive array of directors from 15 countries. Titles include “A is for Apocalypes”, “D is for Dogfight”, “H is for Hydroelectric Diffusion”, “I is for Ingrown” “N is for Nupial”, “U is for Unearthed”, “X is for XXL”, and “Z is for Zetsumetsu”. Needless to say, the film is like a fictional, and therefore even more warped, version of the TV show 1,000 Ways to Die. Critics recommend the film for people with “a sick sense of humor.” gshen@apachepowwow.com

2) Oz the Great and Powerful Genre: Fantasy, Adventure Rating: PG Release Date: Mar. 8

Photo courtesyy of BREITBART.COM

Go off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz. Disney has rendered a delightful prequel to Frank L. Baum’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. James Franco stars as Oz, a wily circus magician who is swept away from Kansas to the land of Oz by a tornado. The trailers for the movie reveal the vast adn beautifully colorful fantasy world in both 3D and 2D. A trip to see Oz will not just be a trip to the theater, but to another world of epic proportions.

“Shoot for the Moon”-cat

By GLUTTON GIRL Staff Writer

If you’re looking for a romantic yet casual spot to take your significant other, or somewhere to fulfill your immense craving for some fresh sushi, take a delicious dive into the little restaurant, MoonCat. Upon walking into the restaurant, I was shocked at how small it was. There were only about three tables of four inside, two tables of four on the patio, and the sushi bar, so it’s only suitable for groups of four or less. When I was seated, I noticed the adorable handmade chopstick holders and charming, minimalistic menus. While there, I ordered the creamy crab croquette, California yaki udon,

and the chirashi bowl.

The four, nugget-shaped, crab croquettes —each about the length of my thumb—came drizzled with a tangy tonkatsu sauce and were filled with an imitation crab filling, reminiscent of a California roll. Although the breading was nice and crisp, the filling was runny and difficult to eat, falling apart after a couple of bites. It was a satisfying start, but I wouldn’t order it again and earned 3 taste buds out of 5.

Next came the California yaki udon, which consisted of a surprisingly small portion. The udon noodles were drowned with imitation crab and mayonnaise strewn throughout and was decorated with seaweed shavings. It was a bit bland and boring because the dish was small, but it had a unique flavor and the noodles were

perfectly cooked, albeit slightly chewy. Again, I don’t regret ordering it, but it’s not something I would recommend and deserved a generous 3 taste buds out of 5.

My favorite dish that night finally arrived: the chirashi bowl. It came in a clever two layered bento box with seasoned rice sitting on the bottom layer.

It was outstandingly fresh and consisted of various cuts of sashimi, tamago, grilled eel, salmon roe, spicy tuna, and shrimp. I usually don’t like the taste of salmon sashimi, but I loved every bite of it here. Each piece was delectable and even the rice was perfect—fluffy, seasoned just right, and came with bits of denbu (a sweet, floss-like condiment made of ground codfish). The only negative aspect about this dish was the price. Sadly, de-

licious food tends to come with a hefty price, but the chirashi bowl still merited 4.5 taste buds out of 5.

Order some of the most beautiful cuts of sashimi in the San Gabriel Valley at MoonCat, and you just might end up enjoying fish as much as your feline friends. This small joint earns 3.5 taste buds out of 5. Until next time! And who am I? That’s a secret I’ll never tell!

XOXO, Glutton Girl Mooncat Details Location: 108 E Lime Ave., Monrovia Prices: Creamy crab croquette, $8.00; California yaki udon, $8.50; Chirashi bowl, $18.00 gluttongirl@apachepowwow.com Photo by GLUTTON GIRL

February 2013

apachepowwow.com

The Puzzle of Love

CALENDAR

Need advice?

Send your questions to askkay@apachepowwow.com

Q: My girlfriend’s friends have been hinting that I should do something for her this Valentine’s Day, but I don’t know what to do for her. Help?

A: Because you are her boyfriend, I’m sure you know what she likes. Give her a bouquet of her favorite flowers, take her to her favorite restaurant, or make food for her. Thoughtfulness and simplicity is key. After all, she just wants to know how much you care about her.

Q: This year, I’m single again for Valentine’s Day. How do I celebrate without feeling pathetic about my relationship-less life?

A: Never be ashamed of being single.

There are too many omantic comedy movies about the horrors of being single. You aren’t defined by the person holding your hand. Be confident in who you are and any celebration will be the best.

Puzzle courtesy of JUMPSTART.COM

Q: Everyone around me is in a relationship. How do I keep myself from pulling my hair out because they’re being too gushy?

A: I know it can be frustrating, but don’t get too frazzled at their “gushiness”, since you shouldn’t blame them for being happy. This day is about love and affection. They can’t help showing it to the people they care about! If you still want to get away from the conventional “love”, try spending a day with your family.

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Ask Kay Q: This is my first Valentine’s Day with my boyfriend, but I’ve never been the kind of girl to get caught up in the atmosphere. How do I stop myself this year?

A: Remember that there are people who aren’t in a relationship. I’m not saying downplay your own relationship, but don’t shove it in their faces. And remember that there are multiple types of love to share.

Q: How do I keep from devouring all these Valentine’s Day treats?

A: Keep your portions small! If you get a box of chocolates, eat them slowly so you don’t fall into the chocolate pit! You can always share with your friends as well. That way, you can share the love and keep yourself from eating everything, and everyone will be happy.

Q: How do I tell the person I like how I feel?

A: Well, you need to assess how you feel.

If you feel like this only around Valentine’s Day, don’t fool yourself into thinking you actually have feelings. But if this has been building over time, all you have to do is talk to him or her and be honest. Remember that he or she may not feel the same way, but don’t let that stop you. Always be true to yourself and your feelings.

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CAMPUS FOCUS eArcadiaHighSchool Zachary Lim, Arcadia, CA “I feel that being single is okay.

There’s always a big chance that high school couples will break up and never find their soul mates.”

—Zachary Lim, 9

Miranda Miao, Arcadia, CA “Singles Awareness Day was just a normal day for me because I’m probably going to be single for a long time.”

—Miranda Miao, 10

Michelle Lai, Arcadia, CA if you’re tagged

I <3 U

“I’m not going to lie, Singles Awareness Day was pretty depressing.

I mean if I could have hidden at home, I totally would.”

—Michelle Lai, 12

Home

campusfocus@apachepowwow.com

About Me

February 2013

My Matches 14 February 2013 sign out

About Me: Occupation: Gender: Height: Age: Ethnicity:

Volunteer Male 5’8” 14 Burmese

About Me: Occupation: Gender: Height: Age: Ethnicity:

Student Female 5’4” 15 Chinese

About Me: Occupation: Gender: Height: Age: Ethnicity:

Survey: What is your ideal date? a Long walks on a beach and then dinner at a fancy restaurant. b Grabbing a couple of Slim Jims and then a trip to the comic book store. c Going to a One Direction concert. d Anywhere, as long as I’m not ppaying. pa e Date? Like the fruit?

“I found the person my soul was searching for.” Cindy and Albert Matched: January 5, 2009 Married: TBA

Student Female 5’8” 17 Chinese eArcadiaHighSchool

By KRISTIE SUN

d eggs milk an y u B 1) andry cle p u k ic 2) P ing esEnglish h is in 3) F say !! yfriend d a bo 4) Fin

Staff Writer Many couples were excited for Valentine’s Day since it’s the day where they can openly show their affection for each other. While some consider it Valentine’s Day, others know it as Singles Awareness Day (SAD). SAD is a humorous holiday to jest at those who aren’t in relationships. These participants of the holiday are single and ready to mingle!

ksun@apachepowwow.com

Photos by MEGAN HONG Graphic courtesy of BLOGSPOT.COM