September 2019

Page 1

THE AZTEC VOLUME LXXXII NUMBER I

SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

theaztecnews.com

Focus PG. 4-5

Features PG. 6

sports pg. 8

Keppel students take it upon themselves to be environmentally friendly.

MKHS students study abroad in international exchange program.

Football makes history winning first game in almost five years.

NEWS IN BRIEF New PRINTING pROCEDURE IN THE CAREER CENTER This year, all the computers in the career center are able to print documents. To print more than five pages, notify the staff in the Career Center.

Hispanic Heritage Month Next week is Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week. Mark Keppel will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with activities at Palm Court during lunch.

Mark your calendar 9/20 - Fall Sports Rally 9/24 - Collaboration Schedule 9/26 - Hispanic Heritage Day 10/2 - Collaboration Schedule 10/9 - Collaboration Schedule 10/11 - Homecoming Rally 10/12 - Homecoming Dance 10/14 - Pupil Free Day

Keppel’s Coach Duong begins new role as Athletic Director THE AZTEC STAFF English teacher by day, badminton coach by night, Linh Duong is eager to begin her term as Mark Keppel’s newly appointed Athletic Director (AD) for this upcoming school year. While still teaching three English classes and coaching badminton, Duong will spend her sixth and seventh period taking on AD responsibilities, such as “scheduling games, making sure [teams] have officials or the right facilities, etc.,” says Duong. Mark Keppel’s previous AD Heather Semelmacher, on the other hand, has been promoted to be the new district Athletic Director for Alhambra Unified. However, Selemacher still plays a crucial role in Mark Keppel’s Athletic Department. “[Ms. Semelmacher and I] are still trying to work together,” says Duong, “I’m more in charge of what is going in at Keppel, while Ms. Semelmacher is in charge of purchasing [equipment] and permits.” Semelmacher adds, “I now do more of the Title IX [eduation admendement passed to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex

in any education program or activity], as far as our numbers and our gender equity on the site, and our Title XI site walkthroughs...I would say I am more behind the scenes.” While Semelmacher carries out district responsibilities, Duong wants to ensure that Mark Keppel’s sports teams have essentially everything they need. She also encourages all Keppel students to “come out and play sports,” she explains. To manage the schedules of at least 6 teams per season, Duong plans on utilizing her organizational skills to effectively complete the tasks ahead of her. She plans on using her prior experience as a badminton coach to fulfill her duties. “I’m doing a lot of what Ms. Semelmacher had us do last year and applying it to all the different sports, like doing rosters…and having the other coaches do the same thing,” says Duong. However, one of Duong’s more personal goals is to become an administrator. She considers being Keppel’s AD a “step leading towards that [position].” Duong hopes that

THE AZTEC/IZABELLA COFRESSI

Badminton Coach Duong poses for picture.

by becoming an administrator of any sort will give her more of an opportunity to help and interact with more students. Students can find Ms. Duong in her classroom A238 from second to fifth period, or in the Athletic Director’s Office in the Aztec Arena from sixth to seventh period. During these office hours, Ms. Duong will be open to helping students so that they can “go out and be champions.”

Make room for Keppel lunches HANA KIKUCHI Staff Writer Eating the same choices of lunch items has been common for Mark Keppel High School students, but the new school year has brought a variety of new items to the menu. The new lunch items are pho, ramen and nacho bowls. Keppel is trying to move forward for cultural awareness and shine a light on a different tradition of foods. According to senior Matthew Tan, the new lunches are “decent for what it is, [and] for what the school is able to afford.” Mark Keppel’s assistant principal, Alejandra Perez had many things to say about this lunch craze. More specifically, when she was asked the reason why they changed the lunch items, she says, “they just came from the nutrition services office, and they told us they were adding new items. I believe it’s when they have the nutrition fair, and kids try out new things, and if they like something that

Students lining up for the new lunches.

they input it in the following year into the cafeteria menu.” Since the update of the lunch menu, there has been an increase in the number of students in line for both the original and the new lunch items. When the line for the new menu items opened, it extended beyond the gate on

THE AZTEC/IZABELLA COFRESSI

the west side of the school. The popularity of school lunch has increased as more students have decided to try out the new menu.


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