April 2017

April 2017

investigator

the

Vol. 26, Issue 5

the inner struggle see pages 10-13

Green Valley High School Ů 460 N. Arroyo Grande Henderson, NV 89014

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April 2017

investigator

the

Contents

Vol. 26, Issue 5

Green Valley High School Ů 460 N. Arroyo Grande Henderson, NV 89014

the inner struggle see pages 10-13

Ascending the stage page 9

On The Cover

Teenage mental illness is on the rise nationwide.

See how this issue is being dealt with at GV.

SECTIONS

page 10

NEWS 4 FEATURES 6 SPORTS 15 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 18 PHOTO ESSAY 20 OPINIONS 22 EDITORIAL 27

FEATURED STORIES 7 Balancing the IB

International Baccalaureate students juggle hectic schedules.

13 Messy Habits

courtesy of Shria Ramanathan

Freshman Shria Ramanathan vividly poses in the midst of her performance of the traditional Hindu dance called Bharatanatyam.

editor's note: As the year is coming to an end and we come upon testing season, hectic schedules, and scrambling to graduate, we are all just extremely tired. Although oversimplified, fourth quarter often comes with bittersweet memories and moments, and this issue accurately reflects such sentiments.

The center for this issue features an in-depth look at mental illnesses and how they are sneakily crawling their way into the lives of students. The story features some students who were very open about their struggles, as well as the perspective of a teacher and counselor.

Seemingly so from the interviews I conducted, it seemed that it takes a village to help these kids who suffer. Although these illnesses infringe on their every day lives, they seem to be taking a rather optimistic approach and encourage others to not give up in their fight.

Our sports section this issue features March Madness, a superstar sophomore track athlete, and a comprehensive guide on pole vaulting. All of these stories showcase a melange of different interests and abilities that our students possess.

In this issue we also look at a feature on our dedicated IB students, and how they juggle their busy schedules in order to succeed in their own right. We also featured an incredible freshman, Shria Ramanathan, pictured above, who dances in a traditional Hindi fashion.

We wrote about streaming programs everyone seems to be obsessed with, and even talked about the showdown between the popular Kahoot review game that has found itself causing quite a ruckus on campus.

In this final installment, we just really tried to end on the best note possible. We tried to incorporate, like always, the most people we could and try to give voice to the voiceless.

As the year comes to an end, I sincerely hope everyone who has read any of our issues thoroughly enjoyed some part of them, and hopefully next year it’s even better. Thank you for reading, I thoroughly appreciate it.

- Sarah Fernandez, editor-in-chief

Organization is a necessity many are currently neglecting.

15 Grant takes a leap

Sophomore superstar Deborah Grant makes a name for herself in the Track & Field world.

19 Streaming frenzy

Popular TV streaming companies are giving rise to many new shows.

24 To Kahoot, or not to Kahoot?

An educational review game marks its place in the classroom.

tes.com

4 NEWS

CCSD gets a makeover

By Skylar Jones

The Clark County school district has reorganized in attempt to improve schools through the Nevada Assembly Bill 394.

The goal of the bill is to empower individual schools and to involve parents in addressing school issues. The reorganization also wants recourses to appease student needs and for flow into local schools.

School organizational teams have been formed at every school in the district.

These teams consist of 2-4 licensed staff members, 1-2 non-licensed staff members, 3-6 parents, the school principal and student representative.

The organizational team will be in charge of the school budget, providing assistance to the principal, and selecting the school’s next principal if need be.

The team holds public meetings at least once a month with all the members.

“It was difficult to get things done because they have to have their agenda posted two days in advance of their meeting,” math teacher Hannah Santee said.

The full implementation will not begin until the 2017-2018 school year, but the team has already been meeting and dis-

cussing.

“As part of our School Improvement Plan, the approved the implementation of adding more technological tools to each classroom,” English teacher Heather Coleman, a member of the team, said.

“

All systems need time to work out kinks.

- English teacher Heather Coleman

Before the reorganization, schools received direction from many different entities. Now schools will receive direction from only the School Associate Superintendent. The School Associate Superintendent will oversee up to 25 schools.

Schools will receive 80% of unrestricted dollars next year and 85% in 2019. The Nevada department of education has established per-pupil budget weights for Special Ed programs, English learners, low-income students, and gifted students.

“All systems need time to work out kinks before measuring its efficiency,” Coleman said.

Find your zen with yoga club

By Casey Li

As the school day winds down and students pack their bags to go home, the people in room 231 are rolling out their yoga mats and finding a state of meditation.

English teacher Heather Coleman thought it would be a great idea to have students from all backgrounds get in touch with their inner spirit. Meeting every Thursday, students at yoga club spend time together doing different poses and enjoying each other’s company.

While school gives most students stress, yoga club offers a sanctuary to relieve anxiety through the power of motion.

“Yoga has helped me to be more patient with things, to breathe through issues in life,” Coleman said. “When things get stressful, I find now that I can stop, breath, and then think before I get upset.”

While relieving their stress, students can also become more fit overall.

“Yoga is for every-body” said Coleman.

Yoga club is meant to be a judgement free zone that welcomes everyone from any background.

The yoga club environment is safe for everyone, including people of different athletic ability, gender, race, or background. With this much diversity, students can grow a greater appreciation for

The InvestiGator t April 2017

different types of people.

“It has made me more accepting of other people and other cultures,” junior Hanna Rochell said. “I really love yoga.

It’s something that I want to practice throughout my life, it’s something that I want to share with my friends.”

Nobody judges you during club.

“You’re just free to try things and learn new stuff,” Coleman said.

While most activities at school are focused on athletic or academic capability, yoga club has boldly entered the high school community and introduced students a new safe way to relieve stress.

Refreshing take on farmer’s market

By Hailey Gross The third annual farmers’ market consisted of clubs that participated for two days during lunch. Fresh fruit, tie-dyed shirts, and walking tacos were some of the few things that were sampled.

The first vice president Senior Lexi Nicolaides of student council was in charge of everything extracurricular and made it happen with the right team.

“I had my committee which was amazing and super helpful,” Nicolaides said. “It was also something new that we started this year and they were always around to just help whenever I needed it.”

Setting up the farmer’s market was a tough job and took almost a month to plan.

“I started setting up in February. I also had several club meetings, to help prepare the clubs for the two days we’d be selling,” Nicolaides said.

Although arranging took a while and drained many student council members, it was for the best cause.

Student council advisor, Viviana Garner, was touched when students from all grades had been interacting in the famers market.

“The hardest part was having to take down and set up the tables and tents for the clubs every single morning and in the hot afternoon,” Garner said.

Club leaders were in charge of bringing their own materials such as ice, coolers and napkins. They were also in charge of merchandise to sell, along with running their own booth.

Students showed the administration they could take the time to show responsibility by participating in the farmer’s market. Due to all the success, the student body will continue to eagerly wait for the farmer’s market each year, hopefully making the next one even better from years in the past.

“Overall it was a success,” Garner said.

Shila Sherafat

Junior Sonia Portela does a sideways crow pose during a session of yoga club in room 231.

NEWS 5

Speech and debate talks their way to the top

By Lexi Demoleas For 23 years speech and debate has strived to be the best in the county and overcome many obstacles. Being apart of this program is a joint effort from all students and advisors involved to maintain the legacy from previous years.

“Before a competition I run over my interpretation scripts. In my earlier years of speech and debate I would look over the congress legislation and think of arguments,” senior Asheton Stoever said.

In order to be apart of this organization one has to have passion and complex techniques to succeed in the program, which is how they get to such a high ranking level today.

“I have a passion for politics and a fascination with debate. It has also been the only activity I have ever excelled in,” junior Annika Johnson said.

For many years Scott Ginger has been the advisor for the club and has methods for keeping his students on track.

“In class we do things to get ready and that’s the time we do research for the pieces and to practice debates to get ready.

We also offer after school classes,” Ginger said.

These association members are often

surrounded by others with the same goal to achieve and win.

“Being in Speech and Debate all four years of high school helped me further my career as an actor, and it improved my public speaking skills. Since I had the opportunity to be apart of the 23 consecutive years of winning, it really meant alot to me. For me to contribute to that was really important to me and the rest of the team too,” Stoever said.

23 years the program has benefited

courtesy of Aislinn Farmer

Speech and debate team poses for a group photo before awards on March 2.

Alumni foundation means business

By Taylor Strezlec

The newly founded Alumni Foundation is working to do great things to improve our school.

“What we are trying to do is to raise money in the community to keep Green Valley High School being the best that it can be,” President Erin Hill said. “There are some things that need to happen at this school, and that we need to see happen to keep it at the best that it can be.”

They plan on building a new performing arts building that would house our Band, Choir, Orchestra and Guitar programs.

They also want to build a new athletic facility, and install artificial turf on the football field.

The total to complete all of these projects is quite pricey, the estimated total comes out to seven million three hundred

Alumni foundation’s raffle prize is this luxury car.

students and has formed individuals into who they are.

“I enjoy the fact that you have a program that has this slew of brilliant individuals from all walks of like that share a substantial amount of the same interests as you to scream at someone in a constructive manner,” Johnson said.

The group has kept the standard and made the community proud. After winning so many years there must be a recipe for success they have concocted.

and fifty thousand dollars.

“To do things like this that benefit the school community and our students is a pretty big, ambitious plan but I don’t think anybody could argue that it’s not worth doing,” Chairman of the foundation, Kent Roberts said.

Not only are they working to complete all of these projects, but they are also working to put together a scholarship fund. This adds on another $1.5-6 million to the cost of their other projects.

The scholarship is intended to provide at least one student a year with a full ride

“

To do things like this that benefit the school community and our students is a pretty big, ambitious plan.

-Chairman Kent Roberts

to an in-state college.

They’re currently collecting private donations that would be put directly towards the completion of these projects.

They’re also hosting a major raffleon May 27th, “A Very Merry Raffle,” in order to fundraise for the money. Raffle tickets are being sold for $100 for a chance to win a BMW 328i, the second place winner gets $1,000 in cash and the third place winner gets $500 in cash.

A fairytale prom

By Taylor Strezlec

Prom week starts off with Disneythemed spirit days Monday through Friday, Monday will be “Sleeping Beauty Pajama Day,” followed by Tuesday’s “Moana Hawaiian Day.” Wednesday is “The Incredibles Superhero Day.” The last two days of the week will be “Jungle Book Animal Print Day,” and “Disney Day,” in which you wear any Disney attire.

The theme for Prom itself is “A Walk Through the Garden.”

Prom is going to take place Saturday, Apr. 22, at The Terrace on Warm Springs from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p,m.

“I’m excited to see it all finally come together, we’ve been working on bits and pieces of it for a while now, so it’ll be nice to see it all complete on the actual night of Prom and hopefully be a success,” junior and main organizer of Prom, Maddie Jensen, said.

Tickets will be sold for $25 up until Apr. 21, then will become $30 at the door. Encouraging students to get their tickets early! Don’t be late for a very important date. As one famous Disney character omce said. Make your prom “fairytale” one to remember.

“Come make memories that will last a lifetime,” Jensen said.

April 2017 t The InvestiGator

6 FEATURE

By Shila Sherafat Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate has been known as a demanding program that prepares students for college. Used all across the world, the IB program is a curriculum very well known.

The intentions of the program are captured in the mission statement, “The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.”

The IB program has been known to impress colleges for its rigorous curriculum and multiple tests including standard level (SL) and higher level (HL) which run on a scale from zero to seven. By the end

BALANCING BOOKS & BATS

“

IB has helped me in that I felt confident in my college applications because it made me stand out.

-senior IB student Jalen Jones

of their senior year, students are required to take 3 SLs and 3 HLs. Out of all six IB exams, students must earn a total of 24 points.

As IB is intended to prepare students for college, essays assigned not only help in the long run, but also in the college application process.

Senior IB student Rethika Kumar said, “The extended essay that we had to write during junior and senior definitely helped in writing my college essays. After looking very closely at the conventions over the past two years on one essay, I felt more confident in my essay.”

Due to the many tests and assessments that the IB program demands, many students join mainly for the impression it imposes on colleges.

“IB has helped me in that I felt confident in my college applications because it made me stand out,” senior IB student Jalen Jones said.

Receiving the IB diploma is the ultimate goal for many IB students. According to ibo.org, in 2016 there was a 5.38 percentage increase in students receiving their IB diploma than in 2015.

“If I get the diploma, I will be able to distinguish myself from other people when competing for the job,” Jones said.

Even with the benefits that IB offers, the ultimate factor that makes students join are their peers around them who provide support.

“I’d like to say I joined because I want to go to college internationally or just to better myself as a leader and individual, but I definitely joined because my friend was joining,” Jones said. “When I asked my counselor if I should do IB or AP she immediately told me to go for it and signed me up.”

The InvestiGator t April 2017

Shila Sherafat

The decision between AP and IB classes is extremely similar as many students tend to choose AP over IB due to the difference in workload.

“The IB classes are usually just joined with AP classes with very little IB curriculum,” Jones said. “However, the addition of the IB title was nice as I had more thing to add onto my application since college admissions are getting more and more

competitive.”

With tests concurring with school work, managing everything together can be worrisome and extremely difficult. For junior IB student Amanpreet Raju, balancing Science Olympiad and Orchestra with classes can be a difficult challenge.

“There will be many times when your extracurricular will overlap with the assignments you have due for IB. We are

FEATURE 7

notified ahead of time so I try to get it done beforehand,” Raju said.

As many IB students are involved in sports, clubs, and jobs outside of school, time management is key in accomplishing assignments that are time-consuming.

Jones comprises a strict schedule to separate time between her job at Taco Bell, varsity softball, being an editor in yearbook, and classes.

“I make sure to only work on the weekends for eight hours and do all my work during the weekdays,” Jones said.

“If teachers give me homework over the weekend, then that is when it becomes really stressful. My job is considerate enough to schedule me for hours that work best for my schedule.”

Not only is balancing time between activities difficult, but creating a time frame for oneself is not the easiest task.

“The hardest thing is to balance is time for school and time for yourself. I rarely find myself with time just to do what I want and truly what I like,” Raju said.

“

The hardest thing to balance is time for school and time for yourself.

Shila Sherafat

-junior Amanpreet Raju

Making lists is a common way students balance their busy schedules and make sure that everything on their to-do list is accomplished. Tangled between varsity tennis and national honor society, constructing a schedule is necessary.

“You have to know your priorities and make a schedule for yourself and make sure to stick to it. Procrastination does becme a problem but as long as you stay on track, it’s not bad,” Kumar said.

Comparing to the AP curriculum, the IB accounts for the same amount of work, plus an IB workload. While in other schools, the IB system is a curriculum itself, not joined with AP. “The workload is not bad if you don’t procrastinate. The projects you are assigned are long term so it only comes back to haunt you if you put it off until the last second. Although sometimes life happens and that’s just how things in your schedule may fall,” Raju said.

IB has a character profile the lists 10 aspects that an IB student tries to achieve including inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, openminded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective.

“Teachers reinforce these characteristics so that we create a better work ethic.

It also creates a community so it does prepare you for in college in that you are going to be in a situation where you are surrounded by people just like you who have the same goals which is similar to the type of environment you will be in college,” Kumar said.

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FEATURE 9

By Deanna Chea

W

hile some bat baseballs or play piano for years since their awkward toddler days, slowly honing their skills, freshman Shria Ramanathan has performed the traditional Indian dance, Bharatanatyam, since the age of four. She performs almost anywhere, typically for Hindu events, and Ramanathan considers the dance part of her very own identity.

“It’s something I’ve done my whole life,” Ramanathan said. “I’ve danced at my temple a few times, and also charity events and things like that. It’s exciting on stage, and if you mess up you mess up, but I’ve learned to just keep going.”

This style of dance traces its roots to the Hindu temples of India and is regarded as the country’s oldest classical dance heritage. Arangetram is a single, solo debut performance which follows years of training. It translates into “ascending the stage” and marks the maturation of the dancer, allowing them to perform solo from that point on.

“It was my favorite performance,” Ramanathan said. “When I was prepping for my solo piece there were a lot of times when I was under so much pressure. I was saying, ‘Yeah, I don’t want to do this anymore after. I’m done.’ I never gave it up though. I’d fly out to L.A. a lot just to have practices, and I’d even stay with my teacher just to rehearse. Now I can dance alone anywhere I want.”

In addition to dedicating many hardworking hours to the art, a Bharatanatyam dancer must dedicate his or her mind to what they are doing.

This style of dance often tells the tales of Indian gods and goddesses as well as how they came to create the world. Ramanathan often puts herself into the shoes, of these divine figures to convey the emotion demanded by her dances.

“The dancing I do is really expressive, so when you’re on stage trying to portray those expressions, you actually feel them,” Ramanathan said. “It’s one of the key factors I want to portray to the audience, but not using words. Each dance will have its own story, and my favorite is probably about the Goddess of Wisdom, and how she has a child that can persevere through everything.”

Bharatanatyam involves much preparation both mentally and physically for Ramanatahn. It takes her about two hours to get ready for her performances. She needs time for the particular hairstyle, intricate makeup, and costume required of her to wear.

In addition to being dedicated to her art, she is also a member of GV’s Speech and Debate team. After being on a local dance team for two years, she was able to transfer skills from her traditional dancing to the more modern form.

All eyes on

Shria

courtesy of Shria Ramanathan

Freshman Shria Ramanathan holds a position during a performance of Bharatanatya.

“Being a dancer already helped me keep the beat and rhythm of the dancing when I was on a team,” Ramanathan said. “I came to high school and realized it was too much to do, though. Sometimes it’s a lot balancing everything, but now that I’m not performing as much, it’s not that hard. Now I can focus on what I need to.”

While considering her dancing a very influential and large part of her life, Ramanathan believes it will be a hobby she enjoys on the side as she grows up.

Her long-term goal is to become a doc-

tor, helping the lives of others through means other than emotionally. Currently, however, she is preparing for a charity event to raise money for a school in India.

Her dance school and her will be performing in May. “It’s nice thinking people appreciate my dancing,” Ramanathan said. “If anyone wants to take up Bharatanatyam, I think they need to know that it’ll be boring in the beginning, but go through a few years and it’ll get a lot better. Personally, I definitely see myself dancing for a long time.”

April 2017 t The InvestiGator

10 FEATURE

Sarah Fernandez

The act of coping day by day

By Sarah Fernandez Mental illnesses are prevalent throughout our society, and they seem to be taking a toll on the teenage population. In fact, the CDC issued a 2013 report that stated a total of 13%–20% of children living in the United States experience a mental disorder in a given year, and in recent years, that number has been going up. As something that plagues many students, and even teachers or administrators, one can observe how it is integrating itself within the everyday lives of many we surround ourselves with.

“A mental disorder would be when there is abnormal mental functioning. So there would not be enough neurotransmitters, or the cognition or thinking of the patient would deviate from the normal,” psychology teacher Jennifer Tuttle said.

Often times, any mental illness that plagues a student can be extremely excruciating on both their psyche, and their school performance.

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t

April 2017

“To make school more tolerable when I’m going through either mania or depression I usually just confide in my friends and try not to overwork myself,” senior Rachel Peterson said. “If I feel like I need a day to myself I take it, and then work hard to make up for it. I don’t get so overwhelmed that way.”

Peterson suffers with Bipolar II disorder, which is defined as a bipolar disorder characterized by depressive and hypomanic episodes.

“Since it’s episodic I go through phases of mania in which I become impulsive, anxious, or overworking myself,” Peterson said. “But then I’ll get hit with a depressive episode which usually lasts longer than manic ones, and lose my motivation to do schoolwork, show up, and socialize.”

Mental illnesses also affect several dynamics within and outside of the classroom, but for some this push outside of their comfort zone has aided them.

“It affects my work because talking to people used to give me crippling anxiety,

but working so much has actually helped me become more comfortable with people,” Howard said.

In addition, their existence, per se, is not due to their grandeur but sometimes rather because of their daily buildup.

“The hardest thing I’ve had to manage with my mental health is getting over small daily things,” Howard said. “I have anxiety, so simple things like getting up in class for a tissue makes my heart pound. So for me, it’s the small battles.”

The impact that mental illnesses have on schoolwork and attendance is influential in these student’s everyday lives. To those who suffer, the containment of these feelings can sometimes seem like a lost cause.

School, work, and life in general seem more plaguing, thus, everyday tasks such as attending school can seem much more taxing.

“It’s hard feeling like school is much harder for someone with illnesses like me,” Peterson said. “Harder to deal with in a sense.”

FEATURE 11 In trying to cope with the rush of these emotions on a daily basis, many have different mechanisms they rely on. Some like to plan everything out, while others rely on those around them.

“Balancing my anxiety and depression as well as school can get very overwhelming,” Howard said. “It takes a lot of organization and planning. I have a little planner that I write down everything I have to do for school and myself. It helps keep things organized and under control.”

Dealing with others and keeping relationships can also seem like an exhaustive task when constantly dealing with mental illnesses that infringe on the maintenance of the balance with friendships, parents, and teachers.

“It’s hard to try and explain how I can’t go out because my mind and body won’t let me. People who haven’t had their own experience with it have a hard time understanding it,” senior Laney Howard said.

“On the opposite side of that, having people who were able to understand me and support me was key in helping me feel normal and healthy.”

Often times it all boils down to the comprehension of mental illnesses by those who do not really understand the extent of their effects; regardless, people who try and understand these issues are often the ones who are actively present in the lives of the individuals who suffer.

“It’s affected platonic and romantic relationships because people who don’t have bipolar II have a hard time understanding

how your mood disorder affects nearly everything you do and say episodically as well as daily,” Peterson said. “It can sometimes cause people to have bad first impressions.

It’s not all struggle though. It’s introduced me to very empathetic people that want to care and understand the illness and me as a whole.”

Although these mental disorders that jab their way into these students’ lives come in a large array, the student population is shown to have some rather consistent trends with the illnesses they are diag-

“

It’s introduced me to very empathetic people that want to care and understand the illness and me as a whole.

- senior Rachel Peterson

nosed with.

“Depression is the most common. Kids suffer from depression most,” psychology teacher Jennifer Tuttle said. “Honestly, depression is called ‘the common cold’ of disorders because so many people will suffer from it.

According to a study conducted by the National Survey for Drug Use and Health, 12.5% of teens ages 12 to 17 from a 3 million-survey population showed to have depression.

“Forty-six percent of people will suffer

from one bout of depression in their life according to some studies,” Tuttle said.

Being in another facet of the school, counselor Stacy Rosier constantly sees the inner workings of these issues within the student population.

“You see it with the ones that are putting all the stress on themselves, or the ones who are freaking out because they need to graduate, so it’s kind of like all of you guys wrapped up in a bundle,” Rosier said. “You see that at the beginning of the year, and then at the end with the seniors, so a lot of anxiety and some depression.”

As Tuttle has seen in her several years of teaching, kids have developed bad habits that further stimulate these illnesses, sometimes unbeknownst to the kid themselves.

“They don’t prioritize sleep, they prioritize things like social media, TV, social times with their friends, over school work,” Tuttle said. “Most kids’ problem is time management. Many kids waste time, I mean I just do not think they realize how much time is wasted on things like social media. They’re not getting enough sleep, which being sleep deprived is going to make you more anxious, and irritable and depressed.”

There seem to be several solutions to help cope with these problems, although sometimes they may be time consuming and exasperating. In reality, mental illnesses are extremely intricate and complex, but at times there can be some rather simple actions kids can take to help better

Sarah Fernandez info from Nami.org

12 FEATURE their situations.

“Sleep deprivation and lack of exercise is a huge thing in depression. If kids could prioritize homework, then exercise, then sleep, that would help, and maybe sometimes they’re doing too much, then that’s also an issue,” Tuttle said. “My advice is prioritize your things. Get off social media. I will tell my kids, if you are suffering from depression, cancel all social media accounts just to see what happens. Really focus on getting exercise and really focus on getting sleep.”

Rosier also believes a large part of the problem is disorganization of both your day and what you most value and give im-

“

You can only control so much, so you have to see the things you can and list them.

- Counselor Stacy Rosier

portance to.

“You have to prioritize, because when you get out of school, college is going to be the same, work is going to be the same.

Those things you learn now, you can later apply. You have to step back and remember and look at the big picture,” Rosier said. “I like to look at the best scenario and worst scenario, and you have to take it as that: ‘what is the worst thing that can happen?’”

For Tuttle, the role of teachers is dually important to helping a kid overcome their problems. Their job is often as a guiding and helping hand, which can attribute much more help than some may realize.

“As far as teachers, as far as dealing with all of it, I think just teaching them how to pace themselves. Trying to help them to not procrastinate, even though that is a choice they’re going to make,” Tuttle said.

“Just giving them constant reminders, and helping them remember when things are due because I think time management is a lot of that sense of being overwhelmed. If a kid has been diagnosed with depression, a teacher should know about that.”

As an AP teacher, her experience has led Tuttle to thoroughly believe that teachers are extremely understanding. Often though, she feels as though teachers are not as informed as they should be.

“It is cyclical. There’s points of really low lows, so that’s when they should be getting emails from the parents with a doctor’s note like ‘so and so is in the middle of this low, please allow an extension on turning stuff in,’” Tuttle said. “We’re kept in the dark with a lot of that stuff. If a kid was in a depressed episode, we should know about that.”

On the other hand, counselors have a

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Sarah Fernandez info from Nami.org

unique position in that their jobs entail them do other things that teachers don’t in order to aid students who are struggling.

“We help provide outside resources for the students. If they’re struggling with school we try to figure out why and help them with in school stuff,” Rosier said. “But if it’s something that’s outside of school like home or after school we try to help them find those things and suggest them to their parents as well. We can work with the teachers, parents, and the kids themselves.

It’s like we’re the middle person and we try to put all the pieces together.”

Rosier believes that providing students with coping skills is one of the more important parts in helping a kid overcome whatever problem they are going through.

“You can only control so much, so you have to see the things you can and list them,” Rosier said. “I’m big on lists and big on writing it out, because then you can see what the real issue is. If you bottle it up in your brain then the problem is bigger than it really is.”

At the end of the day, many who have overcome these illnesses have seen the other side and thoroughly believe that there is some type of light at the end of the tunnel.

“Everyone’s experience with mental health is very different, but my advice to my peers struggling with mental health and balancing school is that everything will be ok. At the end of the day getting a 100% on a paper isn’t as important as taking care of yourself,” Howard said. “For the most part, that paper doesn’t even matter. You are more important than your grades. High school is not the end, no matter what your illness tells you.”

Peterson truly believes that despite an illness, it has been proven you can be successful and achieve all you desire; you are not limited by your mental illness or the constraints that it creates.

“Don’t give up. School is hard, so do not be too hard on yourself. If people can’t accept what you have or who you are, don’t be afraid to put your mental health first,” Peterson said.

FEATURE 13

ORGANIZATION IS KEY

By Bethany Casall

The arrangement of a structured order leads to a more organized and efficient lifestyle. It does not take talent to find a method that works for you. The only requirement is dedication. The difficulty of this process is based on how it is decided to approach the situation. On average, more than a fourth of Americans would like to be better organized based on a study done

by NAPO. This averages out to around 750 students here. Many have their own system that is based on their preferences and convenience, but like 55% of consumers, a better technique is out there to be utilized.

With many different already existing methods that can be used, recommendations from already successfully organized individuals is a good place to start from when looking for one’s own technique.

“I would consider myself as very organized for I have my binder divided into six sections for each of my classes and I always manage to keep papers where they need to be which is really important to success,”

Erinn Veach

data retrieved from www.simplyorderly.com

senior Daniel D’Alessandro said.

Keeping papers of the same subject divided off together can be beneficial. With the organization of grouping similar items, finding certain papers, notebooks, or projects becomes easier. This simple task can save about 16 minutes every day, which can add up to about four and a half days of searching for items every year.

“Writing stuff down is very important if you have a lot going on in your life in order to keep everything in line,” Dr. Lesley Zamora said. “Time management is a big deal, and by writing down what needs to be done and the deadlines in which they need to be done it can make life easier. Having everything listed out is definitely helpful.”

There are many useful tools that can be utilized like planners, notebooks, dividers, etc. Taking advantage of these can truly boost the efficiency day to day life. Having color coded aspects within these devices will further the productivity. Picking out colors that one enjoys will greatly benefit the organization path for with these little reminders, it gives a boost of inspiration.

Many people are quite organized and understand the concept. Many do their best to continue with it. Yet staying organized is the challenge many people struggle with. Consistency is the key with being organized to bring the best of your files.

“Making sure to look through your stuff and clear it out each semester or each quarter is the best way to stay as organized as you started,” sophomore Meia Stuart said.

After organizing your items of choice, you can keep the flat surface by looking through it as often as possible to make sure everything is still how it was originally made. It is very easy to get sidetracked and start to just throw papers around as time goes on. Folders are a good tool but won’t be any help if they are the same mess they began with.

Focus is a big issue with organization but creating an environment with things one enjoys can make it that much more bearable to continue with.

Everyone has their own enjoyable tasks to help balance the organization one searches for.

Ofelia@Radiant Glo

Go Gators!

It’s All or Nothing

SPORTS 15

competes in, she usually finds herself the first across the finish line.

“My favorite event to compete in is the 200 meters. I usually feel confident during that race,” Grant said.

Coach Vanessa Pike is one of Grant’s main coaches and hopes to see her succeed as she grows in the sport.

“Deborah is very talented and I hope to help her push herself to do the things we know she is capable of,” Pike said.

Grant admits that she does have “offdays” from time to time. She practices to make sure that she always brings her best to every meet and represents her school and teammates well.

“Sometimes I do struggle with getting out of my blocks and not starting off as fast as I want,” Grant said.

“

I know these goals I set for myself will help me over all to my goal which is the Olympics -sophomore Deborah Grant

Alyssa Hulse

Sophomore Deborah Grant gets ready to pass the baton in the 4X4 relay during a recent meet at Green Valley.

S

By Kiara Thomson

ophomore Deborah Grant is an exceptionally talented sprinter. She started running as a young girl, and continued to increase her speed over time.

Now, she is recognized as one of the fastest in the state.

“I was eleven when I started in track and field. One day my mom told me to go to a track practice and I did. The rest is history,” Grant said.

Grant hopes to improve enough to move up to higher levels of competition.

Already getting attention around the west coast, some even mentioned Olympics for the young athlete. She has already broken multiple records in just her second year of high school. Many say it is her natural athletic ability, but it is also her dedication and instinct to compete.

“I am planning to run in college.

Schools I am looking at right now are either Oregon State or USC,” Grant said.

Grant has a large support system which includes her number one fan, her mom.

Coaches continue to push Grant, but she always makes time for those she loves.

“I love to go shopping or go see a movie with my mom. I like to spend time with her,” Grant said.

With intense amounts of pressure always nipping at the back of her head, she explains that her mother is always the one to calm her down.

“I usually talk to her when I am feeling stressed and she makes me feel better,” Grant said No matter how difficult things get with balancing the life of being a student and track star, Grant tends to find the enjoyment of it all. Embracing every event, she

The young athlete does have goals she sets for herself every season and she plans to meet every one.

“I hope to make my 200 at least a 24.5, my 400 around 55 seconds, and my 100 a 11.5 dash. I know these goals I set for myself will help me over all get to my goal which is the Olympics,” Grant said.

Although, track is looked at as an individual sport there is a significant feeling of being a part of a unit or team.

Teammate sophomore Shelby Clark is proud to say she runs for the same team as Grant.

“Deborah is the hardest working on the team, and makes me work harder,” Clark said.

Grant carries herself humbly and is always modest, many of her teammates look up to her in that sense. She is a true example of sportsmanship and what it means to be a good member to something greater than herself. Not only does she believe in herself, she has an army of supporters right behind her.

“I definitely see her going to the Olympics. I cannot wait to watch her and be like I ran with her! I knew her! No doubt, she can do whatever she puts her mind to,” Clark said.

Many are curious about what is Grant’s secret, how does she do it? Grant will usually respond by shrugging her shoulders and give you a response that to most sounds too good to be true.

“I believe in what I can do,” Grant said.

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16 SPORTS

Raise the bar a little higher

By Nora-Jo Paramo

P

ole Vault is one of the jumping events in Track and Field. In the event, a person starts off by running down a runway, accelerating his or her speed to a box. Once the vaulter approaches the box, he or she takes the pole they are running with, and drive it into the box while keeping their arms as straight as possible. Then the vaulter concentrates on getting his or her body over the bar, or in other words, clearing the bar. Pole vaulting is a rigorous and sophisticated sport that requires a high degree of athletic skill.

“In pole vaulting, your goal is to get over a horizontal bar without knocking it down,” junior Gabriel Maalouf said. “You have to be able to jump up and swing your body using the pole to get yourself over the bar.”

In a competition, a bar is placed at an initial height, called the opening height, and progresses higher with each increment. The competitor who clears the highest height in the competition wins.

Pole Vaulting is more complicated than it may sound and there are numerous methods used by vaulters at various skill levels to clear the bar. Despite the fact there are many techniques, these are three phases to break it down: the run up, the jump, and then clearing the bar.

The run up consists of the vaulter starting on the runway. The vaulter sprints down in such a way to achieve maximum speed and gets into correct position before approaching the pit. Along with positioning their body, the vaulter gradually lowers the pole when coming upon the pit. They only have one minute to sprint and jump over the bar.

After running about 40-50 feet on the runway, vaulters stretch their hands over

their heads and place the pole on the ground. After planting the pole on the ground, the vaulter uses the pole to aid themselves jump over the bar.

“One of the main challenges in pole vault is going from running horizontally to vertically lifting off,” sophomore Emily Marcum said.

The swing continues until the hands are near the shins and feet of the vaulter, with the vaulter facing upward in a curled position.

While trying to keep both arms straight as possible, the vaulter is in a curled up position and “clears” the bar by pushing off the pole and going over the bar. This phase is considered the easiest part of the process.

Pole vaulting can be difficult to those who are just beginners. With enough practice, eventually the vaulter will begin to get the hang of it. Some tips to improve one’s vaulting skills include strength, athletic ability, and attitude.

“

I love the adrenaline rush that comes with flying through the air.

- junior Sondra Bower

Pole vaulting is a sport that requires great method and form. However, if vaulters are not improving strength, they are not going to see their full potential.

“Strength actually helps. If you get stronger, you are able to put more energy into the pole to aid yourself getting over the bar,” Maalouf said.

Pole vaulters should have good speed and jumping ability. He or she does not need to be the fastest on the team, but

Alyssa Hulse

Sophomore Chianne Mendiola makes it over the bar in the pole vault event.

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speed is essential. It does no good if the vaulter takes-off straight into the pit without lifting off well. The better the jumper, the better the pole vaulter will be.

“Success in pole vault does not only rely on speed and jumping ability,” junior Sondra Brower said. “It also relies on good coordination, balance, and focus.”

You must be hardworking and feel strongly about wanting to improve. In order to be successful in this sport, a vaulter must enjoy and feel passionate about the sport.

“I love the adrenaline rush that comes with flying through the air,” Brower said.

Play like a champion

By Seth Beekman With spring on the way, the rise of the NCAA Basketball Tournament begins and this year’s tournament is bringing more heat than previous years because of powerhouse teams and the underdogs.

The tournament is also known as March Madness because its brings chaos on the court, but also in the sports books.

Fans usually go to a sports book and bid on which team will win it all. Making a bracket has become extremely popular throughout the tournaments existence. ”Making a bracket is really entertaining and in the chance that you do make a perfect bracket, theres a big cash prize, but it’s a small chance of you actually winning,” junior Casey Isaac said.

Warren Buffet is an American investor, entrepreneur , and billionaire who has a bet for whoever can make a perfect bracket. That is when one predicts every game right and doesn’t get any wrong, which is highly unlikely; the chances of that happening are 1 in 9.2 quintillion.

“I love basketball so the tournament really is one of my favorite sports events out of the year,” sophomore Tuff Donovan said.

The tournament was founded in 1939 and has 68 teams total. Since the beginning of the tournament, UCLA has the most NCAA championship victory’s sitting at eleven.

“I really want UCLA to go all the way and win it all, I’ve been a lifelong fan and can’t wait to see how they do in the tournament,” sophomore Scott Gruber said.

Bets are coming in left and right.

The true winner of the NCAA Basketball tournament is North Carolina.

Now that the intense season is over, fans and players can finally relax.

SPORTS 17

Music grabs athletes attention

By Meka’la Parker

Music speaks to people in many different ways. They can cause emotions you would never expect. For athletes, music is the one way to get them ready to perform.

“I listen to a lot of hip-hop to get me going. It gets me amped up before I get on the court”, junior Michael Jackson said.

Jackson played on the Varsity basketball team and often gave a full out in each game.

“I already had the determination. Music was just the part I needed,” Jackson said.

Studies show that depending on the type of music, it can help benefit an athlete in their performance. It narrows the athlete’s focus and disassociates with the feelings of fatigue.

Music gives the drive and determination athletes live for.

“If I don’t listen to music, I feel out of place since it is my go-to,” Jackson said The most common music listened to by athletes is high-tempo. Music has been proven to enhance performance even before or after exercising.

“High-tempo music gives me the drive I need in the game. I want to put my all in my performance”, junior Steven Fojas said.

Big star players such as Stephen Curry and Odell Beckham can be seen on the sidelines before any game jamming to

Meka’la Parker

their music.

“I watch basketball all the time and seeing other big name athletes listening to music motivates me to”, Fojas said.

Not every athlete listens to the same tune. Many listen to classical or a more slow-moving song to calm their nerves.

Harley Barbre is a sophomore soccer player and track runner that’s use to the music go-to lifestyle.

“I listen to classical music because it really helps me focus,” Barbre said.

“

I watch basketball all the time and seeing other big name athletes listening to music motivates me to

- junior Steven Fojas

Not everyone sees music as beneficial.

In 2007, New York Marathon banned music for the runners because they thought it was a way of communication between the athlete and their coaches.

This started an uproar once it made national news. In response, hundreds of runners risked disqualification just so they can run to their music.

“If music helps someone, let them do them,” Barbre said, “Everyone has their own taste in music.”

To this day the ban stand however in a more orderly fashion that pleases the

crowd.

Athletes started listening to music in the early 20th century. It has been proven by scientists that people who listen to music during any type of exercise are 18% more efficent in their activities.

Another benefit is that it triggers positive feelings and memories. An optimistic attitude brings a great performance. Not only do every day people enjoy listening to music but so do Olympic athletes such as Michael Phelps and Simone Biles.

“Music really touches a person. It is definietly motivating.”, Fojas said The biggest name artists such as Drake and Future are often heard blasting through a speaker or often in someone’s ear. The adrenaline is rushed throug everyone’s body. The crowd goes crazy which also brings motivation for a lot of athletes.

“Music and crowds are the essential to a great game and athletic performance to it’s most.”, said Jackson.

With the many generes in today’s generation, there are limitless different songs to listen to. People use any motivation they have to give their all whether it is in the gym working out or at any big athletic event. The hype brings optimistic emotions and adrenline helping anyone in their atheltic performance. Whether it is rap, classical, or alternative music can change the way you think and act.

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18 A&E

Springing into adventures over break

By Sydney Lum Spring Break is such an exhilarating time. You are getting a taste of summer break, which is right around the corner.

There are a ton of destinations to visit and make great memories.

“I have visited Lake Tahoe, Seattle, Pennsylvania, and California during spring breaks,” junior Briana Burt said.

There are always fun activities to experience when going to these different places.

Planning out the week before going on vacation is very important to make sure none of the days are wasted.

“The Gum Wall was pretty cool and it was fun to see the Space Needle in Seattle.

When I went to Lake Tahoe I went with a lot of my friends and we had a big room to stay in and went to the beach a lot,” Burt said. “I also went to Pennsylvania with my friends and went to Hershey Park which was so much fun because there were a bunch of roller coasters. I also made my own Hershey chocolate bar and went to a couple of museums.”

After having been on an adventure like this, there is the decision to be made about going back to these places in the future.

“I do plan on going back to all of these places again for sure because it was fun and makes for the best memories,” Burt said.

These are great experiences, but there are also destinations that are not preferred.

“I recommend not going to Tijuana and Juarez, both in Mexico. These are nice places and have beaches but it is dangerous because there are a lot of deaths and crimes over there,” junior Ivan Casillas said.

“

I do plan on going back to all of these places again for sure because it was fun and makes for the best memories.

-junior Briana Burt

Even though there are places that are not ideal, students and teachers took advantage of spring break to go somewhere new and do something memorable.

“I went to Maui. While I was there I saw Luau, had a great meal, and went dancing.

I also got to tour the island and go on a few beaches. Then on the north side I got to see the blow hole,” math teacher Andrew

Nintendo switches it up

New console promises brighter future for video game company

By Cameron McCormick On March 3, after loads of anticipation from fans and gamers around the world, Nintendo finally released its newest gaming console called the Nintendo Switch.

So far the Switch has satisfied customers, as it earned high praise compared to Nintendo’s previous generation console, the Wii U. The new consoles are flying off the shelves in stores everywhere. In Japan, within the first three days after its release, 331,000 units were sold. The populatiry of the Nintendo Switch is not quite at the level of the original Wii, but Nintendo has finally made its fans happy again after the disappointment of the Wii U. The Nintendo Switch is unique to all other gaming consoles we have seen. It can function as a home or portable console, and a touchscreen tablet with wireless controllers. It is a versatile console with several possibilities. Gamers can play at home on their television screens or take it on the go. Whether users enjoy the

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Switch or not, it is hard to ignore Nintendo’s creativity and ambition in creating it.

Gamers are thrilled to finally be able to experience the Switch for themselves.

“I waited for months for the Nintendo Switch to come out,” senior Dakota Erickson said.

Customers have expressed their appreciation of the console’s versatility.

“I like how you can hook it up to a TV and also take it with you and play wherever you go,” sophomore Byron Miller said.

Despite all the great reviews the Nintendo Switch is getting, it has its issues just like every other console. Some players are finding mechanical issues in the left JoyCon and many complain that there are not enough games. The most popular games right now are The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and SnipperClips.

“I love playing the games they have to offer, but I hope they release more games soon,” Erickson said.

Overall, gamers agree that this is a solid gaming console with impressive gameplay for its size.

Lenselink said. “During this trip I also got to go snorkeling and see the different kinds of fish. I got to walk on a non-active lava flow a little bit. It is dangerous because it’s lava but I got to say I walked on lava.”

There are also things to do that are just a drive away. Traveling across the country is not needed for a thrilling vacation when there are sights to see in our own backyard.

“I made a trip to Hoover Dam and I went over the roadway and looked over the Hoover Dam and saw the Colorado River.

The river going towards the Dam was pretty wide,” junior Daniel Mullins said. “People should go to the Hoover Dam especially because it is part of Nevada’s history.”

Every place is different, so where ever people go there is always a new experience to be had.

“I suggest that people go travel. Visit things you haven’t seen before because there are so many cool, wonderful things and places to visit and see,” Lenselink said.

Spring break is one of the best times to travel and live life. There is no limit to what you can experience in the world, so take every opportunity to see new places and experience the many adventures life has to offer.

A&E 19

Awash in the media stream

Video streaming platforms clamor to provide the best content

By Irie Douville Since the global inception of the internet, the way entertainment is consumed has become more accessible to anyone who does not own a clunky DVD player or VCR, rather anything that can connect to the web. Foregoing the days of Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, modern TV and movie aficionados flock to many video streaming domains in search of their next binge fix.

Most would say that the flagship streaming service of today’s time is Netflix; finding its roots in video-renting service much like Blockbuster, Netflix revolutionized their customers’ intake of media by offering online streaming services in early 2007. A decade later, they have achieved a reputation for having compelling TV shows, engrossing movies, and so much more. While the perks of Netflix are evident, even the most renowned video streaming platform does not come without equally balanced flaws.

To Netflix’s healthy competition run the unsung networks Hulu and Amazon Video, which are of equal quality for, depending on the company, a better price.

When a streaming network has a multitude of distinguished original shows like Stranger Things that run alongside acclaimed third party programs like Parks and Recreation, the mediocrity within other categories is cleverly disregarded. Netflix’s horror genre, for instance, is frankly considered abysmal to the seasoned horror junkie.

At first glance, the category sports some of their own well received terrors like Hush and Would You Rather alongside some indie flicks, a few including the VHS series.

Retro horror fans, however, gain the shorter end of the stick in this collection; Netflix lacks in classics like Halloween and Friday the 13th, and the remaining of their horror lineup is bursting with B-movies that earn a three star viewer rating at best. More often than not, viewers come across cringe inducing titles like #Horror or that induce sneers rather than screams.

Not only does Netflix boasts horrors but a viewer can find other catergories such as comedy and action. For instance, Kevin Hart and Dave Chapelle can be found with a high-star rating.

Just like Netflix, Hulu produces their own shows like East Los High. More viewers may prefer the shows on Netflix such as 13 Reasons Why since they often relate to reality and appeal to more ages of viewers.

Often, teens are the main viewer of Netflix with all the binge-worthy shows.

The less-known Amazon Video has the same quality as both Hulu and Netflix but runs more expensive. It features wellknown movies and often can grab a person’s attention since they can easily come across the movies and shows while they are shopping. However, every time a viewer

Meka’la Parker

would like to watch a movie, they continously have to pay in order to watch it.

Netflix and Hulu offers memberships to it’s viewers that can last months. The prices can range from a monthly payment of the lowest at $7 to as high as $30. Netflix is often the cheapest way to go since it offers deals such as a monthly-rate for members who have been with them for a while.

Unlike Hulu, Netflix avoids ads in order to keep the audience going. Hulu shows ads to keep the prices lower for their viewers, but if they wanted a commercial free experience they have to pay an extra $4 to enjoy no commericals. Amazon Video displays up to a minute long ads between each episode played.

As popular as Hulu may seem, Amazon Video is watched by more than 70% people making it the second top paid service after Netflix. Amazon Video runs $11 per month.

Although the price runs high, it often appeals to viewers because of the multiple qualities it features. For instance, people can borrow books, shop, and watch movies.

Committment is no requirement for Netflix. Viewers can discontinue their membership anytime. Hulu and Amazon Video may still charge you for the month even after you discontinue with them. Now, they have the fear of possibly breaking a contract.

Many might have to worry about having to rewatch a whole episode all over again if they switch devices. With Netflix, the show can play simultaneously on multiple devices.

With monthly updates, there are new shows that are always ready to be watched

on Netflix. The downside is shows you may have been previously watching or wanted to rewatch may be gone. Hulu updates often but keeps the old shows for viewers so they can be rewatched over and over again.

Hulu has many benefits and downfalls.

It displays everyday television shows and popular movies. This can be very appealing if you happen to miss your favorite show or that season finale you wanted to watch. It takes about a day to update all the new episodes after they air. This can be a downfall since now you have to wait a whole day to see what you missed.

Unlike Hulu, however, Amazon Video doesn’t upload television shows that are up-to-date which can hurt a viewer if they happen to miss a show. Amazon Video is very up-to-date with popular, recent movies such as Moana or perhaps the Boss Baby. Amazon Video also shows older shows from as far back as possible such as Singing in the Rain which aired in the 1960s. This can be helpful to many customers and old-movie lovers if they are looking for a classic to watch and can’t find it anywhere else.

Old classic movies don’t appear on the Netflix screen. To keep their customers satisfiied they update movies and shows within the last year such as the attentiongrabbing Finding Dory.

With the many different options to choose from to enjoy your favorite show or movie, it’s up to the viewer to decide which best fits them, their interests, and their likes. Whether it’s Hulu, Netflix, or Amazon Video, they all appeal to someone somewhere with their great qualities they offer.

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20 PHOTO ESSAY

Above - Junior girl band performs for the second time at the Spring Week assembly.

Left - Junior Brandon Hampton dances with the Mr. Gator contestants.

Below - Sophomore Casey Gehlkein tries to dodge rubber bullets during one of the games.

Below right - English teacher Catherine Davis acts like an old lady in the first teacher band.

Brynne Hilton

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A&E 21

Coachella Kicks off Spring Break

By Kaeli Britt Coachella falls around Spring Break every year in Indio, California. The festival is two weekends (six days total) long to accommodate for all those who buy tickets and are set to attend. Coachella is one of the most popular festivals of the year because of the lineup, type of music, and the large following that the festival has gained over the past years.

“Life is Beautiful was really fun when I went last year, but I didn’t really know any of the artists there. Coachella is the one [festival] everyone is hyped for,” senior Drew Smith said.

Modeled after the 1960s music festival, Woodstock, Coachella’s lineup consists of mostly underground artists from the indie rock genre. Last year’s lineup consisted of artists such as Halsey, A$ap Rocky, and James Bay. This year’s headliners for the festival include Tory Lanez, Lady Gaga, and Travis Scott.

“The music was amazing and camping was super fun. We had general admission so we camped on the festival grounds. Music from morning until night. It was insan-

ity,” English teacher Angelique Callicoat said.

Around the time of the festival, we see new fashion trends pop up every year.

Celebrities like Kendall and Kylie Jenner and Vanessa Hudgens are scattered on our timelines with captions mentioning how they are best dressed of the entire festival.

Trends like flower crowns, crops tops with high-waisted shorts and long cardigans were all rebirthed here.

“We saw giant, floppy hats which was ironic considering how windy it was.

Handkerchiefs worn around their faces,” Callicoat said. “There were terrible, terrible winds last year and so everyone was wearing these bandanas sort of like a Lone Ranger look. That was interesting.”

In comparison to other festivals, Coachella has a less diverse genre of music allaround because the festival tends to stick to mainly indie styles of music. While some prefer that genre over everything else, most usually expect a lineup that features a lot of different kinds of music like rap, folk, indie, and pop.

“I’ve also been to Life is Beautiful and Austin City Limits. I love that you can camp

on-site at Coachella, but at ACL you can go from an indie artist to a rap artist to classic rock to a South American singer to a gospel choir. Every stage has a different genre,” English teacher Sydney Venable said. “My favorite fashion trend at Coachella though is when dudes would wear flower crowns - you could tell they were having a great time because they were dancing and wearing the female stereotypical trends. It was just cool.”

While trends are brought about here, stereotypes of the festival itself are very prominent all over the world, as non-attendees make assumptions about Coachella based on what they see on social media. Following music festival stereotypes, most people fall into certain categories like the hipsters, ravers, instagramers, druggies, try-hards, and the over and under prepared people.

Attended by more than half a million people every spring, Coachella continues to gain an audience from the attention the festival receives on social media. Not only does the festival have a one-of-a-kind lineup and location, but also showcases some of the new fashion trends for the upcoming summer.

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22 OPINION

Aren’t we all just on that grind?

By Ava Meade-Scarpitta Life is hard when you are an athlete.

There is no time for homework because there is practice till six at night, a gym work out afterwards, and a big game this weekend. Athletes really have a more difficult time keeping up than anyone else in the whole wide world. All those lazy students who have to balance three jobs just to help their family make enough to eat do not know what it is like to have to play sports all the time. The mental and physical ailments those students get from working three minimum wage jobs cannot compare to what it is like to get an ankle sprain out there on the soccer field. Ankle sprains are so inconvenient.

Students who are engaged in athletics are already fairly stable concerning their college expenses, as scholarships are always in arm’s reach. Through this advancement, they are blind to the struggle that other students must face in accounting for their futures.

“Scholarship opportunities for student athletes usually require just a 3.0 gpa and for you to be a generally good student,” senior varsity swimmer Cassie McKercher said. “They’ll occasionally ask if you are part of a club sport, or are doing it for high school. For the most part doing a club sport year round will gear you towards getting it because then you show dedication.

If you are going for local scholarships you are usually set, but if you are going for big scholarships that require you to play the sport in college, you have to be near the top of your school, region, state, etc.”

Dedication is something to be valued.

Dedication is also, however, not fixed to belong solely to student-athletes. You can be “on that grind” at your place of work, or several places of work, or on the road helping out your single mother get your five siblings home from school, or across town taking care of your sickly grandmother, and so on.

“When I worked two jobs, I had to work everyday, so seven days a week including school. I worked right after school everyday and on the weekends from nine in the morning to 11 at night,” senior Edward Abarca said. “Finding a balance and enough time to put into homework and keeping both jobs was difficult.”

According to the most recent U.S. census, nearly 6 out of 10 students participate in extracurricular activities, with just 35% of those students being involved in sports.

Results from the same U.S. census show that 1 in 4 high school students work. With

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that being said, what we have established here is that students are busy. All students.

This includes, but is not limited to, band kids, singers, photography students, multiple job workers, and students who have a rough home life. Most students are struggling to find a balance, not just you and your D1 bound teammates.

“I think with student athletes, if they don’t know how to handle their work and how to prioritize then obviously they are gonna think they have it harder,” Mckercher said. “Those that have a job and are spending the same amount of time doing anything outside of school are trying to prioritize and balance things the same way.”

When it comes down to being able to graduate or playing the next big football game, the decision is made for athletes.

Students are ineligible to play sports unless they are keeping their grades up. It is important to recognize that doing well in school or maintaining a decent home life is not always a decision easily made.

“Always try to put school first,” Abraca said. “You may not be able to graduate if you focus more on working, then you might just be working a job for the rest of your life instead of having a career. The negative affects of not getting your diploma will be evident after high school.”

Student-athletes tend to hype themselves up way too much. Students that work multiple jobs do not get enough credit. Graduation is still an excellent goal to accomplish. Lest we ever forget that the whole world, in the grand scheme of things, does not revolve around sports.

knowyourmeme.com

Reaching the end of the Vine

By Maycee Labo Unfortunately, it has come to the attention of many people across the globe that the app Vine has shut down. Sadly, the free mobile app passed away on January 1, 2017. While the app was created independently in New York, it eventually was bought by Twitter, and notoriously was forced to be shut down due to a loss of viewers.

“I can’t function without Vine,” senior Terry Wright said. “75% of my memes came from Vine.”

Moving on from such a traumatic loss like this can be hard. Vine was truly life changing; what are we supposed to do without the app? We can no longer get our daily fix of six second videos on loop.

Although the Vines that have previously been posted to the app will still remain on the internet, we should not have to dig through Google searches after Google

searches to find the “Shout Out to All the Pears” vine. In addition to this, no more quality content from Vine accounts like Boys Ru1e, Jay Versace, and Whoa Take it Easy Randy will be able to be uploaded.

In remembrance of the app, some of the most iconic vines should be recognized.

Coming in third place is the iconic “What Are Those?” trend. This Vine caused an outbreak of teens commenting on their peers’ footwear. For the runner up, the Do it For the Vine posts really stood out. They gave viners more of an opportunity to perform crazy stunts like dress up in crazy outfits and show off their finest dance moves. And last, but definitely not least, the Eyebrows on Fleek vine takes first place. This vine deserves first because it truly represents the app’s culture in its purest form.

Vine has ended because it began to be neglected by a majority of its previous users. This statement can do nothing but unsettle and anger me. How can anyone

OPINION 23

choose Instagram or Snapchat over Vine?

This makes absolutely no sense, because Vine had everything you needed and more.

You had humor, inspiration, singing, acting, photography, etc. What else could you ask for?

Even though the loss so of Vine is saddening, we have to look at the highlights of its time. Back in 2013, Vine started its surge into internet culture. By 2014, Vine had reached its peak, and it had an audience of around 200 million people.

We should not only blame Twitter for taking such horrible care of the app, but the viewers. Vine was abandoned, and left for dead, almost immediately after Instagram introduced 15 second videos.

As a former executive of Vine once said, “Instagram Video was the beginning of an end.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

We must not stay in mourning though, because now there is another angel in heaven that we can appreciate.

The generational exorcism of school spirit

By Michael Goldstein Having school spirit means you love where you are and are proud to represent your name. When a school has no spirit, it means none of the students care about the team sports or events that go on throughout the school. There is no point of even having sports or contests if no one is willing to go or care.

“Going to my tennis games and seeing no one in the stands watching sucks. Where’s the school spirit, everyone?” sophomore Cristian Dugger said.

We have had a decline in school spirit and we are losing our reputation throughout the county. We used to be the school everyone envied and loved to play in sports because it was always hyped up and exciting for everyone to watch. But as the years go on and the seniors move out, the school spirit goes with them.

Some kids think they are too cool to dress up on spirit days and go to school events, but guess what: you are not! No one thinks you are cool for not wearing the right color on color days. No one thinks you are cool for wearing regular clothes on Cowboy Day. In fact, the people who do dress up think you do not care about our school and wish that you would.

At our last assembly, most of the freshmen sat down after the national anthem during the fight song. This is unacceptable; the fight song is the anthem of our school that represents our hard work and dedication. Our school spirit is going down because as the years go on, the students are

Brynne Hilton

more self-centered. They care less and less about their school and more about themselves.

“Going to basketball games is fun sometimes,” freshman Hannah Wallace said.

“But I would rather just go somewhere to hang out with my friends and do something more enjoyable with my time.”

Our school spirit may be lower than it has been before, but that doesn’t mean that

can’t change. We as a school can come together and prove to everyone that our reputation of amazing school spirit still lives on. We need to support all the sports teams and go to each of their games or meets. We need to all go and cheer for our fellow Gators as we are all a big family. If we all come and do this together, we can bring back our school spirit and pass it on from generation to generation.

April 2017 t The InvestiGator

24 OPINION

Where is

‘s place in the classroom?

Computerized quiz game is more harmful than helpful

By Erinn Veach

E

veryone knows the feeling of walking into class, brain half way dead and running on minimal sleep, preparing to grind through just another dreadful hour of lectures and work, but no, the projector is on to display the heavenly Kahoot homepage. A cheer rings throughout the classroom, everyone pulls out their phone for an easy and fun class. The game may be intended for educational purposes, yet it never turns out so. Students often forget the real purpose of review to focus on the chase of winning.

Kahoot is utilized in classrooms as a means of review, it being a fast paced game connected between students’ phones and the teacher. A question is showed on the board, and either single students or teams select one of four options, racing to be the first to get the correct answer. The earlier the answer is sent in, more points are earned and answer streaks become better, and the race to be number one is a serious matter in today’s classrooms. The real purpose of looking over material a second time is lost to competitiveness.

Students who know the subject dominate the game, while those who are confused stay left behind in the dust. Not being able to answer questions fast enough or not knowing the answer in general can dishearten them, turning them off from the

The InvestiGator

t

April 2017

subject matter altogether. They also don’t learn why they may have gotten an answer wrong, leaving students in the dark on unclear concepts.

“I’ve seen students get really upset and corner themselves off when they lose. They don’t want to get better at the material, they just want to win,” sophomore and AP student Madisen Kinner said.

This drive to come out on top causes for cheats and tricks to arise in order to win the game. From looking over shoulders onto other’s phones to manipulating glitches in the game, students have taken the educational possibility from the game.

Often times those cheating don’t even read the question, they just pick the answer and go on with the game without learning a thing.

“When I play Kahoot people watch my thumb for which one that I tap, so it’s very easy to cheat,” Kinner said. “All they really do is pay attention to my screen, not the board.”

Cheating makes the game pointless, not any different from busy work that students don’t pay mind to. It keeps those that don’t know the subject from improving their knowledge and those that are good at it in a cycle of pointless review.

“Cheating completely voids the purpose of the game,” chemistry teacher John Agan said. “Instead of being a study guide, it becomes just pointless work to do and

students don’t learn anything. When they cheat, it might as well just be an entire period wasted.”

Not only does academic dishonesty and overzealous grabs at winning discredit the educational value of Kahoot, but also by the means in which it is played. It is played from a student’s mobile device, thus requiring students to have a phone, computer, or tablet in order to play. Less fortunate students who can’t afford to have a phone or ones that aren’t allowed to have one miss out on being involved in the game. Reading the questions and answering without actually playing the game isn’t quite the same, many students opting out from playing instead.

“Not everybody has a phone so not everyone can participate,” Kinner said.

“Even though kids could play without their phone, they are discouraged. This leaves kids left out just to sit and do nothing with their class time.”

Kahoot is a fun game, yet it shouldn’t be used as review or as a means of teaching.

Cheating too easily runs rampant, creating a divide in the class between those who understand and those who mindlessly follow.

The real educational purpose is also left behind in order to focus on winning. Other means of teaching can benefit students greater to enhance their understanding instead of stunting it. Afterall, teachers are to do all they can to help their students excel.

Erinn Veach

OPINION 25

Game on! New review game is beneficial to learning

I

By Sarah Fernandez

n its essence, Kahoot is an online game show played on your phone with other students in the same class. This increasingly popular game has been taking the campus by storm, spreading fast through science, elective, and English classes alike.

The game starts off with teachers having a code for their quiz. Students use the Kahoot website or app to input the code to log onto the prepared quiz. They can create an alias so as to not be identified by other peers. With the questions and their four answer choices each, the quiz is then projected onto the board for all to see. The catch, however, is that you get points both for being right and being fast. In the end, there is a sole winner.

In the transgression of this game’s rising popularity, many question its place in the classroom, but it is honestly quite obvious. This unique way of reviewing material allows for competition, knowledge testing, and a fun time. During increasingly difficult times to keep the average student’s short attention span, this game is aiding teachers across the country in providing a fun, safe, and creative way to go over course material.

“I also really love the competition aspect of the game and the ease that it provides for the teachers while also being fun for the students,” junior Brooklyn Darmody said.

Darmody, along with others in her AP Psychology course led by Jennifer Tuttle

play Kahoot constantly. An AP class playing review games doesn’t seem all that common, but with Kahoot it is possible!

All factors considered, out of all different courses offered, higher level and AP should most benefit from this game. With such dense amount of material to be learned and processed in a short amount of time, often ending curriculum around May or early April to allot time for review, AP/IB teachers should consider the integration of Kahoot into their routines.

“It allows the student to clearly see what they do and do not understand, also, through the graphs that show what students picked what answer choice, it allows the teacher to see what the class as a whole may need more reviewing on,” Darmody said.

Having a speedy game of this nature can also lead to the rise of arguments against the integration of speed within it. In other words, speed and competition take away from the learning potential. This does not have to be the case since the teacher moderates the game. In addition, the competitive aspect is what allows for kids to have a larger desire to get the questions right and study to come out victorious. With a set goal, kids are more likely to reach the destination of winning and beating their classmates, or getting a high score.

In light of criticisms being brought against the integration of Kahoot, some may say it is too distracting or allows for cheating to occur, which is all incredibly

incorrect. Kahoot is more secure than some who have never played might perceive it.

Like aforementioned, the only people who can access a set quiz are kids who have the teacher’s code. The students have to actually participate and take the quiz to get any answers, so it is not like they have an all access pass. This game is not something kids would normally cheat on. There is no necessity to do so and it does not really provide the opportunity to do so. It is a way for students to comprehend what they need to study more on, and for the teachers to realize what concepts they should reinforce.

Kahoot is also largely accessible. It is a tool that is beneficial for both kids and teachers alike. A teacher would not integrate this learning tool within his or her classroom if it were not attainable to every kid. In the case that a student does not have a phone or tablet to use, he or she can always use a friends or the teacher can provide one. Computers are also largely distributed and available for use within the school, so there is no real excuse and or need for students to get left behind.

All in all, Kahoot provides more benefits to all involved than any small discrepancy that it might bring. It provides a fun learning tool for teachers to utilize routinely in their classroom that would allow for great review time. Every kid you speak to seems to enjoy this game, so why not fully integrate Kahoot into any classroom that is ready to see its benefits flourish the learning and comprehension of the students.

Veach April 2017 t TheErinn InvestiGator

26 OPINION

T-MINUS 100 DAYS

By Anastasia Koulich As we near the hundred day mark of Trump’s presidency, it seems that his toilet is nurtured more than the US. It gets to devour the exquisite cuisine concocted

by Trump Grill, America’s finest restaurant, and have the honor to be in the presence of Trump’s notorious nightly Twitter excursions. We the citizens are miserably unhappy that we get none of that action.

Trump has tweeted 652 times since his inauguration and has built 0 meters of his precious wall. Not to say that most Americans are excited about the wall necessarily, but the horizon just looks like an empty and unattainable policy for that wall.

The number of times this man will write on Twitter will trump the the number of possible beneficial policies and contributions that he could make, but in all reality, he unquestionably will not.

However, let us not regard President Trump with such discouraging comments. He is worth more than his social media antics.

Who could ever fail to remember when in just one blink of an eye, rightly owned private Native American land was invaded by unjust infrastructure. This was met with indignant outcries by the public.

Yet to Trump, these outcries

do not register to him as a plea to stop being malevolent.

Let us not forget the time he snatched all the power that the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency had and appointed Scott Pruitt as the director of the EPA. Pruitt does not believe that climate change is caused by human activity thereby placing the nation into inevitable doom.

All its advocacy rights have been taken away and it can no longer pass any legislation without going through the Donald. He of course hates wind turbines because they kill bald eagles, and therefore, are aesthetically and environmentally disastrous.

He also took away a woman’s right to do with her body whatever she pleases with the Mexico City Policy. This policy restricts all non-governmental organizations from performing an abortion.

Consider Obamacare. It is crucial because a day in t h e hospital

can cost b e tween $2,000 t o $20,000 a visit. Many people only found out t h e y had a

high-deductible plan, or a plan with a low maximum after they got the bill from the hospital.

These costs are one reason that health care is the #1 cause of bankruptcy. The hospital had to declare a loss on any unpaid treatment. To make up the profit, they passed this cost onto everyone else.

This will be eliminated under current repeal efforts by Trump.

Take into consideration Betsy DeVos, one of many in Trump’s list of human concoctions. Being the Secretary of Education, she has never previously worked in education and never attended public school.

She is a firm hater of public education and plans to defund them and privatize them through charter schools.

No wonder Trump has an approval rating of 37%.

All satire aside, credibility can be given to him because he kept his promises. They are no good and whenever he makes a move people riot in the streets, but at least the man keeps his word.

In his first one hundred days of vulnerability and learning, the nation not only waits for Twitter notifications from the President, but the reemergence of the 60’s, where protest marches and social activism was more prominent than ever before.

Since Trump’s inaguration, there have been many protests in all 50 states as American citizens became increasingly concerned for the next four years after hearing what Trump plans on doing.

With trends and hashtags sparking on social media, like #Notmypresident, the rest of the world has been watching the United States, all while simultaneously participating in heated protests in their countries to support the movements in the U.S. Behold, President Donald Trump everybody - the man who keeps his promises. Be ready for four more years of fulfilling what he said during his presdidential campaign.

Stressed Out

By The InvestiGator Staff If you’re in high school, you problably know what it feels like to be stressed. From attempting to balance homework, athletics, extra curriculars, a job, a social life, hanging out with your family, in addition to striving to get eight hours of sleep. Likestated, most of us know what stress is and have more than likely experienced it.

According to an NYU study, the main causes of stress for both boys and girls are grades, homework, and preparing themselves for college. This study shows students dealing with feelings of chronic stress which was accompanied with 26% of participants reporting symptoms of depression at a clinically significant level.

Chronic stress can lead to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Chronic stress can impair ability academic success, mental health, and can lead to the fostering of risk behaivor. Substance abuse is a major coping mechanism for students trying to relax and destress or to try and escape all of their responsbilities. 38% of students reported getting drunk and 34% of students reported getting high on illegal substances.

Not only can chronic stress have shortterm effects in high school, but it can trail

EDITORIAL 27

into college years and early adulthood as well.

The NYU study was focused on the private school setting and in comparison to public schools, kids in private schools are more vulnerable to chronic stress. Students in this environment feel more pressure because their parents are paying for a tuition at an expensive school and expect their child to attend a four-year, high level university.

Yes, we can all agree that school can be stressful and hard, but it’s not impossible to balance everything out.

Don’t let stress overcome you, in doing so, stress becomes chronic and could have permanent effects on the rest of your life.

Balance everything out, weigh all of your extra-curriculers and outside activities, don’t try to fit things on your plate that you know will not fit. Understand your work ethic, how you manage your time, and create a schedule that will complement that.

Learning to pick your battles and how to remain calm in stressful situations are life lessons all high schoolers should have under their belt before graduation.

In the right environment, stress can be crippling and can keep us from doing the things we want to do. In balancing out our schedules, we become less stressed out.

STUDENT SPEAK

What do you do to relieve stress from school? “ Napping is the ultimate form of relieving stress, which is why I nap all the time.”

“I take some time for myself, eat some chocolate, and watch The Office.”

Editor-in-Chief: Sarah Fernandez Editors: News: Kiara Thomson Features: Erinn Veach Sports: Meka’la Parker A&E: Ava Meade-Scarpitta Opinions: Irie Douville Copy Editor: Deanna Chea Photo Editor: Brynne Hilton Reporters: Seth Beekman Kaeli Britt Bethany Casall Lexi Demoleas Michael Goldstein Hailey Gross Skylar Jones Anastasia Koulich Maycee Labo Casey Li Sydney Lum Cameron McCormick Nora-Jo Paramo Shila Sherafat Taylor Strezlec Business Manager: Lexi Demoleas Staff Managers: Kaeli Britt Hailey Gross Advisor: Eric Johnston

Gary Easton, freshman

“I sleep as much as possible and when I’m working I try to prioritize my responsibilites.”

Jasmine White, junior

Antonia Librizzi, sophomore

“I particularly enjoy listening to either Marvin Gaye or Johnny Hartman to relieve stress. I drink a lot of water as well.”

The Green Valley High School InvestiGator is a student-run and operated news magazine. All opinions and views expressed within are those of the author and not of the student body or staff of Green Valley High School.

Letters to the editors or staff may be delivered to room 825 to Mr. Johnston or emailed to him at emjohnston@interact.ccsd.net.

Jeffrey Gonzalez, senior Aoril 2017 t The InvestiGator