September 2017
investigator
the
Vol. 27, Issue 1
Back To The
Swamp
Green Valley High School Ù 460 N. Arroyo Grande Henderson, NV 89014
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September 2017
Locations across the valley are known to be areas for Instagram worthy pictures. page 20
5 Gators full of Pride A new class is focusing on spreading school spirit.
12 Siblings face off The Mayberrys battle on and off the field for bragging rights.
14 New dance addition The dance team recieves a makeover with a new coach.
27 The spinning craze Fidget spinners take over student’s attention and time.
The Welcome Back Assembly kicked off the 2017-18 school year in style.
Two siblings one game
“Now that we’re in high school and that we’re older he’s like my best friend.” Christina Mayberry
Vol. 27, Issue 1
September 2017
investigator
the
Contents
On the Cover
This Issue
Green Valley High School ٠ 460 N. Arroyo Grande Henderson, NV 89014
Back
Alyssa Hulse
To The
Swamp
Sections Words of
Wisdom “What you do, you need to do for yourself. You need to be happy for yourself.”
Alexa Camardella
news
4
feature
7
sports
11
arts & entertainment
17
photo essay
18
opinion
23
editorial
27
NEWS in
brief. QUOTABLE
Welcome Back Assembly
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Students The assembly is exciting because it gives me more opportunities to sing in MADS. -senior Alexandria Fincher
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I hope Elvis has the potential to become a future mascot. -senior Journee Lucero
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The black lights were a really cool idea. Props to Stu Co. -junior Carson Freeman
Staff
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I love seeing the school’s spirit, but most of all, I love seeing Mr. Rowland. -Social studies teacher Kaaveh Akbari
Students Prepare at Summer Camp The Advanced Studies Theatre retreat ran July 31-Aug. 2. It was a prime time for newbies to get to know their elders. “Hanging out with the new people was a really nice experience because I got to be a mentor and a good influence on them,” senior Emily Ezelle said.
Homecoming Monday
“We Go Together” (Twin Day) Coordinate your outfit with your friends’.
July means practing the art of argumentation for debaters in Speech and Debate. But that does not mean they did not have fun. “My favorite memory was when my friends and I would go to this acai place in Georgetown and just talk and hang out,” senior Alex Saffediene said.
Tuesday
“Ring That Victory Bell” Wear a jersey and represent your favorite sports team.
On Aug. 3-5, those inducted into the Madgrial Choir traveled to their annual summer camp. “The location was probaby my favorite part about the retreat. Bonding in Zion National Park was really unique,” junior Brooks Martin said.
Wednesday
Student Store Increases Prices Some prices at the Student Store, which is located in the cafeteria, have increased by up to fifty cents when compared to last school year. Items may be purchased during lunch hours only and only cash is accepted. The store is run by members of the student body and the proceeds go back to the school and are used for various improvements around campus.
Nihilist Waffle Club At the Nihilist Waffle club, members love both waffles and rejecting the notion that life has meaning and value. Head over to room 217 for a breakfast treat with a side of existential crisis. Even with such a seemingly silly name, know that there will be an opportunity to participate in some meta conversations. “It is kinda like the TOK format for IB students. We make a powerpoint every two weeks and put a philsophical question up for discussion,” sophomore Sruthi Srinivas said.
Nihilism is not always discussed. It can be challenging at times to stay on topic, but they always find interesting ways to encourage discussion. “If you do not participate in the discussion, you do not get waffles,” Srinivas said. The twenty members that show up to the club weekly have to mentally challenge themselves for their weekly waffle wages. Attend the club and try too for a waffle along with some unique, thought-provoking discussion.
“T-Bird vs. Pink Lady Day” Show your love for lettermen jackets or pink poodle skirts.
Thursday
“GV Spirit Homecoming Shirt Day” Purchase a Homecoming shirt from Student Council and show your Gator pride.
Friday
“Pajama Day” Wear the comfiest onesie you own and spend a lazy Friday at school.
news 05
Club aims to exlempify school motto
G
ator Pride is a new class brought upon students to help mentor peers and spread spirit around campus. Math teacher Kelly Wagner is the backbone of the whole operation and plans to bring the excitement to the student body. The class consists of students who want to make high school not a place where they spend four years, but a place to make those four years some of the most enjoyable moments possible. “To be in Gator Pride all you have to do is have is school spirit, and to follow our motto, which is ‘Commitment to Excellence’. We really wanted to start this class to encourage that in all the student body, not just the kids that are involved in activities,” Wagner said. All of the students found in this class had to fill out interest forms and go through a series of interviews and recommendations. Different from most classes it may seem, but the school needed to see which students were the most motivated and dedicated to starting this new program. Once in the class, students are able to share their creative ideas on ways to promote the school and activities on campus. “I love getting out there and helping people. If I can put a smile on someone’s face, then I’m happy, that is really what sparked my interest in getting involved in
this program. We are going to be helping the school and each other out,” senior Trei Birkett said. Their ultimate goal is to highlight clubs that do not get enough recognition “Our biggest goal is to spread Gator Pride, but we also want the students to be hyped for this class, so that we have a waiting list of students who want to participate,” Wagner said. Gator Pride will be in charge of hosting events for students to attend and hopefully be involved in. One event that will be new to campus is the idea of having a ‘First Friday’ every month. Inspired by the artsy festivals on The Strip, some clubs will be able to showcase themselves to interest students and become more
I can put a smile on “Ifsomeone’s face, then I’m happy.
Trei Birkett
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By Kiara Thomson
involved in school activities. “We really just wanted to do something fresh and new, so when we came up with the idea of ‘First Fridays’ at school everyone was so excited. It is going bring back that spirit and students are going be hyped to come to that type of stuff,” Birkett said. Each gator pride student has around two to three underclass-
Gator Pride advisor Kelly Wagner talks to Gator Pride students in her classroom during a recent club meeting. Alyssa Hulse
men they have to mentor. This means gator pride is pushing underclassmen to be successful when it comes to high school. This can range from helping a student with organizing their backpack, to helping them figure out what path they want to take in order to have a bright future. “Gator Pride is a lot of responsibility, but we have a great group of kids that really mesh well with one another. I am excited to see what they can do,” Wagner said. These students are allowed to put their own unique twist on school traditions. Having a new outlook is the plan to bring the madness back to campus. “Our number one passion in Gator Pride is to bring the school spirit levels up, but we also want
Archery hits the bullseye Ultimately, the only person “you’re competing with is
Fine Arts teacher Erica Wright’s is advising a new club for students who love archery. The first meeting will be held near the baseball field once all the required equipment is delivered. At first, all members will use the beginner’s string bow until
they learn range safety requirements, names of the equipment, range procedures, and other introductory material. “Once everyone has passed the safety test, we will begin target shooting,” Wright said. The club’s goal is to become a competitive archery team within the district. It began as a venture to start another girls sport.
yourself.
Erica Wright
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By Skylar Jones
“The NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program), the organization we would be a part of,
to get as many underclassmen involved in activities, so hopefully one day they will be able to continue the work that we started. Having so many different people in the class that come from different backgrounds helps tremendously because we are able to get different perspectives,” senior Jacqui Ochoa. The only way the class can be an absolute success is if the student body gets pumped about it and participates in the activities.. “Show your spirit! Getting involved is what we want to encourage kids to do,” Wagner said. The class already has events planned for the year. “Gator Pride is doing amazing things and we're pumped for this year. Go Gators!” Ochoa said.
won’t allow us to have a gender segregated club. Which I actually think is cool,” Wright said. The club will be coeducational and be open to any grade level. Students do not need any previous experience in archery to join. “Archery is a great sport because, ultimately, the only person you’re competing with is yourself,” Wright said.
September 2017
06 news
Get your eclipse glasses on Solar eclipse event in the Las Vegas Valley for the first time since 1979 By Brynne Hilton
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or the first time in 44 years, a solar eclipse was visible to most of the continental United States. Henderson, as well as many other southwestern cities, were only able to see a partial eclipse. This phenomenon took place on Monday, Aug. 21 for two minutes and forty seconds at 10:27 a.m. “The next time this will happen will be around 2045,” science teacher Audrey Yurtinus said. “This is a once in a lifetime experience.” Science teachers who have a third period took their students outside and let them see the eclipse. For students without science third period, the teachers sold eclipse glasses for one dollar in the weeks leading up to the eclipse. All the proceeds went towards the robotics club. “I wanted to see it because it is a really cool sight, and also I
wanted to get out of my third period,” freshman Callan Hermansen said. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon’s orbit intercepts between the Earth and Sun. The moon
through the glasses. Unfortunately, the Valley had total cloud coverage on the day of the eclipse. Most of the city was unable to view it. However, some stayed determine to see the sight
Some people went out of state to get a better look at the eclipse. Different places had different vantage points of the eclipse, allowing some, such as Oregon and Idaho, to have full visibility.
Area where partial eclipse is viewable
Area where complete eclipse is viewable Erinn Veach
covers the sun, casting a shadow and making the sun look black. While looking at the eclipse, glasses must be worn at all times. The window is very small to safely look at the sun though, even
and found another way to view it on online streams. “I was looking forward to it, I was really bummed,” junior Carter Knudson said. “But I did watch it on NASA live stream.”
“I hope to see it when it comes again in 2045,” Knudson said. “Eclipses are awesome when you get the chance to look at them and someday I hope to see it in full effect.”
Fresh faces arrive at The Swamp Every fall, the school welcomes hundreds of new people to the Gator family. While most of those new members are incoming freshmen or transfer students, many often forget to give a warm welcome to the new teachers. This school year, Hannah Dey and Neva Eldridge, two new staff members, will be teaching Gators important lessons. Eldridge moved to the Las Vegas Valley from a city in Idaho. She started out at Sunrise Mountain High School, but then fell in love with the Henderson area and decided to apply to teach at Green Valley. “I love teaching. I always wanted to be a teacher for as far back as I can even remember,” El-
The InvestiGator t GVHS
dridge said. “I want to share what I know and what I’ve learned with people.” Eldridge teaches classes with
“I am looking forward to
having fun in my class. Hopefully if kids don’t like social studies, then maybe I could help them change their minds. Hannah Dey
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By Casey Li
a distinct difference in level including Spanish 1 and Spanish 4 IB. Teaching these classes allows
Eldridge to work with a variety of students in regards to language experience. Nonetheless, she still enjoys teaching language to all of her students. “I really do think that teaching my native language is the best thing that could have happened to me,” Eldridge said. “I love Spanish and I want to share it with everyone.” Eldridge is very excited to learn more about the IB program and is glad to make new friends with the other teachers in the language hallway. Dey recently graduated from UNLV last May and is very excited to teach social studies. Initially from Boulder City, Dey first found Green Valley through a student teaching position un-
der social studies teacher Corey Gehlken. “I love that the kids here really take pride in the school, and I love the whole staff here. All of the teachers are amazing,” Dey said. This year she starts her career with classes in U.S. History and Contemporary Problems. “I am looking forward to having fun in my class. I know what it’s like to be a student because I was just one in college pretty recently,” Dey said. Disregarding the teacher’s amount of experience, the agenda for the year is still the same. “My goal is to have fun, and hopefully if kids don’t like social studies, then maybe I could help them change their minds,” Dey said.
feature 07
Taking care of BUSINESS
Senior Kai Lockridge and Junior Jordan Willoby work on their business course in the UNLV Lied Library on Sept. 1.
Brynne Hilton
Students gain opportunity to kickstart their future careers
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s students start to think about their future, the UNLV Lee Business Dual Enrollment Program has given 39 kids in the district the opportunity to earn six college credits and one high school credit this summer, either through two college courses, the Information Systems or the Business Focus. The program started once the CTE (Career and Technical Education) received a grant and were able to get a select group of kids to kick start their careers with free education. “The program was like an introduction to college, so if I walked into college tomorrow I would be prepared,” senior Kai Lockridge said. The Business Focus part of the program teaches students what they were to expect if they were a business student in college. The two courses for the Business program were “Personal Finance Literacy” (FIN 102X) and also “First Year Seminar: Business Connections” (BUS 103). It also teaches kids a little about financing, budgeting, and even a bit of
corporate information. “After going there, I thought it was really cool, and I would actually like to go into Human Resources Management when I get older,” junior Jordan Willoby said. Human Resources Management has eight different majors, each major involves ten credits. These majors include: Business Communications and Critical Thinking, which involves communication and staying organized. Introduction to Computer Applications and Systems, where you learn how to use Microsoft software. Management Theory, explores the field of management in theory and practice, Ethics and Social Responsibility, this course provides a perspective for ethics and responsibility. Organizational Development, encompasses the study of individuals and groups in an organized environment. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management, this course will help students develop a perspective on the Human Capital. Lastly, Strategic Human Resources Management and Emerging Issues, goes over how to align HRM (human re-
source management) with business strategies. “The classes were hard, but within reason. I think they toned the classes down for us because we are high school students. They were still more difficult than AP classes though,” Lockridge said.
“The program was like an
introduction to college, so if I walked into college tomorrow, I would be prepared. Kai Lockridge
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By Maycee Labo
In order to be considered for the program, students had to be going into their junior or senior year and have a GPA of at least a 2.50. Not only did they have to be successful academically, but the students have to be self motivated and completely committed to finishing the whole program.From there on, they would write essays and get a teacher recommendation. The professors from UNLV would pick the best students for
the program. The students that were selected had school Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a hefty workload for five weeks. “The students were selected through the business teachers at green valley, and then through the CTE,” director of college and career Amy Adams said. With the help of four professors, and the goal of helping students accelerate in mind they introduced the students to a parallel college experience. “The goal of the program is to build a better community in Las Vegas by giving kids the chance to get college credits, and kickstart their career. “ Adams said. The school has an impressive passing rate, with 7 out of 8 kids passing. All of 23 students in the program went the business route. The program plans on expanding in the future. Next year they want the program to focus on education. “We haven’t hashed it out yet, but we are trying to get another grant this year, so we can expand the program and start to focus on more education careers.” Adams said.
September 2017
08 feature
including Harvard University, have conducted studies to show the benefits of hot yoga. This includes lowering the risk of heart disease, helping ease symptoms of depression, and providing overall muscle relief. “I go to Evolution Yoga. The classes there for hot yoga are about an hour long and the room is usually around 105 degrees,” Trower said. “I personally liked the class, I felt recharged after and you feel like you worked out but it’s really relaxing.” The temperature aids in allowing the muscles to relax and become less tense.
“It’s an amazing full body
workout, but without the intense cardio feeling.
Sarah Fernandez
By Madison Cox
M
any yogis across the globe also participate in hot yoga. Hot yoga can be traced back to the 1970’s in Japan. However, the original “Hot Yoga Boom” did not take off until the 1980’s in Hollywood. Hot yoga has gained popularity because it is known for being a better workout than regular yoga since it is practiced in a heated environment. The heated practice is usually taken in a yoga studio, or if it is hot enough, outside. “Yoga is definitely a nice class to take, it rejuvenates me in the midst of my day. I like the end of
The InvestiGator t GVHS
the class when we sit in child’s pose for twenty minutes. The instructor dims the lights and talks to us and you can just think to yourself,” senior Kayla McCurry said. McCurry, like many people across the nation, takes part in the new workout craze, hot yoga. Hot yoga consists of exactly what it sounds like, yoga in a heated room with the lights dimmed to enhance relaxation and burning calories. Heating the room promotes detoxification and sweating which warms the body, increasing flexibility and lowering the possibility of injury. “The reason to do hot yoga is
because it rids your body of toxins,” senior Madison Trower said. Hot yoga is offered at most yoga studios and gyms around the nation. Heated workout classes have been thriving with partcipating members due to the supposed mental and physical pros it brings. Some take the class to strengthen their spiritual self. “I go to Trufusion because the classes there are good for wanting to get in better shape and just become healthier in general,” senior Julia Mason said. Hot yoga helps with more than just burning calories. Leading research experts across the nation,
“
Kelly Verba
“It elongates muscles, the heat leaves them warm, so you’re able to do things you would not normally be able to do in a regular yoga class compared to what you can acieve in hot yoga,” special education teacher Kelly Verba said. It is important to hydrate before actually taking part in the class activities. The combination of heat with strenuous physical activity aids in the prevention of heat exhaustion. In addition to physical and mental benefits for the body, attending hot yoga classes are also a group bonding experience. Everyone in the class is going through the same poses and forms, so along with the instructor, most participants help out those around them. “The workouts are definitely effective because they’re so difficult,” Mason said. “I like that everyone was supportive and pushed you through the class and the instructors are really nice.” If the workout does not rejuvenate or motivate you, the energy surrounding the class will. “Afterwards I feel calm and like I did an effective workout without having to add in cardio,” said Verba. “It’s an amazing full body workout, but without the intense cardio feeling.” Hot yoga is a class that can extend to all level and work most muscles without expensive, heavy equipment or cardio-centered workouts.
feature 09
How To:
High School
By Anastasia Koulich “My first day was a blur. It was stimulus overload,” senior Erin Gold recalls. The first day of freshmen year is a daunting task, whether you admit it or not. Wondering where this four year train ride will let you off is a serious question. Until then, a friend is always needed, especially during the beginning days of the first year of high school. “I remember meeting and befriending seniors and juniors who wanted to take me under their wing,” Gold said. The type of person to get acquainted with is an upperclassman; one that knows how to work and maneuver all the ropes and levers. Upperclassmen give the best advice, whether it is social or academic. But, let us start first with me, myself, and I. “What you do, you need to do for yourself. You need to be happy for yourself,” senior Alexa Camardella said. A common side effect from being a freshman is believing that you must be well known amongst your peers, which can be quite depleting. “You always try and please people in freshmen year and become friends with everybody. If you don’t have friends, it feels like the end of the world, but it’s not,” Camardella said. A popular lesson that almost everyone learns is who your real friends are in high school. “You want to keep friends that are there for you, support you through high school and make you stronger,” senior Matthew Wilson said. Encouragement is one of the key characteristics in a friendship. “To make friends, you have to put yourself out there. I had a hard time with that, but when I finally did, I was exposed to many great people,” senior Zoe Konsur said. Older friends mean more knowledge is packed into their memories. There is an upside to that too. “Befriend older people. Go to
Starbucks to study with them. If you don’t understand something, they can help you. They’ve been there before you,” Wilson said. We all know if we are the type of student who waits until midnight to complete a two thousand word essay, or if you are not. Either way, plan accordingly. “Try and stay on top it! There are nights when you say you are going to finish your homework in the morning, but you know you won’t. You’re going to hit the snooze button. Push through and get it over with,” Camardella said. It has been noted that it is hard to get homework over with when you are not so involved and pumped about your classes. “High school is, for the most part, about finding what you’re interested in for the future, so know what subjects intrigue you, outside and inside of school,” Wilson said. If you are interested in a billion things, remember to not overwhelm yourself. You still have responsibilities to complete. “Do everything you can in regards to extracurriculars and clubs, but definitely know your limits,” junior Alexis Carver said. And remember, Big Brother is always watching you. “You may think teachers don’t notice a lot about you, but they know about your work ethic and your personality more than you would think,” Carver said. And this is just a tip for courtesy’s sake. “When you get to the point in senior year when you need recommendation letters for college from your teachers, remember to be that lovely student and write them thank you letters,” junior Sean Evans said. Ultimately, there is one significant aspect of high school everyone should always be mindful of throughout the four years you are here. “Everything goes by fast. I don’t even feel like a senior,” Konsur said. “Everyone needs to look past the nights of homework and other stress inducing factors and just enjoy the moment. There’s some really nice ones.”
10 feature
Former Rebel takes over Gator Dance By Victoria Rodriguez
A
lexandra Harrison is the new dance coach on campus and she is changing the dance program one step at a time. The former University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Rebel Girl has taken over after taking the place of former coach Nury DePiazza following her retirement last year. Harrison has been dancing for 23 years and is ready to give her
knowledge and skills to the new 14 dancer team. She previously coached at Silverado for three years and she coached a college team at UNLV for two years. Throughout her time dancing on UNLV team, Harrison participated in many community events and she is planning to pass that down to this year’s dance team. “I want the Green Valley Dance Team to be the face of Henderson. We’re going to be doing parades, we’re going to be doing events, we are getting involved with a
Shila Sherafat
New dance coach Alexandra Harrison leads members of team during class on Aug. 30.
foundation, we’re feeding the homeless. We’re doing all types of stuff,” Harrison said. Although only being with her new dancers for a short amount of time, Harrison has already formed very strong bonds. “She treats us like we are one big family,” junior Asia Siv said. “She does it through guidance, making sure everyone is taken care of, positivity and pushing us to be our absolute best.” The team has made notable improvements just over the past several months, and not just realating to their skill level. The biggest difference Harrison is trying to make with the team is getting them more involved in the community and teaching them to be positive role models while constantly treating each other with respect. “We have been getting a lot closer as a team and have spent a lot of time bonding and being a family,” Smith said. Another major improvement Harrison made is making them more of a united team. They have sit downs before practices and talk about stuff they need to get out of the way. They have special team bonding activities at least once a month. Many girls are noticing big changes just after a few short months of summer practices. “We really needed [the summer practices],” senior Briana Burt said. The team started summer
Shila Sherafat
practices back in June and since then they have held a steady practice schedule. Their committment led to them recently landing a spot to participate at a three day camp at Coronado High School. During this time they learned new routines which will prepare them for upcoming competitions throughout the school year. “It was a lot of hard work, but the hard work paid off,” Burt said. As a previous Rebel Girl, Harrison knows all about how much hard work and effort it takes to get become a top level dance team. Through Harrison’s years dancing she has learned a lot of tricks which she hopes to share. “I’m trying to incorporate different styles of hip hop and new styles of jazz as well as some contemporary. This is going to be stuff the school has never seen before. We are all excited,” Harrison said.
sports 11
Football star catches college attention
W
hether it is on the field or in the classroom, senior football player Eric Brown is catching all of the attention. Brown, who plays left tackle, has been offered scholarships from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Nevada Reno, University of Hawaii, and Dixie State to play college football. Left tackle is one of the most important positions on the offensive line. They protect the quarterback’s blind side at all costs. “Being acknowledged as a division one football player is a dream come true,” Brown said. Most athletes start playing sports when they are very young. Starting when he was just eight years old, football was not Brown’s first choice. “I started playing because my dad made me. I didn’t want to play at all,” Brown said. “I wanted to start a band, but he said I was too big not to play football.” An athlete’s love for sports is one of their biggest characteristics. Being a top athlete, Brown has grown to love football. “It’s my life. It is going to get me into college free. I feel very
passionate about it,” Brown said. Many colleges look for all-star athletes who are determined and hard-working. According to CBS news, only two percent of high school athletes receive scholarships and offers from major schools. However, the scholarships are usually $11,000 or less. Varsity Football Coach Brian Castro has seen the potential Brown possesses. “I see him at practice going above and beyond. He’s a hardworking athlete,” Castro said. “I’m proud of him and where he
“Being acknowledged as a division one football player is a dream come true. Eric Brown
Senior Eric Brown (center) blocks an opposing player vs. El Toro in California on Aug. 25. Alyssa Hulse
“
By Meka’la Parker
is going.” A lot of offers from colleges can be overwhelming for an athlete. Brown is narrowing it down to his top two colleges. “UNLV has a lot of great new things coming to their program,” Brown said. “Hawaii has a great family based football team and their culture in Hawaii is very
welcoming.” What makes Brown so special isn’t his 6’5” frame or his passion for the game. It is the determination he has to stay on top of school and sports. “Grades are what can make or break an athlete. So I have to be on top of all my schoolwork,” Brown said. A lot of people think athletes are more heavily involved in their sport than their social life. That is not the case for Brown. He enjoys spending time with his family when he is not practicing or at a game.
“Family is your biggest supporter. They’ll support your goals and give you the advice you need,” Brown said. Sometimes, the team can be a big help and see the change a player makes over the season. “Brown is probably one of our best players out there,” senior teammate Joseph Waller said. “I’m not surprised he got a lot of offers. He goes out there and gives it his all.” Scholarships are an athlete’s dream. Whether it is UNLV or the University of Hawaii, Brown has plenty of offers in hand.
Alumni return to the sidelines By Abby Culpepper Several Alumni have returned, such as class of 2014 graduate Megan Lavoie and class of 2015 graduate Larry Norman Jr, to coach the women’s volleyball B team and the freshman football team for the 2017 season. Although last year’s freshman football team had a 5-4 record, Norman hopes to improve this year even more by adding some age and experience diversity to the coaching staff. “I feel like having played on the team helps me a lot when I’m coaching, especially when I’m coaching the safety’s because that’s the position I played and I’ve been in their shoes so I understand the pres-
sure that they feel on the field,” Norman said. “Participating in the Gator sports program has had a huge impact on my life. I still find myself using things that I learned from the program. Coach Hill has continuously improved the program since the school opened. Once a Gator, always a Gator,” Lavoie said. Coaches often become second parents or role models throughout the season. “It didn’t take much to gain respect for Coach Lavoie. In my mind, if the coach respects the team, then the team should respect the coach,” freshman Marisa Boyce said. “I was a little scared to come back and coach because I didn’t know if the kids would respect me since I’m young,” Norman
said. “Kids actually respected me more as a coach since I played on the football team.” Many times sports careers end due to injuries, or risk of reinjury. Norman had a first hand experience with this. “I didn’t play my senior year because I had surgery on my knee, but it allowed me to be there for my team and support them throughout the season. I didn’t know if I’d be able to play after high school because of my knee and the risk of re-injuring it,” Norman said. “When the coaching opportunity opened, I saw it as getting another chance to ‘play’ through the kids I coach.” “I played at a Junior College for two years on a volleyball scholarship, but ended up injuring my shoulder. I was really bummed at first, like all athletes are if they
get injured, but it turned out to be the best thing for me. I came home, and Coach Hill asked me to coach. Now I love it and I love my girls,” Lavoie said. Building bonds with coaches is essential to a good team. Bonds allow for coaches and athlete to connect, which not only allows for better coaches but better players. “I like that she’s close in age because it allowed for us to build not only an athlete to coach bond but a friend to friend bond. Having a strong bond and relationship helps when Coach Lavoie pushes us to do better,” Boyce said. Both Lavoie and Norman hope to help their athletes to have the same experience that they had while in the Gator athletic program.
MAYBERRY
12 sports
The InvestiGator t GVHS
S
By Hannah Serquina
iblings Christina and Christian Mayberry have both experienced the family tradition of football. Junior Christina, plays as receiver as well as linebacker for varsity flag football. Her brother, senior Christian, plays receiver as well for varsity football. He has been playing since the age of six. Sibling rivalry has naturally developed, effected each in different ways. Since the two were young, they could not stop fighting. They would remain angry at each other and hold grudges for lengthy periods. They could never be in the same room because one would always antagonize the other. Now that they are in high school though, their attitude toward eachother `1has shifted. They both understand a lot more now that they are growing up. “When we were little we used to be really mad at each other all the time, but now that we’re in high school and that we’re older he’s like my best friend,” Christina said. “We’re both older now and have different mindsets and I’ve realized
family is super important.” Her brother agrees. Being together more and going thorugh the trials of high school together has made a strong bond between them. “When we were younger we didn’t really get along, but as we got older and started going to the same school and started playing sports together we started getting better and more comfortable around each other,” Christian said. The similarities between the two never go unnoticed. Whether it is involving football, the way they act, their appearance, or their names, they most always go hand in hand. “Ev-
ery day we’re compared. People say we play football the same and that we look the same and act the same,” Christian said. “It’s actually really cool being compared to Christina. A lot of people always talk about her. They say we look alike, but she’s my little sis and I love her.” The siblings’ football coach, Kellen Bush, unintentionally compares Christina to her brother during practices. The comparison is more playful and joking though, a lighthearted way to connect them. For example, if she drops a pass, he’ll say something like, “Oh why can’t you be like your brother?” Christian and Christina have different thoughts on who is the ultimate sibling. Christina believes she is the better half because she feels that she is stronger academically. On the other hand, Christian, without a doubt, thinks he is the better sibling simply because, he is Christian.
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sports 13 Even with the never-ending comparison, Christina and Christian admire one another. The siblings do not take the constant mentions on their likeness in a negative way. In fact, the comparison is more of an encouraging factor in their lives. “It’s definitely a positive comparison. I like being compared to my sister because she’s a great person, she’s outgoing and she’s smart,” Christian said. This constant parallelism between them motivates them to do better. Eachother’s competition is the best for them. “The comparison pushes me
to work harder because, in my opinion. Not just because he’s my brother, but because I feel like he’s one of the best athletes in the skill position that he plays, so I want to be just as good as him or even better,” Christina said. Christian believes that he is better than Christina at mostly everything but still loves her immensely. Christina says nothing but positive things about her brother’s focus in the sports world. She has genuine respect for her brother on the field and feels he is not given enough credit. “I would tell him to keep his head up because I feel he is one of the most underrated athletes in the nation .Because of his size , he’s not the biggest kid, he’s seen as less of a football player. He’s got one of the best hands in Nevada though,” Christina said. D e s p i t e their rivalry, Christina and Christian Mayberry love each other on and off the field. The bond they share remains intact and the bending question, “Who is the better Mayberry?” has still yet to be answered.
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MAYBERRY
Although the two siblings are constantly being analyzed for their similarities, their focuses differ. “I’m more focused during school and I pay attention more. He worries about school, but not as much as I do,” Christina said. “I am more focused academically. He’s more of the goofy type and likes to play around with his friends.” While Christina prefers focusing on grades, Christian has his head in the game. “It kind of contrasts because you can get offers for tackle, so that’s his main goal, to get a scholarship offer. So I feel like he’s more focused on football. The offers motivate him in sports more than me.” Despite his heavy envolvement with the sport, he still puts energy into school as well. “I’m more focused on football, but I’m still focused on school. I work out every day, watch f i l m every day, and practice every day,” Christian said.
September 2017
14 sports
Fallin’ into Sports Tennis
Brynne Hilton
Senior Gabriel Maalouf takes a swing during a practice on Aug. 25.
By Kiara Thomson Tackling the competition is what football fans are hoping to see this season. Senior quaterback Anthony Barilla plans to execute the game plan every time. “I think we have a really good group of guys, one of the best teams we have had in awhile. I think this year we just need to trust each other,” Barilla said. Coach Brian Castro hopes to teach his boys more about consistency. “We are going to improve efficiency on both offense and defense. I am excited to see our offensive line play, they are great
By Kiara Thomson Bouncing back into the new season and bringing home victories is the plan for the tennis team this year. Junior Cristian Dugger is determined to dominate each opponent faced with the help of his teammates. “We have worked on our communication for this season and are hungry to make tennis big on campus,” Dugger said. Coach Kelli Grimm has dedicated a majority of her time to wards creating a new team with fundamental skills. She knows
group of young men,” Castro said. The team plans on bringing home the Henderson Bowl trophy this year. Senior defensive tackle Brandon Lopez is hungry to beat every team they will play. “I would say Basic is a big rival because of the Henderson bowl, but overall our main rival is Liberty,” Lopez said. This season’s team is eager to get on the field and exceed the expectations set for them. “I always say every week, come out and be ready to work. That is what I want to see this year and I think we have a great group of guys,” Castro said.
that if each player fully understands the game then playing will become second nature. “We are hoping to improve on our movement, our placement near the net, and our overall aggressiveness,” Grimm said. With high expectations to bring in good numbers, the pressure is on. Senior Carter Gehlken possibly may be one of the top contenders for tennis state title. Even though the pressure can be tough, Gehlken believes having fun is important. “I truly enjoy playing tennis. I
Alyssa Hulse
have so much fun, but since I am competitive I have to find a good balance. When I started playing I know I wanted to push myself to become one of the best on the team,” Gehlken said. While the physical skills are important in dominating the competition, Gehlken finds the attitude and mentality to be equally important. “I am mostly excited to score some victories against rivals and keep our aggressiveness for the season alive in every game,” Gehlken said.
Football Varsity football kicked off the season off with a 42-35 win vs. El Toro HS in California on Aug. 25.
Cross Country Brynne Hilton
Junior Tuff Donovan works on his endurance during a practice.
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By Kiara Thomson Keeping the competition in the dust is what the cross country does best. Hoping to keep up with expectations this season, junior Mia Smith is determined to make this her best season yet. “I love cross country, it really helps me a lot with conditioning for track season. I think we have an amazing group of runners this year,” Smith said. Head coach Bud Beam trains the team that mentality is what
wins races. Continuing the tradition of honoring coach Thompson before each chant allows the runners to understand what it really means to run for the program. “I like to be positive with my runners, but I also want them to have respect for the program and remember what it is all about at the end of the day. I think this season’s runners have the best mentality,” Beam said. Running can be both physically and mentally challenging. Senior
Leah Leehey has been running since she was a underclassmen and is excited to end her last year doing what she enjoys. “I am not going to lie, it is hard work. Although, hanging out with your teammates and winning makes everything worthwhile,” Leehey said. This season’s runners also plan on improving their skills as an individual rather than a whole. “The whole team is ready and I hope to beat my past records,” Smith said.
sports 15 By Harley Barbre Soccer is ready to kick things into gear this season. Senior Devin Scott has been playing with the men’s program for 4 years. This season, Scott is hoping to work more on passing and communication. “We have a lot of young talented people on the team, but our top and new players need to communicate more on the field,” Scott said. Coach Jacob Rivera has coached for eight years and plans to make more improvements ev-
ery year. “I think the team this year needs to work more on their work ethic on the field and in the classroom. Last season we struggled with having depth on our team, we didn’t have the necessary leadership to be successful. If we do that I know there will be no problem of us making it far this year,” Rivera said. Women’s soccer is geared up and ready to bring home some big wins as well. Senior Maggie Bender has been playing in the program for four years and is motivated to lead the girls this
Volleyball Senior Kristine Davis jump serves during a match on Aug. 24 vs. Cimarron HS.
Alyssa Hulse
By Kiara Thomson Serving the competition is the mission this year for women’s volleyball. Senior captain Lana
Golf Junior Kelsey Kares hits balls on the range during a recent practice at Wildhorse Golf Course.
Brynne Hilton
Benson wants her girls to dominate the competition this season. She believes that teamwork is the way to reach the top. “We need to just come together
By Kiara Thomson Putting in work for this season is what this year’s women’s golf team plans to do. Junior Savannah Smith hopes to push herself constantly on improving skill. After three years of being a varsity golfer she is looking forward to helping her team rack up even more points than she did last year. “I think this year our team should do a little more team bonding, even though golf is an individual sport, we still have to add our points up together in the end,” Smith said.
season. “This year is going to a little bit more of a challenge due to us losing some key seniors. They were a big asset. But I think that we got some pretty good underclassmen to take their positions,” Bender said. Coach Catherine Davis has been in charge of the women’s soccer program for over five years. She plans to pass on valuable lessons to build character. “We have a great group of girls this year. It is refreshing to see a team work so well together,” Davis said.
Soccer
Junior Estevan Uribe executes a pass during a tournament home game on Aug. 25.
Harley Barbre
as a team and work together,” Benson said. Head coach Erin Hill is ready to take her team to the next level this year. Being a five-time Nevada State Championships and five-time State runner up, the team plans on continuing its success even with many new players. “This year we are working on ball control and defense mostly. I am thrilled about this new team, we lost a handful of seniors last year and we found great girls to take their positions,” Hill said. This season’s rival is Silverado after the team lost to the Skyawks during the regional championship last season. “There is no way we are los-
ing to Silverado this year, we are ready to play them,” Benson said. Senior Carolynn Fedarko is excited to play with the new team, and hopes that the team chemistry is strong for this season. “I am planning to work more on my overall skill, but I am excited to start with this new team. We need to practice hard in order to make it to regionals again,” Ferdarko said. With tough competition from all over the district, the team is ready for whatever is ahead of them. Even with many new players, the team is prepared for the unexpected. “I am excited to see what my new group of girls can do,” Hill said.
Head coach Greg Murphy is excited to see the competitive nature come out of this year’s returning golfers. With the struggles of having so many new players last season, he hopes that with more experience the girls will be able to show a more competitive style of playing. “Last year we had a lot of girls new to the game of golf, so I believe the returners will be able to use their knowledge from last season to become fierce competitors,” Murphy said. Even though golf is known as an individual sport, junior Emily McElhoes truly believes that
their is no ‘I’ in team. She hopes to become a role model for underclassmen teammates this season. “I believe helping each of your teammates out is huge because we each have different skill levels and different amounts of experience. Some advice you may receive can really help when you are playing,” McElhoes said. The golf team is prepared to go further in the season, looking forward to dominating the Southeast conference. Keeping up with rivals, such as Coronado is always difficult, but this season’s girls are more than ready.
September 2017
a & e 17
Kids & Coupons
Students and teachers use their academic badges in order to avoid breaking the bank By Gabriella Ghasserani
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ost students do not realize that there are many student and teacher discounts available here in the Valley. If shows are your thing and you want to see one while saving some cash, then head on down to The Strip. Sophomore Diana Brown has recently taken advantage of such deals. “You can show up to the box office at Treasure Island and you can get up to a 35% student
35% OFF
discount for the Cirque du Soleil show, ‘Mysteré’,” Brown said. If you have been waiting to see a new movie, you are also in luck. Local businesses also offer dis-
10% OFF counts to student and teachers. Freshman Delaney Domingo jumps at the chance to gain a discount at the movies. “If you show up to the ticket booth at the movie theaters with ID you can get 15% at a movie of your choice,” Domingo said. “You have to go to school all day so it’s nice to get a discount to
help us out and it gives students the chance to have fun.” Teachers can also receive special discounts. Math teacher Kelly Wagner has had the opportunity to do so. Wagner talked about why she thinks teacher discounts are so helpful. “I use the chance to get 15% off at Michaels and JOANN fabrics,” Wagner said. “I spend so much money on my classroom that it is nice to save 15%, which can add up to hundreds of dollars worth of savings for myself and my kids.”
15% OFF
10% OFF Deals are also offered at a lot of different places. Subway, Burger King, and Taco Bell all offer students 10% off on their purchases. Urban Outfitters, topshop, and Charlotte Russe also offer 10% off for those showing a student ID. Different discounts and bargains seem to be offered everywhere, from clothing stores to world famous shows on the Las Vegas Strip. Before paying, check online or ask if student discounts are offered. You might be surprised how much that student ID could end up saving you this weekend.
EXPRESS CAR WASH 1630 W Sunset Rd. Henderson, NV 89014 quickycarwash.com
18 photo essay
Welcome Back
Gators
The cheer team forms a pyramid during their routine.
Junior Tyjai Pierce dances during her teams’ performance.
The saxophone section closes up the end of the assembly.
Robotics students, Janelle Marcos and Scott Mai, launch t-shirts into the crowd.
The Junior section cheers along in the beginning of the assembly. Brynne Hilton and Hailey Gross
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photo essay 19 Elvis Presley impersonator closes the assembly with the song “Viva Las Vegas.” Junior Kat Santos jumps on junior Asia Siv’s shoulders during the dance routine.
Cheerleaders get ready to launch a flyer into the air.
Juniors Bryce Avecilla, Dalen Lutes, and Emily McElhoes sing along with Elvis at the assembly.
Student athletes participate in a balloon race.
September 2017
20 a & e
Hot Spots for the Gram Cornerstone Park
By Alyssa Hulse Las Vegas offers some of the best backgrounds for the perfect picture. The photogenic sceneries wouldn’t get the media attention they get now if it were not for Instagram. After a long look at what everyone is posting, these are the best places to get a hot and trendy Instagram picture.
Seven Magic Mountains One place you see all over Instagram is Seven Magic Mountains. Since being on display last year in May, it has attracted the attention of many locals and tourists. These seven towers of colorful boulders have become an iconic place to snap a couple of perfect Instagram pictures.
Freemont Street Fremont Street is one of the hottest places to take pictures. Fremont street gives you a chance to take pictures with the unique street performers. The many dancers and performers provide for a large variety of shots that give the viewer a different feeling, and they provide a look inside the nightlife of Vegas.
Zion Zion, although around two hours away, is a very popular destination that has many different photographic backgrounds with a variety of scenery. There are mountains, unique rock formations, waterfalls, and much more. If an adventurous picture is needed, Zion is the place to be.
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Down in the Cornerstone Park tunnels there is unique graffiti everywhere. Artists spraypaint their extraordinary designs all over the walls. The pieces of work give off a very original vibe. The tunnels are extensive and can provide for very aesthetically pleasing pictures.
a & e 21
Summer concerts 2k17 S
tudents who love to hunt for entertainment were not disappointed this summer. Concerts were a big hit among many Gators. Summer ‘17 certainly did not fail those who love the thrill of attending live shows and concerts. There is no better way to listen to your favorite artists in the summer than seeing them live. The experience of going to a live show enhances the music. Concerts are one of the most thrilling events one can go to. The radiating energy from the crowd is contagious and everyone is exhilarated and hyped. You can find nothing but positive energy and good vibes. Many big names came to Las Vegas this summer. Just a few include Kendrick Lamar, Future, Playboi Carti, Khalid, Ed Sheeran, Tears for Fears and more. Across the Valley, venues hosted big concerts and small shows alike. The T-Mobile Arena, for example, hosted artists such as Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, and Tears For Fears. “This concert was pretty big
and I tend to prefer smaller concerts, but for a big band like Tears For Fears, I can handle it,” senior Annika Johnson said. “My ticket ended up being around $60, which wasn’t bad at all for a band I grew up on and an 80’s
“The show that had
Astronaut Samurais was the best one I went to this summer because it was chaotic. My favorite types of shows are those with more people, The bigger the crowd, the better the experience. Yong Kim
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By Nora-Jo Paramo
icon. Plus, the experience was amazing.” Hip Hop is one of the most popular genres today, so it is expected that many Las Vegas
locals went to see artists of the genre live. Fans of these artists flocked to the events hosting their favorites. “I went to Playboi Carti in July,” senior Jordan Wilson said. “Out of all the concerts I’ve been to, I’d say the Carti concert was the best experience I have had. Not to mention, he threw me his shirt at the concert.” Music tastes are a baseline for those who are choosing to attend a particular event. Everyone likes a different type of sound, and there was definitely enough variety to satisfy every taste. While some are into hip/hop, others are into other genres such as rock. Matchbox Twenty and Counting Crows are on their “A Brief History of Everything” tour and came into Las Vegas. This concert was on July 29 at Mandalay Bay. “This was my favorite event I went to during this summer,” junior Mckayla Wohlford said. “The concert was $120 altogether but it was definitely worth the money to see two of my favorite rock bands.” Another rock group that came into town was AFI, short for “A
Fire Inside”. They performed at the Brooklyn Bowl, a common venue for smaller shows, on July 29. “I went with my cousin to go see AFI,” junior Jaselle Carmona said. “The crowd was a little crazy, but that’s very common and it makes the music sound better with such an energetic crowd.” Not all bands have giant crowds and packed floors though. Many bands are underground and perform at much smaller house shows. “The shows I went to don’t have names, but the bands I saw were Wet Dreams, Funeral Waves, and Astronaut Samurais,“ sophomore Yong Kim said. “The show that had Astronaut Samurais was the best one I went to this summer because it was chaotic. My favorite type of shows are those with more people. The bigger the crowd, the better the experience.” Summer ‘17 was definitely successful for great music and good times. Although concert season may be nearing its end, the music and the memories will always stay in the heart of the attendees.
22 a & e
Who’s your text door neighbor? By Hailey Gross
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exting is one of the most astonishing forms of communication, it connects us to people near and far seamlessly. Very understandably however, mistakes are made when texting. One such common mistake is texting the wrong number. Sometimes, though one can text the wrong person on purpose. The newest trending topic on twitter is texting your number neighbor, otherwise known, as your “text door neighbor.” Texting your number neighbor is simple. All you do is take your phone number and text the individual whose cell phone number is one digit down or up from yours. Math teacher, Reynaldo White, messaged his text door neighbor for fun, but unfortunately did not get a reply back. “I’m not too upset with the outcome. If I had gotten a text saying ‘Hey number neighbor,’ I probably would not have responded either,” White said. Because getting a text out of the blue from a stranger can be somewhat startling, many people aren’t comfortable with texting back. “I didn’t regret it. It was very entertaining on my end, I am sad one of the text didn’t go through,” White said. For other users, the trend was more successful. Junior Myah Giron took a leap of faith when she texted her number neighbor in an attempt to join the trend and have an entertaining conversation with a stranger. “I got somewhat freaked out
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when my number neighbor responded, it is like when a stranger calls and you are uncomfortable,” Giron said. While one person might be optimistic about a stranger texting them, others seem to be startled by it. “I lived in Hawaii so that’s where my number neighbor is right now,” Giron said. “It was weird knowing that someone could care less about who they are texting, even if it is a stranger in a different state.” Remember if you text an unknown number make sure to keep personal information out of the conversation for a funny, but safe interaction. Junior Jasmine Perez was stunned from the surprising reply she received from her number neighbor. “It was probably the nicest thing a stranger has ever said to me. He told me to have a great day and to not let anyone tear me down,” Perez said. Although the two had known each other for approximately three minutes, the kind words inspired Perez to spread more kindness through text. “Right after he texted me I sent a friendly message to my other neighbor, and was graciously greeted with an uplifting response,” Perez said. Not many people would take the time out of their day to send a message to a stranger let alone one filled with kindness. Although number neighbors are just a trend, it can bring happiness to both a stranger and yourself.
opinion 23
Spinning through time By Jenna Ricciardi Not all heros wear capes, some are cloaked in plastic from head to toe and consist of three prongs. If you have never heard of a Fidget Spinner, then congratulations, you have been living under a rock this past year. This toy has been around since the 90’s and has spun its way into popularity, bringing joy to people near and far. Although the Fidget Spinner is well known, not everyone knows this object’s true purpose in life. Its claim to fame is that it enables one to channel their overabun-
dance of energy to help maintain focus. Catherine Hettinger, the inventor of this phenomenon, brainstormed the idea of this device when she saw young boys throwing rocks at police officers and pedestrians while visiting her sister in Israel. Her wheels started to turn, and soon enough she was able to provide a soothing toy to amuse both children and adults. Fidget Spinners are marketed as promising tools to bring out the creative genius lying deep within you. Ironically, these toys have invaded classrooms all over the globe by causing major distraction. Others argue that Fidget Spinners can calm students with anxiety and stress. Teachers often mistake these objects of serenity as items of disturbance. Some even have the audacity of calling this remarkable toy a
threat to one’s safety. Controversy spiraled in and out of schools banning these toys, leaving children to ponder the whimsical act of spinning a fidget during the school hours. Students would keep spinning though. Regardless of the negative effects it has in learning environments, the real fun comes from trying to impress everyone with the various tricks and stunts that can be perform with such a simple, yet profound toy. Tricks such as the “Double Tap,” the “Nine Finger Death Punch,” and the well known “Reverse Sonic” teaches these fidget enthusiasts skill, strategy, and the ability to handle real life scenarios. YouTube videos give step by step tutorials to show beginners these intense tricks which enables one to gain instant popularity. Squeeze the core, give the blades a flick, and now you are trans-
ported into a world full of bliss. These rotating angels are also celebrated on the web and all over social media. Special designs and materials can transform this gadget into an object of wonder. Fidget Spinner retail prices vary from a few bucks to hundreds of dollars. This season’s hottest toy is twirling its way into everyone’s hearts and hands.. Without a doubt, Fidget Spinners have definitely changed society as a whole.
The life value of Snapchat streaks By Sydney Lum 486 days. That is a long time to have a snapchat streak with someone. 486 days can turn to zero in a second and then the will to live will be gone at that point. Life would practically be over. Snap streaks are all fun and games until it reaches the threedigit mark, then it becomes serious. Breaking a streak at that point means the end of the world, basically. The 100 day mark is when there is full commitment to that streak. Snapchat is a wonderful app where goals can be strived for day by day. Not only does Snapchat have streaks to help the user achieve greatness, but they also have a whole trophy case that you
can accumulate over time. In this trophy case there is the potential to earn up to over thirty trophies. If 100 percent of these trophies are conquered, then life is complete. The best friend list is extremely important too, especially if the super BFF emoji is close to being achieved. This means that the user has had the same number one bestfriend two months in a row. This is a major goal to try to ac-
complish. The worst feeling, after losing a super long snap streak, is knowing the super BFF status was in reach, but not attained. The other worst feeling is seeing the BFF emoji turn into a BF’s emoji. Now the number one best friend on the best friend list is just another, everyday person. This could make anyone’s hearts sink into their stomach.
If someone can keep their number one best friend past two months, the ultimate goal of the BFF status has been achieved. At this point one can consider themselves champions at life. This is the pinnacle of stardom. At times streaks can cause a lot of stress, especially when the timer emoji pops up. This is when panic mode begins. When this happens, everyone goes through the biggest struggle to try to save that one specific streak. If the streak is saved, there is a big feeling of relief and satisfaction, but if it dies there is huge feeling of disappointment. Snap streaks are very imporant and valuable for many. They must be kept at whatever cost. Everyday counts in the world of Snapchat streaks.
September 2017
24 opinion
Summer break cut short School started sooner, but will end sooner
A
s the school year rolls in, students take the time to put forth their best effort to get ready for the rollercoaster ride ahead. Many individuals take each and every day with caution to make sure all work and due dates are taken care of. Another important factor this year was the two weeks of summer that were rescheduled due to the testing periods and the desire to finish finals before winter break. This is a positive note for many students because a lot of stress will be relieved before the holidays instead of having it build up, with worry over the exams that come up after the break. This will give students the proper feeling of having a break and lets them prepare for the new semester ahead with a new beginning. “I really enjoy this change because it is a nice change of pace and it will really benefit a lot of students here in the long run during testing and the break ahead,” senior Taylor Coronado said. Many students also see this as a positive factor not only due to the change in testing schedule, but also because they get to see their friends sooner. As easy it may seem, seeing all of your friends on a regular basis when one is not in school is not a walk in the park because of different
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schedules. When school is in session, many people have schedules that coincide with their friends, which allows them to be social. As schools continue to promote interaction and teamwork, working on projects, homework and simply having organizations, students have time to be with their friends as they continue to work on school given activities. Most students also have a laid back opinion towards this situ-
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I am just glad that next summer we get out of school earlier in May. Christopher Ramirez
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By Bethany Casall
ation. Other than starting at an earlier date, most do not find this earlier start time that much different than summers before, and they understand that there is a reason as to why it is being done. “As the year goes on it will stop making a difference to people as it will become a uniform thing we will do,” Coronado said. “At the end of the day, it is just another start of a school year and in the long run, will only benefit us.” In fact, the best thing about the change is that there is a benefit in the end. School officially ends on May 24, which is two
weeks earlier than usual. This not only gives people the relief of summer of 2018 starting earlier, but will lead everyone to get accustomed to this schedule. It is also beneficial for graduating seniors who will get more time to spend at home before they leave for college, start work, or whatever they end up doing. In addition, it is also helpful for rising seniors and juniors next year who will have the opportunity to start prepping for their standardized test scores for college sooner than they originally would. “School starting earlier really doesn’t matter much to me because as a marcher in band, I am used to having to come to school two weeks before hand,” sophomore Christopher Ramirez said. “I am just glad that next summer, we get out of school earlier in May.” As the school year continues to run regularly, students prepare for the testing period and a stress free winter break leading to an earlier summer. “Technically there isn’t any net loss or gain with the days because school still has the same amount of days,” junior Kevin Leong said. When taking each piece of information into consideration, the two week push into summer will only benefit students in the long run for years to come.
opinion 25
Short summer break is detrimental to students
T
he first day of school is always a whirlwind of emotions and stress, coming back to the grind of classes after a long, relaxing summer. This year, though, students found that they did not feel that calm the summer usually leaves them with. Everyone has felt the detriments of the new summer schedule, with the break cut short by two weeks so the entire year can reset on a new schedule. Everything from heightened stress to less time for assignments, as well as difficulty planning summer activities and troubles with college applications has affected students across the Valley due to the time crunch. This new schedule was made to put the school district on the same timeline as colleges and other schools in the state. Although the switch may be positive in that regard, as well as having more time to teach material, the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages. The normal summer from past years is about twelve weeks long, but now it has been cut down to around ten weeks. This cut provides less valuable time for students to recoup from the tensions of the previous school year, causing them to go back less motivated and still mentally tired. “We aren’t getting the break we’d normally get to prepare for the coming school year,” senior Katera Braggs said. “We didn’t get to rest as long as usual, and are still trying to make up for that right now.” Not only does stress come from
a decline in time to calm down from the previous year, but also from a shorter deadline on summer work. Summer assignments cut away from student’s time during break anyway, let alone with the shorter schedule. It also takes away time from other commitments and things that need to
“Students are definitely a
lot more tired, and it takes a bit more to get them in tune. Andrew Lenselink
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By Erinn Veach
get done, such as college applications. Crucial time dedicated to studying for SAT and ACT testing is also cut short. “The shorter summer puts more pressure on students to get summer assignments done in a shorter amount of time than previous years have had,” Braggs said. “It forces many people, especially us seniors, to get stuff done even earlier so we can start preparing for college too. It seems like application due dates are coming on quicker because of it, since we’re in school during the process while in previous summers we weren’t.” School sports schedules have also been scrambled by the change. Practices for many of the fall sports were pushed deeper into the summer. This made it
so students had to be at school a month or more before it even started to prepare for the comign fall season. Although practices were scheduled, the hectic nature of summer leaves athletes feeling less prepared for the competitive season. “Cross country practices started in early July this year,” junior Dana Detweiler said. Opportunities to make money in summer jobs are also cut short. Two less weeks of summer cause for two less weeks of a possible paycheck. Students need this money for many reasons, whether it be paying for a car, helping with family expenses, or saving up for college. Students are not the only ones feeling the downfalls of the decrease in break time. Teachers are having more trouble engaging students due to the drop in motivation caused by the changed break. “Students are definitely a lot more tired, and it takes a bit more to get them in tune,” math teacher Andrew Lenselink said. The new schedule has not been relatively beneficial for most everyone. Teachers and students alike have felt the rush in getting back to school. It leaves everyone less prepared and more strained, starting off the year on a lower note. Students and teachers will feel the shortness of this summer, but everyone will power through it, leaving next summer feeling all the more long and calming.
September 2017
26 opinion
Cultural Appropriation 101 A
ccording to Oxford Reference, the definition of cultural appropriation is “a term used to describe the taking over of creative or artistic forms, themes, or practices by one cultural group from another. It is in general used to describe Western appropriations of non-Western or non-white forms, and carries connotations of exploitation and dominance.” On social media platforms today, we see celebrities embracing these supposed “new and original fashion trends” when in reality, it was these same celebrities that
the fashion world, but does so in the wrong way. Lip injections have taken the world by storm after a light was shined on Jenner’s newfound “big lips.” While this is a trend in today’s society, mainly Black women were made fun of
“With celebrities placed
in the spotlight, people are influenced by them whether it’s intentional or not, thus leading to people picking up on these trends.
“
By Kaeli Britt
of fashion. These items that act as accessories to “festival looks” are actually just appropriated Indian culture - this includes bindis and traditional Indian bridal dress attire. The well-known clothing store Urban Outfitters is infamous for selling appropriated clothing. Urban has taken multiple cultures, like the Navajo and Hindu, rebranded them, and sold items as “new.” Even though they might just be trying to appeal to their customers by selling what is supposedly in style, it does not make it right to take someone else’s entire culture for the sole purpose of making money.
in the name of some youtubers, like Jeffree Star. In promoting his makeup brand, Star took to social media to post pictures of his makeup on specifically handpicked models. However, the model that received the most backlash was wearing a foundation made to have the appearance of being “dark” when the shade was clearly too dark for her. After the public noticed this, many people went on Twitter and demanded to know why a non-black model was being used to promote a darker shade of foundation obviously meant for darker-skinned people when a model of that color could’ve been used instead.
Another type of cultural appropriation is blackface. Blackface is when a non-black person dresses up, like a character, as a black person. A well known, more recent example of blackface is from the Netflix show, “Dear White People.” The plot of the entire first season of the show revolves around a blackface party that occurred on a college campus proving that racism still exists. Even though some people might claim this situations like this never happen in today’s society, they do, just in a different light. Blackface in makeup is a tragedy that has recently sprung up
Around Halloween, everyone is usually on the lookout for a fashionable, yet creative costume. Do not include a culture that is not your own. Do not wear a cosutme that is racially inappropriate or insensitive. No, the “Indian girl” dresses are not cute, they are rather offensive. Stick to princesses and pirates for costumes. Please. Cultural appropriation is indefensible. Those who try to defend it have no valid argument because they aren’t the ones who have had to deal with being made fun of for dressing in a certain way that is different from everyone else’s norm.
Ryan Almazan
made fun of those who started the same trends in the past. False idols are born when the media portrays enhanced images of celebrities. With celebrities placed in the spotlight, people are influenced by them whether it’s intentional or not, thus leading to people picking up on these trends. Right now, Kylie Jenner is a rising entrepreneur with her won self-named brand thanks to her makeup company, Kylie Cosmetics. As an upcoming businesswoman she’s forced to maintain an “image” for the media. To help keep up with and broaden this image, Jenner also takes part in
The InvestiGator t GVHS
for having big lips in the past. We’re currently faced with the look that used to be considered “ghetto” for girls - the hoop earrings, long fingernails, crop tops, and cornrows, which are not the same thing as boxer braids. In the early 2000s, mostly Latina and Black women were consistently degraded for this type of dress. But, because people now are glamorizing this style, people everywhere, including those who used to make fun of Latina and Black women, now claim to have found a “new fashion trend.” Another example this is the “body/ head chains” that are now being presented as jewelry in the world
Rediscovering Gator spirit By The InvestiGator Staff Gator pride has been on decline for a while now. Assemblies over the years have declined in fervor and excitement. The sea of underclassmen now just sit, with droppy faces and beady eyes, as if they could not wait to get out of there. The majority of them aren’t dressed up to begin with. Football games are not what they used to be either. The loud student section that once was, is nonexistent. This decline in school spirit is due to several factors, which are not all controllable, but some are making commendable efforts to resuscitate our once recognized school spirit. Gator Pride was created this year as a class trying to revamp spirit. They are planning special events to get kids more involved in school and such, which might end up working great, and we sure hope it does.
Although this is a great idea, it seems to not be enough. We believe that this huge downturn of spirit in our community has to be attacked from several angles. For one, after the Instigators were banned in 2014, administration and staff should have done more to encourage the creation of a group to take their place. Sure, they were banned for breaking rules, but those who banned them weren’t the ones cheering at the top of their lungs when our football team scored a touchdown. They were largely responsible for the buzzing atmosphere and cheering at football games, especially when we played rivals such as Coronado or Basic. No one was really there to take their place after, and the difference in atmosphere was surely felt. In addition, it seems that more effort should be taken by Student
Council to encourage kids to go to our sporting events. Half the time it seems like anyone who goes does not even bother cheering, and if they do, it is extremely short lived. Of course it is not easy to encourage students to go, but there must be someway because if other schools can, so can we. There is no perfect solution to solving this lack of spirit, but it seems like multiple parties need to step up their game. The largest responsibility lies in the hands of students. Having school spirit is cool, it builds up the school’s name and it makes us look like a force to be reckoned with. It is not lame or stupid to actually participate in dress-up days and such. We should all be proud we attend the school we do, and are afforded the opportunities it offers us. The Swamp needs to come crawling back to life. Pronto.
STUDENT SPEAK
How do you think we can improve school spirit?
“I think students should get more involved in everything, like going to clubs and sports.”
Sarah Arendt, freshman
“I think we should have better, more creative spirit days. Every year they’re the same. New ones would motivate people to dress up.”
Katrina Ramos, junior
“Maybe if we did more things together. Like after school events that bring us all together outside of school.”
Zane Smart, sophomore
“I think we need to show the freshmen how the Gator Way is and how we do things around here. Also, more people need to participate in sporting events and spirit days.
editorial 27
Editors-in-Chief: Sarah Fernandez Shila Sherafat Editors: News: Anastasia Koulich Features: Kaeli Britt & Kiara Thomson Sports: Meka’la Parker A&E: Maycee Labo Opinions: Sydney Lum Managing Editor: Erinn Veach Photo Editor: Brynne Hilton Reporters: Harley Barbre Bethany Casall Madison Cox Abigail Culpepper Gabriella Ghasserami Hailey Gross Alyssa Hulse Skylar Jones Casey Li Nora-Jo Paramo Jenna Ricciardi Victoria Rodriguez Hannah Serquina Business Manager: Madison Cox Staff Managers: Gabriella Ghasserani Victoria Rodriguez Advisor: Eric Johnston The 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. Letter to the editors or staff may be delivered to room 825 to Mr. Johnston or emailed to him at emjohnston@interact. ccsd.net.
Kyland Ochsenbein, senior
September 2017
28 gallery
GET IN LINE Members of the GV Marching Band prepare to play during Gator Pride’s first ever First Friday event in the quad during lunch on Sept. 1, 2017. ERINN VEACH | PHOTO