OPINIONS
“ Women on currency causes discussion” p.5
LIFE&ART
“Halloween maze returns with new theme” p.8
FEATURES
“New clubs provide students direction” p.11
THE MATADOR
SAN GABRIEL HIGH/OCTOBER 15, 2015/ VOLUME 61 / ISSUE 2
WWW.THEMATADORSGHS.COM/801 S. RAMONA ST., SAN GABRIEL CA 91776
MCA encourages breast cancer awareness on campus
Potential threat brooks lockdown Shir ley Dinh
Photo by Sunny Chen
Choreo poses after performing on the behalf of Breast Cancer Awareness Week. C a s s a n d ra C h e n From the prettiest of pink dresses to the plainest of pink shoes, students and faculty members alike dressed themselves in the color to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Week, hosted by the Medical Careers Academy (MCA) on Oct. 12-16. MCA established Breast Cancer Awareness Week at San Gabriel High School when counselor Solinet Wong was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Breast Cancer Awareness Week is held in the same month to promote awareness and prevention. MCA president and senior Justine Salazar said that MCA wanted to show high school students that even adolescents can develop breast cancer. “We hope all students see that [breast cancer] is a very serious disease and that they pay attention to [the] warning signs,” Salazar said. Throughout the week, MCA held informational rallies during lunch, sharing information such as the causes, treatments,
and preventions for breast cancer, as well as other statistics. Additionally, many speakers shared facts and personal experiences. MCA coordinator Amy Wu said that MCA hopes to continue the tradition annually. “[Breast cancer awareness week] definitely makes a difference,” Wu said. “Hopefully throughout the week, [the students] will [become] more knowledgeable [about breast cancer].” Junior Jonathan Lim believes that the week helps spread awareness. “[Breast Cancer Awareness Week] allows others to know that this is a serious condition and that people shouldn’t criticize others wearing pink to support a good cause,” Lim said. Friday will be “Pink Out Day,” where students and faculty are encouraged to dress in pink from head to toe. There will also be a competition to see who will be wearing the most pink. Guest speakers include math teacher Harmonie Bassette and retired English teacher Terri Waits-Smith.
Due to a possible threat on campus, San Gabriel High School was put on lockdown on Oct. 9. The lockdown occurred at the end of first period and ended toward the beginning of third period. During this time, all teachers were notified by an email which stated that there was a possible threat on campus in the form of graffiti on the wall of the B-building restroom. To ensure the school’s safety, the police were notified and a campus sweep was held. “When we get a possible threat, we call the police and that [was] when we went on lockdown as a precautionary measure,” Assistant Principal of Student Services Jocelyn Castro said. “We are lucky that we got so many responses from the police department and Alhambra.” With the Homecoming game being held the same day as the lockdown, more precautions were implemented in order to ensure the safety of everyone on campus. “We have increased security, just as a precaution,” Assistant Principal of Student
Services Robby Jung said. “We just want to take the extra step and show that our school and our district are committed to safety.” Some students were curious as to what the threat actually was and how it was handled. “Generally, I think that lockdowns are effective methods of protecting students from a dangerous situation,” junior Amy Hua said. “The fact that the police had to come to San Gabriel and investigated the graffiti for an entire hour makes me think that the threat must have been serious and it makes me curious and quite concerned about the message in the graffiti.” On the other hand, senior David Lo had a different opinion on the lockdown situation. “Honestly, the staff was overreacting because it was just graffiti,” Lo said. “ However, the school did a good job in ensuring our safety and the lockdown was handled maturely for an overreaction.” Students and staff were able to go about their normal day after the lockdown and enjoy the Homecoming football game later that day.
Photo by Erin Truong
Students in English teacher Cady Burkhart’s AP Literature class await further instructions from campus supervisers during the hour-long lockdown.
Bill removes CAHSEE graduation requirement, replacement high school exit exam pending Lu Yue Wang The California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) has been suspended due to its tested material not being in accordance with Common Core standards. On Oct. 7, Governor Jerry Brown signed Bill 172 to stop CAHSEE testing immediately, beginning with the class of 2016. This bill will also allow school districts to award diplomas to students who had failed the exit exam but satisfied all other graduation requirements. Those from classes that graduated in 2006 or after are eligible to receive their diploma; interested parties must contact their school district to see if they qualify. It is unknown how many students fully completed all other graduation criterias, but for those who did, this change would allow them to apply to college, join the military, and present them with more job opportunities. “I think that’s great. I knew some students who were one or two points off because they came to this country and had just learned English and they weren’t able to get that one little piece,” Assistant Principal of Instruction Jeannie Gutierrez said. “It’s exciting that they’ll be able to have their high school diploma.” This exam suspension will last for at least three years until the state develops a new high school exit exam to replace the CAHSEE. As a result, students who failed to pass the exam and who planned to retake it this school year will not be required to do so in order to graduate. As stated in Bill 172, “[This bill removes] the requirement that students pass the high school exit exam as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation or a condition of graduation.” “It makes sense to me that [the] CAHSEE is going to be suspended because it is not connected with what we’re working on in this school with Common Core,” Gutierrez said. “I don’t think that the CAHSEE really reflected the English language learners and what students could do. I hope that [the new test will] paint a more accurate picture of what students learned.”
Students of San Gabriel have had mixed reactions about the removal. Sophomore Brianna Cabrera advocated the suspension, believing that the CAHSEE conflicted with Common Core curriculum. “I think that it’s good that they suspended it to take away some confusion. They should let us get used to Common Core a little more before they reintroduce the CAHSEE,” Cabrera said. Senior Terri Tang also supported the suspension and reform efforts. “I firmly believe that we should stop making it easier to graduate,” Tang said. “Sooner or later, a high school diploma will be worthless; if we set the bar too low, our students will have no chance competing in the most competitive colleges. [That’s why] I support the effort of reforming the CAHSEE.” Other students opposed the change. “I wished that it was not removed because those who had to take it over and over again did it for nothing,” senior Ashley Llamas said. Senior Caren Ly had similar views, saying that she was upset because she had to take it, and now the suspension has made her efforts unnecessary. Some students are staying neutral on the subject. “I feel indifferent. I know some students could care less about the test whereas others really worry. It [kind of] shows two ends of a spectrum. At least those who worried about not graduating because of the CAHSEE would be [let] off the hook,” senior Andy Le said. The California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, will consult with school board teachers, test specialists, school administrators, parents, and students in order to properly formulate a test to secede the CAHSEE. Torlarkson has already suggested forming a test based on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), SAT, and ACT.