Decathlon places first in LA County
In the News Coding Club members participate alongside college students in the LA Hackathon (pg.3) Girls’ basketball to play CIF at San Marino on Saturday, March 1, against Yucca Valley Math Club maintains fourth overall after recent round of Bay Math League at Long Beach (pg. 3) Pennies for Patients wraps up its 2nd week of the month-long fundraiser for cancer research Varsity boys’ basketball advanced to round 2 of CIF and will play tonight at Servite High School (pg. 16) English teacher Mrs. Kim Kadletz leaves SPHS today to begin her new job as testing coordinator Fremont Centre Theatre to host Winter Arts Crawl featuring local artists, bands, and dancers Senior superlative voting ends tonight at midnight but the Google Doc is still available on the senior class Facebook page Science teacher Ms Seema Athalye will be taking maternity leave starting today
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“College Board owns most of the widely accepted standardized tests that play a major role in college admissions... There is no limit on how high they can raise their price. With virtually no competition, they constantly exploit this power...While College Board exam prices are outrageous, the most negative effect of this massive company is how it has turned learning into a ‘blood sport.’” Read more on pg. 5
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By Somi Jun Feature Editor Academic Decathlon scored a record-breaking 54,897.5 points and won first place out of 43 teams at the Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon (LACAD) competition. Team members earned a total of 54 medals and over $1,900 in scholarship winnings. The first half of the LACAD competition took place at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera on January 31, and the second at the University of Southern California on February 7. Results were presented on Thursday, February 12 at an awards banquet in Montebello. The team will participate in the state-level competition in SacraArlene Gutierrez mento March 19 to 22. “The team did a really reBEST IN THE COUNTY The Academic Decathlon team holds up its first-place trophy after its outstanding success in the Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon com- markable job and I’m very proud of them,” Academic (see pg. 2) petition. The team will travel to Sacramento in March to compete at the state level.
Computer Science class to be offered in upcoming year New class focuses on Java for Android application design By Sandra Moore Staff Writer Students will have the opportunity to program Android phones and tablets through Java in the pilot program “Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Computer Science Applications” next school year. The new course will focus on building advanced skills through various programming softwares and will be taught by Mr. Garrett Shorr. PLTW Computer Science Applications will be entirely devoted to using Java and challenging students to create their own Android software applications. “A class that teaches how to design and develop apps for smartphones seems like a really cool and fun class to take,” AP Computer Science student and sophomore Jaehyung Choi said. “I would definitely plan on taking it if I had space available in my scheduling.” Students wishing to enroll in PLTW Computer Science Applications must have taken the Computer Science and Software Engineer-
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Eighth graders preview the high school campus
ing class offered on campus. While PLTW and AP Computer Science will be offered simultaneously, Shorr believes students will benefit from taking both. He recommends, however, that students who are solely interested in program applications should take the course. “Students are limited only by their own creativity when it comes to this new class,” Shorr said. “There’ll be some hiccups, but they’re going to come out with some real-life skills that they can put to use right away.” According to PLTW.org, the course is just one of its many branches of STEM programs. Since its founding in 1997, PLTW courses are offered at more than 6,500 schools in the nation. SPHS will adopt another PLTW course next year, the “BIOMED Pathways” program, which will introduce a four-year medical curriculum. “Word’s just getting out now about the new Pathways, and so far there’s been nothing but support,” Principal Janet Anderson said. “We have so many wonderful electives for students to take different courses, different paths, and so many opportunities. This program is just another opportunity for students to explore.”
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By Andrew Gruhn Staff Writer Over four hundred incoming freshmen and parents attended the first part of Eighth Grade Night at the high school on Thursday, February 19. Presentations took place throughout the campus, showcasing the many activities and classes that South Pasadena High School has to offer. Principal Janet Anderson praised the event as a “low stress introduction to the school.” The event began in the auditorium at 7:00 p.m. where the parents and students were debriefed by Anderson and Activities Director
Casey Shotwell on the happenings of the evening. The visitors were divided into 12 groups which dispersed to stations across campus. Some of the activities that were showcased included drama, athletics, science, foreign language, woodworking, design, photography, and publications. “It is such a huge step from the middle school to the high school,” Anderson said. “We want to provide them with an introduction to the school and some of our programs.” Part two of Eighth Grade Parent Night will be held on Thursday, March 19.
Tucker Judkins
Junior Jack Wilson and senior Marcus Tjajadi introduce the virtual business program to eighth graders and their parents.
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Boys’ soccer secures first:
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Thrilling first place finish clinches CIF berth for boys’ soccer; Tigers to take on Chadwick High School
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