Tiger Newspaper VOL. XCIV NO. I

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Senior girls try out for 2013 Rose Court By Kelsey Hess Senior Staff Writer

Rachael Garner

Senior Jackie Duan advertises Key Club, which recieved 301 total sign-ups during Club Rush on Tuesday and Wednesday. 70 other clubs also participated. See Page 8 for more coverage.

Club Rush captivates Tiger Patio By Kea Hudson Staff Writer Representatives from 71 clubs set up tables and banners for Club Rush during lunch this Tuesday and Wednesday. Crowds of students moved between posters and mascots to sign up for various student groups. The event featured numerous clubs reinstated from previous years. Veterans such as Key Club and the Red Cross Club received 301 and 366 signups, respectively. “We’re just trying to get as many people to join as possible and spread the word about our club,” said Red Cross president

Jessica Ng. “We do a lot of community service and help people in need.” Not all of the clubs were service-based. Club interests spanned from feminism to origami. Students founded 19 new clubs this year, including junior Tabitha Genato’s Yoga Club. “Basically, we’re going to hold yoga sessions, hopefully every Wednesday, in Mr. Whitney’s classroom. And we’re hoping he’s going to instruct us, but we’re still working on convincing him,” said Genato. The event served as an introduction to student life for freshmen and new students.

“Club Rush is a great way for freshmen and new students to find their spot in this school,” said freshman Ari Louie. “It makes me feel very welcome.” Commissioner of Clubs Michael Chang spent weeks organizing the event and was impressed by the outcome. “I think the cool thing about Club Rush this year is that despite there being less clubs than last year, there was still a ton of energy and excitement,” said Chang. “It isn’t easy to stand in the sun, talk to as many students as possible, and to just be energetic. I really admire how all the club representatives were able to do that.”

The first out of four rounds of the 2013 Rose Court auditions was held on September 15 at the Wrigley Mansion. Over one thousand South Pasadena High School seniors and other women aged 16 to 21 from the Pasadena area tried out for one of seven positions on the Court, which presides over the annual Tournament of Roses. The girls were each allotted fifteen seconds to explain why they wanted to be a princess or the queen of the Court. “Trying out for the Rose Court was unique, unlike anything I have experienced in the past,” said senior Jackie Duan. “I thought I wasn’t going to be nervous because I knew it was only a fifteen second tryout, but I was still overwhelmed while standing in front of the committee members.” After their auditions, hopefuls toured the Wrigley Mansion and were professionally photographed. The girls also received two complimentary tickets to the annual Royal Ball, a semi-formal dance solely available to Rose Court applicants. The 200 Rose Court applicants who qualified for the quarterfinal round were notified Wednesday afternoon. Several SPHS girls were selected to advance to the next

Lai named new girls Car show held to varsity basketball coach benefit Rose Committee By Madison Amido Staff Writer Tammy Lai has replaced Rich Kitagawa as the girls varsity basketball coach. Coach Lai is a South Pasadena alumna, teaches physical education at South Pasadena Middle School, and has served as both the boys frosh/soph coach and varsity assistant coach. “She played basketball here in South Pasadena, she’s got a tradition for it, and she has been involved with the program for many years,” said former SPHS athletic director Mr. Ralph Punaro. Senior captain Wen Zeng is looking forward to working with Lai and has high expectations for their season. “[Lai] was my middle school coach, and she was on the coaching staff last year. I’m really glad she took the position

and I think she’ll make a great head coach,” said Zeng. “I think the team will make the transition quickly as it’s someone we are quite familiar with.” Punaro declined to comment on why Kitagawa will no longer be the girls coach, but he did confirm that Kitagawa’s term with the basketball program has concluded. “[Kitagawa] would have to give that explanation. All we can say is that a change has been made,” said Punaro. According to Punaro, a search is being conducted for a new junior varsity coach but at the moment the position remains unfilled. Lai is working with the varsity girls basketball team to prepare for its upcoming season. The girls began practicing during the first week of September for the new season with Lai as their head coach.

By David Yang Staff Writer The eighth annual Cruz’n for Roses Car Show raised approximately $15,000 to $18,000 in revenue, according to the Event Site Chairman James Jontz. The local event, held on

September 16 on Mission Street, served as a fundraiser for the 2013 South Pasadena Rose Parade float. “The streets were packed the entire time, so all the vendors had a really great day,” said Jontz. See “Car Show” on Page 2

Rachael Garner

Over 100 classic cars were on display at the Cruz’n for Roses Clean Air Car Show last weekend on Mission Street.

round, including senior Harley Jennings. “Whether or not to try out was never even a question for me. The first round was all about presenting yourself well: smiling, good posture, eye contact, etc,” said Jennings. “This next round is nerve-racking. My fingers are crossed to make it even further, but I’m really happy to even have made it this far.” Quarterfinals will begin tomorrow at the Pasadena Tournament House at 1:45 P.M. and last approximately one hour. The tenmanner panel will interview each applicant and approximately 75 girls will progress to the semifinal round.

Anastasia Velicescu

Seniors Ambar Velasco and Gabby Gladding review Rose Court rules.

Math CST scores fall By Jason Wang Business Manager The 2012 South Pasadena High School mathematics CST scores dropped significantly from 2011 in three of five sections. California Standards Tests are distributed annually by the State Board of Education as part of a process that ranks schools, districts, and counties based on academic achievement. In comparison to the 2011 CST results, Algebra II scores fell by 26.1 points to a combined grade-level average of 386.7. Algebra I scores decreased by 21.5 points from 349.2 in 2011 to 327.7 in 2012. The General Mathematics average dropped from 354.2 to 338.3. Math teachers have begun meeting with Math Coach Ms Janet Bryson to discuss areas where students need further preparation. The department has made creating a course curSee “CST Scores” on Page 2


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