Fountain Valley High School 17816 Bushard Street Fountain Valley, CA 92708
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baronnews.com volume XXX >> ISSUE 1 >> September 2013
FEATURES
New AP of Supervision aims to change school discipline By Jacqueline Liu Editor-in-Chief The new AP of Supervision puts a positive spin on school discipline.
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New AP of Supervision has “big shoes to fill” The new AP of Activities plans to enhance school tradition. By Catt Phan
Arts and Entertainment Editor
For the past four years, FVHS has housed more than one Assistant Principal of Activities, but it looks like Josh Lamar is bringing something new to the table for his first year as a Baron. Lamar brings with him experience on large and small campuses, such as the Capistrano Unified School District and later Community Day School in HBUHSD. As a veteran teacher and first-time administrator, Lamar was not only drawn in by the school’s academics, but its athletics as well. He plans to further enhance the grandeur of FVHS’s tradition. “What goes on a big campus is so critical to your experience as a student and whatever we can do to make it fulfilling for the student body is very exciting to me,” he said. Lamar credits his high school history teacher in sparking his interest in education. What really resonated with Lamar was his teacher’s excitement beyond U.S. his-
tory. “He had a passion for working with kids and I have that too,” he stated. After serving in the army for two years, he attended UC Santa Barbara and later Concordia University where he received his teaching credential. During his time in Capistrano, Lamar earned his master’s degree in Educational Leadership at Cal State University, Fullerton. Besides his passion for teaching, Lamar prides himself in his excellent listening skills and his organization. Making sure the clocks run on time is a priority because he believes it’s the little things matter in the big picture. “My job my first year is to ask, ‘We had this awesome thing, how can we make it better?’ We’re always going to have room for improvement but I want the list of needs of improvement smaller than the list of things we did well.” Lamar will replace Joe Fraser, who served as the AP of Activities for two years. Fraser is now the AP of Curriculum at Westminster High School. “The Activities position at FVHS was [Fraser’s] first administrative job, and he distinguished himself and caught the attention of other district leader-
ship,” Principal Chris Herzfeld wrote in an e-mail. “When opportunities arise, most of the time, it is wise to say yes.” Lamar’s plan is to involve students in events and increase school spirit. He holds himself responsible to bridge the gap between him and those who are reluctant to participate. “I have big shoes to fill,” Lamar said. “Fraser was definitely an amazing showman. I’m a team player. He’s got a different style. I don’t shy away from that but I like to bring students into that role. Despite frequent turnover in the Activities position, Lamar is devoted to being here for the long haul. He recalled advice that Herzfeld offered to him as he was settling in. “Mr. Herzfeld said that I will understand this job and this position in year three,” he said. “But my goals are longer than that. I’d like to be in this position for no less than five years.” Lamar also wants to make sure students will enjoy their high school years .“FV has a rich tradition so being a part of something that’s bigger than myself is an amazing experience,” he said.
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Senior creates own baking business
Page 2
September 2013
Robinson will bring her experience as a teacher into her AP position.“The first thing I do is I get out of the classroom and make sure I’m still connected to the students that way.”
With a pregnant belly, and a smiling face surrounded by bangs, Assistant Principal Courtney Robinson is hardly the face of school discipline. “I’m number one first and foremost an educator,” she said. “I never forget that; I take my teaching experiences and my dealings with the students with me into my administrative position.” Robinson has stepped in as the new Assistant Principal of Supervision at FVHS. She will replace Jessie Marion, who served as AP of Supervision for less than a year. “Ms. Marion took the Supervision position at FVHS because she wanted to work here and gain an understanding of the culture of our school and district,” Prinicpal Chris Herzfeld wrote in an email. “With her expertise, experience and skill, district leadership recruited her for the AP of Curriculum position at Marina High School.” Robinson began her career in education at Capistrano Valley High School as a history teacher and activities director. “I wanted to teach because I have a passion for students,” she said. “Not just for teaching the curriculum, but to help them grow into adults and help them reach their highest potential.” After teaching at Capistrano Valley, Robinson became AP of Cur-
riculum at Ocean View High School, where she oversaw history and English curriculum. At FVHS, she plans to work with the English department in its transition to Common Core. “Common Core is not completely changing everything,” she said. “I think that’s some of the miscommunication with the standards. You’re still going to have fiction in your English classes, but 86 percent of your standards are the same. English is going to be making some changes with their curriculum. But I think definitely it’ll give students a more well-rounded approach to English and literacy in general.” As theAP of Supervision, Robinson has her own take on school discipline. “Students can make bad decisions, but just remember that it’s just a bad decision and it’s not an impact of their character,” she said. Robinson worked with Capistrano Valley’s Associated Student Body and plans to collaborate with the new AP of Activities Josh Lamar. See New AP of Supervision, Page 5
Staff Credits Editors Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline Liu Arts and Entertainment Catt Phan News Karen Trinh Sports Jessie Le Photo Managers Ashley Le Tue Duong Designers Chief Designer Trang Le Staff Esther Abosch Amina Ahmed Vivian Bui Heather Carr Ryan Chu Jennifer Chu Lindsay Danley Alex Doan Brent Frederisy
Alaidria Hendrix
Sandy Hoang
Kristie Hoang Ally Lenguyen Lizzie Lingan Katrya Ly Demetria Ma Alvin Nguyen Julia Nguyen Tram Pham Claire Pritchard Nicole Tieu Dennis Tran
Adviser Sean Ziebarth
For more news, go to BaronNews.com.
State law allows students freedom of expression
Martine Caponera runs a small cupcakery. By Katrya Ly Staff Writer
Senior Martine Caponera plays soccer, basketball and balances schoolwork. On top of that, she owns a small business. Martine’s Cupcakes is the brainchild of Caponera, who runs the cupcakery from her own kitchen. “I love baking cupcakes and making things for friends,” she said. “I’ll always be doing things for birthday parties for family, so I thought might as well, just start my own business!” As a child, Caponera helped her grandmother make cakes and cookies for family and friends. Caponera was intrigued and soon took over as the one who would bake. See Martine’s Cupcakes, Page 4
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Ed Code 48907 establishes important rights for public school students. Staff Editorial Being a teenager is difficult at times. You are treated like a child but expected to act like an adult. At times, everyone seems to dismiss your opinions on the basis that you are “just a kid.” However, a law exists that provides us teenagers with an important right. The California Education Code 48907 guarantees public school students
freedom of speech and of expression. Also known as Ed Code 48907, this law gives students of public and charter schools the right to exercise freedom of speech and press through official school publications. Under this code, school officials cannot restrict materials released by school publications unless such materials are “obscene, libelous, slanderous, or likely to incite others to commit illegal or disruptive acts.” As Fountain Valley High School’s print publication, Baron Banner serves as an open forum for student expression and adheres to Ed Code 48907.
Comic by Austin Davis
We aim to provide accurate and diverse information to the student body while upholding the professional standards of English and journalism, respecting every side of the story, and maintaining the unique perspectives of FVHS students. Our goal is to connect students to the various happenings on campus and educate people about the environment with which they interact every day. We strive to promote freedom of expression within the FVHS student body and encourage fellow Barons to exercise this right, even if we are just kids.
BaronNews.com is home to Fountain Valley High School’s student print and broadcast journalism programs, Baron Banner and BBN respectively. BaronNews.com is a public forum for student expression and adheres to California Ed. Code Sec. 48907.