Granger High School
Tri-Color Times an open forum for student opinion and expression
good luck, mr. cox! rosa perez
photo by: samantha harris
It’s March already. Dang, this year is flying by! Only two months left until graduation. All you seniors better be ready. It’s coming up quick. Many activities are going on in the month of March at Granger. Sadie’s is on the 20th, and it’s also Red Cross month. We can’t forget about St. Patty’s day! The 14th was Save a Spider Day. March includes 35 national holidays. Don’t forget to wear green, Lancers!
banned from fresh market samantha harris daysha hunsaker
ON FEBRUARY 17, 2010, Mr. Cox announced that Granger students cannot shop or hang out at Fresh Market (previously known as Albertsons). If Granger students are caught at the store between 7am-3pm they will receive trespassing tickets. Many students went to Fresh market during lunch. Most of them acted mature when buying their chips or drinks. But some caused problems for regular customers there. It’s making other customers not want to shop at Fresh market anymore. Mr. Cox said, “It’s only a small number of Granger students
fresh market photo by: samantha harris
March 2010
who ruined it for everyone else. We just need to be appropriate and act mature when leaving campus during lunches.” It’s not just Granger students being banned—all high school students are banned. Granger also received a call from Wendy’s not too long ago. A group of students were sluffing there. Detective Randal and Mr. Murdock had to round them up and bring them back to Granger. When a small number of students make the rest look bad, it takes advantages away from everyone. Students need to be responsible when they leave campus for lunch.
Pretty soon off-campus lunches will be forbidden if students continue to cause trouble. “We regret taking this action. The majority of students are wellmeaning,” said store manager Mike Spencer. “Some however, have chosen to use bad language, block entryways to the store, and behave in ways that do not create a good atmosphere for a regular every day customer.” Mr. Carlisle agreed. “I saw students trying to build a tunnel out of salt bags so they could hide and smoke,” said Mr. Carlisle. “I’m not surprised that Fresh Market decided to ban kids.” Assistant manager, Joe Sandoval from Fresh Market stated that students were banned because of vandalism, theft and causing an unnecessary commotion for the regular customers. He said, “Students need to respect the store, and act as if they were with their parents.” Hopefully Ganger lancers will earn the right to shop at Fresh Market during lunch.“We do appreciate the relationship we have with Granger and the community. Perhaps in the future we can take steps to resolve these issues,” said Spencer.
RUMOR has it that our principal Mr. Cox will be retiring. Well it’s not a rumor anymore. On Monday March 15, he confirmed that this will be his last year at granger. After finding out that he would be transferred to a new school next year, he decided to make this his last year and simply retire. “After five years or so the district switches principals, and I didn’t want to start again at a new school.” Although many teachers have also decided to make this their last year in the field of education, the decision to retire is not an easy one to make. “Stephanie [Doutre] and Rhondalee [Paskins] came along singing so long, goodbye. That kind of helped me a little bit. It helps me get on my way,” said Mr. Cox. Even though Granger might not have the best reputation, it doesn’t mean that the staff and faculty dislike working here. We have students with great character and many talents. As for the teachers, it’s pretty safe to say that they’re not so bad either. “I’ve come to love everybody. The faculty isn’t a faculty, you’re all my friends. The kids are absolutely wonderful,” said Mr. Cox, as he announced his retirement. For the new principal, Mr. Haslam, who started working as a principal in 2003, Mr. Cox has many expectations. When asked about his expectations for the new principal, Mr. Cox said, “I hope he keeps the school going in the same direction. School spirit is increasing, avid as well as honors, A.P., GTI, and sports programs are filling up more than ever.” He also said that if the new principal keeps things going like this, “The ghetto Granger will be forgotten and Granger will be known for having great academics and tough teams, I feel like the sky is the limit for Granger and its students.” Leaving the place you have grown to love is always hard. “It is like leaving all of your friends behind, it’s tough,” said Mr. Cox. Although he made the decision
to leave, it wasn’t made without difficulty. “I have two main regrets. The first one is having to leave Granger in the first place. I love Granger. Number two is not seeing the building of the new school through.” With a new school and a new principal, Granger will see many changes. “The new school will be a sort of landmark for the students and the community as well. It will be something everyone in the area will be able to take pride in. It will be a beautiful building. The performing arts area and the little theatre will be amazing as well as the counseling area, the court yard, and even the halls. There will be no more jam ups in the halls.” Mr. Cox was not the only one with some expectations for Mr. Haslam. When asked about some of her expectations for her new boss, Mrs. Okelberry in the front office jokingly said, “I expect he’ll do things the way I want, but I know he won’t.” When asked how she felt about Mr. Cox leaving, she said, “Whenever there is a change among the administrator, it changes the personality of the office and the school. It just changes the school’s dynamics, it affects the entire school.” She also said, “There are always things that we miss about the people that leave, and it creates anxiety and anticipation about the changes to come.” With his retirement coming up, he has already started making some plans for himself and his wife. “I would like to do some traveling. I’ve booked a cruise to Mexico already, and I plan to do some remodeling with my wife.” This is where Mr. Cox parts ways with us Lancers and starts the next chapter in his life. We all hope this new beginning is a fun and exciting time for him and his family. We hope you enjoy your life outside of the crowded halls of Granger. We would also like thank you for the great memories, and for believing that Granger is more than just “ghetto.”
principal Cox photo by: Ivette Aguilera
Volume LI, Issue 8
2 Granger high school
Granger High School Tri-Color-Times
Dear Lancy Do you have a problem or do you need advice? Let Lancy know. Just write to Lancy, p--lace it in locker 931, and she may answer you in the Tri-Color-Times EVERYBODY seeks advice at some point in their life. You can find advice just about anywhere you look, but if the advice you are receiving is not helpful, just ask me, Lancy! I’m here to help all the students of Granger High School deal with everyday “sticky situations” and find solutions to problems. Dear Lancy, There is a kid in one of my classes that is always staring at me and watching me. It is kind of creepy, but I don’t want to confront him. What should I do? Sincerely, He’s a Creeper Dear He’s a Creeper, If this boy is watching you maybe he wants to talk to you and is just too shy. You could try saying hello or being friendly, but if talking to him is just out of the question then ask your teacher to switch your seat so he can’t stare you down. Dear Lancy, I got into a fight with my
closest friend over a guy that we both like, we promised to not let him come between us but he started talking to me and my friend got mad. I don’t want to lose her as a friend, what should I do? Sincerely Boys Suck Dear Boys Suck, You need to sit down with your friend and talk about what’s going on. Explain the situation and tell her that the boy went after you, not the other way around. If this does not solve the issue you might need to choose between your friend and the new boy. Dear Lancy, I have a good friend, and I decided to ask him to Sadies. I got into to some drama between another girl over asking him. In the end I got to him first, but now he is ignoring me! What should I do? Sincerely, Need A Date Dear Need a Date, If he has not tried to talk to you about it yet maybe someone else also asked him
and he’s trying to find a nice way to let her down gently. Don’t stress out over it yet, and if you just have to get an answer then try talking to him about it, but I would also try to wait it out a little while longer. You never know, maybe he’s just trying to find a sweet creative way to answer you. A note to the Lancers! I know you wonderful Lancers enjoy reading my advice, but now I’m turning the tables. I want to hear from you! I don’t mean I need your advice, I want you tell me some of your secrets! Don’t worry; you can keep your identity safe. So don’t be shy lancers! Tell me about the time you aunt had to teach you to shave you face or about the time you had to be checked out of school for not getting to the bathroom in time. Just drop your secret in locker number 931, located upstairs by room 216.
in your opinion the host book review melissa reed
IN THE HOST, Alien souls invaded Earth unexpectedly, and inserted themselves into the back of human brains to take over their bodies. After implantation, the human soul drifts away, and the alien soul would take control over the host. Earth became completely consumed by “body snatchers”, as referred to by the humans. Alien “seekers” would gain information from the human’s memories after being implanted in order to find other potential host bodies that are still human. Souls believed humans, being as dangerous and violent as they were, were not worthy of living on the wonderful Earth. Souls were supposed to be gentle, nonliars, and nearly perfect in every way. After Wanderer (the alien soul) was implanted into Melanie Strider (human host), Wanderer believed that Melanie would fade away, as all normal hosts should. After a couple a weeks, Wanderer began to feel frightened of the
March 2010
resistant host, Melanie, would not fade. Wanderer’s main job became to gain information through Melanie’s memories to find where, and if, her two loves (Jared and Jamie) were still alive, and feed that information to the seeker. Melanie, however, would never betray her loves, and protected her most precious memories from Wanderer. Wanderer did see her other memories, though. She fell in love with Melanie’s two loves as well. Not knowing whether Jared and Jamie were dead or alive, Wanderer risked everything to find out. She no longer was working on the alien souls’ sides; she was going with her heart to find the ones they were both so desperately in love with. With nother to g on other than a puzzled clue on the back of an old photo from Melanie’s uncle Jeb in her memory, they go on an epic journey through the harsh and dangerous desert. After being labled “traitor” by her fellow
souls, Wanderer became attached and found her self unable to give humans up. Her first adult novel, this book demonstrates that Stephanie Myer is capable of taking her love stories to any depth and can work with a plot that other love writers wouldn’t dare to touch. This SCI-FI is for not only those who enjoy this genre, but more for those that usually don’t. It goes into the alien’s origin, the nature of them and taking over Earth, but the main purpose of this book is what it means to be human and how much we take advantage of it on a daily basis. There is passion, love, frustration, action, hate and sympathy felt in this story. Although love stories often affiliated as “chick-flicks” this book should definitely be read by both genders. Even Twilight “haters” can enjoy this book. Stephanie’s writing in this book reveals multiple points of view with different characters through out the story.
Boy meets world album review delana tran
BOY MEETS WORLD is Fashawn’s first album and is also a concept album about a boy growing up and pursuing the dream of becoming a rapper. Fashawn’s story goes deep and pulls the listener’s heartstrings because the album shows his struggle and his innocence being raised from the slums and working his way to the top. To be most sincere, Exile makes any rapper sound better than they really are. With that said, Exile’s production and Fashawn’s delivery, together, make a compelling album. Exile
uses samples that complement the songs very well and Fashawn’s flow is smooth and on point. “Father” and “Boy Meets World” are the recommended songs on the album. Lyrically incredible and contains actual substance, the entire album contains a soulful and youthful vibe, a fresh and new structure for the rap listeners out there. Five stars for the inspirational message by projecting it through Fashawn’s life experiences: Starting at the bottom doesn’t mean you can’t work your way to the top.
go lancers! Volume LII, Issue 8
Granger high school 3
Granger High School Tri-Color-Times
in our opinion super senior
worth your effort whitney hards
brequel buckely
IT’S NO secret that privilege comes with age. Teenagers have a heck of a lot more freedom than toddlers, and for good reason. This is no different when it comes to education. Each additional level of education brings with it new and exciting opportunities. Elementary school: Crayons, cursive and counting. Jr. High: Lockers, class changes, and puberty. High school: Driving, dances, and clubs. As High school students we often forget how privileged we are. We overlook all the things we have and choose to focus on what we don’t have. Rather than being grateful for the education we are getting, we are the ones who complain the most about going to school every year. For too many students, senior year becomes a time to sluff and break the rules. This sad truth has lead to Senator Buttars’ proposal to phase out the 12th grade. Before you start jumping for joy because you’re getting out of a year of school, take a second to really think about what the absence of the 12th grade would mean for us students. Senior year is very special. This is the first year that students really get to exercise their freedom when it comes to their education. No longer are students restricted to certain classes. Instead of dreading the same thing every day, seniors are given the opportunity to choose their schedules which ensures for them, a better learning experience. It also ensures a lesser chance of these students sluffing class since the classes weren’t chosen for them, but by them. I hated the fact that my sophomore and junior years were spent going to the same core classes over and over again. You can only learn about common denominators for so long before you go insane, no offense to the fine math teachers currently employed here. Sometimes the only thing that kept me going last year was that little voice inside my head whispering, “Next year you get to decide!” What Senator Buttars is overlooking, is the benefits that come from involvement in our own education. Sophomore and Junior years are the time for students to decide what they want to do with their lives after high school. Senior year gives them the chance to explore those ideas and options. We are very lucky to have the GTI in our school district.
Students have the opportunity to try out different careers in many different fields. The only downfall to the GTI is that because it is off campus, the classes are not one, but two periods long. You don’t get multiple credits for these classes, so when students decide to give GTI a try they have to be willing to take the hit on their transcripts. As of now, this has not really been a problem. If the 12th grade is removed, however, we will be losing a whole year’s worth of credit building opportunities. The GTI’s classes would be completely abandoned out of fear of not having enough credits to graduate. Another thing that the government seems to be overlooking is the total ridiculousness that would be sending seventeen-year-olds to college! Students are barely ready at eighteen. By then parents aren’t sending off their young high school students, they’re sending out adults. The college life is supposed to be a time for higher education, self-search, and life changing experiences. What makes Mr. Butters think that seventeen-yearolds would be ready for the kind of learning that needs to be done in the college classroom? How can you search within yourself when you are too busy looking forward to your eighteenth birthday party? What about dating? It’s not uncommon for underclassmen to date the older students in their school. So when a college freshman is seventeen and a college senior is twenty, there could be a few problems. Would we be sending college guys to jail for taking the new freshman girl to the dorm party? It just doesn’t make sense! It would be easy for the government to take away the 12th grade and make it look like a good thing. It’s not like seniors go to class anyway right? Why not just take two years of nothing but core classes and then go straight to college? Sound good? I don’t think so. So juniors and sophomores, don’t take your senior year for granted. If you choose to sluff and slack off your 12th grade year, you may contribute to the phasing out of 12th grade. Think about all those privileges that come with being a senior and be grateful that you still have the chance to enjoy them.
teachers, get fingerprinted by april 2nd March 2010
STUDENT’S life is exhausting. A simply put and partially true statement. To most of our elders, this statement is regarded as absurd. When spoken by students who autopilot through classes and rush home to greet their beloved Xbox, it seems nothing more than a joke. To the few who apply and involve themselves, the severity of this statement is no laughing matter. The extracurricular world at Granger offers many activities to capitalize on one’s energy. From playing sports to performing arts, no students here should go without burning themselves out every now and then. Drawing from my own personal experience, the most exhausting thing to be a part of within this school is the musical. It is, however, also the most rewarding. The long, grueling preparation for the musical kicks off with vocal practice. This consists of going over every song until the melodies and harmonies are burned into memory, and spending long, dull hours in the choir room after school. Fairly easy, but the repetition is almost sickening. Once the songs are learned and polished, practice moves to the stage. Blocking and choreography commence, which is where the hard work begins.
The struggle to learn and memorize each and every movement along with the right timing can be a tedious procedure. Choreography is both mentally and physically exhausting, and the pressure is high. Too much time cannot be wasted on any individual number, so the cast members must push themselves to learn quickly, and learn well. It is one thing to execute a dance move, and another thing entirely to execute it with style. Singing and dancing fabricate a musical production, but I believe that acting is its lifeblood. It is enmeshed with every element of the production taught to the cast. Cast members have to add personality and style to the dancing and singing for the number to be a hit. Character development is vital. Each actor has to develop his/her character, whether they’ve been given a part or not. Members of the ensemble each represent an individual person with his or her own story to tell, regardless of whether or not the storyline of the musical centers on them. Acting for those who do not have specific roles can actually be much more intricate than for those who do. If you do not have a set character, then it becomes your own creation. Still, for any
actor, putting yourself into the mindset of a different person with different dilemmas and ambitions is not an easy process. There are also personal relationships and outside conflicts to consider. The musical requires a lot of time and devotion, which takes away from the personal lives of the cast members. This can be especially difficult for those who have jobs and other responsibilities outside of school. Late night practices keep students away from their families or work night after night. This can cause emotional strain, or add to the student’s list of worries. Putting a show together is exhausting and stressful through many aspects. It pushes your mind and emotions to the brink, and wears out your body. Not to mention the disastrous results when things don’t go according to plan or schedule. I have experienced breakdowns from stress caused by the musical, and I’m not alone. Sometimes, it feels like too much to handle. Then comes the moment you walk on stage and your own anxiety dissolves instantly. The lights and music cleanse you of yourself and project you into another world. The feeling is euphoric and sublime. I stick with it because this is something I truly love.
generation me samantha candland
I WILL be the first to admit that I love me. Actually, I mostly love my hair. In a sense, I sometimes consider it my pride and joy. I do not know when or why this obsession rose to surface, but since at least 10th grade I have had to look at, touch up, tassel, and manage my hair everywhere and anywhere I go. Do not be surprised if in the future you see a bold newspaper headline declaring “GIRL TAKES BULLET FOR HER HAIR” and it turns out to be me. Despite how radical I can be, I think it can also be a fairly healthy fascination. It does not hurt me, or anyone else for that matter. I just appreciate looking good and having clean, soft hair, rather than it being tangled and greasy. At least I am not so crazed that I believe myself to be drop dead sexy and insist on being nude all the time. Sadly, some people are so selfobsessed though that behavior like walking around bottomless to parade the goods is acceptable. They see the world and everything in it theirs, and theirs only, never
ceasing to use their favorite words in almost every sentence: I, me, mine, my, and myself. Jean M. Twenge, PhD., psychologist at San Diego State University, writes in her book, “Generation Me”, that young people nowadays, who would be us, think “the importance of their individual (self) supersedes all other concerns”. They believe that there are more ways than one to do things, so long as it benefits them and their personal interest. I doubt any of you can deny knowing someone who is just like that. You know, the one who insistently moans and groans when the girl’s-night-in does not feature her favorite movie, or the guy who always has to gloat about how many girls he can get. Perhaps you are the person in your clique of friends that does that. Twitter, one of the many new online, status-updating fads, allows people to type up what they are doing right then and post it on their web page. Behavior like this is obnoxious. I promise, unless people really like you, nobody
cares what you want 24/7. Folks these days should truly realize that other people can have an opinion and get what they want, too. If we live in what we call an equal opportunity population, the rights and privileges of all the members should be equal, also, rather than a one-way street favoring a oneway person. Maybe our generation needs to step away from the norm of selfcenteredness and embrace the idea of improving other’s lives and comfort. Giving into other ideas and making someone else smile is far from what I would consider to be unnecessary, and taking the occasional break from what tickles only your fancy will make you appreciate what you do have more. It is kind of like a winwin situation, which everyone, including the selfish, can benefit from. Though many youngsters think it does, I have to tell you, the world does not revolve around one “highly significant” individual’s needs. Nobody is that cool. And even if it did, I am pretty sure it would be me and my hair.
Volume LII, Issue 8
4 Granger high school going green daysha hunsaker
ALL WE ever hear anymore is go green this and go green that, but what does it all mean? Granger doing their part to stay green, if not what more can we do? Recycle things that can be recycled it will help. When I think of going green I think recycle, using cotton grocery bags, turning lights off, using less water, and carpooling, which are just some things people can do to help the world be greener. What is Granger Doing? At G.T.I. (Granite Technical Institute) there are three bins for recyclables, cans, paper, and plastics. Is there not enough around Granger or do our classmates just not care? When asking several people if they recycle or do anything to go green, seven of them said yes, five of them said no they don’t, and three said they at least try to. Ms. Clark just recycles everything at home because it’s easier. Conserving energy is also “going green”. This means turning lights off as you leave a room, un-plugging unnecessary items, and when your parents go to buy new appliances tell them to get the energy saver ones. Some students said they wouldn’t mind “no light” classes, using natural light during class. Almost every room in Granger has windows to let in more than enough light to read and write with. Is “going green” actually doing anything for the world? Some people aren’t sure; others say people have nothing to do with global warming. In fact, green is saving people and the country a
lot of money in lots of different areas. “If more people care about the world, we can protect and save it,” said Dr. Miller. If you don’t know, Dr. Miller is the one who put Granger’s recycling program together two years ago. She wrote a letter of proposal to ACE recycling, set up the funding, which meant lots of hard work to get a grant to pay for the pickups and bins, and has already been recycling paper, cans, and plastics in her own classroom for years. Recycle bins are placed all around the school grounds: In the lunch room, math and English building, by the vending machines, and some teachers even have separate bins in their own classes. Use these bins to help Granger be Green. You may think recycling one piece of paper won’t do anything, but it does. That one piece of paper adds up with all the other one pieces and makes enough to “build a tree” almost. Always remember one little thing can build up to be something grand. Use these tips to help you get Granger and your home to be greener. Take plastic bottle caps off before you put them in a recycle bin. Don’t recycle anything with food particles on it. Use both sides of the paper. Turn lights off when you’re the last to leave a room. Un-plug unnecessary items when you’re not using them. Take shorter showers. Only go 65 M.P.H. on the freeways (saves gas), and use all other resources wisely.
Granger High School Tri-Color-Times
retiring teachers yanira bayardo
FOR A FEW teachers, this will after this year. “Granger is like be the last year teaching at a second home to me,” she said. Granger High School. About five She has taught at this school for teachers will be retiring this year: over 34 years. She has mixed Rhondalee Paskins, Jacqueline emotions about retiring. She Catten, Michael Folster, Steven said, “It is a stage of life. I’ve Paur, and Stephanie Doutre. Paskins has taught at Granger for over 31 and ½ years. Paskins feels excited about retiring but will definitely miss Granger, the students, and the staff. After retiring, she hopes to continue singing in a band with her husband and wants to visit the ranch she owns more often. She also wants to travel a lot. Paskins favorite thing about Granger was getting to know the students and also loved coaching. She gets numerous letters ms. catten from students she has photo by: yanira bayardo had. Students write thank you letters to her. She previously received a letter and a picture of a student had a wonderful career, but there graduating college. She said that are more opportunities out there waiting for me. it is definitely worth it. All her years at Granger she has Paskins will definitely be missed taught only social studies. She has at Granger. She has contributed been at Granger along time and in so many ways: Coached said that the diversity, technology, gymnastics for ten years, seven and population have changed a of which they went to region, lot of the years. The thing she is spent eight years coaching girls going to miss about Granger is and boys tennis, ten more years the students and colleagues. coaching the cheerleaders, Stephanie Doutre said, “I feel eighteen with the Lancer Action great about retiring, or else I Team, and so much more. wouldn’t be doing it. I am looking Jacqueline Catten is also forward to having my time!” she another teacher that is retiring
said joyfully. Her plans for after retiring include traveling more and also going golfing, fishing, taking piano lessons, joining a bowling league, and doing more community service.
Doutre has been teaching here for about 31 years. Her favorite thing about teaching at this school is the diverse students and what she has learned from them, and also the friends she has made. “My favorite memories come from all the years I have coached,” she said. She coached volleyball for fifteen years, basketball for five years, softball for two years, and track for four years. “Why I chose a a teaching career to impact students and athletes. I hope I have made a difference in their lives,” said Doutre.
technology grant funds ipod touch program samantha harris
IF YOU were not informed, recently 15 teachers were sent an application to win a free iPod touch for class use. But if they
March 2010
decide to retire or move schools, the iPod stays at Granger for the next year's teacher use. So it's just like a regular old textbook we
usually use. How they got the iPods is a different story. The school received a grant to buy roughly 60 iPods for Granger High. The 15 teachers who received these iPods include Ms. Johns, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Johansson, Ms. Turner, Ms. Moore, Mr. Nelis, Mr. Sanada, Mr. Van Tassell, Ms. Fichialos, Ms. Chalmers, Mr. Cloclough, Ms. Curtis, and Mr. Cykalewicz. The 45 left over are for student use in class only. The teachers have to sign them out to the students for use. Now that they have the iPods, the teachers had to go to a training program to learn about it. This was taught by the librarian Ms. Asay. Ms.Johns thinks it’s pretty helpful for class. She said, “It’s so awesome that the district wants to incorporate technology in the class room.” Ms. Johns uses the iPod Touch timer, the app aMOVER, and she uses the downloadable books.
When Mr. Nelson was informed he was receiving the iPod, he was ecstatic. Nelson said “The goal is to become connected with students and the technology they’re familiar with.” An app Mr. Nelson enjoys useing the iDOODLE. When the iPods arrived, they all came with a document camera. It’s basically like an overhead but more modernized. Katarina Grimstad (12) thinks it’s actually really cool and interesting. She said, “I’ve used the iPods in filmmaking class; I looked up stuff on the internet.” Is this going to help teachers and students have a stronger connection between each other? Other students don’t think it’s cool that the teacher acquired the iPods. They think it’s unfair. “If students can’t use/listen to them, then why can the teachers have them?” RJ Error (12) asked. He thinks the dance teacher could have used it the most. He thinks they should have spent the money on more important things
instead of the iPods?” He said, “[They should have] updated text books.” What would Jordan School District think about us getting these iPods? Some students think they would be jealous. Others think it’s kind of rude that they need the money and we just waste it on iPods we didn’t need. Did Granger need these iPods or should the grant have bought something people actually use more often? A couple students didn’t even know Granger got the grant for the iPods, which is weird because it’s supposed to help connect students with teachers. Hilary Reed (11) had no idea they got the iPods. Reed said she thinks, “It’s good, but also bad that we got the iPods.” Hopefully having these iPods will help with the relationship between teachers and students here at Granger. If you know one of the teachers who has an iPod, influence them to use it more often.
Volume LII, Issue 8
Granger high school 5
Granger High School Tri-Color-Times
where do they go? yvonne huynh
STUDENTS choose not to attend classes, yet alone school. Ditching, cutting, and sluffing are the terms we use to describe this behavior. Students hide in bathrooms, go to other classrooms, walk in the halls, or grab a bite to eat. Cutting class has a range of consequences: a truancy ticket, a long lecture, or a slap on the hand. Evan Thongphanh (10) said, “Ditching class is fun until you get caught.” School is in session for exactly 6 hours and 40 minutes. Most of our friends and/or acquaintances’ are at school. That is the problem; since students like to be with each other most of their time, they intend to sluff with one-another. People like to go with the flow and do what others are doing. Students feel pressured if asked by an individual to cut class, because they’re too scared to say no. Trevor Higginson (10) believes not going to class will end up making the ditcher stupid. Students come to school, but
decide to overlook and leave 1 or 2 classes. School isn’t even that bad. If the class work is done, time goes by a lot faster. Though there are sometimes those “boring teachers” and school can be tiring, high school teaches students how to become mature and prepare for the “real world” outside of parent’s care. It’s better to have a high school diploma than not. Most jobs require adults to have some type of diploma. Carlos Jauregui (12) said, “People end up working at McDonalds if they sluff because they can’t do their class work.” People complain that “I’m not smart enough”, “the work is too hard”, or “I just didn’t have time.” Life is hard; it won’t get easier with complaints and excuses. Students say Granger is such a “ghetto” school, that no one graduates and everyone ends up dropping out. Even if it’s just one less person making a difference by choosing to sluff, it can influence the choices of others.
carlos jauregui photo by: julie hor
students need to cover up samantha harris
DRESS CODE is a touchy topic for some administration and students here at Granger. About four years ago, Granger didn’t have a strict dress code. It was just the general rules that normally would be the appropriate dress code for school hours. Hats were allowed at one point. Also, you wouldn’t get busted for wearing a three fingered strap shirt. Then everything changed. Spring is right around the corner. Granger students will be seeing a lot more dress code violations. Tori Casados (12) said, “I’m busting out the booty shorts. Be sure not to go into the office if you do.” Casados has been caught out of dress code numerous times, but she still hasn’t learned her lesson. Dress code is an issue here at Granger. Debbie Okleberry has given out many shirts to students in violation. Okleberry said, “Have some self respect and cover your body. I don’t appreciate tori casados photo by: samantha harris cleavage on top or bottom.” It’s all fun and games till someone gets caught, right? So what is the right dress code we The shorts might make her more noticeable, but the boy is going to all should go by? Granger’s official handbook look no matter what. It’s natural. We all know the rule of no hats, states, “We want to promote headbands, doo-rags, or anything effective learning, increase that can be worn on your head. safety and security, and avoid Jessica Zavala (12) doesn’t agree distractions by enforcing and with the hat dress code. She’s had improving Granger High’s dress at least ten hats taken from her code.” Clothing should be modest by Murdock. She says, “Watch and safe and be appropriate for yourself if you’re out of dress school. code.” Boys included. Also, clothing that honors the At some point, every student death of a friend or family member here has seen a boy walking is not allowed here at Granger. strangely, holding the middle of Face paint, spikes, chains, and his pants, walking with his legs gloves. open. This is because of sagging. If a girl is wearing a pair of It’s a growing trend. Peter jeans versus some shorts, is it Gonzalez (11) says he’s been going to make a difference from a ‘pantsed’ by a friend because of boy or two checking that girl out?
sagging. He also stated, “Dress code is pointless in a way, but it does help... I guess.” Sagging is a problem here at Granger. That doesn’t seem like the issue with a high school in Philadelphia. They’ve banned students from wearing any type of hoodie at school because it’s hard to identify the student when wearing a hoodie. If Granger decided to do this, some students would just say, ‘Gee, just give us uniforms why don’t ya.’ Lancers, if you don’t want this to happen to us, then ladies be sure to pull up the low shirts and boot the booty shorts. Boys, pull up your pants and leave the hat at home. Happy dressing Granger!
have you read that stall? candice davison
THERE is always that one person who has to vandalize the things around them, whether it is a business, a car, or even someone’s home. In this case, Granger students are always writing on the bathroom stalls. Students can walk into a stall and see a bunch of writing or funny little illustrations all over them. Some kids have conversations with other student by writing on the stall. They will write things like “hey what’s up?” or something, then another student will write “not much, yo”, or however they choose to reply. Even random phone numbers are written in the stalls. Typically,
March 2010
someone should not do that. If the kid wanted everyone to have their number they should find other ways of doing it, not writing it on the walls in the bathroom. Who would want someone else to be looking at their number to text or call them while they are on the “can”? It is disgusting. So what is the weirdest thing written or drawn on the bathroom stalls at school? Elyse Dubois (12) said, “I think it’s funny when people say ‘so and so is a slut’. I also think it is funny when they write ‘I love….’ Bob, or whoever they write, then below that someone else says ‘oh yeah, I slept with him’.”
Illegal substances and drug paraphernalia are also drawn on the stall walls. Dineca Singletary (12) said, “I saw a poem about drugs on the stall one time.” The human anatomy is definitely not neglected in the wall art, proven when Jessica Zavala (12) said, “It may not be very appropriate, but someone drew a (specific) male body part going to work. It had the suitcase and everything. It was kind of funny.” We are in high school, so there is always going to be foul language somewhere in life. Nilcole Dumas (11) said, ‘Someone wrote the ‘F’ word and then ‘all guys’ on the stall before.’”
There are some pretty random tell some interesting stories. things written on the stalls. Girls were really the only people interviewed because every guy asked said there was not much of anything in the boys bathroom. “There is nothing but gang signs and writing on the stalls, walls, and mirrors in the boy’s bathroom. There is nothing interesting or funny about that,” said Carlos Flores (12). Not everybody notices the graffiti; some people just do their business then leave. jessica zavala But if you ever just look at photo by: samantha harris the stalls or walls, they might
Volume LII, Issue 8
6
Spring Fever
March 2010
Granger High School Tri-Color-Times
Volume LII, Issue 8
Granger High School Tri-Color-Times
March 2010
Spring fever
7
Volume LII, Issue 8
Granger high school 8
Granger High School Tri-Color-Times
big, bad, and against the law alejandro garza and brittany edwards
daysha hunsaker and samantha harris photo dramatization by: julie sin
DRUGS: PEOPLE have all been told to stay away from them, being that at early ages kids are provided with such programs as D.A.R.E and ‘Drug Free Like Me’. But what good did these programs do for us when 11 out of 20 teens have done or experimented with illegal drugs? Drugs include everything from narcotics, like ecstasy and cocaine, to hallucinogenic substances, like
marijuana and magic mushrooms. The first hit of a drug like meth or heroin is addicting. They all have an effect on teens which sometimes is irreversible. In school, being in possession of drugs is three days suspension, a court date, community service hours, fines and maybe even some time in a Juvenile Detention Center. The worse the drug the worse the punishment, but there is no ‘worse’ drug because they
are all bad. When interviewed, one of Mr. Folster’s classes said that they know that drugs are bad and know the consequences. If this is so, then why are students still doing and bringing drugs to school? Drugs found on the street are not just the illegal ones either. Prescription drugs are abused and can be addicting, too. NIDA, or the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is a website on teen drug abuse, which gives students, young adults, teachers, and parents information on drug abuse. Drug abuse is an ongoing and growing effect on teens and adults. It is estimated that over 30 million Americans are dependent either prescription or illegal drugs. Carlee Wiley (10) said, “I know a lot about drugs, and that they are bad, and [I know] they can be very addicting.” With all the facts that are presented, using drugs doesn’t seem that flattering, but drug abuse is still a huge problem. There will always be people who choose to do drugs, just like there are still going to be car accidents. It is a bad thing to get mixed up in the pill popping, pot smoking life style, so stay away!
pornography: PORNOGRAPHY is a term we have all heard before. Porn is obscene drawings or pictures that are not artistic related. Many students have looked at some type of porn some time in their lives. We have all heard about students getting in trouble because of sending pornographic pictures of themselves or others, to another person through text, e-mail, MySpace, and so on, but many do not realize why the students are getting in trouble. For starters, it is illegal to send pornographic pictures of yourself (being under the age of 18) to someone else. This is considered child pornography and you can get in serious trouble. If you are an adult (keeping in mind that the
legal age of an adult is 18) and you are in possession of child porn, you can go to jail, and have to pay fines and do community service. This can happen all over one picture that you think is harmless. Possession on the phone is another thing. If you have a naked picture of yourself on your phone it is suggested you keep it to yourself, or you could soon be in big trouble. Should you ever take that kind or picture for whatever reason, don’t send or show it. You may be in possession of pornography, as long as it’s someone over the age of 18, and will not necessarily get in trouble. It is not illegal for someone over the age of 18 to have porn, but it is frowned upon.
rosa perez and armin kadic photo dramatization by: julie sin
sluffers photo dramatization by: julie hor
savinn chhoun photo dramatization by: julie hor
Vandalism: HAVE you ever been sitting in a class, and see something written in your text book that says something such as “turn to page 108” and once you turn to that page, it says “turn to page 457”, and then “turn to page 653” and so on, until you flip to a page that says “Haha ur a lozerr.” Or maybe you’re sitting in class and see that there is a heart on the desk saying “Javier + Emily” or something to the extent of that. We have all seen it, and maybe
March 2010
even done it ourselves. This is considered vandalism. Vandalism is currently the most common crime committed here at Granger. Many students can commit this crime, and not even realize it. Writing on a desk, or writing on the board without the teachers consent is considered vandalism. The more serious onessue spray paint, sharpies, or anything that can be permanent. Most teenagers vandalize to act cool in front of their friends. They do it to become accepted
in their clique, or just to fit in. They will write gang signs to let people know that they are there, and what they represent. Or they write harsh things to let others know how much they dislike someone. Mariel Time (11) thinks that, “people should just get a drawing pad, and draw their feelings, ya’know?” It seems to becoming more, and more of a problem as the day’s progress. We see it everywhere we go, whether it be on the side of a building, or on our street signs.
TRUANCY: MOST students have at least one class that they dislike. They go to all of their classes on the day, but the one that they cannot stand; they simply get in a car with their friends, and drive off to somewhere else. This is considered truancy, or more popularly known as ditching/skipping/sluffing. Many students have skipped class at least once in their time of going to school. Elizabeth Ruzhilo (10) said, “Sluffing can be good in some cases. I mean, everyone should try it at least once before they graduate, just for the experience.” When students skip class,
they want to do something else, something fun. They may go smoke, party at a house, or do something else wild and crazy. Some students do it because they didn’t do the homework, or don’t want to take a test that day. Mrs. Spencer said, “When students sluff, it’s stupid. The district says that when any student sluffs, they cannot make it up. It is also harder on the teachers because we have to stay later to make sure they take some test.” There is a reason that the district wants you to be in class. When students sluff, it not only hurts their grades, but it can take a lot of time out of the teachers’ life as well.
Volume LII, Issue 8
9 Granger high school SEXTING: SEXTING is basically sex in a text message. Sending nude pictures to another person’s phone or sending intimate text messages is considered sexting. At Granger High we have a few students who like to sext as well. In a survey of 48 students, 24 admitted that they have sent sexts before. It is an ongoing trend among the teenage population, and is continuing to grow bigger and bigger. Sexting is a very dangerous act.
If you should send a picture that is nude, or partially nude, it can never be taken back. Once it is sent, it is sent. The person who received this picture may show it to their friends, and others. It can be easily sent to other phones, and can be dangerous. Jessica Logan, 18, lived in Ohio when she sexted her boyfriend. The two of them broke up, and he showed everyone at their school her nude pictures. She was harassed, and humiliated
at her school. She felt horrible about herself, so she committed suicide. This has been the case for some sexting victims. They are humiliated, and embarrassed. That is why sexting is now illegal. Many teens find themselves on the bad side of the sexting fad. Their boyfriends/girlfriends show their friends, and eventually more than who was originally intended to see it end up seeing it. They may post it on the internet, available for the world will see it. Sexting is a very dangerous thing to do while you’re any age. You don’t know who will see it, or what they will do with it. Iesha Shibahara (10) said, “If someone does that, that’s cool, but it’s not my thing. Like, it’s okay depending on the extent of it. Nudie pictures are not good, and, well, dirty talk is okay as long as it doesn’t go too far.” She has not sexted before, and doesn’t plan on it either. That is how a lot of students have felt about this crime. They majority asked thought it was stupid and unnecessary.
that it would take more than one SMOKING: SMOKING under the age of 19 is to make you addicted, but that illegal. There have been rumors is not the case. More than 3,000 going around that you can smoke teens smoke their first cigarette cigarettes at the age of 18, but each day. When you think about that is not true. You cannot buy, it, it may seem to be quite a few, smoke, or have them in your but when you add it all up, it’s possession, until you reach the 1,085,000 each year. Do you have any idea what is age of 19. There is a reason the government going into their lungs? There are has made the legal smoking age to be 19. Before you’re the age of 19, you are still growing. Cigarettes can stunt your growth; stunt your lung growth, yellow fingernails, and unattractive yellow teeth. Smoking can be considered the gate way to an addicting life style. Research by the Surgeon General shows teens that smoke are more likely to start drinking alcohol, smoke marijuana, and are 22 times more likely to try cocaine. You may think that you will never do any of these things, but your mind may change when your friends and the people photo dramatization by: julie sin you are always around get into smoking. Your friends do have a very big influence in your life. many toxins in each cigarette, If they try something and like it, and one of them is the same type they may try to make you try it of tar that is being used to pave road ways. There is also hydrogen as well. It takes only one cigarette to cyanide, which is what they used become addicted. You may think to kill rats during World War II,
benzene, which is what they use to make gasoline, acetone, which is used in nail polish remover, formaldehyde, which is what they use to preserve dead bodies, carbon monoxide, which is found in car exhaust, and last but not least, nicotine, which is the reason smokers are addicted. All of these things are found
sexting photo dramatization by: julie hor
March 2010
in each and every cigarette. Is this what you want going into your lungs? Mr. Fuller does not. “Cigarettes are gross. I don’t understand why anyone would want one.”
Granger High School Tri-Color-Times
fighting: YOU are walking down the hall to go to the bathroom, and there are two students arguing. All of the sudden, before you know it, they break out into a brawl. You see punches flying and you hear yelling over a stupid issue. Fighting can be very dangerous for everyone. You don’t know if they have a weapon on them, or if they will push the violent boundaries too far to win the fight. You may end up with a bruise or two, or something more serious, such as an internal wound. Students fight over silly reasons, such as relationships, gangs, property, and other stupid things. Marcedy Thomas (10) said that “Fighting is dumb. It doesn’t solve anything. They only fight because they don’t understand each other’s differences.”
Many students tend to think that if they hurt someone else, it will help them feel better about themselves. What they don’t understand is that it can cause physical, emotional, and even psychological pain. The physical pain will mend in time, but the emotional and psychological pain can scar the person for life. Fighting is never a good solution to resort in an argument. You never know what the outcome will be. If you should see a fight going on, don’t be the hero and try to break them up. There is a high chance you will get hurt in the process. You can also be fined for trying to stop the fight even if your intentions were good, because you are using force against another student. So instead of getting involved, just try to find someone who will know what to do and can handle
rosa perez and ivette aguilera photo dramatization by: julie hor
shoplifting: SHOPLIFTING is when you go to any type of store, slip something into your pockets or a sleeve, then walk out without paying for it. It seems like teens do it to save money, or act cool. Shoplifting is stealing. That is why Albertson’s [now known as “Fresh Market”] banned all students from their store. Students would walk in during lunch time, grab some food, and walk out of the store. They got a free lunch, and the thought of their friends thinking their cool, and daring. It has happened so much over the years that Fresh Market has said they are done. Most shoplifters are amateurs. They try it just once or twice, just for the experience. That is what most of the students from Granger
are. They don’t do it for a living, but to say they have done it. Ms. Spencer’s 10th grade class and Mr. Clark’s 11th grade class took an anonymous poll, and out of the total 58 students in both classes, only 20 of them said they have shoplifted. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but shoplifting affects our economy in many ways. When students steal from places like clothing and grocery stores, the store then has to up their prices to pay for the stolen items. “Shoplifting is stupid. If you can’t pay for something, don’t steal it, because there isn’t a point in it,” said Mickayla Buonocore (10). When you steal something and get caught doing it, you end up paying more for the item than you would if you bought it.
rosa perez, julie sin, and danny gallo photo dramatization by: julie hor
Volume LII, Issue 8
Granger High School Tri-Color-Times
Granger high school 10
skateboarding is still in the “hip” scene Alisha Smith
EVERYONE has trends, and almost everyone has a “label” to say who or what they represent. But what about those long
forgotten skater kid? They seem to have begun disappearing from the scene. Lately, we’ve had more of the
granger skater photo by: samantha harris
raver kids than the skater kids. Back in the day, skater kids were “what was up.” They we’re the cool kids. Now, they aren’t so popular. At least we don’t think so. Rather than seeing out in the public all the time, skater kids are still around, but they are more underground than mainstream now. There are several reasons for people becoming skaters. For one, it’s great exercise, and a ton of fun. It can be dangerous, but not if you’re wearing the correct safety gear, though few actually do. Skating is also a great way to hang out with friends and get some sunshine. Some kids even skate when it’s raining or snowing! But how does one become a skater? How can kids get the skills skaters have? Because, though it may be a shock to some, balancing on a moving board is much
It’s Illegal to do what?! alan castaneda
harder than they make it look. It’s really not that easy. It mainly takes a whole lot of practice, just like any other activity or sport. Skating is just as much of a sport as football or soccer. There are numerous types of skaters, ranging from the mellow hippie kids to the big jerks. Many think they’re the delinquent children who do nothing but ride around on their board. This is sometimes the case, but many just do it for the ride. A lot of skaters really are good people. Brandon Johnson (12) said, “It’s something I’d rather do over smoking weed or doing drugs.” That’s a great way to defend teens’ skating rights. Skating is definitely a better release than abusing narcotics. There are people who like to ride on long boards, too. The skater kids and long boarders seem to be rival cliques. Skaters think long boarders are fake, while the long boarders fight to prove they are legit.
In the end, though, everyone is just in it for the fun and the ride. Along with making long boards, there is a difference in skateboard styles. A lot of people have said that basically BC and DC boards are the best. BC seems to be the most popular. Yoseph Snounou (10) said he thinks the Board Room is the best place to buy gear. Snounou also said that he only skates BC because of their style. Apparently Granger’s skaters are not all for skate parks. Just about everyone said they street skate because parks are just too crowded, and they can’t really do what they want. Luckily, there are plenty of streets for our skater kids to ride. Jon Casias (10) said, “I skate basically wherever I want… And I do it naked. Totally kidding, but that would be cool.” These kids seem to be pretty free spirited, and also a little nuts. A lot of them are really great people who just have their own way of doing things like anyone else.
cell phones, cops, and fines yasmine carrillo
ALONG with all those other laws Utah has like you can’t text while driving, or how it’s illegal to drive backwards on the freeway, have you ever wondered about the laws you don’t hear too often?
be laws like this, someone had to have done it.” Another law states that it is illegal to detonate nuclear weapons. It is safe to say people can have them, they just cannot set them off. There are some laws that are even stranger. A husband is responsible for every criminal act committed by his wife while she is in his presence. So if a wife tries to kill
gunpowder to cure headaches. It is not certain how much, if any, of these laws are actually enforced. I’ve thrown snowballs in Provo so I doubt they are. To finish it off, apparently all birds have the right of way on all highways, and it’s considered illegal not to drink milk. Boxing matches that allow biting are not allowed, and it is illegal to do “the dirty thing” in a moving ambulance. If you are caught, the guy is let go and the woman is punished and her name appears in the newspaper.
liz tallington photo by: julie sin, julie hor
“I think it’s stupid you aren’t allowed to j-walk because most of the cars don’t even stop at the cross walk anyway. I know why we have the law but it is still ridiculous,” said Genevieve Partner (10). With most laws there is usually a good reason to enforce them, but then again there are those few that make no sense. For example, when people turn 50 years old they can marry their cousin. People must have been marrying their cousins all the time before that law came out. Liz Tallington (11) knew of another wacky one. “A really weird law I’ve heard about is that you can’t molest a butterfly and if you do you get a $500.00 fine. It’s funny ‘cause in order for there to
March 2010
her husband, it really is his fault. Weird laws in Salt Lake City also consist of nobody being allowed to simon thatcher walk down the photo by: samantha harris street carrying a paper bag containing a violin, and whale Now these laws are some of the hunting in Utah being an offence, weirdest laws I’ve seen, but at which is good because the Great least now you know that if a guy Salt Lake is so populated with makes his wife angry, she can whales. kill him and get away with it, at It does not just stay in Salt Lake least according to this. Simon City, either. In Provo, you will Thatcher (10) said, “Laws are get a $50.00 fine for throwing there for reasons even if they are snowballs, in Logan woman stupid. Just remember, someone are not allowed to swear, and got in trouble doing each of those pharmacists are not allowed to sell things.”
LAST year a law was passed over for a different reason. making it illegal for anyone to Patrick Murray (12) said, text while driving, which was “It’s basically a good idea, other called bill HB290. It kind of than the fact that they are only upset people. but turned out to be targeting us. Prohibiting won’t a good thing. This year legislatures have taken it to the next level. There is a new bill being considered called bill SB113. This bill is directly applied to teenagers. Anyone younger than 18 is prohibited to use the cell phone while behind the wheel of a car, and the senate voted initially in favor.. Cesar Olvera (10) said, “I think it’s stupid that they are only targeting teens, parents april nguyen are also to blame. We photo by: samantha harris are not the only ones that crash; this should be applied to everyone.” really do anything. People will Legislature hopes that the still use their phones, they will passing of this bill will help just be more careful about it. to achieve a lower rate of car It doesn’t make sense that we crashes, safer driving, and more are being punished for it when eyes on the road. everyone else does it.” This bill applies to residents and Another student that agreed non-residents of the state. The with Patrick and his belief on this only exceptions to the bill would matter was April Nguyen (11). be during a medical emergency, “We are the reason that they are and the reporting of or the thinking about it, but we should involvement in an accident. all be equal in it. I think that The violation of SB113 is not people will still do it either way.” enough to get teens in trouble; They had to change some things it has to be a secondary offense. on the bill tone it down a bit, but That means that violators could not enough to make it pass.Watch only get cited if they were pulled for another attempt in 2011.
Volume LII, Issue 8
11 Granger high school dream diary regan barker
WHEN people have dreams, they are entering a mysterious and fascinating place where the rules of reality do not apply. I decided it would be interesting to keep a dream journal, so every time I have a dream I hurry and jot it down for the paper just for your entertainment. Enjoy! 2-24-10: All the streets transformed to a liquid tar, and, instead of cars, people were on rafts and pieces of wood for transportation. People were on their houses watching TV and socializing. Some people were even sun bathing on their roof. I was floating on a raft in the tar and ended up in the woods. I found some solid land in the woods and decided to get out and explore. While I was looking around I found an old abandoned house. The house had an entrance to an underground cave in the basement, so I went into the cave. Once I was in the cave there was this strange green glow all over the cave, and the sides and ceilings of the cave were covered in spider webs. All of a sudden this huge spider came crawling towards me. I tried to escape, but it grabbed me. I then woke up in a cold sweat. 2-26-10: Last night I had the strangest dream, I was with a group of people and we were staying in a big old house next to the sea. We were looking out at the sea when, all of a sudden, we saw a load of jellyfish swim up to the shore. To our amazement they turned into people and walked up the beach to the house. At first they were really nice, so we let them in. One of them was painting a picture. I noticed they were not using a brush. They were using a finger, but it didn’t actually touch the paper. I mentioned it and suddenly they started to grab people, stinging them to death. I remembered that you pour vinegar on jellyfish stings, so we poured a big bottle into a couple of spray bottles and ran to the bedroom, locking ourselves in. When it
jorge romero
went quiet, we opened the door to see if they had gone. They suddenly bust in, so we sprayed the vinegar at them, burning them until they left the room in pain. 2-27-10: I didn’t remember my dream last night, but something very scary happened to me so I decided I would write about what happened here. On Saturday night at about 2:45 a.m., I was laying in my room with my cat just petting him before I went to bed. My cat kept looking up at my ceiling as though he was watching something. I assumed it was a bug and tried to go back to sleep. Ten minutes later I noticed my cat was starting to stare at the balloons I had in my room left over from Valentine’s Day. I started to get a little freaked out, but tried my best to ignore it. I laid my head back down and all of a sudden it sounded and looked like someone punched my balloons! I jumped up and turned on all my lights. No one was in my room except for my cat. Now every time I go in my room, I feel like I’m being watched. I don’t look at my room the same anymore. 3-1-10: In my dream I was eating some food at home. As I started to eat my food something in my mouth felt strange. To my horror, all of my teeth started to fall out! I ran to a mirror and I realized that I had no teeth left at all. I was forced to go to school with no teeth. Everyone was laughing and making fun of me. One of my teachers recommended putting sea shells in my gums to make it look like I had teeth. I woke up very relieved that I had my teeth back. 3-7-10: I had a huge box full of old dolls; they were old and very disturbing. My mom told me to take the dolls to my basement. The basement was pitch black, and to get there I had to go down an old spiral case stairway. When I got down the stairs a little girl was crying and holding a kitten. I woke up after that, wondering what my dream meant.
STUDENTS do things outside of Granger when school is over. They have their own lives and do their own things that do not necessarily need the supervision of parents or teachers. Students like MickIy Siharath (12) likes going home after school, hanging out with friends, practices break dancing and B-boy for an hour or so, then later on goes out to eat at the mall. Siharath said, “I hang out there for a bit, and then go home to relax and watch YouTube Video’s.” After awhile, he begins to fall asleep, though it is shortly after that he wakes up and plays video games until he falls asleep again! How lame is that? Get a life, right? Do it! Don’t copy him. Another student that does things outside of Granger is Ryan Doyle (12). “I like to go out to eat after school before I go to work.” After work, Doyle goes to his girlfriend’s house and hangs out there, watches movie and eat
open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5p.m. on Sunday. Now, this café is a little different than the rest. They ask guests to pay what they feel the meal they eat is worth. So if they hated the meal they can pay a dollar, but if they loved it they will pay a more. The suggested donation is eight to twelve dollars for a full meal. At this café they will not deny anyone of food. If you have no money, you can work for an hour and get free food. The café is also different because there is no set menu. The food is mostly grown in their garden or donated, so it changes daily.
popcorn, play board games, or just relax at home. When Doyle is not at work or at his girl’s house, he is working out and kick boxing at the gym or volunteering at a nursing home. Dennis Maldonado (12) goes to pick up his sister at her middle school. He then goes home, does some homework, and watches TV, waiting for his family to come home from work so they can eat dinner.
When Dennis is done eating, he goes to his cousins’ house and plays video games for a few hours, or they go out with friends to party, hang out, or go to the movies. Then he goes home, eats again, watches TV, and falls asleep. Granger students can be busy, busy kids sometimes. That does not, however, stop them from relaxing and hanging out with their buddies.
dennis maldonado photo by samantha harris
legislature stopping UBSCT? medina bajric
TEACHERS often tell students to “make you sure you get enough sleep for the test tomorrow and eat breakfast, it’s extremely important, and if you don’t pass you don’t graduate.” This advice for the Utah Basic Skills Competence Test (UBSCT) might not matter next year. The state legislature wants to put the UBSCT on hold for two years which would mean that the graduating classes of 2011-15 would not have to take it before graduation. It will also eliminate the Criterion Referenced Tests (CRTs) that are taken at the end of the school year.. The bill has already passed the House and received preliminary Senate approval (the senate has said they will already pass the bill without receiving it). Reasons
alan castaneda
March 2010
Tri-Color-Times
what are students doing?
Eat well, Pay what you wish ONE WORLD EVERYBODY EATS is a foundation that has the goal of ending world hunger. It was founded by Denise Cerreta in 2003. Out of this foundation grew a concept for a café. One of these cafes is downtown and is called One World Café. One World Café is located at 41 south, 300 east. When customers first walk into the café, they may think it seems small, but there are many other rooms down the hall. People can also eat at the patio areas in front or behind the building. One World Café serves guests at a serving line, kind of like the service in our lunch room. The food is prepared in the open, so you may find yourself waiting a little bit in line. This café is
Granger High School
Fresh, organic food is typically served, ranging from vegetarian to meat. They also provide water, coffee, tea, and milk, but no soft drinks or alcohol. It is self serve drinks, soup, and clean up, so if you want seconds or even thirds, just go up and get it. This café offers great food and is affordable because, the customers choose the cost. One World Café lives off donations; the furniture, dishes, and the cookware, mostly everything is donated. The café also gives jobs to anyone who needs them. If you walk in with an empty stomach and a full wallet, you will come out with a full stomach and still a pretty big wallet.
for eliminating the test would be to save money and see if the tests actually work. The bill has to pass the Senate one more time and then would go on to the Governor. The Senate wants to make testing more modern by using computers. Students would take these computerized tests several times a year building up to the ACT instead of the Iowa and marychase kendall UBSCT. photo by samantha harris This directly affects students, and some do not like it. Marychase Kendall need all the tests we can get to see (12) said, “I don’t think they where we’re at and if were on the should eliminate the tests, we level that we should be on. “
manu mulitalo ashleigh devenish
MANU Mulitalo (12) was a football player for Granger’s team and is a great student. With amazing grades, this football star managed to earn a scholarship to BYU. “I’m excited. I worked really hard for this and can’t wait for this dream to finally start. Plus it’s a free education. No harm in that,” said Manu. He worked very hard to get this far. “Well, I have a goal to be good in what I do. I challenge myself to make myself better. I train with my uncle after school. It’s very good to have the support of my family.” He said his whole family inspired him to keep working hard in training and try to get a
scholarship for football. “I didn’t want my parents to pay for my schooling, so it would be less stress for them.” It looks like family is very important to Manu. He plans on going to school to become a business or sociology major, or he wants to go into broadcasting and advertising.
march movies medina bajric 3/26/2010 Bluebeard Eclipse Greenberg Multiple Sarcasms Terkel in Trouble I Love You Phillip Morris How to Train Your Dragon
Volume LII, Issue 8
Granger high school 12
Granger High School Tri-Color-Times
Granger makes calls to home
heard in the halls
daysha hunsaker
regan barker
Dude, Randall just hella took his socks away!
Hey man, let’s go check out those girls.
Do I look fat in purple?
God, her feet are big!
Wow, her outfit is crazy!
Sorry, I have no life!
Her hair is so big you could climb it!
Do you like my hair? I’m even more blonde now.
I want to go to the rave, but my mom would kill me.
I can’t believe we can’t go to Fresh Market anymore! We’re going to starve now.
I hate the bathrooms here, they’re so gross.
I hate soda, it burns my teeth.
I just slammed my nails into my locker!
If I get a bunny backpack, I’ll name him Bunny Benassi.
Beds don’t rock, because if my bed rocked it would break.
One day that girl will fall down the stairs with those heels on.
My toe always pokes out of my shoe, but I love my hobo shoes.
No! I didn’t ever date him! Have you seen his face?
Who’s coming to town? medina bajric
3/20 Get Lucky- @Saltair 3/25 Twiztid @In the Venue 3/25 Drop Dead, Gorgeous @ Murray Theater 3/31 Michael Buble @ The E-Center
4/3 Go Hyphy, featuring Andre Nickatina @In the Venue 4/5 The Morning Blenders @ Velour 4/6 Tegan and Sara-@ In the Venue
GRANGER’S attendance is recorded on to a computer, so if you’re absent your parents will know. Does this help students get to class more? Do parents like or dislike these phone calls? And what else does the school call for? This system has been in Granger for more than five years. They don’t know if it’s making a real change in attendance, though. Brittney Atwood (12) said, ‘No, it’s not making a change because we just find a way around the phone calls.” Administrators said they really don’t know if it’s helping attendance, but it saves a lot of paper which saves lots of money. This system is hooked up to a program called Discovery; this is what figures out who needs to be called. The teachers add the attendance to the computer and the information is sent to the Discovery program. Granger calls your house to simply inform parents -of students missing classes, parent teacher conferences, assemblies, and important need-to-know information. Parents want to know these things so they can be involved with their student’s schooling. Some students say they know what time the school calls and just wait for it so they don’t get caught missing a class. Others change the number to their own
cell phone number. These are because they don’t sluff. AIM (Attendance Improvement ways students think they can get around the phone calls. This system knows whether or not the call was answered as well. If a person or an answering machine doesn’t pick up, the system will just call back until someone or something answers it. The system was updated this year for better quality. It has brittany atwood photo by: Ivette aguilera an easier way to organize all Management) is used in Texas. the absences to This is supposed to show students better inform parents. Easy Caller is being used in a the responsibility of getting to number of different schools around class. This is a GPS tracker for the country. It is also helping with students with truancy problems. the on-going problem of truancy. If the student doesn’t comply All absences and tardies are put with the rules of the tracker, they into the computer electronically. can face huge fines, jail time, Having this automated phone community service, and other service makes the attendance consequences. Now everybody is glad Granger lady’s job much easier. In the findings, teachers just has the automated phone call and parents really enjoy these system. These phone calls are automated phone calls and believe there to help and inform students they’re working to help truancy. and parents. The school needs to Some students, on the other hand, keep it this way to be sure the kids dislike this a lot and think it’s a do not have their own trackers in waste of time. Others don’t mind the future at Granger.
Tri-Color Times Staff Editor Sam Candland
Editor Staff Braquel Buckley Whitney Hards
Layout Ivette Aguilera
Journalists
Journalists
Journalists
Laura Acevedo
Danny Gallo
Rudi Rich
Medina Bajric
Alejandro Garza
Alisha Smith
Regan Barker
Samantha Harris
Photographers
Yanira Bayardo
Daysha Hunsaker
Samantha Harris
Yasmine Carrillo
Yvonne Huynh
Julie Hor
Alan Casteneda
Shalaya Leasure
Julie Sin
Ashleigh Devenish
Rosa Perez
Candice Davidson
Melissa Reed
Brittany Edwards
Jorge Romero
Advisor John Carlisle
The Tri-Color Times serves as a student forum for student opinion and student expression. The views expressed here in reflect neither the opinions of Advisor John Carlisle and Granger High School, nor those of Granite School District. The Tri-Color Times invites and publishes letters to its editorial board; all letters will be edited for taste, length and legality. Granger High 3690 South 3600 West West Valley, UT 84119 385 646-5320
March 2010
Volume LII, Issue 8