Granger high school
Tri-Color Times An open forum for student opinion and expression
TRICOLORTIMES.COM
AUGUST&September 2016 LIX-1
Student Body Officers take pride in school and students By Isabel Jackson AT GRANGER, there are class officers for each grade class and student body officers for the whole student body. It’s easy to get into the habit of calling them all SBOs, but SBOs plan activities for all four grades, not for individual classes. They are also known as student government officers. Their job is to help plan and host fun school events, keep the school spirit up all over, and represent the grades in different ways that showcase Granger’s diversity. “I really like representing everyone; it’s about everybody else and helping them, but it’s also fun for me. It is a lot of work, but it’s worth it,” Omar Sanchez (10) said. The students vote for the new SBOs and officers at the end of one year for the following year. The freshman officers are elected
at the beginning of the following year once they arrive at Granger High. Lancers see the passion in their eyes and in everything they do. They’re on display when they walk down the hall with their jackets as they show their pride and how much they love the school. “Since Granger is a strong school, I wanted to show it more to our community. We will make more activities that don’t just involve the SBOs, but the whole school,” Carmen Cendejas (12) said. The student government officers strive to be better for themselves and the whole school. They want to represent their grade and school as best as they can for everyone. “Not only do I want to feel a part of the class, I want to be a role model. Sometimes I suck in
classes, and sometimes I am not the most perfect person, but I know I can push myself to be a really powerful person, and hopefully that inspires others,” Angele Nguyen (12) said. Officers push their fellow students hard to have more pride in the school. Granger may still be known around as a “ghetto” school. These officers want to show other schools and also the whole state that this school is different and better than that. Granger Lancers have so much pride for the school, and anyone who comes here can see the students and they will know how much Lancers love G-House. “I want to change the stigma that we don’t really have pride because, I think [last] year we really pushed it with our spirit bowl where our pride was clearly visible,” Luis Tobar (11) said. Lancer pride is a big deal
here; students buy Granger gear to show how much they love the school. People see it in their faces at the games that many students support. The officers have a big part in making the activities for the school fun for all the grades and full of pride. They want students to enjoy themselves. SBOs and officers also work very hard together to help bring change to the school so it is better for everyone so Granger Lancers can come together and have an amazing school. “I want to make change in the school to help us be thoughtful, empowered and connected next year; we are going to have lit parties and dances,” Tommy Vo (12) said. These student body and class officers love Granger and want to help make it even better for each Lancer that walks into the school.
Student Body Officers President................Carmen Cendejas Executive VP...........Angel Sedgwick Diversity VP............Elizabeth Huizar Secretary.......................Vanessa Holt Event Coordinator......Alexis Topacio PR Director.............Crystina Nguyen Service Learning Coordinator..Neida Munguia Senior Class Officers President...................Angele Nguyen Vice President..................Tommy Vo Secretary...........................Victor Mai Event Coordinator.....Nawres al Saud PR Team............Lizbette Martinez & Daisy Hernandez Junior Class Officers President...........................Luis Tobar Vice President............Joseph Alvarez Secretary........................Tyler Burton Event Coordinator....Tiffany Nguyen PR Team............Roby Karangalan & Zaida de la Mora Sophomore Class Officers President.....................Omar Sanchez Vice President.............Noel Munguia Secretary.....................Chloe Topacio Event Coordinator.................Natasha McPherson PR Team........Zackary Christensen & Vala’auina Tonuga
Ingles a español
Por Lisandro Rivera HAY MUCHOS estudiantes que vienen a Granger, pero solo hablan un idioma como español. Algunas cosas interesantes que tiene Granger son que Granger te ayuda para que no estén confundidos solo porque hablan español. Granger tiene muchos maestros que hablan español también: El principal, el Dr. Dunn, habla español, si tienen preguntas. Granger es una escuela que te ayuda mucho para que no estén atrasados en nada para que siempre tengas a alguien que te puede ayudar. Poco a poco van aprender más inglés y va hacer más fácil para tí, y ya no vas a necesitar más ayuda. “Me gusta estar aquí en Granger,” Mariano Hernandez (12) dijo. “Esta escuela me ha ayudado mucho con todo cuando no entiendo nada.” Granger es una escuela que si The 2016-17 student body officers and the senior, junior and sophomore class officers are ready to serve Granger High School. aceptan a todos y que te dan la ayuda que vas a necesitar para todos los años en los cuales vas dent enjoys playing the sport that have a lot of opportunities here,” out. No one here will tolerate a estar en Granger. Hay muchos By Saira Meza he or she joined and makes sure Araceli Garcia (11) said. any student to get bullied or put estudiantes que no le gustan pedir EVERY school year is a fresh that athletes all know how proud At Granger High, there are aldown. Everyone is family here la ayuda que necesitan porque no start for everyone, doesn’t matter the Lancers are to have such great ways new things to expect. For and teachers expect all Lancers to hablan ingles. how long anyone’s been coming teams. example: last year they changed treat each other like family. Sin embargo, siempre pidan to Granger or if it’s the first time Granger is always having fun the attendance policy and made “Coming to Granger for a porque sí, te van a dar la ayuda attending this school. Some might activities where the students’ new changes about consequences couple years now, I’ve noticed que todos necesitan. have had a different experience families can come and participate that will make each student think that there’s always people that are “El primer día en Granger, than others, but teachers and adalong with them. Some activities twice about doing something willing to help and the same goes sentí diferente porque yo esministrators have been trying to are carnivals, parades, and game bad. This year they might change with teachers,” Paola Lopez (12) taba acostumbrado a mi vieja make changes every year so that nights. those back or maybe even keep said. Granger High also offers escuela,” Jose Alcala (12) dijo. new opportunities are available Some of the carnivals that they them depending on how well they programs that will help out stuTodos los estudiantes que tenían for everyone. do are due to some holidays that worked last year. dents that are doing bad in school problemas en el comienzo ya saIt’s always great to join a club are celebrated outside of the U.S. One thing that Lancers should or that are having any type of perben todo lo que necesitan. Ya no or something that helps students or that aren’t usually celebrated in be expecting is the warm welsonal problem. tengan miedo de pedir por un pointeract more with school, bethe U.S. These parades have to do come that every kind teacher Every student here has a difquito de ayuda. cause that will not only make the Hay muchos estudiantes que year much more fun. But it will gives. Some teachers have differ- ferent way of speaking, learning, with holidays that might be going on during that time and game ent ways of teaching, some might and living, so expect a lot of diverhablan más idiomas que, también, always help someone meet new nights might just be a sports game be stricter than others, but one sity here at Granger High School. pueden ayudar a los demás de espeople. to come watch or any clubs when thing for sure is that they will alThere are always new clubs availtudiantes con sus clases. “Granger “Last year was my first year they have competitions. ways be there to help out anyone able throughout the entire school me ha ayudado mucho, y estoy attending Granger High School, For kids who put is some efwho is in need. year and sports to try out as well. agradecido por todo, y gracias a and all I have to say is that fort, there’s no such thing as beAnother thing to expect is to Every coach here at Granger High los nuevos amigos que me ayuGranger offers way more than I ing bored here at Granger High. see students helping each other School makes sure that each studadan con todo,” Hernandez dijo. expected, and I know that I will
A new school year offers new opportunities
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Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 1
August&September 2016, page 2
Finding new friends at school is easier than you think
Opinion by Kailee Justesen MAKING friends isn’t always easy. Some people are shy or unsure of how to approach a person. But it is not very hard to make friends. Here are some tips that will help you out when starting the new school year. First and most importantly, always be yourself. Everyone wants to fit in, and fitting in can sometimes be hard. People always want to fit in or be friends with the “popular kids,” but feel like they have to change themselves to make that happen. That’s the wrong approach. Instead, get involved. Being involved is a big part of making friends. If there is a sport or activity that you might like, try out for the team, or join the club. Most friends are the people who you have something in common with. Talk to people: friends won’t be
made by standing around and not talking to anyone new. Spend more time around people. Put yourself out there. Don’t sit alone at lunch; friends won’t always come to you. Go and sit with other people, and maybe they will end up being a lifelong friend. You never know until you try. Always smile and look happy. No one is going to want to be friends with someone who always looks mad. “People who smile are perceived as more attractive, kinder, and happier, and therefore more approachable,” as stated on the freep.com website. If you look unfriendly, people aren’t going to feel like they can come and talk to you. Don’t take your friends for granted. Just because you and your friends are really close, that doesn’t mean that they will al-
ways be there waiting for you. Don’t ignore them when out with others. It can be really hurtful when you act like their best friend when alone but when with others completely ignore them. You don’t have to give them all of your attention, but make them feel included; let them know you want them there. Great friends are hard to find, so if you have any, keep them close, because one day they might not be there anymore. Always be someone that they can trust. One of the best things about having a friend is that they are always there for you. They are someone that you can talk to about anything and can trust them with your secrets. In return, you need to be someone that they can trust, too. Let them know that they can tell you anything and that you are not going to turn around and
tell someone else. A big part of being a good friend is being loyal. Always have their back; if they are in need of help they will know right where to go and who to go to. Make sacrifices for them. If they are having a bad day, make time to get together with them, try to make them feel better and get their mind off of it. Many people think that you can only have one close friend, that is not true. You can have a big group of friends. You may not hang out with all of them at the same time, and they may not even like each other, that’s OK. But having them all as friends will make you happy. If you don’t have many friends, that is OK, just having a friend is great. “Friendships are vital for wellbeing,” as stated on the psychcentral.com website.
Choose your friends wisely. Some friends are easier to get along with than others. Some friendships are really great and they bring out the best in you, but others can be unhealthy. These friends can be too needy or controlling, and they can sometimes even put you in dangerous situations. Choose the friends that are a positive influence on you and the ones that you can ‘be yourself’ around. In the end, maintaining a friendship is hard work. You need to make time to share your life with them. Be grateful for their kindness and be respectful of their decisions. Overtime you may lose contact, try to get together and do something you used to do instead of just going out to get lunch. Try hard to keep friendships; they can be some of the most important things.
Journalism drew me out of my shell
Olivia Helm and Cathryn Neiffer have been friends for a few years.
Join a club at Granger Opinion by Jelani Nelson ONE OF the best ways to have fun at Granger is to join clubs. There are different kinds of clubs to blend into to make high school enjoyable. For instance, if you like volunteer work, Granger has Key Club. The Key Club advisors are Ms. Webb and Ms. Holtz. Key Club is a service/volunteer club. Some of the things they have done include selling ice cream during lunches, holding a STOMP to stomp out teen homelessness, and helping clean up our stands during football season. Next, if you are interested in getting scholarships and going to college, then connect to Scholars’ Pathway. Talk to Mr. Clawson (F211), Dr. Van Tassell, or Ms. Gaskins (G105) to join. Being in clubs isn’t just to make high school fun. Clubs are for meeting friends that have the same interests as you. The more clubs you join, the more friends you could make. Clubs also help with college applications and getting accepted to the school of your dreams. Attending clubs that spark your interest will help you go farther in your future career. If art
is your thing, we have a club for that. “National Art Honor Society is designed to inspire and recognize students who have shown outstanding abilities in art,” as stated on the schools.graniteschools.org/grangerhigh website. If you are the kind of person that is into a lot of things, but can’t be in all different clubs at once, join Skills USA. Skills USA is for students who are into photography, welding, woods, auto, graphics, sewing, cooking, business, and more. There are competitions, and it’s an opportunity for leadership and social skills. Capturing memories in your head is fun, but capturing memories on a camera is better still. Joining the Lancer Photographic Society might be the plan for you. Learn how to take different kinds of photos and work on projects. The Lancer Photographic Society members can take your pictures for you and your friends for fun or for graduation announcements. Talk to Mr. Carlisle in J102 for more details. There are a lot more clubs at school but these are a great place to start. Make your year as busy as possible to avoid wasting time.
Opinion by Justin Thurman Back when I was starting my sophomore year, I was really nervous to talk to anyone, despite taking debate last year. Debate did help me, but I feel as though that journalism helped me with my motivation to talk to people whenever I feel like it, or if I need information about them. I feel like I can talk to anyone now. Usually I don’t really like going out of my comfort zone, but journalism made me come out of it. I can’t say I liked it at first, but it got easier and easier throughout the year. I want to go back to my comfort zone but at the same time, I don’t want to go back, so I’ll keep exploring outside of it. Journalism usually has me doing interviews with students. Since it was my first time, I was shaken and pretty much a nervous wreck. Over the year, I learned to interview just fine, but I am still a little nervous despite doing this
for a whole year and people expecting me to improve on my performance with interaction. I felt as though my social skills with other people in journalism could have used work. I was not really the guy in the class that would want to ask for help, so they would usually have other students join me during interviews and give me tips on how to properly find the student and what questions to ask. I’m still trying to work on my socialization, but I feel like I’m improving a little more after my 10th and 9th grade years here. I’m certainly trying to improve as far as face-to-face eye contact goes, but so long as I don’t act completely awkward, I think it is all right if I don’t maintain too much eye contact and have a weird face. Despite me usually just goofing off and exploring the internet, I usually tried to get what I
needed for my articles. This was before I was trying to come out of my shell. I still goof off to this day, but I’m not always sitting around doing nothing until my article is due the next day. I feel a little more comfortable after this whole experience and think to myself, ‘Do I want to sign up again for this class?’ The answer is neutral, as I’m not sure if another year of this class will be Heaven. Although my vote is mostly no, I am still trying to find my final answer before making a decision to sign up or not. Overall, when it comes to leaving your comfort zones or your shell, you are going to have to come out of it some time, even if you don’t want to come and would prefer to be hidden for your whole life. Try to come out of your shell and see if you want to move on. Or you would like to stay in there for a good day or two?
Here’s what to do (or not do) senior year
Opinion by Francisco Gallardo SENIOR year is packed with many opportunities many chances to do whatever you want honestly. Take advantage of classes that you would like to take. Senioritis is a hard thing to go through, it’s where wanting to stop or quit is one option. Nevertheless, take easy classes your last semester or this will hit you towards the end. Being a senior is like being on a clock, it’s a constant countdown until graduation gets here. It comes quick, quicker than you expect. One thing you can do is make a list of reachable goals for yourself this year. Make sure that the classes you take aren’t too hard for you to keep up with. The last semester of senior year is the hardest -- you’ll want to slack off. Don’t. Things you shouldn’t do is get
a textbook from the library and never take it back or lose it, because at the end of the year you’re stuck paying for it. Do not skip class, because with the new tardy policy, fines will add up like crazy. Fines are a big deal almost every year; they stress seniors out if they are high. Higher fines equal higher stress levels, especially with packet makeups. Packets are probably the hardest things to do your senior year because you’re basically a ticking time bomb, because graduation comes quick. Do not fail classes. Go to class, and you’ll be fine. The best thing to do is come to class and exert effort, which equals passing – that’s all you really have to do. How are you going to learn if you’re not in class? How are you going to pass if you’re not in class? Do not be
a follower. If your friends sluff, then don’t go with them. If they slack off in class, don’t do it, too. Things you should do are going to class and pass. Take advantage of every class and program that you can. Do every sport, and if you don’t know it learn it. Regret is a word that is tossed around senior year a lot because you always have ‘what if’ questions. Make sure that you don’t fail any classes throughout your high school career. Always pay a fine right there and then or else they are going to catch up to you. Remember it’s YOUR senior year and no one else’s. If you want to graduate, no one is going to hold your hand. Do your best your last year, and you’ll be stress free. Graduate and go to college. Oh, and don’t forget to sign up for FAFSA. Make it the greatest.
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August&September 2016, page 3
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 1
Lancers are thoughtful, empowered, and connected By Kaitlin Cluff THOUGHTFUL BEING thoughtful is not as easy as many people think. In a school of over 3,000 students, it can be difficult to think about anything except how to get to class on time. Attending Granger High School luckily makes it easy to be thoughtful. Lancers are constantly doing things to make Granger a better place. Any event, whether it’s an after school activity, a game at lunch, or an assembly during school -- they all showcase just how thoughtful Lancers can be. It’s amazing how much thought and preparation goes into each and every activity planned by student body officers, class officers, and fellow Lancers, faculty, and administration. Their thoughtfulness makes these events shine. As a Lancer, it is almost an unspoken duty to be involved. Don’t be the student that is “too cool” to come out and do things. High school only lasts four years, be sure to make it as eventful as possible. Be the Lancer that can look back and remember how much fun their high school experience was. Be thoughtful by getting to class on time. Don’t be the student that “didn’t know the bell rang.” Be thoughtful by being a good student. Listen to your teachers and have respect. Be thoughtful by being there for friends and even strangers who need someone. Make Granger High School a great place by being thoughtful.
EMPOWERED BEING empowered can sometimes feel like the hardest thing to accomplish. In high school, everyone is awkward and trying to figure out what they want to be. Just figuring out what to do after high school is hard enough. Be empowered by being successful. Be punctual. No one likes the tardy student, plus it’s awkward, and everyone is already really awkward. Be considerate when informing teachers of days that will be missed by letting them know in advance. Don’t just interrupt a teacher in the middle of class, see them when they have a free period, after school, or during lunch. Feel empowered by working hard. Nothing is better than acing the test that counts for a large percent of the grade in a class. Feel empowered by having school spirit. It is so important to encourage fellow Lancers by showing support. Be the student who makes an effort to do these things. Being empowered can also be accomplished just by staying on top of things. Some Lancers have credits to make up, or some just have classes they still need to take before graduation. Make sure to get anything that needs to be taken care of, done as soon as possible. The more on top of things that Lancers are, the less stress there will be. Being empowered takes work, but is achievable.
CONNECTED BEING connected is the most important aspect of these three goals. Being connected goes a long way at Granger High School. Students that are connected do all of the previous listed things, and much more. Granger High School is home to many Lancers, and for others it’s a place where students, faculty and administration come together to celebrate and learn about others differences, difficulties, accomplishments, and more. Be connected by making friends of different kinds of shape, size, and ethnicity. Granger High is the most diverse school in all of Utah, and that is something that makes Lancers connected in a way that no other school could possibly have. Be connected by listening to others opinions, and realizing that others can be correct. Do what you can to be involved, it cannot be stressed enough. School isn’t only for class, homework, tests and grades, it’s also about having fun and making high school everything that it should be. Granger High School makes all of these things so easily achievable. Granger is truly the best school ever, it is up to us to keep up the expectations and allow Granger to continue to be the best high school possible. Connectivity is as easy as following GHS social media accounts and as challenging as making yesterday’s strangers into today’s friends.
How to have school spirit at Granger High School
Opinion by Madisen Nelson IT IS ALWAYS good to have school spirit for school, whether it is to wear Granger gear or to recite the Lancer Creed. The GStore is a good place to get all the good Granger gear. There are many different things in the store to get. Before getting anything in the G-Store, Lancers must earn GCards to use as money. The ways to earn G-Cards is to be thoughtful, empowered and connected to
teachers and students. Things to buy are t-shirts, hoodies/jackets, phone cases, hats, socks, stickers, and dog tags. It is also good spirit to try and go to every sports event or any event for that matter. Go support all the teams for Granger. Give hope for them; let them know they are the best. The Lancer Creed reads, “We believe, our differences make us stronger, our similarities make us one, we are family, Lancer
is more than a title, Granger is more than a school; we stand up, stand strong, stand together, we are Granger!” as stated on the schools.graniteschools.org/ grangerhigh/ website. The Lancer Creed reminds everyone that Granger High’s community is one big family, that everyone should stand up for everyone else in the school, that no one should be lonely. No one is alone. Others shouldn’t judge because they are all basically the
Here’s what to expect as a Lancer
Opinion by Angel G. Figueroa EVERYONE is on the internet, and with that, people want to be more connected to their friends and family. Social media is a big part of Lancers’ lives, although some of them can’t get off their phones in class because of it. While it’s not good to look at your Facebook in class, it’s a good way to know what’s going on with friends and family. Personally, I don’t use Facebook as much as I used to, but I find it really handy when I want to know what’s going on in school. I follow the Granger official page – mainly for events and dates or when we are having a spirit week. Other than the school’s main webpage at the schools. graniteschools.org/ grangerhigh website, it’s also a good idea to follow one of Granger High’s clubs that you’re interested in or curious about so you can follow events that they post. Probably the best way to be in the know with the school is the Granger’s official YouTube page. “What we post is not simply just news, we have other things like daily highlights, Lancer Store promos, film festival promos, prom highlights, sometimes
words from the principals, and sports coverage,” Mr. Clapier said. If you’re not a club, you can still follow them. Maybe you’ll gain an interest in the club and join. Twitter is another good way to see what people are up to. I find it really great way to see what my
favorite page or people are going to do, and the Granger page doesn’t disappoint. I find it the most informative for school news is the one on Twitter. It’s so quick, just scrol down to find the Granger logo and read the tweet. Even if you don’t follow Granger’s Twitter, you’ll probably see the retweets other students post on their feed. Although Twitter can be useful
for students, there’s other Twitter accounts that you should avoid. There are Twitter pages from Granger students that post negative tweets about other students. It’s bullying, and it’s wrong. Bullying pages like that should not get attention, so you should follow more positive Granger student instead, pages like Granger Compliments. They give students compliments and give positive attention to the school. Even though these pages could be inactive, there are always going to be pages popping up. Look out for new pages and avoid the negative ones. For Instagram, Granger kind of lacks on their news for the school, but they sometimes give a shout out to a team or an athlete or a classmate, and that’s great. Another way to find out great and interesting students is the TriColor Times on Instagram. They post about interesting students and what they like or what makes them interesting as Lancers. Whatever platform you use you can get news from Granger and stay updated with events and you should because you don’t want to miss anything Granger is throwing.
same. Participating in the school’s spirit week is always fun. Wearing pajamas, favorite sports teams, class colors, lumberjack shirts, and more. Also, participating in all of the lunch activities is fun, too. They do Frisbee throws, musical chairs, trivia, yellow snow, donut on a string, and lots more. For spirit assemblies, it is more fun to get faces painted with a little Granger design or class
year, the usual is dots around the top of the left following down to the bottom of the right way or vise versa. When going to spirit assemblies, getting up there and participating in the games is the way to go. Going to dances and stomps, and events is also another chance to show spirit. Going to homecoming, sweethearts, prom, Key Club stomp, or the aqua stomp make going to school so much better.
Tri-Color Times Staff Editor in Chief Kaitlin Cluff
Social Media Editor Skye Rouse
Copy Editor Tina Hunh
Photo Editor Kailee Justesen
Reporters Natalie Aiono Myranda Alcas Kimberly Armeta Morgan Bard Zeus Briceno Emily Brown Kaitlin Cluff Salina Eaton Angel Figueroa Fancisco Gallardo Ashley Garcia Veronica Gonzales
Reporters Isabel Jackson Kailee Justesen Amanda MackKay Jessie Martin Saira Meza Jelani Nelson Madisen Nelson Hayley Rigby Lisandro Rivera Skye Rouse Karren Shamo Justin Thurman
The Tri-Color Times serves as a student forum for student opinion and student expression. The views expressed herein reflect neither the opinions of Adviser 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 liability.
Granger High School 3580 South 3600 West West Valley, UT 84119 (385) 646-5320
August&September 2016, page 4
Summit prepares GHS leaders
By Amanda MacKay community. Being musicians sity, the G-Store, and freshman STUDENT leaders from mul- themselves, they held a strong orientation were the main points tiple groups and clubs throughout emphasis on art and its many of conversation. Granger High School gathered for forms, stating the belief that evIn a survey created by the Trithe second annual Lancer Lead- ery person is an artist in a way. Color Times, about 25% of atership Summit in the middle of In an attempt to strengthen the tendees gave input about the sumJuly. After the success of the first Granger community, Wade and mit. Most ambassadors who took summit last year, GHS adminis- Benji aided students in putting the survey agreed that the summit trators decided that the summit together and hosting a production had “bettered [them] as a person should become an annual event. to perform for the community and as a leader.” The majority of As the summit is so young and titled “Listen Up!” Lancer Lead- student leaders also voted that new, students weren’t sure what ers were given the opportunity their “opinions and thoughts were to expect from the 2016 summit. to share their talents and display voiced, heard, and respected.” The purpose of the sumOverall, student leaders mit is to bring together and and faculty who took the The purpose of the sumtrain Granger’s student survey seemed to have a leaders as student ambasvery positive experience at mit is to bring together sadors to better the school. the summit. and train Granger’s stuin a variety of aspects. The Lancers who might hold Lancer Leadership Sumleadership positions here at dent leaders as student mit is seen as an opportuGranger and attend future ambassadors to better nity for students to have summits in upcoming years their thoughts, opinions, should expect a productive the school. and ideas heard by faculty and eye-opening experiand fellow students. At the ence that will help them 2015 summit, students spent two how the New Wilderness Project step out of their comfort zone and days bonding and addressing im- had strengthened them as leaders. give them an opportunity to voice portant issues within our school On the third and final day of their opinions and ideas. community. the summit, faculty and ambassaThe first two summits both had At this year’s summit, admin- dors worked together to find ways positive and negative aspects to istration tried something different to apply what they had learned them, but it is hoped that the adby bringing in Wade, Benji, and from Wade and Benji to Granger ministration will learn from those Dave from the New Wilderness High. Student leaders, teachers, experiences and consider the stuProject. For the first two days and administrators addressed and dents’ feedback when planning of the summit, Wade and Benji offered ideas as to how to im- future summits. It is anticipated shared a presentation about the prove the school as a whole. Top- that the summit will continue on New Wilderness Project and ex- ics such as school spirit, ambas- as an annual tradition at Granger plained how it is focused on so- sador involvement, dress code, High School for many years to cial justice, individuality, and attendance policy, service, diver- come.
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 1
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 1
August&September 2016, page 5
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 1
August&September 2016, page 6
Remember to stock lockers with these essentials
Opinion by Jessie Martin A WELL-stocked locker can help keep you out of trouble. They can also make you the superhero friend who has everything when the beginning of the school year brings the start of all sorts of unfortunate accidents. A toothbrush and toothpaste and deodorant would be great for
you to have. Gum, too. Remember, if you share gum with one person, you have to share with everyone else, so keep gum dealing on the down low. Band-Aids and maybe some ibuprofen or Tylenol are great to have just in case they are needed. Speaking of forgetting, a lot of students forget to eat breakfast.
A well-stocked locker makes it easy to solve life’s little problems.
Everyone knows that teens are always hungry, so keep some snacks on hand. Storing a box of granola bars, trail mix, or even a snack bag of cereal is a great idea so students can grab a bite in-between classes. If you have third lunch or you’re taking a test on an empty stomach, a granola bar can really help take your hungry mind off lunch and keep it in class. For classes, a spare book for English in your locker will keep you on that teacher’s good side. Also an extra pencil, a notebook, some colored pencils, a pair of scissors, a glue stick, and a roll of tape would be good supplies to have handy for
procrastinated projects due first thing in class. An extra jacket in your locker can save you from an unexpected chilly day or classroom. Gloves and a beanie, especially a Granger one, would keep the cold at bay as well, and aren’t against school dress code. Also for cold season, hand sanitizer and cough drops are a must have. Another thing that would be nice to have is an umbrella. With Utah’s weather changing every two minutes, an umbrella would be swell on an unexpected rainy day. Bad weather can ruin a good hair day, but students who keep hair ties can keep their hair out of their face on an especially windy day. The extra Granger beanie comes in handy here, too, in case of a bad hair day -- as well as a brush or comb. A spilled drink can ruin a good day. Students can be prepared by keeping an extra shirt handy in their locker. A spare pair of pants
can really help out in a tough spot, too. Especially for someone taking a ceramics class. Gym clothes and tennis shoes for P.E. in case students forget are a good idea, too. And for girls, feminine hygiene products are essential. Beauty supplies like makeup and hairspray can keep girls looking fabulous all day. If you search for more information, the Wikihow.com website has some ideas on what things to keep in lockers. For example, keep beauty supplies and hygiene products in a small bag to grab and go. They also say some ideas for locker stockers are cologne or perfume, lotion, and some spare money. They warn students not to keep too much money in their locker in case of theft; $5-$20 as emergency money would be plenty. So get ready for another school year, and stock that locker. You might even save the day for yourself, or someone else.
Here’s what to expect as a Lancer
By Kimberly Armenta EVERY student has his or her own expectations depending on the grade he or she is in. There will be fun times and boring times, there will be easy assignments and hard assignments. Students will just have to work hard and stay on task. “Being a freshman is probably one of the best experiences ever. This is the time where you start to settle into high school and find out who you really are,” Victor Gallegos (10) said. High school is a fun experience and a way to meet new people. It’s not only about stressing and doing work all the time. “I can already tell the upcoming freshmen are going to be more prepared than I was. My advice to them is to always pay attention in class, do your work and have a great attitude, he said. Staying in class will not exactly lead students into getting better grades -- doing the work and staying on task, on the other hand, will lead to good grades and achievements. “Honestly, I expected high school to be really hard. I thought we would have a lot of school work and we would spend all our free time doing homework. It
turns out, if you finish your work in class, you will have less homework and more time for yourself,” Rigoberto Alvarez (11) said. As long as students are caught up with their work, it will not affect them in any way and will allow them to do whatever it is they like to do in their free time. “As a junior you’re going to be having sleepless nights; you’re going to be busy most the time, and there will be lots of stress,” Karla Arteaga (12) said. “I honestly think that if you’re going to be committed to school, you shouldn’t let friends influence you into skipping class, doing bad in school, or breaking school rules,” she said. There will be a lot of new experiences; students will have to be able to handle what’s coming. “Tests are going to be hard, there will be lots of them. To me, my junior year was hard. For others, it might not be. Others might be able to handle the challenge better,” she said. Being in high school is a challenge, but hard work and concentration will lead students to success. “My advice to upcoming juniors would be to keep up with the work that will be given to you.
Get rid of your procrastination, manage your time wisely, and study for everything,” Arteaga said. Success comes from hard work and commitment. High school is just a pathway to success, and it’s a journey all Lancers should complete. And as with many journeys, the end comes sooner than expected. “My experience as a senior was pretty cool, and sad at the same time. I knew this was going to be my last year in high school. It was sad as well, because I’m going to have to leave my friends behind -- at least those who are in different grades,” Jose Cardenas (‘16) said. Not only the thought of leaving friends behind, but thinking about what students are going to do after high school is pretty stressful. “The advice I would give to upcoming seniors would be to not get lazy. I got lazy, and my grades dropped. They all went back up, but it took a lot of my time. Also instead of stressing over everything, just relax and enjoy your last year in high school. Make memories, but most importantly, make yourself and your parents proud,” he said.
These Lancers looked back on 2015-16 and offered advice.
Same attendance policies
Opinion by Morgan Bard SO FOR many of you sophomores and up, you already know quite a lot about the attendance policy, and it’s a fairly simple policy. But, for you freshmen and newcomers, it might be a whole new experience. So, for the sake of all new students, I will tell you about the attendance policy. So to start off, I should probably summarize the attendance rules. Basically, you have 10 tardies per quarter and any tardies after that cost $1 each. When you have an unexcused absence, $5 is charged to your account per class period. If you need to excuse an absence, you have to excuse it within five days after the absence. You only have seven days worth of absences excused per year. Now I know that seems like a lot to take down, but let me break it up. So, you have 10 free tardies, which means you can be tardy 10 times per quarter. I advise you not to use all of those at once. It’s fine if you have to be tardy because you absolutely have to go to the bathroom, but don’t just be tardy because you can. Unexcused absences cost $5 per absence. I feel like this is fairly reasonable compared to other policies. This gives you an incentive to not be absent. Y’all need your education. Just go to class and get your work done. If you need to excuse an absence, it needs to be excused via parent/guardian phone call or note before five days pass. Remember that if you need your parent/ guardian to excuse something, you need to remind them to get it
done. They will forget. Sometimes it can be tricky to visit Granger to excuse it in person, so that’s why they allow phone calls, too. You can only excuse seven days worth of absences in the span of a school year. Basically, don’t miss school unless you absolutely have to. If the absence is for your personal health, depending on how bad it is, you can have that excused. But like I said for unexcused absences, just go to class and get your education. There are three ways that you can remediate or pay your attendance fines. You can study in the lecture hall every day after school (Monday-Thursday), achieve perfect attendance from day one of the next quarter, or just pay the fine at the bookkeeper’s window. If you go to the lecture hall, you have to stay for 90 minutes to remediate one absence or five tardies. You can break up these study sessions into increments of 30 minutes. Your 90-minute stay is worth $5 worth of fines. If you decide to try for perfect attendance the next quarter and succeed for the first half the quarter, then half of your fines from the previous quarter will be forgiven. But, if you have perfect attendance the whole quarter all of your fines from the previous quarter will be forgiven. Finally, if you decide to just pay the fees, you can go to the bookkeeper’s window and pay them off. Remember, your transcript or diploma will be held if you don’t pay your fines and clear your account.
August&September 2016, page 7
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 1
Here are some ways to prepare for Granger’s homecoming
By Skye Rouse HOMECOMING week includes one of the biggest dances after one of the best football games of the year. Many students and faculty get pumped up for these events. It is always the first dance and there are many ways to prepare for it. “If you’re going to a dance, I think that the best thing you can do is go with a great group of people. That’s what I always do, and it’s always a lot of fun,” Danielle Dodge (12) said. “It’s also a lot of fun if you plan a day activity. Last homecoming we went to Airborne and then went to Applebee’s for dinner, and after the dance me and some of the girls I was with had a sleepover. Homecoming
is usually one of the best dances of the year, but bring a fun date that you’re comfortable around,” Dodge said. Many students go to dances with a group of people and do day activities. It is another way it can make the day amazing and contribute to a memorable night. There are many things that students do for day activities like going to the zoo, Lagoon, or mini golf. Then it’s time for a dinner reservation. “I decided to go last-minute to Homecoming with one of my good friends Selena Vann, and it was totally worth it,” Taylor Hensley (11) said. “My favorite part of the night was seeing everyone look phenomenal and happy. I also loved the football
game, even though we lost. Our student standing section was lit, I loved when they came out in the cars,” she said. “The best advice I’d give to someone who’s asking someone else is to go big or go home.” When asking someone to a dance it can be nerve wracking, especially to a big dance like homecoming. The best advice says not to get nervous, stay confident, make it sweet, and make sure that it’s not too big nor too small. Some other great advice is to make sure that make sure to be surrounded by people that make it comfortable to dance around. “I went with my girlfriend to homecoming and had a great time,” Gohan Pinilla (11) said. “When you ask someone make
sure you do a lot but not too much,” he said. “We didn’t go on a date, we stayed home and watched movies, but that was just as fun because well, who doesn’t like just staying in and relaxing?” Pinilla said. Granger High School is a big school with bigger plans for this year’s dance. Last year they had a carnival in the courtyard, and this year, it’ll be full of surprises. “My favorite part of last year’s homecoming probably wasn’t the dance, it was the carnival and football game,” Rosie Irvin (11) said. “I liked it because we helped advertise for the auto club. The game was a lot of fun and it was a pink-out and everyone just had so much spirit and had fun,” Irvin said.
Taylor’s excited for the dance.
Help by donating blood this year Think before tweeting By Zeus Briceno THE RED Cross comes to Granger only once a quarter, which means four times a year. This is a good chance for seniors to make up CPA hours and also help people. One pint of blood helps about three people. The Red Cross provides snacks after each donation, and also gives out good-looking stickers to let other people know who donated. “My experience was not only good it was a little intimidating because I was a bit nervous,” Marco Lopez (12) said. Lopez did the blood drive for his CPA and also to help people. There are many people like Lopez who did the same thing. The blood drive shows that students are willing to donate blood and help other people in need. According to the redcrossblood.org website, there are five steps taken as people donate. Step number one is the donation, of course, which consists of the donor registration, health history, and mini physical. About one pint of blood and several small test
tubes are collected from each donor, and the bag, test tubes, and the donor record are labeled with bar codes to keep track of everything. The donation is then stored in iced coolers until it is transported to a Red Cross center. The other four steps happen
after the donations leave Granger High. The second step is processing. This consists of checking the blood for viruses and to see if it’s good for other patients. The third step is testing, where they test the tubes that they took. Step number four is storage. Step number five is distribution, which means the blood is available to be shipped to hospitals 24/7.
“It was a pretty cool experience -- kind of scary -- the needle they had was pretty huge; other than that I was fine. I wanted to do the blood drive because it was something new for me, something I had yet to do at the time. It was a new experience, donating a pint of blood. I had lots of fun especially because I got to miss some class time and talk to the nurses. They also had some snacks and drinks: cranberry juice, orange juice, water. My least favorite part would have to be when they pulled out the needle. If you would have seen the size of that thing, you would have been scared, too,” Madison Weaver (12) said. The Red Cross blood drive is a huge thing in Utah; they collect donations from schools and companies around the world. If it weren’t for their efforts, people around the world wouldn’t receive the blood that they need. Donating blood might be scary, and not everyone is allowed to donate blood, so those who can donate (or donate often) make a huge impact on world health.
By Emily Brown WHEN STUDENTS wake up in the morning what is the first thing they’re bound to check? That’s right, their phone: new messages, Facebook friend requests, Twitter updates, etc. Social media is a great way to keep in touch with close friends and family who might have moved away or just don’t have the time to come and visit every day. In a way, it makes life easier. But, social media can have a negative affect on them if they aren’t careful. Many students here at Granger High have had some experiences with social media that still affect them today. Cyberbullying, racism, sexism, and just plain cruelty are all examples of how social media can have a negative impact on students. “I was going through Facebook one time, and I saw something that I considered racist, and I got upset about it,” Calissa Loomis (11) said. What some students don’t
know is that what they say on Facebook or other social interaction sites can affect them negatively as well. Posting certain statuses ‘as a joke’ can be held against them if they are taken seriously. “Make sure you really think about what you say before you post something. Think about if you’re really OK with everybody seeing your statuses or tweets before posting them. Be really considerate of other people’s feelings. All in all, just don’t be dumb,” Destiny Wallace (10) said. With social media, it’s important to keep in mind that people will be seeing what you post or tweet. “Be mindful and sensitive about what you say. The world doesn’t revolve around you. You should always be careful; you might hurt someone’s feelings. It could have a stronger impact on them than you realize. Think before you act, it’s that simple,” David Young (‘16) said.
This racing Lancer has a distinctive hobby and lofty goals By Natalie Aiono MANY STUDENTS at Granger High have after-school hobbies, and these hobbies are all sorts of different things. They range from drawing and singing to sports and clubs and many others. However, there are some very unusual hobbies out there. Kaiti Wood (11) at Granger participates in a unique hobby: go-kart racing. When she was just 10 years old, she started racing. Her father and his boss were big influences with helping her get started. “I’ve always liked cars and the idea of driving one,” she said. With that, she began racing around the track. After more practice, she started to become better and better. Her dad is a huge supporter in what she does, and he is very proud of her. “In the beginning it was scary. Watching your tenyear-old daughter go 50 miles per hour really shakes you up,” he said. However, her dad loves what she does. “My favorite memory is when she took her first championship. It took four seasons to get there.” he said. Racing also offers many life lessons. Her father also has seen
some lessons racing has taught her. “The relationship built through competition with the sport usually last a lifetime,” he said. Racing is not only fun, but educational as well. “I like racing for what it teaches me. It teaches me how to deal with losing,” she said. It also teaches her how to balance what she wants with what she can afford. Some things to be considered about racing are expenses. “Don’t start out too expensive,” Wood said. Her father also talked about finances. “I’m fortunate enough to be able to provide my daughter this chance that not many kids get,” he said. “Racing takes hard work, dedication, and money. Keep that in mind if you’d like to start racing.” Another thing
to take into consideration is the risk of injury. “I crashed once in June [2015]. It was at the end of the race and I got hit and sent into the wall. I cracked my helmet, neck brace, and even broke my hand. After that, the kart was totaled,” Wood said. It’s a lesson every racer should remember: be cautious while racing and remem-
ber to wear a helmet. It isn’t too common for a girl to be a racer. When asked about what it’s like being a female racer, her answer was quite surprising. “Being a girl gets you a lot more respect. There are some who will go easier on you for it, but they find out soon enough they’re making a mistake,” she
said. Being a female who races isn’t an issue for Wood. In the future, Wood hopes to make a career out of racing. “If I can help and if she gets the chance...,yes, I hope she takes it.” her father said. A future goal for her racing at the moment is to win the Indycar Championship.
Wood is a great student, and a rock star racer. She’s an awesome Lancer, and an inspiring one at that.
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 1
August&September 2016, page 8
Get hooked on a new Peter Pan
By Natalie Aiono Her father is absent from her life, “Unhooked” brims with adLISA MAXWELL’S “Unhooked” and her mother is unstable most venture. Gwen has been brought is a thrilling book packed with ad- of the time. Hook tells Gwen to Neverland. But it’s nothing like venture and romance. She takes a she is special. But why is she? what she thought it’d be. And sudnew approach on the fairy tale And who is her father, and why denly, Neverland needs her. She “Peter Pan.” This book is full of has her mother not told her about is capable of something, but what plot twists, making it an original him? These are just a few of the is it? And can she do it? With all masterpiece. So if you like ro- mysteries in this book. the confusion, she needs help. But mance, adventure, or fairy from whom? She must make tales, this is the book for you. a decision, one that will afIn this version, Peter In “Unhooked,” you refect Neverland and all in it. visit characters you thought Maxwell’s “Unhooked” Pan and Captain Hook you knew. In this version, Peis a fantastic read. This is a are very different people. book for all ages. Gwen must ter Pan and Captain Hook are very different people. This fight for love, for Neverland, clever twist makes things and for herself. “Peter Pan” very interesting. It keeps the The romance in this book is evolves from a classic, lightheartreader asking questions. When very much alive. Although sub- ed fairy tale into a deeper, more Pan comes to save the day, is he tle at first, Gwen’s feelings take sinister adventure. Rewriting a really saving it? Is Hook trust- a powerful turn. Suddenly, she classic is never easy, and authors worthy? Who should Gwen (aka finds herself in love. But it’s with who try are under a lot of presWendy) believe? Read the book someone unexpected. Can he re- sure because of comparisons to to find out more. turn her feelings, after everything the original. Lisa Maxwell took The characters aren’t the only he’s gone through? The love story “Peter Pan,” and she made it an revisions in this book. The plot in this book keeps things lively, amazing, twisted fantasy. “Unis unique. Who exactly is Gwen? making it an even better read. hooked” is simply great.
Pokemon Go dominates alternate reality gaming in 2016
By Karren Shamo IT’S 2:13 a.m., and I’ve been walking around the seminary building outside Granger for three hours. If I walk for another three kilometers, my egg will hatch. The only problem is I don’t know how far is three kilometers. Why the seminary building, you ask? Well, it’s very simple. The seminary building is a Pokestop, and I am a Pokemon master. Well, actually I’m still level four, but I will soon be a Pokemon master, most likely in three kilometers. As I document this, a legendary Pokemon is incubating in my backpack. OK, I actually don’t know what Pokemon is in the egg until it hatches, but I’m pretty sure it’s legendary. Every five minutes, the Pokestop resets and I can get valu-
able resources from its effervescent token of generosity, such as Pokeballs, eggs, revives, and potions that are too strong for just any traveler. I’ve also acquired some lures and incense that attract Pokemon to me. Suddenly, a wild Pokemon emerges from the depths of the night. I arm myself, ready to catch the vicious beast. It’s a Pidgey! I must capture it. The ring around the Pidgey is a neon green, so this should be a cinch for an expert trainer such as myself. Just as a precaution though, I feed the little bird a razz berry, ensuring my victory. I throw the ball with grace and finesse, spinning the ball first and performing the perfect curve ball just as the ring is at its smallest. The Pidgey is easily caught, and I now have a collection of 23 Pidgey. I’ve never felt so alive. I’ve just gained some experience from my expert capture, and I’m now advancing to level five. I can join a team now! I race over
to the nearest gym and confront professor Willow. Now I have the option of being on team Instinct, Mystic, or Valor. The choice is easy because Articuno is the very best of the legendary birds. The very instant after I had made my decision though, the gym turned a florid red. I snap my head over at the trainer across the street. Their gaze switches from their phone screen and meets mine. Time for battle. I tap on the gym again, ready to meet this challenger. Their Growlithe is defenseless against my team of Pidgey. I skillfully dodge the bouts of flamethrower and hold down to attack with my beloved Pidgey’s special attack, air cutter. Battle by battle, I take down the prestige of the gym and reclaim my territory. I give a smug look to the trainer across the street, placing my Pidgey inside the gym. Within moments, the gym is assaulted and changes to a ghastly shade of red. Coincidentally, the Pokemon inside the gym is now ghastly shade, too. Feeling defeated, most likely because I have just been defeated, I trudge back over to the seminary building. As I approach though,
my hand vibrates. What’s this? My egg! It’s hatching! I cross my fingers and hope for the best. Please let it be a mew, please let it be a mew, PLEASE BE A MEW. The egg cracks. “It’s a Bellsprout!” my screen flashes. I name it Mew, because if I’m going to harbor this disappointment plant, it may as well have a name to remind it what it should have been. Do you want to be a master of Pokemon, too? Here are a few tips to get you on your way. First of all, remember to be safe. If you’re going out to catch Pokemon at night, always go with a friend. Remember that there is safety in numbers. You should also convince your friends to join the same team as you so that you’ll be able to capture gyms together and not be pitted against one another. Never play Pokemon while driving. Not only is it distracted driving, but your steps won’t count toward hatching your eggs once you hit a certain speed, so you may as well just put that phone away. Walking while playing Pokemon will hatch your eggs much more effectively and
Enjoy some last-minute summer activities
By Hayley Rigby THERE are many great things students did or should have done to keep the summer fun and not boring. The students at Granger High don’t always know what to during the summer so here are a few places and ideas that students should have experienced, or still can. One place students could still go during the last weekends of summer is to Seven Peaks. This is an amazing water park full of a lot of fun slides and there is a lazy river in case someone wants to just relax in the water. For more information go to the sevenpeaks. com website, and the prices are shown on the site. Another place that students could have gone is Lagoon Although this may be expensive for some people, it is still a lot of fun, and there’s lots of coupons out there. The rides are really fun,
and there is even a water park with a water ride where people can cool off after being in the sun all day. Go to the lagoonpark.com website for more information and prices. Maybe some students didn’t have money to go to places that expensive. Well, there are some alternative things they can do for free and still have lots of fun. Students can go outside and hang out in the park with their friends or they can go to a recreational center’s swimming pool and just hang out. Maybe someone didn’t want to swim, so they just went to a park and messed around or took a nice drive up to the mountains for a fun little hike. If not, well..., go for a hike this weekend. Another place that is a lot of fun is Boondocks; there are many different activities that people of all ages could enjoy. There is go-cart racing, an arcade, batting
cages, mini golf, and Laser Tag. They also have a fun little water ride to help cool people off after being in the heat. Instead of spending the summer inside students wanted to spend more time outside with their friends. Students could stay in touch with friends and go do activities with them. Students shouldn’t let this next summer be another boring summer. They should go out and do something so that if last summer was boring they could make next summer fun. There are so many different things students could do. If a student is in the mood to swim, there is a great place called Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman, it is a beautiful spot for swimming, and on the way up to the Reservoir, students can explore a little before taking a swim. If students would rather go on a cute little date, there is a great
place for picnics called International Peace Gardens and it is a very beautiful place to go and explore. Another great place for a picnic is Memory Grove Park it has many green beautiful paths for people to go explore. On the third Friday of each month there are beautiful galleries open for free later into the evening for the public to come look at, and this takes place all over Salt Lake. Gallery Stroll is a monthly event that happens in Salt Lake. Or if students are willing to go the distance, they can always go enjoy the beautiful salt flats with their friends for an Instagramworthy photo shoot. With a few more lovely weekends left, students should make the most of summer’s sunny evenings before autumn’s chill and winter’s darkness chases everyone inside until spring.
you also get the benefits of exercising: eggercise, if you will. Transfer your extra Pokemon, too. Transferring gets you candies that will help you evolve or power up your Pokemon, making them stronger and harder to overthrow during battle. When battling, remember to consider your Pokemon’s type as well. If you put your Ponyta against a Blastoise, expect your precious fire pony to be fainted in about three seconds or less. If you’re having a hard time collecting Pokeballs, make your way downtown. As you’re walking fast and the faces pass, you’ll be able to pass a multitude of Pokestops. Highly populated areas have a generous number of landmarks where Pokestops are located. If you can’t go downtown, you can always stop by your local church. All LDS churches happen to be either Pokestops or gyms, which is convenient since we live in Utah where churches are bountiful. I wish you the best of luck in catching them all. Maybe one day you can be a Pokemon master like yours truly. Stay safe and go find that Pikachu!