Granger high school
Tri-Color Times An open forum for student opinion and expression
TRICOLORTIMES.COM
February 2017 LIX-VI
Granger earns above-average accreditation score By Vanessa Holt THE ACCREDITATION team sees Granger High as being above the national average. A lot of people have formed their own opinion that there is nothing that makes this school stand out from the others. Although, people do have their opinions, they have never bothered to enter Granger’s doors and actually walk through it to discover the truth. For a whole year, Granger High School has been preparing for what most have come to know as accreditation. Every five years, a school can be reviewed to see how it’s performing and the order of things happen at the school. Ms. Alo was the assigned administrator for this event, and she formed a very small group that consisted of Ms. Fortune and Ms. Diamond to make sure that Granger was fully prepared for accreditation week. “Teachers had to take mul-
tiple self-assessments, and they were asked how well they were doing and what they wanted to have changed before the team of reviewers came to make their assessment,” Alo said. On December 13-14, tensions ran high through the hallways as all of the administrators, faculty, and students prepared for a twoday review from six accreditation team members. “They were either administrators or teachers. They came from all over, whether they were from an elementary school or high school, a private or public school,” Alo stated. None of them knew much about Granger, like how the teachers taught each of their eight-block periods, or even how the administrators ran the school. Within two days, they came to form their own opinion. “They came to really look at five main standards to see if we fulfilled them in every way,” Ms.
Diamond said. They evaluated our purpose of direction, where Granger was leading students, and to see if they were really being prepared for their future. They looked at leadership and government, for instance how the administrators go about their days: becoming involved in activities and set the rules and restrictions for safety at Granger. They also looked at the system of teaching and learning. Wanting to be sure that students were in a proper learning space, they took the opportunity by running in and out of classrooms to see how teachers take the reins on their lectures, stopping students and asking them if they were feeling safe in the environment that the walls of Granger provided, and meeting with parents and asking how they felt about the type of education that their children were receiving. With only two days to really
explore the depths of this school they looked at all of the school’s evidence to show how Granger was doing financially. They checked cleanliness, too. After the two days, they handed over the results, which stated that Granger High School isn’t below-average or average. It’s above the national average. Overall, Granger passed its review. “For people coming from outside they saw what a great school we were. They were very impressed with the size of the school and all the great students who attend there,” Dr. Dunn stated. The six reviewers did leave comments on how to improve, such as more engagement from both teachers and students, which will be improved on in the following years. However, by passing accreditation Granger now hopes that this will convince people that Granger is more than just a school in the rough part of Utah.
Granger High School’s students, teachers, and administrators were pleased to earn an above-average rating from the accreditation team.
Simple mistakes cause problems during registration By Kayla Carter MOST OF the time, when it comes to picking out classes, students don’t know what they want. They usually want classes with friends. At the same time, they also want to get all their credits so they can either graduate early or just so they can start taking classes to help towards their careers. It is also really hard, because they don’t know what they are doing as they register. They need help so they don’t make mistakes. “One of the mistakes is that usually happens when it comes to registration is that the kids don’t listen. They are told to mark 18 boxes, but only mark 16. They don’t pay attention. Sometimes with new students, since we don’t have their records,
they try to pick the same classes that they have already taken at a previous school just to see if they can get away with it. Most students try to pick classes with their friends, but that doesn’t work out since we have so many students,” Ms. Havea, the H-L counselor, said. When students do registration, they feel like it takes too long and that it takes up most of their day. Well, luckily the counselors plan to speed up the process. “This year we plan to get it done fast, quick, and efficient... well, that is our goal. We’ve made a lot of changes to the cards that will hopefully make the process much smoother. We have easier cards this year, which is good, because we have to get them done faster because we have an earlier
deadline,” Ms. Havea said. With so many classes and having to get in so many different credits, most students wonder how they will get what they need in time to graduate. They also wonder how to be successful. Ms. Havea has tips for success. “One of the ways is to get involved. Pass their classes. Be on time to all of your classes and do all of your work,” she said. Ms. Havea isn’t the only counselor with advice. “Love your counselors,” Ms. Long said, in a joking manner. “All in all, just do your best. There are usually a couple kids that don’t know what to do and don’t know what to take or how it will benefit their college plans, she said. Students who are registering
for school for the first time or are just registering for the next year or even for college will find that there are many things to consider and many things to help make it all go right. “I’m excited for registration. because I get to see if I can get into Spanish. One thing I don’t like about registration is having to choose classes that I don’t like or don’t want to be in. Registration confuses me, because when I sign up for something and then when we come to get my schedule, it’s not there. That or there are things on my schedule that I didn’t sign up for,” Kinzie Keeling (9) said. Whether students are excited for registration or not, let’s hope that they can all get some of what they want.
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Gear for G-cards
By Ramon Martinez III G-CARDS are the currency at Granger High and with these, students and teachers can buy food, drinks, G-gear, and for a short time students paid off fines. During accreditation, teachers were told to pass out G-cards at the beginning of class. This earned many students eight G-cards, and for some, this was the first time receiving a G-card this while others added to the ridiculous number of G-cards they already had. These cards read ‘Thoughtful Empowered Connected’ and represent the core values Granger’s administration hopes to instill in students. “I rarely get G-cards from my teachers, and I can’t believe it when people save enough to buy the G-gear with G-cards,” Antonio Rivas (11) said. The snacks at the G-store are not helping either, with their temptation to buy their snacks and beverages. G-cards are now spreading out more than ever and there are many ways to get them. Just showing up to class on time can earn a student a G-card on some occasions. Answering some question in class might also give students a G-card. “I give a highly complex problem that will get students to strive for an answer for the G-card,” one teacher said. Getting students involved in class is a great thing to do. Even lending a hand and picking up something for a teacher from the office can earn a G-card for thoughtfulness. Saving or spending these Gcards is up to the student. In the long run, when Lancers want to buy some G-gear, even though people don’t have all their cash, they can pay half and half -- money and G-cards. The G-cards go up to a dollar if used on G-gear purchased before or after school. Saving up might be worth it, since the gear lasts and stays in style, while the food either gets eaten or gets expired. Expect to see more G-gear being worn by fellow Lancers. With no guarantee that the G-store will restocking its merchandise, Lancers should get some while they still can and wait no longer. There are many types of Ggear styles, and there is a diversity in styles where all Lancers could find something they would wear.
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Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 6
February 2017, page 2
They’re coming: teachers from Granger will visit students’ homes By Gabriela Thompson COMMUNICATION. It’s a must when students are going to school, especially high school. The majority of students spend at least 30-35 hours a week at school, 6 of those hours are spent daily attending four classes that are each divided into an hour and a half blocks. In each of these classes has an average of 20-30 students, imagine trying to remember all of their names and getting to know them one-on-one. Whether they’re an honor student, failing student, athlete, SBO, etc. It seems pretty insurmountable, yet this is a little glimpse of a teacher’s life. One way to close this rising gap in the community is a new program called: Parent Teacher Home Visit Project. For 15 years, this program has connected home and school communication that support students. In over a dozen states, schools and districts have taken action with this program. It leads to parent involvement, a decrease of disciplinary problems, a
rise in attendance, and an increase in student achievement. “To be honest, it would feel different but it’s for a good cause. It would feel a little awkward and strange, since it isn’t normal and it doesn’t happen as much. But I would lean toward the good side,” Giovanna Aguilar (12) said. Most students’ reactions weren’t as positive. “The teachers don’t need to come to our houses. If I want to talk to a teacher I can visit them in their classroom before or after school,” Oswaldo Sanchez (11) said. However, the administration is trying to change this pessimistic attitude towards the program. “It’s a good experience. The concept is to build a better relationship between school and home. We don’t want to be a disciplinary thing or a negative thing. We want it to be an open communication. We are comfortable enough to be coming to your home, so we want you to be comfortable to walking through the doors of the
school,” Mr. Beck said. Ms. Gaskins feels the same way. “I don’t get to know my students personally during the day, and this helps to get to know them better. It’s not supposed to be scary and uncomfortable. It’s really a ‘what can we do better at Granger to help the parent and student?’ “ Ms. Gaskins said. Although these visits may seem simple enough, it takes a lot of time out of a teacher’s schedule. In order to visit a student’s home, teachers must take a training course that will teach them how to interact with parents and students. Then, they must sign up in pairs and find an appropriate time to visit, since the majority of parents work past 3:00 p.m. The fact that many students come from Spanish-speaking households may present other challenges. Even though the visits will last only 30 minutes, they will result in a long day for the teachers, because they also have to write a report for each visit. Nevertheless, teachers will get
compensated for their time and effort, but this has some students really questioning who the home visits are really for. “Some teachers may do it for the money, but I believe that majority do it for the students,” Alan Cervzantes (9) said.
With the school in controversy over teachers visiting homes, only time will tell for Granger High School. Be prepared Lancers. Listen for a doorbell ringing or the tappity-tap-tap of a knockknock-knock…the teachers are coming.
Ms. Gaskins agrees that home visits could better connect Granger to families.
OWN this Valentine’s Day
Rival schools have it easier than Lancers
By Amanda MacKay SINCE the latest attendance policy was launched at the beginning of the 2015-16 school year, many students as well as teachers have expressed their feelings about it. Many Lancers do not mind the policy, while others express very negative feelings towards it. Administration seems to believe that the attendance policy works perfectly fine, but students do not seem to share this belief. But if students want to have a strong argument against it, they need to have proof that something else could work better. Looking at the attendance policies in place at other schools in the area and comparing them to Granger’s may be an effective way to propose a new solution that will please teachers, administrators, and students alike. At Hunter High and Kearns High, two of Granger’s rival schools, their policies seem to follow Granite School District’s default for the most part. Hunter has a similarity with Granger when it comes to charging money for tardies, though. After being tardy five times, a student must pay off a $5 tardy ticket or attend detention. Unexcused absences cost nothing at either school. Cyprus High School, though, has adopted a similar policy to that of Granger High School. Students are charged two dollars for every tardy, and five dollars for every unexcused absence. They also detail in their student handbook that there are ways to work off the fines, just like students can at Granger. At Jordan School District’s
West Jordan High School, punishments focus on time more than money. “If you sluff, you get suspended. If you’re late too many times, you get suspended,” Elizabeth MacKay, a West Jordan student, said. “If you have three unexcused absences, you have to pay two dollars to go to attendance school to make those absences up,” MacKay said. Attendance school at West Jordan lasts for two hours after school, and those two hours make up three unexcused absences. “Let the students suffer the consequences of the real world if they don’t show up to class,” Jordan Lopez (11) said. Some students feel as though being charged money for poor attendance doesn’t teach them anything, it just earns the school more money. “If I am not attending school, I lose education. The school shouldn’t benefit from my faults,” Lopez said. For many students, it’s not clear where the attendance fine money goes or what programs it supports. “The money earned from students paying attendance fines goes towards paying for Saturday school,” Mr. Beck said. Though there is Saturday school once or twice every month, students still find the fines excessive and expensive. Not all students can attend Saturday school, so if they have excessive fines but cannot attend, they’re out of luck. In Granite School District, student more often come from lowincome families than most other districts in the state. According to the nctq.org website, 45% of
students in the district were on free or reduced lunch during the 2013-14 school year, more recent data not being available yet online. It is interesting that students that come from low-income families are being charged so heavily for their poor attendance. Some families can’t even pay for student lunches, let alone heavy attendance fees. In Salt Lake School District, 61% of students receive free or reduced lunch. East High School, located in the Salt Lake District, gives students an incomplete grade if they have too many unexcused absences. Students are also required to serve thirty minutes of detention for every tardy they acquire. They do not charge any money to their low-income students unless a student fails to show up for detention. Teachers and administrators may argue that if students improved their attendance, they would not have to worry about paying fees. But it’s not that simple. Sure, there is a handful of students who miss class on purpose and should suffer consequences. But other students sometimes have to miss class even if they don’t want to. Of course, there should be some sort of penalty for bad attendance, but simply charging money isn’t going to teach students a lesson. Sending students to detention or attendance school would be much more effective. If a student decides to not spend time in class, it would make more sense for students to make up that missed class with their time instead of their money.
By Stephanie Dorantes VALENTINE’S Day is a day that any Lancer is excited for and for some reason can’t stop thinking about. To finally get chocolate, balloons, or flowers from a significant other or go on a date with someone or even go on a blind date -- who knows. That can make any heart skip a beat or at least get excited. But the real question here is, “Can love and affection only be shown to someone romantically?” Having that in mind, no one really pays any attention to the single people. However, times have now changed. Lancers can enjoy Valentine’s Day whether a Lancer is forever alone or in a relationship. This day is meant for everyone to adore, to have some fun, or to treat a fellow Lancer to something
entine’s Day never happened and that it was just another day. Showing affection or kindness goes a long way. Even doing small things could mean the world to someone or sometimes show the world in different perspectives. “I like to send out messages, give out hugs to everyone that I know, spend more time with everyone because I have no money, but I think showing my kindness can go far. My family and friends are most important to me, Claire Sagendorf (11) said. “I think that Valentine’s Day should be about showing love, kindness, respect, affection to the people who are most important to you. Plus, I get excited the day after Valentine’s Day -- all chocolate is 50% off. I like to sleep in and put more effort into how I do
“I like to send out messages, give out hugs to everyone that I know.” nice that comes to mind. “I watch movies, make plans with friends. I also like to send a message to my sister and my grandma sending them some love, letting them know much I appreciate them. I show myself love too by going to the mall. I like to reward myself for all the hard work that I put into my studying,” Alan Cervantes (9) said. “I also thank one of the teacher aids she helps me out with my grades, encourages me to do better than before and to keep on going, trying my best. I also think that Valentine’s Day is not just for people in relationships, but that this day can be for anyone to show love and kindness, to the people in our lives who are important to us,” he said. Also, everyone does something different on Valentine’s Day. That day is about going all out and getting something for everyone who you appreciate. Or just not wanting to do anything for anyone, just wanting to go home, sleep, pretended that Val-
my makeup that day,” she said. Or there are Lancers who just don’t like the whole thing about Valentine’s Day. It’s a day where it’s just happening, but away from them, so they accept it and manage to deal with it. “To me it feels like any other day. I hate everything about it. I don’t like how everywhere I go, I see red and pink. Also, everyone thinks it’s OK to just make out in front of everyone, but normally I don’t care about Valentine’s Day. Honestly, sometimes I wish it never existed, but hey, what can you do about it?” Lizbeth Aceves (12) said. With all this in mind, everyone has a different approach to the holiday, whether it’s showing kindness to people who are important, or waiting till the next day so that all the chocolate is 50% off. Whether it’s to go out for treats after working hard, or it’s a holiday that feels like it’s happening far away, Lancers should keep their heads up because their day will come.
February 2017, page 3
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 6
With finals approaching, students often cry rather than study correctly
Opinion by Andalynne Moore HEART pounding, knees shaking, palms sweating - these are just a couple of symptoms that indicate one may have a final coming up. Schools around the world have assessments interspersed throughout the year, but there’s commonly one at the end of a semester to test one’s progression of ideas and concepts in the course. Granger has these dreaded finals, done primarily through School City. There is also the end of the year test. Now, I know what everyone is thinking. “Once I graduate, I’m done with this testing crap.” For some, this may be true. For many, however, testing doesn’t end here. Actually, finals in college are just a bit more intense, as
most students will claim. their loved ones will never return. nating your notes so that your As finals start approaching, Even though this is a rela- tears roll off. I’ve seen my friends start going tively common method, someOne of the most helpful things crazy - or at least even more cra- one is more likely to remember is study on a schedule. While not zy - trying to cram all of the stuff information if they start studying being the most fun thing, it helps they need to remember to pass earlier. It’s easier to learn a lot of because not all tests are created the tests. This self-hate and equal. Essentially, some tests energy drink-fueled period of will be worth more on the fi“This self-hate and energy drinkintense studying usually lasts nal grade, some tests will refueled period of intense studying for about a week or two bequire more preparation, etc. usually lasts for about a week.” fore finals are finally over. Whatever the reason, it will This may seem a little exbe crucial to study for some treme, but since these tests tests, so making a schedule, are usually a huge part of final information over a long period of prioritizing it, and then sticking to grades, it makes sense to do any- time than cram it in during a short it will help tremendously. thing in order to avoid failing period of time. Furthermore, it is Another thing that is helpful classes that cost a lot. also wise to get more sleep when about schedules is breaks. SchedSo, now that tests are here to one isn’t pressed for time. uling in few of those will help stay, what is the best way to preHowever, if it’s too late and overall, even if it seems like one pare for them? Surely not delv- finals are already approaching is too pressed for time. I know ing so deep into studying the last quickly, never fear, there are still that breaks keep me from falling weeks that people begin to think things to be done other than lami- asleep, getting distracted, or cry-
ing while studying. OK, breaks over, back to the studying. As mentioned before, prioritization is key, and this isn’t just when comparing one test to another. When figuring out what to study inside a subject, it helps to color-code notes by concepts of ranging importance. To help students do this, some teachers give out an outline of the course. However, this is just a guide, not a strict law, so don’t be afraid to deviate and study things not included on it. This, of course, brings it back to the principal point: start studying earlier. Whatever the method, good luck. “May the odds be ever in your favor,” as Effie Trinket says in the Hunger Games she sends kids off to almost certain death.
It takes more than grades to succeed in honors Opinion by April Hendriksen AK SHONEN norai tiado Utes, hek elmarni nenen kinti. For those of you who couldn’t read that, don’t worry, you don’t need to learn a new language to read the first sentence of this article. It translates to: My husband doesn’t like the Utes, he isn’t a fan of sports. Without this translation, you would have understood only 1/9 of the first sentence. With no background information, no one would have understood those words or what language it is in. This is how many students feel when they are smart enough to take honors classes, but have been taking non-honors classes for the first part of high school. Without background information in the curriculum, students frequently find themselves failing and dropping out of honors classes, not because they’re too slow, but because they have no intellectual foundation to build on. Without background information, students find themselves with lowered self-esteem, an inability to reach their full potential, and
eventually fail their classes. If a smart student is clueless to what the teacher is talking about, their confidence deflates greatly. An honors teacher, who is teaching the curriculum at a much quicker and more challenging pace than a non-honors class would, has no time to give their students a recap on the basics. Unfortunately, it’s not the student’s fault that they have no background knowledge. English 10 and Honors English 10 have similar content, however, where English 10 is mainly essays and vocabulary, Honors English 10 is packed with projects, grammar exercises, heavy reading, big homework assignments, and professional essays. Even if students know the basics of English, say they’re a A+ kids, and they transferred to honors English for their sophomore year, many will find themselves overwhelmed by the quick pace and packed content. Now, this is not to say that honors classes should slow down or remove their homework assignments because some girl in
the school newspaper said they should. Instead, I offer some suggestions: Teachers should make a background study guide from previous grade levels (or a find a textbook) for their new students that come from non-honors classes to help the students catch up. Students, in collaboration, should accept as much help from their honors teachers as they possibly can. Teachers are busy, but they’re there for their students. Also, teachers should stop blaming significant numbers of F’s in their class on the students. Sometimes -- I said sometimes -- it’s a sign that teachers haven’t been as communication savvy as they tried to be. Some students will speak their teachers’ language, so those become the A+ students. Other students won’t always understand what their teachers are saying. In addition, counselors need to understand that some students do not want AP or honors classes because they prefer to pass core classes, rather than fail honors classes.
Ghosting: shady behavior at a new level
Opinion by Tina Huskic GHOSTING has become a very big trend and it’s more common with high school students. “It’s a verb that describes when one person ceases all communication with someone who they are dating and no longer wish to be dating.” Many students at Granger High don’t even know they are ghosting someone, as far as they are concerned they just think they “dropped” or even “broke-up” with a significant other. However, ghosting is a legitimate trend that millennials do to each other. It is very popular, and about 11 percent of people have had someone ghost them in the past. There are many students at Granger High School who have blocked or unfriended someone after talking to them because they simply “weren’t interested anymore.” The idea is to move on faster without having to deal with the aftermath of a break up. Ghosting is also known as “fadeaway.” Ghosting has always existed but now we actually have a word for it. I get it being ghosted is no fun and it really sucks not being able to find out why things ended.
Sometimes it can be for the best when the other partner just up and leaves, because it can make it easier on you. Yet, it still sucks and ghosting someone is not cool. Maybe the guys that ghost do it because they are thinking it’s a harmless joke, but the girl does not think of it that way. However, a girl can do it to a guy just or vice versa. Either way it doesn’t feel so nice and leaves you without closure. You can really hurt someone’s feeling by ghosting them. I do not think ghosting is OK, like just grow up and face that person. This especially goes for students who think it is easier to just get it over with and “be cool.” The fact that Valentine’s Day
is right around the corner and ghosting is spreading, try not to ghost someone right before Valentine’s Day or even after for that matter. I didn’t want to say it but DO-NOT-BE-THAT-GUY. With that said, I think this new trendy word will be used more throughout Granger High Schools’ halls after reading this article. The moral of the story: do not ghost someone. If you want it to be over, make it known and let it be. Give that person the closure they deserve. Also, let’s try not to make ghosting a trend. It’s not cool and it should not happen. So, I’m going to make like a ghost and leave this article here and see you beautiful students later.
Tri-Color Times Staff Editor in Chief Amanda MacKay
Managing Editor Skye Rouse Reporters Doris Ah Ching Samantha Barman Ryan Beckstead Tahliea Bernard Dailyn Brinas Lexee Buckner Oswaldo Cabrera Valencia Kayla Carter Kiana Dalpiaz Stephanie Dorantes Britney Evans Ashley Garcia Suiry Gregorio Flavianna Hawley April Hendriksen Lupita Hernandez Tina Huskic Katherynne Jaco
Online Editor Ha’eli Rigby Photo+Social Editor Vanessa Holt Sports Editor Taylor Wolfley
Reporters Jonathan Jordan Chuck Manzanares Ramon Martinez III Madison McCurdy Ana Montelongo Andalynne Moore Jessica Nateras Stephanie Perez Megan Peterson Jasmine Raya Ariana Rojas Mireya Ruiz Anna Sayasith Diego Serrato Gabriela Thompson Arei Turner Alexandra Valdez Anissa Voa
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 Rude ‘ghosting’ involves deliberately unanswered texts and messages.
February 2017, page 4
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 6
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 6
February 2017, page 6
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 6
February 2017, page 6
Granger welcomes students from all around the world
By Skye Rouse GRANGER High is a giant school with about 3,000 students. The students come from many
different parts of the world. The different variety of the cultures here are crazy and intense, and students also come here from different parts of the world on an exchange program to get an education. “Being in the exchange program was kind of a lot of work,” Robin Trutwin (12) said. “You have to do a lot of paperwork, and applications, and they interview you,” he said. “Of course there are challenges being away from home, like it’s different here, and getting homesick and missing your family,” Trutwin said. Being away from Robin loves Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
home for a long time can be very difficult, especially in a different country. Many things are different here from the landscape to the way the school systems work. “We didn’t have mountains where I lived back in Germany, it’s just kind of flatland and hills,” Trutwin said. “The school systems are different too, you guys have a lot more freedom to choose what you want to do. Differences …like, we have to learn English in kindergarten and here you get to pick your own classes,” Trutwin said. Things are different everywhere you go, maybe in the slightest difference, but it’s a change. With students coming here, it can affect the students that are already here.
“It’s really interesting because sometimes when we talk, sometimes he doesn’t understand our slang,” David Nguyen (11) said. “Sometimes he wants to do new things new to him but for us it’s normal, like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, he is always eating them because, they don’t have them in Germany,” he said. Meeting new people in life can either be a curse or a blessing. They can show a person how to look at things from a different perspective and how to appreciate what some people take for granted. “He wants to learn how to drive because he hasn’t driven before, and that’s insane to me because I’m so used to just going out and getting in my car,” he
said. “There are also little things like the food here. He thinks it’s weird but to us it’s so good and he has different fast food places here than there so I think that’s a little weird,” Nguyen said. The point of an exchange program is to help a student with his or her education and let the student have an experience he or she won’t forget. The student gets to see things he or she wouldn’t normally see; Trutwin saw Yellowstone National Park and was amazed, because he hasn’t seen anything like it. “Oh yeah, seeing Yellowstone was absolutely breathtaking and it wasn’t something I have ever expected to see, and that all goes back to things being different,” he said.
Sterling Scholars puts top seniors in the spotlight By Flavianna Hawley FOR MANY seniors, the fall and winter months of their final year of high school is spent applying for scholarships, filling out important documents such as the FAFSA, and working hard to make sure the credit requirements for graduation will be met. These tasks can be overwhelming and time-consuming for all students. A select group of seniors, however, take on yet another formidable project: the Sterling Scholars competition. Founded in 1962 by reporters at The Deseret News, the Sterling Scholars program was designed to recognize and honor exceptional students throughout the Salt Lake Valley in 12 different categories. The categories vary, ranging from academic-oriented classes such as math, English, and science to categories of the arts, including dance, music, and visual arts. “The purpose of the Sterling Scholars Awards is to publicly recognize and encourage the pursuit of excellence in scholarship,
leadership, and citizenship of high school seniors in the state of Utah,” as stated on the program’s official sterlingscholar.org website. Ms. Atkin, the Sterling Scholars coordinator at Granger, has been working with seniors for three years now, and she oversees the students as they go from applicants to official nominees from the school. “I really enjoy watching how creative the students get as they complete their portfolios. They’re all easy to work with, and it’s fun to watch them grow,” she said. Natalya Maddocks (12) is the nominee for instrumental music at Granger and is very grateful to have been chosen. “I applied because I just really wanted to be able to say that I was a Sterling Scholar,” Maddocks said. She has been playing the cello for seven years, and she will have to perform for a group of judges when she participates in the regional interview required for all Sterling Scholar nominees.
2017 Sterling Scholars English :: Sydney Bell Math :: Matthew Clawson Science :: Caden Cousins Social Science :: Nelson Lotz World Language :: Kolby Smith
The interview is one of the I made the switch to Japanese,” only make students diverse and various steps these students must he said. “It’s really fun to be able interesting, but give them the take in order to demonstrate their to communicate with people in perfect opportunity to become knowledge of their chosen subject a very personal way. When you Sterling Scholar finalists and repand show their various achieve- take it upon yourself to connect resent their school through their ments throughout high school. with them through their language, achievements. Granger’s twelve Seniors from five different re- they’re able to open up more to nominees are no doubt some of gions around the state and hun- you.” the best students as they do exdreds of different high schools These different talents not actly that. spend their first months of senior year compiling a portfolio containing letters of recommendation, various essays, and anything that may impress judges and raise their chances of being chosen as their school’s, and eventually their region’s, nominee. Kolby Smith (12), Granger’s Sterling Scholar for foreign language, has been dedicated to his category for years now. “I’ve actually been taking world language since seventh grade. I first started out with Mandarin Chinese, but when I came to GrangNatalya Maddocks loves music, and she has played the cello for seven years. er they didn’t offer that, so
Students’ thoughts on what to learn
By Chuck Manzanares THERE are many different things to learn here at Granger High School, such as auto body, welding, and woodshop, but some students here want be learning different types of things apart from regular core class they have to take in order to graduate. Conner Cassaday (11) is one of those students. ”I think we should be learning whatever we want instead of the regular stuff,”
Cassaday said. A lot of students think that non-mandatory class should provide more of a challenge, “I think non-mandatory classes should be challenging, but not too difficult,” Cassaday said. Almost every teacher at Granger has his or her own view of teaching, but can’t teach that way because of how the school requires them to teach. Ravjot Walia (12) says that teachers should be able to teach the
Skilled &Tech Science :: Wendy Pham Business & Marketing :: Diana Dinh Vocal Performance :: Elise Fulton Dance :: Kristi Lago Instrumental Music :: Natalya Maddocks Theater and Speech :: Andrea Jimenez Visual Arts :: Nawres Al Saud
Conner would like to see added challenges in his CTE courses.
way they want, “I think teachers should teach their classes how they want to. If they did that, I think it would improve their students’ skills,” Walia said. Granger students believe that they should be learning other things besides the common core stuff like English and math, “I think students should be able to learn whatever they like, and it shouldn’t have to involve the common core. I also think we should have a class that teaches us how to pay taxes,” Walia said. Some students think they should have new core classes here that everyone should take. Eleazar Manriquez (10) thinks that there should be another core class. “I think we should learn special traits and skills we could use in the workplace, kind of like financial studies,” he said. Here at Granger, there is a wide variety of elective classes such as auto body, woodshop, welding, and foods and nutrition. “I think you should have an internship class kind of like skills for life,” Manriquez said. While most students agree that they have to learn certain things, other students believe they should keep things the way they are.
February 2017, page 7
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 6
Lancers get different types of Christmas presents
By Mireya Ruiz CHRISTMAS presents are what many people look forward to on Christmas Eve, but more specifically on Christmas Day. All age groups enjoy getting Christmas gifts, whether it’s a five-year-old boy waiting for Santa to put the race car that he asked for under the tree or a teenager waiting for their parents to buy them a new phone. Presents are what help highlight the holiday. Some Lancers have been roaming the halls with their new presents. Some people have the traditional Christmas Eve socks and underwear on, while others have been walking the halls blasting their music with the new Bluetooth speaker they got. They were satisfied with getting clothes for Christmas, which can be surprising since most teenagers complain about getting clothes and pajamas. “I don’t mind getting clothes for Christmas, because it’s something that my parents have always been getting me every Christmas,” Raysha Rodriguez (9) said. Some bonuses are that the clothes that are bought at Christmas time are the more expensive ones. ¨My parents got me clothes
as one of my Christmas presents. It’s not much of a Christmas present, but whenever they buy my siblings and me clothes around Christmas time, they’re the nicer and more expensive type of clothing,” Rodriguez said. Not only that, but some Lancers got presents that they can use year-round or in this case, until they grow out of it. At the same time others got things that they didn’t need, but wanted. “My parents got me some shoes. I didn’t really need them, because I have tons of pairs, but they got me some new Nikes. They could’ve just gotten me some random Walmart shoes, but instead they decided to get me the ones that look good and last a lot longer, even though they’re somewhat more expensive,” Milagros Cuevas (9) said. In a way, Lancers got things that they’d end up needing in the future. However, their parents were a little bit sneaky with it. Some parents asked their kids what they want for Christmas while others just know what their kids wanted since they’ve been hinting about it – like with the Nike shoes. “Whenever I want something, I just hint to my brother
about it and he usually gets it for me. You just have to try other ways of telling someone what you want,” Ms. Campbell said. Meanwhile, other parents thought that having kids be able to pick their presents was more efficient, because then they can get whatever they want. That means no more wasting lots of money on gifts that will be put in the closet. Instead, people get various unwanted gifts, while others got gifts they weren’t really wishing for but still satisfied them. “I got gift cards and money for Christmas, so I just went and bought things like make-up and the new highlights. I like it better when I get to choose my presents, because that way my parents don’t buy me things that I don’t like,” Myrka Bautista (9) said. There’s lots of different types of gifts. It’s visual, because Lancers have been showing their Christmas presents off. Their new shoes, nice jackets, and headphones are what many teachers have been noticing these past few weeks. “Giving and getting gifts become different when you get older. You realize more aspects of it,” Mr. Timothy said.
Milagros Cuevas is showing off a new outfit that her parents got her.
There’s the friends, the rivals, and the frenemies By Jonathan Jordan COMPETITIVE friends or friends who go to other schools
can be a pain. Maybe they’re not even a friend anymore, this is where the line of frenemies is
drawn. For years, friendships have been torn apart by sports, fights, and most of all, rivaling schools. Football, soccer, and many other school sports drive competition, and competition is one thing that gets between every person’s friends. Some students at Granger have friends who go to other schools like Hunter, Hillcrest, Brighton, Taylorsville, and many others. “Usually I’m a part of pep band during the games, but if I sat with my friends from other schools, we would be always competing,” Hayden Kidd (12) said. Kidd used to hang out with his friends ofHayden knows the tension felt by students who have friends at rival schools. ten, but with school
and competition it’s hard to find time to hang out with them. Another student who has some rivalry frenemies is Felisi Ahio (12). His friends go to Taylorsville, Hunter, and Cottonwood High. “It’s pretty easy to be friends with all of them, but when it comes to school vs. school were not friends,” Ahio said. When it comes to frenemies it usually revolves around competing schools. Still, even frenemies can be friends. There’s always people though who don’t have frenemies. One exception here at Granger is Danielle Pirillo (11). She has friends both at Skyline and Hunter. For them competition doesn’t get in the way. “We never really talk about our school and who’s better. None of us care about the rivalry stuff,” Pirillo said. Not every person has frenemies, but every person has friends. Dr. Irene S. Levine has said a frenemy is, “a person who seems
to be a friend, but then has periodic or frequent lapses in behavior that are antagonistic or undermining,” as stated on the understandingteenagers.com website. This site lists many ways to spot a frenemy. Those ways are by looking for backhanded compliments, competitiveness, a starter of negative rumors or gossip, or dishonesty. There are lots of different types of frenemies out there. Also on understandingteenagers.com, it gives teenagers and parents ways to stop frenemies and promote true friends. The site offers tips for starting conversations. “I have noticed recently that whenever you spend time with (frenemy name) you end up feeling upset or angry. Why is that?” as stated on the understandingteenagers.com website. This is something a parent might ask a child after noticing some friendship stress. Having a frenemy doesn’t mean that a person has to handle it on his or her own.
Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 6
February 2017, page 8
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children: a movie of wonder could turn into a bird and fly. As
Review by Megan Peterson THEY SAY you should never judge a book by its cover, but sadly that’s exactly what I did when Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children hit theatres. The cover included olderthemed photos of a young girl in a plain white dress standing around, so it just didn’t draw my attention. However, after seeing
the movie, I can only imagine that reading the book will be even better. The movie starts off with a young outcast named Jake, who usually gets pushed around a lot. He soon gets an unusual call from his grandfather to come over as quickly as he can. As Jake goes along his long route his grandfather is attacked. Jake gets there in
time to watch his grandfather die in pain including the removal of his eyes by his attacker. While mourning, Jake remembers stories his grandfather used to tell about a special school he went to with kids with magic powers. Some of these kids were a girl as light as air and an invisible boy, who were protected by their teacher Miss Peregrine, who
much as Jake loved these stories, he knew them as fictional stories. That is until he finds a note from Miss Peregrine and tries to find her in England. Jake and his father go to a town in England and learn that the children’s home doesn’t exist anymore due a bombing in World War Two. However, Jake follows one of
the children and goes through a loop, a time traveling device, that takes him to the home where the special children live. From there they have another adventure that you will have to watch the movie to learn about. I love how in this movie it showcases that being different is OK and in some ways, you can protect people by being different, which teaches Jake who he is special and not just some loner kid. I think this point is important for kids to understand. Every kid is an outcast at least once in his or her life, and everyone needs to know that being different is not only OK, but it’s better for everyone overall. People have a need to feel significant by bringing something else to the table without the fear of being rejecting. This movie also shows that what you need to do in life is not doubt yourself. Don’t hide behind the fear of being told ‘no’ or that someone doesn’t like you. J ust be you. I love the messages that this movie has in it, teaching kids life lessons that should be taken to heart and it can be hard to find a meaning in movies. Luckily this movie is interesting, entertaining, and ethically amazing.
One of the deadliest mountain expeditions took place on Mount Everest in 1996
Review by Kiana Dalpiaz EVEREST is a true story that is based on one of the most horrific mountain expeditions that occurred in May of 1996. This movie allows you to have a better understanding of the realistic events that unfolded that fateful day. From the title, you can already tell that it is a journey up Mount Everest, a mountain that stands 29,029 ft tall, not to mention that the mountain’s highest 848 meters are known as the “death zone”. It is located between China and Nepal in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. Each character has a different reason as to why he or she wants to climb Everest, ranging from one person who wants to prove that an ordinary person can do something extraordinary to a
woman who is finishing all seven summits. Rob Hall, one of the main guides of the expedition, meets with the amateur climbers that he will be leading up the mountain. A few weeks before the initial climb of the mountain, all those who are climbing meet at the airport. They go over the dangers of Everest and its “death zone” noting they hope to make it past that level quickly. As the climbers make it to the bottom of the mountain and head up to the base camp they meet Scott; leader of the Mountain Madness climbing company. Rob convinced a journalist to write an article on Rob’s team rather than Scott’s team. Although they are competitors, they still seem to be on good terms with each other. As the climbers are mak-
ing their way from base camp to camp two, they have to use a ladder to cross over a crevasse.
Once one of the climbers decides to cross over, ice chunks break off causing the ladder to shake making the climber stumble and hang on for his life.
Due to concerns, Rob and Scott decide to have both their own teams join to make their way up the mountain together. Although they both have different styles of climbing, ultimately they think of a plan for who should have oxygen tanks and where to place them. With the climbers making their way up the mountain, some began to become ill and face a big struggle as there are no fixed ropes. Since there are no fixed ropes as they get higher, it results in some of the climbers deciding to go back to the base camp. Finally, the rest of the bunch who make it to the top of Everest leave things to mark that they made it to the top. Rob then helps one last climber who was behind the others to make it to the top. However,
a blizzard ends up hitting the mountain resulting in Rob and the climber taking cover, as well as others who were already making their way down but got caught in the storm. It does not help that they cannot find the oxygen tanks on the mountain, either. In order to rescue the two towards the top, one climber makes his way up to them to bring an oxygen tank. But due to hypoxia the climber faces a great risk. However, this is not where the story ends and there is much more. Overall this story is tragic yet exciting, and you will end up wanting to not leave your seat. Considering that this is based on a true story, it adds a more realistic view as you visualize yourself in their position. It is a great story that should be shared with many audiences.
Bojack Horseman presses the issue of depression on TV Review by Anna Saysaith BOJACK Horseman is more of an adult-type of cartoon that was started on Netflix. Bojack currently has three seasons but has been renewed for a fourth. The show features an anthropomorphic horse in Los Angeles. The show takes a real look on the Hollywood life. The show is a comedy with mature topics. Bojack Horseman is our main character. Bojack is a washed-up celebrity from a sitcom called Horsin’ Around. When he is first introduced, he is your typical arrogant character type. He struggles with substance abuse and depression. He deals with loneliness and depression by drinking and womanizing. Bojack sees his life as pointless. He thinks the great days are over and the worst days are yet to come. He feels like it’s too late for him to turn his life around. Bojack feels helpless, as if he’s drowning. He can get everything
he wants but will never be happy. Bojack continues to go through this heartbreakinglyfamiliar cycle. Just when it feels as though Bojack has managed to overcome his depression, he’s falling back down dark that pit of depression and self-loathing. Princess Carolyn is Bojack’s on and off again girlfriend and agent. Princess Carolyn wants a real relationship, she blames Bojack for this. Princess Carolyn has been let down by Bojack not only romantically, but he also turns down every project she gives him. Princess Carolyn has been a constant in Bojack’s life until she decides to put herself first. Mr. Peanutbutter is a yellow lab. He could be considered a frenemy to Bojack. Mr. Peanutbutter’s career starts when he copies Bojack’s show with another sitcom called Mr. Peanutbutter’s house. Mr. Peanutbutter is a positive airhead that can have unexpected depth. Despite their
rivalry, Mr. Peanutbutter cares for Bojack’s opinion and admires his work. Todd Chavez is Bojack’s roommate. Todd could be the first openly asexual characters to appear on television. Todd thinks of Bojack as his best friend despite the multiple insults he gives him. Todd is constantly loyal to Bojack, but only gets complete indifference in return. Their friendship begins to die out when Todd begins to question Bojack. Diane Nguyen is Bojack’s ghost writer for his memoir. Diane is dating Mr. Peanutbutter. Diane is generally intelligent. Diane and Bojack start off having a strong friendship that quickly becomes strained when Bojack develops feelings for Diane. Diane struggles with wanting to do more with her life but having certain aspects hold her back. I personally didn’t like the show at first. A few episodes in and the show was like the typical
comedy cartoon. However, in episode eight, Bojack comes faceto-face with the hard truth. That to me is when the show becomes more than a comedy, it becomes reality. I related to Bojack, but not about everything he does or says. There were moments where I could really see myself in him. Bojack isn’t very likable at first, until you start to sympathize with him and his many flaws. This is honestly the first show that I could fully relate to. The humor remains, but is mixed in with these very dark moments. Bojack Horseman has the ability to make you question yourself and past decisions. Depression is a hard topic to mention in modern television. Bojack Horseman adds a realistic aspect of how depression actually feels like. Though this show deals with depression, it doesn’t excuse the bad behavior that can be caused from depression. This
show can help people who are depressed feel less alone. Though this show is mature in many of its topics, if you get a chance I highly recommend this show. Not everyone will have the same experience as me, but hopefully the thoughtful moments will keep you watching and enjoying.