Granger high school
Tri-Color Times An open forum for student opinion and expression
TRICOLORTIMES.COM
SEPTEMBER 2017 LX-I
Sun and moon align for Granger’s 60th By Skye Rouse ON AUGUST 21, certain states in America got to witness a very historic event, a solar eclipse. At Granger High School, students were given special solar glasses and were able to watch the eclipse in the courtyard. “During the eclipse I went and watched it with my friends, I was outside the whole time while it was going on,” Jacqueline Mendoza (11) said. “I felt really fortunate and lucky to be able to see it, I wouldn’t say I had a favorite part because all of it is neat but I thought the shadows looked really cool,” Mendoza said. Although people could see the eclipse, it wasn’t at it’s peak until 11:33 a.m. in Utah. However, many people drove up to Idaho to
enjoy the full effect: the totality. “I drove up to Idaho and met up with my family. The drive felt like forever because of how many people were headed up there because there were festivals going on celebrating the eclipse,” Kimberly Hernandez (12) said. “During the eclipse it got kinda cold and dark for a few moments, I liked it and I think it’s amazing that we were able to see that,” she said. Being in Idaho, people got more coverage and felt more of an effect, but some of Granger High’s students stayed kickin’ back at school enjoying it in the courtyard. “I felt like that day was a really weird day and was kind of off, but all in all I loved seeing them
intertwine, I felt really fortunate,” Luis Ramirez (11) said. “I felt like there was more hype for it and that it would be a lot cooler, but I also thought it was really nice of the school to give us solar glasses because not everyone had them,” Ramirez said. Seeing the eclipse was a type of experience that and most people were very amazed by it. “I watched the eclipse with some friends and was just so mezmerized by it,” Elena Flores (11) said. “I remember first putting on my glasses and it being just dark and then seeing a banana shape burning in the sky and just being like wow because it’s not something you get to see every day,” she said. Most people were warned
about looking at the sun without the solar glasses off. “I also remember taking off my glasses and looking at the sun and after a few seconds it would just burn my eyes and I’d see all these weird lines but I kept doing it,” Flores said. The astronomy teacher showed great excitement in the courtyard. ¨Seeing a solar eclipse is not a once-in-a-lifetime thing but it’s something that is so beautiful that the universe gives us that we take it and grasp it because of how extraordinary it is,” Mr. Sandrock said. ¨I´ve seen a partial solar eclipse but it was way back when we didn’t have solar glasses and we just stabbed a piece of paper and saw the shadow, I’ll be sure to be where it passes” he said.
2017-18 SBO President Joseph Alvarez
SBO Vice President Wilson Tran
SBO Secretary Alma Aguero
SBO Event Coordinator Tiffany Nguyen
A solar eclipse viewing party kicked off 2017-18 in stellar style. Look for more amazing events during Granger’s 60th year.
Granger’s High school still going strong after 60 years By Natalie Aiono GRANGER High School’s roots run incredibly deep. Sixty years deep, to be exact. Granger was founded way back in 1958. With a very long past to a bright future, Granger has blossomed intensely. So, in celebration of its 60th anniversary, Lancers took some time to reminisce about Granger High with some staff and students. Dr. David Dunn, principal, reflected on the new building. “Having this beautiful building compared to the old building, I think there’s something to be said as far as students taking pride in the school,” Dunn said. He also commented on the diversity of the school. “When it comes to our students, the culture in our school gets more beautiful every day,” Dunn said. He is an amazing principal who strives for a greatness every day here at Granger. Ms. Alo, assistant principal, shared her thoughts, too. She also talked about the future of Granger
students. “Granger is a school that is in the middle of a great explosion that’s leading towards having amazing students that will be able to perform at an even higher academic level and will be extremely well-rounded in the future,” Ms. Alo said. “I am really excited about what they are going to do.” Granger is lucky to have such a devoted staff member. SBO president, Joseph Alvarez (12), is full of pride for Granger High. As a big role model around GHS, he shared his conviction that younger classmen should have more spirit. “The new freshman this year aren’t very prideful. It’s kind of heartbreaking, because making sure people love where they come from and love their school— that’s always been a huge deal to me,” Alvarez said. He also mentioned the lack of diversity at other Utah schools. “They don’t have the tolerance the world needs. Since I come
from Granger, I can proudly say I’ve learned how to get along with all kinds of people,” he said. Joseph Alvarez is a mighty proud Lancer. Dr. Van Tassell has been at Granger for a very long time. An incredible 26 years, and he has seen it all. “Most things are the same. The difference is that students are less interested in learning these days due to more distractions,” Van Tassell said. “I like Granger’s diversity. I like all the different kinds of people and personalities. It’s very nice. I am proud to teach at a school like Granger,” he said. It is his last year at Granger as well, so be sure to stop by his room and congratulate him on his dedication to Granger. With all of the Lancer love in the halls, Lancers are as proud as any of the previous classes. Granger isn’t just any school. Granger is the type of school that will have a lasting effect on
its students. From the beautiful building to the extreme variety of culture, Granger High School is truly a magical place that’s 60 years strong and still going. Once a Lancer, always a Lancer!
SBO Public Relations Dir. Jeffrey Hoang
SBO Diversity Vice Pres. Luis Tobar
SBO Service Learning Coor. Melissa Navarrrete
Want more Granger High School news? Check articles at tricolortimes.com or add us on twitter.com/tricolortimes.
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 1
September 2017, page 2
What they aren’t telling you about college
Opinion by Amanda MacKay A QUESTION I’ve gotten from many curious underclassmen who know me or are friends with me on Facebook is, “How did you get so much money in scholarships?!” When I tell people that I have qualified for a combined $40,000 per year in scholarships from four major universities, it blows their minds. It blew my mind at first, too, but the answer ended up being quite simple: I had no idea that any of those scholarships even existed until I received them. Junior year is infamous for being the most challenging year of high school. It’s all about college: ACT, AP, CE, and every other abbreviation that will give any 16-year-old severe anxiety attacks. Juniors will hear about a million and one times this school year how important it all is. You have to do this, that, and some other seemingly irrelevant thing “for college” and “for scholarships”. There are many things that the counselors and teachers don’t seem to tell the juniors, seniors, or even the underclassmen. They try to beat into our heads how important it is to get good grades and push us towards a select few scholarships, but they don’t really help us realize why. Part of me is scared that some of the counselors at Granger High School are cheating their students by not knowing certain information that could actually be quite beneficial. Throughout
high school, the very few visits I had with my counselor felt like a waste of my time. I already had a good idea of what my college and career goals were, and my counselor hardly listened when I told her that I didn’t want to go for the Regent’s scholarship because it didn’t fit with my plan. I tried asking what other scholarships were out there for me, but I was simply given a website that proved to be confusing and the opposite of helpful. For a while, my plan was to go out of the state for college, but I felt as though my counselor had no idea how to help or support me in that plan. Out-of-state tuition can get very expensive, and for a while, it seemed pointless for me to even try. When I got a letter from Boise State University saying that they were offering me $14,500 per year off of my tuition, I was amazed. I had heard small mentions of academic scholarships before, but I wasn’t expecting such a large amount of money. After doing more research, I found that most of the schools I was planning on applying to had these academic scholarships that simply had a set of minimum requirements to meet and the money would be mine. I was finally realizing why the ACT and my GPA were so important. Of course, I had known those scores were important before, but it wasn’t until that moment when I realized my good grades and test scores were, quite literally, paying off.
Bragging about high test scores and grades only goes so far, but being able to brag about college admissions and thousands of dollars in scholarships is so much better. The best part about these academic scholarships is that there isn’t a separate application for them—they’re a part of the regular application for admissions. My biggest advice to juniors would be to do some research into the schools they’re interested in and see what those schools might be able to offer them. For the seniors, I highly recommend getting started on college applications as early as possible and figuring out where to apply as early as possible. Deadlines sneaked up on me pretty quickly, and I ended up not being able to apply to a school I was really excited about because I missed the deadline. Take control of your future before it’s too late. My senior year flew by, and after spending so much time talking about, thinking about, and planning for college, I am finally here. Teachers, counselors, and administration will constantly bug you about doing well in school and on the ACT, but take it from someone who’s been there quite recently: it’s worth it. I now attend the University of Utah and only have to pay about one-fourth of the regular in state tuition. College can be intimidating, but the hard work you put in now will make things much easier for you in the future.
Changes to transgender protections Opinion by Daryl Midgley AMERICA was outraged when the Trump administration declared that they partially repealed Title IX protections for transgender students. “Most Americans think that just because it doesn’t affect me, I shouldn’t have to worry about it,” Mr. Jackson, an assistant principal, said. And when put into the context of the protections being repealed, that’s true. Most people think just because they aren’t transgender, this change doesn’t affect them. But it does, and they just don’t know it. When you think about Title IX, you probably think about transgender students. The truth is title IX benefited everyone. Title IX was made to stop discrimination against gender, or sex. When certain guidelines within it were repealed, it confused many Americans. I asked a couple transgender friends who didn’t want to be named for their opinions, and they told me that they are sure that the Trump administration will be checked and balanced and
get less power. Almost all of them think that the Trump administration won’t be able to get rid of the Title IX provisions that protect transgender students. When asked, some people said that, “I was raised to think differently,” but that is a bad excuse. I honestly don’t see why people say that, because it’s not true. Anybody can change an opinion. All it is, is if you are open minded enough to be able to incorporate that change. If you are willing to want to believe in that change. That’s all that matters. If you don’t want to change, and if you are closed minded, you’ll never change. You will forever think what you do because you don’t want to think differently. One person can’t lead a revolution, but one person can open a mind, then another, and another so on and so forth. Soon there is a very large number of people who believe in what you do, and that is a revolution. That’s how almost every peaceful revolution started. So, if you believe me, and you convince your friend, then his friend, and so on, maybe, just
maybe, people can get society to open their minds to new and different things. When people tease you, and put you down for feelings that you have, it’s hurtful. You might not even want to have them, but they’re there, and you can’t ignore them. Believe me, if people could, they wouldn’t have these feelings, but they’re still there. Back to Title IX, if the Trump Administration repeals the protections given to transgender students, they will be in mortal danger. Because if people see a girl in the men’s rest room, they’re going to tease her, and/or physically harass her. That is more dangerous than the one pedophile that might sneak into a women’s bathroom to create harm. It seems more like common sense than anything. So, I am still confused as to why the Trump administration wants to repeal these protective orders that put in place to protect transgender students. It’s not like you’ll be affected if the protections don’t change. Please keep in mind, that this is my opinion.
Knowing your values and needs keeps you headed in the right direction Opinion by Stephanie Perez NEGATIVE peer pressure happens when someone influenced by a person who doesn’t do good things, or when people have the feeling that if they don’t do what others do, they won’t fit in. Negative peer pressure is an issue that affects many teens today. It leads good people to do bad things. Friends influencing you to drink, smoke, or stay out late are some of the many examples of falling into peer pressure. People telling you that it won’t do you any harm may make you decide to trust them and go for it. Teenagers are pressured to fit in. Although many know it won’t do them any good, people still decide to go for it in order to avoid being bullied or judged. A huge example of negative peer pressure might be if you have a huge test to study for, but your friends keep on inviting you to go out late with them. You could either stay in to study or go out with your friends. Your friends may not have been intentionally planning to do anything bad, yet, it does take time away from your studying. A good decision might be to hang out with friends for a short amount of time, then go study extra. Having self-confidence and high self-esteem can be powerful enough to allow to you stay on the right road. Listening to what you believe is the correct thing to do, and is what you should learn towards. Peer pressure may either come directly, indirectly, or individually. Having peer pressure come directly is when someone tells you exactly what to do, whether it’s correct or not. For example, a friend forcing you to go to a latenight party where there will be drinking. Right away you know some of their intentions aren’t good.
Indirect peer pressure is when someone or something is slowly leading you towards the wrong path. However, you may not realize it until it’s too late or already done. Another example for indirect peer pressure is classmates telling you to sluff but rapidly you begin to sluff more than once per week. Aside from direct and indirect peer pressure, individual pressure is also there. This might lead to the need of finding new friends. Making yourself dress or act different in order to ‘fit in’ might be considered individual peer pressure. Individual pressure may simply be you telling yourself to curl your hair every once in a while. Or it could be more extreme like making yourself do something bad, such as forcing yourself not to go to school due to laziness. Some ways of getting away from peer pressure is by saying no. Although, saying no may not always be the easiest thing to do, explaining to peers that you don’t want to take part of something is definitely okay. Although there are negative forms peer pressure, there is also positive peer pressure. Being influenced to do your work when needed and being told to show up to school every day on time are many examples of positive peer pressure. Positive challenges help and motivate you to do your best in all cases. It may help you reflect on your actions, which allow yourself to become a better individual. Making sure that you’re caught up with work and grades is another form of positive peer pressure. However, many may bring laziness into this, converting it into negative peer pressure. Bringing out positive, direct peer pressure is mainly recommended. Helping others be respectful, honest and nice is what our school needs.
September 2017, page 3
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 1
buy that yearbook: jostensyearbooks.com Pinapple on pizza fires up controversy in the halls and on the internet By Oswaldo Cabrera MANY PEOPLE love the amazing and famous food called pizza. What people love most about is that you can put almost anything on it and eat it. Name it, and it can be a topping. Yet, there’s a huge war going on over whether pineapple should go on pizza or not. Some think pineapple should not be on pizza while others think it’s delicious. It currently has been one of the most debated topics on the web. There has even been a video where a kid, surrounded by a circle of students, destroys two pineapples. Some people seem to really hate pineapple on pizza, and go to extreme measures to make their opinion known.
“The pineapple on pizza has a sweet taste that brings out the flavor as a whole. Mainly, it’s just the grilled pineapple that enhances the taste,” Teresa Fife, a cafeteria staff member, said. It’s a really common thing that many people like because it has a nice, sweet flavor when it’s grilled. “I really like pineapple pizza, there is a cool thing you can do with it, too. If you wrap pineapple pizza with tinfoil, the pineapple turns shiny. It’s not really a good thing because it’s bad for you, but I just wanted to put that out there,” Mr. McCarl said. That’s something new that everyone can try now. “I love it, just add a little bit of Canadian bacon,” Mr. Timothy
said. People like sweet pizza, and Lancers enjoy that mix of sauce and ham, with a hint of some sweet pineapple. Pineapple gives the meal a really unique taste that satisfies people’s taste buds. However, some people do not like that unique taste. On the other hand, there are some people that think it’s disgusting to put pineapple on pizza. “It’s too sweet for what pizza tastes like. It just makes the pizza unappetizing” Suiry Gregorio (10) said. The moistness of the pizza when pineapple is added is what might throw the taste off. “I don’t like grilled pineapple in general, it makes the pizza have a bad and unpleasant texture. Although, I do like raw pineapple,”
Destiny Butcher (10) said. The texture of the pizza is something that really changes when people add pineapple. Some don’t really seem to like it. “I don’t like how it’s moist when it comes out of the oven, it makes me not want to eat it,” Hugo Caldia (‘17) said. Along with the moistness, people don’t like it when the pineapple strings get stuck in between their teeth. Some say it is pretty terrible. Anything can be a pizza topping these days, for example there have even been pizzas topped with kangaroo meat. There are weird toppings everywhere. Some may like them, and some may not—it just de-
pends on what the person likes. Online, there have been small “battles” with people who don’t like pineapple pizza, which cause people to despise each other. People even make memes about people liking pineapple pizza. The point is, there is nothing wrong with liking pineapple on a pizza or not. It’s just a small topping on a pizza. Everyone likes different toppings. Some like pepperoni, mushrooms, and all sorts of other things. Although, the one opinion people agree on is to have no anchovies on pizza, ever. Case closed. A lot of people really do not like anchovies on a pizza. So, hold the anchovies instead of pineapple.
Why do high school kids still choose to disobey dress code? Opinion by Lopelini Hafoka THROUGHOUT the years, the dress code has been the same, but students still try to disobey it. The dress code is different with boys and girls, but the way students dress now is far beyond dress code rules. “The dress code has helped us throughout the years, so it’s hard to see people break that rule,” assistant intern Mr. Nielson said. The dress code helps administrators and police officers spot trespassers and also helps maintain a positive atmosphere for education. Most students only dress the way they dress because they try to fit in or it’s because there are exciting fashion trends
to follow. Almost everyone at this school has broken the rules for dress code at one point or another. Teachers treat the students differently by gender. Something that they have done in the past few months is dress code girls for what they wear, but when the boys wear the same things, they really don’t mind it. Some people think that the outcome of the dress code does not match the qualities employers look for. However, the dress code can help students dress appropriately for a positive appearance in the school environment, which will help students prepare for the future. Also, a dress code can help
prevent gangs from forming and diminish peer pressure. The dress code helps keep our students safe. The dress code can help prevent sexual harassment and other negative things like that, too. It may sound weird, but things like this really can and do happen—especially in our world today. Also, most of the students do notice that the dress code is sexist. Yes, of course, school staff will dress code the girls, but the way they dress code these girls is way different from the way they dress code boys. Boys do disobey dress code, but they don’t notice because they only filter out
Zoos protect animals from dangers
Opinion by Arei Turner THERE are many different opinions on whether animals should be kept in zoos or not. People argue that they would be happier in the wild, or that they feel claustrophobic due to the small spaces that they live in at zoos. I prefer to see the cup half full, and notice how there are more positives than negatives when it comes to zoos. Zoos provide care and protection for the animals that they own. They have even saved a few species from extinction. Zoos provide animals with similar environments that they would be in if they lived in the wild. For example, at Hogle Zoo, the harbor seals and sea lions, in my opinion, have the best environment. They have plenty of room to swim, and even rocks to lay on and bask in the sun. They spend all day playing and enjoying the kids with bright smiles that peek at them through the glass. They seem very content with where they live. While I watched one particular sea lion, Diego, I noticed that he would swim in circles, taking the same route every time. He was playing with one of the seals. They were chasing each other,
possibly playing tag. They were having a fun time. Zoos provide animals who lived in threatened environments with strong, healthy ones. They even give them friends to play with and love. The seals don’t have to worry about the boats in the ocean that could hurt them, or any pieces of trash that they could choke on. They are safe in their enclosure. Not to mention, they make friends there, so they don’t have to worry about losing them and being lonely. They also don’t have to worry about getting eaten by predators. If the animals are in the zoo, it means that they are safe from hunters. It is illegal to hunt elephants, but that doesn’t stop people. The elephants in Hogle Zoo are safe and protected from these dangers. That is one huge worry off of the poor elephants’ shoulders, and their precious, ivory tusks. They can spend their time in their little pool, or walking around for the people watching, safely basking in the sun with their cute wrinkly skin. Zoos make sure all of their animals receive the proper care and nutrition that they need. They don’t have the trouble of finding
the things they need to survive in the wild. While living in zoos, they never have to scavenge for food and risk dying from starvation or dehydration. No matter what, they will be properly fed and cared for. They can get the proper medical care that they need as well. For instance, the polar bear recently had to be put down due to renal failure. If she was out in the wild, she would have had a long, painful death and probably been all alone. They tried to help her, but she was to sick, so to keep her from suffering, she was unfortunately put to sleep. She was loved and cared for by many. Zoos love all of their animals and provide them with the best possible lives they could live while they are in captivity. Zoos are amazing for animals. They have way more pros than they do cons. People need to open up their eyes and see the bright sides of zoos, and how they protect animals from the dangers in their natural environments. They are very positive for many animals. If you enjoy seeing all the animals on the earth, then you should support zoos. They keep all of their animals safe.
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the worst in girls and what they planned to wear that day. Most people judge based on what other people wear, which is not only bad for the community, but also themselves and what others see in them. Students might judge others off what they wear and how they wear it. It’s not good to judge others because of the clothes they wear and how they wear them. Most of the clothing now does depend on fashion, and fashion does not follow any dress code— especially the ripped jeans and cropped tops. The style now isn’t based off of the dress code and most girls these days don’t care what the
dress code says about what they wear. Most people only disobey dress code because they try to fit in what everyone else is wearing around school and in public. The style is always going to have to come out one day in these high schoolers’ heads. Parents now do not care what their children wear. If parents were there to help their children out with what they wear to school and the clothes they buy from the store, then the school wouldn’t need a dress code. I think dress code should not take place, because it is not necessary. If the students want to dress off code then let them.
Tri-Color Times Staff Editor in Chief Amanda MacKay Managing Editor Skye Rouse Reporters Doris Ah Ching Bryon Brinley Dailyn Brinas Oswaldo Cabrera Valencia Kayla Carter Kiana Dalpiaz Stephanie Dorantes Mesa Fullmer KayLynn Gonzalez Lopelini Hafoka Flavianna Hawley April Hendriksen Lupita Hernandez Tina Huskic Katherynne Jaco
Photo+Online Editor Hayley Rigby Social Editor Vanessa Holt Sports Editor Taylor Wolfley Reporters Chuck Manzanares Ramon Martinez III Madison McCurdy Daryl Midgley Stephanie Gutierrez Hailey Piper Jasmine Raya Ariana Rojas Mireya Ruiz Ozzy Sanchez Anna Sayasith Karen Soriano Gabriela Thompson Arei Turner 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
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 1
September 2017, page 4
Former Lancer makes her way through college to a fantastic career By Kayla Carter “THE MORE you write, the better you get at it,” Kenadee Hatch (‘11) said. Hatch visited Granger High’s journalism class to give Mr. Carlisle’s students advice on being journalists and succeeding in college. “Relearn how to study, take the time to study and to relearn how to study right. College is different from high school; therefore, your studying habits will have to change. Manage your time so you can study and do all of the other things that you have to do,” Hatch said. When Lancers have a test in high school, they normally study the night before, then take the test in class the next day. “It’s way different studying for college than it is in high school. In high school, if you do your work and stay on top of your homework, you’re pretty well set, right? In college, I spend hours reading textbooks. If I want to do really well in a class, I would make note cards to study on the go,” Hatch said. Aside from relearning to study, students also need to find a way to pay for college. There are many ways to pay for schooling. Students can get an extra job, look for scholarships, or find other options through different colleges to pay for schooling. There are many financial responsibilities students have to take care of.
Hatch found a great way to pay for her schooling. “Get good grades, that’s one of the many things you can do to get a scholarship to the school that you want. Take advantage of your resources and opportunities. Do a lot of internships and make good use of your time,” Hatch said. Hatch wasn’t just a high school journalist. She also danced for Granger’s Excaliburs drill team and Dance Company. She went to the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College, and Westminster. At these colleges, she used her resources and found her job at Fusion 360 (an advertisement company). At her job, she does something similar to journalism, but for advertisement. “When I applied for schools, I only applied at the University of Utah and Westminster College, looking back I wish I would have applied for more, even some out of state. Just to see if I had a chance,” Hatch said. Full ride, half tuition, or even just a scholarship—money for college is money for college. What kind of scholarships students get depends largely on grades and what students have done in high school. Admission is tricky. “First, scholarships are not automatically the ‘full ride’ many people believe them to be,” as stated on the athleticschalorships.net website.
Full ride scholarships are also based on the grades students maintain while in college as well. Students have to maintain a certain GPA and fulfill other requirements depending on the scholarships they receive. “Your high school may require a set number of required hours for community service, but some colleges do not. Two hours a week, every week for three years is much more impressive than 300 hours in the summer before your senior year,” as stated on the collegeadmissionspartners.com website. That being said, it’s better to slowly, steadily earn hours of community service, rather than rush and try to earn all the community service hours right before senior year or college. “I was actually part of LAT during my senior year so I had a lot of service under my belt. Whether we were cleaning up highways or just going to the nursing home to hang out, there was always something going on. I wish I had done more throughout high school, because that’s the kind of stuff you can use to get scholarships,” Hatch said. How many hours of service students get all depends on what scholarship the students are trying to apply for. Students can have 162 hours of community service or they can have none. However, it is easier to get schol-
Kenadee learned how to succeed in college, and now she has a job she loves.
arships when a student has more hours of community service, and it looks better on a resume. “My parents both attended the U of U. My dad got his degree there and my mom only took
a few classes, so they were both fans of me going there. However, when I got the scholarship offer to Westminster, it seemed pretty prestigious, so they were excited about that,” Hatch said.
As with every new year, changes are coming to Granger High
By April Hendriksen DR. DUNN addressed many rumors and questions during a recent interview. One rumor around school said that Dr. Dunn was leaving. Allow this to be put to rest right now: “Never was there an intention, never was there a plan, never was there a thought,” Dr. Dunn said. “I don’t know where rumors start, but never was there a thought of leaving.” Starting off this new year, Dr. Dunn and Granger’s faculty have been working on ways to improve school. “We will continue to find ways to reward students,” he said. “We want to make sure we’re celebrating good behavior.” Although G-Cards are no-longer useful in the G-Store, Dunn indicates that students will be rewarded, whether “through G-Cards or a point system.” “I think that we always have to deal with the sheer size of the school.” Although, at this time, no specific new reward systems have been carved in stone. “When you’re doing positive things, it can cost a lot of money, depending on how it’s set up,” Dunn said. However, if students do the right things, rewards will come this year. “There are key things that I value in every student: they come to school, they learn, they have fun, and they’re safe.” He hints at a plan in the making, saying, “I think we’re going to find ways to have activities each term to recognize students for good attendance or good grades.” As for testing, it seems that Granite School District will be keeping SchoolCity for another year, despite the frustration it has brought to teachers and students
at Granger. “I think SchoolCity is there,” Dr. Dunn said, “and we can look at it as a tool to inform us and give us information on how we’re working with students. It helps identify if students are learning or not.” Granger also has new staff members at the school. “Right now, we may be on track to get 13-15 new teachers,” Dr. Dunn added. “There’s only going to be about two really new positions. The rest are replacing teachers who are retiring or moving to a new place.” A couple of those teachers include Mr. Parker and Mr. Clapier. There will also be a few new classes. “Because of the size of our student population, we needed to expand a few class offerings and sections.” One thing that has happened every year since Granger was rebuilt has been the increasing lunchtime restrictions. Some students are concerned that their time and space will only get smaller in the upcoming year. “You really can’t shrink it more,” he said. “Our goal this past year was to just keep our academic halls clear, and now we don’t have food in the stairwells.” Speaking of lunch, Mr. Pace will no longer be running the GStore, and everyone is uncertain about who will take his place. “It’s still in transition. We have to consider what kind of classes this person will be teaching.” It all depends on what classes Mr. Pace will be teaching next year. “Some of those things aren’t completely clear yet.” Though next year’s plans are still in their early stages and will be fine-tuned during the next few
With lots of changes happening at Granger High School, Dr. Dunn still finds time to chat about specifics.
months, Granger is working for two specific goals. “We need to continue to make this school a safe place and teach students to take pride in their education,” Dunn said. Granger is always striving to keep the peace and show pride. If students can just do a little better every year, whether by improving their behavior or doing just a bit more in their classes, that’s all the administration asks. Granger is a great school and strives for greatness every year. Each year there is something new and improved. Granger is a great school with many opportunities.
September 2017, page 5
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 1
There’s more than one way to build a teacher Granger faculty members weigh in on nontraditional routes to teaching licenses and the current teacher shortage
By Flavianna Hawley MANY STATES throughout the country, including Utah, have recently been suffering from a teacher shortage. Throughout the school year, teaching positions are opening, but they aren’t being filled. Efforts have been made to combat this shortage, keep exist-
ing teachers in their positions, and attract new ones. One of the most common attempts comes through nontraditional routes to teacher licensure. In Utah, there are two ways to receive a teaching license without taking the traditional route, which requires completing a for-
Mr. Stones happily giving advice from his experience.
mal teacher preparation program in college. The ARL, or Alternative Route to Licensure, allows those with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education to teach while taking classes that will help them understand how to educate students. The Academic Pathway to Teaching (APT), approved last August by the Utah State Board of Education, provides licensure under slightly different conditions. In the midst of a statewide teacher shortage, these licensure pathways are one route toward a much-needed solution. “In Utah, 42 percent of new teachers quit within five years of starting, and more than one-third of those who leave the profession do so at the end of their first year, according to the Utah State Office of Education,” as stated on the deseretnews.com website. While some believe pathways such as the ARL are a reasonable way to counter the teacher shortage, others doubt whether nontraditional routes to licensure produce as effective teachers as does traditional training. “If they have not been trained
to be teachers, it may or may not work out well in the classroom. Just because you have a bachelor’s in your field of expertise or a particular area, does not mean you know how to teach,” Ms. Gaskins said. But some believe there are potential benefits to studying a specific content area in college rather than majoring in education. It’s a matter of subject mastery. “You should spend four years of college learning your subject really well, and then you can spend a year and a half learning how to teach through the ARL,” Mr. Stones said. In order to receive a teaching license under the ARL, applicants must first find a school that will hire them. The applicant must then teach at that school for up to three years while taking classes and working towards the licensure requirements. Once the qualifications have been completed, the applicant is given a Level 1 teaching license. Another attempt to retain teachers comes through an increase in salary. Granite School District recently approved a pay
raise for teachers, and while Jordan School District did the same, Granite’s increase was larger. “These adjustments will push Granite’s starting teacher salary to the highest in the Salt Lake Valley at $41,000 a year beginning with the 2017-2018 school year,” as stated on the magnatimes.com website. But not all school districts are implementing these pay increases, meaning that alternative routes to teaching licenses remain one of the biggest steps toward combating the shortage of teachers. “I think these routes are one out of probably a lot of things that could help. They’re a good opportunity because they can bring in teachers that have different experiences and backgrounds,” intern assistant principal, Mr. Neilson said. Many are unsure whether programs like the ARL will effectively halt the teacher shortage. “It’s a really difficult problem. If someone had the answer to how to solve the teacher shortage, they’d make a lot of money. It’s a problem that needs a solution,” Mr. Stones said.
New teachers need support
Cuban schools differ from American ones By Dailyn Brinas RECENTLY, I had been granted the opportunity to visit the country I was born in, Cuba. In comparison to the United States, is as if it’s another dimension completely. Two parallel universes collided but united between an oceanic border. One world leads you to a world of freedom, modernized cars, and wi-fi internet. The other world leads you to an era of run-down houses with mold and a complete disconnection to the outside world. One obvious difference is the education system. While there’s a similar devotion to knowledge, the schedule is completely different, and post-secondary courses are often free. “I like the education system. My child comes home with something from some curriculum learned,” Yuraima Marrero said. She is the mother of a firstgrade student attending the Jose Martin primary school in Cuba. “However, I feel as if the track of time should be handled better. The school usually starts at 7:00 a.m, and the curriculum expected ends at noon. After noon, I have to then pick up my child, offer her lunch, and the rest of her school hours (1:00-4:00 p.m.) is essentially spent ‘goofing off.’ ” A teacher herself, Marrerro explained her position. “I am a certified teacher of a primary
school. I teach in the same school my daughter attends, I never let my child attend school past noon. It is essentially a waste of time. However, I do believe the curriculum is comparable, if not better than the United States,” she said. The time spent for students between the hour of 1:00-4:00 p.m. is a usually extra-curricular activites of dance, health and hygiene, and the history of the Cuban revolution. However, most teachers choose not to follow this rule of curriculum, and instead give students a free three-hour period. This then leads to the parents choosing to keep children home from those activities. Sheimy Garcia is a teacher at the Paulina Concepcion school in Havana. “Our literacy rate is extremely high, there is almost zero to no drop out students, and all children are given access to free schooling, even beyond high school,” she said. According to the Novak Djokovic Foundation, Cuba’s literacy rate is at an outstanding number of 99.8 percent. In comparison to the United States’ 86 percent. Although the United States has a higher legal age for mandatory school enrollment, Cuba only requires to stay until ninth grade. The graduation rate for Cubans is 99.1 percent, beating the United States by 26.1 percent. However, the details taught in
these rural schools is rather misleading. Because of its socialist and communist ideologies, Cuban citizens begin to learn about the “benefits” of this economy at the mere age of five years old. They are given a gateway of enforced ideas on how innovative Fidel Castro was. However, most older adults seem to disagree, unlawfully so, that he was not as he appears in the history books. Because of the biased curriculum in pro-communist education, The United States as well as vouches for a capitalist country, even if it has its downfalls, similar to Cuba. The Republic of Cuba does offer one intriguing factor of education that the U.S. does not, free college courses after preparatory school (high school). Dayrel Marrero is a tenthgrade student attending a preparatory school in Cuba. “I want to become a doctor one day, and from what I’ve heard about Yuma (The United States of America), I believe that my ability to be a doctor would be limited and quite costly if I were to do it there. That is why I believe I will get the most out of my education here in Cuba,” he said. The people of this republic seem quite satisfied with the system of learning, and in fact, will argue that their education is better than America’s, according to available statistics.
By Lupita Hernandez NEW TEACHERS usually get paid about $33,000 per year when it’s their first year of teaching. After years and years of low teacher salaries, Granite District’s new teacher salary will increase dramatically to $41,000. Although new teachers will now make a lot more money, they are also more likely to suffer from high stress levels. New teachers are interviewed for about 15-20 minutes and then administrators decide which applicant will work better with the students and faculty. “The requirements for new teachers include having a teaching certificate and college degree. They also need to complete a background check,” Mr. Beck said. New teachers that have been teaching for one, two, or even three years are given the opportunity to go to a training camp that is offered by the school district. Teachers attend for about a week and it will help them with any questions they may have. “The most important thing to remember is to build relationships with your students. This will help you know what they need and they will work much harder for you when they know you truly care. Be able to laugh in class, it helps to lighten the mood from time to time,” according to the mindstepsinc.com website. Getting to know the students is a big part of education. The more teachers and administrators know about students and their backgrounds, the more they can connect with them. New administrators, however, have it a bit harder. Having to make sure that everything is running correctly and that the students are safe and getting the correct classes is a must. “Not knowing them is hard, so getting to know them is even harder. For new teachers and administrators, I think it’s very
important to make a connection with the students so we can get to know what they’re like. They need to have good communicating skills and not be lazy,” Yazmine Gallardo (10) said. Both teachers and administrators have differences and similarities. They both work to make the school community a better place while maintaining to take very different roles. Depending on the category you are placed in, the amount of income either decreases or increases. For example, a new principal makes about $90,410 a year but throughout time it can increase up to $131,310 a year. Many principals enter administration after several years of classroom teaching, so their ‘starting’ salaries do not qualify as ‘first-year’ salaries. “To be a good staff member, whether it be administrator or teacher, you have to be nice, fun, and have a positive attitude—especially when you’re going to teach at a high school. Make sure to know when to be fun but also know when to be controlling and take over when it comes down to it,” Lesly Bermudez (11) said. Being new to a school means it’s important to make a good first impression. If new teachers are rude to the students, there is a good chance the students aren’t going want to start a conversation or just talk about anything. Having an understanding point of view is necessary, and it’s important to understand that the faculty and staff are here to help whenever the students need it and they won’t turn their back on them. Students should feel the need to help look out for the new teachers and not tease him or make them feel bad. New teachers deserve the same amount of respect as the rest of the teachers. It’s not an easy job, and it will take a bit of time to get comfortable.
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 1
September 2017, page 6
Granger Alumni make an impact locally and around the state By Anna Sayasith FORMER Granger students have moved on from high school life. Granger Alumni are going to college or starting with careers. Alumni have been released into the public and have been learning how to adjust to life as an adult. “I got straight A’s when I was in high school,” Tuyet Dang (‘15) said. Dang moved from Vietnam to start a new life. She was hoping to get a better education. “When I came here, I had to learn how to get used to a what felt like a different world,” Dang said. Vietnam has a completely different culture compared to the one that Lancers recognize. “I went to Salt Lake Community College when I first graduated, and I am now attending the University of Utah,” Dang said. Dang is currently studying to become a nurse for her future career. “It’s something
that I’ve been interested in doing for a while. It’s also something that my family has been wanting me to do for a while,” Dang said. “I am living with my mother and brother because it’s more convenient and cheaper for me,” Dang said. An article written by Megan Shuffleton explained that living at home can reduce the stress from all the college experience as reported on the on Huffingtonpost. com website. “I’m going to the University of Utah. I am a double major, majoring psychology and sociology,” Kyra Dalpiaz (‘15) said. Dalpiaz is planning to go to the police academy after graduating, and she is undecided from there. “College compared to high school is better because you have more freedom,” she said. Of
course, there are still rules, but the rules feel less strict compared to the rules many high schools have. “The rules that colleges have don’t feel nearly as constricting as high school rules tend to feel,” Dalpiaz said. “I haven’t changed much since high school. I’ve dropped some people who weren’t good in my life. You don’t see much drama in college,” Dalpiaz said. In high school when there is drama everyone hears about it. However, in college, there are so many people that nobody really notices. “It’s too expensive to live in dorms. I’ve just decided to stay at home with my family,” Dalpiaz said. An article written by Kate Ashford claimed that up to 54 percent of college students choose to live at home as stated on the forbes. com website.
“I like being able to be with my family, but I know I have to grow up at some point,” Dalpiaz said. “I learned this year that you cannot procrastinate. College assignments are all due at the same time. Classes are a lot more exciting than in high school. Meeting people is also better in college,” Dalpiaz said. The classes that colleges provide are more about what the student enjoys rather than required academic courses. “I was pretty shy my sophomore year, but as the years progressed I slowly became more of a social butterfly. I was on the cheer team for all three years in high school. I was able to become a leader in the school,” Kyra said. Dalpiaz is also more confident in who she is, compared to her high school years. Dalpiaz is assisting the cheer
team at Granger. “It feels weird to come back after a while. I like it, but I also dislike it,” she said.
Kyra helps with cheer.
Advice for the upcoming graduating class
By Chuck Manzanares AS SENIOR year came to an end for the class of 2017, and as they prepared for graduation and beginning life as adults in the real world, space was made for brand new freshmen who will be attending Granger High. Seniors and some teachers have some tips and advice for these new freshmen. Mr. Chandler, a history teacher and a basketball coach, has some tips for them. “Get involved in school some way, like join a sports team, club, or something,” he said. Another tip for the new freshman is keeping up with school work. “Don’t fall behind in school because the only way you can really make money is by having a college degree,” Chandler said. Apart from telling them the usual ‘stay in school stuff,’ which is always a good thing to say, there is much more to school than they may think. It doesn’t just take ‘staying in school’ to succeed. Students should make sure to be ready for much more. “My advice is to go out and do stuff in school like get involved and go to games and stuff. It may seem dumb, but trust me you won’t regret it,” Tyler Wagstaff
(‘17) said. Some of the new freshmen that come to Granger will think that school is dumb or not worth it. School is totally worth it, it may be boring at first, but go out and try new things—it may be super enjoyable. Students should not become lazy or bored with school, and they should not slack off or give up too fast. “As a freshman, you should do anything and everything throughout high school. You should always keep up with your school work, and make sure you are doing the best you can so you can to graduate. Also, go to games and plays, and anything school related, because if you don’t, you’ll regret it. Trust me,” Eric Zurita (‘17) said. Getting the most out of high school is probably one of the best things to do. Going to games, assemblies, plays, and joining school activities or simply just taking certain classes are the things that make high school fun. Freshmen should look at school as the most important years of their life, because this is the last time they will be in school unless they decide to go to college. “Having fewer classes during your senior year is probably the
best thing ever, because you get to sleep in and not have to worry so much about having a full schedule,” Martin Gomez (‘17) said. Beyond knowledgeable seniors, online articles also offer advice, including articles about what seniors wish they would’ve known as freshmen: “Don’t allow your friends to define who you are. Break away from them if they don’t accept you for you!” as stated by @dana_at_sea on the huffingtonpost.com website. Other great advice mentioned in this article is to “make sure popularity is not your priority” and to “make sure you keep up on your school work because if you don’t, it’ll be really hard to make up what you didn’t do in the past.” Overall, beginning high school is not meant to be scary. Freshmen may struggle a bit, but they should always believe they can do it—that’ll get them halfway there. Before they know it, freshman students will be seniors on their way to senior ball and other senior activities—quickly on their way to walk across the stage at graduation.
By Mireya Ruiz SENIORS graduate, new freshman come in, each grade level advances forward, and it’s a wonderful start to the new school year. Since it’s a new school year, no one wants to start it off rough. The majority of the teenagers attending Granger High School post pictures of their schedules to see who has classes with them so they won’t be lonely during school. However, advice from the students that attended Granger the previous school year think that the others should be cautious of making friends in high school. “If you have only one or two friends, that’s OK. It’s better than having multiple friends, because you know those one or two friends are going to be there. They aren’t going to end up being fake to you,” Natalie Topete (11) said. It’s important to choose good friends in high school. Stressing about passing classes, earning all
the credits, and doing extracurricular activities is enough pressure on one person. Trying to find friends that’ll help throughout high school is very important, but it’s not something that should keep one distracted because high school is very important for the future. “The friends you have now won’t be there at the end of the year—well, maybe two or three,” Branden Alvarado (10) said. Having friends makes high school a lot easier because then there’s not the worrying about who to sit with at lunch and they could even help with hard things like math homework. Whatever it is, friends are somewhat important during high school. More or less, just being cautious will help throughout high school. “Don’t get involved in anything you wouldn’t want your future kids involved in,” said Alvarado.
However, the most important thing in high school is the education. Some students only go to the classes where they have friends with them. But the majority of the students that go to school every day do the same routine and attend all their classes because they are trying to graduate. In order to graduate, attendance is very important. One must go to class to get assignments and take tests. If students don’t go to class, their grades will suffer. “Showing up is very important. All you have to do is show up, be on time, and care. Being late and not showing up becomes a pattern which results in missed assignments. So basically, all you have to do is show up on time. That’s the key to success,” Ms. Warren said. Both teachers and students notice that attendance is important. Not just because there’s a fivedollar fee for every missed class
Mr. Chandler advises students to join clubs and teams.
Experienced Lancers offer advice to new students that’s unexcused, but the easy work just turns into hard work simply because someone didn’t go to class. “Remember ten minutes late is absent, but still go to class,” said Alvarado. Attending class is very important, and remember to do the work, too. “Make sure not to slack on classes. Do your homework. If you slack on homework, you eventually start slacking on the whole class,” Alvarado added. Try not to be distracted. Repetitive distraction leads to no focus at all, which then leads to not being engaged. If a student isn’t engaged in the topic, then it can be challenging for him or her to complete assignments and take tests. Using the hall pass other than when necessary is a problem, too. “Don’t leave class just because you feel like it. You’re miss-
ing out on information that will be important on a quiz, test, and maybe even SAGE,” Michelle Castro (10) said. Most students know what to do to succeed, so it’s just a matter of doing it. Attend. Focus. Study. Repeat.
Branden is ready for action.
September 2017, page 7
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 1
New faces are running Granger High School Granger’s new SBOs have been chosen
These Senior SBOs are excited to be in office.
By Madison McCurdy GRANGER students have chosen new SBOs and class officers, and Lancers are excited to see what they have to offer. Granger High School has elected seven new student body officers, including a new president, vice president, diversity vice president, secretary, public relations officer, and event coordinator. The campaign process is one that many candidates look forward to when starting to run for office. “I filmed a regular YouTube video promoting myself, and I also made flyers that were criminal inspired, and a social media video that was American Horror Story themed for Instagram and Twitter,” Luis Tobar (12) said. Luis Tobar is the new diversity vice president. “It’s super fun to be an SBO, because you get to meet a bunch of new people. It’s my job as diversity vice president to basically be friends with everyone and make sure everyone is friendly and feeling safe and
included around the school,” Tobar said. Without SBOs, those cleverlyplanned assemblies and those friendly faces Lancers see around the school wouldn’t be there. The campaigning done by the SBOs during the election process was interesting and creative. Making videos, T-shirts, posters, and even geofilters are just a few ways that these Lancers stepped up their campaigns. “I started campaigning really early by telling people I was running for president, and I also started bonding with different groups of people. I spammed all my social media accounts. Rudy Suaste made my posters around the school, and I really appreciate what he did,” Joseph Alvarez (12) said. “As SBO president, I represent the whole student body. I advocate for their education, I want them to be here and have everyone be proud to be a Granger Lancer. Granger is such a different school, but it is a good differ-
ent,” Alvarez said. This year is Granger High School’s 60th anniversary, and the SBOs plan to make it an amazing year. “We have a Hunter rivalry game for homecoming, and we just want next year to be big. I want to show my school spirit, and I have a lot of it, so hopefully it will trickle down to my fellow Lancers. I want school spirit to be contagious,” Alvarez said. Melisa Navarrete (12) is the new service learning coordinator. “I started with a lot of advertising through LIA, but this job is appointed by teachers, so there was no student vote. As our service learning coordinator, I’ll get the word out about service projects for fellow students,” she said. The tech wizard behind all of this craziness is Jeffrey Hoang. “As public relations director, it is my job to make videos, shoot and edit pictures of school events, and promote Granger High School online—basically anything techrelated is my job,” Jeffrey Hoang (12) said.
Is it safe for a ‘safe room’ at Granger? By Bryon Brinley IT IS NOT recent news that Granger is one of the most culturally diverse schools in the state of Utah, and with multiple cultures comes multiple religions. Granger has students belonging to just about every religion in the world. Many students know with recent political action that publicly engaging in religious activity can cause heads to shake and opinions to flow. “I think if Granger were to make a room for space and privacy of students, they would have to make it for everyone, because people would take it the wrong way because of how people think now. It is a great idea to help the students catch a break from the stress at school,” Fatima Halilcevic (12) said. Halilcevic follows the Muslim faith and has seen the discrimination of fellow members on many occasions. A quiet room would let Muslim students—who have to pray five times a day—space to pray in peace and alleviate their fear of judgement. “I think the only people who could really use the room are Muslims. Hindus don’t really have special prayers or need that type of room. But it makes sense to have one here because even
airports have Mosque Centers inside of them. As long as the room is not forced upon us or is interfering with class then it is a good idea,” Amitoj Singh (12) said. Muslims are not the only ones who could use this room. Apart from Muslim prayer there is also Buddhist meditation which requires total concentration and relaxation. Some students are not religious and could use a quiet and relaxing room for some time to think. Although the idea of a ‘safe room’ sounds great, it has its issues and drawbacks. The most important being the issue of separating religion from state. This room could be seen as a religious establishment being used during school hours which might be unlawful, but if this room were to be used as a room for everyone, then it could be considered lawful. “A room where all these religions and cultures can go to peacefully worship is beautiful on the surface. But with the different political opinions these days it is a safe bet that it would come under some fire. It reminds me of chapels in hospitals where families can go and pray or sit alone to think and calm down. Then of course that is a hospital and this is a school, and I believe strongly in
separation of church and state. So overall, it sounds super great, but I think it is too risky and it would be abused by the students to get out of class,” Ms. Ward said. The separation of church and state also includes protests against the Pledge of Allegiance being recited at school. Citizens around the country are attempting to ban it from being required at school due to the line, “one nation under God…” because not all students’ religions worship a ‘God’. But there is no fine line of what is considered too religious and what is not. Of course, there is the blatantly obvious, but most are open to opinion and have to be ruled judicially. A safe room lies within those obscure cases where problems exist only where one looks to create them. “We have had something like this here at Granger before. It wasn’t a room specifically made for prayer or worship, but we did have an employee who was Muslim use a vacant room to pray. Of course, a room like this could be established here at Granger if it were asked for enough and if it were open to everyone because of the problems that could arise if it was only for certain religions,” Mr. Beck said. There is no certainty of the response Granger would receive if a ‘safe room’ were to be established. Students could take it very well and welcome the idea of religious diversity or a ‘safe room’ could provoke lawsuits and contention. Perhaps now is not the best time for this idea to take place, but interested students should consider how they could make Ms. Robinson invites students who need a break to visit H110. “All are welcome here,” she said. it happen.
Jonathan Cerritos is ready for the club to begin.
Get involved before it’s too late
By Ramon Martinez STARTING the new school year will feel weird, but joining school clubs will make students part of the school and will get them recognized outside of the group the student is currently in. Being recognized is one step in the right direction to a friendship or getting a ‘hi/hey’ in the hallway. Going to events and activities is a bonus for everyone. “It shows how we have spirit and gives impact when the crowd is into the game,” Luis Arciga (‘17) said. There are many games/events throughout the year and hopefully every student gets a chance to attend at least one of each concert, sport, or after-school club activity. Going to one of these with friends will make it more fun in spirit of being in the crowd or getting into the activity. “Being at one of these guarantees that school spirit is going to rub off on you,” Oscar Hernandez (‘17) said. It is almost certain that students will have a good memory of them at a before/after school event. Going to events is not the only thing students can do for the school to show spirit. Every event does not happen on its own: it usually requires students help. Volunteering to organize an event will lift a student as a humble example to others. Helping a school that can never get enough volunteers creates connections between students. There are many spots for students and friends. When the time comes and the preparation
is over, students can acknowledge each other’s hard work. Clubs take time outside of school time, but it helps Lancers be more connected with all that is going in the members lives. “When I first joined I felt like a part of the school, even if it is not a top-priority club,” Jonathan Cerritos (12) said. Staying after school is a good thing if there are friends in that club. It probably gets friends closer than others might think. Getting excused out of some school classes for a field trip for a club is a great benefit in this, unless it’s in classes where teachers assign lots of homework. Some clubs’ trips will be educational, competitive, or simply a fun treat for being part of the club. For educational places, the advisor will usually take members to a college or museum. When work has been presented by members, it is probably leading to a competitive level where the club’s participation is judged and scored. At the end of the year, members have fun by having a snack party, guest speakers, volunteer opportunities, or trips to somewhere fun like Lagoon. When school is almost over, don’t think that members will be forgotten that year, because kids usually some don’t notice that members’ photos were taken throughout the year. Some photos that people took will be in the yearbook, and that is an easy way to become a familiar face in the halls through new clubs, or past clubs as members come back next year.
September 2017, page 8
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 1
Typical High School cliques still do exist
By Tina Huskic EACH SCHOOL is different and has its own little set up for different groups. Granger High School is one of those schools. Since the school has been built, students have made their mark and started to have their own little “spots” where students go to hang out, eat, or just get together from time to time—even on a daily basis. The administration has noticed it, too. “I am new to Granger, but I have noticed that there are a few hangout spots that have been very popular. At lunch, I don’t get to walk around much outside of the lunch room, but I have noticed the football boys and baseball boys have their designated spots. From my office, I can see in front of the gym or ‘Poly Hall’, as it’s sometimes called,” intern assistant principal Mr. Neilson said. Granger is a very diverse school so it is very common to see many different groups and cliques hanging out in certain spots. A few examples are the baseball team, the football team, and the theatre kids. Even though the places they hang out aren’t super exciting places, they are well known to the groups. Baseball player Garrett Curtis (11) agreed. “We usually hangout in the locker room. We don’t really do much, but we all are in there most of the time. At lunch, we typically sit at one of the round tables. I would say it’s mostly been the same every year,” said Curtis. There are other spots that are not just for sports and “jocks”, they are also for theatre kids and other clubs and groups. Jonathan Jordan (‘17) was in the theatre department, and for him, the auditorium was the place to be. “For theatre, we are either in the auditorium, black box, or even in the amphitheater. During lunch, everyone either does their
own thing or they go to the black box or commons. If students are in the theatre department, they definitely know about these spots,” said Jordan. These spots seem typical in most schools, but also represent a good take on Granger High School being so diverse. Each high school is different, but Granger High has a good feel to it. Even though these hangout spots are known to many students here, they are a safe place. Mr. Neilson said that this school is new to him and is nothing like he has seen before, but in a good way. For example, the fact that the ‘Poly Hall’ is a main hangout spot, but yet anyone who walks over there doesn’t feel unsafe shows how great Granger is when it comes to diversity and openness. These hangout spots are named and labeled; but in reality, it doesn’t matter who sits where. The school is very welcoming and these hangout spots should not play a role in whether the school has good or bad cliques because every school has them. A good take on this is what these groups do not only in school but outside of school. Jasmine Bullock (11) said, “As a team, we hang out down by the lockers in L-Hall just to talk about drill next year and how it’ll be different. Outside of school as a team we go out to Leatherby’s or to our coach’s house to hangout and eat.” It is a part of high school to have these groups and hang out spots, and they are known to many students at Granger High. As a freshman, it might be a little intimidating to see, but by the time senior year rolls around, these hangout spots are less mysterious and anyone can sit there or even just chill wherever they like. Things change a little every year, so expect a few changes this year, but all the students will adapt quickly.
Should students follow Granger High? By Mesa Fullmer ALMOST everyone at Granger High has some type of social media account. Whether with Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, or another social media website, students are social. Students, teachers, administrators, and even a few classes communicate through social media. Granger High School has official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, and even on a Granger High app. As great as social media can be, with all the information about school events right in a Twitter feed, there’s the possibility that school officials could monitor students on their social media accounts. Students might wonder if following Granger gives the school permission to glance at their personal life. “Social media gives the illusion that it is or can be private, but it isn’t anywhere close to being private. Everyone and anyone can see what you are posting. I can see both sides to this issue though. Students have free will and are going to post whatever they want, but they should be ready to face the repercussions of their actions. However, I also be-
lieve that the admin shouldn’t be digging around in our accounts,” Joseph Alvarez (12) said. When the topic about the administration looking through student accounts comes up, the majority of students get defensive. They believe that they should have the right to privacy and freedom of speech. While all of that is true, some of the students act as if they have something they want to hide—something that if the administration were to find, the student might end up in Mr. Beck’s office having a long chat. And while most of the time, that isn’t the case, it could be. But what students sometimes forget is that while there is freedom of speech, there are also consequences for speaking those words. “I can see both sides. If someone went and reported me for harassment, then I understand. But if they hired someone to constantly look at our social media, I would feel like that is an invasion of my privacy,” Lorena Sandoval (‘17) said. For students wondering if administrators plan to hire someone to look only at our social media accounts, the answer is ‘no.’ According to Ms. Alo, Granger High
is barely keeping tabs on its students to begin with. “When it comes to social media, we try not to follow and search through your profiles. When we do get involved, it is because a community member or someone had reported something and brought it to our attention. We don’t even follow our students back on social media. We follow other schools and other districts. If by some chance we do follow someone, we make sure what they are posting is all appropriate and up to our standards,” Ms. Alo said. With all of that being said, there really isn’t a problem with the administration getting involved in a student’s social media accounts. However, when administrators get reports of bullying or suggestions to check something out, then they take notice and try to solve the problem. The administrators care about Granger’s students and their right to privacy. If there is ever a serious issue though, they will take action and help in the best way possible. Remember to be careful with what is said on social media. Everyone can see it, and it is not a private diary.
New trends are blasting in Granger’s halls By Stephanie Dorantes FASHION has been part of society since the 14th century when style began to expand beyond function. It was a way to show off to other people that more money or time was put into the outfit. It also made statements about how much money a person had. Today, fashion and style is very similar, but with more options introduced into play about makeup, a huge variety of accessories, sometimes even plastic surgery. Everyone would like to get those Kylie Jenner lips going. But now, fashion is more of a way to express how someone could feel, to make their point in fashion, or to simply start a trend. Not everyone is on the same page on fashion, but that is where the beauty comes from. Imagine how boring life would be if everyone liked the same thing. “I like the eyebrow fashion: the thickness of it and the perfection of it. I like to express myself in fashion, but have no clue how I can do that knowing that I work in a school environment. When not at school, it is more flowy, dressy, summer dresses. Staring in high school was when I started to dress up. I have liked all the new trends back in the day. Now it’s just something to laugh at. Britney
Spears was my inspiration in high school,” Ms. Webb said. Of course, every Lancer will not have the same fashion inspiration. Not everyone will meet eye to eye. Some could see fashion as being accepted or any other thing, really. But one thing to keep in mind is that everyone can rock their favorite piece of clothing, even if it happens to be a fashion trend that some Lancers would like to stay away from. “We are in the times where anything can be accepted. The biggest trends that I see going on are the ripped jeans and shaving some parts of our heads. So much more pressure is going into makeup, how the makeup is done more than anything else. One trend that I dislike is the ‘highlight.’ Some people go a little too far. One trend that I have seen a lot is how much volume goes into guys’ hair. Not a bad thing, Lancers can pull it off,” Cody Smith (‘17) said. Lancers can agree that some things can look pretty cool. Others can just be a plain nightmare. One thing is for sure: some Lancers do like to dress up! Nothing is wrong with dressing up a bit more than other days or putting on your best clothes for a special occasion.
“For me, fashion nowadays is a 50-50. Some things will look nice, some things are not my style, some things can seem a bit skimpy. Fashion can be restricting. My fashion inspirations are Selena Quintanilla, Juliet Simms, Andy Biersack, and my mom. I love to get dressed up, but it also depends on the occasion. My favorite fashion statements are chokers and flower crowns,” Megan Fonseca (12) said. There have been many gorgeous accessories on the runways. From flower crowns, a very classy look, to things that just look like the fashion line did not know what else to come up with. “Fashion nowadays on a runway can be very strange. Liza Koshy is my fashion inspiration. She can always look so cute; but one thing for sure, she is always comfortable. Another fashion inspiration is my friend, Tiara. She always looks good, and she doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her style. Some trends that I love are oversized sweaters, snapbacks, and flannels,” Claire Sagendorf (12) said. Among all the different fashions and trends, one thing that will never go out of style is the confidence to rock whatever the heart desires.
Granger students showing off their stylish fasion.