The
Woodside World
May 2013
Cuckoo for Koko the Gorilla Unbeknownst to most Wildcats, the world’s smartest ape is a local resident By Caleb Levine
in humans.
A startling scientific breakthrough makes her home right in our neighborhood. Koko, the Sign Language speaking gorilla is the first animal to bridge the communication gap between man and beast and a current resident of Woodside, California.
Koko, now age 42, was the first of her kind to be able to communicate through sign language. She was born in 1971 and after years of teaching, she now knows over 1,000 gestures of American Sign Language (ASL) and over 2,000 words of spoken English. Koko is considered a scientific celebrity, appearing in the news countless times and has even met Betty White who happens to be a PETA supporter and advocate of animal rights.
Over the last 40 years, The Gorilla Foundation, with offices located on Woodside Road, has successfully taught one of the most intelligent animals on the planet to communicate with humans. Through sign language, Koko and her gorilla friends Ndume and Michael, have Koko knows over 1,000 gestures of American Sign Language proved that gorillas are capable of and 2,000 words of spoken English. She is shown here signing displaying traits and emotions prethe word “love.” Photo by Ron Cohn viously thought to be only present
“The Voice of the Wildcats”
The Great Divide
One of the most controversial issues reaches WHS. By Harry Patino
Koko has lived happily among humans her entire life and is now living on a seven acre preserve in Woodside that she truly enjoys. Continued on Page 5
Swim Team: “Together We Will Not Falter” Wildcat Swimmers Unite as a Team to Stay Strong Against Tough Competition
Poll of Woodside students. Graphic by Harry Patino It seems as though the rigorous procedure and slowed process of the Supreme Court isn’t the only platform for the discussion of Equal Rights in America; the halls of Woodside have joined the Continued on Page 4
CONTENTS: Alex Stieger ‘15 leading in 50 fly, 2 laps of butterfly stroke, in a meet against El Camino. Photo by Leira Montemayor
By Leira Montemayor Thrashing their way through an amazing season, Woodside’s swim team is staying afloat against the challenging competition in their new division. Every Thursday at four, they swim their hearts out against unfamiliar swimmers, but continue to give their best effort no matter the opposition. Co-captains Emma Adams ‘13 and Serena Houghton 13’ lead the way for the Varsity Girls. Though relatively young, Kieran Latham 15’ is the captain of the Boys’ Varsity team. Although members of the team describe themselves as “average,” Woodside swimmers have improved throughout the year and grown as together as a team. Mike Moses has been coaching WHS’s swim team for seven consecutive years. He says that out of the four teams, JV boys has the best record with 4 wins and 1 loss, the JV girls have 3 wins and 2 losses, while the Varsity team, both boys and girls have 2 wins and three losses through the first five meets of the season. There will be two more meets before the PALC (Peninsula Athletic League Championships) which Woodside High will be hosting.
Moses made it clear that their number one goal is to try to see improvement in the swimmers. “ We just want them to be faster at the end of the year, that’s our ultimate goal,” he explained. He affirmed that their mission as a team is not only to win, but to see improvement. “Winning is always nice, but I want to say that’s not our primary mission, it is to see the swimmers improve their times, to help them, support them, and bond with them throughout the year and grow as a team.” Moses went on to say that he and the other coaches can count on the hardwork of their captains to keep the team working well together. Emma Adams ’13 is one of those captains. She started swimming when she was seven. Adams joined the group because she knew that she was pretty good at it. She shared some of the highlights from her experiences as a member of the team. “The best parts of being on the swim team are my teammates and getting to swim in my favorite events, especially the 50 freestyle in which my time is 24.79 seconds.” According to Adams, the best feeling a swimmer can ever have is to finish a race and get a personal best. Continued on Page 2
Sports............................................ Track Team on Track For Ccs..............2 Relax, it’s woodside lax.....................2 swim team’s bond stays strong........2 student life................................... wildcats needed for apcs..................3 the value of a good ap score ............3 news .............................................. separation in the courts....................4 coming out as undocumented...........4 a new era for catholics.....................5 cuckoo for koko the gorilla ............5 arts and entertainment............... fashion: seniors only .........................6 the great gatsby 2013..........................6 asland or bust.....................................6
SPORTS
2
Varsity girls on the 50-yard line. In a moment, they will charge down the field, winning Woodside’s first home meet. Photo by Jon Feuerhelm
Back on Track WHS Tract Will Face Fierce
Competition at CCS Finals. By Alexis Carlson
Woodside’s track team is having a strong season, even better than qualifying six runners for CCS last year. At a shocking 130 participants, the team is a force to be reckoned with, as seen by the records they set at the DeAnza and Firebird Invitationals. Eager newcomers and faithful returners alike have come together as one to focus on their goal: CCS Finals. The team attends a different invitational every Saturday, including the prestigious Firebird Invitational, at which they set monumental records. The very first event, the boys’ 4x100 relay, won the race with a record-shattering 45.12 seconds. The girls’ varsity team beat their host Fremont with a grand total of 23 points, which adds to their undefeated league season. Some shocking performances were Mackenzie Person ‘15 winning the Frosh/Soph 200 with a time that beat varsity! Some popular names at Woodside, Natalie Smith ‘15, Person ‘15, and Stephanie Cerini ‘13, ran and jumped the best they ever have at this meet. This was a shining moment for our school and each of them deserve excessive recognition for their excellent representation of Woodside. Smith ‘15 is a sophomore and is on the Frosh/Soph team for her first year of track. She specializes in hurdles and is improving every meet. Person ‘15 is an amazing athlete and decided to do track to improve her running skills in soccer. In seasons to come Smith ‘15 and Person ‘15 will lead the way for others. Lastly is Stephanie Cerini ‘13. Even though she is rather busy with the dance team, she always makes time to do track in the spring because she loves it so much. She says, “I have been doing track for 3 years and I come back every year because of the team. We always have so much fun together and I love meeting the new team members.” These few notable athletes of the season have raised the team to the top. The diversity and energy on the team are what bring everyone together to stay focused and determined. The quality of the coaches is also what makes track so enjoyable. Coach Chris Harmon and his wife have been coaching here at Woodside for three years. Star athlete Person ‘15 said, “Coach is funny, nice and actually the best coach I have ever had for any sport! He makes everything fun and knows how to help you and turn you into a star. He is always cracking jokes and making us laugh like crazy!” He is known for his positive and straight-forward attitude on the track, and is the reason that more and more people join the sport every year. Harmon explains, “We’re doing very well. We’ve got some kids who are really stepping up--some young ones who are really doing a great job this year.” All in all, the track team is headed in the right direction for CCS success. Their hard work is bound to pay off in the near future.
Relax, It’s Woodside Lax WHS Varsity Boys Lacrosse Gains Talented Players Creating a Stronger Team. By Fred Corcoran This year the Varsity Woodside Lacrosse team is beyond successful and now has an impressive 9-2 record. But what lead to this? Last year they had a very tough season and had a disappointing record. Bringing in Coach Harman, and putting in a lot more hard work and effort definitely were very important, but let’s see what the players think. Alex Lopez ‘13, the first captain of the team comments, “Our new coach, Coach Harman, has really done a good job of making us better with each game and practice.” Last year there was a different coach and he did not seem to get through to the players. Adam Stockford ‘13, another captain, admits, “Things just didn’t connect between the coach and the players and the level of intensity was weak because of it.” A coach is an extremely significant part of a team and without the pressure, relationship or respect that one provides, winning games is not as easy to accomplish.
Next year, hopefully the team can step up to the challenge once more. Although many of the significant players will be leaving, Lopez explains, “The team should stay strong because they are only losing a few starting seniors. They should also have more people coming out to play because people are drawn to teams that win.” However, Stockford ‘14 thinks the team is going to need to “Pick it up next year” because the players that are leaving are the reason that the team is doing so well. After all this hard work, the Woodside Varsity lacrosse team is extremely happy to say that they have only lost two games. Stockford comments, “It feels good to know that other teams are watching out for us whether they fear playing us or want to crush us.” Having that kind of attention is amazing and the team can’t wait to go on to CCS.
Last year the team had a serious amount of injuries, therefore the coach gave the players who would normally get less playing time, more of it. Yet another captain Collin Merwin ‘15 says that it, “Let us as a group get stronger when those who were injured came back.” This season, the team was lucky enough to gain an intense and talented set of players that were willing to put last season behind them and win as many games as possible. Merwin ‘15 says, “Alex Lopez, Thomas Lopez, Adam Stockford, Colin Kloezeman, Jacob Weller, Marlon Morales, and Alexis Yepez” are the key players to the team. Without their incredible skills, this years success would not have been possible. Every one of them has put in effort and determination to make the season the best yet. Lopez shares that “all of our players are definitely important to the team.” Thanks to the defensive players it’s been hard for other teams to score.
Collin Merwin, powering through a defensive player scored 4 goals in a 14-9 win over Gunn. Photo by Leroy Kloezman
Swim Team Cont’d
Adams told the Woodside World that her biggest inspiration is Alicia Grima, a former student of Woodside. “She is an absolutely amazing swimmer and I’m convinced that she’ll be in the Olympics one day,” Adams revealed.
Alex Stieger ‘15, who is also a swimmer at Woodside High, started swimming when he was seven. He started competing at a very young age but eventually stopped for a couple of years and came back to it. Stieger joined the swim team because he thought it would be a good workout for him to get back into shape. “For Stieger, the worst moment was when we lost against Half Moon Bay where four of our teams lost, while the best moment was the 50 fly because I’m undefeated in it.” He also described their matches as average. “Usually two of our teams lose and two of them win so we are mostly average.”
Woodside World Staff: Editor-in-Chief: Makayla Karr-Warner Supreme Ruler: Abby Taussig
Art Director: Maya Kuipers Advertising Director: Harry Patino A & E Dictator: Mackenzie Bray News Editor: Chris Guillen Sports Editor: Collin Merwin Student Life Editor: Kathleen Sandoval Layout Experts: Alexis Carlson and Fred Corcoran Staff Writers: Pete Abred, Sue Age, Terri Aky, Sandy Bunz, Tim Burr, Luci Cerrillo, Ben Gumbley, Kenzie Humpries, Joel Martinez-Cobian, Nick Montalbano, Leira Montemayor, Emily Orrego, Caleb Levine, Diego Perez, Haley Sheetz, Raul Torres, and Eugenia Vasquez Advisor: Peter Cirincione
The male swimmers on Woodside’s team are particularly strong this year, shown here is Alex Stieger ‘15, winning the breaststroke. Photo by Leira Montemayor
STUDENT LIFE
Wildcats Needed for AP Computer Science Woodside offers APCS to get students a step ahead on path to creative or engineering careers By Eugenia Vasquez There is a dramatic mismatch between the amount of job openings and the number of applications being submitted in the computer science engineering field. That problem originally began because many high schools thought computer science wasn’t important enough to keep with all the budget cuts, but Woodside did not agree. According to an article from Newswise, only 10% of high schools offer computer science courses and only 5% of schools are offering course work at the AP level. Very few students are actually gaining access to this field. Luckily for students here at Woodside, they have the opportunity to get a head start and take this class before college. Computer science engineering has a lot of related fields such as software engineering, computer system designer, computer programer, and many more. For every student that majors in computer science engineering there are three job openings. “The salary you could earn in these fields is insane,” says Alyssa Caulley, former employee at Google. Erick Ettlin, the teacher currently in charge of the class along with Caulley and Arvind Sridhar, assures his students that they will have a secure job if they decided to major in computer science engineering in the future. Students that are interested in taking this class will be doing so much more than mouse clicking and typing. They will learn how to become experts in repairing computer programs, create functional and beautiful websites and software, and how
to maintain computer and network security so that sensitive information is not lost. “You get the chance to explore a lot of new programs and gain a lot more knowledge,” says Mayte Aguilar ’14, one of the students enrolled in AP computer science. To take this class you are required to be in Algebra II or Calculus. “You use the same part of your brain in both APCS and math, but you don’t have to have the math you just have to have your mind set,” says Ettlin. A student in the class, Peter Starum ‘14, says, “APCS is a lot like math, you are given a problem and you have to solve it with the tools provided.” To start of the year students will learn the basics of APCS and create a computer program that works like a calculator. Later in the year they will face more difficult assignments like a “Bugs World” in which students design and create their own environment that contains a mixture of insects that have to adapt to the world they live in. Students will also review and prepare for their final APCS exam in May. If their score is high enough colleges will acknowledge them and place them on a more advanced level. The last assignment students will do is attempt to program an Android phone and create games. Students who participate get tickets that will be entered in a raffle with many prizes, but the coveted prize is an Xbox which is given to one lucky student at the end of the school year. Taking AP computer science here at Woodside will give students a jump start and lead them closer to a bright future.
Eric Ettlin, Alyssa Caulley, and Arvind Shrihari, teachers in charge of APCS, work hard to help students develop their programming skills. Photo by: Eugenia Vasquez
Eric Lopez, Bianca Robles, Gerardo Velencia, and Jason Swietek at work creating programs for the future. Photo by: Eric Ettlin
The Reality of AP Tests
By Joel Martinez
As AP testing approaches, students wonder how their scores will affect their college careers
With May just around the corner, and advanced placement teachers pressuring students to prepare for the AP tests, it’s hard not to stop and wonder about the true value of AP performance. Those who have to take the test will be relieved to know that while a good score is a definite plus, a bad score will do nothing to hold you back from your short or long-term career and academic goals.
in the nation.
All thoughts of credit aside, the AP score should still be meaningful because it repre-
Doing well on an AP test allows you to jump ahead in college. “AP tests are most closely associated with getting college credit,” exclaimed Zorina Matavulj - the college and career counselor at Woodside - “you can receive college credit for a [score of ] three, four, or five on an AP test.” Receiving credit for any class is important, but with AP, the implications are enormous. Being exempt from a class that you completed through the AP system gives you the opportunity to take college classes that you are personally interested in. Those who are in a rush to complete their education, or those who are struggling to meet financial needs will be glad to learn that enough good AP scores under your belt could mean early graduation (up to a year!). It seems that AP testing and college go hand-in-hand, but what does that mean when it comes to admissions and the application process as a whole? Allen Grove, a writer for About.com summarizes what students have been told since the first year of highschool when he says, “the folks in the admissions office want to see that you’ve taken the most challenging courses available to you...The most challenging courses, of course, are college-level Advanced Placement classes.” While it may be the case that a positive score on the test will strengthen any application, the opposite is not necessarily true. In fact, the student decides whether or not to share their AP scores with the college. Blanca Martinez-Cobian, a year ‘11 Woodside graduate and very dear friend of mine, remembers her experience with this issue. “The AP tests I passed helped and the AP tests I failed didn’t matter at all,” she stated, “I got a one on both the calculus and statistics tests.” Despite her low math scores, Blanca got into Berkeley, one of the most selective schools
Mr. Carpenter’s 7th period AP Statistics class studies diligently, anticipating the AP exam. Photo by Joel Cobain
Students taking the AP practice exam in Mr. Nguyen’s class. Many teachers assign practice exams to give students a better idea of what they need to work on. Photo by Abby Taussig
sents a whole year of effort and preparation. One little number can prove that you have the work-ethic, maturity, and mental tools to excel in the next stage of your life, right? Wrong. Studies conducted by major colleges have condemned the AP system as obsolete. Dartmouth recently declared that it will stop giving credit for AP classes because as they reported to Tamar Lewin from NY Times, “Of more than 100 students who had scored a 5 on the A.P. exam, 90 percent failed the Dartmouth test. The other 10 percent were given Dartmouth credit.” Similarly, in AP: A critical examination of the Advanced Placement program, Philip M. Sadler divulges that students who take an AP class, but fail the AP exam perform no better in college courses than students with no AP experience at all. Nicolas Michel ‘13, a senior at Woodside currently enrolled in four AP courses, agrees that the AP system could be better. He stated that “I think that AP tests are unnecessarily bureaucratic. Their main goal is to make sure that students have completed the subject matter, understand it well, and have mastered the skills required in the class. I feel that the tests themselves are poorly designed.” So, what does it all mean? On one hand, AP tests are regarded highly by high-school teachers for their ability to attract college credit. On the other, they are a small part of the college admission process and have proven to be inadequate indicators of future college performance. With this in mind, the best way to address the AP exams - as with most things in life - is with an optimistic, stress-free attitude. Students should consider that while the AP test can help them greatly, there is very few ways in which it can hold them back.
3
4
debate as well. The case, by its official name, is Hollingsworth v. Perry; though, throwing aside legal terminology, the hearing itself is far from average courtroom procedure. In an attempt to repeal the 2008 piece of California legislature Proposition 8, which amended the California State Constitution to uphold Gay Marriage as unconstitutional, Hollingsworth v. Perry has divided a nation already knee deep in one of the most divisive eras of its existence; drawing stark opinionated contrast from both sides of the all sects of the political spectrum. What has been traditionally defined under the boundaries of being “between one man and one woman” is now being cast aside as a more progressive generation grows; both in number and influence. It is fitting, then, that the richly diverse halls of Woodside High School should chime in on this national issue. Most often argued on a basis of moral and religious sanctity or a matter of inalienable rights, the Wildcats, both student and staff, have offered their varied views. Summer Gould ‘13 and member of the Youth For Christ club offers one such opinion on this divisive issue. “I don’t person-
NEWS The Great Divide Cont’d ally agree with homosexuality,” Gould continues “not agreeing with homosexuality to me is similar to not agreeing with another religion, or political standpoint; just because my friends believe one thing and I another doesn’t have to jeopardize our friendships, it only enlightens me on another way of life.” When inquired on the notion of rejecting the morality of homo-
sexuality, a notion common with those opposed to the legality of gay marriage, Gould clarified that “I support my LGBTQ friends as much as I would my straight friends.”
This issue, however, is hardly one sided. Tony Mueller, a Woodside English teacher and advisor to the Gay-Straight Alliance,
holds a view starkly different from the religious aspect of this conflict. Concerning American ideology, Mueller stated that “if we believe in self-determination and equality then what follows must be that we grant people equal rights,” and further qualified in that “I think a lot of American philosophy and American history have been based off of the principles of self determination, independence and equality; therefore if we truly adhere to these values then we need to grant people these rights.”
Demonstrators opposed to Proposition 8 flock the area in front of the California State Capitol building to protest the ballot. Photo by Kelly Huston
So it seems as though America, yet again, has found itself at one of the great crossroads of its existence. Whether or not the definition, status, or legality of marriage changes in the near future is uncertain, however what is clear is that America is hardly the devout society it has shown itself to be in years past. Throughout its existence this nation of ours has proven to change on just such matters of social importance by the mere passage of time. Whether or not this case brings a change in either the definition of marriage or the validity of equal rights in general remains to be seen; the future yet remains unwritten.
Coming Out as an Undocumented Immigrant Jose Antonio Vargas gives his insight on Immigration reform while at a Q&A at Sequoia High School. By Christopher Guillen
and The Washington Post where he continued to deny is true status. After these brief jobs he was awarded the On Sunday April 7, 2013, the Pulitzer-Prize winning Pulitzer- prize for excellence in Journalism . In June 2011, journalist, Jose Antonio Vargas, honored the residents of he wrote an essay for the New York Times Sunday Magathe Bay Area with a live Q&A where he answered many zine revealing that he was and still is an undocumented questions concerning the status of immigration reform in immigrant. He kept this hidden from everyone for about the United States. This conversation took place at Sequoia 15 years because of the fear of being deported. During High School’s, Carrington Hall. This event also introduced those years Vargas paid taxes, worked, and continued to the recipients of the SASS (Sequoia Adult School Scholars) worry about his status getting out. On June 25, 2012 he scholarship. This scholarship is given to a select number was catapulted to the cover of the Times Magazine. of students who attend Sequoia Adult School and show a Vargas is a huge inspiration to other undocumented desire to continue their education after they receive their immigrants all over the US. This afternoon served as a GEDs. This scholarplatform to recogship helps pay for nize the hard work of books, bus passes, other undocumented and parking permits. immigrants in RedThis years recipients wood City. There are included Yadira millions who move Magana, Armando to the US in hopes Gomez, and Amado of fulfilling their Flores. Carrington American dream and Hall, was filled with having more money hundreds of people so that they can help that were concerned their families in their about Vargas opinhome countries.They ion on immigration also immigrate to reform and why this country to work he decide to come Jose Antonio Vargas listens intently to the students receiving the SASS scholarship about their and try to learn what out as an undocu- experiences concerning immigration reform. they can to be better Photo by Christopher Guillen. mented immigrant citizens. from the Philippines as well as take a stand on this huge issue. Rosemary Ramirez president of the Dream Act Club Everyone at the event had the opportunity to hear at Sequoia High School had the opportunity to ask Vargas the inspirational stories of four students that attended the questions that the audience had previously written Sequoia Adult School. Armando Gomez is hard working down on notecards. man that was awarded the SASS scholarship. This scholarship will help him further his education and learn. Yadira Elizabeth Weal, President of the Sequoia Adult School Magana is a hardworking young women that was fired Scholars, played a major role in getting Jose Antonio from three jobs, before being awarded the SASS scholarVargas to come speak at this event. Vargas was 12 years ship. She is an example of someone who has not given old when his mother decided to send him to live with his up on her American dream, this scholarship will help her American grandparents in Mountain View, California. At be more prepared to be something bigger and better in such a young age, he had no idea that he was undoculife. Amado Flores was the third recipient of this scholarmented. Soon after he felt the need to lie and not inform ship with this honor he will be able to continue providing his employers and friends know of his undocumented for his family due to receiving the scholarship. Brianna status. He had a brief job at the San Francisco Chronicle Chavez is the Vice president of SASS says “ that you must
work hard for what you want and not give up until you achieve it”. Vargas congratulated them on their success and advised them to “work hard every step of your life and keep going.” Vargas opened the eyes of the audience when he stated “ immigration is the biggest issue, but it is also the less understood”. Vargas has always been against AAPress using that word “illegally” because he feels that it is a derogatory word and is used to downgrade people. Vargas took a stand on behalf of other undocumented immigrants in February 2013 when he testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Vargas is an example to follow, he has worked hard for what he has, it doesn’t matter what race, ethnicity,or your sexual orientation you prefer we should all be equal. Student at least in California should feel protected their are hundreds of of laws that support/ protect you in furthering your education for example AB540, Dream Act, AB130,and AB131. Vargas left some strong words that will stick with anyone, “ I’m an American, I’m just waiting for my country to recognize me”.
Jose Antonio Vargas answers questions the audience asked. Photo by Christopher Guillen
A New Era for Catholics
Unknowingly, many Woodside students and local residents live amongst one of the smartest animals on the planet.
The newest pontiff, Francis I, brings forth significant changes for Catholics all around the world.
For years Koko was the talk of the town, the primate queen of the scientific community, but has been under the radar for most for the past few years. “I wasn’t aware who Koko was,” said Henry Calderon ‘16, “I knew there was an ape that knew sign language but I didn’t know its name much less that it lives in Woodside.” Lately, Koko has not received the respect she deserves. As an animal that can comprehend and even communicate through spoken English, it is slightly appalling how little she appears in the media lately even if she is considered “old news.”
Cuckoo for Koko The Gorilla cont’d
Sign language is a series of hand motions or gestures that is an extremely effective way of communicating with man or, in this case, beast. According to the Gorilla Foundation’s website, Koko began learning Sign Language at age one from Penny Patterson. Four years later, Patterson started the Gorilla Foundation with Ronald Cohn and Barbara Hiller. Patterson received her Ph D. in Developmental Psychology from Stanford in 1972 and shortly after, began her work with Koko. In her book The Education of Koko, addressing her initial relationship with Koko, Patterson writes, “From the beginning of Project Koko I had a dual role: I was a scientist attempting to teach a gorilla a human sign language, but I was also a mother to a one-year-old infant with all an infant’s needs and fears.” Besides educating Koko, the Gorilla Foundation also strives to preserve the natural habitat of gorillas and has been striving for a 70-acre great ape sanctuary in Maui, Hawaii. Koko and her friends don’t spend all their time signing, they also paint. Koko and Michael paint pictures of things and people around them. They have painted such masterpieces as “Bird,” “Smile,” “Penny,” and many more. Koko’s favorite games are chase, hide and go seek, playing with dolls, and drawing. Michael, male silverback gorilla, also learned Sign Language and met Koko at age 3. Michael and Koko were supposed to mate but ended up developing a sibling bond. They lived happily together until 2000, when sadly, he passed away from heart failure. Ndume was a second intended mate for Koko, arriving at the Gorilla Foundation in 1991. He was brought here from the Cincinnati Zoo at age 10. He is still living with Koko and they are getting along great but haven’t shown any mating signs.
Francis waves to the crowd shortly after the inaugural mass in Vatican City. Photo by Wikipedia user Fczarnowski.
By Luci Cerrillo Tuesday, March 19, 2013; the day in which Jorge Mario Bergoglio was installed as Pope Francis I after Pope Benedict XVI’s surprising resignation from papacy, making Francis the first Latin American Pope in the history of the Catholic Church. The former Pope’s resignation was announced during a speech in Vatican City in Rome, Italy on February 11. Benedict claimed in this speech that the reasons behind his resignation were health issues and old age. The resignation was official on February 28, approximately two and a half weeks later. According to World Studies and US History teacher, Pablo Aguilera, “it seems like some people are happy about Benedict’s abrupt resignation and others find it appalling.” It is traditional in the Church to serve as Pope until death; Aguilera proceeds, “others believe that Benedict is setting the appropriate standard for Popes: once they feel they can no longer perform the duties, they should resign and allow someone who can continue the work take over, instead of merely being a symbolic figure who truly does not do much.” The resignation of Benedict XVI made him the first Pope to renounce the Catholic Church on his own accord in over 700 years. Although Benedict has been depicted as one of the most complex and philosophical forces in the Church since the mid-1980’s, a large amount of the Catholic society remain to be in favor of Francis. Aguilera “believe[s] that we seem to hear people favor Francis over Benedict is due to the fact that he is from Latin America. Given that Latin America consists of the largest concentration and strongest influence of Catholics in the world, the election of Francis shows an appreciation for Latin America.” In addition to being the first Latin American Pope, Francis is also the first Jesuit Pope in Church history. Jesuits, an abbreviation for the Society of Jesus, is a Roman Catholic organization of Christian men who make up the largest group of Priests and Brothers in the Church. Aguilera considers “the fact that he is a Jesuit bothers some, but I believe that those who are vocal in their disapproval are the minority. The new Pope seems to be a basic and humble man and is trying to focus the church on the poor. Given the majority of the world is living in poverty, I believe most will welcome this change. Also, you have an institution that has changed very little over more than a thousand years, so every miniscule change will lead to rumblings and disapproval by members and vocal leaders.”
Joel Martinez-Cobian ‘13 shows many signs of interest in Koko,”I believe we can learn a lot from our furry friends.” Martinez-Cobian is intrigued by how an animal can not only communicate with humans, but also display human-like traits. He believes that through interspecies communication, humans can learn about some of natures smartest creatures and their take on life. This is actually a goal of Project Koko, to talk to Koko, Ndume and possibly more apes to come to learn how to make enclosures more enriching and healthy for the apes that inhabit them. The staff of the Gorilla Foundation met on the week of March 18th to rethink and discuss their prime goals and the direction their organization is going in. These goals are research--to understand the minds of gorillas and other great apes, care--to make them feel at home, and conservation education--to teach humans about great apes so that we may all help to and preserve these species and their habitats. Gary Stanley, the Director of Educational Technology, has been working with the Gorilla Foundation for over 10 years and contributes a lot to project Koko and the Gorilla Foundation. His job is to apply technology to the Gorilla Foundation in any way possible. He also manages koko.org, the Gorilla Foundation’s website in an attempt to educate people about Koko without them disturbing her sanctuary. Stanley believes that if people begin to visit Koko and Ndume frequently, the preserve where they live will become more of a zoo or an exhibit instead of a sanctuary for the gorillas. Koko is not just a gorilla that knows sign language, she is a spokesape for an entire species. She is an icon, an emblem in the quest to protect apes worldwide. Koko on her own expresses the views and feelings of all gorillas and is their only hope for survival. The 42-year-old lowland gorilla stands up against poaching and the destruction of gorillas’ natural habitats. Through her, we have a window into the mind of an animal that desperately needs saving. Through Koko and her astounding talents, man and beast may finally be able to live in peace. To learn more about Project Koko and the Gorilla Foundation or even donate, visit Koko.org.
The election of a new Pope is important to many but not to all. Based on an anonymous survey taken by Woodside students, only 33% of those who participated said that the election of Pope Francis was important to themselves and their families. Nonetheless, the election of Francis will bring forth the start of a new era for the Catholic Church.
VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!
1) GO TO WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/WOODSIDEWORLD 2) “LIKE” OUR AMAZING FACEBOOK PAGE 3) PROCEED TO THE BEAUTIFUL PHOTO ALBUMS 4) “LIKE” THE PICTURES OF YOUR FAVORITE ART
Through interspecies communication, we now know that humans and apes share likes and interests such as painting, imagining, or in this case--partying. Photo by Ron Cohn
5
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
6
Fashion Show: Seniors Only
Underclassmen fight for their place in Woodside’s exclusive fashion show
The class of 2013, dominated the stage at this year’s fashion, leaving underclassmen in the audience. Enzo Constantini (center) strikes a pose in the “seniors only” portion of the show. Alaina Bujitor, Aaron Garcia, Seth Humble, Lexi Phillips, Alex Herrera, and Megan Hawley (right) display the maturity that is crucial to the show’s success. Photos by Kaylynn Crawford
By Haley Sheetz The annual Woodside Fashion Show is a highly anticipated student event, but underclassmen are noticeably absent from the runway. But it is also known for its exclusivity. Fashion show sign ups have always been limited to seniors, with underclassmen only being allowed to participate if the amount of seniors is insufficient. Now, though, underclassmen feel they should have a turn in the spotlight. If underclassmen were allowed to participate, the fashion show could be promoted to a wider audience. Harpreet Dehar ‘16 says, “Everyone should be able to participate because not everyone knows the seniors, so they don’t go. If everyone participates, many people will go to support their friends and classmates.” Additionally, school wide participation could serve to promote friendship between all grades, as well as giving younger students the chance to gain experience on the stage. By exposing younger students to a performance environment early, the quality of the show could increase as they became
more and more comfortable in front of an audience. However, seniors are not as keen to see the show opened up to the entire school. Many agree that underclassmen should only be allowed to join the show if absolutely necessary. Morgan Mather ‘13 says, “I think it should be for seniors only, but depending on how many are in the show, underclassmen may be necessary.” This year, several students from 9th to 11th grade participated in the athletic opening of the show, representing sports that lacked representatives from the senior class. Sydney Hickman ‘13 agrees that underclassmen should be allowed in the introduction, but the runway section should be limited to seniors.
to Costantini, one of the main goals of the fashion show is for the seniors to raise money to leave behind for the other grades. She also agreed that the maturity and presence that seniors have “was instrumental to its [the show] success.” So, although having a show including underclassmen may be possible, it is not necessarily probable. The stores featured in the fashion show entrust their clothing in the hands of the students participating, and expect it to be treated with dignity. With greater amounts of people involved, the risk of accidents is heightened. In a school wide survey, 61% of students said that they felt that all grades should be able to participate in the fashion show.
She says, “I think that by only having seniors in the fashion show part allows them to have their last major event together.”
Overall, it seems that most underclassmen believe that they should be allowed to participate in the fashion show, while most seniors believe it should remain exclusive. Costantini’s final thoughts on the matter are equally mixed: “It is hard to say whether or not underclassmen should be able to participate because we have never seen it done. I do think that too many years of Fashion Show involvement could diminish the excitement of having to wait for your senior year.”
This year’s fashion show director and Woodside community member, Vicky Costantini, chose to take the middle ground on this issue: “I do think that too many years of Fashion Show involvement could diminish the excitement of having to wait for your senior year.” According
The Great Gatsby 2013
By Emily Orrego After much buzz from media, students, and staff, the much anticipated Great Gatsby, directed by Baz Luhrmann, will be out in theaters May 10, 2013. It has been a book that many students have had to read in their english classes and that many of them have enjoyed. Now, students look forward to seeing the famous novel grace the silver screen. The Great Gatsby was written by Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1923, and has been read widely to this day, 90 years later. As Stephanie Greengerg, Woodside English III teacher, says, “It is a classic tale with themes that apply to American society across the ages.” Something about the book has made it a classroom favorite. “It was one of my favorite we have read in class!” says Diego Perez ’14. Even though it hasn’t been assigned in English II classes, the growing popularity of the movie coming out has already drawn some sophomores to it. Samantha Lopez ’15 says, “I couldn’t put the book down once I started it.” Perhaps our high schoolers find the carousing and substance abuse appealing, perhaps it’s the cynical message of the novel that makes them think, or perhaps it’s the idealistic and innocent hope of Gatsby himself that keeps generations coming back for more.
now. The next attempt was by director Elliot Nugent in 1949, followed by a more popular version in 1974 and a television version in 2000. After watching the 1974 remake Mariana Rangel ’15, shares, “By the previews I can tell there will be much more detail in this film.” This time around there has been much circulation around media and all over the internet about the upcoming film. With Baz Lurhmann at the helm, the director of films such as Moulin Rouge and the more modern Romeo + Juliet, we can expect grand scenery and elaborate decorations. Not only is there a new director, but a new cast as well. There are some big names taking on the task of some lead roles. Leonardo DiCaprio will be playing the enigmatic Jay Gatsby. Lopez says, “I am not sure he is the best actor for this part.” She doubts that DiCaprio will be able to capture the depth of the character. Dina Muqhar ’15 disagrees. “I think he is perfect for the role!” DiCaprio will be accompanied by Toby Maguire, playing the role of Nick Carraway. For fans of Fitzgerald’s classic work, May 10th is the date to save.
With the movie release soon approaching, many students are waiting to swarm the theatres. Kristopher Aparicio ’14 says, “I have been waiting for this for the longest time!” One of Fitzgerald’s greatest skills is in creating fantastic and memorable scenes and witty dialogue. Many viewers hope the film transports the action from the page to the stage faithfully, so that skill is not lost. This is not the first time fans have seen a remake of this classic. The very first one was filmed in 1926 but only small clips of the black and white, silent film can be found
Official movie poster for The Great Gatsby featuring Leonadro Dicaprio as Jay Gatsby. Photo by Warner Brothers.
Ashland or Bust
The students who went on the 2013 trip pose for a group photo outside the theater. Photo by Kathleen Coughlin
By Kenzie Humpries Every year for twenty-five years, Woodside has hosted a trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for those students who would like to experience the works of Shakespeare professionally performed. Recently, four consecutive trips were hosted by English teacher, Kathleen Coughlin. Next year, it is uncertain if this will be the case. The Ashland, Oregon trip has higher demands for funding and student numbers this year, something that could factor into Coughlin’s passing the torch to another teacher next year. Whereas in previous years the minimum number of students required for the trip to take place was twenty or so, this year the number nearly doubled. Forty students is a lot of rowdy teenagers for a handful of adults, namely two teachers and several parents who volunteered. However, it’s not so much the stress as it is the fine print that’s the problem. Recently a law was passed that complicates the issue of students paying fees, and while it doesn’t endanger the trip, it does make the possibility of a lawsuit evident if the intent should be misconstrued. “It’s intimidating,” said Coughlin. “It
makes people think again about applying for the trip.” The students who went on the trip saw the plays The Taming of the Shrew, My Fair Lady, and Two Trains Running. Some of them were more well-liked than others. The Taming of the Shrew was the only Shakespearean play viewed, with a bit of a ‘50s rockabilly twist and a love story at the end. My Fair Lady and Two Trains Running were more recent than Shakespeare’s adapted creation but no less memorable, representing their own time periods -- Trains dealing with the late ‘60s racial oppression and Lady relating an amusing Victorian-period tale. “I had lots of fun,” said Jessica Ghiozzi ‘15 of the trip. “In between plays we were allowed to walk around Ashland, and if we had money we could buy stuff from the stores on Main Street.” Of the plays, she said that “the first two were great, but Trains was a little too long. Not a lot of stuff happened in it -- it was basically one long dialogue.” Overall, students tended to agree that the trip was enjoyable. “My trip to Ashland was an enjoyable experience,” said Maya Kuipers ‘15. “I made a lot of new friends and had a blast.”
7
WOODSIDE
Thank you to all the many volunteers, donors, and bidders who made our Auction a great success!
HIGH SCHOOL
FOUNDATION 16th ANNUAL AUCTION
APRIL 20, 2013
Business Contributors 40 Love Courture 49 Square Miles A Plus Pet Grooming Academic Trainers Aida’s Custom Cosmetics Allied Driving School Amici East Coast Pizzeria Asian Art Museum of S.F. Athens Chiropractic Clinic Atherton Lacrosse Avantgard Spa Avenir Restaurant Group Beach Blanket Babylon Bonsai Japanese Cuisine Bow Wow Meow Brick Monkey Buck’s of Woodside Byington Vineyard & Winery Cantor Arts Museum Canyon Auto Service Canyon Gas Station Christensen & Rafferty Fine Jewelry City Pub Classic Wines Coastside Photography College Counseling Associates Connect Tech West, Inc Consider It Done Today Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards Corner Yogurt Dave Tanner Inc. Deep Cliff Golf Course Dolma Imports Easton Lacrosse Emily Joubert Engracia Jewelry Equine Waste ManagementWheeler Farms, LLC. Filoli Gani Pinero Photography Garden Court Hotel Gilbert’s Pioneer Saloon Goetz Brothers
Golden Time Jewelers Gray’s Paint & Wallpaper Green Hills Country Club Guittard Chocolate Company Karakade Thai Restaurant King’s Union 76 La Honda Winery Landsystems Landscapes Leaf And Petal Lite For Life Lite For Life Of Menlo Park Lutticken’s After 5 Metropolitan Golf Links Mondi Hair Salon Mountain House Restaurant Nazareth Ice Oasis Nutmeg Kitchens Oakland A’s Olive Hill Salon Paintball Tickets.com Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club Palo Alto Players Palomo Archery Paradise Nails And Spa Paye’s Place Peets Coffee And Tea Peninsula Community Center Peninsula Pet Resort, Inc. Pet Food Express Piccola Bella Hair Design Pickled Clothing Planet Granite Belmont Prestige Portraits Raw Daddy-James Hall Redwood City Florist Redwood City Nursery Redwood Symphony Roberts Market Rolling ‘n Dough Rosati Family Winery Rouge Salon Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi Salon Sur La Rue
Our sincere apologies for any errors or omissions. S.F. Museum of Modern Art San Jose Giants San Jose Repertory Theatre S.M.County Sheriff ’s Office Sequoia YMCA Serendipity Massage Sky Nails Spa Sling It Lacrosse Soif Restaurant Spa Luxe Spruce Salon St. Regals Stanford Driving School Stephen Lindblom, DDS Stillheart Institute Sue Oda Landscape Architect Swayed Tahoe Donner Association Town Of Woodside Trader Joe’s Tutor Corps Village Square Vet Hospital Voss Organizing Services Westin Palo Alto WHS Class Of 2015 Winter Lodge Woodside Bakery & Café Woodside Class Of 2013 Woodside Community Theatre WHS Foundation Woodside Tennis Shop Yat Sing Restaurant Yellow Jacket River Guides Yoga Source
Individual Contributors Ann Akey Donna Allen Virginia Andersen Lynda Anderson Carol & Par Arvidsson Dana Ayers Darlene Batchelder Lisa L Blanton
Phil Bonadies Marsha and Bill BonDurant Michael Bray Patty & Steve Brown Diane and Steven Burbank Renel Brooks-Moon Lisa Camera Aaron Campbell Charles J. Caruana DDS Clare & Andrew Corcoran J. Taylor & Suzanne Crandall Jim Diller Charline & Steve Douty Leslie Freed Debbie Furner Gaby Gabriel Colleen Garrett Rosemarie Grelli Dana Hart Laura & Ken Hovden Gail & Steve Hynding Beverly Iverson Malena Jauregui Anne Kopf-Sill & Al Sill Jacie Krampert Nancy Krosse Marquis Kuhn May & Michael Lara Tricia & Michael A Law Cathy Lego Leslie N. Lian & Ed Tuttle Dr. Greg Loomis, D.D.S. Donna & Mike Losey Ronnie Lott Sheree & Rick Luttrell Catherine & Rob Lyman Dylan MacNiven Marina & Jim Marguet Annette & Mark Marshall Julie Marten Paul Meer Shelly S. Meredith Patti Michelsen Dee Miller
Binh Nguyen Louise & Lee Patch Karen & Akio Patrick Tina & Stevan Patrick Karen Peterson Dan Quinn Amber & Bob Ramies Michelle & Alain Rappaport Robert Reed Jennifer Rogers Julie & James Rooney Luanne Rotticci Matthew Sahagun Barry Schnur Carol Sheetz Undyne Stafford Erin Stockford Britt-Marie Sundquist Diane Talbert & Rodger Rickard Colleen & Geoff Tate Kim Freitas Topper Denise & Carl E Touhey Haley Vacchieri Joanne & Mark Verbeck Jill & Gary Wang Becky Washura Bunny Weiss Sharon & Robert Yoerg Lisa & Frank York
Woodside High School Art Department Athletic Boosters Drama Boosters English Department Green Academy Leadership Class Music Department P.E. Department. PTSA Robotics Team 100 SOS Student Activities World Languages Department
Auction Committee Lisa Blanton, Chair Carol Arvidsson Marsha Bondurant Michael Bray Patty Brown Clare Corcoran Charline Douty Margaret Esplana Laura Fanucchi Robin Foucrault Judy Giacometti-Schrammel Rosie Grelli Kate Hawthorne Laura Hovden Ana Maria Huibers Nancy Krosse Tricia Law Angelia Lim Janet Lorenzen Maria Teresa Magana Lori McBride Noelle Mendoza Karen Miller Marina Marguet Sarida Paley Louise Patch Tina Patrick Karen Peterson Amber Ramies Kem Smith Erin Stockford Britt-Marie Sundquist Brenda Superko Diane Talbert Colleen Tate Denise Touhey Joanne Verbeck Tiffany Viviani Bunny Weiss Lisa York
Want to be in the Woodside World? Send us your: • ART • PICTURES • LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Email:
World@WoodsideHighSchool.org
And while you’re at it... Check us out online at WoodsideWorld.com And follow us on Facebook! @The Woodside World
The
8
Art Page & Prom Pictures
Kelcie Carle, 2013
Upper Left: Rachel Swartzbaugh, Anthony Marchini ‘13, Denise Mora ‘14, Alex Lopez ‘13, Serena Houghton ‘13, and Ethan Anderson ‘13 all pose together at a preprom party. Photo by Chris Anderson. Bottom Left: Sophia Androlowicz ‘15, Christian Anagnostou ‘14, and Alex Androlowicz ‘13 smile for the camera at a pre-prom party. Photo by Vicky Androlowicz. Right: Josh Holman ‘13, Keshaila Chang ‘13, and Tommy Cook ‘13 are all excited to attend prom. Photo by Ruby Cook
Stephanie Cerini, 2013
Kiola Mahoni ‘13, Alejandra Prado ‘13, Janelle Colliou ‘13, and Allen ‘13 pose at the Treasure Island prom venue. Photo by M-A student.
Katie Pedigo, 2013
Brianna Prentice, 2014
Left: Katie Anderson ‘13 and Andrew Blatner ‘13, excited for prom, pose together before heading onto the party bus. Photo by Chris Anderson. Middle: Brianna Wurz ‘13 and Jhonathan Andrade ‘13 are excited to attend WHS prom together. Photo by Alejandra Prado. Right: Makayla Karr-Warner ‘13 and Will Carhart ‘14 pose for a photo before going to a pre-prom dinner. Photo by Eric Warner.
Left: Brittney Barvich ‘13 and Carolyn Oliveira ‘13 both are excited to attend prom on Treasure Island. Photo by Vicki Barvich. Right: Posing together, David Lopez ‘13 and Karla Osuna ‘13 enjoy their senior year, celebrating their last prom. Photo by Jennifer Caruzo.