Nov 19, 2015 by The Castro Valley High School Olympian

Sean Fottrell works his magic in the classroom Page 4: Fottrell’s love of learning is contagious

Volume 59, Issue 3

Trojans come in fourth at WACC finals

CVHS choir headed to Carnegie Hall

Page 7: Boys, girls teams qualify for NCS

November 19, 2015

Page 8: Singers raise funds for New York trip

We are born to seek the truth! www.cvhsolympian.com

Teachers’ union presses district for higher salaries By Anastasia Le Staff Writer

A problem currently facing our nation, and even our community is the imminent shortage of teachers in our school districts. The Castro Valley Teachers Association (CVTA) and Castro Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) continues to combat this problem, but are currently caught between negotiations for a higher compensation for teachers in our district. “As a school board, we value all of our employees, the students, and programs we oversee,” said school board president John Barbieri. “We have offered the teachers a three percent raise and plan to offer the same raise to all employee groups.” Teachers believe that this raise will not be enough to attract new teachers to our school district. They are asking for a six percent raise in order to compete with surrounding districts. CVUSD salaries start at $51,971 plus benefits for new full-time teachers with credentials. Teachers’ salaries increase the longer they work for

Maia Samboy / News Editor

Teachers rally for higher pay outside the district office. the district, reaching $95,084 plus benefits after 27 years. “Compared to neighboring school districts with similar student demographics, our district is one of the lowest paying districts.

It's why we are losing teachers and counselors, they can go elsewhere for better pay, and why so few people apply to work here,” said Carmelina Frasca, CVHS teacher and CVTA executive board

member. This is a response to dozens of Castro Valley educators resigning from their positions after the 2014-2015 school year. Some resignations were due to personal

or family issues, but many educators left Castro Valley to work in a surrounding district that offers a better compensation package. CVUSD competes with many surrounding school districts including San Ramon Valley, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Fremont. Many educators leave for the necessity of better compensation, and new educators choose not to apply to Castro Valley because of its low compensation package, the teachers argue. CVTA and district representatives have been meeting since school began to negotiate the compensation package. In addition, about 130 teachers rallied at the district office on Oct. 22 to draw attention to their cause. The two sides have not reported any progress since then. “We felt that the school board members respectfully listened to our concerns. Our hope is that they will see the need to offer more competitive compensation in order to keep teachers in Castro Valley,” said Alicia Gholami, CVTA president and fourth grade teacher at Chabot Elementary School.

Protestors deliver graphic pamphlets Perplexing parking Anti-abortion problems persist rally targets CVHS students By Sarah Nosseir Staff Writer

About a dozen anti-abortion protesters gathered just outside Castro Valley High’s campus during the week of Oct. 19, rallying and passing out pamphlets to anyone in sight, whether they be students or simply passersbyers minding their own business. These pamphlets contained pictures of aborted fetuses and several articles comparing abortion to slavery as well as the Holocaust. There were also short inserts from rape victims who had decided to get abortions, stating that they now regretted their decisions with much passion. “I think that having an abortion after a rape is like a double

rape to yourself,” says Lianna, one of the aforementioned victims. In her statement, Lianna revealed that she was abducted and raped at age 12, and soon became pregnant and depressed. However, talking to a doctor made her realize that aborting her baby would not allow her to forget the horrible experience she went through, nor the pain and suffering she withheld. Having the baby would only serve to be a positive way to remember a bad experience. Many pro-life supporters are women, who believe that it is not within females’ rights to do whatever they want with their bodies. “It is misguided to believe that females or males have an exclusive right to do anything they want with their bodies,” says an anonymous person through the pamphlet. A counter argument presented by the pamphlet that was later debunked was overpopulation. The writers of the pamphlet claimed that overpopulation was a myth.

However, some students were skeptical of that claim and other information in the pamphlets. “[The idea that overpopula-

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The protester specifically stated that he thought all the people who get abortions... are Hitler. Sierra Lance Junior

”

tion is a myth is] absolutely ridiculous. The quote they pulled from the website www. overpopulationisamyth.com is bogus and not to be taken seriously because the website is obviously completely biased,” stated junior Sierra Lance. “The protester specifically stated that he thought that all the people who get abortions or aid in the process of abortion are Hitler,” Lance added.

By Stella Ho and Fiona Richter Staff Writers

Seniors, has your car been towed yet? At the beginning of the school year, CVHS administration made an announcement that all vehicles parked in the student or staff lots without a visibly displayed parking pass would be towed away. This is due to the increasing amount of unauthorized vehicles. Some staff members have been blocked from their spots, such as school nurse Sandee Velasquez. This inconveniences them and delays them from attending to students’ needs. It’s not just the teachers who don’t like this; many students find this annoying as well. “I think it’s rude. A lot of the time, people have to park farther away because someone took their spot. They didn’t even pay for a pass so it’s really unfair,” said senior Alex Borja. A recent Olympian survey showed that of the 127 cars parked in the student lot, there were nine

without a permit. That means 93 percent of the cars were parked legally, but seven percent were not. And of the 172 cars in the staff lots, there were 28 without permits, making the amount of legally parked cars 84 percent, and illegal ones 16 percent. But so far, no cars have been towed yet. “It’s a pretty simple and quick process. We just haven’t picked out a specific date yet. But we can do it at any time,” Assistant Principal Jesse Hansen said. Hansen states his other reasons for not towing yet: sometimes kids do have a parking permit, but the administration missed it on their search to find the nopermit cars. “It’d be really inconvenient if we towed their car, and they actually did in fact have a pass,” Hansen said. Or maybe the student was injured and just had to park there for convenience. Visitors and parents who are confused over where they should park might accidentally block a student or teacher’s spot.

Standardized test prep time reduced Editorial: President Barack Obama has announced that in-school preparation for standardized testing would be reduced to two percent of classroom activity. We at The Olympian agree with this decision. An argument that was made in Obama’s short video was that time spent preparing for testing could be used to learn how to play an instrument, acquire new hobbies, or learning other materials. In the state of California we already have reduced testing, but for other states, this can be a big change. The problem we see tends to be with the quality of the tests. Many students and teachers agree that the tests do not accurately reflect learning or the potential of the students. In addition, many students don’t take standardized testing seriously, adding on to the problem. We believe doing away with all standardized testing is not the solution. Standardized tests do set a bar for students to reach, and can be seen as good goals to work towards. In addition, the tests serve as a basis for general learning, which, if done efficiently, can be effective. Some possible solutions to this standardized testing

Neo Diesta/ Graphic Artist

How to transition into a new school

By Nina Bessolo Staff Writer

struggle can be to localize the standardized testing. Different areas learn at different paces or learn different materials, so it would be a large improvement. For example, if instead of a national test, the Bay Area had have its own exam, and other large regions could have tests suitable for the schools specifically in their areas. Another solution is to combine all of the standardized tests into one large test that would replace the STAR test, the SBAC, the SAT, and the ACT, along with other standardized tests. This allows for students to prepare once for the

test, and it is very likely that it would be taken more seriously by the students, because the tests wouldn’t be as common. At The Olympian we agree with the president’s new guidelines, because until we fix the standardized test subjects, and make some much needed adjustments, the exams take away from classroom time. The time used to prepare for the test could be used for students to learn new languages, play sports, discover new hobbies, and give teachers more time to teach their students useful information.

with my grandparents in a city called Gimpo. Throughout my time in Korea, I experienced an entirely new culture of beauty, food, and most surprisingly, a society built on the degradation of women. Let me explain, because it’s not like Korea’s building tall skyscrapers on the backbone of women, but that I was immersed in a society in which both women and men are confined to the stereotypes of gender roles that should have disappeared ages ago. I interned as a teacher assistant for an educational summer camp designed for children in elementary school. The children there were absolutely wonderful, and surprisingly motivated to learn English. Through the program, I was

surprised at the amount of times girls told me, “I can’t do that” or how restricted they felt with what was socially acceptable for them and what wasn’t. In Korea, I also got to experience a church retreat with other high schoolers. And throughout the retreat, I’ve seen other girls my age get shot down time to time from any leadership opportunities because of their gender. A specific example of this was when we played Korean dodgeball, which was completely irrational and built on Korea’s society of degrading women. I was standing next to a guy when he told me to get behind him before we started and grab onto his waist so that he could protect me better. About to have a seriously long

Have you ever gone to a new school and wondered if you would fit in? Freshmen and transfer students at CVHS have been through this experience quite recently. As a transfer student, I have had to make plans on how to succeed academically, socially, and physically. I have had this experience before. I transferred my senior year from Valley Christian High School and the minute I came to CVHS, I felt like a baby deer whose mom abandoned it. The most important things that I consider is to do well academically, to socialize with the right people, and to be safe in the new environment. When it comes to academics, people sometimes give up when they find the curriculum to be difficult. Do not give up! The best way to do well in school is getting

to know your teachers. Most of them are willing to help you as long as you demonstrate work ethic in academics. Another tip is to show up to all classes on time. If you're constantly late every day, that does not bode well for your grade. Always be prepared for class. Be organized and stay focused. Making new friends may seem hard at first. It took me a while to adjust to the new environment. My advice is to befriend people who share common interests or hobbies. Soon enough you will be having the time of your life with them. Joining clubs or attending social vents is another great way to interact with your peers. Doing so will boost your confidence, and you will also get to know more and more people. However, when choosing friends, choose them wisely. There is always going to be “the wolf in sheep's clothing.” Always be on the lookout and report anything suspicious. When going to a new school, make sure you care for your belongings. Play it safe by making sure you know where your belongings are at all times. Never leave any expensive valuables in open places where people may steal them. I hope these tips help you in your new venture. Stay positive and focused.

The importance of Feminism all around the world

By Esther Smith

Staff Writer I can understand why some people in America don’t see feminism as a humongous lifechanging concept. We live in a society where already the basics of gender equality is changing for women of all color, as well as the LGBTQ+ community. I spent this past summer visiting South Korea, and stayed

PHOTOpinions

By Sally Liang

“I don’t think we should 100 percent get rid of standardized tests but I think we should definitely put a limit on them.” Ismael Faizi, freshman

“I think it’s a good idea. Standardized tests do not relate to what we are learning throughout the year. It’s just another thing to stress about.” Lauren Fung, sophomore

and philosophical talk with him about his ignorance of feminism, I looked around to see that all the other girls were clinging onto the guys’ waists, as if they already accepted their defeat to gender equality. There’s a popular saying in Korea where if your child is obnoxious or just really misbehaving, old ladies point their fingers at them and call them “fatherless.” I understand that even in America, we have our own problems regarding gender equality, but I never understood just how important it was that I realized, as a female minority, I was as equal as any other person, regardless of their race or color. I never understood how important feminism was until I went to Korea and for one

of the rarest moments of my life, to experience degradation for not being a male. I believe children shouldn’t ever have to say “I can’t do that.” Children should be able to think they can do anything they wish to achieve. Teenage girls shouldn’t be taught through ridiculous games, which mirror the problems of their society, to depend on a guy, and think they can’t achieve something without the help of the opposite gender. I think it’s unfortunate that girls are growing up to believe they can’t achieve as much as the boy next door, and that later in life women in leadership positions are often criticized and devalued for what they do, which is why I believe in the importance of feminism.

What do you think about reduced standardized testing? “Cutting the testing saves more time, allowing teachers to cover more material and be time efficient in the classroom. ” Jeanne Trang, junior

“Standardized testing should be cut back. It takes essential time away from the curriculum, especially affecting those enrolled in AP classes.” Brandon Yap, senior

The Olympian November 19, 2015

We need tighter firearm control

By Jacob Schoenfeld

Staff Writer In light of the recent school shooting at Umpqua Community College, the issue of gun control laws has been brought to attention again. Are our laws too lenient? Christopher Mercer, age 26, allegedly killed nine students and teachers at Umpqua, and was later discovered to have 14 guns in his possession and additional ammo, all of which he obtained legally. Someone with criminal intentions had the potential to make his own small armory, legally, and kill

multiple students and teachers. According to Oregon state law, people cannot be in possession of firearms if they are: under 18, convicted of being a felon offender or mentally ill, subjected to orders prohibiting possession of firearms, or an inmate of an institutions. Other than that it is legal to purchase and possess firearms. In the case at Umpqua, Mercer took advantage of the lenient laws, and others could continue to do so if stricter laws are not put into place. The Bill of Rights gives men and women the right to bear arms in order to keep “a well regulated militia.” Most firearms held by people in the U.S. are kept for the “protection” of those people, hunting, or for potential criminal use, hardly for any use in a militia. Also, when the Bill of Rights was created, the most advanced system of firearms that people possessed were muskets, which would take about 15 seconds to load it for a successful single shot, let alone an accurate one.

Firearms today have much more power, accuracy, and efficiency, which could not have possibly have been thought of during the drafting of the Bill of Rights. Some states have created stricter laws for firearm possession, but they were not enough to prevent mass harm. Within the first 274 days of 2015, there were 45 school shootings, and 294 mass shootings nationwide. Some things could help to stop potential criminal firearm use is background checks before all sales. Another thing could be the ban of assault weapons, which had been a federal law until its expiration in 2004 and has not been renewed since. Firearm control laws have to become much more strict if we are to stop massacres and shootings. Despite firearms causing a feeling of self security for people, they cause a whole lot of suffering for others.

Lincoln, Cadillac, or Chevy SUVs. As I was riding I couldn't help but wonder what the background of my silent driver was. I found out that if you drive for Uber, Lyft, or Sidecar, you don't need a commercial license. However, all the services require a clean driving record and Department of Motor Vehicles check. They also perform a background check to ensure drivers have never been convicted of a violent crime, sexual offense, or a DUI. Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and others also offer liability insurance for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians for up to $1 million, but only if the driver's personal insurance doesn't cover an accident. Both Uber and Lyft now levy a $1 per-ride charge for insurance. It's hard to see the downside of ridesharing for passengers. The increased supply of cars makes it easier to find a ride, even if you prefer taxis. It also avoids the normal calling or wandering around to hail a cab, and gives you the status of your ride from the moment you request it. It's often cheaper than a cab, and there's rarely a dispute about unwanted fees or questionable route decisions. The rating systems help keep drivers, and passengers, honest. From a ridesharing driver's perspective, it's mostly good too.

You'll never get stiffed on a fare, and the services generally shuffle cars around efficiently, minimizing downtime. The pre-registration process and automatic ridelogging also add a safety factor for both parties. Of course, most cab drivers would rather that ridesharing services go away. They see them as amateur interlopers who pay no hefty fees, but steal precious fares. One would imagine that if these apps continue to grow, taxi services would be put out of business. My experience was wonderful. Other than riding in a car that's associated with the federal government, I was allowed to blast Frank Sinatra throughout the ride. But I must say that the best part of my ride was that I didn't pay a penny. All new users are permitted certain amount of free credit for the first trip. I believe that these apps and similar ridesharing programs can be very useful to teens when in a pinch or just needing a ride. Ride fares vary day to day but Uber will always charge a flat rate and then tack on the distance and time it takes to drive you there. Uber was my selected choice but regardless what the app is, it's a wonderful experience and a great deal.

Uber is a good resource for teens

By Gavin Halloran Staff Writer

Transportation for teens varies from person to person, but regardless, each student must get from point A to point B somehow. I recently came into a pinch after rehearsal at the high school and had an large amount of equipment to carry home. Without my parents to pick me up, I had to improvise. Uber became my first choice. I downloaded the app and sent for a driver to pick me up. There are different options in the Uber app that allow the user to select the specific type of transportation they wish to use. I selected Uber Black, the top of the line of Uber’s selection of cars featuring Black

Dubb: “We love you more”

I am the mother of Nicholas Whitaker, the Castro Valley High School teacher. Thank you CVHS teachers, students and community for all your support, love and help you all gave to my beloved son Nicholas, and for realizing the love he had for all of you, and the courage he

LETTERS To the Editor showed throughout his time in the battle against the hateful disease of cancer. Nicholas loved you all and truly cared for your welfare. His passing has left a hole in our heart, but his example of humanity and love of people will live on through his students and all those who knew him.

He wanted us all to be kind to each other, and he set the example which I hope we can all follow, not just for ourselves but for our communities and for humanity. Dear Nicholas, we love you more! Zohreh Whitaker

Overload: students’ stress affects health

By Fiona Richter

Staff Writer How much time do you spend with your friends, watching TV, reading, or playing video games? How often do you do things you actually enjoy? It’s my junior year at CVHS, the hardest, most important school year according to teachers and students alike. I have a relaxed schedule, but a lot of my classmates are struggling with the workload from their AP and honors classes. There is always someone falling asleep in class because he pulled an all nighter to finish APUSH homework, someone who can’t eat lunch with friends because she has to cram some more for honors physics, or someone who needs to go straight home after school because an essay is waiting to be rewritten. And what for? Students with three or four AP classes aren’t taking them for fun. They are enrolled in the classes for purpose of obtaining college credit and increasing chances to get into a highly competitive university. The expectations for students applying to those colleges are insane. You need to be an excellent, “well-rounded” student, i.e. someone who not only takes rigorous classes and gets straight As, but also does

sports and plays an instrument or participates in the musical and volunteers somewhere. Of course you also need to work, because financial aid alone won’t pay for your expenses. If school is my place of employment, I spend as much time there as someone who works a nine-to-five job. The difference is that after my classes, I also have to do homework and study. For most of us, school takes up much more time than a full time job. Fitting social life into our busy schedule is the key to be happy and mentally healthy.

“School takes up much more time than a full time job. ”

But we rarely have time to spend with our friends because there’s so much stuff to do, feel lazy when we want to watch something on Netflix instead of studying. Let’s be real, none of us gets those needed 9.25 hours of sleep. Getting good grades is a significant factor affecting your future, but we should all try to live a healthy lifestyle. It’s okay to drop a class if it stresses you out. Set a regular time for yourself to go to bed at night, because caffeine is not an acceptable replacement for sleep. Do something for yourself every day, whether it’s hanging out with friends, reading, or playing a video game. School should not be more important than your well-being.

Editors-in-Chief.................................................................Anna Nguyen Laniah Lewis Copy Editor......................................................................Sally Liang City Editor..............................................................Caitlin Forbes News Editor..............................................................Maia Samboy Opinion Editor............................................................Jessica Mi Feature Editor.....................................................Meiling Zhang Sports Editor................................................................Martin Baez Arts and Entertainment Editor............................America Morales Photo Editor........................................................Halley Lin-Jones Video Editor........................................................Desiree Broome Graphic Artist........................................................Neo Diesta Business Managers.........................................Alexander McIntosh Brittany Bracy Staff Writers: Mia Babasyan, Nina Bessolo, Elizabeth Chan, Lauren Eisenman, Gavin Halloran, Stella Ho, Molly Koch, Anastasia Le,Sarah Nosseir, Fiona Richter, Diego Rodriguez-Peccorini, Emily Salazar, Jacob Schoenfeld, Esther Smith, Ishaank Zalpuri

Getting to know your teachers

By Mia Babasyan Staff Writer

Maia Samboy / News Editor

Club brings Filipino culture to campus By Ishaank Zalpuri Staff Writer

Do you like connecting with people through cooking, dancing and having fun? If so, then Filipino Club is right place for you! Filipino Club was founded by President Arianne Minor and Vice President Grace Han. "I started this club to bring more Filipino culture and diversity to this school," said Minor. The club has only had a few meetings so far and already has around a dozen members. The Filipino Club meets on a

Tuesday once a month to learn about Filipino culture through traditional dancing and cooking. The club is not exclusive to Filipino people. "I think it's pretty cool that the club is spreading diversity throughout the school,” said Han. Club member Alexis Evangelista agreed that everybody there was very inviting and social and that there was tons of cultural diversity. If you are interested and want to join, come to room 113 at lunch for more information about meeting times and signing up.

PE department riding in new direction By Lauren Eisenman Staff Writer

Due to the increased number of accidents between students on bikes and cars, the Physical Education department introduced lessons on how to ride a bike to freshmen and sophomore students. Concerns rose about the frequent accidents between students riding their bikes and cars at school, so Principal Blaine Torpey decided to have the P.E. department teach students how to ride their bikes safely. Last year, Torpey and the P.E. department discussed the problem of the accidents and presented the idea of teaching students how to ride bikes to the district. The district agreed, and if the P.E. department wanted to teach the unit, district-hired teachers would visit the school and provide bikes, as well as teach the unit. While the P.E. teachers supervise the lesson, the students put on their helmets and ride their bikes safely around a designed course at school. At first, students were reluctant to put on a helmet and do something that they already knew how to do. During daily drills, the students ride around cones and straight through different paths. However, after a week of having the bikes, students wanted to continue the unit. Students also take bike rides to farther places to use their newfound bike-riding skills in the outside world. “Everyone knew how to ride

a bike, but the bike unit taught us how to signal left and right. We even took the bikes out to Lake Chabot,” said sophomore Erica Eisenman. “The trip was really fun, and we used what we learned from the lesson out on the streets and on the way there.” The purpose of teaching students how to ride their bikes safely is to prepare those who ride their bikes to school to be more safe and aware of their surroundings. The process of learning how to ride a bike is like learning how to drive for the first time. “In the process of getting your license, you first start off with a lesson. Once you learn how to drive safely, you can drive out and test your skills. It’s kind of like teaching the students how to ride their bikes. Once they learn how to signal and share the road, they can maneuver around safely,” said P.E. teacher Marie Gray. To the students and the P.E. teachers, the bikes unit is very enjoyable to learn and teach. Students are very knowledgeable when it comes to sports, but some students didn’t even know how to ride a bike. The P.E. teachers feel like the students are learning a skill that is valuable to their lives. “At first when we were first handed out permission slips about riding the bikes, my classmates were worried that the lesson would be boring and that our trip would be here at school. But when Mr. Williams started talking about it and when we started learning it, the unit was really fun and everyone loved it,” said Eisenman.

Getting to know teachers on a personal level is something not many students can relate to or say that they have experienced. There are some teachers we get along with better than others, but would this change if we got to know another side of all our teachers? I can imagine many people would say no thanks, however after I asked a few of my teachers a personal question, it didn’t seem like that bad of an idea. It is important to remember that every teacher has gone to high school and has had regrets and mistakes. Well, what are they? What do teachers wish they knew in high school? Every teacher ’s response varies, some encouraging students to work harder, and others advising to not try so hard and put so much stress on ourselves. Some teachers are more open where others wary of what they’re saying to their students. However, all teachers responded with honest and influential advice. Spanish teacher Jared Cavaness wished he had known not to care about what other people think. “If every day you’re not being who you truly are and following your passion, you’re losing

Mia Babasyan / Staff Writer

Spanish teacher Jared Cavaness wants you to follow him @ProfeCav on social media. days of your life,” he said. Cavaness wished he pursued what he was really interested in, instead of caring what other people thought about it. “I wish I had challenged myself more so I could have become a better thinker sooner,” said librarian Kathy Clarke. On the other hand, history teacher, Kevin Batchelor wished he hadn’t tried as hard in school. “Focus on things that actually intrigue you, and don’t take a bunch of AP classes that you’re not interested in,” he said. Science teacher Christopher Bing wished he had known how to be a more rounded person. “I just focused on school and

missed out on joining clubs and sports,” he said. Bing advises to give equal weight on things other than just academics, because your whole high school experience is important. After taking into account all of the advice my teachers had to say, I gathered that being a diligent person with a passion to succeed in what one enjoys is what will produce a positive high school experience. But no matter what advice we take, it is inevitable that there will be mistakes and regrets down the line. The important thing is that we enjoy the journey and make the most of it.

Fottrell the fun physics fanatic

By Jessica Mi Opinion Editor

Where can you find a guy who can climb mountains, play jazz piano, build robots, and teach physics, perhaps all at the same time? Behind the doors of room 752, Honors Physics and AP Computer Science teacher Sean Fottrell works his magic. Fottrell is a Bay Area native and a graduate of De La Salle High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in “values, technology, science, and society” at Stanford University. He has been teaching physics at CVHS for the past 17 years. Currently, Fottrell teaches part time at CVHS to be able to spend more time with his family. Fottrell has always had the goal of becoming a teacher. “I knew when I was in high school that I wanted to go into teaching,” he said. “In high school, I first started feeling like I was thinking differently about the world. And I wanted to share that with others.” He was also influenced by a high school calculus teacher who inspired him to go into teaching himself. Fottrell’s passion for teaching is definitely reflected in his classes. “I love being in the class with kids. It’s exactly why I went into teaching. I get to see those ‘Ah-hah!’ moments,” he said. Fottrell also dedicated a lot of

Jessica Mi / Opinion Editor

Physics teacher Sean Fottrell explains a physics problem about centripetal force to his students. extra time and effort into making lesson plans for the Honors Physics classes that did not yet have a teacher during the teacher shortage at the beginning of the year. “It was like working full time again,” he said, “I tried to keep all the classes moving at the same pace.” However, students are vastly grateful for Fottrell’s contributions. “He helped our class stay on track,” said junior physics student Meredith Neyer. Besides being crucial to the CVHS physics department, Fottrell has also been developing the AP Computer Science course and designing its curriculum, as the course was introduced to the school only three years ago.

Outside of school, Fottrell is an avid rock climber. He often travels to Yosemite to hike and climb. His hobbies also include playing jazz piano and building electronics. Fottrell jokingly complained that he has several different building projects he wants to undertake at any given time, but he can’t do them all. It’s obvious that Fottrell has a lifelong love of science and teaching it to others. When asked what his favorite part of teaching was, Fottrell replied, “The actual teaching of class is a real joy,” but also commented that he loves the “magical fun” of science and physics. He enjoys being able to not only teach but also do the science for himself and see it in action.

The Olympian November 19, 2015

Neo Diesta / Graphic Artist

Catching up with Back to the Future 2015 not quite the future predicted by Doc and Marty By Jacob Schoenfeld Staff Writer

The famous duo, Marty McFly and Doc Brown, went to the future on Oct. 21, 2015, and showed us a future of flying cars and self-drying clothes in Back to the Future Part II, released on Nov. 22, 1989. Well the day has come and gone, and we still don’t have an abundance of flying cars or selfdrying clothes at every H&M, but the Hollywood writers did get some things right about our future. Despite our lack of big innovations in technology such as

hovering transporting, they had predicted many other technology advancements correctly. For instance, self-tying Nike shoes are now for-sale, and function just as they had in the movie. Along with that, glasses with computers in them are starting to become popular with Google Glasses, and fingerprint scanning to access your home is instead used to access your phone. However, we are still without hoverboards and flying cars to take us everywhere, and there are no hovering robots that walk our dogs when we are too lazy. We have robots that do our vacuuming for us though. Another prediction made was that all food would be dehydrated for easier meal preparation. Rather than that we have Hot Pockets and other frozen microwaveable meals, but it’s not quite the same. In sports predictions, the Chicago Cubs were supposed to win this season’s World Series,

but most of us know that the Cubs were swept by the New York Mets in the playoffs, and the Kansas City Royals took the series trophy. What is arguably the most hilarious prediction made is what they thought we would be wearing today. As far as I am aware, clear ties are not generally the norm, like Doc Brown so famously wears in most of the movie, and neither is wearing two ties side by side of each other. One thing we have similarly to the prediction however, is the popularity of wearing tourist-like shirts, also famously worn by Doc Brown, though the amount of flashy and cheesy robotic clothes that we have today is far less than predicted in the movie. Despite many optimistic guesses where we would be today, the writers of Back to the Future Part II did make some pretty accurate predictions.

Cultural art not dead for CVHS DADA By Halley Lin-Jones Photo Editor

In Mexican culture, Dìa de Los Muertos, meaning “day of the dead,” is a rich and vibrant holiday that has been celebrated for centuries. On Oct. 31 each year, the streets are filled with brightly painted skulls, an important symbol of the deceased honored by this special holiday. Inspired by the vibrant Mexican art and moved by the recent deaths in Castro Valley, art teacher Jo Sutton decided to pursue an ambitious art project with the students in her Drama, Art, and Design Academy (DADA) class. Through a connection to Dr. Irene Landau, a parent of a former CVHS student and a doctor

at Kaiser Permanente, Sutton obtained the necessary funding for the project. For an entire month, the DADA students worked relentlessly on their elaborate wooden carvings, learning new techniques that allowed them to explore and appreciate a new medium of art-making. The results were black ink printed on the crisp, white pieces of fabric. The artwork featured stories that highlighted the individual stories of the students. Some chose to depict their cats or make a Star Wars-themed print, others stayed true to the traditional Mexican art style. Sutton had interest for a long time in a printing project, but

See DADA: Page 8

Fa n t a s t i c a l l y f i t f a l l p h e n o m s

By Nina Bessolo

Kellie Jordan, freshman What can you serve, but never eat? A volleyball. Kellie Jordan is a 5’9” volleyball player on the Trojans’ varsity team. Her highlight of the season was participating in the tournaments and bonding with her team. Jordan is a dominant outside hitter and an opposite hitter. “I love team bonding and getting to hang out with my friends,” Jordan said.

Calista Burnama, sophomore Calista Burnama is a golf player who is playing golf for her first year. Burnama says, “The highlight of of the season was when our team played on Berkeley’s home course, which is one of the hardest to play on, and I scored better than I usually would.” When asked what her favorite course was, Burnama says,“ My favorite course was the Skywest Golf Course because it was very nice and the weather there was perfect.” Overall, the CVHS golf team got fifth place in the WACC league championship where the Trojans played 18 holes.

Tyler Henderson, junior Tyler Henderson is an athletic cross country runner who is running for his very first year. Henderson claims that the reason he is running is “to build a stronger cardio and to bond with his friends.” Henderson states that “running with your friends pushes you to be faster, and it creates an unforgettable bond. “ His favorite course that he has run on was at Half Moon Bay. A special motive that Henderson keeps in mind: “ You’re always going to be faster than you were yesterday.”

R.J. Harrison, senior It's this odd conglomeration of morning dew, freshly cut grass, and sweat. While some people can’t stand it, R.J. Harrison can! Harrison is a senior at CVHS, who plays on the varsity football team. He plays wide receiver, cornerback, and kickoff returner. The highlight of his season was when he returned a kick 100 yards against Foothill High School for an unforgettable touchdown. When asked about his thoughts after scoring the touchdown, Harrison says, “I dream about the plays before I make them.”

Travel to Mars with The Martian

By Ishaank Zalpuri Staff Writer

The Martian, based off a book of the same name, came out recently and tells the story of the Ares III expedition crew to Mars which is forced to make an emergency take off when a storm occurs earlier than predicted. In the process, one of its crew members, Mark Watney, is hit by debris and the other crew members take off, presuming he is dead. The next Sol, or mission day, Watney wakes up and here begins the story of how he perNeo Diesta/ Graphic Artist

Say “Hello” to the reign of Adele By Emily Salazar Staff Writer

Adele, the world renowned singer-songwriter emerged with power-house ballad “Hello” that blows away fans and fellow artists alike. This single is only a small glimpse of what Adele has in store for us with the release of up-and-coming album 25, after a three year hiatus. In 2011, Adele released her album, 21, which quickly skyrocketed through the charts in both the U.S. and in the UK. This allowed her to be recognized worldwide for her talent. Following her debut on the Bond album in 2012 with the single “Skyfall,” she

announced that she was taking leave of absence, but vowed to make a third album for her adoring public. Though not a big pop fan myself, I can’t help but feel a low burn of waiting stirring inside of me for this long awaited album. Its soft beginning with piano lulls one in and trances you with Adele’s first words after years of singing silence, “Hello, it’s me.” A greeting to those that have been waiting for her diligently, patiently. “Hello” continues on softly and melodically until it’s welltransitioned Adele-esque epic belt with the words, “Hello from the other side, I must have called a thousand times.” With the lyrics hinting at a sound of someone understandably declining to fix something that wasn’t broken, it is precisely the kind of lovelorn epic ballad that made Adele one of the biggests stars in the world.

A superior example of type, “Hello” was built to stand out from the vast trenches of similarly-minded stuff on Radios all over the country. And there is absolutely no denying that Adele sounds great. She sells the song without over-singing it, branding herself even more as a classic songstress of grandiose musical heartbreak (in the sense that Adele is breaking everyone else’s heart). Since its release, “Hello” has reached number one in 14 different countries including her native country, where it became her second UK number one single, and has the largest opening week sales in three years. The music video accompanying the powerhouse ballad broke the Vevo Record by achieving over 27.7 million views within a 24-hour span. It’s safe to say that “Hello” was a great and boisterous greeting that will lead us into the next age of Adele.

it made you think and put new things into perspective, asking yourself questions like, “What would I do in this situation?” It is all that much amplified when it never quite reveals if Ardor will come crashing down or not until the very end and is able to show the decline in society and morals before Earth’s fate. This was a book that was not easy to put down, you never knew if your favorite character would be able to survive through the next chapter or not, and I often found myself confusing reality with the fiction. Though this book does have some good textual aesthetics, the Pyrrhic victory factor (a victory in which a victor’s losses are as great as those he defeated) is one of many favorite, I found this

book a bit, well, lacking and dull. It was a pretty good idea but in my opinion, executed poorly. Deficient metaphors and somewhat unrealistic situations and characters, I kept thinking that these were some things I could find on a Wattpad novel, and not a very good one at that. I don't think the book itself was amazing, it is what the book represented and tried to convey that really makes it stand out. The end. The last days. The rush of love. Heartbeat. Friendship. Fate. Mercy. Misery. Insanity. At its most basic core, Wallach's We All Looked Up is about some teenagers who are living life to the fullest in the wake of the coming asteroid, coming to terms with the truth of their humanity and living and loving to the maximum level.

“Coming to terms with humanity” By Emily Salazar Staff Writer

You have a one-third chance of survival and a two-thirds chance of death. This is the reality for four teens in the book We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach. With the impending doom of Ardor, the asteroid to come hurtling to earth within two months, what would you do with your remaining life? Though there are many books highlighting our constant worry of how our world might end, We All Looked Up can be described as a thinking book, meaning that

severes to survive and make it home. The Martian is relatable to a young children's movie, although it is not meant for young children with the coarse language, due to the fact that it has moral that it is constantly showcased and is also openly stated by Watney at multiple points during the film. I enjoyed it immensely especially due to the fact that it portrayed human nature in times of need. For example, at one point Watney begins to curse at the president as he strives to survive. All in all, The Martian is a comedy-filled movie meant for the entire family. I would not recommend it for children under 13 due to the mild language, otherwise it is fun for all ages.

Unfold yourself in Paper Towns

By Esther Smith Staff Writer

Everyone, at some point of their lives, is blessed with a miracle. Maybe it’s that you’ve gotten into your dream college, or that you’ve met someone as rad as Taylor Swift, face to face of course. For Quentin Jacobsen from Paper Towns however, his miracle was Margo Roth Spiegelman. Like The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns was originally written by John Green and turned into a major motion picture, then released into theaters this past summer. The movie centralized around a boy named Quentin, Q for short, and his crazy love for a girl named Margo. Although it was hard to realize from the first ten minutes of the movie, it became more and more blatant that Q was in love with the wrong girl. In fact, the girl he was in love with was someone his delusional mind had made up with a sticker of Margo’s face plastered on because the real Margo wasn’t her. This obviously leads to a problematic situation when Margo spends an entire night with Q to cross off nine things she needed to do that night and suddenly disappears the next day. In fact, the entire movie is about Q trying to find where Margo is hiding with all the tiny clues she had left him.

Directed by Jake Schreier, the movie Paper Towns made quite a controversy when they selected an English fashion model, Cara Delevingne, to play the role of Margo. Up to today, Delevingne is harassed by multiple reporters and angry fans, who all asked irrelevant questions like “has she read the novel?” Even more, actor, Richard Madden, called Delevingne “ungrateful” and “unprofessional” two days ago, showing that even after months of Paper Town’s release date, people are still upset with the producers’ choice of casting Delevingne to be the free spirited Margo that Green had wrote her to be. However, Schreier made the best decision of his entire career when he gave Delevingne the role of Margo. It was obvious to see that Delevingne had what it took to play the complicated, sporadic, and slightly neurotic character of Margo. Original, fast paced, spontaneous-Paper Towns was it all. The movie wondrously shows that sometimes people aren’t always who we want them to be. This movie also beautifully portrayed teenage passion, and what it means for young people to want something so badly that they sacrifice everything they have to get a touch of their dreams. “I can feel my heart beating in my chest,” Q exclaimed at the beginning of the scene when he was pulling pranks with Margo. And to add to the rush of adrenaline and teenage youth you feel while watching the movie, Margo tells us all, “That is the way you should feel your whole life.”

Cross country runners race towards NCS championships By Mia Babasyan

Staff Writer The Castro Valley boys varsity cross country team surprised everybody with dramatic improvement throughout the season. The team came in fourth at the WACC finals at Hayward High School with a score of 92 on the three mile course. The varsity boys started off the season with a score of 175 and improved by 83 points. Other schools were taken by surprise with the team’s huge advance on time.

“The season went well since we grew as a team and new talent showed up,” said team captain Peter Normann. Castro Valley’s first finisher and fifth overall was Reilly Berberian with a time of 16:27. Nick Downs from Bishop O’Dowd finished first with 15:41. Piedmont High School was the winning team for boys varsity with a score of 53, followed by Bishop O’Dowd with 75. Cross country involves individual strength, but it is a team effort and

everyone must work together in order for their school to succeed. Tough workouts and the close bond the boys share prepared them for difficult meets, and their sportsmanship and encouragement clearly shows. “We’re the underdogs,” said Normann before the race. “Show them what we’re made of, they won’t expect us coming.” That is exactly what happened at the WACC finals and the Trojan varsity boys are confident they will do well at the NCS championships.

Sarah Fung led the Trojans’ pack.

Mia Babasyan / Staff Writer

Varsity girls finish fourth; frosh/soph team wins title By Mia Babasyan Staff Writer

The CVHS girls varsity cross country team came in fourth at the WACC finals at Hayward High School on Nov. 7, proving that they’re ready for the NCS championships. This season took perseverance and dedication, earning the girls Trojan pride and a score of 93. Team captain Sarah Fung finished fifth with a time of 19:13 on the three-mile course. Fung has led the cross country girls through an amazing season and finished within the top ten of every race. “I’m really proud of everyone’s improvements this season, and we all ran really well at the league meet,” said Fung.

“It is the best time they have ran. Raoul Perez Coach

”

Grace Taylor from Bishop O’Dowd came in first, followed by Jourdan Amen also from O’Dowd. The Trojan girls varsity team did a good job at the course and allowed many of the runners to achieve their personal best times. “As a team, the girls varsity did great. It is the best time they have ran as a team this year,” said coach Raoul Perez. The CVHS girls frosh/soph team also did great, placing first in the division. Freshman Kaitlin Manning finished first followed by sophomore Amberley Tee in second place. Cross country is a sport like no other and in order to triumph over the other teams runners must battle against the pain, sweat, and tears. The girls showed Trojan strength during the race at the WACC finals.

The Olympian November 19, 2015

Choir program goes from Castro Valley to Carnegie Hall

the country, and it is a great honor to have our school be represented by our great choir

By Molly Koch Staff Writer

Our wonderful CVHS choir is one of four choirs that has been chosen to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City in April. The Acapella Choir will be representing CVHS, which includes Men’s and Women’s Acapella, as well as the Madrigals. The singers be performing along with others from schools from around the country. Since the beginning of the school year, the choir classes have been trying to raise $15,000 for the trip. As well as fundraising as an overall choir, each student has a goal to raise about $500. CVHS choir will continue to fundraise online, as well as with certain events such as their upcoming cabaret. “I’m personally very excited

“I’m personally

very excited for this opportunity and can’t wait until April

”

Maya van Leeuwaarde Choir Student

Lauren Eisenman/Staff Writer

Singers fundraise for their Cargenie Hall trip in their annual Cabaret. to have this opportunity and can't wait until April,” said

Teachers try to make hot classrooms chill Quest for air conditioning continues By Lauren Eisenman Staff Writer

After years of complaining to the district heat in classrooms, some teachers finally took matters into their own hands, getting air conditioners for their own rooms through donations. But many CVHS classrooms still have none and sometimes experience heat nearing 100 degrees in spring, summer and fall. The reason why temperatures in the 100, 200, and 300 halls sometimes exceed 90 degrees is because all of those halls were built before 1970. They were designed to have natural cross ventilation. Newer buildings like the 700 hall were designed with smaller windows, insulation, and air conditioning. The district has also added portable facilities that include air conditioning as well. About six years ago, CVHS teacher Mark Mladinich filed a legal complaint to the district about the high temperatures in the 100 hall classrooms. “When I filed a complaint about how high the temperature reaches in my classroom, the district responded by installing these insulation blinds that barely worked at all,” said Mladinich. In response to the complaints, the school district tried to help the classrooms lower their temperatures without having to pay for air conditioning. Tall trees have been planted next to the windows to prevent any sunshine from coming in. Insulation blinds have also been installed to keep heat from coming in and out. Even though these steps have

helped, students and teachers are still suffering from the heat. Sophomore Anna Fang was affected by the teachers’ methods of keeping their classrooms cool. “In 200 hall, my class has really loud fans to fight the heat. Sometimes, I can’t even hear the teacher,” said Fang. Carmelina Frasca and other teachers obtained donated portable air conditioning systems for their classrooms. Assistant Superintendent Candi Clark said installing air conditioning in the older buildings would take about $15,000 - $20,000 per classroom. If the district had to upgrade the electrical supply for our school, it might take up to a half a million dollars, she said.

“Students won’t be able to learn in hot classrooms.

”

Roger Kim Social Studies Teacher

The district has been developing a new plan to handle the high school’s facilities that might include air conditioning. “The district is currently in the process of developing a facility master plan. This plan will address existing facility needs as well as consider future facility needs. During this process, air conditioning and heating will be reviewed. Once the plan is complete, we will focus our efforts on securing funding to address the identified projects,” said Clark. Although adding air conditioning to classrooms would be extremely costly, doing without has its own costs. “Students won’t be able to learn in hot classrooms,” said teacher Roger Kim.

choir student Maya van Leeuwaarde.

Carnegie Hall is the most prestigious concert hall in

program in New York. Choir teacher Laryssa Sadoway has been working hard with her students since school has started, and she is looking forward to sharing this amazing experience with them.

Obama takes a stand against standardized testing By Elizabeth Chan Staff Writer

After nearly seven years in office, President Barack Obama spoke in opposition towards the infamous standardized tests in the nation’s public schools. On Oct. 26, Obama released a statement in which he criticized the time spent in preparing for standardized tests in the classroom. “If you’re like most parents, here’s what I suspect you wouldn’t want your children to be doing with their extra time in the classroom: taking more standardized tests,” said Obama. A report from The Council of the Great City Schools found that the average student takes about eight tests per year, bringing that average to about 112 mandatory exams in their entire prekindergarten schooling up until the 12th grade. These standardized tests, such as the STAR, SBAC and the CST, test students to ensure

that the schools are teaching students sufficiently and show where students are strong in certain subjects and where they are lacking in others. Schools should spend no more than two percent of classroom time preparing for standardized tests, according to new guidelines suggested by the Obama administration and the federal Department of Education. “I really felt as if we spent way too much time giving tests, we need to consolidate these tests so that the tests we do are less time consuming and more meaningful,” says Jeffrey Goldstein, a history teacher at CVHS. Some see standardized testing as a tool that doesn’t and hasn’t helped the education of students. “I agree with this completely, I don’t think standardized testing has improved education in the last 20 years,” said math teacher Peter Young. Junior Alexis Evangelista

agreed saying, “This will have a positive effect on children to focus more on education rather than their scores.” Having so many tests throughout the years of schooling, the redundancy and repetition of these standardized tests don’t help. For example, last year’s eleventh graders had to take the SBAC, which some students did not take seriously. If students do not take standardized tests seriously, the scores don’t help the school district nor do they help the student to gauge students’ abilities in curriculum. In the time spent taking and preparing for these tests, students could be learning more useful subjects in school. In Obama’s letter, he wrote that teachers don’t impact the lives of students by helping prepare them for tests, but by what and how they teach. “What I remember is the way they taught me to believe in myself,” the president said.

Trojan artwork reflects Hispanic culture DADA: from page 5

the challenge of funding it was a big obstacle. Printing presses can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars, so Sutton knew she had to get creative in order to make her plan a realistic option. Her solution came in the form of a big yellow steamroller, which she used with the help of teacher Richard Schneck to press pieces of fabric against the inked carvings. The final stage of the project was a demonstration at the Castro Valley Farmers’ Market entitled “Art of the Heart.” The prints were

completed in front of a keen group of local spectators. “Everybody wanted to buy them, which I think is a good sign. But we weren’t really prepared to sell. Because there was so much interest and people were willing to spend money, we are thinking about doing a fundraiser in the future,” said Sutton. Freshman Rebecca Im created a standout piece that attracted a lot of interest at the event. Depicting a girl holding a human heart, the work captured very well the theme of the project.

Im learned how to carve with so much detail that her print looked almost as if it had been drawn by a practiced hand rather than carved out by a beginning carver. “The kids’ art so exceeded my expectations,” said Sutton. “I had kids who were working every single moment I had the studio open. I couldn’t be more pleased.”