Staying strong through tough times
Editorial NEXT
Cameron Holt
PRHS demonstrates inspiring tenacity by Nicolette Jolicoeur, Managing Editor, Olivia Musial, In-Depth Editor, and Kathryn Wingfield, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Two fairly big earthquakes in elementary school. Giant Has PRHS been cutbacks to the budget in hopeful and middle school. Construction optimistic amid in high school. Keeping tough times? their heads up through it all: priceless. Yes: 18 The classes of 2012-2015 have experienced a lot in the early portion of their lives. To say that their schooling has No: 6 been normal would be a very, very large stretch. But what is it that makes them come together and stay strong through it all? It’s a unity unique to PRHS— a special brand of Bearcat strength that shines its brightest when the going gets tough and they get going. PRHS has proven that they care about their education and about each other, even in the wake of misfortune. Sean Pierce’s AP English Language Seminar classes participated in a note-writing session, addressing three teachers who received pink slips. Approximately 100 letters were written by the junior class to English teacher Steve Arnette, Agriculture teacher Mark Clement, and American Sign Language teacher Kay Vetter. Junior Riley Edwards wrote a letter to Arnette, her sophomore Honors English teacher, expressing her appreciation for what he did for her. “I just told him that he helped improve my writing so much and I still use what he taught me in my writing. I told him that I kept all the essays from last year with his comments and I still read them to help me improve on my weak spots. I greatly appreciated him and he made a big influence on not only my writing, but on my life. I wrote to him because he is definitely one of my all time favorite teachers! It would crush me to see him go. Our students need him,” Edwards said. Clement will be greatly missed, according to junior Kaitlyn Bedell. “Upon hearing the news that Mr. Clement would not be
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returning to our Agriculture Department next year, I was extremely disappointed that our district would let such a wonderful teacher go. Mr. Clement has always been a wonderful help to all sorts of students. He has helped countless students, including myself, find their way to success and happiness.” Along with support for pink-slipped teachers, students have been helping staff move into the 20 new classrooms in the 1000 building, and, earlier in the year, into the science building. Over 20 students assisted their instructors on the weekend, lending a helping hand to those whose job it is to help them. “I helped Mrs. Spohnhauer because that is the least I can do for someone who has done so much for me. I am positively, absolutely sure that she appreciated our help,” senior Pastor Mariscal said. “The school didn’t want us to help her at all, even when they knew she had a problem, but we kept insisting that we would help her and finally she got permission.” Along with moving into new rooms, PRHS has had the challenge of being one of 31 schools in CA that is in Program Improvement. However, PRHS’s Academic Performance Index (API), based on CST results, has improved greatly over the past three years. PRHS’s API score hovered at 749 in 2009, jumped to 775 in 2010, and last year’s results improved to 781. Each improvement is a testimony to the way students and faculty work together to build up the accreditation of the school. “I want to be an 800 school. I want to shoot for gold,” said Assistant Principal Chris Jones, who hopes that this year’s CST result will cross 800, a goal that both Lewis Middle School and Flamson Middle School have reached. By working together and helping each other through tough times, PRHS has grown as a community, as a family, working with a common goal to get students to where they want and need to be. It’s invaluably encouraging to know that in the midst of disheartening layoffs, cuts, and changes, they haven’t lost their heart at all. Take a look around and you’ll still see students and staff with crimson blood pumping through their veins and shining white smiles on their faces, a sight they’ve proved will never fade, no matter what challenges the board, state legislature, HAPPY HEAD UP: Senior Diana Ayala helps English teacher Aaron Cantrell move into room 1026. Moving began Friday, or unknown future may present. Great job, Bearcats. March 9. Photo by Lauren Rodrigues
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Crimson is an independently funded, monthly publication of the journalism class at Paso Robles High School. We publish monthly newsmagazines free to students and teachers. Subscriptions are available for US mail delivery for $18. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the staff and do not necessarily reflect the views of Paso Robles High School, its faculty, administration, or students. Crimson is an open forum for the exchange of ideas. We welcome feedback in form of letters or e-mails. Letters must be signed but names can be withheld upon request. All stories, graphics, typesetting, and layouts are completed by Paso Robles High School students. The staff actively pursues advertisement accounts but reserves the right to refuse those deemed overly controversial or aimed at illegal behavior. Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service. Crimson is designed using Adobe In-Design and Photoshop and prints with Atascadero News Co. PRHS • 801 Niblick Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446 www.crimsonnews.org prhsjournalism@pasoschools.org (805) 237-3315 ext. 5601
Crimson 03.28.12 |
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