March Issue

Crimson Volume 72 / 03.28.13 / Issue 6

The Student Newsmagazine of Paso Robles High School

801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles, California

the

mighty mind

The package of neurons approximately the size of your fist controlling your existence and every move is a complicated, intricate item that is one of the last frontiers of exploration. Examine the memorization process, the sides of the brain and perception.

Shaping up: Students share their tips on how they stay in shape

Across the Pacific: Freshman tells the story of her shift from Peru to the US

FFA: Students travel to SLO for South Coast Regional Officer Screening

ON THE COVER: Senior Carlos Cedillo shows off his mighty mind.

Photo by Sydney Matteson

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newsmagazine

08Teacher of the Year March 28, 2013 Volume 72, Issue 6

Teacher campaign >> pg. 04

AVID and Algebra teacher Jim Steaffens was named 2013 Teacher of the Year on Wednesday, Mar. 13.

NEWS >>

10Opinion: Parking lot Commonly found problems with the student parking lot are discussed and criticized.

OPINION >>

Bakery review >> pg. 24

13Artist of the month 23Teacher prom pictures Junior Brandon Racca shows off his passion and talent as a photographer.

A&E >>

Dance show >> pgs. 06 & 07

PROM >> Teachers

dispay their prom pictures from their high school days. Can you guess which picture belongs to which teacher?

30Mental focus in sports SPORTS >> The

CAHSEE rewards >> pg. 03 02

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Photos by Carly Cargill, Anna Hernandez, Sarah Wilson, and Sydney Matteson

ways focus effects athletic ability is analyzed in sophomore Juan Carlos Ruiz junior Josh Wilson-Murray, and others.

News

Bearcat Quick Fixes

Sighs of relief Favorable WASC report pleases staff; verdict released this April

by Danae Ontiveros, Photo Essay Editor

SMILES AND AWARDS (above): Senior Rudy Binkele, freshman Kristen Thompson, senior Erika Smeltzer, sophomore Nathanael Bourgault, senior Sara Bourgault, senior Daniel Viramontes, sophomore Rudy Nunez, sophomore Quinn Parker, junior Devin Corea, sophomore Jazmine Briseno, freshman Matt Keller, freshman Ashley Davis, senior Kevan Photo used with permission of Therese Corea Garcia, and senior Jaclyn Caraveo celebrate their Lion’s Club awards.

Lions Club names winners

12 student athletes receive sportsmanship award

by Devin Corea, Reporter

Twelve PRHS students filed into the Elks Lodge on 1420 Pine St. to receive the Lions Club Award, the school’s premier honor for sportsmanship, on Mar. 6.

After athletes, parents, and coaches finished the complimentary chicken fried steak dinner, Athletic Director Tom Harrington started off the night. He thanked the Lions Club for the support they have shown for the young athletes and then proceeded to commend the athletes on their outstanding performances, handing the mic to coaches

who had witnessed each athlete’s achievements, recognizing the leadership, work ethic, talent, and character their athletes possessed.

One by one, athletes were called up by their coach to receive their hardware.

Teammates also had a role: each sport holds a vote to name the Lion’s Club winner.

The night ended with hugs, smiles, and laughs as the student athletes posed for pictures to record their accomplishment.

As teachers gathered in the Performing Arts Center, the room anxiously awaited "PRHS is—and we to hear the news from the panel of WASC use this word a lot members who stood at the head of the in our report—an crowd. The meeting started out with a amazing place to series of compliments directed towards go to school." the Paso School District along with the

announcement that Paso Robles High — James Roulsten School received its accreditation.

Visiting WASC Chair Teachers and other Paso Robles High School faculty met on Tuesday, Feb. 25 to discuss whether or not PRHS would be accredited. Throughout the week of Feb. 24, PRHS was visited by the WASC program (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) for a certifying process. Accreditation ensures the integrity of school programs and how trustworthy a schooling district is for learning.

The committee explained how the teachers at PRHS have achieved a level of trust among their students and how exceptional the programs are that the school has to offer. "[Paso Robles High School] has an incredible variety of programs...I truly believe there is something for everyone here at Paso Robles High School," said Christine Anderson, a WASC representative. The meeting eventually came to a close with Principal Randy Nelson's statement of his hope to apply for a "School of Distinction Award" as soon as the high school gets out of program improvement.

Students Rewarded for CAHSEE scores

by Sydney Matteson, Art Director Two-hundred and forty-nine juniors were recognized on Mar. 11 for scoring a 380 or higher in the ELA and Math exams on last year’s California High School Exit Exam. Principal Randy Nelson and Assistant Principals Christian Jones, Tom Harrington, and Dan Sharon sped through all the classrooms that had juniors in them and passed out movie tickets to each of the students who earned this high score. Sophomores took the CAHSEE on Mar. 12 and 13 of this year, while freshmen completed a practice CAHSEE in their math and English classes on the same day.

THAT’S THE TICKET (left): Assistant Principal Tom Harrington gives junior Steven Justice his movie ticket on Mar. 11. This is the second year of CAHSEE rewards. Photos by Sydney Matteson Mar. 2013

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News Photos by Jeff Mount

So tired, and so

troubled

Standing ovations, minute long applause, and passionate speeches against the Paso Robles School Board’s responsibility and efforts shook emotions Tuesday, Mar. 12 at the PRJUSD board meeting.

Simply stated, teachers are tired and ncensed.

It has been a storm steadily brewing.

Lunchtime meetings of the teachers’ union have made the savory and sweet smells of over 50 teacher lunches pervade Room 1027 often as students enter at the ringing of the after-lunch bell. Teachers met twice n the week of Feb. 25 to discuss the continuous cuts in both paychecks and chool days that have reduced teacher paychecks roughly 10 percent across he past two years. Meeting discussion opics included the 97 percent vote of no confidence that was delivered in February against Superintendent Kathleen McNamara and her unsuccessful dispute that a vote of no confidence had not happened in Banning Unified School District before she took the helm in Paso.

Teachers are adamantly fighting against he Last, Best, and Final offer of the school board that proposes, among other things, permanent 4.86 percent cuts to paychecks and a cutback on health care benefits.

Many parents and teachers question the board’s insistence that district reserves need to grow past their current level of 5 percent when salaries have suffered for the past years.

Robert Skinner, Modern World History and U.S. History teacher, as well as the union treasurer and bargaining member, handed out posters before the board meeting Tuesday, Mar. 12, and was not ashamed to sit front row, staring at McNamara and seven board members while he held his poster with pride.

The statement that teachers made 04

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continuously throughout the meeting was “no confidence” and “no more cuts.”

Skinner stated that the final step in the general dispute between the teachers and McNamara’s 2014 proposal-which includes a full 180 day school year for the studentswould be the fact-finding step, since Bargaining has broken down.

The mediation will be in front of three judges, and though they may rule on either side, the final verdict is not imposable on either party. If the district so wishes, they may enforce their Last, Best, and Final Offer.

“If you think I’m not going to fight, you’re underestimating me.”

—Sean Pierce, English teacher

Students say they are also being affected by the teachers’ fight against the proposal.

Some students believe that they are just at the mercy of the district, and others have strong opinions.

Junior Justyne Hindley is upset with the way these cuts and other problems have been going, as they are affecting her and will soon affect her family members.

“Within the next few years, these cuts will affect my family members as they go to Paso High and budgets become tighter and tighter. In the end though, I’d hate to see future students not get to participate in some of the great programs that we have now because they’re what make high school so much more fun,” Hindley said, who has been participating in the ROP Program at

Teachers and school board face off about budgets and furlough days

by Rachel Cole and Carly Cargill, News Co-Editors

the high school for the past two years.

Despite recent disputes about budget cuts, Hindley praised the way her teachers handle the matter.

“Even though I know some of my teachers are aware of what’s been going on with the budget cuts... none of them have allowed it to affect their work in a negative way,” Hindley said.

Senior Alex Cushing agreed. “Most of the teachers that I have had tried to keep their positions out of the classroom. However, there have been some discussions,” Cushing said, who said he isn’t really sure what’s going on because the teachers and staff aren’t really discussing it.

Field Gibson, member on the PRJUSD school board and president of the Santa Lucia Regional Occupational Program (ROP) School Board, stated that the board will be working on up and coming issues.

“There is always room for improvement, and we will be working on some of those issues and opportunities in the upcoming months. One of those issues we need to work on is to develop a plan to get out of Program Improvement status. I would also like to expand and enhance some course offerings. The board has discussed the possibility of establishing ‘academies’ in some of the high school departments as funding becomes available. We are also working on implementing the Common Core Standards,” Gibson said, who had four children all pass K-12 through the Paso school system, has coached at the high school for the past 17 years, and believes that the current education that the students

are receiving is a very good one.

Elementary teacher Sandy Clark told the board Mar. 12 that she is at the breaking point with all the things the schools has lost, and has had to work at nutrition, lunch, and after school to keep up the quality of education, even with less pay.

“You don’t truly understand the sacrifices we’ve all had to make over the past couple of years,” said Clark, who was one of the first to speak to the board Tuesday night. Clark also described all the necessities that the schools in the district have lost due to the lack of money, such as office help, salary cuts, counselors, computer labs, shortened library hours, and class supplies.

In short, teachers are insisting “enough is enough”—and say they are willing to move aggressively to make their point clear.

Justyne Hindley, 11

Editorial INVESTIGATION: Crimson staff studied timing and sources surrounding the superintendents’ Banning no confidence vote. Seventeen documents have been collected in hopes to collect the truth.

Editor’s Letter

Photo by Nicolette Jolicoeur

The retraction we have not printed

Being the Editor-in-Chief of a paper in a small-town district has already presented me with a few complications—such as the controversy of having a ‘sex issue’-—but I never would’ve expected the last weeks of journalistic adventure involving Superintendent Kathleen McNamara, the facts surrounding her previous problems with teachers in Banning, CA, and our own teachers union, Paso Robles Public Educators (PRPE).

The drama that this situation has brought forward is more than I could have ever imagined—even more than the drama that consumed my life in my pre-teen middle school years.

Surprisingly, I am glad that this situation happened. It has instilled feelings of courage and fearlessness in my staff and further instilled them in me, as well.

We believe that the essence of journalism is revealing the truth and we believe that this pertinent situation is in need of exposure.

This is a story worth telling.

Crimson writers began covering an obviously worsening situation between teachers and McNamara in December. Staff members attended a historic Feb. 5, 2013 board meeting where PRPE Executive Director Jim Lynett presented the PRJUSD board with a statement that 97 percent of Paso Robles teachers that had voted had no confidence in McNamara.

In our Feb. 21 issue we therefore printed a story “Trouble Brewing: Teachers upset with district’s planned paycut.”

Sophomore Rachel Cole wrote that McNamara had received “her second career Vote of No Confidence.”

But the day after we distributed the paper, McNamara emailed us, firmly and formally expecting a written retraction, refuting our statement about a vote of no confidence in Banning: “It is a sad day indeed when we need to refute personal and hurtful rumors, gossip, innuendo...

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I formally request that a retraction be printed to correct the misinformation.”

McNamara also included three emails and board minutes that she “is using to refute the rumors of [her] past employment history.”

As a staff, we discussed that indeed we had not fact-checked McNamara’s Banning record, having heard often that “the same thing had happened in Banning.” We decided that in order to fulfill our Crimson mission, we would print the retraction in our March issue and learn the facts as McNamara had exhorted.

As a start, we checked with the union, who had been the origin of the rumor that a Banning no-confidence vote had occurred.

One contact led to another—in Paso Robles and in Banning— until we soon possessed over six documents that clearly claimed that Banning Teachers Union had given McNamara a vote of no confidence, including letters from Al Evinger, Banning Teachers Association President from 2007-2009, and David Cesario, a member of the Banning Teachers Association Executive board.

Also, we obtained the document signed by leaders of the Banning Teachers Association, presented to the Banning Unified School District by the BTA, giving McNamara the vote.

We decided it would be best to talk to McNamara directly.

McNamara granted senior Kelly Munns and me an interview Mar. 5. When we asked about our sources, the emails that refuted her attachments and that insisted a Banning noconfidence vote had been held, Mcnamara stated: “I can get all of the board members to testify that they never received the letter of no confidence, so I have absolutely no idea what that’s all about. And I do plan on following up on this now, and I now see that I need to involve my attorney because this is now impugning my character. And it’s untrue. And I will not

tolerate my character being impugned when I know for a fact that I never had a vote of no confidence from [the Banning] district. It’s very disconcerting to me that this is the kind of information that’s being reported. I never received a vote of no confidence. There was never any formal vote. I would really like to challenge the Banning teacher’s union to present the vote and show that vote, that it was a vote of no confidence.”

Within 24 hours of the above interview, McNamara told Principal Randy Nelson to tell us that she wanted to withdraw her request for a retraction after consulting with her lawyer. She said in an eventual email to advisor Jeff Mount, “I do not want to involve the students or create a situation which could potentially create a legal challenge for the district.”

There is the story, the evidence, the complications, and the doubts. I’ll let you interpret it however you want.

As for me, I believe that McNamara tried to silence the press about this issue and take advantage of a student newspaper.

We believe that we have done our job right. We have researched further than ever before and fact checked—scratch that, double fact checked—everything we have come across, reaching teachers, Banning officials, McNamara, and journalists.

McNamara, as a member of public education who genuinely cares for the students at the end of the day, asked us nicely to stay out of the issues at hand.

Instead, as passionate, fact-hungry journalists, we have stayed involved and spent hours of grueling time trying to verify sources and get the story right.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

—Nicolette Jolicoeur, Editor in Chief

newsmagazine staff

Editor-in-Chief Nicolette Jolicoeur Editorial

Art Director Sydney Matteson

Managing Editors Kelly Munns Feature Sarah Wilson Center Sports Director Josh Orcutt

Photo Team Anna Hernandez Brigitte Maina Danae Ontiveros Josh Orcutt Dilda Tolenkyzy

Photo Director Anna Hernandez

Business Team

Heba Elsayed Brigitte Maina Jordan Nevosh

Editors

Analia Cabello Copy Editing Rachel Cole News Carly Cargill News Clarisse Dart Health Angela Lorenzo A&E Sydney Matteson Front Page Danae Ontiveros Photo Essay Lauren Reed Culture Courtney Thompson Opinion Heba Elsayed Opinion Matt Tyra Sports Jenna Wookey Food

Student Journalism at Paso Robles High School Graphics Team Brigitte Maina Sydney Matteson Sierra Mosely Jordan Nevosh Reporters Devin Corea Brandon Kearns Anna Hernandez Maddy Raithel Stevie Stark

Facebook www.facebook.com/ crimsonnewsmagazine Website www.crimsonweb.net Email prhsjournalism @pasoschools.org Twitter @CrimsonNewsmag

Adviser Jeff Mount PRHS 801 Niblick Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 769-1500 ext. 50033 Room 604

Crimson, an open forum for the exchange of student ideas, is an independently funded newsmagazine of the journalism class at Paso Robles High School. Crimson reflects the majority opinion of the staff and does not necessarily reflect the views of Paso Robles High School, its faculty, administration, or students. All stories, graphics, typesetting, and layouts are completed by Paso Robles High School students. We are happy to talk with you further about our content, subscriptions in U.S. Mail, and advertising on our pages.

Mar. 2013

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Feature

DANCING to theBEAT Dance show sells out for fifth year in a row

by Sarah Wilson, Managing Editor, and Kelly Munns, Managing Editor

Seventy feet. White lights. “Anything Could Happen” reverberating through the theater. So begins the Jazz ‘n’ Company dance show, “A Lifetime.”

All 222 seats were filled in the PRHS theater for the opening night of “A Lifetime” on Mar. 7 at 7:00 p.m. Seventy-seven dancers twirled, leaped, and pliéd through 16 dances in the two hour show put on by five year dance instructor Jennifer Bedrosian.

Sold out for the fifth time since 2009, Jazz ‘n’ Co. earned a total of $4600 which was distributed to lighting, prop, and costume cost, leaving the company with $3000 to save. “[The show] was in a more intimate venue, so I think people felt a little more closely connected,” Bedrosian said, who recalls previous years when the show was in the Templeton theater at the high school. “The kids are amazing. There were kids throwing up on Friday night—in the wings we had buckets. There were kids with injuries and stuff, and they just really don’t complain.”

Nine-year dancer junior Brielle Sharpe performed in seven dances, including a High School Musical mash-up.

Along with the beginning and advanced dance classes and the 17 members of the Jazz ‘n’ Co company, Sharpe practiced approximately 300 hours per week since November when production preparations began.

“The hardest part about preparing for the show is cleaning the dances and making sure everyone knows the formations and moves,” Sharpe said, who executed Fouette turns and leaps across the stage during her seven performances. “I enjoy just being able to dance on a stage with my dance family performing for my friends and family.”

The show kicked off with “Anything Could Happen” by music 06

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artist Ellie Goulding, and included other upbeat melodies like “Out of Your Mind” by B.O.B. featuring Nicki Minaj, in which bespeckled students in high socks and suspenders portrayed geeky teenagers in high school. Mellow songs such as “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz—choreographed by junior Chase Anondson—echoed the mood of the [blue] spotlights and elegant twirls of dancers in black attire. Bittersweet emotions sobered the audience in powerful performances such as “I Was Here” by Beyonce. This was performed after the slideshow commemorating the graduating senior dancers played to “Never Grow Up,” by Taylor Swift, which brought tears from audience members and dancers alike.

“The show is just great [because] everyone gets to come together and do what they love,” Anondson said, who performed in 11 dances. “A Lifetime” was his third Jazz ‘n’ Co. dance show.

In addition to Bedrosian, Jazz ‘n’ Co. President senior Chelsea Farrer and Vice President senior Brianna Long led choreography and production. Large roles were also taken on by seniors Courtney Brock, who was involved in eight dances and choreographed one, and Mekenzie Brock, who participated in eight dances and choreographed two.

“A Lifetime” was sophomore Marcos Condit’s third dance show for Jazz ‘n’ Co. Though he admits one hour of practice per day is less than adequate, “the rewards far outweigh the struggles” for this apprentice dance student.

“Not only do I get to hang out with all my friends, but I get to do the thing I love most: dance,” Condit said, who has had a passion for dancing since he could walk. “Whenever you get the opportunity to get crazy on the dance floor you always have a good

time. Doing what you love, with the people you love.”

C o n d i t PUTTING ON A FACE: Senior Vaitiare performed Todd makes a facial expression during her performance. Todd danced along in seven acts side the beginning dance class in Taylor including “Any Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble.”

Way You Want It” by Journey, along with sophomore Pamela Arrowsmith.

Senior Tim Benes, a beginning dancer, performed in the second dance of the show, “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift. Forty-five beginning dancers—including senior Vaitiare Todd and junior Brittney Ellart—danced with sass while portraying the “terrible twos” and “trying threes” of childhood, as a smirking and sunglasses-clad Benes rode a tricycle through the seat aisles.

“This year I felt like [the dancers] were alive; they had energy,” Bedrosian said. “I was really proud of them.”

With yet another successful year under their belt, Jazz ‘n’ Co. continues to impress audience members with their talent, creativity, and pizazz. Plans for next year’s show won’t begin until the fall, but no matter what the theme, Bedrosian is sure to astonish again and keep onlookers on their toes.

After all, “anything could happen.”

FLYING HIGH (above): Senior Brianna Long flies across the stage during the Alicia Key’s “Girl of Fire” routine. Long is the Vice President of Jazz ‘n’ Co. Photos by Sarah Wilson

Feature << SWAYING IN MOTION Sophomore Alexis Gutierrez leads a line of dancers during a mashup of songs from High School Musical.

The show involved 77 dancers.

1. RECALLING MEMORIES: Drama teacher Marcy Goodnow and junior Caitlin Knoll play roles as mother and daughter reminiscing about Knoll’s childhood.

2. STEP ‘N’ SNAP: Seniors Natalie Petti, Brianna Long, and Chelsea Farrer perform a dance move to an upbeat melody. Petti, Long, and Farrer are all in advanced dance.

3. JUMPING UP: Junior Omar Guillen leaps in the air on stage Mar. 7 for the fifth dance show.

All five shows have sold out in the past years.

Photos by Sarah Wilson

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Feature

INSPIRING & INSTRUCTING Jim Steaffens wins Teacher of the Year

by Heba Elsayed, Opinion Co-Editor and Clarisse Dart, Health Editor

Spending 8 hours a day, forty hours a week, and 160 hours a month with hormonally raging students--being a teacher is no easy job. But on Wednesday, Mar. 13, it got a lot sweeter for AVID and math teacher Jim Steaffens as teachers gathered in Bearcat Hall to name him 2013 Teacher of the Year. Nominated by his colleagues, Steaffens described the award as “humbling.”

“Despite what you hear, this is a great place to work. You guys are awesome, and these kids are great…Every day I come to school and I see people I love,” Steaffens said.

The 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year, Journalism and Honors English teacher Jeff Mount, passed off the award using eight of Steaffens’ students, each holding a numerical symbol to spell out “Steaffens.”

Described as PRHS’s “secret weapon,” by an anonymous teacher, Steaffens employs a dynamic teaching style while still following the state mandated direct interactive instruction, which includes “coherent unit/lesson design strategies, systematic instruction, pre-corrective and corrective routines, high levels of engagement, ongoing formative assessment, reteaching, acceleration, and retesting routines,” according to actionlearningsystems.com.

Steaffens goes above and beyond in school culture by performing in three drama performances, making him beloved 08

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by students for taking an active role in school activities.

“He understands how teenagers think. Funny, exciting and new, he throws out the old methods and brings in the new, which aids me in learning,” said junior Logan Ferry, who has known the Steaffens family for 12 years.

Steaffens dedicates nearly every lunch to students who are struggling with a difficult concept. His 30 students in a foundations math class possess over 25 Individualized Education Plans, known as IEPs. “He pushes me as well as the whole class to do and be the best we can. He does all he can to be sure we have good grades for college. You could say he is an inspiration to myself and the class,” said sophomore Karlee Ulrich, who is in Steaffens’s AVID class.

HUGGING IN CELEBRATION (top): Junior Teryn Steaffens hugs his father as he wins the award.

TAKING IN THE MOMENT (top middle): Steaffens takes in the moment after receiving the award. In addition to teaching math, Steaffens has performed in three drama plays.

GIVING GERBERAS (bottom middle): Floral teacher Theresa Clark gets ready to give Steaffens flowers along with his award.

Junior Michelle Munoz made the arrangement.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT (bottom): Students gathered together Mar. 13 to support Steaffens when he won Teacher of the Year.

Photos by Clarisse Dart

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Opinion

Hands-on learning ROP classes enhance high school experience

by Analía Cabello, Copy Editor

classes

MR. FIX-IT: Junior Josh McClenathen takes a wrench to fix a motor in ROP Auto Tech during fourth period. Taught by Greg Boswell, McClenathen learns the ins-and-outs of vehicle usage and construction. Photo by Josh Orcutt

ROP classes at PRHS

ROP Agriculture Welding Technology ROP Automotive Technology ROP Automotive Engine Diagnostics ROP Automotive Technology Field Experience ROP Cabinetmaking ROP Careers with Children ROP Careers with Children Field Experience 10

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ROP Community Health Care Services ROP Community Health Care Services Field Experience ROP Computer Assisted Accounting ROP Computer Internetworking ROP Construction Technology ROP Construction Technology Field Experience ROP Culinary Arts

ROP Culinary Arts Field Experience ROP Floral Design ROP Sports Medicine ROP Student Athletic Trainer Field Experience ROP Teaching Careers ROP Teaching Careers Field Experience ROP Veterinary Science ROP Web Design

Although each PRHS program— Leadership, Drama, the AP’s and the Honors, the various classes centered on agriculture— is a vibrant, valuable crayon in the box, the ROPs shine Electric Lime, for what they offer students cannot be found in a standard double row of desks.

For years, PRHS students have been presented with the opportunity to choose from 17 Regional Occupational Program and Career Technical Education classes in order to familiarize themselves with different trades and career choices. Each provides Bearcats with a chance to grasp real-world experience under the career corresponding to the class, an indispensable skill made possible through the Santa Lucia Regional Occupational Program, which contains the Atascadero, Lucia Mar, Paso Robles, San Luis Coastal, Shandon, and Templeton Unified School Districts.

The ROP classes encompass a sizable portion of PRHS, and their absence would, without a doubt, prove detrimental to the campus.

Along with providing useful understanding of certain trades, the ROPs can help students decide which major, and eventually, career, would best fit them before even setting foot in a university.

“ROP benefits students by giving them hands-on skills they can directly apply to the workplace environment,” said Brenda Matthysse, who teaches ROP Careers With Children--an elective more fondly known as “Bearkittens.” “These students can go on and work in our very own community in jobs everywhere.”

“Being with the children has taught me a lot about myself and what I want to do for a career. It’s made me want to come to school, because instead of just learning how to be a teacher, I get to be a teacher,” said senior Justyne Lutz, a two-year ROP Careers With Children veteran.

Junior Dillon Brown-Silva also attests to the benefits of the implementation of ROP classes. “[ROP classes] have made my experience [at PRHS] amazing. They inspired me to start Skills USA, which I have been fairly

successful in, I have been able to participate in ride-alongs with the fire department, and I get to help student athletes so they can get back into the game,” said Brown-Silva, who has taken ROP Community Healthcare, ROP Community Healthcare Services, ROP Sports Medicine, and ROP Student Athletic Training, all classes taught by Todd Olivera.

Brown-Silva’s two years of participating in the four ROP classes have inspired him to become a paramedic.

“If these classes were to be cut, I don’t know what I would do,” Brown-Silva said. “I know I would be very disappointed in our school’s decision.”

Like Brown-Silva, senior Amber Eye has invested time in an ROP class, and she’s not disappointed with the outcome.

“I have acquired the skills necessary to go out and get a job at a floral shop, and I have gained a lot of experience [through ROP Floral Design],” said Eye, who has been enrolled in ROP Floral Design for two years.

Although the class functioned as a way to sidestep a general art class for the Visual Arts requirement, Eye has also discovered that she is “actually a good gardener.”

Though Eye doesn’t plan on pursuing floral design as a career path, she will use her experience in the field to snag a job in a floral shop throughout her college years.

“I think it’s a tremendous benefit because it gives kids a simulation of real-world applicability to whatever field it is that they’re interested, whether it’s Culinary or Bearkitten Preschool. It’s a wonderful training ground for students,” said English teacher Sean Pierce, adding that he has had several former students begin a career in culinary arts through the ROP Culinary program.

“It would be a real shame if funding were cut, because it means cutting opportunities for students who pursue careers that may not follow the linear college to workplace path that basically only about 10 percent of our students take. Of all the things not to cut, ROP funding is at the top of that list.”

It’s amazing to think that success in life was once as simple as staying inside the lines of your Powerpuff Girls coloring book; when keeping the blues, magentas, yellows, and grays from straying outside the lines of your Princess Belle pages was a social hierarchy factor. Student and staff parking lots retain faded lines that make finding the right position harder day by day.

Parking lots are getting harder and harder to maneuver for the relative 214 cars that park there each morning. And it’s more than just absent lines that make this a safety hazard; the uneven speed bumps and overgrown tree roots create a hazardous, neck-tweaking disaster.

“A lower car like mine scrapes on the far side of the parking over the bumps,” senior D.J Rowley said. “It’s a hazard to the cars, because it could cause some damage underneath the car.”

Whether the car in question is a low-rider or a jacked up truck, it’s unfair to make new drivers maneuver anything less than a completely safe parking lot every day.

“Parking lot hazards have not been reported to me... If there are hazards (tree roots, uneven speed bumps, etc), I need to be notified,” said Dan Sharon, who assumed his Assistant Principal position in October.

However, it’s been a while since the lots were maintained.

According the Director of Business Operations Ashley Lightfoot, the parking lots six years ago were “slurry coated,” which filled the cracks and kept moisture from getting under the pavement and creating potholes. Lightfoot estimates it would cost around $100,000 to slurry seal the 225,000 square feet of asphalt. He said that “overlay”-a repair for highly deteriorated asphalt-would cost approximately $500,000. Lightfoot added

Parking lot blues Student parking lot needs to be redone and re-regulated

by Angela Lorenzo, A&E Editor

that the trimming and removal of trees and roots would raise the expenses more.

“Given the current condition of the pavement, the overlay option is probably the correct repair,” admitted Lightfoot. “We've been planning to repair the parking lot areas. However, both $100,000 and $500,000 are very large sums of money and not currently available. Until funding can be secured, our plans will have to remain just plans,” he said.

Ironically, student drivers have to brace themselves as they roll over awkward, cracked, and uneven bumps, but when they get out of their vehicles and walk just 100 feet over, they are confronted with a shiny new technology building, agriculture building, and English structure.

Head Custodian Ronnie Shannon insisted the structure itself has no problem; instead, the problem lies in its age.

“It’s old. It just needs to be repaved,” said Shannon, who recalled the slurry six years ago took less than a week.

Few students and teachers have rightfully complained about the disrepair of the parking lot, concerned over the safety of themselves and children. According to Sharon, the most reported concern is speeding.

“I have had reports of both students and parents driving through the parking lot at unsafe speeds,” Sharon said.

“Cars are not your lockers,” is what students are told by administration, but when lockers are cramped and dirty, shouldn't there be an option to store books in the neater, bigger alternative?

The school has security guards patrolling the rows and aisles consistently. Security guards are a positive authority on campus

and there is no problem with their presence. The problem lies in that no one is allowed in the parking lot during school hours.

“Students will be considered truant if they are identified in the parking lot and assigned Saturday School. Vehicles are not lockers; retrieving personal possessions or school materials is not a valid excuse for violating the policy,” said Sharon, who added that the main goal of the policy is to keep drug abuse, vandalism, sexual misconduct, and fighting from the parking lots.

Even if the parking lot is roped off and banned, deviant students will and have found other areas to engage in these behaviors, including bathrooms, behind buildings, and the barn. It’s unfair to judge the entire student population by the few that have misbehaved and broken the law along with the school rules.

“Just cause a couple of kids got caught smoking weed in the parking lot doesn't mean they should shut it down for everyone,” said junior Maddee Heely, who also wishes that the lot could be repaved wider to accommodate larger trucks.

“The rule that says we can't go in the parking lot during school is really unnecessary, I always forget my stuff in my car and every time I walk out there I get yelled at by the security guy. They should let us go out there and [if] we do something bad out there then we will get in trouble,” said senior Cody Holloway, who drives everyday to school.

If a student wants to walk the extra 50 or 200 feet to store their books in their car instead of in their assigned locker,. Drivers are two years or less away from being a full adult and should be trusted to walk to their car during breaks.

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Arts and Entertainment

Freezing frame

Junior captures the beauty of scenery on film

by Angela Lorenzo, A&E Editor

Over 10,000 shutter clicks after the photography bug caught him in 2006, junior Brandon Racca has gone from a simple digital camera to a Nikon D80. A vast 5,000 photos are stored on his 1 Tb iMac. Racca’s hobby has left him with memorabilia from at least seven trips, including Australia, Austria, Arizona, Colorado, New York, Nevada and Maui, Hawaii--which is where the inspiration to record scenery struck him.

“I was stunned by all of the amazing places we saw while we were [in Hawaii]. I decided that I wanted to remember those places, so I captured the scenes with photos,” said Racca, who started out the trip using his digital camera but switched to his mother’s D80 after warming up to the shutter button.

“I pretty much hijacked the D80 from my mom,” Racca said. “I still use it to this day.”

He explored the different settings and components on his camera at a clinic held at Centennial Park.

Brent Paull, who got hooked on photography after a vacation to Yosemite resulted in published photos, according to his business website, taught the clinic Racca attended.

Racca has entered five photos in the California Mid-State Fair. Three of his shots took first place in the adult division, one photograph took second to his first, and another earned an honorable mention.

“I entered my shots just to put them out there,” said Racca, who hasn’t decided if he’s going to enter more negatives for the upcoming summer.

Racca’s prints were also publicized at Kiame Wineries’ tasting room in 2012, where he sold a scenic snapshot of a waterfall in Crescent City.

“I was at this cancer fundraiser that my mom was a part of and there were a bunch of winery representatives there who had donated their wine. I had put my photos in my auction and [Kiame Winery representatives] liked them and told me I could be artist of the month for them,” said Racca, who remained artist of the month for both Dec. 2012 and Jan. 2013.

The 10 x 12 polaroid was sold for about $60 in a silent auction to raise money for a sixty mile walk in support of breast cancer in which Racca’s mother, Carlotta Racca, was going to participate.

“The strangest photo I’ve ever taken was of two wallabies hopping through the landscaping of a hotel. The image is extremely blurry, but it looks like someone painted it,” said Racca, who captured this Kodak moment in Australia in, 2010.

Racca’s favorite snapshot of his is a draw between a grayscale picture of a building in New York, or of a gorilla, taken at the San Diego Zoo.

SOLITUDE: Racca captured a lone boat on the shore of Fraser Island, Australia in 2010. Across the water is the Australian mainland.

Photo used with permission by Brandon Racca

]

Soaring high as the sky

by Analía Cabello, Copy Editor

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Just for the record, I typically steer clear of science fiction--my typical read is the book equivalent of a chick-flick. And, though my experiences with the science fiction genre have been fairly limited, when I did pick up the occasional sci-fi book, I couldn’t get past their detachment to reality. However, James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series manages to incorporate just a touch of romance to interest fellow chick-flick lovers and enough connections to today’s society to cause readers to believe Max and her flock could be dashing around Central Park this very second.

Even though Patterson’s Maximum Ride series is more on a middle school reading level, it’s crafted with expertise that will grasp the attention of a reader of any age. The story is woven around the premise of six victims, between the ages of six and 14, of pre-birth experimentation. As a result, the characters now contain DNA that’s 98 percent human and two percent avian--aka, bird. Yes, these characters have wings.

Maximum Ride, the heroine, is accompanied by “the flock”, consisting of dark and mysterious Fang, blind but hilarious Iggy, fashionforward Nudge, Gazzy and Angel, the brother and sister duo, a talking Scottish Terrier named Total, and eventually, the gorgeous, PrinceCharming-esque Dylan. Max’s voice carries readers through escapades and high-speed chases with sarcasm, wit, and an all-around kick-butt attitude, which shine through as she narrates the novels in passages such as, “I made one of my famous snap decisions, the kind that everyone remembers later for being either

Arts and Entertainment

CASCADE: (above right) This shot of a waterfall in Crescent City sold at Kiame Wineries to support breast cancer. Racca was their artist of the month for two months.

SUNDOWN: (far above) Racca captured a sunset on a beach in Hawaii in 2006. This is the same trip that sparked his interest in photography. IN FOCUS: (below) Junior Brandon Racca has been “shuttering” since 2006 and have over 5,000 photos saved. NEW YORK HEIGHTS: (right) A skyscraper in New York towers over walking by citizens. NOSTALGIA: (above) Racca captured an early warning radio station from World War II, used for warning against Japanese attack.

Photos used with permission by Brandon Racca

Check out Racca’s photos in color at crimsonweb.net Photo by Sydney Matteson

the stupidest dumb-butt thing they ever saw or else the miraculous saving of the day. I seemed to hear more of the first kind. That's gratitude for you” (Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, 62).

As the eight-book series, whose release dates stretch from April 2005 to August 2012, progressed, Max’s girl-power tone never bored me; Patterson’s writing style never faltered; the overall quality of the novels continued to set a high bar for any other science fiction book I read. I eagerly awaited the release of each new installment with an anticipation rivaled only by Christmas and birthdays. But sometimes, enough is enough. Maybe I’m just a die-hard Fang fan, but after Dylan was introduced in the sixth book... well, it was all downhill from there. The flock began developing random “gifts” left and right (if they’re “Avian American,” why are they all suddenly equipped with gills?), the plot twists suddenly seemed a lot less twisty (because, really, once you’ve written five books, there isn’t a whole lot more that can happen in the last three), and the Fang-Max-Dylan love triangle seemed old and overwritten (it was almost worse than Twilight’s Edward-Bella-Jacob debacle).

Perhaps I see the first five Maximum Ride books through the rose-colored glasses of childhood nostalgia, and perhaps the Max’s sarcasm isn’t really as funny as the preteen me first found it to be. However, regardless of its downfalls, this is a series that will always have a special niche in my nerdy, book-loving heart.

It’s hard to remember, but there was a time before rock and pop. It was a time where people picked accordions instead of guitars, a time when the sound of a trumpet and piano reigned supreme, and a time when dinosaurs ruled the earth. To be honest, I’m unsure about the that last part; however I am sure that the New-Mexico based band Beirut’s newest album The Rip Tide brings back that old authentic gypsy folk in its most purified form.

Beirut’s newest album has many things I admire. It’s deep, accessible, stylish, and real, while maintaining a musical style virtually unseen in modern music. Thus, I deeply recommend The Rip Tide, not just for its musical integrity but for a listening experience of pure adventure.

With the bold sounds of trumpets, ukuleles, violins, and marching drums, The Rip Tide is a collection of powerful yet accessible songs that stirs powerful emotions regarding war, nationalism, and home. All of this is told through simple lyrics sung through Zach Condon’s uniquely deep and resonant voice.

Although this album's sound is rare, it is easy to see where Beirut’s frontman Condon was influenced. Condon dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and traveled through Eastern Europe, exposing himself to the Balkan folk and gypsy style music of the area. These musical influences are clearly fleshed out in his first album, Gulag Orkestar, and are not lost in The Rip Tide. Instead, they are brought out in triumphant glory.

What makes The Rip Tide unique is that its songs do not only function independently, but also collaborate and build upon each other as they tell the tale of a vagabond character pulled away by an invisible force, almost like someone being dragged away by a rip tide. The album opens with “A Candle's Fire” in which a soft keyboard intro explodes into a flurry of horns and rolling snare drums as Condon laments his simple fears of fire and ponders an ambiguous journey that lies ahead. The theme of a roaming adventure continues in the boisterous and proud “Santa Fe,” where a twanging electric rhythm beats as the lyrics exclaim, “Sign me up, Santa Fe.” In the slow and scared “Goshen,” soft piano chords are overlaid with Condon’s soft yet powerful voice saying, “You're on in five, it’s time you rise or fall.” With an ever changing mood, this album gives a feel of a fable--not in pure glory and spectacle, but in an authenticity that you can feel.

Artist: Beirut Album: The Riptide (2011) Recommended Song: East

Harlem

Mar. 2013

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Culture

Dreams really do come true SMILING FOR THE CAMERA (above): Freshman Luzmila Donnelly at the age of nine takes a photo for her 2007-2008 school year. It was her first year at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.

Freshman shares the story of her shift from Peru to the U.S

by Carly Cargill, News Co-Editor

Guinea pigs aren’t a delicacy of American dining, but in Cuzco, Peru, Quwi was freshman Luzmila Donnelly’s favorite dish for the eight years she resided there with her biological family.

“We would set the guinea pigs on the floor and let them roam until we decided to eat them, and we would catch them,” said Donnelly, who would watch her grandmother do the unique process of catching, killing, and cooking her favorite dish as a little girl.

She moved in 2006 to live with her adopted parents, firefighters Mark and Laurie Donnelly, who had their hearts stolen by a little girl who had lost her mother and wanted a change for more opportunity in America.

Dora the Explorer helped Donnelly pick up English, and she started her new life in Paso Robles as an eight year old.

When Donnelly was born in Peru, her family lived in an adobe house in Cuzco—Peru’s capital—where her mom, dad, and nanny helped run a tourist business. When visitors from all around the world came to Cuzco, she and her family would welcome them and make the unfamiliar city enjoyable.

“Laurie was one of our tourists, and she kept coming back every year because she fell in love,” Donnelly said. “Finally, she came and brought Mark to come meet me.”

The Donnellys became better and better friends with the Pumayallis as the years moved on.

Soon Laurie and Mark proposed a life-changing question to Luzmila: would she like to come to the U.S. with them as her daughter? An ecstatic smile said “yes” from the eight year old.

Andress Pumayalli, her Peruvian father, said yes as well.

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But good things don’t come without hardships. In 2000 before her move to California, Donnelly’s mother died of cancer.

And life in Cuzco centered around the home. “My job was to help around the house and go to town sometimes to get food,” Donnelly said. Peruvian women and girls often cleaning, cook, raise the children, and run the house; the men and boys take on the farming and “dirty work” to support their families.

In her hometown, most women ride buses and take taxis, so the concept of women driving was new and hard to grasp.

“One of the first things I asked [Laurie] when I got here was, ‘Was that a woman driving?’, and she said ‘Yes, Luz, lots of women drive here’,” Donnelly said.

After her journey from Peru to Paso Robles, Donnelly was challenged with her to-be third language: English. Donnelly knew her village language, Quechua, which she hasn’t spoken since she was two, and Spanish, which she spoke exclusively to Laurie and her new third grade teacher, Janet Brooks-Chisler of Cambria.

“She was amazing. I had her write stories about herself in Spanish and gathered words from her story to help her with her English. She was a very quick learner,” said Brooks-Chisler, who has lived and taught in Panama, Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guam, and Rwanda but is now residing in Cambria.

Brooks-Chisler—who was, at the time of Donnelly’s arrival, Pleasant Valley Elementary School’s third and fourth grade teacher—immediately became an all-time favorite teacher of Donnelly. Even at Donnelly’s eighth grade promotion in 2012, she thanked Brooks-Chisler for “being the best teacher I’ve ever

had,” as she cried in her dark green cap and gown and accepted her Student of the Year title of her total graduating class of five: four girls and one boy.

“My favorite thing about Luzmila is her personality and how sweet, understanding, and trustworthy she is,” said freshman Olivia Shroll, who recently moved to Michigan and was a close friend to Luzmila at Pleasant Valley.

As seven years flew by, Donnelly learned to be solid in her English and how to ride a horse. She played volleyball, basketball, softball, and ran track; she was reminded how to be, yet again, a big sister to her new baby brother, Knox.

Donnelly claims it was somewhat difficult to get used to having a baby brother, “because I was without siblings for so long... It did make me miss my real brother, but now I have a way to talk to them, so it’s not so bad.”

Although Knox’s blonde hair and blue eyes don’t exactly relate to Donnelly’s black hair and chocolate eyes, the memory of her brother in Peru keeps her pushing to fulfill the big sister role she wasn’t able to finish seven years ago.

Currently, Donnelly excels in track and field, where she runs distance in events such as the 800 and 1600 meter, and listens to her favorite music, ’70s band ABBA, while keeping up in her classes. She makes sure to keep in touch, calling every other week, with her biological dad and 12 year old brother, Abelardo Pumayalli Quispe, who are still in Peru working on their farm.

Donnelly went from having a life destined and decided for her in Peru, to living in America, where she says she has more opportunities to live her life to the fullest.

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Noggin. The ol’ can o’ worms.

The brain: two halves of some pink squishy stuff that sits idly in the head. Or so it would seem.

This unsightly lump of neurons is the organ responsible for Newton’s Theory of Relativity; it is the cause of the creative spirit that led to the creation of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40; it is the perceptionary factory behind the humble humanity that spurred the Civil Rights Movement; and it is the reason society is able to progress and prosper.

Whether you think of it as the lump of goo or as the mighty force behind the great successes of the world, the brain remains an irreplaceable force, guiding how we learn, perceive, and act from day to day.

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16 &17//Left & right brain The dimensions and complexities of the brain are put through even more complex dynamics when determining whether a person is left or right brained.

The creative right brain and analytical left are further explored next.

18//Memory & learning Auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles often correlate with the brain’s process of memorization.

Learn more about the neuron connection that is formed for future reference.

19//Subliminal perception Perception lies in the cognitive process; this is reflected in the inability of taste and preferences to be fully explained. Peer into the perception of occasions, memories, and objects

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The investigation into the left and right brain functionalities involves an in-depth look into processing, memorization and methodizations.

The intricacies of the analytical left brain and creative right brain are explored, and six students see which side they dominate in an eight question quiz.

analyze

Brett Witten, 10

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Is logic your most valuable resource? Does mathematics come as second nature to you? Can you retain ample amounts of facts? If you answered ‘yes’ to one or any of those questions, you might be a left brain-dominant individual.

Twenty-three out of 50 students surveyed lean towards left brain dominance. This is explained by the Left Brain Theory which describes that the left hemisphere is the analytical and critical thinking side of the brain.

“I believe I’m left brained because of the way I approach problems: analytically and logically. Things laid out and planned with a quiet study area usually yield better results for me,” said junior Ethan Serpa, who is enrolled in AP Physics, Psychology, Computer IT, AP Language, AP Calculus, and AP US History.

Around campus, the left brainers are bound to be found in Calculus, AP Chemistry, and other math and science curriculumbased settings. They thrive on structure and reasoning. Left brained learning style revolves around logic with a well-measured amount of realistic values. Almost everything they do is planned out and thought through thoroughly. The same goes for personal habits; unlike their unorganized sibling, the right-brain, the left brained thinker is meticulously structured.

“All of my notes, worksheets, or any other miscellaneous papers in my binder have to be in the correct folder. A Pre-Calc worksheet can not be stuffed with AP US History notes or visa versa for any other subject. If my binder is organized, then I am organized, and that is one key to success,” said junior Class President Sarah Matthews, who tested 8 out of 8 for left brain dominance on a left-brain right-brain quiz.

However, when there is a yin there must be a yang. When left brained people are asked to put their analytical ways aside and think outside the box, they find it difficult. These lefties tend to struggle with being intuitive and spontaneous.

“The disadvantages of being completely left brained would be the desire of order in almost everything, and lacking creativity,” Serpa said.

With all of their calculators, neatly stacked books, and wellstructured personalities, all in all being left brained isn’t just a habit: it’s a lifestyle.

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RIGHT BRAIN

by Danae Ontiveros, Photo Essay Editor

With over seven billion people in the world, there are countless left brainers: the braniacs, the organized minds, the logic-seekers.

Then there is the other percentage: the revelers, daydreamers, and spontaneous people. This instinctively intuitive and creative disposition is known as right brain dominance.

The right side of the brain is the hemisphere that controls the left side of the body. This portion of the brain is the sector that expresses emotion and creativity. It also has a big influence on the body's thoughts and actions, leaving right brainers seemingly unpredictable and "wishy washy." They are sometimes hard to understand due to the fact that their thoughts are typically in "code." Right brainers are usually neutral people; they tend to be non­-judgemental and don't take sides because they are able to see both sides to a situation, according to suite10.com.

When asked about who has the advantage of learning, lefts or rights, sophomore Peregrine Chase responded: "I don't think it is as black and white as that....it depends on what you consider is important to learn." Spoken like a true right brain.

People who are right brained tend to remember faces and are more subjective, whereas left-brained people are more likely to remember names. Most rights have trouble with memorization, so it helps them to visualize a picture to remember facts.

"I remember things best if I can think of a way that they relate to myself or to things I might do," Chase said.

Right brained people learn by a more visual and hands­- on approach; they tend to not do well with sitting through long lectures.

Righties thrive in social situations such as group activities in class.

"I know that I can learn things like music and art easily," Chase said, who hopes to pursue music and writing as a career choice.

"I learn mostly from doing things. If I can actually apply what I'm taught, then I remember it."

Rights are typically more emotional and they base many of their actions upon their gut feeling. They are more swayed and influenced by what they feel instead of making decisions based on past experiences and logically thinking through procedures.

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Brylee Loya, 11

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Giovanni Lopez, 10

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Sierra Henry, 11 Photos by Sarah Wilson, Sierra Mosely, and Anna Hernandez

SAMPLE QUIZ QUESTION: Would you rather: (a) work individually (b) work in a group

Mar. 2013

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by Lauren Reed, Culture Editor, and Dilda Tolenkyzy, Reporter

With 100 billion neurons and 400 miles of blood vessels, the brain is an informational sponge.

Every time a new thought or memory forms in a person’s head, a new neuron connection is formed, which is then stored away for future reference in the hippocampus. How each person retains the packaged information in their personal light pink, wrinkly, three pound backpack is uniquely their own.

Students across campus pack this pack with a variety of tricks and eccentricities for memorization.

“I hum a song while saying the things I am supposed to know, and say those things instead of the song lyrics. I have memorized 18 prefixes and suffixes for anatomy class by this tactic,” said auditory learner senior Carlos Cedillo, who adds that this has made it more fun for him to learn.

Memory style often correlates with learning preferences: auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning are three of the main learning styles according to Regis University, which has been conducting surveys and studies to address learning issues that students and instructors may face while participating and interacting in the higher education journey.

Auditory learners learn best by hearing information and using self-talk. They have strong language skills, which include a well-developed vocabulary. Auditory learners are left brain dominant, and make up over 22 percent of the PRHS population, according to a survey of 138 students.

A psychological study by the University of Pennsylvania recently discovered that visual learners convert words into a visual mental representation. When they read a word, they see the image that word represents. The stronger the visual learning style, the more active the brain is in the visual cortex.

“I take the first letter off every word to remember definitions; I use a lot of colors and pictures, and listening to music that’s calming. It helps for tests because sometimes I can remember something because of the color, or I color coordinate with the subject,” said sophomore Megan Ford, whose study habits correlate best with her math, chemistry, and history classes.

Kinesthetic learners embrace the “Just Do It” attitude that Nike encourages. These learners favor experiencing what they are learning, and like doing activities to go along with the lessons.

“To help me remember things, I look over it and relate it to myself, and act upon it,” said left-brained freshman Tyler Vallejos, who uses this study strategy for his English, math, and science classes.

Kinesthetic learners enjoy physical activity, and tend to tap their pencils, fingers, and feet. They also tend to have greater comprehension, because concepts learned by physical performance are better retained, according to the Institute for Learning Styles Research (ILSR).

So remember, that wrinkly little backpack called the brain is always absorbing new information; how that information is utilized is up to the carrier.

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The confusing science of perception may explain individuality

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by Anna Hernandez, Environment Editor

The reason someone prefers one shade of blue over another, or the flavor of sweet rather than savory can all be determined by an individual’s perception, or the ability of being aware of things due to the five senses. Selecting one t-shirt over another might simply be a decision of perception.

When it comes to taste and preferences, a lot of what is desired cannot be fully explained. The rationale behind whether one prefers Dr. Pepper to Coca-Cola may appear to be a taste factor; nevertheless, the role of advertising and opinions can also play a role.

“I prefer Dr. Pepper over Coke but I'm not sure why. I think maybe because Dr. Pepper has more flavor and Coke just kind of tastes like nothing more than carbonation to me!” junior Alexis Morgan said.

Sight and smell can also play a large part in perceptive minds. Blue, for instance, has so many shades that asking two people which shade is more appealing can come off as different as black and white. Often time’s, couples disagree on scents; the woman’s favorite perfume can easily be the man’s last pick.

“I suppose I prefer floral because it’s more natural smelling. But honestly I don't have a preference, as long as it isn't B.O. I'm smelling!” junior Keegan Keelan said.

Others such as junior Nickie Gurney may prefer their women au natural. “No perfume; I prefer sweat. Just bottle it up and pour it all over me,” he said jokingly.

However, perception goes further below the membrane than simple opinions and preferences that are rarely life-changing or important in the long run. Time, for instance, is something the mind can struggle with everyday. The reasons one class may appear to be flying by while another slowly ebbs can all be blamed on perception and an internal

sense of time. Humans aren’t built with an internal clock, therefore the brain’s idea of how time is passing can be drastically inaccurate. Beyond the daylight and the ticking hands of a wrist watch, one may find it easy to lose track of time.

The fact that the mind isn’t able to always remember what’s happening in what order can become a real handicap. Not knowing what time it is can cause enormous stress for some, and trying to remember what happened last year or even last night can be difficult to recollect all due to the inability to correctly track time and remember sequences of events accurately. The mind seems to attach to significant emotional events such as a breakup or a death in an attempt to remember what one has been through.

“Anything that has made a huge impact on my emotions stands out to me the most. For instance if someone asked me what my happiest memory was, I'd take a moment as things shuffled through my head to find the perfect one. I have so many good memories, but my mind always seems to find the perfect one based on how much emotion was put into that event, whether it had been an obvious emotion, or internal emotion at the time,” sophomore Chloe Walter said.

Perception isn’t something to be completely understood overnight. Constantly learning new things in school and filtering rumors can change one’s way of thinking, remembering, and understanding of occasions, memories, and objects.

One’s personal perception is often adapting to the situations and activities they’ve gone through.

So next time you buy a shirt and hate it when you get home, or order a meal that didn’t satisfy you in the end, go ahead and blame your brain and its unique and puzzling sense of perception.

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Man on the street

by Samantha Garrett, guest writer

We asked five students about their feelings on the legality of same sex marriage: In the U.S., one of the most debated topics is same sex marriage. The amount of people known to be gay increased greatly in 1948 with the book “Sexual Behavior in the Human Male”, by Alfred Kinsey. Since then, the struggle for gay marriage rights has risen to become a struggle with the law and with others socially. Even now people

“ I’m totally fine with it.They’re people too and when you love someone you should be able to do what you want. ” –Jennifer Yuro, 12

are fighting for and against bans on same sex marriage. On Mar. 26, 2013 a hearing was presented to the Supreme Court to knock down California’s Proposition eight, which states that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California,” because it has the potential to be unconstitutional.

“ I am not for gay marriage. My reason is simply because I’m a Christian and in the bible it’s man and woman. I have friends that are gay and I let them know I don’t agree with it. If you want to do that though, it’s your own thing. “

“ I think it should be legalized and people shouldn’t judge them. “ –Sydney Throop, 11

The Netherlands made same sex marriage legal in 2001 causing South Africa, Belgium, Sweden, Canada, Spain, Norway, Iceland, Argentina, and Portugal to follow in its footsteps.

“ It doesn’t really matter to me that much. People can be gay if they want to I don’t really care. It’s a free country, they can do what they want. ”

“ I don’t agree with gay marriage because I don’t like seeing them show affection, it bothers me. “ –Clayton Maggiore, 9

–Kohl Coffey, 10

–Jaslynn Hedges, 9

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Prom

MAY 11

[ a special three page section ]

Night of Enchantment Lago Guiseppe

cupcakes baked by senior Natalie Evenson

DOORS OPEN AT 7:30 AND CLOSE AT 11:30 Photographer table decorations Tom Fowler will be made by PROM PRHS floral classes for on site photos EXPO

IS ON MARCH 28 AT LUNCH

Underclassman & off campus permissions are due April 29 PROM COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF 10 JUNIORS HEADED BY NYKIE CARR & DEVIN COREA

$45 for a 14 miles outside of Templeton singles Tickets will be available $75 dollars for a ticket April 22 until May 10

Kramer Entertainment as DJ

couples ticket

AN ELEGANT EVENING 2013 Prom shaping up to dazzle

by Angela Lorenzo, A&E Editor

The “Night of Enchantment” will be held May 11 at winery Lago Guiseppe, 14 miles out of Templeton, with Kramer Entertainment as a DJ, Tom Fowler for onsite photos, PRHS Floral made table decorations, and cupcakes made by senior Natalie Evenson. Doors will open at 7:30 and close at 11:30.

Tickets will be available April 22 through May 10. Prices will be $45 for a single ticket, and $75 dollars for a couple ticket.

Planning prom consists of the tedious tasks of finding a venue, decorating the venue, booking a DJ, and hiring a photographer.

The prom committee this year consists of 10 juniors, headed up by class president Devin Corea and vice president Nykie Carr and under the supervision of modern world history teacher Angela Logan.

“This experience taught me to just really enjoy being around

other people and small things don’t matter. that we need too look at the big picture and get done what we need to get done,” said Carr. At lunch on March 28, the junior class will host a prom expo which will feature floral arrangements by Flowers by Kim, gowns from Bella Novia, Starette Ohara, and Krammer Entertainment to provide music.

There will be forms to fill out for juniors and seniors’ dates that do not attend PRHS or are underclassmen; these forms are due April 29. Juniors and seniors opting to bring underclassmen or people from other schools will have to wait until the second week to purchase tickets.

Last year, former junior class president Danica Boggs led the planning of the Fantasea prom 2012.

“Last year’s prom was really rewarding for me. It was great to

see all of our hard work finally come through, but of course it was pretty stressful,” said Boggs, who reported the biggest challenge was finding a venue available for the “one date you have to work with” and the committees budget.

“While it was a great experience to help plan the event; I am positive I will be more relaxed at prom this year and I know that will make my prom experience even better than last years,” Boggs said.

“I don’t think everyone realizes how much time, effort, and dedication the whole prom committee puts in to try to make prom great,” said Boggs, who is grateful that every year students like Corea and Carr volunteer their time to make the night special for the whole school.

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Prom

DON’T JUST “ASK”!

Prom: the ultimate high school fairy tale. With everything else that makes prom special, you can’t forget the importance of scooping out the perfect date. But who wants to go with someone boring? Here are a few ideas to make getting your date one for the books.

—Clarisse Dart, Health Editor, and Brigitte Maina, Business Team

CREATIVE

Film a movie of you and some accomplices dancing, singing, or maybe performing a short prom-related skit.

Make sure the end result is original enough to sweep her off her feet!

Guadalupe Hamamato, will you go to Prom with me?

CLASSIC

Cover her car, front door, garage door, or anything that is big and obvious in sticky notes! Play up this idea; make words out of different colored notes, integrate window paint, or even use confetti.

What teacher is this?

A) Aaron Cantrell B)Rich Schmike C) JonPaul and Gaylene Ewing D) Sean Pierce

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Crimson Mar. 2013

On top of an umbrella, paint “I’ll be here for you in any weather. Do you think we could go to prom together?”

For that sporty girl grab a bunch of sports balls (tennis balls, baseballs, softballs, etc.) and put them in her locker with a note taped to the back of the locker so when she opens it the balls will fall out and she wills see a note that says“I finally got the balls to ask you to prom. Will you go with me?”

∞ This is the infinity symbol and 143 Means “I love you”. . . Try to add each number, 1 + 4 + 3 = ‘ 8 ‘ That’s why they call it ‘Everlasting Love’ Love, John Barrios

A

Make it a little tease by writing “Will you go to prom with me?” on a piece of paper and cut it up like a puzzle.

B

ROMANTIC Create a scavenger hunt around downtown that leads to you, the invitation, and something small (flowers, chocolate, etc.)

Ask her to get all dressed up and take her on a fancy date.

After dinner, tell her that was just a preview of how prom could be like, if you guys go together.

Light up her night by setting candles spelling out her invitation. Ring her doorbell and wait for that smile to spread across her face!

Fill a large jar full of candy and hide a slip of paper inside with the question, “You’re sweet as can be, go to prom with me?”

C

A bouquet of balloons will always be a cute way to show your affection.

D

Prom

Suit up

Prom: a boy’s perspective

Not the movies

Prom: a girl’s perspective

by Stevie Stark, Reporter

by Clarisse Dart, Health Editor

When I was 14, I was fortunate enough to watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The fact that I am mentioning this now may explain why I did not go to prom the first time. In this movie there is a scene where all the young witches and wizards get ready for the Yule Ball, a classy event complete with cute invitations, elegant attire, and an abundance of waltzing. To my young mind this was what every future dance in my high school experience would be like; yet, much like the fact that I wasn’t able to talk to snakes or ride broomsticks, it seems Harry Potter has lied to me... again. From my standpoint, most high school dances are lacking in the elegance and splendor that can make such events great, and can be a rather costly experience for what it is. However, prom is a different story. I am going this year, despite its flaws, because when it comes down to it, it’s not the event itself that can make an event great but rather the people it is made of.

To be completely honest there are quite a few things I care about more than the prom. For example, I care more about whether there is crust on my PB&J, Nicolas Cage, and Nickelback’s latest album. Yet it is impossible to go throughout a normal high school experience without facing the tremendous pressure that comes with prom. To juniors and seniors, it’s almost sacrilegious to choose not to go, and those who decide to go must face the dreaded question “Who you gonna ask?” To people in relationships this question is taken easily, yet to those who aren’t, this question is a ruthless assassin striking down all confidence as it laughs at your feeble attempts to come up with an answer.

Myself being the former category, I will bypass the trial of wondering who to ask with much relief. However after this trial, I must then watch my friendly wallet suffer as it hopelessly purchases a ticket, a suit, and food so expensive I expect it to contain chunks of pure unobtainium. Past all of this, I begin to assume what my future prom experience will be like in relation to the other high school dances I’ve been to. In my experience, high school dances have been mainly cramped bodies, unseemly dancing, and sweat. Lots and lots of sweat. Not to mention the less than adequate music. I mean I love dubstep remixes of Justin Bieber songs as much as the next guy, but for some reason it’s not doing it for me.

However, unlike similar events, I know that prom is something I can actually look forward to. Due to the great efforts of people behind the scenes and our admirable student body, prom looks to be an event that’ll finish off our year with style. Which brings me to my conclusion: even with the flaws of prom, every year it continues to be a great event; but to those who choose not to go, believe me, it’s not the most important thing in the world.

It is much more that important you stock up on wands, cloaks, and polyjuice potion, just in case J.K. Rowling finally grants my wishes.

The cloud of perfume, glitter, hairspray, and nail polish fumes that engulfs high school prom is enough to knock a 5 foot 8 inch tuxedo-encased boy over. For most girls, it symbolizes an important ritual that might even make or break their entire school year. While I wouldn’t be the first to admit it, prom is a certain kind of special that I can’t help but anticipate. Maybe it’s the movies, maybe it’s the Seventeen magazines, but preparing for prom always turns into just that: a lot of preparing.

Last year, my junior year, I was quickly caught up in the “Ahh, prom!” hysteria that quickly swept away most of the girls I was surrounded by. Nothing was just ordinary anymore. I began seeing things in a new way, through prom-colored glasses you might say. A color wasn’t just a color, it was a potential dress color or part of a color scheme of all accessories surrounding the dress. Just a restaurant? No, a possibility for a pre-prom dinner date with the lucky guy who has yet to ask you. I was suddenly scared of things I didn’t know I needed to be worried about less than a month prior: duplicate dresses, tan-less skin, flaky dates (or no date), lame after-parties or associated curfews all became thoughts often visited in my mind. Images of dresses flooded the phones of all girls in my classes, with each spare minute spent comparing the large selection of possibilities.

I had found the dress on a basic online prom dress store, and when I showed it around it was more to make sure other girls didn’t buy it rather than to let others admire it. Just kidding, a big reason was because I knew it was going to look adorable on me. The whole dress was different shades of bright blue, and the sequins-covered sweet-heart corset sat atop the poofy blue material of the knee length skirt.

You really didn’t need to know what my prom dress looked like last year, and believe me that is what everyone is secretly thinking in their minds during the “Oh my gosh look at the dress I bought!” phase that will come before you know it. But I mean deep down, I think girls can’t help but be enthralled by all the pretty dresses, the high heels, the anticipation of waiting to find out if they’ll be asked. To quite a considerable extent, prom manages to bring a little bit of girly girl out of even the most unenthusiastic. Where other dances and school events fail, prom is unique in its power to take over the minds of unexpecting hosts of girls who feel the need to go to the social event shared by high schools nationwide. Some may say it’s society pressures, peer pressures, or maybe the movies, but I feel the prom fever is so contagious among high school girls only because a perfect night looking beautiful, full of dancing and maybe even a dreamy date is tempting for anyone. The price tag for the “perfect night” could cost as much as the ticket itself, or as big as the cost of traveling to Europe--it all depends on what you want. The high standards girls often place on themselves and in some cases their date before the big day (sounds like a wedding doesn’t it?) isn’t shared by all. However, the stereotypical girlish excitement is as alive at PRHS as in any cheesy romantic comedy you may own.

So girls, make prom how you want it to be, because it’s your prom, not something you need to replicate from a movie.

Graphic illustration by Jordan Nevosh

Mar. 2013

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Take a bite Food

PRHS students try and compare the three bakeries in town: Cider Creek, Delightful Delights and Bakery.

Overall, students enjoyed the free, sweat treats (especially the free part!) Read the students opinions and comments about the pastries.

—Jenna Wookey, Food Editor, Heba Elsayed, Reporter

1. DJ Blauert, 12

What he ate: Delightful Delights orange muffin Rate: 8 “Tastes good!”

What she ate: Bakery blueberry muffin Rate: 9 “Moist and good”

What she ate: Cider Creek apple cider muffin Rate: 9.5 “Delicious”

What he ate: Delightful Delights chocolate chip cookie Rate: 10 “Delicious”

What he ate: Bakery chocolate chip cookie Rate: 7 “Delicious”

What he ate: Delightful delights chocolate chip cookie Rate: 10 “It was chocolate, just like me”

What she ate: Cider Creek chocolate chip cookie Rate: 9 “Really good”

What she ate: Bakery chocolate chip cookie Rate: 8 “Really good”

What he ate: Delightful Delights chocolate chip cookie Rate: 7.5 “Mmmm”

1

2. Kara Kester, 10

3. Erica Smeltzer, 12 4. Travis Brinkely, 9 5. AJ Almirol, 9

6. Levi Brown, 9

7. Alejandra Saucedo, 11

4

8. Alyssa Meade, 12 9. Matt Rosas, 9

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Photos by Anna Hernandez

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Food

2 3

6

7

8

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Life Style

Climbing to the top SPORTIN’ IT FFA STYLE: From left to right: junior Anthony Gobea, senior Branson Medeiros, sophomore Nathanael Bourgault, sophomore Matt Durian, sophomore Jake Dilger, senior Kaitlyn Bedell, freshman Eden Peterson, and freshman Abby Johnson. Photo by Devin Corea

FFA leaders placing high across state

by Devin Corea, Fashion Editor

After trekking down to SLO High School junior Anthony Gobea and sophomore Nathanael Bourgault, arrived at the FFA South Coast Regional Officer Screening Saturday Mar. 23. With butterfly-filled stomachs, they awaited their chance to prove they were ready to become leaders of the organization they love: FFA. They are just a few of the many Paso Robles FFA members that have aspired towards leading at a larger level. Last year PRHS Alumni Leah Gibson earned the honorable position of California’s State FFA Vice President. Her election gave her the opportunity to reach and lead an approximated 70,000 people. Beginning the path Gibson traveled, Bourgault and Gobea have high hopes for their FFA careers.

Gobea, a third year FFA member, set goals to improve himself as a leader and hone in on the skills required to succeed in his FFA career and beyond. Gobea is a Mid-State Fair participant, who showed market hogs the past two years. He will be joining 11 other Paso FFA members in receiving a state degree this year. He also hopes to attend the National FFA conference in Louisville, KY. “I wanted to apply to become a regional officer to give back to one of the greatest student run organizations that has made me into the person I am today,” Gobea said. He was slated for secretary at the South Coast Regional Officer Screening.

There, 39 applicants—competing for 11 seats—went through two interviews, FFA “ice breaker” activities, and a 30 second speech on immigration, food safety, modernization act, sustainable agriculture, or food versus fuel. Bourgault was slated for Region VP, Gobea for Region Secretary.

Bourgault, whose upcoming poster bills him as “Best Leader Ever Made” found the nerve-wracking competition intense.

“It was a bittersweet moment when I found out I was slated because the opposing delegate is a really good friend that I work with on the Sectional Officer Team. At the same time, I am grateful that we both have the chance to rise up and become something bigger than we are 26

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“Learning to do, Doing to learn, Earning to live, Living to serve”

—FFA Motto

currently,” Bourgault said.

Gobea and Bourgault will continue to travel the leadership road.

Both will be going through further evaluation and a Mar. 22 vote for the positions they are slated for. They will create flyers, give a speech, and face multiple interviews.

Welding teacher Justin Pickard directs many FFA projects and believes in his candidates.

“Nathanael and Anthony are two great examples of student leadership.

Both coming from different backgrounds, they have taken advantage of different aspects of FFA leadership. They have developed a strong sense of service towards others, so the natural step for their progression was to run for Regional FFA office. Both young men would make great representatives for this position. And we wish them the best of luck at the election,” said Pickard.

Gobea and Bourgault are also apart of the judging team, which consists of themselves and six others: seniors Kaitlyn Bedell, Branson Medeiros, junior Jake Dilger, sophomore Matt Durian, and freshmen Eden Peterson and Abby Johnson. They are collectively bettering their animal evaluating and oral reasoning for the state competition in May, where Pickard thinks they can take home the gold.

The judging team has traveled to compete in the UC Davis field day Mar. 2, placing 12th overall, and the Chico Field Day Mar. 9, placing second overall. Medeiros won High Individual, Bourgault placed sixth, and Bedell placed seventh overall.

It was another second place overall at the Merced College Field Day, with Medeiros winning high individual.

Medeiros and Bedell have been avidly involved with FFA all throughout

their high school career and now, as seniors and four year veterans of the judging team they have dedicated hundreds of hours to practicing and perfecting the skills necessary for success.

Bedell reports that FFA helped break out of her shell, enjoy hands on learning, and become the person she is today.

“FFA introduced me to many new people, both friends and adults in the agriculture industry and has allowed me to experience things that I never would’ve thought possible. The time that I’ve spent with FFA members has given me a home-away-from-home [experience]. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Bourgault shares this same love for FFA as it has brought him many new leadership qualities, public speaking abilities, and unforgettable fun times. A long family agricultural background thrust Bourgault into a world he was born for. He started showing market lambs with Creston 4-H in 2006 and began his involvement with the FFA the summer before his freshman year two years ago. Now he is the chapter and section reporter and quickly climbing the ranks on the leadership ladder.

Bedell has commended both Bourgault and Gobea on their leadership success.

“They work extremely hard in everything they do and put a lot of dedication into the FFA. Judging with them is always a pleasure, as they are both always happy to be there and willing to learn new things. I think that they are both great examples of what it takes to be a good leader and role model as they are both good, hard working guys,” said Bedell.

FFA at PRHS has grown in size and strength showing success all across the board. Senior Austin Brown-Silva has achieved national prominence with his Supervised Agriculture Experience project of antique tractor restorations. The welding team is up and rising after their fifth place finish in the Chico Field Day. The program reaches multitudes of students with 300 members involved with FFA Durian observed FFA is “more than just hicks, sticks, cows, and plows.”

e p a h s Getting in Health

by Clarisse Dart, Health Editor

Warmer weather is sometimes the universal wake up call to get in shape. While regular workouts can seem a bit ambitious to some, little additions to your lifestyle can be simpler than you think. According to the CDC, only 19 percent of high school students are active for more than twenty minutes a day. Some students talked to Crimson about ways they keep healthy and fit in their daily lives.

An avid runner, sophomore Maddi Moore stays active through both school and her own workouts.

“I try to run 6-7 miles a day or go to the gym. I try to vary my workouts if I can to strengthen different muscle groups. As long as you’re disciplined in what you’re doing, being in shape will come easy. It takes time and commitment.”

Advice: “(To stay healthy) exercising regularly, eating healthy, and getting about 8 hours of sleep is key.”

Maddi Moore, 10 Junior Jessica Bartlett spends most of her free time cheerleading and in gymnastics, which are workouts in themselves.

“Competitive cheerleading and gymnastics are usually my main workouts, but I dance and do lots of ab workouts and stretching at home to have lean muscle rather than bulky muscle. I eat as much fruit as I can and try to stay away from sweets and drink absolutely no soda.”

Advice: “Swap out unnecessary food items with a healthier alternative. Make a fruit smoothie rather than grabbing a Starbucks.

Also, dedicate 15 minutes or so a day to a workout that is specific to a target area.”

Jessica Bartlett, 11

Junior Edwin Sarabia goes to the gym almost everyday, staying at least two hours each visit.

“The reason I workout and stay in shape is because growing up I had a lot of self esteem issues, so (exercising) helps me keep a good positive mind set. Plus it’s always good to stay active and pushing forward.”

Favorite healthy food: Fruit

Photos by Stevie Stark Graphic illustrations by Clarisse Dart

Mar. 2013

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Mar. 2013

//SPORTS BLOGS AND RECAPS

>>Catch us on scores, read game recaps, and get to know your favorite players on both our Facebook like page and website.

//SEND US YOUR SUGGESTIONS >>Send us ideas for events, topics, or people you would like to see covered in the paper.

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Mar. 2013

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Sports

BE DOMINANT

FOCUS.

STAY IN THE ZONE PAY ATTENTION

PUSH YOURSELF

DETERMINATION

RELAX “JUST DO IT”

UNSTOPPABLE

SWAGGER

MIND ON THE BALL How does focus affect an athlete’s game?

by Josh Orcutt, Sports Director and Matt Tyra, Sports Co-Editor

“‘Turn the lights down, I’m in my zone,’” famous artist and entrepreneur Jay-Z once said in his 2003 hit song ‘Moment of Clarity.’

Though Jay-Z may have been in his zone in the recording booth when he first uttered those words, his phrase applies to the field as well as it does the stage.

The prototypical athlete is someone with strength, speed, agility, size, and other characteristics tailored to intimidate. While it’s undeniable that the physical aspects of an athlete play a huge role in his/her on-field performance, it’s not the only trait that has a significant effect on athletics: the ability of an athlete to focus is also a significant factor of player performance. In a survey of 36 athletes of all grade levels, 94% responded by saying their ability to focus had an influence on their performance.

“If I’m focused I can play the game better, not think too much.

Your mentality is a big part of the game you’re playing,” said varsity goalkeeper Juan Carlos Ruiz.

Senior pitcher Megan Clark also believes that focus is crucial to success. “[It means] to me just relaxing and getting in the right mind frame, and forgetting the outside world and just worrying about what I have to do for my team,” Clark said., who is going to San Francisco state to play softball.

For an athlete to perform at their highest level, they must be at their highest level of focus. Usually, this means relaxing, thinking about the task they to complete, visualizing it in their head and then completing it. This means doing something before a match to get 30

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in the right state of mind. For sophomore tennis player Mayer Pohlod, listening to music is essential to getting in that state of mind.

“For me, music is the go-to. It helps me get into the competitive mentality that I need. Music helps me get in a competitive state of mind, which makes me really want to win, and not just go out there and give less than 100%,” says Pohlod, who has been playing tennis for three years and is 9-3 in doubles play on the season.

Much of focusing is the ability to block out pressure, which impedes the athlete’s ability to focus themselves on their goal; it makes them think about not failing, rather than succeeding.

According to an article by Bleacher Report’s Kevin Bertha, “A hitter who is calm at the plate is a better hitter. A goalie who doesn’t feel pressure will stop the puck better. A quarterback who can block out crowd noise is that much more likely to lead a game winning drive.”

However, some athletes, such as senior diver Amanda Gritzfeld, say that pressure actually translates to better focus and therefore better play.

“Pressure affects me a lot. Whenever I feel like I’m not going to get first place, I get super angry and that steps up my game. Also, when I have competition it puts more pressure on me which helps me,” said Gritzfeld.

Some athletes have their own ‘pre-game ritual’ that they perform before each game. For many athletes, if they don’t go through such superstitious trials, however simple or ridiculous they may seem to others, they can lose their focus quickly. The day before each home game, every player on varsity softball goes to Yogurt Creations, and

PREGAME FOCUS: Senior Megan Clark focuses on her game day by listening to music, and thinking about the game ahead of her. Clark has committed to play softball at San Francisco State University. Photo by Josh Orcutt

before each home game, the team huddles into a circle, while one player sings “And the home of the...” prompting the rest of the team to yell “Cats!”

Many have a simple routine that they follow before games, such as senior quarterback Garrett Nelson who always listened to the same music to prepare himself before going to battle on the football field.

“Before games I would always get to the locker room before everyone else, turn on the same playlist every week, and clear my mind, forget everything around me, and just think about specific plays and scenarios,” said Nelson, who started on varsity for two consecutive years.

In a 2011 study by the American College of Sports Medicine of 36 college students, it was concluded that focus had a positive effect on sports. In a survey of 36 at PRHS, 42 percent of athletes said that once they lose their focus in-game, they find it hard to reattain that focus. One such athlete is junior basketball player Josh WilsonMurray, who said that teammates are one of the keys to getting the competitive mentality back.

“Getting back into the zone can be very difficult. Having great teammates as well as a great coach is a big boost here at Paso Robles. Personally getting back into the zone is very difficult. It’s great to have everyone’s support on the team,” said Wilson-Murray, who averaged 17.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game this season.

Mental focus is an aspect of the game that the majority of athletes see as key, no matter what sport or at what level they play.

Sports

Orange turns Crimson Senior moves schools and still excels at baseball

by Josh Orcutt, Sports Director

With sun shining on his Oakley baseball sunglasses near the third baseline at Barnhardt Field, the third baseman with number 44 on his back, fields a short hopper, and throws out the runner at first. This man is senior James Evans.

Evans is known around the baseball field as the man who is virtually everywhere. He has not committed any fielding errors while playing his key positions for the Bearcats, second base, and third base.

However, Evans hasn’t always been a Bearcat. Evans played baseball at the varsity level at Atascadero as well as Paso Robles, an opportunity not many players have the chance to do.

“This group of guys make me feel like a real Bearcat! There is nowhere else I would rather be than taking the field in Crimson and white with my family.” -Senior James Evans

“[The move] was hard. I was going from a place where I knew everyone and had friends, to a place where I was going to have a short amount of time to make long term friendships. In the beginning, there were a lot of lonely lunches and sitting by myself.

[However], after summer, I was determined to make the most of my senior year and get a little more involved in Paso Robles High. It was a breath of fresh air.” Evans said, who played at the varsity level at Atascadero.

Throughout the course of his junior year, Evans could not play at either school because of the transfer, but he kept playing baseball outside of his high school career.

During the summer, he had the opportunity to train with the starters on the current varsity team and get to know them more.

“This year, for the first time in my baseball career, I feel like I am welcomed as part of a team. Every one of the guys who steps on

the field with me feels like family. They are there to encourage me when I kick a ball and are there to congratulate me as I cross home plate. This group of guys make me feel like a real Bearcat,” Evans said.

His teammates have only embraced him since his move to the Crimson and white. “[Evans] is always a happy guy, he never comes in throwing his glove because he missed a play or didn’t get a hit. He is always moving on and looking forward to getting it right next time. He’s a good person to have on a team, not only as a solid defensive third baseman, but also as an upbeat personality. Ever since the beginning of the season, I have seen [Evans’] quality of play increase, not only as a third baseman, but also wherever the coaches have put him in practice,” said junior catcher Kai Bedell.

Evans had a lot to lose coming to this new school. His reason for transferring: bullying.

“I had spent years developing friendships and making a name for myself at Atascadero, but sometimes accidents just happen and the world throws you a curve ball, you just have to sit back and drive the pitch and not let it get the best of you,” Evans said.

And he just happened to sit back and drive that pitch deep into center field.

Since his junior year, Evans has looked at Division I schools such as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Pepperdine, Clemson, and was scouted by some Division Three schools. “[I] may not be outstanding at what [I] do [but], I have big dreams in baseball.

There is nothing else I would rather do than play baseball through college. But dreams are dreams, you have to make sure to work to accomplish your goals. I

can not wait to stand beside my teammates and play like we know how [this season]!

There is nowhere else I would rather be then taking the field in Crimson and White with my family!” Evans concluded.

Statistics unavailable as of press time.

POWER SWING (above): Evans cracks a ball off his bat for a single.

POINTING FOR THE FENCES (top): Evans points his bat towards the camera.

WITH THE TRUSTY TOOL: Senior James Evans holds his trusty glove. He has not committed a fielding error this season.

Photos by Josh Orcutt

Sport:

BASEBALL

SOFTBALL

TRACK & FIELD

SWIMMING

BOYS TENNIS

VOLLEYBALL

Recent Games/ Score:

Atascadero x3 5-6 Loss, 1-6 loss

Righetti 5-12 loss

Atascadero Meet. Boys won 69-68. Girls lost 57-69

Atascadero: Scores unavailable at time of press

Arroyo Grande loss 7-11

Templeton

Record, PAC-7 Standing:

2-4 overall, 0-2 PAC-7

5-5 overall, 1-1 PAC-7

Boys: 1-2 Girls: 1-2

Girls: 3-1 overall Boys: 2-2 overall

1-6 overall Pohlod and Stark: 9-3

1-0 overall

Games over break:

Righetti Tournament

Arroyo Grande Tourney

Arcadia Invintational

N/A

N/A

Arroyo Grande Mar. 2013 Crimson

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Hundreds of Bearcat students gathered in their quirkiest, brightest, and tightest jungle themed ensembles on Friday, March 15 in the Gil Asa Gym to dance the night away for MORP 2013.

FLIPPIN’ AND TRIPPIN’ (top left): Sophomore Marcos Condit does a backflip during a performance in the MORP assembly on Friday the 15th.

SWAGGIN’ OUT (middle): Teachers Jennifer Bedrosian, Maggie Roberts, and Cara Macomber, and Geoff Land belt it out at the assembly while singing a cover from ‘Pitch Perfect’ or about the dance guidelines.

OUT OF HIS MIND (bottom): Junior Omar Guillen break dances for Morp to the song ‘Out of My Mind’ by B.o.B. Photos by Josh Orcutt, Maddie Raithel, Anna Hernandez, and Devin Corea