VOLUME 51, ISSUE 5
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2008
CASTRO VALLEY, CA, 94546
Cops arrest two boys in office burglary Police dog helps sheriff’s officers catch suspects By Lindsay Oda Staff Writer
Late at night on Dec. 17, a group of sheriff’s officers surrounded the CVHS office in order to arrest three burglars who had set off the school’s silent alarm. After sheriff ’s officers surrounded the main office building, a police dog helped “flush out” the burglars, said Deputy Tim Vales. The deputies were able to apprehend two of the three suspects. The burglars apparently got into building by forcing open the window of Assistant Principal Marcie Plummer’s office. “It’s pretty scary stuff,” said Plummer, who entered her office the next morning to find her
TIM WONG / Staff Writer
Junior Nick Choy diplays his break-dancing skills in the 600 hall. See more portraits on page 7.
Shorter days coming? CVHS ponders more changes to bell schedule By Irene Liang Staff Writer
Change is underway for CVHS as a scheduling committee was formed to discuss the bell schedule for the next school year after several complaints from the faculty, administration, students, and parents about the school day being too long. Officials have not yet made a decision as to what the bell schedule will look like next year, but some are determined to make the day shorter. The members of the scheduling committee are librarian Terri Bucklin, Sharafeldin Musa from the math department, Craig Nieves from the P.E. department, Laura O’Brien from the science department, Matthew Rainwater from the social studies department, counselor Jennifer Sitkin, and Daren Wilkerson from the English department. “Everybody, students, teachers, the administration, feel that
the bell schedule is too long,” said the head of the committee, Assistant Principal Jesse Woodward. “The long day gets in the way of extracurricular activities such as athletics.” English teacher Wilkerson agrees with Woodward as well. “All of us teachers feel that everybody is working thirty minutes longer for no reason. Everybody is exhausted at the end of the day. That’s why there have been less fights. Students are too tired to lift up their fists.” The current bell schedule was created last school year to meet in terms with the minimum requirement of 64,840 instructional minutes the California Department of Education requires high schools to offer to its students in the span of 180 school days. Students taking six classes will receive 64,840 instructional minutes under the current bell schedule, with 327 minute-long block days and 396 minute-long traditional days. The change to the bell schedule occurred towards the end of the last school year after it was found to be not in compliance with the minimum number of instructional minutes set by the
California Department of Education. According to Woodward, though CVHS was not audited by the California Department of Education last school year, it will be audited this year. Although the committee has looked at the bell schedules of several schools, such as San Ramon Valley High School and Mission San Jose High School, they are still keeping their options open. The committee is currently discussing with the school board for the funding of additional classes that students could take as an elective in order to shorten the day. If enough students took a seventh class, the seventh period can be included towards the 64,840 minutes, thus making the classes and school day shorter. Other alternatives the committee is considering to shorten the school day include creating an all-traditional schedule or keeping a six period day with the addition of a zero period for special elective classes such as choir and journalism. New schedules with be available to vote on in the spring and a final decision regarding next year will be made.
things shifted about, the window shades open and a laptop, which was not hers, in the middle of the floor. “I immediately thought; something’s not right here.” Though there were other valuables in Plummer’s office, the burglars apparently did not try to steal them. Only the laptop was misplaced and nothing else seemed to be taken, she said. The boys are 17, 16 and 12 years old, said Deputy Tim Vales. Because they are all younger than 18, their names cannot be legally revealed, although Vales said they are all from Castro Valley and one has had previous run-ins with the law. Vales admitted to arresting him numerous times. The trials and potential punishments for minors are also confidential, though Vales said the boys could get probation or even jail time. Kids can learn a lesson from this incident, Vales said. “Don’t break into school, don’t break into anywhere,” he said.
Science classes cope with budget pinch By Frank Chao Staff Writer
Science teachers say the budget for their department is inadequate for covering lab supplies due to the popularity of the lab science classes this year. Before the year began, there was no set amount for each department to spend. Now the departments receive approximately $1.50 to spend per student in each period. So many students are taking lab science classes like biology and chemistry this year though, that there is not enough money in the budget for the nec-
essary supplies. Also, unlike previous years, the science department is now forced to ask for donations from the parents of those taking the lab science classes. Students were given a form to give to their parents and often received class credit just for showing it to them. Parents of children in the Honors Biology course have donated around $1,000, which will be used to purchase lab supplies such as yeast, seeds, potting soil, reagents, dissecting specimens,
SCIENCE: Page 8
HOWARD WHANG / Staff Writer
Teacher Rich Schneck smiles as sophomore Jeremy Jang reacts to an explosion in chemistry class.