June 8, 2015 by The Castro Valley High School Olympian

Autoshop students win award Page 4: CVHS kids get scholarship

Volume 58, Issue 12

Students make history with book Page 5: Students talk CV history

JUNE 8, 2015

Swim team remains undefeated Page 7: Trojan boys win WACC

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

SBAC takes over CVHS classrooms By Meiling Zhang Staff Writer

Alison Dhont / Photo Editor

Friends and supporters of Terri Byrd gather to celebrate and honor her life.

Celebrating the life of Terri Byrd By Anna Nguyen News Editor

Students and faculty gathered before school in the courtyard on Friday May 15 to celebrate the life of Terri Byrd. Leadership students handed out candles and pictures of the joyous junior as people came to pay their respects and share their memories. On the stage was a memorial dedicated to Byrd: candles lined the site, surrounding a framed picture and banner filled with signatures. Following a moment of silence, junior Mia Knight, Byrd’s best friend, spoke up. “Why her?” Knight and Byrd had met in middle school, remaining close friends ever since. Knight spoke of her compassion, sharing memories and stories that highlighted their extensive friendship. “She cares. She cares so much,” Knight said. “Even if you don’t know it, she probably cared for you too.” “She was the nicest person I ever met,“ said junior Maya

Shumpert. One by one, more of Byrd’s friends spoke up, fondly recounting their memories of her. Stories touching upon her “terrible” driving, outrageous dares, and freewilled spirit were brought with a sense of melancholy; although they had lost their friend, those close to Byrd refused to remember her for her death, but rather for the times they had with her before their loss. They hoped to reflect Byrd’s positivity, knowing that she would not want them to remain sad for long because of her death. “Let’s start reaching out to others in Castro Valley, as a family,” junior Dante Sewell said. “Just be strong, for Terri.” “Just stay up even though it’s tough,” said junior Christian Merriwether. Byrd is remembered for her energy, potency, and vitality. She spent much of her time at CVHS developing close relationships with her classmates and teachers, gaining the reputation of being caring, while also being the sarcastic “person I looked forward to argu-

ing with every day,” one friend recalled. Her unique personality contributed to the charm of CVHS, and without it, the campus is undeniably different. On the preceding Monday, an announcement was made schoolwide, delivering the devastating news. Over the weekend, Byrd had passed away. While her death still remains under investigation, her peers have taken tremendous measures in ensuring that her life is honored, and that her memory is never lost. When news first broke of Byrd’s death, the campus was hit with an overwhelming sense of tragedy. Students and teachers alike broke out in tears, some even walking off campus, unable to handle the grief. There was no one on campus who didn’t feel the effect of her death. Byrd’s ceremony ended with a somber poem, written and recited by junior Amanda Dwinell: “Nothing has changed....Change is good, just pray for better day…. We see you everywhere.”

Since Thursday May 21, juniors at CVHS had their chance to endure the eight and a half hour long process of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC). The last two weeks of May were also filled with unusual schedules and classes. “Since only 11th graders are tested, rather than multiple grades on previous standardized tests, we are better off, overall,” said Assistant Principal Jesse Hansen. Both Thursday May 21 and Friday May 22 started with a 70-minute testing block period followed by a break, and then another 60-minute testing period. In the following week the exam started with a 90 minute block instead. After the second half of testing, students attended the first half of their classes in reverse order in periods of over 70 minutes on Thursdays. On Fridays, they attended the rest of their classes in their regular chronological order. The SBAC is the new standardized test that incorporates Common Core. All aspects of this exam will be performed online and the use of all media labs and chrome carts will be required in order to accommodate all of the testing students. All 14 chrome carts at CVHS along with 11 Chromebook carts from other schools within the district will be utilized. Students of other grade levels were also required to be present on campus, despite not being tested. During the duration of the test, students that were not testing spent time with one of their classes doing enrichment activities that the school typically does not have time to offer. However, most classes used that time to watch

movies or the improv show. Junior Jenny Mo had teachers briefly explain to her how she will be affected by the assessment and was given a few resources to practice for it. "My math teacher, Mr. Mitchell, assigned a homework assignment over spring break where we went online and did a practice SBAC test. He is the only teacher that has prepped me in any way," Mo said. There were also many juniors who knew very little about the test, besides when teachers mentioned that the SBAC would be taking place. One of those juniors, Tyler Quan, can still see faults with its administration. "I've only heard that it was going to be a new test that will be on the computer. We're going to be hogging a lot of time and space to be tested, and that's going to be a problem," Quan said. Details about the testing schedule and content remained unclear until the day testing started. Juniors, however, did not seem too worried. "I think most students aren't as worried or hammered since compared to the AP tests, this is pretty all right," Mo continued. But after many challenging tests in the previous weeks, at least 100 juniors opted out of taking the exam in exchange for rest. That’s about ten percent of the junior class, meaning that CVHS will not reach 95 percent test participation that the state requires. The consequence is unknown. “The SBAC test had an excessive amount of reading and was honestly not a test that you could’ve been prepared for. Most of the exam was simple, but it just required a lot of reading comprehension,” stated junior Matthew Co.

Discounted BART tickets available to CVHS students By Danika Newlin Staff Writer

Having to travel from one place to another can be difficult and expensive for a student without a car. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is a popular travel alternative, but using it can get pricey. Just recently, the finance office started selling BART tickets for a reduced price to students who will use them for school-related activities. “It was something BART had always offered, but you used to have to buy them at the district office,” said Charity Hastings in the finance office. “We wanted

to make it more convenient for students to buy them.” Students can receive a $32 BART ticket for a discounted price of $16 if they follow certain prerequisites. They first must get a form from the finance office and fill it out with signatures from both themselves and a guardian. In order to qualify they must be between 13 and 18 years old, have a student ID card, and have no history of vandalism at school or BART. The ticket can only be used Mondays through Fridays, to get to or from school, or for school related activities. On the other hand, it is impor-

tant that students do not abuse the privilege of being able to buy discounted BART tickets. They must carry their school IDs with them while traveling using the ticket. BART personnel have the authority to ask students to show them their IDs, to make sure that they are following the guidelines that the ticket allows. “We are trusting that students are using them for their appropriate purpose,” said Hastings. People who don’t respect the guidelines would be carelessly taking advantage of a situation that is extremely helpful to students who use BART to travel for school.

Danika Newlin / Staff Writer

Students take BART to travel for many various school activities.

Students struggle with (or skip) new required SBAC test

Editorial: Juniors at CVHS were subjected to the Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC) over four days in May. The test is administered online, and many different versions were given to students. The test varied in ways such as some students having to write a lot and some not writing anything at all. Juniors were given a two and a half hour testing block to complete the test. Most students finished rather quickly and felt that they were given too much time. Students also felt that they were not given enough information about the test, its purpose, and its benefits. Some only completed the test because they felt that they had to, but put forth very little effort. Overall, students did not like the test and felt as though it was a waste of time. There were also at least 100 students who opted out of taking the test. When asked, it became apparent that the students’ test was not necessary and very time consuming. One benefit of the test that stu-

Rachel Du /City editor

dents were made aware of were what the test scores could do for CSU admissions. If students scored well on the SBAC they may not have to take the standard placement tests that some schools require. The only downfall to this

is that there are other ways to get past the entrance tests that aren’t as boring or take as much time. Due to state law, the test has to be given to students at some time during the school year. Since it is mandatory, there are ways that the

students themselves. Whereas tests like the ACT may be used in college admissions, the SBAC simply replaces English and Math placement exams for CSUs and community colleges, something that can already be achieved with corresponding AP credit or a high enough SAT score. In complying with testing circumstances, students spend nearly ten hours taking the exam over the course of four days. This time is taken out of instructional time, disrupting not only testing juniors, but the entire student body. Teachers are also required to devote time in-class to address test-specific content, further distracting from their intended lessons. Yet, due to the nature of standardized tests, the SBAC is ineffective in measuring the progress that students have made in their education through simple benchmarks. The SBAC is a scaling test, increasing in difficulty with each correct answer. This technology is used by many placement tests, and is intended to accurately gauge the ability level of each student. Although its concept is a push in the right direction, many inevitable errors trigger its faults. Students can guess the right answer, moving them to a higher difficulty level than they should be tested in. The test does not reflect the curriculum that students are taught, but is essentially a test on the common knowledge students are

expected to know at that point in school. It relies on the assumption that every student has received the same education experience, and fails to account for the disparities between students’ knowledge. While this flaw applies just within a single campus, the differences are even greater when comparing a variety schools. While there are naturally “good” and “bad” schools, the quality of education at each institution is not effectively measured by a standardized test. A school that teaches strictly to test guidelines, following content-based standards, may score high, but their students are unable to critically think and apply their knowledge outside of a testing setting. On the other hand, an enriched curriculum with supplemental lessons that challenge students instills fundamental concepts into their knowledge. While their test scores might be lowered, they are more able to apply the material that they have learned. My education should not be altered to conform to a test. My knowledge cannot be confined to rows of five bubbles that I have come to know too well. Standardized tests, specifically the SBAC, should not be used to evaluate school. While the point of testing is to improve education, it does little other than impede it.

Why I chose to opt out of the SBAC

By Anna Nguyen News Editor

By the end of my junior year, I will have taken a total of ten standardized tests, spending over 30 hours in testing centers. From the PSAT in October, to two straight weeks of AP testing, I and countless others have dedicated hundreds of hours into preparing for these exams, while simultaneously trying to balance a rigorous course load, strenuous extracurriculars, and good health. This year, after eight consecutive years of state standardized testing, I chose to opt out of the new Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), joining thousands of students nationwide in the boycott of the new exam. With the introduction of Common Core standards this past school year, the SBAC has been implemented as a mandatory part of the school’s curriculum. However, the SBAC, unlike many of the other tests we have endured though, offers little to no use for

PHOTOpinions “With all the tests we already took, I don’t think they are necessary.” Alyssa Elliott, freshman

By: Alexander McIntosh

“I don’t think standardized tests are helpful to a person or a school as a whole. I think they can be harmful.” Ruby Ferreyra, sophomore

test could be improved before it needs to be taken by current sophomores next year. The process of setting up the Chromebooks to take the test went smoothly for most, but some students complained of the computers crashing. Other

than that, the context of the test could also be improved. Feedback from students who took the test could be used to determine how to make it more “student friendly.” There could also be improvement on the time that the test was given, and what students who weren’t testing were instructed to do. Some classes watched movies, did work the whole time, or sat there. Some who had substitutes were even allowed to leave campus to get snacks to eat and drink while they waited. The test differs from the STAR test that used to be given in ways such as the STAR being given to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, and that test was written. With the test being computerized it individualized the test a little more and students did like that. With more information given about the test, and quite a few improvements made both with the test and the schedule for it, it is possible for more students to want to choose to take the test instead of opting out and put more effort into completing it.

Choosing between sickness and school

By Neo Diesta Staff Writer

What happens if you do not have the strength to do your homework? What if you have to miss a very important day of school? What if you are sleep-deprived? Is it smart to still go to school when you are sick? On May 14, I had to make those decisions. I got ready for my choir concert and suddenly I felt dizzy and my body ached. I didn’t want to believe I was sick, so I pushed through the concert. After performing, I got dizzy again and started to feel really warm. To make it worse, my feet hurt from standing for practically the whole concert. When I got back home at 10 p.m., I slumped onto the sofa, absolutely limp. My parents noticed and started to worry. I told them I was feeling sick and that my whole

body ached. I hoped I would get better by the next day so I could go back to school in a healthy condition. I had to go to school because I could not miss English class. We had a quiz and an extra day to proof the important reports we had been doing. The next morning before I could shower, I collapsed and fell back asleep. My parents were surprised when they found me and woke me up. I thought I just had to conserve energy throughout the day. Luckily, it was an easy day and I was able to take a nap during lunch. I know it’s usually the parents’ decision whether their child should go to school or not if they’re sick, but I believe that students in high school and middle school can decide for themselves. Personally, I don’t want to miss school even when I’m sick. I know that my doctors, friends, and teachers would probably disagree with me. Some people may even call me a “nerd” for wanting to go to school when I can skip. But the school year is almost over and most teachers are cramming lessons into these last few weeks of school. All students should remember missing one day of school could impact your learning and grades.

What do you think about standardized testing? “I think they’re necessary for your own benefit but I don’t think we need so many to graduate.” Courtney Kirstein, junior

“We have so much testing as it is, there’s no need for excessive stress and waste of paper.” Chantelle Buckner, senior

The Olympian June 8, 2015

College is not the only option for grads

Jes Smith / Photo Editor

The Palace of Fine Arts is the subject of one of Jes Smith’s award winning photos.

How I fell in love with photography

The ins and out of picking up a new skill By Jes Smith Photo Editor

A lot of reviews are written about movies, books, or video games, but that's not me. I'm here to review the photography class that lies within the halls of Castro Valley High. I transferred to CVHS in the middle of the 2013-14 school year as a sophomore and I took all the regular classes I was required to take. By chance, I was accepted into the photography class because my dad convinced me that it would be a fun course to take. After being enrolled in the class for a week, I was ready to

drop it because I had no clue what I was doing. We had finally received our first assignment and by the first click of my shutter, I was hooked. Photography became my one true love and I knew what I wanted to do with my future. It took a while for me to get to the level I am at today, but that’s what I’m here to tell you about. I would not be a five-time award winning photographer if it wasn’t for Jeff Vendsel, or as I call him, Doc V. Vendsel has been the photography teacher here at CVHS for a solid four years, and he has been my teacher for two. Vendsel graduated from San Francisco State and was a very successful photojournalist for many years. Vendsel took an injured athlete with no outlook on life, and turned her into a photographer with a clear future and many scholarship offers. Before taking his course, I never thought I

would ever be able to take a good quality photograph; he showed me everything that I know to this day, with a little side help from my parents. Enough about the outstanding Vendsel though, I’m here to tell you why you should take the photography course at CVHS. Even if you have no interest in going into photography or graphic design for your future, having the ability to take good images is a life skill that is like no other. I never thought I wanted to have any future with photography or graphic design, but after this course, my looks on the world and myself changed greatly. Thank you Doc V for always believing in me and giving me a look on life I never thought I would have. I strongly advise that you find your Vendsel and set up a clear future for yourself, whether it’s in photography or something else.

and believe me, I am not trying to be a teacher’s pet, but everything has a time and a place. If you are frustrated with a teacher, vent to your friends about it (it really helps, believe me), because it is a very awkward thing to experience someone talking back to a teacher during class. Sometimes a teacher says a snarky comment, and a student feels a need to retaliate, and then the class gets silent. The teacher and the student just kind of blink at each other in a stalemate until the teacher decides whether to either punish the student, or pretend like nothing happened. Meanwhile phones are flying as classmates spread the news, while others awkwardly pretend to be reading or doing work. I totally understand that people get emotional. We are all human (or at least I hope so), but management is key. Try to think about what teachers go through. They have up to six classes full of 25-30 students, which require grading work, creating curriculum, dealing with student drama, and preparing everyone for the next class. That sounds really exhausting.

On the other hand, it’s not easy to be a student. We have to do a ton of homework, work, study, prepare for our future, and keep a healthy social life.

Rethink the way you treat teachers

By Caitlin Forbes Staff Writer

We have all had teachers that we think are over-the-top obnoxious, unfair, and unreasonable. As much as students would like to believe that teachers are out to get us with excessive homework, they really are just trying to do their jobs. Teachers do not deserve to be talked back to, insulted, and/ or snapped at. I know that we have the freedom of speech, but words can hurt, and even though we see teachers as indestructible, they are people just like us. I’m not saying we don’t have the right to speak our minds,

By Callie Ross-Smith Feature Editor

Here’s a fact: there are more options for life after high school besides going straight to college. Shocking right? But stay with me here, because it is truly possible to have a happy and fulfilling life without a college degree. I know this fact personally; neither of my parents ever graduated from college. Yet, they live in the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the most expensive places in the US. They own three cars, all of which are less than 10 years old, have stocks, and are planning to buy a house next year. Their lack of a college education has never affected their ability to put food on the table, buy new clothes for me and my siblings, buy Christmas and birthday presents, and go on a vacation every year. Both have good jobs; my dad is a systems engineer and my mom is a preschool teacher, neither of these jobs require a college education. Not having a college degree hasn’t affected their ability to be in the middle class. I’m not trying to make fun of anyone who plans to go to a college or university; if that is the only way your dream job can be attained, then go for it. However, don’t just go for the money and don’t think college has to come right after high school. Take a gap year! It’s ac-

tually normal in countries such as New Zealand or Australia for teenagers to travel the world for a year before going to some institution of higher education. If travelling doesn’t float your boat, why not get an internship? Valuable job skills can be gained from this, such as time management and networking. There are thousands of companies looking for young people to work in Human Resources or other odd jobs. College is not the only option for higher education. It’s so ridiculous when someone asks, “what college are you planning to go? ” instead of what I plan to do after school. Those words are like saying that the only feasible option is college. This isn’t true; trade schools are a great option for people to train in a specific profession. Companies are in desperate need for these skilled workers because so many people are going for the college route. Instead of being in a lecture hall with 100 other people, listening to a professor that doesn’t have the time to care about their students, why not have hands on, one-on-one training to learn carpentry, become an electrician, or an underwater welder. Personally, I want to major in viticulture at UC Davis. If I don’t get into Davis, I can easily get my certification for this field through internships, or a three year program in a trade school. In fact, the only reason that I want to go to Davis is so that I could participate in its viticulture program that has a concentration in Spanish. So long as one is above the poverty line, and is able to afford all of their amenities and perhaps some extras, it shouldn’t matter what career path a person takes. Besides the low graduation rate of college students, and the near lifetime indebtedness, only 27 percent of people who graduate from college have a degree related to their major.

“ Let’s give

our teachers a break.

”

When you break it down, it’s not easy to be a teacher or a student. So students, let’s give our teachers a break during the day. When you feel really upset or offended by a teacher, it’s better for everyone if you save your rant for a more sympathetic audience: friends, parents, even other teachers. Teachers, try to understand that students have a rough life as well. Students and teachers should respect each other at CVHS, which would foster a better learning environment for everyone.

Editors-in-Chief...........................................................Stephanie Huerta Anna Talajkowski Copy Editor......................................................................Rachel Du News Editor..............................................................Anna Nguyen Opinion Editor............................................................Sally LiangFeature Editor.....................................................Callie Ross-Smith Sports Editor................................................................Laniah Lewis Arts and Entertainment Editor......................................Lauren Jelks Photo Editors........................................................Alison Dhont Jes Smith Business Manager......................................................Robbie Brandt Staff Writers: Martin Baez, Michelle Bostaph, Desiree Broome, Brittany Bracy, Neo Diesta, Caitlin Forbes, Laniah Lewis, Halley Lin-Jones, Laura Macchiavello, Alexander McIntosh, Jessica Mi, America Morales, Danika Newlin, Maia Samboy, Isaiah Siordia, Meiling Zhang Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson

Many spectacular awards for Olympian newspaper By Caitlin Forbes Staff Writer

This year has been a great one for CVHS journalism students. Throughout the year, staff members of The Olympian won 18 prestigious awards, the most ever for the CVHS newspaper. In the Journalism Education Association of Northern California annual contest, seven Olympian greats won awards for their writing or photography. Stephanie Huerta, editorin-chief, won a column writing award for her story, “A shadow will no longer be the place I hide.” Lauren Jelks, arts and entertainment editor, won a column writing award for her story, “Let’s do the bro shake with everyone.” Jes Smith, photography editor, won two awards for her pictures of a soccer game and a school blackout. Maia Samboy, staff writer, won an award with her news story, “Anatomy test stolen, students suspended.” Anna Talajkowski, editor-in-chief, won an award for her news story, “Attack reported on social media.” Laniah Lewis, sports editor, won an award with her sports story, “Trojans’

Jes Smith / Photo Editor

This is an award-winning photo of Homecoming 2014 from photo editor Jes Smith. turf raises health concerns for athletes.” Laura Macchiavello, staff writer, won an award with her sports story, “Sports support suffers, cuts coming.” From the California Teachers Association Journalism Contest, The Olympian won an award for its “What’s cool

in our school?” package, with contributions from Macchiavello, Huerta, Talajkowski, business manager Robbie Brandt, staff writer Meiling Zhang, staff writer Desiree Broome, staff writer Brittany Bracy, staff writer America Morales, and feature editor Callie Ross-

Autoshop students attain award

Students win and receive a $1,000 scholarship

Poets persuasively push prose upon peers By Laniah Lewis Staff Writer

CVHS hosted its annual poetry slam, organized by Joshua Wheeler, in the courtyard after school on May 8. Many students, competitors, teachers, and poetry judges gathered together in front of the stage to participate in this slamming event. The first round was full of many great poets whose poems had various different writing and presentation styles. Many people chose to quietly recite their poems for mood, shout them for emphasis, or even rap them for flow. The poems ranged from many different relatable subjects, including relationships, society’s harsh standards of beauty, drug abuse, and abandonment. As the slam continued, partici-

By Robbie Brandt Business Manager

Castro Valley High has received another award. But this time, it wasn’t for sports or academics, it was for automotive skills. We received the award for getting first place in the Ford Triple A auto skills competition. The competition is an event in which ten different schools from all over Northern California compete to test their knowledge of automotive technology. The competition consisted of a written test and a hands on test. For the hands on test, teams were given a Ford Fiesta with ten different problems. They each had to assess and solve the problems. The event took place at the Blackhawk automotive museum. After the competition, teams were allowed to explore the museum and had two banquets inside the museum. One of the students involved in this event was senior Darren Theard. “The experience was fun and a once in a lifetime opportu-

Smith. In the national Quill and Scroll Writing and Photo Contest, The Olympian earned six awards ranging from photography to team reporting. Staff writer Neo Diesta won an award for his editorial cartoon about UC tuition hikes.

Robbie Brandt / Business Manager

Teacher Darren Rees and students celebrate their award at the Ford Triple A auto skills competition.

nity,” said Theard. For coming in first place, students were awarded with a $1,000 scholarship to Ohio state automotive school, tools, and a very large trophy. Darren Rees, the auto teacher at CVHS, expressed his gratitude toward our students. “I'm super proud of everyone who competed in the competi-

tion and I’m happy that as a first year teacher I already have a trophy,” added Rees. The students involved should be very proud of their accomplishment. “I will definitely be fixing cars professionally, I love doing it and even if I don’t do it professionally it will always be a hobby of mine,” Theard said.

The Olympian also won a team reporting award for a package of stories about sexual assault and how it can be prevented, with contributions from Talajkowski, Jelks, city editor Rachel Du, photography editor Alison Dhont, and former students Evan Kwong, Grace Moon, Lily Carrell, and Reema Kakaday. Talajkowski and Huerta were honored for their writing and Smith won two more awards for her photography. The California Newspaper Publishers Association awarded Macchiavello with a first place plaque for her story about athletic funding, and also honored Zhang for her opinion story, “Dying with dignity is your choice.” Finally the CNPA awarded The Olympian with a general excellence certificate. Editor-in-chief Stephanie Huerta stated, “Putting together the awards is a lot of work, but it pays off when our hard working staff is recognized in their excellence in reporting and being a team.” Students at The Olympian work hard all year and demonstrate excellence, perseverance, and outstanding potential.

pants were slowly narrowed out and the competition thickened. Many poets were exhilarated to have continued forward to the next round, while others seemed disappointed to have not made the cut. Once the two rounds were completed, the judges began to tally up scores and converse among themselves to select a winner. Winley Schooler won the slam with their poems about transphobia and the struggles of being transgender. Schooler won the beautiful poetry slam trophy, a bright yellow hat with beads hanging from it. “I really didn’t expect to win. I don’t think poetry is really a thing that can or should be won. But thank you and I really hope I opened some people’s minds,” stated Schooler after winning the slam.

The Olympian June 8, 2015

Castro Valley locals, students make history with book By Brittany Bracy Staff Writer

Although Castro Valley is a small town, it is filled with many people who have lived through exciting experiences and important historical moments. CVHS students have had the pleasure over the past few years to interview and capture the stories of many Castro Valleyans. From making it big in Hollywood to playing in the major leagues, CVHS students made the compilation of interviews come to life in Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times. Broadcaster Rachel Maddow, mountain climber Marty Schmidt, Hollywood actress Anna Khaja, All Star baseball player Jason Castro and pioneer military pilots Hannah Sargent and Joellen Oslund are a few of the contributors. Not only did interviewees have a great time sharing their stories with the students, but it turned out to be a great learning experience for everyone. “It’s really cool to know that there’s famous people from Castro Valley, and it was an honor to talk to someone so important,” said

Stephanie Huerta /Editor-in-Chief

Gary Howard, Sally Liang, Anna Nguyen, Anna Talajkowski, Robbie Brandt, and Matt Johanson pose with a copy of their new book, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times.

junior Anna Nguyen, who interviewed John McPartland, former Oakland Fire Department captain. “My favorite part was learning about the evolution of technology and the values of older genera-

tions,” said junior Sally Liang, who interviewed scientist Howard Hornig. It is shocking to learn about the secrets of Castro Valley in the 1900s and important people who contrib-

San Francisco food, murals, and culture By Sally Liang Opinion Editor

The Spanish 4 class went on a field trip to San Francisco on Tuesday May 19. The trip was supervised by Spanish 4 teachers Clare Ensenat and Laurel Orduna, and its goal was to help students seeing first hand the many themes of study that they learned during this school year. Students began to understand the significance of an array of Latino cultural perspectives through aesthetic murals. On the trip, students took selftours through the alleys, which have now become popular tour spots with their innovative murals. To develop a deep understanding of the murals, students completed an activity worksheet with discussion questions to learn about the context and visual elements of Mexican wall paintings. “ I hope students will be able to see the Latino culture brought alive in this trip,” said profesora Ensenat. Along the way, many students expressed their interest in one of the most striking murals, “Blue Tears,” to learn about Mexican culture and politics through its historical context. At the same time, many of them remarked to have embraced their aesthetic perspective at understanding forms of visual art through its formal elements including line, color, movement, texture, light, shading, and subject matter. The largest and most complex

Photo Editor

The CVHS advanced choirs visited Angwin, California to compete in the Golden State Choral Festival against other schools on May 19. Golden State is a choir competition in which only the top choirs in the state are invited to compete. The CVHS chamber choir, Madrigals, won third place in

Sweet treats for an even sweeter price By Caitlin Forbes Staff Writer

Sally Liang / Opinion Editor

Murals helped educate students on their field trip.

mural the students viewed was one that muralist Diego Rivera created in San Francisco is the comprehensive marriage of the themes of Mexican artistry and US technology entitled “PanAmerican Unity.” The complex composition of “Pan-American Unity” requires explanation; Rivera used his blending of the arts of ancient Mexico, and the technology of modern United States. Portraits in the mural depicted Frida Kahlo in Tehuantepec dress, Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin in the movie The Great Dictator; Emmy Lou Packard, Rivera’s assistant, U.S. inventors Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, American artist Albert P. Ryder, and artist-inventors Samuel Morse and Robert Fulton.

“Riding on BART, observing murals in San Francisco, and eating authentic Mexican food helped me to experience what we learned in class in a whole new way,” stated senior Clarisa Kusumonegoro. “The trip wouldn’t have been the same without the food we indulged in though! Crispy churros were fantastic, the burritos dipped in salsa were amazing, and the beverages were unique and refreshing! If I were given the chance, I would definitely go again,” said Kusumonegoro. “After having taken Spanish 4, I have a greater respect for the spanish culture and language. I enjoyed the experience I gained from traveling to the Mission district of San Francisco and viewing the illustrative and creative murals,” said senior Devin Pon.

its division. The Castro Valley Acapella Choir left the competition with a fifth place trophy. This is the first time in many years that both advanced choirs placed at Golden State, and the entire choir student body is very proud. This is the last big event that the choirs will do for this school year, and for many seniors, the last time they sing with the

CVHS choir. Senior Amelia Ortiz is extremely grateful for this year’s batch of choir students. “I think everyone really cared this year,” said Ortiz. “Everyone tried hard and wanted to rehearse and do well at competition. It was a mixture of knowing the music, but also all the heart and dedication from every individual student.”

Choirs place well at Golden State By Alison Dhont

uted to historical events. One may even recognize a few hometown favorites that still live and work in town. It’s not hard to find a few words of wisdom or even advice in the unique book.

“It was an interesting experience interviewing someone famous from here, and I learned a lot,” said senior Anna Talajkowski, who interviewed former New York Yankee Kevin Maas. Other people who contributed to the book include Emily Barbieri, Jot Brown, Bruno Buti, Jake Dalton, Randy Dutra, Richard Gillam, Caryl Goodale, Paul Gudiksen, Chuck Kadlecek, Lucile Lorge, Anthony Reyes, Mathilde Schmidt and Sal Tedesco. Although it is a compilation of interviews, the students were creative and managed to make it versatile with the help of editors Gary Howard from the Castro Valley Education Foundation and Matt Johanson, CVHS history and journalism teacher. This book a must buy, not only for Castro Valley natives but also for anyone looking for an interesting read. To purchase Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times, send $25 to The Olympian at Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave, Castro Valley, CA 94546. Please include your mailing address. Copies are also available at the student web store.

A new bakery has opened up in Castro Valley. Karin Johnson Specialty Cakes and Pastries, which opened two months ago, has taken over the area previously occupied by Tom and Tina’s Deli in the Lucky’s supermarket area. When asked about the store’s success, Johnson replied, “Good! We’ve been at the farmer’s market for nine years, so it’s nice to have a store. We’re getting busier.” The bakery sells delicious treats like cinnamon buns, brown-sugar shortbreads, brownies, cookies, cakes, and other baked goods. In addition to the delicious pastries, what’s even sweeter is the price. For less than $5 you are able to buy four brown-sugar shortbreads and a cinnamon bun. “We have a lot of everything. If it doesn’t sell a lot, I don’t

make it. Currently we are making cobblers with peaches and berries; we change things by the season,” remarked Johnson while talking about the bakery’s products. The bakery also has vegan options, and sells coffee and water to accompany the sweets. The only downside to the bakery is that it is very small, so there isn’t a sitting area inside and there are only two chairs outside. Despite her bakery’s success, Johnson still sells her pastries at the weekly local farmer’s market. Johnson also buys ingredients locally. “We buy all of our produce: fruits, vegetables, and nuts from the farmer ’s market,” added Johnson. Johnson’s bakery is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

“LOL!” literally, with Dan and Phil By Callie Ross-Smith Feature Editor

Jessica Mi / Staff Writer

Minami serves the Dragon Roll with shrimp, unagi, and avocado.

Today I would like to recommend two great YouTubers to feed your rather worrying addiction. These two men, who will keep you stuck in your room curled up by your laptop, are Dan Howell and Phil Lester, and they are the nerdiest boys in the world. Howell’s YouTuber name is danisnotonfire, and Lester’s is AmazingPhil. Though the two have separate channels, they are roommates in an apartment in London and often appear on each other’s channels. Plus, they have a gaming channel that they do together. On his channel, Howell talks about his life. Talking about his seemingly endless screw-ups makes his subscribers realize that their lives are not so bad as they laugh along with him. From pushing the panic alarm at his work, which caused the store to lock down, to talking about how to avoid awkward situations

when walking on the street, Howell does it all. At the end of his videos, after talking about things that just make you cringe, Howell manages to end it every time with a “sexy endscreen dance.” He has 117 videos that are each about four minutes long, and I have watched all of them...twice. His videos give me that six pack feeling from laughing so hard, especially when he does his Internet Support Group series, where he answers any questions that are asked. Believe me, people have asked him about everything. It’s amazing to watch him cringe as he attempts to give real advice for his insane followers. Similarly, AmazingPhil talks about his life and all the crazy things that happen to him. His most recent video talks about how he’s found out he’s lactose intolerant. Instead of just telling his subscribers about it, he decides to make a game out of it where he tries to guess various milk substitutes. The options were goat, almond, soy, and lactose free milk. I love his “Things I Thought Were True That Are Not” videos. The title is pretty self

explanatory. An example of this is that he thought sea horses were mythical creatures, until he saw one on a class field trip when he was 12 to an aquarium. His friend embarrassed him by raising his hand and saying, “Phil didn’t know sea horses were real!” Lester always ends his videos with a “Draw Phil naked,” where he shows a fan made picture of him that is semi-appropriate. These nerdy British boys do it all. Any screw up that you think that is even remotely possible, they’ve done it. If Howell is describing how he fell up an escalator, Lester is talking about his optician horror story. When these two mess-ups come together and play a horror video game like Five Nights at Freddy’s on their gaming channel, the whole time you’ll be saying to your computer monitor “No! WAIT STOP! WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?!?” The thing about this train wreck though is you won’t be able to stop watching. In conclusion, if you want to not have a life, and sell your soul to two guys who love their fans and anime, drop this paper right now and go on YouTube to watch this bromance.

Sushi that will make you happy

By Jessica Mi Staff Writer

Bento boxes, sushi rolls, shrimp tempura, oh my! Make sure to come with a hungry stomach because Minami Sushi, a restaurant located at 699 Lewelling Blvd #142 in San Leandro offers all these great choices and much more. Walking into Minami, one can expect a friendly greeting and prompt service. All the waitstaff is super friendly and willing to go above and beyond to accommodate a customer’s needs. The restaurant itself is in an obscure little corner of Greenhouse Marketplace. On a usual day it’s not too busy and there shouldn’t be much of a wait. The dining experience starts off with a complimentary appetizer of edamame, soy beans, and hot tea. Appetizers such as tofu, pot stickers (gyoza), or calamari are also available to order. From there, you can opt for a bento box, a meal platter, or the

classic sushi roll. Meal platter or bento box entrees include teriyaki chicken, shrimp or vegetable tempura, chicken katsu, and many others. The entrees come with miso soup, salad, and white rice. Minami also offers a wide variety of sushi rolls anywhere from the classic California Roll to fun, spicy treats like the Kamikaze Roll. My personal favorite is the Dragon Roll, which layers unagi and avocado on top of a shrimp tempura roll. Their rolls are generously portioned and go for a great price. You can get most eightpiece rolls for under ten dollars. If you're not one for sushi rolls, you can opt for the sashimi option: fresh, raw meat or fish thinly sliced and served without the typical sushi rice block. These options are decently priced but should be recommended to only hardcore fish lovers. If raw fish makes your stomach turn, then sashimi is not for you. To finish off the meal, there are many Japanese dessert options for your sweet tooth, such as green tea ice cream or mochi. Overall, one can expect a great sushi dining experience at Minami without hurting the wallet too much.

Anniversary 1939-2014

Boys swim team wins league for ninth straight year By Jessica Mi

Staff Writer The Trojan boys varsity swim team defended its undefeated league record for the ninth consecutive year at the 2015 Western Alameda County Conference varsity championships on May 9. The boys won first place with 502 points, defeating seven other teams by over 100 points. The girls swam a close race with Alameda, and were able to take a respectable second place with 443 points. Trojan swimmers had put in months of hard work and training in preparation for this meet, and their work could be seen in their outstanding results. The meet started off with a splash in the 200 medley relay.

Trojan relay teams placed third for girls and second for boys overall, scoring some good points for the team to start with. The Trojans were strong in the 200 freestyle, with a third place finish for the girls from Jessica Mi and a first place finish for the boys from Dominic Canepa. History was made at the meet when Carson Sand broke his own league record from last year in the 200 IM, improving the record by two seconds. Jaya Garcia also swam an impressive 200 IM, placing fourth for the girls. Outstanding performances were seen in the 50 freestyle by Luciana Balica, who placed second for the girls, and Erik Clemensen, who placed first for the boys and broke the meet

Jessica Mi / Staff Writer

Freshman Sebastian Balica dives into his race. record momentarily. However, his record was re-broken and claimed only minutes later by Sand in the first leg of the 200 freestyle relay. More great swims came from Donavon Watts, who placed first in the 100 freestyle and also broke the meet record for that event. Laura Macchiavello

Track & field dominates at WACC By Danika Newlin Staff Writer

The CVHS track team won the league championships in the boys and girls division on Saturday, May 16. The boys got 134 points and the girls got 154.5 points, both groups putting Bishop O’Dowd in second. Cameron Edwards came in first in the 200 at 22.04 seconds, and second in the 100 and long jump. Aaron Jones placed first in the 400 at 50.37 and second, behind Edwards in the 200. Finally, Carter Mackey came in first in the 800 at 2:00.73 minutes, and placed second in the 1,600. The boys team also came in

first in the 400 relay at 42.75 and first in the 1,600 relay at 3:25.93. The girls performed as well as the boys, winning the league as well. Maiya Hutchinson placed first in the 800 at 2:23.58. Allanah Lee came in first for the 300 hurdles at 47 seconds. Lastly, Kennedy Jones placed first in the long jump and the triple jump. The girls also placed first in the 400 relay at 48.44 and second in the 1,600 relay, behind San Leandro. The boys and girls both placed well in the NCS Bayshore Championships on May 23. Edwards did well in the 100

and 200 again, placing first at 11.24 and 22.06. Randall LeBlanc came in first in pole vaulting at 13-0. Mackey also placed second in the 1600 at 4:25.50. The boys came in second in the 400 and 1600 relays behind Saint Mary’s and James Logan. The boys team came in third with 69 points in the championship. The girls team finished fourth with 70 points, letting Bishop O’Dowd take third. Tenia Landrum placed first in the 100 at 12.33 and also first in the long jump. Lee came second in the 300 hurdles at 46.23 and Jones, once again, placed first in the triple jump.

also did well in her 100 freestyle, coming in third place for the girls. The Trojans really shined during the freestyle relays, where the talent and depth of the team really showed. Both Castro Valley 200 freestyle relay teams took first place. The girls’ team just barely missed the meet

record by .17 seconds. The Trojan boys team’s real strength lies in the 100 breast. In that race, first, second, fourth, and eighth places were all claimed by Trojan swimmers: Sand, Watts, Brian Corbett, and Anthony Chew, respectively. Sand once again defeated his old meet record and improved it this year by two seconds. The girls’ team finished strong with a first place finish in the 400 freestyle relay, scoring the final points for the team. “Across the board, everybody dropped time. It was a really good meet, as usual,” said Coach Orin Bentley. “I’m proud that all my teammates practiced and worked hard throughout the season,” said captain Olivia Wallace.

Spartans slay Trojans at NCS

By Martin Baez

Staff Writer Our CVHS varsity baseball team went on to play the De La Salle Spartans in the first round of the North Coast Section (NCS), in a one game elimination tournament in which the Trojans got defeated 6-0 in seven innings at the Spartans’ field on May 26. The Trojans went into the game with a positive attitude, but it wasn’t enough to steal a win from the Spartans. The Spartans scored a run in the fourth inning with two outs, as a solid ground ball

got past the third baseman and shortstop. In the next innings, De La Salle got five more runs as the Trojans made some errors. With only two hits in the game, it was hard for the Trojans to get a run. The closest they got scoring was when left fielder, Robert Brue, hit a fly ball towards right center field and the center fielder bobbled off his glove. However, CVHS couldn’t capitalize. This marks the last game of a terrific season for our Trojans, who had a record of 17-8.

Sp e ct a c u l a r Sp o r ts St a rs

Skyler Bowersmith, freshman

Terrance Tsang, sophomore

Skyler Bowersmith played his first year of high school baseball this year. Bowersmith was described by coach Mitch Kim as an athletic and generous kid who is willing to do anything for the team. When he started to play at five, he knew that baseball was his sport. “I was good at it and couldn’t get enough of it,” stated Bowersmith. Asking most ballplayers who their role model is, they will usually say another athlete’s name, but not Bowersmith. “My role model is my dad because he works hard so that I can do the stuff I love like baseball and fishing,” added Bowersmith.

Terrance Tsang is a varsity tennis player for CVHS. He has only been playing for just under a year but has already proven to be a strong competitor on the tennis court. Although tennis is an individual sport, he enjoys playing doubles because of the excitement of more competition. With helpful teammates, and plenty of room for growth in the sport, Tsang hopes for a good season. “I just want get better at the game, and have good sportsmanship,” said Tsang.

Marya Ornelas, junior

Joshua Warren, senior

Marya Ornelas plays on the girls varsity softball team under coach Marie Gray. The team has had an undefeated season and won the Queen of the Mountain tournament this year. Ornelas likes how the sport is so versatile and exciting. Ornelas loves that softball is a team sport where everyone has to pitch in to get a win. “It’s a full team effort, especially our team. I like how close we are and we are all really good friends,” added Ornelas. She hopes to win NCS and believes that her team has the talent to do so.

Joshua Warren has been playing for CVHS since his freshman year and is now starting at third base for our varsity baseball team. Warren started playing when he was six years old and then he fell in love with it. “I love how analytical the game is and how there are millions of little things in it,” stated Warren. He loves looking back and seeing how much all his hard work has paid off. Warren is hoping the varsity baseball team qualifies for NCS. Next year he will be attending Saint Mary’s and trying out for the baseball team as a walk on.

The Olympian June 8, 2015

District increases athletic funding

By America Morales Staff Writer

The CVUSD has agreed to begin a three-year process to replenish athletic funding for the middle schools and CVHS. Due to increasing costs and declining donations and fundraisers, the district will distribute $50,000 among Canyon, Creekside, and CVHS athletic programs for the 2015-2016 school year. “We recognize that the $50,000 will not cover the costs of the programs, but it is a start,” said Superintendent Jim Negri. Due to the budget in the 2009-2010 school year, the board reduced funding for K-12 athletics by 50 percent, and in 2010-2011 eliminated all athletic funding in order to maintain a balanced budget and minimize staff layoffs and other program reductions. In addition to athletics, there were also reductions in class sizes, maintenance, and supplies. Because the district budget no

longer funded the operation of K-12 athletic programs, middle and high school athletic programs had to become self-funded through voluntary donations and fundraising. California law states that schools and districts cannot charge students to participate in the athletic program if the district budget does not fund the program. As a result, schools now ask for a voluntary donation per student per sport, between $225-$350 at CVHS. The money raised from donations, fundraising, and gate receipts has not always generated enough revenue to cover the costs of athletic programs. Initially, donations and fundraising helped to meet the costs, but income has started to be reduced because the same parents and small businesses in Castro Valley are constantly being asked to donate every year. Athletic Boosters and individual teams are “burned out” from fundraising and donating.

Each year the cost of athletic programs rises due to cost increases in transportation, officials, league fees, coaching stipends, and security. To begin, the process will focus on addressing coaching stipends with the possibility of increasing the amount after the state’s budget is adopted in June. In addition, principals and staff members are working with the school community to find ways of reducing costs and increasing revenue for athletic programs. Of the $50,000 from CVUSD, $30,000 will go into the CVHS athletic funding account, meaning that the money will not be distributed among individual teams. Instead, it will only be used as needed. “We need a lot more money to fully fund the CVHS athletic program which is $300,000 per year. We are still faced with having to come up with a lot more money on our own,” stated athletic director Andy Popper.

CVHS adds SLC for tech students By Maia Samboy Staff Writer

CVHS will be adding a new Small Learning Community (SLC), the Information and Communication Technologies Academy (ICT), to its campus starting in the 2015-2016 school year. ICT will prepare students for career pathways in the booming technology industry. Like the two other SLCs currently offered to CVHS students (the Drama, Art and Design Academy and the Health and Biotechnology Academy), ICT is highly specialized and focused on creating a tight-knit community of dedicated learners. It is designed for those interested in pursuing a career having to do with information and communication, technology, and other related fields. Because the information and communication technology industry is fast-growing and offers high wages, ICT is expected to be extremely popular. Unfortunately, this

valuable SLC is only available to incoming freshmen. ICT students will be grouped by English class, and will have several required courses including Introduction to Computer and Information, Technology/Web Page Design, CISCO Advanced Information Technology and AP Computer Science. In their ICT focused English classes, students will have the opportunity to integrate more technology into their learning experience, participate in ICT themed field trips, and undertake technology-based assignments. CISCO, an ICT industry giant, designed the course CISCO Advanced Information Technology that all ICT students must take in their sophomore year. It is meant to give students experience with the tools and programs they will be using once they enter a career involving advanced technology. “[ICT] will make you more prepared for a job in the com-

puter world, and it prepares you for ICT and networking CISCO certification,” said counselor Jesus Rivera. “This lets students get a job in technology right after high school.” Preparation for CISCO certification is a very unique opportunity for high school students. It is a well-recognized certification in the world of technology and makes students employable immediately after they graduate. It also gives students a unique edge when applying to college. ICT prepares students for a wide range of careers including analyst programmer, chief information officer, technical sales representative, web developer, and database systems administrator. Because modern technology is now flooding all career paths, ICT is also beneficial to students looking at careers in the fields of marketing, entertainment, financial services, fashion, engineering, and many more.

will provide 11 more chrome carts for the campus. Right now, the ratio of classrooms to carts is 14:1, but with the new additions, that ratio will become 4:1 “AB86 provided for Common Core Implementation Funds to be provided to all public schools in order to assist with the adoption of materials and transition to the Common Core instruction method,” said Director of Technology Services John Perry. One Chrome cart costs $14,000, and students are advised to be careful with the devices. Students use the Chrome-

books in class for many assignments such as research projects, online studies and in-class essays. A teacher can sign up in advance for a cart which holds 36 chromebooks. The Chromebooks are convenient for both teachers and students, especially since grading is often done online. Unfortunately, slots to reserve the carts fill up quickly, leaving some teachers to give their students alternate assignments that do not require the chromebooks. With the addition of the new Chrome carts, students will have more regular access to technology.

More chromebooks for classrooms

CVHS gets 11 more chrome carts By Brittany Bracy Staff Writer

Although the Google Chromebooks are fairly new to CVHS, students may have noticed that there aren’t very many to go around. CVHS currently has 14 Chrome carts, and next year Common Core Implementation Funds provided by California Assembly Bill 86 (AB86)

Legacy Project helps CVHS classrooms By Halley Lin-Jones Staff Writer

The student-run organization, the “Legacy Project,” held its donation period for its annual supply drive from May 18 through May 29. Envelopes in third period classes collected monetary donations, while larger boxes for supplies were located in every hallway. The group of students involved helped raise money in order to better supply classrooms with basic supplies such as pens, paper, and glue sticks. Teachers were given lists where they could request the supplies that they needed for their classrooms. “Teachers receive such a small budget to spend on supplies for their classrooms, and they often end up paying out of their own pockets for supplies,” said Eleanor Kaj, a student involved in organizing the project. The project was started last year by former CVHS student Stephen Woodbury. Now, there are several clubs all helping to make the project successful. “The main club involved in the Legacy Project for the past two years has been the Tabletop Gaming Club, but it wouldn’t have been possible without help from pretty much all the other clubs getting the word out,” said Kaj. Many other clubs, such as the Smart Energy Club, have also stepped up to help directly with the management aspects of the organization. “This is a way for students to give back to the teachers,” said

Dr. Deborah Yager, chemistry teacher and advisor for the Smart

“This is a way for students to give back.

Deborah Yager Smart Energy Club advisor

”

Energy Club. This is only the second year that the project has been collecting money. In their first year, donations reached around $800 total. The students involved believe that there is still room for expansion of this project in the coming years. The hope is that eventually, teachers will not have to pay out of their own salaries to obtain important supplies. “There is always room for improvement! We would like more teacher involvement with advertising and more clubs to be on board,” said Laila Birznieks, a student who is helping to lead the project. Although there are a lot of details still in the works, the project is already helping to successfully equip more classrooms with basic necessities. “The Legacy Project is a chance to give back to the teachers for all they do for us over the years, and every donation is appreciated,” said Kaj.