Page 2: Suppport teachers who may not work at graduation VOLUME 61, ISSUE 10

MAY 11, 2018

Page 6: Tennis player Edward Wang plays above and beyond

Page 5: Adios a la Senora Clare Ensenat

WE ARE BORN TO SEEK THE TRUTH!

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Students create change: protests, vigils and more By Derek Neyer Staff Writer

Recent shootings and threats have left students anxious and uncomfortable at school, though some students are trying to change that. During the week of April 16 to 20, students from the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and Girls Learn International (GLI) organized a series of events including a candlelight vigil putting attention on mental health problems and school violence. In the aftermath of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, students have staged walkouts and protests as well as conciliatory events like those at CVHS. CVHS students staged a walkout on March 14, protesting what was perceived as a lack of governmental response to the attack in Parkland. Many students vented their frustrations with those in power and their resistance to gun control.

Derek Neyer / Staff Writer

Students come together at the candlelight vigil to sing and mourn the victims of gun shootings. While in many places across the nation another walkout was staged on the anniversary of the shooting at Columbine, April 20, frustrations at CVHS

were dealt with through activities encouraging empathy and communication. On April 16, students were invited to make friendship

ALICE changes lockdown ways By Olga Buzueva Staff Writer

A new lockdown procedure was put into place at CVHS on Thursday, April 12. This procedure is called “ALICE,” which is an acronym for “Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate.” The steps the students follow will depend on the situation at hand and what measures would yield the best results. Students will now have to make some independent decisions in order to defend themselves. “I like it. It feels like we’re actually doing something,” said sophomore Patrick O’Farrell. The new procedure was set into place as school gun violence across the nation creates growing concern. ALICE gives a bigger variety of response than the previous lockdown procedure. In the

event of a shooter entering the campus, the situation will be in flux, not set in stone. The greater amount of instruction included in ALICE allows staff and students to be more prepared for a multitude of scenarios that can occur during a school shooting. ALICE gives directions on how to react in specific situations. One of the most crucial things is to stay alert and informed by paying attention and listening to any intercom announcements. If necessary, students are to lock and barricade the doors to keep the potential threat out. If possible, an evacuation of certain classrooms might be ordered as long as they are a safe distance from the intruder. And if an intruder were to find a way into the classroom, the students are supposed to try and distract the shooter with noise and movement,

thereby limiting the accuracy of the intruder’s aim. “I think that it’s very helpful to be informed and able to make wise decisions,” said teacher Ashley Smith. Before this new procedure was put in place, in the event of a lockdown, students were simply supposed to lock themselves in a classroom and hide. While this could conceal their location for the time being, they had no instructions on what to do if the shooter were to discover them. “I prefer ALICE because it’s more realistic and because it gives power to the people,” said sophomore Patrick Lyons. While the uncertain chance of a school shooting looms over the heads of students and staff, the new ALICE procedure can hopefully give the school body a greater chance of survival in the case of a crisis.

bracelets in the gym, and on April 18 organizers led a therapy circle to discuss people’s thoughts and feelings. A candlelight vigil was held

for victims of school violence on April 20, which included singing and pictures of the deceased. Grace Boyd, public relations officer for GLI, expressed why she didn’t want CVHS to put on another walkout. “Not everyone at our school supports gun control. That’s why we wanted to focus on events that were more mental health related and made CVHS more of a community,” she said. Some students who attended the activities were relieved to see a respectful dialogue about school violence. “It makes me hopeful we can have more discussions in the future and take action to ensure our safety at school,” said sophomore Marya Gilbert. The promotion of free conversation was a large part of the activities hosted by GLI and MSA, who invited administrators and student resource officers to participate. Many students felt that the activities were a good way to vent feelings and promote mental health at the school.

Freshmen and juniors claim Powderpuff win

Bilal Messaoudi/ Staff Writer

Senior Maddie Lippi advances the ball with juniors and freshmen hot on her trail.

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In support of teachers sitting out graduation event

Students hope for teacher attendance

Editorial: Tears are flying along with their robes, students are ready to shoot off out for the life outside of high school. They want to say a last goodbye to the teachers; The students look around, but they’re nowhere in sight. This year, teachers may refuse to work at graduation because it is not part of their contract. Castro Valley Teachers Association (CVTA) is concerned about being required to perform extra work for free. CVHS administration

wants teachers to work at the ceremony because they have always done so before, the duty

is listed in the staff handbook, and it shows respect to students.

We at The Olympian recognize the importance of following the contract. Teachers

as I enter this new chapter of my life. But I wish I realized those big bills start the year before college, when you become a senior. What they don’t tell you is how much you students need for senior year expenses. For starters, the average traditional high school yearbook costs around $65-100 and a senior parking permit is $50. Senior portraits run around $55 without the cost of ordering wallet sizes or any type of frame size that your mom wants displayed on the shelf. Applications for CSUs are $55 and UCs run $75. If you decide to apply to a private university or anything out of state, that could be well over $100. The average senior ap-

plies to four to seven schools. It’s likely that your spring break consists of touring those schools which could be as much as $1,500 not including outside activities. Homecoming tutus and creative outfits also add up if you decide to participate in dance or skit. A cap and gown costs around $80, without all the tassels you may want to purchase. Outings like dances, football games, or club events add up with all the gas, insurance, and food you buy monthly. And we can't forget Senior Ball. Essential to many students, costs range from $500 to $3,000. Of course it depends how much your dress is, the shoes, hair appoint-

ments, mani/pedi, bus ticket, admission ticket, makeup, dinner, etc. In total, my costs round up to $7,500 in 11 months. However, costs could be cut. In reality, not everyone has a car, wants to go straight to a four year university, or participates in outside events. At the beginning of the year, you should sit with your parents and budget out what your biggest goals for the year are. The most common advice you’ll get from any senior is to “participate in everything possible, spend time with your friends, start early on applications, and watch out for senioritis.” Yet, I wish someone would’ve warned me to at least decide on what

would also like the district to pay more for benefits as health care costs are going up and the Bay Area in general. Actually, teachers and the district are negotiating a change that would increase health benefits and require teachers to work at graduation this year. Even if the teachers do not attend, graduation will happen and it is unfair for the students who want to cherish their last formal day the best they can. Substitutes or parents may be able swap in, however they will not be able to replace the bonds they created as students and teachers. The Olympian nevertheless believes it is reasonable for the teachers to not “work” at graduation. It is a way to pressure the district to provide more pay and benefits to those who shape the students’ future.

Senior year is more expensive than people think

By Shaelly Adams

Staff Writer If you’re a junior, you’ve probably thought about scholarships or maybe your parents have already started a savings account for the future. I’ve always been nervous about those big bills coming my way

PHOTOpinions

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I think if they don’t want to go then they shouldn’t be forced to, but I know that graduation is a huge event and the school needs all the help it can get.

Arianna Standish senior

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I believe that many teachers here would rather watch some of their memorable and favorite students graduate, rather than have to work and not truly enjoy the moment.

Sonia Espiritu senior

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my financial wants and needs should be. “Senior year is a good time to burst out that money hidden for a rainy day. Start saving up your cash,” said senior Matt Betti. Personally, having a parttime job throughout the year forced me to learn time management skills, the value of a dollar, and even building a strong work ethic and communication skills at school. Yes, senior year sounds expensive, though balancing your money, school, work, and social life will live up to your expectations of senior year and all be worth it. I promise the draining year will benefit you in the future.

How do you feel about teachers not working graduation?

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I totally support the teachers and what they’re trying to do, because I think that teachers are really undervalued in our society in general.

Lauren Fung senior

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Most teachers do want to attend. We object to the district assuming we would help out during unpaid time, because they were supposed to negotiate with us.

Gerry Cox teacher

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I don’t mind doing it, I just want to know if I’m required to do it or not. Kayla Dailey teacher

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The Olympian May 11, 2018

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Town tries to outgrow racist past Government gassing up

By Layne Johnson Staff Writer

Castro Valley has had a past that is riddled with racism. The Ku Klux Klan had a plan to keep the town white. The Klan even held rallies to recruit new members in 1979. An unofficial policy was enforced to forbid African Americans from becoming homeowners until 1957. The Klan also distributed a newsletter in 1992, calling for a “Negro Watch” on Castro Valley Boulevard. Today, 56 percent of Castro Valley is white, 26 percent is Asian, 6 percent is African American, and the remaining is mixed or other based on the website AreaVibes. The Olympian dedicated an issue to race in 2005.

Topics included racial slurs, racist incidents, unity bracelets to promote tolerance, and student comments about the racial tension within the school. A student was quoted saying “Castro Valley is the most racist place in the East Bay. Black people don’t want to live here and I don’t want to live here. I don’t know why my parents moved here.” I’m sure that comment resonates with many of the African American students at CVHS. I think CVHS is slowly progressing. This is my first year at this school but I have heard horror stories about last year’s graffiti and other race related incidents. Obviously, this town and school are a lot more welcoming and diverse now compared to how it was in 1957. There is still a ways to go but we are taking steps in the right direction. “I think the school in general has made a lot of efforts to try to diversify our curriculum although I think there is a lot of room still for growth. If you compare what we were reading 13 years ago to now, there are a lot of different faces and histories included in that. I think we’re trying to be more

conscious of how we address race and gender equity on campus. I think steps are

“ Obviously,

this town and school are a lot more welcoming and diverse now compared to how it was in 1957.

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being taken,” stated Afrocentric U.S. History teacher Kevin Batchelor. With clubs like BSU, MSA, and Latinos United, along with classes like Afrocentric, this school is more diverse than others. “We aren't done but I do believe that people are thinking about it and wanting to improve things,” said Batchelor.

Letters to the Editor

The Olympian shares comments submitted through www.cvhsolympian.com below. We also accept letters delivered to cvhsolympian@gmail. com or room 113.

Re: “Frau Andersen is the teacher of the year” by Hayate Moro What a thrill to have Barbara in our lives and receiving this honor. She is indeed amazing… and a wonderful mother to our two youngest grandchildren! Susan Andersen Re: “Teachers carrying guns do not guarantee student safety” by The Olympian I think that you need to take a step back and realize that no one is talking about arming all teachers with guns, which would just be insane and unrealistic. The debate is about if teachers who are already certified to carry a concealed weapon should be able to. I think that this is a positive step in the right direction, getting a concealed carry license is difficult and requires renewal anyway so what’s the harm in allowing them to bring the weapon on school grounds? They are already trained and concealing the weapon so no one will know if they have one or not. Ethan Dinapoli

Re: “School vaping crisis creates concern and crackdown” by Andrew Watanabe The vaping issue has gotten so bad that a security guard followed me into the bathroom, which was very awkward because I just wanted to go pee. Andy Jerome

and can’t because it’s closed due to people smoking in the bathroom. Nohelia Torres

Re: “Gun proposal falls and fails in student poll” by Milagros Aquino I think giving teachers guns is a horrible idea because I honestly don’t trust a majority of these teachers and don’t know their capabilities. I don’t want to depend on them with a gun for my safety, especially if they are responsible for pulling the trigger. Freshta Ehsan

Re: “Teachers carrying guns do not guarantee student safety” by The Olympian Teachers having a gun in the classroom is honestly so unrealistic. It wouldn’t help any situation whatsoever. If anything it’s just going to make things a lot worse. Teachers don’t want to have guns in the classroom and they don’t want to be spending time learning how to use them. At least from what I’ve heard most say. But it’s just not a good idea and I believe it’s going to cause a great number of conflicts. Gianna Delgado

Re: “Teachers carrying guns do not guarantee student safety” by The Olympian I don’t think letting teachers have guns would prevent school shootings but it would make kids feel unsafe. Brianna Au

Re: “Fashion Forward: students create clothing lines” by Layne Johnson I admire the idea of expressing yourself through your passion. Designing clothes is super cool and a great way to get money. Jazlene Trinidad

Re: “School vaping crisis creates concern and crackdown” by Andrew Watanabe It’s good that we’re realizing it’s a problem but honestly vaping in school is stupid because it’s affecting every single person who needs to go to the restroom

Re: “Learning foreign languages helps me see the world” by Stella Ho Its pretty cool to learn new languages but wouldn’t it be a struggle to keep up and make sure you’re not mixing all languages in one? Carime Martinez

to do some major environmental damage

By Bilal Messaoudi Staff Writer

The Trump administration announced a reduction on mileage-per-gallon fuel standards for cars and other vehicles. These regulations put in during the Obama-era set standards for the amount and type of exhaust that cars could release and required cars and trucks to get 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Trump’s administration believes the Obama standards are too stringent and unfair to car manufacturers, despite saving money for consumers at the pump. “The Obama administration's determination was wrong,” said Scott Pruitt, head of the Environmental Protection Agency. However, many environmental groups are against the proposed idea to remove the existing gas mileage standards. The current standards have been proven to save consumers money on gas and will lead to increased prices if they get repealed. In addition, the burning of more gasoline will put people’s health at risk. Despite making plans to

revise the current gas mileage standards, the Republican Party has made no effort to put in a new plan to regulate the fuel standards for vehicles. This can be seen as yet another example of the Trump administration repealing Obama-Era policies, such as the Obama administration rule protecting funding for Planned Parenthood and other organizations, as well as the president pulling the country out of the Paris Climate Agreement. The main source of resistance to this proposition

is the numerous environmental groups, who predict increased greenhouse gas emissions and more gas consumption if the standards become relaxed. Cutting fuel efficiency regulations would result in detrimental effects on people’s health and increase the damage taking place on our environment from carbon dioxide. The U.S. government should be taking steps to reduce this nation’s footprint, but instead is planning to continue and worsen the damage.

The Olympian is a publication of the journalism class at Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546. © 2018

Editors-in-Chief..................................................................Mia Babasyan Hannah Johansson News Editor..............................................................Stella Ho Opinion Editor............................................................Emily Salazar Feature Editor.....................................................Wailea Siler Sports Editor................................................................Pau Gutierrez Arts and Entertainment Editor......................................Da Di Photo Editor........................................................Beruk Tsegaye Video Editor........................................................Mara Moysen Business Manager........................................Audrey Manzano Online Editor..............................................Ria Panjwani Staff Writers: Shaelly Adams, Sam Ahm, Milagros Aquinos, Olga Buzueva, Layne Johnson, Bilal Messaoudi, Hayate Moro, Amina Moummad, Derek Neyer, Nathanial Ortiz, Jenny Pham, Young So, Rachel Stein, Thomas Vergara, Andrew Watanabe, Katelyn Wong, Emma Yin Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson

4 Brendis Recule brings Library and auto receive new murals unique style to school

Andrew Watanabe / Staff Writer

Dragon School students (right) help create the new mural outside the library. By Andrew Watanabe Staff Writer

Brendis Recule models his outfit in a field a flowers.

By Layne Johnson Staff Writer

Self-expression: that is what fashion means to senior Brendis Recule. He describes his style as a compilation of throwback and current trends. Most high school students don’t feel like waking up early in the morning, getting dressed, or coming to school, but Recule does in stride. In the morning he says to himself, “You know what, I want to look good.” That affirmation is what motivates him to be a trendsetter. His love for fashion and

style was ignited by his mother who would design and make clothes. A go-to outfit of his is a tank, jeans, outerwear, and accessories. Rihanna, ASAP Rocky, his own dad, and the legend himself, Prince, are his style icons. Recule often shops at ASOS and thrift shops to find unique items. After high school, Recule plans to move to New York to study and focus on modeling. His goal is to be part of the fashion industry. Be sure to add Brendis Recule on Instagram @brend.ii and on Twitter @cancereyes.

Splashes of paint and streaks of color swim on the walls of the CVHS library and auto shop. Students expressed their ideas with murals including koi fish and words of encouragement. Students from CVHS collaborated with Dragon School, an Oakland nonprofit group which focuses on art and community. “Everyone is invited. We don’t care, it’s not isolated, just us,” said Sage Loring, the executive director of Dragon School. The styles of the artists are unique and diverse, which follows the school’s values. “When people come meet us, they see we got Chinese, we got Filipino, two white

dudes, they see that we are legit, and that it really is just about the art and community,” said Loring. CVHS librarian Dana Adams orchestrated the event. It was one of her dreams to get a mural painted here at CVHS by the Dragon School. She found out about Dragon School while working at an art school for younger children. “This is only the beginning. (Principal Blaine) Torpey said he wanted to do something like this every year, and I really hope we can make it happen,” said Adams. The students and artists, Steven Anderson and Lauren Aragon, worked together to pick the colors and get everything painted. They used a variety of mediums and techniques from stencils to

finger paint. Picking the colors and mixing some together gave everything a unique vibe and allowed the students to create and paint their ideas, passions, and themselves on the walls of the school. “The students were great. They helped pick out the paint and we got to see them express their ideas and really put themselves out their showing their uniqueness,” said Aragon. Everyone involved was elated that they had the opportunity to participate in such an creative event that allowed for new outlets and a different experience. “I like doing murals because it’s a different canvas. Compared to a smaller portrait or a piece of paper, this is more permanent,” expressed junior Britney Fu.

Talented student actors breathe “Guys and Dolls” to life on stage

The cast of “Guys and Dolls” sings and dances on stage. Emma Yin / Staff Writer

Maddy Albright performs a solo as the lead actress. By Emma Yin Staff Writer

Award winning musical “Guys and Dolls” took the stage at CVHS from April 20 to April 29. Together, student actors, singers and musicians worked hard to bring the story of gambling and love to life. Students performed in a rigorous rehearsal schedule and made many sacrifices to perfect the show. “I was so lucky to have the

opportunity to take part in this production; while it can be a lot of work, the musical was well worth it and extremely rewarding,” said lead actress Maddy Albright. On the Friday and Saturday performances, the curtain lifted at 7:00 pm, and Sundays offered matinee performances starting at 2:00 p.m. All shows were performed at the Center for the Arts. The “Guys and Dolls” storyline featured a dramatic

combination of crap games and elopements that kept audience members on the edge of their seats for the entirety of the performance. “‘Guys and Dolls” is a classic show that is fun for everyone,” said instrumental music director Steven Hendee. “It’s got so many great songs in it, everyone will want to sing along,” he said. Actors’ portrayal of characters in “Guys and Dolls” was directed by drama teacher David Judson and dances were choreographed by Katherine Stein.

“The musical was very fun and fulfilling,” said principal violin Jonathan Huang. “It’s been a great pleasure to be

Emma Yin / Staff Writer

able to work with wonderful and talented actors, crew, and musicians.”

THE OLYMPIAN

May 11, 2017

5

Choir sweeps Golden State Choral Competition By Nathanial Ortiz and Ria Panjwani Hands locked, students said their last prayers as the announcer paused in the moments before Castro Valley became the best choir program in California. Flurries of students in red and blue ran down the aisle, sobbing and embracing, in disbelief as they made history. The CVHS A Cappella and Madrigals choirs stole two first place trophies for the first time ever at the 2018 Northern California Golden State Choral Competition. CVHS has never won first place in either small choir nor large choir categories before and the school became one of only three to ever win both categories in the same year. “Winning this competition proved that all of our hard work was worth it. This year we made both a family and history, and getting first place together was the absolute perfect way to end it,” reflected co-choir president Maddy Albright. The Golden State Choral Competition is the most prestigious competition for high school choirs. Choirs from all over Northern California

A Capella and Madrigals celebrate their first place victories on the risers at Pacific Union College. come to Pacific Union College each year to compete. Only ten choirs are invited to attend and each performs three songs. Madrigals, the CVHS small choir, was the first to perform of the day. The singers gracefully began their set with “Ave Maria” by Robert Parsons, the

Ensenat dice adios to Spanish classes

required piece. Then, they transitioned into “O Sapientia” by Tadeja Vulc, and finished their set with “Go, Lovely Rose” by Eric Whitacre. A Cappella, the large choir, was last to perform of the day. The singers began their set with “Christus Factus Est”

composed by Anton Bruckner, and followed it with “Dirshu Adonai” by Kenneth/Kirsten Lampl, and “Kanaval” by Sydney Guillaume. At the end of all of the performances, an awards ceremony took place. Students and choir teacher Laryssa Sadoway now wonder

what this win does for the program going forward. “It means that we are held to the standard of being the top choir in the state. It sets a standard for the level of music education in future years. It starts a legacy of superior performance at the school, and it makes all of us, myself included, wonder what’s next for the program,” Sadoway said. Seniors in the choir program begin to reflect on the short time they have left in program as this win for them is their final time performing in this competition. “As a senior, that was my third and final Golden State. It was so memorable and an emotional roller coaster, but I am so glad that it happened the way it did, and I will be extremely sad to leave this program,” said co-choir president Luka Uchiyama. “Choir has given me a place to grow and meet friends throughout high school and I’ve come to love it so much,” said Clark Smith, a senior in Madrigals and A Cappella. “I will miss more than anything else in high school, singing beautiful music with friends day in and day out. Music is like medicine for my brian and really brightens my day.”

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Have you seen litter on the street and wanted to do something about it? Raise awareness by posting pictures of litter you find on the mobile app Litterati, and then recycle, compost, or dispose of it!

Young So / Staff Writer

Clare Ensenat will soon retire after a 35-year career. By Young So Staff Writer

Beyond CVHS’s well-known classes and activities, there’s a panoply of teachers, ranging from the mainstream to the decidedly quirky. Clare Ensenat, a Spanish teacher, is going to leave CVHS by the end of this school year. When asked about the reason for her retirement, she laughed, “Cause I’m old!” She has had a teaching career of over 35 years. Throughout her career as a teacher, she says that the greatest experience here was the many joyous encounters and interactions with all of her students. Ensenat used to teach at Sonoma High School and

in Saudi Arabia for four years. She mentions that she loves the community and the diversity of the school, which was the reason she stayed for 29 years. Her favorite part of her career was travelling to places like Spain and Italy. She was an active member in the school’s community, and was a founding member of Padres Unidos which allows parents to interact with the school. “I’m ready to do other things,” said Ensenat. Ensenat was known as a good teacher among her students. “I liked how she used activities in order to help us learn. I liked her energy in the classroom,” said Ensenat’s student Megan O’Brien.

Join over 21,000 members and be a part of the Litterati! You can find more information @Litterati on Instagram or at www.Litterati.org.

CASTRO VALLEY SANITARY DISTRICT Effective Environmental Services since 1939 510-537-0757 | www.cvsan.org This ad was funded by DOC.

6 Coaches and alumni honored at the CV Sports Hall of Fame By Thomas Vergara Staff Writer

Ten CVHS alumni and two CVHS coaches were inducted into the Castro Valley Sports Hall of Fame on April 21. Among the alumni recognized for their excellence during the ceremony were Juan Anderson, Roderick Bobbitt, Mariah Cameron, Michael Klews, Alexis Kollias, Nick Lima Mike Proulx, Anthony Reyes and Kelsey Santisteban. Former wrester and wrestling coach Brad Vadnais and former track and cross country coach Peter Brewer were recognized as well. Brewer coached track and field and cross country at CVHS from 1985 to 2008. In those years, he led his teams to 101 Hayward Area Athletic League titles and five NCS championships. Brewer said the best part was realizing the work he and the students had put into the sport had gradually progressed both his skills as a coach and the athletes’ abilities. “The kid learned a whole lot about him or herself,” said Brewer. “I learned a little bit

Peter Brewer

Mariah Cameron

more about how to be more patient with people that needed work.” Cameron took on the challenge of balancing soccer and softball and on many occasions several other sports. During three out of four of her years at CVHS ,she was on the league championship winning team. During her senior year, Cameron and her team made it to the NCS semifinals but came just short of making the finals. Even after leaving CVHS to play soccer for the Washington State Cougars, the sisterhood that formed from her years at CVHS was strong. The following year the team won the NCS championship and Cameron’s former teammates called her

right away. “I remember the night they won a bunch of them called me to tell about it, just screaming on the phone, so there was still that camaraderie and team bonding even after I left,” said Cameron. Cameron exceled at Washington State, where she became team captain in her sophomore year and beyond. After college she went on to play in England, and is currently Switzerland’s top professional midfielder. Klews was recognized for his time as an Alameda County AllStar football player and later a member of the University of Oregon Ducks. He started during the Las Vegas Bowl game in 1997 in the Duck’s 41-13 win

Kelsey Santisteban against Air Force. He originally only joined the frosh-soph team at CVHS to be with his friends and have fun. However, it wasn’t long before varsity coach John Brosnan noticed his talent and offered him a spot on varsity. When Klews declined Brosnan’s offer, Brosnan said he didn’t really have a choice. “I’m very glad that I was pushed in that direction because obviously the opportunities and the memories that I have received are phenomenal,” said Klews. Brosnan would later recall that Klews was one of his favorite players. Santisteban made the State Meet as the NCS champion in 2010, and set CVHS records

Athletes of the Month

Michael Klews in the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters that same year. Santisteban always knew that she would run, and that she was good at it. “It was kind of something I knew ran in the family,” said Santisteban. “And during PE growing up I would always be pretty good at running. I had friends joining the track team towards the end of middle school and I just found that I really enjoyed it, and I had a knack for it and I was good at it which obviously made it more fun.” She continued her success during her years on the UC Berkeley cross country team, where she finished tenth in the NCAA Championships, the best ever for a Cal runner.

Franzen talks about her softball career By Pau Gutierrez Sports Editor

Pau Gutierrez / Sports Editor

Bailey Franzen plays center field and batted .381 last year.

It all started wirh a simple baseball game. While watching it, Bailey Franzen knew that was the sport she wanted to play. After telling her mom about it, they decided to get her into softball. Rumor has it that a man listening to their conversation told her that one day she would be a great softball player, and he was absolutely right. Franzen started her softball career in first grade. She was part of travel ball for eight years

and competed at the regional and national level, which gave her the opportunity to go to places like Huntington Beach, Reno and San Diego. “I’ve been playing with the same girls for a long time. I’ve met some of my best friends through the sport,” said Franzen when asked what she liked the most about softball. She plays center field and made a diving catch last year. Some of the teams she has played for are Castro Valley, Livermore and San Lorenzo. One of her most impressive accomplishments was making varsity during her freshman

year, the only one in her grade. She hit a home run that year, and batted .381 last year. “It’s a big commitment. It’s hard to manage everything at once and working your schedule work around practice can be challenging,” said Franzen. Although she still has a year of high school ahead of her, Franzen doesn’t plan to play softball in college, and plans to major in graphic design. One of her most important goals is to make her parents proud, whether it is academically or through sports.

Wang shows the power of tennis By Rachel Stein

Staff Writer What does top-ranked tennis player Edward Wang love most about his sport? It’s the power of the racquet. “I think my favorite thing about tennis is just hitting really satisfying shots. Kind of like getting to break things except you are not really breaking anything,” said Wang. Playing since the age of six, he attributes most of his success to long hours and lots of practice. “Before high school tennis I played in a lot of tournaments. I won a couple and have a whole rack of trophies,”

he said. Wang also played team tennis as part of a youth group at Chabot College. “We went to (Los Angeles) and we won in 2015, and we went to Fresno in 2016 and we got third,” he said. Wang is now the number one player on the CVHS varsity team, which consists of ten players. “Edward always gives advice to newer or lower ranking players who look to him as the best,” said teammate Scott Coleman. Wang credits his coaches and teammates for helping him succeed. “We play well. We usually end up placing second or third

in the league. That’s pretty nice. The community, the coaches are great. . . . We have a good time. Just, a bigger budget would be nice. Everything else is pretty great,” Wang said, adding that he would like to increase the budget to pay for better transportation and equipment, such as balls and nets. In the future, Wang hopes to play competitively in college. “I have been debating between playing casually or competitively in college, but I’d like to play competitively,” he said. “I would like to improve my national ranking and universal tennis rating.”

Jenny Pham / Staff Writer

Edward Wang swings his racket during practice.

7 “Avengers: Infinity War” excites eager, expecting fans Marvel celebrates ten years of movie series By Wailea Siler Feature Editor

“Avengers: Infinity War” picks up right where “Thor: Ragnarok” left off. And by the colons necessitated both titles, it’s clear just how far the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has come. With 19 movies and three on the way within the next year, Marvel Studios is dominating the film industry. “Infinity War” serves as the pinnacle of the past ten years of these massive productions. The film is ambitious in that it attempts to do something never done before: “Infinity War” merges the storylines of 76 various characters in the MCU. This has potential to be amazing, but it also risks not doing any of the characters justice, as they’re all crammed into two and a half

Da Di / A&E Editor

hours of plot. While this issue is present throughout the span of the movie, it’s clouded over by the sheer excitement of watching your favorite heroes interact in unlikely groupings. As a longtime Marvel fan and major superhero nerd, I found myself ecstatically squirming around in my seat, squealing as

I watched an exchange between Shuri and Bruce Banner. To me, the MCU has never seemed fragmented, but this movie completely cements the fact that all of these people, along with all of their individual plots, exist within the same universe. And, as I observed in this movie, Marvel Studios is incredibly

“Monster Hunter” fulfills dream New video game masters the RPG By Da Di

A&E editor

Many young kids dream to be heroes who go out from a village with equipment, kill monsters, and protect their world. In reality, we all know it’s just a dream, because we do not have monsters and we have no power. However, maybe now, we can experience how it feels to be a monster hunter. “Monster Hunter: World” is an action roleplaying game developed and published by Capcom in January as a part of the “Monster Hunter” series on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox. “Monster Hunter: World” is a third-person perspective game, set in

a unnamed world separated into two parts: the Old World and New World. Players control a hunter that they can design and name themselves who will go the Old World, which is filled with massive

“Maybe now, we

can experience how it feels to be a monster hunter.

”

monsters they can fight with a weapon. Players can choose what kind of weapon they want to use, like a sword, knife, shield, hammer, bow, etc. Different weapons determine what kind of skills and abilities hunters can have, and sometimes the armor and the weapon match together, which can lead to beneficial abilities for hunters. Players need to craft these weapons and armors from the materials they have, which come from

hunters’ biggest enemy: the monsters. The part that amazed me the most is that there is actually a living ecosystem, which is unlike most of RPGs (roleplaying games) I have played before. No matter how many monsters you kill, it won’t affect the game world. Instead, in “Monster Hunter: World,” if a massive Elder Dragon is killed in a specific area, players will see more of a weak monster in the area because there is no longer a powerful predator living there. Sometimes when they are running through the jungle, players might see a large dragon eating a smaller one, or two monsters fighting with each other. All of these additions makes the game feel more alive and like a real world. So far, “Monster Hunter: World” is both the most discussed PS4 game of 2018, and most shared PS4 game of 2018. IGN has rated MHW as 9.5/10.

talented at curating its everexpanding world. While there are a plethora of different characters--heroes, antiheroes, and villains alike-

-some stood out from the rest. Don’t let the name fool you: “Avengers: Infinity War” is a story about Thanos, the big, purple Titan determined to balance the universe through genocide. The movie invites the audience to understand his complexities and inner conflicts, and much of the time is spent developing his own storyline. Another standout character was Thor, who also received a lot of screen time. He is seen on his own mission, with the aid of Rocket Raccoon and a very angsty teenage Groot. While his immediate isolation beginning after the first few scenes of the film made his journey seem like a separate movie at times, Thor ultimately became one of the biggest heroes of the story. “Infinity War” isn’t only ambitious in that it attempts to interlace the narratives of 76 different characters, but it is also bold in its ending. I can confidently say that, judging by the audible gasps and the stifled sobs in the theater, everyone is going to have a difficult time waiting for the fourth Avengers film slated for 2019, me included.

“A Quiet Place” is packed with emotion By Katelyn Wong Staff Writer

“A Quiet Place” is a new type of post-apocalyptic, horror film packed with emotion and a powerful storyline around topics of family and sacrifice. Director John Krasinski plays the father and co-stars among Emily Blunt who plays the mother. Additionally, the couple has three children including Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds, who is deaf in real life. She greatly helped with allowing the movie to accurately portray the life of a deaf adolescent. Ironically, the movie contains very minimal dialogue due to the fact that the family has to stay to quiet in order to survive. Throughout the entire film, they communicate using sign language and walk everywhere as quietly as possible in order to avoid the alien creatures that kill their prey at any sound made.

One of the most most heartwrenching scenes in the movie is when the young son in the family creates multiple loud noises with his toy rocket, inevitably leading to the sound-hunting creatures on the track to murder. Even though the theater may be extremely quiet, there’s no doubt that the amazing visual storytelling along with the expressional characters would evoke many emotions. Du ri n g a n i n tervi ew wi th TORYmax, Krasinski explained that the movie was “really about family...about the extremes that you would go to to protect your kids,” which adds to the sense of empowerment and intensity to the entire film. In all, this movie is filled with numerous jumpscares and a unique plot. So if you’re looking for a good thriller or something to get you on the edge of your seat, then “A Quiet Place” is the perfect film to watch. And don’t worry if horror films aren’t your type, because this movie is unlike any other.

THE OLYMPIAN

May 11, 2018

8

CVTA bargains with district over graduation duty

By Nathanial Ortiz Staff Writer

Many CVHS teachers may not work at graduation this year because of a contract dispute between the teachers union and the school district, signaling a potential, underlying fault on the part of the district. Castro Valley Teachers Association (CVTA) is filing a grievance with the Castro Valley School District over this alleged contract violation. Each year the teachers and staff agree on and sign off on a contract that specifies what is required of them. This year, CVTA claims that the district did not include working at graduation, so teachers should not have to be required to work this event. "The issue is they never

asked teachers about it. We feel as if we are being taken advantage of," said Ian Rodriquez, history teacher and head of the bargaining team for the CVTA. CVTA claims that if it isn't specifically stated in their contract, then teachers cannot be required to work at graduation, but that isn't stopping teachers from attending or volunteering at the event on their own. The teachers’ perspective is that they are required to do so much extra work throughout the school year that it isn't right to make them do even more work. After the end of class, teachers still have to do hours of lesson planning, write letters of recommendation, contact parents, and supervise school events. CVTA believes that so much

is already asked of teachers and requiring them to work graduation without the proper procedures is unfair. "We did not want to impact students at all. Requiring teachers to do hours and hours of extra duties beyond that work day without adequate compensation is unfair to teachers and unfair to students," said Roger Kim, president of the CVTA. Princ ipal Blaine To rpe y emailed all staff in response to the situation a message clearly stating that it is mandatory to attend and work at graduation. "Every adult on campus is dedicated to student achievement and a positive student experience. I am confident that the two parties can resolve this issue and come back together to support and celebrate our

graduating class of 2018," said Torpey, when asked. After a bargaining session on April 27, the CVTA and CVUSD bargaining teams have decided to compromise by updating the contract to have teachers work graduation without having to do some of the "security guard" jobs as Rodriquez described it. However, the CVTA still needs to get the decision approved by the members of the union before they can make a concrete decision. The issue of graduation has brought a larger issue to attention about the supposed negligence on the part of the district about multiple issues. "We are no longer the District on a Hill that others look to," said Kim. The issue of the district's annual budget decisions was

brought up by Kim in his recent remarks to the school board. He claimed that the district consistently creates a budget that saves an unnecessary amount of money that could be used to improve our schools and increase teachers' salaries. Kim pointed out that teachers salaries have gone up fractionally compared to the amount of funding the district has received. He also pointed out that these stagnant wages have allowed all potential quality teachers to leave to work at higher paying districts. "It's about our students," said Kim in his more recent remarks to the school board pointing out that this lack of ability to retain and hire good teachers is ultimately hurting the students.

By Hayate Moro

Some type of common thread.” Andersen graduated from CVHS and was later called up for an internship at CVHS as part of gaining her credential in history. She first taught CCG and government. At the same time, her former German teacher wanted to retire and hoped Andersen would take over the German program. Even though it wasn’t on her radar, she got credentialed in German. “Some people always ask me, why do you teach and how long

are you going to teach? And my answer is always, I’m going to teach until I don’t like it,” she said. “I enjoy seeing what students are going through and the world they’re entering and I want to help.” Fifteen years have gone by since her first year of teaching, currently covering all levels of the language, from German 1 through AP German. Being a former student at CVHS helps her understand the struggle for learners and earned her the title “aktiv.” “German is different. It’s an own little family, we stay together for four years so you really get to know your students well,” said Andersen. Andersen not only teaches German, but has coached many sports. She coached volleyball at Moreau, one year of boys volleyball and six years of track at CVHS, one year of Canyon Middle School’s basketball team, and currently coaches Creekside volleyball. She had her coaching job

at Moreau before her job at CVHS. The motivation needed for a coach may have helped Andersen grow her unique teaching style. “I could talk to her about anything. She really engages the students in every activity with, games, songs, and discussions in class. The workload is a mixture of fun, challenging and tedious,” said senior Jack Singer. Students realize a connection between a teacher when their eyes meet and their voices are squealing at the same joke. Andersen has taken multiple groups on summer trips to Europe, another way “Frau” builds a “wunderbar” relationship with her students. “I think she was nominated for teacher of the year because she genuinely cares for her students and does whatever she can to make them succeed academically not just in German but in other classes as well,” said AP German student Josyua Gatison.

“Frau” Andersen breaks the barrier of “komfort” Staff Writer

Barbara “Frau” Anderson won teacher of the year honors.

Barbara Andersen wants her students to feel “gemütlich,” or comfortable. “Frau” Anderson was recently named the CVHS teacher of the year, one reason being her ability to break the barrier of “komfort.” “I’m not afraid to approach people,” she said. “My goal is always to make the connections and to reach out. To find something in common with them that I can chat to that kid with.

New Wellness Center promotes fun and health By Milagros Aquino Staff Writer

If you love yoga, lunch activities or different programs like Mariachi After School Music Program, come to the Wellness Center. The new center is fun and hepful in many ways. The temporary portable is located outside the 500 building being the fenced in parking area. The new one will be built between 400 and 500 where the old Project Lead The Way portables used to be. Currently, lots of different community agencies and some district people will work or have been working there. School nurses are sometimes there. There will be different agencies like Project Eden Coun-

seling as well as some local Counseling providers agencies. “The way I think it benefits the students and will continue to benefit the students is, that’s where a lot of our mental health providers are. So those that need any type of counseling or they need a support place, they offer specific services for students that may be struggling,” said Assistant Principal Patrinia Redd. Eventually, the center will start doing things like meditation classes for students and for staff. It also gives students and staff a place to go to at lunchtime. It will be free to all students and may eventually open up to other community members like Redwood High School students.